For Sunday, September 3rd, 2023

 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3RD, 2023

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks,  and boring grays of your every day.

Slightly adapted from one of my morning devotionals

20 DAYS UNTIL FALL

In Ohio

 Sunrise:   6;56 am

   Sunset:  7:58  

pm

Life is a special   

occasion!

Hallmark!

 Today is National Skyscraper Day which gives us an opportunity to appreciate these architectural marvels and feats of engineering.

Skyscrapers grace our big cities with their bold presence and buildings that literally seem to scrape the sky.  But skyscrapers have only been around for about 130 years. The first skyscraper was completed in 1885 in Chicago and its stood only 138 feet tall, a mere 10 stories that would not even count as a skyscraper today.  But the name stuck, and initially any building that towered over surrounding structures was dubbed a skyscraper. Over time our ability to engineer and construct skyscrapers improved and must have at least 40 floors to be classified as a skyscraper at all. 

In crowded urban areas where land space is at a premium, sky scrappers  allow us to build upwards rather than outwards converting a single allotment of land area into 40 or more floors or more of potential living space.

Celebrate today and take a long look up or visit a skyscraper near you.

If you cannot see the bright side, polish the dull side

 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

There’s a kind of beauty to a skyscraper.

Lisa Joy 

Today’s pictures are of NYCity, New York. I’ve never been there but DS#4 and his wife visited there and sent pictures to me.  

Our largest city close by,  is Cleveland Ohio, and they have a few skyscrapers there.  One is called the terminal Tower and I have been there.  I took an elevator ride to the top to see the sights.  Going up that high hurt my ears, just like it would going into the air on an airplane.  I should have chewed some gum going up. 

I’m sorry I got the dates mixed up for my grandson’s birthday party. It’s actually today, not yesterday.  I made Cowboy beans to take to share and I’m sharing the recipe today.

Calico Coyboy Beans 

Makes 8 servings

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 large sweet onion chopped

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup ketchup

3 Tbsp. cider vinegar

2 Tbsp yellow mustard

1 can 16 oz. butter beans, drained

1 can, 15 oz. kidney beans rinsed and drained

1 can 15 oz pork and beans.

1 cn 15.25 oz. lima beans, rinsed and drained

In a large skillet cook beef and onion over medium heat until no longer pink, breaking meat into crumbles, drain. 

Transfer to a slow cooker. Combine the brown sugar, ketchup and mustard to meat mixture.  Stir in beans. Cover and cook on low 4 hours or until heated through.

 You could also use bacon crumbles, barbecue sauce and spices like smoked paprika, garlic powder or onion powder.

 I used Bushes Baked beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans in mine.  The baked beans have a good taste and I didn’t add any sweetener to my beans,  No one likes butter beans or lima beans except for me.   You might prefer molasses in place of the brown sugar.

The dinner is not until 5:00 so I will probably take a nap while waiting for the beans to cook.  It’s my day of rest and I’ll probably need it to get me through the party. Otherwise I might fall asleep eating my dinner.  I’ll have to top it off with a good cup of coffee to wake up again.  

I hope you all have a RELAXING Sunday!

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS 

From the smallest necessity to the highest religious abstraction, from the wheel to the skyscraper, every thing we are and everything we have comes on attribute of man - the function of his reasoning mind.

Ayn Rand

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

11,622.  for children who let me know when I make a mistake.

11,623 for a crock pot of beans to share at the party

11,624 for skyscrapers that scrape the sky! I have plenty of pictures to share 

.  

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters and EMT’s.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

The skyscraper establishes the block, the block creates the street, the street offers itself to man.

Roland Barthes 

a smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma