Month: June 2025

When Brian died I dropped out of life as known by me.

With that retreat I lost multiple friends and contacts. I pared down my life to a few people in my family and a couple of very close friends who are like sisters to me.

I pressed the reset button.

One benefit of this “earthquake” event in my stable Midwestern life was the purging of negativity.

I tend towards being “conservative,” and I find a lot of negativity in opposing views. Out with the negativity! I had no reason to keep it near me.

I stopped watching the news.

I stopped reading the news.

I stopped “being friends” with people I didn’t relate to.

I had an excuse, and it was valid.

So, my experiment has been working for five years, now. I may have grief, loss, pain, and issues to resolve daily—but the riff raff of negativity from a faction of people that truly don’t matter to me is pleasantly gone.

I have been drawn to prophecy and politics for most of my life. Because I inform myself of trends and events that fit into the prophetic narrative I have always felt the burden to be a “watchman” and warn people.

After all, Ezekiel warns the watchmen! Blood is on our heads if we fail to warn.

So I warn, but I no longer fret about the “other side.”

It wasn’t long ago when I figured out that prayer was the most powerful thing I can do in the way of being a testimony and an evangelist. I am required to be a witness, to “preach” the Gospel, to warn, to admonish and to discern….

But prayer is the most powerful thing I can use to do the will of the Lord. I pray people into the kingdom.

This has released me from the burden of being negative in anyone’s life. I can love. The message is not from me, but the rejection comes because of the conviction of the message—not because I hold to it. Rejection may become the norm, because that is the natural man’s response.

I simply move on. I can care, and I do, deeply, but I can focus my energy on prayer. I need not become discouraged because I trust that God will answer my prayer.

The bitterness and negativity that is directed toward me can wash off like water on a duck’s back.

Paring down your life makes it so much easier to simply be kind—to anyone.

Remove the excess conflict. Remove the bitterness.

I have watched Ray Comfort for years. I really like the way he lovingly shows total strangers the truth of the Gospel and gently leads them toward Christ. I wish I could be Ray Comfort! His example is an inspiration to me, and I have been convicted about the tone I project. Is it loving? Is it kind? Am I revealing light to a dark world?

The negativity is gone, the prayer remains. Love grows, and trust in the Creator God expands. He answers prayer.

“The greatest of these is love” —-of the cardinal virtues.

Jesus is coming soon. He desires that we repent. Putting our faith in Christ is the only way to be forgiven and to anticipate an eternity in heaven with the Lord. This is the message that we are required to share.

Of course we can inform anyone about the fascinating life that begins and remains in Christ. We can watch the sometimes unbelievable events that unfold in perfect alignment with Scripture’s prophecies.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

There is nothing so encouraging as hashing out unfolding events with like-minded believers in light of Prophecy. It’s a happy thing. We are so encouraged because we will soon see Jesus, and we hope in God’s answers to our prayer.

Win/win. Hope. Sweetness and light, kindness and love, being positive and alert, watching and waiting….

MARANATHA!

I’m subbing at the high school today. Rarely do I get to sub on the last day of class, but today was an exception, and this year I really needed to sub almost every day.

Kids are taking a final, so I brought my chromebook to blog a bit while I monitor their test.

Modern tech has made cheating pretty hard, but it could happen, theoretically. Mostly I need to keep behaviors in order, but the kids are pretty good here today.

Home repair has been draining in multiple ways, so subbing has been one needed avenue for costs.

The basement is dry. The waterproofers did their task well. I am still longing for it to be finished, as all of the drywall and some flooring need to be replaced. I haven’t shopped for tile yet, and I’m hoping I can find something similar to what I have down there.

I have yet to tear out the moldy walnut floor that covers half of the basement.

Books are still piled high in my bedroom—waiting for all that work to be finished in the basement and finding their home on the “stacks” down there.

I have had a summer cold —already—and the news is that air quality literally stinks here in Minnesota due to Canada forest fires. It makes for some misery.

Cheri is loving life in Alaska. It sort of sounds like paradise from her texts and photos: cozy, rugged beauty, fantastic food. She does have her ticket back to Minnesota, and I sure hope she uses it!

I’ve survived over a week as an empty nester.

Being alone, all alone, is something I never really let myself think about. Too sad.

Somewhere in my subconscious I knew this day would arrive—-but I thought I’d be a lot older than I am.

I need to accept reality. Life is lonely, but, as I’ve written about before, it’s also rather selfish. Relationships are for honing and sharpening, iron on iron. It’s easy to stop the improvement process when you are only improving yourself for yourself.

It takes discipline to strive for good.

I have attempted to invite more people over for fellowship lately.

“Tea is always served at Corgi Hollows!”

This quote is on display in my kitchen. I love serving coffee too, of course.

Last night I made cinnamon rolls for the first time in about a year. I just got the yen for them, and decided to bake a batch. I ate one. There are 8 left, and I may freeze them.

I never had to do that before.

Plans: walking, swimming, and fasting. Strength training. This could help my self discipline this summer. I had an idea of swimming in the lake again. That is exhilarating —much more so than the pool at the Y. A few summers back I swam at the lake all summer long.

I keep thinking of the muskies beneath me when I’m at the lake. You know they are the freshwater sharks. Generally they are not interested in humans who swim, but there are stories. The stories live on in the minds of freshwater lake swimmers.

The amount of water all around you when you swim in a natural setting can be almost overwhelming, too. It is quite awe inspiring. Big sky above, vast depths beneath. Your tiny human body seems so fragile and vulnerable.

Still, it is a wonderful thing, and I am looking forward to summer beach time.

The dogs need some serious exercise. Woodtick/deertick season is upon us, and I tend to avoid the grasses and hays these weeks. Thankfully I’ve not had to deal with too many yet this year.

A couple of days ago there was a total racket outside. I thought Topi, our resident male at Corgi Hollows, had taken down some wildlife.

No. I followed the sound and discovered a nest of baby raccoons! They peered out of the tree hollow, looking down on me, chattering and asking for something. Momma raccoon was not present, I assume. I don’t think she was down deep in the tree.

They are the CUTEST, but I know I don’t want them. Rascals. I hope they decide to move on. I snapped a few photos for the memory, though. I have heard coons in the past, but never saw the babies like this before. They really have a nice nesting spot.

The coyotes may get them before long. Sad face. Nature. Circle of Life.

Summer at Corgi Hollows is mostly idyllic. God has blessed me with Minnesota warmth, green, and color. I can’t help it but think that a Minnesota summer is what the original creation resembled. (Let’s not talk about mosquitoes.)

I am truly blessed to enjoy such natural beauty. The long winters are so worth it.

Wildlife has been abundant since the temps warmed. There are always new sounds and sights outside. The dogs frequently let me know that something new is around, too. They miss little.

I can’t complain.

School’s out—in a few hours—and I am primed for another new beginning.

Is Jesus coming soon?

MARANATHA!