Coffee and Nuts.

 Coffee and Nuts.

 

Two cups of coffee and a handful of nut mix was a snack after a breakfast of cantaloupe. How’s that for a summer breakfast? Amazon allows me to choose the nuts and the type of dried fruit that goes into the nut mix, but cantaloupe is strictly a fresh buy from the store or from a fruit stand. Have not been downtown to the Farmers’ Market in quite a while. Maybe after my knee gets fixed it won’t be so difficult to walk around down there. Meanwhile, love the fresh fruit from United.

 

Had to redo my Bravecto order for the dogs this morning. The credit card that was being used had been compromised. My fault! But while reviewing the orders, it seems the price has really gone up on the stuff. It is closer to $200 now than the slightly over $100 that it started out. Will have to look and see if Amazon or Sam’s can get this stuff more cheaply. The arthritis meds for Thompson were certainly cheaper through Sam’s! And they mail them to me as well. Anyway, it seems to me that everything we buy lately is at least half again as much as it has been!

 

Sometimes it simply hurts to read any of the reports from around the world: Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List ranked Nigeria as one of the worst countries in the world for Christians.

Of 4,476 Christians killed for their faith globally during the latest reporting period, 3,100 -- or nearly 70 percent -- were in Nigeria.

Other countries where Christians face systemic persecution 

include North Korea, Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen, and Kyrgyzstan.

 

Here in the U.S. we are so blessed to be able to worship freely and to talk about our faith with others. When Gregg and Vickie came the other evening, we talked about the statement: When two or more are gathered together . . .

The phrase "where two or more are gathered" is derived from Matthew 18:20, which states, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This scripture emphasizes that even small gatherings in faith are significant, as God's presence is assured among them. It is often interpreted to mean that collective prayer and agreement among believers hold power, and it underscores the importance of community in faith. 

 

God hears our prayers. First, let us be grateful for our freedom here in this country, and secondly, let us pray for Christians in other places. And just as importantly, let us be good examples to our children and grandchildren that they may feel more like emulating our behavior and beliefs. We can’t give our children the type of society in which we grew up, but we can encourage them to see that what is “normal” in today’s world is not necessarily the most moral or best for them. We don’t need to be judgmental, but surely, we can live our own lives as if common sense can prevail.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.