letting go – rootedbythewater.blog

Release it again

May 6, 20224 Comments

Sometimes we think we have things handled well until something triggers a flare up in anxiety and you realize it’s been hiding deep down inside unnoticed. Several flare ups have occurred this week and it has somewhat surprised me that anxiety is still lurking. Past experiences can leave little scars that you don’t realize are still there. This week I have kept busy while our son is doing an adventurous cross country camping trip with a friend, in tents. Each day I have either walked with my neighbor or a friend. We walk, talk, encourage and pray. Several times this week I have confessed my feelings of rising anxiety about hidden fears that I didn’t realize still exist.

As the week unfolded I thought of how James 5:15 tells us, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” In my heart I know that Jesus doesn’t want us walking around anxious but wants us to bring each and every fear and situation to him. As I type this there is a severe thunderstorm warning in effect. Storms have never bothered me but the boys are traveling home. I keep repeating; pray, believe trust, release. Repeat… pray, believe, trust and release. We have zero control over many things in life. The saying goes, “Life is10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it.” My way of dealing with life is to pray, pray and pray some more. The Bible also tells me in Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Maybe I need to add thanksgiving in as well. Lord thank you that we can come boldly before your throne of grace because of the shed blood of Jesus and you hear our hearts prayer.

Today as I ended my walk with my friend Valerie I told her I wanted to pray with her. We were standing at the end of my driveway. As I held her hands and prayed over her, her family, my family and just everything, it was a precious time. As I said “Amen” I noticed a FedEx truck was parked nearby. I told my friend that the driver probably saw something he didn’t see often, people praying together in the driveway. I sure hope it was as big of a blessing to that driver as it was to us.

Life is such a toss up of so many things. We never know what’s around the next corner. As I’ve been writing this blog I’ve seen many severe weather alerts, a couple tornado watches and now sun. I had the dog move with me to the floor of the bathroom. I honestly set my iPad on the commode lid as I typed and waited. My dog must have thought I was out of my mind. I ventured out and saw the sun shining through the windows. Now it’s dark again. All I can say is “ Lord I don’t know what’s on the radar but you do. Amen! He is El Roi the God who sees. As long as my Heavenly Father is at watch, everything is going to be alright. So let’s rest in that knowledge and pray, believe, trust, give thanks and release it as many times as needed.

If you’d like to read more of my story please check out my autobiography “Rooted by the Water”. It’s a true story of how God has enabled me to overcome great difficulties, not by my own strength but through His strength made perfect in my weaknesses. You can find it on Amazon and many other online retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Target and Walmart.
Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

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This Child of Mine

May 2, 20224 Comments

As I type this right now, our son Joshua and his buddy Coleman are road tripping across the country, in tents at national parks from Arizona to South Carolina. He told me the names of the parks they planned to camp at. I connected those destinations on a map and sent it to him asking if that was the tentative route. I’m sure he was rolling those green eyes as he texted back, “Pretty much”. Right before they left they added the Sedona Desert as their first camping spot. I thought what in the world, tent camping in The Sedona Desert at a national park! I texted him and said, “Don’t bring any scorpions home!”

Once a mom, always a mom. Your child is also always you baby no matter how old or big he gets. He has grown into one courageous, kind hearted and stunning person.

As he told me of their road trip plans, I felt my anxiety start to rise. Joshua texted me telling me not to sweat it and they would be fine. I told him he would be the subject of my next book. He said, “No but Coleman wants to be in the next one.” I have plenty of material. All joking aside, it can be nerve racking having an adventurous son. Almost two years ago, Joshua and a group of friends, including three of Coleman’s siblings, hiked a big waterfall. They took theirs shoes off at the bottom and hiked their way up the falls through the water. Once it became too steep they stopped except for two brothers who kept going. One of them slipped way up on a rock, falling into the falls. He never made it home alive. I remember that night like it was yesterday. When the group didn’t arrive back when they said they would, we began making calls. Joshua did come home wearing one of the rescue teams t-shirt. He threw it away not wanting to remember.

God knows our days before we are born. He knows when we will breathe our last breath. We have to trust God with the safety of our children, knowing everything is in His hands. God has seen Joshua through many trials and adventures in life. It’s my prayer that he sees God’s hand guiding him forth. We cover him in prayer daily and his friends as well. I pray on this road trip they will experience God like never before in the majesty of His creation. In the meantime I will keep praying as he is on and off the grid of connection by cell phone. I’m going to be one happy momma when he walks through the door in a few days. Keep them in your prayers.

One chapter in my autobiography is about Joshua. Before publishing my book, “ Rooted by the Water” I asked his permission to include the chapter. I watched his face as he read, pausing, thinking and reading again. He finally said, “I’m glad you’re doing this.” To read more of my story, “Rooted by the Water” you can find it on Amazon and other online retailers. It’s in ebook format and hard and soft cover as well.
Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

Scattered

October 21, 2021Leave a Comment

Bear with me! I’m about to take a whole different direction here…. This morning as I continued my study on Job, I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me through chapter 14 and reveal things I needed to get out of this. As I read and compared the AmericanStandard Version and New Living Translation, I was trying hard to focus. In all honestly my mind was also going in multiple directions. The human mind is a very interesting thing especially if you are deep and constantly thinking. I know I will have to spend more time on this chapter because the main thing standing out to me right now is….our days are few and full of troubles 😂 I know it’s not funny but I’m chuckling just a bit as I think how true that is.

As I prayed I was honest with the Lord about my thoughts being so scattered this morning, although He already knew that. Psalms‬ ‭139:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬, “You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.” I’ve just got to stop right there. It’s mind blowing how our Abba Father knows us so well…. I mean everything about us, He fully knows. As I prayed and thanked Him for his sovereignty, power and unfathomable wisdom, I just sat in Awe!

One of the things my mind was distracted by this morning was our son Joshua’s upcoming trip to Phoenix, Arizona for who knows how long. He and a friend are going out there for training for a new business opportunity. If you know our story and how close we are you would know my emotions and thoughts are all over the place concerning this. Joshua and his friend are excited and we are excited for them as they go try something completely different.

As a “Momma Bear” I’ve thought of ways to help him get ready for his trip. I have no doubt his dad has too. I think of every case scenario and want him prepared. As I thought about all this, the Holy Spirit brought Matthew 7:11 to mind. “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

I know we can REST in our Heavenly Fathers care, knowing that He has everything covered. He loves Joshua even more than we do and is more that capable of taking complete care of him. Agree with us in prayer that God will go before him and be his rear guard. Pray for God’s favor on this new adventure. Pray for safety and healing. Yes Healing! I will never stop asking God for complete healing . Also pray for a group of Christians to fellowship and learn with.

I better bring these scattered thoughts captive. Be still my heart… God has all of this covered. Job 14, I will be back for you.
If you’re interested in our story, you can find it in my autobiography, “Rooted by the Water” by Shannon Kenley Hinson. Sold on Amazon, and other online retailers: Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Target and Walmart.

Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com ‭‭‬‬