It’s that time of year again. Over the weekend I was up in the attic getting down the Fall decorations. I got most everything put out on September 1st, but wasn’t finished with the front porch. (I know Fall doesn’t officially start for a few more weeks but I enjoy the change) There were still a few things left to put on the bakers rack on the porch, so I set them on the dining room table until I could get that done.
This morning I asked Ron if he would remove the dove nest that has been empty for a couple of months. The nest is where I put my scarecrow and with each season I always change the flowers in the pitcher. Ron went outside but came right back in and said , “The bird is back”. I was like, “Seriously this is the third time this year!” I had moved the bakers rack back to its normal place so I can’t see the nest from the window. When I went out to water my flowers, sure enough Momma Dove was back on hr nest. Geez! We might as well name our porch Nesting Dove Inn I accidentally scared her and she flew away. I figured I’d at least change out the flowers in the pitcher and put a mini scarecrow in there since my sitting scarecrow lost its spot to Little Miss Dove. Oh well, in a few weeks I can put out some pumpkins and I guess that will have to do for the Fall. Surely she won’t still be there at Christmas. But who knows….. she’s an unpredictable little thing. She does make my heart happy though so we will let her hatch her squabs in peace. It looks like there will just be one this go round.
God’s creation is a beautiful marvel. “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) Apparently that includes raising more squabs. I can’t really blame the little Mamma. The weather has become so nice and comfortable. Happy September to you all! Be blessed Www.shannonkhinson.com
I didn’t want to end this day without giving Glory to God for the amazing miracle of my brother Forrest’s life. God is good and so so faithful! Not many people have three birthdays but my brother has three: the day he was born, the day he accepted Jesus as his Savior and the day he had a bone marrow transplant. Today marks his 4th birthday and we are so thankful! Some of you have followed my blog from the beginning and were part of the team that prayed for him. Thank you! Today he continues to be cancer free. He is thriving and quite frankly, it’s hard to keep up with him. He’s a busy family man who loves God, loves his family and serves faithfully. Four years ago, God brought him through the fiery trial of acute leukemia. He now is PopPop times 4. His fourth grandbaby was just born.
As I was cleaning up the dinner dishes tonight, I began to sing the chorus of “Say Amen”. I will post the music video for you below. The chorus goes like this… Has anybody here found Him faithful? Anybody here knows He able? Say Amen! Has anybody here seen His power? Anybody here brought through the fire? Say amen! Has anybody here found joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in the storm, hope for tomorrow and you’ve seen it time and time again, just say Amen! I love that song and the testimony that it shares.
We all have a testimony and are called to testify and give Glory to God. I couldn’t let this day end without doing just that. Life is unpredictable. My brothers acute leukemia diagnosis back in 2020 came like the “meanest curve ball” out of no where, but today I can say “God knocked that ball out of the park!” Don’t stop praying! God’s ways are so much higher than our ways. All we can do is submit to God, pray, worship, serve and trust Him for His best. You are loved! Keep looking to Jesus! He will see you through! Thank you Jesus for the Miracle of my brother’s life and thank you for blessing his family over and beyond! Www.shannonkhinson.com
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~
My Advanced Bionics Marvel Cochlear Implant processor.
Story of life! Seriously, it sort of is. Here’s the thing, almost one week ago I had some big adjustments to my cochlear plant. For some reason over the years, four of my16 implanted electrodes had been turned off for various reasons. In my 18 years of implantation with my cochlear implant, I’ve had differing levels of success or lack there of. If you know, you know 😂 (You can count on me to keep it real.) I love my current Audiology Center called Lakeside Audiology in Fort Mill, SC. I started going there about five years ago after much frustration at my previous hearing center. The team that works with me at Lakeside Audiology sent my files to Advanced Bionics AB (that makes the type of implant I have) in California to have a specialist there review and make recommendations for improvement. Since I also have low vision due to optic nerves issues, I rely heavily on my cochlear implant to help me hear. The AB Specialist made some recommendations to implement. Last Monday when I went for my appointment, three electrodes were turned on that were previously off. I noticed a difference although I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. My levels of pitches were adjusted as well and it was louder. I did better hearing the sounds in the sound booth. I went home, determined to work with the new changes. Little did I know I’d be back four days later.
Tuesday and Wednesday were a blur of activities and I didn’t have time to really pay attention or work with the new adjustments. I did pick up some things I did not notice before but it also really grated on my nerves. Just try to think about it; Each of these electrodes stimulate my auditory nerve allowing me to hear different pitches. Three more had been turned on so my brain was being more stimulated. Thursday I finally had a slower paced day and that’s when I realized it was just too loud for me. I don’t complain but my nerves were “strung” and I was tired from all the effort and simulation. I e mailed the Audiologist and Ron called. I was able to go in Friday to have the levels turned down a bit. Little steps are sometimes needed to make progress. I kept the electrodes on, just had some volume turned down. Now I’m back to listening activities with Sound Success, Word Success and iAngelsound.
I have noticed maybe a little improvement. The thing is, I’m never consistent. I asked my Audi why I have such issues with the rate of speech and she said it is due to the type of hearing loss I have. Neuro sensory relating to my lovely nerves. Seems everything boils down to nerve issues. (Vision and hearing issues) It seems to me that doctors would come up with something to help. What about oxygen therapy treatments? Dietary changes? Supplementation? Come on! I did ask a previous primary Dr. his thoughts on dietary changes to help with nerve issues. His response? “That would take a long time to work. “ That might be true, but “Pop a pill” isn’t the answer to everything. Just being honest here.
Back to my story. On Saturday Mom and I went to our Lit & Latte Book Club that we attend once a month. The ladies went around the table sharing prayer requests before discussing this month’s book selection. I DID understand a little bit during the sharing of prayer requests. Just bits and pieces, some voices better than others, but everyone talked one at a time. Once we began the book discussion I was lost in overlapping chatter and laughter. Mom did help me to follow some of the discussion. At one point I kind of “zoned out”. I told Mom later it’s kind of like going to the gym. You go and get your workout in. When you get tired you leave and it’s over until next time. Not so with hearing rehabilitation. I go and listen intently, but once I’ve had enough, I still have to continue listening. I do have friends with cochlear implants who just take the processor off to give themselves a break but they can see way better than me. Mom and I stopped at a few stores on the way home. When I did finally get home I was beyond exhausted. I laid down at 4 pm and took a two and a half hour nap. Whew!
I’m determined to work with the new changes and God willing my brain will make the connections and comprehension will come. Until then, I will continue to test myself with the various exercises. I was telling the audiologist that it’s a challenge while doing the iAngelsound app as I have to zoom in to see the word selection and the repeat button is over to the side. (On iPad screen) Sometimes I don’t see the word right but hear the sound. Oh Lord have mercy. It’s like a never ending rollercoaster that you want “off of” 😳Thankfully at home I can function fine without the processor although I prefer to have it on. I don’t want to miss “life” happening around me. So the testing goes on. My husband is so used to me having my processor on that when I do take it off and he starts talking, I’m like….. “I don’t have my processor on. Let me put it back on. Okay what did you say?” Yes… that’s an every day thing.
Just a little glimpse at my world. Technology is a marvel. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I want to throw it out the door but I will keep working with it. Eighteen years and counting. God is good and faithful. So thankful for the resilience to keep going, stay real and keep smiling. All for His Glory.
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! Www.shannonkhinson.com
My new stainless steel bracelet. “God is within her, she will not fall” Got it on Amazon
I woke up this morning planning to go work out with a friend but that plan got scratched. So here I sit, praying and having my quiet time with the Lord. Funny how He uses early morning quiet times to nudge my heart and bring hidden things to light.
In dealing with life, I have the tendency to just ”dig in my heels” and push through. Living with hearing and visual issues is hard enough but watching your grown son deal with similar issues is a very HARD thing. This morning I read a devotion about taking on Jesus yoke. One of the scriptures was Matthew 11:28: “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (NLT) Do you carry a heavy burden too?
Ok I’m going to be a little “Raw” here. Rest? Life is a daily struggle just dealing with my own issues but then to see our son deal with his….It’s like running into a mountain that is too HUGE to even imagine getting around. Something insignificant came to light recently but it was like a “cork”popping off a well of hurt, disappointment and anguish. I can deal with my issues but I can’t really help someone deal with theirs. That’s something God has to do.
This morning when I opened my iPad, it had created a video from some pictures in my album. It was like going down memory lane in our family and watching Joshua grow into a remarkable strong young man. The video had pictures of our little family of three and Grandma and Grandpa, our prayer Team. Grandpa is no longer with us, and that still leaves a “hole”. Joshua sure did love his Grandpa.
So as I prayed this morning, I let it out. God knows! He wants us to bring our burdens to Him and find rest in Him. I also came across scriptures I had put aside in my notes section of my IPad. One of those scriptures was Zephaniah 3:17 that says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”” (NKJV)
Last Sunday Larry Green was singing a song that says “there ain’t no mountain high enough, to keep my praise from going up. In everything give thanks”. Wow! That sure is a challenge but starting each day with the Lord in prayer and His Word is the way to go. Last night I got on amazon to order a bridal shower gift. I decided to browse Christian bracelets and came across one that says “God is with her, she will not fail”. I ordered it and will wear it as a reminder that God is indeed with us, strengthening us. He foresaw our whole lives before they began. He knows the ending and every step until we reach that point. Deep breath! It’s ok to show your vulnerable side. It shows your humble and human. I take comfort in transparency because it shows me I’m not alone. It’s sad a lot of people have too much pride to show weakness. It’s a blessing to be able to genuinely be there for people knowing what it’s like to endure. I truely believe that brings joy to our Lord when He sees us love, encourage, listen and pray for each other.
Mom and I recently went to a little shop in Pineville NC. We had passed it many times and Mom wanted to check it out. (Truth be told, I can’t see well enough to read the signs of stores well and had no clue what it even was.) We went in and saw the loveliest lady. She said she sells things for elderly people when they downsize their home. The items were a beautiful mix of home furnishings and antiques. As we went into one room there was a beautiful prayer tree. I had never seen one before. There were tags that you could write a name on of someone needing prayer, then attach it to the tree. Mom wrote on a tag and placed it on the tree. I wrote on my tag and handed it to her to place on the tree. We wrote the same persons name. 💓God knows and I know He will answer with His very best.
I do not usually share such personal things, but perhaps this will encourage you. I also don’t typically share prayer requests with just anyone simply because some people just want to know your business but don’t really care. It’s just the truth. But God knows. As I’ve been writing this another song came to mind. I had the honor of learning how to play this on the piano and I so wish I had stuck with it but my piano playing season ended. But the memory of the song still remains. I will attach the YouTube video below. It’s an Elevation worship song , titled “Do it again.”
Be blessed. Keep praying. Never give up! Www.shannonkhinson.com
I can be sassy, bold, funny and serious at times. Today calls for a bold serious tone. Bear with me….There seems to be a lot of people “on the fence” there days. People want to dabble in society with all its “look at me”, “see what I have”, “see my accomplishments” or maybe “I really want what they have”. On the other hand, some sit in church Sunday after sunday, while the message goes in one ear and out the other. There are many who say they are Christians but their choices, attitudes, language and actions don’t reflect Jesus. It’s almost like they come to the Lord’s table, grab some “food” (the message) and throw it back on the table. Something isn’t right there.
I know I’m not the only one who notices these things. If this describes you or people you know, what are you waiting for? What will it take to make a true decision for Christ? Every morning we awake with a new day to make the right choice. We can’t do it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction. We need grace.
Every morning I have a routine and it’s a life saver. I wake up, feed the our dog Joy (she will stare me down until I feed her), make a cup of coffee then sit down and pray. It’s not always a smooth flowing prayer but I make an effort to seek Jesus with the “first fruits” each day. King David wrote in Psalms 5:3,“Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” (NLT) Yes, we need to wait expectantly for His answers. They aren’t always what we want but I guarantee the answers will be what is best in the long run.
Truth be told, last night when I went to sleep I was a bit unsettled. I made the mistake of checking out news (online) in the world before I went to bed. Why did I do that? With the tensions escalating in the Middle East and the political unrest here during an election year, I’d say a “storms brewing”. The mainstream media is absolutely disgraceful. If they would only tell the truth, nothing but the truth, without a hidden agenda. Sorry but I call it like I see it. I’’m not going to veer off course down a political rabbit hole. I will advise that whatever you hear, read or see, question it. Pray abut it and seek God’s discernment. God is sovereign and can be trusted! So pray!
Let’s be extra careful who we listen to. Whether it is friends, society, influencers, pastors (they aren’t all teaching the true Word of God), the anchorman, etc question everything. A sure fire way to know the truth is to seek if it lines up with God’s Word. If it is contrary to God’s Word, there is your “RED FLAG”. We should be listening to Jesus every second of everyday. Hebrews 10:22-23 says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (NKJV)
God is faithful and true! He can be trusted with every single concern that we have. It’s vital to place our hope in Him without wavering. It is important to “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NLT)
Today is the day of salvation. Jesus is coming back soon! Are you ready? If not, what is the holdup? The events surrounding us today match up with events of the last days. See 2 Timothy3. Verse 5 of that chapter troubles me, “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:5 (NKJV) You may ask ,“Why does the Lord tarry in His return?” 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (NKJV) God gives us chance after chance. He is so rich in love, mercy and grace. If you haven’t done so, surrender to Him today. He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. (1 John 1:9 ) God sent His only son Jesus to die in our place on the cross, so that we can have forgiveness and live with Him forever. See John 3:16
Jesus loves you! He’s waiting with open arms for you to come to Him. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. If you are already a Child of God, spread the Good News of Jesus. The world is in dire need of Hope and that is only found in Jesus Christ. Join with me in praying for our world, our country, our leaders, for Israel and for blind eyes to be opened to the truth of God’s Word. Be blessed and better yet, Be a Blessing!!
A little over a week ago, the title “Transformed” came to me. As I read the Bible I came across different scriptures and added them to my notes but wasn’t sure how the Lord would enable me to tie it together. Instead of an overload, I think I will break it up over a few days.
From my own perspective, transformed is being totally changed, hopefully for the better. There are so many things that can bring about transformation in people: friends, influencers, your interests, music, entertainment, what you immerse yourself in, etc. There are too many things to name. What you allow to mold you is evident in your choices, attitudes, speech and responses.
Last Sunday, I listened to our early church service online as I was getting ready for the late service. Thank God for Bluetooth technology. With my recent cochlear implant processor adjustments, I’m doing a little better comprehending but I’m not consistent. On the way to church I told my husband Ron and son Joshua, what I thought the service was about. Afterwards we realized I had done pretty good following. (I missed some big chunks of it but got the main things.) Joshua asked why there are so many different teachings on Jesus. I answered, “There are false teachings thrown in with scripture. The devil is the father of lies and deception. He will give you a “grain’ of truth and twist it. You will know truth if it’s from the Bible; adding nothing and taking nothing away. When opinions, politics, special interests, etc. are thrown in, that is a “RED FLAG”.
Our society and world are full of deception and lies. There is the redefining of marriage and sexual nonsense. There is the watering down of truth to not offend. It is imperative that you read the Bible and know the truth. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us,“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV) Do you see it? Scripture transforms us, not the other way around. Be careful the Bible translation you read. They don’t all have the same verses and some verses are left out completely in some translations. Have you ever noticed that there are updates to translations in the Bible App? That troubles me since the Word of God does not change.
If you profess to be a Christian, let me ask you this. If people observe how you live during the week, the things you post on social media, your speech, how you treat others, your attitudes: do they see Jesus in you? We are to “Shine for Jesus”. It is Jesus in us who transforms us. Check out 2 Corinthians 4:6-10, “For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” (NLT)
I challenge you to spend more and more time in prayer and studying the Bible. It will change you from the inside out. 1 John 4:17 says, “And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”(NLT) That should be our goal.
I’m going to stop here and pick up on this soon. Take the time to pray over and digest these truths. Don’t take my word for it. Open up your Bible and seek the face of the Lord. He will meet you there. You are greatly loved. Be blessed and better yet, Be a blessing. http://www.shannonkhinson.com
Time truly FLIES! I “blink” and three years have gone by. This past Friday marked my three year anniversary of blogging with WordPress.com This has become a passion of encouraging others to face life with Jesus. Blogging started out as a continuation of things God has taught me through living with limitations. It continues to be a time of sharing my journey which I first shared in my autobiography Rooted by the Water published in 2021 through Westbow Press. (You can find it on Amazon in print and ebook format).
By the grace of God, in the past three years I have written 213 blog posts with 6,964 views. All for the Glory of God! It’s an honor to share the things the Holy Spirit reveals through nature and life in general. Oh the lessons He teaches me as He refines and sharpens me. Convicting me at times, humbling me and cheering me on. I’m grateful for this process He has me in. It’s my hope and prayer that Jesus love and care are seen through the words He enables me to write.
The Bible tells us to “let our light shine”. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) So I write. I am astounded that Rootedbythewater.blog is read around the world. Each week the blogging site tells me in what countries it is viewed. I am not saying many people read it, but it humbles me that God uses this gift He has given me to touch someone here and there: in China, another in England, Nigeria, France, Canada and so many countries. (There have been a couple I’ve never heard of. Looking them up, turns out they were small countries in Africa.) The majority of views are here in America.
The times we live in are evil. It’s a worldwide peril. In a sense, it’s like being out at sea on a stormy night. With darkness and raging winds and waves surrounding, we strive to catch sight of a “lighthouse” to guide us to safety. In these times, let Jesus use you to “shine” for Him. I’ve always had this hidden gift but God has chosen to bring it out during the last three years for “such a time as this”.
We all have God given talents. Whether it’s music, dance, acts of service, teaching, encouraging, speaking life and so many more….. whatever your gift may be, will you offer it back to God? Can you pray, ‘Lord I’m so humbled and thankful you chose me to have this gift. I give it back to You, asking You to enable me to use it for Your Glory, not mine. Lead me through the Holy Spirit to encourage someone today and lead them to You. Help us to overcome this evil world with the blood of the Lamb and Word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11)” I pray that you can surrender and pray that prayer with me. God is at work all around us. Join in this labor of love! It’s all for Jesus! He’s worthy of it all!
Here’s to many more blogs or whatever else He calls me to do. As long as He continues to pour into me, I will continue to pour out. It’s all for Jesus! 🤟🏼❤️ Www.shannonkhinson.com
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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