Beautiful

This morning my husband Joe and the rest of his team left to do ministry in the Dwadwa Village in Zambia with Overland Missions for the next eight days! They will be led by a local villager and the Holy Spirit. As they travel to that village, they will be crossing three riverbeds, driving through difficult terrain, and cutting down any profuse greenery. Basically anything that gets in the way. ;o)

Joe's prayer is that the Gospel would be presented clearly, the people they meet would have open hearts and minds, their focus would be on God, the Spirt to lead, for unselfishness, and that God would be magnified.

"We are not called to be microscopes, but telescopes. Christians are not called to be con-men who magnify their product out of all proportion to reality, when they know the competitor's product is far superior. There is nothing and nobody superior to God. And so the calling of those who love God is to make his greatness begin to look as great as it really is." - John Piper

Joe posted this before heading out today:

"It's neat being set aside for God's work and not worrying about life around you! I wonder why we allow ourselves to get so distracted and off course! Maybe when He said set your sights on things above seeking His Kingdom first all these things would be added to you! He really meant focus on Me, live like Jesus, share that wonderful news, watch Me change lives. What a call to have put on your life! In the bush for the next 8 days, pray for us but also go be the light you were called to be."

It's beautiful... God has written each of us a beautiful story. We just get to live it. Thank you Lord for everything.

 I am so excited to hear about what God is going to do this week! Pray for the team today and this week!

In His Love, 

Jennis

Leaving on a Jet Plane

We've been planning, prepping, and praying for so long and the day finally came. 

On Sunday we fit in everything fun Joe could possibly think of. Church, Five Guys, Yogurt Mountain, a movie, and bowling. He wanted everyone he loved around him as long as possible. It was awesome. 

Funnily enough, we got up at 4:00 yesterday morning to bring him to the airport. Only to find out his flight was for that night. We got some good laughs, a dry run, and breakfast out of it. He sang "Leaving on a Jet Plane", really just the chorus from Armageddon, all day. 

Then yesterday night we sent off Joe for Africa. It was bittersweet. Just because we will miss him. We are so incredibly excited for what God is going to do there and what he has already done. To be able to see God's hand on this trip has blessed us both. He is God's and whatever happens is in His hands. I'm not afraid for Joe. Whatever is in store God is already there. There is so much peace in that. Thank you God for being You. You are amazing and I am awed. Please pray for them the next two weeks, the people they meet, traveling mercies, and safety!

"You have to be brave with your life, so others can be brave with theirs." -Katherine Center

In between...

For months now we have been in between the "now" and when my husband ,Joe, goes to Africa. It's really all we talk about. During that time God has revealed so much about Himself to us. Things we had the head knowledge for but not the heart knowledge.

With just days until he leaves we are rejoicing in God's provision for this trip. From the little girl who was so excited to give him $0.50 to the $400.00 check that blew us away. Plus all the donations in between.

The air fare went up twice. God met the need twice.

Joe was at work and meets Ryan who is part of the royal family in Zambia plus also a missionary. He didn't have any cash on him. Ryan felt terrible he couldn't give to Joe's trip. While walking out to his car to go home a complete stranger walked up and handed him the contents of his wallet. To which Ryan walked right back into the restaurant and handed to Joe.

Last week we spent $50 over our budget for his supplies. Later that same day someone handed him $50 for his trip.

This week we found out Joe had to have a prescription for malaria. When we went to pick up the medicine it was $198. No kidding. We freaked. While sharing the story that night at church our church secretary handed Joe a check from donations to his trip that week. Guess how much the check was for? $195.

During the in between we have been so unbelievably blessed. As we fall short, God doesn't. As we doubt, He confirms.  As we struggle, He brings us through. As we think of ways to provide, He comes in before we can figure it out. 

I wouldn't trade the "in between" for anything. My Dad always says that "it's in the valleys that we grow". Our heavenly Father has certainly grown us during the waiting for this trip. I can't wait to see what He has in store for Joe and the rest of the team the next two weeks. 

We are so grateful. Grateful even seems shallow compared to how we feel. Ya know? God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. 

Source

Say "Yes" to VBS

Last  year some time my husband came home with a yellow and teal bag. I stared at him like he was crazy. He announced that we would be running VBS for our church this year. I asked him if there wasn't someone who was more equipped to handle the job? His response? Oh, yeah the other children's pastor and his wife can handle it.

Meaning, no it's us. This is our ministry.

I was scared.

VBS was a big out reach for our church and a huge deal for our kids.

I have taught the last 4 years but never have been the director. I went to the conference for our VBS. Went to the director's meeting. Planned and planned. Everything was in place. The Saturday night before our VBS was to start, I got no sleep. Maybe 2-3 hours max. I went through everything that could possibly go wrong. Inside and out. I just thought until I couldn't think anymore and then I thought some more. Then I thought about falling flat on my face.

The next morning God spoke to me. Our VBS was about facing fear. Was I going to let fear keep me from the joy of VBS? The irony. I took a stand and decided then that I would not be afraid. I would enjoy our VBS as directors for the first time. Peace flowed through me for the first time in months. During our Sunday morning worship I cried like a baby. God reminded me that He was faithful. His promises are true, because He can't lie. That He would be there through it all. That I needed to rely on Him.

What I needed to remember was this wasn't my VBS. This was His VBS. Somewhere along the way I thought that I was making this VBS. Instead of me magnifying Him, I thought He would magnify me. I thought I was running the show. That if it (VBS) fell flat on it's face it would be because I missed something along the way. I made it a little about me-- okay, a lot about me. That  if I didn't work hard enough it would be a flop. I was trying to steal His show. He was using us but really He was doing all the work. I was directing, but He was the Director. There is so much joy in releasing responsibilities that were never really yours to carry. The work was necessary, but He was the one moving. None of it took Him by surprise.

Hands down this was my favorite VBS to date. It pulled and stretched me far out of my comfort zone. I had lots of fun with our kids. They had so much fun! I got to watch my husband be a big kid with our kids. Since VBS has been over parents have been telling us thank you. That during VBS they had amazing conversations with their kids about their Heavenly Father, their kids got saved, or how much they loved our church. As I have read and heard them I just cried. Tears of joy- my cup overflows. I'm crying just typing this. Again and again He reminds me of His goodness.  He wants to use us we just have to say "yes". Allow Him to do the work. 

 Ultimately though, it drew me closer to Him. To draw on His strength. He is our true source of power.

To think something that could bless me so much and I was afraid to touch it with a ten foot pole. I already can't wait for next years VBS yet and ours hasn't been over for a week yet. 

Thank you Lord for using me.

The Sea of Yes

There are many days that I bite off more than I can chew. Do you ever have those days? I'm going to pretend you all said yes because I'll feel better that way. Okay? Okay! 

Today I ran around trying to get everything done by a certain time and it was a little cray cray in my house. I showed up to church with frizzy hair, no makeup, a fresh shirt (the one I had on was stained with the progress from the day). I was whelmed.  

I know the freedom of saying no. Too often I don't do it because I like to think that I can do it all. I hope the way "doing it all" looked and felt today will remind me not to do it again. Hopefully, I remember the comfort that comes with saying yes to the best and no to the rest. It's easy and prideful to think that I can do it all. I don't want to be prideful. 

Tonight, I sat at the kitchen sink finishing the rest of the dishes of the day. Reflecting on the day and feeling the business that today held. As I thought to myself, "What could make this day better?" A verse popped into my mind -- don't you just love when that happens? "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 18:28 As soon as I thought it I felt His peace wash over me. Yes, that is exactly what was missing from my day. More of Him and less of me!

Friends, I hope you are having a blessed week!

In His Love, 

Jennis

Bookends

I have been on the hunt for cute bookends for a while now. After parusing Pinterest for a while. I found that people were using wood corbels from home repair stores as bookends. I bought some, spray painted them the color I wanted, and put them to work! :) Made me happy. Now my books that I need are lined up neatly instead of left in stacks everywhere. Fun! Works for me!

What works for you lately?

Hope you're having a great week! 

In His Love, 

Jennis

*This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday*

The Root of It

As a culture, we have done a really magnificent job at giving everyone labels. Labels that are supposed to define them. For instance, if you don't eat meat you are a "vegetarian". People that homeschool, people that go to church or don't, people that don't have money or have a good deal of money, people in politics, people on a pulpit, people that work hard labor, etc. The list could and would go on and on.

Except that there really is only one "label" that matters. That label is sinner. You see we are all sinners. There is not one of us that could be labeled as "good". Romans 3:23 tells us, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". All of us. The only solution to our sin is Jesus. 

Labels though,  can't tell you what someone is like. Really, they're just adjectives. They describe a part of you but they don't define who you are. If you want to be defined-- you can find your identity in Christ. That is what defines you. Not words and not labels. 

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:14-17

Don't be defined by anything but your identity in Christ. Go and read Romans 8.  Remember who you are in Him. He loves you and died for you so that you could spend an eternity with Him.

In His Love,

Jennis