John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
The most important words in history; words that changed everything:
Matthew 28:6 "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said."
The disciples are confused and mourning.
This wasn't how it was supposed to end.
They don't understand:
Sunday is coming.
In the moment, it is the most awful, horrible, wicked, evil, crushing, horrifying day in history. Betrayal after betrayal. Lies upon lies. Pride on full display, determined to squash into extinction the call to humility, service, sacrifice. Unwittingly serving the greatest purpose. Unknowingly setting into motion the ultimate example of "beauty for ashes."
The adversary believes he has won. He has thwarted God's plan. The promised Messiah is debased and brutally murdered. Whew. Success.
God holds aloft a very different definition of success.
Jesus willingly endured Gethsemane, the flogging, the mock trial, the cross, everything because of His love for us.
Something the adversary cannot understand.
The disciples didn't understand, regardless of the Master's gentle tutoring. Compassion begs to be embraced. How could they? No one had ever done what Jesus was doing. It was all new. Everything was new. Hearts and minds needed to be changed.
Jesus led the way and invited all to follow Him.
And yet, how many would willingly follow Him through such a grizzly death?
Would I?
He does not ask it of me. He asks me to follow Him. Every day, I declare my choice by the actions I take. Sometimes, I follow well. Sometimes, I don't. Jesus provided the perfect way to overcome the times I don't. Repentance: Turn back to God. No one is exempt. But no one can cheat. What you choose will be written on your heart and show in your daily steps. In this life, it is never too late to make a different choice.
The advantage we have over the disciples, in our faith walk, is they don't know Sunday is coming.
Air conditioning, fans, and ice
Midweek Gospel study at church
Palm Sunday
Church with family
Waffle breakfast with family
Visit with my sister
The Last Supper - The Apostles still don't understand what is to come. Jesus knows.
God's grace
Gentri "The Lord's Prayer"
https://youtu.be/m7e5BUjd4RE?si=Rt36yl7Mf8RMGyab
BYU Vocal Point "I Stand All Amazed"
https://youtu.be/9L_qPCVxTFY?si=vuwweViRfs23uZ1Z
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Song Dog Journal is one of my favorite blogs:
https://songdogjournal.com/2026/01/02/ranch-wife-musings-whats-in-your-cup/
https://songdogjournal.com/2026/01/30/ranch-wife-musings-no-one-warned-me/
Gorgeous "Storm Clearing" photos from Tales from a Mid-Lifer:
https://family5power.com/2026/02/18/storm-clearing/
God bless.
Easter is coming.
Celebrate with a story.
The Blessing Basket
The thirteenth novella in the series.
Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.
Cici, Candy Crothers, lies to everyone, except her Holiday Diner boss, only because he informed her if she lied to him he'd fire her. She ran away from an ugly past and still worries it might catch up to her. Sharing her nightmares is nowhere on her list of things to do, ever.
Trace Brown left the Army honorably but not unscathed. Anger controls his life, holding him back from pretty much everything, including becoming a chef at Holiday Diner. The diner's head hostess intrigues him, but not enough to risk sharing his day-to-day battle with PTSD.
Nothing can drive God away. His hand is stretched out still. He is always there, waiting...
Air conditioning
Visit with my sister
Church
Seeing and hearing the neighborhood quail
Watering my palms before the bees come for the bottle brush blossoms
Celebrating a 50th Wedding Anniversary for friends
God's grace
The Piano Guys - Claire de Lune
https://youtu.be/o-mK22OESx4?si=3D2CmP42gLzT6mMJ
Tolkien Fact, from The Lord of the Rings: Mushrooms and toadstools always bring to mind the fact that Frodo Baggins loved mushrooms. Quotes from the movie:
"Frodo Baggins, the bravest of hobbits." ~ Samwise Gamgee.
"Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam." ~ Frodo Baggins
John 14:25-26 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Nancy Ruegg, over at From the Inside Out, shared great negative thought corrections:
https://nancyaruegg.com/2026/02/05/hey-self-listen-up/
For His Purpose shared "A Break on the Bench," a reminder I needed:
https://forhispurpose.blog/2026/02/06/a-break-on-the-bench/
God bless.
Sackett's Land (Sackett series Book 1) by Louis L'Amour western. While it's listed has a western, it takes place in 1600. An unexpected enjoyment to recognize the mention of the battle of Lepanto, as I've listened to the narration of that bit of history by Buck Sexton a few times. L'Amour did his homework. The book is written in first person, a point of view I'm not particularly fond of reading. However, L'Amour writes not in an effort to reveal the character's inner thoughts and feelings but instead in the mode of storytelling, an autobiography.
To the Far Blue Mountains (The series Book 2) by Louis L'Amour western. While it's listed has a western but takes place in 1600. This is a continuation of the previous characters. The first time I read the Sackett series I didn't know much about my family history. The story delved into Wales, the Welsh, Celts, and Ireland. I also knew nothing about St. John's, Newfoundland, until recently when I discovered the police series "Hudson and Rex." L'Amour's writing is sometimes poetic, painting stunning pictures.
The Warrior Path (The series Book 3) by Louis L'Amour western set in 1620s. I enjoy all the bits of actual history thrown into the story. The visit to Jamaica and private haven of Port Royal was fascinating. Page turner.
Jubal Sackett (The series Book 4) by Louis L'Amour western set in 1620s. Unlike Dan Brown who includes facts that aren't really facts but more fiction disguised as facts - yes, I looked them up - L'Amour uses facts and explains when they are simply theories based in facts, though some might dismiss the facts as fiction.
Midweek Gospel study
Opportunities to serve others
Opportunities to share
Church
Sunday School
Good books
Visiting a dear friend
God's grace
Seph Schlueter - Life With You
https://youtu.be/3dqaEmb5wMY?si=h3lkRbbzOCO0J9Ek
John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Daryl Madden shares personal poetry; I liked this one "Grow Your Faith":
https://darylmadden.wordpress.com/2026/01/30/grow-your-faith/
My God, My Music, My Life shared "The Relationship That Changed Everything":
https://mygodmymusicmylife.com/2026/02/04/the-relationship-that-changed-everything/
God bless.
