I was hoping to get a jump on Halloween decorating earlier this month so the kids would know this is a “trick-or-treat” friendly house…but alas, Halloween is here & I have yet to put up one decoration. So I've set aside this morning to put up at least one ghosty inflatable.

/1 Something I’ve noticed a lot more of these past few years is the dividing line w/regards to Halloween between believers who engage in the festivities & those who believe it's a night of devil revelry that we should NOT engage in nor invite the evil one to our doorsteps.

/2

I have been thinking a lot about suffering lately. It seems that the futility of a secular life and all of the trials and health issues we go through take on a different context when we look at them through God’s eyes.

/1 This hard-knock life is meant to be looked at through a spiritual lens, in order that we might grow and shed the non-essentials and become what God has determined us to become:

/2

This morning, I opened my Bible app to find a devotional message from my favorite NFL analyst @EmmanuelAcho with an important verse and devotional for us all. I was thinking I would just post this & leave my Bible study post until this evening...

/1 ...but I see they all kind of tie together (which is sooo like God to be timely in his messages – in fact, today’s first verse is “Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket” Proverbs 25:11 🤯). So buckle in, grab a fresh cup of coffee, and here we go!

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Second Bible study of the day (in an effort to catch up on the schedule):

HOW TO AVOID BACKSLIDING
by Nicky Gumbel

As a young man, Philip was kidnapped and held hostage in Greece. There he remained for several years. During this time he received a military education.

/1 Then he returned to his homeland, which had conceded many defeats and had lost much land. Within five years he had become king. Philip II of Macedon desperately needed his army to stand firm. He is remembered for two major innovations.

/2

Struggling w/a headache so today’s Bible study presented w/out commentary. Also, I'm 10 days behind schedule, so I'll be doubling up on study posts. Not sure why, but I feel it's important to be current during holiday season. Anyway, have a blessed Friday y’all. Stay safe.

/1 GOD'S GOOD PLANS FOR YOUR FUTURE
by Nicky Gumbel

Futurologists make predictions about the future. One prediction is that some babies born now are likely to live to the ripe old age of 150. *Wired* magazine not long ago predicted that meal replacement patches...

/2

Okay, thanks for reading about my friend Didi's #Helene experience. She admits she is far luckier than most (I told her it wasn't luck, but God's protection 😇).

So here is today's (yesterday's) Bible study:

/1 DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
by Nicky Gumbel

I once had the privilege of meeting & interviewing Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Pastor Nadarkhani encountered Jesus Christ at the age of nineteen. He went on to become an ordained pastor and lead a church in Iran.

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Missed today's Bible study, but here is a timeless devotional from Dr Charles Stanley.

THE MIRACLE OF GRACE
At salvation, we become a member of God's family & receive eternal life, freedom, and love.

Romans 5:15-17
"But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin...

/1 "...and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ...

/2

(LOTS OF THOUGHTS TODAY. Get your coffee before you sit down to read 😉☕️)

Good morning! Happy Monday, y’all!

I have decided to officially make Mondays my day off, my *Sabbath day*, as it were: no deliveries, no working for my friend.

/1 But as I commit to this Monday Sabbath ideal, I realize I’m still not doing *Sabbath* right. I’m not resting. I’m not recharging. I’m not getting refreshed by the Holy Spirit. What I’m doing is catching up on housework, paying bills, doing yardwork…

/2

As I sit here drinking my coffee and readying myself for Bible study, I remember last night’s sleeplessness. I was nervous about Buster’s neck lump and what it might be. But I did what any woman of faith would do: I prayed for Buster & laid hands on him.

/1 I prayed to the Lord that loves all His creatures, great & small, that He'd heal my lil buddy fully.

It reminds me of an Einstein quote: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

/2

Watching celebrities discover Christianity / God / the Bible is exciting. Not because they’re celebrities (we’re all the same flesh-n-blood in God’s eyes) but because they’re using their platform to declare this newfound faith.

/1 Frankly, it’s the only lasting & worthwhile thing we can do on social media. Nothing else matters for the end game. (Rockers, you're welcome for the earworm 😉)

/2

A little bit of a kvetch today, so pls bear with me.

I have a note written in the margin of my Bible next to one of today's assigned scriptures.

The verse:
“I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments.” (Paul, Colossians 2:4)

/1 The note:
“Stand strong when naysayers try to trip me up w/*gotcha* questions.”

I’m always reminded of this verse & note around Halloween, & I have a few acquaintances that say “if you were really a *good* Christian you wouldn’t participate in Halloween's pagan revelry.”

/2

Good Saturday morning, all! Did you pray with @WatchChad this morning for America?

This middle paragraph from his Day 7 of Prayer for America hits especially hard today:

“We have work to do & we need a renewed spirit. Heal our bodies and let us prosper and be in health...

/1 "...even as our soul prospers (3 John 2). We submit our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). We know our bodies are a temple in which dwells the Holy Spirit. We are not our own if we've rec'd Christ. Therefore let us honor you w/our bodies each day (1 Cor 6:19-20).”

/2

First off, thank you for the prayers for my friend waiting for transplants. She was so encouraged to know that so many people – strangers, essentially! – are praying for her. The power of prayer on Twitter-X is amazing & makes me realize it’s not ALL bad ;-)

/1 Okay, on to today’s Bible study. Stay safe out there from Milton, if you can. We’re all praying for you.

/2

It’s been a year since the Nova Music Festival massacre in Israel. A year since the slaughter of babies still in the womb, families clinging to each other in death, military members fighting against evil. Hostages are still in captivity today.

/1 And so we stand in solidarity, remembering #October7 and avowing #NeverAgain. Never again will Israel and its allies allow terrorist factions hellbent on eradicating Israel to get the drop on God’s people, #HashemWilling.

/2

I've been scrolling through posts from anonymous military personnel and other boots on the ground providing help in the states devastated by #HurricaneHelene, and the reports are not good. In fact, they are about as bad as they can get.

/1 Is there is a war brewing between *the people* & *the government*? Or is it just fear-mongering? I tend to believe the former, but I'll continue my daily grind as well as spread the gospel in as many ways as I can, under God’s guidance. (I'll also continue low-key prepping.)

/2

"There's not a single fear, thought, feeling or need that's too big or too small for Jesus. He wants you to tell Him what's on your heart." Jeremy Camp, singer/songwriter

/1 P.S. I guess I read too far ahead in Isaiah yesterday because those verses are part of *today’s* study. They continue to call out those who worship created things rather than the Creator. We all do this, we're just not aware of what we put above or in place of the Lord.

/2

I have so many notes next to today’s assigned scripture in my Bible, I can’t decide what to share. Perhaps I’ll just post the last four verses, as they go a long way to encourage me whenever I am feeling down or lost or too tired to go on:

/1 “Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak...

/2

BREAKING: I *did* follow through last night with my pledge to not doom-scroll before bed. I did it with the help of an ad I saw on X that showed a person sleeping in the WRONG position (which is the way I sleep) and how to correct bad sleep habits.

/1 TBH, that was one algorithm that was directly over the target. So I clicked it, liked the information that I saw, and got the app called Shut-Eye.

I already have the Fitbit which monitors my sleep time breakdown (light sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep, awake)...

/2

Woke up a little grumbly today. Problem is, I have no reason to be grumbly. What gives?

Then I figured it out: I doom-scrolled for an HOUR before finally falling asleep last night. All the horrible lies, deception & corruption of election season does a number on my peace.

/1 So this morning, before Bible study, I re-read Philippians 4:8:

“And now, dear brothers & sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, & honorable, & right, & pure, & lovely, & admirable. Think about things that are excellent & worthy of praise.”

/2

I’ve had a few financial blessings drop on me the last 2 days, & it feels like the tide has finally turned. I won’t go into detail (lest it sound like bragging), but I *will* say God has not only blessed me, but He’s worked tirelessly on my perseverance, patience & character.

/1 I can’t help but be thankful to the Lord by praising & worshiping Him! Granted, I’m still a work in progress (always will be, truth be told), but getting to this place in my life has been worth the struggle. Hope I can keep my faith focused and steadfast in this crazy world.

/2

Reading news of Operation K.A.B.L.A.M. (Killing All Butchers of Lebanon by Mossad)™, I’m reminded of this:

“Don't rejoice when ur enemy falls, & let not ur heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it & be displeased & turn his anger away from him.” (Prov 24:17-18)

/1 BUT…

The Psalms are FULL of the prayers of King David for the Lord to rescue him from his enemies, then prayers of praise & thankfulness to the Lord when He does just that.

So the answer, then, is rather than rejoicing in the annihilation of our enemies...

/2