"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Psalm 34:8-11
I never used to be the one who would jump at the chance to try new types of food. Once I found something I liked, I stuck to it. Name a restaurant. I can tell exactly ONE food from there because I always get the same thing. My mom used to complain because I refused to eat foods with certain items in them. Nothing could have peppers, onions, brussel sprouts, anything looking funny or discolored.
For some reason college opened up my adventure sense in the food department. I started to like and try EVERYTHING. Except for brussel sprouts. It is unnatural. And you are wrong if you like them. End of story. I got to the point where I enjoyed trying new things. It wasn't a big deal if I didn't like it. It was simply the adventure of seeing if it was worth it or not. If college didn't push my boundaries, my trip to Hong Kong definitely did. I can't even name some of the things we tried. I do have pictures though...
Everytime I found something good or delicious I had to share it. I got almost everyone addicted to warm little egg custard pastries at the Hong Kong market and it is a personal pledge to have my loved ones share my love for sushi before I die. "Here, try it. It is delicious. It will change your life for real. You will never eat the same. Amazing right?"
Sadly, sometimes I am more interested in my family digging my version of Shrimp Pesto Pasta than of sharing my enthusiastic (or I guess NON-enthusiastic) relationship with Christ. Because shouldn't I be pushing Christ like the best thing ever???? BECAUSE ISN'T HE????!!!!! Of course He is. I love this Psalm because it reminds me to be humble before my King. It reminds me to be reverant and fearful before the Lord Almighty. But it also reminds me to seek after Him and show Him off with passion. To run down hallways, streets and any other possible avenue screaming at the top of my lungs: "TASTE AND SEE!!!! He is sooooo good! Just try Him. Just trust Him! He will change your life. PROMISE!!!"
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Lady of Faith
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
I am still learning to be a Lady of Faith. In all areas of my life I am learning to understand what it means to wait patiently. To be still. To be silent. It has been a long road but the reapings of sitting in the silence of God are starting to show.
It has definately been a lot of give and take. What I mean by that is that I have on numerous occasions given myself, my time, my hopes, my dreams to God and have told Him to do as He would see fit. And then in a couple hours I took them all back. Not much of a partnership. Not much of a surrender. Not much faith required.
When it comes to being single I have been a very jaded "Indian giver". Excuse my lack of political correctness. Since it is a personal blog you can let it slide. I posted in October how I had made the promise to God to not seek out a relationship. It was a pretty big commitment. It was truly heartfelt. It was a surrender I had been trying to dedicate for many years. No more Indian giving for me. I gave and for the first time, didn't try to get it back. I praise God for loving me to be able to do that. For healing me to be able to do that. For teaching me to be able to do that. For placing Godly men and women in my life to demonstrate how to do that.
It is three months later and God has given me a man after His own heart. What is really neat is that we did not seek each other out. It is not an accident encounter or an orchestrated, manipulated, desparate attempt at a feeble relationship. It is the work of an Amazing God. His hand is upon our relationship. Guiding it. Molding it. Surrounding it. What seems like just three weeks feels like years. What felt awkward and one sided from previous relationships feels even, fitted and home with us.
Still in my head sometimes are scars from past relationships. Still are whispers of deceit and beckonings of brokeness. For just a moment I allow the failure of my Indian giving concepts to overtake me and fear to grip me. But part of being a Lady of Faith is being SURE of what we HOPE for and CERTAIN of what we DO NOT SEE. It may take a minute to be still to hear God's whisper of love and promise. But it is strong and true. And TRUTH will always win. So I take a deep breath. I surround myself with scripture, prayer, and yes, the texts of my love that assure me that he gets me and is praying as well. I stand firm in the truth that God is the head of this relationship. That my love follows Christ and is honest in his commitments. That I don't need to steer or direct something that God is capable of orchestrating by Himself. That the lies are simply that: lies. That my love is my love and I am his. And we are God's. That I am human and that is all the more reason to practice my faith and study God's word.
I am still learning to be a Lady of Faith. In all areas of my life I am learning to understand what it means to wait patiently. To be still. To be silent. It has been a long road but the reapings of sitting in the silence of God are starting to show.
It has definately been a lot of give and take. What I mean by that is that I have on numerous occasions given myself, my time, my hopes, my dreams to God and have told Him to do as He would see fit. And then in a couple hours I took them all back. Not much of a partnership. Not much of a surrender. Not much faith required.
When it comes to being single I have been a very jaded "Indian giver". Excuse my lack of political correctness. Since it is a personal blog you can let it slide. I posted in October how I had made the promise to God to not seek out a relationship. It was a pretty big commitment. It was truly heartfelt. It was a surrender I had been trying to dedicate for many years. No more Indian giving for me. I gave and for the first time, didn't try to get it back. I praise God for loving me to be able to do that. For healing me to be able to do that. For teaching me to be able to do that. For placing Godly men and women in my life to demonstrate how to do that.
It is three months later and God has given me a man after His own heart. What is really neat is that we did not seek each other out. It is not an accident encounter or an orchestrated, manipulated, desparate attempt at a feeble relationship. It is the work of an Amazing God. His hand is upon our relationship. Guiding it. Molding it. Surrounding it. What seems like just three weeks feels like years. What felt awkward and one sided from previous relationships feels even, fitted and home with us.
Still in my head sometimes are scars from past relationships. Still are whispers of deceit and beckonings of brokeness. For just a moment I allow the failure of my Indian giving concepts to overtake me and fear to grip me. But part of being a Lady of Faith is being SURE of what we HOPE for and CERTAIN of what we DO NOT SEE. It may take a minute to be still to hear God's whisper of love and promise. But it is strong and true. And TRUTH will always win. So I take a deep breath. I surround myself with scripture, prayer, and yes, the texts of my love that assure me that he gets me and is praying as well. I stand firm in the truth that God is the head of this relationship. That my love follows Christ and is honest in his commitments. That I don't need to steer or direct something that God is capable of orchestrating by Himself. That the lies are simply that: lies. That my love is my love and I am his. And we are God's. That I am human and that is all the more reason to practice my faith and study God's word.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Be Prepared
Ahhhh! I cannot contain my joy for God. It is ridiculous. I just wanted to share what God has shown me this morning. Have you ever just sought out God in scripture???? I mean, hopefully you have. If you haven't you need to try it. I know that in my own personal walk I am ashamed that I have read scripture just because it was the motion that was necessary to say I had a "devotion". I would wake up and read the next section of a book of the Bible and close the Bible and think, 'Good job Jenn. You read some of God's Word. Check it off, and go live your day for random purposes.'
Crazy way to read the Bible, I know. The times I have gone through the motions of religion instead of seeking out a relationship with Jesus is embarassing and shameful. The times I have justified my Christianity with a check off list of reading scripture and sending up a formula prayer breaks my heart. That confession alone is so sad to me.
Thank you Jesus that You continue to call after me until I get little moments of "Yes, Lord, I desperately seek after You because I desperately need You! This is real. YOU ARE REAL."
Anyway, this morning I was reading in Jeremiah where God answers Jeremiah's plea for knowing when the desolation will end. Basically God says, "If you can't handle yourself in this little storm, what will you do when the hurricane hits?" It really struck me. I felt the need to be really prepared. To really seek out what God says about being prepared. I don't want to try to hold my head above water in the murky times and then be at a total lost when the crashing waves start to toss me around. I want to know who my God is with certainty and security. I want to be prepared.
So God led me to some amazing truth in 2 Timothy. A book that until now has just been that little thin one with a bunch of other thin ones toward the end of the New Testament. Oh God you are soooo good.
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction." - 2 Timothy 4:2
Lord I want to constantly be in preparation for You. So that when life gets tougher than I can imagine You are the Rock I cling to with hope and security. I want to be prepared so that I can shout out Your goodness and love to anyone who will hear. I want to be prepared so I can show Your traits with courage and strength.
I love You Lord. So much.
Crazy way to read the Bible, I know. The times I have gone through the motions of religion instead of seeking out a relationship with Jesus is embarassing and shameful. The times I have justified my Christianity with a check off list of reading scripture and sending up a formula prayer breaks my heart. That confession alone is so sad to me.
Thank you Jesus that You continue to call after me until I get little moments of "Yes, Lord, I desperately seek after You because I desperately need You! This is real. YOU ARE REAL."
Anyway, this morning I was reading in Jeremiah where God answers Jeremiah's plea for knowing when the desolation will end. Basically God says, "If you can't handle yourself in this little storm, what will you do when the hurricane hits?" It really struck me. I felt the need to be really prepared. To really seek out what God says about being prepared. I don't want to try to hold my head above water in the murky times and then be at a total lost when the crashing waves start to toss me around. I want to know who my God is with certainty and security. I want to be prepared.
So God led me to some amazing truth in 2 Timothy. A book that until now has just been that little thin one with a bunch of other thin ones toward the end of the New Testament. Oh God you are soooo good.
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction." - 2 Timothy 4:2
Lord I want to constantly be in preparation for You. So that when life gets tougher than I can imagine You are the Rock I cling to with hope and security. I want to be prepared so that I can shout out Your goodness and love to anyone who will hear. I want to be prepared so I can show Your traits with courage and strength.
I love You Lord. So much.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
I Have Found All That I Want
Spirit, fall fresh on me, Spirit fall fresh on me,
Hear my cry, fill my life, I won't need anything but You
I found all that I want, all that I longed for in You
I found all that I want, all that I longed for in You
Wasted time is when I'm far from Your truth
I've found all that I want, all that I long for in You
Spirit come be my joy, Spirit come be my joy
Be my song, fill my lungs, I won't need anything but you - Switchfoot
I know I have said it before, but I will say it again. God is good. He is soooooo good. GOD IS GOOD! Lately I have been thinking about His goodness. In my pain, He is good. In my struggles, he is good. In my weakness, He is good. In my doubt, He is good. In my joy, He is good. In my faith, He is good. In my blessings, He is good. He really is good all the time. So of course... all the time... He is good.
That's pretty much it. Lol. That's right. I just lol-ed this blog. Because I really am laughing out loud at how good God is. It's just that simple. I can cry, throw a fit, be dramatic, blow things out of proportion and whine. Or I can tell about how good God is and continues to be.
GOD IS GOOD.
Hear my cry, fill my life, I won't need anything but You
I found all that I want, all that I longed for in You
I found all that I want, all that I longed for in You
Wasted time is when I'm far from Your truth
I've found all that I want, all that I long for in You
Spirit come be my joy, Spirit come be my joy
Be my song, fill my lungs, I won't need anything but you - Switchfoot
I know I have said it before, but I will say it again. God is good. He is soooooo good. GOD IS GOOD! Lately I have been thinking about His goodness. In my pain, He is good. In my struggles, he is good. In my weakness, He is good. In my doubt, He is good. In my joy, He is good. In my faith, He is good. In my blessings, He is good. He really is good all the time. So of course... all the time... He is good.
That's pretty much it. Lol. That's right. I just lol-ed this blog. Because I really am laughing out loud at how good God is. It's just that simple. I can cry, throw a fit, be dramatic, blow things out of proportion and whine. Or I can tell about how good God is and continues to be.
GOD IS GOOD.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Be Near Oh God
A lie is a lie is a lie is a lie. And just the same: a truth is a truth is a truth is a... well, you get the picture. I am finding more and more how important scripture is to memorize and store in your heart. Not only because actual scripture tells us to do so (Psalm 119:11), but because it draws me closer to God. I have realized lately that I desperately need God. I desire to be closer to Him. I want to find out what He desires of me (Micah 6:8) and do it well. I love this journey. It has been amazing. I did something today that I didn't realize was so heavy. I forgave myself for some past decisions. I was sitting in my classroom just soaking up some good worship time with God and just broke for the things I have been holding on to inside of me. I guess I have been storing them up so I can take out the guilt and the bitterness and the brokeness for future pity parties. It was so freeing. To submit to God. To surrender. So tonight when lies from the past started to creep up on me I decided to go to scripture.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4: 7-8
The part that really stuck with me is to come near to God. I just sat in silence and whispered over and over again lyrics from a Shane and Shane song. "Be near, oh God, be near, oh God of us, Your nearness is to us our good." That promise that if I come to God, pray to God, worship God, seek out God, ask God, spend time with God, then He will draw near to me. That is truth. And likewise, if I resist the devil, the promise is that he will flee from me. How do I resist the devil? I acknowledge his lies for what they are, lies. Then I submit to God fully and just simply draw near to Him with scripture, worship, prayer.
The freeing is amazing. I am telling the truth when I say that as I was seeking out God I felt His presence. My chest got lighter. There was a deep calming. A unbelievable peace that truly passes understanding. You see when truth is revealed and believed there is a serenity. There is a joy. There is a release. There is truth, plain and simple. Only God can do that.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4: 7-8
The part that really stuck with me is to come near to God. I just sat in silence and whispered over and over again lyrics from a Shane and Shane song. "Be near, oh God, be near, oh God of us, Your nearness is to us our good." That promise that if I come to God, pray to God, worship God, seek out God, ask God, spend time with God, then He will draw near to me. That is truth. And likewise, if I resist the devil, the promise is that he will flee from me. How do I resist the devil? I acknowledge his lies for what they are, lies. Then I submit to God fully and just simply draw near to Him with scripture, worship, prayer.
The freeing is amazing. I am telling the truth when I say that as I was seeking out God I felt His presence. My chest got lighter. There was a deep calming. A unbelievable peace that truly passes understanding. You see when truth is revealed and believed there is a serenity. There is a joy. There is a release. There is truth, plain and simple. Only God can do that.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Submission at its Best
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:19-21
Oh sweet submission. Everyone loves the opportunity. I was reading this passage this morning and I really like several things:
One: I love verse 19 because it really gives me an excuse to burst into random song whenever I feel like. Life really can be a musical. And now I have my backing. So the next time you ask me what I am doing and I burst into song to answer you, don't give me that look. It is in the Bible. What is really interesting is that it says to speak with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. All lyrics and words that seek after God, praise God, turn to God, lift up God's name, burden God and trust Him. Pretty cool that we should be speaking to another in such a way. Also the "sing and make music in your heart to the Lord" part is pretty awesome. If there is always a song or constant beginnings of one in my heart that is specifically for God, where would there be room for lies, doubts, and fear??? Because God is not a God of any of those. Kind of ties in with Proverbs 4:23. I definately want my wellspring to be more life-giving.
Two: If I am speaking to others with everything that seeks, praises, turns to God and I am also beginning and continuing music in my heart that belongs to God then naturally I can always thank God. For something. Anything. Everything. Even in those times where things seem horrible and cold. I can still be thankful. I know that practicing verse 19 daily allows me to commit to a Savior and thank Him daily as well. It's not like everyday someone dies for your sins. It happened once and the power of His blood should not go unnoticed.
Three: If I follow God's Word (His Word that is Living and Active to this very day) and make it a purpose (instead of a feeling because those are fleeting) to carry out 19 and 20 of Ephesians 5, then what more can I casually and freely do but surrender? To submit? To put someone else's needs above my own? And not for something in return. But because I have a desire to follow in my Master's footsteps and bring life and love to the people around me.
Oh sweet submission. Everyone loves the opportunity. I was reading this passage this morning and I really like several things:
One: I love verse 19 because it really gives me an excuse to burst into random song whenever I feel like. Life really can be a musical. And now I have my backing. So the next time you ask me what I am doing and I burst into song to answer you, don't give me that look. It is in the Bible. What is really interesting is that it says to speak with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. All lyrics and words that seek after God, praise God, turn to God, lift up God's name, burden God and trust Him. Pretty cool that we should be speaking to another in such a way. Also the "sing and make music in your heart to the Lord" part is pretty awesome. If there is always a song or constant beginnings of one in my heart that is specifically for God, where would there be room for lies, doubts, and fear??? Because God is not a God of any of those. Kind of ties in with Proverbs 4:23. I definately want my wellspring to be more life-giving.
Two: If I am speaking to others with everything that seeks, praises, turns to God and I am also beginning and continuing music in my heart that belongs to God then naturally I can always thank God. For something. Anything. Everything. Even in those times where things seem horrible and cold. I can still be thankful. I know that practicing verse 19 daily allows me to commit to a Savior and thank Him daily as well. It's not like everyday someone dies for your sins. It happened once and the power of His blood should not go unnoticed.
Three: If I follow God's Word (His Word that is Living and Active to this very day) and make it a purpose (instead of a feeling because those are fleeting) to carry out 19 and 20 of Ephesians 5, then what more can I casually and freely do but surrender? To submit? To put someone else's needs above my own? And not for something in return. But because I have a desire to follow in my Master's footsteps and bring life and love to the people around me.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
So Blessed
Just a quick post to say that I am blessed. Right now I have three crazy girls 8,11, and 11 that are searching downstairs for junk food to finish our movie/girl night. We have danced to music, played in the dark outside, painted nails, played games and laughed. A lot. The night is not over. I still have to plan surprise antics to do when they are asleep (think shaving cream on the nose). I still have great talk time left with my former roomie Brit who is helping me with this girls night. But right now I need to go downstairs and surprise scare the girls that are unsuspecting in the kitchen. Again, I am so blessed! There is a God. The One and Only God. Thank You God for Your many blessings.
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