Good morning my friends! I trust in the Lord that your holidays were all wonderful, blessed, and full of Jesus!
This blog is a follow up to the blog, "An Invitation" that I wrote a while back. Today is the day we start our 21 day fast! If you have already begun... wonderful!
I am writing you to encourage you with strength and vision, but first, I want to thank you sooo much for joining in with me on this fast! You have been so faithful to come alongside me spiritually. It is a strand that cannot be broken!
Whatever fast you are doing (Daniel, juice, other), I encourage you in the Lord to be strong and faithful. You will be so blessed by doing so!
For accountability, I am doing a complete liquid fast. I will be drinking coffee :-), juices and broths. 21 days is a long time, but I know the Lord has called me to do this; therefore, He WILL give me the strength to carry through! I am believing God for breakthrough in some physical areas and also for my future for next year. I need to know where to go and what to do when my son goes to college. I have a divided heart, and that is not of God!
My son, Christopher, is also fasting. He will be doing the Daniel fast. First, I have to say that I am so so sooo proud of him! It is his first fast ever, and he is super excited. He sees and understands the benefits spiritually, mmm such growth! Praise God! Second, he has some concerns, as do I, for college and scholarships... we are believing together for a miracle! God is faithful! I am excited at the thought of God showing Christopher His love for him too!
We have a plan, but God has a Master plan!
In saying all that, how can I be praying for you?What are some of your goals?What fast are you doingso I can hold you accountable too?
I am asking you to believe that God can do the unimaginable, the unthinkable, the unbelievable! He is a mighty God! He is THE mighty God! Let's dream God-sized dreams together. I will believe with you too. There is enough room in my theology to do that. Is there enough in yours?
I believe in you!
Jennifer
"I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. I will put my dwelling place among you." Levitcus 26:9-11
Seth Barnes, founder of Adventures in Missions (AIM), wrote a blog that I think is of interest to everyone! Soooo... I "borrowed" it to post here on my blog.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ORPHANS!
Seth Writes:
I love what some Christians are doing to minister to widows and orphans through imaginative ways. Take Product(RED), for example: Bono saw the consumerist tendencies of Americans and, instead of beating them over the head with statistics, utilized corporate revenue to bring life-saving drugs to AIDS victims in Africa.
Or, take my friend Tom Davis, who helped start Saint's Coffee, which promises that for every pound of coffee you buy, an orphan is fed for an entire month. I see more and more of these types of businesses springing up these days. It is a creative way for the ministry-minded and business-minded to get together and collaborate in ways that advance the kingdom of God. For more on Saint's Coffee, check out the following:
It's that time of year when our minds turn toward giving gifts to those we love.
This year Saint's Coffee is offering several special coffee blends and Christmas packages for the holiday season.
This reasonably priced, fair trade and organic coffee is among the top 3 percent of all coffee in the world. And when you drink it... you are helping more than yourself.
Saints Coffee has faithfully donated 1/3 of it's net profits back to Children's HopeChest to help feed children in Swaziland.
I just love all of you sooo much! I am grateful for each and every one of you. I really REALLY am! Ah man, when I think about where my life would be today without you, I shake my head, and then I give God some praise!
I am writing this blog as an invitation! I am inviting you to the awesome privilege of a fast. As the New Year kicks in, I want to souly turn my focus toward Jesus Christ! I will be enjoying a 21 day fast, and would like to know if you will join me.
I am writing you long in advance so you can pray and see what way you would like to do and begin to prepare for your fast. The fast will begin on Monday, January 5th and will go for 21 days! (I will be on vacation with my sister till then.)
Why am I inviting you? Because Iron sharpens Iron! I want to be an earth shaker! The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. The time is NOW! That's me~ That's you ~ That's US! I believe in you!
This fast is primarily to honor God and seek His face and let my heart connect with His in a profound way. Oh how I just want to draw more and more near to Him.
His voice will be heard.
His name will be exalted.
His will, will be done.
Is this true for you? "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Watch the whole thing! The last 20 seconds will change your life! Oh death where is your victory; where is your sting?
I got up and cooked him bacon and eggs for breakfast, and tonight I will cook him the meal of his choice and bake him a chocolate/chocolate cake!
(Please pray for me, as this is totally against my fast. Would it be right to share a piece of cake with my son on his birthday this one time, or do I resist like crazy?)
Man, I can't believe he is 18!
When I look back in retrospect, I can honestly say, "Where has the time gone?" He is a big boy. Hahahaha... I told him this morning that in the legal sense and in society's eyes, he is considered a man, BUT he will always be my baby! He liked both of those statements.
I started weeping at the table this morning. I could not control it. He was tickled at me. He even teased me. He knows that I love him so much! I am such a sucker for him, and I don't care!
Oh God thank you!!! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful son!
In your time today, when you read this short blog, PLEASE say a special prayer for Chris. He has such a call on his life. I see such fruit. It is a mother's desire to see her son walk out that call with passion!
Okay.... I have been on a bad benge with eating! I really really need your help!!!
This is such a sensitive subject. It is not just every day a woman will put out there, especially on the internet, her struggles with food and weight!
For the month of September (actually starting on the 2nd), I am going to fast from ALL sweets, cereals, beef & unclean meats, sodas, ice-cream, and drive-thrus, as well as, fasting food completely once a week.
I am not dieting! I hate dieting! I have been on a diet for 5 years... I am over it!!! I just want to eat healthy. Whatever that looks like.... I have always been a junk-food-junkie...
I have been studying how to truly eat well and honor my body as a temple. I will be eating fresh/steamed veggies, fruits, nuts and fish. I have been on a good regimen for vitamins and nutrients, too. The enemy has been coming at me full force, but greater is HE who is in me.
So, I am BEGGING you to please re-visit this blog during and at the end of September, and ask me how I'm doing with this challenge. Actually, I invite you to join me. There is power in accountability!
I have done this before... month long fasts from food items, but never so intense. The fact is, I struggle big-time with eating. I don't normally tell people when I am fasting, but as the Scriptures say, "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak..." Boy oh boy is this true!
Even if you don't join me, I am asking you from the bottom of my heart to please pray for me
On this day, my son Christoper, moved in with me. YES! He moved in with me.
A couple of weeks ago, he said to me, "Mom, I want to tell you something, but I don't want you to get your hopes up." That's enough to make any parent nervous. He said, "I am thinking about moving in with you." My spirit leaped inside of me! I know how Elizabeth felt while pregnant with John the Baptist, when Mary showed up pregnant with Jesus!
Avoiding the "hopes up" syndrome, I told him whatever he wanted to do, I would support that decision.
Now two weeks later, he has officially moved in. His room is in order (well at least his stuff is in there... thrown).
It has been a long journey, and an even tougher one than any I have been through. I would never want to live it again. I have abandoned my son in the past, and there was fear, I'm sure, that I may do it again. However, over time, I have proven to my son that I am here for him. At first, all I wanted to do was "run" home, but God would not let me! OH HOW I AM GRATEFUL!
My son and I are closer than ever. We have an open door policy with our thoughts and our lives. As a result, he trusts me, and to God be the glory. It wasn't so long ago that I was not a trustworthy person.
TONIGHT, as we were moving in his stuff, I asked him what does he want on his walls (his room is black and white). He quickly said, "posters of Lindsay Lonahan and a couple more young hotties." I assured him that that was not going up... He laughed so loud and hard. It cracked me up too. It was great to know that he feels that comfortable with me to joke like that.
My son is quite the boy. HA! I guess they really never grow out of that.
We both know that this is going to stretch us to who knows what. My place is MUCH smaller than what he is used to, and I have lived completely alone for over six years!!! OH BOY! Also, financially it is going to be quite different too. God is my provider though!!!
Time is a healer! So is LOVE! I know that I know that Christopher knows that he knows, I LOVE HIM!!! Just like God, I will never leave him nor forsake him.
For all of those who have walked this journey with me, THANK YOU for praying with me, putting up with me, and more than anything, not letting me give up! I love you!!!
I would ask for continued love, prayers, and accountability. This journey is not over; it has really just begun!
Children are a gift from God! Thank you God for the gift of your Son and mine!
On Friday, I was a speaker at a women's retreat where 300 women gathered to praise our Lord and get refreshed in Him. Though I was not the main speaker but a workshop speaker, there was still a great turnout of women; the room was packed!
The theme of the conference was "Victorious Women." But who knows that life gets in the way of feeling victorious sometimes.
As we began, I felt that a short song to the Lord would be appropriate. Amazing Grace was suitable for the occasion. See, I was giving my testimony. Giving my testimony has been the open door to many speaking engagements. I have done it so much, that I don't even "study" for it. After all, I did live it you know. I just go and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me in what God wants to reveal.
The Lord has given me a spirit of creativity with it now, too. I don't just give my testimony. (You try talking the same talk for 6 yrs straight.) I get the audience engaged and participate. A revelation that the Lord gave me was not to just tell the testimony and the call on my life, but help others tap into the heart of Father and the call on their life... to grasp the dream in their heart and execute it... GO FOR IT! Oh it is sooo much fun!!!! I love seeing others get over the "only ifs" and confess the "I cans." I love to see others gain the surpassing knowledge of who they are in Christ!
As I closed my session, 30+ women responded to the altar call of writing down what was in their heart. With tears streaming down some faces, with the look of hope and excitement, it was qutie obvious that they had certainly tapped into a place they had not visited in a long time or perhaps did not even know existed.
We took the time to put some of our dreams (and hurts) on paper. Here are a few of the responses:
To be a teacher or nurse, a missionary or speaker: Even if I've failed, I can try again... I have failed. Sister, I want to be on fire for Him. I am oppressed and need freedom from the onslaught of the enemy that has me bound.
A ministry to homosexuals and the church.
This one broke my heart: What is my dream? Can't be sure that I know the truth. Oh... I'm only fooling myself. I have always dreamed of having a companion and children, but at 45, I have given up.
I want to finance many Christian institutions. (I wish I knew who this is!!!)
I want to write and produce music.
I want to write a book... the list goes on and on.
I am hugely encouraged by these notes. I brought the stack of them home to pray for them all. As I was going through them, my heart just melted. I know that I know the Lord wants to answer the desires of these ladies hearts! He is so very faithful! I would ask that you would lift up to our Lord these women too!
We then closed with an intimate time in the Lord, giving HIM the glory for a wonderful day! We clutched hands and exalted the name of Jesus in prayer, then we seized the moment with another closing song... "Aaaamen.... Aaaamen..... Aaamen, Amen, Amen!"
Oh what a time of freedom. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!
"Oh God, may we love You in all things and above all things. May we reach the joy which You have prepared for us in advance. All that is good comes from Your hand. It is your desire to see your children joyful and walking in freedom. Place in our hearts a desire to please You and fill our minds with thoughts of You. May we truly be victorious in our minds and in all we do! To you, our Lord be all the glory."
You ever feel like a piece of you is missing? I suppose we all do at times. Have you ever lost anything of significance? People lose things all the time, car keys, eye glasses, jewelry, even their kids. I remember one time I lost my son, Christopher, in the Oaks Mall. I was a very young mother and was panicking! Finally, after what seemed like an eternity (about 2 minutes), a lady asked me if I was looking for a young baby about 2 years old. UH YEAH #@^&*!
After raising that thought, let me ask you another question. What if that something that is lost --- is you? The Bible says that our sin separates us from our God. But what if we don't recognize that sin; how can we recognize the separation? We just meander around aimlessly at life believing the lies of the enemy that our life is, well, useless and this is the norm – nothing will ever change. We even live our lives vicariously through the adventures of others. Are you missing – out on life?
Complacency – the Bible calls it luke-warm, and God will spit us out of his mouth when we dig our rut to live there. It saddens my heart when I see and hear "Christians" living in this unwanted, unlovely place. You know the place, "only if… if only…"
I don't ever want to be there. How about you? Have you ever been there? Are you there now?
I have to tell you. I believe in the call that God has placed on my life! I get extremely excited when I think about the powerful things that He says I can do in His name.
As a minister of reconciliation, I am called to speaking largely at conferences, seeing countless lives coming to the cross and being transformed. Let me touch on that a minute. If you are a pew warmer, you are not a transformed life. You are just a saved soul, maybe! There is a difference.
Erwin McManus, author of the book "Chasing Daylight" speaks about taking a stand by living the dream that God has placed inside of our hearts. He said, "For so long, we as Christians have wanted to be known for what we do, but we should be known for what we stand for." This quote resonates within my heart.
I am not "chasing" a dream; I am "going after" my dream and would even dare to believe that very soon, I will be living out my dream.
I stand for redeeming the name "Christian." I am standing for God, the Bible and His commands.
The Lord has been faithful to open the doors I have prayed about for years. Now, it is up to me to be faithful to walk through them. As a woman who loves control, I don't like not knowing. I get anxious at times. I'm not a victim of the fear-of-the-unknown syndrome. I simply do it afraid.
I love living life on the edge. It balances my zeal somehow. The other day, I signed up randomly to go on a 12 mile canoe trip. Shew, I thought my arms were going to fall off, and I got sunburned too, but I would not have missed it for anything in the world, even not knowing anyone on the trip. I have also traveled to Thailand and Israel all by my little self. I love it! It helps looooving missions too. I love different cultures. I love widows and orphans. I love prostitutes. I love the forgotten. I want to go to the unreached, the people who have never heard in their ears, Jesus. I can not wait to just go and go and go.
I don't know why I mentioned that other than perhaps to tell you to get over your fears. God's hand is on your life. He truly wants you to not just "have" but "live" the abundant life, and sometimes (probably more often than not) that abundance means taking risk and living life on the edge! Step out of the boat, Peter. Be courageous, Joshua. HAVE FUN!
Last night, at a Perry Stone conference, I saw over 200 people get baptized in the Holy Spirit at one time! It was amazing, breathtaking even! I was in such awe at what God had just done right before my eyes. However, just think of the courage it took for them to step forward and ask God for this wonderful gift. Imagine the questions going on in their heads, "What will people think?" "Is this for real?" "Can I really receive this?" We've all grappled with such questions.
The answer was, is, and will always be Yes and Amen. Yes and Amen to all of your questions when you put God as the Headship of your life. Allow the Lord to rebuke fear and doubt and then get on with your predestined life. You know the one. God planned it from the foundations of the earth. The author of life and laughter.
Though things don't always appear to be "right," know that God sees the end from the beginning. Trust in Him with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, and HE WILL guide your steps into a life you could have never dreamt of on your own. He will mount you up on Eagle's wings. Oh if we could grasp just how deep, how wide, The best part is that He really wants to do that for you and for me.
NOW LIVE! I'm going to!
I leave you with this prayer from Ephesians 3:14-19, "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole familyin heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Hello All! I just wanted to share some more pics with you. Some will have a brief explanation, and some will be just for fun...
I hope you can grasp the measure of the GREAT time I had. It was an experience I will never ever forget. Thank you Jesus for allowing me one of the best opportunities of my life!
Israeli Army. All kids have to go into the army for at least 2 years after graduation.
Nolan, Alan, and Peter.... I LOVE THESE GUYS!!!
Israeli Parking.... hahahaha... you see this everywhere! All the cars have scrapes and dents! NO JOKE!
Me in the exit of the lobby outside of the Upper Room
A sneak peak inside the Upper Room. There is no entry allowed, but I was able to zoom in through a crack in the door!!
Nolan and Me (Noran... we get this from a young Korean boy who could not pronounce his name correctly. Noran stuck with him throughout the entire trip. It was hilarious!!!)
Sitting on the wall of the place where Joshua conqered Lachish (Joshua 10:29-43)
Where David slew Goliath.... Awesome time!
The graves where they believe that the dead will rise first in Christ (which is true) but they believe the closer the quicker.
The Western Wall. I was blown away by the idol worship here!
Even Muslim boys shop...
3 young Muslim girls outside of a Mosk at the Temple Mount
Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. You could absolutely feel the Spirit here. It was breath taking to say the least! It is, however, very much a tourist hotspot now...
The tomb where Jesus was laid. We did not have time to go in b/c of the LONG line. I studied in Scripture to compare truth. This does fit the description out of John 19.
Zedekiah's Cave... this was sooo cooool!
This is one of my favorite pics.... 2 ships at sea on the Mediterranean
swimming... duh!
Playing dodge ball at the beach with one of the youth groups... man they are good!
Dan being invaded by the kids at the beach.
Sunset at the Mediterranean
Going into service... Dan, Me, Nolan, Amy, Alan, David
Seth Barnes, founder of Adventures in Missions (AIM), wrote a blog that I think is of interest to everyone! Soooo... I "borrowed" it to post here on my blog.
This year 
Okay.... I have been on a bad benge with eating! I really really need your help!!!
On this day, my son Christoper, moved in with me. YES! He moved in with me. 
TONIGHT, as we were moving in his stuff, I asked him what does he want on his walls (his room is black and white). He quickly said, "posters of Lindsay Lonahan and a couple more young hotties." I assured him that that was not going up... He laughed so loud and hard. It cracked me up too. It was great to know that he feels that comfortable with me to joke like that. 
We took the time to put some of our dreams (and hurts) on paper. Here are a few of the responses:
The Lord has been faithful to open the doors I have prayed about for years. Now, it is up to me to be faithful to walk through them. As a woman who loves control, I don't like not knowing. I get anxious at times. I'm not a victim of the fear-of-the-unknown syndrome. I simply do it afraid.
Last night, at a Perry Stone conference, I saw over 200 people get baptized in the Holy Spirit at one time! It was amazing, breathtaking even! I was in such awe at what God had just done right before my eyes. However, just think of the courage it took for them to step forward and ask God for this wonderful gift. Imagine the questions going on in their heads, "What will people think?" "Is this for real?" "Can I really receive this?" We've all grappled with such questions. .JPG)
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