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 Same

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It’s #FiveMinuteFriday and today’s word prompt to write on for five minutes, little editing, no fretting, just write for the love of writing…is SAME. Be blessed!

I have known a particular married couple for over 35 years. They seriously do not age, do not gain weight, do not look any different than they did when I first met them. Others who know them would agree. Okay, they might have a little gray hair sneaking in but to be in their early 60’s they look fantastic.

The amazing thing is that they haven’t changed on the inside either. They are always, ALWAYS, THE SAME. I couldn’t resist heading to the dictionary today because SAME is an unusual word when you begin to dissect it. I was pretty sure you could hardly ever use it alone, seemed to me it had to have THE in front of it. (I’ve since thought of a few ways to use it without but you get the idea.) But basically, it says SAME means unchanged in character or condition.

That describes my friends. They are truly unchanged in character or condition. They are not negative, condescending, gossips, woe-is-me-complainers, fault-finders or dividers. They continue to be who they are because of their relationship with ONE.

That description fits our Lord even better. Unchanged in character or condition. The Bible specifically says that, “Jesus Christ is THE SAME; yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. This is a promise; this is a hope for all who put their faith in Him! We don’t worry that we will wake up one morning and Jesus has decided to be mean that day. Never. We trust in His Word, put our faith in His promises and believe He will take care of us…just as He has always done.

The Same

You see, no matter what is going on around us, and there is plenty these days, we can depend on Jesus. It’s that simple. He isn’t bothered by events, catastrophes, news bulletins or terrorism.

[Tweet “An ever-changing world doesn’t change our God!”]

We can depend on Him to be THE SAME each and every day. If your trust is in Jesus then you can look up and be encouraged that He has everything in control. Yes, there is darkness all around but He is the Light that will show us the way out of here and comfort and strengthen us until He returns.

For this SAME JESUS will come back for His people! “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 NIV.

Be blessed and encouraged that you serve an unchanging and soon-returning God. If you do not know Him, and need to know more, feel free to email me ynannette@gmail.com.

(You can read another super short post titled Jesus is Never Moody…here!)

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Sharing with Grace & Truth, Fellowship Friday, Faith Filled Friday

I sink, I faint, I fall: The story behind Jesus, Lover of My Soul

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When Charles Wesley and his brother John were traveling the world preaching the Gospel in the mid 1700’s, it was a difficult and uneasy season. There was an awakening happening in the Church and at times things even became

violent.

Once when Wesley was preaching in Ireland, about 1740, he was attacked by a group who did not think he was preaching Truth. Wesley ran away and stumbled upon a farmhouse where the farmer’s wife hid him in the milk house. The unruly gang also made it to the house and demanded the farmers give up Wesley. She gave them refreshments hoping to calm them down and while they were eating she slipped out to where Wesley was hiding and sent him to conceal himself under a hedge nearby.

There, by a quiet brook, Wesley could see and hear those that were chasing him. While he was waiting for them to leave, he penned a prayer, a hymn, of the One in which he really took retreat. From that poem we have one of the greatest hymns in the book: Jesus, Lover of My Soul. (Joseph Parry wrote the most popular melody to go along with the lyrics in 1879.)

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall, Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

Henry Ward Beecher once said of the beloved hymn, “I would rather have written that hymn of Wesley’s, ‘Jesus, Lover of My Soul’ than to have the fame of all the kings that ever sat on earth. It is more glorious; it has more power in it. I would rather be the author of that hymn than to hold the wealth of the richest man in New York. It will go on singing until the trump brings froth the angel band; and then I think it will mount up on some lip to the very presence of God.”

I am sure as Charles Wesley sat underneath that hedge, hiding from a mob that wanted to do him harm, that he wasn’t thinking of the thousands upon thousands that would forever sing this hymn. He didn’t think of the strength that would come to many because of HIS suffering. But had he not went through that difficult time in his life we wouldn’t have such a wonderful truth to sing at the top of our lungs when times are hard.  His beautiful words continually remind us of the sovereignty of God and His complete majesty.

Without Him we are nothing, but when we turn to Jesus, as Wesley did that way, He can deliver, He can save and He can encourage others because of our suffering.

Let us reach for Jesus, the Lover of our Souls. He alone can satisfy the longing, for we were made to worship Him. Share the Good News with someone that is hurting today that Jesus alone can raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.

I sink, I faint, I fall but God raises me up in His time and for His purpose!

When saying “Yes” just might change your life

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#FiveMinuteFriday, friends! Today’s word prompt is YES. I want to introduce you to a friend that said those words and they have not just changed her life but also those around her. Be blessed!

When saying “Yes” just might change your life!

I have a friend. A very good friend.

This friend was doing great things for God. A pastor’s wife and mother, she was fulfilling the call of God in her life, content with her place in the background…serving.

She wasn’t one to jump out of her comfort zone. She didn’t like to travel, avoided airplanes like the plague and preferred to stay home, at her own church, behind the piano or teaching Sunday School.

Then God called. Much like young Samuel, she thought He surely didn’t mean her. (You can read Samuel’s story here!) God wanted her to come out of that comfort zone for a bigger purpose, to touch even more lives, to reach out further than she thought she ever could.

He wanted her to go to the orphanages of Haiti.

Haiti! Her husband had already been and she was content to help pack his bags and pray over him while he was gone. But go with him? To a third-world country? Get dirty and love on children that she didn’t even know?

Not me, Lord. I just cannot. It’s great for others, I will pray for them, I will give, I will do anything but GO.

God wasn’t asking this couple to give up their church permanently, He wanted them to bring blessing, to uplift the missionaries and encourage the entire village just by saying, “Yes.”

She went the first time. Hesitant, nervous and down-right scared to death but she went.

She has been going back several times a year for the last three years.

She has a special focus for each of her journeys, whether it is building a new kitchen and pantry, bringing shoes, food, clothing, whatever the need is at the time, she will begin a campaign in her hometown and on social media to get others involved in the giving. Her own small town has caught the vision and many participate to help her with her projects, as she calls them.

Her heart is with the children. Their church’s motto is LOVE, LIVE, SERVE! (appropriately!)

So many have been displaced because of the last devastating earthquake and have been left without a family. The need is great. Her pictures tell it all. She is still a great pastor’s wife. She still teaches Sunday School. She still can sing and play like nobody’s business and bring the house down. But she has found her calling; God has opened up a whole new world to her in a place that many would refuse to go. She said, “Yes, Lord” and it literally changed her life, her family’s, her church and her community!

Their ministry to children is not limited to Haiti. They bring them in by the bus, van and car-loads to church every week. And during the weekdays? You can find my friend packing lunches and taking them to neighborhoods where the kids might not get something decent to eat. But she doesn’t just drop them off and run. Many times she stays and eats with the kids, forming bonds that just cannot be broken.

In a few weeks I will board a plane with this lady I have called “friend” for over 20 years. She wants me to meet her kids and see this place that means so much to her. I have been overseas many times but never to a third-world country, that’s what I thought Haiti was. But as you will see in the video below, Haiti is actually considered a FIFTH-world country. This is definitely out of my comfort zone and even though I am a little nervous I said, “Yes” because we only live once and it is a short time we have here on this earth to make a difference and to be a blessing. I have a feeling I will be the one blessed by these precious people and the children who just want to be loved.

[Tweet “Will you say, “Yes!” to whatever it is God is calling you to today?”]

It might not be an overseas mission; it could be your neighbor that He has been nudging you to speak to, a friend, co-worker, even a family member that is hungry for God even if you think that is not possible.  God could be working in their hearts and is wanting you to be the one to bring His message of Hope. Whatever it is He is calling you to, saying “yes” will forever change your life and open up even more opportunities to be used of God.

Just ask my friend, Bonnie.

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when saying yes just might change your life

Enjoy this amazing video of David and Bonnie Beecham, The Brian’s (Missionaries to Haiti) and those that have caught the vision. (If you want to help Love Live Serve, contact me ynannette@gmail.com and I will get you connected.)

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Sharing with Grace and Truth, Faith Filled Friday, Fellowship Friday, Make my Saturday Sweet, Weekend Whispers, Inspire me Monday, Making your home sing, Homemaking party, #TellHisStory, Wedded Wednesday