This Rejoice & Praise God Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for our fellow QTreepers. Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure your opinion addresses the issue only, and does not confront or denigrate the poster. Keep to the topic – avoid “you” and “your”. Here in The Q Tree, personal attacks, name-calling, ridicule, insults, baiting, and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores, and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here: 
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Unexpected

Wolf here.

I have no idea where Carl is tonight, and I most certainly hope that nothing bad has happened to him or his loved ones, which might explain why he didn’t drop off a post today. Hopefully he just forgot to drop off his usual post here – perhaps “mis-remembering” that he already did so.

No matter what, pray for Carl! In fact, pray for Carl any time you think to do it, because it’s good to do so. We should always be praying for Carl.

Back to the issue at hand.

Normally I wait as long as needed for a new post to go up, before I worry about it, although technically our rule is that something needs to be up by NOON, or I’ll put up a placeholder.

HOWEVER, I sort of feel like giving Carl a break, AND like giving you a substitute sermon.

I regard myself as the sexton of this church – the groundskeeper – the handyman. But I’m also, by design, the one person allowed to tithe to the church, as a kind of security measure.

AND – in emergencies, the “executive assistant pastor”. So here goes. A VERY short sermon.

We have to be “ready for The Lord” at all times. If you’re a Christian, that means you need to be “ready for Jesus” – so to speak. We don’t know what might happen, but THE END can come like a thief in the night.

Some of us have gone on, slowly and with a lot of warning, like Patrick Henry Censored.

Others suddenly and without warning, like Deplorable Patriot.

Others without warning, but without word, and in some level of mystery, like Wheatietoo.

One of the real advantages of faith in God, is that we are OK with whatever happens. We’re ready. I know that I’m ready, because only a couple of years ago, I told my wife goodbye – fully ready to go to Jesus – only to be returned to this world in the next moments, as my bleeding stopped, and my vital signs reversed.

Being ready doesn’t mean being resigned to die, or giving up on life. It means being ready for whatever God wants for us – whether that is to go on here, or to go on somewhere else.

We have seen how President Trump was returned to us – a quarter inch from death. I fully believe that President Trump is right – God spared him with a purpose, and I pray that we align ourselves in support of God’s purpose for President Trump – to make America great in all the ways that a loving God would intend.

I believe that President Trump was READY. His readiness isn’t all that saved him – but he was ready to go to God – or to survive, and to carry on with God’s will for him.

So I ask all of you – take a few moments and strengthen your resolve to be ready, whatever happens. Trust in God – trust that He wants what is BEST for you – not necessarily what is easiest – but that He is compassionate and merciful, and – as Christ assures us, His yoke is easy and light!

God Bless, take care, and have a wonderful week!

W

PS – Carl’s open is up!

https://www.theqtree.com/2025/02/09/dear-maga-20250209-open-topic/