Destiny! May 14, 2010 Destiny (Not just Destiny, but God’s Destiny for our lives.) Today being Mother’s Day I want to look at the life of Timothy and the influence of his Mother and Grandmother. I’ll read 2 Timothy 1:1-7 with the focus on vs. 5. Please follow along with me in your Bibles. Let’s recall Jeremiah 29:11 which gives us great promise from God. I looked up the word Destiny in several sources but I’d like to share 3 of them with you: Wickepedia Destiny refers to a predetermined course of events.[1] It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order Webster’s Dictionary 1 : something to which a person or thing is destined : fortune  2 : a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency Holman Bible Dictionary Destiny: Word used in modern translations for God’s act in electing or predestinating people and nations. Predestination: God’s work in ordaining salvation for people without their prior knowledge. While I was carrying Jonathan I heard the following saying and I’ve kept it, speaking it over Jonathan, telling it to him and have it cross-stitched for him. It is very encouraging and I’d like to share it with you. You have a Destiny! Always trust in God, obey Him, follow His leadership, guidance, and direction and you will then see that Destiny fulfilled. I read a devotion one day this past week that deals with the ‘daily-ness’ of life. In this daily-ness we often lose focus on the Destiny we know is there. In relating several stories of raising four children I saw a struggle this woman had in finding the time and path God lays out to correctly demonstrate His love, develop Godly character in her children and combining all the chores and varied affections for husband, children and the Lord on a daily basis. One thing C.S. Lewis once said is, “The thing is to rely on God… Meanwhile, the trouble is that relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing has yet been done.” Can we relate to that? I know I surely can. I may not have four children at home but just one is still a challenge at times, especially when the two of us don’t really see things in the same way. I know often I don’t communicate the way I could in order to get better results. And being an individual my son will often have his idea as to the way a certain thing should be done. I am really trying to encourage and allow for his individuality however that goes against the grain because, of course, I think my way is the best or even sometimes the only way. I’ve really had to work at letting him exert his own ideas and thoughts in some areas. Our daily-ness is God ordained as we raise our children to be men and women of God. We as mothers and grandmothers are entrusted with special moments of both trial and triumph while following the Lord during these growing up years. We often find ourselves doing the very thing we do not want to do in our frustrations of daily life. I need to keep in mind that I can guide my children’s Destiny but I can’t force it for if I try to it will often backfire and they will go headlong in the opposite direction. God’s plan is best and if we as Mothers and Grandmothers will seek the Lord in how to encourage those God has entrusted to us I am convinced in my heart that we’ll see God’s results. That’s not to say that they might have to go ‘find themselves’ but in so doing they will quickly find what God has for them because they have a healthy way to find the right path. Let’s look at Psalm 139. I’ll just bring out a few verses but I’d like to encourage you to read the entire chapter when you have some time to sit and allow the message of it to seep down in your spirit. This Psalm reminds us of God’s ever present and perfect knowledge of man. Vs. 3b lets us know that He is acquainted with (or knows) all my ways. Vs. 4 lets us know that He knows what we’re going to say before we even say it. Vs. 7 comforts us in knowing that there is no place at all that we can go that His presence is not with us. Vs. 13 gives us security in knowing that He was with us even before we were born and through Vs. 16 we are given the assurance that every part of each one of us was formed to His liking. How many of us have held a baby and been overwhelmed with the new life in our hands? I believe God feels the same way with us, just look at Vs. 17 How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! WOW and look at Vs. 18 they’re too many to count more in number than the sand – remember Abraham? Even when I wake up I still am right there with the Lord. Amazing isn’t it? Aren’t we, as Mothers often this same way with our own children, in being there and thinking about our children? We take them to sports activities/events, music/gymnastics/etc. lessons, make sure they have lots of opportunities to develop friendships with others in their own age group, learn from a variety of sources. Vs. 19-22 talk about God’s protection, can’t we relate to that with our own children, too? Best of all we, because of the deep, deep love and respect we have for our heavenly Father we ask him to show us of any way we can please by doing only what is right and expect Him to lead us in the everlasting way. We Moms love it when our children, no matter their age, know the things that please us and do all they can, out of love and respect, to please us. How much better is it for us to please God. In doing so, we will be much better equipped to lead those He has given us charge over, the blessings of the Lord, as we see in Psalm 127:3 Now let’s take some steps to apply this to our personal lives. Ø Let’s pray that God will help us take on our daily-ness with the joy of the Lord Ø Let’s make a greater effort to honor God by trusting ‘on purpose’ Let’s reflect on Ø Trusting Him with our daily struggles as we point others to Him Ø Beginning each day by thanking Him for entrusting us with the privilege of leading these children/or others we may be influencing daily Always remember what God said about you in the O.T. in Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future. And always remember, too, that your life is filled with Destiny, a God given one. Know that: You have a Destiny! Always trust in God, obey Him, follow His leadership, guidance, and direction and you will then see that Destiny fulfilled. Let me encourage you – if you don’t know what God’s Destiny is for your life or if you don’t think you have a Destiny, seek the Lord and find out what your Destiny is. Realize that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, another reference from Psalm 139, and He created each and every one of you for a specific purpose. Find out from Him your purpose and destiny and begin to walk in it and if you already know your purpose and destiny I commend you to step it up a notch and see just what God will do in the days to come. Be a person of Destiny! ©

Turning the Page June 2010 There is gold, and a multitude of pearls (jewels), but the lips of knowledge are a vase of preciousness [the most precious of all].  Proverbs 20:15 (AMP)    I've had a bit of a hard time knowing just what to share with you this month as it is the last time I'll be doing the newsletter.  Another page turner as the baton passes.  The pleasure has been mine these past four years and I've been truly blessed to be able to keep you posted on upcoming events not only in our church congregations but in the community at large, monthly birthdays, even a couple births along with photos, receiving and sometimes editing and posting the submissions others have sent, and most of all having your blessing as I've written from my heart each month.  I even found a few articles that others wrote from time to time who were gracious enough to let me share them with you.  >This month I'd like to leave you with a closing article that, as usual, is straight from the heart.  These thoughts stemmed from a conversation I had with my brother.  An expectation of relocating to Hawaii fell through for one of his sons.  All preparations had been made and at the last minute when he was notified of the change of plans he took it all in stride with a great attitude.  A reminder of their brief time of living in Colorado amidst the majestic mountains and the fact that life long residents did not have the same excitement of their beauty and splendor as those who moved into the area caused my brother to remind his son that the same would be true in Hawaii as the new would wear off when the 'dailyness' of work, i.e., taking care of home, car, cooking, etc. would become the norm.   The next morning Carl and I were reflecting on the fact that the Global Day of Prayer was hosted by South Africa as many other countries participated.  I thought it great that during the same month that the United States annually participates in National Day of Prayer we also participated in the Global Day of Prayer with a large number of countries worldwide.  During our discussion about the excitement of this event we spoke of the fact that several years ago statistically the United States was instrumental in sending out 90% of the Missionaries into other countries spreading the gospel and bringing souls into the Kingdom of God.  Now, as we've been so blessed in this country to have the Word of God so readily available and many have experienced the presence of God in their lives in the past and have heard stories of God's miraculous from our parents and grandparents, we've become the country other countries send their Missionaries to.  In many instances we've become complacent about the glory and splendor of God and His presence in our lives.  Many of us never experience His presence in our daily lives.  We have come not to expect the miraculous and when we do it is no longer the norm but something out of the ordinary.  In my reading of the Scriptures the Christians should be living in the miraculous every day of our lives.  I determine to be the person whose life is full of miraculous events and moments in every day of my life as I serve Him with greater fervor.  I pray you will join me. Thank you, once again, for allowing me to minister to you each month through my writing as you've read these articles I've shared.  I encourage you to continue to seek the Lord in every area of your life and see the miraculous for yourself. As we ready ourselves for full time evangelistic work along with whatever else the Lord leads us in, we look forward to hearing from many of you as we serve the Lord side by side.   In His Love and Service,   Jennie  Mt. 6:33 Isaiah 55:12 ©

LIGHT Revealed July 2010 Matthew 11:28  ...Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will you rest.  Take My yoke upon you learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in HEART, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. In reading this passage in my daily devotions this morning, a memory of my early days with the Lord came flooding back.  At a time when I had my focus more on the physical needs in my life than on the Lord Himself, He revealed His presence to me in a great and awesome way.  I'd like to share this event with you. In '83 probably during the 1st quarter of the year I was so excited to experience His presence.  It seemed that His presence was so full in each and every church service during that time, especially for me.  One particular service I had gone to the altar and was so enveloped in prayer that nothing else mattered until, all of a sudden, even with my eyes still closed I saw this amazing burst of LIGHT.  I opened my eyes with my head still down and right there just behind the corner of the pulpit was the brightest LIGHT I had ever seen.  As I continued to try to focus I began to see sandaled feet with a white cotton robe just above the ankles.  As I continued to look up the LIGHT was extremely radiant.  When I got to His face the LIGHT was so bright I could not make out any features but knew exactly who He was.  As I continued to look at Him, He spoke this passage to me. When I heard His voice I knew that there was no need for me to ever carry a burden or weight.  His LIGHT was the only thing that could dispel any dark thing that would come to distract me.  His LIGHT would carry that dark thing away and I'd never have to carry it, see it or even know of its existence.  As I stay in the LIGHT of Jesus I will always know restful increase.  He is the LIGHT and will only bring LIGHT to any darkness coming my way.  There is not even a shadow in His LIGHT. I encourage you to seek first in all things His Kingdom and see Him bring His LIGHT to you as He did to me. His Love is ever present and He is ever faithful. Be encouraged. In His Love and Services, Jennie Eph. 3:20 Mt. 6:33; Is. 55:12 ©

Supply January 2010 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:19    A few weeks ago I was reading the book of Philippians and as I reached this verse I began to wonder if I could really say this with true conviction. You see these words were penned to the Philippian church as a result of their varied forms of support for him. The prior verses in this chapter articulate the appreciation he had for these people as they demonstrated their love and devotion to him in the form of financial and prayer support for him as he was sitting in prison for having continued to preach the gospel although the officials had banned such a practice. This church was the only one who continued to support in various times of giving often when he wasn't expecting it at all. He was so overcome with thanks for their support that he wrote in loving appreciation and continued to encourage them in their walk with the Lord.    In saying what I said about wondering if I could really say this verse from now on with true conviction I wasn't at all saying that my God would not supply or fully satisfy every need. I was merely, and probably for the first time, realizing that Paul was actually giving them a lesson in sowing and reaping. Let me share with you the verses just prior to this beginning with verse 10: I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account. I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will ...    This passage of scripture is taken from the NRSV Bible. I have truly been enjoying the reading of this particular version. I don't know how many times I've read the book of Philippians or have gone through intense Bible study times while in this book but I have never seen this in the light I'm sharing with you. You see, I believe that the Holy Spirit led me to the fact that this statement can only be true in my life following my giving into the ministry of those in whom He places in my heart to support in whatever capacity He leads me to, i.e. cards, letters, encouragement, financial, or whatever way He sees fit. I began to give into the ministry of some people I had not been in a habit of giving to and although our income has not changed our outgo has. The Lord always makes things work out no matter how difficult things look around me. Our family is a blessed one and God has given us many avenues to minister. It seems that more of my outreach has lately been in a much different way than it has over the years I've devoted my life to serving the Lord fervently since 1982 when I really got serious and sought out His presence for my life.    I know that my God will supply or fully satisfy every need but only as long as I meet the criteria and that is to support the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray and ask Him if He will give you a revelation concerning this nugget of truth for your life, as well, and begin to look for the various ways He'd have you to assist in the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Together we can see many more come to Christ and many who are following Him now through our obedience may become more serious in their walk in their faith in Him. In His Love and Service, Jennie Heberg (Mt. 6:33; Isaiah 55:12) © 2009 ©

Blessed Is The Man August 2009 "O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted. I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, and your gates of jewels. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the prosperity (peace and undisturbed composure) of your children." Isaiah 55:11-13 Psalm 1:1-6 1. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord. And in His law does he meditate day and night. 3. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand In the judgment. Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. (NKJV) While in 3rd grade I attended Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Kalamazoo, MI. My teacher, Mrs. Menninga was very instrumental in challenging me to stretch my confidence.  I was always a very shy girl.  As the year progressed she allowed me to assist her in many ways and I really loved school.  She helped me to open up and instilled an element of confidence in me that has stayed with me. When it came time to prepare for our annual school play she asked me to be the one to open the assembly by reciting the 1st Psalm.  I was to know the 6 verses of this chapter inside and out.  With her help, studying all the time and Mama's help, I learned it by heart. The auditorium was filled with the students, teachers and families of all the students and it all came off without a hitch.  I had to hold the Bible in my hand but I knew if I looked at it I would get lost and not be able to finish correctly.  Talk about butterflies, I was so scared. The whole play came out extremely well.  This was when we could still pray in school and did everyday and read the Bible, too, after saying the pledge of allegiance.  That was in 1963, the same year President John F. Kennedy was shot and Daddy served in and came home from Viet Nam.  It was a very impressionable time for me.  We lived near my Mom's parents, Grandma & Grandpa Bodi. As time progressed Psalm 1 lived in me, actually in the recesses of my mind and heart. The times I was in places that I shouldn't be I would begin to hear this scripture out loud. Often I would look around to see if I was the only one hearing it.  I just knew everyone else heard it, too.  But, no, it was just me hearing it and I was hearing it loud and clear. I am a testament to the scripture that says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it." Pr. 22:6 My prayer for you today is that you will not keep from encouraging your children or those children you may teach to put the Word of God in no matter how you go about doing it.  I worked hard to learn these verses and have never forgotten them.  Often I go back and reread a story I wrote several years ago about this experience.  Be sure to read the Word to those you have an opportunity to influence.  Don't just read it but challenge them to read and learn it as well.  I trust you will see God's reward in your lifetime as you put the Word first place in your life and teach your family and friends to do the same.  May the Lord richly bless you as you go along your day. I pray that God will bring heavenly insight to your heart just the moment you need it and use that insight for each situation that comes along. © 2009 ©

A Pliable Heart

August 2010

This quote may be familiar to you if you’ve seen the movie, Akeelah and the Bee. When I heard her read this I just knew it had be the beginning of this talk.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
~Marianne Williamson

Let's focus on these three main points as we look at the Environment around us.

v 1. The world of people around us needs to be made Christian

v 2. We do this by getting ourselves ready to bring Christ and His message to them

v 3. We do this by working hard to be like Christ and to bring the world to Him



1) First, we’ll look at the world of people around us who need to be made Christian.


WOW- what a mouthful! We may have the overwhelming sense of “How can I make a difference in the life of a non-Christian?”

Well, let me tell you, the answer to that question is unequivocally YOU CAN and do here’s how! Your life influences others everyday – in either negative or positive ways.


The Lord reminded me of the perspective of the 12 spies and the perspective of Rahab who came along a good bit after the 12 spies arrived on the scene. In Numbers 13 we’ll see that these 12 men went out with a directive from God given to Moses, God’s man set in place to lead them. He gave them specific instructions to research and report back to him.

Numbers 13

¹ The LORD said to Moses, ² "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders."Notice God said He was GIVING this land to them.

³ So at the LORD's command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.

¹⁷ When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. ¹⁸ See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. ¹⁹ What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? ²⁰How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land." (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

²¹ So they went up and explored the land …

they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.

²⁶ They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. ²⁷ They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. ²⁸But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. ²⁹ The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan."


³⁰ Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."


Now I’ll break here and ask you, “Are you like Caleb? Do you see that whenever a challenge in life arises that ‘you are able to take possession of the land God has given you’? OR let’s see what 10 of the spies said:


³¹ But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." ³² And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. ³³ We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."


…are you like these guys! Think before you answer and don’t tell me your answer. Just ponder it.


We know that the report spread among the people, that we call gossip & undermining the authority and direction of God and his man, Moses, caused the entire nation of Israel to live daily in the wilderness for forty years. WOW – I don’t know about you but I want stop going around that mountain and go in and possess the Lord’s promises. Won’t that make the greatest witness to the non-Christians as they observe your obedience to God?

Okay, now let’s look at Rahab and the 2 spies.


¹ Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Acacia Grove. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute ^[a] named Rahab and stayed there.

⁸ Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof ⁹ and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. ¹⁰ We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea ^[b] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. ^[c] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. ¹² Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign ¹³ that you will spare the lives of my father andmother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."

Here we see that the one who we’d call ‘of the world’ looking on at the Israelite nation or today’s Christian world, saw them with a much different perspective than the 10 did. She had more the perspective Caleb displayed. Often we can’t see what others see in us as the Body of Christ.

2) Second point. Now let’s look at getting ourselves ready to bring Christ and His message to others.

See this clay? God sees a treasure in us just like these flecks of silver in this clay. 2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

When I was in 3^rd grade all 3 classes went on a field trip to the DuPont Plant in MI and what a great day. We toured the ENTIRE plant and were tired and ready to go. Talk about ‘long and boring’, it was. I just was NOT interested in how to make PAINT. Not my idea of fun. Then we had one more thing! 60 plus bored children. The buildup was giving us great anticipation. All the way down in the basement in the back corner in a glass room was a potter. Who would have thought? He began by spinning the wheel and taking a good sized ball of clay, then wet it and spun it forming as he continued to eye us and describe all he was doing. He made the most beautiful vase and was forming the neck and then all of a sudden SPLAT!!! My heart sunk into my gut and I almost burst into tears. But wait, I was 9 years old and with ALL my classmates, I could NOT cry in front of them, what would they think of or say about me? So I held it in. I almost fell down from the emotion welling up in me. But I stood on the outside. Then he asked us if we knew why he did that. Well, we were 9, we had NO CLUE! He showed us a very small piece of a pebble between finger and thumb and let us know that it would eventually cause a place that would destroy the piece if not removed. Then he removed the speck of rock and began again, adding water as he went along and examining the piece extensively as he worked and made the second piece into an even more beautiful vase than he had before. He then showed us on the shelf behind him about what it would look like and assured us that, like a snowflake, no 2 of them would be exactly the same. This was the best field trip ever, bar none!

On my 13^th birthday my parents gave me a Bible where I found Jeremiah 18.

¹ This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : ² "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." ³ So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. ⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Amazingly that is exactly what the Lord showed me on my field trip. Who knew that this story was already waiting for me in the Bible. God knew how to weave this into my life and since then I’ve heard this chapter preached countless times and always the Lord builds understanding in my heart. I’m sure that every time I read it and/or hear it spoken of for the rest of my life the Lord will build on it.

I know this is one of the great ways God continues to use to get me ready to bring Him and His message to others.

See the finished product? ⁶ And the words of the LORD are flawless (pure) words,
like silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified seven times..

OUCH!

3) Finally, the third point shows how to work hard to be like Christ and to bring the world to Him.

In my Christian life I’ve been blessed by God to be involved in various ministry avenues.

1) God allowed me to be part of a Christian Radio Station, WKOJ in Hattiesburg for a few years where I prayed with others during counseling sessions and the Lord allowed me to minister quite a bit during that time while He ministered to me. Teaching and praying with Jennie was created during what seemed to be a ‘fluke’ but as we know was God orchestrated. Still people will tell me from time to time that they heard me then and that’s been about 25 years ago.

2) I was given an opportunity to live in a women’s shelter as House Manager for 2 years. During that time my eyes and heart were so opened to the basic needs and hurts of ladies who had not had the blessed life I had. Up until that time I really didn’t see my life as so ‘advantaged’ but in reality I was and am blessed beyond measure. Some of these ladies had been so abused, had never had a mother figure and adopted me as their Mom, some of whom were my age and in some cases older. Ladies from the streets, homeless we often say, from jail, from prison prior to getting out on their own and some just without a family or place to go for a time. These were special in His sight and I made the ‘House’ a ‘Home’. I made sure to prepare breakfast and supper for them and serve it at the table where we prayed and shared a devotion daily. They all had to work in some capacity during the day so I wanted them to be able to feel at home when their work day ended. We had lots of required meetings to attend, and rules there were just so many but we made them work well, as well as we could as so many of them NEVER followed rules their entire lives. God taught me so much during that time.

3) The Lord opened a door for me to drive a Missionary lady who really instilled some great things in my heart as she itinerated as a Missionary to Kenya, East Africa. We traveled as far west as Houston and east to Birmingham and lots of places in between for about 1 1/2 months. In one of our discussions she shared that she’d felt for years that God had a great call on her life but felt stuck with caring for her pastor husband and ‘all these children’. One day the Lord stopped her in her tracks and let her know that she was not ‘stuck’ but her current calling was to raise her children to serve Him and learn the ways of the Lord. Today each of her children are currently in or have been in full time ministry in a variety of capacities. She worked for years with one pastor son in Kenya, East Africa training pastors. What an awesome life she has led and a great family legacy.

4) Today as a wife to Carl and mom to Jonathan who we homeschool I often recall what Mrs. Jewel told me about her call. In this age of technology I cannot only ‘stay home’ and homeschool but I can reach out worldwide via the internet. I have a website where I teach God’s Word and am site administrator for a friend who is a Missionary and Bible teacher.


There are many more but these are a brief sampling of the experiences in which the Lord has blessed my life.

I encourage you to look around at your life and see where God placed you. Do you feel like you’re not where you’re supposed to be or doing what you’re supposed to do, ‘stuck’? Think. Pray. Listen. Has He placed you there to be shaped and formed, purified by His words allowing the Holy Spirit to pour the water of the Word over this lump of clay that you are in order to later display you as His treasure in an earthen vessel? Ponder this. Be more aware of your Environment from this moment on. Has God given you a Dream or a Vision? If so, train in your training ground and don’t look on the other side of the fence where the grass looks greener. Maybe it’s turf! Be the real thing as God develops the person of character with the confidence He places in you. Be pliable like clay and don’t try to tell the Potter how to form you. His idea is the very best. Now go and make disciples, continue to be readied for each task given you and work hard while entering into His rest knowing that you are His vessel to bring in the masses.

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The hymn, "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" was inspired by a couple, the Doolittles of Elmira, New York, who had reason to be discouraged. For twenty years Mrs. Doolittle had been confined to bed as an invalid. Her husband, a partial invalid, managed his business from a wheelchair. The songwriter, Civilla Martin, tells of a visit to the Doolittles in 1904. Deeply impressed by the joyful spirit that the Doolittles maintained in spite of severe adversity, Mrs. Martin asked the woman if she ever got discouraged because of her physical condition. Her friend responded quickly: "Mrs. Martin, how can I be discouraged when my heavenly Father watches over each little sparrow and I know He loves and cares for me." Within just a few minutes Mrs. Martin completed the writing of her new text, which has since been a source of much encouragement to many of God's people.

Sparrow Living

  In pondering these two above posts, I've been more and more aware of just some of the things the Lord does for me.  I certainly am not immune to times of complaining or 'wishing things were different' or in my eyes 'better', maybe even given to looking at others and thinking my life should maybe be a little more comparable to their's.  Not any good things to allow into my heart.  I have often had to reprimand myself and get back on the right path to doing what God has for me and not for anyone else.  The Sparrow Living I named this piece is to keep me in the proper place that God has me and enjoy each moment keeping an eye for other's needs, desires, etc.  I intend to look for the silver lining, light at the end of the tunnel, hummingbird attitude, positive outlook etc.  I have faith that God is in control no matter what my physical eyes see. 

I encourage you to ponder this also.  Look for the love of God being shed abroad in every area of your life and the lives of those you see.  When there is bad there is always God that outweighs that.  God is Good!  There is none but God alone. 

Be blessed.

Jennie

Luke 1:37

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