Blessed Friday

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

It’s Friday.

In the grand scheme of things this would be Short Story Friday.

I wrote a story. It’s not ready for public consumption. And, as I write this on Thursday evening, I know that it’s not going to get there, and there’s not going to be another one to replace it.

So, we’ll try for next week.

I won’t lie.

It’s been a hard week.

But, I won’t whine either.

At least I’ll try not to.

Thirty years ago, in the aftermath of my cancer surgery and treatment, I was given a gift.

It’s simple really.

It’s an ability to recognition that there are times in life when you have to say enough is enough.

A recognition that what you need is rest.

I can’t do it all.

I can’t keep up with everything on my to do list.

And, that’s okay.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not quitting.

I’m taking care of the necessary.

And, while the short stories are part of a long-term project, they’re not necessary here.

This is a season. Not a life sentence.

Psalm 46 has been very special to me since I found out at age 20 that my father had passed unexpectedly.

Be still.

And know.

I’m going to be still now.

Have a good weekend.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

MUSICAL INTERLUDE


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WHAT I’M READING


 

RANDOM LINKS YOU SHOULD READ

The Power of Being Vulnerable
Darren Rowse at ProBlogger
But I’ve learned from personal experience that being vulnerable and talking about the not-so-successful decisions you’ve made can be incredibly powerful. And while showing vulnerability can be risky, it it’s done right it can provide a number of benefits. Read More.

REVEALED: States that voted for Biden lost jobs at more than double the rate of Republican ones during pandemic
Daily Mail
Between February and December of last year, states that went for Biden saw the total number of people working drop an average of 6.2 percent, versus a 2.5 percent decline in those voting for the Republican, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of federal jobs data. Read More.

Poll: Georgia Voters Support New Elections Law, Large Majority Opposes ‘Woke’ Corporate Meddling
Townhall
A two-to-one margin. Like Americans writ large, the people of Georgia are decidedly unexcited about corporate wokeness. Coke has already done some backtracking, and Delta’s pitiful cravenness looks worse and worse. Read More.

Biden admin’s photos of empty migrant facility are misleading, Texas Democrat says: ‘They’re just next door’
Fox News
Echoing a report by Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo exposing the facility during a helicopter tour alongside Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar accused the Department of Homeland Security of trying to create the impression the Donna, Texas, site was emptying out, when in fact the migrant youths who had been located there were simply moved to a nearby location. Read More.

Biden’s non-infrastructure infrastructure bill
Kay C. James in The Washington Times
Well, they’re at it again. Since the left can’t sell its ideas to the American public honestly, it’s changing the definitions of words yet again to get its agenda passed. This time, it’s the word “infrastructure,” as in President Joe Biden’s recent “infrastructure” bill. Read More.

PODCASTS I’M LISTENING TO

The British History Podcast

Chopped Bard

 

 

BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

I Say a Little Prayer for You

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Today is the National Day of Prayer.

Seventy years ago, Reverend Billy Graham stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and called on Congress and the President to establish a National Day of Prayer.

Congress responded and in 1952 President Truman signed the law that requires the President to annually declare a Day of Prayer.

While prayer shouldn’t be political, it often is. President Obama was criticized for “canceling” the National Day of Prayer. He did nothing of the sort. Unlike the prior administration there was simply no public event at the White House. The observance has varied with Presidents.

So, I was a bit skeptical when I saw an article yesterday that said the Biden Administration would not allow an observance in the U.S. Capitol. I found only one questionable “source” and the National Day of Prayer website still lists a Congressional Observance.

So let’s not quibble over events.

Okay, one more story.

In 1997, attended the Promise Keepers Stand in the Gap event on the National Mall. Throughout the day I listened to the broadcast on my Walkman. At one point the host said something like “What a picture, a million men lying prostate on the mall.”

That’s a quote. Not a typo.

I digress.

Available from The Write Side Shop
(click the pic)

The call is to pray.

And, whatever your faith system, it’s pretty obvious this country can use some prayer.

I wrote about that last summer at the beginning of the riots.

So, take some time today to say a prayer or two for our nation.

Pray for our leaders, even the ones you didn’t vote for.

Pray for our law enforcement.

Pray for our educators.

Pray for those who are different than you.

Just. Pray.

If you’re not a person of prayer. At least spend some time meditating on good thoughts.

It could be a bit of a restart.

Maybe it won’t be the same and shutting down and restarting Windows.

It will still be good for us. And for our country.

Like I wrote last year:

I’m not naïve enough to think that, if we all stopped to pray, that we’d wake up in the morning and everything would be all sunshine and lollipops.

I’m not naïve enough to think that suddenly our land will be healed.

Maybe instead we can begin a healing in our own hearts.

That’s where it has to start anyway.

Let us pray.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

 

MUSICAL INTERLUDE


 

WHAT I’M READING


 

RANDOM LINKS YOU SHOULD READ

5 Must-Read Travel Books by Authors Famous for Their Fiction
The Art of Manliness
Below you’ll find five of the best travelogues that were penned by famous authors who are better known for their fiction. If you’ve enjoyed these writers’ novels, you’ll be rewarded in allowing them to take you on another kind of journey, through the landscapes of our real, exploration-inviting, world. Read More.

I’ve just added more books to my reading list.

The Babylon Bee Fact-Checks 10 Controversial Statements From President Biden
The Babylon Bee
How do Biden’s most influential statements stand up to our rigorous fact-checking? Read and find out! You can trust us. We’re fact-checkers. Read More.

Leave Snow White’s Prince alone, you insufferable woke brats – I do not consent to you cancelling him as a predator for kissing her to save her life. Love, PIERS MORGAN xxx
Daily Mail
Extreme illiberal liberals have sparked a furore which even by their standards is so absurd, so pathetic, so indescribably dumb that I can barely believe it’s real. Read More.

We have lost our minds.

Anderson Cooper Hosts ‘Jeopardy!’… Sets Record For Lowest Ratings Of Any Guest Host In Show’s History
Daily Wire
Looks like Sony Pictures Television won’t be asking Anderson Cooper to permanently take up the Jeopardy mantle any time soon. The silver-haired CNN anchor pulled the least viewers of any guest host since Alex Trebek died of pancreatic cancer last November at age 80. In fact, Cooper scored the smallest audience of any guest host in the show’s history. Read More.

Biden Coronavirus Relief Prioritizes Funds for Non-White Business Owners
Breitbart
Restaurants and venues owned by white men will be last in line for federal relief under President Joe Biden’s “Restaurants Revitalization Fund” (RRF), prioritizing funds for women and minority groups first. Read More.

PODCASTS I’M LISTENING TO

The British History Podcast

Chopped Bard

 

 

BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26