ThinMint

Q: But is He expecting Christians to be partners in the work of these days? A: Yes! And no! We know that God does not need us. With one word, He can turn it around. He can tear it asunder, He can raise it up. Even so, He desires an inseparable, authentic, invaluable relationship with us. It’s humbling. There are countless verses showing us that He wants us to pray and praise, such as 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"). We also know that we get our strength from the Lord; He increases our mustard size faith. We put on the spiritual battle gear, but we do not charge without Him. He goes before us, He prepares the way. We are tasked with giving Him our trust. He is the one moving all the pieces. So what does the Lord ask of each and every one of us to do? “And He answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself” (Luke 10:27). This instruction was given to each of us. Romans 12 also outlines what He expects of us all. Is it possible that how we demonstrate this love will vary from Believer to Believer? Romans 12:6-8 tell us: “We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” This tells me that while there are broad instructions applicable to all of us, the Lord takes it one step further, entrusting the individual Believer to exercise and enjoy the gifts He handpicked just for us. This variation ensures that the needs of both the unbelievers and Believers are met. He directs us in how to advance His kingdom. I hope that we have some things in common such as loving the Lord, and finding a way to laugh and eat a cookie every day. Of course, our lives won’t look the same because we are called at different times for different things to minister to different people in different locations in different seasons of our lives. Our outreach won’t be the same as others. There is no shame in this. Not all of us are called to be stupendous orators, notable authors, sassy podcasters or trendy social media “influencers.” Not all of us are called to be a politician, sheriff, general, doctor, scientist. We are called, however to make a difference in the lives of others by serving, just as Christ served. We are to first start in the home. After all, how can we make an impact beyond our four walls if we have strained familial relationships, or unforgiveness, resentment or bitterness filling up our heart’s reservoir? What I am suggesting, is the battle to pushback against evil starts with us. Then we can fight any evil infiltrating our homes, our relationships. Our battleground will be expanded when we ask God to position us where He wants us, when we surrender our will to His. He will mobilize His army of Believers. Are you confident you are doing what God has called you to do? Again, I do not ask this flippantly or pharisaically. I ask because perhaps you haven’t realized how much you already are defeating evil! Do you serve others? Are you a loyal helpmate to your spouse? Are you the parent your kid needs? Do you show others the love of Jesus? Are you a good neighbor? Reliable employee? Do you consistently pray, read the Bible, seek the Lord? Are you trustworthy, kind, helpful, sincere? Do you avoid gossiping or being a busybody? Do you know when to be quiet, supportive, agreeable, courteous, gentle? Have you visited the sick? Have you cried with the hurting? Fed the hungry? Clothed the naked? Hugged the lonely? Have you been a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a dear friend?

Q: … aren’t we supposed to be doing something in these days? Shouldn’t we be pushing back against the evil? A: Absolutely! Q: Isn’t watching the evil in your community take our children being complicit? A: How are you being complicit? I don’t ask this flippantly or pharisaically. This is an important question to ask yourself –to have a heart-to-heart with the Lord. Are you being complicit? With the Lord’s help you need to assess if the enemy is making you feel guilty “for not doing enough,” or if the Holy Spirit is prompting you to engage in a specific way. Though God can and does use others to help us, they do not get to harass, cajole or manipulate us into doing something. I would encourage my friends to be obedient to what the Lord is calling you to do, not what someone else dictates you should be doing. Q: I know God has a good plan and the plan is good for us… A: He does! He has a plan that will encompass the world, He has plans all His children, He has plans for our own family, and He has plans for us individually.

I enjoy your questions! (Er, please don’t ask me about dieting or algebra. Or mechanics. You should probably avoid Latin. And definitely don’t ask me what happened to that chocolate bar.) The following questions are from one commentary, however I separated it. This is a particularly long response. As usual, I have no idea how the writing will develop when I initially sit down at the keyboard. My responses are always offered in the hope that it gets you pondering, and with the idea that someone, somewhere, somehow needs it. Though I ask God to guide my writings, any offense belongs to me –though it’s certainly not intended. All the glory belongs to the Lord!

Flowers appear on the earth - Song of Songs 2:12a Good morning!

Trump speaks from Texas this evening (5 pm Central Time) ⭐️ Trump's Rumble: https://rumble.com/v2efbmu-live-president-trump-in-waco-tx.html ⭐️ RSBN Rumble: https://rumble.com/v2e0jjs--trump-rally-live-president-trump-holds-first-2024-campaign-rally-in-waco-t.html

Are y'all okay after the storms raged across the south? We had intense rain and big gusts of wind. Power went out Friday night and a huge tree blocked our neighborhood entrance. I am grateful for the men who went out there to investigate, repair and clean up. The kids seem extra pumped up when these kind of events happen. Might as well give them glow sticks and ice cream. (I may have helped myself to the ice cream. And glow sticks.) My Kindle was fully charged and I started a new book so I was extra pumped up, too. Sadly, the storms dealt tragedy with harsh destruction and loss of life. Prayers are being prayed for those impacted by Friday's storm. We spent the day cleaning, soaking up sunshine and enjoying cool air. Such a contrast to what transpired the day before. Physically we were invigorated, but emotionally our hearts dulled with sorrow for those lost. We will praise Him in the storm, the hardships, the unexpected. We will praise Him in the calm, the cozy, the familiar. God is always good.

Q: … will Trump be arrested? A: I have no idea. No one outside of Trump’s trusted inner circle does. One might be able to draw relatively plausible scenarios, but to accurately predict what will happen is slim to none for those outside Trump’s trusted inner circle. Do we sit back and watch events unfold and/or speculate? The latter I can understand for prepping. Perhaps some just really want a serious or entertaining discussion. (Humor is our friend!) As I watched the media circus line-up outside the New York City courthouse, I was struck with the thought, what if while they are over there, Trump et al are over here doing… [fill in the blank]? Trump has definitely been taunting the Deep State, goading them to make such a losing move, show their hand. He’s got them backed into a corner and in a real pickle. If he’s not arrested would this cause those with DTS to riot? Will the tables be turned –like an Esther moment? I won’t tell you that you shouldn’t wonder, ask questions, do some digging or talk about it because this is indeed a very crucial moment Americans ought to be paying attention to. Either way this goes, we are sitting on a powder keg. Mayhap history will show this was a precipice for our country. I would tell my friends not to worry –not because this is, “Trust The Plan,” but because God is the one who moves, shakes, displaces, tears down, builds up, replaces. God Almighty is fully in control!

Q: Do you think we should pull all our money from the bank? A: What is the Lord telling you to do? It’s inevitable our economy is going to crash as manipulations by the Deep State will make it so. To what degree we will experience turmoil I cannot say. No one can. The handwriting is on the wall. God is not pleased that evil doers line their purses at the expense of ruining the lives of others who do not participate in their eviling. Justice will arrive. God’s justice. I would tell my friends to not make decisions based on fear and what ifs. Make your plans according to what the Lord instructs you to do, and do not let world events prevent you from following His instructions. Some cash safely stashed for emergencies? Of course! I would be leery of those calling for a run on the banks. What’s their agenda? History tells us that regular folk like us continued working and living outside the walls of Western Rome when it fell. A writer from Armstrong Economics wrote this almost two years ago: RESISTANCE IS NOT FUTILE "In ancient Rome, the people had NO POWER at the ballot box. Nonetheless, the Emperors were forced to deal with the people because the MOB could always storm the palace, drag the emperor out, and mount his head on a spike to be paraded around the streets – which they did many times. Power at the top is NEVER absolute." We have historical evidence that evil will not prevail. More so, we have the Word of God showing us that evil will not prevail. Yes, we are living in unprecedented times as this spiritual war intensifies. As people who love the Lord, we are called to not operate in a state of fear. We are to trust our Beloved Heavenly Father will sustain us. Find your favorite biblical accounts of God protecting and claim that for you and your loved ones. If you have been prepping then you know food stuff is first, a way to protect second then round out your preps with some cash, possibly junk silver and definitely precious metals –on hand. That said, prepping does a person no good if they are not wholly devoted to the Lord. He is ultimately Who we turn to for knowledge, advice, shelter and protection.

These two questions from separate individuals are similar so it was pragmatic to answer both at the same time. Q: Do you support Trump? … Are you pro-government? … Do you think Trump is bad for the country? Q: Do you think Trump is ushering in the anti-Christ? Or is he the anti-Christ? A: I think it’s in my very nature to question, probe, poke, examine, test and continue to withhold total and complete support for people who desire inclusive authority over me. I do not trust politicians as a general, practical rule, and I’m even less enthusiastic about governments. We should be judicious and deliberate with our trust. Trump is interesting to me. I find it worth the time to listen or read much of what he has to say. I do not like his stance concerning homosexuality, abortion and teaching transgenderism in the classroom as long as there is parental permission. Nor do I like it when he says, “I’m the only one…” [save, be chosen, fix it] without consistently mentioning Jesus is the only way. I think his first term indicates how good he was for the country. Arrogance and ignorance would deny this, in my opinion. Most of us gain our insights through direct knowledge of a person. We have experiences, moments and conversations with one another, which allows us to subconsciously pick-up cues, read body language, make direct eye contact, and perhaps get that overall “gut” feel for an individual. When we cannot have that direct contact, as would most likely be the case with politicians, we ought to diligently research, explore possibilities, ask hard questions –even really uncomfortable ones – and with thorough determination, pray for God’s truth! No one can help us decipher like the Lord can, and He will lead us to His truth if we seek Him first. I’ve watched videos put out by others who outline their beliefs opposing Trump. I think some get it right concerning the Lord. Others really miss the mark. Everyone has the right to own and express their opinion. What I object to is when others attribute easily provable falsehoods to Trump, take remarks out of context, attempt to connect him to unsavory and ungodly people, implying he is exactly like these unfavorable individuals. I don’t know if some do this out of ignorance or because they wish to deceive. At best, it’s sloppy investigating. I tend to stay away from faulty reasoning, misplaced hyperbole, red herrings and strawman arguments. After being asked if Trump is a ‘good guy,’ I wrote: This >> https://t.me/ThinMint2/4841 Briefly here >> https://t.me/ThinMint2/4993 And something here >> https://t.me/ThinMint2/6345 The advice I give my friends: what is the Lord telling you? And what does He want you to do with His message? (Was His message for you only; or does He want you to share it?) If you’re still working out your thoughts, I would encourage you to be as objective as possible, reading and researching with a neutral bent. Be determined to seek God’s truth! He will give it to you when you sincerely seek His guidance.

Q: Just wondering if you are team Trump or team Desantis? A: Neither. I’m a Christ-follower first and foremost then perhaps I could be considered Team ThinMint’s Family. I do what we are instructed to do: pray that leaders be Christ-followers. I pray for Trump’s safety and I pray that he has bent a knee –and continues if he has – to Jesus Christ. I absolutely love my country –the very land and people who comprise America. The Star Spangled Banner brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. I will not disparage America. Lampoon the politicians? Yes! Live freely? Every day! We largely ignore politics, believe it or not. Don’t get me wrong, we are aware of what’s happening, however we do not allow it to rattle us or change our plans. We know What Matters Most, and we strive to keep our thoughts heavenward. We have found when our focus is on praying, prepping and praising, we are not caught up in the dreaded Outrage Fatigue™. So for us, it’s not about this politician or that one, or what this one or that one is doing, it’s about being obedient to what God is calling us to do.

Q: Why are Trump and DeSantis fighting? A: I’m not one who subscribes to the idea that this is all for show. I believe Trump sincerely speaks when he says negative things about others. Either Trump is authentic or he’s a phony. There does not seem to be any positive gain for Trump –or the American people, for him to publicly disparage but privately approve. Any fake fighting would backfire in the long run. When these vainglorious despots are revealed, tried, convicted and sentenced, if Trump had manufactured any public disputes, it would sow doubt and cause folks to wonder what else is engineered. If what I say is true then it makes sense that there is genuine conflict over moral, political and world views.

Before I post Q&As, I do get permission from the individual asking. Here are some questions recently asked of me.

As angry as people are, it’s nothing compared to what it will be like when things are more widely exposed. Church, we need to get really good at forgiveness now because the world is going to need the example of how to walk through infuriating things without adding more gas to the fire. We need to get really good at all aspects of wholeness now: speaking truth, having self control, walking in love and mature humility, doing the work to learn new things, trusting God and doing what He says. Inevitably, some hothead will read this and spew about how worthless forgiveness is at a time like this. And if you could see their lives, you’d see evidence of why forgiveness is so necessary. Forgiveness moves us out of the way so God can bring justice. I read a quote a long time ago that said, “Forgiveness is the fragrance a flower leaves on the heel that crushed it.” It’s a good thought. But we are not crushed through forgiving; we spring back to life by choosing it.

Forgiveness. Why do you think God asks us to do this? Regret is hard to live with. Taking that first step to trust God takes monumental courage. But, forgiveness just may be one of the most difficult things we do. Why is that? (Evil should not be justified, ignored or otherwise excused. That is not forgiveness, in my humble opinion.) What does forgiveness look like to you? Who in your life needs to be forgiven? I appreciate a post shared by Shannon from the archives (shared below): “Forgiveness moves us out of the way so God can bring justice.” This line has me thinking. I hope it helps you seek the Lord for answers as well. Lord, please help us loosen our grip on any lingering unforgiveness. Show us the who and why and how as we work through Your instruction to forgive others. Keep us from sabotaging our spiritual maturation. Re-forge the ties that have been severed. Repair and reconstruct broken hearts to beat for Your glory. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Thank you, Shannon. Your posts often bolster me.

THE FIGHT HAS JUST BEGUN!!!

-5- I dread the call telling me Ava is gone from this world. The echo she will leave behind will be felt for years by those blessed to call her a friend. When I told her about my channel on Telegram shortly after I created it, she did not hesitate to join. She was the forty-fifth subscriber. Ava is my 45 y’all! I did not know this is what I was to write about this morning. I had something else in mind to write about, but… sometimes you just have to roll with the day you’ve been gifted. For my friends who have hung in there reading my heavy thoughts, I would tell you this: Though we cannot see the entire tapestry here, know that He is at the heavenly loom, weaving our stories, pulling threads from moments spread out over time, making a masterpiece of our lives. One day we will get to see our heavenly tapestry. What moments will be weaved into yours? I hope when you look at your tapestry you will be grateful that you chose to focus on The Things That Matter Most. I hope you will see all the times you trusted God, all the times you prayed, all the times you were a friend to someone who needed one, all the times you chose family over what the world values. Never forget that He makes living worth it all.