tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63681487738830628852024-03-18T22:58:56.448-06:00Abound in HopeJeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.comBlogger459125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-42924765234418625712016-05-16T14:26:00.000-05:002016-05-16T14:26:51.415-05:00#racingmytime<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have a love, hate, love relationship with running. I don't like to overuse the word love but this really is something I feel strongly about. I can remember starting to run for my personal sanity when we lived in Carrollton, Texas, and I was the mom of 3 little kids, I was the director of a Mother's Day Out program, my husband was a full-time senior pastor, he had another part-time job, and he was working on his doctorate. As an introvert, I enjoy the solitude of running and God has seriously spoken to me as close to an audible voice as I may ever get while I have been running.<br />
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Then I decided to run a half marathon. Running became a chore. I had to run miles and miles and miles. And then some more miles. After race day I had a hard time running for enjoyment again.<br />
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Until recently. One of my friends started running for maybe the first time. She inspired me so I laced up my shoes and headed back out there. The only thing is, I really couldn't run very far at all. It was hard and I was slow and was doing way more walking than actually running. And my running shoes were old. They had holes in them. But, I kept at it and finally started seeing some progress.<br />
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And, I got some new running shoes:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHW26qzJJjo2rh5e0RCBGH5h7Yjq8cVqZBPiWj5naUIsQ6asfGSRfDWLEl1fJo_UEF6J1qBvabyK2KikMfCetW5h6WALcmgLwZZV4BlH5mN0jfk7zihDb2sBjv1hEc7oM8K_pkLUWD94/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHW26qzJJjo2rh5e0RCBGH5h7Yjq8cVqZBPiWj5naUIsQ6asfGSRfDWLEl1fJo_UEF6J1qBvabyK2KikMfCetW5h6WALcmgLwZZV4BlH5mN0jfk7zihDb2sBjv1hEc7oM8K_pkLUWD94/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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I've been keeping track of my times for a few days now. Today I took 34 seconds off my time from last week.<br />
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The thing is, I'm still not that fast. And I'm still not going that far. Compared to my brother (who runs in 100 mile ultra-marathons) or my daughter-in-law (who runs marathons), I'm not going very far at all. And I'm not going to be winning any races with my current times. But I'm out there, pounding the pavement, putting one foot in front of the other.<br />
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I'm learning more about running my own race lately. Why in the stinking world do we, as women or even as people, compare ourselves to others? To what people have, to what people do, to what's going on in other people's lives? Maybe you haven't done that. Unfortunately, I have. Or this one: living to other people's expectations or even your own self-imposed thoughts of what other people expect? It can be exhausting.<br />
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Look, I'm not leaving out living up to God's expectations. His are good and perfect. Or even lessening the importance of community and the encouragement and accountability that comes with that. I'm so thankful for my community and how they have spurred me on in recent days.<br />
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I'm talking about the unhealthy comparisons and expectations. Leave them behind. Race your own time.<br />
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One of my all-time favorite passages is from Hebrews 12:1-2 -- "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."<br />
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It's very possible that I might not run faster tomorrow than I did today. I might add some of those 34 seconds I took off back to my time. But, it's going to be my race. And there's always the next day to run faster, to be stronger. I just have to remember whose race I'm running.<br />
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Racing my own time,<br />
<br />
Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-43275401676703518052015-09-08T10:24:00.002-05:002015-09-08T10:24:43.712-05:00Hezekiah's War Room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm reading through the book of Isaiah and it is, for me, both an encouragement and challenge. Parts of it have stuck with me for days. I've written verses on index cards so I could look at them and ponder them over and over again. It's like it's a message just for me - something that I needed to read, to hear God speak into my soul.<br />
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Then there's those times when what I am reading in Scripture intersects with other messages I'm hearing from other sources: a sermon, a Bible study, or even, in this case, a movie. Johnny and I recently went to see the movie "War Room." (**spoiler alert**) It's a movie about prayer where the main character is challenged by an older woman to take seriously - to pray earnestly - about her marriage. The woman is instructed to go to battle for her family by writing her prayers and set aside a place of prayer to verbalize those prayers to the One who is able to do the miraculous. Even if you haven't seen the movie, surely you've seen the trailers with pieces of paper and sticky notes attached to the wall.<br />
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Sometimes life is just like that - we feel like we're in a battle. We actually are according to the apostle Paul. Why would we need armor if we weren't in a battle? (see Ephesians 6:10-17) Paul writes that our battle is not against flesh and blood - even though it certainly seems like it at times - but it's a spiritual battle. After we've put on the armor of God we are instructed to pray. (Ephesians 6:18)<br />
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Starting in chapter 36 of Isaiah, Judah is threatened by a real-life, flesh and blood enemy, the Assyrians. The Jews were mocked and ridiculed. By outward appearances, the Assyrian army was more powerful than the one protecting Jerusalem. When King Hezekiah got the message from the Assyrians about their treaty offer and the consequences of refusing it, he took the threat seriously. He took the letter and went to the house of the Lord and spread it out there. (Isaiah 37:14) He then prayed - his prayer is recorded in just 5 verses (verses 16-20). He spoke words of truth about the character and nature of God. He spoke about his situation and the threat against Jerusalem. He asked for deliverance SO THAT people would know that the Lord alone is God.<br />
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Isaiah, the prophet, the spokesman for God, sent a message to Hezekiah that because he prayed, Jerusalem would be saved from the Assyrians.<br />
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I've been guilty plenty of times of taking my prayer life too lightly. I've been guilty of making my prayers all about me or the things on my list. I've been guilty of not taking the holiness of God seriously. I've been guilty of making God small in my own estimation by the way I've prayed or failed to pray.<br />
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Then those things come up that remind me about the battle. The enemy is threatening. I'm reminded to go to the war room. For Hezekiah, the war room was the house of the Lord. For the Jews, the temple represented the presence of God. For the follower of Jesus, we are ushered in, brought into the presence of God by the Holy Spirit. I don't want to take that lightly. My prayer place is where I go so that I'm not distracted, so I take seriously the enemy, so I recognize the power of the only One who is able to do the miraculous.<br />
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I write my prayers out and present them before the Lord because I need to. I need to recognize the challenge so I know how to pray. I write Scripture because I want to recite God's powerful Word back to Him as a promise for my own life. I write my prayers out so I can rejoice and offer praise and thanksgiving in the answering.<br />
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A movie and a text of Scripture intersected with my life and where I am right at this moment. If the message is for me then I get it. And I move forward from this moment with my battle plan, headed to my own war room.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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Jeanette </div>
Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-3682056418959453562015-09-02T10:21:00.001-05:002015-09-02T10:21:12.319-05:00Paradise Comes in Many Forms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was on my almost daily walk with my dog at the park when I passed a couple walking 3 dogs. We said the usual greetings. You know, "Hi, how's it going/how ya doing?" The guy's response to my greeting has stuck with me for a few days. He said, "Paradise comes in many forms."<br />
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I just looked up the word <i>paradise</i> on merriam-webster.com and the first definition has to do with the afterlife but definition #2 is this, "a place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight." I then had to look up the word felicity because it's not in my everyday vocabulary. It means "quality of state of being happy."<br />
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Some days I have to choose to see my current situation or place as paradise. Maybe it doesn't always involve felicity but certainly should involve thankfulness. Honestly, when I see my life in light of some of the really horrible things going on in the world this is paradise. God has given me more than I deserve and, in many instances, more than I've asked or imagined.<br />
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Those days that are heavy, though, the choice is harder to make. Those days when you get a phone call that is like a kick in the gut. Those days when you have to give up something because you realize you've made it an idol but it's not without heartbreak. Those days when you miss someone you love so much it hurts. Those days when you realize you've said hurtful words and you wish you could just take it back. Oh, forgiveness is there but so is the sting. Those days when you face uncertainty but you just want to know the answer.<br />
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Yesterday, as I contemplated paradise, I flipped my Bible open and it fell to Daniel 9. Starting in verse 4, this chapter records Daniel's prayer of confession. Verse 3 is this, "So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes." It's not the first time we see Daniel praying in this book that bears his name. Even with a threat to his life if he continued to do so, Daniel got on his knees three times a day to pray and give thanks. (see Daniel 6:10)<br />
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Perhaps the key to paradise is prayer, giving thanks, being submissive to the Lord God despite personal desire. Maybe paradise doesn't always involve happiness but it does include peace, joy, and assurance. At least that's the definition I'm writing as it applies to my life today.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-85444795179646358992015-05-14T10:15:00.000-05:002015-05-14T10:15:48.581-05:00On My 25th Mother's Day I Realized I'm a Failure As A Mother<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
That's right, a complete failure. I came to that realization standing in a coffee shop in Alabama with my daughter, Jessica. I mentioned that I'd like to go to Gulf Shores someday. Jessica replied, "Mom, no one in our family likes the beach except you. Even Christy." Christy, by the way, is my daughter-in-law and I adore her but even she is against me when it comes to the beach. How did I raise 3 kids and not guide any one of them to common interest of white, sandy beaches; beautiful, clear, salty water; and bright sunshine? Failure.<br />
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Later that evening, Jessica and I went to Brook Hills Church. Since they are without a senior pastor right now, the worship pastor preached. It was a Mother's Day sermon from Proverbs 31. Not the Proverbs 31, virtuous woman passage that one might have expected but it was from the 1st 9 verses of the chapter. Really, go read those 9 verses. It's a mother's desperate cries for her child. The 3 main points of the pastor's sermon applied to mothers and, really, to anyone who is discipling other believers.<br />
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Johnny and I tried to do those 3 things all the while we were raising our children. Some days (lots of days) parenting was really hard. I know we made mistakes. Probably lots of them. Somehow, in God's grace and economy, we came through it. Toward the end of the sermon, the pastor said something to the effect of, "sow the seed and trust God for the results." We sowed some seed, we plowed some fields, and now we are reaping some pretty great benefits.<br />
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I loved the days I spent over Mother's Day weekend with Jess. I got to see her in her new environment and the life she is building in Alabama. I'm so proud of her and the responsibilities she has undertaken with her new job. I love how Josh is pursuing ministry and having lunch with him every Thursday is our routine. With one of my offspring already living in another state, I don't take weekly lunches for granted at all. I love the conversations I have with Jacob about politics (even when we don't agree) and history and music and food. I love how he is so loyal and kind-hearted. It's seriously grace and God's goodness toward me and Johnny that we are a part of lives of these three.<br />
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A couple of days later I was on my flight back to DFW with my earbuds in and playlist on shuffle. It never fails that Taylor Swift's "The Best Day" comes on when I'm thinking about my kids. Thankfully the seat next to me was empty so no one was there to see the tears fall down my face. Such good days have passed. I miss them terribly at times. The sadness for what is past is replaced with pride at the excellent adults these people that I gave birth to have become. I'm not proud because of anything I've done unless it's pray like crazy. God did the work.<br />
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I'll never stop being thankful for it.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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Jeanette</div>
Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-21231417071817171232014-12-08T10:33:00.000-06:002014-12-08T10:33:42.858-06:00Missions and Music<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The tradition of our church is to have a mission emphasis on the 1st Sunday of December. We've done all sorts of programs including having a mission banquet for several years. This year we combined our mission day with our music ministry and, in my very biased opinion, had an awesome worship experience last night with the adult choir, children's choirs and band leading us all to contemplate the true meaning of Christmas and, really, the reason we have a mission emphasis to being with. It's all about Jesus and the desire of seeing the nations worship Him.<br />
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Yesterday morning we had a couple of IMB missionaries sharing in our morning worship. As Tom pointed to a manger he remarked that there are millions and millions of people on the planet that would see that and have no idea what it represents. To the follower of Jesus, it represents the birth of hope for an abundant and everlasting life, the birth of our Savior. I don't even know if Tom would remember this (I should've asked him) but the first time I met him was in London. He asked what role I had in missions. I obviously am not on our church staff but am a pastor's wife who, remarkably, has the privilege of facilitating global missions. Tom said that I was a "mission enthusiast." I liked that and it stuck.<br />
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I was reminded last night why Johnny and I so want our church to go overseas on mission. Joe said it and Johnny said it. So many people are called to full-time, vocational missions after going on a short-term mission trip. In addition, Scott said it in his video, even if God is not calling you to vocational missions, it can change how you live. We are all called to be the light in a dark world. Johnny read Isaiah 49:6 last night. Service is not enough, God has called us to be a light to the nations <b>so that His salvation may reach to the end of the earth. </b><br />
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I woke up this morning to find a newsletter from a missionary family in my email inbox. A couple that Johnny and I know from so many years ago. They packed up their kids and moved to Asia just a few months ago. They wrote of seeing the monks in the morning in the streets gathering alms and giving blessings. The wrote about the burden of knowing most of the people they see having only enough knowledge of God to damn them. The people they see mostly know nothing of His provision of redemption, the covering of sin and shame offered them through the cross of Christ. They long to be able to tell all the people they come in contact with about the truth in a way they will understand. <br />
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Yesterday was most definitely a beautiful night and an amazing day. I am so appreciative of each person who contributed to our mission fair - to share what God has called them to do so that others might also join in the effort. I am super thankful for the ladies who work in our office and their hard work. Behind the scenes, faithfully making us look good always.<br />
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The true test of whether our day accomplished its purpose won't be the amount of social media posts or counting the hours of work that went in to making such a day happen. The true test will be if those that participated and those who attended let their personal worship and realization of the weight of what Jesus has done cause them and compel them to live missionally in 2015. Not for the glory of our church or any person other than Jesus Himself. To Him alone belongs the honor and glory. Service is not enough. Attending is not enough. My prayer is that we will be a light to the nations and a light in our community. Starting right here with me.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
Jeanette</div>
Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-23220119582139755432014-11-10T12:09:00.000-06:002014-11-10T12:09:12.616-06:00Unworthy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What a weekend. My middle child, my girl, will be graduating from college in one month and 9 days. Ten days after that we will be in Alabama moving her into an apartment. She accepted an offer to do her dream job and will move 3 states away from us. Even though we have known for more than a month that this is what will happen, I can still barely type those sentences without tears welling up in my eyes. Moving requires having a place to live so she and I flew out this weekend to find that place. That the weekend was a bit stressful is an understatement. Yes, Johnny and I have been praying about this very specifically. God provided the job, He will provide the living situation. My head has got that. My heart is that this amazing young woman that I happened to give birth to would have a lovely, safe, affordable place to live that also happens to be in a good location.<br />
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Friday was a bust. We saw a few places. She had found a few places online before we went. At more than one of those places I pulled into the parking lot and right back out saying not only <i>no</i> but <i>never</i>. My first priority is safety. One complex that looked perfect that we just happened to drive by, I stopped, she looked up the rent online and said absolutely not. Her first priority is budget. We did find a place on Saturday that we both feel good about. And, we got to eat some really good Alabama barbecue and found a wonderful coffee shop not too far from where she'll live.<br />
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We flew back on Sunday and arrived at DFW in the early afternoon. By the time we got home and had lunch I had just a little while before I headed to a 4:00 monthly gathering time with folks involved in our church's Embrace project. These people mean so much to me. Honestly, I'm pretty astounded by how they have all bought in. I am floored by how God used these people and their trips to the UK to seal a commitment to what our church agreed to do with the IMB. Mostly, I'm grateful.<br />
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We usually meet for about 2 hours - a time to talk and a time to pray together. I'm an emotional person anyway but, by the time we were done, I was spent. From the weekend. From how overwhelming the Embrace task is. From the desire for the gospel to be known among our people group. When it was over I just wanted to go home and curl up on the couch. Under a blanket. With comfort food. I peeked into the sanctuary where the evening time of corporate worship was starting. My beautiful and talented daughter-in-law was playing the piano and that drew me in. I'm so glad I stayed.<br />
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Last night our church celebrated the Lord's Supper. We took communion together. I found one of my friends and sat down beside her and somehow there was a comfort in that. Johnny's main text was 1 Corinthians 11:27, " Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." He talked about the word <i>unworthy</i>. Part of the what he said about it was how the original readers, and modern believers, can take communion without really examining their lives. "Trading symbolism for substance." We can, at times, say things like, "thank You for Your many blessings" instead of counting them one by one. Or, "forgive me of my sins" instead of naming them, confessing them, turning away from them.<br />
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I often feel unworthy. Unworthy to be involved in the mission of God, unworthy to parent such great kids, unworthy of the material things that I have. I want to, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:1, "walk in a manner worthy with which (I) have been called." My worthiness comes from Christ alone. My ability to walk worthy depends on leaning on Him and not streamlining or wholesaling my thanks or my confessions. Receiving communion last night, in a room full of people but alone in my thoughts of God, reminded me new and fresh that everything begins with Him. And not me. My natural bent to feel unworthy was paid for on the cross.<br />
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While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat, this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." </div>
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Matthew 26:26-28</div>
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Serving the King,</div>
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<br /></div>
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Jeanette</div>
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-25347490700135942782014-09-23T16:05:00.000-05:002014-09-23T16:05:13.796-05:00Craving Righteousness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One day I was fasting and here's the voicemail I got from Johnny, "Hey, babe, I'm in line at Fuzzy's Tacos and just wanted to see how your day's going." (or something like that but it definitely included the words Fuzzy's Tacos) One thing that is for certain about me is that I crave Mexican/Tex Mex food. I don't want to say I love it because I love people not food but I'm really crazy about it.<br />
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This is what I texted this back to my man, "That's pretty hateful to tell me you're at Fuzzy's when I'm fasting."<br />
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Fasting is a spiritual exercise. The whole point of the fast is to focus on God, to seek Him, to lean in. One of the verses I have in my fasting journal is Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." I looked up the word hunger in my Greek Dictionary and this is what was there, "fig., to crave."<br />
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My question is this - do I crave righteousness more than tacos? If the answer is yes (and I want it to be yes) then I can't be sad about missing 1 day of eating tacos. Goodness knows I'll be eating tacos before this week is out.<br />
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Psalm 63:1, "O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You..." Thirsts requires seeking. Seeking requires setting aside other things in order to be satisfied in God.<br />
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That doesn't always look the same way for me. Honestly, it rarely involves a fast. I like the discipline of it, though. The physical hunger that is almost like a signal that I need more of something. Oh, that my heart would beat more for craving righteousness, craving Jesus, than any other thing.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-69586517408295386032014-05-01T10:01:00.000-05:002014-05-01T10:01:27.323-05:00Wedding Month<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRM7eBuccUBzi8hCTZl20JscU0h6ZfSgl9unTaHiX22nEIyK2uhRLCRD1X3zO5E2W_YHvrVmqHK5C0Dlq6nuj0fq5nzgFEnFaUZV9CceO_dyY6iw8WPKj0BSXt7sTZMBU9zrX7xl9RWVU/s1600/photo-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRM7eBuccUBzi8hCTZl20JscU0h6ZfSgl9unTaHiX22nEIyK2uhRLCRD1X3zO5E2W_YHvrVmqHK5C0Dlq6nuj0fq5nzgFEnFaUZV9CceO_dyY6iw8WPKj0BSXt7sTZMBU9zrX7xl9RWVU/s1600/photo-8.jpg" /></a></div>
This is my view today as it has been for the past few days. What started as wanting to update 1 bathroom before the wedding has turned into painting almost all of the downstairs, refinishing cabinets, replacing light fixtures and appliances and a few other things. Our living spaces are a huge mess but our contractor assures me it will all be done in just a few more days. (He's fabulous, btw, in case you are looking)<br />
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Let me back up. I know the last time I was on here that this place I'm living in was labeled the "transition house" but it has become our permanent home. (I now have a beautiful 2.8 acres for sale in Burleson.) God's provision for this house was unexpected and totally not what I had planned. We're here now and we're settling in and want to make it our own.<br />
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It's wedding month, though. I don't know what I'm wearing to the wedding. I'm having a rehearsal dinner at this house. I'm having out-of-town folks coming in. Jessica will leave and fly to Birmingham to start her summer job and then fly back again for 3 short days for the wedding. Jacob will leave DBU and move back home for the summer before changing colleges in the Fall. Josh will move out and to his new address with Christy. At this particular moment I'm a tiny bit overwhelmed.<br />
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But, it's wedding month. On the last day of this month Josh and Christy will be wed. They'll stand before family and friends and, more importantly, God and join their lives together. I could not love Christy more. She is such a precious gift to Josh and to our whole family really. On May 31st, Josh will have a wife, Jessica will finally have a sister, and Johnny and I will become in-laws. Everything will change.<br />
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This morning I was reading in chapter 1 of Colossians. Check out verse 17:<br />
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<i>And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. </i><br />
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I just like the assurance of that - that He is immovable, unchangeable, eternal, holding everything together.<br />
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I know I wrote that this house is my permanent home but I know my real permanent home is in heaven. My citizenship is in heaven and I eagerly await the day I'll see Jesus face-to-face. But, in the meantime, I'm gonna make this earthly home a reflection of us and a place where we can share life with family and friends.<br />
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Our family <i>is</i> growing, btw!<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-74601613889193443892014-03-24T12:47:00.002-06:002014-03-24T12:51:18.849-06:00Moved<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Those that know me know it doesn't take much to move me. In fact, I am moved to tears fairly easily. The fact that we have moved - physically, from our house of 9 years - has caused some emotion to rise up in me. It was the home of my kids' adolescence. It was where we shared life and so many important markers. It's the place where we gathered with extended family and many friends. All 3 of my offspring left from that place to go to college. In some ways, their leaving marked the time Johnny and I decided to move.<br />
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We just closed on that house today but we were supposed to 2 1/2 weeks ago. It's a long story and beside the point but we moved all our earthly possessions out on a Monday and Tuesday in anticipation of closing on Thursday of that week. Once everything was out, I spent the following day, Wednesday, cleaning and making sure we didn't miss anything. I started upstairs, in the kids' rooms. As I went from each of their rooms, I thought about so many memories, conversations, milestones. I prayed for each of my kids and so many of the friends that passed through those rooms. Such happy days, happy memories and even some difficult ones. You know for sure that I was bawling. In the first room I fell to my knees out of pure gratitude for every single day, every single moment of life and every person that passed through those thresholds. <br />
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Nine years is the longest Johnny and I have lived in one place together.<br />
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We are moved into what Johnny affectionately calls our "transition house." It's a house that belongs to a friend where we will live these next months while we build what we hope is our "forever house" in the country. Not everything is unpacked (nor will it be) but we're settled and grateful for a place to call home during this time of transition.<br />
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And, yet, I'm reminded that this "transition house" or even the planned "forever house" is not really my permanent home.<br />
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<i>For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven.</i> 2 Corinthians 5:1-2<br />
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<i>For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.</i><br />
Philippians 3:20<br />
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Walking out of the door of our home for 9 years brought emotion but, I admit, the thought of my eternal home rushes over me and fills me with an emotion that I cannot explain or fully comprehend. A place of no separation, a place of no tears, a place where lightbulbs won't need to be replaced because the glory of God will be the Light. A place that is in the very presence of Him, the Holy One. His home. His dwelling place where those that belong to Him will be with Him forever.<br />
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Yeah, that moves me.<br />
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Johnny and I waited in the lobby today for our turn to sign the papers that mark the end of our ownership and the beginning of another's. The family actually goes to our church and they passed us as they were on their way out and we were on our way in. We remarked about what a great place that house was to raise teens, to have lots of folks over, to live. We hope they have the same experience.<br />
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God gives us places to dwell, people to share our lives with. For that, and so much more, I am so grateful.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Jeanette</span></div>
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-5033333245565189852014-02-17T11:54:00.003-06:002014-02-17T11:54:55.357-06:00Road Trip Weekend Wrap-Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The title for this post could also be "My Synopsis of Passion 2014." I'll admit it, sometimes I am discouraged by culture and things happening in the world. Then I sit in an arena full of thousands and thousands of college-age students worshiping Jesus and I'm blown away - again - by the power of the Almighty.<br />
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Here's another admission - I was not all that excited about going to Houston and, more importantly, not excited about having to drive in that awful traffic. But my son, Josh, is now our College Pastor (I feel emotional that I just typed those words - that child I gave birth to is now a College Pastor. I'm overcome with thankfulness.) so I felt compelled to go. I'm so glad I did, it was so worth it.<br />
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Friday night started with worship and Louie Giglio preached from Isaiah 6. One of my favorites, by the way. He talked about how Isaiah was undone when he experienced the breath-taking mercy of God. He said, "God is breathtakingly beautiful in His mercy." I love the thought of that.<br />
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Friday night ended with a Hillsong United concert which started past my bedtime but, then again, we were at an conference for college students. Again, I'm so glad I was there. They sang some of my favorites but, maybe, my favorite moment was during an instrumental part of <i>Oceans</i> and it seemed as though the crowd spontaneously started singing the chorus over and over again. It's how I imagine heaven - voices filling the space singing with hearts joined in praise. They ended with <i>The Stand</i> and <i>With Everything. </i>It was incredible.<br />
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Saturday morning could not have started any better for this big fan of David Crowder and, perhaps my all-time favorite song, <i>O Praise Him</i>. Following Crowder was Francis Chan. He used chicken bones to illustrate Ezekiel 36. Yeah, real chicken bones. Here's a really great question he posed in reference to 2 Peter 1:5 -- when people say to him they aren't really feeling God's presence he responds, "Are you making every effort?" (Check out verses 6-7 to see the list of things we ought to be making every effort toward.)<br />
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Beth Moore taught the next session. My daughter (who didn't go with our group & wasn't sitting near us) sent me this 2 word text following Beth Moore, "KILLED IT." Oh yes, Beth Moore totally did. She said these simple but profound statements, "We were born with a fight in us. There's an ugly fight and a beautiful fight. We can't fight the good fight and the ugly fight at the same time. We are either going to fight for people or with them." She ended her time with statements of confession. Oh, to hear thousands and thousands of college students standing and shouting "I agree" to the great statements of our faith. So powerful.<br />
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The next session was about the Bible. The cause that Passion was raising money for at this conference was to buy Bibles for people in Iran. The curator from the American Bible Society was there and her testimony and journey were so interesting. Even more interesting was the story about the 1st Bible printed in America. It wasn't printed in English because that was already being done in Britain. A man named John Eliot wanted to tell the native Massachusetts Indians about Jesus so, first, he had to learn their language. But, it was only an oral language so he had to figure out how to write it then he had to translate the Bible into that language. After a 15 year journey, the first Bible in the American colonies was printed in that language. I can't get over the 1st Bible printed in America was for missions. It's our legacy! The Bible was printed in 1663 and some copies were sent to England along with fundraising letters so that more copies could be printed for the native Americans. Also present was someone representing UVersion, the Bible app. The app has 750 versions of the Bible in 450 languages. Eight-eight people/second open that app. Ah-mazing!<br />
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Judah Smith was next. When we talked about Mr. Smith later my son said I was so white, Protestant, old-school. Which, frankly, I am though I like to think I'm fairly well versed in what's current in culture. Once he got through an introductory story that I thought went on just a bit too long (hence, my son's declaration on who I am) what Judah Smith said was so powerful. He said, "God doesn't do renovation. He makes brand new." He went on to say, "Where I stand determines how I walk but how I walk never determines where I stand." He had 2 spots on the platform that he walked back & forth between making his points and made this point, "The great struggle of the Christian life is lived in me instead of in Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:16-21 was his text)<br />
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The final session, as is the Passion custom, was taught by Louie Giglio. He was again in Isaiah 6 and said in order to shift from consumerism (in the church) to costly following of God, you must be stunned (verse 5), seared (verse 7), and sent (verse 8). The real encounter with Jesus sends us out. He continued by saying, "The gospel never stops with me."<br />
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There are not enough words, or the right words, or I don't have the ability to craft the right words, to express how it impacts me to hear so many college students, young adults, and their leaders packed into a sports arena for the common purpose of making much of Jesus. There are some college students & young adults out there - some that I have the privilege of knowing & traveling with this weekend - that are living it out. Their passion for Jesus is so evident - not just in an arena - but in who they are. I can't wait to see what God continues to do through them.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-83296856573004331262014-02-06T21:20:00.001-06:002014-02-06T21:20:15.717-06:00What's My Good?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I so like to think no one is watching me in my front row spot on Sunday mornings. Honestly, I don't think about it which was apparent this last Sunday (if not all Sundays really). Let me write this disclaimer first - I really like all the songs we sang last Sunday. And, I'm a pretty big fan of the groups who recorded the 1st 2 songs we sang - I purchase & download their music, I listen to them on Spotify. Are there times, though, when you're singing a song - and you may be like me and really like the song - but there's just a line or two and you just have this thought: is that really correct? Is it true theologically?<br />
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I had that thought last Sunday. (here's where my thought about no one watching me comes in) I had a chance to ask Johnny about a particular line in a song during the welcome time. Just briefly. We agreed that maybe it wasn't completely correct and talked about it later that afternoon. Then, we got to another song and I had the same thought and just looked over at Johnny and laughed a little. He knew what I was thinking. Y'all, after 25 years of marriage sometimes I believe we read each other's thoughts. I kinda love that.<br />
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This blog post is really about 1 line in a song: "You make all things work together for my good." It's likely a reference to Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes." The message of the song is good. It's just that I think that verse is plucked out and misused - not in relation to that song but in general. How often do you hear someone say just that one little part, "God works everything for good..."?<br />
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I don't mean to be particular but I guess I'm spoiled because I've listened to such good, exegetical biblical teaching over the last 25 years. I so much prefer hearing a message preached or taught from a passage of Scripture where context and truth is considered as opposed to someone making an outline of general truths and plucking verses out to make his or her point. Really, it's just a personal preference. The truth of the Bible is finite and verses really need to be considered in context. But I'm getting off topic because I really am stuck on the whole of Romans 8:28 and what it means.<br />
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First of all, God works all things for good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. John Gill wrote it like this, "those who work in concert with the will of God." I'm sorry, but a general thought of God working all things for good for all people is just not truth. We can't be out in the world doing whatever we want and expect God to work it for good.<br />
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Sometimes God's good may not look like what we expect good to look like. God can use trials and suffering for our good. Certainly when we are suffering or are in trials we don't think that's good. Romans 8:31 reminds us that God is for us! Sometimes what's good for us doesn't feel like good. Good has to be in line with God's purposes. The note in my Ryrie Study Bible notes that <i>good</i> is "conformity to Christ." When we get to the end of chapter 8 of Romans we find that nothing, absolutely nothing - death, life, angels, principalities, things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, any created thing - nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God.<br />
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What if our good is just that and only that - we can never be separated from the love of God? Not the good we desire or expect but that God is for us and nothing can separate us from His love. That in the process of making all things work together for good we are made into imitators of Christ.<br />
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What's good has eternal significance. God's love never changes and we can't escape it. That's good. God is working out things in my life so I become more like Christ and that's for my good.<br />
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Now if I can just get the part right where I'm always working in the concert with His will that would be really good.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-3498323688606378972014-01-06T10:39:00.001-06:002014-01-06T10:39:26.727-06:00A New Posture for Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy New Year! A new year is a great time for new things. My man and I are not big on New Years' resolutions. Apparently, we're not the only ones since no one in our Life Group yesterday admitted to making one. I guess after years of making them & not keeping them we've just decided it's better not to make a big declaration of change that we are pretty sure won't stick. Johnny and I did make one though - we resolve to build a house on our property in the country in 2014. I am really, really counting on that one.<br />
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For the beginning of the new year, I'm reading the book of Ezekiel. Today was chapter 2 - all of it since it's only 10 verses. Here's the 1st verse in the NASB, "Then He said to me, 'Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!'"<br />
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After that one verse I felt compelled to stand and pray. At first I stood there thinking about all sorts of things - reading the rest of the chapter, re-filling my coffee cup, what work I need to accomplish today so I need to sit down and get to it. So, to combat that, I started reciting characteristics, attributes, (as Ryrie calls them) perfections of God. It turned out to be kind of a holy moment. Or moments, I guess. There I stood, hands lifted, praying for my family and friends, myself and my church.<br />
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I don't anticipate that I'll be standing to pray everyday from now on. Maybe I will, I don't know. But, I'll be honest, sometimes I don't pray like I should. I can be so distracted in my prayer time, in my usual prayer place. There are times when my feet need to be moving to pray. There are times when I need to be flat on my face because of the weight of my prayers. There are times when friends or family email me, call me, Facebook message me & ask for prayer and I whisper them up at a moment's notice.<br />
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Maybe a new prayer posture is just the start I need for a new year of praying. I'm not making it a resolution but I guarantee I'm looking for more holy moments like the one today in 2014.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-84347732096586470962013-12-08T14:50:00.000-06:002013-12-08T14:50:25.924-06:00Why I Went to Church Today (hashtag Icepocalypse2013)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First of all, let me state from the outset, this blog is about me. It's not about you. I know in me writing that you're going to think that it really is about you but, I promise, it's not.<br />
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Second of all, you should know I'm a homebody and the most chicken person you'll ever meet. I'm afraid of everything. Johnny and I went to some friends' house Friday night and my blood pressure was certainly up by the time we arrived. Icepocalypse has me wanting to stay put, that's for sure. My man, on the other hand, is not afraid of anything and driving on ice is no problem for him.<br />
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My reason for going to church today has nothing to do with being married to the pastor but it has everything to do with loving the church. I've mostly always loved church. Of course, there were some times when I was younger when my parents forced me to go when I didn't want to. I also stopped going to church by my own choice for a while when I was in college. I'm not sure about the exact moment but, after a time away, I started going back. Then I went as a leader with my home church to Centrifuge after I graduated from college. God got a hold of me there and, since that time, there's been no turning back.<br />
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I know the church is the body of Christ and is made up of people and not buildings. I also know that we can meet with God anywhere but there's something sacred and holy about a weekly gathering in the building we call church. I had such a sense of expectation today. I was there to meet with God and I was not disappointed.<br />
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My reason for going to church today had to do with a book I just finished reading for the second time. It has affected me so much I literally can't stop thinking about it. The book is <i>The Insanity of God </i>by Nik Ripken. Part of the book is about Mr. Ripken's journey to areas where the church of Jesus is persecuted and his conversations with those folks. In one European country, a believer who had been imprisoned said the Ripken, "Don't ever give up in freedom what we would never have given up in persecution! That is our witness to the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ."<br />
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<i>Don't ever give up in freedom what we would never have given up in persecution.</i><br />
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I know sometimes I take for granted how easy it is to decide to go or not to go to church. I forget how much some people around the world are willing to risk to gather to worship, to own a Bible, to share the name of Jesus with someone else.<br />
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One of the songs we sang this morning at church was "How Great is Our God." Every time, every single time we sing that song I think about my first trip to the East Asian continent. I think it was 2007. Those folks know about persecution. They live it. On that trip one of our stops was at a women's center. I was traveling with a group of American women and we had an opportunity to share briefly with the women at the center. The center was for teaching trades, the Bible, and also teaching English. As we concluded our time there, we wrote the words to the chorus of that song on the board. It's not too many words and they are fairly simple. Every time, every single time I hear or sing that song, I see those precious women's faces at the women's center singing that song. Definitely one of those times of worship that time or distance cannot erase.<br />
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Mostly, I went to church today because I love God. Really, I'm not insinuating that if you didn't go that you don't. In fact, those guys who were up there before church started to shovel off the parking lot so we'd be safe probably love God more than I do. I'm just in a place right now where I'm desperate to hear from Him. Did you ever have a time when you were going through a valley and God was so evident that you didn't have to wonder what He was up to? Even in a hard circumstance you felt His presence so personally and vividly? Today Johnny preached about Immanuel, God with us. One of his points was "God with us does not always change the circumstance but it always impacts the results." I'm not in a valley but I so want to hear from God like I did when I was in one a few years ago. Unlike Ahaz in the Scripture text today, I did ask for signs and God used some and it blew me away. Right now, I want the voice without the valley. Part of that is me knowing that I need to slow down and focus on Him. Not on doing things but just Him - worshipping Him, adoring Him, learning more about Him to know Him more. So, going to church today was to do just that.<br />
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Finally, I'm really glad I went to church today because McKenzie sang "O Holy Night." That was heavenly!<br />
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Be safe out there, people! Us Texans just don't do ice!<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-13169360125609543662013-12-03T15:42:00.000-06:002013-12-03T15:42:22.087-06:00The Struggle Between What I Want and What I Want<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm selfish and I know it. Isn't that the fallen nature of mankind - to be selfish and self-centered and to always want what we want? My problem is my struggle between what I want in the flesh and what I want as a follower of Jesus. And, truly, I want to be a follower of Jesus and I want that to be the thing I want most. But it's not near enough of the time.<br />
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The thing that's most pronounced in my life right now is this house I'm dreaming of in the country. I'm all about Pinterest and pinning my hopes and dream rooms all on my board I've titled "For Our House in the Country." My spare moments are spent looking at floor plans and the website my sister-in-law, Ginger, turned me onto, houzz.com.<br />
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But I want to be thinking about Jesus and how to live like Him. I want to be thinking about how to advance His Kingdom, build His Kingdom not about building a house in the country.<br />
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I want a big house with wood trim around every door and window and plenty of room for my future grandchildren to come and play. I want marble countertops, wood floors, and every new gadget that lets you lock your doors & adjust your thermostats from your iPad.<br />
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But I really want to feed hungry people, to have more money to give so that someone will hear the gospel message and be saved. I want to have room in my budget so I can go on mission and share Life and Light with others. I want to support my relatives and friends who are living on the mission field and have given so much more than I have.<br />
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I want life to be easy and comfortable and on my timetable. I want my current house to sell for my asking price. I want my kids and my husband to be healthy and happy and healing for that thing that I've asked about so many times.<br />
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But I want to know what it's like to live dependent on the one who holds time in His hands and, really, to whom time doesn't matter. I want to know what's like to rejoice and be thankful in everything. I want to know with every fiber of my being that whatever I'm going through now is being worked for good. That not one struggle or moment is ever wasted. I want to live with eternity in mind and not just the things that are going on around me right now.<br />
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I really want to live like I believe heaven is real and it's the dessert, the icing on the cake. I want that thought to be the first when I wake up and when I lay my head down at night. I want to remember that people are suffering and are being persecuted for the things I take for granted. And, as a result of remembering, live to make a difference. Not focusing so much on my current abode and that future place in the country but that future place where I'll live forever.<br />
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This struggle, this desire to have what I want and what I want is daily. Really, I want it all. I want both. I want to have what I want and I want to have what God wants for me. So, I'll keep praying about that until what I want becomes what He wants, until my heartbeat is for His. Until the things that I want in the flesh don't matter near as much as the things that matter to Him. Until easy and comfortable doesn't matter near as much as obedience. Until bringing God glory is the thing I want most of all.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
<br />
Jeanette</div>
Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-11640907776422487602013-11-06T14:23:00.003-06:002013-11-06T14:23:46.067-06:00Exciting and Blessed Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
These days - oh, these days - are so full of change. Number 3, the baby of the family, is in college. In college! He joined his sis at DBU. The firstborn came back home after college and is in grad school. And, he's ENGAGED! He is engaged to the most lovely, darling girl. Oh, we love her so already and are so excited that Josh is bringing her into our family.<br />
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These days were supposed to be our "empty nest" days. We're glad to have Josh at home this year since when he leaves next time it will be for good. Johnny and I started thinking about being just the 2 of us in this house, though. We hate to leave this house because so much good life has been lived here. Our kids practically grew up here. Yet, so much is being built up around us and we simply don't need all the space we have in this house anymore. We started looking for some property just a bit toward the country a few months ago. And, we found this little piece of paradise and, as of today, it belongs to us! It's 2.83 acres and we plan to build a house on it as soon as we can.<br />
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You know you're in the country when you go walking around on your land and the neighbors come out to meet you! We're going to be country folks and we couldn't be more excited!</div>
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So, we're looking forward to a summer wedding and building a house... yep, it's going to be a blast! </div>
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Serving the King,</div>
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Jeanette</div>
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-73763243197780645932013-07-11T09:57:00.001-05:002013-07-11T09:57:37.073-05:00A Night at Camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was in a meeting on Sunday evening and we talked about blogs. I knew I had to write a blog since it has been over a month since my last post. I thought I might write about some things we talked about in that meeting and dedicate this blog to Sharon Lee. Something entirely more impressive came up last night. I hope you'll indulge me.<br />
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My man was asked to come out to student camp last night and say a little something to our students. We had already heard of the great things God was doing among our students - kids coming from death to life. We arrived toward the end of the worship time because Johnny taught Bible study at our church and then had a premarital counseling time with a couple he'll marry in a few weeks. It was commitment time and students were called forward that wanted to follow Jesus. This was no secretive hand-raising while every head is bowed and every eye is closed. This was, everyone is looking, everyone is going to know, and it's going to take some courage to stand. On 3, they stood and the very next heartbeat was filled with clapping and cheering. We're used to clapping at our church. We always clap when someone comes to life in Jesus. There's something powerful about that agreement.<br />
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Those students and their counselors exited the building then the speaker made another appeal. Come forward, he said, if you feel God calling you to ministry, missions, using your gifts and talents for Him. A huge group of students moved forward. The speaker was visibly moved and so was I. He called for a time of prayer over those students. He talked about how ministry can be hard. He told how ministry can be lonely and, at times, you can feel isolated. For sure I know about that. Even for my own kids that are called to ministry, I know some days are going to be so difficult. The people we are called to serve can be, at times, arduous to serve. Johnny will often tell young folks called to ministry to be sure because there will be days when you have to know for sure that God has called and He is the only way you will get through that day.<br />
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Look, I'm not being a skeptic, but I know not every person who walked forward last night will be called to vocational ministry. I know some of them will have the opportunity to minister in all sorts of jobs and professions. What I do know for sure, after standing in that room last night, is that God is doing something awesome in their midst. After hearing their testimonies and descriptions of how God is speaking to those students through His Word and through others this week, I know they are listening. Some of those students in that room will do what others who have been a part of that group before them have done - they will truly commit their life to full-time ministry. It's something awesome to behold.<br />
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I've been to the Passion conferences and have seen 10s of 1000s of students worshiping unashamed, hands lifted high. I saw hands raised last night. I heard the sound of their voices. I've seen Facebook posts and tweets about how God is moving in the lives of students in camps all over the place this summer. This I know for sure, God is raising up a generation of students for the sake of His name.<br />
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In Acts 14:16-17, Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra and Paul said, "In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; yet He did not leave Himself without a witness."<br />
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God is not leaving Himself without a witness. I've seen proof of it. There's a generation rising up. Here's the questions for us older people - will we match them in our call, in our enthusiasm? Will we model what it means to live wholly and completely for God? Will we encourage our students to live for Him even when it's hard? Will we support those who are called to vocational ministry and how will we do it?<br />
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So, that was my night at camp. Can't wait to get back out there tonight!<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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Jeanette</div>
Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-26688352924435540272013-06-06T18:38:00.000-05:002013-06-06T18:38:28.633-05:00The Ebb and Flow of Life and Other Blessings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I just looked up <i>ebb and flow</i> in the dictionary. I found it under idioms and phrases in a free online dictionary. Here's the definition, "to decrease and then increase, as with tides; a decrease followed by an increase, as with tides." As far as I can tell, the ebb and flow of life is biblical. Job, of the Bible, said it this way, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."<br />
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As I might have mentioned a time or two or a thousand, we've been through some interesting days around here. Johnny and I talked just today about a vacation we cancelled last summer to make a trip to see his dad when we realized the cancer was back and the doctor's said there was nothing else they could do. Less than 3 weeks after that we made another trip to Georgia, when we said goodbye.<br />
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Maybe it's because that was right before my baby's senior year in high school but it seems like I've been particularly emotional for about 11 months now. I'm a person that runs on high emotion anyway - just ask anyone in my family. There's been a lot of ebb and flow going on around here and I'm a little exhausted by it.<br />
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I started to make a laundry list of all the happenings going on around here but I decided to cut to the chase. I sat on the floor of my bathroom today and just started crying. Part of it was this...<br />
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The tears were an outpouring of gratitude. Honestly, even with the ebb and flow of these days, I see God's hand in so many ways. His realness is evident and powerful. His care is comforting and compassionate. His plan is so much better than I can ask or imagine. </div>
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Do you ever just have a moment when you realize how good God is and you just have to respond? I mean, it's spontaneous not like a planned time of worship. I've laughed out loud at times and I've shed tears at times. More tears lately, it seems. </div>
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Mostly, I'm thankful for the awesome hand of God in my life and in the lives of my family people - and other people I love. </div>
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And, because of it, all I really have is a thank You. </div>
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Thank You.</div>
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Serving the King,</div>
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Jeanette</div>
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-9989722932747463812013-05-15T12:10:00.000-05:002013-05-15T12:10:08.848-05:002 Day Get-Away in the Great State of Texas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Those of you who might happen to read this post and live life in close proximity to us know we've had an interesting few months. I can't quite come up with the right adjective for these days (weeks, months) but it's been a ride, that's for sure. Our youngest left for his senior trip on Monday so we planned to get away - with no real agenda and (yikes) without even a hotel reservation. For a suggestion for such a trip I headed over to TexasMonthly.com and decided on The Old-Fashioned Drive as a sort of guide. The OFD is a drive from Paris to Decatur. We didn't make it to Decatur but here's our 2-day get-away in the great state of Texas in picture and description:<br />
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Since Johnny and I bought my dream car - a little red convertible - we've talked about just getting in and driving. Spring days in Texas were made for it.<br />
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Our first stop was in Deep Ellum for lunch at The Free Man. I had the VooDoo Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato fries. The sandwich was grilled chicken with a spicy "voodoo" sauce and fried pickles on it. So yummy!<br />
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After lunch, we hopped on to I-30 and headed out of the Metroplex. Eventually we got to TX-24 and headed north toward Commerce. After a stop in Commerce that yielded nothing we got back on our way toward Paris. We stopped in the small town of Cooper and found the Miller Drug Store and Soda Fountain which, we found out, has been featured in Texas Highways Magazine. Johnny had a chocolate shake and I had a vanilla malt. The guy behind the counter told us he made them pretty much the way they've been made there for the last 60 years. He was trained by a lady who only recently retired after working there for about 60 years. He told me she trained him to make malts and shakes and the flicking of a towel. His great uncle opened the soda fountain which was later purchased by his grandfather then his dad and, hopefully, one day he'll be the owner of it.<br />
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We finally arrived in Paris and what would a trip to Paris be without a trip to the Eiffel Tower!</div>
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The old town square of Paris is filled with shops and storefronts in historic buildings. Downtown Paris was destroyed in 1916 by a fire but was rebuilt and is really a neat place. Several of the antique shops were closed on a Monday afternoon but there were plenty open. (probably more than Johnny Dickerson wanted to go to!) We walked around and enjoyed the beautiful Texas day and returned in the morning to the Paris Bakery for a bagel and really delicious cappuccino.<br />
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After a stop for some sunscreen, we took 82W and eventually 69N toward Denison. It was mostly 2-lane highway lined by trees at some points, fields, and cows. When we turned off of 82W and onto 69N Johnny laughed and said, "We're just driving through the country." You know, the country roads where the slower-moving trucks pull over to the frontage to let faster vehicles <strike>fly by</strike> pass. If they didn't pull over, no worries for Johnny - as he noted, that little red convertible has some kick to it.<br />
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We ended up on Denison Main Street around lunch time and went to CJ's Coffee Cafe. Delicious! Johnny had the meat and cheese board - they literally brought out a cutting board loaded with meat and cheese and 2 yummy buns that were kind of like Hawaiian rolls which, btw, are favorites at the Dickerson house.<br />
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After lunch we walked up and the street for a while getting Johnny's fill of antique stores for the next decade but ended up at Buffy's Cupcakes. Johnny had (no surprise) chocolate and I had The Elvis - a peanut butter cupcake with banana cream piped in and peanut butter icing and a banana chip to top it off. Again, so delicious!<br />
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The purpose of the trip was to get away from the stress of life (and events of these days) and, honestly, people. I understand that the nature of our gig is that people are our business. Frankly, it can be exhausting when it seems like there are so many needs. I'm not complaining - we have a beautiful life. And, God has been so faithful. My memory verse for these 2 weeks is Psalm 21:13, "Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power." His strength and power are enough. Sometimes we just need to rest. How did we travel before days of cars with GPS? From downtown Denison we typed in "parks" and found a nice, little park on Loy Lake. We just happened to pack the hammock that Jessica gave us for a combined Mother's Day/Father's Day gift. We decided to try it out.<br />
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I've lived in Texas almost my whole life and Johnny has been a transplanted Texan for over 25 years and we realize there are some pretty neat places out there yet to be explored by us. With the empty nest part of our life rapidly approaching, we hope to take more get-aways in that little red car.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-4139058129348314632013-04-23T10:16:00.001-05:002013-04-23T10:16:12.963-05:00The Other Side<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I feel like I can breathe today. For too many days, months really, I've been trying to spin too many plates. You know, holding sticks high above one's head and keeping the plates going simultaneously. The fact is, I'm not a good plate spinner. I don't multi-task well. I'm easily distracted by the unimportant details and they begin to consume me more than the big stuff. The important things take a backseat to the insignificant. I don't like it when I'm so looking forward to something being past that I don't relish the present. These days are far too precious not to take advantage of every single moment.<br />
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I don't know about you but sometimes I have a hard time figuring out what's important and what's insignificant. When a women's ministry event is upon us, the kind of cake we'll order seems like an important consideration. Really - my friend ordering the cakes just emailed me this morning that the flavor of the month is peanut butter. Having peanut butter bundt cake sounds pretty amazing. I really am joking about that (sort of) but these are the things that distract me.<br />
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How embarrassing to admit that. Especially since we had our world hunger emphasis just last weekend. What a marvelous day to see almost 400 volunteers packaging over 128,000 meals for the starving - scooping beans, rice, soy, and vitamins into little bags and realizing that each bag feeds 6 people. And I'm worried about eating peanut butter cake. That's shameful.<br />
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But I feel like today I'm on the other side. One season is coming to a close so that I might focus on what's ahead. Not just ahead in the weeks and months but what's ahead in the next moment. My desire is to be open to the things God puts before me and to be able to discern His leading from other's expectations or my own aspirations.<br />
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I'm glad for change and thankful for renewal. I can't help but welcome the new season but will be mindful of the things that got me into the last. I'm breathing deeply today from the truth of God's Word and am blessed that is washes over fresh and new even though it's ancient text. The Holy Scriptures, the God-breathed words, are life. Especially for me on the other side.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-62143075153532148512013-02-13T17:05:00.001-06:002013-02-13T17:05:46.151-06:00Why I Love Those Ladies, Let me Count the Ways<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I stood in the kitchen making lunch for my man (who was flying home from a trustee meeting in Nashville) I was thinking about the group of women that I get to hang out with on Wednesday mornings. Honestly, I feel the word <i>love</i> is overused so when it comes to talking about my Wednesday morning Bible study ladies, love just doesn't seem big enough. I adore them. I cherish our time together. They're magnificent. (and I'm not using hyperbole, though I've been known to a time or two) So, in honor of Valentines' Day and my adoration of these women, let me count the ways I love them:<br />
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1) They're studying the Bible. I love that about them.<br />
2) They're showing up every week to talk about what God has been teaching them over the last week.<br />
3) They're being vulnerable and sharing their lives.<br />
4) They know what is said at Bible study stays at Bible study when it comes to private matters.<br />
5) But, when it comes to matters of faith, they're learning how to share the important things with others.<br />
6) They are encouragement to each other and to me.<br />
7) They're asking questions and seeking for deeper answers.<br />
8) They're believing God for those answers.<br />
9) We're mixed ages and generations but we so get along and enjoy each other.<br />
10) We can be serious or silly but it all comes from a deep affection that is rooted in the Father's love.<br />
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My heart overflows and these words hardly seem adequate. I'm grateful and blessed.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-17388904028718405882013-02-05T10:05:00.001-06:002013-02-05T10:05:42.260-06:00Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dX9-ruvMtrE" width="480"></iframe><br />
I have always enjoyed this hymn since I first heard it at a Beth Moore Living Proof Live event in the late 1990s. This morning I found out that it was also a favorite of one of my heroes of missions and of the faith, Hudson Taylor. I have been reading a book about his life written by his son and daughter-in-law, <i>Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secrets, </i>on and off for months. Hudson Taylor was a missionary and founder of a mission organization to China from the 1850s to early 1900s. It's one of my favorite books of all time. I wanted my daughter to read it but told her she had to get her own copy. I'm simply unwilling to part with mine. (selfish, I know)<br />
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Here's the story: once while in London, Taylor received word that some of his missionaries were facing great difficulties. He began to whistle this hymn he liked so much and his associate asked how he could whistle when there was so much trouble. Taylor replied, "Would you have me anxious and troubled? That would not help them, and would certainly incapacitate me for my work. I have just to roll the burden on the Lord." (209)<br />
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Powerful words to read from one who is prone to worry. I love the thought, "just ... roll the burden on the Lord." And rest.<br />
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Enjoy the video!<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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JeanetteJeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-13560522713773849992012-12-20T15:24:00.000-06:002012-12-20T15:24:08.263-06:00Glory to God in the Highest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been listening to a lot of Christmas music (of course) but my favorite this year is Chris Tomlin's Christmas album. Yeah, yeah, it's a couple of years old & I'm a late-comer but it is so good. Our kids' choir sang a song from it and it's magnificent - and that has little to do with the fact that I'm partial to the drummer that played with them that day!<br />
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Jessica and I were talking about the songs that say "glory to God in the highest" the other day. The angels said it to the shepherds when they announced the Savior of the world's birth. Jessica asked if <i>glory in the highest</i> means highest praise to God or glory because He's the highest. What a great question and one that I certainly don't have the answer for. Perhaps it could be both.<br />
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That sent me on a search for use of the word <i>glory</i> in the Bible. It's over 300 times, by the way. The second time it's used in the NASB is in Exodus 16. The setting is after the Hebrew people were delivered from Egypt and had already crossed the sea on dry land. But, they were hungry and they started to grumble. I'm not judging, I'm just reporting. I've been known to grumble a time or one thousand myself. The Hebrews even wondered if they would've been better off still in captivity because at least there they had food to eat and their physical hunger was satisfied. God's reply to their grumbling? Food. Moses said, "God will show you His glory by providing food for you to eat." (my paraphrase) God said, "You shall know that I am the Lord your God" because He's the one that satisfies every need.<br />
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My soul repeats <i>glory to God in the highest</i> these days because of His provision. In so many ways He has provided and satisfied. I am humbly grateful - and that seems like an understatement. I know all too well hunger, if not physical, and sorrow and despair. I'm grateful for provision in those cases too.<br />
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My favorite book of 2012 is <i>Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret</i>. It was written in 1932 but Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China beginning in 1853. He knew hardship and physical loss. In all that he experienced and endured he knew, really knew, about God's provision. I hope you'll read these words he wrote following the death of his wife:<br />
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"The present year has been in many ways remarkable. Perhaps every one of our number has been more or less face to face with danger, perplexity and distress. But out of it all the Lord has delivered us. And some who have drunk more deeply than ever before the cup of the Man of Sorrows can testify that it has been a most blessed year to our souls and can give God thanks for it. Personally, it has been the most sorrowful and the most blessed year of my life, and I doubt not that others have had in some measure the same experience. We have put to the proof the faithfulness of God - His power to support in trouble and to give patience under affliction, as well as to deliver from danger. And should greater dangers await us, should deeper sorrows come...it is to be hoped that they will be met in a strengthened confidence in our God." (180) </div>
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Glory to God in the highest. Highest glory to Him because He's proven Himself faithful, though He doesn't have to. Glory to God in the highest because He hears, He responds, He knows. Glory to God because He's the highest and I know He's the Lord my God. </div>
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Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!</div>
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Serving the King,</div>
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Jeanette</div>
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-15269611333762458922012-11-05T12:12:00.000-06:002012-11-05T12:12:46.986-06:00Whose Side are You Leaning On?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I really can't remember if <i>Whose Side Are You Leaning On?</i> was a song we sang in youth group when I was a teen (back in the dark ages) or if we sang it in the early days of leading Student Ministry. If you were not a teen in the 80's or maybe even early 90's, you probably don't know it. The words were simply - <i>Whose side are you leaning on? I'm leaning on the Lord's side? (repeat) I lean, I lean, I lean, I lean, I'm leaning on the Lord's side. </i>Snazzy, right? Remember, these were the dark ages. Ok, here's the fun part - every time you sang the word lean or leaning, you physically leaned. It was a lot of fun and could get a little rough, depending who was sitting next to you.<br />
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I thought about that song this morning in cycle class. I hadn't been in 2 weeks (mistake) and I forgot my water bottle. I was already running late and had to stop in the cafe for water. I was a little frustrated and I didn't remember, until the instructor kept telling us to turn the gear up, that the only way I make it through cycle class is to pray. It's a great time to talk to God about Himself, what's on my heart, and friends and such. I was praying about the election tomorrow and thought about a story from Scripture and so I came home to look it up. It's found in Joshua 5:13-15, if you care to look for yourself.<br />
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Basically, here's the background: Moses died, Joshua was put in charge. The Hebrew people had been wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years and they were finally going into the land of promise. The crossed the Jordan River on dry land - not because there was a drought but because God dried it up. The people took some time to celebrate the Passover but then Joshua was looking ahead to the battle for Jericho.<br />
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Here's the encounter: Joshua was checking out Jericho and as he looked he saw a man standing with his sword drawn. Joshua approached him and asked, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" (Whose side are you leaning on...) The man answered, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord."<br />
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I had to start a new paragraph right here so you could let that sink in just a bit. I have chills.<br />
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Here's why: at that moment Joshua realized to Whom he was speaking. One commentator I read this morning wrote that it was possibly a Christophany - an appearance of the preincarnate Christ. It was at that moment that Joshua fell face down. All the way down.<br />
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And that, my friends who are believers, is where I'll be tomorrow. (and you should be too) Tomorrow is a critical day. I've already voted and I voted my convictions. I fully recognize that there are believers and followers of Christ who do not share my political convictions and have voted in a contrary way. Ultimately, as believers and followers, we might label ourselves are Republican or Democrat or Independent but Whose side we are on is clear. And I'm pretty sure He's not wearing any labels. And, I can type with confidence, that no matter who the next president of our great nation is, God will still be on His throne and our knees should be used to being on the floor.<br />
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As for me, I'm leaning on the Lord's side.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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Jeanette</div>
Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-17655389783188017882012-10-10T13:46:00.002-05:002012-10-10T13:46:24.693-05:00#firstworldprobs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was home a couple of days ago doing the awful house cleaning so I thought I would turn the tv on to keep me company. I rarely watch tv on a week day and, if I do, it's always something on Food Network. This particular day I watched a day-time talk show. It was my first time to see it but I was attracted because I saw on the guide that Kelly Pickler was guest co-hosting and Chris Rene was going to be on.<br />
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(I want to write parenthetically here that I do watch reality tv shows. I did see Chris Rene win XFactor last year and I do remember when Kelly Pickler was on American Idol. I will not, however, under any circumstances watch American Idol this year because a certain new judge has made it unwatchable in my opinion. Also, does everyone in the world now have a day-time talk show? I mean, I watch 30-Minute Meals but not that cook on a talk show. We're huge Survivor fans but that host now also has a day-time talk show. No, I've never seen it but I saw it listed today when I was setting my dvr to make sure I recorded the season premier of Duck Dynasty tonight. Reality tv = a silly habit that I can't kick.)<br />
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Anyway, on that day's episode of the show there was a segment about rage in America. There was a set-up in an ice cream shop and customers were secretly recorded to see how long it would take them to get mad about bad service or the waitress touching her hair before she touched the food or whatever. At this point, I was on my hands & knees scrubbing my kitchen floor so I'm not all together sure exactly what happened. But, there was a psychiatrist or sociologist or "expert" of some kind reporting about the increased cases of people's anger getting out of control over meaningless stuff. Some of the customers that were recorded in the ice cream shop were there to tell their stories about getting so mad. The expert was there to provide counsel on how to avoid such situations and, maybe, some anger management advice.<br />
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Really, I'm embarrassed that I've spent an entire paragraph explaining the segment on the show but, hang on, I'm about to make a point.<br />
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The problem with anger in America is simply a first world problem. I see that hashtag on twitter on occasion. I did a search for it just now. Things like - pants being wrinkled, walking into a door because it's automatic, iphone is here but can't pick it up til later today, and, oh, this may be the kicker, "Im hungry and want food but im to lazy to get up." (yes, there are some errors to that but I typed it exactly like it appeared on twitter.)<br />
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Yeah, we've got problems. Really nothing at all like the problems found in third world countries. You know, like starving and wanting something to eat but there's nowhere to get food and, even if there was, there's no money to buy it.<br />
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We have anger issues because we're used to getting what we want when we want it. We don't want to wait for anything and we certainly don't want there to be problems or hold-ups or people not serving us in the manner in which we deserve. Give us some respect, would ya? And, by the way, if I do become angry it's really not my fault anyway. I know for sure I will be able to find someone to blame it on.<br />
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I could go on and on but I've got to go wash dishes. I'm gonna have dish-pan hands because I'm not used to washing dishes but my dishwasher is broken and the repairman couldn't get to my house until later this week. ugh!<br />
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#firstworldprobs<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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Jeanette<br />
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Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6368148773883062885.post-33426121222638454582012-10-05T11:40:00.000-05:002012-10-05T11:40:59.976-05:00What Would You Give to Save a Life?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was hanging out with these beauties last night and the subject of blogging came up. My oldest has been blogging daily about what's on his mind. We were talking about it in light of the presidential debate a couple of nights ago but the comment was made that I have not blogged in weeks. Months, actually. I've had a thought for a post in my head since June, though, so I'll see if I can make some sense out of it.<br />
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Weeks and weeks ago now I got emotional while teaching Life Group. I may have gotten emotional since then (if you know me personally, you know that is highly likely - I live emotions full on) but this day sticks out in my mind. Actually, it was June 10th and our Life Group had been doing a study of the book of Philippians and it was the last day so we were at the end of chapter 4. In Philippians 4:17 Paul wrote this, "Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account." When Johnny preached a sermon on giving he said it's like God is saying to us, "I don't seek what's yours but you." (as if it's really ours any way) God's purposes on earth will be accomplished but it's our privilege to be participants. Paul wrote of his gratitude to the people of Philippi for their support of him but the message is that they got it. They got it that living their lives and giving of their possessions were to be about something greater than themselves.<br />
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Let me just interject right here that I am so guilty of being fixated on self. At times, I want to hunker down with those 4 whose faces I posted on this post and not be aware of hurt and suffering and need around me. Our schedules become busy and our lives so full that we are completely unaware of what's all around us. That's not how we are supposed to live though.<br />
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I asked the question in Life Group (here's the part where I lost it), "What would you be willing to give in order to save a life?" I mentioned a couple (his parents go to our church) that had reduced their worldly possessions to 8 suitcases and left the comforts of home to go live on a foreign mission field. We're not all called to do that, so I also mentioned the 18 million (I can't even type it without tears) people - I can't even fathom 18 million people - that are suffering from food shortages in Africa. In an area called The Sahel of Africa, nearly 1.5 million children are near starvation. There's a ministry website that counts the number of people who die daily from starvation - they report 1 every 6 seconds. From my desk here in Texas I can't save 1.5 million children but I can't turn a blind eye either. Mother Theresa once said if you can't feed 100 hungry people then feed just 1.<br />
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We were never meant to hoard our blessings or our time or our families. That's not what Jesus taught.<br />
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My birthday was just a few days before that lesson on June 10th. A mother and her adult daughter often sit right behind us in corporate worship on Sundays. They gave me a fun card and gift and I was talking to them and thanking them. The mom's words penetrated my heart and have stuck with me. She talked about my travel and mission work and she said something about "all those lives you're saving."<br />
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I rarely feel like a life saver but I want to be one. Whether far away across the sea or right here in my community I know there's some lives that need to be saved. I've become fully aware of some chances I've missed just recently. Gosh, it hurts. <br />
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I'd rather have the profit to my account than the hurt. Not more profit in my bank account. I could care less about that except in what I need to take care of those 3 that God entrusted to Johnny and me. I want that profit that's like a big hug from my Father. To hear in my spirit, "Well done. You're getting it. You're living like you believe Me."<br />
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Weighing what I'm personally willing to give to save a life is a daily task. All I ask from God is that He make me willing to give more. That He never stops calling me and asking me to join Him in His purposes.<br />
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Serving the King,<br />
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Jeanette</div>
Jeanettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08978033778189437003noreply@blogger.com0