Double-Dipped
Double-dipped. Is your faith double-dipped? Are you walking double-dipped? Ok, stay with me here. You will see the connection in just a minute.
This week I have been visiting my parents in Iowa. This morning we were in Menards Hardware store and I saw a bag of Brach’s double-dipped peanuts and I couldn’t help myself. Before I knew it, my debit card was out of my wallet and the double dips were in my mouth. I love double dipped peanuts! I have always considered them such a treat. I rarely buy them, but when I do, I literally savor each peanut. I eat them slow. I relish the chocolate. I just love them.
As we were walking out of the store, my mom said to me, “do you still love double-dipped peanuts?” I said, “still? I always have.” And then she told me this story.
When we were little, we lived like so many people – paycheck to paycheck. On payday, my mom would sit down at the table and pay her bills. When she was finished, she would look at what she had left over and this is what we called our “special treat.” It usually was around 25 cents. Can I say that again? 25 cents! She would then load my older brother, myself and her into our car and we would drive to Sears because they had a bulk candy counter. We would walk in and she would order “25 cents worth of double-dipped peanuts.” She would then divide the peanuts between the three of us. We each got 2 peanuts. And we would eat them. Slowly, surely – sucking off the chocolate, savoring every bite. This was our weekly treat. On a good week, she would have 35 cents left over and my brother and I would each get three peanuts. My mom would only have two. She then said this to me, “God is so good. He has always been faithful to us. We always were able to pay our bills and we rarely missed our Friday night treat. We always had enough. His promises are true.”
Can I get an amen? That is called standing on the promises of God. That is called walking out the word, picking up your sword of the spirit – the Word of God – and BELIEVING the promises are not only true, but the promises are for you.
I have no recollection of those trips to Sears but the faithfulness of God has been seared into my being by my mother. God is faithful. God’s word is true. You can stand on the promises and claim them over your life. I grew up believing this to my core. I know now where that came from – from the incredible faith of my mother.
Ephesians 6:17 tells us to “take up the sword of the spirit, which is God’s Word.” I’m so thankful for a mother who didn’t leave the sword sitting on the shelf, but that she instead brought the sword into our every minute, into our daily living. I’m walking out my faith today, walking out carrying the sword of the spirit because of my mother and how she walked out her faith. I can truly say my faith is “double-dipped”. How about you? Are you picking up the word and putting it into practice? Are you claiming the promises in the Word because they are for you! My prayer is the next time you see or eat double-dipped peanuts, you will remember to pick up your sword, because the Word of God is alive, it is true, it is active and it is for you!
Robin Smith has a passion for equipping people to see their strengths and to lead with their unique God given gifts. Robin has always had a strong tie to her church, community and work. That tie is in the form of relationships. Her greatest joy is to do life together, encouraging, strengthening and challenging each other to be their very best and reach their full potential. Robin has been the Program Director for Refuge for Women since February 2017. She has overseen all the operations of our safe house and spent her days inside the home building relationships with the residents and helping them not only see their potential, but overcome the obstacles standing in the way of them reaching their potential. For15 years, prior to coming to Refuge for Women, Robin worked in higher education, focusing on developing student leaders and equipping students with the skills they need to be successful in the pursuit of their education and careers. Prior to that, Robin was a Salvation Army officer and served in full time ministry in various locations throughout the Midwest. Robin’s focus was always serving, equipping and developing others. In 2006, the Lord began to work in Robin’s heart and plant a love for women who are trapped in the sex-industry. This passion was formed through Robin’s involvement with student mission trips to Las Vegas. In 2010, Robin began the Hearts for Jackson ministry in Jackson, Michigan reaching out to women who work in strip clubs. Robin’s heart was broken for these women and she started this ministry to bring them hope and love with a goal of showing the love of Jesus in a practical way. Each month, Robin led a group of women from her church into the strip clubs where they simply loved on the women. They brought them gifts, told them they were special & loved and offered a listening ear. Robin brings her heart and passion to Refuge for Women and is excited to be stepping into this new role of City Director where she will be partnering with the local churches, Las Vegas community, and most importantly, Jesus, in this crucial ministry. Robin and her husband Homer have been married for 33 years and currently reside in Henderson, NV. They attend the ChurchLV and they enjoy God’s creation by hiking, walking, or simply enjoying the sun with a good book. They have two children and three grandchildren. Robin holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan and a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Development, also from Spring Arbor University.