I have spent today thinking about yesterday's post. I kept replaying the feelings that I had when I was not on U.S. soil and then those feelings of then I returned to the U.S.A. This took my thoughts to a weekend that took place over 2,000 years ago. I found myself thinking about how Jesus came to this earth He created. How He left the splendor of Heaven and spent 33 years here(compared to Heaven...foreign soil). He served all types of people while He was here, while so many tried to hinder His testimony.
I thought about when my Jesus returned home to Heaven after conquering death, Hell, and the grave. Oh, I remember how I felt. I was home safe back where I belonged. Not only was He home but He had fulfilled the mission that He had been assigned. Not a mission for himself but one for us. One that would bring true peace to the hearts of those that would accept His mission as accomplished. How wonderful it must have been for Him to see the Father, to show Him the scares.
Let us stop to think about that blood that was shed for our peace and healing here on earth. Let us not forget that same blood was shed for our salvation and eternal life.
Sacrifice: the act of offering the life of a person in propitiation of or homage to a deity, the act of giving up, destroying, forgoing something valued for the sake of something having a more pressing claim.
YOU ARE THE PRESSING CLAIM THAT JESUS FELT WAS WORTH LEAVING THE GLORY OF HEAVEN AND SHEDDING HIS BLOOD FOR.
A closing thought: Jesus would have rather come to earth and be hung on a tree to die, than to spend eternity without YOU. He loves you more than you have ever loved anyone and He agreed with the Father that you are so worth the sacrifice of all sacrifices.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sacrifice
Memorial Day 2011.
Today I am thinking about all the young men and women who have so unselfishly took 24/7 out of their lives to defend this land that I love. I have been blessed to have been on foreign soil one time and I cannot express the feeling that came over me when I knew that I was no longer in the U.S. A feeling of loneliness; as if others may not really believe or trust me, was evident. I believed that others looked at me as if I was out of place, a misfit, a fish out of water.
I remember the feelings that flooded me when I knew that I was back on U.S. soil. I had such a sense of pride, safety, and security. I was home...the place I belonged. I live in the great country of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. I am so thankful and I feel so blessed to be a woman living in this great nation. A nation where many men and women have left the comfort of their homes and family and many never returned to that safe and secure feeling to which I was able to return. I think about all the blood that was shed by these soldiers. I remember stories that my great uncle would share with us when we were younger. He was a P.O.W. My mind cannot imagine what all he and so many others have went through so that I can sit here today listening to my family and friends play and sing music to the Lord, and that I can write a blog to share about my Jesus and how the Holy Spirit so wants to be active in every aspect of our lives. Just the sight of the red and white stripes with the blue background to those 50 white stars, or the sound of just the first few notes to "The Star Spangled Banner" brings me back to all the same feelings that I had when I was back in my own country. I love this country. I love upon which it was founded! I am filled with emotion when I see the flag pass me in a parade and I am eager to stand to my feet in respect of the lives given for my freedom. For the past several years, I have purposed to shake the hand of men in women in uniform. With a tear in my eye, I say, "On behalf of my family and I, Thank you for your service." I am very humbled and they are so deserving.
Last Saturday I spent the day with a friend who served this country for 8 years. She shared about her and her husband being deployed just months after their daughter was born. She shared how she missed those mother moments like the first tooth, crawling, first steps, first words, and first birthday. She missed the first year of mothering. She expressed how it was hard and how she cried after notification of each missed milestone. I share this with you because even though you may not know her or her husband, they served on your behalf. They missed that first year of bonding with their daughter in order to defend the things you and I take for granted today and everyday. So, to Sandy and Troy and thousands of others, I say this. While I was in the comfort of my home complaining of sleep deprived nights, the price of formula and diapers, you were defending the rights of others, thousands of miles away missing your baby. I pray that God blesses you far beyond on what you missed. You are so valued and I truly appreciate your sacrifice.
Today I am thinking about all the young men and women who have so unselfishly took 24/7 out of their lives to defend this land that I love. I have been blessed to have been on foreign soil one time and I cannot express the feeling that came over me when I knew that I was no longer in the U.S. A feeling of loneliness; as if others may not really believe or trust me, was evident. I believed that others looked at me as if I was out of place, a misfit, a fish out of water.
I remember the feelings that flooded me when I knew that I was back on U.S. soil. I had such a sense of pride, safety, and security. I was home...the place I belonged. I live in the great country of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. I am so thankful and I feel so blessed to be a woman living in this great nation. A nation where many men and women have left the comfort of their homes and family and many never returned to that safe and secure feeling to which I was able to return. I think about all the blood that was shed by these soldiers. I remember stories that my great uncle would share with us when we were younger. He was a P.O.W. My mind cannot imagine what all he and so many others have went through so that I can sit here today listening to my family and friends play and sing music to the Lord, and that I can write a blog to share about my Jesus and how the Holy Spirit so wants to be active in every aspect of our lives. Just the sight of the red and white stripes with the blue background to those 50 white stars, or the sound of just the first few notes to "The Star Spangled Banner" brings me back to all the same feelings that I had when I was back in my own country. I love this country. I love upon which it was founded! I am filled with emotion when I see the flag pass me in a parade and I am eager to stand to my feet in respect of the lives given for my freedom. For the past several years, I have purposed to shake the hand of men in women in uniform. With a tear in my eye, I say, "On behalf of my family and I, Thank you for your service." I am very humbled and they are so deserving.
Last Saturday I spent the day with a friend who served this country for 8 years. She shared about her and her husband being deployed just months after their daughter was born. She shared how she missed those mother moments like the first tooth, crawling, first steps, first words, and first birthday. She missed the first year of mothering. She expressed how it was hard and how she cried after notification of each missed milestone. I share this with you because even though you may not know her or her husband, they served on your behalf. They missed that first year of bonding with their daughter in order to defend the things you and I take for granted today and everyday. So, to Sandy and Troy and thousands of others, I say this. While I was in the comfort of my home complaining of sleep deprived nights, the price of formula and diapers, you were defending the rights of others, thousands of miles away missing your baby. I pray that God blesses you far beyond on what you missed. You are so valued and I truly appreciate your sacrifice.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Teams are now forming.
Today begins Memorial Day Weekend. The start of the summer season. School is out and summer team sports are about to be in full swing.
Life wants us to participate. God is patiently waiting to see on which team we are going to play. He gives us the choice. In life, we can suit up and play on the world's team where everyday is about our wants and our desires. This team usually has several injuries all though the season. Some injuries occur during practice with its own teammates. Some of the injuries never fully heal and the scars are visible for life. A team where you may warm the bench or even worse get thrown into the game just to be used as a distraction to the other team; not because you are great at your position, but because your team feels you are not a threat. This is a team where your status is evaluated by your position. It is member vs. member each striving to achieve self recognition.
Or you can suit up and be an active member on God's team. A team where the members meet together to encourage each other. A team where everyone gets a chance to play and no one position is better than the other. A team where every member knows that they win in the end. A team in which the owner wants to share the profits with all the members.
As summer begins and teams are forming, practices are starting, positions are being filled, and uniforms are being passed out, just remember...Life wants you to participate but God wants you to be an active member of His team and joint heirs with all that He has as team owner. When the season is over you can be part of the winning photo and recall all the great plays of the "big game".
Investing in Eternity,
Jenny
Life wants us to participate. God is patiently waiting to see on which team we are going to play. He gives us the choice. In life, we can suit up and play on the world's team where everyday is about our wants and our desires. This team usually has several injuries all though the season. Some injuries occur during practice with its own teammates. Some of the injuries never fully heal and the scars are visible for life. A team where you may warm the bench or even worse get thrown into the game just to be used as a distraction to the other team; not because you are great at your position, but because your team feels you are not a threat. This is a team where your status is evaluated by your position. It is member vs. member each striving to achieve self recognition.
Or you can suit up and be an active member on God's team. A team where the members meet together to encourage each other. A team where everyone gets a chance to play and no one position is better than the other. A team where every member knows that they win in the end. A team in which the owner wants to share the profits with all the members.
As summer begins and teams are forming, practices are starting, positions are being filled, and uniforms are being passed out, just remember...Life wants you to participate but God wants you to be an active member of His team and joint heirs with all that He has as team owner. When the season is over you can be part of the winning photo and recall all the great plays of the "big game".
Investing in Eternity,
Jenny
Sunday, May 15, 2011
A Thought For Today.
Be the change you want to see in the world.
Have a great day(it's your choice)!
Jenny
Have a great day(it's your choice)!
Jenny
Saturday, May 14, 2011
A Mom That Was Never Mentioned.
On April 14, my Bible reading was John 6 and this is what I felt the Lord showed me...
I imagine it was early and this little boy had his adventure all planed for the day. He had heard the talk about this man who was going to be speaking in the area. He asked his mother if he could go and she said yes. Yet knowing how growing boys get hungry she said, "just a minute." (I have a 10 and a 12 year old boy and trust me they can't go long without food, that is why I see this little boy about the same age of my boys. Therefore, not just A FISH and A LOAF but FIVE loaves and TWO fish.) I can see her stopping what she was doing to be sure that her son had a little basket all packed with his lunch. She may have said, "Here, I packed you something...I know how hungry you get. I even sent you some extra in case you need to share. I hope you have fun. One more thing...don't forget your manners, son."
You know the story. Jesus was speaking and the crowd was about 5,000. Jesus tested Philip when he asked him where he was going to buy bread for all these people. Andrew spoke up and shared about this little boy and what he had in his basket. This makes me think of my 10 year old because he would find a way to get right up to the front where all the action was. I wonder how Andrew knew that this little boy had a lunch and how he knew exactly what and how much he had. Was he already eating? Had his mother packed more that just the five loaves and the two fish? Did the little boy hear Jesus talking and offer what he had to Andrew thinking that maybe Jesus and the disciples could eat his lunch? What would his mother say when he got home and told her that Jesus and his disciples didn't have any food but he remembered what she had taught him...to share? Did he think that his mother would be suprised that he was able to feed Jesus?
This mother was a prepared woman always thinking ahead. (I like her already!) I like to think she was organized always tryinig to stay several steps ahead. She spent her first hours of her day living in the later hours of the day trying to be sure that everything was thought of, planned out, and details all covered.
How many times as a mother have you been criticized or the brunt of the joke because you are "ALWAYS OVER-PREPARED." Some people laugh and roll their eyes at me while others say, "I like doing stuff with you because you think of everything." As a mother of four kids in five years, there were times I carried everything you could imagine, and sometimes more than that. I remember when our fourth child was born. I made a special shopping trip just to get a diaper bag that was designed for a mother of 4. It was known as "THE BAG". It went everywhere we went; almost like a fifth child or at least as heavy as another child.
John 6 shows me that not only is it important to be prepared, but as mothers it is our responsibility to teach our children to share what they have even if it is only something as small as our lunch. If that little boy had not had a mother that was concerned, prepared, and had taught her son about sharing, how would that day have turned out? She also taught him a great lesson that if you give your little to the Lord He can and will use it to help others and bring glory to His name. Not only did Jesus feed the 5,000 until they were full, but there was left overs. When we trust God with all that we have and give it to him He blesses it. Needs are met and he always leaves us in a place of more than when we started. He is the God of increase.
As a mom we sometimes feel that what we do, "the everyday mom stuff", is just routine and that in the big picture of life, does it really matter? Does anyone notice that I stay up late and get up early so that my family has what they need to make their day run smooth?
I hope from this story you are encouraged to continue to be prepared and know that you just might be raising the "little boy or little girl" that God uses to feed the next 5,000, because you, MOM, have been preparing, teaching, loving, and sharing. The mother in John 6 was never mentioned reminding us that is it is not all about us. Yet, she had an impact. As a mom, your ministry is your children. Therefore, sow a lot of seed into your ministry, pray over your ministry, ask God to bless your ministry, give God control of your ministry and expect God to bring glory to himself through the harvest of your ministry.
Investing in Eternity,
Jenny
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mothers Day 2011
Happy Mother's Day!!!!
I hope that you have had a restful Mother's Day. I wasn't served breakfast in bed, or presented with a lap full of things to dust but I was wrapped in the arms of each one in my family and told "Happy Mother's Day". That is a gift that any mother can enjoy. With four children the line did last for a few minutes. How blessed I am!!!!
We all got ready for church and off we went. Nothing extra fancy, no new outfits, but if I have one thing that I will always remember about Mother's Day 2011, it would be this...for the first Mother's Day ever my husband and myself both had our mothers with us. How awesome that our children had their mom and both grandmothers in church with them! That is the legacy to which I pray my children will hold tight.
Investing in Eternity,
Jenny
I hope that you have had a restful Mother's Day. I wasn't served breakfast in bed, or presented with a lap full of things to dust but I was wrapped in the arms of each one in my family and told "Happy Mother's Day". That is a gift that any mother can enjoy. With four children the line did last for a few minutes. How blessed I am!!!!
We all got ready for church and off we went. Nothing extra fancy, no new outfits, but if I have one thing that I will always remember about Mother's Day 2011, it would be this...for the first Mother's Day ever my husband and myself both had our mothers with us. How awesome that our children had their mom and both grandmothers in church with them! That is the legacy to which I pray my children will hold tight.
Investing in Eternity,
Jenny
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