Creekmont Visit

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This morning I stepped into Creekmont Baptist Church for the very first time. My former long term hairdresser, Becky, invited us to join them for worship when I got my hair cut on Tuesday. For a few years, I went elsewhere. I see His Hand in that timing, too. We first met before Mark and I were married!

Her husband, Shad, was asked to fill in as pastor a little over a year ago, and now he serves there permanently. We just learned today it was a customer of hers that asked him to step in, temporarily.

Wowza. Five days.

Today has been a day of many fives.

We pulled in the parking lot and we both voiced prayers before going inside. From the moment we walked through the doors, we were greeted by multiple smiling faces. The warmth could be compared to walking into a loving family gathering. The building itself carried a simplicity that reminded me of churches from the 1970s — plain, clean, without distraction — but alive with heart and spirit.

The music was from an electronic piano and carried a sincere vibe of the late 70’s or early 80’s, a style my husband grew up loving. They opened with Everlasting God, and by the closing stanza, liquid was traveling from my eyes, down my cheeks. The words settled into me deeply, “strength will rise as we wait upon The Lord…you do not faint, You won’t grow weary.”

No, sir, you do not grow weary. #ISWYDT

During the offering, the children collected the coins as they played an old tune through the speakers. “I may never march in the infantry, ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery. I may never fly o’er the enemy. But, I’m in the Lords Army! Yes, Sir!”

What a joyful moment — innocence and faith braided together. For “YESSIR” to be a lyric was extra special for me.

Godwink moment- Mark thought Holy, Holy, Holy would be the first hymn in the hymnal. It was number 55. He said something about 5 by 5 being “loud and clear”. Yes. To the right was “Love Divine”. The most powerful lessons to be were in Matt 5, Mark 5 and Thess 5.

An older gentleman gave the welcome, opening with 1 Peter 5:7 — “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” His words were clear testimony and biblical truth.

I typically would not be aware during worship, but I saw tears in my husband’s eyes as we sang Amazing Grace. He said it felt like a church from his youth. To me, this was confirmation we were in the right place.

Pastor Shad preached from Matthew 5 while weaving in John 7, Mark 5, 1 Thessalonians 5, and even 2 Thess.

Shad is a gifted teacher. Notably, he began by reading most of Matthew 5. The message itself was rich: he spoke about the Beatitudes as a kind of moral inventory — behavior as it should be for those who belong to Christ. You must live out Matthew 5:1–12 before you can truly be salty and filled with light.

Then he asked: What would you give up for two weeks — salt or light? Most of us would struggle either way. His point was clear: both are essential.

What struck me the deepest was how the Holy Spirit used Shad’s extended reading of Mark 5 to deepen my understanding. We are now home and I am heartbroken how Mark five concludes with Jesus being asked to leave. Treasuring pigs over people, I pray His Children came home. The point is the Holy Spirit used Shad to bring the demon-possessed man into vivid focus for me

I digress. I must document the heart of this first visit for reasons I don’t fully understand.

There was something pure in the feeling of the church today — no flash, no pretense, just warmth, worship, and the Word. It is a place where you sense that light still shines, that salt still preserves, and that children of God are called to live as children of the light.

We will definitely be going back. Today marks the beginning of our Creekmont story.

After the service, we attempted and failed to eat at GG’s and Metro Diner. We quickly succeeded at the new Italian place , Penne Pazze. We shared a pizza, gnocchi and a salad. It is most authentic food we have enjoyed since being in Italy two years ago! I am already looking forward to the leftovers.

No shocker the table number we were guided to for seating. Thank you, Lord! 💜✝️💜

Knowing, Guarding & Forgiving

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Last night I was compelled to post John 17:17 — “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.”

This morning I opened my Bible and landed on Matthew 18, and immediately my mind went back to my friend Julie’s post and the comment section.

God is weaving things together for me in a new way. The ultimate and absolute Dream Weaver is Father God. I am convinced Gary Wright knows how God directs our dreams based on the stories behind his song.

My Matthew 18 pages are filled with tons of notes and notations. Today, I was nudged to write “Julie Mauck 9/20/25” . I was not nudged to put “Luke 17:2”, likely because there is a printed corresponding scripture beginning Luke 17:1.

Dated notes from October 2017, January and February 2023, May 8, 2024, July 13, 2025 and today. Three key notes struck me hard. The notes about being His Child, honoring is greater than wallowing and “confirmation is Biblical (Matt 18:16) stood out to me.

.

As I sat with it, I realized how John 17 and Matthew 18 fit together. Well, my John 17 pages are all kinds of noted, as well, with a big YADA YADA. Divine Humor, once again! 💜✝️💜

In Matthew 18, Jesus calls us to humility like children and warns us not to cause “little ones” to stumble. Jesus says it would be better to wear a millstone around our necks than to mislead them and the millstone takes me back to Hebrew dreams last winter. He goes on to show that forgiveness must flow endlessly — seventy times seven.

In John 17, Jesus defines eternal life: “that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (v.3). The Hebrew word yada — to know — means deep, intimate relationship, not casual acquaintance. I had even scribbled in my margin a reminder that yada yada (so often a throwaway phrase in our culture) actually calls me back to the seriousness of truly knowing God and His Son.

No big shocker. I just wrote about Daniel 9 and seventies and sevens the other day. Every single detail is intricately woven to another.

Put side by side, the message is clear:

To truly know God and Jesus (John 17) is to live in humility, to guard the vulnerable, and to walk in radical forgiveness (Matthew 18). His prayer for unity in John 17 comes alive only when we practice the hard, daily work of forgiveness in Matthew 18.

And I’m reminded — unity in the Body isn’t a theory; it’s built every time I choose to forgive, every time I guard someone’s faith instead of wounding it, every time I walk humbly like a child

So today, I’m holding these together:

Intimacy with God (John 17)

Protection of the vulnerable (Matthew 18:6)

Unity through forgiveness (Matthew 18:21–35)

That’s the kind of community Jesus prayed for. That’s the kind of life I want to live.

Oh, and I used technology to make Julie and all Biblical Warriors an accurate hoodie. Thank you, Jesus, for all good inspiration ! 😇

9:19 Scriptures

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I have written about Rich Mullins many times. He was killed 28 years ago on September 19. Leaving home to go to work, I have a sixteen minute video talking and singing both The Color Green and Creed. To be clear, you can hear my car giving safety alerts, clearly hear my iTunes playing and hear me singing.

I know what The Holy Spirit was saying to me. He has been singing over me for over three months. Here is just the last minute.

The Lord clearly used Rich Mullins and his music in my faith journey. Today, I want to honor my Father in Heaven and thank him, again, for how He used Rich to grow my faith.

When we pause to look at chapter 9, verse 19 across the Scriptures, we find a chorus of voices crying out to God — for justice, for mercy, for guidance, and for strength. These verses together form a testimony of His sovereignty and our dependence.

Psalm 9:19

“Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.”

➡ A call for God to rise up against human arrogance and establish His justice.

Jeremiah 9:19

“For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.”

➡ A lament of deep sorrow, acknowledging the consequences of forsaking God.

Nehemiah 9:19

“Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.”

➡ A testimony of God’s unfailing mercy and guidance, even when His people strayed.

Daniel 9:19

“O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.”

➡ A bold intercession, pleading with God to act quickly for the sake of His name and His people.

Job 9:19

“If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?”

➡ A confession that God alone holds ultimate power and authority in strength and justice.

✨ Reflection

Taken together, the 9:19 Scriptures give us a pattern:

Psalm calls for God’s justice. Jeremiah mourns the cost of disobedience. Nehemiah remembers God’s mercy. Daniel pleads for God’s swift action. Job acknowledges God’s supreme strength.

They remind us that in every season — lament, wandering, intercession, or confession — God’s sovereignty and mercy remain steadfast.

Oh, Father God, your loving kindness makes my heart sing.

Cyrus’ Miles

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Odd to have Miley Cyrus thoughts as I began to post. At first thought—an instant prayer- it seems it is tied to a theme of a wrecking ball. Yet, as I have learned today, the Persian King Cyrus had a history of building up, too.

Did King Cyrus of Persia really decree the rebuilding of God’s house in Jerusalem? Yes, yes, he did. More importantly, God used a non-believer to accomplish His goals.

The Bible records it in 2 Chronicles 36 and Ezra 1 — but what evidence do we have outside of Scripture?

The Cyrus Cylinder (539–530 BC) was discovered in Babylon in 1879. This artifact is now in the British Museum. It is a clay cylinder inscribed in Akkadian cuneiform, commissioned by Cyrus after his conquest of Babylon. It describes how Cyrus restored temples and returned displaced peoples to their homelands with their gods and religious items.

One example, “I returned to [these] sacred cities… the sanctuaries of which had been in ruins for a long time, the images which used to live therein, and I established for them permanent sanctuaries.”

While it doesn’t name Jerusalem, it perfectly matches what Ezra records — the Jews were one of many groups restored.

I love how archeology supports the Bible, hundreds and thousands of years later. I love how God used a Persian King to fulfill His purposes.

In addition to physical artifacts, there are the writings of Jewish historian Josephus that Cyrus read Isaiah’s prophecy about himself (Isaiah 44–45) and was inspired to fulfill it, issuing the decree for the Temple.

Persian history shows Cyrus was unique among conquerors: instead of suppressing religions, he restored them. Ezra’s account fits right in with what we know of his empire.

So while archaeology hasn’t yet given us a tablet that says, “Cyrus told the Jews to rebuild in Jerusalem,” all the evidence points to it:

His general decree (Cyrus Cylinder) The biblical record (Ezra & Chronicles) And later Jewish history (Josephus)

Together they confirm the faithfulness of God’s Word. The prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, Daniel’s prayer was answered, and God used a Persian king to bring His people home.

Thank you, Lord, for all you teach me.

Daniel 9 is Divine

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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.

Struggling

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I’ve been struggling to find clarity. My to-do list is long, full of things that need my attention, yet I find myself paralyzed, unable to move forward. Grief has a way of fogging the mind and weighing down the heart.

I just felt compelled to pour out love today. To friends on the phone and to my children via texts.

In the middle of it all, I’ve been following the situation with Charlie Kirk, and what breaks me most is not just the tragedy itself, but the flood of hatred in the aftermath. Christians and non-Christians alike are commenting with such cruelty, quick to assume, quick to judge, quick to fuel division without checking facts.

I think that’s what overwhelms me the most. Not just the grief, but the noise. The lack of compassion. The way we tear each other down instead of seeking truth or offering grace.

I don’t have answers today. Only a prayer that I can keep my heart soft, that I won’t join in the shouting, and that somehow I’ll find the clarity I’ve been missing.

Thank you, Father God. For all you have done, all you are doing and all you will surely do. Soon can not come soon enough in many ways. Please keep me in the palm of your hand. Thank you for knowing the source of my tears. I love you and ask everything (all the unspoken, too) in the precious and powerful name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

Do Not Grow Weary

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While not exclusive to the murder of Charlie Kirk yesterday, my heart has been heavy. The world can feel violent, chaotic, and exhausting. Sometimes it is tempting to look away completely, or to let weariness settle in like a fog. But Scripture reminds us again and again that even in the darkest times, we are called to keep pressing forward in goodness.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9). This verse has been mine for decades after being dubbed a Blonde Polish Chick by an NFL Coach in Chicago.

I hear that and think — it isn’t a call to ignore the pain. It’s an invitation to remember that our labor, our small daily choices to love and to serve, are never wasted. The harvest may not come today, but it will come.

Paul echoed this in his letter to the Thessalonians: “Never tire of doing what is good.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13) And Hebrews reminds us to look to Jesus: “Consider Him who endured such opposition, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3).

And here’s the hope that carries me: we are not meant to do this in our own strength. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.” (Psalm 28:7) “The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.” (Exodus 15:2) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1).

The truth is, God knows we get tired. He promises to renew us: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles… they will run and not grow weary.” (Isaiah 40:31).

So today, instead of letting my heart sink, I choose to lift my eyes. I choose to trust that love still matters, kindness still heals, and faith still carries us through. We may grow tired, but with Him we do not grow weary. In due season, in His Timing, there will be a harvest. 💜✝️💜

Polish Ruins

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When I dig into history, it often feels like I’m walking among ruins. Not just the crumbled stones of ancient walls, but the broken stories of families and communities who lived, loved, and lost.

Nearly three years ago, I solidified our Mull Family branches on my mother’s side of the family. Today, I am wearing a Polish pride t-shirt and pondering how 3 million Polish Jews were eradicated from the earth.

I am imagining the stories of my Polish brothers and sisters — the Jewish communities of Poland, who once numbered in the millions. Before World War II, Poland was the beating heart of Jewish life, filled with prayer, scholarship, and song. By the end of the Holocaust, ninety percent of them were gone. Entire towns, entire families, erased. Historical data says 3.3 million Jews were in Poland and then only 300 K survived.

It was intentional to place all the gas chambers in Poland. It breaks my heart as if it were yesterday.

As I think of my own great-grandmother, who left Poland before the war, I can’t help but wonder. Did she leave behind cousins, neighbors, friends who never made it out? Were some of the voices that vanished ones she once knew?

History books can give us numbers, but ruins whisper questions. And as I search, I feel a kind of responsibility — to remember those lives, to hold space for the silenced, and to remind myself that every statistic was once a story.

The Bible says, “Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations” (Isaiah 58:12). When I read those words, I think of how even out of destruction, memory itself can be a kind of rebuilding.

Today, when I look at the ruins of history, I see more than tragedy. I see an invitation to honor, to remember, and to keep alive the stories that were almost lost — stories that might be woven into my own family’s journey.

Living Sea Scrolls

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For generations, people have searched for proof that the Bible can be trusted. Archaeologists, scholars, and skeptics alike have dug through history, looking for something solid. There is zero proof the Bible is wrong about any historical fact.

Granted, there is a copious amount of evidence which supports The Bible. What fascinates me are the later findings, in particular the 1800-1900’s. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in late 1946-early 1947. I considered the world coming out of a world War, only for the Israel-Arab wars to begin shortly after Israel became a state in 1948. The first scroll was Isaiah and for me, it seems appropriate to title this the Living Sea Scrolls.

God’s word never returns void and I have been in awe all day of the power contained in Him.

Bedouin shepherd(s) stumbled into a cave near Qumran, and the Dead Sea Scrolls — the oldest biblical manuscripts ever discovered — came to light. These fragile scrolls carried the power of God’s Word, preserved for over two thousand years. At nearly the same moment in history, the world was shifting dramatically. In 1947 the United Nations voted to partition Palestine, and by May 1948 the modern State of Israel was declared. Globally, the Cold War tensions escalated, Gandhi was assassinated, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed.

I can’t help but see God’s hand in the timing. As the world reeled from war and nations were reborn, His Word emerged in power. The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword.” That verse comes alive when I look at Qumran. It wasn’t just scrolls being pulled from clay jars — it was a reminder that His Word will never fade, no matter how many centuries pass.

One early scholar, Millar Burrows of Yale, said of the scrolls: “The discovery of the scrolls … was the greatest manuscript discovery of modern times.” And to me, that discovery wasn’t just history. It was God showing the world that His Word endures forever.

Praise God, for all He has done, is doing and will ever do. He is merciful and just and forever extending His Lovingkindness. Oh, I know I did not deserve His love…so grateful He gave it so freely. Thank you for Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I am overwhelmed with your goodness and light. Cleanse me, oh Lord. Circumcise whatever flesh must be removed. In Jesus name, Amen.

Pair of Cleats

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This morning, my husband flipped open my Bible, and of all places, it landed in 3 John. It’s such a short letter, but packed with encouragement. John writes to Gaius and you can almost hear the joy in his words: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” That resonates deeply with me today.

Just last week, we said goodbye to a houseguest who left under stressful and somewhat dubious circumstances. Hospitality felt heavy, not joyful, and I found myself wrestling with disappointment. The study notes talk about hospitality. However, it is more than inviting someone into your home. Being hospitable is not just in deed, but in heart. What a gentle reminder that the posture of hospitality is as important as the act itself.

Jesus calls The Holy Spirit is the Paraclete—the One who comes alongside, the constant companion, guiding and speaking into every moment. I couldn’t help but smile at the similarity: Paraclete, pair of cleats. Thank you, Jesus, for the best shoes of peace. 💜✝️💜

Life gives us different climates for different seasons. Sometimes I feel like I’m running in cleats on a hard, uneven field. Other days it’s sandals or flip-flops, when the pace is slower and the terrain feels easy. But no matter the shoes I wear, I am never walking alone. The Holy Spirit is right beside me, steadying my steps, nudging me back onto the path, reminding me of truth when circumstances feel confusing.

So today, I choose to lace up with gratitude. Whether the ground is rough or smooth, I have a Paraclete—a pair of cleats—that will carry me faithfully wherever God leads. I am lacing up with perfect peace in my heart.

Shalom. Shalom.