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