a Word to help you through the day

Valentine's Day Do Over.......

2012-02-15T13:37:56Z

Good Morning Girls! Happy Belated Valentine's Day! I pray you all felt loved yesterday. If you didn't, I've got some Good News for you........

Every day is Valentines Day when you are a daughter of the Most High God! You are beloved! When the Lord looks upon you He smiles and says "That's my Girl. Isn't she the most beautiful, precious and perfect Girl I ever created?" And all the angels in heaven respond a glorious yes in angelic song.........

They do you know........

But sometimes we just don't feel it. Sometimes we feel as though everyone else in the world is loved by someone except for us. Sometimes we feel like we are on the outside of the love bubble looking in at everyone else smiling, laughing, and glowing in love. Sometimes we just want to pop that bubble and bring a dose of reality to those happy fools.

The happier they look the more we begin to dislike them. Envy them. And the bitterness within us grows. It is an awful feeling. We don't want to feel that way but we do. And once we start traveling down that road, it's hard to turn it around.

Yesterday for me was one of the most awesome Valentine's Days ever. I felt so very loved by so many people that it overwhelmed me. I felt as though I spent a day with the Lord all day. He kept whispering love notes in my ears by using different people in my life. I was thankful, grateful, and very aware of God's grace, mercy, and favor.  I would like to do it all over again today!

But that has not always been the case for me. I have had many Valentine's Days where I felt just like the Girl described in the previous paragraphs. I have felt unloved, misunderstood, forgotten, and bitter on more than one Valentine's Day. I have watched the love train leave the station with seemingly everyone on it while I stood there alone on the platform waving sadly as they left.......and they didn't even notice. It was the loneliest feeling ever.

I know there were some of you feeling as though you were on that platform yesterday. I know it because I saw faces that looked the way I have felt. I know it because I know there are Girls who were not with their husbands yesterday. They are either gone for work, home with the Lord, or perhaps they were right along side you all day (which is the worst feeling ever).

I believe the enemy has extra fun with us Girls on Valentine's Day. He is the anti-cupid. He shoots us with arrows of lies that hit us in just the right place at just the right time. He points out our weaknesses in our marriage, our friendships, ourselves. He points out someone else's "perfect" life.  He reminds of of all the reasons we are unlovable and why we deserve to be miserable on that day and every other day.

For those of you who can identify with this I want you to know that you are entitled to a Valentine's Day Do Over. Forget about yesterday. Yesterday is gone. Today though. Today, right now at this very moment YOU ARE LOVED!!   You are loved by friends. You are loved by family. You are loved by people you don't even know. Most importantly YOU ARE LOVED BY THE LORD!

Not because He has to. Not because He put a ring on your finger and promised to. Not because He is obligated to in any way.

He loves you because He wants to! He loves you because it brings Him great pleasure to do so! He loves you because He created you for that very purpose.....to love you! How amazingly crazy awesome is that?

Girls, whether you had an amazing Valentine's Day or a craptastic Valentine's Day, know that you CAN have a Valentine's Day Do Over! I declare it for myself and all of you this morning! Do you receive it?  I declare that we will walk in the Truth of His amazing love for us! I declare that as we walk in this revelation we will also see all of the people the Lord has put in our lives here to show His love for us! I pray that we will feel as though cupid is following us around shooting us with arrows of Truth.....reminding us of who we are in the eyes of Jesus. We are beloved. We are beloved. Oh thank you Jesus.....we are beloved........

If anyone needs a love note please e-mail me. I will be able to tell you why I personally love you!

Psalm 36:10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you (as we declare a Valentine's Day Do Over!!!)

Love, Grace, and more and more and more Love to you all today-

Jen

Love Is.......

2012-02-10T16:45:19Z

Good Morning Girls! With this being the week end many people will be celebrating Valentine's Day I thought it fitting to read the "love chapter" found in 1 Corinthians 13:1-10. I mean what better way to get in the mood for love and show my love than to review what the Word says love is?

With an open and receptive heart I started reading. I wanted to take a look......an honest look, at my love walk. I was doing okay until I reached verses 4-7........

Love is patient (when are things going to change?)....Love is not jealous (how come she gets to go to Israel and I don't) or boastful (I admit I am good at this one-lol) or proud (not enough time in the day to give you all these examples) or rude (excuse me......). It does not demand its own way (stop laughing closest friends of mine). It is not irritable (except when I don't get my own way), and it keeps no record of being wronged (other than the laundry list in my mind....does that count?).

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices when truth wins out (whew....I've got one covered!) Love never gives up (well at least I get back up again). never loses faith (for very long), is always hopeful (except for when I am not), and endures through every circumstance (though I often grumble and complain).

Now I could have found this all to be discouraging. I could have looked at this list and felt like I was a huge disappointment to God. I could have thrown up my hands and said "what's the point? I will never get it right!". And I would have......if I had kept the focus on myself rather than on Jesus.

It says in 1 John 4:8 that God is love. He is the One who perfects us. He is the One who loves us. He is the one who teaches us how to love. He is the One who loves us where we are at....whether we are boastful and proud, or impatient and jealous. HE LOVES US!

Now he does not want us to remain jealous, rude, and impatient. He created us in His image and it is our goal to live a life of love. However, we will never be able to do that if we fail to see that while we are learning- God loves us and is with us every step of the way.

Since God is love. I went back to the love verses and but Him where the word love is. It warmed my heart and soothed my soul. I pray it does the same for you!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT and JEN Translation God is patient and kind. God is not jealous (except for us) or boastful (except about us) or proud (except of us) or rude. God does not demand His own way. God is not irritable and He keeps no record of being wronged. God does not rejoice about injustice (when we are faced with trials) but rejoices whenever the truth wins out (and it always will!). God never gives up (on us), never loses faith (in us), is always hopeful (for us), and endures through every circumstance (forever)!!!

Love, Grace, and a God is Love day to you all-

Jen

The Loveless Road to Nowhere......

2012-02-09T15:47:31Z

Good Morning Girls! Remember a couple of weeks ago when we were taking a closer look at the verse that talks about the road that goes Nowhere compared to the road that goes Somewhere? No? Well here it is again:

Psalm 119:27-28 Message Translation Barricade the road that goes Nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation. I choose the true road to Somewhere.........

In my devotion time the other day I found another road that leads to Nowhere. I think it ties in well to yesterdays message about how easy it is to feel insignificant in our ordinary, everyday lives. My prayer is that you realize that your everyday "ordinary" life is a testimony, and in the monotony of it all God is using you.

Realizing that our lives are significant at every stage is a revelation that keeps us on the road to Somewhere. It keeps our eyes and heart open and expectant. It keeps us looking for a undercover covert Holy Ghost assignment in which we can bless someone....anyone....whether it be in the waiting room for our childs check-up or in line at the bank. It makes the ordinary and mundane suddenly exciting; and in that excitement is where you are able to see your life as significant rather than small.

You are on the road to Somewhere. Even if you have no idea where that road is going.

It is easy however to feel as though we are on the road to Nowhere. "Where in the name of Jesus could the piles of dirty clothes, dirty dishes, and dirty kids lead to? There is no way this is a road. It's not even a path. It's a dirty, thankless, never ending, exhausting, and boring dirt trail. One that leaves me feeling like an overworked, under valued, unappreciated, slave to my husband, kids, and even the dog (I don't see him picking up my pooh)."

"Ahhh......but this is what a HomeMaker does. And the Bible says to act as though you were doing your work "as unto the Lord" not man. So that is what I will do. Ha-rumph. I will honor my husband and care for my children.....but I will find subtle ways to let them know just how hard that is to do."

When you find yourself feeling this way you are now on the road to Nowhere. It is an uphill road that winds with curves of frustration, heart ache, drudgery, and eventually bitterness.....towards the very ones you once loved. You feel insignificant and small because you are looking at yourself and what you have to do rather than looking to the Lord and what He will do with you.......if you let Him.

Oh I know how easy it is to find yourself on this road. It is so easy to feel like the only "real" way of serving God is to do something "big". To be on stage, to be well known, to be "out there" rather than in the four walls of your own home. I have been there. I understand. I also believe it is one of the most effective devices of the enemy- to make us wives and moms feel insignificant. Once we feel that way we start looking to other "things" to make us feel important. If they are not the "things" God has planned for us they will only take us further down the road to Nowhere.......

So how do we stay off the road to Nowhere? We remember that in each task we are serving the Lord. Two of the things we learn Jesus values most: serving others AND loving others. When you are not only serving, but loving those you serve, you will be on the road to Somewhere......and you will not be disappointed in the end!

1 Corinthians 13:2 Message Translation If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten Nowhere........

Love, Grace, and a love filled road going Somewhere to you all-

Jen

The Brightness in our Ordinary Lives.......

2012-02-08T15:49:02Z

Good Morning Girls! Friday I talked about how I feel small in my own life. I often feel as though I am not "doing enough" or "being enough". I don't think I am alone in this feeling. I think the desire to want to "be something" is natural.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be something or do something with your life. The problem arises when we are unable to see that we ARE something already. We ARE being used by the Lord. We ARE bringing God glory. We ARE a light in this dark world. We ARE all of these things........yet so often we don't see it.

We don't see it because we are just ordinary Girls doing ordinary things. We do laundry, change diapers, run errands, clean, cook, work, and in the midst of it all try to keep (or get) these old worn out bodies in shape so we can remember that we are in fact women.....and we are married to men (wink, wink).

In the midst of the ordinary it is easy to feel small and insignificant. It is easy to dream of bigger and better things. It is easy to wait until you are "somebody" to believe you can be of influence to anybody. It is so easy to see the teachers, preachers, authors, and other well traveled people as the ones God has chosen to be a light in this dark world. The rest of us.....well we are simply the worker bees keeping the whole thing together so a few lights can shine......

Oh precious Girls....do you find yourself feeling that same way? Do you feel like a worker bee doing all the work and getting no reward? Well I have some blessed News for you! It is straight from Gods Word to our ears.......

May you let it sink into your heart today!

2 Corinthians 4: 6-7 Message Translation Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus to you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.

Love, Grace, and a Brightness in the Ordinary day to you all-

Jen

The Smallness I Feel.......

2012-02-03T16:25:12Z

Good Morning Girls! Praise God! Thank you Jesus! Amen! WORD! God is good!

What's up with me you ask? Well lets just say that the "clear revelation" I have been praying for has come. The light bulb came on. The elevator finally reached the penthouse. And yes.....I got fries with that.......

I received a comment regarding yesterdays blog. Here's what it said:

"I been thinking, (dangerous, I know). Maybe you ARE doing what God wants you to do. Maybe He just wants you to keep on keeping on, for now. And maybe He will tell you what to change when you settle in and be content where you are. I know that worked for me. When I finally decided that God really wanted me to be single for life, and I got content being single, He brought Rick into my life. And 7 months later we were married. And that was in 1984!"

Settle in and be content where you are.......

I believe it to be absolute Truth. And here's the kicker........I am content with where I am. I am content to be a Home Maker that works odd jobs part time. I am content to write each day for whomever happens to read. I am content with serving at HomeMakers and having the privilege to speak on occasion. I am content with that life.

You are probably thinking I am delusional right now. Especially since my last few blogs have been about the angst I am in over what I should be doing. Please, stay with me here.......

I am content with where I am.....HOWEVER......I am not sure that those around me are content with who I am. "Am I enough?" I often wonder. "Am I doing enough?", "Am I contributing enough?", "Am I earning my keep?" at home and in this world?.........

And here I thought I was finally understanding the message of Grace. In the midst of me sharing the Truth of Grace with you all, I myself am trying to earn it! And not just with God, but with my husband as well.

This is not a new thing for me. This fear of not being "enough" has haunted me all my life. Each time I arrive at a milestone in life I get so worked up in trying to be "enough" that I end up clinically depressed. Graduating from high school and graduating from college caused me so much angst that I ended up on anti depressants and in therapy. I'm not sure I have changed so much........

I love my life! I love it......but I have a hard time enjoying it. I often feel like I am a disappointment to myself.........to others.......to the world.......to the Lord..........

The feeling of constant disappointment........it's a VERY dangerous place to live! It's the kind of place that drives you to self sabotaging behavior. It's the kind of place that robs you of the present because you are so focused on where you are "supposed" to be. It's the kind of place that ends in heartbreak. It's the kind of place where you throw your hands up and walk away...........

I am throwing my hands up.......but not in surrender to guilt, frustration, and feelings of not being enough. No! I am throwing my hands up to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving!

Thank you Lord for setting me free (again)! Thank you Lord for exposing the lie that I have been feeding on for years! Thank you Lord for assuring me I am enough, today and everyday. Thank you Lord for your promise of the good plans you have for me! Thank you Lord for the gift of faith which assures me that when it is time for me to move.......you will let me know!

Oh Girls.....if any of you have been living in the land of "not good enough" please join me in the Promised Land........the land of freedom and wide open spaces.......

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 Message Translation Dear, dear Girls, I can tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

Love, Grace, open spaces, and a "more than enough" day to you all-

Jen

ps And thank you blessed lady Diane for speaking the Truth in love! Without your feedback who knows how long I could have continued walking in my fenced-in world!

Restless Spirit Syndrome

2012-02-03T02:11:49Z

Hey Girls! On Tuesday I said that I have felt restless. That restlessness is increasing to a level that is driving me bonkers. My brother in law deals with RLS- restless leg syndrome. Lately I feel like I have RSS- restless spirit syndrome. I even looked up the symptoms for RLS. Pretty much describes how I feel. Simply substitute the word spirit for legs:

An urge to move the legs, usually accompanied or caused by uncomfortable and unpleasant legs sensations
Symptoms begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity such as lying or sitting
Symptoms are partially or totally relieved by movement, such as walking or stretching, at least as long as the activity continues
Symptoms are worse or occur only in the evening or at night

Ahhhh yes. Keep busy. Keep moving. Wear myself out each day to the point of exhaustion so I don't have to think about how I am not doing whatever it is I am supposed to be doing at this point in my life.......

I want to move forward....head north just like Tuesdays verse said. I am still waiting for some clear direction. Each day that escapes me leaves me feeling more and more restless. I want nothing more than to live the life the Lord planned for me to live. I may not know what I am supposed to do, but I do know He does not want me in angst over it!

So I try to calm my spirit. I wait. I pray. I ask the Lord to make my path straight and clear. Some moments are easier than others. Some moments are...well.....not pretty......

Do you ever feel the same way?

Psalm 119:32 Message Translation I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
God, Don't let me down! I'll run the course you lay out for me if you'll just show me how! (looks like I'm not the only one to ever feel that way!)

Love, Grace, and a RSS free night to you all-
Jen

Living a Linear Life

2012-01-31T13:48:07Z

Good Morning Girls! There is a scene in the movie European Vacation, starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, where Clark is driving the rest of the Griswold family around Europe checking out the sights. They are in London. "Look kids, there's Big Ben" he says. A couple seconds later he says it again "Look kids, there's Big Ben". He is stuck in a turn around. He is going in circles. He cannot figure out how to get out of it.

Sometimes I feel like a Griswold.

I feel stuck in a turn around and I don't know how to get off. It feels like I keep going in circles. I am moving, yet I often feel as though I am right back where I started. For all the driving I've done, I should be somewhere by now.........

I want to live a linear life. A life that is progressing forward. A life that sees new landmarks, not the same ones over and over again. Sure, I recognize that each time I get back to "Big Ben" I am one step closer to figuring out how to get off the turn around, but I have been feeling restless........more restless than normal.

Albert Einstein said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Yeah....I am feeling a little insane........

It says in Hebrews 12:13 Mark out a straight path for your feet......a straight path, not a circle........

We've been talking about the road that goes Nowhere. The circle....well sometimes the circle is the worst. It's bad because it keeps you in constant motion. You feel like you must be progressing because you are moving and working hard. But always at the end is Big Ben. And after a while you want to take a sledge hammer to Big Ben. You never want to see it again!

I keep hearing in my spirit Deuteronomy 2:3 You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north!!!

I want to turn north. I really do! There's just one problem (well actually I think there are many), and that is the fact that I have been circling the mountain so long, I am not sure how to get off! I have lost my compass. I am not sure what direction north is! I'm not sure how or where to start.

So what do I do? I pray. I trust God that He will in fact mark a straight path for my feet. I am one of his sheep and I know His voice. I am listening. I am ready. I am heading north!!!

Deuteronomy 2:3 NASB You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north (and say good bye to Big Ben!)

Love, Grace, and a day heading north to you all-

Jen

Barricaded and Graced with Clear Revelation......

2012-01-26T14:21:20Z

Good Morning Girls! We are still talking about Psalm 119:25-32 in the Message Translation. We are still on the same verse 28(ish). Barricade the road that goes Nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation...........

Yesterday we focused on one of the roads that goes Nowhere; the road of Who, what, When, Where, and Why questions. In most cases going down that road will bring you to a dead end of confusion, frustration, and angst.

Today I want to talk about another road that goes Nowhere. These are the most frustrating ones to me. They are the ones that are not easy to detect. They often look like the road going Somewhere, but they are not. They are detours. They are distractions that take you away from the place you were meant to go.

I had two separate road to Nowhere detours last year. Both times I was faced with a choice. Literally a fork in the road. Do I go this way or that way? I prayed. I sought after the advice and counsel of close friends. I weighed out my current situation and options. Not receiving any clear word from the Lord, I started down the road I believed was leading me Somewhere.

The longer I traveled down the road, and the more time and effort I invested, the more I knew my judgment could no longer be trusted. It's kind of like being in a bad relationship. You know it is bad, but you have already spent so much time and effort with that person that it seems easier to remain in it than end it.

Looking back, I can see some of the red flags. I saw them even while on the road, but I was always able to explain it away. And the truth was, I still did not receive any clear direction from the Lord.

Deep in my heart I believe I knew something was not right....but it all seemed and felt so perfect (feelings.....no those will take you down the road to Nowhere in a hurry!). I began praying to the Lord saying "Lord, I trust you. I trust that you are guiding me and speaking to my heart. However, I no longer trust myself. I know I want this to work so badly that even if it is not right, I will not hear your still small voice. You are going to have to whack me upside the head if this is not the right road."

I prayed that prayer, or one similar to it every day. Asking the Lord to make it painfully obvious if I was on the wrong road.

God for answered that prayer! I was whacked upside the head alright. It says in Revelation 3:7 What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open. I prayed that he would close the road. That he would Barricade the road going Nowhere.

The night the first road closed was one of the most painful experiences of my life. However, in the midst of the pain I was thankful and praised God. I knew that the only way I would stop going down that road was to have it end abruptly and painfully, leaving no chance of going back and no second thoughts.

Last year was a tough year for me. I got off one wrong road and started right down another! Again, it made sense. Those closest to me thought I was doing the right thing. I was encouraged to pursue this road- even though in my heart it was taking me in the opposite direction of the dreams in my heart. I just figured it was a means to an end until I could follow the desires of my heart.

Still bruised from the last door slamming shut in my face, I was determined not to go through that again. Once again I started praying the "Lord whack me upside the head" prayer. Again I found myself in a situation where unless it was painfully clear to not only me, but those around me, I would be expected to continue down this road.

God is good! Once again he answered my prayer. It was a little painful, but nothing like the last time. In fact, as I walked out to my car crying I suddenly felt this tremendous weight lifting. I prayed for my out and I got it! No one would ever say I should continue with that career pursuit. I was released from the wrong road without guilt or remorse. Praise God!!!

Girls, on those occasions when the road seems right but you are not sure, pray that the Lord would barricade that road for you. Ask him to shut it down in such a way you will never have to look back and second guess yourself. He will answer you. It may hurt a little. However, in the long run a couple days of pain is better than a lifetime on the wrong road. Ask me how I know...........

Revelation 3:7 What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open

Love, Grace, and barricaded road to Nowhere-
Jen

The Road that Goes Nowhere....

2012-01-25T16:49:54Z

Good Morning Girls! Let's continue with our closer look at Psalm 119:25-32 in the Message Translation. Todays verse is Barricade the Road that Goes Nowhere........

Unfortunately I have learned over the years that there is more than one road that goes Nowhere. In fact, I have traveled down many of them! Praise God! I am learning.  Each year I find that I have traveled less down the road to Nowhere and more down the road to Somewhere.

No one wants to travel the road that goes Nowhere; yet many of us do. What can we do to prevent that from happening?

I don't know all the answers, but I have a few. Let me share some lessons I learned the hard way........

When we are faced with trials and disappointments often the first thing we do is to start asking questions. "Why did my dad die?" "Why are we not able to pay our bills?" "Why is this taking so long?" "When is this going to end?" "Where is God in all of this?" "How did we miss God on this?" "Why is this happening to us?" "What did we do wrong?" How can we make it right?"  Who....What....When.....Where......Why......How......Oh such honest and sincere questions.  Unfortunately they all lead to the same place.

The road to Nowhere.........

The more trials I go through the more I learn that there are just some things that are too great for us to understand. The less time I spend asking questions that I may never know the answers to, the more time I can focus on what I do know; which is that God is good, faithful and just. He will never leave me or forsake me. He has good plans for me. Plans to prosper me. Plans to use me. Plans that will completed by Him.  Plans that will be fulfilled even though I have gone down the road that goes Nowhere a few (too many) times.

The more I have learned to trust in the Lord, the less concerned I am about the Who, What, Where, When and Why.  I trust that if I am supposed to know the answers to any of these questions the Lord will show me. If I did in fact make a mistake, if there is action I need to take, if there is a wrong I need to right, I trust He will show me. (you have no idea how bad I wanted to make that last line rhyme, but chose not to)

He is not a God who sits on the throne holding the answers in his hand just waiting til we say the magic words before he releases them. No!  A just God would not do that. And since we know he is a just God, and everything he does is fair (Deuteronomy 32:4), we can trust that if we need to know the answers he will give them to us!

Girls, next time you find yourself filled with questions and no answers stop yourself dead in your tracks! Understand that you are going down a road that leads Nowhere! Keep doing what you know to do and trust God with the matters that are too great for us to understand!

Psalm 131:1 I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp!

Love, Grace, and a concern free day to you all-
Jen

Dilapidated......

2012-01-24T13:48:11Z

Good Morning Girls! Yesterday I told you we were going to spend this week on Psalm 119:25-32 in the Message Translation. If you need to re read the verses go back to yesterday.

Psalm 119 is one of my favorites Psalms. I love it because it speaks straight to my heart. I often feel as though I could have written it myself. To me it reads like a Girl who loves the Lord and wants to do the right thing but doesn't always hit her mark. She knows that God's ways are the best, yet fails to yield to them at all times. Sometimes it is because she simply chooses to go her own way. Other times I believe she believes she is going the correct way but she has been deceived; either by her own flesh or the enemy.

The author often makes reference to lying in the dust and needing God to come pull her and breath life back into her. She pleads, almost begs for God to give her another chance, vowing to get it right and obey every command!

There's just one problem.....(okay there are probably many)...and that is- she doesn't always understand what it is she is exactly supposed to obey. She doesn't understand what the Lord is always saying, or where he is always leading her. She wants to go down the right road, but desperately wishes the Lord would send her a map that plots out her life course in bold and specific detail. If the Lord would just do that....well then she would for sure be able to live the life he planned for her (well maybe not for sure.......but hopefully....maybe....well at least more likely than how its currently going.....)

Can any of you relate to the feelings of the author of Psalm 119?

Last week was the first time I read any of Psalm 119 in the message Translation. I loved it even more because of some of the word pictures it made for me. My sad life is a dilapidated, falling down barn.....

Dilapidated: having fallen into a state of disrepair.......

Now that sounds pretty pathetic! Praise God I can say that at the present time I do not feel as though my life were a dilapidated falling down barn! However.....not too long ago that is exactly how I felt! It seemed like every area of my life was falling apart. I had no direction. I had no peace. I didn't have much hope. I did however have every care and concern in my own little world carried around within me. I knew it was no way to live. I knew God was my only hope; but I was having trouble getting from A to B.

It was hard to let go of all my problems! It was hard to put my package of cares into Gods hands. I knew he loved me, but it didn't seem like he was really "on top of" all the concerns we had in our life. He wasn't giving us any clear direction (took me a long time to realize that no direction means to simply rest in Him and trust that He has it all taken care of and He WILL let us know when it is time to take action......but that is a whole other lesson).

Disrepair: the condition of being in need of repair.......

When you are burdened by concerns. Burdened by tough choices and decisions. Burdened by a life in that is falling apart......you need repair. The author of Psalm 119 knows exactly what kind of repair we need........Gods Word.

It sounds so simple doesn't it? All you need is Gods Word. It is as simple as it is difficult. But it is true. The more you immerse yourself in Gods Word the more you see that even when your life resembles a falling down barn, he's still there and he's holding you up. He is still your firm foundation- even when the shingles on the roof are falling off one by one!

Girls, I know that when I find myself in a whirlwind of concern and worry, often the hardest thing to do is sit down and rest in the Word. I would rather drive myself bonkers letting my mind race with all the possible scenarios of how my troubles will play out. I would rather scramble to come up with a "plan", a plan that allows me to take action! That is what my flesh wants. For years that is what my flesh got. And all I ended up with was more shingles on the ground!

Train yourself....discipline yourself to take a "Word chill" (sometimes it's easier if it is accompanied by chocolate) and just allow the Lord to do what He so desperately wants to do for you......build you up!

Psalm 119:27? (hard to tell in the Message Translation) My sad life's dilapidated, a falling down barn; build me up again by your Word

Love, Grace, and a roof raising day to you all-

Jen

Someone....

2012-01-23T21:11:01Z

I'm feeling terrible—I couldn't feel worse!
      Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember?
   When I told my story, you responded;
      train me well in your deep wisdom.

   Help me understand these things inside and out
      so I can ponder your miracle-wonders.
   My sad life's dilapidated, a falling-down barn;
      build me up again by your Word.

   Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
      grace me with your clear revelation.
   I choose the true road to Somewhere,
      I post your road signs at every curve and corner.

   I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
      God, don't let me down!
   I'll run the course you lay out for me
      if you'll just show me how.

Psalm 119:27-32 Message Translation

These are not the words of someone who is feeling confident in the direction of their life.

These are the words of someone who is feeling lost, confused, broken, and burdened by the pressure to make the right choices concerning their life.

These are the words of someone who wants to live for God, but isn't exactly sure what that even means or how to go about it.

These are the words of someone who knows their life is not where it should be, but does not know exactly where "should be" is.

These are the words of someone who understands that God is their one true source of hope for a good life even though their life is currently a mess.

These are the words of someone who has tried over and over again to "get it right" but has somehow ended up with their face in the dirt once again.

These are the words of someone who understands there is a road that ends in life and a road that ends in death......but is still unsure how to tell which one is which.

These are the words of someone who understands that God is the source of all wisdom, but also knows their mind sees what it wants to see.

These are the words of someone who promises to do it right if they would only receive clear direction.

These are the words of someone written thousands of years ago.......

Though that someone is also me.

Is that someone also you?

Join me this week as we take a closer look into some of these verses and see that in the midst of a dilapidated life, we can rejoice and know that God has good plans for us! He will lead us to the road going Somewhere! We are all Someones.......and we are His!!!

Love, Grace, a road to Somewhere day to you all-
Jen

Nike

2012-01-20T13:40:50Z

Good Morning Girls! I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I have had awesome devotional time each morning. I have pages of thoughts and notes and stories and things to explore. The bad news it that I have yet to get my thoughts to the computer each morning. I haven't quite mastered my schedule in that area yet.

Last night when I was looking at my schedule for today, I once again wondered when and how I would get to my computer. As I set my alarm I debated whether or not I should set it for another hour earlier. I decided not to. Instead I said "Lord, if I should blog in the morning, wake me up"..........

Girls, the Lord always...ALWAYS......answers prayers that line up with his will for you life! ALWAYS! The fact that I woke up 64 minutes prior to my alarm, is just one of many examples I could give you!

So there is a certain amount of pressure when you know as you know you are supposed to do something. I knew I was supposed to write. However, I have so many notes and thoughts whirling in my head that I didn't know where to start.

I prayed. I looked through all the notes and verses and treasures I have put to paper. I did my homework from the this weeks HomeMakers teaching. I looked at the biblegateway verse of the day. Everywhere I looked I was bombarded with good Word! Word that I could sit and talk about forever.

Now this seems like a good thing right? It is good to have an abundance of good Word and thoughts and ideas.....right? One would think so.......

But I found it unnerving. Wanting to make sure I selected the "perfect" direction, I felt myself getting a little anxious. A little unnerved. I felt the pressure building and I could feel myself shutting down.

Now, the funniest part about all of this is that this is all self imposed pressure! I write because I want to. My heart desires it. My soul craves it. My adrenaline rises every time I hit the "publish" button.

There is nobody monitoring me or paying me (yet...Amen and WORD). There is nobody giving me a quota or telling me that this is part of my job. I do it because it is who I am.......and that thought still amazes me.........

So In my whirlwind of "Where do I start?" and "What direction should I go?" I feel the Lord speak to my heart and say "Just start." So I did.

Now I have learned the hard way that my demon possessed computer may at anytime skip forward to a new website or shut down completely in which case whatever I have written is lost. However, if I have given my blog a title, the website will auto save my writing every few minutes.

Not knowing what my title would be (since I had no idea what my writing was going to be about) I simply gave it the title you see today......NIKE.

I am obsessed with the Nike campaign. I think it is ingenious and I hope whoever coined it is a Christian and got paid a boat load of cash! If they only got the cash, then I pray that the Holy Ghost gets hold of them. But I digress.......

I love the NIKE campaign because it says it all in three little words......8 letters......JUST DO IT!

JUST DO IT! I don't want to work out....JUST DO IT! I don't want to vacuum......JUST DO IT! I don't want to be nice to my husband......JUST DO IT! I don't want to volunteer for that project.......JUST DO IT! I don't know what to say, what to do, or where to start...............

JUST TO IT!!!!

Girls, how often do we spend more time thinking about something we don't want to do than it would take to actually do it? How often do we get so anxious and overwhelmed in our search for the "perfect" plan that we never get out of planning stage? How often do we wish we were something, or wish we could have something, but never take a step towards it?

Renee spent the last two weeks talking about having the grace to be happy.

Once again, NIKE can sum it up in 8 letters.......JUST DO IT!!!!

"But Jen, aren't you oversimplifying it just a little?".

Maybe. But as a sales manager I read many sales books and heard many sales presentations that harped on the K.I.S.S. method.....Keep It Simple, Stupid......

Keep it simple. Start basing some of your decisions each day on this question "Would this make me happy?". If the answer is yes.......JUST DO IT!!!

But you have to be honest with yourself when you ask yourself that question. Sure, a pint of Ben and Jerry's Heath Bar Crunch ice cream (wow I was kind of specific there wasn't I?) may make me happy.......for about 30 minutes until the self loathing and reality check begin. Sure, lashing out at your hubby make you feel a bit satisfied, even pleased with yourself for a moment.......until you realize the damage you have done to your relationship.

I am not talking about asking yourself "What would make me feel better right this minute?" I am not talking about satisfying your instant gratification whine ball flesh that will drag you down the trail to Unhappyville in 30 seconds flat. No!

I am talking about asking yourself what will truly make you happy. What will bring you satisfaction? What will bring you to that state of perfect and entire wanting nothing?

Once you have even a glimpse or a clue of what that may be, start basing your daily decisions on getting there. JUST DO IT! Even if you are not sure what exactly to do.......

If you start to "NIKE", the Lord will steer you and guide you. Todays blog is the perfect example of that! Sure, it may rabbit trail and seem less than well thought out; but I tell you this.....it's better than the blank page I could have continued to stare at until time ran out. And that is exactly what would have happened had I not simply DONE IT!

And now I feel happy...........

Proverbs 10:25 The hopes of the godly result in happiness!

Love, grace, and a NIKE day to you all-
Jen

Two Mules in Love

2012-01-18T18:32:32Z

Good Morning Girls. Last night my friend sent me a text. It read: Have things simmered down with your ox or is he still a mule? I thought for a moment about that question and finally I answered: He's both........but so am I......I think that is why we are butting heads.

As much as I hate to admit it, I cannot deny that I can give any mule a run for their money when it comes to stubbornness and will power. I can ignore you. I can look the other way. I can hold out until I get my way. And I can do it all with those big sad innocent eyes.

I don't do it on purpose; and often I don't even realize I am being stubborn until there is a problem....in which case I may still not see it and blame the other mule. It's tough being me sometimes........

Now being a mule is hard enough. Add to that being an ox and we've got ourselves a bullfight waiting to happen! The only thing worse than being in a relationship with someone who is a driven "my way or the highway" kind a guy, is being the same kind of Girl! Especially when the highways are running in opposite directions.

It's great when you can cruise together on the same highway. However, I would say it's most important to agree on the final destination. There may be times when one of us veers off to take the scenic route, and that's okay as long as our final destination is the same. We don't have to get there the exact same way. We just both need to get there. If he wants to take the typical man route (which includes not stopping for help or directions and getting upset every time we have to take a pee break) then perhaps it's best if at times we drive ourselves. Not all the time....just on some things..........

I have not yet been able to apologize for my outburst on Sunday. Partly because I didn't say anything that was not true. Partly because my words were not said in spite. Partly because there are some things that do need to change. And partly because I am a mule......

I did however start laying the foundation for my apology. I made him breakfast. Then I made him his favorite chicken and packed his lunch (and even a snack). Basically I did what every farmer does to show his ox that he appreciates the hard word he does (and wants him to continue). I feed him. I feed him well. It made him happy. And it's a lot easier to apologize to a happy ox than an angry mule!

It says in 1 Peter 4:8 that we are to continue to show deep love for each other. I know I am not quite "deep" yet....but I am showing him the best I am able to at this moment. I am believing my heart will follow, knowing that love does in fact cover a multitude of sins (and wrong thinking ha-ha).

1 Peter 4:8 NLT Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Love, grace, and a mule in deep love to you all-

Jen

ps..... just so you know it REALLY bugs me that in the middle of my ox and mule analogy I got on a 2 paragraph highway analogy....I mean REALLY bugs me....but I don't have time to fix it so it is what it is........but I am REALLY BUGGED BY IT.......Ha-rumph......

From an Ox to a Mule

2012-01-16T14:46:40Z

Good Morning Girls! On Friday I left you all with what I thought was a more light hearted message. I thought I was sharing some of the basic feelings and relational "moments" we all experience in marriage. I thought it was no big deal.......

I learned something yesterday. I learned that when I am experiencing a lot of "bugged" surfacey feelings it is an indicator that there is something bigger going on. Let's not sugarcoat it. It's more than an indicator. It's a red flag......

On the way to church (of course) we were talking about a few scheduling details for the upcoming week. I was approaching them once again with caution as I have felt like my home is carpeted with egg shells. Must tread lightly.

Then I mentioned something that I thought was no big deal. Thought it was just small talk. To my surprise it was one of those things that Tom had a very strong (and I think stupid) opinion about. I had no clue he would respond in such a way or I obviously would not have said a thing. But I did. And his response escalated the "bugged" status to full on "I am so done".

My man went from an "Ox" to a "Mule" in 0.9 seconds. I had had enough.

I had had enough of his "I am an island" thinking. Enough of his "I walk alone in this world" behavior. Enough of his "We don't ask others for help and others should take care of themselves" attitude. I had had enough of his isolation, brooding, and weight of the world life.  And I let him know it.

My grace for him had apparently ran out that morning. What can I say? I'm not Jesus....

Guess what happens when you tell your Ox you think he's a Mule?

You spend the rest of the day in separate rooms. You spend the rest of the day vacillating between wanting to make things right and being sick of needing to make things right. You feel alone in your own home. You feel restless, agitated, and sad. You go to bed without saying "Good Night".

And you wake up feeling the same heaviness you went to bed with........

The Lord led me to a verse a couple weeks ago. I wrote it down thinking it must be for a future blog.  A verse for someone else. I may as well confess that I started thinking about who the verse could be for. FYI- whenever you start thinking about who the Lord brought you a verse for, start by looking in the mirror.

Psalm 37:8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper- it only leads to harm.

I didn't realize I was angry til it surfaced. Thought it was simply the ebb and flow of marriage. Now I think it is more........and I am not sure what to do about it.

So I did the only thing I know to do. I prayed. I prayed for the grace to love my ox today. I prayed for steps that need to be taken. I prayed that the Lord would change my heart. I prayed that the Lord would soften both our hearts. I prayed that our marriage would be the marriage He intended us to have.

We have fought side by side for the last few years now. We are nearing the end of our fight. I believe that with all my heart. I believe victory is ours and it is manifesting as I type. I believe the enemy is not happy with this. I believe he is attacking us at our core. He wants us to turn our fight on each other rather than him.

Anger is poison. But it is not the quick arsenic type. No. It is a long, slow, subtle death that is painful and debilitating. It needs to be cleaned out of your system completely or you will slowly die.........

If you think you have some running through your veins you best spend some time with the Lord today. I know I plan to. Praise God for the blood of Jesus.  May His blood cleanse mine!

Love, peace, and a poison free day to you all-

Jen

Love Your Ox

2012-01-13T16:29:16Z

Good Morning Girls! You know sometimes life just gets a little too serious. I understand that we all go thru some pretty heavy and serious stuff; but I do not believe we are to get caught up in the seriousness of it all. I can't remember which Minister said it recently at church (I think it was Mark Hankins) but he said "heaven is in the serious business of joy". I agree.

I believe God has a wonderful sense of humor. I believe He is serious about His plans for us, but wants us to enjoy our journey. This is for those of you who are caught up in the seriousness of it all.........

You know how sometimes your hubby just bugs you? I am not talking about the strain that occurs in marriage during difficult times. I am talking about the days when everything in your life could be great, but still, your hubby just bugs you? Come on....I can't be the only one this happens to........

You know, like suddenly they seem to chew their food a little louder. Or maybe their interest in every single sporting event on tv leaves you irritated. Perhaps that wad of toothpaste in the sink suddenly makes you want to dip their toothbrush in the toilet. And then there are those times when they are sound asleep and snoring like a grizzly bear and you have to pray your heart out that the Lord prevents you from holding a pillow over them just long enough to startle them a little.......

Really? Am I the only one who has these days? Does anyone have a therapist they can recommend to me?

So lets just say that earlier this week I was having a couple of those days. Days where my hubby was being the same hubby he has been for almost 15 years now (or is it 16? I can never remember what year we got married....is that bad?). He wasn't doing anything or behaving any differently than he always has......but for whatever reason, I felt bugged.

And you know, once you get bugged, it seems to accelerate rapidly. I had to purpose to keep my mouth shut (which sometimes meant hanging out in another room for hours at a time). I knew he had not done anything wrong, yet I knew that at any moment I could catapult into a verbal lashing that would leave us broken for awhile. I must be maturing at least a little bit because the old Jen would have gone for the lashing to release those bad vibes.....

But I didn't. I kept my mouth shut. I knew that these feelings would pass and the best thing to do was to steer clear and avoid any serious conversations or sometimes any conversations until I got past that bugged feeling. I will just keep on picking up his socks that just cannot seem to make it INTO the laundry basket and wait for the irritation to pass......

In my Wednesday morning devotional time I was hanging out in Proverbs. I was in the mood for some good Godly wisdom and advice, and Proverbs beats Dr Phil, Dr Oz, and all "The Doctors" combined!

Do you want to know what I learned (well I already knew but this confirmed) that God has a wonderful sense of humor........

Proverbs 14:4 Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.......

You know......my hubby may not be the cleanest ox in the stable but he is a good, hard working man. A man of integrity. The most loyal man you will ever meet. If you have a secret- tell him. His vault is locked more securely than the Pentagon!

Over the years I have watched him work, press, strive, and humble himself to protect his family. He has done whatever he can (and then some) to ensure his family will reap our harvest when our due season has come (and I declare now that our due season is here.....can I get an "Amen" or a "Word" or whatever you say when you agree with me!!!)

Now when I feel bugged I just imagine Tom with horns. I smile and I think to myself "That's my ox.....don't you just love him!".....

It has occurred to me that there may be times when Tom is bugged by me......but then I just tell the devil to flee and quit lying cuz really........how could anything I do ever bug him.......

Seriously.....therapist recommendations are welcome........

Blessings, grace, love of your ox, and a less serious day to you all-

Jen

WANTED not Needed!

2012-01-12T15:28:48Z

Good Morning Girls! A couple years ago I was at Chuck E Cheese with my kiddos. I went to the counter to place my order and afterwards I said "thank-you". Rather than saying "you are welcome", the employee responded "my pleasure". Interesting......

A short while later I had to go back to the counter for something else (no doubt more tokens as it really is simply a kids casino). There was a new employee at the counter. Once again I said "Thank you". Once again I heard "My pleasure".

Aahhh.....I see now.....we have a new customer service marketing campaign. Well I for one love it! Though I knew it was a company policy and they were required to say it, I loved hearing it. I thought it was a brilliant campaign. (I am fascinated by marketing and advertising and if I had college to do all over again I would have gone down that road.....and please do not tell me it is never to late)

"My pleasure". Websters defines pleasure as a source of enjoyment or delight. In other words, this employee was saying "I am delighted to serve you and I enjoy doing it" (even if they have to or they will not do well at review time).

Once I realized that they delighted and enjoyed serving me I was not at all hesitant to make my needs and requests known. "The machine ate my sons tokens." "May I have a clean salad plate?" "How fresh is your coffee" (not very). "The machine ran out of tickets and I won the jackpot" (I am crazy awesome at the Shoot the Moon game!) Why would I let a moment that could bring them delight and enjoyment pass them by? That would not be right!!!!

Do you know who is even more delighted to meet our needs? Do you know who finds us a source of great enjoyment? (and may I say I also think entertainment) Do you know who not only finds pleasure in calling us family but also desires greatly to do so? Our heavenly Father!

Thats right! Despite all our shortcomings. Despite the fact that God has more "black sheep" in his family than anyone else, he desires greatly and finds great enjoyment and delight in calling us his own! He knew what he was getting himself into......yet he still WANTED to do it! Praise God!!!

So Girls (and my 2 "Man-Peeps"), don't hesitate in bringing your requests to the Lord. He desires greatly and enjoys and delights in you! He WANTS to be your Daddy. He wants to provide and meet all your needs. Not because he has to, but because HE WANTS TO!!!! Don't deprive him of the opportunity to bless you. By doing so you deprive him of great enjoyment.......

Ephesians 1:5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure!

Love, grace, and a day full of enjoyment and delight to you all-
Jen

Who's Child are You?

2012-01-11T15:53:02Z

Good Morning Girls! I confess, I wanted to title todays message "Who's Your Daddy?" but I thought that following Mondays WORD title with that would be pushing it a little too far. You know me.....I HATE to push the envelope...........(I would insert a wink here but after 4 years of utilizing this website I still haven't figured that one out......)

When I was a kid and my mom and I went to the store, I never had to worry about losing her.....I would simply follow the sound of her laugh. She has a distinct laugh. A loud laugh. A genuine laugh. A laugh that was clearly identifiable and locatable.

It sounded a lot like........mine.

And then theres my dad. My dad had this face he made whenever he knew he was being a stinker. It was his teasing face. It put a sparkle in his eyes and a sly grin on his face. It was a face that said "I know this may get me into trouble....but it is worth it."

It looked a lot like..........mine.

Yes, I have manuerisms and behaviors that identify me as the daughter of Charlie and Vendy Houle. I often hear people say "I can really see your mom (or your dad) in you. Not just your looks, but your actions. I think its pretty cool.

It got me wondering though. Can people tell by my actions that I am a daughter of the Most High God? Do people look at me and notice that there is something different about me. Different than the world around them. Do people look at the way I live my life and think "Look at the way she carries herself; confident and secure. She doesn't appear to be concerned with the day to day struggles in life. She puts others needs above her own. She is full of joy and brings light to even the darkest situations. What is it about her that is so different?"

If I am living the life I desire to live, I am imitating my Father. My actions, behaviors, and manuerisms reflect those of Jesus. (even my angelic face...insert wink)

Now don't get all bent out of shape and immediately think of all the areas you apper to be more the seed of a demon than the Most High God! Don't forget about the abundant grace that we receive daily! Don't think that being identifiable as a child of God means you have to be perfect!

NO!

Being a child of the God means that we strive to imitate Him.

Westers defines imitate as: to follow or endeaver to follow as a model or example. To further define it I looked up the word endeavor. It means to make an earnest attempt.

Putting it together we have: to follow or to make an earnest attempt to follow as a model or example.

There is no mention of "getting it right" or being "perfect".

Girls, as you go about your day today ask yourself this: "What can I do today that shows that I am a child of the Most High God". Better yet, ask God. Say "Daddy....what would you like me to do today to show the world that I belong to you?" And let me know what He tells you..........I think it will be goooooood........

Ephesians 5:1 NLT and Jen Gilbert Translation Imitate (follow or make an earnest attempt to follow and model after) God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children (not just his children....his dear children!)

Love, grace, and a "who's your daddy" day-

Jen

Word

2012-01-09T16:26:07Z

I have a friend who uses a lot of slang for fun. I will send her a text or tell her a story and the response I get is often simply one or two words. Her favorite response is "word". It makes me laugh because I know it is a total urban word and this Girl is living the ultimate suburban life complete with newly purchased minivan. She is as far from "gansta" as a Girl can be (unless there are shopping gangs in which she would be the leader).

Silent Treatment

2012-01-06T16:48:09Z

Good Morning Girls! We all know what its like to be tormented by the enemy. We have all experienced his relentless chatter in our minds. We all know he is the father of lies and speaks them to us nonstop.

My question today is: If we all know this.....why is it still such an effective weapon used against us?

Why is it that day after day I am bombarded with thoughts and lies that are contrary to what I know to be true, or believe in my heart? Why is it that I even add to the words of the enemy....agreeing with him at times and entertaining his "theories"? Why is it that any time I hear a thought that speaks of me and my life in a less than victorious way I don't shut it down and forget about it?

The "forgetting about it" is the thing I struggle with. I will hear the accusations, the self defeat, I will shake it off knowing it is not true.......but....it sticks with me. It's in the back of my mind all day. It's waiting there to prove me wrong. One wrong step. One mistake. One shred of evidence that proves that the lie is in fact true.

It is only 10am. I have been awake for 3 hours. So far I have "felt" like I will never get back into the shape I was a couple years ago. I will never eat right on a consistent basis. My hubby doesn't like me but rather finds me annoying and irritating (so I better tone down my energy which sucks the life out of me). My writing stinks...I've lost whatever talent I once has, but who really cares anyway because I've lost whatever readers I once had (except for the 5 of you loyal peeps....perhaps there is something wrong with you guys too-Lol). I have no direction in my life. Am I missing out on something? Is there something I should be doing that I am not?

All that negativity in just 3 hours. And that all occurred while cuddling with my kids before school, making cookies and lunches, cleaning the kitchen, and having devotion and prayer time. What's a Girl to do (besides take a nap which I fully intend on doing if my hubby ever leaves for the office......what is taking him so long!!!???)

Many of us have learned to answer the lies of the enemy with the Word of God. The Truth that gives life. I agree with that. HOWEVER, if I answered every single negative thought that went through my head I would be talking all day. Not that I mind talking all day....it's just that I don't want to waste my life talking to the devil all day.

I don't believe he is worth all of my time or effort!

Sometimes, I choose another weapon. It's a dirty one that I experienced many times in my life. I always hated it because it made me feel invisible, insignificant, and like I wasn't worth the time of day. Unfortunately many of you probably experienced it yourself at times.

Yes. It is the Silent Treatment.

Though I never recommend you use it on another human being (unless it is someone speaking hurtful to you). I do find it is an excellent weapon against the enemy. It says everything we want it to. It says: you are irrelevant. You are insignificant. I cannot hear you. I am not going to waste my breath on you. That is just too stupid to bother answering.

Giving the silent treatment alone is not enough. It is not enough because whether you want to or not, you will hold on to the lies in your head. They will be there waiting for you to prove them right. The next step in the silent treatment is this:

TAKE ACTION

Don't tell him you are not a quitter. Show him you are not a quitter. I told you the thoughts going through my mind so far today. I did not answer any of them. Rather I ignored them (well except for sharing them with you) and took action. I took action in the form of not eating a fresh baked cookie (though I did hold it in my hand and breathed in the warmth and smell...oh mama...my baking gift is tormenting!). I sat down to write (still fighting the thoughts that my writing stinks). And I have my workout planned for later when I am at the Y for Charley's swim practice. Oh yeah....and I will be taking a nap if my hubby EVER LEAVES!!!

So Girls, add another weapon to your warfare. Answer the lies when appropriate, but also answer with action. I don't know who coined the phrase "Action speaks louder than words", but I agree. I mean saying "God has given me the spirit of self control" doesn't mean much if I am saying it will a mouth full of delicious fresh baked chocolaty chip cookies right? But at the end of the day when I have not eaten a cookie both the enemy and I will be amazed (only I will be happy and he will be wondering "what's up with that?")

In case you don't agree with the Silent Treatment, let me just show you that it is scriptural......

Psalm 38:13-14 But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply.

Sometimes I make myself giggle.......

Love, grace, and a day of Silence to you all-
Jen

Postponed Hope

2012-01-05T15:52:07Z

Good Morning Girls! Every year on my hubby's side of the family we all throw in $5 and choose our picks for the College Bowl games that run during the Holidays. There are about 35 games in all. It's a tradition that I have gone along with but never really cared much about. Until this year......

This year I hit the ground running with my picks! I was tied for first place for the first 18 games. I was suddenly passionate about college football. At the gym I would yell out at the tv's while the games were on. I had a couple "groupies" who once they learned I was 15-3 with my picks said they were calling into Vegas with my choices. Each day they saw me they would ask "who you got today?".

Yes. I was suddenly a big fan of college ball. "What a sport! What a game! What excitement!"

Then came January 2nd. Six bowl games in one day.  I was still in 2nd place but today was my day to solidify 1st place.   "Mama is taking home the money this year!!!!!"

Five out of six of my teams lost. I went from a 1st place contender to a not a chance loser.

The next day Tom asked if I wanted to watch the game he recorded. My response: "I denounce college football. It is dead to me".

I had no desire to watch anymore now that there was no chance I was going to win the money. Tom would call me in to watch an awesome play and I would watch and pretend like I gave a rip.....but I didn't.

I didn't care because I had nothing to gain anymore. Forget the fact that I HAD enjoyed the games just days before. Forget that I found the overtimes and crazy plays exciting. Forget that I had fun with Tom talking about teams and sitting and watching with him. Forget that I know he loved it because he doesn't have any of his friends or family here and he really likes to have someone to watch and talk with. Forget all that........I no longer care about college football........

What does this story have to do with anything? Why would I waste your time talking about college football when I am sure many of you feel like I do about it...."who cares?"

I learned a life lesson in this seemingly insignificant story. I learned a couple actually. The first one is:

When all hope of achieving the outcome you desire is lost, you will no longer be interested in your goals.

Think about it. If someone whom you trusted, or lets say a doctor told you "For some strange reason you will never lose weight even if you never eat sugar, white flour, chips, or candy again", would you bother eliminating these things from your diet? Or if your personal trainer said "Your body type will never respond to exercise. You will always look exactly the same, no matter how many weights you lift or miles you run." Would you bother sweating and wasting time being uncomfortable and in pain?

Or what if your marriage counselor said "The two of you will NEVER EVER work things out. You are wasting your time trying. You are done." Would you walk away?

Would you think "What's the point?" and quit?

I mean these "professionals" have pretty much told you that there is no hope for you. You will never change. You can do everything right but will never ever change. Put off your hope. Postpone it until a miracle comes. Defer it til something changes.

Many of us listen to the professional daily. He is a professional thief, liar, and has come to steal, kill and destroy whatever he can. The biggest thing he can steal from you is your hope. Once he has your hope he has taken away the only motivator that keeps you going when all circumstances point to failure.

Hope makes you cling to the seemingly impossible. Hope gets you up early and ready to face the day. Hope puts a spring in your step despite what is happening around you. Hope makes you look around expecting good things to happen any second! Hope speaks louder than the lies of the enemy.

But hope deferred....hope postponed......hope stolen.....well that leads to a broken heart.

Girls, don't let anyone (including yourself) steal your hope. Cling to it! It is a lifeline. It is yours and only yours. It will carry you through a triple overtime loss.

Lost hope in a college football pool is no big deal. Lost hope in life is. Don't go there. Don't get heart sick. Don't give your dreams away to the enemy. They are yours and if you stay the course they will be fulfilled!!!!!

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is the tree of life!

Love, grace, and a triple overtime win to you all-

Jen