"..far corners of the earth to distant life-giving oceans.."

I was thinking about how i need help beyond my own strength to learn to live miles, hundreds of miles, thousands of miles from those we love and hold dear- family, relatives, and friends. How this distance is like a canyon so wide and deep ...I cannot cross at my own doing.

 I then thought about years ago in my spiritual life when i did not have a hope or answers on crossing the canyon that separated me from the One who went before me and made the way.

 Lastly I thought the solution today remains the same -to live each day with hope and faith to the next great memory and time we have together and also that God’s grace will sustain us --between the tender ache of the miles. 

Canyonlands is awe inspiring. The layers of rock of the canyon far beneath the earth would not have been visible without the erosion and sculpting.

 We encounter trials, detours, and change in our lives thinking they are surprises when all along God had a Sovereign plan for our good. He often reveals one season or layer at a time of our lives and uses our lives for his glory.

Each deeper layer reveals more of the preservation and displays a history of careful design.♥

“You leave us breathless when Your awesome works answer us 

by putting everything right. God of our liberation— 

You are the hope of all creation, 

from the far corners of the earth to distant life-giving oceans. 

With immense power, You erected mountains. Wrapped in strength, 

You compelled Choppy seas, crashing waves, and crowds of people 

To sit in astonished silence. Those who inhabit the boundaries of the earth are awed by Your signs, strong and subtle hints of Your indelible presence.

 Even the dawn and dusk respond to You with joy.”

Psalm 65:5-8 (Voice)

"...between them to bring them together..."

 "That God is on one side 

and all the people on the other side, 

and Christ Jesus, himself man,

 is between them to bring them together,

 by giving his life for all mankind. 

This is the message that at the proper time

 God gave to the world."

1 Timothy 2:5-6  TLB

The Blessing 

"May His favor be upon you

And a thousand generations

And your family

And your children

And their children

And their children

May His presence go before you

And behind you

And beside you

All around you

And within you

He is with you

He is with you

In the morning

(In the evening) In the evening

In your coming

And your going

In your weeping

And rejoicing

He is for you (For you)

He is for you (He is for you)"

"..rivers in the desert...streams of water there ..."

 

"Eternal One: Don’t revel only in the past,

        or spend all your time recounting the victories of days gone by.

    Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak,

        and you’re about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert;

    Waters will flow where there had been none."

Isaiah 43:18-19 VOICE

“Do not call to mind the former things,

Or consider things of the past.

Behold, I am going to do something new,

Now it will spring up;

Will you not be aware of it?

I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,

Rivers in the desert." 

Isaiah 43:18-19 NASB

"But the Lord says,

“Do not cling to events of the past

    or dwell on what happened long ago.

Watch for the new thing I am going to do.

    It is happening already—you can see it now!

I will make a road through the wilderness

    and give you streams of water there."

Isaiah 43:18-19 GNT

"Forget the former things;

    do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

    and streams in the wasteland." 

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

"Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; 

do you not perceive and know it

 and will you not give heed to it? 

I will even make a way in the wilderness

 and rivers in the desert." 

Isaiah 43:18-19 AMPC

"..surprise us ..every sun's rising. .. rehearse your faithfulness..."

 

"With every sun’s rising, surprise us with Your love,

    satisfy us with Your kindness.

    Then we will sing with joy and celebrate every day we are alive."

Psalm 90:14 (VOICE)

"To speak of Your unfailing love in the morning

    and rehearse Your faithfulness as night begins to fall."

Psalm 92:2 Voice

One Thing Remans

Higher than the mountains that I face

Stronger than the power of the grave

Constant through the trial and the change

One thing remains

This one thing remains 

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me 

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me 

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me 

Because on and on and on and on it goes

Before it overwhelms and satisfies my soul

And I never, ever, have to be afraid

One thing remains

This one thing remains

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me 

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me 

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me 

Your love

In death, and in life

I'm confident and covered by the power of your great love

My debt is paid, there's nothing that can separate 

My heart from Your great love

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me 

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me 

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me, it never fails

On and on

Your love goes on and on

Singing your love

Your love goes on and on

His love goes on and on

" ..memorial day.. never forgotten.. never forget ... heavenly rest..."

 We have not forgotten..

     never forgotten -never forget

Honor The Fallen

 Memorial Day is a day that commemorates all men and women who have died while serving in the military for the United States of America.

 The history of Memorial Day 2021 dates back to the American Civil War. It started as an event to honor soldiers who had died during the war. It is said to be inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored the dead. The original national celebration of Decoration Day took place on 30 May 1868. There was over twenty four cities and towns across the United States that claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo (New York) was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966. In the late 19th century, the holiday (previously known as Decoration Day) became known as Memorial Day and was expanded to include the deceased veterans of all the wars fought by American forces. Originally, the holiday used to be celebrated on May 30, regardless of the day of the week that it fell on. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed and as a result the day changed.

OIF  10th Mountain remembered

Remains belonging to U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Alex Jimenez and Specialist Byron Fouty will be buried together February 17, 2009, in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

The remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Iraq on July 8, 2008. The two soldiers were captured by terrorists in a May 12, 2007, ambush in a section of Iraq called the Triangle of Death

 Here now                      There -Heavenly rest

Anxiety                        No toil

Doubt and fear             No hills to climb

Always motion              Rest

Suffering                      Never sick or persecuted

Sin                              Sin is dead

Tears for loved ones      Never one funeral bell

“ we do not know what times are coming on, But we do know

-The God who never changes

-The God who is for us

-The Author of history; and he knows the ends of all things

-Matchless source of comfort and hope

-A strong tower to which we may repair whenever we need to."

  (William Wilberforce)

"My times are in thy hand."

  Psalm 31:15 NIV

"My life, my every moment, my destiny—it’s all in your hands."            Psalm 31:15 TPT”

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington-National Cemetery

Funerals attended

 Remember, the fifth of November”

“It’s the knock on the door you never want to come,” Thomas said.

Army Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis

Died November 5, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

34, of Anchorage, Alaska; assigned to the 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Nov. 5 in Tal jAl-Dahab, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her Humvee during combat operations.

Army Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis

Died November 5, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

34, of Anchorage, Alaska; assigned to the 10th Brigade Support Battalion

SSGT Davis

Indiana County, Pa Memorial Park

Local cemetery- Shadows - the name is weathered off this stone yet the impact of this one life goes on forever

 My uncle died in WWII - my dad’s youngest brother -19 years old buried in

Gettysburg National Military Park

Gettysburg National Military Park

Here now                      There -Heavenly rest

Anxiety                        No toil

Doubt and fear             No hills to climb

Always motion              Rest

Suffering                      Never sick or persecuted

Sin                              Sin is dead

Tears for loved ones      Never one funeral bell

“ we do not know what times are coming on, But we do know

-the God who never changes

-The God who is for us

-The Author of history; and he knows the ends of all things

-Matchless source of comfort and hope

- A strong tower to which we may repair whenever we need to."

  (William Wilberforce)

‘My times are in thy hand.’

Psalm 31:15 NIV

"My life, my every moment, my destiny—it’s all in your hands."

 Psalm 31:15 TPT

"...The rain today watered both, The tulip and the poppy..."

 Mother’s Day in Spring

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

Each spring the tulips bloom, one of the first flowers to rise, withstands the wind, cold and snow

Mother’s Day will be soon

a time to remember mothers today, and those who have passed, years or even four decades ago

tulips mean perfect love

🌷 Betty, Josephine 🌷

affection, caring, good wishes, and love

The poppy

a calming flower

a symbol of remembrance, as well as a symbol of consolation and resurrection.

The orange poppy is soon to burst forth from the green covering to calming beauty

The rain today watered both,

The tulip and the poppy

Deep, pure,love remembered

Calming consolation and sure hope of resurrection for both♥️

"Why should we mourn our Daughter's loss,

Since death to her is bliss.

She lives again in faith she died,

And Christ has promis'd this."

"..seize what flees..."

"For he will command his angels concerning you

    to guard you in all your ways;" Psalm 91:11 NIV

"He will command His heavenly messengers to guard you,

    to keep you safe in every way. Psalm 91:11 VOICE

“O my friend, what cause have we for thankfulness 

who know thus where to go for pardon and for peace, as well as for grace and strength. May I be enabled to spend any remainder of life that may be spared me more profitably- more according the measure of the rich abundance of mercies and blessings

 for which my upmost services, as well as warmest gratitude

 are due.”  

- Recollections of William Wilberforce (1864)

Carpe Diem

 “Carpe Diem”.

“Let us therefore set out whole-heartedly, leaving aside our many distractions and exert ourselves in this single purpose, before we realize too late the swift and unstoppable flight of time and are left behind. As each day arises, welcome it as the very best day of all, and make it your own possession. We must seize what flees.”

—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 108.27b–28a

“You will get only one shot at today. You have only twenty-four hours with which to take it. And then it is gone and lost forever. Will you fully inhabit all of today? Will you call out, “I've got this,” and do your very best to be your very best?

 What will you manage to make of today before it slips from your fingers and becomes the past? When someone asks you what you did yesterday, do you really want the answer to be “nothing”?

-The Daily Stoic , May 9th

                             

 “Surely when I look over in detail... the course of my heart and life; when I call to mind who I have been, and what God has done for me, and by me; when I sum up all together and recollect that consideration which should never be forgotten, that all the past, present, and to come, are under the view of God and lively colours, I am lost in astonishment and can only exclaim ‘Thy ways are not our ways nor thy thoughts as our thought.’ I will try to look back through my past life, and to affect my heart, as by the review it ought to be, with humiliation, gratitude, love, and confidence.”

- William Wilberforce , The Life of William Wilberforce (1838)

                    

"He holds you firmly in place;

He will not let you fall.

 He who keeps you will never take His eyes off you and never drift off to sleep.

What a relief! The One who watches over…

    never leaves for rest or sleep."

                    

“Surely when I think of the way in which I went on for many years, I can only fall down with astonishment as well as humiliation before the throne of grace, and adore with wonder that infinite mercy of God which did not cast me off; but on the contrary, guiding me by a way which I knew not.....living almost without God in the world, till God’s good providence checked and turned me, oh miracle of mercy.."

-William Wilberforce