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.
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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 ! 😇
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.
God has a way of weaving old things—books, music, moments—into the tapestry of our present, speaking to us in seasons we least expect. A few days ago, I shared how The LORD paired two books, published 17 years apart, to stir my heart anew. Tonight, it was an old Jason Crabb Song from 2009 called “Sometimes I Cry”, which serenaded me on my drive. When I arrived home to an opportunity to write, the book at my bedside screamed the title of this post.
It made perfect sense. The latest thread in this divine weave is The Cost of Our Silence by David Fiorazo. Just the other day, I shared the book with a group of people.
I was nudged to check my purchases and confirmed I purchased this book on March 3, 2020. COVID times immediately came to mind. Then I recalled the season of change as my family transitioned churches. I recalled the questions the Holy Spirit placed in my heart and can see how certain specific prayers have undoubtedly been answered. Praise God!
It is the second “old” book in as many weeks that God has used to guide me—each over a decade old, yet piercingly relevant. In this moment, there is some Divine Humor at play from a text I sent my husband, reminding me my favorite book is a REALLY OLD and utterly timeless.
Merely four chapters (less than 60 pages) into The Cost of Our Silence, Fiorazo’s direct, compassionate voice makes complex issues accessible. He urges Christians to speak truth boldly. I’ve caught several things already which felt like personal hugs to me. Conversely, I have also been gently kicked in the butt. I have much to learn and am looking forward to what the Holy Spirit teaches me through this book.
What makes this book’s discovery profound to me is how MORE timely the content is,”ten years later”. Further compounding the timing is the fact I somehow joined a Facebook Group for the author and his wife, Rosanna, at some point in the past year. The group is to support them with prayer and for David to update their long term circle. I honestly don’t know how I was added. That said, learning of her health struggles, we were nudged to send what we could for financial support last month. Again, a nod to divine timing based on my experience.
Only this week have I opened the book. Holding this book, I’m in awe of God’s timing. It’s as if He placed The Cost of Our Silence in my hands to deepen my prayers for Rosanna’s joy, healing, and understanding, and for David’s strength, peace, and provision.
This book feels like a divine appointment to this Blonde, Polish Chick. Oh, how I love His Timing! God is using it to intensify my prayer for David and Rosanna and extend sister-ship to someone in the group who lives close to us. . So, I am going to continue to stand in the gap, pray fervently, and to trust His orchestration.
Eight years ago, I shared this to Facebook on this very day. Since my heart is bubbling over with happy tears…need to ensure this is secured in My God Room.
Yessir, I see what you did there. You had me crying happy tears so hard because of all you have done for us since May 8, 2025. I love you with all I am or will ever be.
Daddy,
For Father’s Day, I pulled out the poem I wrote you for your 50th Birthday. I pondered where it was displayed near Army, Vietnam and even Steeler memorabilia. Your football and movie watching room reflected your own balance of strength and gentleness. It just overwhelmed me this morning that you had three stanzas from my heart hanging in your line of sight for almost 15 years. I thought I was being overly emotional, but it all came into focus during some quiet/prayer time.
Don’t know if it was “Oscar” gut instinct or divine guidance, but I pulled up the Obit from a Friend that was posted in The Leaf Chronicle when you died. Yes, it made me miss you all the more, for a few minutes. Still, I had to smile to see some similarities between the Obit from a Friend and my poem to you almost 15 years prior:
Introspective, check. Stubborn, intelligent, disciplined, triple check. Emotional competence, strength and character for another hat trick.
The same core truth echoed in both. I smiled because of other truths, as well. They may fill a book someday. For now, on this Father’s Day, I want to share what you managed to teach me on my 8th Father’s Day without you.
Daddy, as a 49 year old parent, I re-read every word of that poem. I considered how I feel when my own kids write me such heart-felt letters. Overwhelmed. Then, I let all the similarities fade into the background. There was a particularly blinding nugget of glorious truth in the first stanza. Feared. Past tense.
I still remember walking into your kitchen almost 23 years ago to celebrate your 50th. I remember thinking on the drive from Nashville of all the snarky things you or my sisters could say when I gave you a framed poem. Oh, how I miss your sarcasm! More importantly, I remember telling you it didn’t matter what you did with the gift and I surely didn’t expect you to hang it up. I just knew I had to speak the truth in my heart to you through those three stanzas. Quite frankly, I was surprised it didn’t end up in the closet with your record collection. I never expected it would be displayed with other precious memorabilia.
Maybe it hung in your line of sight because it was written truth. Maybe it inspired you to write your own truth on all those letters to the editor in years following. Maybe it was there because it brought you joy to know I had grown through my fear. As a parent, that’s a biggie. Maybe it was there because it acknowledged something wonderful about you that you desired to “hear” daily. No doubt, it was there for reasons I will never understand. I am just humbled and honored that it hung for any reason.
Today, the gift from you to me is a reminder of the power and beauty in written truth. It isn’t always sweet, sometimes it is salty. It’s always truth and there is beauty and power in it if you look hard enough. Thank you for leading by example in ways you never knew on earth.
My hope is you knew, unequivocally, the profound influence you had in my life. I honor it and you, daily. I pray you are so joyous in heaven that this letter isn’t even on your radar. Regardless, for Father’s Day, it only seemed appropriate to write it all out, Oscar style.
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.
Realization. We all pronounce words slightly differently. Over the weekend, a beautiful “stranger angel” visited the shop. She spoke with the same energy, enunciation and enthusiasm as Miss Elizabeth. While I recognized the pattern quickly, I was praying silently in my head as she spoke. I was finally compelled to ask her when she said, “re-all-I-zay-shun”, if she happened to be from Trinidad. My husband was sitting on the couch and did not appear surprised when she confirmed she was native to Trinidad. It was a beautiful Godversation.
In part, we talked about when she lost her sister a few years ago. She shared how people always tell those with cancer to fight and hold on. She went on to share her view that it is selfish at the core, when we are holding folks up from meeting Jesus. I agreed, emphatically. It was truly a shift in my heart when she talked about it. I shared a pinch about how I knew she was from Trinidad and that perhaps God was using her to remind me about Elizabeth for some reason. In truth, I thought perhaps Elizabeth had passed and that was why comfort was walking in the shop that particular day.
When she left, I messaged my friend in Florida. To my surprise, Elizabeth was quickly defensive about me meeting another woman from Trinidad. Her response was telling me she is a very private person and to never share her details of any kind with people from Trinidad. While I didn’t share her full details, I felt small receiving that message.
Now that it has been a few days of prayer and study since meeting her, I understand Elizabeth’s response a bit better. There are only 1.5 million people in Trinidad. The number of women over 50 is around six percent of that number. Their oldest daughters are in the same demographic, as well. It makes sense that ANY identifying comments could potentially reveal her personal health information.
Lord, thank you for showing me and humbling me. Thank you for all you teach me so patiently and intently. I love you. Please give peace and comfort to my Trinidad “Sisters”. In Jesus Name, Amen.
So much to share and document and feeling a bit “buzzed” with the Holy Spirit.
Futina brought me two poinsettias. She is still in grievous pain over her circumstances. I told her she can’t pay for anything from our store until her circumstances change “in a month or so”. She asked how I knew that and I told her I did not know anything in my own power. But, I trust what the Holy Spirit puts on my tongue. She then told me I was the third person in less than a week to state it as fact. We reached agreement through more prayer shared between the two of us.
Miss Eli came in from Rock and Roll Sushi. Her demeanor reminds me of my daughter in many ways. Boldly shared the miracle healing of 8/20/24 and she did not flinch or appear disgusted by hearing about God’s miracle healing. I had just shared it with Next Gen Contractor still at the shop and shared with her for context. I believe it was a seed planted. Thank you, Lord.
Somber Sully from Charlotte visited for the first time. Sadly, two weeks here and his wife and two babies (nearly one and 3) are remaining in Charlotte for “separation therapy”. He welcomed a zero nic device to his other our purchases, accepted encouragement about it well and was very open to me keeping them in our prayers.
Sean Box visited. He just moved here from Memphis. Fantastic Godversation about how he is reigniting his passion for the LORD at present. His girlfriend is named ELAINE. We chatted until 8:45 and we close at 8! When the Holy Spirit is active and palpable, it is impossible to pay attention to a clock.
Thank you, Lord, for this entire day and all you did in it for me, through me and with me. I am grateful and I love you.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the rest, whatever the hours it was delivered. Feasts, please! I would starve without your WORD. I would be lost without your law, precepts and direction. You ARE my “GPS” , Jesus, as you are God’s Perfect Son.
Thank you in advance for a smooth closing today on the HELOC for the obstacles YOU are removing through your past provision. The “He Is Loving Our Community” message comforts me, as we have opened our business on the Sabbath for eleven years. I trust you will make it clear IF our business hours are to change. Thank you for showing me the “reel” of the brothers and sisters who visit on Saturday. Our business is named Community because YOU gave us that WORD when we prayed about the business. You are honored every day in our business, perhaps more so on the seventh day.
Oh, yes, I see how you put the law in my non-Jewish heart. You drew me closer and closer to make it known in my heart that I am YOURS. It makes perfect sense to desire my life to look more like Jesus’ perfect example. You do not expect us to be perfect. You literally gave all your children a living, breathing example. You know the pain in my heart for those who deny your TRUTH.
What a clear answer. Praise Yah! When we encounter hearts of stone, we are to remember what you shared through Ezekiel. Those unwilling to engage in healthy discourse are not truly humbled and taught by your WORD AND SPIRIT They misapply the WORD without your SPIRIT.
Yes, the world would change for YOUR BETTER if every child woke up each day in a spirit of true submission to YOUR WILL. Sit in the bed or get on your knees…anytime, anywhere. Raise our hands to you and humbly praise you for the day before and pray for the day we face. COMPLETE SUBMISSION ensures we contend for our faith as you directed and clarified through Jude.
Thank you, Lord, for titling this post. Thank you for the bajillion things which rushed my heart as I greeted my day with you.
Oh, Yah, keep bringing your soldiers to my view!!! Let us armor up and march in unity. This is KEY.
Thank you for encouraging me to hang two different metals and remember YOUR WORD and your prophets and what you have taught me about dross and everything else. Thank you for reminding me yesterday, as I drove to my daughter’s earthly home. I love the armor you have given us. Okay, okay, I do love EVERYTHING about you that I know. I love what I didn’t know as well …love learning the HIDDEN THINGS.
Talk about CUTE 🤣🤣🤣. Yes, I see YOU are driving the perceptions of others when they have Godversations with me. When children are TRULY being CUTE, our hearts soften. You make me CUTE because that is what softens their heart to be open to truth. Thanks for helping me understand.
Sanctification is beautiful to you and confusing to the corrupted world. I hear you. I am listening.
Hanging in my car since March 2024
I have zero clue why you have brought me, of all people, so close to you. I am beyond humbled. Yes, you are WITH ME and FOR ME. How could I NOT shout that praise from every proverbial rooftop!!!
I love you with all I am and will ever be. Thank you for “sacred bowls” and how you are weaving it all together at this precise time.
Overwhelmed in the best of ways, YOUR WAY, Jesus, is the only way that is LIT! .
Father God, I know you heard my massive list of prayers this morning. I know you have Radical Rachel in your palm. You clearly love her radical love for You, Your WORD and Jesus. I FELT the TINGLING and the POWER you so graciously give all who seek you.
I love her so much! Your word has burned in my soul to pray without ceasing. I know it’s only been hour, but as I close for now, I beg again for your angels to surround and protect her with the Job and her family reconciliation. Please remove the obstacles for her and may it be YOUR WILL. If that is not your will, may you bring Rachel a word to guide her. In this moment, it very much feels like the answer will be made clear sooner than later. Still, I will pray, as I promised YOU and Rachel I would. Bring the rain and open the floodgates, please, for Rachel. As I stand in this gap and lift her to you, you know this same prayer applies to others. I trust you completely and offer this humble prayer in complete submission. May it be so, in the name of Jesus and every drop of blood He shed for us on the cross. Amen.
Praise God, my loving husband returned home last night. It was a glorious Sunday from beginning to end. I wrote in my gray leather journal for posterity. The notes are clear enough to write the detailed testimony.
Insert giggle here. Anyone who knows me in the flesh understands I exclude “cheerleader energy”. I am being nudged to see the power of the Holy Spirit from a different perspective. Yes, Jesus can and will sit you down and just set you straight. The theme this year has in great part been to SLOW DOWN.
For now, I welcome anyone who ever sees this humble post to our Smyrna Tn store. We have prayed over this space countless times..,before we even got the keys and the six years since. Today was different.
Praise God. First two customers were Miss Margie and a gentleman wearing this shirt! More sales in first half hour than we typically see by 1 pm. I credit the One True God for blessing us so quickly this morning.
Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit.
My Jesus has the best sense of humor. This morning was glorious, waking with “wee hours” in my heart. Like every other word on my heart, at any time, I go straight to the “wee hour in the Bible” search. I learned exponentially more than I could have imagined. I sent one of the best articles to Joyce, as she is the first person on my heart when I read or hear the word “watchman”. This is to be the placemark and reminder to delve deeper in the future.
Immediately upon opening the store, I attempted to record my revised testimony. It should be noted, bubbling over with the Holy Spirit does not always make for good video. For one thing, the Holy Spirit will shut my mouth, and the expressions are not particularly pleasant. Add tears and perhaps you get a glimpse of why the videos are distracting. However, I learned several things which are meant to be included. How? When I become THAT verklempt, it is because it is so deeply entrenched in my heart. The Holy Spirit will literally squeeze every drop of love out of me.
The word verklempt is not in the Bible. However, I was directed to search CLAMPS and was directed to 1 Chron 22:3 where David provided iron for the clamps and nails needed for the gates and doors. Just prior to this, I read The Holy Spirit and Hinges (Acts 2:1-13). Yes, indeed, the Holy Spirit is my hinge pin and keeps the door open to Jesus and God. The door is wide open today.
The reason I have been redirected here instead of working on the ever-growing testimony is to share how that open door is represented by the door to my shop every day. No matter who walks in, I strive to see the Jesus in them. We have lots of Godversations in this little vape shop. Many customers/friends know there is scripture under these floors and behind the walls. This business belongs to God.
On this incredibly rainy day, our Kentucky 500 customers visit me. Back in July, I heard the heartbreaking loss of their sister-in-law. The wife’s brother was truly in despair. Ever since, I tend to pray for them all whenever I see the husband or wife from our Kentucky 500 customers. Today, the wife was in for the first time in two months. I asked her how her brother was doing and learned he was remarried! Bottom line, it sounded like God put the exact childhood friend in the widower’s life to bring him back into the land of the truly living.
At the tail end of that Godversation, Nissan Scott was paying close attention. After the couple left, Scott share with me about how his brother was very much in a similar situation. In his case, his best friend had died, leaving a widow and two children. His brother married his best friend’s widow, and they have been blessed with thirty years together. Interesting factoid: I have had Godversations many times with Scott’s partner, Karen. Today was the first real Godversation with him.
The next customer in the door listened to the last of my conversation with Nissan Scott. He opened the Godversation by telling me what he gathered from Nissan Scott’s story. I said something to the effect of God having his His Hand on all of it. He was so incredibly kind and complementary when he said, “You sound like my mother!” It was truly kind. Extemporaneously, he shares the nutshell of his life story. He was born and raised in Franklin, TN, developed a struggle with alcohol and chose to move to Murfreesboro to change his life. Just last week, he was dismissed from his management job. The following day, he got a job which uses all of his skills, without the management title, for the same money. His mom essentially told him, “Scott, this is proof God has your back.” We enjoyed an extensive Godversation and the Holy Spirit told me to write it down with “GREAT SCOTTS”. It thrills my ever-loving heart to hear that I am like anyone else who reminds people that God has their back! Thank you, Lord!
Yes, I googled and there is no mention of Great Scotts in the Bible. However, the Oxford Dictionary of English calls it a “dated” euphemism for “GREAT GOD!” YESSIR! I see exactly what He did there, too.
As if this were not enough, two more extensive Godversations ensued with Pickle Ball Kenny and Star Wars Patrick. I met both through Hope Fellowship more than a decade ago. When Kenny talked about the pickleball community and how they WELCOME ALL, I told him they modeled a biblical church. Being truly connected to others connects us to God. Also, the Edwards Clan will forever be in my prayers with any Star Wars reference. Patrick told me they were just thinking about our family on the way to the store today. Godwinks galore! To be extra clear, we have been open 3.3 hours, it’s 1:22 at this moment. I am here until 8 pm tonight.
Good Lord, thank you for ALL of it today. I am overwhelmed by your love pouring out. Please help me continue to represent Jesus to the best of my ability today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Floodgates. It is now 1:51 and Michigan Jake just left the store. What began as a conversation about whether or not he was from Chicago grew into the most powerful presence of the Holy Spirit today. I learned he is in a difficult season of marital separation and is father to three young kids. I encouraged him to consider less nicotine when I learned he never smoked before. I was nudged to bless him with a SidePiece with 60 percent less nicotine. He was moved and shared he feels like God keeps reaching out to him. I confirmed if he feels like God is reaching out, it is because that is very much what He does! Prayers followed with encouragement to read Hosea and keep asking the Holy Spirit to reveal why the message is for him. So many tears and not all of them flowed from my eyes. I am excited for that Godversation to continue.
Filled up. Poured out. Repeat.
The heart of the day is all about Jesus. I am so blessed to carry the heart of this day into writing the Growing Testimony.
My God Room 