Daniel 9 is Divine

Last night, we met with our small group of nearly a decade to study Daniel 9. I am giddy. I thought we started late May, but we began on April 30. I had forgotten about a week skipped over the summer and one skipped while we were on vacation. We only meet twice each month.

The timing of the study and how impactful it has been since May 8 are undeniable. I shared a nudge with my husband as we were drifting off to sleep. I woke with the inherent need to document the intensity of the nudge and to attempt to document what He is teaching me.

I flipped to Ezra. Again. Then nudged to connect 2 Chronicles to Daniel and Ezra. All the while, I have the SHIN of Jerusalem tattooed on my heart from Daniel 9 last night.

Here is a lovely post that does a good job of connecting much of my heart here:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/i-will-put-my-name-part-2/

To me, Daniel 9 is Divine. Yes, the entire Bible is infallible and from God. Still, there was extra powerful revelation last night which means I must notate it accordingly. The way He works with me, I am to acknowledge Daniel 9 is Divine for both its prayer and prophecy, as well as the power forged through the spirit. No doubt, this entire lesson was necessary. Thank you, Lord!

Daniel’s prayer of repentance, followed by Gabriel’s prophecy of the seventy “sevens,” is unlike anything else — both a cry of the heart and a roadmap laid out with mathematical precision.

God answered with mercy — and a plan far greater than Daniel could see. Soon after, Cyrus fulfilled Jeremiah’s words (2 Chronicles 36 / Ezra 1), sending God’s people home. But Gabriel also revealed a deeper timeline pointing to the coming Messiah.

That layered fulfillment has opened my eyes. God is faithful in the immediate, and He is faithful in the eternal. What He promised through Jeremiah, answered in Daniel, fulfilled in Ezra, and completed in Christ — He is still doing in my life today.

Daniel had been reading Jeremiah’s prophecy about 70 years of exile. He knew the time was nearly complete, and so he pleaded for mercy: for forgiveness, restoration, and for God’s name to be honored again in Jerusalem. God’s answer came in two layers: yes, the 70 years of exile were ending — but His plan reached far beyond, stretching into the coming of the Messiah.

Praise God! 💜✝️💜

That’s exactly where 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 and Ezra 1:1–3 pick up. The last words of Chronicles and the opening words of Ezra declare the fulfillment: “In the first year of Cyrus… the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation…” The exiles returned, the Temple was rebuilt, Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. That was the immediate answer to Daniel’s prayer.

But Daniel had also been shown something greater — a second countdown. The seventy “sevens” would ultimately point to Christ, the true Anointed One, who would be “cut off” not for His own sins but for ours, bringing “everlasting righteousness” (Daniel 9:24).

For me, seeing this layered fulfillment has been profound. It reminds me that God’s Word works on more than one level: the historical, the spiritual, and the deeply personal. What Daniel prayed for, Ezra recorded and Jesus fulfilled is the same story the Holy Spirit is writing in my life.

Just as He brought Israel out of exile, He has been bringing me out of old ways of thinking and into a deeper closeness with Him.

Sometimes you don’t realize how far you’ve grown until the Lord opens your eyes. Last night, through Daniel’s prayer and prophecy, He opened my eyes to deeper truths.

Next, we will talk about how God can use anyone, even a Persian King, to fulfill his purposes.

Father God, thank you for all you’ve done since the beginning of time. I am beyond grateful for all you are currently doing in our lives. I am excited to see your plans unfold for our future. I shared “your song” with Mark last night. Thank you for his sweet response and for giving me a faithful husband who loves me and the kids so well.

All I need , you know. Whatever your will may be, I submit. I love you. Please keep refining me and removing the dross. In Jesus powerful and precious name, Amen.

Minute Clinic

So much has transpired and yet circumstances prevent proper documentation.

For today, I must at least note this message sent today. I sent an article to someone we love and he thanked me for sharing. This was the verbatim response:

While I pray it proves helpful, I can’t take credit for sending it in obedience. That’s the “💜✝️💜” . If I ever just send the emojis and no words- it’s because the Holy Spirit has urged a prayer outta nowhere. I don’t know why, but trust He does.

What you shared Monday about how certain friends can quote chapter and verse is still resonating for several reasons. Some new lesson is coming for me this week, courtesy of our Godversation. I can feel it in my bones.

Trusting our mutual Helper is going to translate what I am being nudged to share next.

Romans 8:26-27 was burned and etched deep into my heart many years ago. Every few years, it gets deeper and deeper, like scar tissue building up from standing in the gap and interceding. It “feels like” a spiritual muscle and I sense YOUR spiritual muscle is in a huge building season.

I see His Light on you and your beautiful family. I feel His Presence every time you come in the shop now. Father God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit are using your family to grow me in ways I may never be able to explain. The best I can do is be obedient.

I just want to encourage you to find a commentary on Romans 8 and let the Holy Spirit do what He does. In particular, focus deeply on Romans 8:26-27 before finalizing your presentation. Not sure why, just following His Direction.

Gary, not once have I quoted it verbatim that I can recall. Yet when others quote Romans 8:28 to me, as they often do, seldom do those people have a solid grasp of what His Word tells us of the Holy Spirit. There is a disconnect for many, contingent on the preaching they have heard.

It’s like He gave us an “easy button” to discern quickly how to respond. We just have to build our spiritual muscle to use the “easy button” effectively.

For me, obedience came so much easier when the full power and gift of the Holy Spirit expanded to a sacred quadrant in my heart. I am praying without ceasing for your “easy button” and peace with your Cursillo presentation. 💜✝️💜

I am also to write more about “righteous grievances”, PIE for Friends, DGM, spiritual sickness and training children. Lots of lessons this past week. As I praise Our Elohim for all of them, I pray you do, as well. Especially the parts that hurt and make us vomit.

Moosh Pot Monday

Wowza. I will come back with a memory snap for all that has been done on August 4 in years prior. I guess I can’t be surprised anymore when scripture I deep dive one day shows up the next day in memories from seven years ago. Happy tears greeted my day and it was beautiful to share them, in detail, with my husband.

The biggest message screaming off the page was about “muzzling” and how Jesus did not defend himself at Calvary.

Big Daddy Weave played on the car through my iTunes and I will need to watch some of those videos to figure out what it is I am to write down. It’s super cool to me how Jesus uses music to “dance with me”.

For now, I am being nudged to ensure this prayer gets posted before 10:30 in the morning. Hard nudge. Powerful nudge.

I can not recall the last day I was compelled to post something in My God Room so quickly upon opening the shop. I think it was the day my helper asked me to jot down “every nudge” and give every customer a nickname. That could have began a year ago or six months ago. Time is warped and so many messages repeat themselves like a melodic chorus. A

Apparently …I see what YOU did there, Father God.

New Tshirt yesterday

This green top was 12.99- 13 bucks. I knew it was the most cost-efficient way to give these “pear” britches a good switch up when we go on our cruise on two weeks.

Mark took all the tags off my new bras and such last night. “”APPEAR ”not “A-PEAR” is in inside joke no one else may ever understand. That’s ok. Most of what’s written here is just me sharing Godversation of various varieties. My journal, in many ways, dedicated to Jesus. It is all testimony to His Goodness.

It humbled me to ask my husband, AGAIN, to take the “missed tag” off for me. Granted, he offered and did it with joy last night. He loves taking good care of me. Without my glasses on, I have no business dealing with scissors. 🤣. The tag name was a second inside joke and I asked him to leave the tag on the counter. In fact, I posted it on FB around July 5, because it was in relation to “C&C Music Factory”.

Oddly nudged to changed my cross today. It is difficult for even Mark to put it on me. I don’t know how He works such details with my hands, but I had no issue being obedient to that call

Preparations and Inspiration

So, the deal is today, all day long, every time I videoed something, music was playing. From my iTunes. Interesting choices. Todd Agnew. Nichole Norseman. And Charity Gayle, for starters.

So tonight, I shall share what the day looked like to the world. Without all the videos of me taking to Jesus.

Right when I think I can NOT possibly love My Jesus more, I do. It’s beyond humbling. It is changing me on an otherworldly level. I love you so much, Father God. I love the Holy Spirit for so many things, especially how He move so mightily and lightning fast. Then again, you created the spirit and promised us you would pour it out. Oh, boy, have you poured it out. 😍. And Jesus, well, you know. My whole heart is wide open and the fifth quadrant He gave me is working wonders on this sack of bones and flesh you have give me.

Of course, I am in awe. You deserve all the reverence. Thank you for letting my relationship with Jesus be a fifth grade vibe. It’s so joyful to be silly with your son. You know I have deep love for your Divine Humor Yada Yada. 😂😂😂.

Thank you for giving me Psalm 32:6. Thank you, too, for HOW you hm gave it to me and included my hubby. You are always perfect. I love you.

Godly Counsel

Father God, I am writing the gist of what has transpired the past few days because my heart feels like it will burst if I do not write it down.

First, thank you for using me in any way to help Lyss and John in their healing.  Thank you for friendships and encouragement and for house visitors who share their time so beautifully.  Thank you for teaching me to CLIMB in more ways than one.  Thank you for showing up in spirit on Jess’ face at the climbing gym yesterday.  Thank you for humbling me in so many ways with her yesterday. Please protect her. 

You know why I am still re-reading the letter Mark gave me this morning.  While I will not write about the contents, I will acknowledge I sought Godly counsel from “PNP”.  I have no answers, only more questions.  For now, please show me what must be removed from my mind and what is to be added.  Make me more like you so I can be the wife YOU desire me to be. If it is not of you, I do not need it. Period.

The heart wrenching truth of the Ghana Romance Scams in Murfreesboro which have harmed my sweet Futina are very much sickening my heart on her behalf.   Her husband has not earned a dime in fifteen months of marriage. Her home burned down.  She got it repaired and sold it last month.  She has paid for immigration and other attorney bills for her husband, as well.  Learning the pastor, “Poppa”, is not paid a salary by the church. They pay his rent/mortgage and other bills instead. They fired the woman who moved here four years ago from Chicago for asking questions about the finances. Her job was finance. Immediate red flag, indeed.

Learning the late-night prayer action has more than worn her out, she serves her husband every meal in their bedroom and he does not engage in the household: It is all heart breaking for me.  Waking anyone, much less the elderly, to pray between 3 and 4 am feels like Brainwashing 101. Learning multiple women in her church are married to others from Ghana leads me to believe there is a criminal circle of folks involved.  For heaven’s sake, Futina doesn’t even believe the emails sent were from the man she was told to marry. I know you know all the details I am not writing. Perhaps I was to at minimum, document the outline.

Lord, please protect all those most vulnerable, especially the widows and orphans. James 1:27, 1 Tim 5:3-16 and Matthew 25:34-40 are all proof to me that your heart is already with them. I ask everything, especially the unspoken parts, in Jesus precious name. Amen.  

P.S. I love you.

PIE

Perspective. Intention. Execution. This morning, I keep thinking of the things which God has put on my heart and how they have all played out thus far. When He gave me “PIE” studying the Fibanacci sequence and God’s fingerprint on this earth, I did not see it. Today, I see Pi (God) vs. PIE (human best). I still need to digest that little factoid.

My heart is with Sweet Lyss and her unexpected break up with her love. Lord, you know my prayers for all my kids and the “orphans” you have entrusted to me. Please may they all find their identity with YOU and see how the pieces fit back together so much more intricately. In Jesus name, amen. Thank you for humbling me with learning Miss Elizabeth spent a few days in the hospital and teaching me more about timing. Your timing, not mine.

Thank you, Lord, for that sweet confirmation from my husband last night about Matthew 18. Learning he was taking his Bible to study each day warmed my heart immeasurably more. May you join me during my study time today and draw your deeper truths to my spirit. Thank you for letting me suffer a bit these past few weeks in my crying out for his spiritual leadership. Thank you for humbling me last night to be the wife my husband deserves. So many things will not be typed into words, but I know you know every thought and prayer, regardless. I know great peace when I remember your Word and your promises. You have never left me, personally, and you never will.

I know you forgive my shortcomings completely and it is the human flesh which continues persecute me. When I am completely encased in your spirit, such things are repelled without any impact. Please, Father God, hold me tightly today and direct every step. I love you.

Hosea and Philip

For twenty years, I have been friends with a man named Philip. We met on MySpace and developed a long- lasting friendship through blogs and blog commenting. Currently, he is in a period of growth, spiritual, intellectual and physical growth. Last night, we had a long chat as I drove home from Clarksville. Bottom line, I shared the importance of Hosea to my sister (Praise God) and myself. As it turned out, he said he has been directed there several times and planned to study Hosea this week. I committed to studying the same book this week and for us to share how the Holy Spirit directs our studies.

I see what you did there.

Philip and I talked for over an hour as I drove. Arriving home after 8 pm, I prepared us a late dinner and relaxed for maybe twenty minutes. When I went upstairs to wash my face and shower, I stopped to look at my notes in “My Word” for Hosea. So many good thoughts rushed through my mind. However, by the time I was ready to go to sleep, my heart ached for how much our Father in Heaven must grieve for his children.

“Carol, ALL of you are prostituting yourselves in some way. Ask me HOW.” Asked, I did.

First image hit hard when I opened the pages to Hosea.

This morning, I was excited to get to work to read whatever was included in our Spiritual Warfare Bible at the shop.

In this moment, I am reducing all thoughts to one core understanding. I have written repeatedly how God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. There are exactly three prostitutes named in the Bible. Mary Magdeline was a true friend and spiritual sister to Jesus. Rahab was King David’s grandmother. The third is Gomer, Hosea’s wife. Leaving this here for the sake of posterity.

I did not delay in fulfilling my promise to you on this topic, Lord. I love you, Jesus. 💜✝️💜

Faith and Forgiveness

Lord, thank you for ALL you have done, are doing and will do in our lives. I come to you with a humbled and much-slowed down heart. Please forgive me for any time my child-like wonder has been an impediment in any manner.

I know this heart you gave me is for YOUR PURPOSE and you wired me this way for reasons I may never know in this life. Thank you for infusing my heart with such genuine excitement for you and love of others! In this moment, I am very grateful for the hard lesson about when to “turn down the volume”.

Oh, Lord, I would never want to have your greatness in our lives perceived as anything other than YOUR GREATNESS. I see now, many people have never experienced you. I do not wish to be a poor messenger or example of your grace.

What I do see in this moment is how you literally slowed my heart pressure to 84/62 on February 28, just as you did seven years ago and November 26. You, like any good parent, must let your child implode from time to time. It’s not to blow up a secure life, it’s to build it back even more secure.

Foundations and Floodgates are much like roots and wings. Thank you for comforting me through the scary parts and giving me Mark as my husband. I love you most of all! I ask this forgiveness in the name of your precious son, Jesus, and every drop of his blood that was shed for humanity. Amen.


Love & Lead Like Jesus

The Holy Spirit got me out of bed at 5:45 this morning to look up 2 Timothy 2:22. I spent about 45 minutes in the Book of Timothy before going downstairs to turn on the coffee.  For the third time in three months, I flipped to Amos 1:1.    These two things deserve several pages of thought processing, but that is going to have to wait.  Amos reminds us God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people.   I have never once considered my husband “ordinary” as a human being, but today I want to share the extraordinary work I believe God is doing through him.

The other day, God put a need in front of me that resulted in an inspired action of committing to give a precise amount of money. I didn’t know why that was put on my heart so strongly, but there was no denying that it was to be done, in that exact amount, exactly as it happened.  Things are questionable at our business right now, the margins are becoming smaller and for us, it was a substantial action.  I would typically never commit to any amount over $100 without first talking with my husband.  Still, I was committed.  Just now, I am realizing there is a Biblical reference tied to the amount, but, I digress.    When my husband came home, we discussed it and his response was excitement.  He was so excited that we were called to be used and that we could be used by Him.  The look that kids get when they see gifts at their birthday?  Yes, that was the look in Mark’s face.  We have such joy in the giving.   That is just a part of my sweet husband.

Mark has given me a copious amount of time off work to dedicate myself and the gifts He has given me to a God-directed service project. We share Bible flips, Godversations, details and observations, life, business and everything else.  On top of all of it, we have had three very emotionally exhausting weeks with my teenagers due to something that had nothing to do with us.   Mark needs and deserves a chance to breathe, rest and just sleep in one day.

Bearing that in mind, we have talked and prayed for quite some time about how to best use what God has given us to be of service.  Mark was lead to open our home for a Men’s Group at our church.  Two nights ago, he had two Godly men in our home for about three hours.  This was immediately after the emotionally and spiritually charged conversation with me about the giving.   What a Thursday!    Last night, a second men’s group started.   Being who we are in our marriage, we have been discussing what it means to be a leader and put love into action.  My husband has a huge heart; I love watching God at work through him right now.   Despite being exhausted beyond measure; my sweet husband went to the other man’s group last night. He went because he felt called to go.  He went because the man, Bryan, had told him no one else had committed to attend.  He went because that is how you show love to a brother.    Despite a woman and her daughter being present, he stayed for two hours.

When he finally made it home, we had another two hours of God-filled conversation.   Knowing my husband, I had bought him a very funny card.  Something to break any tension for a moment and allow laughter to come to life.  The punch line to the joke was “there is no greater love.”  My note in the card was that “well, there is ONE,” and went on to tell him just how much I appreciate being married to a man who invites Jesus into our lives on a daily basis.  During our Godversation, he shared one of the questions Bryan had asked him was, “who leads you to Jesus.”

In this moment, I am floored, again.  Mark told me his response was to share our Bible flips with Bryan. He shared how this service project has impacted us.  In short, he shared how God has been moving in our lives and told Bryan, “honestly, God has been using Carol to lead me to Jesus.”  My husband has told me many kind words through the years.  He has told me I was beautiful when I was surely not feeling it, he has acknowledged my heart when I was hurting and he married me when I was about fifty pounds heavier.  Of all the kind, wonderful and amazing things my husband has said to me through the years, this is the compliment which means the most.  My husband loves and leads me just like Jesus.  He sees Jesus in me.

We digested our Godversation further and watched the last half hour of show we had started the night before.  We concluded our evening by watching a video on the Book of Daniel.  Another men’s group is having their first meeting this morning.  The topic is Daniel.  Although my husband really needed to sleep until 9, he was planning to be up at 7 to attend the meeting.  Why?  Because that is what a true brother in Christ does for another brother.  He just called and told me, once again, he was the only one who showed up, aside from our pastor.  So, Brothers Kent, Mark and Dustin had a wonderful morning together in the word.  Hearing the joy in his voice, I immediately knew the Holy Spirit was with them.

Our hearts are on fire and in sync with the word, the spirit and the way.  It’s exhilarating!  God is so good!  Thank you, Lord, for giving me a husband who chases your heart with me.  The only key that matters is the one which opens up your Kingdom to us.  We love you.

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