I love my Turkey family

 

My Christmas tree fairies and helpers

 

The Immunity

 In the wake of Covid-19 I decided to have a lesson on the human immunity for my six year old. In preparation for nursing school I took Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology. In A&P I learned the fascinating ability of cell reproduction and individual white cells responsibility. I learned about virus reproduction and lysis. I often marveled at the human body's intricate design constantly wondering how any doctor after completing medical school could not be a believer in the God Almighty. Every little tiny detail of our body systems to our cells to our chemistry is masterfully perfect. Sure there are malfunctions or clinches, but the overall ideal design is miraculously purposeful. 

As stated before I have tried my best to follow the research covering Covid-19. In some of my readings scientist have voiced concern about antibodies against Covid-19 not lasting for more than a few months. Then it was discovered in fact T cells have a memory that is longer lasting and will sufficiently redefend the body should the person have another exposure to Covid-19. 

In preparing how to teach my daughter about the immunity I read about the individual white cells responsibility, which brought all the information I read about Covid-19 to full circle. Lets see if I can make this simple and understandable. We have B cell and T cells. The B cells are floating around surveying the cells as watchmen. They also act as photographers. When the B cell identifies a pathogen (foreign body) it essentially takes a picture to create memory cells. Then it releases plasma cells as engineers to study the structure of the pathogen. This study of course forms antibodies to attach to the virus causing a breakdown of the virus barrier allowing cell lysis. Later macrophages come in like Cookie Monster to clean up the mess.

That is the first line of defense. If that is all we have sickness and Covid-19 could seem more intimidating. However, there are T cells who come in two groups as well: the Helper cells and the Killer cells. Remember the B cell took a picture, well the T cells gets a copy of that virus and they are looking for evidence of intruders, but they are also looking for compromised cells whom the virus has already invaded. When the invaded cell has been identified the T cell sends little receptors to attach to the cell wall disrupting the membrane again achieving lysis of both the cell and virus. Then here comes another macrophage chomping away to clean up all the pieces.

When I explain these amazing details to my daughter I can assure her that God has made us well and given our bodies the tools to persevere. That assurance can take away the fear. I am not trying to raise a blind fully ignorant person. I want her to be fearfully and wonderfully amazed by her design and her Creator's special attention to detail that makes her extraordinary. There are some things to worry about, but death from this virus is not one of them. Our lives are in God's hands.

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[b] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  Matthew 10:28-31

It's Fall

 

Night Light

 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 

In this picture my husband and son are cuddling beside a fire while my daughters are near those very faint lights up in a treehouse. It is a beautiful night perfectly enjoyed within an autumn sky. My husband made a few changes to the backyard that offers a warm comfort completely enchanting me to my home. It is my haven. 

Then..... I start reading the going-ons in the country. It's troubling for sure. It makes me adore my blemished utopia all the more. And like II Corinthians 1 reminds I need to have a heathy mind set to encourage and persevere. I'm using this image as my balm to treasure the simple quiet moments. 

Spiders

 It would appear a family of sisters made residence among our decks and window this autumn. Alas, they were not the garden spiders I grew attentive to a couple of years ago. According to my Seek app, which I highly recommend for identifying nature things (bugs, plants, fungi, ect.), these specie of spiders are a barn orbspider. Though not the beautifully created zigzag web of a garden spider these orb-weavers were altogether enjoyable to observe as they proceeded their natural design continuing the circle of life. During this season Lucy and I read E.B. White's 'Charlotte's Web' while watching the miraculous design of arachnids spinning and climbing and eating and dying. One by one each spider disappeared into the inevitable conclusion of the season.  Eventhough I am fully aware our time on this earth is short those last few chapters of 'Charlotte's Web' bring tears to my eyes everytime acknowledging we need to cherish the ones we have lost. 

A Convicting Month

 Well... I can tell you I have many thoughts and opinions at this moment. This is my blog and I need to vent my inner feelings in order to instruct, justify, and insult. My opinion matters so listen to me! Blub! I cannot stand the endless drooling and salivating of Twitter. Facebook is a fairly useless format for me as well as it has become a political microphone rather than a microscope of personal happenings. 

Then over the last few weeks it does not help that I have experienced some major conviction from the Holy Spirit about submitting to authority. 1 Peter 2:13-17:

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 

Really? I cannot tell you how many times I have left angry messages on my governor's Facebook page. Then I come to this passage. Romans 13:1-5:

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

What? That is not American. I am being suppressed. Exactly. I am to trust God is in control and believe nothing is beyond His attention. There is a perfect plan being orchestrated to bring God's glory and he does not need me to justify my grievances. My outbursts diminish the message of love and truth to attract attention to Christ. "Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor." Oooo, That stings. Yet what are the two greatest commandments? "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" Matthew 22:37-39. People are not going to see truth when I am bashing with insults, so called "Truth bombs." God's message is heard and seen by a submissive caring love.

Isaiah 8:12-17

12 “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear,
      and do not dread it.
13 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy he is the one you are to fear, he is            the one you are to dread.
14 He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to          stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
     a trap and a snare.
15 Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken,
    they will be snared and captured.”

16 Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.
17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.
     I will put my trust in him.

More truthing! If it wasn't for the old saying History is bound to repeat itself, I would guess this passage was written recently. Again, I am asked not to look for hope in man. It will only bring disappointment. I must trust in the Lord. I must build my foundation on the truth of Christ. Christ is everlasting. The age of man and buildings is fleeting, temporary. The message of Jesus Christ endures forever.

1 Corinthians 3:10-23:

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Rather, God wants us live lives like in 1 Timothy 2:1-2:

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

I am not saying we should live as the world to keep the peace, particularly if asked to do anything that completely contradicts the Words of the Bible. Remaining firm in our beliefs is important as well. Renouncing Jesus or committing murder (any termination of human life) or ignoring evil is not an option. The early Church along with Peter and Paul where persecuted for following Jesus. They disobeyed higher authorities for the truth of Jesus. Not to prove themselves right. The most important commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul allowing the early Christians to live boldly for the name of Christ. However, the second commandment is equally as important to love your neighbor as yourself not lording your importance and intellect. It is not my place to reticule or allow anger to control me. If I feel called to serve as a public servant for the people that is one path, but using social media as a cowardly megaphone to spew hate is not commendable, nor Godly.

I will end with John 16:33. It may not be the image of American blissfulness driving that new Cadillac down Route 66 with the Rockies in view, but lives are short on this earth. Therefore, take every opportunity to make it amazing spiritually and humbly, because it is going to fade. Also, dwell on the Word of the Lord for his words are everlasting, never ending, eternal, and where our hope is found.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 

 

Our Secret Garden