Northwoods Conservatives

February 13, 2026 7:01 pm

February 13, 2026, the 44th day of 2026 High 44°F Today was a beautiful day, sunny with a high of 44°F! And since it rose fast from a mild 21°F low, it was pretty warm all day.... View More

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Nelani Nettrour

February 12, 2026 10:26 pm

February 12, 2026, the 43rd day of 2026 Our Worth in Our Eyes There are few of us who are balanced in understanding our worth. We either think too low or too high of ourselves. There is a danger i... View MoreFebruary 12, 2026, the 43rd day of 2026 Our Worth in Our Eyes There are few of us who are balanced in understanding our worth. We either think too low or too high of ourselves. There is a danger in both. How worthy or unworthy we feel influences more than we imagine. Low self-worth may cause us to let people walk all over us, not good for us or them. Too high a self-worth can cause us to be the one walking over others. A balance is necessary and God is thr One Who helps us with that balance. But I am not writing about a balance right now, but what the Bible warns about concerning our view of self and its worth. The Bible stands in stark contrast to the world's view. And we find that it is not in thinking too little of ourselves, that we are warned about, but in thinking too highly of ourselves. The world would have us think more of ourselves and believe we are #1. The problem arises when everyone thinks they are #1, and that is not possible. The world wants our children to place their own happiness above the happiness of others. But then everyone else becomes the others. This gives rise to a world of deluded people believing that they are #1 and that their happiness is of utmost importance. These beliefs are twisted and are not attainable. Thinking this way will not lead to anyone's happiness. Better to think too little of ourselves than to think too much. When we think too little of ourselves, we may not get as much attention from the world. We may not get the accolades we deserve in this lifetime. We may do more of the work than is our share. And we will probably not be appreciated as we should. We may think we are not worthy of salvation, but we would not think we do not need salvation. When we think too highly of ourselves, our needs, our wants, our feelings become the most important thing to us. We will take without thinking that someone else may need it more, or deserve it more, than we. We will push ourselves ahead, not bothering to care about those we leave behind. When we think too highly of ourselves we imagine we deserve everything we want, without putting in the effort simply because we are worth it. We will not consider others feelings, except in regard to our happiness. We will do whatever whim we fancy if we think it will make us happy, no matter who else gets hurt. This is not the way God would have us live. It is obvious from God's word that we are not meant to be self-centered and puffed up. "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4 When we repent and follow Jesus as our Lord and Master, our King, we are not as concerned about our desires being fulfilled, as God's purposes being fulfilled. "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Romans 12:3 When it comes to how we are to live the whole book of James is amazing, but this section works nicely for this topic. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to entreat, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18 God commends those who do not overvalue their worth. Even with all God did through Moses, this is said of him. "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth." Numbers 12:3 And when battling the enemy we need to stay humble, able to be used by God, not puffed up and easily tricked by the Devil. Pride and Arrogance are th Devil's tools after all. "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore submit to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." James 4:6-10 God is the One to lift us up when we humble ourselvrs. It is not our place to lift up ourselves. Stay strong! Stay humble. NAN

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Nelani Nettrour

February 11, 2026 10:46 pm

February 11, 2026, the 42nd day of 2026 God's Guidance God guides us in so many ways, but studying the Bible is one of the best ways that He speaks to us, guides us.... View MoreFebruary 11, 2026, the 42nd day of 2026 God's Guidance God guides us in so many ways, but studying the Bible is one of the best ways that He speaks to us, guides us. I say "studying" not just "reading" because our purpose is to learn from God, seeking His guidance. We can read amazing verses, even memorizing them, and still miss so much that they are saying to us. Studying the Bible gives us the context that each verse rests in. In studying the Bible we take verse upon verse, each building upon another, giving us the whole story of what God wants us to know, not just a part of it. "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 These verses speak perfectly of how we are to live, trusting God with all our heart. That trust is above any other trust in anyone or anything. And when we have studied the whole Bible we know what happens when people have turned away from trusting God and what happens when they stay faithful. It woven throughout. At the same time that we are trusting in God, we should not be trusting in our own understanding of things. Our understanding is limited. Our understanding can be manipulated if we put it in others, instead of God. When God fills our heart, we will acknowledge Him in everything, not just in big things and in big decisions but in small ones as well. Following the direction of God becomes our natural choice. When God is guiding us, we need to remember that the wisdom that we are gaining comes from God and does not arise in us. That will help to keep us humble as will understanding human nature and the threat of sin. When we are tempted by evil in any form, we need to depart from it, not imagine that we have grown so wise that we are immune to it. Fearing God helps us depart from evil. Knowing that God does not allow us to get away with sinning, is important to understand. No matter how special we feel when walking with God, we need to understand that God will not wave away the consequences of choosing to sin. Discipline will come. And it won't be pleasant. Trusting God and walking in His way are easy choices to make when we understand Who He is! Stay strong! Seek God's guidance! NAN

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Nelani Nettrour

February 10, 2026 11:40 pm

February 10, 2026, the 41st day of 2026 God Has His Own Timing When Jesus is in our life, and we have been following Him for a while, we learn that God's timing is perfect.... View MoreFebruary 10, 2026, the 41st day of 2026 God Has His Own Timing When Jesus is in our life, and we have been following Him for a while, we learn that God's timing is perfect. Most of life we live with our free will choices. We seek God's wisdom and live our daily life in obedience to Him. We are not often waiting around for God to fulfill something particular in our lives. But there are times that we really need God's help in a decision. Often He has already told us in His word the answer and we somehow think we are the exception. We are not, and thinking that is giving into pride. Unequally yoked questions are some of the questions God has already made clear in His word. Don't do it. No matter how you feel right now, it will lead to trouble in the end. God will not answer with a "yes" when His word clearly states "no" on that topic, action or choice. The Bible is always our first line of defense against asking for the wrong thing. But even if we do ask for the wrong thing, if we are seriously seeking God's will, we will accept the inevitable "no" when we discover it. There is not a lot in our life that is contingent upon God's timing, except in requests that require His imput before we can act upon it, and that input doesn't come right away. Waiting for that input is essential, but patiently waiting doesn' happen automatically. We need to learn to wait on God. We may think that God is taking too much time and we need to do something to rush it along, but that is when patience is especially required. If we do not leave the timing to God, we may start focusing om anything and everything other than God. But we need to understand that God has no problem letting us know what we need to do, if we stay in contact with Him, praying and listening to Him. He can make it very clear. We don't need to try to just wing it. Impatience and helping God along with an answer that He hasn't given will only lead to trouble. And then God needs to deal with the mess we made before He can do what He had been planning all along, if that is still possible. Sometimes we have utterly blocked a good outcome because when we sought God's imput, we didn't wait to find out what that input was. But when we have learned to wait, we do not act until we get God's answer. While we may want to rush things along, we do not, because we have learned that God is moving pieces into place He will not be rushed. Waiting on the Lord and His timing is essential if we want to follow Him. "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalms 27:14 Stay strong! When you seek God's help, wait on His perfect timing. NAN

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Nelani Nettrour

February 10, 2026 12:43 am

February 9, 2026, the 40th day of 2026 Holding a Moment A moment is a tiny space of time. It comes, it goes and another takes its place, until we pass on.... View MoreFebruary 9, 2026, the 40th day of 2026 Holding a Moment A moment is a tiny space of time. It comes, it goes and another takes its place, until we pass on. There are so many things that fill up our moments, days and our time, but sometimes we need to stop and live in the moment before it slips away. It is not something that we are able to do at all times because we have to focus on the tasks at hand, not the entire experience of the task. Most of the time we need to be focused in a different way, on our work, so we do it properly. But sometimes, we need to purposely choose to live in the moment. It is the same idea as to "stop to smell the roses," but focusing on more of our senses. It is not something hard to do, but it also is not automatic. Our moments tend to slide into each other and mingle. I find prayer on of the best ways to be aware and presrnt in the moment, because it is not only physical but spiritual. Our surroundings join us, even though they will fade from us in the process. Because God created us as He did, He is the best One to go to, to teach us to understand and appreciate and hold a moment. When those moments join together with God, they are never lost. Since God gave us senses that He expects us to use, when we grasp a moment and hold it, we are focused on the fullness of that moment, of the sights, the sounds, the smells, the textures and the tastes. We are not ignoring or living outside of them. They are a part of our experience. Observing and savoring are some of the ways we can hold a moment. It can be done at any time. Noticing and experiencing what is going on around us is part of it. We might just look up from our work and notice something unrelated to what we are doing. It enriches the rest of the moments when we take the time to be present in them. To teach ourselves to hold a moment, and get in some pampering, as well, we can schedule uninterrupted time. It is so easy to get distracted, because life doesn't pause. But it really doesn't take much time to notice our surroundings, to breath in scents, to listen to the sounds, to touch objects, to sip a drink, nibble a snack. Purposely pausing, not rushing through everything is a part of it. Listening to the quiet, not always filling it with electronic noise, is another. A moment here and there is still better than no moment to just be alive and thankful for it. Even for those who do not think much on God, God can be found in those moments. And gratitude can grow there. You may even find that you could fit a few more of those moments into your day. Stay strong! Experience the wonder of a moment of life, in its fullness! NAN

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Nelani Nettrour

February 8, 2026 9:50 pm

February 8, 2026, the 39th day of 2026 Prayerful Music "Christ in Me Arise" was played during the church service today.... View More

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