Disciple

Hello! I hope you had a good Easter Sunday! Mine was spent at church, then with family, and ended with watching the conclusion of The Bible series. Yep, I still get an Easter "basket" (decorative box, basket, or etc...this year was going to be a flower pot for my front porch, but I was unable to decide on one), anywhoo... :)   It was a bag filled with candy, a new glass water bottle, a melon baller (yes, I been kinda wanting a melon baller,  I like kitchen gadgets and appliances  it's my other addiction besides office supplies.), and a few other fun things! My doggies were also giving a basket full of 3 different kind of dog treats- one is duck shaped crackers, they love those! and a new rope toy (they love stuffed toys to shreds (literally) so only durable toys make it in this house now).
The Bible series was pretty cool. I only saw a few episodes, but they were good. I hope to watch the whole series sometime. I'm more of a visual person. I like to see things in order to figure things out, like with problems I like to write things down, or with traveling I like to see the directions and how to get there on a map instead of hearing the directions. I've been reading/hearing the Bible since I was very little. Always tried to picture the stories in my mind. Actually seeing them through this series brought them to a different light. One of my favorite things to see was involving the disciples. I don't know why, it just stuck with me different. Seeing a portrayal of their relationship with Jesus, how they interacted, how they loved him and each other, how they followed him- even after his death and resurrection, and a bit of their stories.

Being Christian then wasn't easy. Many of them were persecuted, most were put to death because of their beliefs, and yet they didn't give up. Being a Christian today is a little different, depending on where you live of course. Living in the U.S, there is persecution, but not to the point of prison or death. But there is more distraction, more things that make us comfortable and willing to live in our comfort zones. Jesus is outside of our comfort zone. I don't want to be a Christian who just sits on the side lines. Just goes to church and lives a nice life of being good to people and loving God... I want to do more, be more. I want to be like Peter, when an opportunity comes, to speak bolding about Jesus and do His work. I want to be like Paul, to encourage people and not give up. I want to be a disciple who does the work of Jesus, believes His word, and loves people. I want to live the life God intended me to live. One in which He will say, at the end of it all, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

But how? I know what being a Christian means, I know what His word says, I know how to love others. But how, specifically does God want me to be a disciple. It's kinda a weird question, I mean you should be a disciple in your everyday life- at your workplace, school, home, in everything. I guess for me, i'm trying to figure out what God wants me to do. I've been wondering this for awhile, as far as my calling. I suppose that's for another post. But yeah, I just want to be a disciple. One who walks with Jesus, one who hangs out with Jesus, one who knows Jesus. I want to help people, heal people, give to people, love people, and most important share with people that God loves them, that Jesus is their Savior.

That's what i've been thinking about this Easter. Being a true disciple. I guess I can go in more detail on that too in another post. This is mostly about what's on my mind. God is amazing and good. And even when we think we aren't good enough, He doesn't see it that way. He loves us right where we are, and wants to help us grow from there. There's so much more I can post about this and I will, but I will end this here for now.
-Jen

Martha Moment

Is moving into a house 7 months ago and still not fully unpacked a bad thing? Or does it just show that I may not need everything I have? Or that I want to be organized and make sure everything has a place? I hope it's not bad and I think it could be a both some things unneeded and some things I just wanted to get the right place set up for it. When I first moved in I originally wanted to get the house ready- clean, paint, pull up carpet, then unpack. But life happened and I was never able to do what I planned. I had to just live in my unfinished (cosmetic, not structural or anything unlivable) house. I've been working like crazy to just unpack and settle in a half primed and painted 2 different color for sampling living room. I think I need a week off to get this house done (minus painting, I don't like painting in the winter), but I will work on it little by little with the free time after work. As I was working on it today, a thought came to me. Am I too busy thinking and working on my house when I should be thinking and working on my heart? I do spend a lot of time on pinterest getting ideas for my house, thinking about decorating and furniture placement, and cleaning and unpacking. So much time i've been neglecting other things.

Psalms 37:4 says- "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." and Philippians 4:8 says- " Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Houndstooth and Damask are lovely... oh and a pink couch is something I kinda desire. But these aren't the things I should be obsessing thinking about. I was reminded of the story of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10:38-42: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” I'm so caught up in my house, my problems, and just daily life stuff that I lost the opportunity to spend more time with God, think about Him and what's on His heart for the day, to pray more for what's on God's heart.

To be honest, i'm not the best at setting aside time for that. I spend my entire day taking little moments to talk to God or read a verse, but not a good amount of time. I'm letting life distract me from being at Jesus' feet. I'm being more like Martha in this case. I need to let some stuff go and realize what is truly important- spending time in God's presence.
And once I let go, things will get better, I will feel better. I need Him more than anything, more than a pink and navy blue room. When it comes down to it, not much matters except God and people. God loves us and cares about what we care about. And He is totally cool with that lamp from Target, or the table from Ikea. The desire for my house to be a home and nicely decorated is one that God is ok with. Just look at Solomon's place (well read about). God's ok with nice things. He wants us to have the best, but more importantly He wants us to be the best.
I encourage you, I don't know what things you have going on in your lives, take time for the things that matter most. Do what makes you happy (or buy, with in your budget :), what makes you happy (a nicer tv)) and most importantly do what makes God happy- love Him and love others.

I'm Just Waiting

I'm been questioned, questioning, and be persuaded about some things I believe. I am pro saving yourself for marriage, but a lot of people don't understand that. Well, I don't agree with their side of the issue, and never will. It had me thinking a lot about this. Just alittle back ground, i'm currently single. The desire has always been there to get married. I've dreamed about it for so long and hoped it would happen soon. Well my soon came and left. And here I am still single. So I took matters into my own hand, I went on a few online dating sites. I've never been a fan of them, and still weary I registered any ways (never paid though). Well, I came across a few semi decent (online at least, in real life- no clue), some creepy, and a few that could possible be potentials. I quit a lot of them for a while then reactivated, quit, reactivated. Every time I quit I felt so much better. I recently read a blog post about online dating and why she doesn't like it, and it totally reconfirmed and helped me realize why I don't like it, which you can read the post here: Becoming a Hopeful Romantic - Online Dating.  So I quit for good! I am just simply going to wait, but in my wait I am going to seek after God more than ever.

Singleness is an amazing season that you should treasure. I'm learning that more so now. I've single most of my life, and at times I did not view it as a gift but it really is. And by letting go of the online dating game, i've given my trust back in God to write my love story. I am more of an old fashion type, I love the story of how Isaac and Rebekah met in the Bible. Isaac actually sent his servant to find his wife and the servant prayed to God that the right girl would water my camels. He came to the well and there was Rebekah and she offered him some water and his camels. She was Isaac's one. But She didn't go to seek out Isaac, he pursued her. You can read the complete story here: Bible Gateway- Isaac and Rebekah. And Ruth and Boaz's story, so Ruth moved to another country with her mother in law (her husband passed away). Well, long story short, Ruth ends up working for Boaz, and then they marry! I left a lot out so you can read the whole story here: Biblegateway- Ruth and Boaz. Another story I like starts at the very beginning of time with Adam and Eve. Adam, newly created by God, was chilling in the garden of Eden naming the animals (off subject, how cool is that- first he named all the animals- he came up with zebra and panda, secondly that he had the creative knowledge to name all the animals, amazing). And out of all the animals there was no suitable helper, not even the dog. So God made woman out of Adam's rib (and dust and God's breath). And the two became one and set the official standard of marriage, which is between a man and woman. You can read that story here: Biblegateway- Adam and Eve.

God is so creative, faithful, good. He has the best love story for you and me. Someday, if it's your desire God will set you in the right place at the right time to either be found or to find the right person. I believe that the guy should pursue the girl. The girl should be found. Proverbs 18:22 says: The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD. In all the bible in all those stories and more, the guy found the girl. Isaac found Rebekah, Boaz found Ruth, Adam found (kinda, more she was made for him) Eve. And all these stories were written by God. God had Rebekah go to the well and give water to Isaac's servant, God had Ruth go to her mother in law's country and work for Boaz, and God simply made Eve for Adam. And God lead each of the guys to their ones. I trust God and know He will direct my path to be at the right place at the right time and be prepared for my future husband. I can't wait to find our what God is writing for my love story, but I will also wait. Along with waiting, i'm not going to date. My goal is to only date my future husband. I was inpired my this from the book 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye' by Joshua Harris and the song 'Average Girl' by Barlowgirl, which you can watch here:

Well, that's all I have to say on this for now. Here's a final video to close that I recommend watching. I saw it last year and it also inspired me to wait for the right guy.

Can't Stay Silent About This

There are some issue that I feel really strongly about, and one is abortion. I'm strongly against it. I am sometimes questioned and challenged by my stance, and I believe that a baby is a human being from conception and that murder is wrong. I recently watched an excellent, life changing 33 minute film called the 180 Movie. It strengthen what I believed and helped me see why, with out a doubt, I know it's wrong. I also saw a few other videos that gave a different side that most people don't see. I feel like in order to have a brilliant life, I need to help others have one too, and I want babies to be able to have life that God created them to have. One thing I will always do is work for God, my businesses will always be linked to His heart. I know saving babies is. He loves everyone, especially the least of these. There is always a way. Adoption is a wonderful option. There is so many willing people who want to have children who maybe can't. I know I want to adopt someday. Also, there's always abstinence. Doing things God's way and saving yourself for marriage is one of the best things. Anywhoo... here's those videos that changed my life.





"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." -Jesus, Matthew 25:45
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." -Matthew 18:6

Thanks for reading, I know these type of post are my usual crafty, light, fun, etc post. But it is something that's important to me. And I know it's something God wants be to share about.
I'll be back later this week and i'm thinking about doing a craft weekend so I think I will be posting some diys and crafts!
Love,
-Jen