tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84422879339395442412024-03-13T11:28:46.706-07:00From Here to Eternity Living His will as a single mother of three.
..... As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 24:15Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-87543832305712825462014-08-13T19:46:00.000-07:002014-08-13T19:46:14.529-07:00being transparent....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been wanting to write on being transparent for a few weeks now.... In all honesty I haven't had the time to actually sit down and write it all out. The other day I had a situation in my own life with a friend who was struggling with addiction, we have been friends for a while and what I considered to be close friends and I had no idea what was going on and just how serious it was. I started to wonder why? Even in close circles and bible studies, women's group and church I think that is a struggle for some people. I admit I have struggled with this in the past as I was going through things, for whatever reason I thought that the problems were mine and I had to struggle through them alone. I wonder if we really understand the purpose of the people that God puts into our life. We are called to love one another, encourage and build each other up. Pray for each other as we are in the midst of the storm. But if we aren't being honest with one another and transparent then how can I help you, encourage you or pray for you. Its so important to let those people all the way in and lean on them for support especially during the times when we feel like we are so alone. So many times in our lives we go through things and God helps us come through and then not only are we better and closer to Him but we now have a testimony. Imagine if we didn't share our testimony or the struggle we went through, how could we help each other? How could you know if God placed someone in your path for the exact thing that you are dealing with if you don't share? That seems like so many missed opportunities, missed blessings that we could be sharing. You know how you feel when someone talks to you about what they are going through and you find out that its the same thing your dealing with... Its almost like a sigh of relief, like we aren't alone and more importantly that we aren't crazy! Honestly that is always my first thought. "oh thank you Lord I'm not alone and I'm not crazy!" Then we usually form a bond with that person and can lean on each other as well as pray for each others needs! Friendship is a blessing! Don't miss out on that! This is one of my favorite bible verses and I'm going to apply it to this situation:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whats that tell you? we need each other. Lets be there to build each other up! You know that old saying "you can't have a friend unless you be a friend" ? We need to remember to respond in love and grace and even forgiveness when we come to each other. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/proverbs/17-17.html" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proverbs 17:17</span></a></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love at all times friends! Make it easy for your friends to come and share! Be a place of encouragement and point them to the one who offers hope and forgiveness! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heavenly father, help us to be real with each other lord, help us to love one another the way you have loved us. Lord search us and show us things we need to work on and put people in our path to be a helping hand. Help us to rely on you for our source of strength, help us to remember that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Thank you for the blessing of friendship and for sweet fellowship and help us to take advantage of that. Amen.</span></div>
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-33469890493144020412014-07-17T19:29:00.000-07:002014-07-17T19:29:30.570-07:00Praying like HannahI was thinking the other day how often we pray for things and get upset when God isn't quick to answer our prayers. How we get discouraged and wonder if our father in heaven even cares about the things that are going on with us. We live in a world of impatience, we want what we want at the moment we want it and the worst part is we think we deserve it in our time. I would even say that we are slightly guilty of walking around with a "life's not fair if I don't get what I want" attitude. We tend to blame our circumstances or sometimes even our God. The reason this has been on my mind lately is because there is something in my life that I have been praying for and its been about 4 years. It all came crashing down yesterday when I just fell to my knees and cried out to God about it. I have been so discouraged because I haven't seen an answer to my prayer and I even asked God "hello can you hear me? Are you going to do anything about this? Are you there?"<br />
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I immediately was reminded about Hannah and her situation. Let me remind you of who Hannah was. She was married to Elkanah, she was one of two of his wives. Hannah was barren and scripture says that the Lord closed her womb. Peninnah was the other wife and was blessed with sons and daughters. Now the bible also says that Hannah was taunted by Peninnah, on purpose because she couldn't have children! Can you imagine being barren and then have it shoved in your face over and over by your husbands OTHER wife who already had a handful of children? Ugh Hannah was better than I would have been, I know I would not have responded well to that kind of thing. There would have been a whole lot of eye rolling and attitude coming from me on a daily basis! Hannah was different, she was sad of course but she was persistent with the Lord. God was silent for years with Hannah and she never stopped praying. She never doubted Gods abilities and had FAITH that God had the power to heal her womb. The bible says in 1 thes. 5:17 to pray without ceasing and Hannah was definitely doing that. Hannah cried out to the Lord and made a promise that if the Lord would bless her with a son she would give him back to the Lord. God blessed Hannah for her faithfulness and Hannah kept her promise. When Samuel was born she dedicated him to the Lord just as she promised. God then blessed her with 2 more sons and 2 daughters!<br />
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My point here is that Hannah is an awesome example of how we should be. She never gave up, honored her promises to God and then praised God for his kindness and wisdom. We need to be faithful to God even when we don't see an answer to our prayers, we need to love God for who he is and what He has already done for us. Otherwise we treat Him like a genie in a bottle. God deserves more than that from us. He deserves all cause He gave us all. Is there something in your life, an area or situation, where you haven't seen an answered prayer? Are you remaining faithful? Are you praying without ceasing? Remain faithful remember Hannah waited years while the Lord was silent but in the end it was worth it!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-29760293426879534432014-07-06T16:22:00.003-07:002014-07-06T16:22:49.600-07:00Creation Museum<br />
This Holiday weekend we decided to take a road trip to Kentucky to see the Creation Museum. Its about 10 hours from my house in PA so along the way we were blessed enough to stay with a dear friend in Ohio. We had a great time visiting some places in Ohio and Kentucky and enjoying some sweet fellowship with friends.<br />
The Museum was awesome, as we walked through and I explained everything to the boys I started tearing up because it was like I was sharing our "heritage". It was awesome to see how the bible and science work together and how the word of god stands strong. My oldest son just finished 2nd grade and as we talked about evolution verses creation he stood back and took everything in. Its interesting because all I did was say scientists believe this and the bible says this. I stood back and watched him process and then declare with great confidence that God was the creator and never has he even thought about questioning that. Its like the truth was in him and always has been. Pretty great moment for me as a parent. My boys have to make the choice, I can't force them or even "save" them. All I can do is plant the seed and pray for them that they will acknowledge that Jesus is their personal Lord and savior. 3 John 1:4 " I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth". Living my life as an example and teaching them about their heavenly father who loves them is something I can do. Continually pointing them to scripture and towards the cross is one of the most important jobs that I have as a mother. Along with loving them unconditionally. A big part of it I have learned also is that I need to be humble with my children. If I do wrong I need to go to them and talk to them and ask for forgiveness and show them that I am not perfect or above the need for a Savior. After the museum we got to go to their petting zoo and also take a ride on a camel. Very cool experience.<br />
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On the way to Kentucky there was a living bible wax museum. We decided to stop there as well. We watched the miracles of the bible. It was awesome to see the different scenes played out. During each scene we played sort of a guessing game to see if we could identify what the story was before the audio started. Another great experience.<br />
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I feel like I had a "spiritual awakening" this weekend. Like everything I have been living and talking about came to life. Not that I feel like my God isn't real or He is some fictional character made up to make others feel good or happy, but just seeing everything and being able to watch things happen (or "recreated") was such a great thing for me. It gave me a new love for the Lord, a new urgency to share the gospel. I feel like I have my fire back. You know in the beginning you have that "I'm so on fire for the Lord I need to tell everyone" thing? Or maybe I am the only one whose fire dimmed a bit. But regardless I feel like I have it back and its an awesome thing. For the first time I feel like life is this great opportunity and I don't want to waste one bit of it.<br />
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If you have a chance you should take a trip to Kentucky and check this place out. Well worth it.<br />
creationmuseum.org<br />
www.livingbiblemuseum.org<br />
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This post today was kind of all over the place but I really just wanted to share my experience this weekend with all of you. Praying for my friends and bloggers that you might have your fire back and the urgency to share the great gift you have been freely given. After all when we get an awesome gift why would we want to keep it all to ourselves!<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-15076943649179834662014-07-03T05:39:00.001-07:002014-07-03T05:39:04.926-07:00Dreaming....<div style="direction: ltr; font-size: 11pt; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I woke up with an overwhelming joy in my heart no doubt put there by the Lord. I am beyond thankful for everything that I have in my life. Its funny because from the worlds view I don’t have an ideal life, I am a single mother, divorced, I don’t have a successful career and I’m lucky to be making ends meet. When I look around I see so much more! I see the house that God has provided that my boys call home, I see 3 amazing, challenging boys who have a strong love for the Lord and have the word tucked in their hearts. They are difficult at times but would give the clothes on their back to anyone in need, they have an amazing heart to serve. I see a future that is so bright and has so much hope. God is doing amazing things and preparing me for awesome opportunities. I have always prayed “Lord use me and my experiences to glorify you” and I look around and I see all the people that he puts in my path, it is such an amazing thing when you feel completely fulfilled knowing you are right where you need to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recieved a gift for my 30th birthday, it was the casting crowns CD thrive. There are so many amazing songs on there that touch my heart but there is one I was thinking about today. Its called “Dream for you”. The song talks about david, how he had plans for his life and how God had even bigger plans. How Mary had a plan for her and her marriage but God had a plan for her to raise a king. The chorus goes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So come on, let Me dream, let Me dream for you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am strong when your weak and I’ll carry you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So let go of your plan, be caught by my hand</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ll show you what I can do</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I dream for you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a dream for you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m stronger than you think I am</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ll take you farther than you think you can</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You sing and call Me great I Am</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So take your stand</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My child, If you only knew</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the plans I have for you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just trust me, I will follow through</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can follow me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Powerful words, Is my life where I would have planned? No way but I have so much joy knowing that He is in control. God has plans for me and I am so excited to see where He is taking me. “My child if you only knew, all the plans I have for you, TRUST me I will follow through, you can follow me”. I am going to move when He says move and not be afraid to step out of my comfort zone. He has given me opportunites that I never could have imagined. I am currently doing things that in all honesty I never knew I could. God is showing me that when I let down my control and follow His lead I am so much more happy and fulfilled. God kept me “wandering” for a bit until I finally let go of everything and completely put it all in His hands. I can’t wait to share the news with all of you but for now just know that it wasn’t until I completely gave Him all that He started to open these doors for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you holding onto something or afraid to step out into something new? God has a plan for all of us, Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the plans l have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Examine your heart and pray, call out to your father ask Him to show you where He wants you to be and then Go. I can’t promise you’ll be rich and famous and successful but I can promise you that you will have peace knowing your in Gods will and following the plan He has for you which is greater than any plan we could make up on our own.</span></div>
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-32382890786228733122014-06-11T06:42:00.000-07:002014-06-11T06:42:07.725-07:00Unfailing Love....<div dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 3pt 0pt 34pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3e454c;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.28; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a parent I have experienced an amazing unexplainable love for my son. This love is greater than any other love I have felt for anyone else; I would be willing to sacrifice it all for my son even my own life. I am sure this is how most parents feel about their children. This love helps me to understand how much Jesus really loves me. What amazes me the most, however, is that his love is even stronger than that! We </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; white-space: pre-wrap;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.28; white-space: pre-wrap;"> fathom how much Jesus loves us! In the same way we can’t fully understand how much Jesus loves us; our children can’t fully understand how much we really love them. They love us because we take care of them and they have faith that we will provide because we have since birth. However, it usually takes until they are an adult having a child of their own to fully understand how deeply we really love them. I can’t help but compare the ways my son acts and treats me to the ways most of us Christians treat Jesus without even realizing it. This has been showing me how much of a child I still am in my faith. For instance, how do our children act when they don’t get what they want from us? I know my son does not enjoy it and at times has actually told me he didn’t like me because of it. Let’s say Braden wants to watch a pg13 movie but I don’t allow him to watch it because I know the negative effects it could have on him. He doesn’t understand why I am saying no and even if I explain it to him he still seems to wonder how I can say I love him but not give him what he wants. It’s hard for him to trust me and that I know best. Are we not the same with God? How about when we pray we get to work on time and we still end up being late? Well thanks a lot God. What about when we pray something more serious like “Jesus, heal my loved one” and that person passes away or doesn’t seem to be getting any better? It’s moments like these that we don’t understand why someone who says they love us isn’t giving us what we want. I’ve come to recognize however that I shouldn’t only love God when he is giving me what I want but love him even when he doesn’t seem to be answering my prayers and giving me my desires! I need to trust that he knows best. He is my father in heaven, the God of the universe, he knows all things. He knows the desires of my heart better than I do. I am acting like a child, immature in my faith, by only being content when I am getting my way instead of letting God have his way in my life. I am only looking out for my son’s best interest when I don’t allow him to get what he thinks is best and God sees the big picture and looks out for our best interest in the same way. I know that as my son grows up he will have to make his own choices in life and he may stumble and fall at times, making poor choices; but when he does I will be here for him to comfort him and help him. I have made many poor choices in my life and felt that I was not good enough to face God. I knew he would be there but still felt too ashamed. I didn’t fully understand his love for me and how great it really was. I once thought he had given up on me but now I understand that he is always there, just waiting for me to lean on him so he can comfort me and help me back on my feet. I am so grateful for a God who draws so near to me that I can feel his presence and love. Through my shame he displays his grace and wipes my slate clean. His love for me is beyond measure, greater then I could ever ask, think, or imagine!! Greater than the love I have for my own son! We can all experience this powerful love, no matter what we have been through or what we may have done. The truth is we are all sinners, none of us are really good enough for God, and we can only experience him by first admitting this and surrendering all of who we are completely to him! I pray that each one of us as believers would fully understand how deeply he loves us, know that his grace is sufficient, and give everything we are to him so we can mature in Christ and become all that he created us to be!</span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.28; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.28; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.28; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 corinthians 2:9NLV- “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”</span><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.28; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.28; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.28; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 8:38NLV-And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.39.No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; white-space: pre-wrap;">psalm 103:8 </span></span><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lord is compassionate and merciful slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 11. For his unfailing love towards those who fear him is as great as the heights of the heavens above the earth.</span></div>
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-50692278317002131042014-06-02T19:05:00.002-07:002014-06-02T19:05:28.598-07:00What turning 30 looks like for me....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm turning 30 in a few days and I have been super stressed lately over my life. I feel all this pressure from "the world" to have everything figured out and have this picture perfect life by 30. Like I should have this amazing career and this adoring husband with 2.5 children and a white picket fence to complete it all, possibly an obedient dog too! In reality I am divorced with 3 rambunctious boys who only seem to have an energy button or super energy button, I am currently unemployed and running out of savings! And I'm pretty sure my dog was satan himself!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I began to feel this enormous pressure to change my entire life in the next 14 days. News flash! never gonna happen! When I sat down to pray I realized what am I doing? Why am I discounting my entire life just because I don't have what "the world" suggests or I am not the way that sometimes people are portrayed at my age. God began to show me all I do have, He reminded me and showed me a picture of where I was just even 10 years ago and how far I have come. I had instant peace because I realized I bought into the lie that we need to have things to be worth something. I do have much, I am blessed with 3 wonderful boys who love the Lord and love their mom and are active and healthy. I have a wonderful home that God has provided for us that I can raise my children in. I had a savings to rely on when I lost a job. He has carried me through all the tough times. I have something much bigger than all of those things though. I have Jesus, I have my savoir who loves me with a love that nothing compares to. I have a God that sent his only son to be tortured and die on the cross just for me! (you too!) I have this love and heart for people that pours out on a daily basis that was put there by God. I can look back over my life and see every time I was protected by God and even when I went through things that were less than desirable He turned them into things that bring Him glory. Just as he promised He would. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Romans 8:28 "</span><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we know that </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God causes </span><span class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28145A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are </span><span class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28145B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">called according to </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> purpose. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I now see a changed woman. I see someone who came from something ugly and broken and how God has changed me and who I am down to my core. I couldn't have made that change even if I wanted to! As I approach 30, I do so with hope and excitement. Joy in knowing that my future lies in Gods hands and that's the best place it can be! I know there will be many more struggles in my life, obstacles i will need to overcome but I no longer have to face them alone. In the words of Chris Tomlin "the god of angel armies is always by my side". I am going to move forward resting in Gods promises and who I am in Christ not what I have here on earth or the status that I have attained. After all "</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" Matthew 16:26.</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> I'm going to move forward seeing my worth the way God sees it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Philippians 3:8 </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ</span></span></div>
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-16459295253682986762014-05-29T10:59:00.001-07:002014-05-29T10:59:53.807-07:00pleading my caseSo I was doing my hair today and my son came to me and asked me if he could do something. I said no and he said "mom, please!" and began to make promises that we both knew he couldn't keep. I promise I'll be safe, I promise I won't get hurt, please just let me do it! He was trying to assure me that he knew best, he knew better than me! His mom, who carried him and created him, with the help of my ex husband and God of course! Now we know pretty much about our children, after all we are the ones who love them most on this earth and we spend the most time with them and invest in them. I know (for the most part) whats good for my children and what could potentially harm them. Some battles are lost or not worth fighting. For example my 6 year old loves to run around outside without shoes, our backyard is safe but there is always a chance that he could step on a bee or stub his toe. After hours of convincing him its a better idea to wear shoes, i decided to let him go and he would deal with the consequences. Not even 10 minutes later he came inside crying and his toe was bleeding. He banged it on the porch. Nothing some water and a band aid couldn't fix. Through the tears he said I should have listened to you. I said well I tried to tell you but you needed to figure this out on your own. Next time wears shoes okay!<br />
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I started thinking how at times I can be like that with God. How if I want something I go to him even when I have a feeling that its probably not the best idea and I almost plead my case, begging Him and making promises that i really can't keep. Like God i want to date this guy who is not a christian, I promise I will always be a good example or I promise that it wont effect me. Maybe its I want this job God and i promise it wont get in the way of my relationship with you or my family life. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knitted us together in our mothers womb, knows every hair on our heads. When he gives us something or sometimes doesn't, I believe that its for our good. I also do believe just like with my son, there are times where we need to go through trials to realize that its not good for us. No amount of me telling my son that shoes are necessary was going to do it, he had to go out there and stub his toe to realize "hey mom was right, I need shoes". Are there things in your life that you aren't surrendering to God? Whatever the reason may be, we need to realize that God, our creator knows us and loves us so much and wants to protect us from unnecessary hurt and pain. Either way god will use your situation. He will use it to grow you and to refine you.<br />
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I'm so thankful that even when I make mistakes that God is there with open arms ready to embrace me when I fall and get hurt, still loves me even when I mess up. Just like we are there for our children. Can u trust that He knows best? Can you give that situation your struggling with over to Him? Reach out to him in prayer and He is always there....Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-88699304219945994902014-05-21T19:06:00.000-07:002014-05-21T19:06:00.164-07:00Are you beautiful?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was out to dinner the other day and someone was telling me a story about how he held the door open for this girl at the gas station and she didn't say thank you. He went on to say that he doesn't mind holding the door for a "hot" girl but this girl was ugly and you can't be ugly and nasty at the same time. "Ugly girls that are nasty serve no purpose" I looked him straight in the eyes and said "who decides the standard of beauty?" I began to think about this for the next few days about the difference between pretty and ugly. What makes a girl pretty? what makes her ugly? What does society say about beauty? </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I struggle with beauty and the thought that I must compete with supermodels that I see on TV. I can change lots of things about me to fit the standard of beauty. I can dye my hair, change my body through exercise and even surgery, spend all my money on the latest clothes, get my teeth fixed, go tanning and on and on. But then what? When does it end? When will I be beautiful? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now you want to spend hours at the gym and whiten your teeth and even blow your money on the hottest trends that is your choice. I think it is very important to live a healthy life for multiple reasons. We need to be active and healthy so that we can more effectively share the gospel as well as be an example to our children. But sometimes us women can get so caught up in outer beauty that we neglect to see our value and worth through Gods eyes. When we see these women on television that we look nothing like, who have been so airbrushed they are almost beyond recognition, a lot of us have a bit of a struggle. Its easy to be discouraged when your standard is ever changing like the worlds, one day super skinny is in, then nope gain a few pounds. Then brunettes are sexy, but wait blondes have more fun! In parenting the boys I try hard to teach them to see beauty the way that God sees it. That the most beautiful thing in a girl is her spirit and her love for the Lord, that a heart after Jesus is far better than a girl who is just "hot". I've said it before ladies, looks fade and gravity always wins! Pour your energy into your relationship with the Lord and focus on being the woman of God that you were meant to be. The right man will find you if you are still single and if you are married you will be even more beautiful to your husband. I heard a quote the other day that says "If you use carnal means to get a man, you will need to use carnal means to keep him". Don't be so concerned with trying to be hot or sexy to get someone or even keep them. Remember your worth and value in Christ and how beautiful you are to Him. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proverbs</span> 31:30- <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Proverbs 31:25- </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. </span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So next time you want to know how to become more beautiful or attractive to the opposite sex put down the vogue or cosmo magazine and pick up your bible and search the scriptures, our standard should be Gods standard. Next time your feeling "ugly" or unattractive or unloved go to God and ask Him to help you see yourself through His eyes. Remember you are worth dying for!</span></span></div>
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-24094267513722605372014-05-15T11:50:00.004-07:002014-05-15T11:50:54.182-07:00LoveologySo a few weeks ago I started a study in my home based on the book Loveology by: John Mark Comer. Let me just say wow, tonight we are wrapping up the 5 week study and honestly I am sad that it is over. I personally have learned so much about love and marriage, romance and singleness from this study. I know the girls have benefited from it as well. Each week John Mark focuses on a different subject and we dive into Gods word to see what the bible says about these important topics. Its been an awesome journey looking back at our past choices and really looking at biblical examples of how to date and what marriage looks like. I think this book makes for a great ladies study or even a small group study with a few married couples. We have a good mixture in our group of married, engaged and single and its safe to say that everyone has benefited from this book.<br />
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I think my favorite topic was sex.... In all honesty its a tough subject not just because it can be uncomfortable but really and truly sometimes we like to do what we want to do and we don't want to hear that its wrong or that we need to stop doing something we enjoy. It was interesting how the author pointed out that sex was really created for our enjoyment... within the context of marriage. I never really understood why sex before marriage was wrong besides the obvious things that could go along with unprotected sex. I new it was wrong but it didn't really click for me. I just was like well God says we cant and the church frowns upon it so its just a no no. Obviously like any other thing in our lives we still like to "break the rules" or test the boundaries if you know what I mean. Going through this study and really getting into Gods word is when I began to see that God was trying to protect me from something. He wasn't saying no sex before marriage cause i'm trying to keep you from having fun but he was saying "Hey I love you and I want the best for you". Sex is a very powerful thing.. Having sex with someone is one of the most intimate things that you can experience with another person. John Mark says in his book that having sex with someone is "to know" them and to "be known" you get to know someone inside and out. That bond that you create with that person is irreversible and permanent. Society tells us that sex is just sex and you can have meaningless emotionless sex with anyone you want and if you take the right precautions there wont be any consequences. That is just another lie we are taught to believe. The truth is that every time you make love to someone you give a piece of yourself away, a piece you can't get back no matter how desperately you try. Sex makes lust look like love... Sex makes relationships that should have ended long ago hold on and they usually end in painful breakups or horrible divorces.<br />
Sex it self isn't bad, its actually very good. God created sex for us to enjoy, its a gift. Its a way to bring us back together to our spouse and re-fuse us as one. We were sexual before we were sinful as John Mark says in his book. Our sexual desires for another are a completely natural God given thing. But marriage is the only relationship that is strong enough to hold the power that sex has.<br />
If we look back through our past can we see the effects of not listening to Gods instruction on this? I certainly can.... I can see how relationships lasted longer and my judgement was clouded because of this very thing. Can you look back and see the damage that was caused in your life for something that society says is "no big deal"? Sex-a gift meant to be shared between a husband a wife, a selfless act, an act of worship turns into something completely different.... broken hearts, abusive relationships, pornography, sexual addictions, abortions, STDs, all these things that are all about us and definitely not about God. Listen the point is this, I love my 3 boys and i would do anything to protect them, sparklers are fun right? Well I am certainly not going to give my boys matches and a box of sparklers and tell them to go have fun. Of course not! Sparklers in the right context are fun, under my supervision so I can make sure that they don't get hurt or hurt someone else. Sex is fun (you know its the truth!) But it is very dangerous outside its original purpose or plan. God loves us enough to try to protect us from hurt. Remember God created Sex right and we all agreed that sex is fun... Ummm thank you God for making something fun for us to enjoy! What an awesome God!<br />
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The good news is that its never to late, if your married, go have sex with your spouse!! Go have the fun that God intended! If your having sex and your not married, whether your single or even engaged. Wait, have patience, ask God to help you to obey him in this area, its difficult i know but He can help you. If your dealing with the consequences of choices that you made and your feeling broken Jesus can make you whole, you can have a fresh start with Him. He can heal any hurt, any bad decision. If you still don't see a problem with sex outside of marriage I suggest reading this book and taking a look at song of solomon and even genesis. Pray and ask God to help you see, I did and he completely changed my outlook on it and for that I am so grateful!<br />
Happy Thursday!!<br />
<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-52125816220118162402013-09-03T08:31:00.001-07:002013-09-03T08:31:27.795-07:00Back to it<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once again I have failed at keeping this updated, I could
blame many things but the reality is it was pure laziness. We have recently
been blessed with the opportunity to live in a 3 bedroom house in another
neighborhood. After much prayer I decided to move myself and my children to
another home. There was a little resistance from the boys because they enjoyed
the small cramped two bedroom apartment we called home. We are all moved in and
are still trying to make it feel like home. They are adjusting well. School
starts today and after a lot of tears and prayers I decided to take on the
rewarding challenge of homeschooling them. All 3 of them! With the help of PA
cyber school and some bible lessons we are on our way to a successful school
year! I have also been blessed with the opportunity to change jobs which will
allow me to be off every Sunday so that I can be back at church every week. Its
so important for the children and I to worship together each week and they need
to see that I am making that a priority. I must say that when I finally decided
to pray and ask the Lord to provide a job without weekends he moved quickly,
very quickly, when I got the call I was like “slow down lord to many changes to
fast”. I still took time to pray and make
sure that it was the right move spiritually as well as financially for my
family. In the end it was and making that step of faith was the hardest move of
all. Truth be told I don’t like change, I like things that I can control. That’s
my security, my comfort. God was giving me exactly what I wanted and was
praying for and I still was hesitant because I wasn’t sure that things would
work out. When it came down to it I realized that I thought I was trusting in
the Lord to provide all my needs but in reality I was trusting in myself and my
ability. I have to meditate on those
verses that remind us how much he cares for us and how much he provides and
carries us through those times we feel like we just cant make it. Its funny, every time that I get stressed I have to train myself to think back over my
life and all the times where I thought it wasn’t going to work and God pulled
it off. As always he keeps his promises. My god has always provided, protected
me and loved me even at my worst times. Wow people let us down constantly and
the only one who remains faithful is Him. He always exceeds my expectations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today I am going to meditate on how much I am loved by my
heavenly father. You should too. Talk to him, tell him how you feel, pray and
watch how he changes you. Have a
wonderful day Ladies! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-5928917363273889412012-11-25T19:08:00.001-08:002012-11-25T19:08:44.777-08:00Mercy Me......<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tonight I was washing the dishes while the children were sleeping and listening to pandora. I have it set to christian contemporary music. I heard this song by mercy me called you are I am. I have heard it a thousand times but tonight the words seemed to radiate through me. I think its because I am at a point in my life where I am going through so many things and sometimes I think "God can u hear me? Are you there? Can you help me?" Every single word of this song was what I had been feeling. Then I listened to the chorus and it reminded me how big God is, sometimes I focus on how big I think my problem is but I forget just how big my God is. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">You're the one who conquers giants</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> You're the one who calls out kings</span></span></div>
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You shut the mouths of lions</div>
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You tell the dead to breathe</div>
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You're the one who walks through fire</div>
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You take the orphan's hand</div>
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You are the one Messiah</div>
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You are I am</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> You are I am</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think back to all the situations in the bible where God did these amazing things that no one thought was possible and He did them because He can. I guess creating a universe and everything in it just wasn't enough for us, we needed more. During these times where I feel helpless and I feel like I can't handle these situations I need to remember I can't! But He can! I need to give it all to Him and remember that I feel overwhelmed because I am trying to conquer it all, I am trying to do His job. I think God can't hear me or can't reach me but I am limiting God! He even knew at that moment that I was thinking about all the stuff going on and questioning Him and thinking "God? You got this?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everything I write on this blog is to help me sort through things that I am struggling with but I hope it helps you to. I pray that I can be an encouragement to people going through similar things. God is showing me so much through this journey and I am honored to share it. Listen to this song and remember how Big YOUR God is and all the great things He has done. He can handle any problem, any situation. Stop trying to fight the fight alone. Meditate on the words from the song, they sure did help me feel better tonight. Now look at your problem or situation, Can He handle that? I think so!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> "You Are I Am"</span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /></span></span><div style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">I've been the one to shake with fear<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />And wonder if You're even here<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I've been the one to doubt Your love<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I've told myself You're not enough<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I've been the one to try and say<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'll overcome by my own strength<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I've been the one to fall apart<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />And to start to question who You are<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You're the one who conquers giants<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You're the one who calls out kings<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You shut the mouths of lions<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You tell the dead to breathe<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You're the one who walks through fire<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You take the orphan's hand<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are the one Messiah<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are I am<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are I am<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I've been the one held down in chains<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Beneath the weight of all my shame<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I've been the one to believe<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That where I am You cannot reach<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You're the one who conquers giants<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You're the one who calls out kings<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You shut the mouths of lions<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You tell the dead to breathe<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You're the one who walks through fire<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You take the orphan's hand<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are the one Messiah<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are I am<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are I am<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The veil is torn<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />And now I live with the Spirit inside<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The same one, the very same one<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />who brought the Son back to life<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Hallelujah, He lives in me<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Hallelujah, He lives in me<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Hallelujah, He lives in me<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Hallelujah, He lives in me<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You're the one who conquers giants<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You're the one who calls out kings<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You shut the mouths of lions<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You tell the dead to breathe<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You're the one who walks through fire<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You take the orphan's hand<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are the one Messiah<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are I am<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are I am</span></div>
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-45025300038928390022012-11-19T11:46:00.001-08:002012-11-19T11:46:44.678-08:00Thankfulness....<br />
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As thanksgiving approaches we all are reminded to be
thankful for all we have. We take the time to stop and remember all that the
Lord has blessed us with. We tend to look at the glass half full rather than
half empty. Today in church we talked about what it means to be truly thankful
the way that they are talking about in Ephesians. Eph 5:20~<b><sup> </sup></b>giving
thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. My pastor made a good point, this verse says give thanks ALWAYS and for EVERYTHING. Not just
for our homes, our kids, the food on our tables, but for all the struggles,
trials, and daily things we go through that sometimes just don’t seem fair to
us. How many of us can say we are thankful to God for everything? Do we tend to
use God as a genie in a bottle the rest of the year and when thanksgiving rolls
around is that when we find ourselves thanking God? “giving thanks always and
for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20).
Always is another important word in that verse, not just around thanksgiving
should we be praising God but daily. As
soon as we open our eyes in the morning until we are snuggled up in our cozy
beds. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It has been a rough couple of weeks in my house, loss of a
job, some changes with my children, etc. I realized today when I was getting my
list of things that I am thankful for ready that I had forgotten to praise God
for the trials and struggles I have been going through. Can you imagine if God
just gave us whatever we wanted? What would your life look like? If God had given me what I wanted a few months
ago I would have been in a very different place than I am now. I also realized
that when I do go through these trials I learn to cling to Him rather than rely
on my own strength. Its all worth it in the end, every tear shed, every
heartache if it brings me closer to God. You see when we go through these
difficult times its because we need to learn something, God is refining us and
shaping us into the women that He wants us to be. God sees the entire picture
and has a better plan for us than we could ever imagine. Lets rejoice in the
ups and downs knowing that He is working on His masterpiece. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Heavenly father I thank you for your grace and mercy, thank you
that you love us enough to not always give us what we want. Thank you for the
fire we are walking through at the moment because we know that’s how you refine
us. Thank you that when we pray give us this day our daily bread you do, thank
you that your love covers it all. Search
our hearts and show us those things we need to surrender to be closer to
you. Most of all thank you for our savior Jesus, for without Him we have no
hope. Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-57797883192157395932012-11-13T17:46:00.001-08:002012-11-13T17:46:52.169-08:00I trust in Him... or do I?Trust- Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.<br />
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Trust is a funny thing but then again so is "faith". I recently lost my main source of income, if you have read my bio you know that I am a single mother of three boys. Since my divorce I have always worked two or sometimes three jobs to make sure that my boys have all they need and a stable home. Now I am left with one part time job and the uncertainty of how I am going to make ends meet. Initially I freaked out, I am not going to lie, I spent a few days having a small pity party for myself. Then I realized that I needed to have some quiet time just to cry out to God, so during nap time I went into my room all alone and literally cried, probably actually sobbed for about an hour. I prayed and begged God to help me in some way, give me direction, answers, anything to get me through. I almost was at the point where I was demanding that God come down here himself and tell me what he expected me to do. </div>
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Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into
barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more
value than they? ~ Matt 6:26</div>
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After I got control of my crazy emotions I remembered this verse.... then I repented, Who am I to question God or why He does the things that He does. Either God is a God that keeps his promises or He is a liar. Well I know God isn't a liar and I know that He has always kept His promises before. So why is this time any different? Truth is its not. Just because I lost my job and life is changing for the moment doesn't mean that God changed and that he doesn't keep His promises all of a sudden. Matthew 6:26 is a promise. A promise that God will take care of me and my boys because he takes care of the birds, are we not more important than birds? Then He showed me the root (that silly root thing again) I don't trust God, I don't have faith that He will provide and bring me through this trial, just like He has always done. Wow thats a lot to take in when you live your life thinking you trust God to feed you and clothe you but reality your trust is in yourself and the money you make. Don't get me wrong you can't sit at home on the sofa expecting God to drop money into your lap. We have to work but does god not provide the jobs? Doesn't He take care of us even when things seem hopeless? Over the past few days someone has dropped off an entire box of food for my family to fill our cabinets with and someone else just gave me a freezer full of meat. Now was that not the Lord saying "Jenny I love you so much, Let me show you how I can provide through others for the time". I almost was filled with too much pride that I didn't want to take it and I thought No I can figure this out. We have to be humble enough to receive because its the Lords way of providing sometimes through others.<br />
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God came through just like He always has over the years. I don't have a job just yet but I do have food for a few weeks and a new faith in Him. He cares about me so much that He would put it in those peoples hearts to minister to me in my time of need. Wow what a great God we serve. Every time I struggle I fall to my knees and cry out to Him and I always come out the other side more in love with God than ever before.<br />
Things don't always turn out perfect or even the way I could have imagined but my faith is strengthened each time and I am always cared for.<br />
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Heavenly Father thank you so much for your faithfulness, thank you that you are a God who loves and cares for our every need. Thank you that even in times of doubt I can come to you and confess that and you give me peace and assurance. Help us to lean on you more and give all our stuff over to you Lord when its to much to bear alone. Thank you for being our father, provider, comforter, whatever we need. In Jesus name, Amen.<br />
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-46470056944440539552012-10-05T18:02:00.000-07:002012-10-05T18:02:11.376-07:00a thought on dating.....<br />
2 Corinthians 6:14<br />
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Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?<br />
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"Unequally yoked" we have all heard that before, either from our pastors, parents, friends, etc. Mostly in regards to dating. What does that mean to be unequally yoked? Paul teaches that its not right to enter into a spiritual enterprise with those who are not of the same nature... or unbelievers.. The "spiritual enterprise" I want to talk about tonight is dating. Why do we do it? why do we know this command but we choose to disobey? I am going to talk about my situation and hopefully some of you can relate. I started dating someone that I was "unequally yoked" with because I was attracted to him and he was a wonderful fun guy. We had that instant connection, we laughed and joked, I felt like this was someone that I could be me around. At the beginning I cared that he wasn't a christian and he assured me that he did believe in God and would come to church with me. I was like okay this is awesome! The more we dated the more I felt uneasy but I was able to push those feelings under the rug. I did absolutely love this guy and had a connection with him but I felt like I was in a constant battle between flesh and spirit, a battle between what I wanted and what I knew God wanted. Little things would come up and I thought that I was a strong enough christian to stand firm and not waiver but no such luck. 1 Corinthians 15:33~ Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals". Truth is I put myself in a situation that I was almost doomed to fail. I started a relationship and made a connection with someone who I knew deep down couldn't work. I mean in theory we could have worked I guess, we loved each other and if we got married there would have been great times, but I would never know the closeness and intimacy in the marriage the way god intended it to be. If God is the center of my life but not the center of his how does that work. If I make decisions based on Gods word and he makes decisions based on how the "world" views things we would have some rough times ahead. I would be left feeling empty, longing to know what it feels like to have a true godly marriage. One where we look to Him for answers and we get on our knees when times are good or bad. Christ is the glue that would bind us, forever! Yes marriage should be forever no matter what, although its not always like that.<br />
I guess what I am getting at here is that sometimes people think that maybe somethings in the bible aren't as important as others but truth is God gives us this outline to save us. Protect us from suffering and pain, hurting each other and ourselves. When God says "Don't be bound with unbelievers" its because he loves us so much and wants us to experience things the way He designed them to be. Centered around Him not what we want or think is best at the time. The consequence for me for being disobedient in this area is that I have a connection with someone that I shouldn't. So does he, we have went through unnecessary pain and hurt that all could have been avoided with obedience! It came to choosing between what my heart wanted or thought it wanted and what my soul wanted and longed for.<br />
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Sweet girls, god has a plan for us and the man for us that he created just for us! Someone who loves Him just as much as we do. Reading song of Solomon excites and encourages me, in chapter 3 it talks about finding "the one my soul loves and holding onto him and not letting go". In chapter 4 reading about Solomon love for his bride is amazing, it touches my heart. When we stay in Gods will for our lives and do things His way the results are like nothing we can imagine. I am not by any means promising a wonderful perfect marriage if we marry christian men but having the same "handbook" for marriage and the same love for the Lord you can surely conquer the world and go through times that make people sit back and say "hey, there is something different there" We can bring more glory and honor to God and isn't that what this life is about?<br />
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Heavenly father thank you so much for the institution of marriage, thank you for your word, thank you that whenever we are confused on life or what choice to make we can kneel before you and confess that and go to your word to find an outline for our lives. Help us Lord to end anything that is a hindrance to us spiritually and draw us close to you. If we are searching Lord show us a picture of what you want for us, give us peace and assurance that you will provide. Thank you God for your grace and mercy and your unconditional love. In Jesus name.. Amen...<br />
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-88872411428579059292012-10-05T18:00:00.000-07:002012-10-05T18:00:22.730-07:00The Lord gives and the Lord takes away... Job<br />
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I opened my bible in a weird way today, just sat down at the computer and literally turned open my bible to the first page of Job. I had no idea what I was going to write about today, but then I began to read and really study Job. Here was this guy who the bible says was blameless and upright, fearing God and turning from evil. I mean he wasn't perfect or without sin but he was a man of integrity. Job was faithful and lived a constant God honoring life in every area. Job was wealthy in that he had everything he could want or need. He had a beautiful wife, livestock, servants, sons and daughters. We know that the Lord saw how faithful Job was and that's why he allowed Satan to tempt him. Satan told God that sure its easy to have this man praise you when you bless the work of his hands. He has it all of course he loves you. So all in one day, within a matter of minutes Job found out that he had lost it all. He lost his livestock, servants, sons and daughters! I know it was within minutes because the bible says that before each messenger was done delivering the bad news the next messenger had come. The very first thing that Job did was fall down on his knees and worship the Lord saying "The Lord gave and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord".<br />
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Jobs first priority in his life was his God and honoring and serving him. God really blessed him. Even when the Lord took away everything that was important to Job he still knew that God was his main purpose. His wife even asked him after Satan attacked his health if he was still a man of integrity and faith. Job responded by saying should we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity. Job's health was attacked. He suffered from everything from boils from head to toe, hallucinations, decaying skin, teeth falling out, raging fevers, and dramatic weight loss.<br />
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In chapter 40 God questions Job to humble him and basically says that if he knew what was best for him than he should take over being God. In verses 8-14 God shows Job just how powerful he is and when I read it, it reminds me too.<br />
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How many of us can handle the trials and tribulations without cursing God? We often wonder why have u done this to me, have I not been faithful, have i done something wrong? When we go through these things we need to remember Job and his example, we need to get down on our knees and praise God for who He is. We need to say "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord". We need to reminder that this life is a gift and everything we are given is a blessing. That we were not put here to have all these things but we are here to grow the kingdom and serve the Lord. We are so undeserving but sometimes we walk around like the Lord is a genie in a bottle. That he owes us something, when the truth is we didn't even deserve salvation. Lets praise God through all the good times and the bad times. When we struggle God is refining us into the women we need to be. What a testimony we can be as well when we live out this faith we have. Like Job said should we accept good from God but not adversity?<br />
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Thank you Lord for all the blessings in our life, thank you for all the trials. Help us to remember that everything we have is a gift from you. That we can't take our next breath without you. Lord help us to think of Job when we are going through these things and how we can preserve with our eyes focused on you and the purpose of this life. Search us Lord and show us anything that needs to be "refined". Help us to prayerfully consider our life and any changes that we need to make in it. Thank you Lord for your sacrifice, in Jesus name.. Amen..<br />
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-43457686930215060692012-10-05T17:58:00.000-07:002012-10-05T17:58:25.381-07:00Perfection<br />
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So the last few days the Lord has really been working on me with my children and how I parent them. The conclusion that I come to when I look back over the past few months is that I have tried so hard to keep up a certain image and retain some sort of control and order in my house since my divorce that I have neglected the simple things. I have almost required this perfect standard that is impossible for my children to achieve. They try so hard but fail daily. There have been a few examples that I would like to share.....<br />
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Last week my oldest child brought home a test where he had gotten all the answers correct except one. Now that's great your thinking, well my first reaction was ever since the first day of school he has been bringing home perfect papers and perfect tests what happened. I immediately wanted to jump all over him and ask why and how. Then the spirit stopped me in my tracks and reminded me that my son needs praise and to be reminded that even when he doesn't live up to my crazy standards that I love him just the same. Plus gals I know I'm crazy I can't expect perfection from anyone, if I do I will always be let down! Then my middle son for some reason is not very affectionate. I am so concerned with making sure that he is obedient that I neglect to love on him as much as he needs. I forget to spend time cuddling with him and saying I love you, I am too busy telling him all the things he needs to remember to do and correcting him. I noticed it last week when I was trying to get him to hug his brother after an altercation. He could barely hug him let alone utter out the words "I love you". I wondered how many times a day does he hear that from me?<br />
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My point here is that I am way to concerned with the outward and not the heart. Its pretty obvious too that I want some sort of praise for having my stuff together when the truth is life is hard! I am a single mom with three boys under the age of 6. I put this standard on myself also that I have to have a perfect house and perfect kids and not let anyone see that I am struggling. Why not, Whats the harm if people see that I can't do it all. What a powerful testimony that would be if I showed more often how I struggle and how in all reality if I didn't have god I couldn't make it through a day! Lets turn the eyes of the world to God and off of us.<br />
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Now I am taking time to love my children and allow them the room to fail and receive grace and unconditional love. I am allowing myself to not meet my own unattainable standards and its so freeing. When my kids are adults are they going to remember a perfectly clean home and that everyone thought they were perfect children, or will they remember how much I loved them unconditionally and provided encouragement and a safe place to come where they don't feel judged. I know the answer and I am so thankful that the Lord brought this to my attention before it was to late! I saw a quote once that said mothers know that the days are long but the years go by way to fast... so so true!<br />
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Heavenly father thank you for our blessings, thank you for the hard times and the "easy times". Help us as mothers to show unconditional love to our children and point them to you and remind them that while we fail at always loving them correctly you don't. Help us to remember to show grace in times where we might want to react and help us to think about the real reason we are disappointed in our children. Thank you Lord for your love and grace and mercy, In Jesus name, Amen!<br />
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-27221612328214053612012-09-25T08:34:00.000-07:002012-09-25T08:34:03.095-07:00"free time"....<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So
its a sunday night and I'm sitting on the couch with my pumpkin spice
latte and my cell phone looking on facebook wasting time. Its quiet
in my house, my three little ones are asleep and all I can hear is
the crackle from the fireplace. (electric but still counts!) All of a
sudden God was like “hello! You have complete peace and quiet, can
you spend some time with me!” Obviously this wasn't in an audiable
voice but it sure felt like it. I'm constantly using the excuse that
I don't have enough time to spend with God on a daily basis and here
I am on a Sunday with total silence and I am wasting time on
facebook! What am I thinking? Oh yeah about me! Certaintly not about
Him, not my father, my creator, the one who loves me with a love
stronger than anything I can imagine. For some reason I feel the need
to stare at my phone for what seems like a few minutes but in reality
is like an hour, all to see what this person did today and what that
person ate for dinner! Lets not forget I'm just as bad! I post
everytime I have a thought I feel the need to share or some saying
and sometimes I will admit I post things to see how many “likes”
I get. I should be using this life, this time I have here to be
bringing glory to God. Praising the creator of the universe. What do
I do? Use facebook as my own personal praise page, look at me, how
wonderful I am, how special all the things I do are. Im not foolish,
I understand that people don't give a stink about what I had for
dinner or what I did today. But we look anyway, we post anyway. Don't
get me wrong, facebook when used properly is an awesome tool to keep
in touch with family and friends, post pictures and be updated on
peoples lives. But I think it is pretty clear that we spend way to
much time on the site, we are so busy cooking, cleaning, working,
raising kids, and facebooking to spend time with the Lord. I am sure
that god has grace and understands that we are busy mothers and wives
and we talk to God all day while we are working but when we sit down
and spend hours on the internet and playing these games over spending
quality time with Him, I am sure that saddens Him. We were important
enough for Him to sacrifice his son but He is not important enough to
us to put away the phone or computer and grab our bible out and spend
some quality time with our maker. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We
can be so selfish sometimes and want things to be all about us.
Facebook is just another thing that takes attention away from God and
puts the spotlight back on us. Oh how some of us crave it. Think
about how many “facebook friends” you have, what if we used our
facebook page to praise God and tell of all the great and mighty
things He has done instead of how wonderful or sometimes pitiful we
are. Think about how many people we could reach! Thats such a cool
thought, we have this amazing tool that if used in the right way
could reach possibly millions! </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
post started out about how I need to spend more free time with the
Lord and ended with how I can better serve the Lord and share the
gospel with facebook. Oh how the Lord works :)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heavenly
father thank you so much for the busy-ness of our days Lord, thank
you for the free time, help us to want to spend that quality time
with you, help us crave that first. Lord, Help us prioritize things
in our lives so that you are the first thing we think of when we are
bored or find ourselves with “free time”. Thank you for facebook,
the awesome tool that it can be. We pray that you convict us of our
selfishness with it if it exists within us. Help us to use the site
to glorify you Lord, just like everything else in our lives. Thank
you that you still seek us even when we turn away and are “too
busy” for you. Lord help us to love you and crave you first, never
being able to get enough of you! In Jesus' name. Amen!</span></div>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-40530121753340794292012-08-01T13:40:00.000-07:002012-08-01T13:40:09.810-07:00Mirror Mirror.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1asGgoCQQpI/UBmNpHweIJI/AAAAAAAAABQ/rnXZOW2fsic/s1600/beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1asGgoCQQpI/UBmNpHweIJI/AAAAAAAAABQ/rnXZOW2fsic/s320/beauty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So today I started the morning the same way I have been for a few days now, I wake up to a text that its time to exercise. I have been working hard on my appearance, I have three boys and we all know how pregnancy changes our bodies. I have been investing time, money and energy into my appearance. I realized when I looked into the mirror today that even if I become content with myself physically and become beautiful on the outside that it might impress others and even make me feel good about myself but is that what god looks at? Does He care about our weight, height, hair color, how white our teeth are, what clothes we wear? I think he does to a certain point but that shouldn't be our main focus and goal in life. We know from 1Tim 2:9 he says "<i>Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel,
with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls
or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess
godliness—with good works." </i>does that mean that we can't look nice and feel good about ourselves? no but we definitely shouldn't spend more time and money investing in our outward appearance than our heart and relationship with Christ. My new favorite verse is "<i>Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the
putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your
adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty
of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:3-4 </i>and "<i>Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the <span class="sc">Lord</span> is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30....</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
External beauty is nice but fades away and all the makeup and exercise in the world doesn't stop time (or gravity) so today ladies lets focus on the internal and who we are in Christ. Look in the mirror and see yourself the way God sees you. As a beautiful wonderful creation made new in Christ! :)<br />
<br />
Thank you Lord for your work in me, help me to see myself as the beautiful creation you made. Help me to focus on my heart and my relationship and love for you. And every time I feel ugly or not good enough help me to remember what you see and what you look at Lord, my heart. Convict me of the area's in my heart that are ugly Lord so I can have the right kind of makeover! Amen.<br />
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Have a wonderful day beautiful ladies!<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-60027054868758120012012-07-27T05:46:00.001-07:002012-07-27T05:46:14.879-07:00Thankful Fridays....Today is Friday, great time for thankful Fridays Today I find it more difficult to be thankful but I am sure that if I start thinking I will have an overflow of things to be thankful for....<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My Children</div>
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My Savior</div>
<div>
Grace and Mercy</div>
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Friends and Family</div>
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Peace and quiet</div>
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Financial stability</div>
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A great place to live</div>
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a car</div>
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two jobs</div>
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<br /></div>
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Thank you Lord for all you do and all you have given me, help me to be truly grateful for the one thing that no one can take away, salvation. Amen!</div>
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Happy Friday All, Have a great weekend.. </div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-56194045959443916952012-07-26T09:31:00.003-07:002012-07-26T09:31:40.466-07:00Frustration....I woke up today and thought what a wonderful day, you know that feeling when you wake up to a clean house and the kids sleep in a little and everything seems to be going wonderful. Then the morning started out just like any other we did our morning routine and as I sat down to teach the children todays bible lesson I became frustrated. Today we talked about Jesus walking on water and how when Peter stepped out of the boat in faith he was able to do the impossible, but as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the world around him he started to sink. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The kids were great during the lesson and we sang some songs but I still felt uneasy. When i took time to think about it I realized that I am frustrated with my life. The place I am in right now, and like I talked about before every thing has a root good or bad. Whats the root of this? Discontentment. Ugh great, blah no wonder I am unhappy. I am discontent. I keep waiting for something to make me happy, or a situation to change to change my attitude. But I need to remember that its not about my timing its about the Lords. He has me where I am for a reason and I need to rest in that. Sometimes I think God can't handle me, then I am like "oh yeah, He created the whole world but He can't handle me and my issues". </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I need to remember that God is in control, He can handle me when I am happy, angry, upset, sinful, discontent. When we start to feel discontent we have to refocus our eyes on Christ and what he has done for us and what He has promised us. Not a happy picture perfect life, but everlasting life if we are faithful and believe in Jesus. (John 14:6) </div>
<div>
Just like Peter if we take our eyes off of Jesus we can easily become distracted by the things around us. Find joy in Jesus and our new life, be content in where God has you now because He knows and sees the whole picture not just snapshots like we do. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for
welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jerm 29:11</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Happy Thursday Ladies!</span></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-56130238674267643522012-07-20T18:36:00.001-07:002012-07-20T18:36:23.791-07:00Thankful Fridays....Thanks to my wonderful aunt owner of inspirational air which can be found here...
<a href="http://maryannkudera.blogspot.com/">http://maryannkudera.blogspot.com/</a><div>
I am starting Thankful Fridays, instead of being overwhelmed by all that we feel is against us lets focus on what we have. See the cup half full. Lets look through the storm we are walking through and see the rainbow at the end! </div>
<div>
Today I am thankful for many things:</div>
<div>
My savoir </div>
<div>
My children</div>
<div>
Gods mercy and grace and continued love</div>
<div>
My family</div>
<div>
My faith</div>
<div>
My friendships</div>
<div>
And everything else the Lord provided from the roof over my head to the food on the table</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
thank you God for your many blessings in this life. Thank you for the breath that I have and the fact that without you I can't take another.</div>
<div>
Take today to rejoice in all you have in Christ and thank Him! </div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-5561872632463336802012-07-20T18:09:00.000-07:002012-07-20T18:09:16.958-07:00I love you!<br />
Those three little words that everyone loves to hear, I really want to focus on love and what it actually is. When people say I love you what do they mean. Do they mean I am fond of you, do they mean i care for you, do they mean i'd give up my life just to make sure that you survive...<br />
<br />
I think that the phrase I love you is carelessly thrown around to make others feel better, more secure, more important. But in all reality we love ourselves and i think we sometimes say it in order to receive it. Sometimes we feel so unloved that we are longing for anyone to show us "love" and give us affirmation.<br />
<br />
I recently did a pole on fb to see what people thought the word love meant. I got a variety of answers... there were a few that i really liked....<br />
I love you means that I accept you for the person that you are, and that I do not wish to change you into someone else. It means that I will love you and stand by you even through the worst of times. It means loving you even when you’re in a bad mood, or too tired to do the things I want to do. It means loving you when you’re down, not just when you’re fun to be with. “I love you” means that I know your deepest secrets and do not judge you for them, asking in return that you do not judge me for mine. It means that I care enough to fight for what we have and that I love you enough not to let go. It means thinking of you, dreaming of you, wanting and needing you constantly, and hoping you feel the same way for me!<br />
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<br />
Love is an attachment that comes from deeply appreciating another's goodness. A bond that connects you into a unified link of trust, intimacy and interdependence. Love is like a force of nature, you can't command love, demand love or make it disappear. Love can't be turned on as a reward or shut off as a punishment. You can not buy love! Love is patient, love us kind, it has no envy nor jealousy and should not be boastful!<br />
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Those were some really great answers. Now what does the bible say about love? How does God love us? How are we suppose to love others?<br />
<br />
Well the first verse that probably comes to your mind is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everylasting life". Thats an amazing kind of love, I don't know anyone that would sacrifice a child to save someone, even if they love them. How about Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." That tells me that He loved us even when we were hating God, against God, rejecting God. Think about how hard it is to love someone who acts hateful to us.<br />
Romans 8:37-39: <span class="text Rom-8-37" id="en-NASB-28154" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum"> "</sup>But in all these things we overwhelmingly <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28154A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> conquer through <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28154B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> Him who loved us.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Rom-8-38" id="en-NASB-28155" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>For I am convinced that neither <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28155C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> death, nor life, nor <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28155D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> angels, nor principalities, nor <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28155E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> things present, nor things to come, nor powers,</span><span class="text Rom-8-39" id="en-NASB-28156" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28156F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup> the love of God, which is <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28156G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup> in Christ Jesus our Lord." I think thats its very clear that when the Lord says "I Love You". He means I love you! Here are two more verses that you can look up: gal 2:20 and 1John 3:1. I think maybe that is why sometimes its hard to believe when God says " I love you" Because we are going by how the world uses the word. We have a hard time believing that He does because we have heard it so many times before. Just remember that this love that the Lord has for us is perfect unconditional love, we can't do anything to earn it and nothing "bad" we do breaks it. Its really important to remember that even when we let God down he loves us all the same, just like we still love our kids when they disobey. Our love for them isn't altered in anyway cause they misbehave. </span><br />
<span class="text Rom-8-39" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text Rom-8-39" style="background-color: white;">We are commanded to love each other. Even when its hard, or we feel like they don't deserve it. These are a few verses that I like about loving each other..</span><br />
<span class="text Rom-8-39" style="background-color: white;">Romans 13:8</span><br />
Gal: 5:12<br />
Eph 4:2<br />
1 peter 1:22<br />
1 john 4:7<br />
Proverbs 17:17<br />
<br />
I have been very convicted lately about the way that I love others. I don't think I have it right. I say I love them sure, but am i doing what God says and loving them in deeds and not words? (1john 3:18) Am i loving people to my standards or am I trying to love them based on Gods? My measuring stick for my life needs to be the same stick that God uses. Not one that the world uses. Lets try to love others in the way that god intended and who knows we may even get it back. This bible verse that I am sure we have all heard many times is a great "measuring stick"...<br />
<strong style="background-color: white;">1 Corinthians 13:4-8</strong><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><em style="background-color: white;">Love is patient and kind;
love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not
insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not
rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love
never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they
will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.</em><br />
<em style="background-color: white;"><br /></em><br />
<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for me I know this is an area that i struggle in. Its easy to say hey buddy love you or honey I love you or yes child I love you but do we? Next time we are about to say I love you to someone whether its a spouse, friend, neighbor, etc lets remember that it is a very important phrase and should hold great meaning. Lets go out there and love each other the way God has loved us, through trials and tribulations, disappointments, hurt feelings, anger, and frustration. Lets love others sacrificially! </span></i><br />
<em style="background-color: white;"><br /></em><br />
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<br /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-91224832967747912632012-07-17T05:50:00.000-07:002012-07-17T05:50:45.338-07:00I wish..Do you ever find yourself thinking I wish things were different, I wish this worked out, I wish I could be with that person, I wish, I wish...<br />
Today is that day for me. Today is the day that I "wish" things were different, people were different, I was different. Someone who I love very much recently told me that I am too uptight and I made a thousand excuses as to why I am. But when I sat back and thought about it I realized that I am uptight because I am controlling, insecure and not able to trust people. I think when you break those things down you get sin. Yes being controlling is a sin, insecurity and the trust issues. Now it might not seem so on the surface but when you break it down to the root you find the real problem. You see every thing has a root, whether its good or bad.<br />
Being controlling is sinful because when I sit back and think about the reasons I am controlling its because I need everything MY way, I sugar coat it and say that it works best this way, I say I'm a single mom so everything has to work just so. The real reason is selfishness. I'm selfish, I care only about the things I want and "need", how situations make ME feel. I also think I don't fully trust in the Lord, maybe I don't trust when He says "I love you", maybe I don't trust that he will supply my every need. So It comes down to do I believe the Lord and what He says in his word or am I calling God a liar! Well God is definitely not a liar. Everything He ever promised has been fulfilled. Out of the two of us I am the only one who has not been what I claim to be!<br />
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Insecurity is an interesting thing, we tell ourselves that we are secure and go to great lengths to prove it. But the truth is we are not. Woman have it tough, we have constant "competition" from the world around us. So we change how we act, how we dress, what we do, all to get validation from people that we are good enough. When in fact we are good enough, the creator of the world loves us, yes we are sinners, yes we are imperfect but yes He loves us! That should give us all the security we need! God has proven his love and we say oh that's not good enough God, give me something else! We drive our spouses, family, friends and "partners" crazy needing constant re assurance when in reality its not enough cause that's not what we actually need. We need the love of Christ cause that's the only thing that is constant and unchanging.We need to put our trust and security in the one that is always the same! The one who promises I will never leave you or forsake you!<br />
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Now Trust, that's a difficult thing, we have all been lied to, hurt, felt abandoned, etc. All I am going to say on this topic is that there is someone we can trust wholeheartedly, someone who never lets us down. Someone who takes every situation and uses it for his good. Lets trust in His love, His promises. People let us down just like we let them down. We are imperfect. If we were perfect there would be no need for a savior. Lets go out ladies and love each other like Christ commands, over looking each others shortcomings, lets try to have unconditional love like our savior has for us!<br />
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So next time we "wish" things were different lets rejoice in who we are in Christ. Lets be joyful for all He has given us from our children, to our homes, to our bff's, :) to being a new creation in Christ. For even if we had all of our hearts desires without Christ where would we be? We would be damned and hopeless.<br />
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Hope this is encouraging for you ladies today, it sure is exactly what I needed to hear today! Have a happy Tuesday gals!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-82702403840267800582012-07-16T11:49:00.001-07:002012-07-16T12:09:29.656-07:00I need I need!I have been thinking how needy I am lately. Totally exhausting my family and friends because I feel alone and insecure. People love me and say they don't mind that I call them and come over for visits but its only a temporary feeling of security. Now don't get me wrong we all need friend time as well as family time, but I think that more often than not we are looking for others to fill that void in our lives. There is nothing more I love than spending time with my best friend sipping on cherry coke and talking about our struggles and sharing our exciting moments. I came across this scripture today :<br />
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<br />
<div class="heading passage-class-0">
<h3>
Isaiah 46:4<span style="background-color: white;"> (NASV)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Isa-46-4" id="en-ESV-18591">even to your old age I will be the same,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks">And even to your graying years I will bear you!</span></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks">I have done it and I will carry you; </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks">And I will bear you and I will deliver you. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lately I have been really thinking about all the words in a bible verse so I can really understand what they mean. The word bear means to hold up/ to support, to hold or remain firm under, to hold up under/ be capable of. Wow when you think about that and what this scripture is saying its so amazing to think that the Lord wants us to know this. He makes a point in telling us that he will be the same throughout our whole life, He will carry us through every circumstance, even when we think we can't and that our strength isn't enough. God says I will bear you! I will deliver you! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Every time we get those empty feelings or lonely or whatever we may be feeling. Remember this verse, call on your best friend who is always there and is never to busy for you. Who understands exactly how you feel in every situation, who loves you even when you feel unloved. Remember God has what you need and you'll NEVER wear him out!!</div>
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Have a blessed day ladies! </div>
</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442287933939544241.post-37929435942358231602012-07-15T09:28:00.001-07:002012-07-15T09:30:03.640-07:00Tame that TongueSo my tongue has been unstoppable lately. As soon as I open my mouth hurtful things come pouring out. It's like a weapon slaying all those who come in contact with me. All because I am going through things and somewhere along the line I decided that I was no longer going to listen to the holy spirit. Before I was "saved" I had a major attitude and I walked around and said what I wanted when I wanted. I didn't care if it hurt your feelings, in my mind I thought well you can't handle the truth! I'm not mean, I'm just truthful! Well thankfully with much prayer the Lord changed my heart and my attitude and people started to say that I was loving and kind. Those were not words that people would use to describe me in the past. Well today I realized that this ugly trait that I hate in myself was coming back and I need to put an end to it now. I have a cabinet full of bible verses that encourage and uplift me. Every time i feel overwhelmed I go to my cabinet and look and Gods wonderful promises. Well right next to them I have a note card that has my favorite saying,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">Before you speak ask yourself:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">Is this Kind?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">Is this True?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">Does this need to be said?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">If so.. continue.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;">If NOT stop!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now after the few weeks that I have been having I need to have this tattooed on my arm so its always there for me to look at. So looking from a more biblical view this verse came to my mind.. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.Matt 15:18 ESV<br />
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So looking up the word defiles to really understand this verse even more...<br />
<span class="hw">de·file<sup> </sup></span><br />
<div class="pseg">
<i>tr.v.</i> <b>de·filed</b>, <b>de·fil·ing</b>, <b>de·files</b> <br />
<div class="ds-list">
<b>1. </b> To make filthy or dirty; pollute: <span class="illustration">defile a river with sewage.</span></div>
<div class="ds-list">
<b>2. </b> To debase the pureness or excellence of; corrupt: <span class="illustration">a country landscape that was defiled by urban sprawl.</span></div>
<div class="ds-list">
<b>3. </b> To profane or sully (a reputation, for example).</div>
<div class="ds-list">
<b>4. </b> To make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate: <span class="illustration">defile a temple.</span></div>
<div class="ds-list">
<b>5. </b> To violate the chastity of.</div>
<div class="ds-list">
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<div class="ds-list">
This is very convicting for me, I have to be more aware of how I speak and the things that are coming out of my heart. So the real problem is not what I say but the condition of my heart. So the only way to change that is to pray and beg God to change it, spend more time in the word and more time with other believers who love the Lord. </div>
<div class="ds-list">
<br /></div>
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Proverbs 4:23"<i>Keep thy <b>heart</b> with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."</i><br />
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Jeremiah 17:9-10 <i>"The <b>heart</b> is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the <b>heart,</b> I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."</i><br />
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Romans 10:9-10 "<i>That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine <b>heart</b> that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the <b>heart</b> man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."</i></div>
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<i>So those are just a few verses, there are many more and I think its very clear that when it comes down to it the Lord cares about our hearts. He cares about the condition of our hearts and what is coming out of them. We can all "act" like good christians and put on a great show but the Lord knows the condition of our hearts, there is no fooling Him. You can't trick the creator of the universe who knows our every thought, deepest desires and every hair on our heads... Lets be diligent dear ladies. Lets spend time with the one that should be the love of our lives and watch him transform our hearts! </i></div>
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<i>Have a happy sunday!</i><br />
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</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15462717638425513243noreply@blogger.com0