“Perfect Peace”

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

Isaiah 26:3‭-‬4 NKJV

Perfect peace. In Hebrew, Shalom Shalom. Doubled peace.

But HOW? TRUST in the Lord. FOCUS on God. EYES on Jesus.

There is always going to be trouble, difficulty in our lives here – Jesus himself warned us; “In this world, you will (not may, WILL) have trouble.” But Jesus overcame, defeated, conquered ALL trouble, sin, death, worldly problems so we may live in HIS victory.

FOCUS on his victory, not present circumstances — do not allow the world’s stupidity fill your mind or heart. Instead let Jesus’ SHALOM SHALOM fill you!

How can I be saved?

Have you ever asked the following question:

Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

You’re not the first person to do so! When we start really thinking about life, death, eternity, heaven and hell, we always think it is so complicated. In reality, the answer is perfectly simple and always has been. Look:

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” Acts 16:30-31

Believe, have faith in, trust in Jesus. Believe He, the Son of God, lived a perfect life on earth – fully human and fully God – died to pay the debt that you and I owed because of our imperfect lives, and rose from the grave alive and eternal, and that he wants everyone to have that same free gift of eternity in heaven, as well as an abundant life now!

Mandates

Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday. In some churches, it is known as Holy Thursday. But Maundy is the oldest (as far as I can tell) term for the day before Good Friday. But what exactly is MAUNDY?

Well, naturally, it stems from a Latin root. Here is what Dictionary.com has to say:

Recorded around 1250–1300, the word maundy comes from the Old French mande, in turn from the Latin mandātum, which means “mandate or command.” As you may have guessed, this Latin word is the source of the English mandate.

The specific mandate or command at hand refers to the words Jesus is believed to have spoken after washing the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper. In the New King James Version of the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verse 34, Jesus said: “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” New commandment, in the Latin of the Vulgate, is novum mandātum.

https://www.dictionary.com/e/what-does-maundy-thursday-mean/

So, a command, a mandate, a rule to live by. But what an earth-changing, earth-shattering rule! LOVE one another. Not like, not tolerate: Love. And in a very specific way: The way Jesus loved.

So, how did Jesus love us? Dear readers, he loves you so much that HE paid the death penalty for every lie you told, every law you broke, every person you spoke ill about. And not just what you did but what I did, and Joe next door did, and so on and so on. Jesus loved US so much that he paid for our sins with his death. And he told us to love in the same way: sacrificially. We are not called to a life of self indulgence, but of service to others, to a life that will show them how much God loves them.

Simple? Yes. Easy? No.

But as we move into Good Friday, Saturday, and ultimately Easter, I ask you to consider ways that you can begin to love the way Jesus mandated. Happy Maundy Thursday and a very blessed Easter!

And let the games begin…

I’ve had a quiet month (travel and concert wise) in March. But in April, I’m at it again! Back on the road. First up is Fayetteville, North Carolina, to visit some dear friends from New Jersey who retired (?) there. I laugh, because they are both as busy as usual! From there I will pop down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. But, that’s only an overnight for – you guessed it – a concert! My Oak Ridge Boys will be at the Alabama Theater again! This is a nice chance to see friends. Then back to Fayetteville for a night or two – Marcia is like, “Visit us in both directions, please!” How can you say no to that?

I have my eye on one or two other, more local shows in April, but nothing definite. But in May, a quick drive to Manchester, Tennessee, will get me to the William Lee Golden and the Goldens‘ show! I hope this one is as much fun as the one in Hartville. It’s always such a joy to talk to the Goldens – some of the very nicest people that I know. Check out their music on their website! Also in May I’m taking a bus trip with a friend to Patti’s 1880 Settlement in Grand Rivers, KY!

June is special – a four day trip back up to Hartville, OH, to see a lot of friends and – ta-da – The Oak Ridge Boys! All three shows. After all, after a 7 hour drive, I might as well see all of them! Summer may bring more local shows, or trips or both – kind of leaving it up in the air, although I am going to Louisville, KY on September 1 for JD Shelburne’s party to celebrate his new album!

Whew! I’ll keep y’all posted, share pics, and, as they say, “Catch you on the flip side!’

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From a friend’s page

“𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, I’d like my family to hang this wish list up on the wall where I live. I want them to remember these things.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, I want my friends and family to embrace my reality. If I think my spouse is still alive, or if I think we’re visiting my parents for dinner, let me believe those things. I’ll be much happier for it.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, don’t argue with me about what is true for me versus what is true for you.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, and I am not sure who you are, do not take it personally. My timeline is confusing to me.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, and can no longer use utensils, do not start feeding me. Instead, switch me to a finger-food diet, and see if I can still feed myself.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, and I am sad or anxious, hold my hand and listen. Do not tell me that my feelings are unfounded.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, I don’t want to be treated like a child. Talk to me like the adult that I am.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, I still want to enjoy the things that I’ve always enjoyed. Help me find a way to exercise, read, and visit with friends.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, ask me to tell you a story from my past.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, and I become agitated, take the time to figure out what is bothering

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, treat me the way that you would want to be treated.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, make sure that there are plenty of snacks for me in the house. Even now if I don’t eat I get angry, and if I have dementia, I may have trouble explaining what I need.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, don’t talk about me as if I’m not in the room.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, don’t feel guilty if you cannot care for me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s not your fault, and you’ve done your best. Find someone who can help you, or choose a great new place for me to live.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, and I live in a dementia care community, please visit me often.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, don’t act frustrated if I mix up names, events, or places. Take a deep breath. It’s not my fault.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, make sure I always have my favorite music playing within earshot.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, and I like to pick up items and carry them around, help me return those items to their original places.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, don’t exclude me from parties and family gatherings.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, know that I still like receiving hugs or handshakes.

𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶, remember that I am still the person you know and love.”

ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴀsᴛᴇ in honor of someone you know or knew who has dementia. I did. In honor of all those I know or knew fighting Dementia/Alzheimer’s.💕