The Brief​

• • Some states are taking action to protect food assistance as the federal government plans to suspend SNAP payments starting Saturday.
  • The Trump administration says food stamp payments will be suspended on Nov. 1 because of the ongoing government shutdown.
  • Officials in 25 states filed a lawsuit to try to force the administration to continue payments. A ruling is expected late Thursday.

Payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could be suspended starting Saturday if the government shutdown continues or a judge doesn’t step in to stop the cuts.

The program, which costs around $8 billion a month and serves about 1 in 8 Americans, is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. It would be the first time in the program’s history that payments would be suspended.

Ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline, some states are taking action to protect food assistance for their most vulnerable residents.

Why are SNAP payments being suspended?​

What they're saying:

The Trump administration said it’s not allowed to use a contingency fund with about $5 billion in it for the program, despite an earlier plan that would have tapped the money to keep SNAP running amid the shutdown.

The other side:

Democratic state attorneys general or governors from 25 states, as well as the District of Columbia — filed a lawsuit challenging the suspension of payments. They argue that not only could that contingency money be used, it must be. They also said a separate fund with around $23 billion could be tapped.

Continued below.

I am in the process of developing graphic tools to assist in memorizing scripture. I may collect said graphics into a book form.
The concept of graphic memorization tools began, to the best of my knowledge, when Jerry Lucas wrote a book back in the 75: "Remember the Word: Vol. 1, The Gospels: A Bible Memorization System." Lucas got a graphic artist to create pictographs that would assit the reader to memorize scritpure books, chapters, passages, and verses. The pictures use the association principle to lock subject matter into the memory of the student.
Here is one picture that I have created using Gemini AI.
The image is simple, silly, and should be easy to memorize. Silly is the key phrase here.
In the sky, there is the word "THe".
Below is a "JeeP".
Also in the jeep is a anthropomorphic "LoG."
Kamala Harris is driving = "VP". (Kamala was the VP when I first created this concept.)

So the motion of the picture (as displayed at the bottom) is "THe JeeP LoG VP".
Note the capitalization. This is just to remind you of a key principle. We do not use vowels in this memory tool.

So the functional letters would only be consonants:

TH
JP
LG
VP

In this case, each letter is the first letter in our memory verse:
True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Good report
Virtue
Praise.

You can probably guess the verse:

Philippians 4:8 KJV
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are True, whatsoever things are Honest, whatsoever things are Just, whatsoever things are Pure, whatsoever things are Lovely, whatsoever things are of Good report; if there be any Virtue, and if there be any Praise, think on these things.

Study the picture until you have it in your memory. Then, remember to only use the consonants of the words. Associate the letters with the words in the verse, and you will have the framework for memorizing this scripture.

What is a “Christian”? A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, who follows (obeys) the teachings of Christ. And to be a follower of Christ means to be his disciple. And a disciple of Christ is a believer, a supporter, a devotee, and an adherent of Christ and of his teachings. They are those who obey, uphold, defend, and advocate for Christ, for who he was and is, for what he did for us on that cross, and for his teachings, and who aim to be more like him. A Christian is not someone who merely professes to believe in Jesus Christ.


For to hear his voice is not just to audibly hear him, but it is to listen to him. And to listen to him means that we pay close attention to his words to hear them and to obey them. An example of this should be understood by anyone who has ever been a parent of a small child. You talk to the child, but it is like your words are going nowhere, and so you say to the child, “Are you listening to me?” What is meant by the parent is, “Are you paying attention to my words, to take them into your mind, and then to do what they say?”

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

But there are many people in this world calling themselves “Christians,” who do so for many different reasons. Some do so for nefarious purposes, either because they are trying to gain support from the Christian community, and/or because they are wolves in sheep’s clothing who have entered the sheepfold by another way, and for the express purpose to deceive and to teach them lies in hope that they will now follow and believe the lies, and that they will reject Jesus’s teachings. And they’ve been very successful.

Many have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ, believing all their sins are now forgiven, and that heaven is secured them for eternity, but who are not listening to the Lord, for they are not his true sheep, for they are not following him in obedience to his commands, but they are still living to please the flesh and are continuing to do what is evil in the sight of God. They may call themselves “Christians,” but biblically speaking they are not Christians, for they are not disciples of Christ, for they go their own way.

So, the passage of Scripture here is definitely making a division between those who suffer as murderers, thieves, and as evildoers, and those who suffer because they are Christians, as the Bible defines “Christian,” and not as the world does. So if you profess faith in Jesus Christ, but sin is still your practice, and not obedience to God, but you suffer, it is not because you are a Christian, even if you profess to be one. You could be suffering for all sorts of reasons, and even because you are living in sin while professing Christ.

So if the judgment of God first begins with us who believe in Jesus Christ, what does that mean, in context? Well, the context is the testing of our faith via trials and tribulations which come to us to test us to see if our faith is genuine, or to strengthen us in our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord, to teach us to rely on God and not on ourselves, and to cut out of our lives any weak areas. The trials either grow us or they destroy us, depending upon how we respond to them. But let them grow you, and not destroy you.

What they have done for me is to make me stronger and more determined to search out the truth, to stand by the truth, strong against the lies, to refute the lies of the enemy, and to continue boldly, in the strength of the Lord, to keep speaking the truth of the gospel, and to not give way to the enemy of my soul or to any human being who would try to convince me to back down and to “lighten up” and to not take life so seriously. And this is why I am who I am doing what God has called me to do for his glory.

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 10:16-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 17:14; Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 3:7-11; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Hebrews 12:3-12; 1 John 3:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

His Tender Mercies

An Original Work / January 26, 2014
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Fear not! I’m with you.
Be not dismayed!
God watches o’er you.
Trust Him today.
He’ll lead and guide you;
Give you His aid.
He’ll love and keep you
With Him always.

Walk in His footsteps.
He’ll lead the way.
Trust in His love;
Believe that He cares.
He will not leave you.
Faithful He’ll be.
His tender mercies
Now you will see.

Fellowship with Him
Throughout the day.
Tell Him your heartaches.
He’ll heal always.
Rest in His comfort.
He is your friend.
Your faith He’ll strengthen,
True to the end.

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According to The Will of God
An Original Work / November 1, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Release International’s partner in Central Asia provides on-going support to Christian workers, who are active in church planting and in pastoring often scattered and isolated congregations.

Pray for Pastor Pavel Shreider, who is currently in prison in Kyrgyzstan and is suffering with deteriorating health. As Release International reported earlier this year, he claims he was tortured during his interrogation.

Pray for gospel ministry in Kyrgyzstan after restrictions against freedom of religion and belief came into effect earlier this year. Pray that Christians and churches would stand strong.

Pray for the health of Nikolai Romanyuk, pastor of an Evangelical church in Moscow, who is currently serving a four-year sentence in a labour camp for speaking against the war in Ukraine.

The first expression I guess you can call it that is becoming more clear to me the more I trust God and centering Christ in my life. Is that I am so so gratful. You don't believe how grateful I am that God not only saved me which in itself is amazing and a testiment to how God knows us so well.

But that He also makes everything ok. He offers something more than this life. Which I know without Him I could have been anything evil that we see in the world. Even the persuit of this worlds riches. Which I had done.

That God can not only change individuals but families or groups of people and even moreso difficult situations that seem impossible if you believe.

I sometimes feel like the Prodigal son twice over and yet God still forgives me and loves me. The more I know this the more I want to please Him.

In some ways I see myself as lucky that I experienced what I did such as addiction and crime. Or becoming the world and experiencing all that this involves including the persuit of money and material gain.

But being raised a Catholic but leaving pretty early and into the public system. The result I might add of a divorce and family breakdown. Which has led to the family being seperated for years in different parts of Australia.

Nevertheless I always felt God somewhere in the background. So I wonder if I was always saved and then became the Prodigal son a couple of times. Because I was saved I think when in my 20s. After getting into a lot of trouble I ended up facing long term jail or rehab lol. Back in those days the whole drug rehab and courts was starting. They must have seen I had potential lol.

But after some years I drifted away from the church, got married, travelled the world, lived in England for a few years and came back. Then continued my lifestyle as Aussies do. I was back on home turf and knew the culture of sex and drugs and rock and roll. In reality it was heavy drinking and lots of pot. Then businesses again and it ended in a heart attack at the age of 45.

Then things began to change. Not right away. But I was reflecting on my life and what the meaning of everything was. But was also having these internal battles or perhaps arguements with myself about the typical stuff that skeptics bring up. Evolution and science is the answer and makes more sense ect.

But I began to want more meaning and knew there was more this this mystery that meets the eye. Which I think was Gods light still flickering in my mind or spirit. I began to work in the care industry and I think this was the gradual process that got me back to God. It was not easy as I had many doubts and I had a tendency to get fixated on ideas and arguements and rationalism and all that.

But then it all just did not matter. Still the persistent inkling tugging at my soul and conscience of God and the vision of Christs sole footprints in the sand because he was carrying me.

But I am glad for this as no matter what God was there and all those trials and mistakes were part of what got me to where I am and I don't think I would have the same meaning and fullness of life without this.

But heres the strange this and I am not sure others feel the same. But for some reason Kirks murder has caused me to be even more sure and careful of my belief. Seeing all the division and hate and chaos has sort of made me retreat and get back to the basics. To be more Christlike than ever before as it seems the culture itself is changing that it should cause Christians to reflect.

Everyone is different and that is the great thing that through Christ everyone becomes an example and together this is a force. More so now than ever I think Christians need to preprove their belief and be more Christlike regardless of the world. It is getter harder but also that is when Christ shines.

The federal government must now scramble to either ensure that some SNAP funding is made available by Monday or appeal the rulings.

In context, this was an exhortation to the church elders to “shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3 NASB1995). And I have always loved these words because they describe what the overseers of our church gatherings are supposed to be like in character and word and deed.

But the following words (quoted first here) do not have to only be said to overseers of church congregations, but they can apply to all of us who are followers of Jesus Christ. For all of us (church elders and pastors included) are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, not thinking that we know better than God or that we don’t have to seek his counsel, and that we can still run our own lives the way that we want to. But we are to see ourselves through the eyes of God and realize how much we need him.

As those who are of genuine biblical faith in Jesus Christ, we are to deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to self), and follow our Lord in obedience to his commands. We are to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, in submission to his will and purpose for our lives. And we are to regard our lives as no longer our own to be lived how we want, for via the blood of Jesus Christ shed on that cross, we were bought back for God out of our lives of bondage to sin so that we will now serve the Lord with our lives.

And we are to cast all our anxiety on him, because he cares for us. And why might we be anxious? For thousands of reasons, probably, for life is not always kind to us, and people aren’t always, either. And we will face difficulties and trials and tribulations to test our faith, for sure. And I am going through some of those personally myself. Although not nearly as severe as what Job faced, mine are just about as multifaceted as were his, for he was called upon to suffer in so many different ways and means.

So this speaks to me, as well, to keep giving my pain and my suffering over to the Lord, trusting him to accomplish his will and purpose in my life through what he has called upon me to suffer right now. And I pray every day that I would make the right and wise decisions, and that he would always lead me in where to go and in what to do and in what to say.

For I think this is way more than I have ever had “on my plate” all at the same time before, where I am dealing with heart failure, breathing difficulty, sharp chest pain and pressure, and the possibility of cancer in 3 different body locations. And that is on top of the neuropathy, the leg pain, the dizziness, the balance issues, the head twitchings, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, cognitive decline, fatigue, swelling in the legs and ankles and abdomen, cough, heart palpitations, and possibly surgeries, too.

And the devil is definitely attacking me and fighting against me in trying to get me to give up hope or to be anxious, because all this is overwhelming. But it is more of an oppressive kind of feeling that is non-descript and yet uncomfortable at the same time. And sometimes I do break down and cry, too. But I am resisting him, and I am fighting back strong in my faith and in my trust and hope in God, in the power of God at work within me, as I draw on HIS strength, despite what all I am suffering physically at this time.

I know God has a plan and a purpose for all of this in my life, and that he is going to work good in my life, and in other people’s lives, too, through this time of suffering he is taking me through. And I have to walk by faith because I don’t know what is going to come about through all of this, or how it is all going to turn out, or even if I am going to live and not die. But I know God is in control, that he is completely sovereign over my life and over my circumstances, and that good is going to come out of this somehow.

To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen!

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 10:16-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 17:14; Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 3:7-11; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Hebrews 12:3-12; 1 John 3:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

His Tender Mercies

An Original Work / January 26, 2014
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Fear not! I’m with you.
Be not dismayed!
God watches o’er you.
Trust Him today.
He’ll lead and guide you;
Give you His aid.
He’ll love and keep you
With Him always.

Walk in His footsteps.
He’ll lead the way.
Trust in His love;
Believe that He cares.
He will not leave you.
Faithful He’ll be.
His tender mercies
Now you will see.

Fellowship with Him
Throughout the day.
Tell Him your heartaches.
He’ll heal always.
Rest in His comfort.
He is your friend.
Your faith He’ll strengthen,
True to the end.

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Resist him, Firm in Your Faith
An Original Work / October 31, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Ozempic is being produced for Diabetes 2 and to help control obesity. But apparently it owes its origin to the Gila Monster, or at least some of it.

Enter a poisonous lizard

In the 1980s John Pisano, a biochemist with a penchant for venoms, and a young gastroenterologist Jean-Pierre Raufman were working with poisonous lizard venom from the Gila monster, a slow-moving reptile native to the south of the United States and north of Mexico. By the 1990s, Pisano, Raufman and colleague John Eng identified a hormone-like molecule they called exendin-4. This stimulated insulin secretion via action at the same receptor as GLP-1.

Excitingly, exendin-4 was not quickly metabolised by the body, and so might be useful as a diabetic therapeutic.

Click to expand...

“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do. I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” President Trump said on Truth Social.

People should not suffer because of a political stunt.

Vice President JD Vance says he's raising his children in the Christian faith, despite being part of a mixed-faith family.

The 41-year-old clashed with a student over immigration policy and religious identity during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday, where he paid tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Speaking alongside widow Erika Kirk, the new head of Turning Point USA, Vance addressed thousands in an arena, fielding questions in the mold of Kirk's trademark "Prove Me Wrong" sessions. The Ole Miss stop was Erika Kirk's only appearance on the tour, which has recently featured Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson at other campuses.

Kirk, Turning Point USA's founder, was shot and killed in September at Utah Valley University.

Continued below.

In Vietnam's more remote areas, villagers follow traditional ethnic-animist religions, and persecution towards anybody who becomes a Christian from this background is fierce. Believers can have their homes destroyed and be expelled from the community.

Local authorities crack down on Christian meetings, evangelism or Bible teaching. They may break up church services and detain, threaten, fine and sometimes imprison church leaders, ordering them not to speak about Jesus anymore. They are particularly suspicious of Christians from minority ethnic groups such as the Hmong. Despite this, Hmong Bible teachers bravely travel miles by motorbike into remote areas to train believers in secret Bible schools.

The historical Roman Catholic churches enjoy more freedom than other denominations and groups but can still face interference by the state. Like all Vietnamese people, these Christians are still likely to be imprisoned if they speak out on political issues.

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?​

People who become Christians from Buddhist or traditional religious backgrounds face the greatest persecution from their own communities, and also from local authorities who are already suspicious of these minority people groups.

Meet 'Vahn'​

The villagers and the local authorities came and beat us... one of the officials tasered me. But because God loves me, then I will love others. I do not hate the ones who persecute me; I pray for them, and I love them so.
VAHN, A CHURCH PASTOR IN VIETNAM.

Click to expand...

What has changed this year?​

Vietnam fell by nine places on this year's World Watch List compared to last year. The government has sought to strengthen its diplomatic relations with the Vatican, which is best evidenced by the appointment of the first resident papal representative in December 2023. However, the Catholic Church is still monitored and suffers various forms of oppression.

Most alarming is the increased oppression of unregistered churches in Vietnam. There's a concern that the government wants to control the church and is pushing for smaller churches to join recognised denominations that are more cooperative with the government.

Additional concerns raised by churches and religious organisations include increased reporting and registration requirements, tighter control on foreign-linked activities, restrictions on religious gatherings, expanded government oversight on training and education, and the potential for broader surveillance.

What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Vietnam?​

Open Doors works through local partners to strengthen persecuted believers in Vietnam by providing relief and practical aid, advocacy support, Christian resources, leadership and discipleship training, and socio-economic development projects.

How can you pray for Vietnam?​

• Ask God to comfort Vietnamese Christians who are oppressed, abused and attacked because of their faith.
• Pray for blessing on the work of Open Doors partners as they help with Bible distribution, leadership training and more
• Pray that the believers who gather in unregistered churches will be able to follow Jesus without impediment.

This isn't going to be my verbose self.

I've been extremely unstable (internally, been able to put up a mask) and my faith is wavier than the ocean in a hurricane. Almost apostatized two days ago but the Holy Spirit dragged me kicking and screaming into a shouty prayer asking God for assurance. Yesterday I was reading "atheist to christian" stories to try to ground my belief rationally so I don't have a "faith lapse" and fall into sin blindly. Today I feel listless and confused. I want to cry to God for help but I also want to hide in bed and pretend nothing exists.

In general I feel incredibly weak. Please pray for me.

Good day,

The unions, The Washington times editorial board and now


Snip- "The four largest U.S. airlines are now adding pressure on Democrats to "pass a clean CR" and reopen the government as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers and air traffic controllers are going without pay. "

Chuckie is in trouble.... The party infighting is climbing

Is Trump racist? That's a label not to be applied lightly. But the above actions are definitely what a racist would do.

The end of the filibuster would mean that Trump could pass ANY laws that he wants for the next 2+ years.

Nigerian Christians in unending ways keep being attacked by radical Moslems. Violent deaths and destruction of Churches, villages, and property is common. Abduction of women happens ongoing. Please pray for protection and healing.

.

Maine Family Planning -- the largest network of sexual and reproductive health care clinics in the state -- is ending primary care services at three clinics in Ellsworth, Houlton and Presque Isle, affecting about 800 patients.

Under H.R.1 -- the mega-bill that President Donald Trump signed into law over the summer -- family planning and abortion providers are not allowed to collect Medicaid funding if they received at least $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in 2023.

<Medicaid funds are not used to cover abortion costs>

The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) sued on behalf of Maine Family Planning to restore the funds, but a judge ruled in August that, because Roe v. Wade -- the constitutional right to an abortion -- was overruled, Congress can "withhold federal funds and otherwise disassociate from conduct that is not enshrined."

[Primary care patients are being referred to other facilities for primary care, but those facilities may be far away or not have capacity.]

"Maine is a rural state, and accessing care is complicated."

"Even if you can get in, for instance, to a gynecology department, you may have a six-to-eight-month wait before you can be seen, which, if you have a concerning lump on your breast or a concern about skin changes or a history of cancer, that's too long. And, in some cases, that we could be, be a life-altering wait for care," [Dr. Shields-Haas] added.

Shields-Haas added that some of Maine Family Planning's primary care patients may now be forced to drive upwards of three hours in order to access care, or patients who live on unbridged islands may be forced to fly or take a boat in order to access primary care, which may be cost-prohibitive.

Since I am blessed with access to a full liturgical library and in digital format, I thought it good to share with my fellow Orthodox members texts from the Monthly Menaion, the full Octoechos, the General Menaion, the Triodion and the Pentecostarion members might not have access to or be familiar, as well as less known texts from the Divine Liturgy, including older recensions of the Orthodox Divine Liturgy and variants no longer commonly used, such as the Divine Liturgy of St. Mark recently celebrated by the Patriarch of Alexandria.

In particular, since the Divine Services are heavily abbreviated, whether in Greek or Russian practice, many members might not be familiar with the entire content of the beautiful Canons of Matins, for in many jurisdictions, only the Irmos and Katavasia of each ode are sung, or sometimes even less. I love the Antiochian Church and regard them as one of the best when it comes to liturgics, but it is depressing when one compares the contents of the official texts for Orthros they publish with what is in the Menaion - because there is a lot we are missing, but admittedly pastoral needs preclude celebrating these services in full at the present. But perhaps new ways can be found of making these services accessible - perhaps something like the pious practice of Anglicans in the UK of listening to Choral Evensong over the radio could be used to allow different Orthodox choirs to sing parts of the Divine Services not usually heard, for the edification of the Orthodox while at home or at work.

For my part, I am going to share what I have, asking for the blessing of St. Luke the Evangelist, the Holy Prophets Moses, Habbakuk and Daniel, St. John of Damascus, St. Romanos the Melodist, St. Theodore the Studite and St. Ephraim the Syrian and our Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary.

I also wish to dedicate this thread to my Orthodox brethren @prodromos and @jas3 and my dearly beloved friends @RileyG @MarkRohfrietsch and @chevyontheriver and @Shane R who I believe will find this liturgical material edifying - and I do plan on including some Western Rite Orthodox texts which may appear in their service books as well.

I also wish to thank our dear friend @ArmyMatt , a chaplain and priest of the Orthodox Church in America, who attended St. Tihkon’s Seminary, whose online streaming service is one of the best places to hear the services of the Orthodox Church online in English.

I have an urgent prayer request from your church.

I need urgent fervent prayer for my friends. They're undergoing through a spiritual battle. They need strength and strong faith in God. For Lola, Mary, several doctors. Severe satanic attacks. Urgent fervent prayer right now. Can you include them in your prayer list at church. We need prayers. Satanic attacks specifically in the mind. This is important. We need prayer warriors. We need all church members to pray for that.

They're actually from there too. They need all the prayers they can get. Very urgent.

Of Saul ..........

The army of the Philistines approached and had threatened the covenant people, which disturbed the king (1 Samuel 28:4-5).

He was not able to consult the Lord through any of the legitimate ways, so in desperation he sought for the very people he banished.

He requested a medium and was sent to the home of a woman at En Dor (v. 7). Saul met the woman in a disguise and asked her to “bring up” Samuel the prophet.

The woman was aware of the law of the land and that Saul had banished her kind of people from practicing their sorcery. (vv. 8-9). After a promise from Saul that the Lord would not punish her, she attempted to bring up Samuel and to her own surprise, he actually came back to life! (vv. 10-12).

The exchange between Samuel and Saul at this point is reminiscent of prior conversations. Saul asked Samuel what to do about the Philistines, and Samuel responded by reminding Saul that YHWH had departed from him and gave the kingdom to David because of Saul’s disobedience.

Samuel then told Saul that he and his children would die in battle and be “with” Samuel (vv. 16-19).
And he did.

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

So do you believe that ghosts do come back to visit us ?

Hi everyone I wanted to share this story with you about an extreme test that I went through the last year and only overcame this and sustained this with God and the love of Christ.

I will give you the journey of my life in the last year.

In October 2024 last year I had a terrible pain in my stomach and it was felt like it was 8/9 out of 10 the pain. I was in agony for three days stretch. It subsided though, during this time as always I was praying and holding on and trusting in God. During this I made my food easier to prepare. The pain continued for some months at a much reduced level and I had moderate light body swelling internally. The pain lasted for some months at a decreasing level. This started a physical recovery for me from anorexia.

The pain has gone today, The body can repair sometimes from severe damage as my GP told me, people too can have operations to if needed. Also, with God if your recovery is to be in his will it is possible if you trust him to get to a semi functional or functional state as well. I was taking Holy water during this time and the Holy Sacraments at church which I continued to attend regularly during this time. I think that without these it could be even worse.

In December I had mild gas poisoning and God rescued my life with this and I got treatment and gave thanks to God and came out beaming and got to have a Christmas free from headache due to the gas.

Then I received religious abuse in February 2025 and at times I thought I was alone at some times and desolate God's spirit would appear and then depart to another world above that Psalm 104 speaks of and I felt his love. This supported me with autism and my nervous system. I also had a blessing with Holy Oil once a month at church and I also again drank Holy water daily received from the church blessed during this and I would pray and check in for a for time with God and then let my spirit decide with Psalm 24 if they needed anything to equip us through the week. I also did things to get me through and thought of good things and connected my pain to Christ’s suffering and it got me through which Christ wants us to do as Christians.

Then a miracle of God came and the words of the abuse that entered my body would just disappear in tracts sometimes overnight and the mental wounds would heal up of the pain by Christ alone and the Holy Spirit. I could hear them coming to remove the words to at times if awake. We have a mysterious working and he God hates violence as Psalm 11 tells us and he will support those who are afflicted and not abandon them as Psalm tells us 37 in difficult times. Wounds healing and being equipped to cope in extreme trials happens time and again through Christ as it happened to with Saints such as Saint Agatha.

During this I too held onto Jeremiah’s promises for a plan for peace again and hope as my destiny (Jeremiah 29:11). I also thought about eternal life beyond earth with Christ. This was my own mission amongst extreme trials that the former Pope Francis to has spoken of too in the “Footsteps of Christ our Hope speech.”

During this time of religious abuse I would also look after my spirit to and ask for a blessing at church and prayers to from the minister to and they were powerful tools. I would confess to what I was hearing as abuse to heal my soul. Give glory to God. I could have been injured, but I don’t think one part of my body was touched thanks be to the most merciful God. Life isn't as always sweet as roses as a Christian, but there is inner joy and peace with Christ which you cannot put a worldly price on.

Now I want to share something sweet with you. In 2023 in May I was nearly taken to my grave with anorexia, but Christ got me out of there. At that time, visitors came to see me. My niece came who I helped to raise as a child and she wept and said goodbye to me. Her father came to and my brother in law came and was the one who was leading prayers and always hoped for me to come out. Christ intervened and I came out like Christ’s most loved Lazarus to. I was to like Sleeping Beauty to be woken by Christ's though who is the Son of God by sending the Holy Spirit with its healing touch. The Holy Spirit also made me aware that Christ would anchor me in this recovery period by a vision.

Today, my niece got married on Sunday and I was there to attend and I cried when I saw the three of them my family members coming down the aisle like they came to also when they saw me when I was expected to go to my grave.

They was my strong team who was involved in helping to pray for me during a great difficult time and they came out arm in arm to walk my niece down the aisle to meet her husband I was there to watch and alive. They almost took me to the grave as finished in the body because of my conditions. Christ though carried me out and restored me to a functional state over the course of time. I could be there at the wedding, only due to God. People greeted me and remarked I seemed more of the old me before anorexia. This reminds me of the promise of the Lord in the book of Corinthians that he can make us a new me (2 Corinthians 5:17). As we all do I walk my daily path with Christ. Praise be to God. Get help from others and from a hospital if you cannot recover alone, I have done that in the past but this was right for me today with Christ. Do not delay though looking for help in the medical system if you need to which Christ supports too.

I have shared a video of a video clip of them coming down the aisle. A time to celebrate. Hold on in extreme trials and God will see you through.

Who doesn't love a wedding?

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Some time back I made an email account with Proton Mail. I liked the security and anonymity it (claims to) provide. Now I'm getting ready to start selling some records at Discogs.

I recently read some articles that Proton is known to often be used by criminals and people up to no good. I don't know how important that is. Would it be a bad idea to use a Proton account for selling and buying? Would you trust buying merch from someone using a Proton account?

The day before the start of the latest shutdown drama, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared that Republicans were “lying” about the Democrats’ hostage demands to turn the lights back on. No, the left’s spending plan would not pay for health care for illegal immigrants, the New York Democrat said. Doing so would require a change in federal law that bars such a thing, echoed Jeffries’ pals in corporate media.
“Nowhere have Democrats suggested that we’re interested in changing federal law,” he told NBC News for a story under the misleading headline, “GOP misleads with claim that Democrats shut down to give health care to ‘illegal immigrants.’” The story, like a lot of reporting from the corporate media, hasn’t aged well.
Hakeem and his team are lying to the American people. The truth is, hundreds of millions of dollars in direct and indirect spending is going to pick up the tab for the explosion of illegal aliens in this country.

Indeed, the wording in the law the Democrats are demanding be removed was intended to stop taxpayer money ending up paying for health care for illegals.