“Round like a circle, in a spiral, like a wheel.

Never-ending or beginning, on an ever-spinning reel.

As the images unwind, like the circles that you find, In the Windmills of your mind.”

Dusty Springfield ~ April 1969 Atlantic Record Corp.

Does the chorus to this song resemble your mind? I know it often resembles mine. I have a mind whose repeat button is constantly getting stuck. I fast forward only to find I’m back on the never-ending circle of unwanted thoughts.

Taking Captive Every Thought! Teaching ourselves to rule our thoughts and thinking patterns rather than them ruling us! Another trip to God’s Gym!

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

Philippians 4:8 ESV: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Romans 12:2 ESV: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Philippians 4:6 ESV: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Philippians 4:7 ESV: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 25:3 ESV: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

I speak often about the battlefield of our minds and the constant fight to keep our thoughts free from worry, stress, angst, anger, fear…

It’s flexing God’s muscle! Taking captive our unwanted, non-desirable thoughts! Refusing to give in to them and tossing out the debris that’s cluttering our minds and thinking. Releasing them up to God and asking the Holy Spirit for a good dose of Him!

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. When negativity, hurt, pain, embarrassment, heartache, and life start to become windmills in your mind; stop and pray, asking the Lord to help you change the direction of the wind! 😌

My little’s (grands) have a Peppa Pig community adorning the floor of the sunroom where I spend the majority of my time and the one they gather to play in when visiting grandma and papa!

As I was praying and quietly listening this morning for what message the Lord would inspire me to write; I was gazing in an early morning fog at the action going on in my Peppa Village. Who’s village! 😂

There are parks with merry-go-rounds and swings. There’s a school in which Peppa is having a birthday party. There is an aquarium and a Ferris wheel for your outing enjoyment. We find Mommy and Daddy Pig standing at the bottom of a hill as George and Peppa are racing down to them on their Christmas sleds. On the next hill over you will find George and Bluey getting ready to skateboard down; the nurse is waiting at the doctor’s office which can be found down the road and around the curve!

Peppa World is a happy place to be, it’s bright and colorful and everyone seems to be enjoying each other and their day!

The inspiration arrives:

My thoughts traveled back to my grandparents and being at their house as a kid. They lived in a neighborhood and a time where everyone knew each other, were friends and shared a sense of community.

I grew up in a small town and raised my three children in the same. Everyone knew who you were, your parents, grandparents and so on! Sometimes that wasn’t such a good thing but there was always a sense of community and belonging.

Friends you’ve had your whole life! Adult friends who became instant family and always will be! Your community is the world you’ve built around you. The people and places God has blessed you with.

God has much to say about community and being a part of something other than yourself.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

We are to meet, to share, and to encourage. The world is hurting. The world is expensive. The world is cold and lonely. We are to be and share the warmth and light that Jesus brings to our lives. To share the message of love, redemption, and hope.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV: “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

This scripture isn’t meant to alarm the single person, the widowed or the divorced. Being alone in one’s home and lifestyle isn’t the same as being alone! Again, we need a community, a church, a club, an organization, a community outreach, volunteering! God wants us around others who we can help and who can help us share loads.

Things like: Taking a single mom’s little ones for an hour or two! Offering a ride to the store, doctor, or an event to someone who is housebound. A home-cooked plate for the single guy next door who eats TV dinners. Taking turns picking up kids from school relieves the daily burdens and each mom on her day does not have to sit in the pickup line freeing her for a moment to herself! A freebie hour Mom, take it. Simple acts go a long way!

Galatians 6:2 ESV: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

The word burden comes from the Greek word baros which means weight. When you put those together, to bear a burden means to take away or carry off the weight someone else is experiencing. In essence, you are bringing some form of relief and comfort to someone else’s challenging situation. Crosswalk.com

A phone call with a listening ear, a hug, a shoulder, a surprise cheerful card sent in the mail. A simple smile to one who looks a bit sad or beat down!

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV: “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

With what we put out, with what we give of ourselves we are setting in motion to receive the same back! Be a blessing to someone today!; it’ll do you good! 😊

I know I am far from alone in saying, “I am tired of winter and I am ready for Spring!”

Mother Nature has been giving us some beautiful glimpses of hope for the next season to arrive on our doorstep.

Green buds start to appear on dark brown branches. The crocus, daffodils, and lilies are peeking their heads up out of their blanket of soil. The rain is washing everything fresh and clean and the bright spots of sunshine warm our cold winter bones.

I thought it might be fun to look at some scriptures about Spring:

Song of Solomon 2:11-12 ESV: “For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”

Hosea 6:3 ESV: “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Genesis 8:22 ESV: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

Isaiah 44:4 ESV: “They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.”

Psalm 1:3 ESV: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Isaiah 43:19 ESV: “Shower, O’ heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it.”

Luke 21:30 NIV: “When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.”

The cold dark days of winter are slowly giving way to the rebirth of spring. The Lord tells us in Ecclesiastes that to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Is your world in a season of winter? Look to the skies, and watch the clouds slowly moving by, reminding yourself that life is always in motion and this gray spell will one day fold into a refreshing spring day followed by the warmth of summer. This too shall pass!

Put your hands and cares in the hands who created it all, put up your umbrella during the rain, and bask in the sun when it peeks out from behind the clouds. Knowing what is here today will be gone tomorrow!

Hope! We have hope in the Lord our God and knowledge earned by standing in hope that we are going to be ok and that with each passing day the sun will shine brighter. ❤️😎☀️

Dear Lord Our Father in Heaven

We sit before you with a to-do list a mile long! And a week that looms ahead!

It’s Monday morning down here Lord and we more than likely have begun our day with the instant thoughts of all that needs to be done!

Give us strength dear Lord to face this day and all that will follow within the week!

Please, help us to walk on your desired path, in your time frame. Help us take one task or assignment at a time, trying not to balance the whole week in a single load.

To stop, drop, and pray! Remind us to consult with you what our true priorities are, and then move forward in your grace.

To seek your word that teaches us about the grace of your love, the protection of your love, and the peace that comes from trusting you.

If the weight is unbearable, Lord please reach down and help us carry said burden. If the mountain is so big, Lord help us to reach the peak within your guidance and path.

Help us to stand firm in our hope, Lord, that that glimmer of light at the end of our tunnel is you Jesus, and not a train!

Whatever arrives with our morning coffee today Lord, thank you for being the one who serves it! A gentle reminder that you are always with us! Our cares and fears are only as big as we allow them to be! Before, turning them over to you:

Thank you Jehovah Nissi; The Lord my banner who marches before me into battle!

Thank you Jehovah Ra’ah; The Lord my Shepherd who leads me to green pastures and clear waters! The one who would leave the 99 to come and find just me!

Thank you, Jehovah Rapha; The Lord who heals me!

Thank you Jehovah Jireh; The Lord who provides my needs!

Thank you Jehovah El Roi; The Lord who sees me and all involving me!

Thank you, Jehovah Shaman; The Lord who is always There!

Thank you, Jehovah Shalom; The Lord of Peace!

Jehovah El Shaddai, Our God Almighty!

Thank you, Lord, for the strength of each of your titles! Just as I am known as and needed for being: my name, daughter of, Mom, mother of, addressed as Mrs. the wife of, grandma, the grandmother of, Number such and such, the employee of. Each title bears a different part of the whole of who we are. This applies to you as well.

When I am faced with a battle I call upon you my Jehovah Nissi. When I am sick I pray to my Jesus, Jehovah Rapha. When I feel lost and scared I pray to you Jehovah Ra’ah. When my world is loud I pray to you My Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of Peace.

To you Jehovah: “God, Our Lord!” I give humble thanksgiving for the life lived and the sacrifice given of our lord Jesus Christ that we may live eternal with you, walk in harmony with you, and walk protected by you.

I give you my heart. I give you my week! I give you me! Amen!

Dear Lord Our Father in Heaven,

I gently place my weekend in your hands!

I ask for my time to reflect your time.

To slow down and look around! To catch the subtle signs of spring as it slowly peeks out and upward! To listen to the sounds of nature awakening all around me as my day unfolds.

To walk in your quiet presence. To notice and appreciate the small blessings that are often taken for granted and to reflect on the good things in my life.

To get excited as the days seem to last a little longer and the morning light seems to appear a little earlier! Blue skies can be found more frequently and the warmth of the sun can be felt a little more often.

We are approaching Easter, Lord, the glorious celebration of your resurrection! Life, Easter represents new life eternal with you Jesus! It’s no wonder we get such a stirring as spring approaches.

Thank you for the joy that bubbles around me today as I enter into the weekend! There’s always a different feel within the weekend, a feeling of freedom and a sense of adventure! Lord, help us to enjoy the moments that await us. To drop the cares of the week and seek the peace that comes from resting in you.

Thank you for the weekend!

Thank you for your protection and provision!

Thank you for your love!

Thank you for you!

In your glorious name Lord Jesus, I pray as you and I begin our day! ☺️

I am blessed! I am a grandmother!

Proverbs 17:6 ESV: “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”

The next generation of our lives. They arrive all bundled in their personalities blended with the gentle mixture of our babies. To view and hold your Children’s children is an amazing gift.

As grandparents, we can impart wisdom in ways that are fun and enlightening. “Grandma, how do you know so much?” they ask. “Because Grandma has old eyes and has seen many things,” she replies.

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

Paul, is talking to a young Timothy who was in his early years of ministry. Because of Paul’s relationship with Timothy’s mother and grandmother, Paul begins to mentor Timothy who ends up becoming a companion and missionary partner.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Grandparents can play a vital role in a Child’s life. We are in the slower years of our lives. We have time to visit, teach, talk, and most importantly listen! We have time to play Barbies, read lots of story books, take walks around the block all the while discussing leaves and pine cones, invent mystical places where fairies and gnomes live, build blanket forts, make mud pies in our Minnie Mouse kitchen, make treasured memories with Christmas traditions or rocking the birthday parties by baking special seven-layer cakes just for them. ☺️

We bring a sense of safety and security while they bring giggles, adventure, and fun.

Job 12:12 ESV: “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”

Proverbs 16:31 ESV: “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”

Isaiah 46:4 ESV: “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs, I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”

As we age our bodies change, they slow down and so do we! But, we’ve just read how magical slowing down can be! Grasp it! Enjoy it! Gotta go, I have a date with my four-year-old grandson and new adventures await! 😉❤️

I discovered another hidden gem this morning! In the scripture I will share, Paul states that he cared little what man thought of him, and he dared not even give thought to what he felt about himself!

He cared only about what the Lord thought!

1 Corinthians 4:3-4 NLT: “As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.”

A little history here: Paul had a reputation to outlive! Before Paul had his eye-opening Jesus experience on his way to Damascus one day, Paul persecuted and killed prophets of “The Way,” which is what they called what Jesus preached!

John 14:6 NLT: “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

We come back to Paul and his about-face, his change of spirit, and his boldness in preaching that which he had vehemently opposed! I can imagine within the disciples and followers a few eyebrows being raised in question, and his validity met with skepticism.

Whispers were behind his back because, remember, Paul came with a prior reputation!

Do you have a prior reputation? Do you know someone who has or had a previous reputation? Do you pass judgment on others, and worse, do you pass judgment on yourself?

Do you listen to the words others say about you, or do you focus on what Jesus says about you?

Ephesians 2:10 ESV: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

1 Peter 2:9 ESV: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

1 Corinthians 5:17 ESV: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

And there it is in a nutshell! The old has passed away, and the new has come!

Let’s try and be more like Paul! We don’t need to explain our walk! We don’t have to make excuses for who we once were but aren’t any more! We don’t need to pass judgment!

We need to remember we all serve the same God and within each individual path we walk, our destination is the same! ☺️

Were you the last one picked for dodgeball at recess?

Possibly Too small for the front line on the football team? Too short to play net on the volleyball court? Not quick enough for the debate team nor politically savvy for the student council!

Maybe you were constantly told what you couldn’t do, and your faults and failures seemed to be the daily discussions!

Maybe you were just there! You didn’t shine like a star, but you weren’t a gray rock either! You blended in so well that you became invisible!

Maybe you grew up feeling unwanted, a mistake, a burden passed from one relative to another! Might you have possibly grown up feeling unloved and unlovable?

Have these enigmas followed you into your adulthood? The feelings of being last, not worthy, fostered upon, constantly striving to find your place and fit in!

I have great news for you!

God loves you! God picked you! God knew you before you were born!

Jeremiah 1:5 NLT: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

God knew you before you became you! He had already set you apart for your walk on this earth.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future.”

God has set you apart to be his! You are the one lost sheep he will leave the ninety-nine to go after! You love him because He loved you first!

1 John 4:19 KJV: “We love him because he loved us first.”

In the world we live in the strongest, toughest, richest, smartest, devious, ruthless, and bullies seem to be the winners! Isn’t it nice to know that in God’s world the; meekest, kindest, humbled, peaceful, and loving are the top dogs!

Matthew 20:16 NLT: “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

We need to forget who we might have been, told who or what we were and to start seeing ourselves through God’s eyes.

Remember, you weren’t pushed off onto the Lord, He chose you first! ☺️

According to Oxford Languages, to trust is to firmly believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

Relations must be formed for the foundation of trust to be built!

We don’t, or shouldn’t, unquestioningly trust on a whim or a quick notion! We should look for the tried and true! A strong reputation and name-backing said trust! Experience with first-hand knowledge of those or that which can be relied on.

When we find said people or services we can trust, we continue to turn to them for our needs or assistance. In a world of names, pseudonyms, and titles, there is but one name that we can put our 100% trust and faith in, and that name is Jesus!

Proverbs 3:5 ESV: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

When you trust in the Lord with all your heart, not leaning toward your worried mind, not trying to figure out how you will fix the problem, but letting go! This simple act of trust, reliance, and faith opens Jesus’ hands to reach down and lift you!

Psalm 9:10 ESV: “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

The Lord will always be waiting for you! He loves in a manner we can’t comprehend. He isn’t held to the boundaries of man, gravity, and earthly limits. He is God! He is Love! He is Omnipresent!

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Note some keywords here: blessed us the man who trusts in the Lord! Does not fear when heat comes! Is not anxious in the year if drought! Does not cease to bear fruit!

Put your trust in the Lord and he will take care of you. When the heat gets turned up and drought seasons arrive do not be anxious, trust in the Lord to supply your needs! Trust in his word that tells you just that! For in doing so, you will not cease to produce fruit!

Psalm 28:7 ESV: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to him.”

My strength and my shield! He keeps me strong through him and his mighty spirit, Extinguishing all flaming arrows of the evil one with the shield of faith! My heart overflows with joy and the praise of thanksgiving!

Proverbs 3:6 ESV: “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Whatever you face, whatever you carry, whatever your need, turn it over to the Lord and trust in his mighty love to carry you through! He will on that you can trust!

Trust in him, he’s always there! 😌

Galatians 6:7 ESV: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

God doesn’t punish us for our sins, actions, or thoughts! He sees them and allows them because we are free to reign over our will and choices.”

But within each sin, actions taken towards the sin, and or the thoughts contemplating the sin are what snag us!

When faced with situations and temptations that we know to be wrong and continue forward on that path, we are lining ourselves up for the repercussions.

Proverbs 28:13 ESV: “When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.”

There it is, straight from the Bible. God getting the blame for the outcome of our actions! Ask yourself, “Is that fair? I did! I allowed! I participated!

I am to blame here, not God!

We can and should gauge sin individually, but one great example of choices made and horrific results (in my opinion) was taking God out of our schools and removing the pledge of allegiance, teaching honor and respect for our country and its flag!

I watch the news and our schools are a literal war zone, the buildings are falling apart, classrooms are overcrowded, and our poor teachers are underpaid, and staffed!

I don’t mean to go on a political rant! BUT!!!

We are responsible for our actions! We are responsible for the results of our actions! We are responsible!

Romans 6:23 ESV: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Dear Lord,

As I begin this new week, Lord, I would ask that you be with me! I ask you to guard my thoughts and steps. I ask that you reveal within me any wrongs I have committed and the strength to make them right! I ask you, Lord, for wisdom and discernment as I walk this life! I ask for your forgiveness for my sins and thank you for the freedom in you to walk a joyful life unencumbered by the weight of this world! Thank you for carrying me and my world. I give you all the praise and all the glory, Lord Jesus, in your name, I pray. 😌