
Helping Children with Change

- A Prayer of Desperation – Hannah cries out to “The Lord of Hosts”. This is very important because this is the first mention of The Lord of Hosts in the Bible (Jehovah Sabaoth). This is the Name of God we find used in Scripture when a man or woman realizes they can do NOTHING to change their situation and need to see God MOVE! The Lord of Hosts is mentioned over 270 times in the Bible but the next is with David when he is facing Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45). David was also faced with an immovable force in the mountain of a man (Goliath) with no human hope of victory. He comes into this battle calling on the power of the Lord of Hosts! Here’s the great news – God hears and answers the prayers of desperate men and women when it comes to helping their children! If you feel desperation today, you are in a great place to see God hear and move.
- A Prayer of Declaration – Hannah declares that “I will give him to the Lord”. In other words, she is saying – God, this is your son- not my son. He belongs to you. You gave him to me, and I am giving him back to you. You allow me to parent him for a period of time but he is yours. You love him even more than I do. I TRUST you with my child. Parents, isn’t it great news to know that God loves our kids more than we do and has specific plans for each of their lives? (Jer. 29:11). Our role as parents is not to get them to graduation and then send them out to be independent. Rather, our role as parents is to help our kids move from a dependance on us to a complete dependence on The Lord. Do you need to turn your children back over to The Lord today by saying, “I trust you completely with each one.”?
- Prayer of Determination – In verse 12 it simply says, “as she continued praying. Hannah refused to quit praying. Never underestimate the power of a praying parent. Susannah Wesley spent one hour each day praying for her 17 children. In addition, she took each child aside for a full hour each week to discuss spiritual matters. It’s no wonder that two of her sons, Charles and John, were used mightily in both England and America. When it gets hard, let’s keep praying. On the tough days, let’s keep praying. When we wonder if it’s working, let’s keep praying. And the best part – The name Samuel means “God Hears”! Every time Hannah called her son’s name it was an ongoing reminder of God’s faithfulness to help a parent in need.
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Sneaky Squirrel

One of my favorite things to do is sit on the porch while watching the birds come to the feeder. When the weather is nice, my preferred place for my morning quiet time is on the porch with my open Bible and a very large cup of coffee. Something that often appears when I am not paying close attention are sneaky squirrels. One will climb to the top of the tree and then jump onto the feeder to claim some of the food for its own. As the bird feeder sways, the entire contents fall to the ground below. A full bird feeder is now left empty. The squirrel has absolutely no fear of me as I try to send him away. He still lunges as though I can’t see him and will only scramble to leave when I get very close. That sneaky squirrel is awfully persistent. He will leave, however, as soon as he thinks I am not watching again will reappear doing the same thing again and again. As I was watching this transpire one morning, The Lord impressed upon my heart that just like those sneaky squirrels there are many distractors in our life that can sneak up on us and leave us feeling empty and depleted. They strike close to home. The past few days I have found myself really just wanting things to go back to the way they were. As each event has gotten removed from my calendar, I have felt as though I was becoming a little more defeated and depleted. Our three kids are all struggling and wrestling with this, each in their own way. At times, I am not sure how to even help them. As I was fussing at that sneaky squirrel The Lord laid this on my heart and it provided me with such comfort.
- Satan- seeks to destroy, provides noisy distractions, squanders resources & stays for a short time inflicting damage where he can
- The Lord- wants us to shelter in His strength, speaks when we are silent & still, secures our future, and stays forever. Hope in Him is eternal.
John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” In another version of the Bible the word “abundantly” is used. An abundant and full life – That seems like a challenge right now doesn’t it? Amidst the fear, anxiety, and stress of Covid-19, doesn’t it seem so easy to allow Satan to deplete our spiritual supply of joy, peace, and hope? Each time the squirrel squanders my bird food, I have to refill the feeder for the birds to feast on again. It is an active choice to not leave that feeder empty – one I have to make time and time again. We have to make this same choice today, tomorrow, and the day after by refilling our spiritual supply with God’s Word. God led me to John 16:23-24 on that morning as I was berating that squirrel. These verses have brought me so much comfort the past few days of quarantine. John 16: 23 and 24, “In that day, you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” My prayer for your family and mine is that we will not allow our enemy to steal our joy and deplete our spiritual supply little by little, but rather allow Our Risen Savior to fill us with His infinite peace and joy.
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Easter 365

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Peace This Way!

Key #1 – Supplication (3) – “hear when I call to Him”
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Hope in the Storm

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A Root Reset

I’ve heard the phrase “I just want things to go back to normal” many times the past few days. The things that my children often complain about are now their heart’s desire. The normalcy of early wake-up times, athletic practices, car lines, and school lunches are all gone. A full plate of activities is now suddenly empty.
Ephesians 3:17-18, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
The word roots means different things to different people. Whether it is physical tree roots, graying hair roots (much like mine lately :), or spiritual roots, the best roots are strong and healthy with the ability to sustain the most powerful storm.
- R- Redeem The Time
As a busy mom of a 14, 10, and 5 year old our house is often chaotic. Yesterday, one was playing basketball on the small hoop over his door, one was playing the guitar as she sang, and the other was teaching her class of twenty baby dolls. Many of her students were being placed on the stinky square due to their misbehaving:). I thought, “Lord, how will I manage this for multiple days?” He impressed upon my heart, “Julie you will not have this day again. Use it wisely. Have the conversation with your teenager you have been meaning to have. Play a game of basketball with your son that you never have the time to do. Join your five year old’s imaginary class and just relax. Hope she doesn’t send you to the stinky square! Strengthen those roots. Time is the best way to do it and you have a lot more of it now.”
- O- Order Your Steps
- O- Opt out of social media (even if just a little :))
This one is hard for me. I love connecting with others. However, God impressed on my heart that strong roots are not formed during screen time. They are formed during conversations, laughter, even in those ugly moments of disagreements and frustration over e-learning, they are running deeper. His word to me was to not spend endless amounts of time watching what others are doing, while neglecting to connect with the ones under your roof.
- T- Train the littles
- S- Simple and Strong
During this time, let’s focus on what we can accomplish with our families. Let’s dig deep, go farther, and use this extra time to reexamine our roots.
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Rags to Riches

My husband, Stephen and I have three kids at three different ages in very different seasons of life. We are blessed with a 7th grader, 3rd grader, and a 4 year old. It is completely overwhelming to me at times that The Lord chose me to be their mother. There are many moments where I wish I could have a second chance to just get it right. In the wake of losing my mom to cancer in 2012, if I am honest, there are times when I wish that I could just bypass Mother’s Day. As always, God’s grace is sufficient; however, it is still hard to see the mother’s day cards in the store, the cakes in the bakery, and the flowers declaring “happy mother’s day.” For some, it is just not happy. God led me to share this devotion from Proverbs 31. I hope that it will encourage you in whatever season you find yourself this Mother’s Day weekend!
The first time I studied Proverbs 31, I honestly laughed a little. The words listed below are not typically ones heard in the day to day aspect of being a mom:
- Far above rubies (verse 10)
- Girds herself with strength (verse 17)
- Her household is clothed with scarlet (verse 21)
- Strength and honor are her clothing (verse 25)
- She opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness (verse 26)
Let’s just be honest for a moment. How many times have you and I opened our mouth without kindness on our tongue? The moments in our house that seem to be the most frantic are in the morning. Backpacks. Lunchboxes. Last minute homework review. Everything is done in a hurry to attempt to rush out of the door at 7:10 am so that everyone can be where they need to be on time. My four year old, Ruthie, calls it the “hurry, scurry, Murray” moment. I am not sure who Murray is, but the hurry and scurry sure are right.
Take a moment and read Proverbs 31, and as you do make a list of the women who have impacted your life. This passage has much to see about being the woman God has called you and I to be – whether as a mother, daughter, niece, cousin, sister, grandmother, or aunt. As you look at the list of the women, one thing I am sure of is that in order to impact your life they had to ABIDE in The Lord. I took each letter of the word ABIDE and have made an acrostic. I pray that this might be of help to you as it has been for me.
A = Abundant Life
God wants us to live a life that is abundant and full.The definition of abundant is “existing in large quantities, plentiful.” Abundance also means rich, lavish, generous, overflowing, and ample. Do these words describe your spiritual life or would you describe it as depleted, empty, or defeated? In order to abide in Him and experience His abundance, we have to be willing to focus on the BEST that He has to offer. There are a lot of good things that demand our attention. The question is – where does God want us to focus? In order to do that, we often have to get rid of distractions that are keeping us from being all that God has called us to be. I would encourage you to spend a few minutes asking The Lord:
- Is there is an area where I need to scale back?
- Is there an application on your phone that I need to delete?
- Is there an unhealthy relationship that has formed that I need to end?
- Is there any GOOD thing that is keeping me from a GOD thing?
I did some research this week and found that the average woman speaks 20,000 words a day, while the average man speaks 7,000. I would say that I am probably well above average in this category – lol. Once our words come out of our mouth or after they are posted on social media, there is no retrieving them. I can still remember my 4th grade Sunday School teacher explaining the above with a tube of toothpaste. She proceeded to squirt a whole tube of toothpaste out onto a plate and then asked us to place it back in the tube. We couldn’t complete that task. It is the same way with our spoken words. Think about what words are “oozing” from your mouth. What you are sharing with your children? What are you posting on social media? Does it glorify The Lord? I have to constantly keep a watch on my tongue.
I = In His Strength (Verse 17)
Verse 17 says, “…she girds herself with strength.” In order to be the woman that God is calling us to be requires that it must be done in His strength and not our own. I heard something once that I have never forgotten. It was stated that in regard to parenting- the goal should be for your children to move from dependence on us to dependence on God. Satan loves when we gird ourselves in OUR own strength. He knows that when he can get us to accomplish something on our own, that most times it will fail miserably. In His Strength, not in ________________ (write your name) strength! Isaiah 41:10 is one of my favorites. Claim it this week in regards to your family.
D = Dressed in Riches (verses 21, 22, 25)
In verses 21, 22, and 25 you will find several words relating to how we should dress. Scarlet. Fine Linen. Purple. Strength. Honor. I love to shop. I always tend to gravitate toward the same style and color of dress when I go shopping. My husband, Stephen will often say, “That looks like one you already have.” Honestly, I tend to buy it anyway if I like it. It made me think this week that I do have a lot of outfits in the same color. God nudged my heart with the fact that I often get comfortable and gravitate toward a similar pattern in my relationship with Him. Think about your wardrobe spiritually speaking? Does your physical wardrobe look pristine while spiritually you are dressing in tattered rags? Are you falling apart on the inside when in Christ we have access to fine linen and royal purple garments? God wants to take us this week from rags to the riches that He offers!
E = Extends Equipping Grace (verse 20)
Verse 20 talks about extending a hand to those in need. I want you to think about how Jesus invested in his disciples for a moment. He lived with them, taught them, instructed them, fished with them, and traveled with them. Although Jesus ministered to and loved on the masses of people that followed Him, he primarily devoted himself to the work of a few in order that the masses may be reached more effectively. He invested in them with an intent focus to train and equip them for when He was no longer there. He corrected them when needed and then sent them on their own journey. As a mom, we have to equip our children by giving them the tools they need and then at some point extend that grace by sending them out. I am not in that season of being a mom but pray that God grants me the time to get there. You and I are not promised another moment, day, or month. God reminded me this week that – Spiritual investments will never return void! Sometimes though it’s hard to see our impact in the day to day routine of life. But, verse 28 reminds us that there is a day when our children will thank us for our investment. Aren’t you glad that what we do truly matters to our family, and to the Lord?
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Preventing Burnout

I felt like the Lord gave me a specific Word this past week for anyone that serves the Lord in a ministry that may be suffering symptoms of burnout. Please pray often for those that lead in ministries. Did you realize that South Carolina leads the nation in forced ministerial resignations and pastor suicide? I encourage you to stop and pray for the men and women of God that serve in your church today.
In first Kings Chapter 18 Elijah had boldly stood against over 800 prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. He had prayed and God had sent fire from heaven. It was an incredible movement of God. Elijah and the people had an incredible mountaintop experience. But in the very next chapter, Elijah is so weary and worn down that he is hiding in a cave. Have you ever felt like Elijah? In 1 Kings Chapter 19 we see several familiar signs of burnout.
- Bad decisions – Elijah has stood against 850, and yet now he’s running from one woman. We do things when we are tired that we would normally never do. Have you ever made a costly decision solely based on exhaustion?
- Isolation – Elijah retreated into isolation. He did not want to be around anyone. Have you ever felt like that you cannot take one more email or text? Have you ever felt like that if one more person requires your attention that you might explode.
- Resignation – Elijah told God he was tired and didn’t care to do this anymore. Have you ever felt like it might be time for you to do something else?
However, we also see several keys to overcoming burn out:
- Rest (19:5,6)– Noticed that Elijah was so tired that he fell asleep twice. It is so important in ministry to recharge our batteries. It’s important to make sure we are getting enough rest. We need to take time for vacation, and when we go on vacation to actually be on vacation. The worst thing we can do is to be on our phones while we’re out on the beach with our family. Sometimes we think we are irreplaceable. That is a lie of the enemy. If the ministry falls apart if we are gone it is due to pride and poor planning. Elijah tries to tell God how important he is twice in verses 10 and 14. But God reminds Elijah and us that he will accomplish his will with or without any person. God was in control the whole time.
- Refreshment (19:6,7)– God made him a meal twice. Most times in ministry we are pouring out. It is so important that we allow God to pour back in. Otherwise, we will get to a point where we have nothing to pour out and offer anybody. Notice in the second part of verse 7 what God says – The journey is too much for you. In other words, if you continue on this track, you will not make it. It is so important in ministry that we stay in the Word – and not just for the benefit of others.
- Return to God’s Presence (8) – Elijah returned to the presence of God. Mount Horeb was the place where God gave Moses the 10 Commandments. It was a place of meeting God. It is to be still and know that he is God. It is sitting at his feet and listening for His words. And it was when Elijah was still before the Lord that he once again heard that still small voice. Is it possible that you have been moving so fast that it’s been a while since you could hear that voice?
- Recomission (19:15-18) – Elijah received a Fresh word from the Lord. He got a new anointing, a fresh power. When was the last time you received a fresh word from the Lord? And part of that new information was that God was sending him a helper in an Elisha. Who could be your Elisha? Who could help you fulfill God’s purpose and calling in your ministry? Pray for God to send you an Elisha.
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He Knows My Name – Julie Cannon

The next day as I sat in the waiting room, I anxiously waited for the nurse to call my name. As I lay down for the CT Scan, I looked up and saw the photo included with this post. I asked the technician if I could take this photo. As tears streamed down my face during the scan, I was reminded that no matter the outcome, God knows my name. It was written so clearly on this machine. As the machine took the images, all I could think of was my children. The moments that I often complain about- the packing lunches, the loads of laundry, the toys all over the house. How that in a day, life can surely change with the outcome of one test. As soon as I left, my name disappeared, and the board reflected another name for another scan.
The verses that God had given me for this particular week were Isaiah 43:1-2. At the end of verse 1 it says, “…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.”
When Stephen and I saw the specialist just an hour after the CT Scan, she said she was confused. She showed us the CT scan images and said there was nothing there. The tumor that had been there just a few days before was no longer showing on these new images. She was puzzled, however, Stephen and I were not. We knew that God had performed a miracle. She said, “Mrs. Cannon when your doctor called me yesterday he was very concerned. Frankly, I thought we would be looking at surgery next week. However, there is nothing to operate on.”
As I walked out of the waiting room that day, I was flooded with thoughts of thanksgiving.
- Thankful for another day to pack the children’s lunches.
- Thankful for another day to wash the clothes and look for mismatched socks.
- Thankful for another day to sit in the car line.
- Thankful for another day to pick up Ruthie’s baby dolls which are strewn all over the house.
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.”
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Healing Fractured Relationships

Nadine Collier became famous in June of 2015 for three words she said to Dylan Roof, the young white man who a few days earlier had gunned down her mother and eight other African-Americans during a Wed. Bible study at their Charleston church: “I forgive you.” With those words about the June 17, 2015 killings, Collier set off a global debate about forgiveness. Over a year later, her grief is heavy. Collier misses the sound of her mother’s voice, the smile on her face she greeted worshipers as an usher at Emanuel AME Church, the spring in her step when she led the procession for Communion. Collier said that she learned in the bond hearing that forgiveness isn’t weak. It’s not resignation or a duty done begrudgingly. And it is not easy. Here is her full address to Roof:
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