November 2025 Conchshell Chronicles

 

The Bagby Family with our friend Gal wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Why Should We Give Thanks?

 

“Anxiety is the most common mental-health disorder in the United States, affecting nearly one-third of both adolescents and adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.”                                       (New York Times, 11 Oct 2017)

I read this quote on the widespread anxiety that is affecting so many in our culture in 2018. That was eight years ago. In the meantime we all experienced the years of the Plandemic, in which we were forced to stay inside, not walk on the beach, wear a mask in public places, not visit friends and family, not allowed into hospitals when family and dear ones were sick and dying of the Wuhan virus and other diseases, not allowed to gather for church services and had to stand six feet apart from other persons when in line at stores. The resulting isolation had significant effects on many in our communities. It was a campaign of Fear which resulted in Anxiety and Depression. As a result, according to the World Health Organization, anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25% by 2022.

We now know that many of these restrictions were not effective but often counterproductive to our health. Mr. Science even confessed that the ‘6 feet separation’ was a random number that had no scientific basis.

Has our society recovered from the effects? Recent studies suggest that 4% of our world population (roughly 300 million people) suffer from anxiety and depression.

What are the common cures for anxiety? Many doctors prescribe drugs such as Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. Other health practitioners suggest better nutrition, exercise, essential oils, and other natural remedies. Although many of these are helpful, we are given another solution to anxiety by our Heavenly Father:

 ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.                            Philippians 4:6-7

Thanks: An expression of gratitude. Thankfulness is an important concept in our spiritual lives which affects our emotional wellbeing, as well as our physical health.

 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.   Col 3:15-17

The Key seems to be giving thanks to God. This is the “anxiety” reliever. Why?     Because as the psalmist says:

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting!                                                                                                                          Psalm 107:1

God’s character is described as filled with lovingkindness toward us, and this lovingkindness will never end. Whatever is happening in our lives, outside our doors, or on Earth, God says to give thanks and trust Him.

 ³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about  tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.                 Matthew 6:25-34

 

 

Giving thanks to God is important in our relationship with God. It is an expression of ultimate faith in Him to provide, protect, and prosper us.  Jesus says not to worry, because He already knows your needs. If we follow Him, life our lives for Him and those around us, we will have all that we need. In my experience, He often gives us more than we need, so that we can become the givers that God uses to meet the needs of others.

November is the month that we dedicate a day to giving thanks. It is an American tradition that began in 1621, when 50 survivors of the Mayflower colonists celebrated an abundant harvest with 100 Native Americans who assisted them in their cultivation of crops, and literally saved their lives. There was a lot to give thanks to God about that year.

Our first president George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving as a national celebration in 1789. The experience of the Revolutionary War, and subsequent quest for a workable form of government cause many of our founding fathers to beseech God for direction, and many credit those prayers as the catalyst for the principles formulated in our Constitution.

Regardless of our current circumstances, we all have some basic things to be thankful for. If giving thanks becomes a priority in our lives, and trusting God to guide us and provide for us, then life will become less anxious, and more peaceful.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving.
Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
For the LORD is a great God,
a great King above all gods. Psalms 95:2-3

  These ancient words are very significant and applicable to our lives now. Let’s make this a month, and year of constantly giving thanks to our Lord.                                  MB

 

 

Lamb Bleatings

By Laura Bagby

 

Our Victory in Christ …..

”In the same way the Spirit also helps   our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself  intercedes for us with groanings too deep   for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose,” Romans 8:26-28 

Following Jesus has been the single most monumental game changer of my life in the big and small moments of each and  every day.  Becoming more and more like my Hero is a moment by moment goal...to walk in and live out his characteristic of “Love, joy, peace , patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.’ Gal 5:22 

When I find myself lacking in these characteristics, I have to remind myself, “I have been crucified with Christ ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. It is so good to live for and from the power of a Perfect Being who loves me and cares for every little detail of life.  He designed me and knows me better than I know myself.  I love that I get to talk to and be with the King of the universe 24-7 and He is always there for me.  He stays the same...yesterday, today and forever.  Consistent Perfection from the Creator...reliable and eternal.  Knowing my position of favor with my heavenly Father breeds a sense of security and trust in this relationship of dependability at least on God’s part.  Through my belief, acceptance, trust and faith, I get to become a child of the living God who is constantly present and able to do the impossible.  God is the ultimate Artist. I love functional art...like cutting hair , seeing movement in music and expressing that outwardly in a variety of shapes to a beat...love watching God’s art fill the sky and the small wonder of details on a flower or leaf.  I enjoy the functional art of prepping, cooking and enjoying a good plate of food.  I learned this weekend how important it is to enjoy THE PROCESS and finding  joy in every step.

  A few weeks ago, I decided that I would make some cabbage rolls for our Sunday lunch. We had ordered some meat through one of Lukas’s friends and I began prepping in my head the process of putting together cabbage rolls which involves some steps of cooking the cabbage, mixing the meat with a variety spices, vegetables & rice.  Then rolling up the meat in the softened cabbage.  I had the perfect amount of meat for my cabbage leaves...Great when it all matches up!

When I invited my Sunday crew for lunch and said I was having cabbage rolls...one asked, “are we having anything else with it?”  I thought it was  pretty all inclusive ...you know meat, veggies, rice all wrapped up in one.  Another said, “ I just ate cabbage yesterday.” Then one of them said, “I am going to Sams...do you need anything else.” I said, “Buy me some    flowers” (didn’t seem like I gave the right answer) and then I added and “Get some chips you might like because I also made some good bean dip,” none of which sparked any excitement.

My circumstances or opinions do not dictate my response of my own inner contentment. With the stability of  Knowing Christ my Victor and Identity, I am free and remain unaffected.

I am free to learn and grow: Adding to my cabbage roll teaching: do not do it for  Sunday family meal, not in a crock pot, salt more, pack lightly so the rice and cabbage have enough room and liquid to cook through. I Live and learn. Grace is so powerful when applied to myself and others. God is always teaching us..Laughing about it is better than crying.

Despite it all, I had this undergirding gracious glee of   satisfaction and joy. I have come a long way in not living to please the masses (not even myself), but Just One Person;  God my Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Nothing else matters. 

I have since been able to cook it longer, season it more and feed it to more of my friends who appreciate it.   Laura

 

 

Rio Coco Nicaragua

 

Tom meeting with our Seek The Lamb team in Waspam Rio Coco Nicaragua

clockwise: Tom, Sofia, Rodolio, Carlos, Mayga, & Onofre

 

This month, Nutie and Tom Keogh are with Young Life  Nicaragua leaders Bency and Jhonolin visiting our communities on the Lower Coco River bringing the Bible Club concept to our communities. Our hope is to establish Bible Clubs in our nine communities where we have educated children since 1985.

Young Life is also wanting to make use of our office building in Waspam for the Waspam Bible Club and other Young Life events. For 37 years we focused on education, and now all of  the pastors and teachers in these communities are our former students with a basic knowledge of the Bible.

Now we  on the spiritual life of our communities is exactly what we came to the Rio Coco to do.

Please pray for our team traveling downriver this next week. There has been much rain and the bugs are thick. Pray for open hearts in our communities. Pray for finances to repair the roof of our office in Waspam, and support for our leaders.

It is an exciting new direction for our Rio Coco outreach!

Here is our link to be part of this adventure:

Rio Coco Bible Clubs

 

 

Rio Coco Beans Coffee

This year we are again offering our Private Label / Personalized Coffee Bags as the perfect Christmas gift for your family and friends. Many of you have enjoyed this opportunity over these past years.

We are offering three special Blends for our personalized 12 oz bags of high altitude, hand picked specialty coffee.

Americas Blend

Honduras, Blue Mountain, Nicaraguan Altisimo and our Colombia Mile High creates a bright nutty, flora, chocolate combination with citrus notes.

 

Pacific Blend

Papua New Guinea, Sumatra Rain, Timor White Star, and Silky Java all combine for smooth, deep body, caramel chocolate cherry cedar notes.

 

Organic Blend

Our Silky Java Indonesian coffee with its complex cedar chocolate notes blends well with our El Jaguar chocolate citrus notes coffee from the mountains of Western Honduras.

 

We are offering these 12 oz bags in sets of three.

Please go to Riococobeans.com and click on the Private Labels / Personalized Coffee Bags on the Front Page.

Here is the link to the page to order.

Rio Coco Beans Private Labels

 Select the quantity of 12 oz coffee bags (in sets of 3- so 12 bags would be “4 sets”), and then send us your photo and message (‘Merry Christmas from the Bagby Family’ of something similar) to us at riococobeans@gmail.com.

We will confirm receipt of your photo and message and create the personalized label for your coffee. After roasting, we will label and bag your coffee and ship to your address or you may pick it up at the Rio Coco Cafe on 43rd Ave in Vero Beach Florida.

Please give us 10 business days between your order and shipping for label creation.

The price for 3 bags includes the $15 set up charge.

Minimum order is 3 Twelve ounce bags.

 

How Can You Help This Month?

1) Pray for us for us! Fire your spiritual arrows

2) Support one of our Seek The Lamb missionaries;

3) Help us repair the Waspam office roof.

You may donate online at seekthelamb.com—”Give”. 

Thanks!

 

Spiritual Arrows / Your Prayers:

Please pray that God will:

1) Protect our team in Nicaragua as they travel downriver.

2) Bring many into the Rio Coco Cafes this month.

3) Provide us with missionaries for the Rio Coco Café on Utila.