It's A Heavenly Day (song, Patty Griffin)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Wednesday, June 26, 2024 in my corner of blog land.

My listening habits vary in reading music, entertainment choices probably similar to my tastes in cuisine. I like the All American burger, Chinese style cashu chicken, classical music from the Baroque period e.g., Bach, J.S. and or CPE to name two; acoustic folk music by singers such as Kate Ryan or The Dubliners; light or mellow rock, older country music and some American Standards by Sinatra, Cole, or FitzGerald.

I titled this post, It's A Heavenly Day, after hearing a song by the same name on the station, RTE Gold based in Ireland.

Lyrics to much of the song appear now:

Heavenly Day

Song by Patty Griffin

 Lyrics

Oh, heavenly dayAll the clouds blew awayGot no trouble today with anyone

The smile on your face, I live only to seeIt's enough for me, baby, it's enough for meOh, heavenly day, heavenly day, heavenly day

Tomorrow may rain with sorrowHere's a little time we can borrowForget all our troubles in these moments so few

Oh because right now is only thingThat all that we really have to doIs have ourselves, a heavenly day

Lay here and watch the trees swayOh, can't see no other way, no way, no wayHeavenly day, heavenly day, heavenly day

No one at my shoulder bringing me fearsGot no clouds up above me bringing me tears

Got nothing to tell you, I've got nothing much to sayOnly I'm glad to be here with youOn this heavenly.

On this heavenly day, I am wrapping my head around finishing the packing process as we prepare to move to a new home nearby.

I am also starting to create a new book series from previous short stories that will be titled, "From The Red Chair".

A couple of these will come from stories I posted to:

https://www.spillwords.com/author/davidcrussell

over the past four years.

Embracing new friendships too is also an occurrence in this season of my life:

among them is a fellow creative whose name is initialed here, L.M.

I would like to thank you who follow me, read my posts often or occasionally, and might even think to offer a prayer or two on my behalf!

Whatever this day holds for you, consider that you are not alone. Others may be feeling similar to you albeit: neutral, numb, happy, sorrowful, joyful, tearful, laden down, etc.

I suggest if you have a Bible, read a favorite Psalm, or Psalms nine, ten, and eleven. These three in particular say much about one's emotional state, level of trust in G-d, regard for one's opposition.

Until we visit again, may the presence of Adonai comfort you and be near you!

Mellow Rock,

David C. Russell, Author

 heavenly, heavenly, heavenly day

 

The Demagogue (David C. Russell, Story)

                Hello Grafted In Reader,

For many, today is the Sabbath or Shabbat, Saturday, June 15, 2024. May you regularly observe a weekly period of self rest, renewal, and divine refreshment!

Writing is at the top of my list these days. You are invited to read the sample of my latest story at:

https://www.spillwords.com/author/davidcrussell

titled, "The Demagogue"

Here is the opening for your perusal.

THE DEMAGOGUE

written by: David C Russell

“April Fools,” I said.

“You screwed up my breakfast,” Kim said, expression incensed, annoyed, exasperated.

“I was just having fun. Don’t be such a poor sport,” I answered.

“You eat this bowl of rice krispies and let me know how you like baking soda instead of sugar,” Kim said, still annoyed.

This was my first attempt at deception at the age of eight. Kim was my younger sister by two years. Gradually, over time, motivation to deceive for the thrill it brought would mentally beckon a personal choice. The choice to mislead, frustrate, beguile to witness one’s frustration with bewilderment.

Our mom, a single parent, sluffed it off and told us to hurry up, go to school. I was not disciplined; Kim was not given the satisfaction of having been wronged. Do we brush off occurrences in life based on level of annoyance an incident may cause?

By the way, the only cost is your time to read and perhaps rate or comment. Thanks!

I also just finished story revision to "Misery In The Head".  An international pandemic occurs in the summer of 2052, where all suffer a chronic, splitting, menacing headache. Yeah, a take-off on COVID, but nice to recall what that experience put on us as a people and as persons. Where it will end is anyone's guess but will let you know.

The Feast of Pentecost/Shavuot was this past Tuesday and Wednesday. We celebrate God giving His Word, and God giving us his Spirit, known as a helper and comforter to life's struggle.

Until next visit, so glad you stop by, and please share this blog with your friends and associates.

God be with us always,

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author 

I Won't Back Down (classic rock, Tom Petty)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Thursday, June 6, in my corner of blogland. Year 2024.

Interestingly, this day celebrates a milestone in the U.S. military history as related to WWII. Next week, those who adhere to a Hebraic perspective of faith will recognize that God gave the Torah to His people on Mount Sinai. This occurred within three months of the Children of Israel departing Egypt. 

Centuries later, at the Festival of Pentecost or Shavuot in Hebrew, God visited if you will the assembled in Israel by his Spirit enabling messengers to proclaim his Words in their respective tongue. In both cases, God gives something of himself and still is doing so in a myriad of ways!

The New Covenant Scriptures describe this second event in a book titled "Acts Of The Apostles". See the second chapter.

Pentecost or Shavuot along with June 6, being D-Day in Military terms, have in common people being attentive to what was occurring around them; people engaged in hearing and observing the activities occurring around them.

As a result of Pentecost or Shavuot, the message of God's grace and goodness would within two centuries, be expanded to include the entire globe at that time. Arguably, this is occurring today.

This week, I began reading a title by Dr. Jeffrey Seif, "To The Ends Of The Earth". You can find this online at sites like Amazon, GoodReads, and the paid reading site, everand.com.

The author provides us a summary at the end of his second chapter worth tending to.He asserts that early church history was largely influenced through Jewish men and women embracing God's message and being significantly involved in its expansive outreach for some time. See Below from his text:

Chapter 2 Jerusalem-Based Messianic Judaism

In sum, it is to be observed that a vibrant Messianic Jewish movement flourished in Judea before the first Roman war and that it was established there afresh immediately after the debacle. The ancients also note that the movement flourished in Judea till the second Jewish-Roman war. Though there had been a vibrant Jewish expression of Messianic faith, things began to change. Over time, and owing to the Gospel’s expansion to non-Jews in the broader culture, the Empire was “Christianized” by a Roman church that saw itself alone as

representative of the New Chosen People of God! In the wake of this, Messianic Jews were denigrated and displaced, seen only as the reigning church’s ancient vanquished rival, leftover fruits from a condemned system. Jewishness was despised—the message of Israel’s Messiah was framed exclusively in non-Jewish terms and given a non-Jewish expression. This situation prevailed well into the present modern era and is now slowly being addressed by bold women and men bent on investigating legitimate biblical forms of Jewish faith."

 

Today, let us ask God to enable us to be brave, courageous, decided and steadfast in our God-given convictions. May our lives be such that people notice we can do much because God gives us each the strength to do so.

Happy Summer if you observe this season now; Happy Winter if you on the other hand, are observing this season now.

To those with a faith practice, Happy Pentecost or Shavuot. See your calendars for 2024 for date of this Hebraic Holiday.

Thank you for dropping by. Let's visit often!

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author