What's Next?

Our women's conference is over. Why is there a feeling of let-down? We have been praying and working and planning and anticipating and the conference was a success, but I feel ... well, I feel tired. I wrote a blog late Thursday night about feeling like Martha but wanting desperately to be Mary. (The weather was bad, the internet was acting up and I could not get it to post.) There's always a lot of work involved in a big event. I'm pretty good a delegating the big things but not so good about delegating the small. I ended up feeling like Martha...the worker, the one trying to get everything done to make her guests feel comfortable. Sometimes I don't know how to sit down and just be. Even today, with all the computer glitches, I felt like I was in constant motion. When Martha complained that her sister was not helping, Jesus answer by saying, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42) Whoa...each sister made her own choice. What we had hoped and prayed for -- for women to get a glimpse of how they could study the Bible for themselves -- seemed to be accomplished. Wouldn't that make every second of the preparation and work worth it? Though my feet are throbbing and I can hardly keep my eyes open... To Him alone be the glory...
I much prefer to be like Mary, at the feet of Jesus. For the rest of today, I think I'll choose the good part...

In service to my King,

Jeanette

Anticipation

I have such a sense of excitement and anticipation...I can hardly stand it! At Bible study this morning, we were watching a dvd of a Bible study lesson and the speaker "quoted Brother Johnny," as my friend said. (the teacher said something that my husband, our pastor, has said recently...of course, the dvd was filmed months ago & this particular Bible study teacher doesn't even know my husband...) We both looked at each other as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Over lunch, we talked about it. I am anticipating our conference this weekend, but more so than that, the result... We're about to step out into new territory, about to do something awesome and scary and overwhelming and I can't wait!

In service to the King because I don't want to miss a thing!

Jeanette

Spring Break '07 Part II

Here's a picture of our Spring Break wranglers...

Spring Break '07 - woooo!

Labels

I was thinking today about labels...labels the world puts on us, labels those around us might put on us, and labels we put on ourselves. In Matthew's gospel, he writes that Joseph (the earthly father of Jesus) took his family and they settled in Nazareth to fulfill what the prophets wrote, "He shall be called a Nazarene." Nazareth obviously did not have a good reputation because in John 1:46 we have the recorded question of Nathaniel, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" The label stuck, however, because He was called Jesus of Nazareth in the gospels as well as in the book of Acts. It didn't stick in that Jesus didn't let that label dictate who He was... This is what I mean: I can remember telling someone I looked up to (this was probably back in high school or college) that I was going to accomplish something. That person looked right at me and, in all seriousness, said, "You can't do it." That stuck and I didn't do it. I can remember the conversation exactly as if it happened yesterday. Label me failure. I was very much an introvert in school and super shy and didn't have a lot of friends. I was the kid in the lunch room eating by herself. Label me nerd. I ask my kids all kinds of questions and always want to know what they are up to. Label me wacko stalker parent.

God says that I am His prized creation, crowned with glory and majesty (Ps. 8:3-5). Label me cherished. God sent His Son so that I might be redeemed. (John 3:16) Label me saved. The Apostle John wrote that if we confess our sins God will forgive us and even cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Label me clean and forgiven. God's Word tells me that I am His workmanship, created for good works according to His purpose. (Eph. 2:10) Label me worthy. His Word also tells me that when I am weak, I can rely on His strength and am not dependent on myself. (2 Cor. 12:10) Label me strong.

I could go on ... the point is, don't accept the labels of the world, the people around you, or even those that you put on yourself that weigh you down (like the ones from past sins or failure that you are hanging on to). Whatever it is that keeps you from being all that God has called you to be is a lie...don't believe it and don't live by it.

In service to the King because there is no other,

Jeanette

19 years - This one's for you, baby

Today Johnny and I celebrate our 19th anniversary! Wow! In a way it seems like forever and in a way it seems like just yesterday... This morning, at breakfast, Jacob asked what we were doing at that specific time 19 years ago. Johnny and I both tried to think of what we might have been doing on the morning of our wedding. Such a funny kid! To say the very least, the last 19 years have been quite an adventure and I am thankful to have been a part of every bit of it. There have been some really hard times...those times that pull you together because it seems like each other is all you've got -- besides the ever present God who never leaves and never forsakes. There have been some really exciting times; like birthing three children, going to Israel at a very tense time, being in Greece the day our President declared war and celebrating our 15th anniversary there, seeing parts of the country together that we've never seen before, buying 4 houses together (and lots of home improvements!) and selling 3 of them... the list goes on... There have been sad times but way more happy times and way more really great memories...

Baby, I would not have wanted to miss one moment of the last 19 years with you. God has been so good to us -- I feel so unworthy. I am so proud of you...you are amazing! You are a great dad, an awesome pastor, a wonderful husband, and my best friend. You encourage me and, as you like to say, believe in me more than I believe in myself. We were made for each other - our strengths and weaknesses fit where the other is lacking. I love it when we have the same thoughts or say the same thing at the same time. I love it when one of us is really mad at one of the kids the other one is able to stay calm and bring the other one down. (ha!) I love it that we have the same vision for our kids' future and the same vision for ministry. I love it that we like to do the same things and would rather be with each other than anyone else. wow, that means a lot! Thank you for taking care of those hard things that I don't want to deal with, for rescuing me (even when I don't want you to!), for loving me like crazy, for being patient with me and some of the crazy things I do, for letting me stay home and be a wife and mother for all these years, for helping me realize my hopes and dreams and even helping to see that seasons change and the future is bright...

I love you more today, more this moment than I have ever loved you...it just gets better!

Happy 19th! Jeanette

Spring Break '07 - Wooo!

We got back from camping yesterday...it was great and the Wildwood (trailer name) is awesome!! The state park in Arkansas was beautiful and we had a great spot right on the lake. We had a little rain, but managed to find some fun at a local bowling alley. Taking 17 people anywhere can be a little overwhelming, but all the kids did really great! I hiked up a mountain in flip flops...who knew when we were going into town there would be a hiking expedition involved. (I thought we were going shopping!) I learned that coming down a steep, rocking path is much harder than going up when you are wearing flip flops. Johnny didn't wait for me and, somehow, my group started going back down the other side while his group circled around and went back down and by the time we got back up to the top and down again, everyone was waiting on us. Thankfully, lunch was next on the agenda! Jot had a blast running through the woods and along the shoreline. He even got in the water and fetched a stick. He was great, but the night it rained he got soaked...when we brought him in the Wildwood Johnny asked if we had a candle to overcome the smell of wet dog. No such luck! The last full day 8 of us went golfing. We found a course out in the country and not too many people were there - thankfully! We had 5 golf carts for 8 people ... needless to say, there are a few golf cart tracks off the cart path at a golf course in Arkansas. There are also a few Texas golf balls still in the water and woods... It was a gorgeous Spring day, though, and it was a blast! By about the middle of the week, someone would say, "Spring Break '07" and everyone would call back, "woooo!" It was an adventure, a blessing, and a whole lotta fun!

Spring Break '07 ... woooo

My One Ambition

I've been thinking about 1 Corinthians 5:9 for a couple of days: "Therefore also we have as our ambition...to be pleasing to Him." By worldly standards, I don't have much ambition. I haven't worked (I mean, at a full-time, paying job -- I have worked, though!) in 17 years and I don't desire fame, wealth, or recognition. I really have all I need and the thing I am looking forward to the most is taking my travel trailer and goin' campin'! My greatest desire, my one ambition, is to please Him. I haven't always been able to say that and it may not be true everyday of my life, if I were to be completely honest. I've been amazed at how some things recently have worked out ... I know for sure God is in them. I still have some big questions and some uncertainties, but an accompanying peace that it will all be alright. The peace comes, it seems, when my ambition is to please Him. Repeatedly, in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), Jesus said, "Blessed are they that..." That word blessed means "fully satisfied." Fully satisfied are they that mourn, are meek, that hunger and thirst for righteousness... That's ambition -- to be fully satisfied. That's why the world seeks to fill their lives with things: unhealthy relationships, wealth and material possessions, drugs, partying -- they are looking to be satisfied, to fill some void they have in their lives. My one ambition is to please Him and in Him I am fully satisfied.

Blessings,

Jeanette

Another Last

Today Johnny coached his last game for our children...he's coached at least one child in either soccer, football, t-ball, baseball, softball, or basketball every season for more than a dozen years. Wow, I feel the tears welling up... From now on it will always be school sports... Another chapter closed, another part of our lives over forever, another sign that the kids are growing up way too fast...