I'm a teacher, and for the last several years I have taught middle school English Language Arts. One part of my job has been teaching children to write: creatively and informatively. To be honest, I don't like creative writing. Ask me to write a research paper or about something I know and I'm fine, but when I have to write a poem or create a fictional story, I freeze. To create a story from "nothing" is very terrifies me.
One thing I have learned is everyone has a story. We are all part of this world and as long as there is breath in our lungs we all a story to tell, and they matter. You may be thinking right now, "My story doesn't matter.", but you are wrong it does.
God shapes our lives through our experiences-through our story.
Through different times in our lives-good and bad-God uses those experiences to mold us into the people we are today. I think of Joseph in the Bible. He was sold into slavery yet God used him to become second in command under the king of Egypt. What his brothers meant for harm, God used for good. What experiences in your life has God used to shape you? God uses the good and the bad in our life to mold us.
In my life I have been blessed with times of joy: marrying my best friend, Peter and the birth of our two sons, Patrick and Samuel. Then, I have experienced heartache: losing a child through miscarriage and suffering from depression. At the time, dealing with my miscarriage and depression seemed almost impossible. I didn't know how any good could come from it, but God shaped me into the woman I am today through that heartache. He has used it to make me a more courageous person and one who is more dependent on Him.
Our story matters because it can help others.
There have been many times in my life when I have cried out to God, "Why is this happening?" I wish I could say He gave me a clear answer, but I learned later, sometimes years later, that through my trials and tears, I was able to help others. I was able to listen to someone, give advice, pray with someone, or just say "I know your pain." It doesn't make the pain I went through hurt any less, but it gives it some purpose. It allows some good to come from it. God can bring some good to even our heartache.
What is your story?
So what is your story? What are the things you are going through that God is using to shape your life? Is it a job promotion? A job loss? A health crisis? Adoption of a child? An ailing parent? A chronic illness? Retirement? A new volunteer position?
How are you allowing these to shape your life? What story is God writing on your heart? What is He teaching you through the joys and sorrows in life? How is He molding you? How is He calling you to minister to others through your story?
Embrace the lessons in life and allow God to mold you into the person He has created you to be.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
Seek Me First.....
I have been always been an independent person, or so I like to think. But lately, I have noticed that I have been putting relationships ahead of my personal relationship with God. It isn't that these are bad relationships. They are friends and even my husband. The problem becomes when I choose to spend time with them over time with Jesus.
Do I ever get disappointed when I miss my quiet time? Do I ever feel sad because I have missed talking to God through my daily prayer time? I feel this way when my husband and I have to cancel a date, or if a friend and I have to postpone a get together. Why is my time with God different?
It shouldn't be different but it is. I say God is first in my life, but at times He isn't. At times I choose to do other things and spend time with others over time with Him. God gets my leftovers and He shouldn't, but He does. The effects of this is a life that starts spinning out of balance.
When I put God first in my life, everything else fall into line. Is it "perfect"? No, but is it better? Yes, because I chose to put Him first.
I have noticed in my life when I get anxious or upset, it is because I am neglecting my relationship with God. I get busy, and doing things that are good, but when I leave Him out, He cannot bless it. It's like I'm on a merry-go-round just spinning getting more dizzy and going nowhere.
So, how do I "fix" it?
First, I pray to God and ask for forgiveness. God is gracious to forgive, but then I have to create new habits. Make an appointment with Jesus every day. Put it on your calendar. Put a reminder on your phone.
Write it down. Journal your prayers, your thoughts, and your experiences. When you pour out your heart to God not just in our thoughts audibly, but in written form it can change the way we interact with Him. It can make it feel more personal. Also, it gives us a legacy to look back on.
Be accountable. Ask a friend or your spouse to hold you accountable. Have them check in and see how you are doing with your quiet time.
If you are getting started again in quiet time here are some great resources. Just get started..reading God's Word and spending time in prayer.
www.shereadstruth.com
Proverbs 31 has a new app called The First 5 app
womenlivingwell.org
ifequip.com
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Stepping Out in Faith
"If it's you Lord command me and I will come to you on the water." Matthew 14:28
Come out onto the water.
Trust me....you won't fail.
Trust me...you won't fall.
Trust me.
Just trust me.
Has God ever called you to do something that requires so much faith, you didn't think you could do it? You felt it was too big? Too impossible?
Matthew 14:22-33 is a wonderful passage of faith.
The disciples are in a boat and Jesus comes to them-walking on the water. This is after he has been away from them praying in solitude. He returns to them and tells them, "Do not be afraid, it's me." Then Peter, says "If it is you Jesus, tell me to come out on the water with you." So Jesus tells him to come. Peter starts out doing fine. He walks on the water. BUT (always take note of a "but" in the Bible, they are important) he saw the wind and became afraid. (my paraphrase) What is interesting here...he saw the wind. The wind is something we see the effects of, but not something we can actually see. Peter let himself get distracted from Jesus. He took his eyes off of him, and he started to sink. Peter took his eyes off the one thing he could see. Jesus.
How many times in your life have you taken your eyes off of Jesus-our Rock, our Salvation, our "sure thing"-the one person we know is true and always there to glance at something else? Something that is fleeting? A fear? An insecurity? A worry?
I have done it too many times to count. Every time I have turned my eyes from him and I realize I am sinking, my faith is faltering, I look up and Jesus is still there. I call out to Him and He is still there. He has not left me.
"Oh Jenn, why do you worry? Don't you know how much I love you?" or "Jenn, I'm watching over your boys. Trust me. I love them more than even you do."
Jesus is with me. Encouraging me to step out in faith in new things as well. To trust Him with the calling He has put on my life and in my heart. I am not to make sense of it, just obey where He has me in my season of life.
When God has come to me and said, "Here I am. Do not be afraid. Here is what I have for you." How have I responded? Have I stepped out in faith? Have I stepped out of the boat onto the water? Have I embraced the challenge He has put before me?
My challenge to you is what is your response when God calls you to step out of the boat and walk on the water? Will you step out on the water or will you stay in the boat?
Come, walk out on the water. Walk by faith.
Come out onto the water.
Trust me....you won't fail.
Trust me...you won't fall.
Trust me.
Just trust me.
Has God ever called you to do something that requires so much faith, you didn't think you could do it? You felt it was too big? Too impossible?
Matthew 14:22-33 is a wonderful passage of faith.
The disciples are in a boat and Jesus comes to them-walking on the water. This is after he has been away from them praying in solitude. He returns to them and tells them, "Do not be afraid, it's me." Then Peter, says "If it is you Jesus, tell me to come out on the water with you." So Jesus tells him to come. Peter starts out doing fine. He walks on the water. BUT (always take note of a "but" in the Bible, they are important) he saw the wind and became afraid. (my paraphrase) What is interesting here...he saw the wind. The wind is something we see the effects of, but not something we can actually see. Peter let himself get distracted from Jesus. He took his eyes off of him, and he started to sink. Peter took his eyes off the one thing he could see. Jesus.
How many times in your life have you taken your eyes off of Jesus-our Rock, our Salvation, our "sure thing"-the one person we know is true and always there to glance at something else? Something that is fleeting? A fear? An insecurity? A worry?
I have done it too many times to count. Every time I have turned my eyes from him and I realize I am sinking, my faith is faltering, I look up and Jesus is still there. I call out to Him and He is still there. He has not left me.
"Oh Jenn, why do you worry? Don't you know how much I love you?" or "Jenn, I'm watching over your boys. Trust me. I love them more than even you do."
Jesus is with me. Encouraging me to step out in faith in new things as well. To trust Him with the calling He has put on my life and in my heart. I am not to make sense of it, just obey where He has me in my season of life.
When God has come to me and said, "Here I am. Do not be afraid. Here is what I have for you." How have I responded? Have I stepped out in faith? Have I stepped out of the boat onto the water? Have I embraced the challenge He has put before me?
My challenge to you is what is your response when God calls you to step out of the boat and walk on the water? Will you step out on the water or will you stay in the boat?
Come, walk out on the water. Walk by faith.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Perspective
"Our perspective is renewed as we invest in reading and studying God's Word." -Vivan Mabuni
I love this quote from my SheReadsTruth devotional this week. Why? Because my perspective has been "off" as I have started back to school. My focus has been on everything else that has needed to be done EXCEPT my time with Jesus.
I got all the things on my "to do list" (or most of them) checked off, but as the third week of school rolled around, I knew something in my heart and spirit was lacking. All the things I was doing were good. I am helping kids at school, ministering to students, and taking care of my family, but God wants more.
So, I continue to reflect.
Well, I pray on the way to work, as I go to sleep when my heart is burdened, and I read my devotional in the evening after a busy day. Our spirits-my spirit, was created for more. We were created for an intimate relationship and fellowship with our Father in Heaven. I was not having that with him right now and my spirit was feeling it. I was suffering because of it.
I was slipping back into old habits that through the grace of God, He was helping me overcome. I was becoming discontent with life and searching for satisfaction in other things instead of God.
God's Word is our food. We need to feed on it daily. We are not to "snack" on it but have a balanced meal: prayer, study, meditation, and application. When we do this, we are given godly sight to see as God sees. We are given His wisdom and perspective to live the life He has called us to live.
So what does your diet look like? Are you snacking or eating a balanced diet?
Matthew 4:4
"But he answered, It is written, "Man shall not eat from bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
John 6:35
"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me, shall not thirst.'"
English Standard Version, Biblegateway.com
I love this quote from my SheReadsTruth devotional this week. Why? Because my perspective has been "off" as I have started back to school. My focus has been on everything else that has needed to be done EXCEPT my time with Jesus.
I got all the things on my "to do list" (or most of them) checked off, but as the third week of school rolled around, I knew something in my heart and spirit was lacking. All the things I was doing were good. I am helping kids at school, ministering to students, and taking care of my family, but God wants more.
So, I continue to reflect.
Well, I pray on the way to work, as I go to sleep when my heart is burdened, and I read my devotional in the evening after a busy day. Our spirits-my spirit, was created for more. We were created for an intimate relationship and fellowship with our Father in Heaven. I was not having that with him right now and my spirit was feeling it. I was suffering because of it.
I was slipping back into old habits that through the grace of God, He was helping me overcome. I was becoming discontent with life and searching for satisfaction in other things instead of God.
God's Word is our food. We need to feed on it daily. We are not to "snack" on it but have a balanced meal: prayer, study, meditation, and application. When we do this, we are given godly sight to see as God sees. We are given His wisdom and perspective to live the life He has called us to live.
So what does your diet look like? Are you snacking or eating a balanced diet?
Matthew 4:4
"But he answered, It is written, "Man shall not eat from bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
John 6:35
"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me, shall not thirst.'"
English Standard Version, Biblegateway.com
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Chosen
So, when God puts a Scripture, or in this case, a book of the Bible in
front of you multiple times you take notice. For me, it is the book of
Daniel. First, the summer camp our middle school students attend, CIY
MIX, studied from this book. Then, the first series we are studying this
Fall for middle school small groups is from this book (which I helped write).
Lastly, the devotional series I follow, SheReadsTruth, is starting a study in
August.
So, why Daniel? Why now? Those are the questions I
have been asking myself. I have learned there are no coincidences with
God. Everything has a purpose with Him. So this has a purpose.
This book has a time and a place in my life for right now.
So, I am digging deeper.
Daniel 1:4New Living Translation (NLT)
4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking
young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of
learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve
in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of
Babylon.[a]” (Bible
Gateway.org)
This is the command given by
King Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 1 of Daniel to select boys for his court.
These boys were to be chosen from the captives he had just taken from
Judah, not from people from his own land. Here is the criteria:
1. Good-looking
2. Healthy
3. Strong
4. Well-versed in every
branch of learning a.k.a-smart in all subjects
5. Gifted in knowledge
and good judgement- which to me means smart AND makes good
decisions.
6. Well-suited to serve
in my palace-had to "fit in" with the palace crowd-servant
IF, they met all these
requirements THEN, they were going to be trained in the ways of Babylon; their
language, which was Aramaic and their literature-academic programs: math,
science, astronomy, history, and magic.
King Nebuchadnezzar wanted the
best and brightest for his court, even if that meant getting them from other
lands and retraining them to his ways.
As I thought on this, isn't
this what we are faced with every day as believers? We accept Jesus into
our lives. He takes us as we are; not looking for the strongest and
healthiest. He works in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. We
pray, study His Word, serve, build relationships other believers; growing in
wisdom and love for God and for others.
Yet, the world is there-waiting
to "capture" us if we do not guard our hearts. We live in a
world that is trying to steal our joy, telling us to look out for ourselves and
not love others, they want to educate us to their "worldly ways"
and use us for their worldly purposes rather than what God has called me
to do.
So what do I do?
Where do I stand?
Does my faith look the same at
home as it does at work?
Do I let the world train me in
their ways or do I continue to follow they ways of God and train the world in
His ways?
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
In the Beginning.....
Transform.
A verb.
It means to change completely and usually for the better. What kind of change? Well, you could change the composition or structure of something. It could be the change in appearance. It also refers to the change in character or condition.
As people were making New Year resolutions at the end of 2014, I was praying for God to give me guidance and direction for the new year. This included a word and verse to guide me through the coming year. For 2015 He gave me the word transformed and the verse Romans 12:2. The verse has always been a favorite of mine, but it was very clear this was to be something more.
In Romans 12:2 Paul writes " Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern (prove) what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
So I looked at the original Greek text to see what some of the key words in this verse mean-to have a clearer understanding.
conformed- to be like one's self-in character or mind
transformed-to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure
renewal (renewing)-complete change for the better
mind- capacities of feeling, judging and determining
discern (prove)- test, examine
perfect- brought to an end, finished
So what is God asking? Don't be like this world in their character or the way they think. CHANGE for the better. Renew your mind-be more like Christ. As this happens you can examine God's will for your life and see that it is good and perfect.
Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? I was overwhelmed! Yet I was thankful for God showing me the next step in my journey with Him.
I am sinner just as anyone else, but I have been saved by grace. I mess up and life isn't pretty. The struggle is real.
What God is showing on this journey is the process we are to go through to live for Him. The daily denying ourselves and living for Christ.
To be transformed into Christ, we have to spend more time with Him so new habits need to be created and old habits broken. Sometimes, it is second by second-moment by moment. There are mountain top days and days in the valley, but every step of the way, Jesus is with me. And for that I am grateful.
A verb.
It means to change completely and usually for the better. What kind of change? Well, you could change the composition or structure of something. It could be the change in appearance. It also refers to the change in character or condition.
As people were making New Year resolutions at the end of 2014, I was praying for God to give me guidance and direction for the new year. This included a word and verse to guide me through the coming year. For 2015 He gave me the word transformed and the verse Romans 12:2. The verse has always been a favorite of mine, but it was very clear this was to be something more.
In Romans 12:2 Paul writes " Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern (prove) what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
So I looked at the original Greek text to see what some of the key words in this verse mean-to have a clearer understanding.
conformed- to be like one's self-in character or mind
transformed-to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure
renewal (renewing)-complete change for the better
mind- capacities of feeling, judging and determining
discern (prove)- test, examine
perfect- brought to an end, finished
So what is God asking? Don't be like this world in their character or the way they think. CHANGE for the better. Renew your mind-be more like Christ. As this happens you can examine God's will for your life and see that it is good and perfect.
Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? I was overwhelmed! Yet I was thankful for God showing me the next step in my journey with Him.
I am sinner just as anyone else, but I have been saved by grace. I mess up and life isn't pretty. The struggle is real.
What God is showing on this journey is the process we are to go through to live for Him. The daily denying ourselves and living for Christ.
To be transformed into Christ, we have to spend more time with Him so new habits need to be created and old habits broken. Sometimes, it is second by second-moment by moment. There are mountain top days and days in the valley, but every step of the way, Jesus is with me. And for that I am grateful.
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