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.

Dancing Undignified

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“As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.” 2 Samuel 6:16.

Dancing Undignified

Michal. Ashamed of King David, ashamed of his worship to the Most High God. Bringing back the Ark of the Covenant, which had been out of their possession for quite some time, was a huge reason to celebrate. David didn’t let the fact that all of the people were watching him hinder his worship. The Word says he danced and leaped before the LORD! His enthusiasm and excitement became worship back to the One who had made it all possible.

David blessed all the people, gave them all a loaf of bread, cakes of dates and raisins to each person, before sending them on to their homes rejoicing.

Then he went to bless his own house but Michal was waiting for him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

She was taunting, she was accusing and she completely missed the importance of the occasion.

She missed the worship.

David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

The King was not haughty in his worship, he was reverent, he was jubilant and the Word of God tells us to celebrate Him in worship!

“Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.” Psalm 149:3.

Praise His name in the dance! It isn’t for our glory but for His name to be magnified. Dancing before the Lord also brings strength and power to the children of God. It is a manner of worship and worship releases the power of God back into those filled with His spirit.

Michal missed out on the power of God that day. She missed out on the rejoicing, the singing, the excitement that came with the anointing returning to the camp. She missed it all because she found fault with the King. She was embarrassed by his worship and it cost her:

“And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.”

The next time you are in your prayer closet, try it! He doesn’t care how you dance, just worship Him. Put on your favorite Gospel music and your garment of praise and give back to Jesus.

[Tweet “The freedom and liberty from your surrendered act of worship will get the attention of God.”]

Matt Redman has written a most wonderful song on the story of Michal and David.

I will dance, I will sing to be mad for my King
Nothing, Lord, is hindering the passion in my soul
I will dance, I will sing to be mad for my King
Nothing, Lord, is hindering the passion in my soul

And I’ll become even more undignified than this
Some would say it’s foolishness
But I’ll become even more undignified than this
Leave my pride by the side

Dancing Undignified

Nothing is hindering this passion in my soul! Are you hindered from dancing before the Lord? He delights in the praises of His people! “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.” Zechariah 2:10.

To King David, it was strictly an act of worship that got self out of the way and pointed to the One who had made a way.

Some may say it’s foolishness but there are times that dancing before the Lord is the only way to fully express the JOY that He gives!

Go ahead…dance!

Kingdom2

 

Go for the Rescue!

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“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 1:23

Once upon a time, not too long ago, I was riding in our car with The Sweetheart and one of My Three Sons. As we passed a certain house, I suddenly called out for my husband to turn the car around and go back. Since I had frightened him so badly, he slammed on his brakes and pulled into an adjacent driveway. I said I was sure that I had seen smoke coming from the red brick with the white shutters; there was a fire!

It was a little late at night, the house was dark and we were sure the occupants were asleep. But as we got closer, even my son and The Sweetheart both saw something resembling smoke coming from the house. I was ready to call 911 and run in a panic to the front door to awaken this family inside.

But then The Sweetheart took a second look. “I don’t think that is smoke.”  I kept pushing because I could see it hovering along the ground around the front bushes and underneath one of the bedroom windows.

Knowing he will never convince me otherwise, and to keep me from calling the fire department until we were sure, The Sweetheart got out of the car and headed toward the house. Just as he got to the front walk he immediately turned around and made a quick dash back to the car. Jumping in the driver’s side door, he let out an exhale and said, “Let’s get out of here. That’s NOT smoke, Nannette, it’s the dryer vent!”

Oops.

The Sweetheart wasn’t as amused and my son was doubled over in laughter in the back seat. Just as he was recovering from what he had witnessed, he thought about what would have happened if I had called 911…and once again he was overcome with hilarity.

In my defense, at least I didn’t just ignore the misty fog coming out from underneath the window…the laundry room window. At least I was concerned about my fellow neighbor. At least I was GOING to rescue them…if there had been a reason to.

Go for the Rescue! The hilarious story of the time I almost rescued someone from a fire. HopeintheHealing.com

Go for the Rescue! The hilarious story of the time I almost rescued someone from a fire. HopeintheHealing.com

I thought about this story the other day and wondered if I am that concerned about the people all around me every day. The houses I drive by, those in my own neighborhood, the people I interact with frequently all deserve to hear about Jesus. They deserve to be rescued!

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?” Luke 15:4 ESV.

What’s it like to be lost? Paul described it in Ephesians 2:12: “You were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

Having no hope!!

I don’t want to ignore the signs that I see in others. This is a day of desperation. There is no hope in this world, in this life by itself. Our hope is in the salvation of Jesus Christ, what HE has done gives us joy in this life and in eternity. How can we keep it to ourselves?

“Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:20 ESV.

Do you know someone today who is hurting, who doesn’t know the Savior? Is there a way you can work Him into your conversation? Can you invite them to church, out for coffee or to go for a walk? Many times if you just give them opportunity to talk you can easily see where their heart is hurting. Maybe they need prayer, don’t just tell them you will pray for them but do it. Right then, right there. Be a rescuer, no matter how silly you might think it seems, in this case, God will meet you there. He will give you the words to say, the prayer to pray and the sensitivity to help a friend in need.

Go for the Rescue!

Kingdom2

Sharing with Weekend Whispers, Word of God Speak, Making your home sing, Amaze Me Monday, Modest Monday, Wedded Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesday, A Little R & R

 

 

Bacon is a Memory

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“…he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:5
Bacon is a Memory

Today’s word prompt is awesome. Bacon, bacon, bacon!! Join me for a trip down memory lane…and check out some of the other great writers at Kate Motaung’s place for #FiveMinuteFriday!

Bacon. I can still smell it today. I can see my Mamaw Cammie standing in the tiny kitchen, before the sun would come up, getting breakfast and lunch ready for my Papaw Dubie. He worked in a stone mill after WWII and retired from there sometime in the 1970’s.

But Mamaw Cammie’s bacon wasn’t just any bacon. We called it Joe Bacon. Once I grew up, I discovered it was really Jowl Bacon, which is also pronounced JOEL, in some parts of the country so they weren’t that far off. (smile) What is jowl bacon? Just what it sounds like, it is the smoked cheeks of the pig. It is much thicker, heavily smoked and a little salty. It’s crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside and of course, tastes heavenly, just like regular belly bacon. (Now for those that are freaking out over eating the jowls, first of all if you eat any pork at all, well, enough said. And if you eat a hot dog? Yeah, okay. Jowl bacon is much, much better than a hot dog!)  So, jowl bacon is delicious, smells heavenly in the frying pan and makes your entire breakfast taste better.

My beautiful grandmother took her Joe Bacon just one step further. She floured it before she fried it! Oh. My. Word. How these people lived past their 50’s is beyond me but they did. Floured it, fried it up and, even though it was deadly, it was fantastic. I always marveled that she fixed it every single day. Every day! Most of the time there were eggs and toast (she made the best toast ever), other days it was biscuits and gravy. Sometimes she mixed up pancake batter. (Hungry yet?)

Bacon is a Memory

This post isn’t just about bacon. It’s about memories.

For me, when I smell bacon frying, I am taken back to another lifetime with the radio playing in the background, the smell of Lucky Strike unfiltered cigarettes (deadly!) and sometimes the oven door open to help heat up the kitchen early in the morning.

It’s about my grandfather putting on his work boots, grabbing his silver, metal lunchbox with the black handle, and giving my grandmother a kiss as he walked out the door to work. And it’s all about the comfort, the safety and the love that I felt in that kitchen as my grandparents doted over me and my siblings.

My grandfather, my Papaw Dubie, never had a relationship with Jesus as far as I know. I DO know he believed in God and believed He gave His life for us but I always thought he kind of held a grudge because of the war. He was not a big talker and I had the impression that he was happy for all of us but religion wasn’t for him.

I prayed for him on his deathbed, I was the only one with him when he died because we had all been taking turns, and I DO believe in deathbed repentance. Of course I cannot say with assurance that he knew the Lord but I do pray he found that peace that we treasure today, that our sweet Savior lifted his heavy burdens that he carried from fighting on the front line in Italy. The torment that he suffered from losing so many of his friends haunted him the rest of his life. I placed him in the hands of a merciful God and prayed that he would let go of everything that had him bound and reach up for the One who makes all things new. Thankfully, we are not man’s judge nor do we know their heart.

“For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy to all them that call on you.” Psalm 86:5.

That’s what it is all about, isn’t it? Mercy. We have all been extended mercy and all we have to do is receive it!

Do you have a bacon memory? Or is there another food that every time you smell it you are transported back to another lifetime? I would love to hear about it and so would our readers.

If you are like my Papaw Dubie, bound by the past or listening to the enemy whisper that you aren’t good enough, strong enough or important enough for Jesus to rescue…those are lies! Our loving Savior is no respecter of persons and wants to reach down to you today and heal your hurts, calm your fears and erase your pain. He can do that if you just open your heart and ask Him in.

Perhaps you aren’t sure what that all means or how to go about it? Please respond here or email me privately at ynannette@gmail.com  I would be happy to help and pray with you.

Blessings to you and your memories today.

Kingdom2

Sharing with Faith Filled Friday, Fellowship Fridays, Grace and Truth, Modest Monday