A collection of links to interesting, humorous, enlightening, enriching, or otherwise interesting posts I’ve found
across some of my favorite social media platforms.
PLEASE NOTE: The intent of this page is to offer “teasers” to whet your interest in the sources; simply click the link to be taken there in a new window. These posts’ privacy settings were all marked as “public”.
EASY FIND: Gab ~ Mastodon ~ YouTube
…Facebook:
OK, I don’t use Facebook. But that’s where this was posted originally, afaik, by Jonathan Anglin on June 2, 2023 and it was public:
A friend of mine, a professional writer, Hugh Holloway Jr wrote this post on the passing of this father in 2020. The perspective of this post is so good.
I saw this letter today- as a funeral directors son, I have been around this for years. This is some of the best advice I have ever seen.
“Hey there, Thanks for writing. I’m really glad your friend has you in her life.
I get it. Grief is a funny thing. It’s the time in our life when we most need help, and also the time when asking for help is so hard. Not because we are ashamed to ask for help, although that happens sometimes too. But mostly because our brain just sort of shuts down.
When my Dad died, I looked functional. But I wasn’t OK. Not at all. And when the news got out, the ton of people flooding me with calls, texts, and DM’s was overwhelming. I really couldn’t function. I sat on the swing in our yard and just stared into space. People called and asked what they could do to help. I had no idea.
“Well, anything you need at all, let me know, OK?”
“OK”.
They hung up. I stared into space some more.
I had no idea what to do. What I needed. I didn’t even know what to ask for.
Then a friend sent a text. This friend had met Dad once but didn’t really know him. But still, she knew I was hurting. I saw who it was and almost put the phone down without reading the text, but I saw the message and it stopped me:
Will you be home at 8:30 tonight?
What’s weird is this friend lives 12 hours away from me.
Yes, I replied.
“K.”
10 minutes later, she said, “Instacart will be there at 8:30. Open the door for them.”
“What?”
“Grief Groceries.!!”
When Instacart showed up, they put two large bags of groceries on my porch. Frozen pizzas. Ice cream. Oreo cookies. Tinned soup. Stouffer’s lasagna. A gallon of milk. Like that. Things I could heat up if I needed a meal, or pig out on if I needed fat and sugar. Sometimes, you just need to eat half a box of Oreos.
Notice she didn’t ask if I needed any food. I would have said no. She just asked if I would be home.
Grief groceries.
Another friend, who lives out of town, asked Renee to name a restaurant near our house where we like to eat. There is a local chain near our house that is sort of a deli. When we eat supper there, we spend about $25. Renee told her the name of the place.
An hour later, there was a gift card in my inbox for $250. Yes, that is a lot of money, and I understand not everyone can do that. But the wonderful thing was that because it was enough for multiple meals, we didn’t try to save it for “the right time”. We ate there that night, and take out from there several times a week for the next month on nights when I just didn’t have the spoons to cook.
Both of those gift-givers knew something I didn’t know – that when you are grieving, you don’t want to make decisions. No, that’s not quite it: You can’t make decisions. You hit decision fatigue really fast.
So, I guess what I’m saying is, don’t ask grieving people to make big choices or decisions. “How can I help” is a big choice. But “Can I take the kids this afternoon so you can have some time to yourself” is a much smaller one. “Will you be home tonight?” is a small choice. “What restaurant do you like” is a small decision. Just showing up to cut their grass because you noticed it needed cutting is loads better than asking, “Do you want me to cut the grass?” Or, “I’m going to Target. What can I get you while I’m there?” is better than “Can I run any errands for you?”
It won’t always be like this. If you stick around, eventually they will surface and ways to be helpful will make themselves known. But in the first few days, especially, it helps to remove as many decisions from their plate as you can!”
…Gab:
…Gab:
https://www.afa.net/the-stand/faith/2023/03/reasons-not-to-fear/ – “God is insulted when His children fear. It’s as though we believe the enemy and not Him.”
…Gab:
My Bible Verse of The Day – 1-7-23
Romans 8:13 (NKJV) 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Have you ever noticed how it is that God tells us to do what He wants us to do?
By the Spirit!
Not by flesh, not by intellect, not by human understanding, not by power or by might.
By His Spirit.
The verse above is a perfect example of that; by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body.
It is not by our own power or strength. Indeed, we cannot do anything by our own strength.
Anything accomplished by human strength is temporary at best. It will eventually fail.
The Holy Spirit’s presence and unhindered operation in our lives is critical and absolutely necessary. He is the fuel who gives us the fire we need to do great and mighty things for the kingdom of God.
And if we operate by the Holy Spirit, none of the things we accomplish will cause us to become proud or haughty. Every shred of glory and honor for them will be given to God.
It is by the Holy Spirt that we defeat the enemy in our personal lives.
We defeat addictions; alcohol, drugs, porn, sex and more.
We overcome our old self, leaving behind the things of this world; filthy language, gossip, adultery, drunkenness, fornication, stealing, lying.
And we live the kingdom life; loving others, forgiving those who hurt us, helping those in need, putting others before ourselves, giving of ourselves even when it hurts.
These are all things that we can’t do by our flesh.
We can do this only by the power of the Holy Spirit, by giving Him sovereignty over our lives.
Jesus said it best when He told us that we can do nothing without Him.
John 15:5 (NKJV) 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443
401-439-3780
If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!
DailyDevotional #BibleVerseofTheDay #BibleDevotional #DailyBibleVerse
…Mastodon:
…Gab:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/georgia-sheepdog-fights-off-kills-coyotes-pack-attacks-sheep by https://gab.com/Drkstknght
…Mastodon:
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/341194-trailblazing-orion-snaps-stunning-selfie-with-earth-moon
…Gab:
…YouTube:
Two-Ingredient Gluten-Free Pasta
I’m very happy to be in squash season! This recipe can be made with any squash! 2-ingredient recipe, perfect for a quick but surprising dinner! Homemade pasta without gluten or flour! A delight! Good tasting !
…Gab:
…Gab:
…YouTube:
(Invidious is the front-end for YouTube that I use; it is safe.)
…Gab:
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…Mastodon:
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…Twitter:
…YouTube:
