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Barren

March 3, 2024Leave a Comment

Pondering on a deep level tonight. We have a few lessons left in the Bible study book some friends and I are doing. I’ve noticed that quite a few of the women of the Bible we have studied were barren for a long time before God turned things around. Here are a few of the ladies: Sarah, Rebekah, Hannah and Elizabeth.

This week we will discuss Elizabeth, John the Baptist mother. The thing about Elizabeth is she was faithful to God through her barrenness. Sarah took matters into her own hands and gave her maid servant Hagar to Abraham as a wife, so she could have children through her. Rebekah told Jacob to give her children or she would die. But Elizabeth faithfully served God in her barrenness.

As my friend Tami and I were wrapping hotdogs for Rice N Beans ministry last Wednesday afternoon, she said barrenness could be more than physical. We can be barren in other ways. For example, praying for years for something and God seemingly says no. He could possibly be saying wait, or maybe it’s Yes to His best. His timing is indeed perfect but there is heartache in the wait. It’s a goal to be thankful in the trials. Not complaining but being thankful. I have a pet peeve over people that complain about rival things. I won’t go down that rabbit hole.

Back in Biblical days it was a disgrace to be barren. Imagine the talk of the people. You know gossip has existed since time began. Imagine Elizabeth in the market place, neighbors see her and say, “It’s sad she has never conceived.” We don’t know that for sure but knowing human nature, it probably did occur. I have friends who have prayed for their prodigals a long time. I have a college friend going through the process of lung transplant. It’s a long process she has to endure. Some have prayed for things for so long and you wonder, God are you listening? Of course he is. His timing is always perfect. Although from a human perspective it seems so off.

There is a young man who takes notes at church and shares them on the Bible app. I like to read them and see if I missed anything. Last week I missed something Big. Pastor had asked if we want to be “delivered or developed.” Whoa what a huge question. Pastor said he would rather be developed. I hope one day I can honestly say that. If God chose to deliver me from hearing and vision difficulties I’d be jumping with Joy over here. If God chose to deliver my son from similar issues and never healed me, I would be over joyed. Life is down right tough. You don’t think about it you just push through. See where God is at work and dive in and help. But being busy doesn’t take the heartache away. Being silent and not talking about it doesn’t make it any easier. It is easier for me to focus on serving and making things easier for others. That does help. It is also easier to just keep to the norm. When I get out and do things I notice more what I miss and it stings. Just being honest here. But on the other hand, getting out with people who’s understand encourage is a breath of fresh air.

This evening a friend texted me and as we were talking I shared with her some of my story she didn’t know. She said “wow.” I said, “If you only knew”. Life is challenging in so many ways that it’s almost funny. Here is a little example, the other night I was heating some apple cider in the microwave. I have some difficulty (ok honestly great difficulty ) seeing the control panel. I thought I set the timer for one minute and forty five seconds. I accidentally put it on 11 minutes and forty five seconds. I couldn’t see the double 1. I could just see one of them. I walked to a different room for something and came back in the kitchen. Realizing my mistake I quickly stopped the microwave and sure enough, it was splattered all over the inside. Welcome to my adventurous life. 🙃

I wonder what its life to have smooth sailing in life. You know, the joys of understanding people without having to work at it . Being able to read without using some assistive device. Getting in a car and driving where you want to go. These are just some simple pleasures normal people take for granted without even thinking abut it.

No I’m not having a pity party. I’m just pondering life as I prepare for a bible study. I feel like I live out some of these stories. Take Elizabeth, she had joy and a song in her heart. It is kind of odd but I often wake up with a song playing in my heart. Thank you Jesus for joy in the trials. I want to say I’d rather be developed like Pastor said but I’d honestly take deliverance. It’s just been so long. God definitely has me in a developing fire. I only hope when people see me, they see Jesus strength because I can’t do it on my own.

There is something about praise and worship, it is a release. When you offer up a song of praise it’s like an aroma that is pleasing to the Lord. It’s good to meditate on Gods goodness. Mediate on His sovereignty. He is in control even when it doesn’t feel like it. He’s got the big picture in mind. He is always working behind the scenes. Working in circumstances to develop our character, endurance and faith. He is refining us as a silversmith. Oh Lord give us patience in the wait.

I am going to wrap this up. I’ve done enough pondering on biblical application for one night. On one last note, the one thing about each of the ladies we studied who were barren, God did remember them and brought favor and blessing. He actually worked in mighty ways in each circumstance. If yu are like me and in a seemingly LONG waiting game, just hold on. God will bring us through. He is faithful. He who began a good work, will complete it for His glory.

f you liked this blog post please subscribe and share. I’m thankful for this gift to share when God puts something on my heart. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. (Hard cover soft cover, and e-book formats.) I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. All for the Glory of God.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

When you can’t fix it

February 28, 2024Leave a Comment

My fixed elephant tail and my processor that stopped beeping.

We all occasional break things and reach for the super glue. Sometimes the glue works, other times it doesn’t. In the last two weeks my husband Ron has fixed one of my favorite pair of shoes,a ceramic bird and my favorite baby ceramic elephant. I still don’t know how its tail broke off. Last Wednesday I saw Ron with his super glue working on my elephants butt. Somehow its tail broke off but he managed to fix it.

Technology is a different story. Today while I was prepping my Bible study notes I send to the girls in our Bible study group, out of the blue my cochlear implant processor began to beep. There was a series of three beeps that happened over and over. It was like it was being programmed but I had no idea why. I turned it off then back on, but the beeps continued. I changed the battery twice but that didn’t work either. I also tried disconnecting the bluetooth feature from my iPad, but it still kept beeping. Oh my word! It was so annoying but I could not fix it. Ron was taking me to my friend’s house to help her cook for the homeless ministry. While in the car, I e mailed my audiologist. The beeping finally stopped but I still have no clue what caused it.

People matters can be a whole different issue. I love human nature and how personalities click or clash is intriguing. People mess up. That’s just a fact of life. People hurt your feelings and you have to forgive and forget. Some have an easier time with that than others. Someone recently told me about a situation where they were at fault and it caused issues in a relationship. They told me they just could not fix it. I said, “Have you apologized” The answer was yes. I then asked, “Have you prayed about it” People don’t always think to pray about situations. The fact is, God can work in the hearts of all involved. Sometimes you’ve got to swallow your pride and admit you did something wrong. Sometimes people look at the same thing from a completely different angles and can’t see eye to eye on something. Oftentimes we just have to let it go. Learn from the situation and move on. Live, learn, let it go and move forward.

Tonight at the Rice N Beans outreach in Rock Hill, Ron struck up a conversation with a man waiting at the bus top. I was standing there with them but I could not understand the conversation. The mam had good eye contact. Ron did sign just a little bit of what he said so I could follow a bit. The man has been through a lot. He was my own age. Ron was trying to encourage him. All the sudden I found myself speaking about God giving joy in the midst of hard things. Ron asked him if he knew Jesus and he said yes. As Ron talked with him, I said a silent prayer that God would open doors for this man.

Life happens. Things break and people mess up. Sometimes you can fix it, other times you can’t. In the midst of it all, God is working. You might ask how. God is always at work behind the scenes. In the most troubling times, He is at work in the hearts and circumstances. Keep praying and keep trusting God. We humans can really mess it up when we take things into our own hands. It’s wise to acknowledge Gods sovereignty and surrender to Him. He can bring beauty from ashes.

As my friend and I were preparing the food today, we also talked about our upcoming Bible lesson. This next lesson is on Elizabeth, John the Baptist mother. She and her husband Zacharias had prayed for years for a child, but they still had no children. They probably assumed that God had said “no”. In reality God was saying “wait”. His timing was perfect. It warmed my heart to be reminded that God hears my every prayer. When it seems He is saying no to my requests, it actually is yes to His best. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” ‭(NLT‬‬)

Do you have something in need of fixing? If you find you cant fix it, you can always prayer about it. God has ways of working things out. Give it to Him and trust Him to bring out the best. You are loved more than you will ever know. Be blessed.

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Stir up love

February 24, 2024Leave a Comment

Phyllis and I many years ago on the family mission trip.

Nothing like a funeral to get you thinking about the difference people make in the lives of those around them. Yesterday I along with many others went to a “Celebration of life” for a sweet friend Phyllis,who recently finished her earthly race and went home to be with Jesus. She was one of the sweetest people and loved others well. She didn’t judge you, she loved you. You could see the effect she had on others by the tears shed, memories shared and people who came to honor her and support her family. We should all live our lives with love like she did. The first time I really got to know her was years ago when our families went on a family missions trip to Aiken SC. One of the things we did was help in a soup kitchen. She was so caring and always had the most beautiful smile.

As I was reading the Bible this morning, I found myself in 1 John chapter 3. I love how the following verse begins with tender encouragement. “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬) So much is revealed by our actions. Anyone can say they love you, but those words are tested by the actions that follow. Jesus gave the perfect example of showing love. 1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ says, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” ‭(NLT‬‬)

The day Phyllis died, a group of deaf girlfriends plus one hearing girlfriend and I all had lunch. My friend Amy sat across from me. All the sudden she signed, “Can you see me?” The reason she asked is because sometimes depending on the size of the table, it’s hard for me to see sign language with my low vision, but it was a smaller table and I could see her fine. She had read a text then signed to me, “Phyllis just died.” Our hearts were broken. It was a “God thing” that Amy was with us when she got the news. I am jealous really. Phyllis is with Jesus and her race is won. Amy said it’s surreal but I told her that Phyllis, along with both of our dads and other friends who have passed away are with Jesus cheering us all on.

Just be sure of where you will spend eternity. 1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ says, “And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.” (NLT‬‬). Salvation is a free gift. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9).

As we continue this race here on earth, let’s stir up love for others. Not just our brothers and sisters in Christ but those who are hurting and in need. If you really think about it, everyone is in need. Whether they are in need of someone to share the love of Jesus with them, share a smile of encouragement, share a hug or listening ear, share a kind word, share blankets, clothes, food for the poor… the point is… we can all make a difference by sharing the love of Jesus. Just like Phyllis did, love others not merely with words but with joyous action.

Here’s the thing, you can see it in peoples lives. 1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭24‬ , “Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.” ‭(NLT‬‬). There is nothing more beautiful than a life well lived for Jesus. Being rooted and established in love that grows and spreads far and wide for the glory of God. Rest in the arms of Jesus sweet friend. We will see you again.

If you liked this blog post please subscribe and share. I’m thankful for this gift to share when God puts something on my heart. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. (Hard cover soft cover, and e-book formats.) I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. All for the Glory of God.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

You are needed

February 21, 20242 Comments

Have you ever really taken an honest look around you? Of course you have. So many things require a team effort. Every single service and job is needed. Sure some have more prestige than others but the goal is the same….. get the job done.

Recently I’ve been reading 1 Corinthians 12. If you have a chance read the whole chapter. So many gems can be found there.

This chapter speaks of spiritual gifts, it also talks about the many parts that make up the body. ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ says ,
“There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” (NLT)

Let’s talk about acts of service. Since I do not work because of my hearing and vision issues, I have gotten involved in ministries that help people. At the Fort Mill Church of God food pantry, I have packed boxes of food for the needy in our community for over 8 years. I would love to be able to minister to the people themselves however I would need to be able to hear them well to do that and read their id etc. Every part of the operation is important. From the men who stock up the food, people who donate food, the people who prepare the boxes to fill, those who actually pack the boxes, those who pray for the clients, those who load the food for the people, to even taking out the trash, each part is valuable to getting the job done.

Today I am helping with a different ministry. My friends, Ron and I are going to help Rice N Beans ministry again tonight but at the Rock Hill location. We are making the food for that location for today as well. Tami brought the commercial cooker over with the recipe and ingredients for the beans. She had an appointment so she asked me to start them and stir every hour. So today I’m cooking beans. I guess I can stir up some “love” in these beans as I pray for those who will be eating them later. I texted Tami to let her know I’ve got things cooking. She just texted me back, “😁 let the fun begin is right! Our maiden cooking voyage 🫘 & 🍚 & 🌭 😂”. We are ready to do whatever God asks. Serving with friends is awesome.

I told my Bible study group last week, I would love to work but it would take the right job and right employer to accommodate my disabilities. But God has given me opportunities to serve those in need. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ says, “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” (NLT‬‬)

We can’t all be the same part and all have the same gifts. God knows what He is doing. Don’t look down on yourself if you feel inadequate or unseen. We are all serving God in whatever way He desires. It’s a joy to be apart of something bigger. The reward will come later in Heaven. Just do all you can for the Lord. He will open doors or close doors for you. Just be willing to do what He calls you to do. Years ago we had a friend name Larry who had ALS.He was a godly man and even as his health declined, he found a way to bless people. I remember he would leave messages on our answering machine praying for our family. He called and prayed for many even though this terrible disease ravaged his body. That folks is what it’s all about. Using what you have for the Lord.

Here’s another gem from 1 Corinthians 12:12, “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” ‭(NLT)‬‬. So wherever God has you, serve as unto the Lord. What you do for Jesus Christ is not in vain. Say a prayer as we serve. New adventures can be intimidating for me, but once I get the groove, I’m good. And God please bless these beans.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

Spreading love on a corner in downtown Charlotte.

February 15, 2024Leave a Comment

Ron and I last night on our way to serve. We can’t actually take pictures while serving.

Last night Ron and I spent Valentines night serving with Rice N Beans ministry on a corner in downtown Charlotte. Some friends of ours have faithfully ministered to the homeless for years, serving a hot meal and providing needed clothing and blankets.

I had been wanting to go and see first hand how they ministered to the needs of the homeless. Last week I did just that. It was kind of a last minute plan and my husband Ron already had his Bible study group to attend, so I joined my friend Tami and her son Eric. They had been before and picked me up to go volunteer with them. I was intrigued as I witnessed the love shown by the leaders, Cheri and Daryl and their team . They are willing to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus to minister to those who are hurting. The Bible tells us in Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” (NLT) Even though there was some unrest at the beginning, peace soon enveloped us and the people were fed and received items they needed.

I really loved going and being a part of this outreach. We never know the stories and situations that lead to these people being on the streets. It’s no reason to look down on them. The Bible tells us in James 1‬:‭27‬, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (NLT‬‬ ) I believe that is spreading the love of Jesus in the darkness of the world.

I talked to Ron about it and asked if we could go together last night. He agreed and we met up with our friends to help out again. I was again on “hot dog duty” and Ron helped people find items of clothing they needed from what was donated. It was a wonderful way to spend Valentines evening serving together with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ ‭says,“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.” (NLT‬‬)

We want to go again next week but experience a different location. There are lots of hurting people in the world. We need to put Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ into action. It says, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” (NLT‬‬) There are many ministries you can get involved in to make a difference in your community and in the lives of others. The first time I went, I looked through our closets to see if we have coats and things to share. Sure enough we had way more than we need and I was able to donate a box of coats, hoodies, back packs and shoes. I will put the Rice N Beans website at the end of this blog. You can pray, donate or volunteer.

There are other ministries that you can support or volunteer with. My Mom and I also help at a local food pantry that serves people in need of food in the community. Think about ways you can help or get involved. Check your local churches or shelters to see what is needed. Together we can make a difference and spread the love of Jesus everywhere we go. Here is the Rice N Beans website. Www.ricenbeans.org

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It’s been one of those “PUSH through” days

February 12, 2024Leave a Comment

Sitting here at nearly 9 pm EST, on a Monday night in February, sweating. Here in upstate South Carolina, it has rained all day with temperatures pretty steady in the 50s with 95% humidity.

It has been a “Push through it” kind of day from beginning until now. Rainy Mondays can be that way. I went to sleep last night wearing my Fitbit. It vibrates when a text comes in, so AT&T was my alarm clock, with an automatic text telling me my payment was made. (Like I don’t know that?) I was in a deep sleep, dreaming I was on a pier with a dove on my arm. Very interesting. Would have liked to know the end of it.

While I can feel the Fitbit vibrate, I can’t see anything on the little screen when it lights up. Thankfully it is synced with my iPad so I could check the text. Seeing it was nothing worth even checking, I got up to make some coffee. Thirty minutes later my friend Leasa texted to see if I’d go to Home Depot with her to help her find something to finish a project. I was still half a sleep and my question was, “How soon?” I ended up quickly washing my face and throwing on some clothes. She picked me up about 20 minutes later and we were off. After talking to several men there about the project she was doing, we finally found what she needed. During the process, she told me all about a movie she and her husband saw yesterday. We grabbed some Chick-fil-A then she brought me home.

My husband and I had planned to go to the gym to workout, but I still felt tired. I told him to give me about an hour and maybe I’d be ready to go. In the meantime, he helped me register for a 5k that our church is having. I’m not a runner, but plan to walk it with some friends. I finally said, “Okay let’s go”. Ron asked, “Are you sure you feel like it?” I replied, “No but let’s get it done.” Nothing like signing up for an event to get moving.

We got to the gym and started on the treadmills. Usually we just warm up for about 20 minutes then continue with strength training. Today I went two miles at a good pace then went looking for Ron in the weight area. He was wearing a red shirt so I figured he would be easy to find, with my low vision. But several guys were wearing red today. I finally found him and told him where I would be. Usually we stick together but today we did different things. The thing is, with my low vision I don’t always see people on the machines until I’m just a few feet away. Oh boy and being tired from that two mile walk didn’t help matters. Ron is a sweetheart. He came up to help me on the machines and I told him I hadn’t really seen the guy on the machine I wanted to use, but I “played it off”. I don’t think the guy noticed I didn’t see him. Welcome to my crazy life. We both got a good workout in and I was one sweaty mess. Nothing like pushing through a day when you just aren’t feeling it and it’s rainy and muggy outside.

This 5K event is something to keep me accountable with walking and strength training. Doing different types of things can be a bit unnerving at times though. The last time I did a 5K was about 9 years ago. That one I ran but I didn’t know the course. The directions were marked out on signs that I could not see. Oh my word, but I finally did cross the finish line. This time I’m going to do it with friends and they will help me know where to go.

There is nothing like good friends that get you moving. Whether it’s a quick run in the morning to Home Depot, doing Bible study, doing mission work or preparing for a 5K to do together. It’s worth pushing through to do whats is needed.

It’s almost time to “call it a day and hit the hay”. I’m glad I pushed through this day. It’s been a full one and it’s fulfilling to reach bedtime and say It’s been a good day even with the AT&T wake up text and muggy rainy weather. Tomorrow will be another busy day but it will be another fulfilling one volunteering at the food pantry then spending some time with my Mom.

I hope you all have an awesome week. Just “push through it” even when you don’t feel like it. You will be glad you did. Good night everybody.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

An unlikely topic

February 5, 2024Leave a Comment

Lately I’ve been preparing for this Thursdays Bible study time with my friends. We have been studying women of the Bible for some time now. I have been familiar with all the women we have studied so far until this week’s character. This week and next week we are looking at Jezebel. When I saw her name, I thought, why in the world are we going to dig into the story of this very evil person. I just figured it would be one of those “what not to do” studies.

Since the girls have me teaching the lessons I like to be prepared and able to explain. Keep in mind we are doing these studies in sign language. Three of us are deaf. If you add my low vision and inability to see our book except with my video magnifier, you would see my need to prepare, even memorize. So I’ve been reading and rereading 1 Kings chapters 18 and 19.

As I’ve been studying I see some direct connections to life today. Jezebel caused Israel to sin greatly against the Lord, especially in the area of worship. Not only did she promote the worship of idols but she persecuted God’s people, killing the prophets. She was zealous for removing Israel’s true worship of The Lord God.

Let me stop right there. Here’s the thing, America was founded on Christian principles. Now look around you and really think about our society, culture, government and even some churches. Slowly but surely God’s truth is being dismissed and replaced by false religion and false doctrine. People search for what they want to hear. There is a form of godliness that denies the true power of God. See 2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬, “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” (NLT‬‬). You see how messed up kids are today? What are they teaching them in our schools? Keep in mind the Bible and prayer have been removed. Where there used to be common sense , respect and moral, we now see the most foolish idealolgies being taught. Whatever happened to scientific facts? There is the pronoun nonsense, gender identification nonsense, not to mention Critical Race Theory. If you truly think about it, it makes sense how bad our society has gotten.

I certainly was not intending to go down the education path. Let’s get back to the spiritual issues. Jezebel was a huge stumbling block to the nation of Israel. What are some stumbling blocks we encounter today? I can name a few: the entertainment industry, main stream media, social media, pride, money and perhaps instant gratification. Let’s look at the middle letter in the words pride and sin. See the I? I, I, I, I, me, me, me, and ME. I had a t shirt when I was in college that said, “There is only one God and you’re not Him.”

We have to stop wavering back and forth in what we believe and stand up for Gods truth. I love the “show down” that happens in 1 Kings 18, when Elijah challenges the prophets of baal to a contest. Elijah had a good question for the people of Israel. Check out 1 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬,“Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.” (NLT‬‬.) Question to ask ourselves, are we silent when asked to make a choice about the true God?

There is a lot of wavering and hobbling going on today. Yesterday our Pastor made a statement about eating at the table of the Lord and nibbling at the things of the world. Think about that for a minute. The music industry is full of disgusting lyrics. Movies are full of vile language, sexual inappropriate content, violence, drug use etc. It’s so common that vile language and violence seem normalized. This should not be! People shouldn’t play around with these things. What we listen to, watch, play and read feeds our spirit. It’s time to come apart from the world. Get off the fence. You can’t have two Masters. We can’t love God and love the world. Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT‬‬)

There is no time like the present for a full surrender to God. Let us put our full focus on living for Jesus and bringing glory to Him. I will end this blog with 1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬-‭12, “But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.” ‭(NLT‬‬) Stay on track and let’s let our lives shine for Jesus. The devil is deceiving many. We must keep praying and keep reading the Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. If you aren’t currently in a Bible teaching church, find one and go. Don’t stop meeting together for fellowship and praying together. Don’t let the things of this world hinder your victorious race for Jesus. Let’s go!!!

Self disclaimer, I am not a Pastor. I am a spirit filled Christian and believe the Bible is true. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you liked this blog post please subscribe and share. I’m thankful for this gift to share when God puts something on my heart. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. (Hard cover soft cover, and e-book formats.) I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. All for the Glory of God.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

Down a deep rabbit hole

January 31, 2024Leave a Comment

History has always fascinated me. When it comes to family history it becomes personal. It’s just amazing to try tracing your ancestry line. Last October i found the Ancestry App and asked my husband if I could subscribe to research my family tree. I took a deep dive and am still digging.

It’s like going down a deep rabbit hole and it is truly fascinating. The Ancestry App has government census reports, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage and divorce documentation plus more. The thing is, you need names. The further you trace your family from yourself, you start having to make educated guesses. These census papers were handwritten and let me tell you, they didn’t always put the same thing. Sometimes it shows initials with the last name and sometimes it is spelled out. You can match up dates and locations and figure it out the best you can. One of my aunts nieces told me about http://www.find-a-grave.com Sometimes the website will list spouse, parents, siblings and children. The keyword there is “sometimes”. I have found that’s not always true.

On my dad’s side of the family, I’ve been able to trace back to 1777. How cool is that! My great great grandfather was a Captain in the Confederate army. I’ve had to “jump some hurdles” though and it’s been an headache at times. My Nanny Kenley’s dad was called Punk. Nanny’s brother was called Uncle Stumpy. No, those weren’t their real names. I got my mom to look to see if there were any papers and what she gave me “connected a lot of dots”. The names she had given me to enter into the system helped me find the records relating to Nanny’s family. As I searched and found them I said, “BINGO”! Yeah!

On my mom’s side, I’ve discovered much that I didn’t know. My grandmother had 11 siblings. My grandfather had a big family too. It’s kind of sad that they didn’t stay intact. Out of all those great aunts and uncles on my mom’s side, I only knew a couple of them.

On my dad’s side I knew my great aunts and great uncles. Even dad’s cousins and their kids. I love these connection. My husband and I have only one son. I have one brother. It seems we have a real small family. As I have researched, I see the family roots run deep and it’s nice to see that connection. Nanny’s family traces back to Ireland. It looks like mom’s side of the family may have come from France. Im still looking. Hopefully I will be able to print or share the information I’ve found with my brother and cousins. I don’t know if they will be as intrigued as me but I have really enjoyed this search.

In the ancestry file dad had, he had some papers on some of Nanny’s ancestors. There is a story that shows a generous spirit. I love the idea of have a legacy of generosity.

As I’ve made these connections within my family tree, I wonder about their lives. I think about my great great grandfather that fought for our freedom. Freedoms that are being taken away by our present government.

Worry will get us no where though. God is sovereign and I will just continue to pray for His direction. As for me, I hope to pass along a legacy of faith, resilience, love and compassion for others. We are called to humbly love and serve others. Lord help us to do just that and do it for Your glory.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

Finally saw CODA

January 28, 20241 Comment

If you read my blog, bear with me as I go off course for this one. Since the movie CODA came out in 2021, I have wanted to see it but we don’t have Apple TV. My husband Ron signed us up for a free three month trial of Apple TV just so I could watch this movie. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it although it does have a few crude scenes.

Truth be told, I rarely watch anything on TV. With my hearing and vision loss issues it’s just usually not worth the time. A few weeks ago I did “humor” my husband by watching a few episodes of a show on Netflix, but after three straight episodes, I had enough. I can’t see well enough to read the caption and can’t her well enough to hear the story line. I could sort of follow the story but Ron had to give me some clues to “what was what”.

Ron was meeting up with some friends tonight so I asked him if he would set it up for me to watch while he’s out. Another confession, I put the recliner right “smack dab” in from of the tv so I could see it. Do you see the picture above? That’s how close I sat and even from that close I can’t read the close captioning.

CODA stands for children of deaf adults. At least half the dialogue is sign language but it’s captioned so hearing people can understand. It’s about a deaf fishing family but there is one hearing daughter. Warning, there is some crudeness but such a beautiful story line. I cried in several scenes.

After I finished watching it a deaf friend texted me. I told her I had just watched the movie and it was like us but flipped. Instead of being the only hearing person in our families, we are the only deaf ones. And you can throw in my “double whammy” with being legally blind too. 😜

Watching the movie was slightly frustrating simply because I couldn’t see all the signs. I stood right in front of the tv, even closer than the recliner, to try to see what the characters were signing. I have to be kind of close to read sign language. The parts that I missed that were captioned, I tried to watch reading the caption CLOSE UP. So I sat, then stood close, then closer for captions, over and over throughout the movie. Now you know why I don’t watch tv. The movie was very moving though.

If you have a deaf person in your family, I recommend watching CODA to see things from their perspective but with the roles flipped. I could share more elements so you could see what it’s like with the added low vision angle. It’s sort of like being the odd one out. With a group of hearing people I am totally lost in understanding. In being with a group of deaf friends, I have to be pretty close to see what they are signing. Welcome to my unique world. It is what it is.

No pity parties here. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am resilient in many ways. I fall down, I get back up. I am always ok because It’s not about me. It’s about giving glory to God in the struggles and seeing Him pour strength in when it’s overwhelming. One day God will heal me. That might be when I reach Heaven.Through it all, I press on towards the prize to which God is calling.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

Who you gonna call?

January 25, 20242 Comments

Tami, Amy and Leasa helping with this picture. Photo credit Lisa Jane.

In a hyper- connected world, how do you stay in touch? It seems almost everyone these days has a smart phone. People are always on their phones. Whether it’s a voice call, text message, video call, or e-mail…. people want to be connected to others.

It’s also a world of instant gratification. When people text or call, they prefer a quick answer rather than having to wait. People want it now.

Recently I had a doctors appointment. On the way there, an e-mail came in saying, ‘”text when you arrive”. I looked at my husband and asked, “Do they think I’m glued to this device?” I did not text them when we arrived, I walked in just like I always do. Im getting off track here so I’m going to switch gears.

Who do you contact when things aren’t going well? Or perhaps it’s been an awesome day and you can’t wait to share that with someone. People like a “sounding board”, a listening ear. While there is nothing wrong with that, sometimes being on the receiving end is a challenge. So someone calls, FaceTimes, or texts you about a situation they are dealing with and you feel so inadequate to help. I have even done that myself, then I really think about it. People usually can’t do anything but listen and offer advice. I serve a BIG God with unlimited resources. I often find myself praying throughout the day and night. When things are going good, I will offer up a “Thank you Lord for these blessings.” When things aren’t so great or I don’t know what to do, I will pray for wisdom to make right choices. I have prayed for God to help me have the correct responses to situations. Nothing is too trivial to take to God.

The thing is, we can always pray. It is the fastest way to peace. I have told people before, I can’t really do anything but listen, but if you pray about this God can change things. God always has time for us. When we try to call or text people, we might not get a response. More than likely they won’t be able to really help but the person can get whatever it is “off their chest”. That’s like dumping on people though. God doesn’t mind us bringing situations to Him. God actually says in Jeremiah‬ ‭33‬:‭3‬, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” ( NKJV) I don’t know about you but I’d rather call to God and have Him show me things because He always has the best in mind for His children.

In a world that is so overly connected, we see people anxious about the future. We see parents anxious about their children and how they are going to pay their bills in this current inflation. Grocery prices and everything is sky high. Again we can go to the Lord in prayer. The Bible says in Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (NKJV‬‬)

The Bible is packed full of encouragement and life giving instruction. God hears us when we pray. Check out ‭‭I John‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (NKJV)‬‬. Here’s another one, ““Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”” Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) Praying together is powerful. The other day when my husband was taking me to volunteer at the food pantry I said, “ Let’s pray.” I grabbed his hand and prayed half way to the church . I prayed about everything. It was a special and powerful time.

Prayer changes things. I will tell you God’s timing is different BUT He is always on time. While it is nice to talk t o people and share things through text, the best thing we can do is call upon the Lord in prayer. He knows our heart. He knows what we need before we ask. He knows the motives behind our prayers. Nothing is hidden from Him. That brings me such comfort and I pray it does for you as well.

On a side note, here’s the story behind the picture above. Today after Bible study, a group of girlfriends met up for lunch at Wing BonZ. It was a fun time of catching up and laughing. I shared about this blog topic and asked if they would help me with a picture. I wanted one to be talking on the phone, one to be praying and one texting. I can’t tell you how many picture were taken. We moved around the dining room to get the best location. Thankfully there were just two other men eating and I explained what we were doing. We probably looked kind of odd but who cares and the picture turned out good. Who yu gonna call? Remember Jeremiah 33:3, Call to the Lord and He will answer you.

Sorry I go a bit side tracked at the beginning of this blog. I was actually googling communication stats. I even asked Siri a few questions. It makes me wonder who programs that AI stuff. It’s quite interesting but it veered off where I wanted to go with this blog. I got back on track though and hope this has encouraged you to make the right call. Throw in some praise and worship with your prayers. It will bring such release and joy to your heart.