As I type this blog entry, I’m sitting in our sons old room, preparing for an opportunity to share my testimony tomorrow at a small group. I’m not one for self promotion but I will gladly share what God has done in my life. I have a unique story but only have about 30-40 minutes to share tomorrow. I’ve been praying about this all week and started making some notes this afternoon to guide my thoughts.
This afternoon when my husband Ron got off work I took a break and we had a late lunch with our son Joshua. We went to Bad Daddy Burger since my husband could get a free Veterans Day meal. Afterwards we went to the house where Joshua lives with some friends. It was a fun visit and Joshua and I played some indoor basketball. I stink but by the time we finished I was getting the hang of it. Once back home, I sat back down to continue preparing for tomorrow.
I know my purpose in life is to bring God glory through whatever situation He puts me in. As I sit here preparing, tears are rolling down my cheeks. It’s like a dam breaks and the tears roll down. The thing with most peoples testimony, it’s what God has brought you through. Like you have come through this and it’s because of God bringing you through. My testimony is a continuous test…. test after test after test. Seriously, it’s only because of the goodness of the Lord and the strength He gives me that I endure. His grace is certainly sufficient. His power is poured into my brokenness. It is HIStory, His strength, His everything. I am nothing without Jesus. He is faithful in all things.
My prayer is that He will speak clearly through me to encourage others. Life is not easy but all things are possible through Him. May more doors of opportunity open according to His will. Lord help me to speak clearly and from my heart to bring glory and honor to Your name. Thankyou Jesus! Amen!
You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. Be blessed.
Oil? Yes oil! A need for fresh oil has been a repetitive thing in my spirit lately. I’m not referring to the cooking kind, or automotive kind, but rather that of the Holy Spirit.
Last week I met with a group of friends to dig into Gods Word. One friend was intrigued about the ten virgins in Matthew 25. It was an interesting discussion as we looked up scripture related to this topic and life application. Bottom lime is, we need fresh oil to shine for Jesus. Fresh oil or anointing comes from spending time in prayer, worship and reading Gods Word.
This week I’ve been reflecting on this and coming across other bits of information that all go along together. I came across a statement that made me think. Sometimes the answer to my prayer is not what I gain but rather what I lose. When I spend time in prayer I lose anger, anxiety, frustration, dpression and hurt to name a few. Those loses are ultimately gains. Sometimes life is a big mess of frustration. I find myself often praying, “Lord help me”. His answers are not always in the way I’d like, but in one way or another, Jesus shows Himself faithful.
Last week when I met with my neighbor for our Bible study, we were analyzing scriptures about healing. One name of our God is, Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals. As we were praying and sharing about different things, I told her I believe God can heal my optic nerves. I told her of my frustrations with my Optelec magnifier being broke and the parts being so pricey. The part that came in that did not fix the problem, cost $100 just to ship back. I told my friend, “ God needs to either fix my optic nerves or fix my machine! “ Yesterday my husband finally was able to get in touch with a regional person about a used machine. The man has a used one that he will sell us for $800, we just have to meet him some time this week. Thank you Jesus! That is a big answer to prayer. Of course I’d prefer healing but I’m trusting God.
I came across another thing online that really summed up my life and the difficulties I face. The post was on social media by Hannah Williamson, who I do not know. She started by saying, “Your calling is going to crush you.” I’m going to quote her here because it was so spot on true and she said she is sharing because someone else desperately needs it. I was one of those people. I read it over and over and I cried. Life is a big jumbled up frustration and I don’t typically talk about it because God is the only one who can change things. It’s no one’s fault so I push through. Here is the whole post I read on Facebook. I had trouble formatting this so everything below in gold is Hannah Williamsoms words.
Hannah Williamson, October 19
Your calling is going to crush you.
👉🏼 I have posted this before, but someone desperately needs this reminder.
💔If you are called to mend to the brokenhearted, you are going to wrestle with a broken heart.
👦🏻If you are called to heal God’s little ones, you have probably experienced your own share of trauma.
🗣If you are called to prophesy, you’re going to struggle with self-control of the tongue.
🩺If you are called to lay hands, you’re going to deal with spiritually-rooted disease.
🪨If you’re called to preach and teach the gospel, you WILL be sifted for the wisdom that anoints your message.
🪞If you are called to empower, your self-esteem will be attacked- your successes hard fought.
⚔️Your calling will come with spiritual warfare and a sifting – BOTH are necessary for your mantle to be authentic, humble and powerful.
Your crushing won’t be easy because your assignment is not easy – and you can’t minister POWERFULLY what you haven’t walked out. Read that sentence again.
🕊When you’re feeling the weight of it coming down on you, RUN to the father who longs to be your comfort. Let him whisper your true identity over you while resting under the shadow of his wings. Position yourself against his heartbeat. Let him renew your strength and set your eyes forward. No olives, no oil. No grapes, no wine.
Your oil is not cheap my friend.
Hannah’s post has been shared many times and I too shared it with friends. May God bless Hannah for her faithfulness in sharing this encouragement.
As we continue to be pressed on every side by life, crushed and in the refiners fire, don’t lose hope. Press in closer to Jesus as He renews us daily with fresh strength, fresh anointing and everything we need to walk victoriously in this life.
You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. Be blessed.
Sometimes we need a good shaking from the Lord. A good shake will clear all the creative mess we make. If we’ve learned anything from previous explorations with the etch a sketch, after a shaking or clearing, if we leave the controls alone there is peace and stillness.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if life was that simple. Just think, when situations or circumstances become messy, just a good shake would clear it all away. That’s wishful thinking.
Life has been a bit stressful lately. What’s new? It seems like a curve ball is always coming up around the corner and catches us off guard . That’s pretty much the story of my life. This latest scenario has tested not only my patience but also my husbands.
My Optelec video magnifier that I’ve been using for 15 years stopped working. I use that machine to see recipes, directions on food packaging, paying the bills, balancing the checkbook and even simply writing. Bottom line, I need it to see for daily functional living and it’s been broke for weeks.
Ron is very mechanically inclined and usually can fix anything. He contacted the company who makes it and they sent instructions on how to disassemble it. He was excited and after talking to someone at the company, ordered the part they thought would fix it. The part was over $500 but that’s way less than a new machine. We waited a week for the part to come in and found out that was not the problem The next part to try is the camera feature to the tune of $2000. Lord give us wisdom to know how to fix this or to get a new one. We could use a good boost of endurance as Ron is doing some of the things I’ve always done.
Meanwhile life continues to happen. Ron took me to my appointment yesterday with my new primary doctor. I’ve seen the same doctor since I was in college but this new one is just two miles from us and was recommended by a friend. She was awesome. We were happy with the whole experience until checking out. Whoa what a sour grape we dealt with. Ron told me later the woman kept telling him to pull his mask up while I was telling him to pull it down. Lord only knows what she was saying to me, because she was all masked up and Ron was too, I could not follow. I told Ron he should have told me. The American Disabilities Act would have come in handy and I would have nicely given her a piece of my mind. She has to learn to be gracious to different types of patients. Communication barriers are no joke. Goodness gracious! She gave us a bunch of forms to fill out. (Remember my broken machine? ) I am in their system and have a patient portal with all my information available to her at the touch of a computer mouse.
This is life! This is us! It takes an abundance of patience. Lord help me be gracious! I spent time in prayer last night and went to bed early. This morning I spent time in prayer again. As I prayed I told the Lord there were so many things but He already knew of them all. He knows the frustrations of dealing with people. He knows the abundance of patience it takes and He knows my weaknesses. This morning I felt in my heart I was to “Be Still”. Just “be still” and worship all that He is. Just “Be Still” and know that He is God. Today is a new day with fresh mercies. It’s a clean slate. Tomorrow is gone with its troubles. There will always be people to deal with and situations to maneuver. Move on and let it go!
May God bless you today in whatever you face. May you see Him smiling and encouraging you as you look to Him. Whatever you do, keep moving forward. It is tempting to throw in the towel and say “I’m done”. Don’t do it! Our purpose is to bring glory to God. We can’t bring Him glory when we quit but we can bring Him much glory when we surrender and push through by His Spirit. Let’s hit that next curve ball out of the park! Let’s go!
If you enjoyed this blog please subscribe. I share life lessons, struggles living with hearing and visual impairments. It’s my purpose to bring God glory in my daily struggles. My autobiography Rooted by the Water cam be found on Amazon.
Recently I was scrolling through Tik Tok and I came across a Pastor who has no arms or legs. I followed him on the app a while back so his videos appear in my feed. He is such an extraordinary person with extraordinary faith. This particular video I came across captured my attention. In the video clip, this pastor with no arms or legs was saying,” When you don’t get a miracle, Be a Miracle”. I though, whoa.. did I get that right? With my low vision and hearing issues, I do often get it wrong. A few days later I went back to try to find the video to save it for future reference and inspiration. Sure enough, with my caption zoomed in large and volume on my device up, I was right. He said, “When you don’t get a miracle, Be a miracle.”
I can’t tell you how many times I have prayed for a miracle for myself and others. While I’ve seen no physical improvements in my nerves that affect my hearing and visual problems, God has and continues to give me extraordinary strength to push through. However, I have never thought in terms of, “Being a Miracle”. Okay Lord will you show me how?
How can I “Be a miracle”? This takes a big shift in perspective and active faith. I decided to get out in nature to walk, pray and reflect. I asked my husband Ron to drop me off at River Walk for some quality time alone with God. As I walked and prayed, praise and thanksgiving filled my heart and mind. Suddenly the thought “let gratitude be your attitude” came to mind. I began to thank God for the strength that He gives me every day. As I walked and prayed, I thanked God for allowing me to see the asphalt path. I had never walked this path alone. (It is safe with security patrolling) I was hoping to see a deer but I saw squirrels and a bunch of dear people enjoying the beautiful day. My senses were heightened. The sounds of moving water from the river, birdsong and rustling leaves surrounded me. I’m so thankful my Advanced Bionic Marvel cochlear implant processor allows me to hear those beautiful sounds. The warm sunshine, a refreshing breeze and smells of nature enveloped me. As I walked and worshiped the Lord I was tempted to lift my hands and sing but I didn’t. My heart was singing though. Walking more than four miles, I became weary along the way. My mind was telling me to push! Push through even through I was tired! I sensed in my spirit the Lord saying, I clothe you with strength…. Keep going!
God got me back to my starting point. After sitting down on some steps, I texted Ron and told him I was ready to be picked up. Physically wear, I came away refreshed in spirit. To “Be a Miracle” you need only to focus on Jesus with a grateful heart. It’s easy to look for God in the supernatural, but He wants us to know Him on a personal level. When we choose God daily, He allows us to find the everyday miracles. As He leads us forth, He enables us to “Be a Miracle” through His power made perfect in our weakness. Trust Him! He’s got this…whatever this is!
To read more of my story you can find my autobiography on Amazon in hard cover, soft cover and e book formats. “Rooted by the Water” by Shannon Kenley Hinson. Www.shannonkhinson.com
Last Sunday was a busy day at the apple orchard in Spruce Pine NC. This was my first experience in an apple orchard and I marveled at the fact I could see many apples on many trees. Having low vision all my life, I’m not used to seeing such detail. I went with four friends and we decided to take a wagon ride through the orchard first to learn history of the area and the orchard itself. All the friends with me are deaf but one can lip read so well, she interpreted what the tour guide said. We all listened with keen interest but once the tractor had pulled us into the orchard I turn around and just absorbed the beauty of the experience.
The orchard has a gorgeous backdrop of mountains. I was sitting in the front corner of the wagon and turned staring in awe. Tree after tree covered with a variety of apples. Some were red, green and yellow. Some sweet and others tart. After the wagon ride, I bought a bucket so I could experience harvesting apples. The guide explained how to know if the apples were ready. Apples ready for picking came right off once I pulled and twisted the steam. I came across some that were not ready and some trees we skipped completely because that particular variety had a different harvest time. It did not take long to fill my bucket with apples then I headed back to meet my friends.
There are some life applications that I gleamed from this experience. If you want to be part of the harvest, you have to participate. You will have to endure the elements to achieve the goal of picking apples. It was a warm day and I broke a sweat trudging through the uneven, rocky slopes. There were weeds and grasses growing in various places. With my low vision, it wasn’t the easiest task maneuvering over the uneven ground. However, I desired the apples more than the hassle it took to get them, so I pushed through.
Every beautiful experience has positive and negative aspects. The trick is to keep your eyes on the prize. In the beginning, as I rode on the wagon through the orchard, my eye was drawn to the fruit. The grassy, rocky slopes weren’t a problem until I was on foot trudging through it. I grasped the beauty of the apples so the negatives of the elements didn’t bother me because my eye was on the goal.
Another life application is, you reap what you sow. Our orchard guide told us about the man who planted the orchard. He put lots of effort into his goal and years later the orchard continues to produce beautiful tasty fruit.
Last but not least, I pondered on how those many apple covered trees represent humanity in need of some one to pick them and bring them in to enjoy. If the apples aren’t picked, they eventually fall and rot on the ground. In Luke 10:2 it says, “These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”(NLT)
Our communities, schools, neighborhoods, business are full of apples (people) waiting for someone to see their value. So many want to be “picked and cherished”. Let’s pray and ask God how we can be useful in the greatest harvest ever. It will require a willingness to participate but we won’t be disappointed in the results.
To read more of my story you can find my autobiography on Amazon in hard cover, soft cover and e book formats. “Rooted by the Water” by Shannon Kenley Hinson. Www.shannonkhinson.com
For several days now I’ve been meaning to sit down and write this. In the process, I’ve typed a few notes to hold onto until I could find time to get my thoughts together.
How can people find beauty in the ashes? As I have reflected on this, several things have come to mind. Don’t despise the hard things. Hardships make you stronger and equips you to help others.
Finding “Beauty in ashes” is like gleaming diamonds in dirt. You may wonder, “Why am I going through this difficult season in life?” Is God possibly preparing you to encourage others with the same comfort you are receiving? 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (NLT). Gleaming beauty from a hard situation could be being able to encourage others through their difficulties because you have been through it as well. Empathy is beautiful.
Let’s check out another verse. Romans 15:5 says, “May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.”(NLT). Patience is beautiful! Encouraging others is also a beautiful thing to experience. Being able to live in harmony is wonderful. The ashes of difficulties make us more sensitive to allowing God to work through us. What about compassion? There have been some really genuine people who have forever touched me with their love and compassion when I was struggling. You can pick up on it when someone is real and truly cares. Having experienced this genuine love and concern makes me want to do the same for others.
I’ve had several opportunities recently to minister encouragement to others in trying situations. I will share one with you. One friend is experiencing some lapses in memory. It’s been my pleasure to listen and learn. I listen to her tell me stories. Some times she repeats them. But I listen to them however many times she wants to share. I know it touches my heart when others take time for me so I want to do the same for others. Recently she was helping me pronounce words correctly . I pronounce words the way they are spelled and sometimes that just does not work. She would spell the words out according to what it sounds like. I sure was way off on some of them. It was funny and we both enjoyed it. We have a true friendship that is beautiful .
As God molds us through our difficulties we are being changed to be more Christ like in character. One might think of a hard season in life as, Lord just get me through this! I really believe it’s not about us getting through but rather how we come out. Do we come out stronger? Do we come out tender to the needs and hurts of those around us? Everyday is an opportunity for God to mold us into the image of Jesus. My prayer today is, Lord help me to be more like you and less like me. All for the glory of God! Amrn!
To read more of my story you can find my autobiography on amazon in hard cover, soft cover and e book formats. “Rooted by the Water” by Shannon Kenley Hinson. Www.shannonkhinson.com
Have you ever felt slighted? Overlooked might be a better word. I experience this quite often and I know it’s not intentional. When it happens you can feel despair. It’s as if no one sees your struggle and in my case they usually don’t. Although no one is at fault.
Last weekend was one of the lowest points I’ve had in many years. In all honesty I am left out in a sense on a regular basis. This has been my life for many years. When you have low vision and hearing you are cut off from people. You are at the mercy of someone caring to include you and helping you be a part of what’s going on. One on one I’m usually fine but anytime it’s a group of people, I’m struggling to understand . I get bits and pieces. It really disconnects me from people. That’s why I love talking to people online because there are no communication barriers. My low vision makes it a bit difficult because I must push through finding all the typos and a sense of humor to laugh in spite of the frustrations.
The enemy knows our weaknesses and last weekend I took quite a few blows . First it was my Facebook being suspended when I had done nothing wrong. That was a big connection to many people where I was not left out. It’s like God gave me an additional sense when people are struggling with life. I saw people who constantly posted things of sadness and being slighted by others. In these posts, I took the time to encourage and speak life to them. Social media platforms can be a ministry tool if used the right way. I was blown away that my page was suspended. My husband had a FB as well but had not used it in years, so we found his old password and got on his to file a complaint. We have not heard back from them. He said for me to use his page. Two days after I started using his, I got the same messsge that I was in violation of their standards. Whoa! Seriously?!?! I had posted all of FOUR things and none were offensive at all. I navigated around that and changed his password . So far we are still up but I don’t know for how long.
On to the second and third knock this past weekend, all which were unintentional. We were invited to a family dinner to celebrate my brothers two years anniversary of his bone marrow transplant. I loved being there for him. As we sat around the table I smiled and watched everyone conversing. I got bits and pieces but that’s all I can comprehend in a group. I depend on some one helping me to understand. The third knock came on Sunday, it was another unintentional thing. It was a lapse in communication among my deaf friends. Sometimes they prefer to FaceTime because sign language is so natural to them. FaceTiming is hard for me though because I don’t see all the signs. They did a group FaceTime and someone was to tell me but they forgot. I usually don’t care bit it was too many things in a short time; Facebook, family, then my closest friends.
Sunday after church I could not hold the tears. As we sat in Harpers splitting a pasta dish, the dam broke and out came the tears of frustration. Ron had been sitting across the table from me but. slipped into the seat beside me so I could feel his support.
That afternoon I cried out to God. Lord why does it have to be this way? Why do you disconnect me from people because of my hearing and visual issues? Lord these are things you could fix. Jesus you took a besting for our healing. Your word says in Isaiah 53:5 “But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed.” (NASB2020) God you see what I’m dealing with. Help me!
On Monday I had lunch with my deaf girlfriends. (All but one who had to work) they did not mean to hurt my feelings. It was unintentional. I shared about everything over the weekend and they understood. They too feel these things in family gatherings. One friend said her high school counselor had explained deafness well. Her counselor said some disabilities are invisible. People don’t know what you’re going through. The person right beside you could be crying out on the inside but not show it outwardly. I am that way. I can put on a smile despite what’s going on, most of the time. In my way of thinking, it’s no one’s fault that I have these limitations.
On Tuesday I had my Bible study with my neighbor who is like an older sister to me. On that day we talked about two names of God: El Roi the God who sees and El Shaddai, the all sufficient one. We are doing the Kay Athur study, “Lord I want to Know You”. It teaches the names of God revealed in the Bible and reveals God’s character. It’s amazing God had us cover these names this week, as He revealed His sufficiency and the fact that Hre sees it all. Studying Gods Word this week and knowing who He is, has reaffirmed my faith and hope in Jesus. I do not know why I have these ongoing hardships that are invisible to others. I know El Roi sees me and meets me where I am. I’m not going to lie, it’s tough but God is the anchor that keeps me steady when the going gets rough.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 were two of the verses we discussed on Tuesday in Bible study. This is what these verses say: “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NASB2020). I told my neighbor that I hoped to be like Paul one day when I can honestly say this. I’m not there yet.
I am so thankful for new mercies every day and renewed strength. He will continue to pour into me as I look to Him. In the meantime time as I journey on each day let me remind you that people need compassion and love. Just because someone looks fine on the outside does not mean they are fine on the inside. We can’t walk around with a sticker on our head saying, “Don’t forget me please”. Everyone is going through some thing. Let’s be there for each other. God uses people to do His work. Let’s always be available to do His work. We are in this together and Jesus helping every step of the way.
To read more of my story you can find my autobiography on amazon in hard cover, soft cover and e book formats. “Rooted by the Water ” by Shannon Kenley Hinson.
The saying goes, “There’s a first time for everything.” That doesn’t mean I wasn’t shocked when I received an e mail today telling me my Facebook was being suspended for violation of its standards. Really Facebook? What might I ask do you dislike about my posts? I share uplifting, positive, inspiring blogs and posts to encourage people. I looked at the so called FB standards. To my knowledge I have not violated anything. Do I promote violence? NO! Do I promote hate speech? NO! Do I promote profanity? NO? Geez… I don’t even gossip on there! On the contrary I speak life and encouragement This is quite perplexing.
The thing that bothers me is that my blogs on WordPress are shared through social media. Many of my followers see my posts through Facebook. I started blogging as a continuation of my story. Life doesn’t stop after publishing my autobiography., “Rooted by the Water“. (You can find it on Amazon) In a sense, it’s actually just the beginning. God continues to teach me so much about His grace and strength through my brokenness. It’s amazing to me when I see posts from other people going through hard times and depression, that I’m given an opportunity to speak life and love into their lives. It’s a privilege to pray for their needs. Just recently someone I met online years ago thanked me for always encouraging others. This past week I had the most views on my blog than I’ve ever had before. What did I write on this last week? I wrote on the 2 year anniversary of my brothers ongoing miracle after having a bone marrow transplant in 2020. I’m honored to be part of his miracle by being his donor.
I know social media gets a bad rap. I get it really, but it allows me to connect with people in ways I don’t ordinarily have. Being hearing impaired and legally blind I am limited in interacting with others. Social media is an opportunity to connect with others and share the love of Jesus.
I have disputed their decision. We will see what happens . But in the meantime they have silenced me. However, I will continue to write and continue to encourage people to not give up. I will Shine on! If you enjoy my blogs help me keep spreading the love of Jesus and the hope He give by sharing my blog with others. Thank you for journeying with me. God bless you all!
As I write this my heart rejoices in our miracle working, amazing, sustaining and faithful God! Two years ago tomorrow, my brother Forrest had a bone marrow transplant at Duke University. We praise God and are beyond thankful for giving doctors the wisdom to treat leukemia and for the miracle of allowing this transplant to be successful. The picture above is Forrest holding the bag of my harvested bone marrow before his transplant.
I remember sitting on my back porch during the summer of 2020. I remember praying and asking God to allow me to help my brother in some way. God answered that prayer. God some how allowed me to be a perfect bone marrow donor match for my brother. This all took place during the Covid-19 pandemic . Remember the masks, isolation, distancing, Covid tests just to make sure….etc? God sees every tiny detail and works it out according to His will. With me being hearing Impaired (hearing some with cochlear implant technology) and legally blind, and everyone was wearing masks at Duke, God allowed Forrest to be with me and help me understand. God was using him to help me, as He was using me to help Forrest. God is so good!
I wish I could say that it was a smooth ride but there were complications. However, every complication God sone how worked out. I will never fully understand the ordeal Forrest and his family endured. God did allow us to see the extraordinary support He gave them. Family, friends, church family, medical staff, and even strangers; God brought them all together to surround Forrest, his wife Jan and children and my parents. The prayer coverage, calls, cards, meals, gifts, and love lavished on them by our gracious loving God. We will never stop giving thanks to our “Way maker, Miracle working, promise keeping God”! He is faithful always! Romans 8:28 tells us “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”( NLT)
We are so grateful for Gods Word that encourages us daily as we continue to walk in His grace. Psalms 91 is a passage of scripture Forrest and family cling to. These scriptures bring such comfort. The entire chapter is so reassuring. . I especially love verses 14-16, “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”(ESV)
There are some things to take away from this blog post. As Forrest continues to walk through the daily miracle God is performing, he is reaching out to others facing similar trials. It is encouraging to help people know they are not alone. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, “who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”(ESV).
Another thing to take away from this is, never underestimate what God is able to accomplish with brokenness. Check out what God says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Just surrender all you have and let Jesus use you in whatever way He desires.
Each day is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present. Learn to live in the moment. We can’t worry about tomorrow or things from the past. Live in the present and give it as a gift to God for His glory.
We give all praise , glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We praise God for all He is doing as He sustains and strengthens Forrest and family daily. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we trust in our Lord who holds all our tomorrows. We are so thankful! If you would like to read more of my story check out my autobiography, “Rooted by the Water”. Forrest blessed me by writing the Foreword. You can find it on Amazon in hard cover, soft cover and e book format. I will end this with the following scripture. Revelation 1:8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” (NLT)
Lately grace has been on my mind. If not for God’s grace, where would I be in life? Life is full of complications and sometimes keeping a positive outlook can be quite a stretch. There is a saying, “But for the grace of God…” Amen!
If you are like me, you may have been praying for years and years for breakthroughs on many different things. When the answers don’t come like I think, it is tempting to get discouraged. It’s vital to remember to pray “thy will be done”, not my will but God’s.
I love when people are real and transparent. No one has a perfect life. When we share struggles with one another we are encouraged that we aren’t alone. When we share our victories we can rejoice together.
My friend and I met for our Bible study today. I am so thankful for her. She blesses my heart Today we talked about the sovereignty of God. I love how we can share our lives and what God is teaching us. We can encourage each other. As we studied today we saw how the scriptures prove that God has complete control over everything. It is comforting to know that I don’t need to worry because God is going to work it out according to His perfect Will. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”( NLT)
Life happens. When we wake up each day we give it our best shot. Yet sometimes our best shot falls short of the expectations we set for ourself. I must be mindful that as thankful as I am for Gods grace, I also must show myself grace. I am far from perfection but I do set high expectations for myself. When high expectations meet low vision and hearing issues, it’s a big frustration waiting to happen. The amount of typos I make on this iPad touch screen would blow your mind. So whether it’s a text, e mail, blog, comment… whatever it is, I have to zoom in large and I do mean LARGE to see and correct all the many typos. Lord help me and thankfully He does!
What doesn’t break you makes you stronger! We need refining in trials of life in order to reflect Gods character and bring glory to Him. James 1:2- 4 says, “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (NASB2020)
Have you had any trials lately? Can you find joy in those trials? In all honesty, I must say no. I don’t find joy in the trials but God willing, as He continues to work on me and show me grace, I will. It can be tiresome but we must keep our focus on our destination… Jesus. “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)
In true Shannon fashion, a song just popped into my head and I most likely have the lyrics wrong but here goes… There ain’t no doubt about it, I’m on my way home. I’m not yet where I’m going, but I’m a long way from where I was. I hear a crowd of angels cheering me on…. There ain’t no doubt about it, I’m on my way home.”
As we wrap up Monday, I will say “good night everybody”. Keep on keeping on. New grace and mercies await us in the morning. Thank you Jesus!
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