Tag: wild fires (Page 1 of 2)

Say Good Bye 2020 and Hello to 2021 That Will Give Us Hope

December 30, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

Now that the vaccine is out, and many are getting the shots, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

When each of us actually get the shot is another story. According to my situation with several health issues, I just may be near the top. We will see.

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We have had a horrendous 2020!

There were the wild fires. There is still the pandemic. Rioting is still going on in some places. Crime is sky rocketing. Other than that we had a great year! 🙁

It will be my pleasure to say good-bye to 2020 in two days. 2021 can only be up. It is a new beginning. It gives us new hope.

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I forgot that we still aren’t completely sure who our next president will be. There are law suits pending at the Supreme Court. What is right will prevail. I am also so glad that the actual campaign is over. Such hatred, lies and rioting, came passing our way.

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Here is what I think each of us should do in the new year. These are not New Year’s resolutions. They are just suggestions:

Forget the past it is already gone.
Look forward to the new beginning.
Plan to have a great year.
Put away your hatred, and bitterness.
Go on a better direction if you feel lost.
Pray!
Know God is with you for your every breath.
PRAY!!

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I have recovered from the holidays. Just New Years Eve to go, and my life with be on cruise control. (At least that sounds good.)

How about you? Have you been pulled down like a huge magnate? Has each hour seemed like a month? Is the path that you are on getting too rough?

Lean on God. He has huge shoulders, and loves you very much. You aren’t just anybody. You are God’s child. He made you in His own image. You are important, because God doesn’t make mistakes.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Surprises Tear Into Our Daily Struggles in Life

November 4, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

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What a day I have had so far. Had a doctor’s appointment early this morning and it was almost frightening.

My doctor surprised me with a dementia test. He was concerned and wanted to see if my thinking process was OK.

He handed me a sheet with several test questions on it. He pointed to the first one where I had to draw a line from dot to dot. Somehow I missed number ten. BUSTED!

Then he had me draw a copy of a square that was on the page. It seemed like an optical illusion to me so I blew it there too. BUSTED!

Then he had me read five words in a row three times. After that he had me repeat them without looking. Got four out of five. PASSED!

Then he had me name three pictures of animals. Peachy easy! Passed.

He went on to me repeating two sentences right after he said them. Aced!! Passed!

He then aske me what year, month and day it was. He finished that part with what day of the week it was. My mind blocked. (I am retired. What do I know about days of the week.) Before he went on I blurted out WEDNESDAY! He allowed that. PASSED IT!

The final question from him was the game changer. If I missed it I failed the test. He asked me what the five words were that he had me say at the beginning of the test. I named four out of five. He said that this test was the best one he had had in many months. PASSED! 27 out of 30!

He suggested that I do a lot of crossword puzzles, and solitaire to keep my brain active. Already doing both of them.

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Do you like surprises? Is it hard to accept them? We all have surprises every day. The car won’t start. You turned on the wrong street. You forgot your cell phone. (I do that a lot.)

Surprises are hard, at best, hard to handle, but they come and test us frequently.

We still have our Lord looking out for us even when those pesky surprises attack us. He is there to calm the spirit and let us handle them.

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Do not give in to this world. We are not part of it. We are only here for a short while if we believe. The world is a very scary place right now. The pandemic is just getting worse. The rioting has not stopped. Wild fires are still burning. The election is upon us.

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We need to remember that God is our fortress during our storms. He will never let us face something that we can not handle. Lean on Him during these troubling times.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Be Strong Through the Storms of Life

November 2, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

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It has been quite a ride for me the last eight months.

The pandemic has placed me in lock down. Only doctor’s appointments and family gatherings that everyone has to wear masks and keep the right distance. Haven’t hugged one of my children during this whole time.

This plus the election, (that ends tomorrow, thank God.) Don’t forget the rioting, wild fires, looting, shootings, etc. Pretty dismal path we have to walk.

How do I handle it? Well, it is hard, at best, for me to stay positive, but positive I am.

Why?

All storms come to an end.
God is in charge.
He is only a prayer away.
He will not allow us to have more than we can handle.
He loves us. He made us in his image. He wouldn’t do that if He didn’t love us.

Those statements are my fortress against depression, and feeling lost.

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So what is happening in your neighborhood?

Are you standing strong, or is the world loading you down with worry? I certainly hear you, but the most wonderful thing you and I can do for our families, is to be a strong leader and always show that we are positive.

If we show a poor me attitude, so will those around you.

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Never let the dark side overcome you.

The dark side would love to drag you down into the muck and mire. Look for the light which is Jesus.

Yes, these are very troubling times. This, however, is when the tough get going. They face the storms head on. They lead others to freedom of fear.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all….never, ever, give up!

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Are the walls closing in on you?

October 19, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

I am having a bad hair day. Not feeling well. Got ache and pains, plus lack of energy. However, here I am.

I have these days from time to time. It is called old age!

It seems like the walls are closing in on me.

I am not afraid because I can see the light in the darkness, and I am walking towards it.

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I am locked up in my own home because of health issues.

How about you? Are you in lock down like me? Do you need to try to fill your day in with things you wouldn’t normally do? You certainly are not alone.

Here is what I try to do to help pass the time each day:

I try to go on walks, but the weather is changing and it rains often.
I am blessed to be able to do two blogs. That takes about three hours. It is very rewarding.
My wife and I go driving to no where. We just go and decide where we are going as we drive. We see lots of places near us that we have never seen before.
To get groceries we order online and then have the grocery store put our groceries in our car.
I love to read, so my kindle is running all the time. Great way to escape.
We connect with our family often by using Zoom. We just did that yesterday. It was very uplifting for all of us.
I pray every day. It is so refreshing to be able to talk to God every day.

You need to make your list of what to do to pass time. Idleness are the tools of the Devil is what it says in the Bible.

Do not let the dark side overcome you. God is by your side 24/7. He will not let face more than you can handle.

I am convinced all these storms will pass in our lives. The pandemic, rioting, wild fires, etc. They will be gone, but our heavenly Father will still be there by our side.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all….never, ever, give up!

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Be Strong and Ask God to Lighten Your Burdens

October 14, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

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I have been struggling with things that are happening around me. The Pandemic, wild fires, rioting, election coming up, etc.

A bit overwhelming to say the least.

Why am I struggling?

I am on lock down with the pandemic because of health problems.
The wild fires got way too close, and several towns near me were completely destroyed.
The rioting is still bad in Portland, Oregon. They tore down two statues, and broke many business windows. The statues they tore down didn’t make any sense. One was Teddy Roosevelt, and the other was Abraham Lincoln. This is not rioting because of Black Lives matter. It is just straight Anarchy.
The election for president is near, and the attacks from both sides are getting to me. All the negativity is sad.

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How can I overcome all this turmoil?

I have to always know that God is in charge! He controls what happens. He has a plan through all this mess. We don’t understand, but He knows what is best.

I need to be strong for my family. I am getting up in years. (I’m old!) I need to continue to lead and share positive vibes to my family and friends. They need it just like I do. I find when I am positive around family it rubs off on me and makes me stronger.

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How about you? Does it seems like the whole world is on your shoulders? Do you wish you could spend all day in bed to avoid things?

You certainly are not alone. People are frustrated and depressed. You may not have the same issues I have, but you may have much more.

Be strong! Don’t let the dark side overcome you! Head to the light! God is by your side 24/7. He will hear your pleas. Lean on him with all you burdens and He will lighten the load.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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What Are The Things You Are Thankful For?

October 9, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

I was sitting here wondering what I was thankful for, and what I had trouble with in my life. Complete opposites and yet we have them every day.

The Thing(s) I am thankful for is long, but here are a few:

My family.
I do not have the COVID-19 virus.
I am working hard on my health by walking a lot.
My church.
That God is with me 24/7.
Friends.
Books to read.
God’s glorious mountains and valleys.
I still have my breath that God gives me.
Naps!

I have many more, but you get the picture. Now about things I have trouble with:

Procrastination.
Not enough communication with others.
Not going on walks enough.
Motivation, at times.

There are others, but I really need to work on these first.

How about you?

Make your list and be glad, plus work on your list that you are having trouble with.

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Another day of wondering what is going to happen in our world. So much to consider. The Pandemic, rioting, debates, wild fires, and facing each day.

So, what can we do to survive?

I have my own list I have for me, so I will share some with you:

99% of what we worry about never happens. Give the rest to God.
There will always be storms, but then the Son.
There are some things you can’t control, let them go.
Be sure to tell your children you love them every day.
Never let someone else tell you who you are.
Smile at everyone you see. They will often smile back. A win, win.
Check with your neighbors to see if they are Ok.
Have family time at you house at least once a week, Everyday would be better.
Love others as yourself. (Jesus)
Never, ever, give up!

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I was thinking (gives me a headache) about my new book coming up. I haven’t told you much about it here. If you want more information about it go to: http://www.dougbolton.com. There I share daily updates on how it is going.

I have a publisher who is very interesting, and I am almost done. It will be called, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.” It reaches out to those veterans who may be suffering from PTSD, TBI, depression, anxiety, Lost buddies, or war wounds.

At the other site I have been sharing interviews I have been having with veterans. Some are WWII veterans. Those interviews are gut wrenching. Every one of them. If you are a veteran, please check out the site and subscribe. It will give you hope and peace, Plus you will get every post sent right to your in box.

The reason I am writing the book is that 22 veterans, or current service people are taking their own lives every day. Yes, I said every day. Hopefully this book will help them in some way.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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I Need to Check Out of This Evil Hotel Called Earth

October 5, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

What a fun time we are having right now. The Pandemic is not letting up. The rioting is still going on. The wild fires are wilder than ever.

It is almost like we are on spin cycle in our own washing machines!! It is crazy, and we are holding on for dear life.

That reminds me of a story about my mother.

When she was a teenager she was out riding her horse. The horse stepped in a yellow jackets nest and the horse got stung several times. The horse started running and was out of control. My mother just held on for dear lfe. The horse was running back to the farm. When they got there he calmed down.

Is your life on spin cycle? Are you out of control like my mother’s horse was?

This is the time we have to listen to God. He says, “Be still and know I am God.”

A good example of relying on God happened in the wild fires near me in Oregon.

A man was trapped, and the fires were burning all around him. He got a plastic chair and sat it in a river he was near and waited it out. He was saved by praying and God gave Him the answer.

I am sure that many of you are screaming, “Stop and let me out of this house. “(earth)

It can be very frustrating.

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With all of this going on we may be thinking, “Why am I here?”

Let me make this clear to you. God created you in His own image. Why would He do that? It is becasue He loves you and considers you His child. He has plans for you. He may have not showed you His plan yet, but be patient. God is on His own timing not yours.

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Here is a little side note that I thought of yesterday while I was watching the online broadcast of my church.

I would love to have been at the tomb when Jesus came out! Wouldn’t that Have been a glorious moment?

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all….never, ever, give up!

We are in Troubling Times Time for Prayer

October 1, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

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My mind is blank today so I guess I will ramble.

The debate was the worest ever. Lots of shouting, and no control by the moderator. It was embarrasing. I hope they come up with a better format.

President trump has a love/hate relationship with the people. You either love him or you hate him. How could he be such a controversial figure? In my opinion…IT’S BECAUSE GOD WANTED HIM THERE! God wanted things to be rattled, and used this to wake up the people to what was going on in our government was not right

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Had a strange week this last week.

I wasn’t feeling well so my wife took me to Urgent care. MISTAKE! I met with the triage nurse and she asked me a bunch of questions, like what symptoms did I have. When she was finished she said I coudn’t come in. I was sent to an outside tent to have a test for COVID-19.

I was sure I didn’t have that, but played the game. At the tent the nurse asked me even more questions. She than sat down to type what she wrote. Out of nowhere, a PA (Physicians Assistant) came out and started talking to me. The nurse said she already asked the questions, and that she didn’t think I need the COVID test. He still insisted I take the test. This time they stuck the probe down my throat. The nurse jabbed the side of my throat by accident, and she was very apologetic.

I won’t know the results for a couple more days.

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We finally got rid of all the awful smoke from the wild fires here in Oregon. However, we woke today with more smoke. From the Claifornia fires!!!

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Let’s talk about you. How are you doing? Are you holding strong? Is the turmoil going on getting to you? I hear you!!

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Let’s remember a few things:

99% of what we worry about never happens. Give the rest to God.
God will never give you more than you can handle.
God is with you 24/7.
The most important thing to remember is…GOD IS IN CHARGE!!

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You ar enever fosaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

We Need to Pray About Our Fears to Stop Panic

September 29, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

WE NEED TO PRAY RIGHT NOW

Thre no way to avoid it, we are in troubling times right now. There is the pandemic, rioting, wild fires, etc. A bit overwhelming don’t you think?

I have made a prayer list for myself that I do every day before I lay my head down:

Pray for all leaders. From the president on down to our own local government.
Pray for those you have trouble with. Love you neighbor as yourself.
Pray for peace. There are many “hot posts,” in this world.
Pray that the gospel will reach out to many and they will be saved.
Pray for things that pleases God.
Pray for your family, and friends.

We have many fears:

Marriage-It is hard to have a good marriage if you don’t try hard to help it out.
Job-There is much turmoil in the world now. Many people laid off because of the pandemic.
Having enough money. Single moms wonder where the money will come for their rent.
People wonder if life has any meaning. Sharp increase in suicides since the pandemic started.
Many fear they are not accepted by God.
Some think they are a failure.
Others feel rejected.
The opposite of # 5. People are afraid they are too close to od.

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Jesus has got us covered my friends. He said it very clearly in:

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed.

There is also a verse that shares these thoughts:

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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So where are you in your faith right now? Do you wonder if you are safe from disaster? Would you rather stay in bed all day then face the wolrd?

BE STRONG IN THE LORD!

Jesus is beside you 24/7. He will not sway. He will protect you and love you. He faced many more horrible things many times, and He never wavered.

Show others why you are not afraid or full of fear. Tell who has your back and that they should too.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

There Are Benefits to Facing Trials

September 25, 2020 / Butch / 0 Comments

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There are very trying times right now, with the pandemic, rioting, and wild fires. There are some things I have seen while facing trials:

We draw closer to God and others.
We see things more clearly.
We become more compassionate.

It happens time after time.

I am from Oregon and we have been devasted with wild fires. People have died and over 600 homes destroyed. This would normaly cause widespread depression, and panic.

It is not happening.

The people who lost their homes are out helping others to sift through the rubble to try to find some memories for them. People in my neighborhood have opened their doors for those displayed. People have volunteered to hand out water, food, and masks.

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People are very tired of the rioting, and have bonded together to confront the rioters. It is not pretty, but the rioters are gettng the message.

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Here are some more thoughts I love to share. You also seem to like them. (Let me know)

Forget what others think you are.
God is love, so we sshould love one another.
Perfect love casts out fear.
Praying is not just for praying. It is to speak to God.
Reading the Bible is not the goal. The goal is to grow spiritually while reading the Bible.
Only through death can we find life.
Every pain, every disappointment, is covered by Jesus’s love.
Live life like you are expecting Jesus to come.
Be joyful; be prayful, and be grateful. (Always without ceasing)
Through affliction, we know that God will do something greater.
We need to be more concerned about God’s glory.
We should obey God even if we are in pain.
If one suffers all of us suffer. If one is honored, all of us are glad.
Envy: Painful or resentful of some one’s possession. Leads to dissatisfacton, discontentment.
Always look at the cross. It reminds you to trust.
Are we just living, or are we living life well?
Are we trusting the Lord to lead us, or are we wanting the Lord to do things our way?
Are we mangaing our time to serve the Lord; our responsiblities, or our relationships?
Do we need to be desparate to read the Bible? Are we willing to let God give us the desire to do so?
You come to a crossroad. There only two directions to go. Left is wisdom, and the right is folly. Which way will you go?

I always suggest you go through those thoughts one at a time and ponder them. Much wisdom could come from them.

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What is your life like?

Are you happy? Do you think life is great, or are you depressed with what is going on around you? Never let the dark side overcome you!! Reach for the light. Yes, there are many painful things happening right now, but always remember God is in charge. Stay strong and alway lean on Him for His love.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unlloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!!

Tag: wild fires (Page 1 of 2)

Be Strong Through the Storms of Life

We are in Troubling Times Time for Prayer

We Need to Pray About Our Fears to Stop Panic

There Are Benefits to Facing Trials

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