Giving thanks...

It's that time of year when the kids start asking for Christmas presents, and we all start stressing about the Christmas shopping that we have yet to do.  I am trying to keep a thankful attitude, but it is difficult.  What's crazy is that Thanksgiving is next week!  Since when does the Christmas season begin the day after Halloween? 

Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday.  The food is wonderful, the weather in Texas is mild, and my family is all together.  As I get older, I notice that the season of giving thanks gets shorter and shorter.  I am determining to be thankful this evening, and to that end, I've made a list of  a few things that I am thankful for.  Perhaps you'll make your own.

I am thankful for:

Four healthy children.
A husband who loves me.
Friends.
A loving church.
My parents.
My brother and his family.
My home.
My dog (read "dawg").
Difficulties and challenges.
My country.
Most of all, I am thankful that God loved me so much that He sent His one and only Son to die on the Cross so that I might have everlasting life simply be believing in Him (John 3:16) and giving my life to Him.

What are you thankful for?

Blessings,

Jennifer

Fall Retreat and Declaring God's Word Fearlessly

I have been remiss in my posting lately. Chalk it up to my work on the upcoming fall retreat, I suppose.  I look forward to sharing the message of love and unity as declared by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians this upcoming weekend.  I have been studying Ephesians since late March/early April or so, and I feel a sense of expectation similar to the birth of a child.  I met with Pastor Mark today, and he had some words of encouragement and suggestion for me. I am really feeling the sense of elation that comes from hearing a good word from a person with authority, whom I also respect a great deal.

So, from the words of Paul in the mighty book of Ephesians, here is what I am asking you to pray:  "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,....Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."  Ephesians 6:19-20

May God's richest blessings flow over you,

Jennifer

Our guilt has reached the heavens...

"O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens."  Ezra 9:6

FBC of The Colony is going through 40 Days of Prayer, to humble ourselves before God.  Today is day 6.  I read the above passage from Ezra, along with today's prayer:  "Pray that God's people would assume responsibility for the moral and spiritual erosion of our nation and our world."  I have been meditating on this today, and it has troubled me.  At first, it was hard to pray this on a personal level.  It's like saying that I caused marriages to end in divorce, babies to be aborted, children to be abused, and on and on.  That's hard stuff.  The more I thought about it, though, the more convinced I was of the righteousness of this prayer.

Essentially, it's admitting that as a people and as a nation, we are sinful.  Our guilt has reached the heavens, as Ezra says.  I came to view this prayer as an admission that, though I did not cause the sins of the nation, I recognize the sins of the nation and confess them on behalf of my people.  It is a prayer of confession and acceptance of responsibility.  It is acknowledging our corporate sin, my personal acceptance of that sin, and my repentance of it.  Though the sin did not originate with me, I want it to end with me.  I want to renounce the curse for the generations that follow.  

Humbly,

Jennifer

Fall Retreat update

Whew!  Only 5 more weeks until the retreat!  I spent today working on writing my retreat lessons.  This portion of the retreat is very stressful for me--writing the words that are swirling around in my head, and getting prepared for speaking them!  I have to say, though, that I feel much lighter since lesson 1 is down on the page, and the learner's guide is done! 

Now, only two more lessons to go! 

Blessings and peace,

Jennifer

Though the Mountains Be Shaken

I just got back from the mountains of Northern California/Nevada.  My husband and I, along with friends from church, went to Lake Tahoe for a few days.  We enjoyed the time away from the daily routine, and enjoyed seeing the sights of the area.  In my lifetime thus far, I have had very few opportunities to visit the mountainous regions of the great country in which we live.  I'll admit that driving up into the mountains was intimidating, but I enjoyed my time there nonetheless.

I couldn't help but think of words of the Lord in Isaiah 54:10: 

" 'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has compassion on you."

Though those beautiful, mighty mountains could fall into dust, God's love will never fail and He will never remove His covenant of peace from me.  I am so glad.

Praise His Holy and Precious Name,

Jennifer

The Afar

As we close our 30 days of prayer for Muslims around the world, we lift up the Afar people in the Horn of Africa.  The Afar are a warrior people who live a nomadic existence, crossing the hottest areas on the earth.  The Gospel is being heard by the Afar, due to Christian radio ministry and the prayers of Ethiopian believers.

Pray for the radio production team and their many listeners in this area.  Pray that the hearts of listeners would be open to the Gospel message.  Pray for the communities of faith that are developing in this region, and pray that new communities of believers will be established.

Thank you, Lord, for opening my heart and mind to pray for Muslims around the world.  I pray that I will be ever mindful to pray that your Gospel would be made known.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Blessings and peace,

Jennifer

True Reconciliation From True Love

The only way that true reconciliation can occur in the Middle East-or anywhere--is through the love of Christ.  Pray that the transforming love of God will bring lasting change and peace in the Middle East.  Pray for breakthroughs in reconciliation and deepening love and respect among Jews and Arabs.  Pray for the peace and reconciliation through Christ to occur in Israel and Palestine. 

Scriptures to pray:  1 John 4:12, 19; Matthew 5:9; Ephesians 2:14; and 2 Peter 3:13.

Blessings and peace,

Jennifer