An Extreme Heart Makeover

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be."
James 3:9-10

A few days ago I received my monthly "shot" of spiritual caffeine. Cadre Ministries sends out these e-mails as a "monthly shot of encouragement and equipping for student leaders". They are usually just a short devotion, with an attachment that you can do a daily 'going-deeper' type of thing. I usually just read the devotion and pass the rest by because I'm so tight for time. But since I was home for break and had nothing better to do, I thought I'd walk through this. And MAN am I glad I did!! I just want to share a little bit of what I'm learning!!

"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, 

and these defile you."

Matthew 15:18

Wow. What we say to others reflects the state of our heart. So if we are being angry, defensive, and prideful, what does that say about our heart?
We praise God with the same tongue that we curse His Creation. How can this be? Yet, we do it all the time and I don't think we realize it.

I've been challenged these past few days to take a look at what is coming out of my mouth, and how that reflects the state of my heart. I've taken some time to reflect on what it is that my heart needs to be. And I've asked the Lord to do a work in me so that I may better glorify Him.

If you want to go on this journey with me, here's the link! Check it out, you won't regret spending a little extra time with the Lord, and getting an Extreme Heart Makeover!
From the Heart - Cadre Ministries

Jenna's Journal.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Proverbs 4:23

Rolling The Stone Away

As I was driving home today for Christmas break I was listening to one of my favorite CD's: Taste and See by Peder Eide. Peder is an amazing worship leader. He's a small town guy, and has MC'ed for Sonshine Festival a few times. I love his songs because their fun to dance to, and they touch your heart in a way you wouldn't ever guess...

This is what happened to me today. I was listening to the song "Roll That Stone Away", which you can probably guess is about Lazarus, but in case that's not the first thing that you think of I'll let ya know that this song is, indeed, about Lazarus, but it's also about us...

"Roll the stone away, what I say is true. 

Roll the stone away, see the wonders God can do. 

Roll the stone away, you've got no other choice. 

If he's gotta rise, he's gotta hear my voice, roll the stone away."

Some Background (thank you Gospel of John):
In the Jewish culture of this time, it was believed that after someone died, their spirit hovered over them for 3 days, until the body started decaying. The hope was that the person would come back to life. After the body started decaying, it was impossible for this person to raise back to life.
Now, when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick and dieing, he waited two more days, then traveled back to Judea with his disciples. When he arrived, Mary was upset, for it had been 4 days since Lazarus' death. She deemed it impossible for him to come back to life.
But Jesus has been known to do the impossible so as Mary and Martha take him to the tomb, he tells them to roll the stone away. Martha questions him, but Jesus instructs her believe. This is when Jesus prays to his Father then calls out to Lazarus. Lazarus walks out, alive.

Now this story is not only an amazing story of the impossible becoming possible, but also of faith. There are times in our lives that we ask God to do something, or give us something, and we expect it to be like a genie lamp and just happen, but I think that there are stones blocking our hearts from really opening up to what he can do, because they block our belief.

" 'Take away the stone,' he said. 'But, Lord,' said Martha, the sister of the dead man, 'by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.' Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?' "

John 11:39-40

Some "disbelief stones" can come in the form of logic: everything has to make sense all the time. This is what Mary and Martha had. It was past the 3 days, and since they deemed it impossible, that rolled a stone in front of their heart that blocked out their faith. Another stone could be wanting it our own way. Sometimes we ask for things specifically because that's the way we've always planned it in our heads. What if God has something greater? This rolls a stone in front of our hearts that blocks our trust in the Sovereign Will of God.

We each have our dis-belief stones. Mine comes in the form of planning my own life. In recognizing this, I am able to ask God for the strength to move this stone, and allow him to help me as I roll the stone away and become more able to hear his voice calling out my name.

What's  your disbelief stone? Do you need to recognize it, and confess it to the Lord, humbly asking for His strength? Roll those stones away and watch as God's glory is shown throughout your life. Take away that which is blocking His voice and listen for His voice.

We need to hear His voice so that we may rise from the grips of our sin and be free.

 "Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

John 11:44

Journals by Jenna

The Sustainer

As I near the end of my 3rd semester at Crown College, and feel the heavy stress of all the end of the semester rap-up, I was reminded this morning of all God has done in my life in the past year and a half. The most important thing God has done was sustaining me.

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me"

- Psalm 54:4 -

When I graduated from high school I received a journal from my youth group, and the very first thing I remember writing in it, minutes after receiving it, was "When everything changes and life gets crazy, You Lord will remain constant and You will never change". Little did I know how incredibly true this actually would be.

In the past year a half my world has been flipped upside down. I have experienced and learned things that I never even knew existed. I've grown in my faith far beyond what I thought was imaginable, and as I reflect today, I have seen the faithfulness and consistency of God.

Where has God sustained you through your life? Let's praise Him today for remaining constant when everything else turns upside down.

"I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, 

for it is good. You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes." 

- Psalm 54:6-7 -

All Consuming Love ♥

As we were worshiping in service this past Sunday, I couldn't help but notice something. Something that I've noticed many times during service.
All Consuming Love.

I find it so amazing to look around the worship center and see parents being moved by the Spirit into this love that God has given us the opportunity to experience. And when this happens it seems as if they just have to hug their kids, or their spouse.

As I thought more about the Spirit and His presence on Sunday mornings, I began to wonder, can we have this love all the time in our lives?

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" - Galatians 5:25
Paul seems to think so.

What would happen if we all kept in step with the Spirit? If we allowed the Spirit to be in every part of our lives, and consume us with His love. I believe, we would get to experience a small slice of what true Godly love is. And as we experience this love, we would not be able to hold it in; we would need pour it out and express it to others (much like the parents in service).

THIS LOVE is the All Consuming Love we are called to. We ought to have this love for everyone, and when we allow the Holy Spirit to work, we are able to be vessels of this love. However, our sinful nature can get in the way.
I challenge us to make it our cry and plea to live in step with the Spirit so that we may be vessels of the Lord's Love, not led astray by those who seek war (Psalm 120:7).

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature" - Galatians 5:16

Desiring to Walk in the Spirit,
Another Journaling Thought