"The Mighty One" - Updated 5-25-2026

I originally posted this on 5/31/2014, just one week after the passing of our son Matthew...after his 4 year battle with a deadly foe that just wouldn't give up.  (Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor- DSRCT).  Today, 5/25/2026, marks 12 years since his passing from this life into heaven. I have reposted this before in 2018, but what was said here originally 12 years ago and also in 2018 is still so real. I repost this today to hopefully encourage someone out there who may be going through a similar trial and time of grief.  I can honestly say that it does get a little easier with time...but only in the sense that we move from raw, unabashed sorrow and tears to a quieter, sweeter kind of grief. Acceptance? Perhaps.  I know that in my head I do accept the fact that our son is gone from this earth forever...and that he is now in heaven...forever.  But I still miss hearing his voice and seeing his face and feeling the warmth of his hugs.  I will say that there are many times that I feel his presence near me...I really don't think heaven is all that far away.  If only we could just reach through that veil and grasp onto each other again...but that is not to be...yet.  

Someday I, too, will pass through that veil from this life into the next...and I truly believe that my son will be standing there, next to Jesus, with arms open wide...ready to welcome me "home".  Until that day we will continue to carry on his memory in our hearts and in little things that we can do to keep his flame burning brightly.  I pray that these words will bring comfort to someone today whose grief is still fresh and glaringly painful.  May God's peace be your peace today.  May you place your hope in Jesus...and trust Him to carry you through. He will.

Our Memorial Garden in our back yard, in loving memory of our son. A wonderful place to pray, meditate on God's Word, and remember a marvelous son.

Original Post 5/31/14:

"The LORD your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17

It is hard for me to realize that it was just one week ago today that I said my last farewells to my son Matthew.  It would be several more hours, in the wee hours of the next morning that we would receive the word that he had taken his last breath here on earth.  Can it be that a week has already passed? I believe I have been floating in a cloud mixed with sorrow and relief all week long.  Sorrow that my wonderful son is no longer with us here on earth, and relief that my wonderful son is no longer suffering from disease and that he is now totally healed and safe in heaven.

I know, I have already said these things to you.  I don't need to remind anyone about these events that have transpired this past week, especially not myself.  Everyday brings fresh reminders to me as we prepare for his memorial service and think of ways to honor him and keep his flame burning bright.  Sweet memories flash before my mind's eye, pictures of a precious little baby born earlier than expected and who lived a marvelous life and  left this earth earlier than expected, 41 years later.

The one thing I am mindful of is how the Lord has been carrying me in His arms this past week. This morning as I read my daily devotions, the verse written above stood out in bright highlights to me. Especially the part about "He will quiet you with His love..."  Yes, He has done just that. I have felt His love tenderly quieting my heart every time I have given over my mind to grief. When the tears began to overflow out of my eyes, I felt His hand gently wiping them away as He caressed my face.  I believe I could hear Him singing a sweet lullaby as He held me close and rocked me like a little child who needed to be comforted.

This same One who saves us, rejoices over us with gladness, quiets us with His love, and rejoices over us with singing. I've heard Him singing...He has filled my heart with songs of joy, peace, promise and love.  I have been flooded with songs in the night, the daytime, and at times when I didn't even think I could or should be singing.

Some of you may not understand how I could feel this great comfort...you may think I'm a bit daft in the head. But for those of us who have been there, we know how wonderful it is to have such a "Mighty One" as this Lord our God in our midst. "The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save..."  

I take comfort in knowing that this "Mighty One" takes the time to notice my sorrow...He is touched with my grief.  And He assures me that 'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)

I cannot say enough about this "Mighty One"

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  (Psalm 34:1)

This is the way I love to remember our "Deer" son.  Always smiling and full of joy and mischief.

Back to the present, 5/26/2026...today we are heading to a Memorial Day Picnic at our church. I am baking a cherry-blueberry cobbler.  It's good to keep busy on this day.  Benton and Rose will be there too. Hopefully I will have some pictures to share later.  Yesterday Scott was here and the "kids", and we cooked ribs and chicken on the grill,  along with corn on the cob, a salad, baked potatoes, and we had watermelon.  I didn't take one picture!  I wanted to plant something in memory of Matthew, as is our custom, but it was very hot and we were all tired and I didn't have what I wanted to plant, so we decided to wait.  Hopefully we will get some much needed rain this next week, as the storms that others are having in Florida continue to bypass us.  Once we get more rain it will be a better time to plant something.    I can smell the cherry/blueberry cobbler baking, and it's almost time to get it out of the oven, so I'd better go. I will write more probably tomorrow.  Thank you for bearing with me.  Hug your family tight whenever you can. Life is short.

Thursday Thankfulness

 Happy Thursday!  There's nothing in particular on my mind, but as Thursday seems to be the day to think about being thankful, perhaps that's what I need to do!  

Here's the current weather report...91 degrees and do you see what I see?  Thunderstorms are expected around 9:00 p.m. today!  Although we have found this phone weather app to oftetimes be less than accurate, we are going to pray and claim by faith that this is true! Also, it is predicting rain for the next 3 days and then again several days next week! SO, if this is accurate, we will be doing some happy rain dances!!  Please pray with us that it is true! We need the rain SO badly.  It is SO hot and dry right now. The one thing I am very thankful for is our air conditioning.  After we had been outside a little bit this morning, as soon as we stepped back into the cool comfortable house, I said, "Thank You, Lord, for our AC!"  I don't take it for granted as they can be temperamental things, especially when you need it most, so I thank the Lord for it regularly.

I am thankful that even though our Still Waters Pond is still totally dry, life goes on...there's some green grasses growing out there on the pond, which tells me that there are some lower areas with moisture in them, and the grass is still growing around the pond (and we had to have our friend mow all the way out there and he didn't get stuck in the mud because there still isn't any mud).  

I am thankful that the flower seeds I planted are all growing in spite of the fact that I just kind of dumped them all in there together. Hopefully that ring of sprouts will soon be full of flowers! Oh, we got those terra cotta stones at our local building supply place and put them around the little garden. It looks a lot better than it did before. However, that is on a slope and it was tricky getting them to stand up.

I am thankful that our little vegetable garden is still growing and producing "fruit"...Look at those tomatoes!!!! Praise God!!

Aren't they beautiful?   

I am thankful that even though we have to pay for our water here since we are on a community water system and not our own well, we are able to water our little garden and keep it going in spite of the drought. However our water bill is a bit higher than normal, and we are also on a bit of a watering restriction, so I have to be careful...that's why I am really looking forward to this rain so I won't have to do so much watering.

The squash plants are looking good too...

That's a baby squash!! WooHoo! Growing your own food is so much fun!! Thank You, Lord!!! We are in this together!!!

Here's my sweet garden helper...well...I'd say he's more of a "supervisor" than helper, but he sure is sweet.

Did you say you wanted to see more pictures of Blackie?  Okay then, I think I can manage that...

Here is where he managed to jump up onto this morning,  and thankfully hubby alerted me to come get him before he could do any damage to anything on top of the buffet, but of course I saw it as a photo op and had to take a few pictures first, keeping a close watch on him  (and that tail) to make sure he didn't knock anything off. After I took my pictures, I kindly removed him from the danger zone.

When I first got there (and before I could get my phone ready to take a picture) he was actually over there by the dolls and their tea set. I think he wanted to have a tea party with them, but then he noticed his reflection in the mirror and that was something new and interesting...

Then he noticed the little bird on the little church birdhouse, and was studying that when I decided it was best to get him down from there before he decided to eat a little stuffed bird. LOL.

My hubby wears these flip flops in the house and has some Dr. Scholl's insoles on them to make them feel better on his feet, but Blackie found those to be quite interesting and was enjoying playing with them.

I am thankful that we have fun with this kitty, and that he really isn't destructive, just curious. 

He has been a joy and a blessing in disguise to us.  

One day last week we took a walk at a little park in our community that is beside a little lake.

Hello!

I really wasn't going to go down that slide, but I can pretend...

Hubby was working hard at some chin ups...

 (of course his feet were on solid ground, LOL)

Some people never grow up!

The lake was calm and smooth as glass.  I didn't have my good camera with me, so the pictures were whatever I could get with my cell phone.

Well,looky there! A beautiful Great White Egret was flying across the lake:

You can see along the shore that the water level is quite low in this lake also, but at least it isn't dry.

That's because this is a real lake, and our pond is just a pond.  

It's still beautiful, and I am thankful that there is water for the birds and fish here...

Here's some food for thought from God's Word about not giving up, but continuing to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" in this life.  It may look different for each one of us, but when we keep our gaze on Christ, He will help us make it safely to the finish line...

Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

The Race of Faith

"1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I am thankful for that encouragement as I face my daily struggles and routines. My struggles are nothing compared to what Jesus had to endure for my sake. He ran interference for us, and is there waiting at the finish line to welcome us "home".  That is truly good news to me.  I hope it is for you as well.

Okay, friends. That's it for today. I just got a notice that a book I requested is ready for me at the library, so I can go pick it up and have something new to read in my "spare time".  

Blessing to each and every one of you!!

I Am Not Alone - Revisited Again

Here it is a Wednesday, the middle of the week, and I honestly had nothing new to share with  you. Then I was reading a few of our friends' posts, and there was more than one mention of  "being alone", or "feeling alone", and I thought to myself, "I wonder how many others are out there with feelings of loneliness or who are currently going through a difficult time and feeling like they are alone in their struggles."  I have a feeling there are more than just a few.  We all go through those times, when we are literally alone, or when we may feel alone even though there may be many people around.  We may feel like we don't belong, or that no one really cares whether I live or die. My friend, if you find yourself having these kinds of feelings, first of all, please don't isolate yourself completely. Reach out to someone...even if it's someone here in blogland. We may not be physically close, but we are close in spirit and heart, and there are many here who will be more than happy to pray with you, listen to your fears or concerns, and may even have some words of wisdom and encouragement to share with you. But most of all, reach out to God and tell Him about your concerns and pain. It is amazing how much prayer helps when we take our needs to the Lord and leave them there. I have included many scripture verses in this post of hope and faith and promise and how much God cares for you. Please take the time to read through this and perhaps even save the verses for future reference. You personally may not feel the need for this right now, but there may come a time when you will...or you may know someone who needs to hear this message...so please share it.  And may you know beyond a doubt that you are not alone, because The Father is with you.

Previously posted on 4/9/2020, during the "pandemic":  Sharing this post again...perhaps there is someone out there who needs to hear this message today, especially during this time of "social distancing" and isolation.

May you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are not alone..."the Father is with me"...

"And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me."

John 16:32b

The above drawing used to hang in my husband's study when he was serving as a pastor.  I drew this for him years ago after seeing this same picture on a card that someone had sent to us...so I can't take full credit for the idea...but it struck me so strongly that I had to duplicate it for a constant reminder that God would be with him through all the difficult days and times of searching for answers from God's Word to share with God's people.

Perhaps there is someone reading this today who needs to be reminded that you are not alone...because the Father IS with you...always!  How do we know this?  Because His Word promises...and God never goes back on His Word:

"Be strong and of good courage,

Do not fear nor be afraid of them;

For the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.

He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

"And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you.

He will be with you,

He will not leave you nor forsake you;

Do not fear nor be dismayed."

Deuteronomy 31:8

"Fear not, for I AM with you;

Be not dismayed, for I Am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

"Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your Presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell,

behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me,

and Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall fall on me,'

Even the night shall be light about me;"

Psalm 139:7-11

Jesus tells His disciples the following promise just before His departure from this earth into heaven...which is for all of us who bear His Name:

"Lo, I Am with you ALWAYS, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:20

Also Jesus promises to send us a helper...a comforter:

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, 

that he may abide with you forever..

the Spirit of truth,

whom the world cannot receive, 

because it neither sees Him nor knows Him;

but you know Him,

for He dwells with you and will be in you.

I will not leave you orphans; 

I will come to you..."

John 14:16-18

So, my friends, if you are feeling all alone in your battle with grief, disease, disappointments, tragedies and anxieties...if you cannot feel Christ's Presence in your life, I encourage you to claim these promises above for yourself today.  Rest in His loving arms, knowing that He is with you and will never leave you or forsake you.

There is a song that came to my mind while writing this that I would like to share with you...perhaps you've heard it...or maybe it will be new to you.  Click on this link to the song "Just Be Held" by Casting Crowns.    

Here are the lyrics:

"Just Be Held"  by Casting Crowns

Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on

And when you're tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There's freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted
In time, you'll understand
I'm painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your worlds not falling apart, its falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

Lift your hands, lift your eyes
In the storm is where you'll find Me
And where you are, I'll hold your heart
I'll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who won't let go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your worlds not falling apart, its falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held (stop holding on and just be held)
Just be held, just be held, just be held, just be held

So, no matter what you are going through right now, my prayer for you is that you will remember that you are never alone...God is with you always...and now, lay back into His loving arms and "Just Be Held".

"Peace I leave with you,

My peace I give to you;

not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid..."

Words of Jesus, 

The Gospel of John 14:27

Tuesday 4~ Selfless Service

 

Tuesday 4

Selfless Service


(Note from Annie, our hostess):

Hello dear friends and welcome to another edition of Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. Thank you so much for taking part and heloing make this a lot of fun.
Mister Linky, the site I use to help you sign in for Tuesday 4 is down right now, so if you want to take part, please leave your name and a link to your site in the comments HERE so people can visit you and see your answers. As soon as Mister Linky gets straigntened out I will place it at the bottom for sign up so please check back again later.


Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their lives in service to the nation. But if you
think of it, you don't need to be a combatant to serve others.

We rarely celebrate those people who serve in the shadows unseen and largely unknown.


1. What are ways people can serve others?

There are so many needy people around us these days...homeless, elderly, widows and widowers, and those who are battling serious illnesses.  Look for ways to comfort them, provide a meal, run errands, call and check on them, send cards of encouragement and let them know people care and are praying for them, offer to do little things to help them.  If you are not physically or financially able to do much, often times just that phone call or card is the best way you can help, and it means a lot to others.


2. What areas of service do you see as being very important today?

There are so many...people who have been displaced by disasters such as storms...hurricanes, tornadoes, floods. We may not be able to do much personally, but we can donate to organizations who do have the resources to provide the help that is needed. On a local level where I live, there are many people in need of food and clothing, and there is a lot of poverty among the children in the schools.  Our church tries to provide for children in the elementary schools by donating backpacks, shoes, underwear throughout the year, and then we always have a drive to provide gifts for them at Christmas...not just toys, but also clothing and school supplies.  Our community also has a "Soup Kitchen" that provides a hot meal every day, and there are several food pantries that provide food to those in need. Our church supports these ministries.  We also support a Children's Home for children who are orphaned for one reason or another.

Our church has a Thrift Store, where we can donate clothing and household goods. People can buy items at a very low price, or, if they are truly in need (due to fire or homelessness or other disaster in their lives) they may get whatever they need without having to pay.


3. What service organizations do you think have gone above and beyond in service to others lately?

Samaritan's Purse is a very good organization that goes to disaster sites and provides workers, food, clothing, whatever is needed.  Also many church denomination organizations have Disaster Relief programs that do the same thing. The Salvation Army is another good organization. With so many hurricanes and tornadoes in our country, these types of organizations are kept extremely busy and they definitely deserve whatever support we are able to give.

St. Jude's Hospital for children is another exceptional organization.


4. Do you know of anyone who has served their fellow man selflessly or have you anything to add on the subect of selfless service?

There are so many people throughout history and currently who go beyond the call of duty to help others. On a local level, there has been one woman in our church who organized the programs to help our elementary school children at Christmas and beyond and worked so hard behind the scenes purchasing items out of her own resources to make sure every child had a gift at Christmas. She is also a retired nurse, but has used her nursing skills tirelessly to help others in our community and church as needed.  There is another woman in our church who battled breast cancer herself, but even throughout her own struggles she continued to care for others as a caregiver, even when she herself needed to be cared for. Thankfully she is cancer free now, but still has had some serious health issues, and yet she continues to look out for the needs of others first and foremost, even to her own detriment sometimes. I admire these women because they are the kind of people who always put others first and do so with a smile and with much love and concern.  

James 1:27 says this:  "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Jesus said this in Luke 6: 27-31

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Amen!

Monday Monday~A Little This and That

 It's Monday evening already! I intended to write something this morning, but the day kind of got away from me.  This morning hubby couldn't get his laptop to work properly. It appeared that the system itself was working, but the screen was black and we tried every way recommended by experts online to troubleshoot it and get it to turn back on, all  to no avail.  Well, hubby enjoys sitting with his laptop and doing whatever it is he enjoys doing there for a very good part of the day.  We started looking online (on my desktop computer) for parts to repair it (if we could figure out how to do it ourselves), and then when that didn't seem to be going anywhere, we looked for a new (refurbished) laptop online...and even the refurbished ones are getting pricey and the ones that were more affordable still had the Windows 10 operating system, and now he's gotten used to Windows 11 and didn't want to go back to 10. (I have Windows 10 on my computer, but I don't have any desire to move to anything else at this point until I have to).  We were getting frustrated with the whole situation, when I suddenly had a bright idea! 

Recently we purchased a used smaller flat screen TV at a yard sale. We really didn't have any particular plan for it, but the price was right and it worked, and we only had one TV in our house and thought it might be a good idea to have a "spare" to be used in the guest room or in Scott's room when he comes home occasionally to spend the night.  I read online that we could hook up a TV to the laptop with an HDMI cord, and after a search through the house in all the places I could think of, I found one in Scott's room that worked perfectly. And so after rearranging some little tables to accommodate the TV and his laptop from his recliner, here's the result:

He uses a wireless keyboard and mouse anyway with his laptop, so the set up works great, and he can actually SEE the computer screen now! LOL. Before he was always trying to adjust glasses and even a magnifying glass to see the screen on the laptop!  So this is a BIG (pun intended) improvement for him. However, it kind of takes up a lot of space in the living room and isn't exactly ideal, but it will do until we can figure out what else to do.  We really didn't want to have to spend more money on a new computer right now, because I just had to replace our printer this past week!

My old printer was giving me all kinds of trouble, and kept saying there was a paper jam when there was NO jam anywhere, and it would take 3 or 4 times over and over trying to get it to print one page, and it was extremely frustrating. Finally the other day it just quit printing altogether, and so that was that, and I ordered a new one. It's a less expensive one than what I had, but it appears to be adequate for our home office needs. I really don't do a lot of printing anymore, but when I need to, I want it done NOW and not have to keep trying over and over again.  So there! We took care of THAT!  LOL.  It's just crazy that we should have all these technical issues all at once, but our equipment was getting old, and you know what happens when your equipment gets old...like our bodies...they break down. LOL.

I like what God tells the "House of Jacob and the remnant of the house of Israel" in the following verses...and even though He's speaking specifically to them, I believe we can also  glean some words of hope and encouragement from these verses as well, particularly verse 4...

 Isaiah 46:3-4

“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,

And all the remnant of the house of Israel,

Who have been upheld by Me from birth,

Who have been carried from the womb:

4 Even to your old age, I am He,

And even to gray hairs I will carry you!

I have made, and I will bear;

Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

I do believe that God carries us personally from the womb and into our old age, and that He will indeed carry us until the day He calls us home. That is a great comfort to me.

Switching gears here with a few random photos...

Remember last week I showed you our first tomato from our garden?

Welll, yes, it was delicious!  I asked hubby if he wanted any of it and he said no, so I just had to eat the whole thing by myself. LOL.  Here it is on top of my salad, and it certainly was good!  Thankfully there's a lot more growing out there so we should be enjoying them for a while!! Praise God!!

If you are on my Facebook page you may have already seen this...Saturday, May 16th, would have been my parents 84th wedding anniversary.  They did manage to get almost to their 64th anniversary together, and the picture below on the right was taken at their 60th anniversary.   Anyway, I was happy to see these roses growing just in time to be picked in memory of their anniversary.  Here's a link to a story I wrote about my parents on a previous anniversary.

Later that day hubby was watching the movie "Blackbeard" on TV, and I remembered that my Uncle had a bit part in that movie, so we scrolled through it until we found the exact spot where he could be seen:

And there he was!  Here's a close up:

And here he is below, with my grandfather (his father), and my mom. This was taken when he came home from WWII.   After he got out of the Marines, he went to Hollywood and was in a lot of movies during the late 40's and early 50's. They were only bit parts, and I don't know that he ever had a speaking part. But he enjoyed doing a lot of parts where he had to be a "muscle man", and he always kept himself in great shape even up until he was an old man in his late 80's...he'd still go to the gym and work out! And actually, during the 1960's he used to have an exercise show on TV in the Columbus, Ohio area. It was called "Tone Up With Tedlie".    He led a very active life!

Speaking of "active life"...well, maybe not...Here's some pictures of Blackie this evening on the back porch...just because...

He really doesn't like to have his picture taken. LOL.

It's getting late so I guess I will close with this beautiful prayer and benediction from the Apostle Paul...

Ephesians 3:14-21

"14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Amen! And until next time, be blessed my friends.

Sunday Evening Thoughts

Today on the church calendar is what is remembered as Ascension Sunday...the day we recognize and "celebrate" when Jesus was caught up in the clouds and ascended back into heaven 40 days after His resurrection on Easter Sunday.  You can read more about that in the first chapter of Acts, with particular attention to the following verses:

Acts 1:9-11 Jesus Ascends to Heaven

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 

10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 

11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Our Pastor preached a very good sermon on this topic today, and if you wish to hear the whole message, you can watch it here, right after the choir sings.

This morning before breakfast we were reading our daily devotions and scripture verses, and this was also the topic for today.  When I got to these verses above, I was overcome by emotion. It took me back to when I was a little girl, sitting in our church services in the old church building, where these two big stained glass windows adorned each side of the sanctuary:

On the right side was this one above, the Ascension of Jesus Christ, and on the left side was this one below, of  Jesus as The Good Shepherd.   I've written about this before, and the link is below, but today in particular my mind went right back to that picture depicting Christ ascending in the clouds, and I can remember as a child thinking about that and wondering how He did that...because at that time I didn't really understand the whole story of Jesus overcoming death and then going up into heaven right before their eyes, and also hearing the angels stating that He would come back again in the same manner! But as I grew in my relationship with Christ and studied the Bible more, the wonder and amazement that I felt as a little girl actually became even more pronounced, and so much so that even today I was overwhelmed with emotion in thinking that one day we will see Christ coming back in the clouds to call us all up to heaven to be with Him forevermore... But in the meantime...

Psalm 47

"1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!

Shout to God with the voice of triumph!

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome;

He is a great King over all the earth.

3 He will subdue the peoples under us,

And the nations under our feet.

4 He will choose our inheritance for us,

The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah

5 God has gone up with a shout,

The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!

Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

Sing praises with understanding.

8 God reigns over the nations;

God sits on His holy throne.

9 The princes of the people have gathered together,

The people of the God of Abraham.

For the shields of the earth belong to God;

He is greatly exalted."

I think it is amazingly appropriate that today also marked a Day of Prayer for our Nation to turn back to God...Reclaiming our nation for Almighty God, because our country was founded as "One Nation, Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."  And also that even our monetary system proclaims, "In God We Trust".   I didn't get to watch any of the proceedings at the Washington Monument in our Nation's Capitol today, but I hope to see some of it tomorrow on YouTube.  However, we definitely prayed for our nation this morning in church, and in my heart it felt good to know that churches and people throughout the country would be doing the same thing.  I do believe God is at work in our midst, and there are some very good things ahead. May we continue to pray.

You can Click HERE for another post on the back story on these windows.  And I thank my sister Doris for these current pictures of the new windows that have replaced the old ones in that same building, which you can read about in that post linked above.

I was going to write some other stuff and show a few pictures from the past couple of days, but I think I will save that for another day and  just close this post now with all of the above giving us all much food for thought and prayer.  

So until then, good night my friends. Be blessed.