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Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Jeremiah 17:7
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Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
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The Group of Frogs 

As a group of frogs was traveling through the woods, two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs crowded around the pit and saw how deep it was, they told the two frogs that there was no hope left for them.However, the two frogs decided to ignore what the others were saying and they proceeded to try and jump out of the pit. Despite their efforts, the group of frogs at the top of the pit were still saying that they should just give up. That they would never make it out.Eventually, one of the frogs took heed to what the others were saying and he gave up, falling down to his death. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die.He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?”
The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

Moral of the story:
People’s words can have a big effect on other’s lives. Think about what you say before it comes out of your mouth. It might just be the difference between life and death.
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Smeshque - Very great analogy.-------------------------

10 Warnings about the Power Words
We need God’s help to have a pure (and purer) heart. In the meantime, these proverbs can shine a light on where we are in our walk.
1. Anyone who answers without listening is foolish and confused. (Prov. 18:13)
2. Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. (Prov. 21:23)
3. A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city, and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace. (Prov. 18:19)
4. People will be rewarded for what they say; they will be rewarded for how they speak. (Prov. 18:20)
5. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Prov. 12:18)
6. What you say can mean life or death. Those who speak with care will be rewarded. (Prov. 18:21)
7. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Prov. 15:1)
8. Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling will stop. (Prov 26:20)
9. The words of a good person are like pure silver, but an evil person’s thoughts are worth very little. (Prov. 10:20)
10. The poor beg for mercy, but the rich give rude answers. (Prov. 18:23)
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God bless you. I can only share according to my personal experience. I believe taking care of yourself makes it possible for you to care for others and is part of loving that person. If you are physically, mentally, emotionally, financially exhausted you can not do your best. A favorite Biblical story of mine is of Solomon and David. I don't know chapter and verse. As he grew older, King David could not get warm. King Solomon found a young nurse to work as a bed wamer--but not lover. King Solomon did not start a fire, and jump in bed with his father, as in doing so he would have neglected His wives and children. If you reach out to adult day care or some of the numerous home care programs, if you seek respite care, you are still caring for your parent, and in many ways with respect and love. For those who adhere to the New Testament, parents are urged not to make their children bitter or angry. There is absolutely no need to feel shame in asking for assistance. Even though my Mom has in-home care, I still will assist her dressing, bathing, ect, on days when she doesn't have home care, however, I feel a great deal more tenderness, than I did when I, alone was providing services. And I still pray each day to make me a better daughter for the Individual who is My Mother. Even though many older people have similar behaviors, each individual and situation is different. There are two sides to a relationship whether it is parent and child, or between spouse, the person needing care should want the best for you. I hope this was of some help. Blessings.
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I have an acquaintance whose Mom passed away yesterday morning. I feel so sad for her. She had left her husband to go and take care of her Mom. Now her Mom is gone and so this year she has lost her husband and her Mom. I am doing my best to be encouraging and supportive, but my heart breaks for her. She is feeling so lost. The best I can do is pray for her. But these are the hardest things in life. :(




Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Psalms 86:17
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Smeshque,

Some people that have near death experiences say that they feel more alive than ever before. What’s your take on it?

Some don’t even believe In near death experiences. There are so many different accounts or experiences that are reported. Some see relatives, some see angels, some see Jesus. Have you known anyone who had an NDE?

I know one person. A good friend who is credible. He died in a severe automobile accident. A military man brought him back.

He was clinically dead for a brief period. Military personnel are so well trained in medical techniques. He feels it was a miracle that this man saved his life.

Anyway, he saw his grandma and said he wanted to stay with her. She told him he would be back but it wasn’t his time to stay.

That is so common. No one wants to come back from heaven. All testimonies of NDE experiences have expressed that same emotion of feeling love and peace.

Have you read the book by Howard Storm on his NDE? ‘My Descent into Death.’ It’s incredible! A quick read but very powerful book. I loved it.

I read the original years ago. I see where he has a second edition now.
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Dearest Smeshque: For your friend. Her husband also passed away?------------------
Psalm 73:26



26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my portion forever."
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NHWM- I do not personally know of anyone who has had such an experience. My personal opinion and this is my opinion based on what I know of scripture. I do not think a person can die and come back. I think a person can be considered dead, and in process of being resuscitated, that their minds can think and see all kinds of things. But I would never call someone a liar who claims such as I have never died and came back to life. Because whatever their experience was is real to them, true or not.
So I don't know, I just don't think it works that way, where we can die get a glimpse of the afterlife and come back. I believe once you are truly dead, you are dead. For no man has seen God and lived.
So interesting subject, and again I just do not believe this is possible. Just my opinion.


LL- she had to make the choice to go help her Mom, only her husband and her split up because of that. It is an unfortunate thing for her. She is an only child and chose to go help her Mom. So that is what I meant that she lost her husband and Mom.
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Smeshque: Oh, that is so unfortunate for her. I was lucky in the fact that DH was still here when I returned from Massachusetts, where I was caring for mother. He could have "thrown in the towel" so to speak, but he didn't. Prayers for your acquaintance. ♡♡
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I have this Hope

As I walk this great unknown
Questions come and questions go
Was there purpose for the pain?
Did I cry these tears in vain?

I don't want to live in fear
I want to trust that You are near
Trust Your grace can be seen
In both triumph and tragedy

I have this hope
In the depth of my soul
In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

But sometimes my faith feels thin
Like the night will never end
Will You catch every tear
Or will You just leave me here?

But I have this hope
In the depth of my soul
In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

Yes, I have this hope
In the depth of my soul
In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

So, whatever happens I will not be afraid
Cause You are closer than this breath that I take
You calm the storm when I hear You call my name
I still believe that one day I'll see Your face

I have this hope
In the depth of my soul
In the flood or the fire
You're with me

I have this hope
In the depth of my soul
In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go


tenth avenue north
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Smeshque: Such a lovely poem really!
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Praying for all my fellow caregivers in one of the hardest parts of life's journey, may we steadfastly walk this journey with Jesus, grace, humbleness, selflessness and Love. As we travel through this pilgrim land to our eternal abode.

The Beautiful Garden of Prayer

There is a garden where Jesus is waiting,
There is a place that is wondrously fair
For it glows with the light of His presence
Tis the beautiful garden of prayer,

O the beautiful garden
the beautiful garden of prayer
O the beautiful garden of prayer
There my Saviour awaits
and He opens the gates
To the beautiful garden of prayer.

There is a garden where Jesus is waiting
And I go with my burden and care
Just to learn from His lips words of comfort
In the beautiful garden of prayer

O the beautiful garden of prayer
There my Saviour awaits
and He opens the gates
To the beautiful garden of prayer.

There is a garden where Jesus is waiting
And he bids you to come meet Him there
Just to walk and to talk with my Saviour
In the beautiful garden of prayer
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Smeshque: Another lovely ode. Thank you for posting.
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Sometimes we have such a hard time accepting things. Since my care giving journey started, I have been feeling as if I am just hanging around. You know, just doing and being available for others. I have been really praying and studying about purpose. This I know that my purpose is to bring glory to Jesus. That means in whatever situation I am placed in, to in some way bring glory to HIM. For the longest time after beginning the caregiving season of my life, I have not really learned nor thought about living. Not that I mean living for myself or what have you, I mean just living, feeling each moment and always finding my joy in Jesus. It is as I just kind of put being alive on hold. Like, enjoyment, peace of mind, and any pursuit I once was chasing. However, my pursuits have definitely changed in that I am pursuing Jesus. But, I am only now figuring out, with much prayer and help from our Lord, that I need to live. I need to feel each moment and see that each moment is a blessing and gift from God. The more time HE gives me, the more time I have to learn and grow, in HIM. God has placed me in this season, HE has placed me in my location, and HE has made me to glorify HIM. I am going to make a plan. Because I am a list maker and a schedule maker and a planner.
I am making a plan, how to live. I begin my plan with planning to bring glory to Jesus in all I do. To make this season a new season. A season of joy in the Lord, of hope in Jesus, and loving the Lord God with all my heart, mind and soul, and growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I will plan to stop and enjoy the beauty of God's wondrous creations, HE shows them to me everyday, only I do not stop and appreciate it as often as I should. I will plan to spend more time alone with my Lord. I will plan to pray more. I will plan to make my Mom smile everyday(I have gotten pretty good at this one, thank the Lord). I will plan to give God my firstfruits everyday.
In all my plan, if I can do these things better, I can then only be the best caregiver I can, with love, patience, gentleness, and humility.
So yeah that is my plan.



“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”
Colossians 1:16
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As the Apostle Paul describes in Thessalonians, at some point in the future Jesus will come in the air, catch up the Church from the earth, and then return to heaven with the Church. This is known as the Rapture and it will be glorious. But what of our pets? Who will take care of our pets when we’re gone?

We try to be good stewards of our pets and other animals, given to us by God.
What will happen to our pets?
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Send, I was reading a book some time ago, can't remember the author or name, but the author talked about the question of whether our animals will be in heaven. It said something to the effect of, "No one knows for sure exactly what heaven will look like, but I believe that God loves us and loves to give us good things, and that it will be a place of beauty, and will have many of the things we love there too. Our Father knows our hearts, so wouldn't it be like him to have the animals that we love there too?" That's always stuck with me. If I know my kid loves a certain doll/toy that he/she carries with them all the time, I will go out of my way to make sure we take it along for the ride wherever we are going, even on vacation. I wouldn't doubt that God does the same for us :)
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Ecclesiastes 3:21, is the only scripture I know of that speaks of the spirits of animals.
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Smeshque,

My last dog was a greyhound. As you most likely know it is an extremely old bread. Cleopatra had a greyhound! They have a very interesting history and are the sweetest dogs in this world. I miss him and loved him dearly.

I think it’s cool that greyhounds are mentioned in the Bible. (Proverbs)

I believe all of God’s creatures are part of the ‘circle of life.’ All animals should be treated with dignity.

All our pets want is just to be loved by us and they deserve it.
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Proverbs 30:31 
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10
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Awwww, thanks smeshque.

You just made me smile so big remembering my beautiful greyhound 😊.
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NHWM- I have not had much experience with greyhounds, except riding one once from Ca to Ok, when I was 17. :)
Do they make good pets? I bet they are very high energy.
Very glad to make you smile. :)
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I love to see the organization with Greyhound rescue dogs. I've seen them several times at craft shows. I believe these are dogs that used to have to race in states like Florida and know there is an organization that in some way assists the older Greyhounds.
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Smeshque, Hahaha, yeah I only took one greyhound bus ride in my teens too like you and I fell asleep and almost missed my stop!

We adopted my Grey from a track in Florida. He was a champion and they tried to move him north to help train other dogs.

He didn’t like the snow and he refused to run in the cold weather. So they retired him. They will usually keep them up to five years when they are winners. They will race them 2 or 3 times a week. They are stacked up on top of each other in crates when not running. Isn’t that sad?

He was retired at 4 1/2 years. He lived until he was 13. He was a great dog. They are shy. They are couch potatoes. They are very gentle dogs, not clumsy or rambunctious at all.

He did sprint in my backyard and the dog park. He was lightening fast! Was fun to see him run in the backyard or dog park. They can run up to 45 miles per hour. He was 85 lbs. He was tall! But really thin. They are extremely lean. They don’t eat as much as other large dogs. It’s bad for them to be over fed.

He was a beautiful dog. He had a few scars and part of his ear was bitten off by another dog. Battle wounds from the track from getting in scuffles with other dogs. I didn’t see his scars. I just saw a beautiful, sweet, loving dog that God blessed our family with. He was happy with us. He showed us his love everyday. I really bonded with our dog. His name was Garrison.

They can’t live outside in the heat or cold. They are very thin and have short hair. I never kept any pet I had outside. I always wanted my pets in my home with me.

They are shutting down the tracks in Florida. I hope one day they will all close. They used to kill them after their career was over. Rescue groups began placing them for adoption. It’s interesting because the grey color is the most rare. We had the one that was referred to as fawn. He did look like a small deer.

They don’t breed for particular colors so they have a variety of colors, including brindle.

I volunteered with Greyhound Pets of America to help find homes for the dogs. I would bring him to the ‘meet and greet’ so people could see how wonderful their personalities are.

I loved volunteering with them. Every now and then I still see a few of the people I worked with. We do a holiday dinner at Christmas time at a restaurant and we catch up on each other’s dogs or former dogs. It’s fun.

Some people choose to foster the dogs. I thought about fostering but I know any dog that I fostered I probably would not be able to say goodbye to.
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Smeshque:
For you...

You Say
by Lauren Daigle
I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low
Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know
Ooh oh
You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe
Oh I believe
What You say of me
I believe
The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity
Ooh oh
You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when…
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Gershun,
For you:

“For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11.
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:16-17.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9.
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will …” Ephesians 1:4-5.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4.
God will not forsake us.
“For the Lord will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance.” Psalm 94:14.
“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.” Exodus 19:5.
“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8.
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39.
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Thank -you Send!
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Thank you Send- And for you...

We cannot count our friends, nor say
How many praise us day by day.
Each one of us has friends that he
Has yet to meet and really know,
Who guard him, wheresoe'er they be,
From harm and slander's cruel blow.
They help to light our path with cheer,
Although they pass as strangers here.

These friends, unseen, unheard, unknown,
Our lasting gratitude should own.
They serve us in a thousand ways
Where we perhaps should friendless be;
They tell our worth and speak our praise
And for their service ask no fee;
They choose to be our friends, although
We have not learned to call them so.

We cannot guess how large the debt
We owe to friends we have not met.
We only know, from day to day,
That we discover here and there
How one has tried to smooth our way,
And ease our heavy load of care,
Then passed along and left behind
His friendly gift for us to find.


The Unknown Friends
by Edgar A. Guest
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Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight.
This robe of flesh I’ll drop, and rise
To seize the everlasting prize,
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”
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Thank you Smeshque!
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