Journey With Jen

"What I like about Jesus' message is that we don't need to study Him anymore to know Him.  That's what the religious people at the time were promoting.  Collecting information about someone is not the same as knowing a person.  Stalkers are ordinary people who study from afar the people they're too afraid to really know.  Jesus said that unless you know Him like a child you'll never really know Him at all.  Kids don't care about facts, and they certainly don't study each other.  They're just with each other; they do stuff together.  That's what Jesus had in mind."  Love Does by Bob Goff Something to think about, isn't it?  There are a lot of people out there today that know the Bible.  They can recite God's word better than I ever will.  They can pray elaborate prayers with beautiful words.   But, memorizing words is not the same as knowing God.  Going to church on Sunday doesn't mean that you have a strong ...

"...when we meet people who have been fed the fake stuff about who God is and what He's about, its not surprising that they have a little indigestion  So we can either spend our time talking about wrappers or we can show them what God is really made of.  We can show them that God is full of love and the source of hope and every creative idea.  People don't want to be told that their experiences were wrong or that their wrapper or someone else's wrapper is made of the wrong stuff.  Instead, we get to be the ones to show them real love from a real God."    Love Does by Bob Goff (pg 98) We all know people who have turned away from God and church.  They see the evangelist on t.v. promising wealth or cancer cures for money.  They see priests involved in sex scandals.  They see idiots out there picketing funerals.  They see you and me going out to eat after church, then being rude to the waitress.  They see us not taking time...

It is amazing how God has a plan and once He sets things in motion....once He says that it is time and not you...things fall into place.  We have been so excited about the house!  Finishing up paperwork.  We did another walk through/inspection.  We were looking for cracks, mold, something!  Yes, I know, some people might say we should have hired someone professional.  But, my thought ~  God has worked it out for us.  Kent and I both feel this is the home God had picked for us.  We walked in and it felt like home.  Our offer got accepted even though there were two put in. Papers went through easier than I imagined.  Oh, our place we are renting ~ contract doesn't expire until November.  Kent was a bit worried about making rent payments and mortgage payments.  I broke down and told her we have an offer accepted on a house.  She said congratulations and told us to put a sign out for her.  Not threats or mention...

It has been difficult the past few months.  We've looked at lots and lots of houses just trying to find a place to call 'home.'  We have seen some new houses with small square footage.  And older ones that needed knocked down and started over! And everything inbetween!  We have put offers in at at least 3 houses over the past 6 months.  We have even switched realtors after the first two months.  We have gotten our hopes up....and let down.  Mainly, we have waited.  And waited. Waiting for the one God has planned for us.  And ~ good news!  We finally have signatures on an offer!!  When we walked in, it felt like home.  Yes, when you look around, it did remind me on the 70's Show.  But, beyond the cosmetic, it's home!  This house is filled with love and warm memories. There are 4 bedrooms so each of my kids can have their own room.  We honestly didn't expect that.  Just shows that God provides beyond what we...

I know, I know....It's already July.  Always one step behind it seems like!  It's been so hot this month.  Yes, I do realize it's summer.  My husband reminds me of that.  But, when it says 100 degrees for weeks at a time ...honestly, I don't feel like doing much of anything.  Just being honest! ;D But, we did get to help out this month.  First of  all, the FFA  (Future Farmer's of America) had a fishing tournament in June.  We helped out and grilled hot dogs that day.  okay...okay... I was under a shade tree for a lot of it!  Kent was out there grilling hot dogs.  Kids and I helped with the serving and clean up.  It was soo hot! Just recently, we volunteered a couple nights at the rodeo.  We were selling 'day' sheets with the riders information on it.  Our profits were going towards the youth fund at church.  The kids loved it!  They have never been to the rodeo.  After our ...

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...