RIIPCO - Home Improvement, Remodeling and Renovation Specialist

10/10/2022

**He released a swan hooked to a net:
"When I was holding him, I felt his heart beating. He just relaxed and wrapped my neck with his. It's a precious moment when you see an animal trusts you completely."

10/10/2022

10/07/2022

Be Thou My Vision

The hymn, "Be Thou My Vision," has its origins almost fifteen hundred years ago in Ireland. This hymn derived from an 8th century Irish folk song which expressed a desire for God’s hand in our lives and a longing to be in His presence.

The first words are credited to Dallan Forgaill in a work entitled, "Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cride". It was later trans­lat­ed from an­cient Ir­ish to Eng­lish by Ma­ry E. Byrne, in “Eriú,” Jour­nal of the School of Ir­ish Learn­ing, 1905, and versed by El­ea­nor H. Hull, a writer of English history and literature, who penned the prose into verse form and included it in her book of poems, The Poem Book of the Gael. The melody for this hymn is a traditional Irish tune.

The hymn is a prayer -- a prayer that Christ will be our vision -- our best thought -- our presence -- our light.

What would it mean if Christ were our vision? How would it change our lives?

It would mean simply this -- that instead of seeing the world through the eyes of a Madison Avenue advertising agent or a Hollywood movie or a television newscaster, we would see the world through Christ's eyes.

It would change our lives, because seeing the world through Christ's eyes would cause us to love as Christ loved. It would cause us to focus less on getting the things that we want and more on giving what we can to help others. It would cause us to care less about other people's opinions and more about the direction that God would have our lives to take.

In some ways it would complicate our lives, because we could no longer be as focused on the things that the world considers important -- more money, bigger houses, more prestigious cars. But in other ways it would simplify our lives, because it would allow us to stop striving for ever-larger piles of things and would allow us to focus on spiritual values. People who have come to see the world through Christ's eyes tend to be more centered -- less troubled than most -- strong with a strength that comes from God.

"Be Thou My Vision." As we sing it, let's remember that it is a prayer. Let us make it our prayer.

(1) Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art-
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

(2) Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

(3) Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

(4) High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O ruler of all.

The following link is to an absolutely wonderful acapella rendition of this beloved hymn. ENJOY! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvUrXF9nmyc

10/07/2022

Don’t lay down that sword just because things look better. A warrior always knows where to find their weapon. Don’t ever allow apathy to set in.
Stay sharp & be Alert at ALL times. 🔥
Ephesians 6:10…
1 Peter 5:8 #warfare #Christian

10/07/2022

I’ve seen this meme pop-up in my newsfeed a few times over the past couple of months.

I don’t know if what it says is true, but it certainly has felt so on more than one occasion. A perfect example of not realizing how wonderful something was until it’s been taken away.

A perfect example of complacency.

So much today is under attack. So much history is being rewritten. I’m told to disregard and ignore truths and realities that occurred during my lifetime. It’s the ultimate gaslighting. How many times have I stopped to confirm a memory that a current media source is claiming didn’t happen, or that it didn’t happen “that way?”

I grew up in the southern United States. I was born in 1967. I came of age in the 1980s. A poster of Michael Jackson (wearing a yellow sweater) hung in my bedroom. As a white person, I never felt better than a person of color.

I was taught to love and to be kind. I was taught that where much is given, much is required.

Today, society’s message seems to be one of hate, judgement, shame and anger.

What changed? Why did it change?

Everyday our words and actions ripple like a stone tossed onto a body of water. If what we do in this life echoes in eternity, what your echo will be?