I'm a younger, white edition of Oprah. And in this episode, I will not be giving away any of my favorite things because, well, most of them aren't really "things" but rather, ideas or organizations. A few of them are things, but you can buy them yourself. Many of these things were released previous to 2010, but I don't really care. I either fell in worldly love with them or stumbled upon them in 2010. So... hah.
So here we go... Jenessa's Favorite Things of 2010.
1. mewithoutYou. "The Fox, the Crow, and the Cookie" may be my favorite song currently. Really any of the songs on "It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All a Dream! It's Alright" are amazing. Or anything mwY related. Aaron Weiss, the lead singer, is my favorite person of 2010. By far.
2. The Rockplex. I live here with three women of God. So happy I do, I couldn't ask for better friends and a better place to relax and get snowed in.
3. Hummus and spinich wraps. Lunch, dinner, snack time... this stuff is good together at any time of the day.
4. Tattoos. This is the only reason I want to meet my future husband... so I can get my second and last tattoo. The "Micah 6:8" written on my right wrist just makes me so joyous and reminds me of my purpose.
5. That being said... being single. I have experienced life and grown up a ton in the last year with my last sister getting married and refusing to date anyone. There's just something about going at life just you and God that I adore. Sure, it will probably change, but to be in a comitted relationship sounds awful right now.
6. Graduation! I graduated college with a B.A. in English last May. I have been done with college for a year already (I was finished in December of 2009). Whoa. It did feel good to hold that diploma in my hands for the first time though, let me tell ya!
7. Kids. They teach me more and more every day.
8. Bring Me Hope. As if I don't talk about this organization enough! Check them out, you'll understand why they're one of my favorite things!
9. Band wives. They are fantastic... usually better than the band themselves. Just sayin'.
10. The Wedding's "The Distance" EP. It makes my heart sing along!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Tidings.
"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me?' declares the Lord."
-Jeremiah 22:16
When Jesus came to earth, He did not come to be with the Pharisees and people in power... He came to be with the poor, the needy, the broken, the cheaters, the liars, and the lowly. He did not come seeking love from people who would give him a place in society; He came seeking to show His love to the world. And He didn't just say that He loves us- He showed it that afternoon on the cross. He showed it with every lash of the whip, every tongue that scoffed at Him. His arms which were bound to rough wood pulled the flesh off His back as He propelled Himself upwards to gulp a few precious breaths of air... that's how He showed love. His physical pain was nothing compared to the spiritual pain of having the sins of the world on Him and thus being forsaken by His Father. It hurt the Father to see His Son suffer. It hurt the Son to suffer. But because of Love, we don't suffer.
I want to know this God! I want to know the Father who loves, the Son who died, and the Holy Spirit who inspires. I want to experience Him in every way possible. I want His love to flow through my whole being. I want to be the sweet incense that travels to heaven... I want to follow His will with my whole heart. The best part? I can't do any of this apart from Him.
So it's Christmas. I have all of this stuff going through my head... while at the same time, spending a ton of money on my family. While that's not a bad thing and showing love to them through my favorite giving love language (different from my receiving love language), I believe I'm called to something more. I mean, I SAY that I want to know God, but am I defending the cause of the poor and needy?
As many of you know, our Sunday School kids are sponsoring two children to go to Bring Me Hope summer camp this summer (July 2011) through our offerings taken every Sunday at Sunday School. Bring Me Hope leads four weeks of summer camps for Chinese orphans. (For more info, click here) As many of you know, I am trying to go for a few weeks of these camps. What a lot of you don't know is that I probably won't have my passport in time to be able to get into the Republic of China. I am at peace with this, but will still keep going in case China is in fact where God wants me this summer. Either way, our kids are able to help with the organization, which they are all excited about. Last Saturday was our two hour practice for the Sunday School Christmas program. One of our kids asked if we were going to do offering, which we weren't. "Oh, good, because I only have two pennies and I can't even find them anymore but I was going to give them."
"Well, it's probably a good thing you couldn't find them... you should keep them if they are your last pennies," I responded.
And other times, I had kids offer me their last piece of chocolate or Christmas candy but I would refuse them because they were their last. They should keep them, right?
Or should they?
One thing I love about working with kids is that they understand giving. They understand what their favorite things are, what things have value to them. To one kid it was money, to other kids it's chocolate and candy. But they know that these things that have value are better if shared. They WANT to share (and often won't take no for an answer!). This kind of loving giving is something I should be striving for personally and also building up in these kids. I pray that they never lose this drive to share those things that have the most value to them.
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." -1 Timothy 6:17-18
I think these kids have figured out a part of knowing God. A huge part. May God's gift of love to you this Christmas inspire you to show love to those in need and to share the things in life that have the most value to you... whether that be in song, in time, through cooking, cleaning, or helping in any way you can. And may you experience and know God in ways you never have before.
(And a P.S.- I don't really want to say this, but just so you know I'm not just doing lip service, tonight I adopted a kid through Compassion International. If you feel led to adopt a child into your family, pray for them, and seek to nourish them spiritually, please do so. I can tell you right now that it is one of the biggest ways you will ever experience God. Kids never cease to amaze you and when a kid is depending on you for their daily needs- it's just incredible. Check it out and pray over how you can help these kids... and then do it!)
-Jeremiah 22:16
When Jesus came to earth, He did not come to be with the Pharisees and people in power... He came to be with the poor, the needy, the broken, the cheaters, the liars, and the lowly. He did not come seeking love from people who would give him a place in society; He came seeking to show His love to the world. And He didn't just say that He loves us- He showed it that afternoon on the cross. He showed it with every lash of the whip, every tongue that scoffed at Him. His arms which were bound to rough wood pulled the flesh off His back as He propelled Himself upwards to gulp a few precious breaths of air... that's how He showed love. His physical pain was nothing compared to the spiritual pain of having the sins of the world on Him and thus being forsaken by His Father. It hurt the Father to see His Son suffer. It hurt the Son to suffer. But because of Love, we don't suffer.
I want to know this God! I want to know the Father who loves, the Son who died, and the Holy Spirit who inspires. I want to experience Him in every way possible. I want His love to flow through my whole being. I want to be the sweet incense that travels to heaven... I want to follow His will with my whole heart. The best part? I can't do any of this apart from Him.
So it's Christmas. I have all of this stuff going through my head... while at the same time, spending a ton of money on my family. While that's not a bad thing and showing love to them through my favorite giving love language (different from my receiving love language), I believe I'm called to something more. I mean, I SAY that I want to know God, but am I defending the cause of the poor and needy?
As many of you know, our Sunday School kids are sponsoring two children to go to Bring Me Hope summer camp this summer (July 2011) through our offerings taken every Sunday at Sunday School. Bring Me Hope leads four weeks of summer camps for Chinese orphans. (For more info, click here) As many of you know, I am trying to go for a few weeks of these camps. What a lot of you don't know is that I probably won't have my passport in time to be able to get into the Republic of China. I am at peace with this, but will still keep going in case China is in fact where God wants me this summer. Either way, our kids are able to help with the organization, which they are all excited about. Last Saturday was our two hour practice for the Sunday School Christmas program. One of our kids asked if we were going to do offering, which we weren't. "Oh, good, because I only have two pennies and I can't even find them anymore but I was going to give them."
"Well, it's probably a good thing you couldn't find them... you should keep them if they are your last pennies," I responded.
And other times, I had kids offer me their last piece of chocolate or Christmas candy but I would refuse them because they were their last. They should keep them, right?
Or should they?
One thing I love about working with kids is that they understand giving. They understand what their favorite things are, what things have value to them. To one kid it was money, to other kids it's chocolate and candy. But they know that these things that have value are better if shared. They WANT to share (and often won't take no for an answer!). This kind of loving giving is something I should be striving for personally and also building up in these kids. I pray that they never lose this drive to share those things that have the most value to them.
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." -1 Timothy 6:17-18
I think these kids have figured out a part of knowing God. A huge part. May God's gift of love to you this Christmas inspire you to show love to those in need and to share the things in life that have the most value to you... whether that be in song, in time, through cooking, cleaning, or helping in any way you can. And may you experience and know God in ways you never have before.
(And a P.S.- I don't really want to say this, but just so you know I'm not just doing lip service, tonight I adopted a kid through Compassion International. If you feel led to adopt a child into your family, pray for them, and seek to nourish them spiritually, please do so. I can tell you right now that it is one of the biggest ways you will ever experience God. Kids never cease to amaze you and when a kid is depending on you for their daily needs- it's just incredible. Check it out and pray over how you can help these kids... and then do it!)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Oh man oh man
I am just so absolutely upset right now. I mean, feeling a tad under the weather a really really weak might have something to do with it, but I think for the most part this total sadness is justified.
We had a leadership meeting at our church yesterday. We do every Tuesday. But this Tuesday it was brought up the fact that we do little at the church to help people with physical needs, whether it be diapers, gas cards, food... anything like that. We had someone come up to a leader in our church on Thanksgiving Eve (read that- THANKSGIVING EVE) and he had to give the man in need money from his own pocket so that this man could buy Pull-Ups for his grandson. Can someone tell me why we didn't have a gift card or even a package of diapers on hand to give him instead? I bet even people in our own congregation could benefit from this at times when family members get laid off... it would be good for them to know that they have a place called the Church where they can find not only spiritual help, but physical too!
So now I'm making a little handout listing places where people can get their needs met. This way, if someone comes up to us and asks us to help, we can give them a piece of paper. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! HAVE WE TOTALLY LOST SIGHT OF WHO THE CHURCH IS TO BE?! Call me a radical but for some reason I think we're way off.
1 John 3:16-18-
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide him him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
How are we letting our light shine (Matthew 5:13-16) if we're pushing these people away to other locations for sustenance? Are we really showing that God's love abides in us? Even a bigger question- does God's love abide in us if we turn these people away? Yep, I just said that. And I believe it's a valid question. I know there are scammers out there and for that I am sorry. But helping a person once, even if they do turn out to be a scammer... should the fear of that really stop us from helping them ONCE and treating them as though they are Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46)? Who are we really to fear?
Matthew 10:28-
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Thus, I don't really think fear is a valid argument to keep us from doing God's will and helping those brothers in need.
Right now at our church we are trying to formulate a plan for higher attendance and participation in our church based on (I'm sure well-intended) books. Changing programs, making new programs, marketing our church better. While books are good, being in love with God and knowing His will and following His plan is 100 million times better. Actually, infinitesimally better. So let's see how God grew the church. Turn to Acts 2 (verses 42-47 to be exact).
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Through these verses, we see how the Lord gave them favor with the people and added to their number (daily!) those who were being saved. Here's how it was done:
1. Devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.
2. Devoted themselves to fellowship.
3. Devoted themselves to the breaking of bread (in their homes).
4. Devoted themselves to prayers.
5. They were together with everything in common.
6. They sold their possessions and gave to each as they had need.
7. They attended the temple together.
8. They received their food with glad and generous hearts.
9. They praised God.
Sure, programs are good. Restructuring the church is good. Making plans to be the Church... WAIT A SECOND. But that is kind-of what we are doing, isn't it? We're making plans to be the Church instead of just being it?
For some reason, I don't think people need new and improved programs. I think we need a wake-up call. We need to realize that being the Church doesn't mean just coming to a building on Sundays and singing some songs and saying some canned confession and feeling religious for an hour. It's a lifestyle, it's a community. It takes falling in love with God, with His Church! It takes knowing Him, loving Him with your whole heart, spending time in the Word, devoting yourself to prayer, constantly being in partnership with other believers, giving to brothers as they have need. This is not a light task! This is not an easy life! But friends, THIS IS THE CHURCH! So are we going to be the Church or not?
"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me?' declares the Lord."
-Jeremiah 22:16
We had a leadership meeting at our church yesterday. We do every Tuesday. But this Tuesday it was brought up the fact that we do little at the church to help people with physical needs, whether it be diapers, gas cards, food... anything like that. We had someone come up to a leader in our church on Thanksgiving Eve (read that- THANKSGIVING EVE) and he had to give the man in need money from his own pocket so that this man could buy Pull-Ups for his grandson. Can someone tell me why we didn't have a gift card or even a package of diapers on hand to give him instead? I bet even people in our own congregation could benefit from this at times when family members get laid off... it would be good for them to know that they have a place called the Church where they can find not only spiritual help, but physical too!
So now I'm making a little handout listing places where people can get their needs met. This way, if someone comes up to us and asks us to help, we can give them a piece of paper. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! HAVE WE TOTALLY LOST SIGHT OF WHO THE CHURCH IS TO BE?! Call me a radical but for some reason I think we're way off.
1 John 3:16-18-
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide him him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
How are we letting our light shine (Matthew 5:13-16) if we're pushing these people away to other locations for sustenance? Are we really showing that God's love abides in us? Even a bigger question- does God's love abide in us if we turn these people away? Yep, I just said that. And I believe it's a valid question. I know there are scammers out there and for that I am sorry. But helping a person once, even if they do turn out to be a scammer... should the fear of that really stop us from helping them ONCE and treating them as though they are Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46)? Who are we really to fear?
Matthew 10:28-
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Thus, I don't really think fear is a valid argument to keep us from doing God's will and helping those brothers in need.
Right now at our church we are trying to formulate a plan for higher attendance and participation in our church based on (I'm sure well-intended) books. Changing programs, making new programs, marketing our church better. While books are good, being in love with God and knowing His will and following His plan is 100 million times better. Actually, infinitesimally better. So let's see how God grew the church. Turn to Acts 2 (verses 42-47 to be exact).
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Through these verses, we see how the Lord gave them favor with the people and added to their number (daily!) those who were being saved. Here's how it was done:
1. Devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.
2. Devoted themselves to fellowship.
3. Devoted themselves to the breaking of bread (in their homes).
4. Devoted themselves to prayers.
5. They were together with everything in common.
6. They sold their possessions and gave to each as they had need.
7. They attended the temple together.
8. They received their food with glad and generous hearts.
9. They praised God.
Sure, programs are good. Restructuring the church is good. Making plans to be the Church... WAIT A SECOND. But that is kind-of what we are doing, isn't it? We're making plans to be the Church instead of just being it?
For some reason, I don't think people need new and improved programs. I think we need a wake-up call. We need to realize that being the Church doesn't mean just coming to a building on Sundays and singing some songs and saying some canned confession and feeling religious for an hour. It's a lifestyle, it's a community. It takes falling in love with God, with His Church! It takes knowing Him, loving Him with your whole heart, spending time in the Word, devoting yourself to prayer, constantly being in partnership with other believers, giving to brothers as they have need. This is not a light task! This is not an easy life! But friends, THIS IS THE CHURCH! So are we going to be the Church or not?
"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me?' declares the Lord."
-Jeremiah 22:16
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)