Janice's Blogs
"Life past 1980"
I am a reality TV junkie. There I said it! (I know, I know, I need victory) Recently I watched this silly little show called "Gone Country."One of the contestants (D Snider) wrote this song about not planning his life past 30. And thinking along those lines, God started a thought process on, have I left something for the future, Have I built up treasures for my childrens, childrens,children? Being a teenager in the early to mid 70's we were greatly impressed in the evangelical circles, that the Lord was returning to rapture us away by 1980. So because of that message we lived for the NOW. Because of this idea I missed out on some great opportunities for ministry. We didn't consider much of anything beyond 1980. But Thank God my ancestors didn't feel that way! They were warriors. They fought for freedom to worship God and for an intimacy with him. They were French Hugenots that believed with John Calvin that, we could have an intimate, personal relationship with our savior. What a treasure! Because of them, because they felt it necesary to leave me a heritage, a treasure more valuable than gold. I can walk in the power and his ressurection. What legacy are we leaving? The message must go on..............................................................................................
A few years ago God spoke a word to me that stated " You have walked through low places and sometimes through places of great danger. I have been there with you. And you have stated that you want a mountain top experience, but I say to you that I will take you much higher than the mountain! If you will go with me I will cause you to see places and view things that go beyond a mountain!" What a thought, that my mountain top experience could instead be my valley! So many times we put a ceiling or a rooftop on God! We can't contain God, we can't put him in this little box we call our church! He is so much more than that. Let him take you to places that no man has ever gone.
Keep in mind though that we have to constantly be holding on to him! What if while Superman and Lois Lane,while soaring high in the sky she suddenly decides I don't want to hold on to him I can do this on my own… You got it she falls to her doom. So hold on tight, buckle your seat belts, get your binoculars, and don't forget your camera because you won't want to miss whats ahead!
" THE RED ROAD"
Discoveries this year
I have made some very important discoveries this year about me. I'm sure you have too. Its been a very important year for me.
1. Peppermint Tea (MMMMMMMMMMM-yummy hot or over ice)
2. Marshmallow Treat Popcorn (beyond Yummmm!)
3. Sesame seed sticks ( nice company for salad)
4. Not eating dessert will NOT kill you!
5.Sometimes you have to disable to enable (see blog)
6.Just as you need a light to see in the dark physically you also need a light to see in the dark spiritually. I need a light to see where I am going (Thanks Jesus you are the light of my world)
7. Family and tradition are very important for healthy mental health regardless of how dysfunctional they or I can be!
8. If I stretch I won't always break!
9. I haven't been as nice this year as I should have! (ouch!!!)
10. Where I come from is very important for me to know where I need to go.
Legacy is vital!
11.Bodily maintenance is not selfish!
12.Don't do it if it stresses you! (thanks Virgie) while of course that isn't realistic. The advice did help me to put more importance on the important things. In other words I tried not sweating the small stuff
"A Savior is born"
Isaiah 9:5 & 6
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. I dreamt the other night that I was in a house filled with smoke. The smoke was so dense I couldn't see anything. I struggled to find an exit. While frantically searching for a door, a window, any means of salvation, groping in the dark fear struck! I then realized that if I allowed air inside I would catch the whole place on fire! So destruction was certainly inevitable! So basically 2 decisions. 1) dieing of suffocation in the smoke or 2) allowing the fire to have its natural control. Boy talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. In that place we so often lack vision. Proverbs 3:5 & 6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. We are so good at leaning to our own understanding that we bring destruction upon us. If you are facing certain destruction, stuck between a rock and a hard place and can't see the way out. Don't stay there! We have been given illumination. He is called Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father... HE IS CALLED JESUS!Monday, September 24, 2007
"Time to give up!"
OK so I know we serve an ALL MIGHTY GOD! But some things I just have a hard time laying down in his arms. Anybody out there screaming the same thing? I have literally made my self sick and crippled worrying with cares. Things that have literally broken my heart, cause they have been so close, to my heart. Decisions to be made that I don't have the control to make. If it was my decision I would have no trouble making it. But its not so, I have to learn that I have to pray and let it go. And even if the decision made is wrong, that there will be knowledge that comes through the damage. (anybody out there get weary from doing damage control) I guess I need to lay the damage control in his arms also!
Man, go figure I don't get to worry over anything! Thats what I get for serving an ALMIGHTY GOD!
And that ALMIGHTY GOD says I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Phillipians 4:13. Ya think I could maybe run a little faster if I wasn't carrying so much?
Thursday, April 12, 2007
"PARTY TIME"
So when I mention the party a few different ideas come to my mind, such as what kind of party do I carry with me? ie...The life of the party...Pity Party. "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to...or how about this PARTY POOPER!!! But in all actuality unless we are promoting the life of the party in us (Jesus Christ) we aren't really celebrating a party at all. We are only celebrating ourselves. Just a thought if like the Newsboy's song says "Where ever we go that's where the partys goes" we need to be careful what party hat we are wearing! Anybody in the mood for a party.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
"Time to enable"
Time to enable, I just had a thought about enable or disable.(read my blog before this one, it will clear up a few things for ya
) God has called us according to his purpose. He has given us everything we need to accomplish that purpose. In other words he has enabled us to be successful. Instead of working with what he has given us we reach for something else. Something different that isn't ours. So initially what we are doing is disabling his work in our life. So what is going on is, he enables us and then we in turn try to disable his purpose. No wonder we feel as if we are going in circles. WE ARE! And we are ending right back where we started. Anybody out there tired of going in circles? I AM! Heres a clue stop being your own God.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
"Time to Think"
Seems like lately the only time I have to think is while I am sleeping. So its just like God to get the message to me when I'm still enough to listen. So he is catching me while I am sleeping in the am right before I am waking for the day. He woke me this am with a catchy little phrase " Are you an enabler (: one that enables another to achieve an end ; especially : one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by helping that individual avoid the consequences of such behavior or a disabler ( to make incapable or ineffective ; especially : to deprive of physical, moral, or intellectual strength ) So of course I have been pondering all day on this tidbit. Thoughts like ok, sometimes you have to be a disabler to be an enabler. And sometimes an enabler is a disabler. Anybody out there have any thoughts on the issue?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
" Time to wake up"
Its time for me to wake up! Have you ever did some sole searching of the soul. The kind that only comes by getting alone and where better to be alone than taking a walk. I was sole searching down Daytona Beach the other day. In the dead of Florida winter. Believe me I think that is the only place it gets cold in Florida is the beach in the winter. But it occured to me as I was freezing that lately instead of finding ways to accomplish tasks, I have been looking for excuses of why I can't get them done. I am thinking that I probably am not alone at being guilty of this sin. Really you can call it or label it what you want but honestly it all comes down to being SIN. So I say self WAKE UP!!!!!!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
"A place where there is no space or time"(hmmm?)
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any time for the important things. Oh there is time to do laundry and time to cook supper, but time to spend laughing with a friend? I have a very good friend who doesn't live very far from me and we can't find time to spend together. So I have to ask myself whats up with this? What message am I leaving behind to those who are following in my foot steps? Wonder if God feels the same way?
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
"For such a time as this"
Thats what Mordecai was speaking to Esther about. I don't know if you are familiar with the book of Esther but anyway read it. It will put us on the same page. Back to Esther. While she was Queen and had been for 4 years there was a decree that Haman had got the king to pass, it was a decree that would kill all the Jews in Shusan. Mordecai told Esther that she was in the palace for such a time as this to save her people. She was alarmed because the King had not summoned her in so long that if she went before him to plead for her people without him asking for her she could lose her life. I really like what Mordecai (her cousin/Guardian) said to her...His response in my vocab, was simply, rest assured if you don't go God will send another deliverer because his people will not be utterly destroyed but if you do not obey you may loose your family. Ouch! How many times have we in ministry wondered why am I here at this time? Why does God have me here? I want to put the question out there to you- Is it maybe to save your family? I know that many years ago I prayed for God to save my family, the ones that lived so far away or were really far away from God. I asked him that as I reach other people's family members if he could send someone to reach mine, and he has moreover honored my prayer. If you want to save your family go past your fears step out there " Perfect Love casts out all fear" Walk in his perfect love . Your family is counting on it!!!!!