So, I am reading CAPTIVATING by John and Stasi Eldredge. This is looking at women and why we do things the way we do. I must say I am just starting chapter three and my eyes have been open to new things. It is amazing to see why God created us the way he did. Not that I have ever asked "God why did you create me to be a women?" but that I see why I desire to be in a relationship, to have the fairy tale dreams, to be apart of an adventure. Here is a quote from the book that all women should grasp hold of " Because she bears the image of. She doesnt have to conjure it, go get it from a salon, have plastic surgery or breast implants. No, beauty is an essence that is given to every woman at her creation." So, I wanted to shout this to the world after I read this. This is exactly what God has been telling me to share to women young and old(er). He created us perfect in His site; we should not care what society says we should look like.
If you struggle with self image both male and female go back a read the quote form the book, God created both male and female in his image. He knew what he was dong when he created us and we do not need this world to tell us we were a mistake, that we are deformed, that we are ugly, we dont fit our body, or what ever the situation is for you. Allow God to be God in your life and He will show you why you were created the way you are. Grab hold of your identity in Christ not a worldly identity.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Going Through the Storm!
Well, the storm as passed, thank God, because the last three days have been very boring and frustrating. Wednesday evening I started thinking about the message from Camp "Would I follow Jesus into a storm" during this message there were points to how we should repsond while being in the storm. Even though this was not a personal storm I still feel that I failed miserably. I have really been praying that the messages from camp would come to mind often and I guess this was God's way of saying Jenny here in one message that I want you to remember because you are going to follow me into a storm and you need to be ready. Well, I hope after this I will be a little more prepared. I have no idea what or when the storm is coming in in what form but I will trust that God is in control and knows what he is doing with my life. After all it is not my life anyways.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Summer Is Over!
Well, yesterday was our first day back with the students and I must say that it went better than I expected. There is usually something out of the ordinary that happens on the first day of school, but not yesterday; at least not for me. I stood out in the hallways to help students find there way and one student (wont mention names) saw me and the expression on her face was priceless. She really did light up when she saw me, I think only because she new me (not because I am special lol). Then I went to assist another student and when she heard my voice she realized who I was and give me the biggest hug. (No she is not blind she just never looked up) So, after seeing the two of these students it one made my day and two made me really think and pray about how I wanted to make a difference in the lives of our (my) students, not just at work either. I have heard the statement time and time again you cant help everyone, maybe not but I sure an going to try. I have seen some of the worst situations with students and I dont want to add to the pain or frustrations. So, for those who read this please pray for me, the school (Ed White), my students, and the impact God allows me to be in their lives.
Titus 2:7-8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching who show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that can not be condemned, so that those who oppose you may may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
I pray that everything I say and do lines up with who I am in Christ and that my students will see Christ in me. Give me the opportunity to share Christ verbally with one or more students.
Titus 2:7-8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching who show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that can not be condemned, so that those who oppose you may may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
I pray that everything I say and do lines up with who I am in Christ and that my students will see Christ in me. Give me the opportunity to share Christ verbally with one or more students.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Not saying goodbye!
Ok, so last night a very dear friend left for seminary. There were so many tears that fell; some in sadness and some that were rejoicing. Mixed emotions. I have learned over the past years that the ministry will bring people into your life and will take them away. I am the type of person that when I make a friend I don't like to let go, but God has taught me that I am not letting go because if God is the Lord of our lives then He will bring us back together. I look at how Aaron reached out to me but mostly the way he pored his life into the students. So here are a few things that I couldn't say the night he left.
Aaron thank you so much for being a friend. You challenged my faith by making me examine what I believe and why I believe it. When I didn't think I could do something you gave me the encouraging words to help me through it. You listened to me when I complained, or was mad; sometimes you responded and sometimes you just listened. I admire the way you were with the students and how much they truly love you. You showed me how to take my faith and the ministry of the youth to another level; in a way you taught me how to get out of the box. I know that our students are going to miss you but the impact that you made in their lives will last a life time. Who ever comes into help will never replace you because you are irreplaceable and I truly mean that. Thank you so much for being a friend and for giving me encouragement and the challenge. You will be missed greatly. May God keep you safe. Praying for you always.
See you soon!
Aaron thank you so much for being a friend. You challenged my faith by making me examine what I believe and why I believe it. When I didn't think I could do something you gave me the encouraging words to help me through it. You listened to me when I complained, or was mad; sometimes you responded and sometimes you just listened. I admire the way you were with the students and how much they truly love you. You showed me how to take my faith and the ministry of the youth to another level; in a way you taught me how to get out of the box. I know that our students are going to miss you but the impact that you made in their lives will last a life time. Who ever comes into help will never replace you because you are irreplaceable and I truly mean that. Thank you so much for being a friend and for giving me encouragement and the challenge. You will be missed greatly. May God keep you safe. Praying for you always.
See you soon!
Camp Summary
Ok, I am finally going to blog about camp. It was an amazing week seeing God and how he worked in the lives of our students as well as mine. God is awesome. These are notes that I took so please know that this is how God spoke to me.
FAITH 2 0
Day 1 Kevin taught from John 4:7-14 The woman at the well. 7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Kevin used the illustration of fresh water and salt water. The world being the salt water and Jesus being the fresh water. Jesus is the living water! Where amd I at with God, am I satisfied or dissatified? The bottle water represents God's vision and the salt water represents my own vision. Stop dreaming little things, God wants to use you for amazing things. Here are some questions that were asked: What does God have for me? How does God want to use me? Do I want the vision God has for me?
God wants to give us our vision for our life but the things we hold on to inhibit us to see that vision. What am I holding on to that keeps me from God's vision for my life? You cant mix the fresh with the salt (old)?
After the session we broke off into small groups and we asked two questions. How do you think God can use you? No limits! what is holding you back?
Day 2 Aaron taught Exodus 15:22-2522 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. [a] ) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them.
Often times things happen in our life and we dont see God in it at all. In actuallity he is in it from the start. Faith comes from obedience.
It is easy to get caught up in someone else's relationship with God. Continue to sit there and wait and tha tis not what God is wanting us to do. God wants me to tackle the idea of what he is doing and wants to do with my life. Who am I and who am I in Christ? God doesnt intend for me to walk through this life alone. Take ownership of my faith! The situation you are in right now is not the end all.
Day 3 Johnny taught
I didnt take a lot of notes this night because there was one thing that stood out to me above anything else. We are always praying to God to help us through the storm. the first statement that was made am I willing to follow Jesus into a storm. We always tend to stand on the outside but why not follow Him in, especially if that is what He is calling us to do.
Storm creates:
1. uncertainty
2. Fear and anxiety
3. Isolation
4. Opportunity for God to do something incredibl, unimaginable and inexpected.
How to respond in a storm!
1. Expect it.
2. Embace it.
3. Endure it.
True disciples follow Christ.
Ok so I have three more lessons to go through but I am going to stop for now. For those of you who did not know a groupd of people got together for about 6 weeks prior to camp and started praying that God would show up and that He would move. God really answered our prays ten fold. One of the nights I prayed before we started that we would experience the Lord's supper like never before, God also answered that prayer. Students and adults lives were changed. Praise God.
FAITH 2 0
Day 1 Kevin taught from John 4:7-14 The woman at the well. 7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])
10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Kevin used the illustration of fresh water and salt water. The world being the salt water and Jesus being the fresh water. Jesus is the living water! Where amd I at with God, am I satisfied or dissatified? The bottle water represents God's vision and the salt water represents my own vision. Stop dreaming little things, God wants to use you for amazing things. Here are some questions that were asked: What does God have for me? How does God want to use me? Do I want the vision God has for me?
God wants to give us our vision for our life but the things we hold on to inhibit us to see that vision. What am I holding on to that keeps me from God's vision for my life? You cant mix the fresh with the salt (old)?
After the session we broke off into small groups and we asked two questions. How do you think God can use you? No limits! what is holding you back?
Day 2 Aaron taught Exodus 15:22-2522 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. [a] ) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them.
Often times things happen in our life and we dont see God in it at all. In actuallity he is in it from the start. Faith comes from obedience.
It is easy to get caught up in someone else's relationship with God. Continue to sit there and wait and tha tis not what God is wanting us to do. God wants me to tackle the idea of what he is doing and wants to do with my life. Who am I and who am I in Christ? God doesnt intend for me to walk through this life alone. Take ownership of my faith! The situation you are in right now is not the end all.
Day 3 Johnny taught
I didnt take a lot of notes this night because there was one thing that stood out to me above anything else. We are always praying to God to help us through the storm. the first statement that was made am I willing to follow Jesus into a storm. We always tend to stand on the outside but why not follow Him in, especially if that is what He is calling us to do.
Storm creates:
1. uncertainty
2. Fear and anxiety
3. Isolation
4. Opportunity for God to do something incredibl, unimaginable and inexpected.
How to respond in a storm!
1. Expect it.
2. Embace it.
3. Endure it.
True disciples follow Christ.
Ok so I have three more lessons to go through but I am going to stop for now. For those of you who did not know a groupd of people got together for about 6 weeks prior to camp and started praying that God would show up and that He would move. God really answered our prays ten fold. One of the nights I prayed before we started that we would experience the Lord's supper like never before, God also answered that prayer. Students and adults lives were changed. Praise God.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Awesome Week at Camp and a Great Ending
As we pulled into the parking lot of church I was so glad to be home but yet wanted a few more days at camp. I walked back over to the van to clean it out and Bro. Jace walked up to me and asked if I heard about my sister. I got a little strange feeling but then thought if it was bad my family would have called me. So he she didnt even call you, no my sister hadnt called me and I hadnt really talked to her except to call and ask her to bring me my vehicle. Normally I leave my car at the church but for some reason she insisted that she come and pick it up so she did. Ok so back to the story. Jace begins to explain that he saw her name on the decision card from sunday and said either she got saved or she made a profession of faith. I was so excited either way. So I got my stuff and put it in the car and off we went. I was talking about things that happened at camp and then she begins to explain how awesome Tony Nolan was. She told me that she went forward and at first was doing a rededication but when Tommy Mallard grabbed her hand and said know for sure she knew she didnt know for sure and so she said she wanted to know for sure and nailed it down that day. You see I have known for a while that my sister had been doubting because of conversations and so I just really prayed that God would reveal to her where she stood with him. My prayers have been answered. I know there are several people out there that are praying for friends and family to get saved and I am praying for them as well and I pray that I will one day be able to rejoice with you the way others rejoiced with me about my sister. She called me this morning and told me that she was getting baptized the first sunday in September.
God I am so amazed at how you work in so many areas. Thank you for answering my prayers about saving my sister as well as answering our prayers about camp. Thank you!
More to come about camp.
God I am so amazed at how you work in so many areas. Thank you for answering my prayers about saving my sister as well as answering our prayers about camp. Thank you!
More to come about camp.
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