Northwoods Conservatives

December 10, 2025 5:53 pm

December 10, 2025, the 344th day of 2025 Trust, Not Apathy or Resignation Trust in God is an action. It takes our will. It takes decisiveness. It is not passive. It is not surrendering to the in... View MoreDecember 10, 2025, the 344th day of 2025 Trust, Not Apathy or Resignation Trust in God is an action. It takes our will. It takes decisiveness. It is not passive. It is not surrendering to the inevitable. It is not apathy. It is not resignation. When we truly trust God with our entire being there is a peace that is beyond explanation or even our understanding. That trust is expressed by our faith in the goodness of God, that He is worthy of our trust, that we are safe in His care no matter what happems. It is not worrying. Trust acknowledges that it is to God that we turn for our answers to whatever concerns we have. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 In truly trusting God, that peace of God fills us to overflowing. It remains no matter our circumstances, as long as we continue to trust God fully. But if we falter, question the goodness of God, doubt the purposes of God, that peace will not be as complete. It will be lacking something vital, because our faith is lacking. Wavering faith makes ripples form in us that carries doubts deeper into our being, disrupting our peace. It is why the Devil wants to shake that trust. It is why he whispers doubts into our mind and pushes for us to be anxious and worried. Anxiety is the quickest why to lose that peace. The answer is to draw all the nearer to God--instead of slipping away from Him-- when doubts arise. "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. Psalms 42:11 When we trust in the Lord we discover how very trustworthy God is. There is no better place to place our trust. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7 Stay strong! Trust God with all of your heart! NAN

View Less

Be the first person to like this.

Nelani Nettrour

December 9, 2025 7:21 pm

December 9, 2025, the 343rd day of 2025 Odds and Ends Today was a fun day shopping with my sister to get supplies for Christmas baking and Christmas time.... View More

Be the first person to like this.

Nelani Nettrour

December 8, 2025 2:40 pm

December 8, 2025, the 342nd day of 2025 Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice It is just as important to rejoice with those who rejoice as it is to weep witj those who weep.... View MoreDecember 8, 2025, the 342nd day of 2025 Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice It is just as important to rejoice with those who rejoice as it is to weep witj those who weep. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." Romans 12:15 I think most of us have gotten down weeping with those who weep, giving each other time to mourn and standing with them in sorrow. We may have taken it a bit far though, by not pulling someone out, back into life, hope and sunshine when they have dwelled too long in sorrow. In giving them space to mourn, they often become isolated. I know the feeling. I have been there before. But God told me that though I had the right to mourn, that I did not have thr rigjt to steal another's joy because of it. And I agreed then and do so now. If we are left to mourn endlessly we will be trapped in it. We will forget that others do not need to be trapped in our sorrow either. We need to have the sympathy we want from others. We each need to rejoice with others and be rejoiced with, as well as we need to comfort or be comforted. The world praises wallowing in sorrow, while it rejects being happy for the happiness of others. We must be able to rejoice for those who rejoice, not feel jealous or envious of their success. It is important to be able to rejoice and have others rejoice with us. But sometimes we don't share our joy because others don't have our reason to rejoice. Sometimes we won't share our answers to prayers because others have had prayers that have not been answered as they wanted.. But we all have joy to spare when we share it with one another. We should be able to experience shared joy as well as sharing our joy. If someone has issues with your rejoicing because they covet what you have, that is their problem not yours. It should not keep you from sharing your good news, just don't get puffed up in doing so. America used to rejoice in the hard work and the success of others, but the covetousness spirit has taken over much of the country. We will not rejoice when another rejoices if we covet what they have or belittle the effort it took to succceed. This leads to--or springs from--envy and jealousy. All dark emotions and willful sins will hamper or destroy the ability to share in another's rejoicing. It is important to be able to rejoice with those who rejoice as well as weep with those who weep. It is our generous heart that grows in the first, and our sympathetic heart that grows in the other. Stay strong! Being able to share in another's joys and sorrows makes you closer to the heart of God. NAN

View Less

Be the first person to like this.

Nelani Nettrour

December 7, 2025 5:20 pm

December 7, 2025, the 341st day of 2025 Beware of Sneak Attacks Nothing is as simple as it seems. And yet some of the hardest problems have the simplest answers. The main answer to everything is ... View MoreDecember 7, 2025, the 341st day of 2025 Beware of Sneak Attacks Nothing is as simple as it seems. And yet some of the hardest problems have the simplest answers. The main answer to everything is first to pray, seeking God's face in all things. It should be obvious, especially for Christians, but it is easy for people to fret first and pray when all else fails. That is a bad habit to fall into. It is much better to pray first. Even though there are so many blessings in the Christmas season, there are also issues with making the time to spend with all the people we want to spend time with and who want to spend time with us. If we realize that family, friendship and fellowship matters to God, then we would add prayers to our concerns about making and keeping relationships. For every glorious blessing that would uplift our spirit and bring a smile to our soul, the enemy has an attack to counter it. Anything that matters to God in any season I just assume will be a challenge because we are in Spiritual Warfare. And Satan does not take off for the Holidays, he actually ramps up his attacks then, and his minions are out in force. And their attacks will look so unlike warfare that we can miss them as attacks if we are not on the lookout. If we are not careful we will just find ourselves too busy, and it will slip our mind that we wanted to catch back up with one another during this time. It is no coincidence that we will suddenly remember when it is too late, and we would disturb them. So, we put it off again, and forget again, if we are not proactive in prayer about it. Satan hates anything to do with joy, gratitude, contentment, uplifting fellowship, good whole fun, sharing our gifts and our time and so much more that can be brought out in this season. But the Devil knows that it doesn't take much to get us off track--a little push to overtax our energy, some rude people pushing and shoving, the feeling of envy when there are things we want to give, but we cannot really afford that we pass by, or go into debt for. Add a dash of misunderstanding, a pinch of hurt feelings, and some added stress to the mix. Next add to an already busy schedule, blend in a sense of being overwhelmed and a sprinkle of loneliness and we have a recipe for disaster. The attack is then set to cause heartache, even if only a few of Satan's arrows hit their mark. Being ignorant of this makes for many people dreading a time that should fill us with such a sense of gratitude that it spills out all around us. To know that the enemy will use this time against as many people as possible, will help prepare us for his onslaught not only against us, but those we love. And we will wisely be prepared to fight against it wherever it is seen! Stay strong! The Devil never takes off, but be of good cheer, neither does God! NAN

View Less

Be the first person to like this.

Nelani Nettrour

December 6, 2025 8:54 pm

December 6, 2025, the 340th day of 2025 Two Christmas Events Last night we went to the Live Nativity done by a local Christian school. It is so great to see the children, adults and animals do such... View MoreDecember 6, 2025, the 340th day of 2025 Two Christmas Events Last night we went to the Live Nativity done by a local Christian school. It is so great to see the children, adults and animals do such a great job. It is always a joy to behold and I never tire of going to it, year after year. Sometimes it is really cold because of the unpredictable nature of this season. It is outside in the evening. We sat on blanket covered bales of hay, which really makes good temporary seating for the crowds. This year it was pretty nice out, though the damp caused more of a chill as we sat still. Afterwards we walked around inside where they had recreated a little slice of the old town of Bethlehem, with many jobs of the time being acted out with people in costume. That really gave the proper ambiance to the event. Then a time for enjoying many varieties of baked goods, popcorn, nuts along with hot apple cider, hot cocoa or coffee. Then tonight was the Christmas Kick-Off at the park. The pavillion was closed around and made to look like a Christmas house. We brought our little dogs in a stroller and they got pictures next to Santa and Mrs Clause with us. Then we had cookies and cocoa and went out to enjoy the music and the Christmas lights, that were placed about in many shapes. This year snow was everywhere, so it really had the Christmasy air. Outside there were nice fires to warm by. Soon it was time for the lighting of the Christmas tree. We had a great time and our dogs seemed to have fun as well. And they are always a hit wherever they go. Now we are going to relax and have some hot tea and warm Gingerbread as we listen an audiobook. Since we were making Gingerbread for the church pot luck tomorrow, we made some extra. So good. What a nice way to spend an evening! It is that time of year where days and nights are really packed with events and things to choose from. We limit ourselves or we could be going non-stop most of the days and evenings of this month. Celebrating the birth of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords is such a joy! Stay strong! There are so many things to choose from to be a part of the Christmas celebration out in the towns or in the quiet of your home. NAN

View Less

Be the first person to like this.

Nelani Nettrour

December 5, 2025 2:15 pm

December 5, 2025, the 339th day of 2025 Aim For the Goal It is not because an ultimate goal is easily attainable that we aim for it, but because it leads us down the right path.... View MoreDecember 5, 2025, the 339th day of 2025 Aim For the Goal It is not because an ultimate goal is easily attainable that we aim for it, but because it leads us down the right path. We do not give up because the goal is too lofty. It is not because the goal is even attainable in this lifetime that we press on, but because our values are godly values. Even as we reach for and gain attainable goals along the way, they leads us down the path of our ultimate goal. Knowing that in this human flesh we will never perfectly live the Christian life, does not mean we give up and give into sin. We fight against sin nature all the more. We are never going to love God perfectly in this lifetime, but it is the goal we aim for. We are never going to understand all the mysteries of God in this lifetime, but it is the goal we strive for. Even within the family of God, we are not going to care for every fellow Christian as much as we care for our close Christian friends, but it is the goal we are aiming for. The reminders of how easily we can sin and slip up are not meant to cause us to give up in despair, but to keep us trusting in God's strength, instead of our own, and to keep us humble. There are many good works that are expected of us, merely because we ought to do what Jesus asks us to do. Our humanity may be a stumbling block in some ways, but it is also where we sympathize and empathize with one another. Some of our struggles that took so long for us to overcome, may cause us shame when looked back upon, but they are also why we can encourage another in their struggles to hang in there and keep going. Our trials may be of a different kind from one another, but we all have them. Our wounds and our struggles may be unique to each of us individually, but we all still have them. As we focus our attention on being like Jesus as out goal, we don't settle for being just a little bit better than the other guy. When our goal is to love God with the entirety of our being, we don't hold up tiny examples of love as proof we have attained it. We keep aiming higher. Don't be discouraged when you fall short of your goal. Confess and repent of your sin. Pick yourself up. Refocus your eyes on Jesus. And keep moving towards that goal! Stay strong! Keep your eyes on Jesus and your heart alert to His leading! NAN

View Less

Be the first person to like this.