ThinMint

Hello sweetest friends! Felix and I are going to sit Trump's speech out this evening. At least while it's live. My oldest son offered to make cheeseburgers for dinner and we're just going to hangout as a family. Please feel free to share your observations, and if I get a chance to watch later, I will update 👇🏻 Have a delightful Saturday evening!

Father - It hurts to see the suffering, experience the separation, feel helpless. We go to You for direction, for comfort. Help us to trust You though things appear scary, unknown and when we see setbacks and shakeups. Father God, we desperately need You. To intervene, to heal, to restore. Show us how to see You in every situation. The ones that overwhelm, confuse. Please pull us from the depths of ache, even despair at times, and place us in the crook of Your loving arms. We need to see You, Lord. We long to see You do great and mighty things -because that is Who You are: the One Who can, the One Who will! We want the unbelievers to see, know what we do about You. We want to see Your beautiful name glorified on every tongue! Our peace, our comfort, our hope emanates from You. Our strength, our courage, our determination is given by You. Continue to gift us with Your grace, tenderness, compassion. In the name of Jesus I pray this.

Good mornin'! Wherever you're going, He's already there. He's declared the victory for us. Trust. Him. Blessings to you!!

Q: What do you think about what keeps happening to Trump? They keep saying that we’re watching a movie, but even when things are revealed, they don’t reveal it all. It’d be nice if the public knew we are not as in bad shape as it looks. With our God in charge, we can trust that better days are ahead of us. What are your thoughts? A: It seems to me what is happening with Trump was expected, planned far in advance –by both sides. Though I have many questions, I think there is some merit to the Devolution Theory, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Trump has been making moves behind the scenes in ways we cannot imagine. My prayer is that he submits to the will of God. Yes, we hear, “You’re watching a movie” constantly. I think that saying is confusing for so many. The suffering we see is genuine. There has been the loss of jobs, the loss of friends and family, the loss of health and vitality, the loss of lives. People are struggling to make ends meet. There is inflation, and Trump has predicted even more skyrocketing prices. All indicators point to an economic crash. Our culture is full of rot and I can only imagine how the stench has reached Heaven. The apostasy and blasphemy within the *church* is breathtaking. I think the whole movie thing applies to what is happening politically, the moves and countermoves we see –and don’t see. Biden is an albatross for the democrat party –as he rightly should be. They are scrambling to rid themselves of him behind the scenes while doubling down with him publically. I think many of their plans have been thwarted, and the ones that have played out were allowed to do so by the other side. So in that regard, grab your popcorn to watch the democrat rats trying to flee a sinking ship. They are in panic mode. They are angry and fearful (as they should be) and desperate. A cornered animal is dangerous. But, it will make stupid moves. The democrat party is feeble, worst it’s filled with unethical cutthroats who have surrendered their souls. Plenty of villainy on the Republican side, too. Who is going to blink first? While there are hardships all about us, we choose to focus on the good and beautiful. We are still able to put food on the table, fill up the gas tank. We can travel and shop for the things we need. We can heat and cool our home, we have clean water and gardens and animals. We can educate our children at home and celebrate special occasions. And we continue to plan for a blessed future. I tend to believe the things Trump predicts. I think we are going to see things worsen so we need to prep, mentally as well as with physical goods. We are getting our home ready because we are not going to be out there -protesting, panic buying or otherwise engaging with the shrill voices, and the ill-advised, unprepared groups. We see the trouble and we’re getting out of the way, believing that the Lord will sustain, provide and protect. We have no idea what will be the proverbial straw, and I suspect it will be take so many of us unawares. We are coming to the fork in the road –if we haven’t already. Which side will we choose? As for me and my house, we choose the Lord. There are those who will continue to reject Him no matter what. He knows our hearts, He knows our outcome. Regardless of one’s acceptance or rejection of Christ, God will intervene in a very real, obvious way. Judgement and justice are coming.

I recently received the following question. It would be fantastic to get your opinions as well 👇🏻

This gem was posted by Paula for Comedy Wednesday. I think it won the internet 😁

Trade skills with a friend. Teach your kids the things you know, and learn new things together. Is there something from your normal grocery list that you could learn to make on your own, or buy locally? Can you do a clothing swap with friends, or mend holes, or grow herbs? Grow lettuce? Help a friend homeschool? Change your own oil, or learn about healing? There are SO MANY THINGS. Yes, it can be overwhelming. Just pick one or two things to start with. Pick things that excite you. Don’t start with something that repulses you. 😁 Every little thing you learn makes you more stronger and more sustainable. It protects your family and community. It grows your ability and builds upon itself. The unfamiliar becomes familiar, and hard things become easy.

So what can you do? Maybe chickens this year are too big of a step. But maybe you know someone local you can buy eggs from. Or maybe quail are more doable — quiet, stealth poultry, happy in a rabbit hutch. (Keep in mind: buying big box feed is not that different from buying big box groceries, so find local sources as much as possible.) I’ve been ridiculously thrilled about not buying eggs from the big box stores from the last year. We provide eggs for about 5-7 other families through the year, and the big box stores lost their business (at least as far as eggs go), too. That’s a hit for them and a win for the people. Over the years we’ve learned to make our own bread, yogurt, baked goods, laundry detergent, dry shampoo, salad dressing, kombucha, bone broth, and a bunch of other things. I’m working on mayonnaise and so far not crazy successful at it. Still trying. 😂 Just pick something! Something small and doable. Find an easy win, and grow from there.

I really like this, Shannon! 👇🏻

Well, that was interesting. We know Trump does not mince words, he does not misspeak. Around the :27 mark Trump says, "JFK Jr, who's a very nice person, I know him very well..."

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:7) Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. (Psalms 8:2) He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me. (Matthew 18:2-5) “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked Him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” (Matthew 21:16) Hat tip: KP

A gag order has been issued for Trump. I covered this possibility back in October and offered what I hope is some encouragement: » Gag order post here. » Gag order post here. https://beckernews.com/breaking-judge-issues-gag-order-for-trump-in-classified-documents-case-despite-presidential-campaign-50718/

Trump offers some encouragement.

Sameness is to be found among the most natural men, not among those who surrender to Christ. How monotonously alike are all the great tyrants and conquerors have been, how gloriously different are the saints. - CS Lewis (Mere Christianity)