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.

What would YOU ask God for?

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My apologies that this post had to be republished. I had a major website glitch over the weekend which caused me much grief AND caused me to lose two posts. Thank you for your patience as my site is being restored. God bless.

Solomon.

Second son of King David and Bathsheba.

His name means peaceable.

He built the first temple in Jerusalem.

He also built for himself a magnificent palace with elaborate gardens.

He constructed roads and government buildings in Jerusalem.

He had thousands of chariots and horses.

He made peace with his neighbors to secure trade.

He was the wealthiest king in his time.

He was a writer, poet and even a scientist!

He wrote most of the book of Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes and two Psalms.

How did all of that come to pass for one man?

God had come to Solomon in a dream and told him he could have anything that he asked for. This was Solomon’s reply:

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:7-9 NIV.

He didn’t ask for wealth and riches, nor did he ask for fame, power or other earthly things. He asked for a discerning heart to govern the people and to be able to distinguish between right and wrong.

He asked for Wisdom and acknowledges he is but a servant.

God answers his request and says,

“Then God said to him: ‘Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.’” 1 Kings 3:11-14 NKJV.

His request was granted and then some! God was pleased with his answer and gave him more than he even asked for. Solomon was known as the wisest man who ever lived.

Elisha.

Prophet of God.

Successor of Elijah.

Servant of the people.

His name means God is salvation.

Anointed by Elijah while plowing his father’s field.

Elisha was a student of Elijah. He followed him everywhere just wanting to learn anything and everything he could from this great man of God. He had already been anointed as Elijah’s successor and he knew Elijah was going to be taken from him soon.

“And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”

Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

A double portion of his spirit! He didn’t ask to be able to perform more miracles than Elijah, he didn’t ask to be more well- known than his predecessor…what he really asked for was Relationship! He wanted to know the One that had given Elijah all of his power and strength. What does Elijah tell him?

So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!”

Elijah said if Elisha saw this miracle of him being caught up into heaven then his request would be granted!

So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.” 2 Kings 2:9-14 NKJV.

I love that the first thing he did was test the waters. “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?”

The water divides, Elisha crosses over and the answer has come: The LORD God of Elijah rests upon YOU, Elisha!

Elisha’s role lasted for the next 50 years and his last miracle happened after he died! The LORD God performed exactly TWICE the number of miracles through Elisha than Elijah!

Miracles of Elijah:

  • Caused the rain to stop for 3 1/2 years (1 Kings 17:1)
  • Fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:4)
  • Miracle of the barrel of meal and cruse of oil (1 Kings 17:14)
  • Resurrection of the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:22)
  • Called fire down from heaven (1 Kings 18:38)
  • Caused it to rain (1 Kings 18:45)
  • Prophesied to Ahab that his sons would be killed (1 Kings 21:22)
  • Prophesied Jezebel would be eaten by dogs (1 Kings 21:23)
  • Prophesied that Ahaziah would die (2 Kings 1:4)
  • Called fire down from heaven upon the first 50 soldiers (2 Kings 1:10)
  • Called fire from heaven upon the second 50 soldiers (2 Kings 1:12)
  • Parting of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:8)
  • Prophecy that Elisha should have a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:10)
  • Was caught up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11)

Elisha:

  • Parting of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:14)
  • Healing of the waters (2 Kings 2:21)
  • Cursed the bears (2 Kings 2:24)
  • Filling of the valley with water (2 Kings 3:17)
  • Deceived the Moabites with the valley of blood (2 Kings 3:22)
  • Miracle of the vessels of oil (2 Kings 4:4)
  • Prophecy that the Shunammite woman would have a son (2 Kings 4:16)
  • Resurrection of the Shunammite’s son (2 Kings 4:34)
  • Healing of the gourds (2 Kings 4:41)
  • Miracle of the bread (2 Kings 4:43)
  • Healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:14)
  • Perception of Gehazi’s transgression (2 Kings 5:26)
  • Cursed Gehazi with leprosy (2 Kings 5:27)
  • Floating of the axe head (2 Kings 6:6)
  • Prophecy of the Syrian battle plans (2 Kings 6:9)
  • Vision of the chariots (2 Kings 6:17)
  • Smote the Syrian army with blindness (2 Kings 6:18)
  • Restoring the sight of the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:20)
  • Prophecy of the end of the great famine (2 Kings 7:1)
  • Prophecy of the nobleman (2 Kings 7:2)
  • Deception of the Syrians with the sound of chariots (2 Kings 7:6)
  • Prophecy of the seven-year famine (2 Kings 8:1)
  • Prophecy of Benhadad’s untimely death (2 Kings 8:10)
  • Prophecy of Hazael’s cruelty to Israel (2 Kings 8:12)
  • Prophecy that Jehu would smite the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:7)
  • Prophecy that Joash would smite the Syrians at Aphek (2 Kings 13:17)
  • Prophecy that Joash would smite Syria three times but not consume it (2 Kings 13:19)
  • Resurrection of the man touched by his bones (2 Kings 13:21)

Wisdom and Relationship equal strength and power!

“If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally.” James 1:5.

It is no different today. We can have that wisdom and the relationship if we stay at His feet. If our heart is right, our spirit is right, if there are no hidden agendas and motives, then the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us with strength and power!

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 NKJV.

What would YOU ask God for?

What would you ask God for

Sharing with Wake up Wednesday, Hope in Every Season

Seeing Jesus…in the Scorched Places

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“It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” Psalm 119:71.

It was good for me.

Affliction is good for me? Trials are good for me? Tests and temptations are good for me?

Why?

That I might learn. That I might grow.

That I might serve.

The Scottish minister, James Stewart, profoundly stated, “In love’s service, only the wounded soldiers can serve.”

The wounded soldier has felt pain, he has been hurt, suffered, maybe even had to crawl out of a hole to get back on his feet. He has had to dodge enemy fire; he had to keep getting back up, time and time again.

But he does.

Ps 147:3. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

It doesn’t matter what caused the broken heart or how the injury got there, God is ready to heal us of our wounds so we can move on and help someone else.

Ps 51:17. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

He sees our broken heart and spirit and that is just what He needs to work with and work through!

“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.” Deuteronomy 32:39.

Our trials are not our end. The scripture doesn’t mean we will not experience difficulty or even suffer in this life. We will! He did! But He promised us that because He had overcome, so could we. And not just overcome but use that experience, that hardship as a means to minister to someone else.

Psalm 34:17-20 ESV. “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”

You may not see any purpose whatsoever in the situation you are experiencing at this moment. It may be overwhelming and you feel as if you are drowning or smothering under the weight of it all. Friend, not only does He see where you are but He will make a way of escape and when you do come out of this trial you will be stronger, (yes, you will), and you will draw on these experiences in the days, weeks, months and years to come as reminders of where God brought you from and how He kept you in the midst of the valley. Remember, the valley is where your soul is restored!

God doesn’t waste a test. He has never looked back and thought to Himself, “Man, I sure wish I hadn’t made them go through that; it was a waste of time.” No.

God has a purpose for everything and nothing is just coincidence with Him!

“This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.” ~ Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place.

 “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11 ESV.

He will guide, satisfy your desire and make your bones strong. Where? IN the scorched places! In the midst of the fire is where we find that guidance and the strength we need to keep going and to help others. We will be like a watered garden, fruitful, healthy and thriving.

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No matter what we are going through, it is for a purpose, He will make something good out of it if we hold on to His hand, trust and believe He knows what is best.

Even if the end is our end? Yes, even then.

I can’t help but think of those that are being persecuted in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world. They are suffering for the Name, friends, they are being slaughtered for the Name of Jesus! In my prayers for them this week I have thought of Stephen over and over again.

God had a purpose for Stephen, he had a great ministry sharing the Gospel to those in his world and yet, he suffered greatly, unto death. Well, that doesn’t seem fair; God promises He will take us through. Yes, but I think we forget what our ultimate goal really is. It isn’t in this life, if we really believe what we have been taught and read in His Word our entire lives. Our ultimate goal is to see Jesus, to be with Him, to live eternally in another world, isn’t it?

So, if, (or, when) it comes our time to decide if we are going to proclaim the Name of Jesus or deny Him…I want to be like Stephen and I am praying that is what the persecuted of this world right now are experiencing. Let’s look at what happened when they began to stone him for preaching Jesus:

“When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;  and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.  And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:54-60 NKJV.

Right in the middle of his trial, the biggest test of his life no doubt, what did Stephen do? Did he think he had been forsaken? NO! He looked up to heaven and saw Jesus! And even as they were gnashing at him with their teeth and stoning him he asked God to forgive them. He wasn’t forsaken, he wasn’t forgotten, but he was full of the Holy Spirit and was able to see Jesus during the most difficult time of his life. Stephen’s focus wasn’t even on what was happening to him, it was on Jesus.

That is my prayer for you today. No matter what you are going through that your focus is Jesus. Rest assured in the Word of God that He is for you and that He will see you through, whether it is in this life or if He takes you to the next, you will see the Glory of God.

And for our brothers and sisters facing the darkest moment of their lives, may you, dear wounded warrior, see the heavens opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

You have fought a good fight, kept the faith and finished your course. You have ministered to others in your suffering, in your scorched places. The Lord, our righteous judge, has a crown of life waiting for you. And for all of those who love His appearing.

Would you take a moment to pray for those that will give their lives for being a child of God? Would you pray that their focus would be Jesus and peace would envelop them in their darkest moment? We would want our brothers and sisters praying for us. In Jesus’ name.

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DF cover side viewThe Daniel Fast is still going strong into March! You can get this great devotional, good for ANY FAST, a great companion when you are fasting. Devotions for 21 days and three extra preparation days! Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle.

The Martyred 21 – Counting the Cost

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The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sings a song that says,

Take up your cross and follow Jesus
Take up your cross every day
Don’t be ashamed to say that you know Him
Count the cost, take up your cross and follow Him

Twenty one Coptic Christians gave their lives for that Cross this weekend. Who are the Coptic Christians?

Coptic just means Egyptian. Christians that live in Egypt call themselves Coptic Christians. Going back to the Apostolic Period, they come from the city of Alexandria. They call John Mark (who wrote the Gospel of Mark) their founder, and first martyr. He arrived in Alexandria A.D. 42.

Copts in Egypt make up the largest Christian community in the Middle East. The term comes from the Greek description of the Egyptian population in Roman Egypt. After the Muslims conquered Egypt, it then just applied to those Egyptians following the Christian faith.

Persecuted for centuries, they are no strangers to martyrdom.

Regardless of what the President of the United States prefers to call them, they weren’t beheaded because they were Egyptian citizens or Innocents. They were killed because they were Christians. The Islamic terrorists are members of the self-named Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. This is simple, elementary education.

Islamic militants are murdering Christians because of their faith.

The Bible speaks of these things coming to pass again. Of course there was persecution during the period of the Apostles and the beginning of The Church and the Bible tells us that it will increase as the second coming of our Lord draws near.

“…This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5. 

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4.

That is the problem with so many Christians around the world. It’s not just specific to America. We are being lulled to sleep. We continue on as we have always done, eating, drinking, etc., as the Bible points out, and if we are not careful, that day will come upon us unaware.

“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9.

We are not children of darkness! We are sons and daughters of the light! Paul urges us here to not sleep but to be alert and self-controlled. How do we do that? Put on love and faith as a breastplate, protecting our heart and the hope of salvation as a helmet, protecting our minds!

It will be very easy, in this evil day, to be so filled with anxiety and the cares of this life that we become distracted from our purpose and distracted from our Source of Life itself. This is so dangerous. We must be connected to HIM, to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, if we are to stand in this wicked hour.

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, (overindulgence) drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NIV.

Close unexpectedly on us like a trap. That is explicit and precise, friends. The Word of God says it will come upon all who live on the face of the earth…this means us! Whether it is ISIS at our doorstep or persecution in another form, we will face difficulty unless the Lord comes for His Bride beforehand.

‘To escape all that is about to happen’ doesn’t necessarily mean we will be exempt from suffering. I believe it means if we KNOW Him, if we are filled with His Spirit, no matter what comes our way we will escape by being rewarded with eternal life and be able to stand before Him in glory. The thief on the cross was not relieved of his immediate suffering but the Lord did tell him, “…Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43 ESV.

Whether we die the death of a martyr, or are caught away with Him in the air, we will escape!

We win regardless, we will then be able to stand before the Son of Man; not with fear or dread, but with hope and joy to hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

martyred 21 and counting the cost

So have you counted the cost? Are you awakened out of sleep? Do you realize it is high time that we commit to the work of the Lord? No matter what it is He has called us to do, He has commanded us all to share this Gospel of Truth and Hope. Paul warns us that “…now it is high time to awake out of sleep ; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” Romans:13:11.

Jesus Christ is alive, He is risen and He is coming again. While we are here on this earth, He has sent the Comforter, Christ IN us, our Hope of Glory that will keep us, strengthen us and perfect us for every good work.

[Tweet “The power of the Holy Spirit gives us strength to stand in extreme adversity & persecution.”]

Be encouraged today of the Hope that lies within you but do not forget your Christian brothers and sisters around the world that are facing imminent danger and extinction at the hands of their persecutors. The enemy is no respecter of persons, friend. Faces and names mean nothing and they will stop at nothing until Jesus comes again. (Just since this was posted early this morning (2/17/15) there has been another report of ISIS burning to death 45 people in al-Baghdadi. These are atrocities that we are aware of.)

But I believe in an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in these last days! We share with churches every week, teaching them how to be able to accommodate the revival that God wants to give us.

May we all count the cost now and unite together to see as many as possible are ready to meet Him and, if that day comes, to lay down their lives for His Name.

“For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:21-22:21.

Living in the Hope!

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DF-cover-side-viewDon’t forget your copy of The Daniel Fast, A Devotional. Great for ANY FAST or prayer journey. On Amazon in paperback and Kindle and Barnes and Noble too! Be blessed!

 

 

 

Sharing with Titus 2sdays, Testimony Tuesday, Tell Me a True Story, RaRa Linkup, Moms Library, Wedded Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesday,  A Little R & R, Works for me Wednesday, Women with Intention, Three Word Wednesday, Homemaking Party, Thought Provoking Thursday, House to Home, Intentional Family Fun, Friendship Friday, Grace & Truth, Fellowship Fridays,  Dance with Jesus, Faith Filled Friday, Everyday Jesus