Author Archives: Nannette

About Nannette

Wife to The Sweetheart, Mom to the Fantastic Six, Nana to six of the cutest littles on the planet, Author, The Daniel Fast, A Devotional. UPCI ministers.

The Narva Experience with The Sweetheart!

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The Sweetheart is my guest today! He is sharing about our trip to Narva, Estonia and our visit with the church there. There are plenty of pictures and a wonderful short story to go along with it. I know you will be blessed! Join us…

As a part of our assignment here in Estonia, we recently had the privilege of traveling to the far northeastern portion of the country. Yes, this could be referred to as the Russian border. Our destination for the day was the city of Narva, where there is a small group of Russian-speaking believers (most are dual citizens) that we were to meet with.

Narva is the third largest city in Estonia and is filled with history! Of course, pretty much all of Estonia and the Baltic States cities are filled with history. Our little over three hour drive was wonderful in and of itself. The highway went through beautiful countryside, as well as occasional glimpses of the Baltic Sea. It was another reminder of the beauty of this country. We also took a slight detour to visit the city of Sillamae. I was able to visit there one cold night during our previous term in Estonia, so seeing the city on a warm sunny day was certainly more enjoyable! (Join Douglas at our joint site, Faith Journey, to read the rest!)

narva experience

Sharing with Essential Fridays, Climb!

Would you please pray for me…NOW?

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Several times each day I see requests on social media for prayer. From Facebook to Instagram and Twitter, group Bible studies, countless emails and everything in between.  There are needs.

Endless needs.

The request usually goes something like this: “My daughter is in the hospital and I am worried sick, would you please pray?”

“I have a coworker whose husband left her and she needs prayer. Would you pray with me?”

“We just lost our grandson, we are devastated. Please pray for us.”

Of course, these are just examples but they mirror true requests that we all see every day.

The response?

“I will pray.”

“Praying!”

“Joining with you in prayer.”

“Believing and praying for your need!”

“Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you…”

Again, these are examples and well-meaning replies. We all do it and thank God we do!

But speaking from experience, how many times do we reply with that good intention, to be sure and pray for them when our prayer time rolls around again? Then, when that happens, whether it is six hours, twelve hours or twenty four…we have forgotten the literal pile of requests that have accumulated throughout the day!

I am guilty. Sometimes I do not even mutter a simple prayer as I scroll through to the next one…I am in a hurry, I will pray later.

[Tweet “What if we actually took the time, when we are asked, to pray?”]

It doesn’t mean we have to go get our Bible, run to a particular spot and pray for 15 or 30 minutes.

It means to pray a sincere prayer, asking God to meet that need, right then, right there.

There would be hundreds of us, sometimes thousands, calling out the need all day long, when we see it, when we hear it, when we are asked…when we won’t forget.

I received an email from a missionary this week and he had an urgent need. He needed prayer. Right now.  His request for us?

Stop. Drop. Pray.

Stop Drop Pray

Whatever you are doing, wherever you are, Stop. Drop everything. Pray.

“What if I am driving?”

You can still pray! Don’t be careless, just call on His name!

I had another message this week from someone close to me. He related a story of their coworker who came to him at work saying her two year old grandbaby was at the ER right then. She was very upset and extremely concerned. She also wanted to be there. She just asked, “Would you be sure and pray?” My friend turned to her and he said, “Why don’t we do that right now?”

Then he just gently took her hand…and prayed. Right there. In the office. Nothing big and loud, nothing to draw attention, yet not hiding in a corner. He prayed a simple prayer of protection, healing and peace for all involved.

Naturally, she began to cry, as soon as he started to pray, but God showed up! Her countenance changed and she was so grateful that someone would actually PRAY, not just say they would pray…

Have you tried that? Have you reached out when the need was urgent, when it just couldn’t wait, and prayed for a friend?

It will overwhelm them, comfort them, touch them like your promises may never do.

You know what will happen? They will feel Jesus! He will come, because you asked, and He will touch them, bless them, let them feel His presence near. That peace, that passes all understanding, will surround both of you as you release those burdens to the Savior.

Why don’t we make it our motto?

Stop. Drop. Pray.

If it is convenient, sure, get on your knees! Humble yourself before a mighty God and call on that Name above every Name!

But if you cannot do that, at least stop where you are, drop what you are doing, and pray. With your heart, pour the need out to God sincerely.

Watch what will happen and how it will increase not only your faith but those around you.

Because faith? Well, friend, it is contagious.

Here are some other posts on prayer that might encourage you: Ceaseless Prayer, But Prayer, Gossip and Prayerlessness, and Praying or Prying?

Kingdom2

Sharing with Making Your Home Sing, Amaze me Monday, Living Proverbs 31, Inspire Me Monday, Modest Monday, Mama Moments Monday, Sharing His Beauty, Monday Musings, Titus 2sday, UNITE, Titus 2 Tuesday, Testimony Tuesday, Wedded Wednesday, A Little R & R, Whole Hearted Wednesdays, Essential Fridays, Faith Filled Friday

Slow and Steady wins the race…

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It’s #FiveMinuteFriday! I hope you enjoy these word prompts as much as I do. When one speaks to me, jumps out at me, as this one did, it makes it easy to write. A flash mob of writers all focusing on one word and yet coming up with so many good thoughts is exciting. Today, the prompt is Finish.

Go.

One of my favorite memories of the story, The Tortoise and The Hare, is the old Bugs Bunny cartoon. (Warner Bros.) I have read the book to My Three Sons, many moons ago, it is an easy one to remember, one that you can tell over and over again and relate to so many facets of life.

tortoise-and-hare

In case you do not remember the story, or perhaps have never read the book, Mr. Hare (or that old wascally wabbit, as Elmer Fudd liked to call him, was a big-time bragger.

He was fast and he knew it.
He was first, and he was proud of it.
He was so sure of his lightning speed that he challenged, of all people, a tortoise; a slow, sluggish, unhurried, turtle.

How many times have you seen a turtle cross the road? Probably, none. You have seen a turtle crossing the road, but how many of us have sat and actually watched that poor turtle start at one side and reach the other?

No patience.

But the rabbit was so confident of his speed and ability that along the way he stops to rest, several times depending on which version you read or watch. Eventually, he falls asleep.

Where is the tortoise? He is doing what he has always done; walking.

Slow and Steady,

Steady and Slow,

That’s the way we always go!

But Slow and Steady (that is his name in one of the books!) didn’t stop. He didn’t dawdle, he didn’t look to his right or to his left. He didn’t get distracted, and if he was tired he didn’t stop. He kept going, no matter what.

He finished.

Slow and Steady

He not only finished, but he got to that finish line before the rabbit. While he was snoozing, the other team takes the baton. Not because he was faster, not because he was sly, but because he was steady.

Are you steady? Don’t worry about it if you think you are slow, as long as you are not lazy. We all are different, God made us that way.

But He does want us to be

steady
consistent
faithful
reliable
dependable
unwavering

Not looking to the right or to the left.

Not being swayed by those on the sidelines that say, “Come on over and take a little rest! It’s okay! There’s plenty of time…”

No, we keep pressing on, even in uncertainty. We push, we press, we work while it is day.

There is a Finish Line approaching. The signs of the times are everywhere and we cannot afford to be distracted in this late hour of the race. While we are being steady, while we are pressing on, we are reaching out to those that we meet along the way and say, “Come join me, walk with me, and get to know my Jesus…”

He makes the race endurable! He makes it all worthwhile. He gives strength for the journey, a light to our path and a purpose to our walk.

[Tweet “Knowing Jesus, having His Name applied, is the only way we will cross that Finish Line!”]

He is the One waiting at the end of the race, waiting to welcome us home. Hearing Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” will be all the reward we will want.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

Just finish. The best is yet to come.

Stop.

Kingdom2

 

Sharing with Faith Filled Friday, Living Proverbs 31, Modest Monday, Monday Musings