Love...

If I give everything I own to the poor 

and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, 

but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. 

So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, 

I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up. 

Love cares more for others than for self. 

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. 

Love doesn’t strut,

 Doesn’t have a swelled head, 

Doesn’t force itself on others, 

Isn’t always “me first,” 

Doesn’t fly off the handle, 

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, 

 Doesn’t revel when others grovel, 

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 

Puts up with anything, 

Trusts God always, 

Always looks for the best, 

Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. 

 1 Corinthians 13: 6-7 MSG

I read these verses today and just love The Message version of it. It is easy to read these verses and immediately think about the people around us..."Yeah, yeah...he should do this more, or she should react this way more." 

But then, God does this little thing called "CONVICT". If we spend time with Him and we read these verses with an open heart and mind, He convicts! 

I can do all the work in the world to save the orphans in Africa. I can travel there. I can take others. I can fundraise and quote scripture, but if I come home and don't tend to my family, if I use words that are not uplifting, if I ignore the needs of my husband...I HAVE NOTHING. It is all filthy rags.

I can share Jesus with the community, I can open my home for Bible study, I can talk with my friends about Christ, but if I fly off the handle with my children, or I don't trust God to provide for me, or I strut aound with pride and arrogance...well then...filthy rags! 

You see the kind of love God wants is pure. It is free of pride. Free of self. Free of doing because I want to be seen as the one in the limelight. God's kind of love is WHITE AS THE FIRST SNOWFALL. There is no self-serving, no hopeful recognition, no personal reason to His kind of love. 

And oh dear Lord how I fail at that. How I make the story about me. How I put myself into stories where I don't belong. How I allow others to puff me up and lack the trust in you I so desire. Dear Lord, cleanse me. Give me the love you describe in these verses. Help me to give not to get. Help me to share just to share. Help me to deflate myself and inflate you. Help me to trust when I don't see.      

Happy Tuesday!

Jen 

HOUSE PAAAARRRTTTYYY!!!!

I looked out the door and wasn't quite sure what to do. Here I was standing in my best friend's living room, having a great time. Kids were every where. Boys. Girls. Kids who loved music. Kids who played basketball. Kids who played football. Kids who played baseball and volleyball. Cheerleaders and glee members. 

Wayne and Connie were out of town. They had been gone all weekend and most of the time their home had been calm, but tonight the house was full. Full of teenagers being teenagers. Teenagers who didn't know the Lord. Teenagers playing loud music and drinking alcohol and using words they probably should not have been using. Beer pong. Tequila shots. Poker. Dance music.

It was a full blown house P-AAAAA-RRR-TTT-YYY!!!!!. 

And now, now...the house became a quiet. 

There was a knock on the door and standing there, in the breezeway, was my dad. 

He had come to take charge of his daughter. She must have lost her mind. She must be crazy to think she can get away with this. Drinking. As an athlete. After being told over and over not to do it. So here he was...at the door of the house party. Here, tonight, the only parent, but here to pull her from the sin he knew was not good for her. To remove her from the temptation. To have a "come to Jesus meeting" with her. To take charge of his daughter.

Mark 3:21

"When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, 'He is out of his mind'".   

His family thought he was out of his mind. They had heard about what he was doing in Galilee and on the mountainside and they packed up their bags, saddled the camels, grabbed the water jugs and set out to "TAKE CHARGE OF HIM." 

For some reason, it sortof makes me giggle today. To think that I am not alone in having had to have my family member, "Come and Take Charge of me".  Even Jesus has had such happen! 

But you see...there is a difference in our scenarios. A big difference...and one I am not proud of. 

I was sinning. 
I was "out of my mind".
I was in need of being "taken charge of".

Jesus...well you know the rest...Jesus was not.

Jesus was out healing people. He was preaching a gospel of repentance. He was putting the Pharisees in a tizzy as he healed on Sunday, read their minds, and ate and drank with the sinners, while never sinning himself.

I don't remember everything that was said that night, at my friend's house, but I do remember my dad saying, "Jenny. Get-in-the-car!" . I remember it being awfully quiet for the two block car ride to our home. I remember my father's face as he drove me home, wondering how I could disgrace our family so. 

In verse 31 we see that Jesus' family arrives. They send someone in to get him. They are ticked. They have traveled this far to get him. They have been disgraced. They would like a word with him. 

But...
      that word doesn't come. 
Jesus won't have it. 
He knows he is doing God's work and he knows that whatever it is his family has to say is not going to stop his work here on earth.
      His mission is too great. 
         His path has already been set. 
             Not even his family will get in the way...or get a word in. 

For in this moment, Jesus reminds us....that the only family he has are those who do his will. 

AND THANK GOD FOR THAT!!!

Because Jesus is the reason I can write this today. His lack of accepting the knock on the door from his family, is what opened the door for me. He stayed true to the mission. He stood his ground, knowing he would eventually save us all. 

Jesus took my hand, "lifted me out of the mud and mire, and placed my feet on a solid rock."  which really, really is all my dad was trying to do that night in Breda!

Dear Lord,
 Thank you today for refusing the ways of this world and providing a way to your eternal, heavenly world. Thank you for the invitation to walk with you. Thank you for the knock on the door. Thank you for calling me family.

Pin It

So I have this little addiction. It's not necessarily a bad, bad addiction...nothing like drugs or even alcohol (although at one point in my life that may have been true...thank God for salvation and transformation through His son, Jesus Christ!)...but none-the-less it is an addiction.

I can't get enough of it. If I have a free moment I find myself surrounded with it. I think of it when I am not engaged in it and I just constantly want more of it.

Yep...addiction!

You see it's this little 'ol website some of you have probably heard of:

P-I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T

People post pictures of all kinds of everything...
         from recipes
             to room ideas
                to clothing options
                   to Bible verses
                      and much much more.

And you can steal that picture and "pin it" to your board.

Now, you see I rarely go back to my pins. I mean once in awhile I will try a new recipe and my kids will say, "Mom, was this a Pinterest find?"  But other than that, it's not like my wardrobe has magically changed into what the pins look like (or my hair) (or my house).

So in some sense it is like a little fantasy world.

Some people even have boards that allude to that...called "some day" or "one day when I am rich" or "when I have my own place".

It's a world we would LOVE to have, but don't quite yet.
     Perfectly curled hair with the simplest little highlights,
                 a wonderfully painted sign on pallet boards above the bed that says,
                                 "all because two people fell in love",
                 and a pair of camel colored boots with just a bit of sock showing
                  flanking our tight fitting blue jeans and off white sweater.

It's a fantasy world really.

So I started thinking about Pinterest and for some reason I made a connection to what my prayer world can look like sometimes.

"God, please remove this problem I have at work."
"God please heal my cold."
"God please bless our efforts at the fundraiser today."
"God please let my children become perfect little beings who never disobey and always tell their mother they love her and go on to be amazing missionaries for you."
"God please let the 10 pounds of Christmas candy miraculously fall off my body despite this extremely non-healthy, 1 stick of butter and a packet of ranch dressing chicken from Pinterest I am about to eat."

It's my little fanstasy world playing out to my God. To the creator of the universe I am asking for a fantasy world. Not HIS WILL. Not what will help extend His kingdom. Not what He wants or desires or knows will bring my co-workers, my neighbors, my friends, my family, the lady in the convenience store, or myself closer to HIM....but my little fantasy world of help me be comfortable and be able to eat what I want and oh yeah, look adorable while doing it.... prayer life!

YIKES!
Can anyone taste the conviction alongside my cup of peppermint mocha this morning?

So today, today I will try to stop "Pinning" to my God. Today I will try to start praising Him. In the good and the bad. In the hard and the easy. In the known and the unknown. I will praise Him!

"Our father who art in Heaven, HALLOWED BE THY NAME!"
__________________________________________________________

Today I will try to focus on His will. On His plan. On His desires. And rest in knowing that the creator of the universe probably has more in mind for me than brownies with a strawberry on top that looks like a Santa Claus hat (Yes, one of the top "Pins" of 2012!)

"Thy kingdom come, THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven."
___________________________________________________________


Today, I will ask for what I need. What God believes I need. I will accept what I am given, whether in abundance of simple contentment.

"Give us this day our daily bread"
 __________________________________________________________

Today I will remember I am a sinner in front of a HOLY GOD. I will remember that I need forgiveness daily but that my sins are blotted out and become white as snow when I approach the throne of my father in heaven with the blood shed by his son! And I will remember to forgive others as he has forgiven me...if the recipe doesn't work, if the laundry isn't done, if the words are not kind...

"and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"
 ___________________________________________________________

Today Lord I will remember that not all things that look good are truly good. I will remember that I am easily led astray by the fantasy world of Pinterest or other online sites or the lives of my friends and families that I may covet. I will remember that Satan is real and alive and hates the Christian faith. He prowls around waiting to devour us and others. I am in need of a leader in you  Lord....let me remember to simply follow.

"and lead us not into temptation but deliver from the evil one"
_____________________________________________________________

Today Lord...let me take my life, the life you give me, the breath you provide every second and just live it for you...right now. Not a fantasy, not a dream, but a reality of the wonderful works you have and are about to do in my world!

Jen

Hoops

Our family loves basketball. After Doug accepted Christ into his life, he decided to fully use the gifts God had given him to share basketball and Jesus with kids. He jumped out in faith and started his basketball academy, Shoot-It.

Every week Doug has the opportunity to teach kids about basketball.
How to dribble.
How to shoot.
How to avoid the defender.
How to be a good teammate.
How to live a life that puts Jesus at the front, and basketball at the second.

He makes his lesson plan just like I used to do when teaching kindergarten and he thinks about how every minute on the court with the kids will be used.

Lay up drills.
Ball handling skills
Chest passes, bounce passes, over the head passes.

Some kids are what we would call "naturals". It comes easy to them. They step in line, dribble around the cones, avoid the defender and make the shot look easy.
Other kids...well...there is a bit more work involved. As they attempt to make it around the orange cone, the ball goes off their foot or the shoelace trips them up and they don't quite make that three point shot.

Basketball is a team sport though. There have to be five players on the court for each team and I have heard Doug comment about some teams having a "deep bench". I have learned that means once the starters come out of the game, the kids on the bench can play just as well.

It has me thinking about my faith...this season of basketball.
My walk with Christ is somewhat like Doug's passion and teaching of the game of basketball...

We need to learn how to dribble: balance the balls of life, up and down, up and down, with a goal of getting the shot off in mind.
We need to learn how to shoot: this is that ability to actually release. To let go and let God. To have the courage to throw it up there, after time spent practicing, take aim, and let it go. Obedience really. Courage. Faith.
We need to learn how to avoid the defender: protect ourself with the word of God, with prayer, have an open, yet defensive stance, ready to move and change directions based on what is being shown to us.
We need to be a good teammate: while Christianity is all about a personal relationship with Christ, it was never meant to remain only personal. God wants us in the game, on the court, ready to share and love and show Him though our actions. He wants us to finish the game strong...never giving up or giving in. Walk alongside, high five and fistbump those in life who need it most.

Recently my son's AAU team was paired against a less skillful team in a tournament. About five minutes into the game it was very apparent this would go down in the books as a blow-out. My son's team was already up by quite a few points. Doug took the starters out of the game and as one of the boys came to the bench he said, "Hey coach, can we try to score 100 points on them?"

Now, there is some debate as to whether this is the right thing to do in this situation...run up the score on a less skillful team. But, that's not what I thought about when I heard this story. What came to my mind was this player's drive. His passion. His desire to hit a goal which often seems unattainable. He saw the 100 points within reach and wanted to get there...he wanted to give his all in this game. 

So the next time you have the opportunity to watch a game of basketball, think about your own walk with Christ. What skills need to be refined in your game? How many hours are you spending in patient, persistent, consistent practice? How often are you in the game rather than on the bench? And are you willing to go for the 100 points with all you have for Christ?

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

2 Timothy 4:7

Dear Lord,
 Help me spend time with you in the court of Christianity. Help me work on my skills of dribbling, shooting, avoiding the defender and being a good teammate. Give me the passion, drive and courage to simply shoot the ball, knowing you have fully equipped me. Give me the persistence to finish the game strong, no matter who or what the opponent. Bring me into the game for you Lord.

Weenies in the Pot

Waiting can be so difficult!

"Just one Mom!?"
"Pleaaaassseee can we open just one gift?"

The presents sit so inviting under the Christmas tree. Red and green wrapping paper. Beautiful bows. Tissue tucked ever so gently in the gift bags hiding the well-chosen toys below.

I think back to my days in little league. As I carried my bat to the plate, helmet well adjusted, cleats trailing brown dust behind me, I could hear my coach say, "Wait for it. Wait for it." He knew our propensity to swing before the ball arrived. Our nudge to see it coming and want to hit before it ever crossed the plate. So over and over again, as each of his ten year old players took their place at bat, he would yell, "Wait for it. Wait for it."

My children often tease that the most heard phrase in our home is, "Just a minute!" I would like to think I am teaching them the power of waiting, but I may be fibbing a bit with that!

It is common to have students in our home. We love to entertain, feed them and fill them with a little dose of Jesus. My children have become accustomed to seeing 2, 3, maybe 4 or 10 extra college kids in our home for any given meal. They have become brothers and sisters to them. So when the food is prepped and the prayers have been uttered, it is difficult for my children to wait to make their plates. They want to jump in and be first in line. The cheesey potatoes call out their name. The little weenies beckon to their paper plate (no china here ladies!). And they rush in, taking first spot.

"Kobe, wait your turn. Let the others go first."

It is difficult, especially when you see a limited number of weenies in the pot and a line to what seems to go to Timbuktu in your kitchen.

WAITING.

My dear sisters, the Lord calls us into periods of waiting. Often we don't know why. We want immediate results. We can google and have an answer in 1.5 seconds....so waiting, well waiting...that is difficult!  God sees all. He knows the resources at His disposal. He knows He has not only cooked enough weenies, but He has a storehouse full of weenies (and other hors d'oeuvres).

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Lamentations 3:22-24

God loves us. His compassion is new every morning for us and His love will never fail us. If me, a sinner, would make an entire new meal for my son if the weenies ran out, imagine what our God will do for us! He makes us wait, knowing HE IS OUR PORTION! He is worth waiting for my friends!

Dear Lord, help me remember that you are my portion! You provide for me and in that I can trust. In that I can be assured of provision. In that I can wait! Dear Lord, help me wait...not with tears, not with complaining, not with uncertainty, but with the faith that you will provide for whatever it is my need may be. Thank you for your unfailing, unending, compassion and love for me!

Gina

The pizza pan is sitting on the counter. The old tile floor, yellow and brown, is marred with spilled Kool-Aid and remnants of the night of laughter and fun at the kitchen table. The deck of cards are strewn across the table and floor showing the last moments of the game of "50 card pick up". 

We are sitting on the old green couch, cuddled close under a blanket watching a scarey movie. Her arm rests around my shoulder as my sister's legs entangle with hers. My hair is matted with hair gel and tiny bows, and she has mastered perfect french braids in my sister's blonde locks.

She is Gina. She is our babysitter. The one we cried out for when Mom would say, "Who do you want to babysit tonight?" She has spent as much time in our home as I have in my first 9 years of life. She has toted me to baseball practice, swimming lessons, haircuts, and the park. She has helped bathe me, braided my hair, read stories at night, and made my lunch, dinner and breakfast. 

She has shown me what high school love looks like, opened my eyes to girls playing basketball, and let me witness her love of music and fun. She smiles the biggest smile I have ever seen and makes me want to be with her more than my parents can afford in their babysitting budget!

She is Gina. 

Today, I sit in a church in West Des Moines, just an hour from my home. I am scanning the room, filled with people. Elderly people, those around my age, and young, just about to start living people. Some are holding the offered coffee and cookie, others simply grasp a kleenex. The room is not one of mourning, but one of joy. One of celebration, and love, and this feeling of, "I really knew her and I really loved her" fills the air."
 
The worship team takes their place and as the guitars begin to fill the air with songs of praise to our Savior my eyes can't help but scan the room. Yes there are pictures telling the story of her life flashing across the big screen: pictures of her babies being born, of nieces and nephews, of football games and cookie making, of mother and daughter, brother and sister, husband and wife. But my eyes are torn from the screen.

Everyone sits relatively quietly. Some are singing along to the lyrics of the song, but for the most part there appears to be a simple daze at the events of the week.Words are few over this gathering in a church this Saturday afternoon when the family was supposed to be unwrapping Christmas gifts and eating peanut clusters.

And then I notice it. Up front, in the very front row. In the seat reserved for the man who loved her most, her husband raises his hands to his Savior. The music chimes on. "Jesus Lives!" "Jesus Lives" No doubt his grief is great. His life has been changed forever...one minute laughing and listening to his wife talk about her garden, or Christmas, or family...and the next sitting in a church, surrounded by those who loved her, grieving for what was, what was planned and what might have been.

But his hands are raised! 

He is praising his Jesus for the life he had with her. Praising his Jesus for the life he knows she now has in heaven with him. Praising his Jesus for whatever it is on his heart this day. 

He does not care who fills the 25 pews behind and beside him. He does not care if others are following suit or simply watching him. He does not notice not the standing room only auditorium wanting to embrace him and his family during this time of grief or the baby crying in the back. He has an audience of ONE and he is saying, "I still believe!"

And in that moment, the tears begin to well up in my eyes. Tears over this man's faith. Tears over his heart for Jesus in the hard times. Tears over his witness to the hundreds of people filling the room. Tears over a life lived, by a woman I loved, for a Savior I cherish.

Oh Lord...bless the family. Bring them comfort and peace in knowing that their Gina touched my life and so many others. Bring them encouragement in knowing their witness during this time of grief and sorrow has brought me encouragement, has convicted me to live for Him, has spurred me to take the words of their dear Gina to heart and simply live with a Spirit of Christ each and every day! Dear Lord help us all to take what we witnessed that day, in that moment, and put it into practice. A spirit of joy, a spirit of happiness, a spirit of forgiveness and love and peace. Dear Lord thank you for Gina...for all of her...for all that she gave to others and to you!

The Boss

WANTED

Someone to join an adventure.

The route is unknown. 

The road might be bumpy, or curvy, or sometimes straight.

There will most likely be hills to climb, maybe even mountains.

You will experience times of frustration, anxiety, even agony potentially.

There typically is no salary, and you may even be asked to contribute amounts of money you do not have in your bank account. 

Friends and family may call you crazy. Coworkers may also think you are not of this world. 

You actually may be disowned or unfriended by some.

You will not have what is needed for this trip, so no qualifications or resources needed. This will most definitely frustrate you during your time on this adventure.

No need to send resume. 

Future benefits are most definite although not specified at this time. 

All welcome to apply.

I wonder how many would apply?

I wonder if we actually ran this ad in the newspaper or online, and included an email address...how many responses would flood the inbox?

Hmmm....maybe I should try it?!

You see...this is how the advertisement for becoming a Christ-follower might read.   

Not a "say a little prayer and now I am a believer".... but a TRUE, say YES, go where you lead me....CHRIST FOLLOWER! 

I think God uses his HR department quite often to nudge us into this job.

The Holy Spirit taps on our heart.

We feel a tug.

We want to get up during church and give or get on our knees.

We feel pulled to leave the comfortable.

Pulled to give until it hurts.

Pulled to explore the unknown.

We want to say Yes to the pull because we can feel it so strongly.

BUT...the advertisement only stays for a minute (or even seconds) in our heart. 

Then the world comes in. 

We felt it. 

We wanted to do it. 

But we didn't respond with a YES.

Oh Lord, how many times I have failed to sign up! 

And yet, take a minute, reflect, and join me in thinking back to the times you DID say YES.

The times you DID RESPOND TO THE AD.

Oh how great the benefits!

Talk about a total compensation package!

You give a dollar, and get the feeling of a thousand!

You pray a prayer with someone and feel like the apostle Paul!

You step out of the comfortable and explode with experiences you didn't know existed!

You open your door in ways you never have, go around that curve of the unknown...and BAM...there sits a blessing!

This weekend our church highlighted God's work through Lucy's journey. 

At the end, Doug quoted my dad's reminder to us to "Just get off the couch and say YES!"

The link to the video we shared is here:

 Lucy's Journey

             

Say YES my dear sisters....God is a pretty good boss!!!

"We know not what to do, but our eyes are upon you!"

2 Chronicles 20:12 

Jen  

 

     

Freaky Fast

Ok, so I have this little confession to make...(golly, I really hope Doug isn't reading today!)...

You see, this restaurant went in around the corner from our office a little over a year ago. 
You have probably heard of it. 
It isn't some cute, unique place. 
It doesn't have great ambiance. 
It's not necessarily where you would take a date, or hold a grand celebration. 
It's just a chain restaurant...it's Jimmy Johns.

They serve sub sandwiches...well, other things I am sure, but mainly sub sandwiches. 

And they have this little principle they operate by...FREAKY FAST SUBS. 

Well, in addition to that they do this thing called delivery!  
Not just ordinary delivery, but order online, click submit and within minutes my sub is delivered to my office. 
Like literally the other day, I clicked the button, found a $2 tip in my purse, walked out to the main entrance of my building, and Mr. Freaky Fast Jimmy Johns was pulling up with my sub (ok, and my soda and my BBQ chips!). 

So...my confession...yeah...well, I have this little habit of ordering a sub at least once a week from them. 

It is just so easy, so fast, so convenient. 

Not healthy for me. Not getting me out of my office to eat. Not helping my muffin top. 
But...easy, convenient, and freaky fast!!!!

So, I was thinking...

Sometimes my relationship with God becomes stuck in this rut. 
Sometimes when I am dealing with God I want easy.
I want convenient.
I want freaky fast! 

But, you see God isn't always freaky fast!
His timing is not always my timing. 
His ways can be messy and long and drawn out. 

There are days, weeks, seasons where I wonder, 
          "Hello, God...where are you? I placed my order days ago!" 

And in all honesty, there are times when I am like,
       "Um God...I telephoned in my request over an hour ago...could you please deliver now!!!"

I think we live in a time when we, and even more so, probably my children, expect immediate results. 
We want things now. 
We live in a Google era right...answers at the touch of a button. 
Within seconds we have access to information, people, answers from all over the world. 
And we expect it in our lives...in every part of our lives...
                            immediate results, instantaneous answers, freaky fast! 

So waiting...waiting on God...well, it becomes problematic. 
It is tough.
It is messy, and troubling, and sometimes time consuming. 
It is exactly the reason we as Christians have to have this little thing called:
                         FAITH!

I don't know where you are today. 
     I don't know what you might be waiting on. 
              I am not sure what order you placed with God my dear sister...
                         but I can assure you of this...

The cheesecake at cheesecake factory that takes much much longer to arrive at the table will always out score the Jimmy Johns Freaky Fast sub in my book!   

And...God's response...as slow as it may seem...well, you can be assured it will also top Freaky Fast any day!!!!

"Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch and pray; 

for you do not know when the time will come."

 Mark 13: 33

(And Doug, if you are still reading...I promise to try to cut my order from Jimmy John's down!!) Really I do! 

And to my dear, dear follower, Madonna...thank you for the kick in the pants this week! I love ya my sister!

Jen