What a vacation. I went on a Teen Mission Trip with my church. 47 people went, all camping! We were able to serve the Hornell Bible Church in Hornell, NY. They allowed us to come and work a Vacation Bible School for them. This enabled their church to reach many unsaved people in their community and to strenthen believers as well!!
I don't know how God does it every year, but the trip is always smooth and successful. Many of our teen agers, who do all of the teaching of classes, grow immensely due to the fact that they are in the Word and learning all sorts of patience and humility while working with other kids. It is amazing to see God's hand in their lives.
I think the part that I like the best is getting to know other people from other churches and being able to commune with God without the distractions of home life, phones, tvs...... We got to camp at a state camp ground this year and the view was amazing. We were right on a lake and the weather was perfect. I got a new chaise lounge chair for graduation and I actually got to enjoy it quite often on the trip.
Well, God is the one that gets all of the Glory and my Pastor and his family sure deserve a big thanks, as they are always the planners and really the behind the scenes workers. God is so Good and Pastor McNally's family is truly responsive to God's call on their lives!!!!
What a GREAT way to serve the Lord!!!! I wish that all churches did this. One of the parents on the trip said it best, "I think that our church is so close because of these trips!"
Me too!! Thanks God!!!!!!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
1 whole year
I can't beleive it has been a year since I wrote in this blog. This is about how faithful I am with a journal too. I wish I were better at it.
Well, I officially graduated with an Associates degree with a History basis. I am thrilled to be on my way to a Bible College (God will decide which one, because there are WAY too many to choose from) to continue studies in Missions and Church History. In the mean time, that last entry that I made really spoke to me even today. 1 year later and the Word of God still applies directly to life and reality.
Thankfully the Word of God never changes just like God never changes. He is Immutable. One of my favorite charachteristics of God. He is the Unchanging One, the Unmoved Mover! How Awesome to know in the mercurial world that God alone will always be What He says and Where He says from eternity past to eternity future.
HOW GREAT THOU ART!!
Jen
Thursday, May 29, 2008
At Rest
Well, after a long semester in college, I am now able to rest; or am I. Since I have finished college for the year I have joined a Greek Bible study, endeavored to exercise more (which I can gladly say that I have been successful and consistant x 3 mos.) and I am preparing for an independent study for my fall semester history teacher. I am up late every night doing research or studying Greek or just trying to put my head on straight.
But, in Hebrews 4 it talks about entering the rest that God entered into after His 6 days of Creation and that He is still in today. Here is God, Creator of all, and He considers Himself at rest even though He is constantly hearing and answering our prayers, directing our paths, comforting our souls, lifting our burdens and disciplining His children with True love.
This is what He considers rest. The continually upholding of those people and things that He loves. His love will never officially rest and therefore we too should be at rest. Continually striving to know Him that loves us. To understand a little more of what He did for us, who don't deserve even the slightest attention. We too should pour out our energy and time on the ones that we love so that they in turn will want to know Him more and more.
Unfortunately, the way of the world is to forget that we have neighbors. I was speaking to two patients from Germany today and they were reminiscing of early America when they were children. Around the 40's and 50's. They remembered that every year one home in their neighborhood would do a New Year's Eve dinner. It was normal to eat with your neighbors and to share with them and to reach out to them. Now we duck behind our curtains before our neighbors even notice that we are home. We walk on eggshells so that we don't "upset" anyone politically or Spiritually. We need to pour out the energy given us by the Holy Spirit so that we can show God's love to them so that our neighbors my enter into that very rest of "Belief" that God wants for each of us. It was the Israelites who chose not to believe in God so they were condemned to wander in the desert (wilderness) until the whole generation died off. Even Moses himself had a moment of unbelief and so was not allowed to enter into the rest. Only Joshua and Aaron could see God's truth in the situation and so they were given the right to bring the next generation of Israelites up in belief so that they could enter into the Promised land (the rest that God has for us).
We too can enter that rest through the belief and trust of Jesus Christ of His Father. Because Jesus was able to flawlessly trust in God, we can enter into the Promised Land of eternal life through trusting in what Jesus did for each of us. His willingness to trust God even unto death on the cross was sufficient to satisfy the debt of our sin. Jesus was the sinless sacrifice who died in our place. Now that He has risen from the dead we can trust in that FINISHED work and therefore receive the gift of eternal life, eternal rest that none of us deserve but in God's great rest, He has made the gift of His Grace available to each of us.
Please consider entering into that rest by sincerely discussing this with God directly. Trusting in Jesus Christ and asking for His complete forgiveness. If you can do this with a trusting heart, then you can be a child of the Living God and begin an eternity of True, Satisfying rest.
In the Glory of God's Grace,
Jennifer
But, in Hebrews 4 it talks about entering the rest that God entered into after His 6 days of Creation and that He is still in today. Here is God, Creator of all, and He considers Himself at rest even though He is constantly hearing and answering our prayers, directing our paths, comforting our souls, lifting our burdens and disciplining His children with True love.
This is what He considers rest. The continually upholding of those people and things that He loves. His love will never officially rest and therefore we too should be at rest. Continually striving to know Him that loves us. To understand a little more of what He did for us, who don't deserve even the slightest attention. We too should pour out our energy and time on the ones that we love so that they in turn will want to know Him more and more.
Unfortunately, the way of the world is to forget that we have neighbors. I was speaking to two patients from Germany today and they were reminiscing of early America when they were children. Around the 40's and 50's. They remembered that every year one home in their neighborhood would do a New Year's Eve dinner. It was normal to eat with your neighbors and to share with them and to reach out to them. Now we duck behind our curtains before our neighbors even notice that we are home. We walk on eggshells so that we don't "upset" anyone politically or Spiritually. We need to pour out the energy given us by the Holy Spirit so that we can show God's love to them so that our neighbors my enter into that very rest of "Belief" that God wants for each of us. It was the Israelites who chose not to believe in God so they were condemned to wander in the desert (wilderness) until the whole generation died off. Even Moses himself had a moment of unbelief and so was not allowed to enter into the rest. Only Joshua and Aaron could see God's truth in the situation and so they were given the right to bring the next generation of Israelites up in belief so that they could enter into the Promised land (the rest that God has for us).
We too can enter that rest through the belief and trust of Jesus Christ of His Father. Because Jesus was able to flawlessly trust in God, we can enter into the Promised Land of eternal life through trusting in what Jesus did for each of us. His willingness to trust God even unto death on the cross was sufficient to satisfy the debt of our sin. Jesus was the sinless sacrifice who died in our place. Now that He has risen from the dead we can trust in that FINISHED work and therefore receive the gift of eternal life, eternal rest that none of us deserve but in God's great rest, He has made the gift of His Grace available to each of us.
Please consider entering into that rest by sincerely discussing this with God directly. Trusting in Jesus Christ and asking for His complete forgiveness. If you can do this with a trusting heart, then you can be a child of the Living God and begin an eternity of True, Satisfying rest.
In the Glory of God's Grace,
Jennifer
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Press Forward
For 15 years I have been saying the same thing to all of my patients. I take care of the diagnostic portion of an eye exam in a multi doctor ophthalmology practice. What amazes me is the other day as I repeated for the, let's say 1,000,000th, time for the patient to press forward while viewing their pressure under a microscope, it hit me.
Let me explain. Patient's must place their chin in a cup and press their forheads up against a bar so that I can see them properly under a microscope. Now like all microscopes if the object I am viewing is not at exactly the correct distance (really close) then I cannot see it. So I figure if the patient is physically pressing their head against the bar then they can't move backwards.
Now let's analyze this. If one is pressing forward then they are not moving backwards. It seems elementary right? Well in Phillipians 3:14 it tells us to, "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
God is telling us to press on or forward so that we don't fall back just like when I am using a microscope. We as humans think we can do it ourselves for a little while and even think that we are not moving in either direction, towards or away from God or trouble. In reality, we are always in motion. There is no stopping to pause, our minds and souls are always on the move towards something. If we are not careful it could be towards sin and away from God.
Now God tells us so many things for our own good and if we would just stretch out and reach towards those things, no matter how little we actually accomplish ourselves, God uses that forward motion to keep us in balance, always on the right side of life.
So in our desire to not move, we have to realize that to stop is to sink to the bottom of the ocean like a shark who stops moving. He might stop but his body then sinks and decomposes. We must listen to God's Word in His Son and continually aim to be more like Jesus and in doing so we will not have the opportunity to fall back.
Press On
Let me explain. Patient's must place their chin in a cup and press their forheads up against a bar so that I can see them properly under a microscope. Now like all microscopes if the object I am viewing is not at exactly the correct distance (really close) then I cannot see it. So I figure if the patient is physically pressing their head against the bar then they can't move backwards.
Now let's analyze this. If one is pressing forward then they are not moving backwards. It seems elementary right? Well in Phillipians 3:14 it tells us to, "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
God is telling us to press on or forward so that we don't fall back just like when I am using a microscope. We as humans think we can do it ourselves for a little while and even think that we are not moving in either direction, towards or away from God or trouble. In reality, we are always in motion. There is no stopping to pause, our minds and souls are always on the move towards something. If we are not careful it could be towards sin and away from God.
Now God tells us so many things for our own good and if we would just stretch out and reach towards those things, no matter how little we actually accomplish ourselves, God uses that forward motion to keep us in balance, always on the right side of life.
So in our desire to not move, we have to realize that to stop is to sink to the bottom of the ocean like a shark who stops moving. He might stop but his body then sinks and decomposes. We must listen to God's Word in His Son and continually aim to be more like Jesus and in doing so we will not have the opportunity to fall back.
Press On
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Primary
Well, I had the joy and priviledge of voting last night for who (or is it whom) should lead our party to the presidency. It really is a priviledge to be allowed to vote. I remember when I understood that. I was taking a US History class in college and listening to my zealous teacher. We spent a lot of time on the candidates for presidents in the late 1800's and early 1900's. There were a lot more serious reasons for running for president then then there seem to be now. It is kind of disconcerting to see the decrease in realistic governing versus a virtual type that is only what any one person "wants" for the moment.
This reminds me that we need to seek the Primary things of life. Nowadays many would list their homes, job and family, possibly in that order. But where is God in all of that. Each of those things are good but without God where is the moral guidance. I think Webster said it best in 1800 when he said, "To preserve the government we must also preserve morals. Morality rests on religion; if you destroy the foundation, the superstructure must fall. When the public mind becomes vitiated and corrupt, laws are a nullity and constitutions are waste paper."
That isn't to say that religion and government should mix but that those who are secure in their understanding of who God is and His sovereignty of all life as the source are enabled to care for and govern one another. Without a moral giver, why would anyone want to be moral. One must believe in the moral lawgiver because it says in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." See if we believe that He exists and seek Him out He rewards us. This is our opportunity to worship Him for Who He is and to develope that standards that He has laid out for us. As we develope those standards we begin to have morals. Morals are the foundation for action. Without it actions become undefined and lead to absurdity.
Look to the Lord as the Primary reason for life, love and justice and the things we love, our families, friends and fellow countrymen will have more important things to stand for.
Put Jesus first in your life and you too will have and enjoy the priviledges of the Primary and I don't just mean for presidency.
This reminds me that we need to seek the Primary things of life. Nowadays many would list their homes, job and family, possibly in that order. But where is God in all of that. Each of those things are good but without God where is the moral guidance. I think Webster said it best in 1800 when he said, "To preserve the government we must also preserve morals. Morality rests on religion; if you destroy the foundation, the superstructure must fall. When the public mind becomes vitiated and corrupt, laws are a nullity and constitutions are waste paper."
That isn't to say that religion and government should mix but that those who are secure in their understanding of who God is and His sovereignty of all life as the source are enabled to care for and govern one another. Without a moral giver, why would anyone want to be moral. One must believe in the moral lawgiver because it says in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." See if we believe that He exists and seek Him out He rewards us. This is our opportunity to worship Him for Who He is and to develope that standards that He has laid out for us. As we develope those standards we begin to have morals. Morals are the foundation for action. Without it actions become undefined and lead to absurdity.
Look to the Lord as the Primary reason for life, love and justice and the things we love, our families, friends and fellow countrymen will have more important things to stand for.
Put Jesus first in your life and you too will have and enjoy the priviledges of the Primary and I don't just mean for presidency.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
How long will this last?
I wonder how long I might be interested in doing this? Is it something worthwhile or am I wasting precious time? I probably should be in the Word and not typing out my thoughts to no one imparticular. I could be speaking directly to God. He at least would have some incredible feedback.
I do realize that He is always listening. Even as I am typing this. I remember one time while riding on the back of a motorcycle. I had the nicest new helmet on. You know the kind where the whole front piece opens up so that you can put your glasses on. It fit so nicely and was really quiet. It was so quiet in there I got to looking around at God's creation. Wow, it took my breath away. Then as the silence grew thicker, I realized for the very first time that I was not alone, even in the helmet. God was right there with me, admiring His handiwork and smiling at my recognition of His presence.
He said, " And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:20b). Jesus was with me at that very moment just as He is with me now and forever. Praise God that our God is omnipresent (everywhere) and my favorite, immutable, (unchangable).
Praise you Lord and thank you for your grace and love,
Amen
I do realize that He is always listening. Even as I am typing this. I remember one time while riding on the back of a motorcycle. I had the nicest new helmet on. You know the kind where the whole front piece opens up so that you can put your glasses on. It fit so nicely and was really quiet. It was so quiet in there I got to looking around at God's creation. Wow, it took my breath away. Then as the silence grew thicker, I realized for the very first time that I was not alone, even in the helmet. God was right there with me, admiring His handiwork and smiling at my recognition of His presence.
He said, " And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:20b). Jesus was with me at that very moment just as He is with me now and forever. Praise God that our God is omnipresent (everywhere) and my favorite, immutable, (unchangable).
Praise you Lord and thank you for your grace and love,
Amen
Saturday, February 2, 2008
In The Beginning
This is the very first blog of my life. The truth is I don't even know why I built it except that we are praying for a friend of mine's daughter who broke her back and we were getting updates from her blog page.
It is amazing to see the Hand of God in her surgery and her faith in Him. The night before the surgery she was laughing and even praying with her friends both there with her and her parents and those not with her via spyke. It is so amazing how God has enabled us to be so close even though we are thousands of miles away.
Praising God in all that He has done and all that He is doing,
In Christ Alone,
Jennifer
It is amazing to see the Hand of God in her surgery and her faith in Him. The night before the surgery she was laughing and even praying with her friends both there with her and her parents and those not with her via spyke. It is so amazing how God has enabled us to be so close even though we are thousands of miles away.
Praising God in all that He has done and all that He is doing,
In Christ Alone,
Jennifer
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