1 Timothy 2:1 (Whole Chapter)
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray ESPECIALLY for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. (The Message Bible)

I haven’t written a blog in some time, but this particular subject has been stirring in my spirit for a while now I just haven’t taken the time to get alone where I can write.  So, here goes…. as always I’m not the best writer so just try and follow along with my thought process. lol

“Pray ESPECIALLY for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.”

Through reading this passage over and over I have found peace about our current gov’t and leaders. It tells me that for us as Christians to be able to continue to be in an environment where we are free to pray to the one and only true God and go about or simple lives we must pray for our nation and our leaders and stop trying to stir up so much turmoil. Really there is nothing we can do about the situation but PRAY all the finger pointing isn’t getting anything accomplished.
We just need to pray more, and talk and point less.  It reminds me that MY job as a Christian where change in our government is concerned is to simply PRAY.   Don’t get me wrong, I too have done my share of complaining about the government until I realized and the Holy Spirit took me straight to the passage above.

I don’t like some of the things going on as much as the next person but me complaining, moaning and giving all of my opinions on the subjects doesn’t help any.  Pointing fingers at what our leaders are doing that I think isn’t right won’t get me anywhere.

MY JOB IS TO PRAY!

To ask God to forgive us as a nation where we have fell short.  To lift up our leaders and ask God to soften their hearts and allow them to hear HIS voice.  My voice and all my eruption about OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT will not do any good if I’m talking to the wrong one.   So, I challenge you now as I have done…… when you hear a bad report about our nation, take it to God first.  Don’t point fingers at our leaders, lift them up… ask God to come into their lives and invade their every thought, to press on them with every law they pass and every bill they sign.

Bashing our leaders and government goes against everything that Jesus died for.  Pray for them!  Pray for our Country, Our Nation, the Land that we LOVE!  If we love AMERICA as we claim to then we should start to show it more through our prayers and less trough our complaining, whining and finger pointing.

I PROMISE YOU, WE WILL GET MORE ACCOMPLISHED WITH 1 PRAYER EACH THAN WE WILL WITH A MILLION TEA PARTIES!

So, just pray for AMERICA and leaving the rest up to God.

Love you all, and maybe it won’t be so long until I write another blog.

Jennifer

“Watch your words and hold your tongue; you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.” -Proverbs 21:23 The Message

“You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.” -Matthew 12:34 The Message

“YOU ARE WHAT YOU REPEAT!”

I don’t know where she got the word from, but my friend Becky posted the above quote as her status earlier tonight.   Now I’ve known Becky since 1st grade so the fact that her post jumps off the screen at me, makes me know more than anything that God wanted me to read it, meditate on it and absorb it.  Those five words really started the little wheels in my head to spinning.  It’s when something stands out to me like that, I know that I know, that I know that Daddy wants me to sit up and pay attention!  I’ve heard it put fifteen different ways and it is repeated time after time in Gods word that there is power in your words (your tongue).

Now I don’t have a problem with drugs, alcohol or sex – heck, I don’t even smoke anymore but anyone that knows me knows that my biggest problem is my mouth (it’s not a problem it’s an area that needs improving is what God is telling me).  1) Not saying stupid things that will embarrass myself or others. 2) Trying not to talk about others in a negative way.  3) And the fact that I should be using my words to build up my brothers and sisters instead of tearing them down.  Yep, that’s where I fall short the most and have to constantly remind myself that I’m not suppose to keep opening my mouth.  I ask Daddy to constantly guard my mouth.  Sometimes I want Him to just put a sock in my mouth so I won’t say the things that come to my mind.  There’s a few people in my life that no matter how hard I try, I just keep on making comments and saying things that I know is not what I should be doing.  TODAY THAT STOPS, I really am and I suppose I’m just going to have to spend more time letting Daddy work on this issue with me and be more aware of what comes out of my mouth.  Because I don’t want to resemble anything like what Matt. 12:24 says above (the blight and the haunting) and I ask that you join me today if you read my blog and ask God to shape the words that come from my mouth to His liking and not mine.  That they be words of praise and uplift others instead of tearing them down and that my words be replace by His sweet words.  I ask this in Jesus Name and I’m asking you to stand in agreement with me about this from this day forward.

I’m sure I’m not the only one so if anyone who wants to be included in this new daily prayer of mine just comment on this and I will be sure to add you to the prayer along with me.  I know a spankin’ from Daddy is a good thing even though sometimes it doesn’t feel good at the time.

Be Blessed As You Go About Your Day!

I’ll leave you with this to ponder…..

“A student doesn’t get a better desk than the teacher!” -Jonathan Roll

Love you all,

Jennifer

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. -James 1:19 The Message

I was working in my flowerbed / garden this past weekend, and as I was pulling the weeds that try to choke out my shrubs and flowers God gently nudged me inside and revealed something to me.

I’ve been going through a lot lately, feeling like I’m facing uncertainty in every direction.  With family members in hospitals, some family passing on to rest with Jesus, moving into an new employment opportunity and just the winds of change sweeping through life in general.  But while I was there in the garden pulling out the weeds God showed me that all of that stuff (those feelings of release) is necessary. All of that stuff is represented by the weeds that needed pulling out of my flower bed.  He showed me that we (He and I) can’t have a beautiful flowerbed without pulling the weeds.  It’s just not going to happen…the weeds WILL come but I have to be ready to lean on God and allow Him to tend to my garden.  And I know that He will be pulling weeds daily, some big ugly weeds and some weeds that are small and have a pretty little blooms on them but they still need pulling.  In the end when the weeding is complete I will be a beautiful garden but in the mean time I’m going to just let Daddy continue to weed and care for me.

Be Blessed today and thank Him for weeding your garden!

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A photo of part of my flower bed from last year.  It’s going to be even more beautiful this year.

After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move. - Matthew 28:1 The Message

Each week of my life is a GIFT from DADDY, I use this verse for a reason. Each Monday I open my facebook or myspace and see grumbling, moaning griping and complaining about it being Monday!  I do it myself sometimes as well and then Daddy gave me a treat yesterday in response to a post by one of my Pastors (The Beautiful, Sweet Mrs. Johnna).  He showed me that each week is like a child getting a gift, and I described to her how I felt about Monday.

Then again this morning during my soaking time with Daddy, He pressed on me to finish it, to explain what is in the package. So this blog is my attempt to do that.  Hang on and let’s see if you guys can follow me. lol My words get scattered, so keep up!

Imagine with me for a moment that you’re about 4 or 5 years of age mentally and physically.  I know, I know it’s a stretch for some, even though our bodies age, our spirits stay young.  Most of the time I don’t feel 35, I feel more like I’m 8 until I look in the mirror and see my flesh. lol  But, I digress – I told you to keep up!  Anyway you’re 4 or 5 and your Daddy gives to you a beautifully wrapped gift I want you to imagine One Week of your life being represented by this gift.

-Each Sunday at mid-night we receive a new gift from Daddy, it’s called a Monday.  Monday’s are the day that represents pulling off the beautiful bow that gives the package the most beauty, a starting point if you will.  Monday’s are the shining point of the week, when we get the gift and start to unwrap it.

-Then comes Tuesday, after we’ve taken the bow off, and set it to the side, then we start to inspect the package to see what corner we can get into the fastest. Tuesday is represented by loosening the tape that holds the corners and creases of the package together.  It is the building up to seeing what’s being hidden by the paper.

-On Wednesday, we get to see the box.  If it was bought at a store sometimes there’s a photo of the gift on the box, sometimes the person who wrapped the gift just put it in an old box from another item or it could be one of those fancy white boxes that reveals nothing.  In the case of the photo box we get all excited because the gift is on the horizon and we can almost touch it.  When the gift is put in a used box or the white box then there MUST be a really good surprise in that box and we must continue to unwrap to get to the good stuff.

-On Thursday, we get to open the box!  Thursday is the day that most of the plans are made for “The Gift”.  Thursday is the day we get to see what’s in the box.  So, we flip open the top and scramble to see what’s inside.  No matter what the gift we have to make the best of it because it’s a gift.  Sometimes the gift is glorious and sometimes it’s just that one simple thing we needed.

-Then comes Friday, that’s the day we get to take our gift out and start playing with it.  Let’s say it’s a toy of some sort for a guy it could be some sort of car or gizmo with lots of buttons and switches, for the ladies it’s a beautiful doll or that pretty dress we’ve had our eye on.  We’re trying to turn on all the features, check out all the buttons, bells and whistles.  Now you can view the gift however you want but in my minds eye I view the gift as time spent with family, friends doing things I enjoy like fishing, working in the yard and just loving on my husband and Friday is the day that all of those plans go into motion.  On Friday’s our minds are filled with the sweetness getting ready to enjoy the gift, making plans for it.  (The child in me says, Yes, Yes the day I get to play is tomorrow I can’t wait.)

-Saturday, Ahhhhh Saturday “The Gift” the time with the family, friends, fishing, cooking out, watching a movie, going to the ball field, playing golf, working in the yard (yes some enjoy this) it’s the day we do ANYTHING we want to most of the time.  Daddy gives us this gift EVERY week!

-Sunday, ohhh Sunday yes Sunday is the best.  Sunday is the the day the we get to take our gift hold it up high and say thank-you Daddy!  Thank you for all of the Gifts you have given me.  And then the kid in us takes our gift hugs on to it tight and runs around the room doing the “Cabbage Patch” or some silly dance shouting “I got a gieeffttt….I got a gieeffttt….I got a gieeffttt….”  Whoot Whoot I got a gift!”  Music is not conveyed in words very well lol.

Maybe I painted the picture well for you.  Savor each day, don’t be in a rush for the weekend and remember to take your time with the packaging.  Enjoy removing the bow, cut into the paper slowly take your time getting to the gift, so that when you get to it you will enjoy it so much more.  Because remember there are children who get their gift, rip off all the wrapping throw it aside and are in such a hurry to find out what’s in the box they forget to enjoy it and become very unhappy that the gift wasn’t what they thought it was.

Stop, Adore the Box, Open Slowly, Get Ready, Love on the Gift, Enjoy the Gift and then be sure and Thank the Giver.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. –John 10:10

Jesus (Life) is the Gift Daddy Sent, Enjoy it!  And Thank Him For THE GIFT!

Have a Great Tuesday (Unwrapping Day)!

Love, Jennifer

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.–Matthew 5:16

Or as it reads in The Message

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. –Matthew 5:14-16

I set out about 6 months ago to find the one verse that I felt described me and the work God was doing in me.  I wasn’t even real sure what I was looking for I just knew I heard someone say as a Christian I was suppose to have a “Foundational Scripture”.  So, if another Christian says I really need to have one of these I better get to looking for mine right?  I started looking for this “Foundational Scripture”,  and as I searched through the bible I simply gave up a few times because it just seemed like such a big book and I felt like this was a task that took a lot of deep thought and study.  Hmmm…. “Foundational Scripture” even the words sounded to me like something that had been researched and developed and studied over by at least 12 men with at least 12 theological degrees that matched them.  And then one day after I stopped trying so hard God showed me Matthew 5:16 and a light bulb went off in my head.  God told me, “This is you Jennifer, this is what I created you for.”  To SHINE, to SHINE for ME!  And that I do, I’ve always felt a need to brighten the day of others and try to get a laugh out of them or bring happiness and joy to them some how.  And when I do get that smile or laugh out of someone it always seems to brighten my day as well as theirs.  I use to refer to it as me trying to be a people pleaser.  I tried real hard for a long time to please people, and now I realize I was wrong in doing that.  When I changed who I’m to please, then God started lining up the rest of the things in my life for me.  I’ve stopped trying to tell God what I want and how I want it and now I just ask Him and stand back and watch Him work. I have the most amazing Daddy (Creator) and would love to share His wonders with you if you aren’t experiencing His amazing Joy!

Love ya,

Jen

I made this dish for the VOVC Easter Picnic and there were several that wanted to get a copy of it, so since I’m typing it up I might as well share it in my blog recipes section too.

Broccoli Nut Salad

1 Med. to Lg. Purple Onion (Finely Chopped)

2 Small Pkg. Almond Slivers

1 Large Pkg. Walnuts

1 Pkg Shelled and Salted Sunflower seeds

2 Medium Heads of Fresh Broccoli

1 Box Large White/ Golden Raisins

1 lb. Bacon (Fried, Drained and Crumbled) (Turkey Bacon can be used as a healthy substitute)

2-4 Tbsp. Mayonnaise (I used the Smart Balance® Brand made with Olive Oil as healthy option.)

Splash of Sugar or 1-2 small pkgs Stevia

Enough Red Wine Vinegar to thin Mayo (It calls for Red Wine Vinegar but for the one I made I used a mixture of Fig infused Vinegar and Raspberry Infused Vinegar..)

Cut the tops off of Broccoli so that it’s cut / diced into small pieces.  Start adding the following ingredients mixing well after the addition of each ingredient.  Box of Golden Raisins, Crumbled Bacon, Pkg. of Walnuts, Pkg. Almond Slivers, Pkg. Sunflower Seeds, Diced Purple Onion.  Make sure these ingredients are mixed well.

In a separate bowl combine mayo and vinegars and add sugar.  Add vinegar and stir until the mixture has a thin dressing consistency.  Pour half of mixture into bowl with main ingredients, mix well then repeat with second half of mixture.  It can be served immediately but is better after being chilled over night in the refrigerator.

Hope you enjoy!

Jen

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“Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” –1 Peter 4:12-13  The Message Bible

Hiya friends!  I’ve been thinking for the last few days hmmmm….. what would be a good blog topic and then as I was driving today God showed me what I should write about.  As always, if I just sit back and wait on Daddy, He WILL answer me.  So, here’s what He showed me.

Have you ever gone to the doctor and been prescribed a medication that had wild side effects?  Most of the time one of the major ones being that it could cause depression?  Here’s what God showed me.  When I was trying to quit smoking I went to the doctor and asked about Chantix (I wasn’t as far along in my walk as I am now so I was a little dumb to the ways of the Holy Spirit).  I had attempted to quit with this product twice because the first time I was so overwhelmed with depression and fear I had to come off it and went right back to smoking.  It’s been about a year and a half since I quit smoking. So, the medicine really DOES work but here’s the catcher… one of the MAIN side effects is depression!  I thought I was the worst person alive, that nobody loved me at all and that everyone was out to get me when I was taking it the first time.  The second time I remembered the feelings and ignored them. (Thank-you Jesus!)

In my experience there was two parts to quitting smoking, 1) releasing the need for nicotine and 2) giving up the habit of feeding the flesh.  The medicine itself takes away the craving for cigarettes but it was up to me to trust in God to remove the habit from my flesh.  And one day outside a coffee shop I lit my last cigarette, made up my mind I didn’t need them anymore and dropped them right there on the ground.

Now I said all of that, to say this, I was trusting God to remove the habit from me and He did.  But the side effects which at the time I just thought were just that “side effects” (because that’s what the world system calls them) were not side effects at all.  God showed me today that “side effects” are nothing more than the enemy trying to keep me from getting to where God wants me to be and if the enemy can put up a road block called “depression”, “mood swings” or try to convince me that I don’t count that’s exactly what he’s going to try and do!  The enemy didn’t want me to drop that fleshy habit for one minute and as soon as I tried to while operating in the flesh he jumped all over me like white on rice.  That’s why I had to quit the meds the first time I tried them.  The second time I knew what the enemy was going to try and and blocked his bad butt and sailed right through the process with half the medicine in half the time.  If only I had known what I know now I would not have even needed the meds I’d just whip out my bible and whip him upside his ugly head and tell him I’m Daddy’s girl and he ain’t gonna get me. lol  But I had to live a little more and learn a lot more.

So, just remember next time your going through something the world calls “side effects” or are having a bout with “depression” call it what it REALLY is and send satan out of your life and back to the pit where he belongs.  You will win the battle if you trust in Daddy, because I have a book that says so.

You guys be Blessed!

Jen has left the blog.

This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard.  What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us.   The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives.  That’s what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up.  You do so well in so many things–You trust God, you’re articulate, you’re insightful, you’re passionate, you love us–now, do your best to do this too.   –2 Corinthians 8:5-7   The Message Bible

My Daddy showed up tonight at VOVC and showed out!  I can’t put fingers to my keyboard to make the words to describe tonight.  AWESOME!  I could type that word 50 times and it wouldn’t begin to encompass the AWESOMENESS!  Confessions, Healing, Repair and Burdens Lifted.  I could see the room flowing in love.  I really must say if I have invited you to VOVC and you haven’t made yourself get in the car and ride out you are missing a HUGE Blessing in your life.  And when I say “if I have invited you” everyone who reads this IS invited.  Yes YOU whoever you are… IS invited.  You can get in your car and drive to Autaugaville, AL or you can tune in to www.VOVC.org and watch from there but YOU are invite.  YES, YOU!  Don’t know what to expect?  Let’s just say, “when Daddy throws a party, it’s a sho nuf PARTY!”

My Daddy’s Awesome and I will catch you later I have some soaking to do!  I want to leave you with this song… It has brought me so close to Daddy and pulled so many tears out of me in two weeks I want to share it.  Just  press the play button, sit back and thank Him for the many things in your life.

Jen has left the blog!

“You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree.  The health of the apple tells the health of the tree.  You must begin with your own life-giving lives.  It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts.  Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.” – Luke 6:43-46 The Message Bible

Today I did something I’ve never done,  I hugged a complete stranger.  Sounds like a small thing right?  It wasn’t small to me at all and I’ll explain why. First of all I don’t want anyone to get the idea that I go around doing these things to draw attention to me.  I don’t I promise!  I’d much rather stay inside my comfort zone and not speak to anyone when I go out and about.  I’m very talkative if I know you and I’m very social on the internet but as a personality trait  it is generally not like me to talk or speak to people unless I get to know them and feel comfortable around them.  That is until lately…  I’ve been working my way up to this over the last six months.  Because I’m not completely comfortable with walking up to someone yet and asking them can I pray for them.  I have formed my own unique way of sharing the message of Jesus with people.  I’ve been giving people CD’s and connect cards (Information Cards) to the church I attend. I’ve been trying to smile more, say hello to more strangers and strike up more conversations with them as well.   Most recently I’ve been giving out copies of our Pastors Testimony that they shared back in February.  I’ve given these CD & cards to all kinds of people in all kinds of places.  I’ve handed them out at the gas pump, at the Wal-Mart cash register, the ladies at Lane Bryant, I’ve even left them in several restaurants inside the folder that holds the tip and receipt.  I can’t tell you exactly how many or where all I have given out these CD’s but they’ve been scattered all over Selma and Dallas County as well as Prattiville and Autauga Coutny.

But today, TODAY was the day that I gave someone a CD and received the most JOY from it!  Yes, God gets the Glory and the man I gave the CD to may or may not listen to it but I received an overwhelming burst of JOY in my spirit.  I was walking around another Flea Market Store (lol the flea market must be my place) I was in Selma at the Treasure Box.  I walked around the whole store, didn’t buy anything, didn’t even take any money or plastic in to purchase anything, I just felt lead to go in there.  While I was in there all of the sudden I was pressed upon by Daddy (that little voice inside me) to pray in the spirit.  So, I did.  Shortly after that I left the store and went to my car.  As I was going to my car I noticed this man sitting on a bench at the Laundry Place next door.  The man was re-lighting a half smoked cigarette.  As I got in my car I felt Daddy nudge me again to give him a CD.  So I sat there for a minute and ask Daddy if he was sure (yes He was sure He’s God, who am I to question Him).  Then that other voice told me, no, no, no you shouldn’t do that.  That’s not safe and this is Selma what do you want to do get yourself killed.  I had a quick flash of my dad and husband telling me not to do that because it wasn’t safe and me being on the 6 o’clock news or in the news paper for getting beat up or worse.  But that little voice got finger service as Pastor Phil says.  I shook that voice off, looked up and saw how beautiful the day was, then reached over to my CD stash and grabbed one and opened the car door.

I went over to the guy, said “hello, how are you today?”  I didn’t ask his name nor give him mine but I will never in all my remaining days on this earth forget his face.  I calmly handed him the CD and told him the Lord had led me to give this to him.  Then I explained that it was a testimony CD from the church that I attend and that the church was in Autaugaville and if he felt led we would love to have him at service sometime.  He raised his sunglasses and looked me in the eye and thanked me.  There was something in those eyes, I don’t know what but something.  This man was amazing he had two scars on his face that looked like tear stains down his face and he touched me more than he will ever know when he said thank-you.  I leaned over to give him a sideways hug and asked him to “give me some love”.  I don’t know this man nor does he know me but when I walked back to my car even though everything about my flesh told me not to go over to this man my spirit was bursting with JOY if it could have jumped out of my skin and skipped back to my car like a little 8 year old girl it would have.  I was grinning from ear to ear.  I don’t know if it was so much that the guy needed the CD as God was showing me no matter what task He has set before me He WILL be with me when I’m doing it and for me not to be afraid to do what he says.

I love you all and hope you have a Blessed night.

Jen has left the blog!