A Subtle Smorgasbord...

A word of caution...The two photos at the top of this post are lovely.The two at the bottom are not,(unless the sight of mice trapsdoing their thing doesn't bother you😅)The picture is included because of the sobering parable it depicts A new day is upon usIt lends to me and youA very telling onusBy how we live for who Each day is filled with choicesA subtle smorgasbordWhere what we cherish voicesWho is master and Lord Pray, it is He who freed usFrom the bondage of deathPray we plead Him to lead usIn paths of righteousness Behold, today is breakingAlike to one and allA gift, free for the takingAnd rife with beck and call Pray, by God’s grace and goodnessWe are faithful and trueAnd recognize love's witnessBy how we live for who To everything a seasonUntil our life is throughLet’s make God's love the reasonFor everything we do ...a new day is upon usA subtle smorgasbordGroaning with epic onusThat should not be ignored © Janet Martin Ps.23:3He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Rom.6:16Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? After hearing a constant, suspicious rustle in the laundry room this morningI set one of four mouse traps (set in the kitchen before bed last night, because of a mouse sighting) between the dryer and wall!Before long I heard a snap.I waited a bit then went to check and lo, and behold!The mouse was contently feasting on peanut butterseemingly unaware of his deadly fate. His kitchen-foraging pal was no longer able to warn him...(I think last evening's massive downpour drove them to seek higher, drier ground!!) The Rich Man and Lazarus (a parable)Luke 16:19-31 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”