Sunday Morning & Evening
Presenting the TFC Ministry
Mifflinburg and Shamokin Dam CMA Churches
It was a full day for us, as we were invited to two Christian Missionary Alliance churches – about an hour-and-a-half from our home.
We left home early to be at Mifflingburg for the morning service, and got home late, after Shamokin Dam’s evening service . I will share a few more pictures and details tonight.
It was a good day.
It wasn’t long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out.
And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them.
Romans 1:25 (The Message)
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And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other.
They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself.
Romans 1:24-25 (Good News Translation)
A Buck and A Yellow Jacket
Joram was happy to show us the eight-point he shot this morning with his Bowtech and g3 broadhead. He was hunting on his parent’s farm.
This is the first time he ever harvested a buck.
Joram is a friend of our grandsons, and often comes here to enjoy the man cave. He’s here right now watching the World Series with several other guys. They are making lots of noise. I love it!
He was on the way to the butcher after leaving our house.
Yesterday when investigating the bushes outside our kitchen windows, I noticed a yellow jacket trying to get the last of the humming bird syrup.
The next time I went by it was on top.
Yellow jackets nest in the ground or in cavernous areas such as eaves, attics, etc. They feed on sweets and proteins and commonly invade outdoor activities.
There are several species of yellow jackets. These flying insects typically have a yellow and black head/face and patterned abdomen.
Many say, the pattern resembles stripes. Signature to species, the abdomen pattern can help an entomologist or pest professional identify specific types of yellow jackets.
Yellow jackets can be found anyplace humans can be found. Check near recycling bins or other areas where sugars are common but keep in mind these pests also feed on protein. Yellow jackets become more aggressive in autumn when the colony begins to die out except for the queen.
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Yellow jackets pose significant health threats to humans as they may sting repeatedly and can cause allergic reactions. Stinging insects send over 500,000 people to the emergency room each year, so be careful when you see a yellow jacket.
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Kind words are like honey—sweet to the taste and good for your health.
Proverbs 16:24 (Good News Translation)
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Gracious speech is like clover honey—good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24 (The Message)
Yucca Seed Pod
A sign of Autumn
It seems like only weeks ago that our yucca plants had beautiful blooms. (It was actually sixteen weeks ago, when summer was young.)
As far as I can tell, ours is a soapweed yucca.
The other day when I was looking for signs of fall in our yard and woods, I noticed dozens of seed pods on the same (now dried) plants.
Inside each pod are dozens of flat, featherweight seeds.
Some interesting information from the internet.
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The yucca was an extremely useful plant to native Americans.
Its leaves are very fibrous. The strong fibers were used to make string and twine which was then used to make a variety of items such as sandals, mats, baskets, cloth, brushes, etc. The tips of the spines were used as needles for sewing. The roots contain a substance that belongs to a group of compounds called saponins, which have detergent properties (sapo is the Latin word for soap). The roots were made into a pulp and used as mild soap and shampoo. This, of course, is why the plant received its common English name, although other varieties of yucca and many other plants contain saponins as well. There is evidence that saponins increase a plant’s resistance to fungal attack. Parts of the plant are edible. As the plant prepared to flower, the young stalks, which resemble asparagus, were harvested and cooked. New seed pods were roasted and peeled before eaten. Mature pods were ground into flour. The spines, flowers and roots were used to make teas that were consumed for medicinal purposes.
If you are interested in finding out more information about soapweed yucca go here
God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them!
Matthew 5:5 (Contemporary English Version)
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You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
Matthew 5:5 (The Message)
Working Again
Thursday, October 20
This was the first time this week that I worked beyond my La-Z-Boy. It was good to be doing something a bit more physical, but I was exhausted by the time the Highway News was ready for the post office.
We were grateful for the help of Julia, Joanne, Rachel, and Glenn.
Glenn and Rachel were helping with a fundraiser at Pleasant View Retirement Community, and brought each of us a sub and a whoopie pie. (We ate the delicious whoopie pies before I thought of taking a picture.)
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Two subs make two meals for us. I only need 1/3 and Cerwin is satisfied with 2/3 of the sub.
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Thanks, Glenn and Rachel for providing two meals for us today.
Wait with hope for the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Yes, wait with hope for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
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Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.
Psalm 27:14 (The Message)
Yellow Garden Spider
…and a Leaf
Tuesday, October 18
I am going to begin with the leaf, because that is how I discovered the spider. While standing at our kitchen sink yesterday, I noticed this leaf glistening in the late morning sunshine, and went outside to photograph it – I needed something for tonight’s post. 
Then as I tried to get into a better position, I saw it…a large Yellow Garden Spider
or
Black and Yellow Argiope
or
Arglope aurantia
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The following information is from the Internet. The pictures are mine.
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The Black and Yellow Argiope is a common orb web spider. Orb web means it spins a web like a circle.
Female spiders are much larger than males, growing almost an inch and a half long. Males grow about 3/4 inch long. Both spiders have a cephalothorax (small front body section) with silver hairs on it. The abdomen (large back section) is egg-shaped with black and yellow coloring.
The web of this spider spirals out from the center and can be two feet across. The female builds the large web, and a male will build a smaller web on the outer part of her web. The male’s web is a thick zigzag of white silk.
A beneficial insect, the yellow and black garden spider feeds primarily on flying insect pests including flies, moths, wasps and mosquitoes. They are not poisonous.
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That is your spider lesson for the day.
Teach me true wisdom.
Psalm 51:6 (Contemporary English Version)
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Fill my mind with your wisdom.
Psalm 51:6 (Good News Translation)
