I need to know that people are feeling better or lighter or understanding something more about their lives because of my work. The one thing you can take to your grave at the end of it all is that you gave something back. Patrick Swayze
We are all given the same number of hours each day. God gave all of us 24 hours to eat, sleep, work, pray, play and the list goes on and on. He gave us free will to make decisions as to how we will fill these 24 hours. I love reading and have spent more time of late reading good wholesome books. Also, Allen and I are planning a trip. After working all day with a computer, phones, sitting at a desk, etc, I appreciate quiet time at home.
I've learned to slow down a little and I don't cram as much into today as in my yesterdays. In so doing, there are days I don't even sit down to my computer at home. Therefore, you receive Nan's Calendar on a less frequent basis than before. You are still in my thoughts and prayers regardless of what I am doing throughout the day. Never doubt my concern for you and your wellbeing. I certainly want you to look forward to reading these devotionals when they come to you.
A long time ago, I know I looked death in the face and am alive to tell about it. I cherish each and every day I live and breathe. I am so thankful to be alive and to be a positive influence to others. Nan's Calendar is one way I am giving back to God for all that I am, all that I will become, all that I have and all that I don't have.
The work I do eight hours a day is specialized work. It is a career God chose for me. I don't hold a degree. I hold the promises of God in my heart and I share those promises with anyone who comes into my path and opens their heart to receive them. I am where I am because it is where God wants me to be. Yes, I give something back at my office every day. The greatest rewards to me are not the dollars that come into my checking account regularly. I appreciate the money I earn, I appreciate more, the ability and the opportunity to give back to my community through words of encouragement and hope. Faith, hope and love......that's what it is all about. God gives us faith, hope and love and we are to share these gifts and not keep them for ourselves.
Yes, I gave at the office and I give to you now. At the end of it all, I will know in my heart I gave something back......love to you all. Nan
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Quiet Mind
To the quiet mind all things are possible. What is a quiet mind? A quiet mind is one which nothing weighs on, nothing worries, which, free from ties and from all self-seeking, is wholly merged into the will of God and dead as to its own. Such a one can do no deed however small but it is clothed with something of God's power and authority. Meister Eckhart
God's power and authority is truly over our lives. As I told you about my brothers being scattered across the country, I didn't tell you where they were in my youth and where they reside today. In the days of my youth, they served as young men in our armed forces and eventually settled, two in California and one in New York. I grew up in rural southeastern North Carolina. As the years passed, God began to bring them closer to the east coast. I married Allen and went to Germany for eight and a half years. Two brothers moved to Wilmington, NC. The other remained in New York all these years.
God brought us back to the U.S. and continued to work for good in our lives. One brother moved still closer, even though neither one of us knew it at the time. Allen retired from the Air Force after serving for 24 years and we moved back home to North Carolina. God had relocated my brother to merely an hour away from me. Wilmington is a few hours away. It would be several years before God's plan would be revealed to us all.
Even when we have no clue, God is working for good in our lives. That is what having faith is all about. Believe the impossible is possible through God's power and authority over all things and all circumstances. I believe there is no such thing as coincidence. Everything happens for a reason and for a purpose.
When we allow our minds to be quiet our being opens up to a whole new realm of possibilities. Let go of anything that is negative and let God's positive power and authority reign supremely over your life. Trust me, you will see results you never imagined possible. I get excited just thinking about it!
Have a wonderful day!
God's power and authority is truly over our lives. As I told you about my brothers being scattered across the country, I didn't tell you where they were in my youth and where they reside today. In the days of my youth, they served as young men in our armed forces and eventually settled, two in California and one in New York. I grew up in rural southeastern North Carolina. As the years passed, God began to bring them closer to the east coast. I married Allen and went to Germany for eight and a half years. Two brothers moved to Wilmington, NC. The other remained in New York all these years.
God brought us back to the U.S. and continued to work for good in our lives. One brother moved still closer, even though neither one of us knew it at the time. Allen retired from the Air Force after serving for 24 years and we moved back home to North Carolina. God had relocated my brother to merely an hour away from me. Wilmington is a few hours away. It would be several years before God's plan would be revealed to us all.
Even when we have no clue, God is working for good in our lives. That is what having faith is all about. Believe the impossible is possible through God's power and authority over all things and all circumstances. I believe there is no such thing as coincidence. Everything happens for a reason and for a purpose.
When we allow our minds to be quiet our being opens up to a whole new realm of possibilities. Let go of anything that is negative and let God's positive power and authority reign supremely over your life. Trust me, you will see results you never imagined possible. I get excited just thinking about it!
Have a wonderful day!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Elixir of Youth
For faith is the peculiar elixir of youth .....Whoever has faith is young, no matter how old he is; whoever has lost faith is old, even at 21. Dr. Frank Crane
I found this quote in a book I am currently reading entitled A Treasury of Courage and Confidence.
A cold evening in January 2008, my husband, Allen came home and told me of his discoveries that day. He found clues through the miracle of the internet leading to the whereabouts of my three brothers I had never met at that time in life. I always knew of them, and that they were scattered across the country, not realizing at the time, they didn't know a sister existed.
God led Allen in this search, and presented this information to me. I had a choice as to what to do with the information. It took a great deal of courage to pick up the phone. I believe in God and I have faith in His plan for my life. I prayed to God that He would give me the words necessary to explain myself. As I began to leave my message on my brother's answering machine, I felt suddenly warmed and knew in my heart God intended for this mystery to be revealed and that I would at long last meet my brothers. The reality is better than I ever dreamed it would be!
Since that time, two brothers and I met. This beautiful love story continues to glow and grow in our hearts.
Fastforward........Last Tuesday evening, I finally looked into the eyes of my third brother, Gene and we embraced for the first time in our lives. A death in the family brought all of us together, and as we grieved and celebrated the life of Jeannie, we also rejoiced that she no longer needs a wheel chair. At the same time, we praised God for this miracle of coming together of brothers and sister for the first time; all in the same room together, three brothers and a sister, (along with wives and extended family).
Through courage and confidence interwoven with golden threads of faith, the course of history of our lives has changed forever. Our lives are filled with more love and thankfulness than ever before. That void in my heart as been filled with the love of brothers who finally know me and I, them. Our love and appreciation for the God who created us all has deepened, because we know the truth.
My brothers, who are all older than me, have lived a lifetime without a sister, and now, by the grace of God, have a sister they know loves them and in fact, loved them before we ever met face to face.
It's the same for me and Jesus. We haven't met in person, but I love Him and He loves me. Just imagine how great it will be when we finally meet in heaven! I'm not afraid of death. I'm so full of the love of life there is no fear left in me.
Is there a void in your heart that can only be filled by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior? When you let His love fill your heart, you will never be lacking for anything again. Your life will be better than you can imagine. It won't be perfect or without trials and troubles, but with faith, hope and love in your heart, you will be able to face any trial or trouble with courage and confidence, because you will know the truth.
Make sure you never miss a dose of this incredible elixir of youth.......faith. Don't leave home without it!
I found this quote in a book I am currently reading entitled A Treasury of Courage and Confidence.
A cold evening in January 2008, my husband, Allen came home and told me of his discoveries that day. He found clues through the miracle of the internet leading to the whereabouts of my three brothers I had never met at that time in life. I always knew of them, and that they were scattered across the country, not realizing at the time, they didn't know a sister existed.
God led Allen in this search, and presented this information to me. I had a choice as to what to do with the information. It took a great deal of courage to pick up the phone. I believe in God and I have faith in His plan for my life. I prayed to God that He would give me the words necessary to explain myself. As I began to leave my message on my brother's answering machine, I felt suddenly warmed and knew in my heart God intended for this mystery to be revealed and that I would at long last meet my brothers. The reality is better than I ever dreamed it would be!
Since that time, two brothers and I met. This beautiful love story continues to glow and grow in our hearts.
Fastforward........Last Tuesday evening, I finally looked into the eyes of my third brother, Gene and we embraced for the first time in our lives. A death in the family brought all of us together, and as we grieved and celebrated the life of Jeannie, we also rejoiced that she no longer needs a wheel chair. At the same time, we praised God for this miracle of coming together of brothers and sister for the first time; all in the same room together, three brothers and a sister, (along with wives and extended family).
Through courage and confidence interwoven with golden threads of faith, the course of history of our lives has changed forever. Our lives are filled with more love and thankfulness than ever before. That void in my heart as been filled with the love of brothers who finally know me and I, them. Our love and appreciation for the God who created us all has deepened, because we know the truth.
My brothers, who are all older than me, have lived a lifetime without a sister, and now, by the grace of God, have a sister they know loves them and in fact, loved them before we ever met face to face.
It's the same for me and Jesus. We haven't met in person, but I love Him and He loves me. Just imagine how great it will be when we finally meet in heaven! I'm not afraid of death. I'm so full of the love of life there is no fear left in me.
Is there a void in your heart that can only be filled by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior? When you let His love fill your heart, you will never be lacking for anything again. Your life will be better than you can imagine. It won't be perfect or without trials and troubles, but with faith, hope and love in your heart, you will be able to face any trial or trouble with courage and confidence, because you will know the truth.
Make sure you never miss a dose of this incredible elixir of youth.......faith. Don't leave home without it!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
New Adventures Await
I'm leaving in a few minutes for a wonderful new adventure, that being, meeting my brother and wife for the first time in our lives!!! In a few hours from now, we will look into each others eyes for the first time! It will also be the first time Woody, Lin, Gene and families and I will be together, all at the same time, in the same room! How exciting is that!! It's a mystery why now and not many years ago, why, after the death of a loved one brings us from near and far to be together, but God's timing is always perfect!
Please don't take one single thing for granted. Life is so precious, yours and others. Enjoy life to the fullest measure! Don't let anything or anyone steal your joy. Yes, we are going to be together to celebrate the life of my brother's wife who passed away last week, and at the same time, we're all overjoyed at being able to meet at long last. Sorrow and joy intermingled........
Take care and know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I can't possibly name you one by one, but you know you are included in my prayers. Love, Nan
Please don't take one single thing for granted. Life is so precious, yours and others. Enjoy life to the fullest measure! Don't let anything or anyone steal your joy. Yes, we are going to be together to celebrate the life of my brother's wife who passed away last week, and at the same time, we're all overjoyed at being able to meet at long last. Sorrow and joy intermingled........
Take care and know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I can't possibly name you one by one, but you know you are included in my prayers. Love, Nan
Monday, October 25, 2010
The fear of the Lord
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Much wisdom is available to you in the book of Proverbs. Sometimes, a proverb is called a maxim, which is an obvious truth condensed into a few words. A proverb has relevance to numerous situations in life and is stated in such a way as to be easily remembered.
Fear, in this case, refers to reverence. When we properly acknowledge who God is and humbly honor him and offer him the worship of which he is so deserving, we begin to gain wisdom.
The wisest king to rule Israel, Soloman, wrote much of this practical advice. Though he was, in part, speaking to the young people of his day just beginning their journey, we also can learn much about those principles that characterize and distinguish wise choices from those foolish choices which, no doubt, will result in consequences.
I encourage you to take some time to ponder the instructions found in Proverbs and to understand how godly wisdom merges with real life, as you pay close attention to the differing results of those who do follow the wisdom from God and the results of those who don't follow God's wisdom.
Take care and grow in spiritual wisdom as you apply these godly principles to your own lives. Love, Nan
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Much wisdom is available to you in the book of Proverbs. Sometimes, a proverb is called a maxim, which is an obvious truth condensed into a few words. A proverb has relevance to numerous situations in life and is stated in such a way as to be easily remembered.
Fear, in this case, refers to reverence. When we properly acknowledge who God is and humbly honor him and offer him the worship of which he is so deserving, we begin to gain wisdom.
The wisest king to rule Israel, Soloman, wrote much of this practical advice. Though he was, in part, speaking to the young people of his day just beginning their journey, we also can learn much about those principles that characterize and distinguish wise choices from those foolish choices which, no doubt, will result in consequences.
I encourage you to take some time to ponder the instructions found in Proverbs and to understand how godly wisdom merges with real life, as you pay close attention to the differing results of those who do follow the wisdom from God and the results of those who don't follow God's wisdom.
Take care and grow in spiritual wisdom as you apply these godly principles to your own lives. Love, Nan
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The Book of Nan
As you read my love notes shown here, you are reading pages from The Book of Nan. It's my life you are reading. When you go into the Archives on this blog and read entries from other months, you are taking a trip back in time to where I was spiritually the day the message was written. I guess you could say you are reading an e-book as it is being written. I know there must be grammar mistakes here and there; editing is done before I hit "publish post" so I try not to miss correcting a mistake. Above all, these messages taken from the depths of my heart are being sent out from God for the people of God through me.
To make a long story short, I am going to Wilmington, NC on Tuesday and will return on Thursday to visit family. My sister-in-law passed away last Tuesday and I'm going with my brother, Woody, his wife and daughter to visit my brother, Lin and attend the memorial service for his wife, Jeannie. She was diagnosed with MS years ago.
Some of you know that I met two of my brothers (Woody and Lin) two years ago for the first time in our lives. We have the same father, different mothers. All the parents died years ago. The boys never knew they had a sister until early 2008. A third brother (Gene) and his wife will come from New York and I will get to meet them for the first time. Can you even imagine the mixed emotions of sorrow and joy flooding my heart and soul right now. My brother's wife has died; I'm going to be there for him and attend her memorial service; I will finally meet my brother and for the first time in our lives look into his eyes and hug him and enjoy a long awaited visit. It is a reunion I have dreamed of all my life (I'm 51 years old) to be with my three brothers. We will finally all be in the same room together! Thanks be to our awesome God! I always knew I had brothers somewhere on this beautiful planet, but they never even knew of my existence until early 2008 when Divine Intervention took over and brought everything to light. You can imagine how that could have gone to share with someone that you are a sister he didn't even know walked the face of the earth! They know I loved them before I ever met them and they have embraced me with true brotherly love!
There aren't words to describe how I feel right now. In the midst of sorrow there is joy beyond words to describe. My brothers are awesome men. They and their wives have accepted me as family. As you read this message, you are part of one of life's greatest love stories. Only God knows the depth of love in my heart which is too great for words!
I hope you've stayed with me to the end of this message today. If you are reading this ending paragraph, I thank you and appreciate your interest. For those who clicked into the message, saw its length and moved on without reading it, you know what they missed, right. You know the rest of the story!
Please keep us in prayer as we celebrate Jeannie's life and celebrate the coming together of brother and sister for the first time in our lives.
Take care. Love, Nan
To make a long story short, I am going to Wilmington, NC on Tuesday and will return on Thursday to visit family. My sister-in-law passed away last Tuesday and I'm going with my brother, Woody, his wife and daughter to visit my brother, Lin and attend the memorial service for his wife, Jeannie. She was diagnosed with MS years ago.
Some of you know that I met two of my brothers (Woody and Lin) two years ago for the first time in our lives. We have the same father, different mothers. All the parents died years ago. The boys never knew they had a sister until early 2008. A third brother (Gene) and his wife will come from New York and I will get to meet them for the first time. Can you even imagine the mixed emotions of sorrow and joy flooding my heart and soul right now. My brother's wife has died; I'm going to be there for him and attend her memorial service; I will finally meet my brother and for the first time in our lives look into his eyes and hug him and enjoy a long awaited visit. It is a reunion I have dreamed of all my life (I'm 51 years old) to be with my three brothers. We will finally all be in the same room together! Thanks be to our awesome God! I always knew I had brothers somewhere on this beautiful planet, but they never even knew of my existence until early 2008 when Divine Intervention took over and brought everything to light. You can imagine how that could have gone to share with someone that you are a sister he didn't even know walked the face of the earth! They know I loved them before I ever met them and they have embraced me with true brotherly love!
There aren't words to describe how I feel right now. In the midst of sorrow there is joy beyond words to describe. My brothers are awesome men. They and their wives have accepted me as family. As you read this message, you are part of one of life's greatest love stories. Only God knows the depth of love in my heart which is too great for words!
I hope you've stayed with me to the end of this message today. If you are reading this ending paragraph, I thank you and appreciate your interest. For those who clicked into the message, saw its length and moved on without reading it, you know what they missed, right. You know the rest of the story!
Please keep us in prayer as we celebrate Jeannie's life and celebrate the coming together of brother and sister for the first time in our lives.
Take care. Love, Nan
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Refined By The Master's Hand
Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have troubles? I'm sure many of us have thought this at some point. Because we live in a world full of sin, we can be sure troubles will come our way.
We can overcome difficulties and troubling times. It is during these hardships we are strengthened. We don't suffer in vain when we "see" God more clearly as a result of having faith, and when we discover how we are refined by suffering.
I've included a poem I wrote in '05, which is a figurative form explaining how we are refined by our sufferings. Take care. Love, Nan
Refined by the Master’s Hand
By: Nan Forehand
Refined by the Master’s hand
Before Him humbly I stand
Ready and willing, cleansed by His blood
O’r my soul His spirit doth flood.
Held have I been midst hot fire
Flames at me licked higher and higher.
Never His eyes did He take off me.
Burned away all impurity.
Coin of silver shiny and bright
Now God sees Himself in the light.
Not a moment too long in the flames
With His loved ones He plays no games.
If in the heat today you must burn
Upon you His eyes will turn.
One more soul to purify.
It’s found in the book of Malachi.
We can overcome difficulties and troubling times. It is during these hardships we are strengthened. We don't suffer in vain when we "see" God more clearly as a result of having faith, and when we discover how we are refined by suffering.
I've included a poem I wrote in '05, which is a figurative form explaining how we are refined by our sufferings. Take care. Love, Nan
Refined by the Master’s Hand
By: Nan Forehand
Refined by the Master’s hand
Before Him humbly I stand
Ready and willing, cleansed by His blood
O’r my soul His spirit doth flood.
Held have I been midst hot fire
Flames at me licked higher and higher.
Never His eyes did He take off me.
Burned away all impurity.
Coin of silver shiny and bright
Now God sees Himself in the light.
Not a moment too long in the flames
With His loved ones He plays no games.
If in the heat today you must burn
Upon you His eyes will turn.
One more soul to purify.
It’s found in the book of Malachi.
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