The Water's Edge

Finally!

2010-01-27T10:10:00.000-05:00

What are you waiting on the Lord to “finally” do?

Some of you have major cares, healings for loved ones, children to turn to God, and marriages to be restored that you are waiting on God to ‘finally’ act in. Some of us have less serious cares, but long with the same passion.

We find it so hard to wait, and when it finally comes, we say, “finally, I had almost lost hope.” Have you ever thought that Jesus is feeling some of the same feelings? He is up in heaven looking at us, trying to live in a world that is getting darker by the day. Watching us struggle with choices that in times past did not even exist. The difference between Jesus and us is he is not giving up hope! He knows God will finish what he started!

Jesus is to be our example in all things. He has a big ‘finally’ coming up, the day He comes back in glory and power! Not only will he say ‘finally’ but all of earth will breathe a sigh and say ‘finally’. But in the mean time, we must be about His business and wait through the hardship knowing God promises that there will be a ‘finally’.

Lord, help us to remember your example, not to get lost in the waiting, but to be working as we wait. Gently remind us at how you are in the same boat as us…waiting to come back and set all the wrongs to rights. And it is through this process that we grow closer to you. Amen

Mom's In Touch

2010-01-25T06:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was one of those days made for napping! Nothing makes me happier than taking a nap. I was raised in house where it was common to take naps, Chad's family never takes naps. I have pulled him into my nap taking ways.

Saturday night I went to a Chili Cook-Off at my mom's church. It happens to be the same church that I first accepted Christ in. It's weird how after 16 years, it still feels like home. I got to introduce Lauren to my first sunday school teacher, Sudie. She also leads a Moms In Touch group that gets together to pray for their school age children. Did I mention she is now 72? Doesn't look like it and is still going strong, still encouraging, challenging and sweet. That is what I want to be like when I grow up!!

I took a peek at MIT's website and out of all the schools in Bartow County only Woodland has a group of mom's praying in a specific group. I know mom's are praying, but if there happens to be one of you reading that is feeling a tug to do something like this, I can't recommend this organization higher.

Talking with Sudie was the highlight of my weekend! What was the highlight of your weekend?

A Word to Save

2010-01-11T19:05:00.001-05:00

All the snow is gone, and as cold as it has been many of us are longing for summer already! I am so fickle, one day I'm in awe of the snow and today ready for summer. When I sat down this morning to start my study, a verse caught my eye and I thought it might have caught yours too.

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:21

What threw me for a loop, was that last part "which can save you". What is up with that? I went back a few verses to see it in context. It starts out "brothers", so I can safely conclude that James is writing to Christians so what is that verse saying?

It is really an amazing concept once I studied it out. It is talking about how when we accept the "word" into our heads/hearts it has the power to save us. Not salvation saving but everyday life on the plantet saving. I started thinking about some of the ways God's word has saved me recently.

One that popped in my mind, was a dinner we went to, where someone there said something that immediately caused me to want to smack them across the table. Do you know what I mean? But all of a sudden that verse that says, "a fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control."

In my past there has been many a time that I acted the fool and had to try to make something right. And sometimes you can and sometimes you can't, but when I let that Word implanted save me, I end up being wise!

Can you share a way God's Word implanted in you has saved you?

Snow, snow and snow

2010-01-07T20:38:00.003-05:00

I love to watch snow fall and judging by all the activity on FaceBook it seems I am in the majority. I wish the picture to the left was my view but not exactly. However, as I sat here watching the snow fall, I wondered what the Bible had to say about snow.

I was surprised to see in Job two mentions of snow, the first can be summed up as God saying to the snow, "snow" and it obeying. In the second mention God tells Job that He has a "storehouse of snow." It is a beautiful picture, imagining a storehouse of snow, where God today walked in and decided to throw some snow down on us. I think God is happy when all of us, take step back and just enjoy something He has created!

Two other mentions of snow occur in the New Testament. One describes what an angel looked like, "clothing white as snow." The next time we see the word snow, is in Rev. 1:14 "His head and hair where like white wool, like snow." This reference I believe is to Jesus.

Snow, seems to be pretty special. I need to make sure when the girls and I are watching the snow fall that I weave these into what we are talking about.

Many of you may be familiar with the verse in Isaiah that says, "through your sins be like scarlet, they will be white as snow." And while those are some powerful verses, for some reason tonight I was drawn to the lighter side of snow, if that makes sense.

I would love to hear what you think about the snow in connection with God.

What is your wattage?

2010-01-06T19:52:00.000-05:00

Isn't it ironic that we have all the light we can possibly need and many times we walk around in darkness, trying to figure out what we should be doing, all because we are blocking the light in us.

Light has several neat features, illuminating our paths and warmth. Have you ever felt a light shine on you until you could feel the heat? We live in world with people that desperately need some warmth in their lives.

When my girls were little and I volunteered at the schools, sometimes you could just see a child that needed a warm smile, a hug or maybe some encouraging words.

Let your light shine today!

Our question for today is how can you share your light? I'm going to make a point to make sure when I talk with people in the everyday course of life, that I look them in the eye and smile. (Even if they have totally messed my order up!)

Light

2010-01-05T14:11:00.000-05:00

One thing I noticed right as I started doing my lesson for today, is when this was written, I must have wrote much smaller than I do now! Seriously, at the time I was very concerned with making sure each day was only one page. I have no clue why that was important to me, but it was.

As I read through my verses, in 1 John 1-2:11, what jumped out to me, was "if we walk in the light we will have fellowship with one another" V. 1:7. Then in verse 2:10, whoever loves his brother lives in the light.

Both these verses, speak directly to a spot God has been working on with me. Interaction with people. My natural tendency is not to make friends easily, never have been very good making friends. But you know what, when Katie had some trouble this summer, I made three phone calls to friends, and thanks to them being willing to help (and them being much more friend blessed) a small army came and helped.

That spoke volumes to my heart, and I know I need to walk daily as a better friend.

Now, for this blog thing to work, we have to interact. So in the comments, let me know what you saw today. If you are new to blogs, you can click on the comment button under this post. Then you can write your comments, click anonymous and then click the publish button!

Disconnecting

2009-12-27T11:46:00.000-05:00

If you were at church this morning, then you may remember Jim preaching on the parable of the soil. Before church started I had already been thinking of all that happened this year, Chad lost his job in April, Katie ran away right before school started, we moved even though Chad and I had both said "this is it, we will be here forever."

Not a great year on the surface.

And I "disconnected", first from God, and little by little from church and the people there. I'm comfortable with the word "disconnected" but this morning sitting in church I realized that the words that would be more truthful were "shallow roots".

That just stings, thinking my roots are shallow!

"Disconnect" seems like the decision is a choice, I could choose to stay connected but I choose to disconnect. Disconnecting may not be the best decision but it still puts the power in my hands.

"Shallow roots" on the other hand reveals that at heart, it's not my choice, it's the culmination of my choices leading up to the storm. My roots are shallow because I'm not taking enough time to let God grow me up, through His word.

Thankfully, at least I have some roots! Many of you have kept me from withering away by throwing some water my way. I wilted but didn't die. We can help each but at the end of the day, only God can truly provide the water we need.

This year may have caused more than just me to realize that our roots aren't as deep as we need them to be. Let's decide together to make 2010 the year our roots become so deep that no matter what 2010 holds we will prosper!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T10:56:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I woke up thinking about the people who might be struggling this year. Meghan works at Hands and Feet, so I decided I would go through my cabinets and send some extra food with her. I filled up two bags of groceries. I even went back and took out my favorite pancake mix (Chocolate Chip) with the Aunt Jemima. I felt so happy...I was doing my part to help.

When I got to Hands and Feet there were a couple of people already standing outside the door waiting to get in. I went in and Carrie was talking to the volunteer about how the process works. I'm carrying in my two bags with a smile, I make a few jokes with Ed and then I picked up on Carrie's conversation, she was saying they "will more than likely run out of food."

I look at the shelves and there is food on the shelves, how could they run out? Did they forget it was Thanksgiving?? All of a sudden I realize that my two bags of food was given out of plenty, all I did was give what I had too much of. I realized at that moment I was a hypocrite.

I didn't really get it, there are people in our neighborhoods, who are hungry. I looked at the food they are giving out, and its not high end goodies! You would have to be desperate to stand in line, and then receive a bag of food that many of us wouldn't buy for ourselves.

As I stood outside talking to Carrie and Ed, I saw their faces as they went in, and I realized I was being given a chance to make a difference in someone's life today. If I am willing to get out of my little world, and see people in their need.

I called Chad after I left and we went over and bought some canned foods, macroni and cheese, cookies. Just kinda what ever caught our eye. We took it back to Hands and Feet and the line had grown, and the shelves were looking bare. So back to the grocery store we went, and when I took it back to Hands and Feet, I finally felt like for the day I had actually gave to the point where I was out my own little cabinets and felt like God smiled.

But you know what, Friday more people will be there and more food will be needed. I know many of you are doing a great job of helping, I know our church has stepped up and is helping in huge ways.

However, I'm talking to the people who might be in the same place as I am, I care but I don't CARE. You know what the cure is, to look at people in the face and realize, we are the hands and feet of Christ, but if we keep our hands in our pockets, we miss the joy of knowing we were involved in what God is doing! And someone may go hungry who we could have helped.

Come by on Friday between 10 and 12 or Saturday between 10 and 12, and look. Then see what God wants you to do.

I had such high hopes!

2009-02-01T08:06:00.000-05:00

I had high hopes for some snow this week! I would love to see about 3 inches of snow. Nothing (to me) is any prettier than the ground covered with snow. It always makes me think of that song about us being washed as white as snow.

At the same time, as I was hoping for snow, in the back of my head I was thinking about how it seems like if we have a weather event it is a weather EVENT! While 3 inches would be great, I could just see it turning into 30 inches and no power!

Yesterday just made me ready for spring! It was beautiful!

I hope you all are having a good weekend, with hopes of snow or without!

Jenny

What a night we had last night!

2009-01-26T06:44:00.000-05:00

Last night was wonderful! It was so fun and inspiring to be with such a diverse group. They talked a little about how what we were doing was like a little slice of heaven. Which it was, but at the same time I happened to see Roy and Michelle out of the corner of my eye, and it stuck me that all the people they are reaching will be there too. Then in front of me, I could see Scott and Holly, and thought of all of those people too. I can imagine it just a little bit better now but the reality is going to be awesome!

A couple of things that just stuck out to me personally were:

When one of the preachers said while we may be in a recession God never recedes! In my mind, I turned that phrase round and round, just running through different Scriptures, and he is right! God always goes forward with His plan even when the "human" plan at the time seems to be going in a different direction. Application wise I took that as which am I doing? Receding or proceeding?

The other was when one of them said we have seen denominationalism (is that the right word??) fall. I can home and told Chad, I can remember when it was so important what kind of church you went to. That defined you to a large extent. It also gave hypocrisy a huge leap, as we acted like we were on board but lived another way. Now, the church at large is more in tune with what really matters, Jesus, and showing more grace on the preferences. Amazing that we are the generation to experience it!

So how about you? What struck you heart?

Wisdom for the coming year...

2008-12-31T12:11:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite verses has always been James 1:5:

If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously and without finding fault and it will be given to him.

I love it because so many times I have needed wisdom because I had gotten myself in a mess of my own doing. As a parent it is hard to give advice to the girls when they made the mess without telling them, "what were you thinking?"

In this verse though, we can see that God is willing to give us wisdom without the fault pointing. Just yesterday though, I was studying James and this verse jumped out at me, James 3:17:

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

I don't quite have a handle of that part of wisdom, but as it is rolling around in my mind. I have been thinking about what areas do I need wisdom for 2009. Several immediately pop up,

finances
helping people
raising the girls to follow God
work

Just to name a couple in my life, as I am asking God for wisdom, it brings me comfort that it will be all of those things He listed. Then I'm struck by how if that is what the wisdom will look like, then that is how my actions need to be.

Pure

Peace-Loving

Considerate

Submissive

Full of mercy

Good Fruit

Impartial

Sincere

That is a list worthy to be my New Year's Resolution! I hope in the coming year, you that see me in day to day life, we see more of these in me!

Failure to communicate

2008-12-01T13:00:00.000-05:00

Is that a song or something? It's ringing in my head in a weird voice but for the life of me I can't place where it is from?? Anybody know??

I could submit you a list of reasons I have not done so hot in writing on this blog, but you and I both know it would just be an excuse! So, what do you say we just start anew?

You know that is what I wanted to blog about today, the ability we have to start anew. I like that word, anew. Something about it just gives me hope. Today is Dec. 1st and we can start anew.

We have the chance to do Christmas different this year than before. For us personally, one thing we are doing is paying cash for Christmas instead of a mixture of cash/credit. It has already been painful and I am not overly happy about it!

Somehow the month of December turns into a huge blur and I find myself saying to God, at the first of the year I'll get back to meeting with you daily, but for now I must get x and y done because it is Christmas you know.

How goofy is that? This December I want to make it on cash and keep my daily time steady. I don't know which one is the biggest challenge, on the cash, we have NEVER just paid cash for Christmas. The upside I guess could be we never have tried before?? Is that an upside??

On the staying steady with God, I have at times done better, but I want this year to be one I look back on and say, that was a good Christmas season! I sought God, He answered and we celebrated. That's really what Christmas is all about, celebrating the fact that God, choose to come to earth so that we could have a relationship with Him.

How about you, what do you want to do anew?

Jen

Bible Study Notes From Week One ~ That is a BORING title!

2008-10-29T20:51:00.001-04:00

I know a couple of you are doing the study on your own. And I also know with kids, jobs and all that goes into life, sometimes you just can't make it. So, I thought I would post what I thought was most important in each class.

But here is the deal, you have to post what you heard in the class (if you came) or what you are thinking as you do you homework.

For me, the biggest thing in the first class, was the word "show"! God wants to "show" in our life. I loved that in the original Greek that word "show" in Ephesians 2:6-7 is Endeiknumi, and it means: Demonstrate, prove, display, manifest.

When I see that word demonstrate, I think of being at Costco when they have the demonstration of how easy the food juicer works. I don't know why, but that is just what I picture. When I think of how Jesus wants to "show" in my life, I think would someone looking at me right now, be able to see that Jesus works?

Your turn what did you ponder on from last week?

(I was about to hit publish when I realized that title is boring with a capital B! Can anyone think of a better title?)

Jenny Do you know that spells Jenny with the font "webdings" . What is that anyway? Kinda cool though, a beach and a present!

Alrighty now, it's time for some inter-action!

2008-10-27T06:33:00.000-04:00

Right now our blog seems to mostly be me typing and you all reading. Not exactly much fun for either of us. So today if you read with us, leave a comment! With or without your name.

After the first night of study together we said that our main point was,

God will fight for us because we are His.

That just about sums it up, in case you didn't make it to class here is a short story that illustrates this point. Katie's picture is included just so you'll have a face to put with her name.

Hopefully, you are working on your homework and I would love to hear what you are thinking about it.

I can tell you that it has been running around in my mind because just this weekend we had a new thing rear its ugly head. My first response was anger, but I stopped and asked myself what is at work here?

In this case it was a clear case of evil trying to sneak in the door.

So I changed my tatic and made sure I was fighting "for" and not just "with" the offending party. It always amazes me how as soon as I make that switch in my head, my next response is to pray. But when I am stuck in that fighting "with" pattern, prayer is low on the priority list!

What have you seen so far this week?

Jenny

P.S. Just in case you didn't come the first week, or just flat can't make it, you can find the homework here. Just click the title and you can print it out. Feel free to share with anyone you think might like it. Each week around Thursday, Laura (the best!) will put it on the website for you.

What a great group!

2008-10-23T16:44:00.000-04:00

I have to tell you that I had so much fun last night. I love when we can get together, laugh, learn and love on one another! I don't know all of you personally, but I know I will by the end of the class.

This morning I woke up, and I looked at the sign-up sheets with your name on it, and I told God He was so good. And I thanked him for the chance to be a part of what He is going to do in your life!

We have some exciting stuff coming up and I can't wait! And if you are in the Sunday night group, I can't wait to be with you all!

(Are you noticing that I am fond of "!"?)

In case you didn't get to come last night you can come on Sunday Nights at 6:30 at NorthPointe. Or if you know you can't come to either but you are interested in the study if you go to the church's website here, you can print it out and do it online with us! We haven't copyrighted(so you are free to make copies) this study. So, if you have a friend at work or wherever, do it together.

Please interact with us! Good or Bad. Happy or sad. I want to hear what you are thinking and what God is saying to you. What you share may be just the encouragement one of us needs!

Lastly, a couple of our ladies have taken up blogging too. You can find their blogs on the side bar. If you have a blog(and are part of our church/study) and let me know I will link you to us.

Have a great day!
Jenny

Snap Shots From The Conference!

2008-10-21T09:01:00.000-04:00

I love snap shots, because it is fun to make up in your mind what they might be saying and thinking. But I have to tell you we can KNOW what is going on in this picture because Laura told the story on her blog. After I read it this morning, I started uploading these pictures and I almost came unglued laughing when I saw we might have a picture of it in action! You gotta go check it out and love on Laura today!

I don't know what Debbie was telling Angie but it looks like it is important!

These ladies WORKED, we are all so thankful to them for their hard work!

Now this is the group I love the food team and it was WONDERFUL!

Here is Debbie asking us if we have our antenna's up or down!

What a day!

2008-10-19T06:57:00.000-04:00

What a day we had yesterday! I'm thinking many of you are like me and received a good word from the Lord through Debbie.

I jumped up (maybe dragged) myself up this morning determined to start the morning using what I had learned.

As I got my journal out and filled in the page I wrote Almighty in under the Lord's column. As I sat here thinking about what that word meant I decided to look up a couple of places where it is used. I turned to Amos (thinking now that is a book I don't read often) and just about fell off the couch!

Right across the top of chapter 5 it says "A Lament and call to REPENTANCE!" (emphasis mine)
That is exactly what God had been saying to me, I have to learn to repent and not just say I'm sorry. There is a big difference in the two for me. So I already know that as I start to read Amos God has something to say.

As I read through chapter 5, they were in big trouble for sin in their nation and at verse 14 He says:

Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.
Then the LORD God Almighty will be
with you,
just as you say He is.

As I pondered that a couple things struck me. First, our nation is in trouble and a lot of the trouble we are in has some similarities to the people in Amos time. When God says those words to Israel, they could apply to us as a country also. The country needs to turn back to God and seek Him, then He will be with us just like our money says He is.

I wanted so much to stop pondering there, because that was easy as I sit in my chair. Yes, Lord the country needs to seek you and then we will live. And you will be with us.

But you know what? It starts with me. I'm in this country and I need to make sure I am seeking good and not evil. That is a huge difference to me. Some of what I watch, read and even talk about if I truly held it side by side with what God says through His written Word would be considered evil. See I just did it, "considered" nope it is evil!

As I looked at my journal, seeing Chad's name, then mine, then Meghan's, Katie's and Lauren's I realized we have got to start seeking good not evil! The stakes are too high for us to keep fooling around!

So how about you all, what did God speak to you at the conference and what did you hear from the Almighty God today?

Jenny

The conference is almost here!

2008-10-15T17:45:00.000-04:00

This morning as I was fussing with my daughters over their cleaning skills, or lack of, I started hearing God ask me a question. BUT I was to busy fussing, in my mind I thought as soon as I get to work I'll stop and talk with you God.

As I arrived at work I realized that I had a TON of stuff to do, so in my mind I thought, on my way home.

I should be home now, but I'm still at work because a friend of mine here at the office lost her husband unexpectedly this week thru a car wreck. We are heading over to the funeral home to love on her.

But as I sit here I realize two big things!

#1 How crazy am I to put God off
#2 I don't like funeral homes and I struggle with what to say

As I was thinking on these two things, (still putting God off??) I realized that it is almost time for the conference! Two more days. Can you believe it?

Now that I have finally slowed down long enough to listen to God, his question to me, may be one He wants you to ponder on.

What do you want from this conference?

When Peter first started realizing who Jesus was he was following him, when Jesus turned around and ask him, 'what do you want'. Peter I think was caught off guard and said something like 'I want to go to your house'. (This is a very loose translation as it is what we call the Jenny version, I will put the actually text up later tonight but for now just work with me!)

In my heart I feel like God is wanting to do a work in us, through Debbie's message. But maybe we need to start pondering it, so we can say to God, this is what I need. This is what I need to hear from you on. All through the Word of God he tells us to cry out to Him.

In order to cry out though, we may have to know what we are looking for! Personally, I have this one area that is tender and I keep on picking at the scab, so it stays tender. I need God to apply His Word to that area and heal it!

Think about it, and if you are willing, post a comment and share what you are wanting to hear from God about during this conference. Go ahead and start calling out to him!

(if you need help posting a comment on the side of the blog is some instructions that may help you.)

The King's Daughters!

2008-10-09T14:41:00.000-04:00

Hello Ladies of North Pointe!

For those who do not know me, my name is Melanie Henry. I started attending North Pointe in late December 2007 with my family. Since then I have received some sort of blessing every time I step through the doors. Especially from the functions for the women! The Bible Studies, Heart to Heart, and even one on one.

I have been attending the Wednesday night Beth Moore 'Stepping Up' Bible Study. And this past Wednesday night I walked away with a double dose of blessing! So much I felt God laid it on my heart to share it with the women of North Pointe who may not have the time to attend. But First, let me tell you about the dream I had the night before. In my dream many of the women of North Pointe were angels sent from God to direct me through my life.

Helping Me, protecting me, guiding me through me dream! In last nights bible study, Beth had us all stand up shoulder to shoulder to give us a visual of how we must stand against the enemy. Shoulder to shoulder in Christ! Knowing you are protected from either side. The bible says we're to encourage each other! Love each other deeply! Forgive one another to not be out witted by Satan!

I have two daughters, Morgan and Madison! My husband and I believe it takes a village to raise children. So, if you see either of my children doing anything unbecoming a young, christian woman - by all means SNATCH EM' UP, call us, Do something! Protect them from the enemy's schemes! This is how we should be with one another - encouraging, supporting, guiding ---PROTECTING!

I was the eldest of 2 girls with a younger sister who was tormented by bullies as a child. I could not count how many fights I was in protecting her. My love for her is the same we should have for each other, as Sisters in Christ!

Ask yourselves:How much room does Satan need to do damage?How much space are we giving him by not supporting each other the way the bible commands?

On Saturday October 18th, we are having a Women's Bible Conference - This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our lines ladies! To fill in the gaps the enemy uses to separate us.

Please come and stand with us - Learn with Us! Pray with Us! So we can stand stronger to protect and fight. Remember, you are the Kings Daughters!

I love you!
Melanie Henry

P.S. Prayer is our weapon and the Bible is our armor. Together we can learn to use them!

The Right Fight our new Bible Study

2008-10-08T09:16:00.000-04:00

What a morning! I’m sitting in my car because I left my office keys at home. That makes it mighty hard to open the door. Nothing like sitting in the parking lot having to wait for someone to come and open the door. Thankfully, I only have to wait 30 minutes until Dana, our receptionist comes in.

As I’m sitting here it strikes me that I have lived my spiritual life like this, waiting on someone to come and open the door for me. I still vividly recall as a young (not in years per say) Christian every time I needed to know where a verse was I had to call Eloise. She always seemed to have the answer. But it made me dependent on her, if I couldn’t get a hold of her I was smack out of luck, I had to wait. Just like I am waiting now, impatiently.

A couple of weeks ago when I first started talking to Ms. Kitty about doing this study, I knew God wanted to do it but I didn’t have a clear picture of where we would be heading. I had a general idea that it would have something to do with God fighting for verses our natural tendency to fight with. We fight with our husbands, our kids, our co-workers, and sometimes even with the people in the next car. Not God though He fights for us, for our families, for our friends, for our jobs, always for.

But it wasn’t until this morning as I’m sitting here that I realized He wants to give us the keys so we can get busy fighting for with Him. You know when you have the keys, you no longer have to wait on someone else, you see a need and you canrespond..

But when you don’t have them, you’re like I am, sitting in a parking lot knowing I could be doing something, but not able to. That begs the question, what will these keys look like?

The keys are:

Who are we in Christ?

How do I walk worthy as one who has been called?

Faith

Standing

Learning to use my weapons.

So if you find yourself fighting with people join us and lets take some new keys. Opening a new door of fighting for!

I hope you will decide to join us starting on Wednesday nightsOctober 22nd thru Nov. 19th. We will be meeting during AWANA'S in the ladies trailer. Or you can join us online here.

Oh, here is Dana, gotta run!

Jenny

Our young ladies

2008-10-06T10:54:00.001-04:00

I have been helping out with the youth here and there for the last few weeks. For the last two weeks I have gotten to be in with the High School girls for small group. Now can I say I wasn't overly excited to be helping in there. You might remember that I have a teen in my house already and I'm not sure I could handle any more drama! But the normal leader had to be out so I filled in.

I was wrong and God smacked me upside the head with it this week.

See even though I have a teen daughter, in my mind I didn't realize what they were doing in small groups. I guess I had this picture of them talking, acting goofy, texting and just being teen girls.

But you know what they are doing? The same thing we are doing, trying to get a handle on how to handle crisis, how do I live out what we believe and all that entails.

They are sharing, searching and trying to firm up exactly what they believe. And you know what we could take a lesson from them. I realized last night that we are missing out on HUGE blessings by not investing in these young ladies.

One of the things that struck me the most is how hard they are trying. They are sharing their lives and looking for guidance, from Jesus first and real live women secondly. And you know what, their troubles look a lot like ours. Relationships, one gal is trying hard to follow what God is telling her to do while at the exact same time honor her dad's wishes. If you're married I bet (can I bet on the church's blog??) you may have been in that same place.

Another one that struck me is a gal with a boyfriend who is not on the same page as her with Jesus. Been there, how about you?

Another that is in a situation that had bigger consequences than she thought! Check that one off myself!

Lastly, one of them is in desperate need for God to show up big. Been there before and right there now.

This morning on my way to work I was thinking about them and I kept thinking of Titus, the older women should nurture the younger women. Now I have always thought of that as the OLD women helping the young women like in their 20's or something. But as I thought of OUR young ladies, in our church, they need us desperately to encourage them.

Maybe something as simple as a 'good morning darling we are glad you are here' or 'you have a great smile.' They need to know we believe in them and we are proud of them.

Because I can assure you that from what I saw the last two weeks, Jesus is proud of them!

Jenny

Changing World

2008-10-01T07:27:00.000-04:00

We seem to be in a world that is changing right before our eyes! I never thought I would get up in the morning and think, where will I get gas and will it have any?

Not to mention the economy. The girls (I have 3, one 15, one 12 and one 10) and I talked some the other night about what is going on. It's weird to be trying to reassure them that when they say 'we are headed to another depression', that they don't mean a depression. Especially since in the back of my head I'm thinking, surely they don't mean a depression like the one I have read about.

When we started this blog, I keep thinking of that verse that in my mind said those planted by the water will draw from that water and be fine. When I looked up the actual verse it said something a little different:

He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

What a promise! The key is us, are we planted by the water or not? In scripture the Word of God many times is pictured as water. Are we drinking it in or some form of Kool-Aid?

I for one this week have been planted by CNN(Kool-Aid) and it shows! What is so wonderful though is just like a plant when we are refreshed and our leaves perk up. We really don't have a clue what is coming, but we never do. But we can choose to plant our selves by the water and draw from it!

So how about you guys, how is God speaking to you right now and what is He saying?

Jenny

How does Ms. H's mission affect me?

2008-09-23T06:02:00.000-04:00

We have a lady in our church who is headed to the most unchristian nation on the Earth in a day or so. Because of where she is going we are just going to call her Ms. H. I thought I would tell you about the first time I ever met her.

About 4 maybe 5 years ago a friend of mine invited me to a lady's brunch to hear a speaker. I'm using the word friend loosely because at the time this was a lady that called me out of the blue to invite me. In fact after I received the invitation I called another friend to see what she thought I should wear. I can so remember that! She advised me to dress up, I dressed down. Why do we ask for advice and ignore it?

I followed my friend to the biggest house I had ever been in! The ladies were all dressed up and they had the real china out for us to eat on. Needless to say, I felt totally out of place. If I hadn't gotten blocked in I may have tried to slip out the door. I was thinking I am in the wrong place.

We sat down in the living room and Ms. H stood up and began to share about her recent trip. I believe it was one of her first trips. That part went over my head but what stuck deeply was that she was doing something and she was just a normal woman. She had such a passion and she wanted so much for us to have that same passion, Jesus Christ. Her passion shows itself through evangelism and teaching. But the passion is Jesus. I was at the right place because what I so desperately wanted to hear from somewhere was that God was still in the miracle business and He worked like that in normal people's life.

Everyone of us can have that same passion (Jesus) and I believe see the same Mighty hand of God in their lives. We may show it in a different way but it will touch people the same, and draw people to Jesus.

I didn't see Ms.H again for years. When we first came to NorthPointe I was excited to hear that they also went. It has been neat to see them and watch from a distance, while I would say we are friends we aren't "friends". Do you know what I mean?

But even from the distance I can tell you two things, that passion is still burning, maybe even more intently. The other thing is, obedience is the key. That is the one that stings me the most. Obedience is hard. But the only way we are ever going to see the miracles of God is through obedience.

Although I can think of a couple of people in the Bible that saw huge miracles through disobedience, Jonah, but I think I'll pass on that way!

I started out asking 'how does Ms. H's mission affect me?' It's a heart test, is my heart cold, warm or hot to the things of God? We 100% know that God cares about the people in these countries that are so closed so our reaction is a check-up tool.

If my heart is cold, then I listen to her and walk away, thinking as she shared someone told her, its not worth it.

If my heart is warm, I could hug her neck and say I will pray for you. I think a warm heart will even do that, pray for her.

But a heart that is hot for God will look at her and think I want to have a part of what God is doing. I think for everyone of us our part would be different because we all have different gifts, but the key is a desire to be a part of it!

Could be you give her a donation, could be you pray for her, could be you help take care of those who she is leaving here stateside, could be you ask God what He would have you do.

Then when she gets back and shares what happened, we can thank God for the opportunity to be a part of it!

If you would like to contact her send me an email to gowatersedge at gmail dot com and I'll pass it on to her.

Jenny

Fire Proof

2008-09-19T07:18:00.000-04:00

There is a new movie coming out September 26 by the same people who made "Facing the Giants." It has Kirk Cameron in it and the preview looks GREAT! You can find a link to the movie here.

Marriage is hard and this movie is meant to encourage marriages, so it would be a great date night. From what I have read about the movie it has elements for us and the hubs! Then they have a companion book that is the 40 day challenge (which is part of the movie) that helps you change the course you are currently on. I got to see the first 7 days of the book and it looks like it would have some fun in it, but more importantly maybe some valuable lessons.

Let us know if you are planning on seeing the movie!

Our very first post!

2008-09-15T14:46:00.000-04:00

It's kinda hard to look at a blank screen and know where to start. Not to mention I'm not for sure I know what I'm doing.

So maybe I should start with what I do know.

I do know that blogging is a great way to connect with women both in our own area and in other parts of not just the states but truly world-wide! In fact Debbie who is coming from Texas to share with us what God has taught her was brought into our lives through blogging.

It's kinda a neat story. Sometime after Christmas I was needing a new prayer journal and Beth Moore had recommended one on her blog. I figured if it was one that she recommended I needed to give it a try. I went to the website (Debbie's) and ordered it, a book and one CD. I feel in LOVE with the prayer journal! Now I have been using a pray journal for years, so I am hard to impress.

I went back to her website to send her an email when I noticed that she had a blog. Now at this time blogging was very new to me but I visited her blog and left a comment. Then she RESPONDED, see that to me is the beauty of blogging, you can easily respond to a person. I felt so special!

I continued to read her blog, and one day she shared how God had given her a vision of going to 50 different churches in 50 states for free! Totally for free. I was on her blog that day and I told her I thought our women's ministry leader, Ms. Kitty would be interested in talking to her. They talked and she will be standing in our very own church, October 18th! Can you believe that?

I hope you will jump on board with us both with the conference and with the blog! You can find a link to Debbie's blog right over on the side bar called "You Go Girl!" And that great journal I told you about is part of what you get with your conference registration!

Jenny