God is good

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." --John 16:33



This is one of my favorite scriptures. Jesus' words are so genuine and powerful. Jesus clearly states that even though we may face hard times, trials, and challenges, even if we are sure we'll be crushed by the world, nothing will be able to destroy us. We will survive and thrive, because Jesus has overcome the world for us. We may be hard pressed on every side, but God is faithful and we will not be crushed. 

Food for Thought

Im in a very "quote" mood. There is something about finding a good quote and just meditating on it for a bit.  Its always nice to read a quote by someone else that explains exactly how you feel but you couldn't express in to the right words. It makes us feel like someone knows what we are going through and quotes often times provide guidance for those who are unsure. Here are a few quotes that I look back on often, I will probably add more to the list as they come along, but as for now here they are. If you have any that you especially enjoy feel free to share.

"change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have-- underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up"-- By someone whose name I don't recall.
How often does the fear of losing the mediocre things in our lives paralyze us from going after what we really want?

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin. Another quote on the fear of change, but then change became the only options. Don't wait for it to become your only option.

This one is actually a quote from Hebrew Talmud, the book where all sayings and preaching of Rabbis are conserved over time. It is such a beautiful and simple description on how men should treat women, I couldn't help but instantly be drawn to it when I first heard it.
"The woman came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be
walked on. Not from his head to be superior, but
from the side to be equal. Under the arm to be
protected, and next to the heart to be loved."
Another quote by someone whom I don't recall, but none the less it speaks years of wisdom.
"love must be our reason, our method, and our accomplishment."

Its that time of year again!

Yup you guessed it Awakening Conference is back! This is the 4th annual youth conference and it honestly keeps getting better. In April of 2007, I was asked by an old friend the morning of if I wanted to attend this random conference she was going to, I had nothing better to do and out of curiosity I went. Looking back, I don’t know why I went; I usually avoided church at all costs. Church had always seemed so hypocritical and judgmental, but there was something about this conference…the people I met and the speakers I heard seemed genuinely in love with God. There was an energy and excitement about God I honestly had never seen or felt before. I only planned on spending one day at the conference, but I ended up attending all 3 days. I cannot tell you how much that one single decision changed my life. At that conference, God turned my world around and offered me His grace and love, not a set of religious rules and standards I had to live by to receive a Get out of Hell Free Card. Awakening continues to change my life every year, and 2010 will be no exception. This year is gonna be unbelievable. Don’t miss it! www.Awakeningconference.net

Don't tarnish their name for your own sake

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." --Proverbs 18:21
Gossip reminds me of smoking. Its always the "cool" thing to do, it always feels good to take someone and verbally stick them in the trash for a bit. If you're really cool, you know how to make the crap you say about people funny so everyone listening laughs. I'm sad to say that just like smoking, gossip slowly destroys you and everyone around you. It not only tarnishes the person you're talking about's name, it also tarnishes your own. Although you'd like to think you are cool for rudely mocking that person, you just make yourself look pathetic and self conscious. A confident person doesn't need to prove to everyone that they are better than them. They are happy with who God has/is making them. Also as much as we'd like to think the words we're spreading wont get to that person, they always do."For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." --Luke 8:17
Gossip doesn't only ruin friendships, it also ruins your character and that person emotionally. I don't care who you are, no one enjoys being blatantly mocked. I have too often watched and participated in tearing someone in the church apart, simply because it was "funny". Have we as a church missed what God is all about? God is about loving others (Including our enemies) and love is about lifting one another up, not ripping each other down to make ourselves feel better. How amazing would it be if we instead of hurting one another, started to encourage and love! Can we please start a chain reaction of encouragement and love? I continually pray that God will convict me about these things, so that I may leave a trail and legacy of love where ever I go.

Don't miss the point

In the beginning of the year I did some seriously needed reflections of 2009 and how so much has changed, how so much about me has changed. It really is so easy to lose your mind when life is flying by if you don't slow down sometimes and you don't have the friends to keep reminding you of your end goal. It really is a constant battle for your destiny. I don't know when it started or how it happened, but I simply stopped caring. I found myself defining who God was and day by day I kept cramming him and my destiny into smaller and smaller boxes. My destiny became about making me happy, and nothing else. My God became what I wanted him to be. Until a friend let me borrow this book called Crazy Love. (I recommend it to everyone) While I was just reading it for no particular reason these words hit me, "You're missing the point". I know these words don't seem too profound, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. Although I never wanted to waste my life, the point of my life wasn't to have as much fun as I possibly could and then die. God created me for so much more than that and while in prayer he made it so clear to me that he had so much more for my life if I would just stop cramming him into this itty bitty sized box and just trusted in him. I was forgetting that right now he wants to prepare me for the destiny he has created and called me for."For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer. 29:11 Every time I wander off from God's plan, I am giving up a part of my destiny. I am not saying God's grace isn't sufficient, because it is. But there is that time you wasted chasing after other things that you're not going to get back and the mistakes that you have made do have consequences. I don't want to waste any more time, I don't want to lose anymore of what God has for me. Its time that we stop missing the point and realize that God has way too much in store for us to be messing around with distractions.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" 1 Cor. 10:31

Life

Life never seems to turn out the way we plan, I think thats what makes it worth living.

To Save A Life

Hey everyone!
So friday I was online, about to get off when an advertisement for a movie caught my attention. It was for the movie To Save A Life, I've only seen the trailer, but it looks life changing good. It was produced by a church run production company in California called New Song Productions, but unlike most christian movies (at least the ones I've seen) this one looks to be big screen quality. I am hoping to take the entire groundZero greeting ministry to see it, this friday. If you are interested, the closest showing is in worcester, MA. Here is the movie website.
www.tosavealife.com.
Hope to see a few of you out there on friday!

Why does it matter?

So lately, I've been noticing that a lot of people attack others and reject others for the stupidest reasons. Why do we so easily attack what we believe to be different? Who has the right to determine what is normal and what is strange? Why is it so hard for us to accept others if they aren't like us? Why should it be any easier talking to a person that wears business clothes than talking to someone who looks like he walked out of a rock concert? Does it really matter what genre of music they listen to, or what they wear, or what sports they play? Its like so many people categorize ourselves into groups. Jocks go left, and computer nerds go right, and rock music lovers go to the back corner...etc. Yeah its nice to have friends that share the same interests, but there is so much more to people than how they dress or what they like.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”--Matthew 22:37-40

God isn't saying love those who share the same common interests as you, hes saying love people. And chances are as you walk along this journey you're going to come by people that may not share the same opinion as you.
I wonder how much we could learn if we stopped talking to only the people that have the same point of view as us. I am so sick of people trying to squeeze me in to one single group, why does it matter if I jump from group to group? Why does there even need to be groups? What would happen if we befriended one another rather than lashed out on whichever group was "below" us. We so often raise "our groups" up at the expense of lowering and hurting others. Thats not love.
The other day I noticed some people mocking a few close friends of mine for what they chose to wear. How uncool is that? None of them took one second to get to know my friends, but they were completely comfortable lashing out and assuming they knew them enough to make blatantly rude accusations.
I wonder what would happen if we all stepped out of our groups to befriend someone we wouldn't normally hang out with, how much insight would we learn? Maybe the things that were so easy to mock, would make a little more sense to us. I wonder what would happen if we all took time to love rather than gossip and mock.
"Hate is easy, love takes courage."--Unknown

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit among yourselves as you follow Jesus Christ, so with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another just as Christ has accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.--Romans 15:5-7

Organic Love

One Sunday at church, we had jut finished a great service. After service the anointing of God fell upon worship. Looking back on it I can truly say it was beautiful, but at the time I didn't think so. I wasn't in the "mood". I was exhausted and hungry, although the message was great, I was ready to go home. After a few minutes of complaining in my head, I noticed a girl slightly older than me walk up to the alter. She barely made it there when she broke down, tears streaming down her face and her hands lifted high. At that moment I felt so ashamed that I had been so self centered that I wanted church to end because I was tired, that I didn't even think about the people around me. It didn't even cross my mind that someone is broken and needing a touch from God. I almost broke down, repenting of my own self conceit. Instantly my attitude changed. Instead of being about me, it became about people. I began to pray for everyone in the building, that God would speak to them and touch their lives. Once I stopped focusing on me, I felt God's presence. It is so sad how often we do this and don't even realize it. It kills me to think of how many lives God could have touched with a simple gesture, conversation, or prayer if I was willing to get the mirror out of my face long enough to notice and do something. I pray for an organic love; a love for others like Christ's love for us.

"This is how we know what love is; Jesus christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." --1John 3:16

Delayed post

Its been far too long since I've written in the blog and I have honestly missed it. God has been doing some great things and really opening the doors of opportunity! I cannot wait to share all of the news, once it becomes more finalized. I can share that I finally got a job! Its bittersweet, but I can already tell that God is using it as learning experience. Keep me in your prayers as the next few weeks are going to hectic and exciting.

Desires of your heart

Today I was doing some serious room cleaning & organizing. I was up to my knees in things to give away, when I found one of my new years goal lists from way back in '07. I don't think I've looked at the list since I wrote it, but I unfolded the crinkled paper and started to read. I was amazed at how many of the things on the list I could cross off! Out of a long list of about 40 goals, I had accomplish or am doing about 30. I found myself in a whole new understanding of how much God cares and wants to give us the desires of our hearts. Ps. 37:40 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. He never ceases to amaze me with his love and grace. He gave me every opportunity and gift to accomplish what my heart desired. There are so many goals (on & off that list) I would have never been able to achieve in my own strength, but He made them possible.

Meiko

If you couldn't tell by my last few blogs. I've had trusting in God on my mind a lot. I don't think I can say this enough, God can do some amazingly sick stuff, if you stop being the obnoxious backseat driver and wait on his time and guidance. For about 3 years now, my heart has wanted a small puppy. If you know my dad, you know that dream was a dream that would never be possible. He refused to even consider letting a dog live in the house. I prayed for a puppy everytime I remembered to. Anywho, about 3 weeks ago I was sitting down talking with my dad when out of the blue he says, "Jolene..If you really want a small dog and it wont cost too much. I'll let you get one" My mom & I just looked at each other in shock. Was this the same man that used to say he would never again allow another dog to live in this house?? Too nervous that he would change his mind if he thought about it, I didn't dare ask what made him change his mind abruptly. I anxiously began the search for the right dog, I knew just what I wanted. After seeing a few dogs that just didn't feel quite right, my friend recommended that I try Kijiji.com. In one of the ads I found him, an absolutely handsome 9 week Lhasa Apso puppy. I immediately sent a message showing strong interest in coming to see him. Next morning I received my reply, "Hello Jolene, thanks for your response. Within the first five min. I did get a request to meet Max. She's schedule to come and see him this afternoon. If she does not show I promise I will email you." My heart sank, I had looked for other Lhasa Apsos, but there were none even close to us and not nearly as cute. I told my mom about the situation and we prayed that if God wanted this dog to join our family that he would make a way and have the lady cancel her visit. Next day came and we still hadn't heard back from her, so we assumed it wasn't meant to be & that the lady had taken him. We were mistaken. The day after, I checked my e-mail and the owner sent us an e-mail stating that because of a family emergency that the lady interested in Mas would not be taking him and that if we were still interested to give her a call. My mom & I were once again, in amazement! We quickly called my dad & told him what happened. Soon after we agreed to go see the puppy the next day. To make the story kind of shorter. We immediately fell in love with him. His previous owners were so nice and really cared for him. Everything just moved along so smoothly, there wasn't a doubt in our minds that we should wait to see what other puppies become available. He was the one for us.

Meiko (we renamed him) is now a constant reminder that God cares soo much about our dreams and lives. He even cares about the things that we would consider the not so important dreams. Meiko is a blessing and a lesson bundled up into one fluffy, adorable package.If God cares enough to put all these peices together so I could have my dream come true, how much more is he watching out for our futures! Haven't we learned that it is when WE get impatient and start doing exactly what we feel like doing that we get in to huge messes that we regret.

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." --Psalms 46:10

To risk sounding like an advertisement, recently while bouncing around from band myspace to band myspace I came across this talented new artist, Sarah Reeves. I can't express how much her lyrics have spoken to me. Give her a listen! I'd love to hear your thoughts after.

http://www.myspace.com/sarahreevesmusic

Sweet, sweet sound is one of my favorite songs, but I'll let the lyrics speak for themselves.

I am an instrument of the living God
My life a melody to His name
More than the songs I sing
Worship is everything
I live to glorify my King

Hear the song of my life
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
I raise this anthem high
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound

Through all the mire and clay
You're washing me with grace
You carry me, oh Lord, through it all
So I will testify even in the fire
I live to praise my Savior

Hear the song of my life
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
I raise this anthem high
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound

Let everything that has breath
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord
And all creation will sing Hallelujah

Hear the song of my life
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
I raise this anthem high
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
A sweet, sweet sound
A sweet, sweet sound

Don't worry about it

A good friend of mine has this ridiculously annoying saying that he uses anytime he doesn't want to answer a question, "Don't worry about it". As irrelevant as that saying is, it got me thinking...Why do we worry so much? Whether its do I have plans for this weekend, what should I wear or even who am I going to marry, there is no doubt that if there is a choice that needs to be made (no matter how far in the future it is), we are worrying about it. This little thought carried me to the book of Matthew.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. --Matthew 6:25-36 NIV


We get so caught up in worrying that we forget that we aren't in control of things, God is. Now I am not saying that this gives us the justification to be lazy, after all the birds still have to get their food and build their nests , but God is always gonna provide for his creations. We all know Geese fly south in the winter, but who told them that they wouldn't be able to survive northern winters? Who gave them the ability to know which direction is south? Who told them which foods were good and which were bad? Yup you guessed it, No one! God created each species of birds with everything they needed to know to survive. Oh! You want to hear the best part? God did the same for you! He packed you with the gifts and talents and learning abilities to understand, learn, & succeed in everything He has for you! And He even throws in a lifetime guarantee that He will always be there to take care of you, if you'd just stop trying to do everything your way and just be who HE called you to be.
Letting go of my agenda, is possibly the hardest thing God could have me to do (well, that and stop eating junk food). I am one of those people that always need to have a 5 year plan, I think about my future all the time. Ever since I was 8 years old I had a plan (no matter how often it changed), until recently; coming into my senior year of High School, I realized the direction I was going in, wasn't what I wanted at all. As much as I enjoyed Graphic Design, I couldn't do it til I retired. I spent weeks stressing out about what course of action I was gonna take, I'd be up for hours trying to figure out something to do! Then Matthew 6:25-36 hit me like a 10 ton elephant, I had been stressing needlessly! I had wasted all this time freaking out about MY future, that I forgot that MY life is HIS story. He will lead me and present opportunities, if I trust in him and dare I say it, don't worry about it. He has given us everything we need to succeed, if only we could learn to trust in him and focus on one day at a time.

Are you satisfied?

"The critical question for our generation & for every generation is this: if you could have heaven with no sickness and with all the friends you ever had on earth and all the food you ever liked and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed and all the natural beauties you ever saw and all the physical pleasures you ever tasted and no human conflict or any natural disasters could you be satisfied in heaven if Christ was not there? "--Jon Piper

Really think about it. If you really looked into your heart, what would your answer be? Honestly, a lot of times my answer would have been, yes and it kills me to know that. I don't want to be satisfied with anything, except God. I want my life to be His story, I don't want to know that if I could have heaven without Christ, that I would take it. I want to love him so much that he comes before everything in my life. I want an honest and real relationship with the one that loved me so much that he lived a perfect and blameless life and then died a death that I deserved.

In Matthew 22 an expert in the law asked Jesus, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment.

When you truly love God, you can't help but talk about him. You can't help but obey his commandments. You can't help but spend time with him. You can't help, but love what he loves.


If you could have a heaven with no sickness or death, with no pain or suffering, with all the friends you ever had and all the food you could ever eat, with every fun activity you ever enjoyed and with everyone in complete peace with one another. Would you be satisfied without Christ?

Amazed-Quick thought

God never ceases to amaze me with all the extraodinary things he does in my life. He will never close a door without opening another, you might just need to wander a little bit before you find it.

Its been a while

Hi! I deeply apologize for the lack of posts in the last month. Believe me, I have not forgotten the blog! God has been doing some amazing things! On April 16th-18th, my church hosted its 3rd youth conference, called Awakening Conference. I had the unbelievable opportunity to be an intern for the event. The conference was anointed! The fellowship, worship, and speakers really blessed, motivated, and encouraged me in so many ways. But the greatest part of Awakening, was that God gave me a role to play and that He used me to help touch the hearts of this regions youth! I look back in amazement. God could have picked anyone, someone that was even better equipped, but he didn't. He chose ME! Looking through the Bible, it is so obvious that God doesn't always choose, the best applicant for the job. So many times in the Bible he chose the "unimportant" and "weak". David was the youngest in his family, he couldn't even fight in the battle, he had to stay home and care for the sheep! But David knew he had God's anointing and that God had called him to do more than be a shepherd boy. David was willing to stand in the authority that he had been given. David defeating Goliath was only the beginning. He moved on to be the King and fight many battles with victory! When David was sent that day to check on his brothers, I really doubt he was expecting to defeat a unbeatable enemy, but God knew what He was doing. If you are willing to be used, God will use you no matter what. God has called us to be more, do more. Are we willing to answer Him?

In God we trust

Recently, with the economical crisis and all of Wall St. in chaos, I have been spending some time reflecting on offering and tithe. It doesn't take a genius to realize that money has become the focal point of America. What happened to the in God we trust attitude that used to be the fondation of America? We got into this economical situation, because we put all of our faith in man made money, rather than trusting in the creator of everything! When I was thinking about all of this, I realized that when we are giving offering, we are looking straight to God and saying with all the debt, bankruptcies, and lay offs I am going to trust in you to provide for me and my family. I will not stay up and worry, I can rest and know that you have everything under control.

Let Love Sleep

Think of your favorite classic love story.

Beauty & the Beast? Where love changes the beast into a handsome prince and him & belle live happily ever after in a redecorated castle?

Pride & Prejudice? Where pride blinds Elizabeth bennett from mr. Darcy's love, but in time he sweeps her off her feet.

Cinderella? Where Cinderella is tormented by her ugly step sisters, but with the help of her fairy godmother and a few nice mice she catches the eye and heart of Prince Charming.

Princess Bride? Where Westley devotes his life to Buttercup and sacrifices everything to find her and be with her.

How many of you dreamed of a romance like one of those?
I still am. Who wouldn't want their true love to do anything (even crazy things) to show their love and protect them? But you know what I find even more beautiful than that? All these stories have two other things in common. They are each others first love. They never mention either person having past relationships. And the other thing is that neither person was looking for love when they found each other. Isn't that the most romantic thing about the stories? The princess and the prince were fully pure in their relationships. They had never loved another, let alone dated or kissed another. Isn't it interesting that neither person was looking for a relationship? They were living their own lives and trusted that the right person would come into their lives when it was the right time.
Purity has ground rules, but besides those rules, there is a lot for the individual to decide. This is my opinion on purity and these are the standards at which I hold my purity. I see purity and love as an apple. Have you ever been apple picking and you find a rich red apple without a single bruise, scratch, or marking? You protect that apple like it is a jewel. You can almost taste the over flowing flavors of the apple. As much as you want to take a big bite out of it right away, you wait til you get home. Once you get home, you wash the apple and at the right time you take a big juicy bite. It is the most delicious apple you have ever tasted, it is filled with flavor. That is just how your love and purity should be. You have the most beautiful apple, not a single bruise, scar, or plemish marking it. The apple is pure. You need to protect love because it is a jewel. Song of Songs 3:5 says, "Do not awake love until it so desires" Its not just talking about not kissing or having sex. It is talking about not falling in love until God shows you the one he has for you. When you awaken love before its time or you start to move into a relationship with someone that God does not have for you, you are not trusting God with your life and your relationships. You are taking it into your own hands. In this day and age love is taken very lightly, people fall in and out of love every other week. And they sacrifice a lot for it. They give their hearts to people, expecting them to magically heal it. And once they realize that that person can't heal their heart, they walk away and find someone knew. They always end up emotionally broken and exhausted. When you start to like a person, you are awakening love, you are no longer seeing them as a brother or sister. Timothy 5:1-2 " Treat younger men as brothers". You would never flirt with your brother! Guard your heart from falling into cheap love that you will regret. At the right time, God will show you the person he has hand picked for you. Would you rather have a 1 year warranty used car after 1 year warranty used car or wait for God to give you a custom built, one of a kind, lamborghini with a lifetime warranty? Live your life and accomplish some of the amazing things God has for you to do while you are single. Focus on him.
Read the story of Ruth, she looses her husband and is in a foreign land with her sister in law, Orpah & mother in law, Naomi. Ruth and Orpah have two choices, they could go back home and find themselves new husbands or they can stay and take care of their elderly mother in law who is also a widow. Orpah chooses to leave, but Ruth demands to stay with Naomi. Ruth learns to provide for Naomi, by going to a wealthy man's field and collecting the left over grains the harvesters leave behind. Ruth was focused and determined. The owner of the field was named Boaz. He took notice of her, he made sure that none of his servants touched her or rebuked her. He was protecting Ruth. In time, they fell in love with each other and he did everything he could to get her hand in marriage. Whats interesting is that Ruth nor Boaz were desperately looking for a relationship to jump into. They both were doing their own work and once God led them into each other's lives then they began to persue one another in God's timing. Let Love Sleep.

It is NOT about us

A while ago, I was asked to lead a small scripture verse discussion. I skipped from scripture to scripture trying to find the one that God had for me to share. Surprisingly enough, it was my mom who was the one to suggest the verse. It was perfect for what I was feeling the need to speak about. It was 1 Corinthians 10:31. Since you probably do not have a Bible in reaching distance, here is the scripture verse in the NIV.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."--1 Cor. 10:31
In this verse Paul is talking about, even the seemingly "little" things we do, let everything honor God and bring Him glory. Every aspect of our lives should be for the glory of God. Whether it is relationships, school, responspibilities, or anything. It is not about us. It is about God.