Author Archives: Nannette

About Nannette

Wife to The Sweetheart, Mom to the Fantastic Six, Nana to six of the cutest littles on the planet, Author, The Daniel Fast, A Devotional. UPCI ministers.

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Because of Sandy Jo

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because-of-sandy-jo“If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much.” ~ Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

You would find them in the soda shops and movie houses any time of the day or night. Sitting on the bar stool or stuffed into a booth. Sipping on a milkshake or devouring a greasy cheeseburger with all the trimmings. They all looked the same; they wanted to fit in just like kids today.  Decked out in saddle shoes and penny loafers, cuffed blue jeans, Shetland sweaters, poodle skirts, and I.D. bracelets. Elvis and Patsy Cline swooned on the juke box and the Korean War and McCarthyism were all but forgotten for the 1950’s teenager.

Sandy Jo McCammon might be considered your typical teenager except that she was an only child. And she was probably spoiled. Her mother had lost her first child when she was just three weeks old and never really recovered from the loss so both parents especially doted on Sandy. With hard-working, middle class parents, she never really wanted for anything.

But what she dreamed of was to be a dancer! Her cousin Jennifer had the same aspirations. They surely went to the movies every Saturday matinee and dreamed of being the next Ann Miller or Ginger Rogers. They took lessons together and learned to tap dance.  They never made it to Broadway but they sure looked great in their costumes.

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Sandy met Buddy in high school and set up housekeeping at the close of the 50’s and welcomed the 60’s, not realizing the impact those next ten years would forever have on their lives. For from 1959 to 1970 they would not only have four adorable children (yep, one of them was me!), but would even see the youngest off to kindergarten by the time the seventies rolled around. You better believe they were busy!because-of-sandy-jo

Sandy had several occupations besides Mother, and I have no idea how she had time for any of them. She cleaned houses and even worked in a factory for a very short time, but I don’t think she was fond of that one; she never liked to sit still for very long.

One of her favorite jobs though, I believe, was her beloved school bus. Her father-in-law had driven for many years and encouraged her to get her license. It was just perfect for her and the hours were great.

In between all of these occupations, Sandy had time to be called Grandma, or Mamaw Sandy. She became a grandmother at a very young age with my very own Kyle Douglas more than 40 years ago and eight more have joined him since then. Now she is welcoming great grands and added three to the crew this summer bringing that total to ten.

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One of the greatest privileges of my life was being with my mother when she gave her heart to the Lord. I was twelve years old and I have no idea why I decided to tag along with Mom and her friend Jackie. My Dad was brought up in the church, but my mother was not, and they had not served God since they had been married. Mom was a fairly heavy smoker of unfiltered Winstons.

It was a cold January night when we arrived at the revival meeting. Although it has been 50 years ago now, I can still remember my mother standing there with tears streaming down her face gripping the back of the pew at the close of the preacher’s sermon. She didn’t wait for an invitation; she was already heading down that aisle to give her heart to God.

My Dad was surely surprised when she came home with the news but the next week we were all in church as a family and they have served God together the last 50+ years.

The most wonderful miracle was when Mom came home that night from that revival meeting. She went straight to the drawer in the kitchen where she kept those Winston cigarettes and threw them all in the wastebasket. She never had another cigarette again and she never had withdrawal symptoms! She was instantly delivered when she was filled with the Holy Spirit; God still performs miracles today!

It is fun to reminisce about your mother’s life but I honor her today for taking that step of faith so long ago for ALL of our family. I often wonder how different our lives would have been had she not answered that call that night. Would any of us be serving God? Would our marriages be in shambles? How about our children? What direction would their lives have taken? None of them have ever been in trouble with the law. Neither have my brothers or sisters children. It could have been so different.

But because of my mother, all of her children and all of her grandchildren are serving God today; what a testimony and what a blessing! No, she is not a celebrity, but she will leave a legacy that far surpasses what the rich and famous will ever experience.

Thank you, Mom. We have much to be thankful for today because of you.

And Happy 80th birthday today! You deserve all the happiness in the world and good health to go with it.

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The Sword of the Spirit: Pick it up!

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The Sword of the Spirit: Pick it up! Today is the final piece of armor and it is of utmost importance; it is the Sword of the Spirit; the Word of God! You can read all of our posts since January 1 here. But we are far from finished; we will continue with a fasting devotion every day for the rest of the month. Stay with me!

“…and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” Ephesians 6:17-18

This last piece completed the Armor of God that we are to put on every day but it is not something you wear like the other items, it is something you take up and is used offensively or defensively.

Remember, Paul’s analogy of the Armor of God was taken from the Roman soldiers armor, one he saw every day in the prison where he was writing.

The Roman soldier carried a two-edged sword which was easier to penetrate and easier to cut and easier to wound or kill the enemy. It was a smaller sword, more like a dagger, and the soldier would have carried it with him at all times.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The soldier was equipped with all his armor fitted and put on in the right place, every day.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Then, he takes up that sword. And like the Roman soldier, the child of God takes up that Word, that Living and Active Word of God that is sharper than any double edged sword!

Matthew Henry says so aptly what I cannot and it is so good: “It…makes a soul that has been a long time of a proud spirit to be humble, of a perverse spirit to be meek and obedient. Those sinful habits that have become as it were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, and become in a manner one with it, are separated and cut off by this sword. It cuts off ignorance from the understanding, rebellion from the will, and enmity from the mind, which, when carnal, is enmity itself against God.

This sword divides between the joints and the marrow, the most secret, close, and intimate parts of the body; this sword can cut off the lusts of the flesh as well as the lusts of the mind, and make men willing to undergo the sharpest operation for the mortifying of sin….The word will turn the inside of a sinner out, and let him see all that is in his heart.

So, you might ask, what does all of this have to do with fasting? When we fast, we are spending extra time in prayer and reading of the Word. We are making effort to be with God and come closer to Him and hear His voice. Fasting clears our minds and our hearts and allows us to hear what He would say to us, what the Word is speaking and how it affects us as His children. Jesus said some things can not even happen without fasting and prayer!

It isn’t necessarily that you receive new power or more power, you already have it with the Holy Spirit living inside of you. It’s just that, because of the denying of the flesh, you are recognizing what you have and are activating it by taking up that Sword every day. Then, when you need it, it is active, it is living, it is ready for whatever comes your way!

Finally, Paul’s description of the Armor of God doesn’t really end with the Sword of the Spirit. “and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” He continues in the same sentence that we should be praying at all times and for those around us. Fasting, with prayer, makes our spiritual vision come alive and we start seeing the needs of others around us and awaken to things happening in the spirit world. And if we have that Sword in our hands, that Word of God in our hearts, we will be well equipped to do the work Jesus has us to do.

Come back tomorrow for another fasting devotion as we look at what NOT to do when fasting! 

 
 

Need your own copy of The Daniel Fast, A Devotional? Get it on Amazon by clicking here!

When Ye Fast… In ALL Circumstances

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Welcome! We are still praying and fasting through January; you can access all of our previous posts here. Tomorrow, we will discuss the Sword of the Spirit then back to more concentrated Daniel Fasts devotions. Now, on to the helmet!

I know very little about football, but can you imagine your favorite football team, all suited up and ready to hit the field, when the coach makes the announcement that they are to leave their helmets behind? Abandon the only protection they have for their heads, their brains? Football is an aggressive sport that requires serious protection and the helmet is likely the last piece of armor that a player puts on. But just because it is last doesn’t mean it isn’t important! Without a helmet, they risk serious injury that could affect them the rest of their lives.

Friend, I have given enough of an explanation above that anyone could finish this post! Ephesians 6 is the charge to the Church about the Armor of God. All it says about the helmet is “…and take the helmet of salvation…” no explanation why or what it means, etc. Paul just said to take it. Don’t forget it, don’t leave home without it! And we have seen all week long that you don’t pick up a piece of armor and then not wear it because it will do absolutely no good whatsoever.

The sentence with the instruction to take the helmet begins with “In all circumstances…” then proceeds to tell the reader to take the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.

In all circumstances.

We don’t get up every morning and think, “Hmmm…wonder if it is necessary to put on all of the armor? Can I just at least leave off the helmet? It’s so bulky and it’s hot under there. Can I go without just this once?” (Unfortunately in 2021 it is the dreaded mask that we struggle with but still wear every day!)

There is one who would love for you to leave it at home and that is Satan. The Bible calls him a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Those are pretty strong words! But they ring true because he is the enemy of your soul. He knows if you put on that helmet of salvation, you are confident that the Name you have applied to your life, Jesus, is more than enough to withstand his constant attacks!

” In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”

This helmet of salvation protects our minds. Satan works to bring doubt and confusion to the mind of the child of God. He knows if he can get you to question what you believe or even doubt the power of God, he will weaken you and then cause other things to come after you, etc. On and on it goes until you don’t even have the strength to pick up the helmet.

The Roman soldiers helmet also protected the eyes! With it, he could maintain his focus on the goal that was set before him. Likewise, we, as the Body of Christ, applying the Armor of God EVERY DAY, in all circumstances, can see what lies ahead, we can fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!

When we are praying AND fasting, there isn’t a distraction, delay or detour that can trip us up. In all circumstances, He is our hope! Our goal is salvation, our goal is to see Jesus, the One who makes salvation possible. Jesus has given us the armor as protection against anything the enemy can throw at us. But if we don’t put it on, if we forget one piece, it is all useless.

Fast unto the Lord, build up your most holy faith by praying in the Holy Ghost and, in all circumstances, be faithful with the Armor He has provided. It will surely keep your physical body and your mind from things that would hinder or cause you to stumble. See you tomorrow and be blessed as you fast unto the Lord.

Need your own copy of The Daniel Fast, A Devotional? Get it on Amazon by clicking here!