“The RoseBouquet”

I’ve become aware that Microsoft has come out with a newer version of Internet Explorer, (IE7), the browser you most likely are using if you have an up to date Windows system on your computer. Have you run into problems visiting some sites?

One man wrote me Monday to say he couldn’t go back to fill out an online application form and was told it was because of his IE7 browser. What was he to do? Could I fill it out for him?

I went to look and realized the answer was very simple. That same site suggested that it was the faults in the IE7 which created this problem for some people, and that they should download Firefox instead. This person didn’t know what that was, or how.

I sent him to this page; download-firefox.org He followed the instructions, and yesterday wrote that he was now using Firefox.

If you use a Mac computer, you’ll want to visit this site instead; CaminoBrowser.org

While checking into these things just now I discovered there is also SeaMonkey, a suite of applications, which used to be Netscape, (and it happens to be on my computer already ). Furthermore, I discover that it has Composer in it, in a much better way than the one where I created my very first web page 8 years ago. If you would like to learn to make web pages from raw HTML coding, you might like to download and install SeaMonkey.

If you have the hardware space, there is no reason why you can’t have Firefox AND SeaMonkey on your computer besides whatever else you have. For the security of your computer, you’re far better off not even opening your Internet Explorer. Microsoft admits it doesn’t not measure up to the World Wide Web Consortium Standards, and it is known to easily let viruses jump into your computer to torment you.

In my eAction Blog tomorrow, eAction, I will feature an article by my Linux mentor, Fred Miller, about a news story where a clean and good 16 year old boy was accused of downloading p___ on the family computer and was about to face 90 years in prison. A Windows computer is exceptionally vulnerable to such attacks.

You know the adage; Buyer Beware! Here’s another one; Browser Beware!

Being born as the oldest or older sister in a family seems to have a strong impact on our personality and character. Older sisters are often put in charge of young siblings, from an early age. They learn to be in charge, to be the responsible one. The younger brothers and sisters may chafe at us and call us bossy. - Yes, I AM an oldest sister too. But someone has to be the sensible one, who keeps our world from tipping over, right?

Just what ARE our responsibliities as an older sister? How much of what we do and feel for our siblings, and others. when we are in charge of a program, is ordained of God, and how much is extra duties we’ve taken on ourself?

We may appear to be in control, but we have feelings too. Maybe you ask deeply emotional questions like these; Do I really need to hurt so much when I see one brother in emotional pain and the others ignoring him? Why does that darling baby sister, now grown up, want nothing to do with me? I cannot take off my feelings like an ugly, stretched out of shape sweater, and put it in a bag for the recyclers, can I? Is it really up to me to be the glue that holds the family together?

If you are an older sister, you will have noticed that you have taken on more and more care-giving roles the rest of your life. Did you perhaps even choose that kind of job without realizing it? Did you marry someone who needed to be looked after? Your younger siblings may have got away with never growing up, while you feel like you skipped your childhood years and matured into a responsible adult before you were a teen.

Is this good or bad?

Taking care of weaker, helpless people is godly and good. We have to be careful that our mixed emotions and the charges others throw at us does not negate or undo the good we have done. If your parent(s) were sick or dysfunctional, you may have been the one who kept the family together, and surviving to adulthood. That is VERY GOOD. God wants to bless you for it!

On the other hand,….

To read the rest of this article go to Older Sister’s Coping Secret

A demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus, who was both blind and mute. Jesus healed him so he could both see and hear. The astonished witnesses asked each other, “Could this be the Son of David?” This referred to the prophecy that the Messiah, the Son of David would come with such holiness that miracles would come easily to him.

But when the Pharisees heard about it, they tossed it off as only by Beelzebub, or Satan.

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?”

Jesus went on, “if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do you drive them out? So then they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

He was directing them to think through their charge to it’s natural consequence. If He drove out demons by Satan’s power, by implication, they were too, weren’t they? On the other hand, Jesus pointed out, if He did this by the power of God, then they had to admit that God’s kingdom and authority had come with Him.

Jesus goes further to teach that you can’t take something from the head of a house or kingdom without first disabling that authority. This He applies to taking something or someone in Satan’s grasp, such as a demon-possessed person. Furthermore, whoever is not on Jesus side, is against Him and is hindering (scattering) rather than helping or gathering with Him.

PRAYER: Lord, I see tremendous principles in this; we need to recognize the source of our spiritual power, learn how to bind the evil strong man, so we can snatch away his captives, and we need to be whole-heartedly on Your side. Help me to apply these more consistently from now on. Amen.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. You don’t really have time to read on the couch, but if you’re like me, you do read snatches on the run, and somehow make time to read a GOOD book completely.

So how can you be sure this Ruthe in the book is not some kook? Read the eight sample chapters.

Jesus was aware (see verse, 14) that the Pharisees were out to kill Him, so He kept out of their way, but continued to heal people. He also warned them not to tell who He was. Matthew tells us that all this fulfilled how the prophet Isaiah had described God Chosen Servant.

In His own words, God tells us in that passage, (Isaiah 42:1-4), quoted here in Matthew, that the One He has chosen, and whom He loves and delights in, will have His Spirit upon Him. Jesus certainly did.

He will proclaim justice to the nations. Jesus did that. He will not quarrel or cry out or shout in the streets. Jesus was quiet like that.

He will be so gentle that He will not break off a reed, (a hollow stem of a plant), even when it is already bruised, nor will He snuff out a light that is still smoldering. Jesus saw potential in people long after others would have given up. He still does!

This Chosen Servant of God, will keep on until His justice leads to victory, and the nations all put their trust in Him. Jesus is still keeping on, and although peoples from many nations have trusted in Him, the day is coming when all of them will do so!

Jesus had and has the Holy Spirit, fully. He taught and brought justice for us all, and He is still very gentle with those who have the most fragile of trust in Him. Furthermore, He is pressing on, all these 2000+ years later, and will not let up, until His mission is accomplished, His followers are safe in Heaven, and there is justice throughout the earth!

PRAYER: Wow, Lord Jesus, what a marvelous agenda You have there! I need to review this from time to time, because sometimes I forget You really are the Spirit of Almighty God. You’re so very tender with me when I feel bruised and ready to break, or that my life is about extinguished. I’ve experienced that more times than I can recall. I”m glad You will lead justice to victory! All nations will hope in You one day, not just me. YES! Amen!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. Wish you could have a heart-to-heart talk with God?

Ruthe does. All the time, where ever she goes, she’s having a running conversation with the one she calls Lord, or my Best Friend. You’ve got to meet Ruthe! AND her Secret Roses.

The whole entourage, Jesus, His disciples, and the Pharisees, moved their synagogue, where there was a man with a shriveled hand. The Pharisees, looking for a way to accuse Jesus, asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (Can you hear a bit of snarl or sarcasm in their voice?)

Jesus reminds them that if one of their sheep fell into a pit on a Sabbath, they would lift it out, would they not? A man is more valuable than a sheep, therefore, yes, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

To prove it, He told the man with the handicapped hand to stretch it out. He did, and it was completely restored, as good as the other.

This infuriated the Pharisees, who went out to plot His murder.

It seems the main lesson here for us is that a day of rest, a holiday, is always a perfect day - as is any other - for doing good, and helping other people. If that upsets someone, that’s their problem.

I don’t like to see the poor man with the shriveled hand slipped over though. I wonder what he learned from Jesus. Anything I can apply too?

Ah yes! I have it. When Jesus says to stretch out or use a part of us that seems useless or a problem to us, then let’s do it! It is going to be healed in the process of obeying Him.

Now, let me make a list of where I feel useless or unable to do anything - and listen for that command to try anyway.

PRAYER; You know, Lord, my physical hands seem okay, but I do feel hampered by my poverty in the giving I’d like to do; that spiritual stretching out to help others. My intercessory prayers for others do not always seem effective. I need Your help there too.

I believe You want me to stretch out these hands, and I want to obey. Will You help me, and heal me as I do it, please?

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. You will love Ruthe’s Secret Roses if you like;
* walking and talking intimately with God
* stories of compassion and dramatic conversion
* have a bleeding, caring heart of your own
* are a caregiving older sister
* love designing clothes and make-overs
* love giving gifts and surprises
* are a mentor or counseling kind of friend.

Priorities. That’s what Jesus was teaching here. His disciples were hungry on a Sabbath and as they walked through a grainfield, they grabbed handsful of grain, rubbed them to loosen the chaff, perhaps blew on them to get rid of the chaff, and popped the grain into their mouths.

The ever legalistic and picky Pharisees saw this and rebuked Jesus for allowing His disciples to break their Sabbath-keeping rules.

This is where Jesus gave them a Scriptural answer, referring to stories in the Bible where others broke the dietary laws in a time of need. David and his men ate the dedicated shew bread in the temple at a time when they were hungry. Bread that was meant only for the priests. Secondly, the Levites work on the Sabbath, but are held innocent because of their purpose. They serve the Lord.

Jesus adds that if they knew what the words mean, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” (spoken by God), they would not have condemned the disciples who were innocent, for He Himself, the Son of Man, is Lord of the Sabbath, or holy things.

Isn’t this interesting? Jesus says it is all right to break the rules to be merciful or kind to someone, or if it is to honour and obey Him.

I’m sure, if you are like me, you’ve broken some rules for selfish reasons, but can you think of times you broke the command to rest and only worship God on the Day of Rest? I mean, by being merciful to someone else, or to rescue someone from harm, or even to honour and obey His will?

PRAYER: Lord, I’m quite sure You don’t want us to fit such leeway into the command not to murder, but it is good to know that You are not hung up on splitting hairs on how to keep a command like the Sabbath rest. You know that serving in church on Sundays is often more physical work than I’ve done most days in the previous week. So is preparing meals for company. Still, there is value in resting - help me balance Your most excellent will with Your permissions.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. Ruthe is afraid to tell her family back home for reasons of her own, and this leads her to live a double life. The pressures build. Sooner or later she has to take some of the advice she gives others, for she’s getting into serious trouble! Ruthe’s Secret Roses.

After that denouncement, Jesus broke into prayer. He thanked His Father for hiding these things from the wise and educated, (or those who think they are), and revealed these profound truths to those who simply, like little children, believed and trusted in Him.

He adds, “Yes, Father, for this was Your good pleasure.” In other words, God thought this up, and it pleases Him to hide gems of wisdom like this.

Jesus turned to His disciples and shared another secret. All this has been committed to Him by the Father, and no one knows the intimacy between Him and the Father, except they both, and those to whom He, Jesus, chooses to reveal it.

This is not said with lofty airs. Tenderly Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him, and He’ll give them rest. Yoke up with Jesus - that is, work together with Him - and learn from His gentle and humble heart. We’ll find rest for our souls, and discover our union with Him is easy and our load light. Many believers have found this true over the centuries. I have too. This is a precious invitation and promise! Very precious!

I re-issue Jesus’ invitation. He will show you the tremendous intimacy between Himself and the Father. You’ll be included, if you come to Him with your weariness and load of cares. Turn them over to Jesus, and yoke up with Him. Let Him be the lead ox in the yoke, and you just pull and go where He leads you.

You will still be proceeding with your life, your necessary actions, but it will be Jesus taking the strain of the work, and your part will seem easy by comparison. By prayer you’ll get into that inner circle of fellowship with God.

PRAYER: Yes, dear Jesus! I accept Your invitation, and give You my load of cares and concerns. I will trust You to lead as we solve all these problems together. I won’t get off with nothing to do at all, but I can let You lead, and I’ll just work alongside You; it will all work out for good! I’ll also talk with You and with our Father.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. Just graduating from high school in a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada, Ruthe commutes to the city of Saskatoon as a telephone operator. BUT in her off hours, she gets involved in the lives of the abused, bereaved, dying and spiritually hungry. Read Ruthe’s Story

I had to push and push on the door this morning when I wanted to go for my walk. Blowing snow and drifts everywhere! I got to the end of the driveway and found myself in drifts above my sorrel boots. I thought maybe I’d go walk on the street then. No, I could feel snow creeping in at the top of my books under my long cuffed blue jeans; I changed my mind and went back inside.

Hey, I even took pictures before I went out and when I came in. Although daylight isn’t very bright at all, I’ve taken a few more through the windows since breakfast. Want to see a Saskatchewan storm in progress? I can accommodate!

(All right. So it’s grown into a full-feature length photo story. You’ll find it in the Ruthe’s Roses further down).

When I phoned the specialist’s office last Thursday to ask about the delay I discovered that they were not treating Dad’s case as an emergency. The referring doctor had not stressed that, so they were scheduling him for March 13. I got Dad in to see our regular doctor the next day who quickly gave them a call to bump him up. He also did some checking himself with lights and mirrors and discovered that Dad does have a mass or growth beside his larynx.

This week we are waiting for a new and much sooner appointment, but today - we’re glad to stay put in our snug and warm house.

I’m trying a new promotional plan to get my sites noticed in the search engines. It’s going slower than I first thought, but I think it has great possibilities. It involves signing up for a number of social bookmarking sites, (no charge), and listing one’s favourite links. I spent a number of hours last week preparing a list of key URLs for my sites, and those I look after. Yesterday I started listing them on SearchBigDaddy.net but discovered that they want a title, description and keywords too. So I’m having to pause for each one, go look up the URL and check in the source code for my meta tags. Then copy-paste, copy-paste.

I have a lot of links, so this will take a while, but I’m saving all this in a plain text file, and when I go on to Deli.cio.us and others like Digg,Technorati, Netscape, Magnolia, - whew, there are direct links to 27 such social bookmarking sites from SearchBigDaddy.net!

I don’t believe I’ll do this that long! Still, I want to take advantage of this for all my sites, my clients’ sites, and my affiliate links. No reason why you can’t too.

Other news? I finally got feedback from a copy of my novel I sold back in 2005. This woman thought this book was too positive. Things always worked out for the heroine. My reaction? That’s what I was trying to achieve! There are some “life is ugly” scenes, but I wrote the book to show what life should be like for a young woman who talks over everything with the Lord, and He helps her in and out of various crises.

I just realized last night that I need to play up this difference in my promotional work. Some will see it as a drawback, but surely there are others who long to see an example close up, of how to walk and talk with the Lord in their daily lives, both ups and downs. That’s my niche!

More clients/ministries coming in too. Each case is a bit different, so I’m still learning - learning, but I should probably keep most of that to myself.

“We all want to retire, we do not necessarily want to be ‘retirees.”

“When I finally grow up, who do I want to be, and what do I want to do? What outlets are there that I can pour all these years of learning into?”

“It’s time to really retire when what you are retiring TO is more interesting and compelling than what you are retiring FROM.”

If you are thinking and asking questions like the above, then the time is right for you to visit Retire.SiteSell.com/