Help, Lord

Fresh snow last night

     Lord help us all. We need You, I suppose what I would tell myself is a working version of You. One I seemed to know well in youth and One solidified, to me, at least, in Lee vL’s post anyways. 

       I am not being my best self, and that makes me want to run to You, especially the You I think I used to know.   That may be a good thing, leading me to rely on You, my traditional You. To give up what I think I have learned about You and me?  Am I the Rich Young Man, told to give up all he owns and simply follow, only to turn away sorrowing, unwilling?  You don’t force us, we can only choose.  I guess I’m surprised at the number of times the choice comes up in a life. Which tells me it was likely never, yes, Lord.

Real self remembering

 

5-9-25 a worthy memory 

   Thank you, Lord for color and warmth remembered in cold and snow.

     Thanks for SB’s teasing, tempting Fla pix. I’ll post some tomorrow. The variety of  Your world is such a pleasure to your creatures. You do good work 😉

      I wish a closer walk with Thee.  I wish a healthy outlook for us all. IJN

      

1. I am weak, but Thou art strong;
   Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
   I’ll be satisfied as long
   As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
   • Refrain:
     Just a closer walk with Thee,
     Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
     Daily walking close to Thee,
     Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
2. Through this world of toil and snares,
   If I falter, Lord, who cares?
   Who with me my burden shares?
   None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
3. When my feeble life is o’er,
   Time for me will be no more;
   Guide me gently, safely o’er
   To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
4.                  Anonymous 

Favorite people

 

A most beloved 6ft boy at a fave place, 

Harris Shoals Park, 9-14-25

     Lord, I can’t know if this was one of the last times I will have ever seen a special needs darling who claimed a piece of my heart nearly twenty years ago. He has rolled through those years without  seeming to register his losses, eg his mother, or barely his helpmeets, father excepted. I can see no ways to support him personally in the future, so I must turn him over to his fate and to You. Obviously I don’t think that’s sure enough. Where is my faith for this? 

      I had intended to pray IJN, Send Your guardian angel bands to protect him daily through his whole life, to minimize his emotional pain and all suffering which I assume he cannot understand or grow from. I do pray that, for him, and for non blood others like him. And for those in and out of my family who suffer particularly from mental illness.

      

        My prayer must also be for me for that one to have any hope of going “past the ceiling.”  Lord, today I perceive my sin of small faith in You and Your ways.  I confess my sin and pray, Lord, help my unbelief.

     And as I contemplate this prayer, I see I am saying, Absolute, send the supernatural to rescue us 3BBeings from the fact and destiny of our suffering, contrary to the laws of nature and existence.  Not gonna happen. You can’t break Your own laws, which we may not understand or agree with.  That’s GIG’s teaching, which I accept. Most days. Until I ask for exceptions.  Maybe that’s a conundrum of faith. Perhaps it’s a source of the Sorrow of the Absolute.  I do not understand You. Lord, have mercy.  Help my unbelief.

Best part of winter

 

Citrus in sunshine, today

     And the last big football game of the season.  Wouldn’t be right to ask for you and the angels to support the Patties, I suppose😉. Halftime now and it’s 9 to 0.  Looks like they could use some divine intervention, if  not citrus fruit. Guess I should pray for you to forgive my sense of humor, but don’t hold it against them, Lord.

     Seriously, Lord intervene in the suffering of this world.  Especially send your guardians to help those unsheltered in the frigid nights and days of this winter.

        Bless my loved ones and me with health, love, and purposeful lives.  IJN

So much time wasted

Fashionista yesterday

      No  inner work, no time for God today.  All spent on TV and YouTube shorts. Yes I’m kicking my own pants and muttering empty repetitions of Lord forgive me.  Didn’t exercise Red or myself enough today either. I will pray, God help me wake up and do better tomorrow. IJzN

More sun

 

Behind the post office, by the river, 2-4, 12:40 pm

      Pleasant winter days all week now. Thank you, Lord. Your creation lifts my spirits. And keeps me walking, which is the only exercise I take these days.

     Bless my tribe with prosperity and health, love and calm.  IJN

Beauty

 

Manhole cover: Modern day rosette

     “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” What a surprise, even a shock, to see it in the weather damaged asphalt during a pleasant winter day’s dog walk on our own street.  This dirty, worn shape raised associations with magnificent Cathedrals and their sacred, colorful windows and thereby You.  Never know where God will show up in my life—not only in reading, people, meditation, prayer, scenic nature. I am thankful, Lord, that you gave me eyes to see.