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FINALLY!
Sometimes it’s almost comical-the amount of distractions and setbacks that comes our way. Well, maybe not all that funny but these “thorns in the flesh” has made me smirk and give a few eye rolls more than once in my 46 years! Do you ever feel like this? Do you ever feel like you have a bullseye on your back? If you said yes there may be some good news for you!! For real. You could be going through what you’re going through because you are a major threat to the devil’s schemes!
That’s good news! Remember Job? Although, I don’t think we should chalk up his experience as a mere setback or a distraction he was actually targeted because he was, “blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”(Job 1:8) If you are not smiling at this good news yet, I totally understand. No one asks for suffering and Job’s suffering was intense. He lost IT All. ALL of his belongings, ALL ten children…gone. What’s more, he lost his health as well. His whole body was covered in painful sores. Very few of us can say we have dealt with suffering at this level, especially all at once. Prior to all this pain, Job was the man. He was respected more than any man on the face of the earth. He had it all. Respect, a close family, prosperity, even the endorsement of God. So, what happened?
When we really look closely, God was under attack as well as Job in chapter 1. Look at what Satan says:
“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Job 1:10&11
This means Satan was saying in effect…Job only serves you for what he can get out of it and you are spoiling him rotten with all the material possessions and protection you have given to him. We definitely need to hear this lesson today. This can be a wake up call to check and see if this is true of us.
It was after Job “kept his integrity”(2:3) and kept on praising God even after loosing his children and his possessions, when Satan really got ticked off and attacked Job’s character:
“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 2:4&5)
In the book of Job we get to see the whole picture because it mentions what was happening in the heavenlies and God’s conversations with Satan on Job’s behalf. Job was not privy to these conversations. Knowing this I have so much respect for Job! He was indeed righteous and blameless, like God declared of him. Upon hearing the dreaded news he fell to his knees and praised God! When harassment came from even his own wife he declared the sovereignty of God. “ He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (2:10) In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. He kept his integrity. We can sometimes feel like we are invisible to God and left wondering if He really cares. Much like the disciples did that day when Jesus decided to take a snooze on their boat during a storm. Of course, when they woke Him up and He calmed the storm and called them out we can determine that the disciples were the ones who weren’t seeing clearly. We are definitely not invisible to God.
With that said I am reminded of Elisha and his servant when the Armenian army surrounded the Israelites after learning where they made camp. Elisha told his terrified servant:
Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. (2Kings 6:16-18)
When trials come our way, like Job, we will not be able to see and hear the conversations in Heaven either. But we can pray for spiritual eyesight and study what it says in the Bible about Spiritual warfare and our enemy’s tactics, that we may gain the upper hand on our enemy. Then we can declare as Job did:
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)
smallbeginningsblog.org Post #4
By Carole Ann Landon
Pictures by Carole Ann Landon
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FINALLY!
For this reason I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
Ephesians 3:14-15
Our family December 2017 You don’t have to get too far into the Bible before you realize that family is extremely important to God. From the beginning, God desired to bring us into His family even when God already had perfect unity within the Godhead. God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are perfect within themselves. In other words, God was not sitting up in Heaven bored until He made us, He just chose to. From Genesis to Revelation we can see the perfect plan emerge and how He always desired to have us as part of His family. The nation of Israel is God’s chosen people, the apple of His eye, His firstborn. For those of us whose descendants are not from the nation of Israel we have been grafted in through the work of Christ. Thanks be to God! Not only that ; He has given us an inheritance that will never fade away! An unshakable one! “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”
Hebrews 12:28
Even after God’s people got it all wrong so many times, God still longed to be close to them. He revealed His unfailing love through His prophets over and over again. The prophet Jeremiah declared of the Lord,
“For this is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ‘And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:10-13
Family is important to us Smith Islanders as well. Some of us still carry the names of the first settlers; Smith, Marshall, Tyler and Evans. For many years, 134 to be exact, our annual camp meetings has been our biggest event. It always falls on the last week of July into the first week in August. Families still come back home for Smith Island camp meeting, even those who have moved off the island many years prior. Some of my fondest memories were of camp meeting time growing up as a child. Camp meeting is still a time of homecoming, fellowship, revival messages, singing and delicious meals.
Some families could keep that feeling of togetherness all year long. My family was one of them. My husband and I would take our new family down to my childhood home. Sunday’s after dinner we would have dessert and coffee and plenty of great conversation with my mother, father, my siblings and their families. Every Sunday without fail. As it so happens, my husband’s family had the same mindset, meeting together throughout the week. Smith Islanders are big on family and I can say without hesitation that I benefited from that.
My father and mother with their family. Camp meeting 1995 Marrying someone who was also from Smith Island has been a real game changer! We understand each other. We have similar backgrounds which means we have a lot in common. A big advantage!
Since my my mother and father passed on we haven’t been having our usual Sunday gatherings but a few weeks ago my family got together and the topic of ancestry came up. It lit a fire under me to work on my genealogy again. I had started and stopped back in 2013. I traced my paternal side back as far as the early 1600’s but it came to a halt when I realized I could be related to Thomas Savage, who is called Ensign or Ancient Planter. At the age of 13 or so he came over on the first supply ship called “The John and Francis” captained by Christopher Newport. The young Thomas was left in Jamestown to learn the language and ways of the Algonquin tribe. He was left in the care of Chief Powhatan and Chief Powhatan‘a son, Namatuck went with Newport back to London to learn from the English. I had to stop and take this in… If Thomas Savage was my ancestor I should devote more time to this than what I had. Could one of my ancestors be someone so influential in the history of this nation?
Since I picked it back up again this month I discovered that Thomas Savage is in fact my ancestor and he is actually called the first English settler to America! He is called, “Ensign” because he learned the language of the Indians and this proved very useful to both the English and the Indians for negotiations. His granddaughter, Grace married Dr. George Corbin I, my eighth great-grandfather who is also considered a pioneer, coming to America from England.
Marker located in Eastville, Virginia (North Hampton County) These findings are precious to me now. When I first started dabbling in my genealogy I did so half-heartedly but now It has really gave me a sense of pride in who I am and where I came from. All of our days are ordained by God and He gave us a wonderful story. A story that always circles back to Himself.
On this 4th of July let’s be thankful for our families and who we are, remembering that we are included in God’s family and that we have a legacy that will stand the test of time.
-Carole Ann Landon
Blog Post #3
Pictures from my personal family album and wikitree.com and family search.org
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FINALLY!
Well, it looks as if these blog posts are going to challenge me to be vulnerable. I can’t say that I haven’t had my my share of experience in that department but still…do you know of anyone who likes to be vulnerable? I don’t. I’m suddenly having flashbacks of Brené Brown’s Ted Talks. Brené Brown is a research professor, social worker, and an expert on shame and vulnerability. She became famous for her Ted talk in 2010. The jest of what she had to say was that our culture needs to be more vulnerable. The popularity of her orientation says a lot about our need to be more real. It’s currently up to 17 million views! Could it be that we are running around for most of our lives being fake and living around fake people? Probably. The prophet Isaiah felt this way. His stern words to the people of Israel, exclaiming, “Woe to you!” turned into “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5) Isaiah realized how hypocritical he had been.
Lots of people are afraid right now. Afraid that our lives, the ones we have tried to sculpt to look Pintrest perfect aren’t perfect after all.
After 2020 and beyond we are searching like never before. Since childhood we have been told that the more hats we wear or the more plates we spin the better we will look!! I believe Jesus had something to say about this deception…umm what was it? Let me see, oh yeah-“HYPOCRITES! A little harsh but you get the picture.
“The word hypocrite is rooted in the Greek word hypokrites, which means “stage actor, pretender, dissembler.” So think of a hypocriteas a person who pretends to be a certain way, but really acts and believes the total opposite. Hypocrites usually talk a big talk but fail to follow their own rules.”(Vocabulary.com, Inc.)
Jesus called the Pharisees and Jewish teachers out on this more than one occasion. There are many scriptures that warn not to judge others harshly because we think ourselves to be better or wiser than others. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be discerning but we should never come across as self-righteous. Remember to check for specks before removing planks.
Sometime ago I was in prayer to God about why I always seem to come up short in any goal or plan that He reveals and He spoke into my spirit that I was “in the way.” Ouch! I’m serious! Clear as a bell! I had been having the wrong mindset. I thought yet again, that He was the one keeping me from finishing, that He was frustrating all my attempts and plans. I don’t know why I often default to this kind of deception about our kind, loving, Heavenly Father by thinking that He is this big bully out there somewhere that delights in making me miserable. I know that some have this kind of view of God because their own earthly fathers got a lot wrong but mine- well, mine was wonderful. So, what’s the deal? I wish I knew.
I stopped going in my prayer room and started throwing a temper tantrum!
It was then that I heard, “You’re in the way!” After the initial shock of hearing that I was in the way, I was a little relieved. It was like finally finding out what has been causing the symptoms you have been having for months or years. Ever been there?
The diagnosis: I was playing the hypocrite. I was in the way because I was afraid to relinquish control. I wasn’t all in. I was sitting on the sidelines. I was still trying, striving and doing it my way and wanting God to put His stamp of approval on it. Not gonna happen. I didn’t want vulnerability. I was caught up in a cycle of pretending something that I wasn’t.
I think of all the countless hours I spent doing just enough or doing just those things that are comfortable and routine because let’s face it, life is exhausting enough without looking for ways to do things differently. Then God shows up and reminds you that your life…well, it’s His now remember? We have to remember Who’s we are. We have to learn to be obedient no matter the cost. Funny thing is the very first word I ever heard God say to me during prayer was: Apply. I wrote it down in my journal. Truthfully, I have a gift for attaining knowledge but not so much in applying that knowledge!
I don’t want to be like a Hebrew slave never making it into the promised land. The Hebrew people didn’t need more laws and hoops they needed a vulnerable Savior to show them a lot of grace. Most of us are wandering around longer than what is needed. Do you remember from scripture who is best at wandering around? Satan and his demons!! Harsh again, I know!
I’m forty-six and honestly, I’ve wasted enough time worrying about how “It’s” looking to other people. It’s sort of like a paradigm shift that occurs when you try to hard to make people like you. The harder you try the more you’ll find them turned off by it. When you “do everything as unto the Lord” however, it might rub some the wrong way but you will be authentic and in the end your integrity will shine through. And, what’s better than Godly character? In other words you will no longer be a hypocrite.
So, I’m still learning to step out of the way…and it’s not for whimps! It takes more maturity to be vulnerable. Everyone wants self-control and rest for their spirits. This won’t be obtained by rushing around trying to get things accomplished and please everyone, even if it’s noble things like volunteer work or church activities. A strong prayer life trumps all of those things we think are earning us points.
“Stop striving and know that I am God..’ (Psalm 46:10)
If all of this doesn’t persuade us to be more vulnerable than maybe Jesus can. Remember what he did in his last moments before he was arrested? He took with him Peter, James and John and went a little farther to pray and while he was praying he sweat drops of blood, right in front of them! The world says, “never let them see you sweat,” but Jesus cared enough to let us see him that way. He wasn’t afraid to be like us. Vulnerability isn’t wimpy. Vulnerability takes courage.
News flash: We were never in control.
Step aside.
Be vulnerable and let Him lead.
He’s got this and you.
-Carole Ann Landon
Small Beginnings Blog post #2
Pictures of Smith Island scenery also by Carole Ann Landon
Experience Smith Island LLC 2022
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FINALLY!
I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have wanted to start my own blog- one word..Procrastination. Ugh! Why do we do that when we know that there is something really great waiting in the wings. If you are like me I will have a really great idea and talk myself out of it almost as soon as It starts! I don’t have the best confidence.
I believe that if someone asked me “why now?” I would have to say that it would probably have something to do with the retreat I recently went on. My husband and I went on one of those weekend retreats that featured Neil Anderson, author of The Bondage Breaker and Victory Over the Darkness. We have so much respect and admire him so much. He isn’t one of those self-help, you can do anything types..he comes more along the line of who you are in Christ.
It kinda shocked me that after 20 years of ministry and 27 years as a Christian I had never realized who I am in Christ and what the Bible has to say about it! Of course, I have read Psalm 139 and Ephesians 2:10 but sadly I was living a legalistic, self-condemning life. My husband was always telling me that I am way too hard on myself. Like I said, that retreat really was the start of things changing in my mind. About a month later, a little over a week ago, to be exact, I had an encounter with God during my devotional time one morning. Everything I read or heard was dealing with idolatry. God gently convicted me that idolatry was very present in my life.
Did you know that you can be totally depleted of all confidence and think that you are a greenhorn and still be worshiping yourself? Well, I didn’t! I remember one of the most memorable times during my long bout of depression was when my therapist at the time, asked me what I needed help with and I said, “I just want to be normal and be able to go to the store or pump gas and not feel like everyone is watching me!” What he said after that changed my life. He said, “You think you are pretty special don’t you!? I’m pretty sure at the time I thought I should get my money back from that session! I know now that he was absolutely brilliant for telling me that.
When your mind is so focused on yourself, good or bad it’s still ON YOU! We can’t properly think about God and seek to know His will if we are always panicked over how we look to other people. Remember these words from the apostle Paul: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.(Bible Gateway NKJV;KJV)
Also, if we are spending our lives out as Jesus taught us with the Holy Spirit filling like a river, we should have very little time to worry. I pray that in the future I will take hold of this truth when the waves of disappointment and judgmental thinking starts to creep back. I will resolve to take every thought captive and come boldly to his throne.
So, here it is, my first blog post and I’m putting it out there for all to see! Because there really is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
DO NOT DESPISE THESE SMALL BEGINNINGS FOR THE LORD REJOICES TO SEE THE WORK BEGIN.
ZECHARIAH 4:10
NLT translation
Small Beginnings Blog 