I believe.

Why DO you believe what you believe? A seeker of fairy tales, a believer in legend and myth, a simple minded weakling? If that is what you want to call me, go right ahead. 

I believe in one true God, who died to know me, who rose to save me, 

and calls to YOU today. 

Your Creator is not distant, He is not heartless and He is not make believe. 

In this great age of unbelief, be different ... 

Seek for yourself and you shall find.

Peace. Forgiveness. Love.

-JLR Grace

by Carol Wimmer

Third Day: "Creed"

I believe in God the Father, 
Almighty Maker of heaven and Maker of earth,
And in Jesus Christ 
His only begotten son our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirt, 
born of the virgin Mary.
Suffered under Pontius Pilot 
where he was crucified dead and buried.

And I believe what I believe in 
is what makes me what I am.
And I did not make it, 
no it is making me
It is the very truth of God 
and not the invention of any man.

I believe that He who suffered
was crucified, buried and dead.
He descended into hell
and on the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven 
where He sits at God's mighty right hand.
I believe that He's returning to judge
the quick and the dead of the sons of men.

I believe it, I believe it. I believe it.
I believe it, I believe it. I believe it.

I believe in God the Father, 
Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of earth
And in Jesus Christ His
only begotten Son our Lord.
I believe int the Holy Spirit, 
one Holy Church
The communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sin
I believe in the resurrection
I believe in a life that never ends.

grace in the wilderness

Wolcott Falls: Wolcott, NY 9/14/2015

On this past Monday (9/14/15) in celebration of Rosh Hashanah, I participated in the ritual of "tashlikh" or "casting off", symbolically casting my sins into a body of water by throwing rocks representing my sins for the year.

"He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19). 

I should have most likely thrown a number of huge boulders.

Sin. Ugh. 

Why are we humans so fallible and filthy? 

Even Paul said; 

"I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate." (Romans 7:15). 

And he was was a pretty "good" guy, yet, even he could not get it right all the time, Saint Paul, the apostle - chosen by the Messiah - screwed up. 

God is funny that way, He seems to choose some pretty messed up individuals to represent Him down here... 

God, You gotta love the guy, He really seems to have a great sense of humor.

Of course to be fair, flawed - imperfect - screwed up people ARE all He has to work with!

My sins? Well, they are grievous and many. 

The ten commandments? I've trespassed every one in the course of my life, not "merely" in thought - but in deed. 

I have much to be forgiven for. 

For this forgiveness, I am grateful, and in my gratitude I commit to love. 

May I walk in forgiveness each day He allows me on this earth, may I remember how much I have been forgiven and extend that forgiveness to others. 

I offer you this reminder today:

Do you doubt? (Yeah, well so did Thomas.)

Do you deny Him? (Yeah, well, so did Peter.)

Get over yourself.

Seek and you shall find, look not at the reflections or shadows of God that have been perpetrated by the "church", instead look for yourself. 

You will discover a God who came to earth as none other before Him, a Man who lived like no other before, or since. 

I was blessed to read the following from Jeremiah during service on Monday evening. My prayer today is that we all may go out in the dance of the merrymakers - and that we all may find grace in this wilderness.

In love, 

JLR Grace 

Jeremiah 31: 1 - 7
1	"At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people."
2	Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,
3	the LORD appeared to him from afar. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
4	Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with timbrels, and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
5	Again you shall plant vineyards upon the mountains of Sama'ria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit.
6	For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of E'phraim: `Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'"
7	For thus says the LORD: "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, `The LORD has saved his people, the remnant of Israel.'

Victory

Have you over come this world?  I know I sure as fuck have not. 
I mean look around... death, destruction, despair. 
You can not buy your way out. You can not fill the empty hole in your heart, you can not cheat death. 
You can not look at your loved ones and say with absolute assurance "its all going to be all right", because its not. 
There is no security offered from this world. There is, however, hope available. 
One man overcame this world. One man came and gave His life for all. 
One man paid the price for your sin and mine, so we can look at our children and say "there is victory". 
Believe, have faith in your Creator today, it is the only thing He asks of you. 
All the rest is bullshit. 

 I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;

I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood's atoning,

Then I repented of my sins

And won the victory.

Chorus

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,

Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.

How He made the lame to walk again

And caused the blind to see;

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,

Come and heal my broken spirit,"

And somehow Jesus came and bro't

To me the victory.

Chorus

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about a mansion

He has built for me in glory.

And I heard about the streets of gold

Beyond the crystal sea;

About the angels singing,

And the old redemption story,

And some sweet day I'll sing up there

The song of victory.

Chorus

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

Happy Mothers Day #blessed

I am grateful, and praise God for making me a Mother to my sons. 

I am grateful, and praise God for the Mothers He has sent in to my life.

May you be blessed this Mother's Day, and may we all be a blessing to others.  

I hope they find my King James Bible

Worn around the edges and opened to the Book of John

My favorite picture we made together

Down by Mill Creek when we were just twenty-one

I hope its led by your own love letters

The ones that read just like a song

I hope they find more good than bad

When I'm good and gone

I hope my Babies will make good neighbors

The kind you can count on when your down

And I hope they teach their sons and daughters

The things I taught 'em when I'm not around

I hope the sun shines the day they lay me down

And there's lots of flowers and that line of friends is long

'Cause they found more good than bad

When I'm good and gone

I ain't leavin' here today as far as I can see

I got a list of things I plan on getting' to

Oh, but how and when I leave this world ain't up to me

Oh Lord You'll make that call and when You do

I hope You find more good than bad

When I'm good and gone...

I hope You find more good than bad

And I hope they find my King James Bible

Worn around the edges and opened to the Book of John...

Read more: Ricky Skaggs - When I'm Good And Gone Lyrics | MetroLyrics  

National Day of Prayer 2015

Remember who you are America. 

Today thousands of men, women and children across this nation will lift their voices, 

turn their faces towards, and open their hearts -  to God.

Will you? He calls to you today.

We live in a glorious age of wonder, we also exist in a time of profound change and upheaval.

Climate change, unprecedented drought, animal extinctions, volcanic eruptions, and - as the earth shakes across our nation and around the world, many simply go about their business, as if nothing is out of the ordinary. But it is beyond ordinary, we are chosen to bear witness to the EXTRAORDINARY. 

YOU WERE BORN FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS.

We are blessed with FREEDOM, 

living in a country where we can chase our dreams, speak our minds
and even take liberty for granted.

Today, I beseech you beloved friend, look at the world - be grateful for your place in it. 

Lift your eyes to the heavens with wonder, and believe in the God who created it all. 

In His mercy, He offers you grace and love.

Let us hear the sound of angels 

Singing holy, holy, holy is the Lord 

Let us see the saints and elders 

Gathering in worship 'round Your throne 

There's only one desire 

In the hearts of Your redeemed 

To step deeper in the place 

Where earth and heaven meet 

Oh hear us now 

With the sound like rushing waters 

We sing blessing, honor and praise 

With one voice that rolls like thunder 

Every tongue will now proclaim 

Our God reigns, our God reigns 

Oh we long to hear the nations 

Declaring You the Lord of everything 

Every king and every ruler 

Throwing down their crowns at Your feet 

All majesty and power on the earth and up above 

Be to the only God who was and is and is to come

Read more at http://www.onlylyrics.com/dustin-smith-lyrics-1122653.php#de4ppIObb76PKVPg.99

AMAZING LOVE

He has not come to call the righteous - but sinners.
Praise God, because thats me, SINNER.

"Satan is sinister but God is sovereign... The Holy Trinity never need meet in an emergency session." - Adrian Rogers

Think you can surprise God? Think again, He knows IT ALL, and had YOU figured from the very beginning.

I listened to a great message this morning, it reminded me that it is God's will that NONE should perish... to get to the gates of HELL you must first pass over the CROSS of CALVARY.

.

What makes people turn to God?
Punishment... fear...argument...truth...?
None of the above.
Kindness, the love of the Lord is what draws men to the light.

He calls your name today...do you doubt?
Do not look to mankind and religion, instead, seek for yourself.
THERE IS AN ANSWER, and it is available to you  - A GIFT, you just need to accept it.
He would have done it all JUST FOR YOU... Amazing LOVE. 

I'm forgiven cause You were forsaken

I'm accepted, You were condemned

I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me

'Cause You died and rose again

I'm forgiven cause You were forsaken

I'm accepted, You were condemned

I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me

'Cause You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be?

That You, my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know its true

It's my joy to honor You

In all I do, I honor You

I'm forgiven cause You were forsaken

I'm accepted, You were condemned

I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me

'Cause You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be?

That You, my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know its true

It's my joy to honor You

In all I do, I honor You

Amazing love, how can it be?

That You, my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know its true

It's my joy to honor You

In all I do, I honor You

You are my King

You are my King

You are my King

You are my King

Amazing love, how can it be?

That You, my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know its true

It's my joy to honor You

In all I do, I honor You

Amazing love, how can it be?

That You, my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know its true

It's my joy to honor You

In all I do, I honor You

You are my King

Read more: Chris Tomlin - Amazing Love Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

World Death Rate Holding Steady at 100%, and so a prayer...

THE ONION: World Death Rate Holding Steady At 100%

We are here in this place for but a moment, your moment is now.

Multiverse, String Theory... The astronomically tiny, yet vast, endless possibilities of Quantum Mechanics ... it boggles the mind, but shows the architect of it all is awesome. An accident? I think not.

Thank you Father for this Universe. Where I have experienced your mercy and grace. Thank you Father for your Son who came to this dimension and lived as a Man, as one of us humans on this planet. Born not to riches or royalty, in a time of ease and comfort - instead, a poor carpenter from the Galilee.

Thank you Father for the Angels that watch and those You continue to send; the good, the bad and the ugly. Thank you Father for John F. Kennedy, John Belushi and John the Beloved Disciple. Thank you Father for Ice Cream Sundaes and my lactose tolerance. Thank you for our crazy mixed up world Father, may we each of us, accomplish your will for us in it.

And may we all do it through love and laughter, as best we can. -jlrg

A Yiddish Schlemiel

And Christ breathed the same carrion air with us;

how meek the Majesty of our Almighty God!

What an Infinite Sense of Humor - 

for Him to become one of us!

King of the Universe,

nailed on a cross as a Yiddish Schlemiel by the likes of us.

They say Lucifer was cast down 

for refusing to adore the Incarnate Word;

the Foul One must totally lack a sense of humor!

-The Abbot, A Canticle for Leibowitz 

Here's what I am constantly grateful for and amazed by, the God I worship lived as one of us and was tempted in every way we are, yet He did not sin. He always chose the right, the selfless act, He always loved - despite the circumstance

“I mean Jesus never asked a man to do a damn thing that Jesus didn't do.” ― Walter M. Miller Jr.

. 

Lately, I look around and it seems people are digging in their heels. The Facebook feed is full of heated debate - 
zealots of the new age, none have ears to hear, thus listening a difficult task.

Relationships fail and families fall apart as the roots of stubbornness and pride are old and strong. Why are we such a stiff necked people, why must we always be right? 
That insistence ironic, as we often are unable to choose the right, the good... the selfless choice not usually being our first pick. 

Our world is reinforcing worship of self - demanding it even. Are YOU HAPPY, do you feel good? Somehow we are being educated that we should never feel badly, life is about feeling good - and that, my friends, is a lie. Life is about LIVING; an ongoing process of pain, joy, agony, understanding, confusion - a process with a purpose. More than this, there is more than this and only the good you do goes on. None of the material things, none of the riches you may store up, and none of the flesh - all are dust. We are fleshy creatures, us human beasts, so fleshy in fact we forget who we are. 

-jlrg

No time like the present!

Time to GO BOLDLY Dearest Reader,
How are YOU doing? Please know the Lord is with you and has EXtRaORdInARy things in store.
Listen friend, we must acknowledge the truth; the world is against you and life is not fair.
But, God is on your side, don't let this world get ya' down.

Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed--the one who brings destruction. 

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Time makes today tomorrow's memory. (R. Comfort)
Don't quit! Don't give up! There is a plan and your time will come. Make a decision to be happy, where you are, with what you have. Be joyful for others, do not covet or want. Let's get radical up in here and really piss the enemy off! "Make the devil mad- BE HAPPY ANYWAY." -J.M.

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. James 4:14

There's a bigger picture Peeps, sin has dulled our conscience, we have deluded ourselves regarding our fallen human nature and pride stands in our way. Everyone will fail you (including you) sooner or later, forgive them. Know that freedom. Accept the total forgiveness from the God who has forgotten all your sin, who sacrificed His only Son, so you could know THAT freedom.

This world is a paradox of a place, such beauty - yet such horror. Things seems to be speeding up, escalating by the day, life demands us to get busier and busier - resulting in more overwhelming anxiety. When we go to the doctor now, we are even asked a multitude of questions regarding our emotional state; on a scale of 1 to 5 how freaked out are you? Don't be controlled by your fears, ours is a God that says "Fear Not".

The following video has some pretty wild stuff, most of it simply the latest news reports. 

VIDEO #TrueStory 

#StraightUpCrossroads #AmericanSniperTrial #MilitarizedPolice #Grammys #Ukraine #SmartTVsWatchingYou #PoliceCheckpoints #GodBlessAmericaButNotInSchool #Drought #MassAnimalDeaths #ClimateChange #ISIS #ChristianMartyrs 

 "I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, 

you will believe." -Jesus (John 14:29) 

When I wake up to sleep no more

We all need some blue-grassy gospel now & then... 

When I Wake To Sleep No More
Recorded by Ralph Stanley
Written by Marion Easterling

G
What a glad thought some wonderful morning 
              
Just to hear Gabriel's trumpet sound 
 
When I wake up when I wake up 
            D7
To sleep no more (to sleep no more) 

       G
Rising to meet our blessed redeemer 
 
With a glad shout I'll leave the ground 
 
When I wake up (when I wake up) 
   D7       G        C        G
To sleep no more (to sleep no more) 


When I wake up some glad morning 
 
To sleep no more jewels adorning 
 
How happy I'll be over in glory 
                 D7
On the beautiful shore telling the story 

     G
With the redeemed of all the ages 
 
Praising the one who I adore 
 
When I wake up (when I wake up) 
   D7       G        C        G
To sleep no more (to sleep no more)  


Glory to God I'll have a new body 

Changed in a twinkling of an eye 

When I wake up (when I wake up) 
            D7
To sleep no more (to sleep no more)

 
Leaving behind all troubles and trials 

Bound for the city up on high 

When I wake up (when I wake up)
   D7       G        C        G
To sleep no more (to sleep no more) 

Repeat #3 & 4

Common Core, A Threat to Family & Country

“This school reform effort is nothing short of a revolution in how education is provided, relying on a technocratic, top-down approach to setting national standards that, despite claims to the contrary, will drive curricula, teaching texts, and the content of standardized tests.  At its heart, the Common Core is a woefully inadequate set of standards in that it limits the understanding of education to a utilitarian ‘readiness for work’ mentality.” -Cardinal Newman Society

ARE WE BECOMING  A SOCIETY THAT NEVER TAKES A STAND UNLESS IT'S GOVERNMENT APPROVED?

How's the Common Core treating you, do you see it's positive impact in the lives of your family and community?

Let me let you in on a not so secret, secret...

Common Core is not about what your children know and how they learn, but instead what they can contribute to the global economy.
THE STUDENT IS NO LONGER FOCUSED ON INTELLECTUAL ENDEAVOR

Forget Classical Education - they have done away with it (because it actually creates thinking, logical,intelligent individuals- who can not be controlled. For Example: The Founding Fathers of this country!)
The goal is to run education into training, so your child can be a cog in a wheel.
No competition, because he is being trained for the state and the corporations, NOT for his own upward mobility.

"Our Founding Fathers recognized the dangers to our freedoms posed by centralized control over public education." -CNS

COMMON CORE CONDITIONING

• Corporate school to work agenda, about global corporate profits - not education
• Our children are nothing more than human resources and guinea pigs - being trained like Pavlov's animals
• The first page in the Global Education textbook is to subvert the authority of the parents. Who do you want in charge of your kids, YOU or the State?

"Department of education is a Marxist factory, designed to destroy any semblance of good values, academics, etc - to make sure our children march blindly into a socialist communist world government that's the goal of the US department of education." Quote from Charlotte Thomson Iserbyrt, served as the Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), U.S. Department of Education (whistle blower)

THERE HAS BEEN A DELIBERATE DUMBING DOWN OF AMERICA. Do you see it?
Over the last few decades, through Federal Grant Programs we have seen;

VALUES CLARIFICATION PROGRAMS: Designed for the government to teach our children morality, values and belief systems. 

BETTER EDUCATIONS SKILLS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: Programs where we really discovered how the computer is fantastic for changing values.

If you substitute workforce training for education its the end of civilization...
end of the human being as entity opposed to animal
end of soul
end of conscience
= DEATH OF FREEWILL

‘The philosophy of the classroom in one generation will become the philosophy of the government in the next.’ Clearly, Common Core is a threat to individual privacy and liberty, and to our Constitutional Republic.” -CNS

WE MUST REJECT REGIONALISM, A GLOBAL SOCIALIST SYSTEM IS NOTHING BUT A TOTALITARIAN SYSTEM!

LESS 1984 MORE 1776

What can WE do? 

Take a stand, speak out, sign a petition, start a petition, opt-out! 

Common Core State Standards a Threat to Personal Liberty — Thomas More Law Center Develops Opt-Out Form for Parents

http://www.thomasmore.org/news/common-core-state-standards-threat-personal-liberty-thomas-law-center-develops-opt-form-parents/

FOLLOW THESE LINKS FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBfIA98ieRA

American Dream

"Because he was free to dream, scheme and tinker, 

Joe had a chance to make something of himself and his idea..."

This (creepily prophetic) cartoon from 1948 is cool and nostalgic fun, then gets real terrifying around 7 minutes in or so...

#AmericanDream #freedom #Less1984More1776 #BillOfRights #patriot #capitalism

Hey, remember America?

Wake up John Q. Public!

We bought what Dr. Utopia  was selling, government control = safety and security?! Wrong.
Ism Inc. owns us.

"Everything is fine... everything is fine... everything is fine"

THEY SEEK TO ROB US OF OUR FREEDOMS: WE MUST STOP DRINKING THE KOOL AID

What do you believe?

Dearest Reader,

Life is hard and the only certainty is death.

Doesn't necessarily sound like good news,
but let me assure you -
it's an amazing thing.
That YOU are here NOW - ExTrAoRdInArY -  

That you even exist, is the result of an amazing set of circumstances - MiRaCuLouS really!
Made of all those who came before you...stardust and light.

You are a part of a tale, that told even by Tolkein or Speilberg would be hard to swallow. 

There is a story written in the heavens and YOU have a place in it all.
Before time, God had you in mind.

A lot of us humans have a big grudge against God, if he's so great, why are things so messed up? Here's a secret, it's not His fault - all the good stuff, that's God. The bad stuff? Well, that's another story...

There is no good death.
In the beginning in the garden, God planned death for no one.
We live in a Creation gone awry.
The one who wrote our code did not intend for the virus that kills us to exist....
God has not 'taken' anyone from us - He gave us life.

We live during an unprecedented era in all of recorded human history.
Unlocking the genome, understanding DNA, AI, space exploration, the world wide web...
For 6000+years humans traveled at the same speed, in the last 100 years we have seen the speed at which we can move (physically through space, but also sending information and thoughts) increase EXpOnEnTiAllY!!!

Why are you here now, in this age of wonder? Look around you, see this place with new eyes.
You are no accident, descended from a series of randomness - you have a great destiny and are here to change the world.

Join with me my friend,to no man is promised tomorrow and we have much work to do!

Love always,
Jennifer

What do you believe?

Everybody needs something as proof;

something in hand;to know the truth;everybody needs something to see;something to feel;and something to be, yeah

There's a way that seems right; 

in the heart of a man; and many angels of light; 

in disguise destroyin' man;

 so most choose to refuse; the absolute truth; replace it with lies; use ignorance as excuse; it's hard to conceive; what the mind can't comprehend; and harder to believe; what the eyes can't understand; we look to theory, philosophies and thought; for a sure foundation; in a belief we once sought; 

while the shadow of truth; cast an image so clear; the closer it gets; we reject it out of fear; 

if we really wanted truth; we would give our lives for it; walk in its direction of light; 

for God's glory; the saga continues; ‘cause most hearts are deceived; 

if we really wanted truth; we would live and believe; 

so the saga continues; ‘cause most hearts are deceived; 

if we really wanted truth; we would live and believe in it.

-GRITS.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/grits/believe.html