text:
A One Verse Prayer

But I am poor and needy;
Yet the Lord thinks upon me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God. Psalm 40:17 (NKJV)

I love it when one verse says it all.  Memorize this verse, Psalm 40:17, and you will have a prayer on your lips whenever you need it!

But I am poor and needy... this is UNDERSTANDING our story, we are poor and needy. Without Jesus we have nothing. He provides everything we need, food, clothing, family, shelter, salvation… We can spend time THANKING the Lord for His many blessings. It can also be a time for ADMITTING our sins. We are poor because of our sins and desperately need a Savior, Jesus, to rescue us.

Yet the Lord thinks upon me... let us claim this wonderful PROMISE! The Lord is thinking about you! He is thinking about me. He never stops thinking about us. Imagine that, here we are, lost in our troubles, yet God , the Creator of the whole universe is thinking about us. Wow!

You are my help and my deliverer here again we can claim God’s PROMISE to help us and deliver us from whatever we are facing. And we join the voices through eternity, EXALTING our God, our Helper, our Deliverer.

Do not delay, O my God... and finally, the plea from one who depends on God for all her needs. Do not delay, O my God. I pour out my PETITIONS before you. Hear the cry of my heart. Take care of all my loved ones, my neighbors, all my troubles, our nation and world today. Do not delay, O my God.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Write Psalm 40:17 in your prayer journal today and every day this week. Memorize it. Pray it as you are driving or washing dishes or working in the garden or taking a shower. Use this one verse to cry out to the Lord.

But I am poor and needy;
Yet the Lord thinks upon me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God. Psalm 40:17 (NKJV)

Scripture taken the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson

A Chronicles TEA

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!..
1 Chronicles 16:36 (NKJV)

When God allowed His people to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, David sang a beautiful song of praise to the Lord. These verses of David’s song and those in the story around it provide words we can use when we pray to Jesus.

As churches re-open following COVID-19 and people once again gather together to worship, we have as much to celebrate as the Israelites did so long ago. Let’s rock the heavens and earth with our worship and joy to the Lord!

T is for Thanksgiving

Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
1 Chronicles 16:8 (NKJV)

E is for Exalting

Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
1 Chronicles 16:29 (NKJV)

A is for Admitting

For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order. 1 Chronicles 15:13 (NKJV)

C is for Calling

Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
1 Chronicles 16:11 (NKJV)

U is for Understanding

For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become their God. 1 Chronicles 17:22 (NKJV)

P is for Promises

And now, Lord, you are God, and have promised this goodness to Your servant. 1 Chronicles 17:26 (NKJV)

P is for Petitions

And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise.”
1 Chronicles 16:35 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 as one beautiful prayer to God. Finally, dear sisters, finish your prayer time today with this Psalm of praise from 1 Chronicles 16:31…

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
1 Chronicles 16:31 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

God bless Paul Baloche for his beautiful music to praise Jesus!

“Well, I’m sure praying!”

…Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord… Zechariah 8:21 (NJKV)

“Well, I’m sure praying!” exclaimed Kennedy, when she learned her baby brother would be delivered by C-section.

Kennedy’s mommy had been in labor since the wee morning hours, trying to deliver her almost eleven-pound baby brother. Now it was supper time and he wasn’t coming out. The doctors decided to do a C-section to safely deliver little Robin. Kennedy, who is well-acquainted with doctor procedures from her continuing battle with cancer, wanted to know what that meant.

As simply as we could, her two grandmas explained the doctors would cut open her mommy’s tummy to get out the baby. Some children might wonder why they don’t just do that in the first place. But Kennedy’s reply was, “Well, I’m sure praying!”

Kennedy’s response sent both grandmas to tears, thinking of all the times friends and family have said the same to Kennedy over the past few months. So many people are praying for this sweet four-year-old with T-cell lymphoma, and many have told her, “Well, I’m sure praying.” We are so thankful for those prayers as Kennedy’s battle rages on.

What started as a cough in January turned out to be a tumor engulfing her entire chest cavity, pressing on her heart and lungs. January 30, 2020 was the last normal day for Kennedy as she went to preschool. When her mommy (my daughter Kallie) came to pick her up, Kennedy was just sitting at the top of the playground, not moving. Kallie made an appointment with the doctor for the next day. At the doctor office they sent Kennedy directly to the emergency room, thinking she had pneumonia. The ER doctors called Milwaukee Children’s Hospital which sent an ambulance to transport Kennedy. There, Kennedy’s cancer was diagnosed. On February 1, 2020, she began chemo and steroids to wipe out the tumor.

With great joy we celebrated the tumor was gone after the first month. But because doctors don’t know if every cancer cell is gone from her body, they must continue treatments. Past studies have shown that continuing treatments gives a 90% survival rate. So Kennedy continues high doses of chemo for six months, and then monthly chemo for two additional years.

The first month of powerful steroids and chemo left Kennedy almost life-less, with no muscles like a newborn baby. Slowly she regained the use of her neck, arms, and upper body, making playtime on the sofa a favorite activity. In recent weeks, she has learned to crawl and scoot herself backwards up the stairs. We pray that soon Kennedy will be walking and running again.

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. Acts 3:6 (NKJV)

The chemo has also wrecked havoc on Kennedy’s tummy, making her unable to eat very much. She is so thin, please pray for her to eat and gain weight again. These first six months of the strong chemo are the worst for her. Kennedy also gets blood, platelets and fluids often, as her little body fights the chemo and disease.

Another night at dinner, Kennedy’s daddy invited her to say the prayer. My children never wanted to pray out loud when they were that young, but brave little Kennedy jumped at the opportunity and began her prayer, “Dear Lord Jesus..thank you for Joel taking care of my pet toads and thank you for my physical therapy… Once again the grandmas were in tears as a little girl called on the name of the Lord Jesus and gave Him thanks for little things.

…Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13 (NKJV)

And so I claim this promise for precious Kennedy. May Jesus save and heal her completely! Thank you for continuing to pray for our little granddaughter.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Who in your life needs prayers? Have you told them, “Well, I’m sure praying?” Then remember to lift them up often to the Lord Jesus. He will hear your every prayer.

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you… 1 Samuel 12:23 (NKJV)

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers. If you enjoyed today’s devotion, you might also like to read When the TEA Spills, Talitha Cumi, and Are Ye Able?

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Bike Helmet of Salvation

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)

Last fall I had the joy of sharing this message with my local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. Now that spring is here and summer is on the way, more kids are out bike-riding, so it is a good time to share this message again.

Over 25 years ago, I attended a MOPS group in Cincinnati, Ohio while my husband Kent worked for the Cincinnati Nature Center.  One week the guest speaker was an emergency room doctor.  He told us of all the head injuries he saw from children not wearing bike helmets and implored us to make our children wear bike helmets.

My kids were only three-years and new-born at the time, but the message stuck with me.  I made them wear helmets all their growing up years.  Our son Kevin road his bike around the camp where we lived from home to dining hall to craft cabin so much that he just left his bike helmet on all day.   Bless dear Jacob who continued to wear his helmet as a teenager while skateboarding, even when the other boys quit wearing them.  Today my kids still wear helmets, including my second-grade son Joel in this recent picture near our home (taken just before Montana turned green this spring).

Today I want to share about a dear friend who forgot her helmet one day.  Paulette is a huge part of my testimony, encouraging me as a young believer. She opened her heart and home to me and kept writing to me for years in her delicate handwriting.

Fourteen years ago, Paulette was critically injured after falling off her bicycle. She was riding a regular bike just a few blocks from her home to her daughter Kelley’s house. When the pavement ended and she hit gravel, something caused her to fall – HARD – on her left side. Paulette was not wearing a helmet. Her head received the full impact just above and behind her left ear, which caused her brain to hit against the right side of her skull and a blood clot immediately began forming.

Paulette had emergency surgery to remove the clot and a small portion of the right part of her brain.  Along with other broken bones, doctors didn’t expect her to live. But today, 14 years later, by God’s grace and miracles, Paulette is cared for by her loving husband and caregiver.  She communicates only through her eyes and little sounds, and cannot move or care for herself.

Before the accident, Paulette verbally witnessed for Jesus. Today Paulette and her family are a witness for the faithfulness of Jesus in the midst of trials, and they tell people to WEAR YOUR BIKE HELMET!

Just as we all should wear a helmet when bike-riding, we all need God’s Helmet of Salvation to keep us safe in this world. God’s armor protects us from an enemy who attacks our minds, making us doubt, worry, question, not trust, be anxious and so on. Just as the helmet protects a biker’s head, the Helmet of Salvation protects our minds. Putting on your Helmet of Salvation proclaims you are a child of God.

How do we put on our Helmet of Salvation? A jailer asked that very same question in Acts 16. When the prison doors miraculously opened, Paul and Silas didn’t try to escape. The prison guard asked,

…“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:30-31 (NKJV)

That’s all we need to do: BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9-10 goes on to say…

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Moms and grandmas, you have the perfect age kids with whom you can share Jesus and bike helmets. You can start your kids wearing bike helmets when they are just toddlers, so they won’t think a thing about it when they are older.  You can teach your kids about Jesus every day, praying at meals and at bedtime, reading BIBLE stories, and going on nature walks to explore God’s creation. Talk about Jesus when you sit down, when you rise up, and when you clip on those bike helmets!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read Acts 16:16-34 for the amazing story of the jailer who put on his Helmet of Salvation. I plead with you, as Paul, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Pray to Jesus now, asking Him to be your Savior . Welcome to God’s family, dear sister! I hope you and your children will eagerly wear your Helmets of Salvation, as well as your bike helmets!

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV)

Look to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth. Isaiah 45:22

… Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Plague Upon Plague, Hope Upon Hope

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

Our country and world have been besieged by the Coronavirus and quarantines this spring, disrupting the lives of many and causing grief and depression to those who have lost loved ones and jobs. As I read my Bible, I see how plagues such as COVID-19 are not a new thing.

You are probably tired of hearing about plagues.  You would rather read about summer time and beaches and picnics and healthy children.  Yet here I am writing about plagues again, because God showed me some cool truths in His Word. And because He gives us HOPE.

Do you remember what God used to rescue His people from Egypt? PLAGUES!  Ten Plagues! (Blood, frogs, lice, flies, death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of firstborn son, Ex. 7-10).  Could God be using plagues to rescue His people again? After they escaped Pharaoh, the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land because of the giant people, so God sent another plague upon them. During this plague, Moses prayed…

“Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” Then the LORD said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” Numbers 14:19-21 (NKJV)

Moses prayed for their forgiveness which ended the plague. We should be praying for forgiveness, too! During another plague when the people were grumbling against the two leaders…

Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.” Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident. So Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, for the plague had stopped.Numbers 16:46-50 (NKJV)

The incense stopped the plagues. Our prayers are like that INCENSE! In both the Psalms and Revelation, our prayers are described as incense…

Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.Psalm 141:2 (NKJV)

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8 (NKJV)

God sent another plague when David took an unnecessary census of the people…

So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died. And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 2 Samuel 24:15-16 (NKJV)

And do you know what was built at the place where the plague stopped, on that threshing floor? The Temple of the Lord! And when King Solomon dedicated the Temple he prayed,

Whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple: then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men).1 Kings 8:38-39 (NKJV)

As King Solomon proclaimed, we all have a plague in our own hearts. We need to turn to the Temple and pray and He will forgive! Where is that Temple? Jesus is the Temple! (Rev. 21:22) Therefore…let us lay aside every weight and sin that so easily ensares us (Heb. 12:1). For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).

Jesus is the cure, friends!  Jesus is the One to forgive our sins, end the plague, and heal our land.  He is the One who will put our lives back together.  Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Because of His saving work on the cross, we are washed clean by His blood.  Jesus is our Hope upon Hope! He gives us hope to make it through each day, and hope of eternal life in heaven. Turn to Jesus in prayer today!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Prayer is the first step in stopping the plague across our land, first confessing our own sins to the Lord, and then confessing the sins of our nation. Our prayers are the incense that will end the plague. To God be the glory and may He heal our land!

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17 (NKJV)

Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. Romans 12:12

If you enjoyed today’s devotion, you might also like Tea by the Temple and The Door of Hope. Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers!

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

20 Years Ago Today

Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you. Luke 8:39 (NKJV)

Twenty years ago on this very day, God called us to the mountains of south-central Montana.  My husband and I had been married ten years, bringing with us our nine-year-old daughter Kallie, our six-year-old son Jacob, and our brand new one-month-old baby Kevin.

We drove our U-haul truck up the winding, bumpy Boulder Road to a piece of heaven called Camp on the Boulder.  There, my husband was to be the new camp manager.  It took two hours to get from the nearest town of Big Timber to the camp with that U-haul, so I assumed it really was a two-hour drive (though later, in emergency-room runs, I could fly down it in 38 minutes!).

We drove into the camp and to the cabin designated for us, moving ahead as directed by board members.  Yet no one saw the power lines and the height of the U-haul.  So the very first thing we did was knock out power to our tiny new home.

Volunteers helped unload the truck full of boxes and furniture from our home in Iowa.  Unfortunately, this little mountain cabin did not have the room of our previous spacious house, so boxes were piled to the ceiling. I sat on our sofa, trying to nurse my baby, freezing because the power was out, noticing mice running under the doors.

All the glamour of living in a log cabin in the mountains completely left me.  I burst into tears and wanted to go home.  I wanted to load that U-haul back up before my husband could return it to town.  I wanted to go back to familiar Iowa.

The closest telephone was next door in the Ranch House, the original cabin from the Hell’s Canyon Dude Ranch that precluded the camp.  This was another scary, unfamiliar building with its dark interior, dust, and almost a century of memories.  But at least it had heat for my baby and me.

I called my daddy back in Iowa on that phone. We had just spent the previous month with my parents while between jobs and already I missed them.  I cried to my daddy, “I want to come home.”  And guess what my daddy said…

“No,” was his reply. “I’m sorry, Jenny, I can’t let you do that.”

And so I cried buckets of tears and resolved that I would be stuck there forever:  Be there with the mice running under the doors, be there with the power going out regularly, be there with all the ups and downs of church camp ministry.  And we served Jesus there for almost 12 years before God called us to town, and I cried again because I didn’t want to leave.

Today, we are still in Montana, and very often I proudly sing, “My home’s in Montana, I wear a bandana…”  so glad to be where “the deer and the antelope play,” thankful for the Big Sky and open places, where, as one pastor pointed out, we’ve been practicing social distancing since 1889.

In 20 years, God has sent so many blessings, that I can’t number them all, but let me try to list a few…

God provided a new home for us. We only had to stay in that old log cabin four summers and then a lovely year-round home was built for us by volunteers at the camp, one that was tight with no mice!

God rescued us from forest fires. I used to know how many times we evacuated because of forest fires, but the number escapes me now.  It was so many that our kids were experts at loading the car with prized pets and possessions.  And each time, God kept us and our camp safe.

We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment. Psalm 66:12 (NKJV)

God sent so many wonderful volunteers and camp ministry team members and Nomads over the years with whom we still keep in touch.  What a blessing to know such dear people.

God fulfilled all our prayers for the camp. The ministry that broke our hearts, and often broke our backs, is now owned by the one of the biggest churches in Billings, Montana. God is answering all the prayers we had for it so long ago. It’s a delight to see God using this piece of heaven for His glory.

In 2011, we moved to town where Jesus provided again a beautiful place to live, wonderful people to work for, church family, praying friends, and Awana and youth group leaders for our kids.  And everyday we wake up to the breathtaking view of the Crazy Mountains, the Beartooths and the Absarokas.  Thank you, dearest Jesus.

God watched over our children… with God’s help, we homeschooled, bringing them up to love and know Jesus. Our daughter Kallie earned her bachelors and masters degrees and is now married and the mom of our two dear grandchildren. Our son Jacob also earned his college degree and is now an engineer in California, engaged to be married this summer. Our little baby Kevin we brought to the mountains is now 6′ 4″ (6’6″ during the corona-haircut-crisis) and busy with college classwork and his Campus Crusade for Christ group.

Along the way, after sending three babies to heaven, God heard our prayers and blessed us with our little Joel who is now 8-1/2 years old. Joel is keeping this old homeschool mom busy learning about oceans. Thank you, Lord, for our children!God has allowed me to continue in ministry, writing two books with more on the way (My TEA CUPP Prayers and Mom’s TEA CUPP Prayers). God has been so good to us these 20 years.  Thank you, dear Father in heaven!

God is ALWAYS so faithful…providing for all our needs, comforting us in every sorrow, protecting us from evil, healing our bodies, and growing our faith in Him.  Now, with our granddaughter’s cancer, we trust Him to be faithful again.  He provided a camper and we were able to visit her for almost a month and saw her improving day by day.  And so many are praying for little Kennedy…God bless you all!

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Dear Friend, you have a story, too!  I encourage you to write it down. Record how God has been faithful through all your ups and downs.  Put it in an album with photos for your kids and grandkids to read. Point your family to Jesus. Keep telling the story of God’s great love!

Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5 (NKJV)

Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers. If you enjoyed today’s post, you might also like to read When God Says No and Fires and God’s Faithfulness and  My Sweet Baby Blessing at 45.

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name. Luke 1:49 (NKJV)

The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad. Psalm 126:3 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Pray Your Neighborhood

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)

Dear TEA CUPP Friends,

Today I have a new task for you!  Instead of sitting with Jesus and your morning mug, this will get you moving!

Many of you are stuck at home right now during the COVID-19 quarantines and are eagerly awaiting normal life to return.  We were able to visit our daughter and her family before the shut-downs began, so we spent part of the quarantine in Wisconsin.

One activity we enjoyed each day was a walk around the neighborhood.  Joel rode his bike, our granddaughter Kennedy rode the stroller, and I was the caboose. I also enjoyed an early morning walk before everyone was up.  It was during these times I felt especially called to pray over their neighborhood.

I prayed for the town, for a revival, for people to return to the Lord Jesus. I wondered if the neighbors knew there was a little girl with cancer just down the street.  I wondered what trials they were facing and prayed for Jesus to help them and keep them healthy.

My feet often took me past the old St. Mary’s Church and School.  The stately bricks told a story of generations coming to worship Jesus.  I laid my hands on the side of the church building and prayed for God to fill this church again with His people and Holy Spirit.  I prayed for God to sweep this land with a revival and healing.  I prayed for God’s people to come.

Then I walked over to the school buildings and laid my hands on those bricks and prayed for the return of the children, for God’s blessing on the students and teachers and families. I prayed especially for healing for my granddaughter so she can be in the preschool next fall. I walked to the playground and prayed again for the children to return and for their safely there.

Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: My friends, where do you live?  Do you live near a church or school or park or courthouse or fire station or hospital or nursing home or business that needs your prayers?  Do you have a neighborhood of people who need your prayers?  Are you in the country where you can pray for people far and wide?  I exhort you today to get outside and go for a walk and pray for your neighborhood like you never have before.  Pray for healing. Pray for a revival across this land.  Pray for the children.  Pray for our leaders. Pray for God’s mercy and miracles.

The National Day of Prayer is coming up on Thursday, May 7.  Events are planned all over the country, many virtually.  To find an event in your area check the National Day of Prayer listing. Or type in 59011 to find the event in my area.  It’s important that we pray every day. The National Day of Prayer is a day to remind everyone to pray and to shake the gates of heaven with our prayers. The theme this year is To God be the Glory.  May God be glorified in the healing and revival of our nation.

For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers. If you enjoyed today’s devotion, you might also like to read The Door of Hope and Stripes Across Our Nation and On Our Knees. God’s blessings, Jennifer Grace

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.  Colossians 2:6 (NKJV)

My Walking Buddies

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

A Robin in Spring

…Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)

Robins are often the first sign of spring. On April. 7, 2020 at 7:37 p.m.,  Robin Hemingway came into the world, making us delighted grandparents once again.  Robin joins his big sister Kennedy who is just turning four-years-old and battling T-cell lymphoma cancer.  After two miscarriages and Kennedy’s cancer, winter is finally over, spring has arrived.  Joy has finally come in the morning to our daughter Kallie and her husband Reed.  Praise Jesus!

Many may not know how Robin got his name.  Last September when 3-year-old Kennedy found out she was going to be a big sister, she announced, “The baby’s name is Robin.”  They didn’t even know if this baby would be a boy or girl, but Kennedy insisted the name was Robin.  By Christmas, Kennedy’s parents knew they had a boy on the way, and decided his name would be Rory.  But Kennedy and her preschool friends were all still planning to call him Robin. When Kennedy was diagnosed with cancer on February 1, Kennedy’s Daddy decided she should have naming privileges for the new baby.  So Kennedy got her wish and the baby’s name became Robin!

And Robin is the best name for this baby born in spring who is bringing joy to so many. Already his sweet cries are like a song bird, filling their home with music. And like Robin Hood of old, he has come to restore the joy that was stolen by the false king. Robin is hope and promise wrapped in a baby blanket.  Isn’t that how God sent the Savior to Bethlehem? As I hold this sweet bundle, I keep humming the words from the hymn, He Lives…

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days, because He lives (Ackley, 1933)

The line “uncertain days” is so true for our world today, as many are sick or quarantined from coronavirus, without jobs, wondering when life will return to “normal.”  But just as this baby Robin, and every baby born gives us hope for all humanity, Jesus gives us hope, because He conquered sin, death, and the devil, and rose in victory on Easter.  Jesus was born out of the the grave on Easter morning, so that we also can be born again to eternal life through Him. Because of Jesus, we can face tomorrow.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives (Ackley, 1933)

Easter always follows Good Friday, joy follows weeping,  dawn follows the night, and spring always follows winter, so we rejoice this day! A Robin, often the first sign of spring, has come as a promise to this precious family.  Summer is on the way.

So today I give you photos and Bible verses to bless your day!

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God. Psalm 84:3 (NKJV)

There is a son born to Naomi… Ruth 4:17 (NKJV)

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 (NJKV)

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 1 Samuel 1:27 (NKJV)

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:14 (NKJV)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified[ you
Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40 (NKJV)

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3 (NKJV)

Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7 (NKJV)

But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother’s womb
You have been My God. Psalm 22:9-10 (NKJV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 (NKJV)

While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease. Genesis 8:22 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Every time you see a robin this spring, remember this special baby and the gift of eternal life God has given you. Rejoice, oh friends, the long night is over!  Jesus has won the victory!

Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers!  I pray you are blessed by these devotions.  Thank you also for praying for our granddaughter Kennedy. She still has two years of chemo before her and needs prayers for eating more and walking again.  God’s blessings, Jennifer Grace

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

My Glory all the Cross

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8 (NKJV)

Does it seem to you that every year Easter becomes even more meaningful than the previous year?  Every year there is another loved one in heaven, every year there is another reason to hope because a loved one is sick, every year the world gets to be less like our home and we long for that heavenly home Jesus is preparing.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

One of my favorite ways to begin my quiet time with Jesus, along with reading a devotion, is to read an old hymn.  Awhile ago I came across two great old hymns. Check out these wonderful lyrics:

May I be willing, Lord to bear daily my cross for Thee;

Even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me.

Lest I forget Gethsemane; lest I forget Thine agony;

Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary!

(Hussey, King of My Life, 1921)

As we all struggle with the current world situation, with cancer, with coronavirus, with loss of loved ones, let us remember the Cross and all Jesus bore for us there.  This Holy Week remember that Jesus still bears our sins and carries our burdens. And we can rest in the shadow of His Cross.

I take, O cross, thy shadow For my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,

My sinful self my only shame, My glory all the cross.  Amen.

(Clephane, My Glory all the Cross, 1872)

Today’s TEA CUPP:  As you prepare your heart for Easter, ponder the old hymns that remind you of Jesus sacrifice on the Cross.  Then praise His Name with Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Wesley, 1739)

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14 (NKJV)

If you enjoyed today’s devotion, please check out Remember the Cross and The Witness of the Stone. Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers.  Love, Jennifer Grace

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

The Door of Hope

…O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles…  Judges 6:13 (NKJV)

Do you feel like you’ve been walking through the Valley of Achor, the Valley of Trouble?  With coronavirus all over the world, cancer in young children, including my granddaughter, and so many uncertainties (like can a person buy toilet paper and will there be a job tomorrow?), people everywhere have been walking through a dark valley.

Did you know there is really such a valley in our Bibles?  We read in Joshua 7 how the children of Israel were defeated in one of their early battles as they tried to claim the Promised Land.  What happened? Why wasn’t God helping them?  Well, it turned out one of the Israelites had taken some of the accursed treasures at the first battle and hidden them in his tent.  Because of his sin, God was withholding His blessings.  Joshua found out and the Israelites stoned the man.  That place was given the name, the Valley of Achor (Trouble).

What sins are we hiding in our tents today? We need to look at our own hearts and the heart of our country and confess these sins to the Lord.  We need to run through our towns with our prayers as incense to stop the plague (Num. 17:46-50, Psalm 141:2, Rev. 5:8).  We need to turn to God in prayer, every one of us, seeking His forgiveness and blessings, and He will see us safely through even this storm and restore our nation.

My friends, we have a great hope. With every punishment, God gives us a promise.  When God kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, even then He gave a promise that someday His Seed would bruise the head of Satan, a Savior would be coming. And today, even now, God promises the Valley of Achor will become a door of hope.

I will give her …the Valley of Achor as a door of hope… Hosea 2:15 (NKJV)

He will not leave us in this valley.  Even those who are on their deathbeds can receive God’s promise as did the thief on the cross…

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

What is this Door of Hope?  Who can save us from this valley?  Where can we find these promises? It is Jesus, the Son of God who died for the sins of all the world, tearing the veil in the temple, over 2000 years ago. But He didn’t stay dead, on the third day He rose again opening for all who believe the door of heaven.  And there we find eternal forgiveness, peace and joy.

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NKJV)

God is still on the throne.  Jesus is still risen from the tomb. The Holy Spirit is still here to help and encourage us.  And, we have our Bibles – God’s Word, God’s great love story.  Open your Bible and open the Door of Hope.

Today’s TEA CUPP:  What hope have you seen in your valley of trouble? A kindness from a friend or stranger?  Good Samaritans helping neighbors?  I pray that most of all you see Jesus! Who can you be a door of hope to today?

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9 (NKJV)

 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

P.S. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for our granddaughter Kennedy.  She’s turns 4 next week.  We are so thankful for a long visit with her.  Look how much better she is!  We are praying she can walk again soon.  Jesus made the lame to walk and He is our great Hope!

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson


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Media Advisory Press Release

NAACP Mourns Passing of Trailblazer Diahann Carroll

October 4, 2019

The NAACP mourns the passing of Oscar-nominated actress and singer Diahann Carroll, the first African American actress to star in a non-stereotypical role in a network television series.

“Diahann Carroll will always be remembered as a talented and fearless trailblazer in our community who broke down barriers and represented our stories,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. “Her life and her work will continue to inspire us for generations and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.”

Throughout her career, Carroll carried herself with a level of class and sophistication that was all her own. Her groundbreaking role in the 1968 sitcom “Julia,” not only transcended racial boundaries at the height of the civil rights movement but also paved the way for other Black actresses in Hollywood, changing the entertainment industry forever.

In 1975, Carroll was awarded the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Claudine, and was nominated in 2000 for Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series/TV Movie for Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years, and in 2005 earned another Image Award nomination, this time for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a TV Drama Series, for Soul Food.

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Eli Brown – Immortal (Spotify)

Eli Brown unveils another high-octane release on Armada Subjekt / Good Company. ‘Immortal’ is the latest formidable production from Eli Brown following an unrelenting flurry of releases this year that’s seen the DJ and producer cement his name among the top stars in dance music.

Bristolian dance music at its finest, ‘Immortal’ sees Eli Brown unleash another heavy-hitting record straight off the back of ‘Desire’, his debut release on the label. ‘Immortal’ showcases Eli Brown’s brooding and dark approach to music production. The gripping chord progressions in ‘Immortal’ marry together with searing grooves to make up a dramatic instrumental. Add to that a fiercely powerful and original vocal and it’s clear to see why Eli Brown is constantly touted as one of the leading producers of house music today.

Eli Brown: “I wanted to write a track that merges ‘90s trance sounds with my harder production style and features a powerful vocal that was completely original: something that would really stand out in my live sets. 'Immortal' was the result of this and it's become one of my favorite tracks to close out big festivals stages with.”

Eli Brown has rapidly established himself as an artist of real distinction in the house world, with his records making an immediate impact upon a flurry of the industry’s biggest names: Carl Cox, Adam Beyer, Solardo, Green Velvet, Fisher, Claude VonStroke, Black Madonna, Denis Sulta, Calvin Harris and Annie Mac, the latter of which selected an Eli Brown song twice to become the ‘Hottest Record In The World’ on her BBC Radio 1 show. Eli Brown’s success on the radio and admiration from his peers has turned the attention of dance music royalty Calvin Harris, as the pair have now begun working on new material together. Their 'Moving' EP became the first collaboration on Calvin Harris' ‘Love Regenerator’ series. As diligent a DJ as he is a producer, Eli Brown also comes fresh from a Come Together World Tour in 2019, which included debut plays in Singapore and Japan as well as highly anticipated return visits to the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Ibiza.

Discover Music | Discover Artists | Artist Interviews | New Releases | Songs | Music News | Music Events

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Statistics and meaning of name Brechel

Usage: 6% firstname, 94% surname.
Brechel first name was found 3 times in 1 different countries. (USA)
Surname Brechel is used at least 40 times in at least 2 countries. (USA,Germany)

Given names
Annerose Brechel (1)

Surname Brechel in USA

Brechel reversed is Lehcerb
Name contains 7 letters - 28.57% vowels and 71.43% consonants.

Anagrams: Cherelb Relcehb Hlecber Lerhecb Ceblerh
Misspells: Blechel Brrechel Brechela Berchel Brechle Brecehl

Rhymes: Herschel Michel Mitchel Rachel satchel freckle faecal speckle cecal shekel

Meaning of this name is unknown.
This page has been visited from the following countries: United States Philippines Bulgaria Germany Serbia Switzerland Netherlands

Recent searches: Lenori Colacecchi Calaidjoglu Simao Komad Worak Megran Fichora Nicklen Peak
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text: Innovative cluster 3D technology association The Innovative 3D Technology Cluster develops its business in the sphere of creating real 3D objects. The cluster was established at the end of 2015 and is a member of the Cluster for Development and Training of Dental Practitioners from the end of 2016. Its integration aims to exchange experience in the field of 3D technology and in particular its application in the field of dentistry and dentistry.


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Medical costs are driving millions of people into poverty

Healthcare expenses forced 8 million Americans into poverty in 2018, according to the Census Bureau, an improvement from the past several years, when an annual average of 11 million people fell into poverty because of medical costs!

The Census Bureau tracks how social programs and expenses influence poverty rates.

  • Social Security, SNAP benefits and housing subsidies are among the most effective anti-poverty programs.
  • But year after year, medical expenses remain the largest contributor to increasing the number of individuals in poverty.
  • Most people who have insurance and who make less than 150% of the federal poverty level don’t have enough liquid assets to cover a $1,500 deductible.

People who don’t have insurance are the most likely to fall into poverty, due to the high prices of drugs and procedures. But even working Americans who have insurance coverage are facing bleaker financial futures because employers have shifted more health care costs onto their shoulders.

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The person who answers your phone creates a first impression that can make or break business opportunities. Telephone reception isn't brain surgery. It doesn't require extraordinary credentials or top pay. Still, whoever does the job ought to receive more than cursory training on what to say and how to handle predictable tricky situations …

The person who answers your phone creates a first impression that can make or break business opportunities for your company.

I'm in a bad mood right now, which makes it a good time to address a pet peeve. The reason is a phone call I made - two phone calls, actually - trying to reschedule an annual appointment with my ophthalmologist. My eye doctor is highly regarded, but I can't say the same for his receptionist, who put me on hold three times during our conversation - the first time even before I had a chance to identify myself:

“Dr. Eyeball's office, please hold.” Doesn't it drive you up a wall when you get rejected even before you get a chance to say your name?

The second time was a few seconds into our conversation after she picked up the line again. I had enough time to tell her my name, but not the purpose of my call, when she put me on hold again without asking my permission. There I stewed for perhaps 20 seconds, though it always feels like 20 minutes.

Third time it happened, I hung up, then redialed. Soon as she answered, I told her I'm tired of being put on hold, gave her my preferred date for a new appointment, and left my number for her to call me back when she could confirm a booking for that date. She started to get sassy, but I cut her short, saying that the time it took to argue with me could be better spent rebooking my appointment. I then suggested she ask the doc to send her to a class on customer service and telephone etiquette - ”Or would you prefer that I tell him?” I asked.

She called back shortly afterward with a new date, and an apologetic tone. I take no pleasure in haranguing telephone receptionists, yet I'm sorry to say it sometimes gets results.

But it shouldn't be necessary. I understand that sometimes things do get hectic. Nonetheless, whether you are in the doctoring business or any other kind, there are techniques for handling multiple incoming calls that don't try the patience of a caller.

Actually, the office had a solution already in hand, though they made poor use of it. I actually made three phone calls into the ophthalmologist's office. The first call reached a voice-messaging system, which stated the office hours and said that if I reached this message during those hours, it was because both phone lines were tied up and to call back later, which I did.

Almost a good solution. What would have made it totally acceptable was a message inviting me to leave my number, with a promise to call me back as soon as the office staff had a free moment. The dentist I patronize has a system like that, and I appreciate the fact that it shows consideration for the patient/customer.

Smiles are transmitted in your voice and convey a positive attitude. Employees who answer the phone should be instructed in proper telephone techniques.

What's at Stake

Annoyed though I may be at my eye doctor's phone reception, it's not enough to put me through the hassle of finding another ophthalmologist, especially since the one I go to has a top-notch reputation and what remains of my oh-so-myopic eyesight is very important to me. But over the years, I have blown off various home repair contractors whose telephone manners gave the impression of an amateurish organization.

People in need of constructing services generally have many alternative companies to choose from, and it doesn't take much for their fingers to start tapping another number on the keypad. Telephone receptionists tend to be the lowest-paid employees in most organizations. Often in small companies, this not a job unto itself, but a secondary duty of office staffers who get annoyed at phone calls that interrupt their other chores. Their voices betray that aggravation. They may not even realize they're being impolite, yet unconscious discourtesy can drive away enormous amounts of business.

The person who answers your phone is like the leadoff batter in baseball. A team is much more likely to score when the leadoff man gets a hit than when he strikes out. Likewise, the person who answers your phone creates a first impression that can make or break business opportunities.

Telephone reception isn't brain surgery. It doesn't require extraordinary credentials or top pay. Still, whoever does the job ought to receive more than cursory training on what to say and how to handle predictable tricky situations, such as multiple incoming calls, dealing with irate callers, information requests, etc.

During my career, I've made thousands of phone calls to various organizations in the construction industry. Because the vast majority of constructing firms are small - and more trade than business-oriented - I've encountered many examples of bad telephone manners. I estimate that about half the phone calls I've made during my career have resulted in an unfavorable impression of the organization.

Unlike most business problems, solutions to this one are simple and cheap. It merely takes a little instruction in proper telephone and customer-service techniques. Here are some of the deficiencies I routinely notice and how to correct them.

Consider an automated phone-answering system. Automated voice messaging has eliminated the need for phone receptionists in many companies. Everyone complains about automated answering systems, but by now, most people are familiar with them and shrug off the impersonality. Better to stick customers with automated messaging than punish them with a lousy live receptionist. Nobody likes to deal with endless menu instructions, but it's mostly large companies that have the complex systems. Smaller companies can get by with simpler menu options. One always should be, “Press zero to speak with a live operator.”

Minimize on-hold. If you must put callers on-hold, make it a point to keep them waiting no longer than 30 seconds at a time. After 30 seconds, get back on the line and say: “I'm sorry, but it's taking a little longer than expected. Would you prefer to keep holding, or can someone call you back?”

It's not only what you say, but how you say it. Face it, answering the phone all day is not the world's most exciting job. Too often, this boredom comes through in the receptionist's tone of voice. Even worse, some receptionists convey the feeling they're annoyed by the call, as if it's interrupting more pressing business - such as a boyfriend on the other line.

All of us have bad days, but it's important for a phone receptionist to sound chipper at all times. A smile on your face forces you to sound upbeat. Thus, a favorite trick of telemarketers and customer service reps is to keep a mirror by the phone at all times. They watch for and practice that smile as they speak. Not a bad idea for phone receptionists.

Clipped responses.Often I hear, “He's not in right now.” Then silence. Abrupt responses like this verge on being impolite. Instead of offering to take a message or patch into voicemail, the receptionist frequently will say instead, “You can reach him after five o'clock.”

Inquiries often get answered with clipped responses, such as: “I don't know ... I'm afraid I can't help you ... We don't do that.”

Short, negative responses come across as grouchy. They need to be replaced by, “I don't know, but I'll try to put you in touch with someone who does.”

Part of the problem is inadequately defining the telephone reception job. Everyone who answers the phone needs to undergo at least a few hours of training that emphasizes their customer-service role. They must understand that their job is not only to answer telephones, but also to assist callers in getting to the right person or obtaining the right information. It's like military basic training, which teaches every soldier rudimentary combat skills. Similarly, every employee needs basic customer service skills.

Screening vs. welcoming.On one hand, a phone receptionist is expected to deflect pesky salesmen, but, at the same time, extend a warm welcome to potential customers or VIPs. A natural tug-of-war exists between these conflicting functions. Experienced phone receptionists develop a kind of radar that helps them distinguish important calls from nuisances, but some are too inexperienced to pick up the signals.

Is there any foolproof way to screen out the pests without alienating potential customers? Probably not. So instruct your receptionists to treat everyone politely, and if there's any doubt, put the call through. The worst you can lose is a few minutes of time. Miscalculating, however, can cost you a lifetime worth of customers.

Dealing with angry callers.
  1. Listen carefully. Be sure to understand the nature of the complaint.
  2. Pause before responding. Never interrupt.
  3. If anger turns to abuse, say, “Taking it out on me will not solve your problem. Please give me a chance to help you.”
  4. Avoid the word “you,” as in, “You need to ...” Instead, it is better to say things like “I would recommend …” or “May I suggest …”
Top phone receptionists make every effort to ...
  • Answer every call on the first ring.
  • Tell the caller the name of the person and extension number when transferring, just in case of a disconnect.
  • Ask callers if it's OK to put them on-hold before doing so.
  • Let the caller hang up first to guard against an abrupt, premature cut-off.


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Charon's fractured surface suggests a complex, brutal history. The smooth plains south of its equator are informally called "Vulcan Planum," and its dark polar cap is "Mordor Macula."
Read Caption
Charon's fractured surface suggests a complex, brutal history. The smooth plains south of its equator are informally called "Vulcan Planum," and its dark polar cap is "Mordor Macula."

Charon: A Dark Moon With a Dark Past

Something is rotten in the state of Charon, Pluto’s giant moon. OK maybe not rotten, exactly, but it’s just not…right.

Before the New Horizons spacecraft took a tour of the Pluto system in July, scientists guessed they might see a few interesting features on Charon — things like craters, and more craters, and maybe some notable landforms because Charon’s water ice surface is sturdy and capable of supporting dramatic landscapes. Several team members even dared to suggest that Charon would be surprisingly interesting — perhaps even more interesting than Pluto.

But overall, guesses seemed to converge on Charon being a dead, cratered husk.

“Craters were the number one thing people said we’d see on Charon,” said Amanda Zangari of the Southwest Research Institute, who conducted a survey of New Horizons team members before the flyby. But, she noted back in June, “I think we’re going to find that Charon is not just a dull, gray featureless thing.”

Turns out, Charon is totally not a dull, gray featureless thing.

It has curiously few craters, especially in its southern hemisphere, and a surface riven with massive canyons (some of which have cool informal names, like “Serenity Chasma”). It even has a mountain in a moat. Charon’s north pole is reddish — the same color red as the band near Pluto’s equator — and there’s a dark blotch on the hemisphere that faces away from Pluto.

In fact, the whole moon is dark, way darker than Pluto. Charon might not look especially shadowy in the image above, but that’s because of how those pixels were processed. If you look at the giant moon in relation to Pluto, its companion in binary planethood, you’ll see just how spooky it is. While Pluto is splattered with bright ices and colorful smears, Charon looms in the background like a scarred, charred world emerging from the darkness.

View Images
Paintballed Pluto and dark, fractured Charon shine in this enhanced color composite. Images of both worlds were processed identically, so their colors — and sizes — can be compared. Click for full-size image. (NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI)

To me, it looks like half of Charon’s crust is missing, as if someone started peeling it like an orange and gave up after the southern hemisphere. The remaining northern rind is cratered, stained and old, while the southern pith is younger and smoother. The real story is probably much more interesting (yes, even more interesting than a giant peeling a moon). One early idea explaining the startling differences in terrain between Charon’s hemispheres invokes cryovolcanism, or the eruption of icy, frozen, maybe oozy materials. Icy satellites in the outer solar system appear to be particularly good at generating flavors of frozen “lavas”: Think geysers on Enceladus, plumes on Triton, and (possible) ice volcanoes on Titan.

Once upon a time, as the story might go here, a buried ocean sloshed inside Charon’s icy shell. At some point, as the moon froze, pressure started to build in the liquid water locked inside. As that pressure forced the water upward, it found a weak spot in Charon’s shell — and then all hell broke loose. Like water bursting through a crack in a dam, the ocean spilled onto Charon’s surface, coating part of it in smooth, young plains and erasing all the stuff that was there before. Younger crust, explains The Planetary Society’s Emily Lakdawalla, would be denser and thus sink below the older crust, explaining the elevation differences between Charon’s halves.

See? Icy volcanism at the solar system’s edge is way more interesting than imaginary cosmic giants, and perhaps not that uncommon on larger worlds in the Kuiper Belt.

If that did happen, it’s not the only violent event in Charon’s history. After all, the Pluto system was born from a giant impact — a collision that knocked proto-Charon into proto-Pluto and chucked out all kinds of icy shards that ended up forming the smaller moons. How the system evolved into the spectacularly diverse cast of characters we see today — paintballed Pluto, fractured Charon, super-dark Kerberos, odd-looking Nix, and so on — is still a mystery.

*Thank you to Emily Lakdawalla and Sarah Hörst for helpful discussions.*


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“How much is my home worth?”

Property Type

Be well-informed

For any homeowner, the value of their property is an ever-changing but important statistic of which to be aware. For some, owning a house is about finding a place to call home – while for others, a house is simply an investment.

No matter who you are, it is likely that at some point you will find yourself needing to sell a house or property; and in many cases, you need it to happen fast – and we can help by finding the answer to ‘what is my house worth in the UK’…

So, you’re thinking of selling…

Maybe you’ve landed a great new job at the other end of the country, or maybe the current market conditions mean that you stand to make a tidy profit with a fast house sale – and the temptation is too great to ignore. Either way, at that point it’s likely you’ll be asking yourself “what is my house worth”?

House prices are not an easy statistic to track. A great proportion of homeowners often find themselves a little surprised when presented with a valuation report by a chartered surveyor that takes all the factors into account.

Why it’s important to ask “How much is my house worth?”

For British homeowners especially, house prices can be affected by a number of issues – throwing up a range of questions from the seller:

  • How can nearby services affect the value of my home?
  • How can the economy affect how much is my house worth in the UK?
  • Will the lack of new-builds in my area increase demand for my home?
  • If my neighbour sells under market value, what is my home worth now? And how much money will I lose?

Estate agents often use surveyors and valuers to ascertain the recommended market price at which to sell your home. Sometimes the delivered figure is in favour of the vendor; while at other times, it favours the buyer.

But why is this? If you have failed to maintain the façade of your home that is visible to the public, or even forget to varnish those window frames, the price of your home can be negatively affected.

If crime increases in your area, this will be taken into account during the survey and can also lead to a lower value.

Conversely, if high quality developments are built nearby that gain the attention of respected homebuyers and businesses, the value of your home can skyrocket.

The same is true if a nearby school gains an ‘excellent’ rating from OFSTED – an area with a great school is guaranteed to benefit financially. Furthermore, astute homeowners should often ask “what is my home worth?” after every report publication.

However, time is a key factor in selling a home. And the longer it takes to sell your home, the more likely it is that you will have to lower your asking price, as a house that’s been on the market a suspicious length of time begs the question “why?”.

Happy Customers

How do property price estimates work?

Using our free value estimator, it’s easy to gain an accurate estimated value for you to find out what is my house worth in the UK.

Simply enter your postcode into the fields below, find your home, and get an estimate. It really is that simple!

Even if you’re not expecting to sell anytime soon, our free value estimator is an excellent way of keeping track of your house’s value.

We can provide data that displays value changes since you purchased it, helping you to understand the catalysts behind the rise and fall of your house’s value over time.

And our calculation can also provide the value of similarly built homes in your area – letting you know where you stand.

So, you have an estimate of “what is my house worth?” – what now?

To discuss further how much is my home worth in the UK, you can call us on 08000 443 911, or simply fill in our simple form to find out your no obligation cash offer.

To ensure you’re being taken care of, we only employ staff with great communication skills, adhering to policies of full transparency to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible – allowing you to find out “how much is my house worth”.

Why is a fast house sale important for me?

When we first got started buying property in 2004, we found that in an ever-changing world, the demand for a quick sale began to rise dramatically.

As internet access became an essential utility, it became much easier for companies to hire new employees from far and wide – and with the prospect of high earnings, many British workers found themselves needing to hurriedly pack up and depart their house – leaving many to wonder “how much is my home worth in the UK if I were to sell it now?”

While many opt for the traditional route of estate agencies, this process is often marred by the slow movement of paperwork, exorbitant fees, and a lack of communication if the house fails to sell immediately.

At National Homebuyers, we use a fast, efficient process and will buy any home for cash – regardless of condition.

The advantage of consulting property-selling experts like us, specialising in how much is my house worth in the UK, is that you can prevent the house-selling process from becoming a lingering issue that hinders you from moving on with your life.

Integrity and full confidentiality

Often, a fast house sale is necessary for less cheerful reasons. We are contacted by many people who are experiencing financial difficulty, or even going through divorce who need to know ‘how much is my home worth’ – and here at National Homebuyers, we understand the sensitivity of such issues.

That’s why all information discussed in relation to the sale of your house is handled with the utmost confidence. We understand that life can sometimes deal you a blow, and we’re here to help you get back on your feet again.

Ready to sell your house fast? To get started, fill in our simple form or call our friendly team on 08000 443 911 for a quick cash offer.

** All prices provided by the National Homebuyers Property Value Estimator are based on information from the Land Registry and our own prediction algorithm. However, a true market price will be influenced by many criteria such as economic stability, interest rates, mortgage availability, geographical trends, the condition of the property and general consumer confidence.

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Image: Mercury injection “season” is here, and it’s not even safe in your mouth, so imagine the DAMAGE that’s being done to 100 million Americans

(Natural News) You see the signs everywhere now – “Get your Free Flu Shot” or “Flu Shot Season is Here,” and even “Be a Flu Fighter,” and then of course there’s “Keep Calm and Get Your Flu Shot.” If you work at a hospital, and you don’t want to risk getting mercury injections, you risk your job. The flu jab is a “must” and you will feel the pressure from the crazy “vaxxers,” that mob of sheeple who have been brainwashed to believe it works and that it’s “better safe than sorry.” They couldn’t be more wrong.

Mercury just happens to be the most toxic non-radioactive element on earth, and it’s used as a preservative, in the majority of flu shots. You see, most flu shot needles are jabbed into the same vial, which exposes the influenza virus strains to bacteria, and mercury is a cheap way to stave off contamination, but then there’s the problem with your brain and central nervous system. Plus, several influenza shots also contain aluminum. What’s the big deal with that, you ask?

One scientific fact most Americans do not know is that aluminum (listed as aluminum phosphate) in vaccines greatly increases the toxicity of mercury (listed as thimerosal), therefore caution about minimum mercury tolerance is severely underestimated. There is NO safe amount of mercury for the human body to ingest, especially through vaccines that are injected directly into muscle tissue, bypassing all normal toxin filters, like the lungs, skin, and digestive tract.

Horrid mercury toxicity cover up now 100 years old

Still going to get your shot? Sure hope you didn’t already. Don’t fall for all that “peer pressure” or those work “politics” of medicine. If so, you’re going to want to run to the health food store and buy some chelators of heavy metal toxins, and maybe some liver and kidney cleanse supplements. The mercury in vaccines fraud cover up dates way back too.

Thimerosal’s efficacy was challenged extensively during its first 50 years of use, dating back to the early 1920s, but the American Medical Association (AMA) ran reports snuffing out any concerns with “organomercurials.” It was easy too. They lied about assessments and covered up contamination incidents. As stated in TruthWiki, “America would never be the same. Propaganda and cover ups kept thimerosal in popular practice and use, despite all the voices of dissent.”

Check this out. There are 25 mcg in one average flu vaccine. That’s 25,000 times more mercury than the EPA warns us about in fish and drinking water. Oops. You were saying? Plus, aluminum phosphate massively increases toxicity of mercury in vaccines, so the safety limits set by the CDC and EPA are fundamentally wrong, and this is never taken into consideration by any medical doctors. They can’t say a word even if they do.

The systemic risk in any influenza or infectious disease inoculation has yet to get evaluated. In other words, no vaccines can be considered safe. But wait, there’s more.

Mercury is not even safe in your mouth, and a dentist proves the mercury vapor is being emitted from amalgam fillings, even at room temperature

Ever stand right in front of a microwave oven while food or beverage is heating up? Did you know that if you have amalgam dental fillings, the metal alloys, including mercury, can expand and emit toxins into your body and brain? Just how much mercury, you may be wondering, is released from those fillings? Well, amalgam or “silver” fillings typically contain 50 percent mercury, and the rest is a blend of silver, tin and copper.

Most dentists actually have no clue that they’re exposing their patients, their staff, and themselves to mercury toxicity when they remove these fillings to replace them with composites, crowns or bridges. The supposed “consensus” is that there’s no danger, and they’ll all tell you the same regurgitated AMA-spoon-fed lie if you ask, or say there’s not enough to worry about. Think again, friends. Think again.

In the video embedded below, a general dentist uses a mercury vapor analyzer, the same kind used in industry applications by the US government, to demonstrate just how much TOXIC MERCURY VAPOR gets emitted from a sample amalgam filling. Get ready to have your mind blown.

Yes, Dr. Yiannios, as featured in this YouTube video, is a holistic dentist who helps people get poison safely out of their mouths that America’s quack dentists put in there. This holistic doctor takes it very seriously. He also happens to be a member of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, for all you quacks that are going to try to call him a quack for calling out this dental atrocity and verifying it with science. That is actual science-based medicine.

So go ahead and take one good guess why most flu shots are free. Go ahead, think about it. We’ll wait. It’s because they make you sicker and that rakes in big business for Big Pharma. The flu shot makes you MORE vulnerable to the flu next year, and if you do get it (probably from the shot), you’ll more than likely have a worse case of it because you got the “free” flu shot. Big price to pay on the back end. Get it? Tune in to to find out how vaccines are actually used to spread diseases, including Polio and cancer.

Sources for this article include:

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Elixinol Hemp Oil Liposomes 300mg – Citrus Twist Bottle
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Elixinol Hemp Oil Liposomes 300mg – Citrus Twist

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Hemp Oil Liposomes are the best way to ensure that your body can absorb the cannabinoids in our hemp oil. Just a quick spray under the tongue from the convenient pump dispenser and you’re good to go!

  • Purified Water, MCT Oil, Sunflower LecithinGlycerin, Xanthan Gum, Gum Arabic, Natural Fruit Extracts (Lemon, Orange), Stevial Glycosides (Stevia), Potassium Sorbate
  • 1 oz (30 ml) in a spill-proof bottle with a spray pump dispenser.
  • 5mg of bioavailable cannabidiol per serving, 60 servings.
  • Real fruit flavor naturally sweetened with Stevia herb extract.
  • Full-spectrum Hemp extract, no isolated or synthetic cannabinoid.
  • Organic hemp CO2 extract tincture.
  • Miron violet glass, selectively allows the energising and enhancing violet wavelengths while blocking all others.

Elixinol’s new rapidly dissolving Hemp Oil Liposomes are the latest enhancements to cannabinoid delivery. Now you can receive cannabinoids into the body faster, deeper and easier than ever before. With 100% natural fruit and herb extracts, this is a delicious hemp oil supplement you will enjoy taking daily without any bitter taste.

Product information

This 30 ml spray dispenser bottle of Elixinol™ Liposome contains 300 mg of cannabidiol extract  with a citrus flavor.

How our hemp oil liposomes are made

We pre-dissolve our hemp extract oil and embed it into microscopic liposomes. This safe technology allows you to absorb more cannabinoids with the aid of naturally occurring phospholipids. These support cellular health and delivery of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids directly into the cell.

The reason that liposomes are so effective is that hemp oil, in its natural form, is a sticky dense oil. As you may know, getting any oil-based substance to pass through a cell wall is a challenge as the absorption rate can be slow. This can mean that a higher dose than necessary is required due to the body not being able to absorb hemp oil efficiently. Liposomes can be absorbed very quickly through a cell wall, so either in a topical or ingested format, they enhance the effects of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids due to this super-efficient delivery method. By attaching to hemp oil molecules and transporting them to their destination, liposomes are a perfect solution for effective application of cannabinoids.

 Serving suggestion

A suggested serving is 5 dispensable pumps taken under the tongue or added to water (that is then shaken) twice a day or as directed. Each serving will provide many valuable nutrients including 5 mg of cannabidiol per serving.

Note: Although this is cannabidiol hemp oil which is legal in most countries, Nature's Angels Ltd cannot take responsibility for any customs or duty problems and will not refund for this reason. The customer agrees to this condition before ordering. Nature's Angels Ltd ship by secure courier that requires signature.


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Nevada first state to authorize driverless cars

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The Jetsons would feel right at home in Nevada -- which this month became the first state in the nation to formally approve legislation authorizing the use of autonomous vehicles on its roadways.

The once far-fetched idea is becoming more and more grounded every day as manufacturers work to develop technology that could permit a motorist to plug in a destination and let the vehicle drive there automatically. Indeed, Google has become a leader in autonomous technology, with several prototypes already logging over 160,000 miles in test runs.

While most experts contend the technology is still years away from widespread application, Nevada lawmakers apparently couldn’t wait.  Last summer, lawmakers there ordered state regulators to establish rules covering the use of autonomous vehicles.

The regulations have now been finalized -- and the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles will now have to formalize licensing procedures for companies that want to test their vehicles in the state.

“Nevada is the first state to embrace what is surely the future of automobiles,” said Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Director Bruce Breslow in a press release. “These regulations establish requirements companies must meet to test their vehicles on Nevada’s public roadways as well as requirements for residents to legally operate them in the future.”

The decision to act was apparently driven, at least in part, by Google, which has wanted to ensure that its autonomous vehicle test program wasn’t operating in a legal limbo.  Google formally launched its research and development program in 2010 and has so far recorded not a single collision.

While such vehicles will effectively handle the serious driving chores they will also require someone to be in the position of “operator,” ready to take over just in case of a technical glitch.  That’s likely one reason why Nevada maintained one key restriction in the new rules.

“There is no exemption for drinking and driving,” cautioned Breslow, meaning the bartender or bouncer won’t be able to toss you in the back seat, hit the Start button and send you speeding home.

On the other hand, regulators did give the operator permission to text and use a handheld cellphone.

The operator, at least for now, will need to have a special license.  And the vehicles will be required to use an airline-style “black box” to track its operation, with data to be turned over to the state.

Manufacturers will be required to post bonds of between $1 million and $3 million, meanwhile, and they will have to advise the state as to when and where they’ll be testing their vehicles.

Google is just one of the players in the rapidly expanding field.  General Motors has run several tests, including one that required the installation of special sensors in a stretch of Interstate highway north of San Diego.  It has also been working with Pittsburgh’s Carnegie-Mellon University on a self-driving Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, dubbed The Boss.

BMW, meanwhile, has a number of test vehicles in operation, including one that it recently took to the treacherous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, California.

And Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval was given a personal demonstration of what the new law might cover when he was chauffeured in an autonomous Toyota Prius that used radar and other sensors to help guide it to its destination.