Monday, September 29, 2014
Identity Crisis
I started my day with an identity crisis. In the middle of my major melt-down I had a mini-revelation. The problem with finding my identity in what we do is this: when the winds of change come, my identity is easily blown off course. If I define myself by how I fill the hours of my day, then I risk losing my identity when my activity or roles change. This is why it is so important that I find my identity in Jesus and define myself by who HE says I am. While the seasons of life are constantly changing, who I am in Christ is unchanging and eternal. This truth is an anchor for my soul and keeps me steadfast and sure through the twists and turns of life.
Monday, March 12, 2012
A Reminder To Myself
Having a new baby means a lot of things for me... Precious moments, simple joys, sleepless nights, extra pounds and clothes that no longer fit... That last one is a fierce battle for me. Although I keep reminding myself that I just had a baby, I cannot walk past a mirror without feeling awful about myself and fearing I will never lose this extra weight.
Years ago I read a book by Lisa Bevere called YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU WEIGH. How desperately I need that reminder! I think it's time to get that book off the shelf and revisit the truths found in it's pages. How easy (and dangerous) it is to define myself by what I see in the mirror or by the numbers on the scale. So I pray for the ability to daily see myself through God's eyes and to approach weight loss with a healthy mindset....something that's so much easier said than done.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
What I want to do... (Romans 7)
Why is it that the people who mean the most to us are often the ones we most frequently show our worst sides to?? Some days I feel as though I am constantly operating in my flesh...allowing unkind words to come from my mouth and unloving actions to dictate my day...even after spending time with the Lord in prayer! Just as Paul described his struggle in Romans 7, so I see myself in his words: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do! But what I hate I do... For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do! But the evil I do not want to do-thIs I keep on doing...what a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!". Romans 7:15,19,24,25. God knows this heart that I wrestle with, and He also knows the cure. In Jesus I have hope of being delivered from my flesh! In Him I am being sanctified and made more like Him. And although some days this process seems woefully slow, He has promised to complete the work He has started in me. I pray that God's patience and grace would be upon all of us as He takes us from glory to glory!
Monday, March 5, 2012
And Baby Makes Six
Things have changed a lot since the last time I posted. At that time my baby boy was only two months old. Today as I write this he is 19 months and the big brother of our newest addition...Alyssa Joy!
Our sweet baby girl will be four weeks old tomorrow...and we all love her to pieces! She is a continual reminder that God is good and a giver of good gifts. She is also a reminder that I am now the mother of six children which I still find hard to believe at times! Why God would choose to entrust these precious lives to me, I'm still not sure. Whatever the reason, I know I want to be faithful with what He has blessed me with. Perhaps part of His plan in giving us a large family is to continualy reveal how desperately I need Him every minute of every day. Without His strength and grace, I would be lost. That fact is true whether I have one child or a dozen, but the more arrows He adds to our quiver the greater and deeper my dependency on the Lord becomes. These crazy, sleep-deprived days put me right where the Lord wants me...aware of my inadequacy and of His sufficiency!
I hope to share some of this journey with you in the days to come. I hope you'll join me in my musings!
Our sweet baby girl will be four weeks old tomorrow...and we all love her to pieces! She is a continual reminder that God is good and a giver of good gifts. She is also a reminder that I am now the mother of six children which I still find hard to believe at times! Why God would choose to entrust these precious lives to me, I'm still not sure. Whatever the reason, I know I want to be faithful with what He has blessed me with. Perhaps part of His plan in giving us a large family is to continualy reveal how desperately I need Him every minute of every day. Without His strength and grace, I would be lost. That fact is true whether I have one child or a dozen, but the more arrows He adds to our quiver the greater and deeper my dependency on the Lord becomes. These crazy, sleep-deprived days put me right where the Lord wants me...aware of my inadequacy and of His sufficiency!
I hope to share some of this journey with you in the days to come. I hope you'll join me in my musings!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Modern Day Slavery
It's been said that ignorance is bliss, but today I hope to challenge that idea. Perhaps you've been guilty, as I have, of living in a bubble that for the most part is untouched by what's happening in rest of the world. Recently, I've discovered, however, that when God gets a hold of a person's heart, their world begins to shake and it isn't as easy to remain unaffected by the world around us. That's a good thing because apathy and indifference has no place in the lives of Christians.
I'm primarily speaking of myself and what God has been doing in my own heart. If you'd be wiling to give me a few minutes of your time, I'd be honored to have the privilege of sharing with you something that I've more recently had my eyes opened to and my heart extremely burdened for. In fact, I feel so burdened by what I've learned that I feel I must share this information with the people around me in case there are others who are unaware of the atrocity I'm about to speak of.
Are you aware that slavery still exists in our world? In fact, it is happening right here in our own country! It is called human trafficking and approximately 27 million people have been victims of modern day slavery across the world. The United States, which we refer to as "the land of the free", is not exempt from this horrible practice. The statistics are heart-wrenching. Although anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, 80% are women and most of these women are exploited for sex slavery. There are innocent children being sold into slavery as well. Many of these children are forced into prostitution or involuntary servitude. Parents in dire circumstances sell their daughters believing the lie that their children will be taken care of and given a better life but instead they become victims of sex trafficking. Stop a second and think: What if that was your situation? What if that was your precious daughter? Do you find it difficult to imagine? So do I! And it breaks my heart and angers me to know that human trafficking and sex slavery is happening every day...possibly in some of our own backyards!!
Here's something else to think about: Did you know that most of the chocolate that is produced involves human trafficking? Every time we buy a candy bar or some other chocolate product we are very likely supporting child labor. Does this information upset you as much as it upsets me? It should! These are very disturbing facts! As Christians we need to be aware of what is happening and ask the question: "What would Jesus have us do?"
What can we do to make a difference? All of us can pray! We can be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves! We can support ministries and organizations that are seeking to help these victims. There are many, many people (many of them innocent children!) victimized by human trafficking. They need to know someone cares! They need to know someone will fight for them and offer the hope and compassion of Jesus!
If you would like to find out more about what I've shared here, please view the following links. I encourage you to pass this on to other people. The Church needs to be educated and aware of what is happening around the world. I hope that you will join me in being a voice for those who are bound by the chains of human trafficking and by doing what you can to make a difference.
In Christ's love,
Jennifer
https://www.thehomefoundation.net/the-sobering-facts/
http://www.dreamcenter.org/new/images/outreach/RescueProject/stats.pdf
http://hubpages.com/hub/Traffik_Free_Chocolate-_Do_You_Support_Child_Labor
I'm primarily speaking of myself and what God has been doing in my own heart. If you'd be wiling to give me a few minutes of your time, I'd be honored to have the privilege of sharing with you something that I've more recently had my eyes opened to and my heart extremely burdened for. In fact, I feel so burdened by what I've learned that I feel I must share this information with the people around me in case there are others who are unaware of the atrocity I'm about to speak of.
Are you aware that slavery still exists in our world? In fact, it is happening right here in our own country! It is called human trafficking and approximately 27 million people have been victims of modern day slavery across the world. The United States, which we refer to as "the land of the free", is not exempt from this horrible practice. The statistics are heart-wrenching. Although anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, 80% are women and most of these women are exploited for sex slavery. There are innocent children being sold into slavery as well. Many of these children are forced into prostitution or involuntary servitude. Parents in dire circumstances sell their daughters believing the lie that their children will be taken care of and given a better life but instead they become victims of sex trafficking. Stop a second and think: What if that was your situation? What if that was your precious daughter? Do you find it difficult to imagine? So do I! And it breaks my heart and angers me to know that human trafficking and sex slavery is happening every day...possibly in some of our own backyards!!
Here's something else to think about: Did you know that most of the chocolate that is produced involves human trafficking? Every time we buy a candy bar or some other chocolate product we are very likely supporting child labor. Does this information upset you as much as it upsets me? It should! These are very disturbing facts! As Christians we need to be aware of what is happening and ask the question: "What would Jesus have us do?"
What can we do to make a difference? All of us can pray! We can be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves! We can support ministries and organizations that are seeking to help these victims. There are many, many people (many of them innocent children!) victimized by human trafficking. They need to know someone cares! They need to know someone will fight for them and offer the hope and compassion of Jesus!
If you would like to find out more about what I've shared here, please view the following links. I encourage you to pass this on to other people. The Church needs to be educated and aware of what is happening around the world. I hope that you will join me in being a voice for those who are bound by the chains of human trafficking and by doing what you can to make a difference.
In Christ's love,
Jennifer
https://www.thehomefoundation.net/the-sobering-facts/
http://www.dreamcenter.org/new/images/outreach/RescueProject/stats.pdf
http://hubpages.com/hub/Traffik_Free_Chocolate-_Do_You_Support_Child_Labor
Living with an "Attitude of Gratitude"
There are many reasons to love the season of Thanksgiving. Beyond the turkey, family get togethers, and pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving is all about counting our blessings and being thankful. As much as I appreciate a special season which helps us to focus on all that we are and should be thankful for, the truth is, as believers in Christ, we need to be living in a place of gratitude every day of the year!
Scripture is filled with reminders to live in thankfulness all of the time, not just during the the season of Thanksgiving. The Psalmist instructs us over and over to "Give thanks to the Lord". We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Giving thanks isn't always our first response when we find ourselves in circumstances that are painful or difficult. It's easy to express our thanks to God when life is comfortable and things are going our way. But when we are facing trials of various kinds, it can be far more challenging to be thankful for the place that God has us in!
As believers, part of living in obedience to Christ means practicing thankfulness...every day! Colossians 2:6-7 tells us that living in Christ and overflowing thankfulness go hand in hand. "So then, just as you received Christ as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Overflowing with gratitude is part of what it means to live with an "attitude of gratitude". It's not just being intentional about being thankful (although it sometimes begins there). It's coming to a place where thankfulness is as natural to us as breathing is. It's having thankfulness pour from our hearts and lips in all situations...even the ones we'd rather not have to face. When we operate out of such a place, we learn to live out the commands found in Ephesians 5:19-20: "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." What a beautiful way to live!
As we count our many blessings this season, let's ask God to help us be people who are "overflowing with thankfulness". Every moment of every day throughout the year, may thanksgiving be a way of life for us as we trust in the goodness and faithfulness of our great God!
Scripture is filled with reminders to live in thankfulness all of the time, not just during the the season of Thanksgiving. The Psalmist instructs us over and over to "Give thanks to the Lord". We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Giving thanks isn't always our first response when we find ourselves in circumstances that are painful or difficult. It's easy to express our thanks to God when life is comfortable and things are going our way. But when we are facing trials of various kinds, it can be far more challenging to be thankful for the place that God has us in!
As believers, part of living in obedience to Christ means practicing thankfulness...every day! Colossians 2:6-7 tells us that living in Christ and overflowing thankfulness go hand in hand. "So then, just as you received Christ as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Overflowing with gratitude is part of what it means to live with an "attitude of gratitude". It's not just being intentional about being thankful (although it sometimes begins there). It's coming to a place where thankfulness is as natural to us as breathing is. It's having thankfulness pour from our hearts and lips in all situations...even the ones we'd rather not have to face. When we operate out of such a place, we learn to live out the commands found in Ephesians 5:19-20: "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." What a beautiful way to live!
As we count our many blessings this season, let's ask God to help us be people who are "overflowing with thankfulness". Every moment of every day throughout the year, may thanksgiving be a way of life for us as we trust in the goodness and faithfulness of our great God!
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