To Speak is to Jump

April 19, 2013 by Jacque 13 Comments

I spoke to a group of women last night. Women who were lovely and warm and welcoming. And yet, no matter their warmth, I won’t lie, I was nervous. Not because I was afraid to share, but because of my longing for God to meet those who were there in a way they otherwise wouldn’t have met Him.

I want my words to make a difference, for lives to be changed, and because only God can do the work in their hearts, I find speaking to be a vulnerable activity of surrender … like I’m standing on a bridge overlooking a deep gorge … and with that first word out of my mouth, I jump.

I jump into transparency and truth.

The truth of where I’ve been and what I’ve done … what I’ve learned and the reality of all God has done, and is doing, in my life. Not because of me, but because of His great mercy. I free fall and I am not in control of the outcome.

It’s my job to jump. It’s His job to decide where we land as a result.

I’ve heard many speakers over the years, and for me, the ones I remember are the ones who jump–the ones who give a part of themselves when they speak. Those who offer a piece of their hearts, take a risk, and for the benefit of His name, share their struggles and failures, joys and sorrows, and how God made beauty from it all.

Because I need hope. As a person in the audience I’m grasping to find a part of me in what they share. I’m longing to know I’m not alone–know there is hope for even me, wherever I am.

And so, when I speak, I seek to just jump.

To give my words as an offering, laid up on an altar for God to use as He sees fit. Prepared, and presented … put down, and poured out for Him.

And it is my prayer that as I share, His love will be magnified, and He will be glorified in me.

Last night, I spoke. And I jumped. And may God use what I offered as He may.

I surrender it, and it is no longer mine.

Who have you heard speak who inspired you?

What did they say?

I’m joining Lisa-Jo, over at her site today, to take five minutes and just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. The challenge is to write for 5 10 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing, with the prompt she gives. And today, her prompt:

Jump…

*Photo Credit: blt04, Flickr Creative Commons

Filed Under: Community, Discipleship, Faith, Five Minute Friday, Leadership, Relationships Tagged With: realness

Dangers When We Pray :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 25-27}

November 1, 2012 by Jacque Leave a Comment

Several years ago I served in our church’s MOPS leadership, and my title? Prayer coordinator. I was asked to lead our leadership team in this key area, and I was happy to do it.

And while the year went well, I had not always had such a passion and eagerness for prayer.

Just ten years earlier I questioned God.

What was prayer?

And why was it necessary at all?

After all, if God is…

omniscient–complete in knowing all my thoughts,

omnipresent–with me wherever I go,

and all-powerful—capable of doing anything He wanted…

Why should small me, need to ask anything of Him?

Why pray?

So I bought a book to investigate the answers and I started to pray anyway—to just talk to God, sometimes journaling to Him, and see what happened.

And through the process of reading and experiencing, I began to understand that prayer was mostly for me … Because God already knows my longings and desires. He already knows the choices I will make and the outcomes there will be. And the process of prayer ended up being less about unlocking God’s power and more about changing my heart.

Prayer creates heart change. It’s more for us than for Him because over time it changes us into who He wants us to be—if we let Him.

Because there are dangers when we pray.

And Jesus warns of them in Matthew 6—the danger of our tendency to make prayer more about us than about Him.

Matthew 6:5-13 (ESV)

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

When we are first beginning to practice prayer, there’s a tendency to be pre-occupied with trying to say just the right words—concerned about maintaining just the right posture so we can please Him and others who are listening. But God is not concerned about our finesse.

God adores us as a Father adores his children, and He longs for prayer to be a point of connection between us—a time to spend together, for us to know Him more. And He longs to bless us more than we can even imagine.

”If we only realized that we are indeed His children and that whenever we pray it is like a child going to its father! He knows all about us; He knows every need before we tell Him…He desires to bless us very much more than we desire to be blessed.”

~M. Lloyd-Jones

God doesn’t want us to come to him and pray out of obligation or ritual or liturgy. He already knows us, and wants us to know Him.

But so often we don’t pray because we have this notion it needs to be a formal appointment, with proper words, spoken in particular ways. And because we don’t have the time, or fear we don’t have the right technique to communicate with God, we simply don’t spend time with Him at all.

“Prayer is ultimately a talk, a conversation, a communion with my Father; and one does not address on whom one loves in this perfect, polished manner, paying attention to phrases and the words and all the rest. There is surely something essentially spontaneous about true communion and fellowship.”

~M. Lloyd-Jones

But even as I grew through that first danger, I then faced the next one head on. Jesus knew when we pray, we have a tendency to focus on ourselves instead of Him … longing to appear extra-spiritual before others.

And I am guilty as charged.

Although I was growing in maturity and valued prayer, I must admit … I liked being known as one who prayed well. I felt respected. I knew I mattered. It fed my ego.

And THAT is wrong. THAT makes prayer about me, not Him.

And it should be ALL about Him.

We should pray to connect with God, not to be heard by others. Not for them to think how eloquent or beautifully we pray.

I’ve had people compliment me when I pray … and I’ve said “Thank you”, and walked away feeling pretty good about myself.

O Lord, I’m so sorry … please forgive me.

Forgive me for my heaped-up-Gentile-words. Forgive me for caring what others think. Forgive me for not focusing my mind’s attention solely on You in the moments my lips were praying.

Guilty.

I’m guilty, are you?

We should come to the place that a compliment about our prayer turns our stomach—that our hearts would come to reject such words. To do otherwise removes the focus from Him.

Prayer is not for getting something FROM God, it’s for spending time WITH God.

In secret.

Alone.

With few words and a sincere heart.

And He already knows what we need before we even ask Him. What a comfort that is!

Prayer is the practice of surrender to a relationship, not engaging in a transaction.

As we pray, may we lay down our pretenses and worries, and lay down our anxieties of being just right. As we pray, may we focus on Him at all times, and may we be changed, is my prayer.

Jacque

How is prayer challenging for you?

What danger regarding prayer have you been guilty of?

Continuing on in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount, with Ann and this community. Join us?

{WEEK 28}

Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will you Father forgive your trespasses.

f i y f o t t y h f w a f y b i y d n f o t t n w y f f y t

Other posts in this series:

~Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount

~For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach {Week 1}

~For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love {Week 2}

~When You Long to be Satisfied and Supremely Happy {Week 3}

~For When Memorizing is Intimidating and Change is a Challenge {Week 4}

~For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5}

~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6}

~We ARE the Light of the World {Week 7}

~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8}

~For When You Think It’s Only About Following the Rules {Week 9}

~Because It’s All About the Illustrations & Their Principles {Week 10}

~For When You Encounter Prickly People {Week 11}

~What to Do When Someone is Upset With You {Week 12}

~Holiness is a Matter of the Heart {Week 13}

~Because a Life of Holiness Demands My Soul, My Life, My All {Week 14}

~3 Steps For When Your Heart Faces the Pain of Divorce {Week 15}

~The Thorns Beneath the Smile … Answers Should be Yes or No {Week 16 & 17}

~Selfishness is Sin, But Grace Gives Life {Week 18 & 19}

~The Change of Learning to Love Like He Loves {Week 20-22}

~For When You Need the Approval of Others {Week 23-24}

*Linking with Do Not Depart

Filed Under: Bible Memorization, Discipleship, Faith, Sermon on the Mount Tagged With: character, growth, prayer, pride

(In)couraged to Hope :: Unglued {Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions}

October 2, 2012 by Jacque 1 Comment

(In)Courage is a captivating online community, and their leaders have been praying for new ways to help the women within the (in)courage community connect more deeply with one another. And I can’t be more thrilled to be helping out!

My friend Tracie and I are joining the (in)courage community as (in)couragers over the next 8 weeks, and we can’t wait to (in)courage you!

We’ve chosen to study New York Times best-selling author, Lysa TerKeurst’s new book, Unglued – Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions.

Here’s a quick introduction of Lysa’s study, and a little about what you can expect:

We’d love for you join us each week! And you can participate and connect at whatever level you have time for.

Join us each week for a summary post

Join our private Facebook community, (in)couraged to hope

And/or purchase Unglued and the Unglued Participant’s Guide

We’ll be taking turns posting each week, working from both the book and participant’s guide. Also we’ll be sharing and growing together in our private Facebook community, or connecting on Twitter and Instagram (@tmstier or @jacque_watkins) with the hashtag #incouragehope.

Here’s what you can expect:

October 2 – Introduction :: Tracie

October 9 – Grace for the Unglued {chapters 1 & 2} :: Jacque

October 16 – Freedom for the Unglued {chapters 3 & 4} :: Tracie

October 23 – Four Kinds of Unglued {chapters 5 & 6} :: Jacque

October 30 – A Procedure Manual for the Unglued {chapters 7 & 8} :: Tracie

November 6 – Lingering Words for the Unglued {chapters 9 & 10} :: Jacque

November 13 – Imperfect Progress for the Unglued {chapters 11 & 12} :: Tracie

November 27 – Concluding Thoughts :: Jacque

Now hop on over to Tracie’s blog for even more details AND to enter our super fantastic giveaway!

We can’t wait to (in)courage you!!

Jacque

Do you have a hard time handling your raw emotions?

*this post contains affiliate links

Filed Under: (In)couragers, Book Recommendations, Character, Community, Devotional, Discipleship, Faith, Friendship, Inspirational, Unglued Tagged With: character, connection, growth, realness

For When It Is a Challenge to Love

June 13, 2012 by Jacque 12 Comments

I wear it hoping that it will become true of me … LOVE Jn 13:35.

That somehow the feel of it around my neck will make me mindful and aware.

That the clanking of the pearl against the metal will help me remember.

And it isn’t even 10am and I glance over to see one child hitting another and the other fighting back. Have I been such a poor model that their instinctual reaction is to just cave to anger and go with their flesh? Did it not matter? The words from Matthew 5 that they’ve hidden in their hearts over these weeks, the words we’ve been learning together?

And the crazy thing is, when I ask, they can recite them. They haven’t forgotten…

Blessed are the peacemakers…

Blessed are you when others revile you…

…everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment…

Yet though they can say the words, it’s obvious they haven’t sunk in–haven’t soaked the soil of their hearts.

And my choice is right here before me, because their actions beg for correction.

And it’s the biggest test of all when no one is watching. When it’s just me and them—these children who are part of me, who’ve inherited more than just skin and flesh.

And inside, my heart sinks, and I feel defeat because their actions remind me how I fail too. Even the chain around my neck doesn’t prevent my failure.

It is my daily battle to love.

I bend to eye level and we discuss their fight. They know they were wrong and hang their heads as I talk, and their eyes show me they’ve heard it before, that they already know.

I explain and teach how it’s not natural to return kindness when wronged, not easy to be slow to anger, not instinctual to just love.

But He has called us to love. When we deserved death, He died in our place. And when we were unlovable, He loved us first.

This. This is the daily hill I climb…

To administer justice with wisdom.

To provide instruction with kindness.

To give grace in the right moments and extend mercy too.

And most of all, in the midst of it all, to love as He loves.

John 13:35 (ESV)

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

I’ve been given these mama moments to practice loving. And oh how many chances I have every single day! Times to practice cultivating a love like His … a love that will mark me as His.

Oh how I want to grow. To seize my flesh, to halt my nature, to pause and consider and love instead. Because I want to be known as His disciple, and I want my children to be known as His disciples too.

May this chain I wear remind me to what I am called. To love.

To simply love one another.

And because of that, to be known as His.

John 15:12 (ESV)

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

In which circumstance are you most challenged to love?

How do you overcome?

**Linking with Denise in Bloom, Women Living Well, Grace at Home, Thought Provoking Thursday

Filed Under: Character, Discipleship, Family, Motherhood Tagged With: character, failing, grace, growth, John, love, Matthew, paid it all

Because It’s All About the Illustrations & Their Principles :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 10}

June 10, 2012 by Jacque 9 Comments

Jesus was clear that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, and because He accomplished all He said He would, we are no longer bound to the Old Covenant–no longer obligated to law, but freed to live by the Spirit. We have been given a New Covenant, one that moves us from death, and gives us life.

But sometimes in our human nature, we prefer to have things laid out for us in detail. We like things clear-cut and black and white, and we restrict ourselves from experiencing the life we’ve been given to live and walk in the Spirit.

I’ve been reading the book, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. His words have been informative, challenging, and inspiring all at the same time. And he teaches and firmly believes that what follows in Matthew 5:21-22 and on, is Jesus giving illustrations and expanding on principles that we should apply in every situation of our Christian lives. Not Jesus simply giving a new list of detailed rules to follow.

“The Sermon on the Mount is not meant to be a detailed code of ethics; it is not a new kind of moral law which was given by Him … He is out to delineate a certain order and quality of life … so we must hold on to the principle without turning the particular illustration into a law … the gospel of Jesus Christ is not another law, but something which gives us life. It lays down certain principles and asks us to apply them.”

~D. Martin Lloyd-Jones

And because it’s our tendency, we often regress and look at the words of Jesus as a new list of rules … more definitions of do’s and don’ts … more for us to keep track of … more for us to get right, but also more for us to feel guilty about when we get it wrong.

But that wasn’t His intention at all.

Here in the rest of Matthew 5, Jesus communicates principles that He wants us to apply to every situation…

Jesus wants us to understand the spirit of the principles and illustrations He gives.

For example, in this week’s passage, He doesn’t want us to simply avoid killing someone or being angry with someone, but in every situation He wants us to have an attitude of grace and love toward our brother. He doesn’t want us to build contempt and bitterness in our hearts at all. Ever.

He wants us to realize that it’s not ever just our actions that matter, but our thoughts and motives too.

He wants us to be motivated to actively do right, not just avoid doing wrong.

He wants His directives to open our eyes to the joy-filled life that comes by following His way, not for them to oppress or restrict us.

Jesus never meant for His directives to be an end in themselves, but always a process, a new chance to come to know Him more, and be becoming more and more like Him each and every day.

And so as we continue to learn and meditate and memorize His words, may it be so for us all, is my prayer.

P.S. My recitation of Matthew 5:1-22 (ESV)…

Continuing on in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount, with Ann and this community. Join us?

This week on to Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)…

{WEEK 11}

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

s i y a o y g a t a a t r t y b h s a y l y g t b t a a g f b r t y b a t c a o y g

Other posts in this series:

~Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount

~For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach {Week 1}

~For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love and Blessing {Week 2}

~When You Long to be Satisfied and Supremely Happy {Week 3}

~For When Memorizing is Intimidating and Change is a Challenge {Week 4}

~For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5}

~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6}

~We ARE the Light of the World {Week 7}

~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8}

~For When You Think It’s Only About Following the Rules {Week 9}

*Photo Credit: Martyn @ Negaro, Flickr Creative Commons

**Linking with Do Not Depart, The Wellspring Playdates, Soli Deo Gloria, A Holy Experience, Good Morning Girls

Filed Under: Bible Memorization, Character, Discipleship, Faith, Inspirational, Sermon on the Mount Tagged With: character, Matthew

For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 5}

May 10, 2012 by Jacque 13 Comments

I was never very popular growing up. I know it’s hard to believe after seeing that fantastic 1989 hair and silver metal belt in the picture above, but I can assure you it was totally “in” back then and not at all responsible for my lack of popularity. Not that I was the total nerd of the class, but let’s just say I wasn’t sought out as the prized friend everyone wanted either.

I can remember 5th grade and wanting so badly to play with “those” girls. You know, the ones who told everyone who could like who—the ones who held the power to decide if you were in or if you were out.

I remember by high school they pretty much all knew I went to church and that I wouldn’t party or drink or be allowed to stay out late. So even though I played 3 different sports, was in honors classes, was active in the music and theatre departments, and acquaintances with most everyone, I wasn’t popular.

I had a reputation, I loved Jesus and they all knew it. I had my two or three close church friends and that was it. I wasn’t popular with girls let alone boys, and looking back I suppose it’s possible that it was not because of my faith. Maybe it was more about my studious-type-A personality? Maybe I was too serious or too driven or just plain not fun enough? I really don’t know. But whichever the case, I didn’t do much socially with my highschool friends.

And I think no matter how much time passes, I still tend to think of myself as that girl who was never really “in” … the one they were friendly to, but who was mostly “out”.

And the crazy thing is, two years ago, as the unpopular, non-ASB, non-homecoming-queen-court, non-most-likely-to-succeed girl, I spearheaded the planning of our 20-year high school reunion. It was such a huge undertaking, and it ended up being a big success.

We had many alumni from our class attend, and it was really great to see everyone again. And even though 20 years had passed … even though we were older and had families and careers, inside my head I found myself remembering those I’m-not-so-popular feelings. And although being unpopular is not persecution, it can be difficult to endure.

Matthew 5:11-12 (ESV)

Blessed are you when others revile you, and persecute you, and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Honestly, my unpopular woes could never be classified by the words revile and persecuted. My lack-of-a-social-life-high-school-years could never compare to what some suffer for the name of Christ around the world. I mean there are places in the world TODAY, where you can be put in prison, raped, tortured, or even killed for being a follower of Christ. Clearly I’ve never experienced risk like that, and probably neither have you.

But while I’ve been free from such extreme persecution, I have had my own I’m-safe-from-persecution-in-America experiences … times when I would have been more accepted or popular had I “gone with the flow” or not singled myself out as the exception because of my faith. And I think there are times where lines must be drawn and we have to decide to hold to our faith and not cave to feel accepted.

And I think it’s so important to teach this to our children…

For them to know that it may be hard,

For them to know ahead of time that we’re all tempted to bend and sacrifice our convictions to be accepted,

And for them to know it’s normal to want to fit in, but learn how Jesus has called us to be set apart.

Jesus says to rejoice and be glad when we feel like we don’t fit in because of Him–when others tell lies about us, say mean things, or leave us out. And the thing is, we shouldn’t be surprised and we shouldn’t feel alone. This rejection is not uncommon to followers of Christ, and our identity, value, and worth is to be found in Him alone, originating from who He says we are.

Even when we don’t seem to fit in, even if we’re mistreated or excluded because of our trust in Him … He says we are blessed even then.

So when you’re in your moments of feeling slighted or excluded, unpopular or rejected, know this truth, and let it soak in deep:

In Him we always have hope, and in Him we are already blessed!

How have you felt left out because of your faith?

How did you overcome it?

If you’re memorizing with us, how’s it going?

Continuing on in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount, with Ann and this community. Join us?

This week on to Matthew 5:13-14 (ESV)…

{WEEK 6}

Matthew 5:13-14 (ESV)

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

y a t s o t e b i s h l i t h s i s b r i i n l g f a e t b t o a t u p f y a t l o t w a c s o a h c b h

Other posts in this series:

~Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount

~For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach {Week 1}

~For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love and Blessing {Week 2}

~When You Long to be Satisfied and Supremely Happy {Week 3}

~For When Memorizing is Intimidating and Change is a Challenge {Week 4}

**GWHS Class of 1989 photo taken by D.J. Ellis, La Bella Vita photography

Filed Under: Bible Memorization, Discipleship, Faith, Inspirational, Sermon on the Mount Tagged With: character, growth, Matthew

For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach :: Sermon On the Mount {Week 1}

April 9, 2012 by Jacque 25 Comments

Our school year is winding down and I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned about myself and my kids, by being their teacher! And while I’m not a teacher by trade, as a nurse I do a lot of patient education and am very used to helping others learn.

Teaching my own children has been so very satisfying, and I count it a privilege to be present with them as they learn. I watch their faces light up when they succeed, and I’m also with them as they fail. And oh how important it is to learn to fail well, with grace, and together we are learning everyday.

And among the things I’m learning as my kids’ teacher, is how important it is to teach in the context of relationship—for them to know that the foundation of our relationship is strong enough to weather correction and instruction, because they’re convinced I care.

I’m realizing they learn best when they are reassured and have confidence in our relationship–when I hug them like crazy and annoy them with kisses … after all, what teacher does that? I’m also learning to get down at eye level with them, and teach with lots of praise and encouragement.

And we have all benefitted from the intentionality.

And this week, as I memorized the first two verses of Matthew 5, I was struck by the intentionality of Jesus.

Matthew 5:1-2 (ESV)

Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

He built purposeful relationships with his disciples, and had a great desire to teach them. And yet He knew, if His disciples’ hearts were going to be receptive to His teaching, He had to retreat with them–focus on teaching them with intention.

So when He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain. His disciples noticed, and they followed Him– eager to be near Him and learn from Him.

And what really got me was the fact that Jesus sat down. He didn’t stand and talk down to them. He didn’t pace or lecture them. He directed His gaze at them–getting eye to eye with them. And that’s when He began to teach.

His body language and posture relayed to themHis humility, and the intimate way He cared.

And I’m moved by His approach.

How many times do I open my mouth to share, and not consider the other person?

How many times do I want to impart my ”profound” knowledge to someone because I can … because way deep down, I think I’m so amazing?

And while I’m doing many things right, there are so many ways for me to improve. I’m guilty of talking down to my kids, and just plain talking too much to others. Forgetting to invest, consumed with self, and forgetting that the quality of the relationship supports their level of receptivity to me.

I need to remember that to really teach, it is my humble care that allows them to even hear me at all.

Who knew, two seemingly insignificant and introductory verses could bring such conviction and direction?

So whether I’m teaching my kids, or someone else, may I follow the example of Jesus.

May I be intentional.

May I work on building relationship.

May I have humility, and kill the pride that rages in me.

And when that time is right, may I teach face to face–eye to eye, always careful to consider their needs instead of my own, and relay how much I care.

How has your learning been enhanced when someone really cares?

What is your biggest obstacle in really teaching or sharing with others?

This week on to Matthew 5:3-5 (ESV)…

{WEEK 2}

Matthew 5:3-5 (ESV)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

b a t p i s f t i t k o h b a t w m f t s b c b a t m f t s i t e

It’s never too late to join in … join together in memorizing the mount.

You can’t fail, if you don’t quit, and it would be such an honor to memorize with you!

Continuing on, in the counting of One Thousand Gifts {#1356-1370} with Ann and this community, and the Joy Dare of 2012…with April’s printable.

#1356 My mother-in-law and her stellar teaching help

#1357 Busy work days, that just fly right by

#1358 Co-op field trip, Orange County Heritage Museum

#1359 Loving parents visiting our home

#1360 My dad buying donuts, and Starbucks, and breakfast treats

#1361 Dinner date out with my parents, my son, and his friend

#1362 White easter dresses with flowers and lace

#1363 Cool evening walks in the open streets

#1364 More Easter clothes found, and the gift that allowed us to buy them

#1365 More foxgloves and sweet alyssum, lobelia, and vines

#1366 A pool finally plastered, and the kind men who put it on

#1367 A new group to join, cheering each other on so we’re not alone

#1368 Plane tickets bought to Allume and She Speaks…is it July or October yet???

#1369 A late night Twitter message from a friend, cheering me on as we Mount the Sermon on the Mount together

#1370 My sweet Savior’s sacrifice for me … His pain, and then His conquering! Wow, I am just thankful beyond any words at all…

Filed Under: Bible Memorization, Discipleship, Faith, Gratitude, Homeschooling, Inspirational, Leadership, Motherhood, One Thousand Gifts, Sermon on the Mount Tagged With: bible, connection, growth, humility, intimacy, love, Matthew, motherhood

Empty to be Filled Again

March 9, 2012 by Jacque 15 Comments

To be filled, we must first be empty. To be used, we must be hollow and open–available and ready. And as those who love God, we are His. We are the vessels on this earth who shine His glory. Because He has chosen us to hold the greatness of His power that is only from Him and not from ourselves.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NASB)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.

Yet to be filled with His power and shine His glory requires an emptying–a pouring out of ourselves, to make room for Him. And this pouring, well, it is often in the form of self-denial, surrender, and even brokenness. It is in the weakness of our own despair that our emptiness makes a hollow space, a space in us to be filled with Him. It is in the emptying that we relinquish our control and surrender to God, for Him to have His will and way.

And we see this example set for us by Jesus Himself, as He chose to willingly give up the authority that was rightly His. It was Jesus who showed us how to humble ourselves in the face of suffering. It was Him who displayed the choice of willingly emptying Himself. He poured out His own will and way. He surrendered to the Father’s plan. He showed us by example, how to bend to God’s Sovereign way, even though it would mean such suffering, anguish and pain.

Philippians 2:5-7 (NASB)

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

And we are called to have this same attitude. To willingly choose to be emptied. To volunteer to pour out our wants and desires, our plans and our ways, to make room for His way in us. It is only when we are empty and spilled out, that His glory and power may fill that hollowed space, and shine in and through us for all to see.

How have you chosen to be emptied? What have you poured out?

How has God filled you?

I’m joining Lisa-Jo, over at her site today, to take five minutes and just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. The challenge is to write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing, with the prompt she gives. And today, her prompt:

Empty…

Filed Under: Character, Discipleship, Faith, Five Minute Friday, Inspirational Tagged With: 2 Corinthians, bow low, brokenness, emptiness, growth, humility, Philippians

For When We Surrender and Sacrifice to Remember

February 22, 2012 by Jacque 6 Comments

Today is the day, Ash Wednesday–the beginning of lent. And for the next 40 days, there are over 3,000 of us fasting together. All of us fasting for something, and from something, in an act of surrender.

Fasting is a process of surrender. And it’s in the surrendering that the change comes. A surrender of what I want, what I like, and what I think I need. And it’s the deprivation that brings awareness. It turns me from my numbed business, and gnaws at me to remember. To remember and reflect how He suffered for me. And in the process I become reminded of how empty I am.

Fasting is a type of self-death. And it is not only about fasting from something, but dying to my self-absorbed perspective. It provides moments … daily moments, for me to turn from habits and indulgences, and in doing so provides moments instead, to press in to Him who is greater. To seek Him instead of my habit. To look to Him to fill the indulgence I long for.

And fasting often precedes something great.

Moses fasted and then God gave him the ten commandments.

King David fasted as He begged God for his son to live.

King Jehoshaphat fasted with the people for victory in battle.

And Jesus fasted before the beginning of His public ministry.

The one that would culminate in the most selfless act of all time: His death to self. Him willingly laying His deity down, and then resurrecting to life–conquering sin and death for all time, and shattering the power it held. All for you, and for me.

Fasting … A surrender. A death to self. For something great.

What a privilege to share in our Lord’s sufferings–to surrender, deny self, and run to Him.

As you begin this Lenten season, may your surrender of something you love and your death to self, lead you straight into His loving arms–into something great. And may you be strengthened and renewed, is my prayer.

What are you fasting from this Lenten season?

What are you believing God for?

Photo credit: Sean Entee, Flickr Creative Commons

Filed Under: Character, Discipleship, Faith, Inspirational Tagged With: bow low, grateful, growth, realness, thanks, Worship

A Refining of Priorities

January 9, 2012 by Jacque Leave a Comment

This new year has arrived in full bloom, and as it begins I’m sensing a need for some purposeful pruning–a refining of my priorities. There are so many things that are important for me to accomplish, and my to-do list is a mile long. I check one thing off and another just hops right on, in an endless and demanding cycle. And sometimes what is really important to me isn’t always represented by what I spend my time doing. So what should be the priority? How do I measure the most important thing?

To continue reading, click here, and join me over at The Homeschool Village, where I’m visiting today…