by Shannon | Oct 20, 2022
My Dad painted this picture years ago and it has hung in our home since I was a kid. It now hangs where I can see it every day. One night Dad and I were looking at it and he said, “You know, I’ve always thought that was a man but now I think it could be a woman in armor—like you.” I can’t help but look at this picture and hear him reminding me to suit up for battle daily. It’s not a suggestion my friend. It’s an order from our commander if we want to win the war. Ephesians 6:10-18 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” If you need a visual to help remind you to suit up as you take your stand against all the enemy is trying to pull in your life, I pray Dad’s painting is a reminder that YOU have been given all you need to win. Stand firm. Follow your Commander’s lead and trust His Word as your knock-out punch to extinguish the fiery darts being thrown your way. You are not defeated! Press on and see the salvation of the Lord. When you’ve placed your faith in Jesus, YOU are on the side of the One who has already won.
by Shannon | Jul 13, 2022
For the last two weeks, I had the amazing privilege of hosting “Camp Chae Chae” for my two littles. It’s an annual event where we learn Bible stories, memorize verses, make crafts to go with our stories, play games, swim, bake, go on field trips and “jobs” to earn quarters to buy a toy on “Toy Friday.” Many have asked for my curriculum. The truth is—I’m making it up as I go! (Don’t tell anyone! 😉
One day after swimming, the boys got out of the pool and were drying off. I told them to get dressed and turned my back for one second. When I turned around, they were gone! I called their names. Nothing. When you have a three and six year old, that’s always cause for pause.
As I walked around calling their names, they both came running around the corner of the house-naked as a jay bird! I was firmly reminding them I’d told them to get dressed when the oldest blurted out, “Chae Chae! We found a dead lizard so we were putting him on the cross so he could go to Heaven!” One of the stones on our walkway has a cross on it. Sure enough, there laid their fossilized friend. I paused, smiled and commended them on helping their friend go to Heaven before handing them their clothes.
There are many around us who need our help getting to the cross so they go to Heaven. We may have to interrupt our plans, divert our attention or even get our hands a little dirty. Who has God put in your life that needs help getting to the cross? What is God asking you to do specifically to help them know Jesus as Savior?
John 4:35 reminds us that “the fields are ripe for harvest.” We can’t wait for someone else to do it. They need our help, our direction, our love, our prayers, our light to shine so they see the Savior of the world. Like my boys with their lizard, we may even have to carry them. Whatever we have to do, it will be worth it. After all, Jesus set the example when he gave it all up—just for us.
by Shannon | Jan 24, 2022
Last year—when I was so sick with that thing we all know about— I thought I might be seeing Jesus at one point. As I lay there thinking about the details, it dawned on me…my hands! I always try to have my nails done because my fingers are short and stubby so I always wear my little “Dolly Parton” fingernails so my hands will look, well, pretty. But my nails hadn’t been done in three weeks and the last thing I did before I got sick was clean horse stalls. Somebody—do something! I called friends to remind them to please make sure my nails and roots were done so I could feel better about myself when I took my final flight! God had other plans, but he reminded me a lot about hands that day.
Our hands have seen everything we’ve ever done with our life. They’ve done things we’re really proud of—other things—maybe not so much.
Hands must be pretty important. They were the last thing Jesus talked about at Calvary in Luke 23:46: “Into thy HANDS I commit my spirit.” We are so important that God engraved us on the palm of His HANDS (Isaiah 49). In His HANDS are strength and power (I Chronicles 29:12).
What will you do with your hands today? Write someone a note of encouragement? Help someone in need? Hug someone who is hurting? Care for God’s creation? Whatever it is, we can be sure that we are in good hands. Hands that cover us, hands that protect us, hands that give us power, and hands that love us outrageously.
See your hands? Those hands were designed for today. Put your hand in His and enjoy the rest of the trip He has planned just for you. As for me, I will do my best to keep those fingernails looking presentable.
by Shannon | Jan 15, 2022
This is the house where it all began. I stopped by the other day when I was in my college town and it all came back when I saw the swing. The swing on this front porch is where I would sit and pray when I began my Master’s Degree in college. All my friends had graduated and returned home. I stayed and wondered, “what now?” I felt alone, confused, and questioned where my life was headed. All I knew is I wanted to be in ministry. So why did God have me swinging on a front porch, studying Education and crying out in prayer to “use me” as Steven Curtis Chapman wailed “Way Beyond the Blue” (great song btw) in the background?
If you told that “front porch girl” who this “now” girl is, she wouldn’t have believed it. She may not have taken the journey, quite honestly. There’s been some pretty tough places, but there have also been some good ones. “Front porch girl” is in ministry now and she’s been blessed beyond her imagination. But it was the journey that got her here, and it required a couple of things: prayer, faith and hard work. It also required (and continues to require) walking by faith when you have no idea what God is doing.
When we pray, every word is treasured and heard by our Father. I John 5:14 assures us that we can have confidence that He hears us when we pray according to His will. How do we know it’s His will? If what we are praying brings glory and honor to Him, rest assured, He has you covered.
You see, the prayers poured out on that front porch swing were an investment in what God is now doing in my life. Your prayers are the same. They are seeds being sewn for doors to open, healing and deliverance to take place, direction to be heard and hope to be restored. We don’t have to live in fear ONE MORE DAY. The God of the universe has answers ready to send your way. The question is, have you asked?
What’s on your heart? What would you like to see God do for His glory in your life in 2022? Now, this isn’t a “name and claim it game.” Nope. He’s not some slot machine paying out at our command. He IS, however, the God of your life when you’ve put your trust in Him and He has created you for one purpose—to bring glory and honor to Him. So stop being afraid when you pray. Go for it! If He doesn’t want you to have it, you won’t! But we need Him and we need what He has just for us.
Wouldn’t it be a shame if when we get to Heaven we saw a bunch of boxes filled with paper. On each paper was an answered prayer with YOUR name on it. When you ask the Lord, “but why didn’t you give that to me?” He says, “you never asked?” If you’re like me, I want my boxes to be empty.
That thing that’s weighing on your heart? PRAY and ask God for an answer. Find your “front porch swing” and pour your heart out. He knows…and He has answers. Oh, they usually don’t come right away or how you want them to (this front porch swinging girl knows), but keep praying until you see something happen, because He will answer. John 16:24 is our promise— “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”
No time like the present. Start today. He’s only a prayer away.
by Shannon | Jul 28, 2021
“I can’t see a thing you’re talking about!” I said to the optometrist as she flipped the lenses on her machine. My chin and forehead were glued to her contraption and my cute hair and eyelashes were now a thing of the past. “Can you read the top line?” she asked in disbelief. “No ma’am. It’s blurry and I can’t read any of the letters.” She laughed, scratched her head and said, “Did you put in the trial contact I gave you?” I had in fact put in the contact and I was a little disgruntled that she was keeping me from my lunch date at Chick-Fil-A.
She moved her machine and said, “Look at the light.” After blinding me in my other eye, she laughed and said, “I think I know why you can’t see. There’s no contact lens in your eye.” I’d put the contact in my eye but at some point it fell out without me knowing it.
Have you ever lacked the ability to see things clearly? Like my moment at the optometrist, things are blurry and out of focus and you don’t even know how it happened? Wouldn’t it be great if gaining our focus was as easy as popping in a contact lens?
When pressures seem they will squeeze the life out of us and uncertainty leaves us walking aimlessly through life, we need a reminder to stay focused. But how? The key is being intentional about WHAT we focus on.
Diffused light isn’t very bright, but when we focus a light, the way becomes brighter. Walk into a dark room and shine a flashlight. It’s easy to see the way into the room.
Proverbs 21:25 reminds us that good planning and hard work “leads to prosperity” but “hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”
What are you choosing to intentionally focus on today? Are you setting a few goals that help light the way to the plan God designed just for you? Are you focusing your hard work on those specific goals? Trying to change everything at once can be overwhelming. Setting a few specific goals leads to a life of intention. For example, are you just saying you want to spend more time with your kids or are you setting aside a specific time each week to spend time on nothing but them? Are you saying you want to write a book or are you sitting down once a day for 30 minutes and logging ideas? See the difference?
Do you need to see more clearly? Try changing your lens. What verses help you focus on where God is taking you? Write them in your journal or post them on your wall. Each day, thank God that He has specific plans for your life. Then, move with Him as His focus becomes your direction.
