ThinMint

I love these moments! Not the long-winded musings per se (!) but the inspiration behind the writing. This piece was written after I reflected on Psalm 5:3 again yesterday afternoon. (With the Holy Spirit’s help, I am working on being intentional with my conversations with the LORD.) The more time we spend with Him, even the more thoughts we have of Him, the less room there is for worry, and caring about worldly things and people and events. While I still pay some attention to current events, it is not a preference or priority, and I am working hard to make sure it does not interfere with my momming and wifing. After all, we can go to bed and wake up (!) with a smile on our face because God already won! Grab a few cookies and find a cozy spot. Incoming!!

Ever read Jane Austen? We're starting Emma next week in Gaining Ground and we'd love for you to join us — it's a safe, fun place to ask questions, share thoughts, and laugh at nerdy memes. We don't bite...unless you like Steinbeck. (Kidding, kidding...that's just me. We even have peeps who like Steinbeck.🤯😁)

This is what I want for my friends: peace, because you welcome it from Him; smiles, because you recognize all the good He designed; and contentment, because your faith is firm and fertile when placed with Him. Delighting ourselves in the LORD means our needs and enjoyment will not go unfulfilled. Heavy turbulence is coming and the only way through it is with our relief nestled with Jesus. What choices do we have when we realize we’re on a ride we would not choose for ourselves? What do you choose?

Do you recall riding a roller coaster for the first time? Though you knew where it was heading, you could not predict the bumpiness of each twist and turn, or when you were going to be shoved, swayed, and lurched. That’s kind of what is happening now. We can clearly see the trajectory they’re on, but we cannot know every plot twist and turn of events that will impact us. What are we to think? Well, for me not much because my faith is in the LORD. It’s up to God to decide when to halt the machinations of men. So I concentrate on the joys and beauty He gifts me because acknowledging His goodness is one way I show my love for Him. What are we to do? Pray with full expectation that He will safeguard you from the effects of their cunning and fraud! And ask Him what He would have you do within your little sphere of influence. (I’m 100% certain He’s gonna tell you not to worry.) We can bemoan the ride or we can be excited about what the LORD is about to do!

There are those who are so wishy-washy when it comes to Trump. Their feelings towards him as ever-changing as the ebb and flow of the sea. One minute Trump is brilliant, on fire, a man with a plan. The next minute he is too naive, too ignorant, too foolish to have surrounded himself with snakes. And the sad thing is, these wobbly notions are usually based on headlines written by integers who absolutely have an agenda. Or the internal conflict is stirred from other people’s uninformed opinions. There is so much we are not privy to –may never be privy to this side of Heaven. It’s good to be cautious, thorough, and a truth seeker! It’s also necessary, in my humble opinion, to understand that we are not as informed as we want to believe we are.

Please share all the good & inspiring, delightful, awesome, beautiful things: stories, memes, music, news, images, bible verses -all the goodness you see!

Friends, Do yourself a favor and read Shannon Guerra's latest. This was fiery, yet gentle, Holy Spirit inspired writing: https://copperlightwood.com/2024/08/music-rubble-fix-broken.html

Faithful Still by KingsPorch

How can I pray for you right now?

Sometimes all we need is an image to lighten our hearts.

Please share all the good & inspiring, delightful, awesome, beautiful things: stories, memes, music, news, images, bible verses -all the goodness you see!

Hello Friends! I've been praying for you 😊

Happy Birthday to my August friends! (And please accept my apologies for the late post)

Please share all the good & inspiring, delightful, awesome, beautiful things: stories, memes, music, news, images, bible verses -all the goodness you see!

-5- We feel it. We know it. There are some dark(er) days ahead. Yes, we need to continue working on the physical preps until He shuts the door to our personal ark. More importantly, we need Him to fortify us. We need our minds protected, our hearts unburdened, and our cleverness, wits, understanding and foresightedness sharpened. Whatever hardships and scary moments lie ahead, we must remember that we are children of the Most High. That powerful Resurrection blood is in us so we can rebuke evil and command it to flee; we can call down Heavenly assistance and know Goodness will follow; we can expect miracles. All because of Jesus, we can exercise the authority over darkness we have been gifted. We must live as heirs of God! Focus on What Matters Most. Ask Him what you need to let go of so you can embrace Him wholly. You matter. You are needed. You have a divinely appointed role. You are set apart. God thinks about you, He has plans for you, He gives you Hope. Trust Him.

-4- I think we’re born with an optimistic disposition. Life’s experiences, exposure to the dark deeds of men, heartache and bad memories will naturally dull our brightness. Jesus restores this disparity. He is the Hope that radiates within us. He is literal life. Ask Him to show you the Goodness. Ask Him for help trusting Him if you need it. Pray for His peace –and His joy! After many years of tumbling down rabbit holes, often willingly, sometimes not, I’ve learned that I cannot react to every little piece of dark, dire and dumb news. If I do, I will suffer from Outrage Fatigue™. This brutal pattern ultimately lead to the, Research/Panic/Talk-to-God/Retreat™ cycle. I was tired of swinging on the pendulum. I was also irritated with the riddles, the smugness, the hooey. I changed from wanting to know the truth to asking God to show me His truth. It made all the difference! Evil is going to evil, why would we expect otherwise from evil doers? I rarely react to the “news” these days. Sometimes, the “news” of what these evil doers want to do is hilarious because it’s like watching a bad James Bond villain. Keep in mind that just because they say this or that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Rebuke then have a cookie 😃 Being a mom, being a homeschooling mom specifically, helps thicken the skin. You receive a stunning amount of unsolicited advice and opinions that go against your goals. So you learn to lean on God, trusting Him to write your story. I am content with what He does for me so I don’t get as thrown off course as I once did. Recognize that constantly focusing on the haywire Out There™ can prevent you from appreciating what is happening In Here™. I have to implement my own version of the Proverbs 31 Woman. I want my kids to know it’s okay to get it wrong. Ask for forgiveness, accept God’s grace. I want them to pray for God to increase their love for Him and for others. I want them to know how important it is to be obedient to His will for their own lives –not what other people who do not know them think they should be doing. I want my children to know they are deeply loved, forever cherished, prayed over. I cannot give this to them if my mind is constantly focused on the crooked. Mostly, I want to be authentic me because this is who God hand sculpted. He personally shaped you, too, setting you apart from the world. We experience conflict when we step outside the parameters He set just for us. Ask Him to re-align your perspectives and expectations to His.