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.

Laying down the Law, picking up Grace…

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Celebrating Anniversary Week here on Hope in the Healing! Two years ago this week you invited me into your cyber lives and I have been forever blessed. I know this past year, especially the last six months, have not been my best but I appreciate that the blog has grown and you have shared and encouraged. I thank you. Today and tomorrow I am sharing the two most viewed posts from last year. This post was in response to a She Reads Truth sharing challenge. I hope you enjoy. Blessings!

Poor Nehemiah. He leaves for Jerusalem with the intent of rebuilding the city and setting it back in its rightful place. He accomplishes this great feat in 52 days! Once it is accomplished, he must return to Babylon for a while and while he is gone, just as Moses experienced coming down from Mount Sinai, the people fall right back into their sinful ways. When he returns, history tells us ten to twelve years later, chaos is rampant.

One of the priests, Eliashib has set up a room for his good relative, Tobiah where they used to store the “…grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil.”
The priests were also no longer receiving their pay and had literally left to go back to their homes.
They were working on the Sabbath! Treading out the winepresses, bringing in the grain and as Nehemiah tells it, “Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself!” Nehemiah 13:16 ESV.
They were marrying outside of Israel. Nehemiah reminds them that was the downfall of King Solomon, the greatest king who ever lived, and loved by God, yet he fell into sin when he began to marry outside of God’s commandments.

These are just a few of the atrocities that the people were committing and Nehemiah was furious.

“Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.” Nehemiah 13:30-31 ESV.

It seems we are back where we started with the Israelites. We can read all throughout the book of Nehemiah, why he has this tremendous burden to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He is loyal, dedicated and committed to his beloved Jerusalem, and most of all, to his God.

Just as everything is set in place, and their fearless leader returns to Babylon, to fulfill commitments there, once again Israel sins.

Why?

Relationship, relationship, relationship.

They were not in love with the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Nehemiah. They were not committed to His ways and His laws. Maybe even in this instance they were serving man and not God.

[Tweet “Rules and regulations will never replace relationship!”]

When Jesus ascended back to Heaven, He left us His Holy Spirit to dwell IN us; a living, breathing, portion of the Father to be with us and IN us until He would return to take us unto Himself.

This Holy Ghost, as it is referred to in the Book of Acts, was, and is, intended to give us the knowledge of God, to know right from wrong and to have the power to overcome. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

[Tweet “Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the Law ; replacing rules with Relationship.”]

Does that mean WE never sin, if we have this power within us?

Of course not, but we do have relationship, and a desire to please the One who gave His very life for us. We are not bound by rules, but by love for a Savior.

So, why does the Book of Nehemiah end so disappointingly? What does the Lord want us to understand here about Jesus Christ and the Church?

Nehemiah continually looked back to the Savior.

He knew where his strength and help originated from. Just like Moses, he realized that those “rules” were meant to give guidance and direction to a wandering people. He set the example before them that when the Laws were broken, they could repent (turn from their sin) and God would forgive.

Ultimately, the Law, the rules, regulations, promises and covenants were virtually powerless when it came to eradicating sin in the lives of people.

It is truly the grace of God, the infilling of His Spirit, that gives us the desire and the power to overcome!

The following of rules will continually cause us to look at ME instead of Jesus.

All throughout the Old Testament, we see time and time again the leaders pulling their hair out (and even some on others!), frustrated with the continual sinning of Israel. God rewards them with fantastic victories only to have them turn right around and go back to their pigpen, over, and over, and over again.

We will always be disappointed because we will never reach perfection if we are bound by contracts and misplaced promises.

Thank God for Calvary! We have a Hope and His name is Jesus!

We are saved because of who HE is, not by what we can do.

Sharing with Faith Filled Fridays, Fellowship Fridays

We remember…

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In honor of Memorial Day, I want to give a little history. I stand with you and honor your loved ones who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was set aside to remember and honor those military veterans that gave their lives for our country, those that gave everything to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

The first official proclamation for a Memorial Day was made by General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, on May 5, 1868. The first official observance was on May 30 of that year. Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington national Cemetery. Here is the “General Order No. 11” that General Logan wrote:

“. . . We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders.

Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds.

Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners . . .

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time;

Let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor;

Let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation’s gratitude, the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan. . .”

Today, Memorial Day has transformed into a day to honor and remember all those who have died. People decorate the graves of their loved ones and visit the cemetery in their honor. There is nothing wrong with that but let us not forget the reason for this day of remembrance! Help us to not pass by the grave of a soldier without proper decoration! This is what the holiday is all about. It is more than hot dogs, hamburgers and apple pie. More than ball games, get-togethers and visits to the lake. These are all good time spent with family and friends, nothing wrong with that either!

But can we take time to pause this Monday and remember?

December, 2000, Congress passed The National Moment of Remembrance Act, P.L. 106-579. This was to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity”. Congress wanted our heroes to not be forgotten so on Memorial Day, no matter where you are, or what you are doing, could you pause at 3 p.m. to “…voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of Remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to “Taps”.

Memorial Day has also evolved into a day to honor those that ARE serving. So, yes, I know Veterans Day is set aside for that, but I don’t have a problem with honoring our veterans ANY TIME. Two times per year is not enough! We can “remember” all that they have given when they committed to protecting our great country.

Last year I honored my grandfather, James L. McCammon, for his service, and yet, he did not die in battle. I personally do not know anyone who has and have chosen instead to honor someone I know who served in Iraq.

Today I am sharing a special picture with you of my nephew, Justin Turner. Justin served four years of active duty in the Army and one tour in Iraq. He now serves as a combat medic in the National Guard while pursuing a career in nursing. Justin and my niece, Megan, also serve as youth pastors in their church in Ohio.

Thank you, Justin, for giving, for serving and for continuing to serve our great country. We appreciate you and the thousands of others like you who sacrifice every day for our freedoms. We are forever in your debt!

This picture below, of Megan and Justin, is just the epitome of the way we feel on Memorial Day. We honor our flag, our country, and those who gave EVERYTHING. We thank you.

We walked among the crosses
Where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle
As TAPS began to play.
The Chaplain led a prayer
We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known so long ago.
They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They lie here ‘neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.
Now the services are over
For this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,
Thanks for what you’ve given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
From now through evermore.

C.W. Johnson

Enjoy a wonderful Memorial Day holiday with your family and friends!

May God continue to bless America.

Sharing with Give Me Grace, Inspire Me Monday, Amaze Me Monday, Sunday Stillness, Mom’s the Word, Motivation Monday, Living Proverbs 31, Happiness is Homemade, Patriots Palooza, Modest Monday

Where there’s smoke…there’s fire!

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It’s FiveMinuteFriday! Today we write for the love of the written word. No extreme editing, just write. The word prompt is “Close”.

Go!

A couple of years ago, while living in Europe, (Tallinn, Estonia to be exact), we had settled in our apartment right downtown, and were doing our best to become acclimated to the culture and lifestyle of these beautiful people.

Our apartment had eight floors, was sandwiched between other businesses, one of them was of the “don’t-tell-your-mother-kind”, but basically it was a decent part of town. We had a great view of the street below our cubby hole, which was just short of 600 square feet. It actually felt much larger because of the open floor plan, and it was perfect for two. Even though it was a simple “flat”, it was equipped with the typical Northern European necessity…a Finnish sauna!

Early one morning, I was awakened by voices, voices that sounded like they were right outside our window. That was impossible, since we were on the third floor, so I ventured to the door and looked outside. There was no one around. Yet I still heard people talking, and commotion, so I went to the window, pulled up the blinds and was shocked to see two firemen coming up a ladder! The windows only “tipped” in so I couldn’t get my head out to see as well as I would like. What I could see was a huge crowd gathered on the sidewalk across the street and smoke. Lots of smoke!

Panic was soon to set in so I rushed and awakened The Sweetheart.

“We are on fire!! We have to get out now!”

This wonderful man and I will celebrate our 35^th wedding anniversary July 20. We know each other pretty well and I knew he would not be as anxious and terrified as I was. He got up and assessed the situation and said that no one had come to evacuate the building so it must be contained.

What??!!! Who in their right mind would stay in a building that was on fire just because no one had told us to get out??!

I was already dressed and ready to head out the door. Eternity passes while he gets prepared; I refused to let him SHOWER, and finally we venture out of our apartment. Another tenant was locking their door and starting down the hallway too. We asked if they knew anything about what was going on and their reply? “There is a fire.”

Thanks, Buddy.

Once downstairs, out the door and across the street, we can get a better look. There are several fire trucks and I see flames and smoke pouring out of an eight story window right above our apartment! But the Estonians? Calm, cool, collected, and absolutely no panic.

Our “neighbors”, in the apartment beside us, were the most puzzling. They did not evacuate! As a matter of fact, she was hanging out the window giving instruction to the fire department! She was not going to leave; she was just going to watch everything from her own “window seat”.

This was unbelievable to me. Your building is on fire and you are so close to it that you can smell the smoke and see the flames, but you decide to stay put?

In all of this, I discovered that yes, I probably over-react.

I have always been a baby when it comes to foreboding disaster and impending doom. I tend to want to get away from it, to protect myself and my family, to flat out RUN!

I wasn’t crazy about living on the third floor to begin with, I am extremely claustrophobic, I cannot stand to be closed in and will not take an elevator without The Sweetheart attached to my side. Yes, it’s bad.

Now I am also going to be terrified of fires. We haven’t been in this beautiful country even two weeks and already I am dreading the remaining ten in this apartment.

We make our way back upstairs and fight the smell of smoke for weeks to come. Every night when I would try to go to sleep I would replay the events of the day of the fire over and over in my head. It was too close, too personal and just too scary. (My pictures are after the fact so unfortunately, it doesn’t look as bad as it I remember it!)

But one night it was as if the Lord spoke to me and said that even though the fire was frightening, that there was nothing to be afraid of.

He had brought us there, we had a work to do, and He would take care of His people.

I could rest and take great comfort in the fact that I was protected and being “watched over”. I just needed to trust.

Do not fear, do not panic. “I am close.”

Stop.

Sharing with Fellowship Fridays, Weekend Brew, Recommendation Saturday, Sunday Stillness, Inspire Me Monday, Living Proverbs 31, Modest Mondays

Author Archives: Nannette

About Nannette

Laying down the Law, picking up Grace…

One of the priests, Eliashib has set up a room for his good relative, Tobiah where they used to store the “…grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil.”

The priests were also no longer receiving their pay and had literally left to go back to their homes.

They were working on the Sabbath! Treading out the winepresses, bringing in the grain and as Nehemiah tells it, “Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself!” Nehemiah 13:16 ESV.