COMMUNITY BUILDING ~Shabbat

I really look forward to spending time with friends – especially friends in the country 😉

My recent Country Visit Invite Post: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/07/limiting-restraints.html

I had some time to spare before heading to the upper end of Wahkiakum County … so I checked my emails (answering some; deleting others without even opening them), and then decided to wear my old glasses until I can buy new ones, again: my sunglasses are this year’s perscripted lens – but they are too dark in the house so I take them off indoors, and my eyes are feeling the eyestrain.

The strength difference is slight, so they will work fine for the time being.

Around noon, I was ready to walk out the door and beat feet out of Longview.

Dressed for a lazy day in the country with friends; Grandma’s ready to rock & roll 😉.

Shania Twain – ‘Come On Over’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNe2cj03-eA)

My rolled-up jean legs reminded me of a picture I had of my mother when she was a teenager, with her sister Janet.

I selected a disc to listen to on the drive, and just as I was grabbing my purse … a message pinged on the phone. Seeing who it was from had me debating whether to respond – or not; I responded as soon as I read her opening line. I counted to ten before punching out my reply. This woman is manipulative with everyone, but she is not going to run me. She has a mean spirit, and when called out, resorts to punting the blame for her bad behavior over your fence, daring you to kick it back.

With raised eyebrows … I kicked it back into her court, giving her a chance to accept responsibility for her actions: I was willing to work with that towards allowing her space in my community building efforts. When she shot back her reply, I ended all effort and shut her down – and muted the phone.

Manipulative message this morning ...

I have standards, and clearly defined Boundary Lines; when pushed, I post a ‘Do Not Trespass’ Sign.

“Heartbroken” people do not continue pushing boundaries with toxic behaviors.

Tuesday gathering, next week, will be interesting.

But I am firm: I will not engage in her manipulative games (I have, for a year, watched her bully others: not gonna happen to me). She said what she said. She meant to be offensive. She is not sorry; people who are sorry do not continue to behave badly. People who are sorry do not keep poking and pushing up against clear boundary lines. People who are sorry do not engage in blame-games designed to make the wronged person the bad guy.

This latest bully attempt is the straw that broke the camel's back. She has been trying to run me since last Fall. She is continually poking her nose into my private business, and making "motherly" suggestions. She is not my mother! She does not get to tell me who I 'need to talk to'. She does not get to decide what I talk about, who I speak with, or how long I engage in conversation. She does not get to yank me around.

I have never been “run” – I will not be “run”, now. My neck will never wear a choke collar. I don’t think this woman has ever been shut down before; but she has now.

Slipping the phone into my purse (out of sight, out of mind), I drove into town and stopped at the bank before I left Longview; and on the way back to Ocean Beach Highway, I decided to take a side trip down Oak Street, because I wanted to grab a mug of coffee before heading out of town to spend the day with my gal pals (I didn’t want to backtrack off Old Pacific Highway to the coffee shack).

Steve Miller Band – ‘Going to The Country’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5tGEBLzsmI)

Driving down Oak Street, I passed the house my in-laws had lived in for ten years of my early married life. The street has gone downhill, and the house looks different – not too bad, just different: painted a green color, and the front yard is missing the flowerbed my MIL planted – and replaced with scorched earth. I remembered my FIL putting a back driveway in, renting a cement mixer to build a small back patio, … and building a large 2-garage-shop, with a greenhouse for my MIL on the side.

At the end of Oak Street, I turned left at the playground Bob’s youngest sisters played at … and continued to the end of that street where it joined with Ocean Beach Highway, again. And it didn’t hurt my heart to relive those memories. I am healing.

At the coffee shack while waiting for my mug to be passed back to me, I slipped in the CD disc I brought from home. It always soothes me to hear my husband’s voice – but it was especially welcomed this morning 😊

I listened to Bob's testimonial voice on both trips over the KM.

Bob - Love of my life ~OX

The gathering at Ramona’s house was a 4-hour fun-filled afternoon; these women are just what the doctor ordered 😉

Linda is working on a quilt - beautiful handiwork; completely pieced & stitched by hand.

Keith Urban – ‘Where the Blacktop Ends’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD3zK3OimXo)

They get a space in my community building efforts 😊

Genuine care and love.

LIMITING RESTRAINTS

My stupidness (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/07/blame-it-on-moon.html) has had me seriously pinching pennies, and keeping an eye on the gas gauge lately, and I was complaining to Elohim this morning that I was “so bored! There’s nothing to do until 6 PM” (whah-whah-whah …)

The full moon episode has placed limiting restraints in my life. I don’t like that ☹

So, He livened things up a bit 😉

Around noon, I enjoyed a walk out at Willow Grove with a friend; and while driving her back to her house, we saw two deer prancing down Old Pacific Highway – and made a crossing in front of us, on Coal Creek Road.

2 deer were prancing down Old Pacific Highway & decided to cross Coal Creek Road. Both survived, this afternoon; 1 died last week trying to cross Ocean Beach Highway.

I dropped her off, and barely got through the door at home, when I had an incoming text from my gal pals who live on the upper end of Wahkiakum County.

The {motley crew} is a blend of ‘I love Lucy’ & ‘The Golden Girls’ … it’s a fun gathering when the four of us get together 😊

YIPPIE!

The Cars – ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6G-qb1RRCo)

There was a little tree frog in my geraniums when I watered the garden area … then, I came indoors … washed my hair, ate supper, and enjoyed a pastoral evening in the countryside locally, as I headed off to tonight’s jam session.

Little tree frog in the geraniums.

The last time I'll wear this top this year; ready to Jam 😉

Hay being baled on Harmony Drive Road.

Harmony Drive, LV-WA

Germany Creek Road, LV-WA

I wasn’t feeling {pinched} by stupidity’s restraints anymore.

GALATIANS ~ Chapter 4/Thursday Bible Study

In Galatians Chapter 4, Apostle Paul is trying again to make the Galatians understand that salvation is a gift from *Elohei Ha’Elohim to those who believe in – and accept – the redemption through His Son, **Yeshua Ha’Mashiach; salvation is not a reward based on strictly following The Law, which keeps people in bondage of sin’s grasp.

Before Christ (Yeshua Ha’Mashiach), humanity as it were, was spiritually immature; thereby subject to the rudimentary teaching of The Law.

Paul is explaining here that the battle raging between legalistic bondage, and spiritual freedom, springs up as immature Believers experience the pull of old habits calling out to fleshly natures. As we grow in our walk of faith, and draw closer to Yeshua, our spirit becomes stronger and leans into a covenant relationship – allowing the ***Ruach HaKo’desh to guide and teach us how we are to live as sons and daughters of Elohei Ha’Elohim: sin no longer has us under bondage. We overcome the world, and the pull of the flesh, to live more fully and freely for Yeshua.

**********

GALATIANS ~ Chapter 4/Thursday Bible Study

Bondage Under Law vs. Freedom Under Christ

“Again, let me illustrate: as long as an heir is a child, he is no different than a slave, even though he will become master of the whole estate. He is placed under guardianship until the date set by his father. So it is with us. When we were children, we were like slaves learning the elements of world knowledge. Then came the fullness of time. ****Elohim sent forth His Son. He was born of a virgin woman. He was born under The Law. He came to ransom (redeem, rescue, deliver, restore, liberate) those who were under The Law, to make us His children by adoption. And because we are His, Elohim has sent the Ruach of His Son into our hearts to make us cry, “Father, O Father!” Thus, you are no longer a slave, but a son; and also an heir, through Yeshua. (vv. 1-7)

The Danger of Return to Bondage

Formerly, when you did not know Elohim, you were enslaved under ‘gods’ that really did not exist. But now, after you have learned to know Elohim – or rather – after Elohim came to know you as His own, how can you turn back again to the weak and helpless elemental false gods, whose slaves you want to be once more? And therefore, you observe days, months, seasons, and years! I am afraid, on your account, that I may have donated my labor on you in vain. (vv. 8-11)

Their Former Fellowship & Present Indifference

Brethren, I beg of you that you become like me, just as I became like one of you. You did me no wrong. You remember that I was not well when I first preached the *****Gospel to you? And, though my trouble was a trial to you, you did not despise me or reject me in contempt. Rather, you received me as an angel of Elohim, as Christ Himself. What has become of your blessed good will? I can testify to this, that there was a time when you would have plucked out your own eyes, if possible, and would have given them to me.

Because I tell you the truth, have I made enemies of you? There are some who pay much attention, but for no good purpose. What they desire is to exclude you from me, that you may become zealous about them. It is always a fine thing to have people interested in you, if it is for the right cause; and not only when I am going to be with you. I think of you as my own little children, with whom I am again in pains of childbirth until Christ shall be formed in you! How I wish I could be present with you right now, and could change the tone of my voice, for I am truly perplexed about you. (vv. 12-20)

The Allegory of Isaac & Ishmael

Now tell me, you who want The Law as your master, have you not read what The Law says? Scripture tells that Abraham had two sons: one by a slave woman, and one by a free woman. The son of the slave was born in a natural way; the son of the free woman came because of Elohim’s promise. This story can be allegorized: let the two women represent the two Covenants (Contract Promises). Hagar stands for the Old Covenant, which comes to us from Mt. Sinai. She bears children to be slaves under The Law. Hagar is, in other words, Mt. Sinai in Arabia. She corresponds also to the Jerusalem of today, and both she and her children are in slavery.

But our mother is the Jerusalem above, a city of freedom. Remember what Scripture said, ‘Rejoice, O childless woman, who has never given birth! Shout with joy, you who have had no birth pangs! For the deserted woman has more children than the woman who has a husband’ (Isaiah 54:1). Brethren, we are like Isaac, children of Promise. And it is now as then. The son who was born according to the course of nature persecutes the son born according to the Ruach, now as then. What does Scripture say about it? It says, ‘Send away the slave-woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall in no wise divide the inheritance with the son of the free woman’ (Genesis 21:10).

Brethren, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free. (vv. 21-31).

*Elohei Ha’Elohim (Hebrew word: אֱלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים)) = God of gods; above all gods.

**Yeshua Ha’Mashiach: is Hebrew for “Jesus the Messiah”; the name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua.

Christ (from the Hebrew word, Ha’Mashiach ישוע המשיח & the Greek word, Christos/khris-tos) = The Anointed, Yeshua the Messiah, in both languages.

***Ruach HaKo’desh: In Hebrew, the Holy Spirit (רוח הקודש, Roo-ahk hah-Koh-desh) refers to the divine force, quality, and influence (aka, power) of God.

The Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16 & 11:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; Titus 3:5; and Jude 1:20), is referred to more than 90 times in the Brit Chadashah.

B’rit Chadashah = The New Testament. B’rit Chadashah in Hebrew, means, “The New Covenant” (the word B’rit means “covenant” and Chadashah means “new”). The literal meaning of B’rit Chadashah is “a New Covenant By Blood” … aka Yeshua’s Blood.

****Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים, romanized: ʾĚlōhīm: [(eloˈ(h)im]) is a Hebrew word meaning "Gods – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit". Although the word is plural in form, in the Hebrew Bible it usually refers to a single deity “Behold, the Lord – the Lord is One”, particularly the at God of Israel.

*****Gospel = teaching or revelation of Christ.

**Galatians 3: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/07/galatians-chapter-3thursday-bible-study.html

SPEND YOUR TIME WISELY

This morning, after listening to my weekly news update (I only allow myself one of those “news” updates), I washed that nonsense out of my hair/got dressed/and visited with friends for a good part of the day.

There were no more sleeveless tops in the closet, so I chose a top I hoped wouldn’t get stuck to my healing shoulder wound – I only do laundry every two weeks … and my stupidity bruising episode, happened fairly recently (last Tuesday morning); the sleeveless tops I need still need a few more days drying time. I like my clothes dry-dry; and they tend to shrink in the dryer, so I line dry them (plus, they fit over my breasts area more comfortably when not dried in the dryer 😉).

My biggest hurdle with the bruising is my bra strap ...

The tops I need ... need a bit more hanging time.

Wearing this gauzy top today because all my sleeveless tops are still drying ...

59-degrees with 95-percent humidity!

I spent about 2 hours with friends at Oak Point, then on my way home I got a call inviting me to Supper out Coal Creek; my friends in the country there, had not yet seen my bruising, though they knew about it.

So, when I sat down in a patio chair on their sunny patio, the first thing said in unison was: ‘Let us see’ – and I showed them (removing my sunglasses, and lifting my top sleeve), laughing while I told then how it all happened – ending with, “I feel so stupid.”

My ‘Blame It On The Moon’ Post: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/07/blame-it-on-moon.html

Bless F’s heart, he hauled out his cell phone and showed me pictures of his falling snafu, saying, “At our age, we need to slow down and not be in such a hurry: we don’t bounce like we used to”.

Agreed 😉

My face scrape ‘scabbing’ sloughed off this afternoon.

I have been blessed with good friends 😊

I spent another 2 hours in the country, a little closer to home; before parking the car in the carport back home that claimed some of my face and shoulder skin a few days ago.

I changed my sandals for flip-flops, and went outside to water my flowerbeds and garden area.

The garden hose was seriously leaking at the hose and water-wand junction. Several times I turned the water off and tried to figure out what the problem was – eventually, I settled on the thought that the rubber washer was missing (a memory of Bob replacing these things in the kitchen faucet when water sprayed everywhere, popped into my thoughts); I looked all around the area the water-wand had been resting between uses. Nothing. So, I finished watering the garden: getting my pant leg and flip-flops wet.

The flowers in the front flowerbeds are spotty (some died off following the surprise late-season snow); my flowerbeds look like they have mange. The veggie plantings are struggling to get up to speed, due to the late-season sowing (most of my onion transplants died due to the torrential rainfall that followed the aforementioned snow – and it’s too late to replant). All that is really thriving is the apples trees, blueberry bushes, strawberries (behind schedule), and nasturtiums.

Golden Purslane & Miner's Letuce; great in salads - good to eat right out of the garden ;-)

Peach Sorbet Blueberry; lots of big, fat, juicy, sweet-tasting berries!

June bearing strawberries makiing an appearance; spit bug activity.

Nasturtium; leaves make a nice peppery addition to salads - flowers are edible, too.

As I turned off the faucet, and was rolling the hose up for storage in its basket … I saw the black rubber washer in the basket bottom. So, I slipped it back in place 😉

Sealing Washers.

It was an eventful day today.

Some of the stuff learned was frustratingly annoying – like the news: I gave it little time to eat into my day.

‘Is There a Vaccine for Donkeypox?’ Post: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/07/is-there-vaccine-for-donkeypox.html

Some stuff was highly enjoyable – like shooting the breeze with friends.

Some stuff was dutifully necessary – like watering the gardens, and hoping my tender bruised areas wouldn’t get sunburned and complicate the healing process.

The shoulder scabbing will take longer.

Everything is right on schedule in the Healing Department; it really looks worse than it actually IS. My pride suffered the most damage ;-)

Some stuff was done while stretching my comfort zone a bit – like talking to a semi-stranger on the phone (semi, because we’ve only ever communicated on FB; this evening I called his hospital room to see how he’s doing). I knew him briefly in high school, and I know he doesn’t have anyone in his life at the moment … and a lengthy hospital stay can wear on the nerves and emotions.

He came into my life 3½ years ago, and encouraged me with kindness and shared his memories of Bob with me through the first year of widowhood; if I can help him in this small way (a voice on the airwaves), that is what friends are for.