I, like many of you, find unsettling the daily shockwaves rocking not just our nation, but also the world. Here are just a few of the things we thought we would never see.

• October massacre in Israel and American hostages still held captive by Hamas.
• Pro-Hamas, Anti-Israel Protesters and Activists in America receiving no consequences for their riots, violence, and damage while January 6^th political prisoners are still in prison and grandmothers are imprisoned for praying at abortion centers.
• Political warfare and injustice from the Democrat party against their political opponent.
• The world forced to acknowledge from the Presidential Debate that Joe Biden isn’t cognitively capable of being President in the past or in the future.
• Attempted assassination of a former, and hopefully, future President due to failure of the Secret Service to adequately protect him. If you read my blog The Millimeter Miracle!, God intervened to save President Trump who acknowledges that “Almighty God” spared his life!
• A coup forces out the Democrat presidential contender, Joe Biden, and anoints Socialist/Marxist extreme liberal VP Harris to replace him.
• A cover up by the press and White House of a cognitively incapable President for the past 3 ½ years and no one knows who is really leading the country.
• An Orwellian mainstream media repeats talking points from the Democrat party and White House, including trying to convince the public that Biden was fit for another four years in office and that Harris was never the Border Czar when every alert person knows he was declining and she was a colossal failure in charge of the border.
• An historic sanctuary built in the 1890s at First Baptist Church Dallas engulfed in flames and destroyed, yet the 130-year-old pulpit miraculously survived.
• Pagan demonic rituals in the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, including naked men and blasphemy of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Last supper, yet some Christians and even pastors are giving them a pass.
• The Democrat party is running on a barbaric genocide platform to codify federally the killing of babies up to and after birth!
• Biden, in an attempt to appease liberal progressives, is proposing a radical plan to overhaul the Supreme Court, something he never supported in the past.
• Headline: UK stabbing spree leaves 2 little girls dead, 9 others injured at Taylor Swift-themed event: 'Deeply shocking'

Those are just a few of the recent chaotic happenings in our world. Before I even have a chance to publish this newsletter, I’m sure the list will have additional shocking additions. I’m saddened just making that list. Things I could never imagine in my lifetime, yet they’re rapidly occurring. Looking closely at Scriptures, we know it really must happen before Jesus returns for His church and He has chosen us to be alive at this time to experience it all. Just as Paul told his young mentee, Timothy. . . 

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Tim. 3:1-5

Paul then gave encouragement and a charge to Timothy that we can apply to our own life and to those God calls us to encourage and mentor through these difficult trying times.

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:10-17

Let’s take Paul’s admonitions and apply them to an acrostic for C-H-A-O-S to help us stay focused on what God would have us do personally to navigate through these tumultuous chaotic times.

C-alm: It’s easy to get riled up, angry, and yes worried at what’s happening in our culture today, but Jesus doesn’t want us to be troubled or fearful. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

H-ope: Without hope, the people perish. Our hope is not in the government or our surroundings. Our only secure hope is the hope of eternity with Jesus Christ. Sadly, many lack that hope and blessed assurance, but those of us who put our faith and hope in Christ alone will experience peace in the midst of chaos. I pray you have that hope. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Rom. 5:4 NLT

A-rmor of God: There’s no doubt we’re living through a fierce spiritual battle that can be treacherous and arduous, but Paul also gave us scriptural guidelines for how to be mighty warriors for Christ in Ephesians 6:10-18.

O-bey: Do you remember the lyrics to the old hymn, which tells where we’ll find our peace? “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” The love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! Ps. 103-17-18 NLT

S-criptures: Read your Bible daily! Not as a duty, but to learn how to follow God’s plan for your life and the calling and action He is asking you personally to take now! It will be specific and different for each of us. Prayerfully search the Scriptures to discover your calling. Then calmly, humbly, and dressed in your spiritual armor, obey what God reveals to you in His Word. You will never regret it! Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Ps. 119:105

Then victoriously we can say together, “I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.” Ps. 119:93 NLT

About His Work with You,

Janet

New Blog Posts:

The Millimeter Miracle!

5 Ways To Avoid Condoning Sin!

The Great Debate that Begs the Question: Who is the Real Commander in Chief of the United States?

Janet's Crosswalk Articles:

7 Transformative Things That Will Enhance Your Prayer Life Today

Janet's "Nutrition Nook" Column in Christian Living Magazine:

Nutrition Nook – Know what you’re eating – read labels

Nutrition Nook – A Simple, Healthful Recipe For Chicken Nuggets

PS: Are you looking for a Bible study for your group to do in the summer or fall? Check out the Face-to-Face Bible study series, or one of my books like Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God our Culture Has Forgotten, or Everyday Brave: Living Courageously As A Woman of Faith are available at Amazon, BarnesandNoble, and signed and personalized by Janet from our website shop. Both books are written for our current times. Perfect for book clubs and Bible Study groups.

PSS: The Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry Leader's Kit, Coordinator’s Guide, and Training Leader’s Guide are no longer available, but you can still order the Mentor and Mentee Handbooks from our website shop. In fact now is the time to order your Mentor and Mentee Handbooks for summer & fall Mentoring Ministry Coffees and matching.   

PSSS: Please share with us a story from your mentoring ministry to encourage other churches.

We were thrilled to attend the wedding of our grandson Micah and his new bride Olivia this month. We also were blessed to meet our new great-grandbaby, Lucy, and her mommy Krista, as well as spend time with other grandkids we hadn’t seen for a few years. What a joy to watch our family expanding and the starting of the next generation of families. I used to wonder what it would feel like to be the grandmother at weddings and to live long enough to be a great grandmother. I can tell you it feels wonderful and I don’t feel as old as I thought I would!

The Lord has led me to remind the grandkids that Grampa Dave and I pray for them daily. Then the Lord had me ask them for their prayer requests and to assure them that they can always call or text us with ways we can pray for them. I was so blessed when one grandson asked us to pray for him to find a Christian group at college, and when I mentioned this to another granddaughter starting college this year, she gave me some suggestions that she’s been looking at to share with him. I love having these life-changing conversations with the older grandkids, even as we also ask, “How’s school going?” Or “How’s work?”