Building one another back up!

   I was reminded last night of the childhood story of the emperors new clothes. Do you remember that story? The King is told by the seamstress and all his servants that he looks amazing in his outstanding new set of clothes, and all are told that only the most wise can see it, though truthfully he is buck naked! He goes to his balcony and all the people below cry out how very beautiful the clothes are! He walks out on the street and the people gush over the beauty of his coverings! Then one little boy says "he's naked." And their eyes are open and all agree.
   So in todays world where rarely is our issue being lifted too high, being overly flattered, I thought to myself I think that goes both ways. I know women who are so incredibly beautiful that they are noticed every time they walk into a room. However these women have been lied to for years and told they have nothing of value to offer the world. They are not smart enough, thin enough, beautiful enough, and that all their efforts will be in vain. And because our world today is just as foolish as the ignorant people of the naked emperors time, they begin to believe each other and to pile on more of these untruths on these women. And chink by chink their armor from God their father is slowly worn away. They become more and more vulnerable until every untruth is a fatal blow. They hit the heart with nothing impeding their progress they cause injury and scars.
   Well here's the good news! Just like that little boy in the emperors new clothes we can speak truth into a truthless situation and all can be revealed.(no pun intended) You and I know priceless truths as children of God. Why do we hold them close to our vest? Because they have no value when used this way. However, if we were willing to use these truths to begin to build His childrens armor back up, that is beyond worth. Proverbs 14:25 says a truthful wittness saves lives!  Matthew 18:7 (msg) says doom to the world for giving these God believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don't have to make it worse- and it is doomsday to you if you do. So I think God is pretty straight forward on this matter!
  OK here are some truths for these amazing women surviving without support from those around you and without spoken truths. Proverbs 4:7 The begining of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding. So wether you know it or not sister we all knew you were smart and following God's instruction!!Not thin enough? Well the only time the bible speaks of thin, is in an unappealing way! As for beauty, here is how God the lover of your soul sees you. Song of Solomon 4:7 You are altogether beautifull my darling; there is no flaw in you!! So I as a daughter of the one true king and your sister, I speak these truths into you. I love you! I see you as indispensable, And value you above others! And so does your father! And to those who would stand in the way of a father daughter relationship; woe to you because you will come to ruin. There ain't nothing like a father protecting his young!
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

Immeasurably more!!!

   I am thankful and blessed! My father is the king of kings and yet he desires to know me.. all my wants and needs, all my desires. He longs to give me the desires of my heart and over the last few days, He has been blessing me without holding back anything! It makes me think of  Ephesians 3: 20-21 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. Is that not awesome and amazing MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE. Immeasurably, more than can be measured. Friends it means don't limit our limitless father!! He is beyond our understanding and imagination. His goodness is unfathomable!( like that? that's my $2 word for the day.)  But in all seriousness, we think we know him and to a degree we do. Even more so when we seek him out. However, we will never be able to truly wrap our minds around His goodness, and all that He wants to give to us His beloved children!!
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

Water and rest

   I just finished cleaning up the ivy that grows on the front of my house. I actually really like it but in the heat of last summer most of it died out! I could not keep enough water on it and I just couldn't keep up with its needs and it could not stay alive without these things.
    This makes me think of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are presently going through a trial. They may be standing in the full sun and crying out for relief and reprieve. I believe we as a church body are trustworthy to provide prayers for God's living water to pour out on our fellow believers, but is it enough? You know that walk through the desert is a long, hot, dry journey! Psalm 107:4-6 says some wandered in the desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle they were hungry and thirsty and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them! But what if you couldn't cry out to him you were just too dry and words would not escape you? And I am reminded of how many times people went to the well to fetch water for themselves, their families, and loved ones. I am reminded that at times the water had to be retrieved for those who could not go to the well themselves. They simply were not strong enough. Have you ever been there? So dry and weary that you couldn't even speak God's words, His living water into your life and spirit? These were the times when it was a much beloved sister or brother who spoke these words into you! Will you now do the same for others?
   Sometimes it isn't even the water that they need it is the chance to rest and lay down some of that burden they carry in the desolate places. Will we as a church body be the safe place to lay these down in full confidence that it will not be given to others to share? Will you listen and let them lay down a heavy load with no fear of judgement, while still providing accountability where needed, it's such a fine line only the holy spirit can truly discern it? Luke 12:12 says the holy spirit will teach you at that time, what you should say.
   I pray we can provide all of these things to those wasting away in their personal desert and that they may be renewed through the body of Christ!
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

Sweets for the sweets!!

   Cupcakes on a Thursday? Why not? I have my sweet nieces here this week and my boys are thrilled they are. They love them dearly! Sara was born two weeks before Chance who was born two weeks before LeeAnn. They are so fun together but like any set of three 16 year olds stuck together in the house they began to argue today. One was offended by another and became angry and was sharped tongued with the first, who then became hurt as well. Well hurt gives birth to anger and by lunch time at the restaurant they were pouting and snapping. We ate together and then I took them to Walmart, where we sat in the parking lot and had a little come to Jesus. I explained to them that we are related, we are family. And while I know that our family has a history of operating out of a spirit of offense and hurt, We become easily angered and our biggest desire is to know and prove that we are right, things are said that can't be unsaid and can't be unheard, however, that's not how most families are. Galatians 5:14-15 for the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command, love your neighbor as yourself. If you continue to bite and devour each other watch out or you will be destroyed by one another! I told them that we would talk it out and get right on over it and we did! And I felt this deserved some baking in the middle of the day on a Thursday! Can I get an amen! LOL
   I am from a hurt and wounded family. Not only have we been hurt by outsiders but we've hurt one another as well. I am not innocent and have been right there barking biting and roaring. However, since my salvation I am trying to change. I am not perfect but I am changing. My biological family reminds me of a hurt and wounded church, where everyone was just trying to be right and did not care who was injured in their vindication. I love a church that is acting as the redeemed family loving one another through thick and thin, and at times giving up their right to be right in favor of God's command to love one another! I am proud to be a member of just such a church family! I think we should have cupcakes at the next service!! LOL
   God bless and keep you, Ms Jill

One more round!

   So wow my life has been crazy! And I have had a really hard time getting back around to my blog. But here I am and I hope that someone will be touched by it and find something worthwhile in it. I am totally enjoying being able to put my thoughts down and I hope that what God lays on my heart is exactly what someone needs to hear.
   I am tired. I get up in the morning tired. I run from one activity to the next, and at times I feel all I am doing is trying to get through instead of living in it! I just really need to get this thing done so that I can do the next thing on my never ending list. At times I look ahead and wonder how am I supposed to get it all done? And does God even get that I am running just to catch up much less get ahead! I know that i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I know that i can find rest in Him! I know that He knows the number of hairs "on" my head so surely He knows the worries "in" my head! However, I find I consistently need to remind myself of these things and I would venture to say you probably live a similar lifestyle.
   I know that one of Satan's best tools is his ability to keep us so busy and overwhelmed that we don't even see him chinking away at our armor. He doesn't come to us when we are strong and rested and firmly planted. He comes to us when we are distracted and overwhelmed, or just tired. He speaks his untruths to us at these times and it becomes our time to speak aloud the truths of our Father. Remind yourself of who you are! You and I are more than conquerors we are Coheirs with Christ. So lets don't let the laundry and housework overtake us. Let's don't let the PTO and baseball and haircuts and childhood crisis become bigger than the truths of who we are. I'm thirsty for His living water. I need to be refreshed, and so do you. From time to time we need to rest in Him and let him strengthen us for another day and one more round.
   God bless and keep you Ms. Jill

Our Chance

   So this evening I took my oldest son to Abilene for his birthday. He turned sixteen today!! That is insane!! I cannot believe how big he is and how fast time has flown. I swear they just laid this baby boy in my arms. He was so beat up! I was in labor for 14 hr's and he was stuck in the birth canal for 3 hrs. He had a cut across his forehead and one black eye. He had bruises over his face and head, and because they attempted to use the vacuum he also had the cone head. Chance was the skinniest baby I had ever seen. He weighed 8lb 9oz but he was 22 3/4 inches long, so he was all legs and arms. And all this said I had never seen anyone or anything more beautiful!

   I have to tell you I have been blessed by this child for sixteen years. I love him with all that is within me, and I will never love him half as much as his heavenly father does! He is God's beloved child, and I think about all the years we were trying to have him and all the times we cried out to God for him and I imagine God up there just smiling saying " oh baby girl, if you only knew the little man I have planned to give you!" And thank God it was in His time and in His way.

   Chance has grown into such an awesome young man! He has had many struggles throughout his young life and God always carries him out victorious. He went tonight with his father and brother and I to dinner and was happy to be there. I am blessed! I think of kids getting cars and money and huge parties and still wanting more and more, and then there is Chance happy with what he got and time alone with his dorky family. Thank you God!

    God bless and keep you Ms. Jill

But when God??!!

   I find  at times in my life God has called me to things. He has laid heavy on my heart what he wants and desires of me. And, he has made me no promises as to when, where, or with who he will carry out his plans. This is hard for me as I tend to be a bit of a control freak!!
   I tend to want to be the one steering the boat and setting the path. I also want to decide who I will work with on this ride. However, God is not concerned with my time table or the company I am most comfortable keeping. He is interested in reshaping me and those around me in His time and in his way. I am thankful that he loves me enough to continually war with my pride to establish the right path. (Proverbs 16: 9) And so I will serve wherever He calls me. I don't know why some people are led to serve with their gifts and it seems to come together easily, and why some struggle consistently and are not relieved of the calling. I also don't know why many things happen the way they do. However I do know God is good in all things! I know that he wants to do good to those who love Him. I Know that He is more interested in shaping us in His image than having us be happy in the moment. I will learn to live in full expectation of God's fulfilment of His calling, even without a schedule!
  God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

Let no plan of yours be thwarted!!

   I really feel that here in small town America we teach our children a herd mentality. You know, be like the rest of the flock so as they don't turn on you. We no longer encourage our kids to be different, and when one of their friends is very different we encourage them to distance themselves so the others in the herd will accept our child. I hate this because God has made no mistakes in the creation of our children!! They are his masterpieces! He has a purpose for them in their lives that only they are equipped to accomplish! And I wonder if we squash all of these qualities are we essentially trying to thwart God's plans? Job 42:2 says I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted!
   I wonder as I look back on Jesus disciples could Paul have reached those that Peter reached? Possibly, but God equipped Peter for this task. Peter who was loud and aggressive. One of those strong personalities led by emotions and easily angered. But someone needed this man. And, if the others had tried to turn him into what they felt an apostle should be, well first I believe they would have been unsuccessful, and second they would have missed the blessing that was Peter.
   I wonder if the woman who's tears and hair washed Jesus feet had been taught to worry about what "the others" would say, would she still have poured out her perfume and her heart? Who can say? But all the same she did and because she was willing to go against the grain Jesus was pleased with her. And all the others in the house who saw her devotion to this Jesus were curious and I'm sure some were brought to him because of this!
    Who knows if that one act of courage or that one person brought to the father by you is the whole reason you were created. Mordecai told Esther she was created for such a time as this. She was the one to step forward and go against the grain, and be different in her approach to the king. She with the help of God saved her people! But she was not like the other girls brought before the king!

Happily worshiping in their own way!

   Thank you God for these differences you have created in our children and father I pray for each of them that they would grow to be the unique amazing people you have created them to be! I pray that your plans would not be thwarted by well meaning people trying to help them be accepted. I pray father that as parents to these "different" kids we would know how to mentor them, and that our hearts would be open to the Holy spirits leading. I refer back to Job 42:2 I know you can do all things! He could have created them to be the "same" He chose to make them "this way" You are all knowing and you knew exactly who our children would be and you entrusted us with them please let us not fail them and not doubt who you have created them to be!
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill