If you are going on a road trip, you need a good playlist.  Want to know who you need to set up your playlist?  A Spivey kid.  My three always have the BEST music and the BEST podcasts and the BEST whatever-you-think-you-need-to-hear for a pleasant time on the road!

When Jacob graduated from ministry school, we all went up to see his graduation.  Fun! We left our pup Bea with my parents for the weekend, so we rode back from Alabama separately - Michael and Tyler returned to Florida right away, while Jacob and I took the detour through Georgia to pick up Bea.  All those hours on the road might not sound like a great time, but guess what I was thinking: all those hours and I would have Jacob all to myself!  We traded some favorites -

Jacob goes first: "Mom, have you heard Yebba?" I haven't - how did I miss her?  Jacob plugs in first and I start singing along with Yebba and PJ Morton's cover of "How Deep Is Your Love" and oh my stars, it's gorgeous!  Jacob is surprised that I know the words, so I plug in next and play the original BeeGees from '77 (YES, that's 1977; and NO, I don't want to talk about how old I was then, LOL!).  Jacob sang along with the BeeGees, and we talked about how we loved both versions, what was best and what was favorite.  We both love 70s/80s, so the discussion brought on a few James Taylors, a few Dan Fogelbergs.....

My turn to introduce something: "Jacob, you know Jekalyn Carr's "Bigger", of course - but have you heard "Greater Is Coming" and "I'm on the Rise"?  Listen at this - and can you believe how young she is?" We listened to those, and we love gospel, so that brought on a few Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers (yeah, we went way back and it was awesome!), some Donnie, some Smokie, some Fred, and of course some Kirk.... Can't leave out the girls, so there was a little CeCe, a little Tasha, a little Babbie, too.

Let's listen to a podcast, want to? "Mom, do you listen to Graham Cooke?" Son, I didn't even know there was a Graham Cooke - introduce me, oh my goodness!  We listened to "The Language of Heaven" and I've listened to it over and over since then, brilliant and anointed.  Jacob knows Jentezen Franklin, of course (Pastor Franklin performed Michael's and my wedding, he performed the twins' baby dedications, we grew up at Free Chapel), but "buddy, have you heard "Love Like You've Never Been Hurt" yet?" He hadn't yet, so we listen to that and it was awesome (I had the book in my "summer stack" and hearing that podcast moved it to the top of my to-read list! Amazing!).

"What about Dante Bowe?"  Jake, this is another new one to me - plug him in!  We listened to "Potter and Friend", and I have to admit: we listened to it about 8 times in a row and bawled like babies every single time!  Hey, bud, get on my iTunes and download that for me, okay?  I need this in my life! When he picked up my phone and started downloading Dante for me, he found Anthony Brown on there - yep, "Worth" was familiar to both of us and we loved hearing it again together.

Of course, the conversations were the best part, the real treasure of the day, and those (sadly) can't be put on a playlist.  That part is in my heart <3 Jacob had just gotten his ministry license and we were heading toward his first ministry position, so there was lots to talk about.  I shared memories of when his dad and I first started in ministry.  Jacob shared memories and lessons from ministry school - he was super blessed with some amazing leaders and friends while at BMMC and I think Kingwood Church will always be our second church home. We shared what God is doing in our hearts right now, and what learning today.  I shared the vision that God has laid on my heart currently, and Jacob shared the vision that God has laid on his heart currently.  We shared some victories, and we shared some losses because there's lessons in both.  Jacob shared a tremendous amount of wisdom, and I was reminded of the myriad number of ways that the Lord uses my children to bless and strengthen me.

Do you get the Word from lots of sources?  It's smart to diversify 🙂 Podcasts, music, talk talk talk, read read read.... And wow - to learn that one of my most valuable sources is my own son? That was and continues to be one of my greatest treasures.  I'm praying that you have lots of sources and lots of opportunity to grow in the Lord as well - and if you think your list needs a little mixing up, borrow some of my favorites (all those blue words are links if you didn't figure that out already)!

Jennifer 🙂

p.s. as soon as my Jake has a podcast or a youtube channel or a book, I'll let you know - this kid has lots to share!  Until then, I'll sure love being "on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of " this son "of God coming into his own" (Romans 8:19 Phillips).

I'm not really a "verse of the day" type of person.  Don't misunderstand - I'm not against the "verse of the day", they're great. I'm definitely a "read the Bible every day" type of person, and I'm not judging anyone who loves a "verse of the day".  You can hear from God on a verse of the day, honestly.  It's just not my personality - I like a plan, I like a purpose, I like specifics.  Anyway, I'm also a YouVersion type of person, and that's new for me - I don't know why I resisted it for so long! I love having the Bible on my phone and in my pocket all the time (I'm not giving up my leather-bound NKJV and my Strong's Concordance, of course - but the YouVersion is pretty great!). I'm rambling, but y'all are used to that by now..... Let me get back to it -

I'm not really a "verse of the day" type person, but the YouVersion has a "verse of the day" that pops up on my phone every morning.  Usually by the time it pops up, I'm done with my daily reading but I still like to see it. (I'm an early bird - admittedly, my early mornings are a little ridiculous and obnoxious, but there they are).  I'm not expecting much though, from the "verse of the day". I've heard lots of stories about how people just opened their Bible to just the right place (I believe those stories, the Lord can work that way) or how the "verse of the day" spoke to their exact situation.  Even though it all seems amazing and coincidental, isn't the Word of God amazing all by itself?  It's not a coincidence when we read the Bible and receive knowledge, is it? (That's why I'm not a "verse of the day" person.  Maybe I'm looking at the "verse of the day" from a wrong perspective, like it's not purposeful - when it totally could be). Again with the rambling! Take three:

For the last two days, the "verse of the day" that popped up on my phone have been totally and easily applicable to my life and specific situation.  Here they are:

So yesterday's verse was "God will fight for you" (Exodus 14:14) and today's verse was "Count on it: everyone who had it in for you will end up out in the cold—real losers. Those who worked against you will end up empty-handed.... That’s right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you' " (Isaiah 41:13 MSG). Okay, so the second picture is not the "verse of the day", but stay with me. It's a picture of a hymnal I have in my family room, and I keep it open to one of my favorite hymns, "In The Garden" - but look at the facing page: "The Savior Can Solve Every Problem". Coincidence? I think not! (Just kidding!)

Nah, I really think it is coincidence, but the truth is that I really am facing a problem right now. The problem is bigger than I am, and there is an adversary.  Honest, I don't know how I would face it or overcome it without the Lord on my side.  The "verse of the day" came in with a little needed reminder.  When I was doing housework (moving items around so I could dust), the hymnal gave a little reminder as well.  I'm going to credit Jesus with these little love notes <3

While I am going to credit Jesus for the reminders, I'm not going to start depending solely on the "verse of the day" to pop up on my phone and give me a word from the Lord.  I'm going to continue in faithfulness, using the Bible every day as a "lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105 NKJV).  I'm going to study every day, I'm going to pray every day, I'm going to read books and listen to podcasts and read the Bible every day.  That's how the Lord is going to speak to me - and I won't have to wait around for the coincidence of circumstance and "verse of the day" to collide.  We need more than a "verse of the day" to learn God's character.

I'm going to keep these two "verse of the day"s and be strengthened by them.  I haven't heard "The Savior Can Solve Every Problem", but I'm going to dust off that music degree and put it good use by learning this song. I'm also going to keep Philippians 4:6-7 as a verse of every day: "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."  I'm going to keep reminding myself that every problem comes with a provision and promise attached (this is a big problem - I'm looking for BIG provision and that could be exciting!).

Depending on the Lord rather than depending on the "verse of the day" is a treasure.  I'm praying that you will be purposeful in your study and application of God's Word.  Let the "verse of the day" get you there - let the goodness of the Lord keep you there.  The Bible is a treasure with lots of verses and knowledge for every day - and my goodness, I need all of them every day! Maybe you do too? <3

Jennifer 🙂

I never actually hear anyone saying these words: "well, that's 'cause you're the pastor's wife" - yet at the same time, I always hear everyone saying these words: "well, that's 'cause you're the pastor's wife".  I'll explain 🙂

Certain expectations are made of me because I'm the pastor's wife - and that's an observation, not a complaint! The design was not to be the pastor's wife - the design was to be Michael's wife, but the two came together and it's been a pretty neat package deal!  My life isn't without the usual (and sometimes unusual) set of struggles, but it's pretty happy overall!  I'm rambling - sorry!  Getting back to it -

Sometimes when I speak (whether from the pulpit or in conversation), I sense people thinking: "well, she has to say that - she's the pastor's wife" or "well, she has to read her Bible every day - she's the pastor's wife" or "well, she can't cuss because she's the pastor's wife" or "well, she is supposed to" or "she could never because" fill-in-the-blank-with-your-own-expectation-here.  That comes along with the territory.  Everyone has certain expectations made of them - the doctor, the lawyer, the teacher, the garbage collector, it doesn't matter what position one holds.  However, expectations can dangerous.

The truth is, I don't "cuss" - but it's not because I'm the pastor's wife.  I don't cuss because I'm a disciple of Christ, and the Bible says that "dirty stories, foul talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, remind each other of God’s goodness, and be thankful" (Ephesians 5:4 TLB). The truth is I do have to read my Bible everyday, but it's not because I'm the pastor's wife. I have to read my Bible every day because I actually have to - it's my lifeline, it's where I find instruction and my identity and my healing.  Jesus was right when He said, “the Scriptures tell us that bread won’t feed men’s souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need" (Matthew 4:4).  What came to your mind when I said fill-in-the-blank?  Yeah, I probably don't do that either - but want to know something else?  Maybe you shouldn't do these things either. (sorry - did I write that out loud?)

You see, it isn't people's expectations of me that keep me faithful to God.  It's God's expectations of me that keep me faithful to God.  The Bible didn't offer different sets of rules for different types of people - there isn't a rulebook for the pastor's wife and a separate rulebook for the lawyer and a separate rulebook for the garbage collector and a separate rulebook for the stay-at-home-mom or any other fill-in-the-blank-that-describes-you-here.  The rules are the same for all of us. The Bible says, "he who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (1 John 2:6 NKJV).

Just as He walked. Just is an adverb here, a descriptive word describing the action word walk. You know what just means, but let's say it out loud anyway: exactly, precisely, absolutely, completely, totally, entirely, perfectly, utterly, wholly, thoroughly, in all respects the same. Anyone (the pastor's wife, the teacher, the doctor, the cashier) who says they follow Jesus ought to do life just as He did. That doesn't make it easy, but it does make it simple - much simpler to understand and to follow than a different set of rules for every individual.

Sometimes I miss it (lots of times, to be honest), but just like everyone else, I'm trying my best.  Not because I'm the pastor's wife, but because I am His child.

St. Augustine is quoted as saying, " let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good." Let the root of love be within you, no matter what your position is. Realizing that you don't have to live up to the expectations of people - that's a relief. Realizing that it's possible to live up to the expectations that God has of you - that's a treasure. All He wants is for you to be His and accept His love.  Praying you will live in this freedom today!

Jennifer 🙂

 

When the babies were little, we liked to play board games.  I remember when we first brought home a game called "Guess Who".  It was a sort of "20 questions" situation - each player had a person card that their opponent must identify, narrowing the field by only asking yes and no questions.

We played along with the twins for a little bit as they were learning - it was tough at first to understand that their 2 people were not the same.  It was also tough to understand that one was to ask questions that might apply to the opponent's person, not your own. So we ask questions: "Does your person have red hair?" If the answer is yes, you flip all the people who do NOT have red hair (flip, flip, flip, flip, flip).  "Does your person wear glasses?" If the answer is no, you flip all the people who DO wear glasses (flip, flip, flip, flip, flip). And the game continues until you have narrowed it down and can "guess who". Fun!  The first time the twins played without my help, it was fun to listen in:

Q: "Ty, does your person have a hat?" A: "No" and then flip, flip, flip, flip, flip

Q: "Jake, does your person have white hair?" A: "Yes!" and then flip, flip, flip, flip, flip

The kiss of death was having a girl - there weren't nearly as many women as men on the board.  And if your girl was wearing a hat?  Practically game over before you start!  My favorite exchange, and it still makes me smile:

Q: "Jakie, does your person have a beard?" A: "No" flip, flip, flip, flip, flip

Then Jacob added a little comment that changed the game: "That wasn't a good question, Ty - because my person is a girl!" flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip 🙂 Round one to Tyler, LOL!

One question can still change the game.  Jesus asked the disciples a single question to end all other questions: "Who do you say I am?"  Let's take a quick look at the conversation:

 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-17 NIV)

Even for us today, the question must be settled in our minds: who is Jesus?  Never mind who your friends say He is, never mind who your co-workers say He is, never mind who your family members say He is, it's a question we must answer for ourselves and be able to trust fully in the reply: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, "I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (15:3-4).  "First of all" means "of first importance", the main idea. Paul is saying "if you don't get anything else from me, get this: Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead".

One question, one answer that changes everything else.  God sent His Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for your sins, so that you could be reconciled to God.

Selah - pause, praise and think of that!

Accepting the truth of Jesus' identity (and not having to "guess who") is a treasure - praying that you have the opportunity to apply this truth to your heart and let Jesus give you peace <3

Jennifer 🙂

 

 

When Jesus was preparing the disciples for his departure (He didn't say "crucifixion", but with the benefit of hindsight, that's what we know it was), they were afraid.  Their beloved teacher was announcing to them that He would be leaving.  Jesus always offered comfort to His disciples, and His Words still bring peace to us today:

“Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust Me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on My way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on My way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking" (John 14:1-4 MSG)

Jesus was talking about a clear path, a straight road with one destination: a heavenly home with our Father God.  Something maybe as simple as the road in the picture on the left here.  However, in their fear and unease over hearing Jesus was leaving, they couldn't see a clear path - maybe a jumble like the one I see in the picture on the right.  (The picture on the right makes perfect sense to my husband - I have no sense of direction, and it just looks like a mess to me!  Stresses me out just thinking about having to follow that!)

Thomas was the first to speak out. I know he gets a bad rap sometimes, but I like him - he just needs information and clarification.  Many times, I'm the same way.  It encourages me that Jesus is so patient with Thomas. He isn't offended by our questions!  Thomas asks Jesus,

“Master, we have no idea where you’re going. How do you expect us to know the road?” (John 14:5 MSG)

In the next verses, Jesus makes it simple to understand: Jesus Himself is the Road.  (and He isn't frustrated with Thomas' question, as He will not be frustrated with yours). All we have to do is keep our eyes on Him.  Simple to understand, but it is not always an easy path to follow. Trusting and obeying, He will always lead you to success (2 Cor. 2:14).

One of my favorite verses is John 14:18.  One [of many] comforting things Jesus tells His disciples was this:

"I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you’re about to come alive"

Jesus always COMES, He never LEAVES. That in itself is such a comfort.  Do you feel alone?  Don't depend on feelings - confess the Word of God over your life.

"The Lord came" (Genesis 11:5, Exodus 19:20, Numbers 11:25, Numbers 12:5)

"the Spirit of the Lord came" (Judges 14:19)

"You did awesome things for which we did not look, You came" (Isaiah 64:3)

"the hand of the Lord came" (Ezekiel 37:11)

"I will not leave you orphans, I will come" (John 14:18)

Having a clear path and a constant Companion to guide us - that's a treasure!  Praying you experience this clarity and companionship with Jesus today <3

Jennifer 🙂

 

If you didn't read last week's blog post, better catch up HERE 🙂 Come right back after you read it! Thank you, friend!

I hope I didn't present Job's friends as the picture of godly friendships - they made some mistakes, but Job did keep them around.  That's a lesson in itself, isn't it?  We don't get "done" with people, even though seasons may change.

Job’s friends get a bad rap, but I honestly think that they meant well, and there are even words they say that are true –

"God is famous for great and unexpected acts; there’s no end to His surprises" 5:9

"what a blessing when God steps in and corrects you" 5:17

"Does God mess up? Does God Almighty ever get things backward?" 8:2

"God will set everything right again, reestablish your fortunes" 8:6

"God is far higher than you can imagine, far deeper than you can comprehend" 11:7

Isn't God full of surprises? Yes! Isn't it a blessing when God offers His correction? Surely, it is motivated by His love and care for us. Does He ever gets things wrong?  No, never! Will He set everything right again when His children are hurt?  Every single time!

I do think they mean well, but it is almost as if they are speaking without the experience of deep pain.  They want to point out God's goodness, but then immediately connect Job's troubles to Job's behavior. They cannot seem to understand why these things would happen when a God whom they know as good is on the throne.  They've got to explain it away by calling Job's test a punishment. It's as if they want to plug God into a “if you’ll do this, He’ll do that” formula, but life isn't that simple.

Sometimes friends are trying to help, and don't know how to do it - forgive them.  Sometimes friends don't know how to help, so they ignore the situation (and possibly you) altogether - forgive them. Don't shy away from relationship, using past hurts as an excuse.  Trust that the relationship will give you the opportunity to grow, and the Lord will fill in the blanks.  Even when there must be a loss of relationship (sometimes it must be), trust Jesus to give you the continuity of community that you desire.

Godly friendships are a treasure - praying you and yours stick together through thick and thin <3

Jennifer 🙂

Right now, I'm reading the book of Job, so friendship is on my mind quite a bit.  I know it's strange to say, but Job really is one of my favorites. 🙂 I was thinking this morning about how LONG the dialogue between Job and his friends continued.  Maybe I should rephrase: Job allowed his friends' diatribe against him to go on for a really long time (chapters and chapters and chapters!).  Not sure I would have sat there for that (I would have struggled, I'm sorry to admit!). However, Job didn't end the relationship with his friends.  Since he allowed them a front row seat to his troubles, they also had a front row seat to his restoration.  What a gift it must have been, to be able to see that season come full circle.

Job could have left his friends at their first criticism and no one would have blamed him. But he stayed.  Because we often don't know how to handle confrontation, we often run at the first cross word.  However, this is oftentimes a wrong response.  Here's my balancing comment: for the next little bit, please understand that I am talking about close friendships with like-minded people.

A true friend is someone who should have the earned privilege of speaking truth into your life - and you should have the earned privilege of speaking truth into theirs.  Relationship gives you the opportunity to let "iron sharpen iron" (Proverbs 27:17), a mutual benefit to godly relationship.  King David insists that correction from a friend is a kindness: “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. Let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it” (Psalm 141:5).  There are times when correction is necessary, even helpful.  David even considered correction an act of loyalty. There are times when friends disagree - and that's okay.  As the pastor's wife in our church, I watch it happen time and again: friends disagree, and rather than hanging in there together, they allow a difference of opinion to drive a wedge.  Couldn't you have a difference of opinion, discuss, continue to respect each other, and continue to move forward? Most of the time we can; but most of the time we don't.

Grace is required to give godly correction - even more grace is required to receive godly correction. By allowing a wedge form over a correction, you are also cutting yourself off from the wisdom and opportunities for growth that the Lord means for your godly friendship.  The Bible says that "the wounds of a friend are faithful" (Proverbs 27:6), meaning that truth from a friend is to be desired, even if it hurts at first.

You cannot be EFFECTIVE in relationships without being AFFECTED. Feel all the feels - but don't let a godly relationship (and the growth that can come from it) end unnecessarily. Don't shy away from relationships, using confrontation as an excuse.

Learning that you can go through it and grow through it together is a treasure, I'm praying that you have and maintain these kind of blessing friendships in your life <3

p.s. Job's friends are a whole 'nother story - let's visit about them next week and get a little balance to this conversation! See you next Monday!

Jennifer 🙂

 

 

 

Catherine Marshall is one of my favorites - if you haven't read anything by her, go to a used bookstore or your favorite amazon seller and get something now!  Something More, The Healer, A Man Called Peter.... Sorry, I lost myself for a minute - this isn't a sales pitch or a book report (but if it were, I'd talk about Catherine Marshall!).

"I hit bottom.  And there I met God at the place where He had been waiting for me all along; where I knew that I wanted Christ's presence in my life more than I wanted health.  Never mind healing, I wanted to be certain that God wasn't dead, that Jesus Christ lived, that He was real, and that I had been received by Him." ~ Catherine Marshall

I love this quote. It's made even more meaningful in context: Catherine Marshall wrote it during a period of time when she was confined to her bed with tuberculosis (nearly 3 years if you can imagine!).  Imagine getting to point where your first thought is to be received by God, to be convinced that He lives - and desiring His presence more than life and health.  Fill in this blank with anything on earth: I want the presence of the Lord more than I want ______________."

The most important thing is the presence of the Lord.  Everything else will spring from it, but we have to want that most and we have to want that first.  When I think of things that are most important, I usually think about 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. It may not exactly follow our train of thought here, but we've been together long enough to give me a little leash, haven't we?  Paul writes,

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:  that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

When Paul says "of first importance", he must mean the most important thing. If he was only going to say one thing, it would be this one thing.  As soon as he received this word, he passed it along first to the people in his sphere of influence.  If you don't hear anything else, hear this one thing: Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day, exactly as He promised He would, exactly as Scriptures promised He would. That's the most important thing.

And in this one thing, the most important thing, all other needs are met.  "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).  Everything you need to live a godly life, a successful life, is in Christ..... and Christ is made accessible to us through the Cross and Resurrection - the most important thing.  It's a big thought - maybe we'll take a break here and think on it.  Receiving the power of the Cross, and giving it first place in your life - that's a treasure! <3

And what happened for Catherine Marshall? Her healing DID come, needs WERE met, compassion WAS given from a place of dependency on the Lord and gratitude for nothing more than His presence.  All met by honestly being thankful for the fact that God is alive and is willing to receive us.  The gateway, the opening, the beginning of blessing was and is thanksgiving to the Lord!

Praying you'll be able to think on these things and let the blessings you need spring from from your true Source!

Jennifer 🙂

My favorite tool is my Strong's Concordance - and I don't want the online one, I want the physical book one. I get lost in it - you know, how we can get lost in Facebook or Wikipedia?  I went to Wikipedia to find out what other movie that guy was in again, and then I click on that little blue link because I forgot about that person, and then there's another little blue link, so I click on that and.... 3 hours later, I know everything there is to know about the 1964 television special "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", wondering why I was on in the first place and where the time went.  Or Facebook - I just went scroll my top 10 in the newsfeed and check messenger, but 2 hours later, I'm still wishing people who I haven't seen since high school a happy birthday and taking a 65-question quiz to find out which Jane Austen character I am.  This is embarrassing to admit - but has that ever happened to you? Lost!

But my Strong's, well, that's different!  It's like this huge dictionary with every single word that occurs in the Bible, and it translates everything back to the original greek or hebrew. Every word is related to another word, so I have to look that one up, and then I have to look up the next one, and 3 hours later.... well, I find that I've learned something I didn't know, something valuable.  Found! 🙂

Want to follow one of my Strong's trails with me?  Let's try it out! I start with a verse:

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" Colossians 3:12

Then I look up key words (I just decide which words are key to me in the moment, no science to it) and get their Strong's number, which corresponds to the original language of the Bible:

tenderhearted: Strong's 4698 - strengthened from inward affliction I didn't ever consider tenderheartedness as strength, especially not strength coming from an inward affliction.  This makes me think that the Lord can even use my hard times, my hurts, to make me tender toward the needs of others, makes me think that maybe the seasons of my life that I don't consider a gift really were - because they were making me strong for the next person who may need my testimony

merciful: Strong's 3628 - exercise compassion, pity Exercise indicates to me that there is action required on my part, that being merciful is not an inherent trait, it is something that must be practiced, therefore requiring discipline

kind: Strong's 5544 - usefulness, excellence in character or demeanor, gentleness, goodness Being kind is also being useful - I like that! I also see a pattern developing, these words are in a specific order on purpose.... the result of strengthening and exercise would be usefulness, wouldn't it?  Excellence in character wasn't something that happened overnight, it needs to be developed over time

humble: Strong's 5012 - understanding, sympathy, modesty, lowliness of mind not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, makes me think of Phillippians 2:3, so I'll make a note of that and start with that verse in my Strong's next; I didn't think modesty when I thought of being humble, but that makes sense - a humble person wouldn't want to draw attention to themselves (or draw attention away from the main idea!)

gentle: Strong's 4236 - meek, humble I think having a mild nature requires attention to these qualities, study of the character of Christ would lead us to gentleness because He is so gentle - and with that must come a realization that all of our good qualities originate with the Lord. This is a great time to be careful about pride - I'll think make another note to spend some time with 1 Corinthians 10:12.

patience: Strong's 3115 - fortitude, longsuffering, long in place or long in time willingness to endure, patience toward yourself as you grow AND patience toward others as they grow

All of that from those 18 words? Looking into the Word of God, finding out more than you thought was there, receiving encouragement and a challenge to grow?  The Bible itself is a treasure, and I'm praying that you take the time to get lost and found in it! <3

Jennifer 🙂

p.s. oddly enough, I was Colonel Brandon 😉

 

"If, instead of a gem or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as angels give" ~ George McDonald

Wednesdays are my favorite! 🙂 At our church, we have a program called "Rainbows" for our 3s and 4s. It's discipleship, toddler-style!  My favorite part is when they tell me their memory verses, so precious!  Every week, I get lots of hugs, lots of giggles, and lots of sweet memories from when my three littles were "Rainbows" themselves!

Some weeks ago, I walked in the Rainbows room and one little guy looked at me and said, "Nana?  No - you aren't my Nana, but you look 'zactly like her!" I thought it was precious - but it has also turned into a friendly joke about my age (when others heard this story, it was a great opportunity to tease me about looking like someone's grandmother.  It was to be expected, I guess! This post will probably renew those jokes!).  I didn't receive it in any negative way though - my little friend wasn't making a commentary on my wrinkles (there are some!) or my gray hair (got a few of those too!). I think he was comparing me to the prettiest and sweetest lady he knows: his Nana.  And guess how I measured up to his favorite person?  I was 'zactly like her!  Not all comparison is bad 🙂

1 John 2:6 tells us that "he who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (NKJV).  If you call yourself a Christian, the comparison between you and Jesus ought to be obvious.  Just as He walked - my little friend would say 'zactly as He walked! Look at how the Message translates this verse:

 "the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love. This is the only way to be sure we’re in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived" MSG

We ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived: compassionate and kind (Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:14, Matthew 18:27, Mark 1:41), loving (John 13:34, John 15:9, John 17:23), forgiving (Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 16:14-15, Matthew 18:21-22).... that list could go on and on. Jesus sets such a tremendous example for us.

Sometimes we make life and the pursuit of godliness more complicated than it actually is In Psalm 15, David reminds us that clean living (though not always easy) is always simple: 

It will take staying in prayer and staying in the Word. It will take spending time with Jesus so we can learn his character.  It will take a daily commitment, but the time spent will be a treasure <3

Thinking again about my little Rainbow friend: his Nana is a friend of mine, and you know what? She is one of the sweetest and prettiest ladies I know too!  My little friend's compliment was really a gift. Praying that we will find ways to be 'zactly like Jesus every day!

Jennifer 🙂