Being challenged and strecthed

Sometimes the closer you grow to the Lord the more you get tested, challenged and strecthed to do more and become more.

This has been happening to me since Jan of 2007 when I moved out here. John F. Kennedy said Challenge is the law of life.

All I can say is I am capable of doing SO much more now that I moved out here and I thank the good Lord above that I can pray to him openly and honestly about what I am going through.

To much is given much is required and that is what I have been learning. Our church prepares us for the misson field and the mission field is not far away it is who ever the Lord puts in our path sometimes the ones we know and love the most are the toughest nuts to crack and hardest to minister. Harvesting is work and not easy.

Be encouraged to know that God knows what he is doing and He knows what is best and more often than not what we want in life and what we actually receive are two totally different things -e4g

A very speical date night:)

You know when you have been married a long time, it is very easy to take your spouse for granted and it is easy to let days be ordinary and not push as hard to do speical things like when we were courting.

Our care group did not meet tonight and our leader said as our assignement for spouses to go out on a date night, so Shawn took me out and it was so wonderful. We went to Riparian park and walked around and saw the ducks and took pictures with our cell phones of the ducks and the sunset nature is so beautiful and speical a gift from God. Then we went to the library and we read some poetry to each other from Maya Angelou and then I look at some of Shawn's astronomy books with him.

We then went to McDonalds and got a small sundae each for dessert, I got mine with chocolate syrup and Shawn got his with strawberry syrup.

Then we came home and spend time together and I have to say I am very blessed to be married. Being married is a privilege not a right. It is hard to believe that we will be married 15 years in the fall. the Lord has blessed us as we have grown closer to Him and also to each other.

I want to dedicate this post to my husband my beloved Shawn Richard because you have blessed with with your love, romance, kindness, sense of humor and the way you lead our household in the Lord and the way you live for Jesus each day. I love you so much and I have nothing but the highest respect for you. All my love forever Jennifer

Waiting on the Lord Gods plan

Waiting on the Lord is not always easy, but oh so worth it. I knew my husband 4 years before we got married. It was not in Gods timing to marry right away both of us needed jobs and one of us needed benefits and it was a time of testing and trial for us.
Our parents and pastor had asked us to wait until things were a little more settled, plus there were other factors that we could not "sweep under the rug" like our finanacial needs and other needs that we had.

By Gods grace we were able to be sustained and we did not have relations until we were married. We will be married 15 years this fall. And we will know eachother 19 years in September. I was 24 years old and Shawn was 30 two months later he turned 31 when we married.

The waiting taught me a lot even though at times I was resentful. I treasure each day I have with Shawn because it took a long time for God to unite us and We desire not only to have romantic love which is wonderful but to bless and help and encourage and edify those around us.

Are you going through a tough time of waiting God will sustain you and through the trials make you mature, complete, not lacking anything. see James 1:4

I also learned the best things in life are worth waiting for and nothing worth having ever comes easy or cheap.

Be encouraged and God bless you

Jennifer

Ephesians 4:29 What I have learned

God has been convicting me and lovingly by His grace and mercy teaching me what to say and what not to say.

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to thier needs, and that it may benefit those who listen

I am loud and I will be the first to admit this. I love attention and I like to make people laugh and sometimes I like to shock people with what I say. I lived in New York for over 37 years and because of my culture I tend to speak what is on my mind and say things "like it is" and can be very "in your face" and passionate about the things I beleive in.

The bible verse listed above says the talk that should be spoken are to be helpful and edifying and building others up and to benefit those who will listen.

I also write better than I actually speak, but I am asking the Lord that I would be more encouraging less overly talkative, more edifying and less gossip for me this means idle talk and poking fun about people and things, to process things before saying them not just be overly impulsive and blurt things out, to have times of quiet and meditation on the Lord Jesus Christ not to always be continually talking. More time in prayer and caring for people in intercessory prayer and writing letters to people when I can and less time on the computer.

I just Praise the Lord and thank Him that he loves me enough to convict me of my sins, faults and shortcomings so I can concentrate on being a godly woman see Proverbs 31:10-31 and Titus 2:3-5

My prayer for all of you that read this blog is that you would be edified and encouraged and I thank all of you my family, friends, care group, and church family and my beloved Shawn Richard for all the love and prayers you have blessed me with. May God reward you and bless you.

Be encouraged, be blessed and celebrate life Jennifer a.k.a encourager4god

A special night and turning 39 today

Yesterday on Friday I went out with my sister and we celebrated our brithdays hers was two weeks ago today and my birthday is today and I am 39. Honestly I did not feel like going out and would have rather slept but she wanted some company so I went.

We treated eachother to Red Lobster and had soft drinks,motzerlla sticks, salad, bread, breaded shrimp and mashed potatoes which was awesome we also went to the book store and had coffee as well acutally it was iced coffee but if we had a choice we would have had starbucks:)

I read a book chicken soup for the workings moms soul and Kathy brought books, aftewards we went to Walmart for a bit and I did not get home until 11:45 pm. My huband was so good about it and knew we needed sister time.

Today I slept until about 10:00 just call me spoiled:) took a walk with Shawn and talked with him at our park where we live, we are washing clothers and doing laundy,I had leftover dinner for lunch, Shawn is so cute he tells me today I am going to suprise me with a card and a flower:) Tonight we will be with our church family for a BBQ.

I was very blessed this year but my biggest blessing is the Lord Jesus Christ who I want to get closer and more intimate with each passing day. Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Have a wonderful weekend and a Wonderful Memorial day. Remember we are the land of the free because of the home of the brave. Pray for our soldiers. e4g

Dinner at the McCraws

Tonight was a special time at the dinner table. I have been going through depression and still am batteling this and many times more than I could count I would eat standing up eating fast so I could get back on the computer and Shawn would take his meal into the living room and eat and watch TV. Tonight I was feeling exspeically lazy dealing with chronic minegrianes since last week but I said No tonight would be special and I am going to be more intentional to make meal times speical and something to look forward to.

So....................What I did was this I set the table with our fine china and new glasses I made a nice pasta I had mine with butter Shawn likes tomato sauce (Ragu) and we had vegetables green beans. I got the nicest candle I could find and lit the candle at dinner. Shawn blesses us by going to the soda machine and we shared a coke which was a special treat and I put ice into the glasses and Shawn poured the soda.

We actually sat and had eye contact and talked and talked and talked (for me that is not an issue:) We discussed Gods will for our life and we discussed the possibility of us going into more ministry as the Lord plans, Shawn lovingly pointed out to me I cant do things by myself or always get my way about everything, but to lean on Jesus who gives us strength to do the tasks we do and to do everything because apart from Christ we can do nothing see Philippians 4:13 and John 15:5. We had instrumental music playing in the back round as well as praise music.

It was a very enjoyable night being in fellowship with my husband as well as enjoying our meal and not taking meal time for granted. Dinner at the McCraws is going to be more of a celebration and less of a ritual from now on Be encouraged e4g

Life is NOT fair

When we were children when things would go wrong we would sniffle and cry Life is NOT fair:( As we grow up and face challenges and hurts we tend to think life's not fair, shouldn't we be over this by now and move forward) We are not like roast beef in an oven when you come out from the heat we are "all done" not so! We are a work in progress and we are "never done" until Jesus takes us home.

Life has not been fair lately in certain areas not should I expect it to be. Where is my focus, where are my priorities, who am I centering my life around? If you guessed circumstances you are right. Jesus needs to be the center, my hearts desire is to make him first.

I want to be like the Proverbs 31 woman see Proverbs 31:10-31. She was a godly woman who was intelligent yet humble business savvy yet worked both inside and outside the home. Her husband praised her at the gates he was esteemed because of her love to God her husband her family and those around her. I have not been acting in that fashion. I have been a pain in the booty and I fully admit it. Shawn is wonderful and asks that I pray for him and spend time with him. I want to be a godly wife to Shawn I want him to say thank God not "oh my God". I will be 39 May 24Th and I want to grow as a woman and a wife and wanting to have Jesus be the biggest treasure and love in my life. Be encouraged Jennifer e4g

I pray this blesses and encourages you

Only God can turn a MESS.........into a message

A TEST into .......... Testimony

A TRIAL...........Into a Triumph

A VICTIM ........into a VICTORY

GOD is good............all the time -PB

One of those days

Did you ever have one of those days when all hell breaks loose? A tough overwhelming day either with a person, circumstance or perhaps both. I had a tough one today. But If God brings you to it He will bring you through it.

Jesus always gives us the mercy and strength and grace to deal with tough and challenging moments. I feel a peace right now that only Jesus can give see John 14:27. One verse I have anchored on for two decades is Romans 8:28 All things work together for good for them that love God and for those that are called according to His purpose.

The Lord is awesome and I thank God for all He has done in my life and when life gets crazed and stressed and overwhelming I remember my greatest need was met when Jesus died on the cross for my sins. If you have nothing and have Jesus you have everything and if you have everything but don't have Jesus you have nothing.

God bless you and when you read this blog please keep me in prayer for wisdom, guidance, strength, peace and patience. Love in Christ Jennifer a.k.a encourager4God

Forgetting the past and going forward in the Lord

I love the Lord but I struggle with my past from time to time. I have shared in prevoius blogs some of the things I encountered in 2003-2004 and till this day when it comes up in my mind I am slightily resentful and feel like why did not God interefere even when I was following the Lord and doing everything right. I tend to take the trials and tribulations personally and I am asking the Lord Jesus to take this from me so I can go forward and walk in Victory.

Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not remember former things of the past nor consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

I have so much to be thankful for but for some reason I "trip over" the past a lot. If you could pray for me about this when you read this blog I would appreicate it so very much. I am also in prayer about this all the time.

Jesus is the one who has seen me through all my trials God bless you and be encouraged Jenny a.k.a encourager4god "e4g"

Marriage is work 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Marriage is work plain and simple the wedding is for one day the marriage is for the rest of your life. I get compliments of how my husband and I get a long so well. I say praise the Lord we got through the first 11 1/2 years without killing one another. Because that is honestly how long it took before both of us reach acceptance of things that could not be changed about one another. We learned to love one another and treat each other right. Patience is not granted it is earned.
Marriage takes prudence, patience and lots of prayer.

The ONLY reason our marriage is as strong and vibrant as it is is not because we are so great and wonderful because we are not. the main reasons why are marriage is thriving is because Gods grace is in our lives and that Jesus is the center of our marriage. Because apart from Him we cannot do anything John 15:5.

I got this in an e-mail and it truly sums up a good lasting love. True love is neither romantic or physical true love is the acceptance of what was, what is, what is to be and what is not to be.

Shawn (and I have my husbands OK to post this because it is of personal nature) in some ways were very immature when we got married and had very high and at times unrealistic expectations of what we expected of one another and when we did not meet the expectations we got pissy/ annoyed and mad at one another.

There comes a time in every ones marriage where true love and faith are put through the test ( see my previous blog on trials) and there were times we fell short of the glory of God. In think the turning point in our live was in 2006 when Shawn and I were having communion and Shawn would not partake unless he talked to me He leaned over and put his arm around me and said I am sorry for being so hard on you. When Shawn told me he was addressed for being a deacon of our church I bluntly told him charity begins at home and walked away.
I also repented for expecting Shawn to be perfect and there were times I was resentful because it took two incomes and I wanted to be "taken care of" like my mom and stay home.

Shawn and I will be married 15 years in October of this year and we will know each other 19 years this September and moving to AZ was the best thing next to accepting the Lord Jesus into our hearts and getting married to each other. I was very emotionally attached to my mom and older sister and moving away Shawn and I have grown closer to Christ and have grown closer to one another and we have become our own family and it has been a wonderful thing to see God at word in our lives. Someone said you are lucky you are married and I lovingly told that person it is not luck it is hard work to be married, in some ways it is like a full time job, but anything of value or worth any thing does not come easy or cheap. Like my mom in law said anything worth having is worth working for. Be encouraged and God bless you e4g

Trials are a part of life as well John 16:33

All too often we focus on the negative and get "stuck" in the past and not think of the blessings and all of the good things that God has done for us. I am guilty of doing this too. Back in 2003-2004 we went through some financial hardships and I was very angry at God that he would allow this exspecially when we were trying so hard to get ahead, I felt these things should not happen to Christians who work their backside off to pay the bills. A check bounced for a lot of money causing my assets to be frozen for three months. This never would have happen if I lived at home I fumed.

But what was some of the good things that happened? My pastor and his wife lend us money we ate a lot of spaghetti and toast because that was all we could afford along with canned vegetables. At the time I was travelling 64 miles round trip just to go to work. My landlady lost her husband and she had to be away on business and we babysat her pets each time we did she took $100.00 off the rent any time we brought what little groceries we could everything was on sale, my friend had a BBQ and send us home with enough food for a week. I used to belong to a weight loss organization and they had a raffle and I won and was able to put gas in my car.

No God did not take the trial away and the reason the check bounced was the car dealership said they would wait until the next day to cash my check( the next day would have been pay day for me) and they cashed the check THAT DAY causing all our financial upsets. There were times we only could put 50 cents in the offering because that is all we had left.

I was very angry at God and dropped out of the choir and refused to sing for two years. I did everything right I waited until I was married, I go to church, I read my Bible and I pray why does not God pick on some other people for a change? I was so mad at God for not intervening if I had my way I would have stopped going to church (but Shawn would not let me)

But I learned maturity and this trial helped me to grow Psalm 119: 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I may learn your statues. And to be blunt I learned to grow up. This is life and life is hard sometimes even when you try to do the right things.

It has been over 4 years since all hell broke loose after I had that financial upset in 2004 My father had a stroke, I lost my job after 10 years we were asked to leave our apartment even though we were excellent tenants, and nine days after I was given notice about my job my husband had a very painful procedure/surgery done all within 4 months time. I basically had a melt down and went for counseling and to top it all off I found out that I would never be able to have children.

I felt the trials I was going through was a waste of my valuable and precious time but there was fruit, I learned gratefulness, I learned not to take food shopping for granted. I had a rude awakening just because my parents were upper middle class did not mean I was going to be. Eventually the dust settled and things did get better in a couple of months and when our anniversary came we were given gift certificates to go out to eat and we were so appreciative because for those three months there was not a penny to spare for anything. I had to pay for the bounced check for our cracked windsheild repair and by Gods grace none of the other checks bounced or were overdrawn.

My point in telling you all this is there is hope in the midst of despair and if God brings you to it He will bring you through it.
Anyone who tells you that being a Christian is easy and fun all the times is misleading you. I remember these times because it is the yesterdays that bring us to today. Are you going through a tough hard trial that will not seem to back off? Rejoice in the Lord and know that The Lord does things for a reason, s purpose and a plan. Today is March 30, 2008 and when we moved to AZafter 13 years of marriage God through my sister Kathy helped us to get this beautiful brand new apartment. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but humility comes before honor Proverbs 15:33 God never said it would be easy but He did say it would be worth it Matthew 6:33.

I want to dedicate this post to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I may have walked away from you for that season in my life but you my Lord never left my side. Thank you for restoring what the years the Locust have eaten Joel 2:25 but even more important thank you for forgiving me for being so angry and hostile toward you. I love you Jesus e4g

Hallejuah He Has Risen

Sometimes in life Holidays get commeralized and overrated with material things. Easter in no exception. Jesus was cruficied died and was buried and Rose from the dead that is the true meaning of the resurrection not the eggs, and the candy and the Easter Bunny did not die for my sins so I would be saved.

With Christ dying we would not have eternal life. Jesus is all there is Jesus is all we need and Jesus is enough. He is our strength and portion His grace is more than enough.

When celebrating the Risen Saviour take time to thank Jesus for His salvation nothing that is ever sacred or precious comes easy or cheap.
I praise God that I know the true meaning of Resurrection Sunday that it is not about the food, the sweeties, or even coloring eggs it is about Jesus who is the way the truth and the life. Be encouraged and God bless you e4g

God is awesome and worthy to be Praised

I am reading a very good book on going through trials and in the book the way to do this is count it all joy in the trials, be steadfast in the trials and lastly to cooperate in the trials. I know of a child hood friend who went through a very unexpected life altering change and she was only 18. She said to me I can view this as the best thing that ever happened to her or the worst thing that has happened to her and she was not afraid. Her daugther was born before she graduated high school and now her daughter is in her early 20s and she is now getting married is a teacher of nursery school children and has a wonderful life.

Lifes hardships produce the best blessings and I know in my own life being diagnosed with bi polar at 16 not knowing anyone who had this, I felt ashamed and a lone. But God has used this to strengthen me and help me to grow and as a result others are being blessed and encouraged. God never said life would be easy.

Jesus is all there is, Jesus is all we need, Jesus is enough and life does not always get better when God answers prayer. Trials are a huge part of life but without them we would not grow be encouraged to know that If God brings you to it He will bring you through it.