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.

Preparing to Fast

As 2019 rapidly draws to a close, are you Preparing to Fast? It is hard to believe we are about to enter 2020, yet here we are. Called to be ambassadors in the last days, we desire to be used of God and sensitive to His voice. What better way to do that than to deny ourselves things that we love through fasting? 

I have written a devotional for The Daniel Fast, (or ANY FAST)!! It has 21 days of devotions for each day of the three week fast and three days of preparation devotions explaining fasting, why we fast and why The Daniel Fast, if that is what you choose. Of course you do not have to fast three weeks…this is personal, between you and your Savior.

DF-cover-side-view

Starting on Wednesday, January 1, I will blog every day for the entire month to help those that are going on any type of fast. The beginning of a New Year is a wonderful time for resolutions and review of our spiritual walk. Fasting, whether alone or corporately with your church, will bring unity and renew your walk with God. The practice of cleaning out the old and making way for the new will revitalize you and bring clarity and vision as you listen for the voice of God in 2020.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:19-21 that some things just do not come by prayer alone. “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

When the Church is fasting, the enemy is intimidated. Satan isn’t worried one bit when we are content with the status quo. But…

Fasting will change your life.

It will draw you closer to God, help you see things about yourself that you need to change, allow God to dig out the ugly and replace it with His grace, and lift those heavy burdens from you that you just don’t need to carry or worry about any longer.

With God’s help, I have attempted to give you a road map to follow, along with your Bible, The Word of God, via The Daniel Fast Devotional, that can be a help to you on this journey. Fasting isn’t about just going without food. If done properly, it can propel you to new heights in your relationship with God.

Several churches are ordering multiple copies for their congregations! If you are interested in that, please contact me via email for pricing discounts. ynannette@gmail.com

The book is available for your Kindle on Amazon.com and in paperback, also on Amazon now!! (Click on any link in orange or click the picture of the book and you will be directed to Amazon.com)

Be sure and join us here tomorrow , January 1, as we begin our month of fasting with the first day of preparation. Whether you are beginning YOUR fast tomorrow or later in the month, these first three posts will be a great help to you. Be blessed as you begin this year with your heart and mind on the will of God for your life. Nothing is impossible with Him!

Don’t get Distracted!

I cannot tell you how ecstatic I am to share this post with you today. Carrie Stremming has been a huge part of my life and my heart since she was a young girl. It is mind boggling to me that she is a mother of teenage boys now! Carrie is also a cancer survivor and maybe in the future we can get her to share some of the great things God did for her as He walked her through that trial. Be blessed today as she shares a true story and…Don’t get Distracted!

It was a typical busy Sunday in December for me.  I hurriedly got ready for church, bright and early, as I learned my older son had gotten sick in the night.  While figuring out how to help him, ironing pants for my other son, curling my hair, taking the dog out and chugging down a stiff cup of coffee, I miraculously made it to church in time to help out in Sunday School.  Shew!

Church was awesome as usual, but in true honesty, I couldn’t tell you a word that was spoken.  Not one.  My mind was on my sick kid, another sick family member, lunch ideas, and how I was going to fit in everything in one day, including a massive pile of laundry to fold.  Confession is good for the soul!

I hurried home after church to check on my family, and then again hopped back in the car to make gingerbread houses with my nieces and nephew.  My sister is married to an airline pilot for Delta Airlines, and needed a little help going to this activity with their four awesome kids.  I was pretty proud of myself jumping from task to task, while maintaining a crazy schedule.

We eventually got the huge Gingerbread houses to their destination, along with mounds of candy and icing to decorate them.  It was a sight to see!  So many people, live music, homemade gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa; hey, even Santa was walking around, it was pretty awesome!

All of a sudden, my niece, in her sweet, little voice, looked up at me and said, “Aunt Carrie don’t get distracted.”  I instantly felt a pinch in my spirit.  What sweet Lucy had said was something I really needed to hear about 7:30 a.m. that morning.  Wake up!  I was so distracted with my surroundings that I was not appreciating what was right in front of me: Lucy!  After laughing and refocusing on her master creation, we went on to have a day that I will remember for many years to come, and I hope she feels the same way.

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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (NIV)

This scripture spoke to me after the craziness of Sunday.  I really try to be all things to all people, but what good am I if my body is there, but my mind is not?  I don’t feel the need to boast about this weakness, but I do acknowledge that I suffer with a distraction disorder especially during the holidays.

This is Lucy McMurray with her masterpiece of a Gingerbread House.  She said a gingerbread man crashed on the roof.  Ha ha!

I am praying through this holiday season that I can be present and mindful wherever I am.  Mindful of God and His presence, mindful of my job and co-workers, mindful of my family and our precious time together, and mindful enough to listen when the spirit says – DON’T GET DISTRACTED!  Thank you Lucy!

Carrie Stremming is a mom of two teenage boys, and married to the man of her dreams.  She has worked as a paralegal for over eighteen years, and also volunteers at a local center for cancer patients.  Carrie says, “As a six year survivor of breast cancer, I try and give back to my church and community all the love that was given to me.  Loving life and thanking God for each day!”

 

 

 

 

 

Many begin to think about fasting in December, preparing for corporate and personal fasts in January! Have you got a  copy of The Daniel Fast Devotional? Head on over to Amazon, it’s available in Kindle form or paperback! 

 

When Giving Thanks Isn’t Easy

Holidays can be difficult and wonderful all at the same time. They are wonderful because we are with friends and family and they are difficult because some of those same people are no longer at our holiday table.

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 ESV.

There are other life pressures that make being thankful just plain hard. Nothing seems to be going right, finances are tight, the job is unsteady at best, the world is in chaos and relationships are shaky.

Be thankful? For what?

  • When I feel like it?
  • When everything is going well?
  • When I am happy, upbeat and positive?
  • When my kids like me, my boss praises me and my wife still smiles when I enter the room?

Yes, be thankful when everything is going well.

And when it is not.

The Bible doesn’t tell us to thank God only when things are going perfect, it actually says, “In everything, give thanks.In everything!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus..” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

This scripture seems to sum it all up so well.

If we believe the Word then look at that scripture again: Don’t worry, pray about everything, tell Him what you need and THANK HIM for what He has done.

And if you do that? Then you will experience God’s peace! The Bible says that peace is greater than anything we can understand! Will your circumstance change? Maybe not, but His peace will guard your heart and your mind as you live in Christ Jesus.

Wow.

We hear so much in this present world, when someone has a beautiful family, a job promotion, a new house, a new baby, and on and on and on: “You are so blessed.” And it is true, we never take lightly the good things in this life, we give God the praise in all things!

But does that mean that the one who is not experiencing good things, prosperity or over-abundance is NOT blessed of God?

I dare say, “No.”

when giving thanks isn't easy

These things, if not of our own doing, are just part of living in this sinful world. Bad things happen to good people but in all things, in everything, God is faithful and sovereign. He never changes and He is always fair and just.

So, on this National Day of Thanks, remember you might be sitting beside someone who is struggling, who has forgotten that they still have much to be thankful for, someone who is finding it isn’t easy to Give Thanks…this year.

Maybe they have lost a loved one and the chair beside them is empty. Possibly they are separated from their spouse or about to lose their job. Perhaps they are just fearful of world events.

Whatever the reason that Giving Thanks Isn’t Easy would you try to be an encouragement to them? Speak words of love and affirmation, remember that you have been in their shoes at some point and that God hasn’t forgotten them.

And if you, the reader, right now, are the one going through dark trials, can I tell you Jesus Loves You? He knows right where you are and loves you more than the sparrows that He takes care of every day. He will never, never leave you and never forsake you. There is comfort in His presence, in giving your needs and cares to Him and letting Him be your Burden Bearer.

He’s already paid the price for YOU and one day soon He will come back for YOU and take you to be with Him.

So even though Giving Thanks Isn’t Easy, there is power in praise and strength will come back to you. Remember what God has done in the past and thank Him. Then don’t forget to praise Him for what He is GOING TO DO!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day with your family and friends. Jesus will be rhere too.

Kingdom2