We are on Missions!

   So I have been pondering over what my next blog would be and I thought well duh!  It will be about  missions.  My current mission Upward! 


     So, as a believer in Jesus Christ I am called to be on missions.  Last year it was a mission to Uganda this year God has led me to Upward.  Let me tell you what the Bible says about missions.  In Matthew 28:18-20 this charge is given, Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  The Bible also tells us in Acts 1:8" But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  You see as a believer in Christ I believe the Bible word for word. I believe that God breathed every word.

   I believe the charge was written with me and you in mind!  Last year while preparing to go to Uganda my Uncle who goes to church, not convinced he knows the word of God and here is why.... He states "Girl, you have a brain in your head use it.  You could be killed."  Now, knowing my Uncle this was said out of his love and concern for me.  However, I believe that when you are in Gods will there is no safer place.  Don't confuse that with no harm will come to you.  That is not what that statement means.  It means that if I died on mission for my Lord and savior, that witness is powerful and God will use it to Glorify Him.  Do you know I was not scared at all about going to Uganda.  I had a peace just as I do with Upward.  I can feel God all around me. 

   Most people say to you when you are going on a mission trip particularly one over seas," You are such a blessing."  That is a nice sentiment but the real truth is, when you are called to go on missions you are blessed.  You see, God is allowing, yes allowing you to do His Kingdom work. You have just been given the dream job that maybe you never even knew you wanted.  You go on mission with the intention of blessing people with Gods word.  In return you learn God was blessing you by using you in His work.  He does not need you.  God can do all things with out you.  You can do nothing apart from God. 

    Everyday I get to wake up and go to my dream job.  Not as a nurse but as a missionary for God.  He just continually finds a work for me and I pray he never stops.  The point is missions are not just over seas.  They are here every minute of every day.  Here in Charlottesville, Virginia/USA and all over the world.  Because, I surrender myself to Gods will I take the great commission to the grocery store to work, to Upward, to Uganda all over the world.  When I tell you about Jesus that is bound to travel even where I may not . 

In Christ love,
Mandy

   

We interupt your regularly scheduled post to bring you UPWARD!

Bare with us while our lives are turned upside down (in a good way) for the next few weeks.  We are all heavily involved in UPWARD Sports.   It is the ministry that brought my sister and our families to Jesus Christ, so we take it pretty serious....Sorry for the sparse postings!  We promise we will post as much as we can; when we can. 

You can read Mandy's testimony about UPWARD here.

To learn about UPWARD Sports go here.

Grace to you!

Jenny

Thank Ya Jesus...

5:00 am

'Beep Beep' …REALLY …time to get up already ??

Thank ya Jesus for this new day 

6:00 am

Closet torn apart …dresser drawers open …I have NOTHING to wear!

Thank ya Jesus for these clothes/shoes and coat to keep me warm 

7:30 am

Hurry Up …Go Go …I’m LATE!!!

Thank ya Jesus for this car and  my job 

5:30 pm

Basketball practice …AGAIN??

Thank ya Jesus for healthy children 

7:00 pm

Dinner …WHAT to make ??

Thank ya Jesus for food to eat

10:00 pm

I am so TIRED!

Thank ya Jesus for being with me every step of the way today!!!

ABC.....easy as 123..maturing in your walk...

Well maybe not that easy, but you do not need a degree in Biblical or Theological studies to follow Christ or to mature in your Christian faith.

What you need is a heart that is surrendered to Him.  To surrender means to relinquish control and give yourself over fully; to no longer rely on yourself.  Once you have surrendered then you need to grow or mature in your walk.  Give it up, y'all you know you cannot do it on your own!!! Like a newborn baby you must learn to crawl before you walk.

I know for me very early on I was so intimidated by those who knew so much more than me.  In my small group I was fearful I might get called on and say something stupid.  One time in a Bible study I did and someone did actually giggle....talk about wanting to crawl into my shell! You know what? That intimidation is not what God had in mind for us.  He has always meant for those who are more mature in their walk to mentor. I choose to believe the sister that giggled thought what I said was "cute" and giggled like you might giggle when a toddler (or one young in their walk) says something way off.  I don't find those who are mature in their walk intimidating anymore; I find them to be a resource and approach them as such.  I ask lots of questions and no longer care what people think.  See I only care what He thinks.  I need to know as much as I can about His word and I will use all means available. 

How do you grow?

It takes commitment.  A commitment to be in His Word; a commitment to always depend on Him (being surrendered), a commitment to find people to grow with, a commitment to find a church home that fits you and your family (no church is perfect it is a hospital for sinners. If you are looking for the perfect church you will NEVER find it), a commitment to pray and finally a commitment to ditch bad habits like what you see, hear and read (media with inappropriate content which includes the music, t.v. and print material you allow yourself to be exposed to).

Other things that were helpful for me:
Find Bible studies
Purchase a "study" Bible!:  Study Bibles are great because you can take the verse you just read and if you didn't understand it there is an explanation below.  Especially helpful for KJV.
Tab your Bible!:  There is nothing worse than flipping through a big old Bible and taking 10 minutes to find the book you are looking for.  That was the best thing I ever did.  Once I purchased Bibles for our family I tabbed everyone!
Make a plan!: Most Bibles have a place in the back that help you figure out where and how to start this big book of instruction.  I was saved in 2011, but I have yet to read the Bible cover to cover.  This year I decided to use the guide in the back of my Bible that tells you what to read every day.  Now that is easy as 1 2 3!

A time for confession..... 

What leads me to write on this subject. I will be very honest with you I was addicted to reality shows like the Housewives series and shows like that.  I have stopped watching them, even deleted unwatched episodes (gasp) and obviously I have stopped recording them.  See I gave myself excuses that it wasn't hurting me because "I wasn't living that way" or "I will really pray for them, because this is so sad."  Well those shows are sad, but the saddest was me making excuses to keep watching them. That "bad habit" was hindering my walk with Christ.  Since I have stopped watching them all, because there were so many I have time to pray, time to be in the Word.  I have time to read my Bible! His word is the instruction manual for your life.  If you are wondering how to mature in your walk read His word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

Matthew 4:4
"But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Kelly Stamps is ones of those who is mature in her walk.  She wrote a great piece on the same subject. Here is the link.

Grace to you!
(Our retired Pastor Lindsay Sadler always said this every time he started and ended a sermon, conversation or letter and I loved it)

Jenny

God sent me Upward!!

   So, let me give you a little history lesson about me.  I have not always been a Christian,  In fact my birth date to this world is 10/26/76.  My rebirth through the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is 11/27/11 (this is my new birthday)!!  That is the day of my Baptism (public confession of surrendering my life to Christ).  The private confession to Christ was only a short time earlier the end of September 2011.  This is a long story but a good one at least for me and I hope for you!!

    So here we go........  I have always been seeking peace and joy for my life but never attaining those two things.  In my trying by seeking things of this world I ended up with a lot of hurt and heartache.  I tried in vein for 34 long years.  When I look back now I can see all the ways God was pursuing me and I bet if you take a good heart felt look you will see God pursuing you.  My niece and nephew were playing Upward basketball one winter I will say this must have been Jan 2011.  I went to a game for each one and my father was there too along with other family.  The games were going well we were cheering and  making our usual snarky comments about being aggressive, be the best yadayadayada.  It comes to half time and that means devotion.  Ugh... can't we get through a basketball game without the Jesus freaks.  My father and I got up and went so we would not have to listen to this crazy talk.   I mean it is a church league after all.   I hear the Gasp now in my own heart, but back then I did not. We poked fun and then returned to our seats.

    Turns out my nephew at the Upwards awards celebration raised his hand to know more about Christ and so a post card was sent to his home.   My nephew wanted to go to church.  My sister in all her non- enthusiasm took my nephew to Sunday School and found a Sunday School class for herself.  No church service yet.    They both pursued this for months.  My sister seemed quiet happy in her Sunday School class and tried to encourage her daughter and fiance at the time now her hubby to no avail.  My sister met a very dear lady who did a lot of work with widows in Uganda and Jenny told me about her and said she is having a yard sale, "want to help??"  I said sure, I like to help people (by training I am a nurse)  so helping is what I do.  I met this incredible couple and inside me I said ("Why is she so peaceful and joyful???")  Jenny then invites me to her Sunday School class.  I figure it can't hurt, right???  So, we go and my kids go to their perspective classes.  Guess what the lesson is in Sunday School.....Luke 10:25-37 the Parable of the good Samaritan and guess who was there???  The joyful lady from the yard sale.  Being a nurse I knew the word  Samaritan and the law but not what it truly meant.  Wow, God ok you are getting my attention now.  My kids enjoyed their classes too.  So we went back (at this time my husband was in Iraq)  This week I said why don't we go into service?? So myself my kids my sister her two kids and you got it her husband all went to service, guess what the topic was....  1Timothy 1:1-17.  Do you know this passage?  It is about Paul who used to be Saul, he was a bad dude he persecuted Christians killing them.  The Pastor goes onto explain how bad Saul was in his life ( sin).  Ok, God you have my attention.  I am a sinner just like Paul was.  You forgave him???? After all he has done???  He not only forgave Paul he used him to further the Kingdom of God!!! Wow, I got to know more.  That was just what I was about to find out!!  Remember I told you my dad and I made fun of the very people trying to share Gods word just like Paul we persecuted these people. 

    Let me share with you just how good God is, I not only decided to learn more I decided to give my life over to Christ.  I learned that the forgiveness God gives cannot be earned by good deeds.  The forgiveness is a free gift to us.  Christ died on a cross to pay the penalty for sin, which is death.  He was the pure sacrifice that had to be offered to save us in our filth and unrighteousness.  He has forgiven me for all I have done and will ever do.  Nothing I can do will take me from His hands.  HE can forgive you too.  HE is waiting on you, pursuing you too.

     All this from a basketball league.  Yes, because it is a ministry blessed by God!  I am so thankful for Upward and God using my young nephew to bring us to Christ.  I can never repay this debt but I can give my life so others can know the love of Christ and that there is Victory in Christ alone! 

    So the very  "church league"  I scoffed at and persecuted was instrumental  in saving my life.  The very church they were playing basketball at, Calvary, was the very church I would leave from to go on my first over seas mission trip to Uganda!  The very league I made fun of  has my total dedication as a volunteer cheerleading coach and cafe volunteer and prayer partner.  So, I am here alive in Christ to tell you that the Grace of God is for all.  No matter what you have done God loved you enough to already send His son to save you.  Will you be like I was and continue to turn away from God?  I pray not, I pray you will fall on your knees and call out to Him I promise He will meet you right where you are. 

    I can give my personal testimony about how God has turned my life Upward and I can tell you that due to the Upward ministry 8 others in my family have comitted their lives to Christ.  I cannot do anything other than show you with my life and testimony just how good life is in Christ.  Would you please pray for the Upward ministry and all that are involved.  Everyday God is using ordinary people for His extraordinary purpose. 
 
In the love of Christ,
Mandy
 

Daily Dose(s)

So this year I resolved to read my Bible cover to cover, but more importantly I resolved to take that reading daily; daily doses if you will.  Twice daily; once in the morning before I get out of bed and when I return to my bed to sleep.  Like medicine; it is so good for my soul. 

Sunday was a rough night for me, so I skipped my Sunday night reading and Monday morning I slept and didn't get my morning passages in.  My Monday was AWFUL!  I was irritated and easily frustrated at work and it made me feel so ugly. 

Monday evening I got back into my routine and Tuesday morning I was up reading first thing and you know what I had a much better day.  Now I want to be very clear I had many struggles and "irritations" at work on Tuesday, but I had my daily dose of His word and I was able to handle what came at me because I was dependent on Him and reading His book of instructions on how to handle life.  Reading His word keeps the Holy Spirit burning inside of you; it feeds the fire. 

I cannot tell you how important it is to be in His word daily.  At least once a day if not more!  In order to grow you must know His word.  In order to help others find His Kingdom you must envelope yourself in His word.

Folks get your daily dose(s)! 

He speaks to me with His word.  He loves me with His word.  He comforts me with His word.  He instructs/disciplines me with His word. 

Grace to you!

Jenny

Lord I need you

    Lately I have felt very discouraged.  It seems no matter how hard I try I can't get out of this rut of discouragement.  Ever felt like that???  Every time I turn around WHAM!  I am reminded of past sin and current things that I struggle with.  You ask, well don't you pray about this current situation?    The answer is yes, I do!

     The key here is in the second sentence.  Go ahead read it again......... "I try"  that is right, that is where I go wrong, where we all go wrong.  Yes, I pray and that is a sound thing to do and yes if there are things God is asking you to change then, do it.  However,  what God tells us is to rely on Him and His  strength not our own. 

    You see as much as I hate to mention the name, Satan is who is reminding me of my past and all the ways I am imperfect.  I strive so hard to be Christ like.  Christ is perfect and I am not and never will be.( See the problem again "I strive" and thus my discouragement) I get caught up in this and forget that Christ is not asking me to be perfect, he is asking that I be a willing vessel to let His love flow, not my love.  I cannot love the way He does.  I need to remember that I am covered by the blood of Christ and God sees His perfection.  I am forgiven and blanketed by the blood of Christ. 

    The point is I will never be perfect and being a Christian is not about being perfect or even trying.  You and I, will fail every time.  Being a Christian means surrendering all to Christ and turning it all over to Him.  He will take care of the rest.  Do you know that I already know this and still get discouraged.  I rely on this human flesh sometimes and that is where I falter and Satan attempts to creep in.  Well, I prayed about being discouraged for quite a while and God met me at the Throne of Grace on Sunday.  He reminded me of all of this by way of our transitional Pastor.  He did not take the discouragement away immediately.  You know why?  Because, suffering is good.  It does not feel good but here is what it does for you.  "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us  to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" Romans 5: 3-5.   I tell you I was praying but more importantly the Holy Spirit was groaning and interceding on my behalf asking for what I could not. 

 

     So, on Sunday as the Pastor was giving the sermon and it was hitting home I just thanked God and Praised Him, for His love endures forever!  Know what else the Pastor said and I love this. "When Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future." That is just what I did!!! Then the Pastor said and remember your future!! Heaven, in glory with our Father forever!!!!! I knew I had to share this and as I was thinking today about how to share I heard one of my favorite songs "Lord I need you" by Matt Maher.  This song says it all!  Lord, I come, I confess bowing here I find my rest, without you I fall apart, your the one that guides my heart.  Lord I need you oh I need you, every hour I need you, my one defense my righteousness, oh God How I need you.  Where sin runs deep your grace is more........  Go to YouTube and listen to the song it is such a perfect description of relying on our Savior!  It talks about God meeting you just where you are.

In Christ love and I hope this post finds you relying on Jesus and not yourselves.
Mandy
   

No...No...Not Yet

 

I have often wondered since I became a parent how many times have I said ‘no’ to my children? I feel like some days that is all  I seem to say.  Granted none of us like to be told no.  But … I tell them no out of love. I say no when their motives are not genuine –  kids can be sneaky.  I say no when they are not emotionally or physically ready for something – to protect them.  I say no when I know that if they hold out and wait just a little longer the outcome will be more than they had hoped – because I may have the inside scoop on the bigger picture.   

A parent/child relationship is just like the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father.  Often times His non-response to our prayers is His way of saying no or not yet.  And He does it for all the same reasons - out of His love for us.  We have to be patient and learn to let go of control (whew those are lessons I continue to struggle with during my spiritual growth) and have faith that His plan is the BEST PLAN. What He has in store for us is far better than anything we could ever dream!   

So remember …sometimes being told no is like being told – I love you!

Why blog?

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Janet Pate (December 25, 1962- December 26, 2013), http://janetpate.blogspot.com/.  I read her blog for almost 2 years and prayed for her healing and peace.  After I read Janet's post on December 11, 2013 titled "It Is Well With My Soul", I started reflecting back on her 2 year blog. You see if you are like me you say "why God" a whole lot instead of "okay God how will this situation be used to glorify you?"  That is the question we should ask. Janet always glorified our Lord. 

I didn't know Janet; never met her. I found her on Kelly's Korner one day when I was blog hopping. Well as I read the history of post and reflected on her current situation I could see God in every detail.  I could see Him like never before and I thought to myself wouldn't it be nice to keep a journal of life and then reflect on it and if I ever question if God is with me then I would be able to look back and see He always was. 

Janet's impact on me was profound.  I realized one morning after she passed that God had put on my heart that I should blog about my life with Jesus and not just me, but ask my sister and best friend to share their lives as well.  My hope is the tapestry that we will weave with our post will show you Jesus is in every detail of our lives. This blog will be used to glorify God.  Thank you, Janet for putting your life out there for us.  Thank you, for always giving God the glory. 

Isaiah 43:7“Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” (KJV)

Side note: The name of the blog comes from Natalie Grant's song Hurricane. 

  The song says "and when you feel the rain, call His name; He'll find you in a hurricane."

He most certainly will!

Grace to you-

Jenny

What? A blog????

   So my sister calls me with this crazy idea today.  She wants me to contribute to a blog. What??? What would I have to say that anyone would want to read??  So here goes!  I had to pray about this blog thing.  Then I realized that was it!  Maybe you could be inspired by some nugget some prayer that God has placed on my heart! Not inspired by me but by what God has done in my life, how HE has blessed me.

        I love God so much and pray to be HIS obedient servant.  I pray not for things like wisdom or patience, but for God to fill me daily with HIS Holy Spirit, that HIS light would shine from every area of my life that I would be HIS hands and feet; an Ambassador of Christ.  I know that all I need to be is filled with the spirit of God and all things that one might pray for will be fulfilled.   I know as a saved believer that the Holy Spirit indwells me,(I have no doubt) however I am human and I often quench the spirit.  Put that fire out so to speak.  SIN!!!

      Take for instance this blog instead of embracing the idea I hemmed and hawed! Ugh, one more thing to try and fit in and then I was convicted by that very Spirit. I get a realization Mandy, you are a bond servant of Christ and you have been given the privilege to work for HIS Kingdom and spread HIS love!  I have been given the opportunity to to do work for GOD! 

     So as we go on this journey together you will learn about the struggles and triumphs of my life in Christ.  Which in the end are all victories because God will use even the struggles to glorify HIM and that is what this life is about folks.  Not living for me, but dying to myself so that Christ lives in me.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6

   So yes, I will be thankful for this blog and the opportunity to share Jesus with you. 

In Christ love,
Mandy

Hello God, it's me Bridgit....

Anyone old enough to remember The Golden Girls …if so …picture this:  

December 28, 2013.  Small town USA.  Single Mom –had  pushed thru holidays though she dearly missed her deceased Mother, stressed over finances and  all her buttons were being  pushed by 2  small children.  She could not muster the energy on this cold rainy morning to attend church.   Her children had begged and pleaded for the maple flavored mini pancakes that had been purchased.  Yet this morning – they refused to eat them.  

RED!! I was seeing RED – have you been there before?    

I quickly packed up the uneaten breakfast.  Loaded up my children and myself (all still in pajamas)  and drove off in the down pour of rain for an early start to the weekly Sunday visit with their Dad. The 20 minute ride allowed the hopelessness to take an even tighter hold on me.   Once my children were safely inside I turned the car around and headed home.   I barely started my trek back when the tears began to roll down my cheeks.   I felt alone.  I felt overwhelmed with life.   Tear stained face,  nonstop rain drops on the windshield and me crying out I NEED HELP …I NEED HELP!   Out of nowhere a voice  came through loud and clear:  I am with you my child.    

Yes I did pause and look around  my car as if to say ….did anyone else hear that …there is no one in here with me …right?  I was not afraid of the voice.  It comforted me.  At that very moment the weight I was carrying was lifted.  Praise God for each and every time we think He has forgotten us or is not listening to us – He proves us wrong.   I think more often than not God is speaking but the problem is we are not listening. 

 

Genesis 28:15

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.

Greetings, Salutations....

I am starting this blog to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and show how He has and is working in my life daily. I have two contributors to my blog; my sister Mandy and my best friend Bridgit.  We hope to use this blog to glorify God and all He is doing and has done in our lives.  We are all saved by HIS amazing grace and not by ourselves. 

Grace to you,

Jenny