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Check your Foundation

October 7, 2024Leave a Comment

It’s been a week since I’ve published a new blog post. Sometimes It just seems life sucks the liveliness out of you. Not that my personal issues are any more than usual. My life pretty much stays stable. However the devastation of Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene has left me unsettled.

I am one to think deeply on issues and that can be good but it can also been a burden. I am also one to question everything and that is not a bad thing. I’ve read about the devastation of this hurricane and I’ve also read about the lack of response from our government. That is very troubling.

While I am no weather person, so many aspects of this recent hurricane seem “of”. Who would have ever thought that such a horrific outcome would occur from this disaster? Whole towns have been wiped out from flooding and “rivers” of water than rushed through. How in the world do these things happen? Don’t even mention “climate change” All those”tooting that horn” go jetting around the world. It’s a “do as I say, not as I do” kind of thing. I know that ultimately GOD IS IN CONTROL! But…. I know… I know… I’m never to question God’s ways and why bad things and disasters happen. God has a way of bringing “beauty from ashes” or in this case “beauty from devastating floods and mud”. I will get to that later. Right now I want to highlight a few things.

Why why why did it take FEMA a week to be on the scene? Why have Americans been told not to fly drones, that can take accurate footage of whats really going on? I’ve read that the media is not fully reporting on what’s happened. Why has the government not helped with the rescue? Why has our military who want to help been told to stand down? Why? Why has our government spent tons of money on illegals and thrown a mere $750 to the victims of the horror? Some of which are even denied that. All the while sending loads of our tax payers money to Ukraine! Why? Thank God for a few platforms that continue to allow for our American right of “Free Speech”. Those shouting about misinformation are the ones wanting to control the narrative. Are you awake yet?

Dare I say, this administration cares nothing about the American people. Yes I do dare to say it! All in an election year, when they have tried every possible trick, weaponized our justice system and lied to keep Trump off the Presidential ballot, yet he stands! That’s a whole different blog, that I will try my best to refrain from writing.

Now back to the “beauty from the horrific flood and mud” , while our government cares nothing for the victims, the beauty of America rises! I have read story after story of people pulling together to take supplies, help rescue, pray and show love. Churches, businesses and American citizens pulling together to help. That is the beauty in this horror.I read of one crew going up to help. They dug six people out from a collapsed house. That is a beautiful thing. I know someone who was able to get food up to a family who had not eaten in three days. (That was last week) Another beautiful thing. Churches and businesses collecting clothing, food, water, generators and fuel. If you do feel lead to help please give to a church or a trusted organization.

In all this devastation what can we do? How do we deal with these things? Our best weapon in dealing with anything is PRAYER! We must PRAY! It’s true we can’t fix everything but we can PRAY and I assure you that nothing is impossible with God! It boils down to our foundation. What are you built on? I will admit that my foundation is built on a strong relationship with Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I have had many things in life that “rocked my world” and shook my faith, but I know at the end of each day, at the end of any situation I can fully depend on God! 1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ says, “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” (NLT‬‬).

Having a firm foundation is so incredibly important. When things happen and devastate you, your foundation is what you fall back on. When you trust God’s sovereignty it grounds you to trust that He will ultimately work things out for your good and most of all for His Glory. Having a firm foundation enables you to trust in His Word. Scripture like Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭7‬ that says, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.” (NKJV‬‬) strengthens our faith to trust God. There is so much I don’t understand but I am encouraged to trust in the Lord with all my heart and not to lean on my own understanding.

A firm foundation can make or break you. A few weeks ago as I was riding with my friends to serve the homeless in Rock Hill, we passed by this massive structure of metal. It was the oddest looking thing. I noticed it as I sat in the back seat of their truck, looking out the window. I said “W in the world was that?” My friend took a quick picture and sent it to me so I could see it better. It appears to be a building that looks like a complete failure. It appears to be a building with metal framing that collapsed. I’m not an engineer or builder, however common sense tells you something was wrong with the structure or its foundation to cave in like it appears to have done. Your foundation is everything. Whether you “stand up tall” after a “massive blow in life” or if you crumble; it’s going to depend on what you’re built on. If you are build upon a firm foundation of faith in Jesus, when the “winds and waves” hit you will ultimately remain standing because you are “grounded in Christ” There is no time like the present to check your foundation.

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Confessions of an “Over-thinker”

September 13, 20242 Comments

Welcome to”Over-thinker anonymous”. 😂That state when your mental wheels are always turning and you want to reach for a pause button or something to make the constant thoughts HUSH! Yes! Welcome indeed! Surely I’m not the only one. My husband Ron can take one look at me and say, “What are you thinking about?” I’m like, “I don’t think you want to know.” 😜My son Joshua also chimes in with sign language right smack in front of me. Mom “Stop thinking”. Why do I do this? I will take honest inventory here that might be somewhat humorous at times.

Being both hearing and visually impaired, I am beyond thankful for a sharp mind,even thought it may or may not be overly active. ~ Confessions of an “Over-thinker”

Due to the fact that I can’t drive, I have to prepare ahead. I need to always try to be prepared for whatever scenario might occur, thus the need for careful grocery lists with weekly meal planning. I have to make sure I have all the ingredients for meals for the week and any other supplies we may need, so Ron doesn’t have to run to the store for trivial things. ~ Confessions of an “Over-thinker”

Ever since Joshua was born I’ve been a list maker. The lists used to be written but now since I can’t see the hand written notes, I type them on my iPad in my notes app. ~ Confessions of an “Over-thinker”

When going on a trip, I make a detailed list of things I need or may need. Having a cochlear implant, I need to be sure to have my spare parts, enough rechargeable batteries, the charging device and dry aid kit. That’s just for my cochlear implant things. Now to list the rest of what I need. Some things I have to be overly sure I never forget, like Refresh PM eye lubricant. (Due to five eyelid surgeries I have to use this product every night for the rest of my life) ~ Confessions of an “Over-thinker”.

There are the more serious concerns that I consider such as how people say one thing with their mouth and a whole different thing with their body language. Yes I notice those things and find the topic fascinating. Body language speaks loud and doesn’t typically lie. ~ Confessions of an “Over-thinker”.

Then there is election year drama… which I confessed to the Lord this morning is troubling. I see propaganda, gaslighting, lies and deception. I see people with blinders on refusing to look at the real issues. I see contradictions in what the news says and it’s almost like a “state run media” (which it kind of is) Yep it’s troubling. I had to turn my iPad off last night and choose to focus on God. God is sovereign and He is in control. It is vital that I fall back on God’s Word. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) ~ Confessions of an “Over-thinker”

It is kind of odd that I don’t tend to worry much about the future (other than the election….. I’m working on that) I’ve always said “We will cross that bridge when we get to it.) I just can’t live in a constant state of fear. You know the drill. If so and so happens, what will we do? Nope! Not going there. Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ tells us, ‭“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) ~ Confessions of an “Over-thinker’.

Another biggie, our son has similar issues with his hearing and vision as me. It’s not the exact same but there are enough similarities to raise concerns. There is the need for me to daily set the example of walking in humility and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Life is not always about what we want. It’s about surrendering to what God desires to do in our lives. It’s about demonstrating, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (KJV) I’m always thinking about these things. ~ Confessions of an “Over-thinker”

This could seriously go on and on. I can think of many more examples but you get the idea of what I’m saying. I hope at some degree you can relate. I do realize that thinking is a gift and I need to use it wisely. I also realize that the mind is a “battle field” and we have to take thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. As Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ tells us,“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”(NKJV‬‬)

Now let’s see if Facebook allows me to post this. They censored my last post because I shared “links” The links were to scriptures on healing and miracles. Go figure! Thankfully I can publish on WordPress and share through e mail , texts and X. Ironically on my Facebook feed, nearly every other post is a sponsored ad with links to buy things. God let whoever needs to see this, see this. All for Your glory Lord. I’m just an empty vessel the Lord pours into and I pour it out in writing. I pray this blesses you and you are encouraged today to Shine for Jesus regardless of your circumstances.

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Perfect Outing

August 23, 2024Leave a Comment

Walking the Riverwalk trail with Joshua.

It sure has been a fun day. (After a very stressful week) Two days ago my son Joshua said he wanted to take me to lunch and let me experience Uber. He was trying to decide where we should go. At first he said Downtown Charlotte, then he mentioned Riverwalk in Rock Hill. Riverwalk is more my thing, so we went there. My husband Ron dropped us off at Tony’s Cantina Mexican Grill. Joshua had never been. It’s a cool environment but I don’t quite understand Mexican decor. For some reason they use glamorized pictures of skulls. Anyway, it was a beautiful breezy Carolina afternoon so we sat outside. The restaurant sits on a street corner overlooking the entrance to Riverwalk walking trail. I ordered the chicken lunch burrito with guacamole salad and rice and he got a taco platter that was served in a very cool vertical display. After an enjoyable lunch we decided to walk the trail that winds along the Catawba River.

We walked and talked and it was just the best afternoon spent with one of my biggest blessings. As we reached the end of the trail where you turn around we decided to call the Uber driver from that spot. He had been trying to get me to try Uber but I’ve never done it. With my hearing loss and visual impairment, I’m a bit chicken. You do need to be able to see the different models of cars. I can see cars but I haven’t the slightest clue on different car models and reading licenses plates isn’t ideal for me. I could just see me getting in the wrong car. However, Ubering with him was fun. It only took our driver about eight minutes to arrive. The driver was a really nice guy and Joshua talked with him all the way to our house.

My first Uber ride with Joshua after a sweaty long walk along the Catawba River.

It warms my heart that our grown son still enjoys spending time with me and wanted to treat me to a day out. He does that with his dad as well. I remember when he was just a little guy, maybe three years old, I would close the gate to our driveway and we’d race big wheels and tricycles. I’ve never been able to drive him anywhere since I can’t see well enough to drive. We always created fun where ever we were.

He has a few months left to Massage therapy school. He seems to have found his thing. He is great with people and is learning so many different massage techniques. I have gotten two deep tissue massages from him and it was amazing. Can’t wait to see where this takes him.

In the meantime, while he is with us I’m soaking up this time because I know he won’t be here forever. Dinner time is a bit tricky because he has night classes and gets home late so I end up cooking dinner twice on most nights so his food is fresh when he gets home. I don’t mind spoiling him. He is such a sweetheart and treasure. Thankful that we had this time together today making memories. Until next time~

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Finding Peace on the Battleground

August 15, 2024August 15, 2024Leave a Comment

Do you ever feel like the “odds” in life are stacked up against you? Life can feel like a battleground from a spiritual perspective (and political and cultural as well. Just being real but back to the topic) Society’s acceptance of evil as good is constantly thrown in our faces. It wears on those who desire to live with integrity. You know the lies, the propaganda, sexual nonsense and just down right “darkness”. What are we to do? Read on~

There are all different types of “battlegrounds”. Mine can be a constant drip from the enemy… you can’t do this, you can’t do that, you will never be enough, and the list goes on. You know the drill. Surely I’m not alone. You can take authority over the enemy and tell him he’s a liar and to go back to hell where he belongs! Just being honest here. We can and need to do that. There is power in the name of Jesus to break every single chain, lie and deception. It’s our right as Children of God, to stand in the authority and power of the name of Jesus.

There is the battleground of anxiety and depression. Sadly, in this day that’s always lurking. You take one look at the world around us, see the lack of leadership, censoring of speech , the thrust of acceptance of evil things, etc. and worry raises its ugly head. Listen to me here. I recently felt anxiety rising in me and I immediately confessed it to the Lord. Having hidden God’s Word in my heart over the years the following scripture came to mind. “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.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬ ) You see, I knew I was feeling anxious about something I had absolutely NO control over. I realized God did not want me to be anxious but rather confess that anxiety, thank Him for the ability to bring it to Him in prayer, knowing that He was the one who could change whatever. Sometimes that change is me, and trust me, I’m all for a divine change from my Abba Father. In that particular case, God gave me such peace when I bought my worries to Him in prayer and He did work in the situation and I’m trusting Him to continue working it all out.

These are just a few examples of battlegrounds. God does not leave us helpless to face these things alone. Check out the following scripture: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ (NKJV) We’ve got to guard our hearts and minds.

I came across a really grea devotion in Read&Pray devotion from August 13 (they are all awesome and you can find information about the devotion book at the following link ) https://centralnc.org/read_prayer_devotional One statement that really stood out to me was: “Sometimes earthen vessels have to be broken , so the enemy sees the light and knows he doesn’t stand a chance. “ That is so true. You see, it’s when we are broken and the light of Jesus shines through us, that’s when the enemy takes notice. The enemy can defeat us in the flesh BUT when the Holy Spirit operates within us, the enemy doesn’t stand a chance. Thank you Jesus!

That does take admitting our need for Jesus. We have to drop our pride. There is no place for pride in life, especially on a battleground. We surrender to Jesus and He empowers us to overcome. The Bible tells us in Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭21‬, ”Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. (‭‭ ‭NLT‬‬) God never said it would be easy, but rather we are to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ tells us “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”(NLT‬‬)

The multiple battlegrounds are inevitable, but we can rejoice in it all knowing the battle is already won! Glory to God! We can rest in the assurance that Jesus is with us, we will not fall. I actually bought a bracelet recently to remind me of that when I’m out in the world, doing life. When that sense of overwhelming weariness strikes, I need only to look at this bracelet and be reminded that God has me. He has you too. Sometimes we just need to sit quietly in His presence and soak up the peace and strength He pours into us. Rest in Him! Keep reading God’s Word! Pray continually and give thanks in all things! It makes all the difference in the world! Be blessed!
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My new stainless steel bracelet. “God is within her, she will not fall” Got it on Amazon

Grab a Shovel!

July 14, 2024Leave a Comment

Yes you read that title right! The title is inspired by a post my cousin Craig Kenley posted. I asked if I could quote him.and he said “yes “. He said, “It’s a deep hole America and everyone has a shovel.” Now that’s is truth. We all have a responsibility in this mess called life. What do we do? The answer to that lies in which mess we are referring to.

There are a lot of ‘“Holes” out there. Which one do you find yourself in? There is a “Hole’ called “Depression”. There is another “Hole” called “lies and misinformation”. Oh my goodness! You could really open up a “can of worms” exposing all the types of “Holes” people fall into. Alrighty, let’s name some more: Financial holes, deceptive holes, political holes, censorship holes, addictions, affairs, evil sinister holes and the list goes on.

First I want to touch on the “Hole” America finds itself in right now. The “Hole” has been getting deeper and deeper for YEARS, but with the decline of common sense and intergrity in our country, it’s taken a nose dive. The country I grew up in is no longer recognizable. It really doesn’t matter what “Party” you are aligned with. Sinister greed and power infilterate all levels of our government. It is spiritual, whether you agree or not. It is what it is. Our Founding Fathers created a government with “checks and balances”: The President, Congress and Supreme Court. The darkness and censorship of truth, has infiltered all those branches of government to the point many can not be trusted. We have a Justice in the Supreme Count that can’t even define what a woman is. Is there any wonder that we are where we are as a country? Our current President and Congress care more about Ukraine than they do American citizens. The care more about the illegal immigrants than they do American citizens. This should NOT be! Our media spews out half truths and down right lies and people with no common sense just “eat it up”. Journalist have a responsibility to report truth! Do they? You tell me!

Yesterday I was at a birthday party in the late afternoon when someone said Donald Trump had been shot at a rally in Pennsylvania. I was stunned to say the least. I got my iPad and got on Twitter X to see what was happening. I also got on Facebook and there was nothing. Isn’t that a bit odd? One platform is censored, the other more for freedom of speech. We have a right to a free election. It is election season and our current President has had our borders open wide. Drugs, human trafficking and violence abound. The powers want those illegals to have a right to vote in our election. That should NOT be! Oh my word people! Open your eyes to what is and has been going on for a long time. Stop listening to the lies and start digging for truth. Don’t believe everything you hear. God gave you common sense and expects you to use it.

The devil is deceptive and is the father of lies. Are you listening to him? Whether it be politics, spiritual or personal, it’s time to get out of the “Hole”, whichever one you find yourself in. If you have your head in the sand, it’s time to get out. It’s past time!

I’m not saying be rude or offensive, I’m saying, learn how to have a civil disagreement without it ending a friendship. Learn how to win without cheating. Learn fairness, integrity, truth and practice those things. PRAY PRAY and PRAY some more! If you notice people struggling, whether it is spiritual, relational, or whatever….. you can help “dig them out” with encouragement. You can “throw a life line of prayer”.

Recently I had a conversation with someone who has been in a “hole” for eight months. I will not reveal the person or situation but I will say this, I told that person it was time to “get out of that hole”. I used the example of listening to the lies of the devil that are contrary to the Word of God. I used the example of them falling into a “hole of lies”. I said, “Every time you believe or accept another lie from hell it’s like the devil pouring more dirt on your head. Enough! It’s time to get out”. The person changed the subject and I said “O no you don’t! You are going to deal with this! It’s time”. Do you want to know what happened? As I prayed with this person, there was a breakthrough! Prayer changes things. It changes you and me. We don’t pray for our will but God’s Will be done. He knows what is best. Surround yourself with praying friends, family, people who care and want to see God’s best for you and your family. (That’s quite the run on sentence but sometimes it’s needed to keep the momentum) You can be that kind of friend for someone in a “hole”.

As for the mess our country is in. ..It is vital and I do mean vital, that we Pray for our country, our leaders, and our election process. It is vital that our elections are fair for the American citizens. I am not against those less fortunate, as a matter of fact I help cook for the homeless in our community each week and serve them in the elements (heat, rain, cold) It is a honor and privilege to serve others and I don’t take that lightly. However, flooding our country with illegals to use them for illegal votes is wrong! Silencing Americans is wrong. Inciting violence is wrong. The powers that may be and media are beyond hypocritical.

The Bible warns us about the last days and that is where we are. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 says, “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” ( ‭NLT‬‬)

There is no time like the present to surrender your life to Jesus. We can not fight this battle alone. It must be fought on our knees in prayer. We must live a life of obedience to God’s Word! God’s Word is contrary to the flesh and things of this world. God wants us to walk in love and kindness. Hate can’t drive out hate. Only love can do that. We must unite in prayer and love. The battle belongs to the Lord and He has already won it! There is a song we sing in church and part of it goes like this, “Almighty fortress You go before us, nothing can stand against the power of our God. You shine in the shadow, you win every battle. Nothing can stand against the power of our God.” I’m going to post a video link so you can hear the whole song. Sing it out! Rise up! Grab your shovels and dig! Help dig out friends, family and people fallen into “holes”. Help dig them out with prayer, love, encouragement, and common sense. When people are ugly, show kindness. Overcome evil with good! Now DIG!

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Learning to Be Still

June 19, 20242 Comments

I find it slightly ironic that I’m writing on “the fly” today about learning to “Be still”. I’m not talking about physically being still but rather “being Still before the Lord”. It’s vital to learn to rest in Jesus despite any and all worldly chaos churning.

Sometimes you can feel so alone even in a group of people. You begin to feel kind of “down and out”. You can go from a season of constant movement to one of a slow pace, seemingly alone. In those alone and quiet periods, the enemy tries overtime to cloud our minds with half truths and speculation. When you don’t have the previous rapport of companionship for whatever reason (vacations, busyness with families, or just dealing with life) thoughts can pop up and your imagination runs with it. Knowing enemy tactics is so so important.

A friend sent me a word of encouragement the other night. Just kind of out of the blue and it touched my heart. In a nutshell, she told me , “Shannon I feel impressed to tell you stop worrying and stressing yourself. He’s got you, Joshua and Ron in his hand and will. You are never a burden on people who love you. Satan tries to cloud your head with that. He’s a liar. You all are a beautiful family. Rest my dear sister and friend and let God do what you can’t. I love you. Nite nite”. A beautiful sister in Christ sent that to me and it touched my heart. Yes I had been stressing and yes I had been worrying. If you knew my story, you’d completely get it. BUT God doesn’t want me to stress and worry but rather to “Be Still” before Him and trust Him.

Knowing there are things I can’t do and need help with, like drive and make phone calls: I’m guilty of going “over and beyond” with the things I can. That puts additional stress on me. I must learn and maybe you should too, that I can’t be everything even in those duties I can handle well. I’m trying to cook more for our family to save money. ( Eating out with three adults is expensive even at the cheaper places.). I can cook just fine but the stove/ glass top range is the new digital kind and I have the hardest time seeing it. I can’t see if it’s on high or medium. I turn the dial and watch the burner. If it’s fully red I’m assuming it’s high….. and you get the picture. It’s a challenge but with God’s help I’m getting it done. That is just one tiny example of dealing with life with low vision. Don’t get me started on the hearing loss issues. What can I say….I’m unique. 😜

Living ilife can feel so lonesome at times. It’s during these times, it’s so vital to turn our thoughts on Jesus and stay in His Word. I will tell you as I was just typing that, my iPad completely closed and went to my homepage. Isn’t that just like the enemy to try interfering with “Kingdom Work”? The devil tries to frustrate us and make things more difficult, hoping we will “throw in the towel” and just forget it. Not going to happen here! When my iPad messed up, I just “dug in my heels” and found where I left off and kept the encouragement flowing.

Do you understand where I’m going here? These times when we feel alone, God is actually teaching us things people can’t teach us. He is molding us and forming us into vessels that absolutely MUST SEEK HIS FACE to make it through the day. I know from a human perspective that’s a hard place to be BUT from a spiritual perspective that is THE PLACE TO BE! Let’s give GOD GORY IN THESE QUIET TIMES as HE IS PREPARING US FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD! Nope… I’m not yelling at y’all but I AM emphasizing an important point. Armor up Saints. The devil plays very ugly vile games BUT he is DEFEATED already! ALL GLORY TO JESUS!

I think I’m done here but publishing this blog will have to wait until later tonight after RiceNBeans outreach. Right now I’ve got to get the hotdogs cooking and rice in the oven. Beans have been on all morning. It’s going to be an awesome day. Whether you’re alone or in a crowd, keep your eyes on JESUS! Reach out and encourage someone. Don’t wait for them to reach out to you. Ministry is a two way street. Let’s go!

It’s my prayer that you have received encouragement or perhaps even been challenged through this blog. I find it so refreshing when people can be real and transparent. We can all learn from each other. Life lessons are amazing teachers. I’m thankful for all The Lord is teaching me. Please check out my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon (hard cover, soft cover and ebook formats) I pray it’s a blessing to you and encouragement to never give up in hard situations. Be blessed and better yet, be a blessing.
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God “winks”~ Look who’s back!

June 14, 2024Leave a Comment

This is one of those spontaneous blog posts. I did not plan to write again this week. One blog per week suits me just fine. However, I wanted to share with you all some things that brought a smile to my heart. This morning I was so surprised when I opened the dining room blinds and discovered the mourning dove is back. There it was sitting in its previous nest. I was planning to clean the porch soon but I guess it will have to wait. I love that this little dove family keeps expanding on our bakers rack on the front porch. God’s creation is so amazing.

The second thing that made me smile was noticing five flowers on Nanny’s peace lily. Nanny passed away in 2015 and this peace lily was sent to the family. In the nine years since she’s passed away I’ve never been able to coax more than a bloom or two from this plant, but there are currently five flowers on it. It’s the little things that make me happy.

The last “God wink” today is seeing how our little cedar raised planter is doing. We have two tomato plants and there are fifteen tomatoes growing on them. I also planted three colored pepper plants but so far I don’t see any peppers coming in yet. The last plant is a cantaloupe plant. I had no idea it was a vine and it was trying to take over the planter. I did manage to adjust it on a very short trellis, which I hope works. There are about six little flowers on the vine and God willing, I hope each will mature to a sweet cantaloupe. This is an experiment as we have never grown anything before. It is rewarding to watch things grow as we water them faithfully.Nature is so captivating. There are so many lessons we can learn from just observing creation. Just like the dove family that finds a safe place to nest on our porch, God guides us daily in the safe path He has prepared for us. When the peace lily had two blooms, I prayed for three and God gave me five. Just these little things make my heart happy. As for our little garden, I am amazed at how well it is doing. Even though I don’t see peppers or cantaloupe yet, I hope they will come in. I love the “raised garden” idea because it keeps the weeds out. I can’t wait to make some meals with these fruits and vegetables. Just like these plants, God also “tends” to us each day. He waters us and adjusts us so that we grow better. He sees us begin to bud and watches as fruit appear in our lives. I’m thankful for the little lessons. It’s good to be content with where God has you in life and learn from the different situations He places you in. Moment by moment, piece by piece, bloom to bloom and more doves likely coming soon. Thank you Lord! You certainly declare Your glory through your wonderfully complex creation.

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About those roots

June 10, 2024Leave a Comment

Today I went back to the pictures my friends took of the Angel Oak Tree, to zoom in on the roots. Only the base of the tree trunk that becomes the root system slightly shows, but you know with a massive tree of that size the root system must be incredibly complex. While the root system is not visible; however with the size, magnitude and leaf canopy observable, can you even imagine the potential size of the roots? Roots provide water and nutrients for all parts of a tree. Roots also act as an anchor providing stability.

Stay with me here. In my last blog “The Most Magnificent Tree”, I reflected on all the storms and history the tree possibly endured to reach its present age and size. I was intrigued thinking about the roots feeding and bringing water to that HUGE tree. In my momentary line of thinking, I’m considering the tree bark kind of like an armor providing protection. Is that too far fetched?

People are like trees in all their variety , shape and beauty. While a persons root system is not easily seen, you can tell what roots a person. Yesterday at church the altar was full of people desiring prayer and strength for their burdens. One of my friends mentioned how many people are just weary and weighed down by “life”. However, rather than breaking under the pressures of life, these people were going to Jesus in prayer. He provides the “living water” and life giving nutrients that sustain us and help us rise above life’s weight. As Christians we are rooted and established in love: our love for God and desire to rise up and give Him glory propels us forward! Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ says,“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” ( ‭NKJV‬‬)

Like the bark on the Angel Oak Tree, we also need the protection of the Armor of God! That includes the belt of truth fastened around us, the breast plate of righteousness shielding our hearts, the helmet of salvation to protect our minds, our feet fitted with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to extinguish the devils lies and schemes and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. (See Ephesians 6:10-18) We fight in prayer! Prayer changes things! Most of all, prayer changes us.

I would like to address one more thing. This is the very first year we have attempted a raised garden. I received a cedar planter for my birthday in April. I watched our backyard to determine the best area that received the most sunlight. We chose the soil to use and plants to plant. We’ve watered the plants daily and take delight in watching them grow. Our tomato plants were getting a bit weighed down so my husband Ron put in some stakes to give them support. There are sixteen tomatoes growing! So far we don’t see any colored peppers or cantaloupe. Hopefully we will have a harvest and plant more for the Fall and Winter garden. The tomatoes have done better since Ron added the stakes to support them. Just like those stakes, God puts friends and family in our lives to encourage us and pray for us when we are tipping over by the weight of life. I’m thankful for the wonderful people, family and church family, God has placed around us to reinforce our faith, speak life and God’s Word over us and pray.

There are so many lessons we can learn from God’s creative expressions in creation. Take the time to really look at all God has done and let Him teach you from His inspiring nature. From the dove nest on our porch this Spring, to flowers, trees, our dog Joy, personalities of people, the stunning artistic colors of the sky to ant hills…. I see my God, my Creator, everywhere and it makes my heart smile. I don’t know why He made me such a deep soul but I delight in His truths and the wonderful way He shares them with me.

The most magnificent Tree

June 6, 2024Leave a Comment

Angel Oak Tree in James Island, SC Photo credit Leasa P

I have been waiting for the right time to blog about the Angel Oak Tree I saw in Charleston, S.C. last week. As a deep thinker, I knew there were some hidden insights to discover so I’ve waited until the Holy Spirit moved in my heart and brought something to light.

Life is such a tremendous combination of things.Yet if you will be still before the Lord , He will bring revelation and peace. As I waited for a hidden “gem” connected to this tree, I kept wondering what to write about. I looked at the pictures of the Angel Oak Tree my friends took and shared with me. It is so incredibly BIG and is said to be between 300-400 years old.

Can you even imagine all the things the tree has lived through? Think about it! It was around during the American Revolutionary War. Perhaps it was a part of the action of the Siege of Charleston that occurred during 1780! What about weather: tropical cyclones, high winds, flooding, hurricanes? Alright, I might be carried away here but I’m thinking on the implications of what the Angel Oak Tee has endured, it’s pretty astounding. I did a Google search on hurricanes that have hit the area and the earliest one on record is in the late 1800’s. Here is a short list of hurricanes of category 3 or higher: 1893 Great Charleston Hurricane, Hurricane Hazel in 1954, Hurricane Gracie in 1959 and Hurricane Hugo in1989. Sea Islands Hurricane that made landfall in Georgia in 1893 also had a major impact on the South Carolina coast.
https://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/hurricanes/pdfs/SCHurricanesExecutiveSummary.pdf

Scroll back up and take a good look at the magnificent Angel Oak Tree that has endured much. Zoom in on the branches, how they grow up and out, then downward, with some branches touching the ground, then rise upward again with healthy green leaves at the canopy. The canopy gives a shading of 17,000 square feet. One of the signs near one of the tree limbs said some of the limbs are hollow. Yet they are still alive with green leaves. All this just blows my mind. It’s hard to wrap my mind around how incredible God’s creation is.

This morning as I had my quiet time, I read a devotion on our church app. The devotion was about how we can’t quit. The enemy has a plan of attack to drain us and make us weary and ineffective. We get tried and drained by life and it’s imperative to know the enemies tactics. (That could be a whole different blog right there. Maybe later if the Lord leads me to come back to that topic). But God! Don’t quit. Jesus will give us His peace when it seems we have lost our joy. When complaints seem to swirl around us and we get tired of the fight. Hold on to Jesus! John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭ says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”” (NKJV‬‬)

Let’s face it, life is not an easy ride. I really don’t understand why some people have to deal with so much. I will give you an example of my own life. While I don’t complain, it IS draining to deal with hearing and vision issues. It is what it is! I attempt daily to find a positive spin on whatever, you know the “silver liner” , but I fall so short. It’s kind of like one of those big tree branches being knocked so often that it begins to grow down to the ground. It’s like, “Lord how much longer?”, and you “hit the ground”. Somehow you begin to grow upward again…. Yes… rising up for the next challenge. If the tree is any indication, we will endure many ups and downs, but we continue to GROW for the GLORY OF GOD! We continue to bear fruit (or leaves) Our purpose is to serve God in whatever situations He places us. (Some are uncomfortable but just push through it. ) Jesus is always there, leading us forth in triumph.

We are all growing and learning. None of us have reached perfection and honestly we won’t until we complete our journey. We can’t expect everyone to handle things the way we do. People are all types of varieties with all types of personalities and approaches. I will say that it can be tiring dealing with my own issues, then to come home and deal with someone else’s. That was the case last night. After RiceNBeans ministry time, I came home tired and just wanted to go to bed. (When there is a lapse in comprehending speech and just trying to get things done and be a blessing, I end up pretty tired trying to rise above it.) My husband Ron was again talking about his lost prescription glasses. He lost them two days ago. We looked everywhere and could not find them. So once again he was talking about that and I’m like “We have looked everywhere! They have to be in the house .” I went to the bedroom and was going to get in bed, in comes our son and Ron talking about washing clothes. It was nearly 10 at night. Couldn’t this wait? Apparently not. (You can insert a dramatic eye-roll) Evidently there was a stain on a new pair of expensive pants and it had to be removed right then. Okay! I wanted to go to bed as I was drained, but I turned around and headed to the laundry room. I told the guys what to do and specifically said not to put them in the dryer in case the stain did not come out. Saying “good night”, I went to sleep. This morning I woke up refreshed and had my quiet time. Next thing I knew, Ron was right there talking about his misplaced glasses. I get it! He needs them to see clearly although they aren’t that strong. I offered up a silent “God please!” Prayer. Ron left to take Joshua to Massage Thrapy School and I figured I’d use the time to dust the house really well. As I dusted, I prayed. As I prayed, suddenly God answered! I moved a picture frame on Ron’s bedside table and there were his missing glasses that had been pushed behind it. This was so encouraging. Life happens in all different scenarios. Just breathe deeply, dig in your heels and get it done. I think I willl bring this to a close. I did want to talk about the tree roots (that were not visible but I can just imagine) Maybe that will be my next blog. We’ll see.

✔️Marked safe – Camping survival

June 1, 20242 Comments

Just returned from a five day camping trip with my Bible study group to Charleston, SC. One of our friends and her husband have a cute little camper that sleeps four, which was all we needed with our Bible study group of four. It was tight, but we made it work. It takes a special type of friends to be able to exist together for a few days in a small space, being in each others hair, and having no place to escape for alone time. (Except for maybe the tiny bathroom ) But we survived and we had so much fun making memories. Sure some “feathers” got a bit ruffled. Anytime you put four girls together in a small camper, packed in at night like sardines in a (very organized) can, you’re going to see all the glorious sides of your friends. I think it equals “sisterhood”. Gotta love it!

I’m actually sitting here eating organic mango homemade yogurt made from raw milk. It was left over from our week as we really didn’t eat much breakfast except for one day. I will get to that in a minute. I nicknamed one friend “Skinny Paula Dean” because honestly she can make just about anything healthy from scratch. Take the raw milk yogurt for example. She also made home made bread, and brought homemade ice cream from home that she had also made with raw milk and home made vanilla extract. Oh my goodness! It was delicious!One morning she toasted homemade bread, topped with smashed avocado, egg and preservative free bacon. It was divine! I believe we ate better at the camper than we did while we were out.

The trees are so awesome at the Battery.

One friend had never been camping or to Charleston which birthed the idea of going. Tami is the most familiar with the area and she made sure our sister got the full experience of this historic gem. We did a self guided walking tour that Tami lead using a book she bought on her last trip there. We shopped in the outdoor market, did a horse carriage tour that Tami interpreted for us. We visited a church and sat in the pew section George Washington sat in. We walked through an old old old graveyard. We toured a magnificent home, a prison/dungeon used in the civil war and walked through the battery. We also took our friend over the huge bridge (where evidently we aren’t supposed to talk- If you know, you know😂) We also saw Folly Beach and the really nice pier there. My favorite part was seeing the Angel Oak Tree. I’m going to write a separate blog on that part. It was incredible.

One of our friends documented it all in pictures. She has such an eye for detail and sent the pictures pretty much in the order they occurred but adding others pictures in kind of shuffled the chronological order but the trip is seriously worth it’s own photo album.

Liza and Leasa trying to make the fire alarm stop blaring while Tami’s cooking on the camper top range 😂

My sleeping quarters. The table that became a small bed.

The one down fall of an otherwise perfect week was I missed my quiet times in the morning with the Lord. My eyes were so “spent” on communicating with sign language. When I went to sleep at night I read a few verses one night but was tired. Saying a short prayer I went to sleep. I’m thankful that God speaks through multiple ways: through nature, through history, through the Holy Spirits guidance in dealing with situations. I thought on more than one occasion while away, that the people we interact with see our responses and our manners. I hope to be a light to those around me. Do they see Jesus or do they see a tired frustrated person? Life lessons abound everywhere we go if we are willing to let God reveal them to us. It is such a humbling honor to walk with the Lord each day and try to be all He calls me to be. It takes humility and putting others before yourself. It means letting others have their way, but in doing so it keeps the peace.

I’m thankful for my Bible study group who are like sisters. I’m thankful for God’s guidance each day and His gentle correction as we fall short, get up and try again. He is so faithful.

In the next few days I want to reflect on seeing the Angel Oak Tree. That will be my next blog….. Coming soon. I love sharing what God puts in my heart. I certainly can’t do this “on the fly” but when I’m still before God. I pray it’s a blessing to you. If you like it, please feel free to subscribe and pass it along to bless someone else. We all need encouragement. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I hope it inspires you to never give up in hard situations. God is always there to help us. Surrendering to Him years ago was the best decision I’ve ever made. Be blessed and better yet, be a blessing.