Renee Andrews's Blog - Posts Tagged "inspiration"

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

We lived in Atlanta from 1994-2000 and attended a fabulous church there during that time. We hadn’t attended a church that sang a lot of the contemporary praise songs before, and this one introduced us to many that we still love. The worship leader would also prompt you to think more about the words and the meaning. For example, whenever we sang “I Stand in Awe,” the congregation would begin singing while seated…but when we got to the chorus, we would all stand. It was so moving and powerful to stand and raise our voices together in awe of our Lord.

Fast-forward to 2001. We had moved to North Alabama and attended a much smaller church that had just started singing the songs that we’d come to love in Atlanta. And on that very first Sunday, the church sang, “I Stand in Awe.” Naturally, when the chorus started, J.R. and I stood and continued singing.

And it didn’t take us but a second to realize…

We were the only ones standing.

Now, let me tell you a little about the people around us. Many of them were people I had attended church with for years during my youth. Several were my relatives. In fact, my sister nudged my brother-in-law to stand so that we weren’t on our own, but he shook his head. And she remained in her pew as well. It was just out of the comfort zone for everyone in the building, and no one was budging.

In spite of this awkward fact, J.R. and I remained standing through the remainder of the song, and then sat with the rest of the congregation.

I think about that first service at our small church often, particularly when I encounter other situations in life where I feel I’m standing on my own. Every now and then, when we follow our Savior, it causes us to stand out from the crowd, to feel different, even a bit awkward. And we have a choice. We can sit back down and blend in with the masses, or we can remain standing, unashamed, and praising our Heavenly Father.

I’d love to say I always remain standing, the way my husband and I did that Sunday at our new church, but sometimes the awkwardness gets the best of me, and I disappear within the crowd instead of standing tall for my Lord. But Christ stood up for me, didn’t He? He went to the cross for me! And I pray for His forgiveness when I find myself quietly blending instead of standing for His glory.

This Week: When you are tempted to take the easy route, to blend with the masses instead of standing against the crowd, remember the One who stood for you, who still stands for you and who will always stand for you. And make a difference. Do not be afraid to be seen. Oh, and about that small congregation in Alabama…they still sing “I Stand in Awe” fairly often. But nowadays, when they hit the chorus…everyone stands

Mondays with Jesus 2017: Devotions to Begin Each Week of the Year


Renee Andrews

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20

I grew up in a small town in North Alabama—Glencoe—population roughly 5,000. Small enough that everyone knows pretty much everyone, that there are only a couple of traffic lights needed, and that you can take a few blinks while driving through…and miss the town completely.

For the first twenty years of my life, I dreamed of moving away, living in a big city, meeting new people, experiencing exciting things that could never be accomplished in my tiny town.

Or so I thought.

For the second twenty years of my life, I lived in many cities. I started in New Orleans (quite a contrast from Glencoe, to say the least), moved to Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, and a few other places in between. I lived in the big cities. I met new people. I experienced exciting things that couldn’t be accomplished in my hometown.

Then…I moved back home.

And I started noticing things that I hadn’t appreciated before, the beauty of small-town living, where you have relationships with people who not only know you, but they also know your parents, your siblings, your history. The neighborhoods where no one passes by without waving. The friendliness of the people at the local grocery, where it isn’t a rush to see how quickly you can move your cart through the aisles, but a tradition of visiting with friends also shopping.

This past weekend, we moved into a house in the very neighborhood where I grew up. This morning, I walked down the street to pay my water bill (yes, I can do that here), and I passed beneath the canopy of trees where I often walked with my Granny. I remembered her slow and steady gait and the way she would point out the gardens and what vegetables were growing, the pastures of cattle and horses, the bits of God’s creation that she appreciated each day. And what I appreciate now that I am back and older and…wiser.

Wiser as to what is important. Wiser as to how the less hectic life isn’t all that bad. In fact, I prefer it. And wiser in knowing that this, being nearer to my family (my parents and both of our sons live in this neighborhood too) and back near my roots, is as close to heaven as I can get on earth.

The only things missing…are the loved ones who’ve gone on to their reward. And when I see them again, then, I’ll truly be home.

This Week: Spend some time looking at photos of your youth, at the original place you called “home”. If possible, visit it again, or hey, do what I did, and move back! Think about how amazing it will be when you are really…home.

Mondays with Jesus 2017: Devotions to Begin Each Week of the Year





Renee Andrews

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

As we sat in the waiting room for labor and delivery, I listened to a woman sharing the news of her grandchild’s birth on the phone.

“He has ten fingers and ten toes. He’s absolutely perfect!”

I glanced to J.R., sitting beside me, and then to the other family members sitting with us and waiting for the birth of our third grandson. I know J.R. heard the comment and thought the same thing I did, but I am not certain whether our other family members heard the statement, and I didn’t point it out at the time.

Everyone was very sensitive to the topic then, because our grandson had yet to be born; however, from the ultrasounds that had occurred in the preceding months, we knew that he was missing at least one digit on his right hand. Now, I know the lady wouldn’t have ever made the statement if she had known, but even so, it stung.

Her grandson was absolutely perfect, she said. But all I could think was…

So is ours.

Ten fingers and ten toes doesn’t equate to perfection. In fact, one of our dearest friends was born without arms. But when I look at Mr. Dean, I don’t think about his disability. And when I look at our grandson Ryan, now three years old and thriving, I don’t even notice the difference in his fingers. He’s adjusted very well and uses both hands fine, even hitting a baseball on one of our recent trips to see him in Tennessee. But the main reason I don’t notice anything different with both of them is because I’m not looking at the outward appearance. I look at them…and feel love. I look at them…and see their hearts.

This Week: In everyone you meet this week, look beyond the superficial and see the real person beneath. Look at others the way God looks at us, so that you aren’t noticing anything…but the heart.

Mondays with Jesus 2017: Devotions to Begin Each Week of the Year

Renee Andrews