Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' "'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn'" (Matthew 13:24-30).

Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear (Matthew 13:36-43).

It's another year tomorrow, 2023. Every breath allowed is an opportunity to grow. Thankfulness allows us positive opportunity upon opportunity to serve others! Looking forward to new growth!!!

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

Things I have seen invented in my lifetime:

1955 atomic clock

1956 hard drive

1957 birth control

1958 jetliner

1959 integrated circuit

1960 pacemaker

1961 cordless tools

1962 communication satellite

1963 tape cassettes

1964 unmanned aerial vehicle

1965 Kevlar

1966 high-yield rice

1967 coronary bypass surgery

1968 integrated computer systems

1969 Arpanet 4 linked computers

1970 fiber optics

1971 waffle sole running shoe

1972 electronic ignition

1973 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

1974 barcode

1975 laser printer

1976 inkjet printer

1977 personal computer

1978 Global Positioning System (GPS)

1979 Sony Walkman

1980 cobalt-oxide cathode (rechargeable portable battery)

1981 Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)

1982 computer virus

1983 Microsoft Word

1984 DNA fingerprinting

1985 Polymerase Chain Reaction

1986 electronic mailing list

1987 disposable contact lenses

1988 Prozac

1989 World Wide Web (WWW)

1990 Photoshop

1991 Linux

1992 IBM Simon

1993 fuel cell vehicle

1994 RQ-1 Predator Drone

1995 HIV protease inhibitors

1996 DVD

1997 hybrid car

1998 International Space Station

1999 Blue Tooth Version 1.0

2000 Play Station 2

2001 Wikipedia

2002 Segway PT

2003 Human Genome Project

2004 Facebook

2005 Google Maps

2006 Wii

2007 iPhone

2008 large Hadron Collider

2009 Bitcoin

2010 Siri and mobile apps

2011 Curiosity Rover

2012 Google's Machine Learning Project

2013 Atlas

2014 Hemopurifier

2015 reusable rockets

2016 Oculus Rift

2017 Tesla

2018 metal 3-D printing

2019 the eDumper

2020 Covid-19 vaccine

2021 Paper Shoot Camera

2022 Bespoke French-Door Refrigerator

Millions more inventions have happened in my 67 years that are not listed here. I will step out and say that those that have lived this generation, this span of time, have witnessed some pretty cool stuff. Technology basically grew up before our eyes. Never would I have ever dreamed that I would see a car drive itself using Super Cruise down a highway, but I have, and I have sat in the driver's seat while it passes other vehicles on the highway or moves over to let a car enter traffic. It uses the blinker, and it senses speed; crazy stuff. In my opinion, it allows the driver to drive more defensively. Oh, and the cell phone is a big no...it turns itself off if you pick it up, so don't get any ideas! I have seen several videos with people asking if it is worth the price. As with all new technology, the price will go down quickly, but I would give it a thumbs up for those who find themselves on the road a lot.

Super Cruise will soon cover 400,000 miles of road in the US and Canada! I sure look forward to more groovy inventions!!!

Like Peter on the water, we need to look more steadily at Jesus and less at the waves and wind.

"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You"? Isaiah. 26:3

 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:29-33

Truly He IS ... my strength and my salvation.

In 1990, First Baptist Church celebrated its 100th anniversary, a centennial celebration. I was looking for something different this evening and saw this picture of the planning committee. This was thirty-three years ago. Crazy how time flies when you are living life!!! I stood in the company of some great mentors and friends here. God has indeed blessed my life. It's odd to think that I have been a member of this church for just over half of its 133 years. God always refreshes my soul as I worship and praise there. He leads me beside still waters as he fills my thirst for his love, care, and protection. My salvation was found here through wonderful, patient, and caring witnesses that led me to understand my rebirth in Him; and offered encouragement to my six-year-old self. 

There were times when I thought I wanted to change churches, but God never led me away. He always prompted me to be steadfast in his guidance for my life...I do not always know what is best. Okay, I never know what is best, so I stick like glue to the carpenter.

Our centennial song was Find Us Faithful...

(I do not own the rights to the words or music of this song)

My future is secure. Did I do for others what was done for me? Never enough, never enough, but I do pray that I make a difference every day according to His purpose. God, Keep my eyes open and my heart ready for service; find me faithful.

I asked for this picture when our group shots were done this Thanksgiving. The quilt is one that my father helped his mother quilt. The plus is Stone with his father, with his father. A special photo. Of course, we are waiting till our grandgirls can take over the concrete business and hope to see Stone working there soon!

Merry Christmas to my Ushka Loves!!!

A few weeks ago, a friend rode with me to Tulia to pick up an old cast iron mermaid from an antique store. We had lunch and wonderful conversation.

Some of our conversations were centered on DiSC, of which she is a certified presenter. DiSC assessments are behavioral self-assessment tools based on the 1928 DiSC emotional and behavioral theory of psychologist William Moulton Marston. The tools are designed to predict job performance.

DiSC is a personal assessment tool used by more than one million people every year to help improve teamwork, communication, and productivity in the workplace.

DiSC is an acronym that stands for the four main personality profiles described in the DiSC model: (D)ominance, (i)nfluence, (S)teadiness and (C)conscientiousness. 

People with D personalities tend to be confident and place emphasis on accomplishing bottom-line results. People with i personalities tend to be more open and place emphasis on relationships and influencing or persuading others. People with S personalities tend to be dependable and place emphasis on cooperation and sincerity. Finally, people with C personalities tend to place emphasis on quality, accuracy, expertise, and competency.

In our conversation, she shared that in her observation, I was high in both S and C; duo-high. She said that she feels that I am a deep thinker in my relationship with God and the Word and that I tend not to be a quick reactor with people; I take time to think things through and am not "flighty." "This shows the compassion you think of when interacting with people." In her opinion, because of my Aspergers and my need for solitude to wind down (recharge), I have opportunities to reflect and see a bigger picture. Because of this, I notice details and can recognize little things that could either sabotage a relationship or project or it can totally change the outcome to be spectacular and exacting.

"Both S and C are loyal and wonderful friends, but they don't need bunches of them. For those blessed to be in that small inner group, you let your guard down more. Trust is a big issue with Cs. It all makes sense to me. Because you limit deeper interaction with people, it frees up deeper time in the things more lasting. Those being God and consequences. As I told you before, I believe you have had to PRETEND much of your life to fit with your Asperger's wiring… always knowing in your heart, your reactions will be scrutinized."

A few days later, I got online and took the DiSC quiz; sure enough, she was spot on. Thus, the photo of the glasses. They best describe my brain! Two dominant personality shapes that fight but must meet in the middle to function in this world. They are held together by the goodness of God, the creator!

I'm a keeper of thoughts, mostly those that flow through my mind, led by the Spirit's wind. Often I will keep notes that encourage. I will admit that I rarely go back and reread them, but you never know when God will place one right in front of you when you are not searching.

Today, I was going through a few notebooks where I stash the things I sketch, and I came across a fabric envelope. In it is the thank you card that my mother wrote us when she moved into her new home, now the family home of our son and his crew.

I remember the conversation vividly. My father died suddenly in 1995. My mother struggled but was still strong. Then her mother passed. I was sitting across from my mother one day talking, and I asked her, "What is your one dream, the one thing you have always wanted to do if you had the money?" She thought for a split-second and said, "I have always wanted to have a new home, one that I get to design and build." I looked at her and said, "You have the money; spend it; let's do this." And we did.

Some of my best memories with my mom are wrapped up in this process. For about a year we planned, configured, and determined where she would place her things from 313 Irene Street (my childhood home) in her new home. We traveled all around the area junkin' and antiquing to find other important pieces.

The time came to move in, and I placed every piece of furniture and hung every picture, plate, etc. with her guidance. Believe me, she was in control; it was her dream! 

Then, we had a party, she did love a party!!!

Thus the thank you note I share. Someone has the pitcher we bought as her gift. They bought it at her estate sale. I do hope they cherish it.

God knew I needed this affirmation today. We may never know, but God always does!!!

I am not big on decorating for seasonal holidays; even so, I love so much Christmas and Easter, and my soul yearns for the peace found in these seasons of Love. With that said, I bought a small, neutral-felt Christmas tree this year. I enjoy the simplicity of it. But then, I got the idea to put my mother's favorite jewelry pins on it. I made jeweled framed mirrors for our daughter, daughter-in-law, and myself with her earrings, brooches, and watches shortly after she passed away in 2013, but I kept some fun and favorite pieces.

I love this special tree! Merry Christmas!!!

Matthew 2:1-2, After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The Christmas story includes—perhaps surprisingly—a star, the star to the show. Was it possibly a supernova 'star' that left a trail of light in the sky for several days to guide the wise men’s journey? Regardless of the interpretations of how this star came to shine so brightly in our sky, the wise men followed something that was simply miraculous in the final analysis.

We know it went ahead of them. It stopped where Jesus lay. This is the miracle talked about in the Old Testament, Numbers 24:17,  “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth."

As Followers of Christ, we should have a deep desire in our spirits to be this light that leads to the Savior of the world. Since his humble birth, Jesus has been our promise!

In short, what the wise men saw and followed was indeed a star of wonder, guiding them—and now us—to the perfect Light.

Merry Christmas!!!

Phyllis