Hi All,
Two days ago I was reading in the book of 1Kings about one of my favorite Bible characters, Elijah. He was fed by ravens, ran faster than a horse and chariot, went "toe to toe" with Ahab, not to mention defeating the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. WOW! As you will soon see, even though Elijah was a prophet of the Lord, he was also very much like us.
The first time that Ahab, king of Israel, had audience with Elijah, Elijah said in 1Kings 17:1
"As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word." Then, Elijah left.
In 1 Kings 18:1 it states, After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land." So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
At the same time Ahab sent Obadiah, a devout believer in the LORD and the servant in charge of the palace, to find grass for the horses and mules to eat. While he was on the road he met Elijah. In verse 8 Elijah tells Obadiah to go tell his master that he was there. I love Obadiah's response in verse 9 and 10.
Scared for his life he says,"What have I done wrong, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? As surely as the LORD our God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you..." In verses 13 & 14 Obadiah says, "Haven't you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred of the LORD's prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. And now you tell me to go to my master and say, 'Elijah is here,' He will kill me!"
My take, and I am sure there are other points of view out there, is that out of fear for his life Obadiah was telling Elijah that he can't go to Ahab because so many people depend on him.
Also, like all things in our lives, there is no such thing as coincidence. I believe that their meeting was a divine appointment. God wanted to implant truth into Elijah to prepare him for what was to come, but it was up to Elijah to listen.
In verses 16-22 Elijah does go to Ahab and presents the idea meeting the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel for a contest between the god of Baal and the God of Israel. The outcome being that the winner must be the one true God and therefore must be followed. This was to stop the wavering between two opinions.
In verse 22 Elijah says, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left." Now wait a minute. Obadiah just told him before that he was hiding 100 prophets. Now suddenly Elijah is the last one? I am wondering if Elijah heard him.
For the rest of chapter 18 Elijah has the "mountain top" experience of seeing our God show up at Mount Carmel, and then with the power of the LORD on him, running faster than Ahab's chariot to beat him to Jezreel. Now that was a "Red Letter" day.
Chapter 19 starts out with Jezebel enraged with Elijah because he killed the prophets of Baal and threatening his life. For the next several verses Elijah runs in fear of his life and hides in a cave. While there, God shows up and asks him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Every time I read this, I picture him talking really fast, half whining and half nervous. He says, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your alters, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
For the past couple of days I have been thinking about Elijah and his response. Because he believed that he was the last one left, even though he had been told that he wasn't, this inflicted much fear on him and he spent much time and energy going places that the LORD did not want him to go. In the end, Elijah had to go back the way that he came and accomplish what the LORD commanded.
In our lives, Satan tells us lies all the time. Some go something like this: If you would only...you would be (happy, accepted, loved, validated). *Why are you wasting your time, you know it won't work out. *Why are you praying? Remember all of the things you have prayed for and they didn't turn out like you prayed they would. *It is hopeless. You might was well give up now. *You are so wretched, God can't possibly love you.
Like Elijah, I wonder how many times God tried to fill my ears with truth so that when those lies came I would be empowered not to let them fill me with doubt, fear, anxiety and hopelessness, that ultimately would take me places that God did not intend.
So now you say, "Well that's great, Jenny. What do I do about it?" The only way that you are going to hear God and His truth is by being connected to Him. This sounds so "churchy". Let me explain. As a parent the only way that your children are going to get to know you, your expectations etc. is by spending time with you. God is not that different. Now if I were you, the question that would be on my mind is , "What does spending time with the Lord look like?" Ruth Graham was a busy mom of 4 and Billy was gone most of the time. For her, her daily time with the Lord was writing a verse on a 3x5 card and reading it many times that day. Some may be able to spend an hour in prayer and scripture reading. The idea is to give God what you can, and even in our over-scheduled lives, try to listen. I can imagine that Elijah wish that he had.
Over all a good time was had by all.Hi All,
Hi All,
The kidletts have been in school for a little over a week so I thought that I would update our blog.
Don't tell Abby this, but I forgot to take a picture of her first day of preschool. I am also the teacher, so I think I was a little distracted. Pictures of Abba will come soon.
One of the highlights of our trip was the city park in Nanchang. David and I absolutely loved it. After some of this video you might get a glimpse why.
In this video you will see our guide Si Si. She was our life-line in Nanchang. She took us to spectacular resturants and as many sight seeing locations as our schedule would allow with two little ones. When David and I think of China we always say, "I miss Si Si."
Even now I look at this video and it is very difficult for me. I look at my facial expressions and all I see is stress. China was very, very difficult, especially after we received Jonathan. He took to David right away, but would have nothing to do with me. To say I was heartbroken doesn't even come close to describing my emotions. I look at this video and my heart bleeds for that woman on camera. I want to go on the other side, give her a hug and tell her, "I get how you are feeling and it will be OK."
After the Night Market David looked across the street to see these dancing puppets. When we watch our China video this is a little part that the kids always want to see. They say, "Mom, show us the dancing puppets!"
Notice what our guide says about taxes. She says that the Chinese people were very excited that all of the construction for the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube was paid for by contributions from individuals. The people were worried that their taxes would go up to pay for it.
Working on the car. Just like Daddy.
Sunflower planting time!
At Santa Fe park in Oakland.
Joshua's first tee-ball game.
We only went to a few games this year. He didn't like tee-ball very well.
By the way that he took off on his bike, maybe BMX is right up his alley.
Jonathan's first time at the St. Mary's pool.
Lately I have been in earnest prayer about a few issues in my life. In fact, I have never prayed so hard in all my life. Just today Satan pops in with doubt by asking, "Do you really think your prayers are going to have any effect? You are wasting your time. All this time in prayer and think of all of the ways you are neglecting your family. Do you really think this is healthy?" So tonight I bit and I was believing him. This past few weeks I have become really good at journalling, so I journaled my doubts and then asked God for HELP! I said, "Please God help me refocus, is all of this for not?" Then he said a line out of one of my favorite movies Facing the Giants, "Give God your absolute best and leave the results up to Him." Isn't it interesting that when God asks us to do something, that we are to never be mindful of the end result, just the obedience. I have found in my 37 years that whenever I have been discouraged about serving God it is because I have become concerned about the end result. I think some how that I am responsible for it or I cannot see how God can pull it off.
Well now my eyes are a little wider and I give my God all of the praise for giving me this nugget of wisdom. I just had to pass it on.I will close with this. My good friend Sylvia once said, "Be the kind of prayer warrior that when you wake up in the morning Satan says, 'Oh no, she's up' "
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective
Jennifer
Hey All,
The other day David sent me an email entitled "Meet Logan". It was a news video clip about a little boy named Logan. His family owns and operates a very large cattle ranch in Nebraska. Because there are no local Christian radio stations that he can listen to, he listens to Christian radio out of Houston Texas through Sky Angel. After a long hard morning, seven year old Logan called this radio station to tell them about about the events of that morning and a special message that God gave him. On that morning Logan had to put down a calf that he had become attached to. Through tears, he asked God why the calf had to get hurt and die, she was very special to him? Then God spoke to his heart and said, "Logan, so was my son." From there Logan began to encourage anyone that has lost a loved one by saying that God understands.
After he said that I could not hold back the tears.
The reporter covering this story said that Logan's phone call has made it around the world and was encouraging thousands. That got me to thinking. Many people predict that in the next few years things are going to get tough for Christians. I am not sure exactly what they mean by "tough", but I am guessing that it will become harder and harder to speak the truth. If there is one group of people that, despite the law can continue to reach people with the truth it is children. The reason is that many people do not take them seriously, but the truth is being spoken none the less. Like in the story, God used a seven year old boy to encourage His people around the world. As the heat rises let me encourage you to listen to the children.
Battle on Mighty Warrior
Jennifer
(Caption to the picture) Two days ago the five of us were at Walmart to get some staples like milk, butter etc. On this day it was kind of cold, so we were looking for a board game to play that evening. Right in the middle of looking, Amelia announces, "Mom, I have to go to the bathroom! I am going to pee my pants!" Immediately we look for the nearest bathroom. On the way, I am reminding Amelia to tell me these things before it's an emergency. Finally we get to the bathroom and Amelia goes in. She seems to be taking a little longer than usual, so I am wondering if everything went OK. After a couple minutes more she comes out with a forlorn look on her face and she is walking with her legs apart to announce to me that she didn't make it and she peed her pants. I was right in the middle of telling her that that is the reason why she needs to tell me sooner, when she flashed a big grin and said, "Just kidding."
Then yesterday while we were in the van, Abigail announced that she had to go to the bathroom. I also had to go, so I said, "Abbey Mommy has to." and then I got interrupted by one of the boys. After the interruption was cleared up, Abbey said, "Mommy, what were you telling me?" I could not remember so I asked her what I was saying. To this Abbey said, "You said that you were going to buy me new clothes." As the words left her mouth I remembered that I was going to tell her that I had to go to the bathroom too. So I immediately cleared things up and when I got home I called David to tell him about Abba's suggestion. He thought it was hilarious.
We were at Orchlan's a couple of weeks ago and they had a shirt there that fit my shoe loving girls to a tee. It said, "Cinderella is proof that shoes can change a girl's life."
That's My Girls
Jennifer
Hey All,
Have you ever felt like God was unfair, unjust and just plain unkind? Just a couple of weeks ago I was told about a family that lost their husband and father to a sudden heart attack. This is also the same family that lost their teenage son October of 06' in a car accident. For the past week or so I have been talking to God about this particular situation. I say, "I know God that you are God and I am not, but this mommy was just catching her breath from the loss of her son and then you take away her husband as well. That really stinks!" David was mad at God about something the other day, so he called me from work to tell me about it. He said, "I told God exactly what I thought and then I stormed out of the Throne Room." As I have talked to God about this mommy I too have done a little storming out of the Throne Room. I have heard people say that you shouldn't question God, maybe it is my inquisitive nature, but sometimes I just have to ask WHY. When I ask I really don't expect an answer, but it makes me feel better to ask anyway. So yesterday as I was reading Proverbs He answered me. Proverbs 24:10 If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength! Thank goodness for a Study Bible because I needed a little more clarification on that. What was God saying? In my notes it lead me to Jeremiah 12:5. To understand verse five better it important to know the question that Jeremiah asks the LORD. Jeremiah says, "You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice;Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the Faithless live at ease? Then he continues to question for the next 3 verses. God's answer actually goes on until the completion of 12, but verse five really spoke to me. The One and Only says, "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?" Just last Tuesday I went to lunch with a group of ladies and my friend Sylvia was talking about the journey that God has taken her on in the past couple of years. She said, "Girls, when you submit to God, He will take you places that you would have never dreamed." My dear Reader, God doesn't want us to just compete with man, we are to run with horses. So how does all this answer my question? All of us have had to endure pain, hardship and disappointment that has left a scar somewhere on us. While we were weeping, God also wept, but He was also developing the character in us to take us to where we needed to be. When God finally gets us there, we can look back on that scar and we will remember the pain, but we will also see the purpose. I won't lie to you, the journey is a hard one. It will probably be one of the most difficult things you have ever done in your life, but if you hang on, you will be prepared to run with the horses.
Jennifer
Here is Amelia in her prize winning 80's outfit. For spirit week at Heritage they had decade day where all of the kids dressed like the 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's. Amelia won 2nd place in the whole school for her ensemble.
Here is Joshua preparing to go outside in the snow. Soon after this picture was taken I went and purchased black snow boots and a black snow suit. Just as a note David said, "Oh, don't take his picture." But since I take a majority of the pictures, and he looked so adorable in Amelia's old snow gear, I had to take it anyway.
Here is our sweet Abigail getting ready to put butter on her morning toast. Tonight, right after I got off the phone with David I went looking for Abba to see if she put her pajamas on. What I found was her in the bathroom with a pair of scissors and hair all over the floor. Tomorrow we will make an emergency visit to Jennifer my hair person.
In both of these pictures she is wearing party glasses. I know that she would want me to tell you that.Hi All,
Since I have discovered how to post video I am going CRAZY. Now I am going to show you some video of our little Jonathan. His foster parents called him Pung Pung and when we brought him home we also called him that quite a bit, but now he is our Jonathan. This was taken a few weeks after we brought him home. As you will see, his language is really blooming. He is an amazing kid.
Hi All,
I was looking through some video and came across some that I took during the summer Olympics. The kids were fascinated with the synchronized diving.
Since then we David and I have been working on our basement. We have added real walls and are having the carpet guy out tomorrow. I will have to take some up dated pictures and post them some time.
Here my kids and there version of synchronized diving. We should of had an awards ceremony.
Hi Again,
If you are reading this in response to my email you will want to read the post entitled "Summing up your life in six words"
While I had a second I wanted to post video of Abba-Dabba or as she is becoming known, The Abbanator. There are days where she will literally be walking from her room to the kitchen and leave a trail of tears and they are not hers. I love her passion, but it is also the thing that exhausts me the most. So without further adieu' our little twirler.
Hi All,
I was just about the shut er' down for the night when I thought I would visit the LPM blog. While there I read a funny insert that I thought I would duplicate. So here is the insert written by Melissa, Beth Moore's daughter.
Several months ago I came across a fascinating blog post. The author briefly discussed a trend (back-in-the-day) among writers/authors to sum up their lives, or in other words to succinctly write their memoir, using only six words. Here are a few examples he cited or I came across:
"For Sale: baby shoes, never worn”-Ernest Hemingway
“Bumpy road, kissed toad, recovery mode!”-anonymous blogger comment
“My flame flickers but never fails”-anonymous blogger comment
Now I didn’t come up with this idea, but I thought this would be so fun and insightful to do on our blog. I love learning more about our community and seeing firsthand how much creativity and diversity we have in our group.So here are a few of mine as of right this moment:
“Loving this life --Longing for next”
"Never forget--> the heart is resilient"
"Big Heart. Bigger Dreams. Biggest Mouth"
So, if you had to sum up your life in six words and six words only, how would you do it?I look forward to reading your comments. If you are unable to comment, you can write me at my lotdj715@att.net.
Laugh until you almost pass out,
Jennifer
Hi All,
Today as I drove home from work, a 5 minute drive that I turned into a 15, I was in serious praise mode to the song "Last One Standing" by Mercy Me. Here are the lyrics to the first verse and the chorus.
Don’t you count me
Out cause I’ve fallen
Out cause I’ve fallen down
I have landed Down on my knees
Down on my knees again
This is where I’ll find the strength to carry on
This is where I’ll find the strength to stand
I’m gonna be the last one standing
Fighting for something much bigger than me
I’m gonna be the last one standing
What I love about this song is the visual that is provided. When I listen to this song I envision myself on a battle field exhausted and covered with sweat. The fallen lay at my feet and cover the ground around me. With my sword in hand, but too exhausted to raise it, I realize that I am the last one left. Then I ask myself, "Would I fight for the cause of Christ like this?"
Today as I thought about that song I was reminded of the story of Eleazar, one of David's three mighty men.2 Samuel 23: 9-10 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for the battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day.
So now, you the reader may ask, "When do we fight like this? I am ready to fight, but what does it look like?" Here is your answer Ephesians 5:15-16 Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.In short, grow in your relationship with Christ so that you exhibit His character in everything you do.(James 4:8 Come near to God and He will come to near to you.) If you do this, I guarantee you you will experience the battle field, but do not be discouraged. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Battle on Mighty Warrior,
Jennifer
Hi All,
How does the saying go,"Variety is the spice of life." Tonight I got on my blog and decided it needed a little changing. So I went shopping and found this farm template. Immediately when I saw it, it brought back good memories of my childhood. As I have said before, I grew up in a house that overlooked a cornfield. Behind my house there was a dirt road and farmland for miles. When I was in High School I ran a lot on that old dirt road and I knew if I ran to certain landmarks just how far I had gone.
One spring day I remember running four or five miles. Halfway through my run I noticed dark clouds rolling in. Because they looked so black I kicked it into high gear, but still had a way to go. About a mile from home, my body rebelled and I had to stop for a breather. As I stood there, I will never forget the fragrance of the air. It was the sweet smell of rain topped off by the smell of a freshly tilled farmer's field.
Many people look to robins and daffodils for the first sign of spring, but to me, it is that fragrance that I smelled so many years ago that is the "welcome mat" to warmer days.
Doesn't it seem that it is the simple things of life that we remember most?
Go Make Some Memories,
Jennifer
David and I at Tienanmen Square with the Forbidden City in the background.
Here we are at a very historic Buddhist temple. The brother of the emperor that built the Forbidden City hid here for fear of his life.
Gotcha' Day
David and I at the Forbidden City 
