Journey With Jen

I am linking up with Five Minute Friday today.  Five minutes of unedited, unscripted writing.  Of course, that would mean the kids are in bed! ;D  The topic today you might be asking... D A N C E Ready?  Set...  GO! Right now, my mind goes directly to the dance of friendship.  The give.  The take.  The ups.  And yes, the downs.  Through our journey God directs not only our steps, but the people in our lives.  I do wonder sometimes why God has brought some people there.   Not only that, but why some do not stay longer. It is hard because when we don't know how long some one is planning on staying, we don't know how much to let some one in.  Friendship takes time to build.  It takes to peel away layer by layer.  Also, how much we can trust some one directly affects how much we will hurt when they are gone.  Yet, without that chance...without us opening up and letting people in...we are ...

"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of  God chosen and precious,  you yourselves like living stones are being  built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual  sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." ~ 1 Peter 2:4-5 Isn't that beautiful?  I just keep reading it again and again.  " A living stone rejected by men ."  Discared by men.  Useless to men.  Refused by man.  Yet, in the sight of God , we are precious .   We have great value.  We are dear and beloved.  But not only precious, but chosen .  We are selected and  preferred. God chose to reside in us.  He is not in the church or temple walls.  I'm not saying God's not at your church.  But it is so much more!  God is there when we wake up in the morning walking with us while we get up and get ready.  He is there while we are drivi...

"When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him." Psalm 91:15 These are the words of a best friend.  These are speaking of Jesus, but they should also apply to us.  In todays technology, when is the last time you spoke to a friend?  Honestly, one-on-one or on the phone spoke to a friend.  I'm guilty as everyone here.  It's so much easier to text really quick.  Maybe shoot out a quick e-mail.  Or even post something on Facebook.  But, with that we lose something important.  We lose that connection. Our grandparents and parents had it right.  My husband tells me stories about growing up.  His parents had about three other couples/friends.  They would take turns going to each others house to play cards while the kids played and have supper together as family.  Grandparents would visit neighbors and friends while sharing a glass of sweet tea....

I look back when I was growing up and compare it to now. It's essentially the same. Once you get a certain age, it seems like fitting in and being like everyone else is SO important. The big difference is what is 'normal' for my daughter's age right now. Does anyone else have a 10 year old daughter out there?? Have you walked through that department? Have you seen the clothes or should I say lack of clothes?   I knew it would get worse. Honestly, when she was a toddler, the shorts would barely cover her diapers. So, I would buy her plain shorts in the boys section. They were seriously an inch or two longer. Now that she is bigger, the shorts still have not changed. They are still about an inch or maybe two (if your lucky) from the middle seam! Honestly, do we need to look at our kids in such a way?? Why does this have to be the 'normal' for our kids?? I'm a bit southern, redneck-ish maybe?, I don't know what you want to call me but I...

"For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me." Psalm 31:3 Isaiah 40:30-31 has always been my favorite Bible verse. It has gotten me through many trials. I hold those words dear to my heart. I have found another verse that has helped me. This week when I read through these verses of Psalms, I glazed over them as I continued reading. In Psalm 18, God is called a rock and fortress with whom I take refugee. So, in my head, I thought Psalm 31 was the same to get the point across and the connect the verses. But it is so much more... "Therefore for thy name's sake..." the NLT version says, " For the honor of your name " For YOUR glory, Lord, I trust you. For YOUR glory, Lord, I will submit. For YOUR glory, Lord, not mine. Lead me to paths that will glorify You! Guide me to become all that I am when You look at me! Let my life and all that I am honor and glorify you, Lord. Change me and correct me. ...

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." v2 "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strenght eighty; yet their span is toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." v10 "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" v12 I think that says it all tonight. His words are all that's needed.