Woman sitting quietly on a beach, looking out upon the ocean, pausing and waiting on the Lord for renewed strength.

Indefatigable!

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“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

As the new morning dawns, so does the battle with getting on with the day. Decisions must be made, as well as beds. Tasks and chores line up, each demanding attention and strength from your day.

Some are routine. Some are not. But whatever form or fashion they come in, the calling of their attention throughout the day will sap a certain amount of energy from you, exhausting you.

And sometimes all you need is a little refresher to make it through.

The Bible offers us a pause in our weary times. Just as with our daily assignments, so also must our faith be tended to and nurtured, finding a place to be refreshed.

God knows that sometimes we get tired. He sees us flagging even in our efforts to push forth. And His Word shows us the power of pausing so that we don’t run ourselves into the ground, so that we don’t become so tired that we become worn and at the end of our rope.

Here in Isaiah, we are told our strength is renewed when we wait. But not just in the waiting. Rather, when we wait on the Lord.

So much hardness of life and anxious decisions are because we run ahead without Him. We set our course, we plan our days, we push on with our purposes. And we leave out whatever the Father wanted to reveal to us during the pause. Do you see where the problem lies?

To become indefatigable, we need to be fueled by the Father. It is only then that we will have the strength to persevere.

Exhaustion is an epidemic of people doing life their way. Not only are they the choreographer of their days, but the suppliers of their own needs. Everything is contingent on what they can do.

Our faith is never due to our own exhaustive efforts. Our faith is authored by the Lord who took on Himself and completed the tasks our efforts would still be fighting to fulfill.

So it is by faith we wait. It is by faith that we confidently stand in the midst of the pause for the Father’s hand to move and be strengthened.

Enduring can only happen when we are leaning and relying upon the right Source. And when we do, then we will become indefatigable.

Fight the urge to push forward in your own strength. Rest in Him. Pause. Pray. Remember where the power of your faith lives.

It is in God, our Father. And He will never fail those who confidently wait on Him.

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

Psalm 34 encouragement, praising God despite circumstances, I will bless the LORD at all times

The Choice to Praise!

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“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

In a cave, dark and dank, is supposedly where this story takes place (according to the superscription written at the beginning of this psalm which states, “A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.”)  With a musty smell invading the senses as moisture gathers on the walls and water drops may be heard echoing their song throughout, there stands one soul.

This cave is a place of hiding because an enemy has sought David’s life (more on this later).  But this cave is also a place of decision for David.  Does he let the circumstances that caused him to be here take over and have their way with his heart, mind, and emotions?  Or, does he continue in faith?

In this cave, David had to choose to believe or not to believe; to praise or not to praise.  The choice was his.  The choice is ours.

Praise is easy to come by when all is good, when all the wheels are turning in one’s favor.  But life doesn’t consist of just rainbows and roses, sunny days without a cloud in the sky.  Some days are hard.  Some days have tears.  Some days have trouble.  And yes, some days have doubts.

Being actively pursued by an enemy is one of those troubling times David faced.  As if in a weird game of cat and mouse, David was repeatedly forced to run for his life and hide as King Saul chased him down wherever he went.

Fleeing to find refuge elsewhere, David went to “Achish the king of Gath,” (1 Samuel 21:10; note: Achish is another name used in the place of Ahimelech, which we see written in the superscription noted above).  But instead of blending in unnoticed, David unintentionally caught the attention of Achish’s servants.

The truth was, David had a reputation.  First, he is known as the one who struck down the mighty champion of the Philistine army, Goliath, and killed him, who also happened to be from this very city where David was attempting to hide in now (see 1 Samuel 17:23).  Secondly, when David fought with his fellow countrymen against the Philistines at the command of Saul, and returned home victorious, the women sang songs, saying, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands,” (1 Samuel 18:5-7; 21:11).  Therefore, when he entered Gath, David was recognized.

Upon hearing that his identity was exposed and realizing he might not be as safe here as he thought, David became afraid (1 Samuel 21:12) and literally acted like a madman in front of everyone.  “He changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard,” (1 Samuel 21:13; compare to the superscription above in Psalm 34).

David put on a very convincing show that saved his life.  He was released from that place and “escaped to the cave Adullam” (1 Samuel 21:14-22:1), where many suppose the heart of this psalm was penned.

After not just this trying ordeal, but in all that he has been through, David knows that God is worthy of praise.  And not just in times of blessings and prosperity, peace and good fortune.  Even in the dark caves of life, even on the run for his life, even when he felt dejected, rejected, and neglected by others, he declared, “I will bless the LORD at all times.”

David could not see a time when God wasn’t worthy of praise.  For David, that time didn’t exist.  David has always been a praiser, and he wasn’t going to let times of affliction stop him now.  Therefore, he says, “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

“His praise” must be emphasized here.  What David was writing and singing about were not just random words to a rich melody sung from the moving depths of his heart.  No, this was so much more.  This exaltation was for God.  This sweet anthem recognizes who David, and we, stand before in the good times and the bad, and it is He who is worthy to be praised.  This is “His praise!”  All glory always belongs to Him, no matter what.

Yes, there will be days of tears and days of trouble, but there will never be a day when God is not worthy to be praised.

In hard times, it is easy to pay attention to and be filled up with things that shouldn’t be getting so much attention.  But David chooses to do something different.  Instead of making his problems bigger, he made God bigger by determining to magnify the Lord through it all (v. 3)!

If you feed faith, faith will grow.  If you feed into the fear, then fear will grow.  Which one will you choose to magnify today?

David decides to praise God no matter what. May his determination inspire us to do the same.

Blessings~

Father God, we want to honor You despite it all. Regardless of our circumstances, You will always be worthy of the praise. No matter the dark caves we may face, we desire to glorify You. We recognize today that our adoration doesn’t stop when things only look good. Our adoration belongs to You because You are good. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, AMEN!

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The Power Within

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Dear one, do you not know the magnitude of the power that resides within your very being? You, who are established in Christ Jesus, have not only become a born-again child of God. But today, you are carriers of the phenomenal, unexplainable, immeasurable power inside of you.
 
No matter how dim, gloomy, or bleak it may seem, we are NEVER alone.
 
We have a Strength that is beyond our human capabilities.
We have a Force fighting for us that cannot be reckoned with by human standards.
We have the one and only true God, and He is on our side!
 
Not only is He on our side, but He resides in us through the precious gift of the Holy Ghost!
 
May the resharing of this poem encourage your hearts today as you remember the Greater lives inside of you:
 
“Greater is He that is in me!
The life inside that I cannot see.
Only feel with the passion and the burn
Love from the cross that flows unearned.
 
Glowing embers, His spirit unfolds.
Power inside of stories untold!
Ripping away all the fear and frights;
Layering on His love’s holy light.
 
The life inside has been swept and cleaned
By the Master who defeats enemies unseen.
Foes tremble, their strength can’t compare,
‘Cause greater is He now resides there.”
©WordforLifeSays
 
“𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅,” 1 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 4:4
Be blessed~

The True Treasure

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What if the treasure our hearts truly long for isn’t buried in sand—but found in the presence of God?

When I was a young girl, I was always fascinated by the idea of those who walked along the beaches or through parks with metal detectors in their hands.

I remember wanting one so badly for myself.

You could see them sway their device this way and that, back and forth, ever searching until the beeping intensified, signaling that something had been found.

Sometimes, that “something” was trash. But then there were those times when that beeping from the search led to true treasure.

For millennia, mankind has searched oceans, caves, pits, deserts, mountains, ruins, rivers, and more in search of treasure. Fascinating books have been written, inspiring the imagination of many with the adventure of finding some grand, undiscovered treasure.

And while they may be fun to read, taking us for a wild flight into fantasy, when the story ends, the adventure ends with it—and nothing remains to truly satisfy.

Where is the hope in that?

Vain is the search that leads only to temporary treasures—today’s trappings that offer no lasting satisfaction.

Jesus promised something different for the diligent searchers of the true Treasure:

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46

The search here, and the treasures found, were so grand and valuable, the response was to do all one had to do to buy that field or obtain that pearl.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” that.

In true, parable form, He described ideas or treasures in a way they could easily understand. Then, He put this spin on it.

The Kingdom of Heaven is the most precious treasure one could hope to have. But it will only be enjoyed by those who do their diligent search. Those who know its value and have made up their minds that they cannot live without it – without Him.

God sent this encouraging word to the Babylonian captives by the mouth of Jeremiah:

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13.

Sadly, when many read Jeremiah 29, they stop at verse 11 and set up camp there. And while, yes, God had a future promise of peace for His people, the greatest joy and satisfaction they or we will ever experience will come at the end of a heart that had made its diligent search to know God and draw nearer to Him.

When David wrote Psalm 16, he, too, exclaimed this truth, saying,

“In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (v. 11).

Anything short of the Kingdom of Heaven. Anything outside of the presence of God will eventually always come up empty. No matter what we find, no matter where we place our energy, “fulness of joy” can only be found in His presence.

Fulness means that with nothing lacking, there is no more reason for searching. God, our heavenly Father, is the answer for all the searching. Only in Him will you find your true treasure.

Father God, it is You we need above all else. When our attention is swaying back and forth like that metal detector, remind us that You are the true treasure, and that we don’t have to search for another. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, AMEN!

Friend, what has your attention today? When the pages of your life’s story close, where will you find yourself?

May your heart rest from vain searching and set its affections on the Father who only can give you “fulness of joy.”

In Christ, the adventure never stops. We get to share in His treasure for all eternity.

Before the chaos of the day begins, take a moment to reflect on your true treasure and journal your thoughts here.
Blessings~

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Not By My Strength

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One thing I have noticed in life, as much as we want to believe it, none of us has all the answers to everything we need. We are not the end-all. But I also found out that that’s okay. We don’t have to be everything, nor do we need to know everything. We have One who not only knows the finite things we see and deal with before us daily, but He also knows the infinite and the things we cannot see.

We don’t have to struggle as if we don’t have this heavenly hope. We don’t have to rely on ourselves when we have our Big Beautiful God, who is unmatched in everything, to rely on. We don’t have to beat against the wind with our “might” when we can lean on His and come out victorious on the other side.

I pray that as I reshare this poem with you, it blesses you today and awakens your confidence in our wonderful God:

“Not by my own strength,
it’s failing, it’s fleeting.
Relying on myself,
my life takes a beating.

It’s against the wind I fight,
expending all my fleshly might.
It’s only by His Spirit I can win,
supplied by God, the power within.

Many are searching
for the prosperous way,
forcing themselves
with striving each day.

The plans of man
are but weak and futile.
Relying on God will carry you
to the very last mile.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of Hosts,” Zechariah 4:6

Today, may we rest in this truth:
We were never meant to carry life in our own strength.

We can rely on God.
Blessings~

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Prayer of Jabez, stretching as a reminder of faith and spiritual growth

Don’t Fear the Stretch!

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Are you ready to reach for more? This NEW devotional reflects on the Prayer of Jabez and how God stretches us beyond our comfort zone to bring enlargement.

Prayer of Jabez, stretching as a reminder of faith and spiritual growth

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”
1 Chronicles 4:10

As I get older, I’ll be honest—my body doesn’t move the way it used to. Certain joints will let me know very quickly if I move the wrong way, sleep in the wrong position, or do anything that makes them uncomfortable.

Because of that, I’ve been looking for simple ways to incorporate more movement into my life. Along the way, I’ve added small, purposeful exercises—when I remember—that help decrease pain and increase mobility. One of the simplest has been stretching.

Not stretching just for the sake of stretching, or yoga, or anything like that—but intentional movements that target muscles I rarely pay attention to unless they start hurting.

Stretching can feel uncomfortable at first. But once you begin, you quickly realize how good it feels—especially when you move beyond limits you thought you had.

In much the same way, God calls some of us to stretch beyond our familiar range of motion. To move past what we’re used to. To believe beyond what we currently see.

But that kind of stretching requires faith.

To activate faith, we must allow God to do what He does—and trust how He chooses to do it. For some of us, that is an uncomfortable concept.

We pray the prayer of Jabez and ask God to enlarge our territory, but then cry out when He starts stretching us beyond our comfort zone. Yet there is no enlargement without stretching.

If we truly want expanded territory, we must be willing to stretch in faith beyond the here and now.

Do you want enlarged territories?

Do you feel God stretching you?

Don’t fight it. Trust that this stretching is working together for your good, just as God promises in Romans 8:28.

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Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God, encouraging verse, woman, farm, reading Bible

Spending my life getting to know God…

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Spending my life getting to know God…

My friends, because that’s what it will take, and more. There is not one day, nor one year, nor one life that can learn the totality of our great God on this side of heaven. The Scriptures tell us He is “unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3) and that His ways are “past finding out” (Romans 11:33). What a joy and a privilege to spend these days we are given here to draw nearer still. What an honor to be given the invitation to come.  Oh, blessed one, we have been given a great gift by the Father of being called one of His own. May we live our days for Him and in getting to know Him more.

The greatest thing we could ever have is a solid relationship with God.  Fortifying that comes by taking the time to get to know Him better:

“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord,” (Jeremiah 9:23-24; emphasis mine).

“There are a lot of things we can be frugal with, but faith isn’t one of them.  Jesus, in the Lord’s Prayer, called us to pray for ‘daily bread’ (Matthew 6:11).  Every morning we are reminded of our need for God, to pursue Him more, and again.  As a tummy rumbling for morning nourishment, we are drawn to come to Him and be spiritually satisfied.” (Every Morning|Pursuing God Daily/©WordforLifeSays)

Blessings to you today~

VERSES THAT WILL INSPIRE YOU TO DRAW NEARER STILL:

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” Proverbs 8:17

“For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:9

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” James 4:8

“Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10

What will you do to get to know God more today? Take a quiet moment for yourself — download this free reflection journal page. 

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

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Ecclesiastes 1 inspirational picture, Psalm 90:12 inspirational picture, the beauty and possibilities that come with using time wisely

It’s About Time!

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While there is a season for everything and “a time to every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), God has entrusted us to use what He has given us in a beautiful, purposeful manner.

Time is expensive, for it is the one resource we can use but can never get back, grow back, or buy back. As quickly as the second hand marches in its nonstop rotation around the clock, that moment has passed—then another, and another.

With each second of time, we are given a beautiful offering in this life to do something positive and purposeful. With each second granted, there are possibilities. Opportunities stand before us, if only we will take the time to recognize them.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12), the psalmist proclaimed. Taking inventory of our time and delegating each portion with intentional purpose helps us use the gift of these twenty-four hours in a way that not only honors the God who gave us time, but also reflects our care in stewarding it well.

Will all our time be ordered with busyness and tasks? No. Ecclesiastes reminds us that life consists of seasons—times of action and times of rest, moments to allow the varying experiences we face to unfold as they must.

Yet as the second hand continues to turn, I recognize the precious gift given to me in this moment—and in those that follow. With that recognition comes a desire to be more mindful and aware of how I use my time.

Time, in and of itself, is beautiful to have and to experience. Experience it well, my friend. Use it wisely, and you will never regret a single second you have spent.

Blessings to you~

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asking God in prayer with faith

ASK!

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Ask.
There are many times, and for many reasons, I do not deserve the ask. To be hushed, to have the privilege revoked, would be justified.

Ask.
Yet God welcomes it. He ushers me into His Word, where I find testimony upon testimony revealing how often the want was simply the asking.

There are grievous things in this life—things heavy to bear. And while we are not promised exemption from trials or woes, He still understands and welcomes the ask for relief.

There are heart-stirring aspirations that awaken good desires within us. How to get there, how to set it all in motion—ask. God is all too pleased to offer guidance to a truly searching heart.

Asking allows us to bring everything—from the hurtful to the joyful—and seek His thoughts, His face, His glory in it all. After all, it is God’s will we ultimately desire to be accomplished in our lives.

Your ask draws you closer to Him through seeking.
Your ask establishes God as rule one in whatever your heart longs for.
Your ask says, “God, I need You.”

Oh, how the Heavenly Father delights in the faith of a child who comes to Him willingly and openly. Do not let fear or doubt withhold your ask. Asking is a privilege the Father has blessed us with—one He longs for you to use today.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7).

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:6).

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).

Your ask speaks of position.
Your ask speaks of His power.
Your ask speaks of faith.
Your ask speaks of relationship with the Father.

Therefore, my friend—ask.

Blessings to you today~

More Inspiring Articles:

“Know That God Hears!”

“A Prayer for Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding”

“Father God, It’s To You We Pray!”

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Unscathed?

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There is a fantasy floating around that not only fuels disbelief but also discourages many hearts. It’s the exasperating thought that says, “Why am I always the one dealing with this or going through that?”

I want to pull back the curtain on the truth behind that thinking, because regardless of what any one person is enduring, you are not the only one.

The rise of social media and the hype behind picture-perfect homes, families, careers, and lives has left a void in the hearts of those looking from the outside in. We begin wanting what others have or wishing we could do all that they do—forgetting that a picture, no matter how perfect it appears, never tells the whole story.

No one goes through this life unscathed. Everyone carries something they probably wish they didn’t have to.

This world, in its fallen state, offers a plethora of problems, trials, difficulties, and disappointments. Jesus never hid this truth from us. Instead, He openly warned us:
“In the world ye shall have tribulation…” (John 16:33b).

Yes, life will get discouraging at times. And yes, some days are going to be a hard pill to swallow. That’s simply the truth.

So how do we deal with those days?

Well, dear, let me tell you—you must learn to keep your view of this life small and big.

I know what you’re thinking: “Huh?!”

Let’s start with the small view. This means taking your eyes off what everyone else is doing. Stop looking at one-day snapshots and using them to compare or summarize your life. Instead, focus on your current sphere and environment—your home, your people, your family, your responsibilities. Tend to what God has placed directly in front of you rather than being fixated on what others are or are not doing.

Then we come to the big view—and this is crucial. There is no greater focus for your life than Jesus Christ, who finished His warning about trials with this promise:
“But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33c).

This means we must intentionally shift our eyes—and our hearts—from them to Him.

There are many so-called “grand views” of life posted daily for the world to admire and envy. But the grandest view of all is a soul satisfied in its Savior. When we know He is carrying us through this life, we can rest. We can trust that regardless of how things appear—to others or even to ourselves—He reigns in victory, and because of Him, so do we.

At the end of every life is a story that unfolds between its beginning and its end. That story will not be flawless. Its pages will include letdowns, setbacks, hard days, and tear-filled nights. Nobody—and I mean nobody—gets through this life unscathed.

So don’t wish for another person’s life or circumstances. You don’t know what burdens they carry behind the posts. Instead, choose contentment. Be satisfied and grateful for where you are and what you have today.

Don’t let envy rob you of the joy you have in Jesus—and all He has already given you and done for you.

And remember, everyone has good days and bad days. It’s all about how we respond to them: “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him” (Ecclesiastes 7:14).

It’s time to stop comparing and start trusting.

Blessings ~

Text-Free Image by Alexa from Pixabay

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.