It was right before Christmas of last year (2020) when I posted last ... eight months! Much has occurred since then.

Geographically, we moved from Northern Virginia to South Carolina. That, in and of itself, has been both a joy and a battle. Anyone who knows me can tell you how very much I dislike moving. Throw on top of that a house build that was supposed to be done in January and actually didn't finish until the end of March. Then there was coordinating (vendors, internet, water, electric, trash, etc.), address corrections (city changed the street name), Google Maps address corrections, Apple Maps address corrections, unpacking, buying furniture in a COVID world, adjustments and readjustments, COVID impacted southern schedules, post office battles (don't get me started on this one), UPS/Fedex, and, oh, there were five (5) cats in the mix as well. Let's just say its been a bit stressful.

Spiritually, God, as always, has remained steadfast and true. In all of the turmoil and stress he is the one fixed point of reference. At the end of last year year Jesus gave me the phrase "Eyes on me." and it has been such a rescue! Over and over again, when the paint colors are wrong, when the granite gets ruined, when the flooring is delayed (for the 10th time), when the cats are bouncing off the walls in a small condo, when work gets busier and busier, when family issues explode, when ... when ... when ...

I look to Jesus and I am rescued. "Eyes on me."

And so here I am leaning back into writing and sharing the things I find to be nuggets of gold as I walk with God through this thing we call life.

Hello again dear friends!

I must admit that the idea and most of the base for the following prayer is not my own. It comes from Wild at Heart Ministries' One Minute Pause app. At the end of 2019, the world was running at a frantic pace and most people, at least here in the US, were physically and mentally tapped out. So, given the technological world we live in, the team at Wild at Heart wanted to provide a way to for us to get in a couple pauses during our busy days to realign ourselves with Jesus for 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes. Recently, they added a set of pauses to support strengthening our mental life and, as usual, they are more than helpful.

With that in mind, I offer my own tweaked version of the prayer included in the 5 minute mental strength pause. As with most prayers I receive from others, the Spirit tweaks them in alignment with what he is doing in and through me. I trust that you will tweak this in your own way and in alignment with what God is doing in and through you. May you be strengthened, encouraged, and blessed. Godspeed!

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” – Psalm 139:23

“… be transformed by the renewing of your mind. …” – Romans 12:2

I come to you, Jesus, for peace of mind. I come to you for the renewing of my mind.

I give my mind to you, Jesus. I set my mind on you.

Take my every thought captive. Renew them. Restore them. Redeem them. Align my every thought to your thoughts.

I surrender all the news, all worry and speculation. All loss and death. All destruction and desolation. All anger and frustration. All desolation and disappointment. I surrender everything vying for my attention to you Lord Jesus.

I give you my thoughts, Jesus.

All my mental life … my focus, and attention; my memory, and recall; my understanding, and imagination; my confusion, and fear.

I dedicate the life of my mind to you, Lord Jesus, and to you alone.

“… the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6b

Holy Spirit – Spirit of God – come and fill my mind. Come, and fill my thoughts. Fill my mind with life and peace.

Holy Spirit – Spirit of God – come and fill my mind. Come, and fill my thoughts. Fill my mind with life and peace.

“… we have the mind of Christ” – 1 Corinthians 2:16b

I ask to be one mind with you, Jesus. One with you, Lord Jesus, as you are one with the Father.

One thought, one imagination, one mental life. One with you in anticipation, in expectancy, and in action.

I receive the mind of Christ.

I receive the mind of Christ.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4:8

Think about something beautiful, something that reminds you of the goodness of God. A place you love, a beautiful memory, your favorite thing in nature. Remember it. Hold it in your mind. Rest in it. Rest in God's goodness and love.