Daily Reads/Blog Following...Duh...I'm Such a Blogger Newby!

Thank you so much for the ones who first followed me...hehe. That sounds kind of weird.

Anyway, because of one "following my blog" first, (in my ignorance) I learned how to do the "blog following" feature. As I've said to some of you in comments, I'm kinda new to this blogging thing.

My friend Drea introduced me to blogging several months ago. She has given me a lot of great tips, yet I've kind of learned and explored as I go. Probably like most of you. Also, I'm becoming a little more willing to put my life out there, so to speak.

Well, this is how it happened. A few days ago, I was in my "dashboard" page, and noticed that I had "1 follower". Ok, I can't remember exactly now who it was, because I was so surprised by it and now I have like 6, but I'm certain it was one of these: Jaime, or one of the Jennifer's; Jennifer / Jennifer or Angela or even Kalle...one of these.. I am not sure...so forgive me if I am wrong. So, after I discovered that first follower, this prompted me to "investigate" a bit more.

At any rate....I got to doing some reading about blog following, and discovered I could have "daily reads" that I "followed" or actually the computer kept up with for me, and then others can add me as being followers of my blog too.

A concepts that has probably been around quite some time, but I was oblivious to. lol.

Now, I know this is probably like..."ok Jenn, you finally gettin' with the program here!" HA! But seriously, it was an illumination to me that sunk in just this week...lol.

Soooooo...

Thanks to those who have previously and currently added me as followers.

My apologies to those who have not been "listed" as me following...but I can say this, I usually comment most of the time on the blogs I read daily (but not always every day), so you will know that I am actually following. ;)

Since coming to this realization I did notice that some who comment regularly on my blog, do not necessarily have me on their rolling daily reads...and that is something that is no biggie to me. I'm grateful for whomever takes the time to read my jargon and honestly understand if I'm not on "the list". It is just fun to see who actually follows, because not every follower chooses to leave comments. : ) That's cool too!

Also, I now have a "Button"-pretty cool! A big thanks to Andrea of "The Laughs Will Go On", who took the time to explain some technical lingo to me. Can't go without mentioning a special thanks to Drea of "Touched Photography", for doing the photography of me that I used for my button. :)

On another note that the button prompted me to think of....

I'm praying about what direction the Lord is leading me in for business. I'd love to be able to bring in a little income to suppliment our family, and do what I love to do at the same time as a ministry too. The problem is, that I love so many things! There are a few options on my mind, so would you pray with me, that I will follow God's leading in the matter?

Whatever I do, I do not want it to be solely about making the money. It is my heart that "whatever I do, that I do as unto the Lord". He owns it all, and He will supply all of my needs if I am faithful to put Him first. Sometimes I could tend to get caught up in the money part as a focus, my "flesh" can lead me toward greed and pride if I go that route. This is something that the Holy Spirit wars against my flesh on daily. So, this is my heart about it:

Colossians 3:23 (New International Version)
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,


Matthew 6:33 (New International Version)33But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Blessings to all!

P.S. - I'm still learning how to add my signature...lol! ik, that's pretty bad isn't it...

Kathryn Scott, One of My Favorite Worship Leaders/Songwriters for the Kingdom of God

Doug's Surgery is Scheduled

Great news! Doug is off of the machine that was helping his heart pump, and he was up and moving around this morning! YAY!!!

He is scheduled for by-pass surgery tomorrow morning at 8AM. The surgeon is planning for at least 4 to 5 by-passes, and the surgery could take anywhere from 2-6 hours. What we are hoping for is that when the surgeon gets in there, he will find a transformed/healed heart! This is what we are believing God for!

Please pray with me, and our family appreciates every prayer.

In Christ's amazing love,
Jenn

Awesomeness of God

I'm so amazed to come across the paths of people in whom our family has prayed for this past yr, by way of me entering the blogging world.

It truly touches my heart to connect with such loving and supportive friends through blogging. To see that same folks we have been praying for, are connected with friends of friends of friends who blog together, and I have just been introduced to. I'm kind of a "newby" at this blogging, but having a ball!

Anyway, I just had to put that out there...I'm so moved by the awesomeness of God!

Update on my brother-in-law...

First off, I want to thank all of you who have expressed your concern, and who have taken the time to let me know you care and are praying for my brother-in-law and my sister. Our family appreciates every prayer.

Here is the latest. Doug is in ICU and stable. The machine that was doing the pumping for his heart has been cut back to where it is pumping for his heart 50% of the time and his heart is working on its own 50% of the time. His heart will need to be working on its own 100% before they will be able to do the open heart surgery.

We know for certain that one main artery is blocked (they were not able to do the stint), and they suspect at least four total arteries are blocked...possibly more. One of his heart valves is diseased, therefore they are having to pump him with blood...he must be losing blood, but my sister did not say. He did get to eat solid food...like scrambled eggs and orange sherbet yesterday (of which the nurse had to feed him). That sherbet tasted real good to him!

The Dr.'s hope to be able to do the surgery by Wednesday.

God is so moving! My Aunt, who is a very godly woman/strong christian called and prayed with him. He and my sister have a few addictions to overcome, but nothing is too great for God! Doug told my sister yesterday that they were going to have to change their lifestyle drastically...and PRAISE GOD for this confession!!! This is what we have been hoping for! =) Thank you dear Lord!

So, please keep praying. I believe God can, and IS willing to heal him completely. So that when the surgeon goes into his chest to check his heart, he will find a perfectly healed and healthy heart instead. This is my prayer...and that God be so glorified that no one will be able to explain it accept that it be the power of God through Jesus Christ!

My prayer is, whatever it takes Lord, may we all be turned from our sin and to your truth. Lord, rescue our family, lost loved ones, and pursue. I keep thinking of that song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, "When God Ran". When we turn from our sin, and to Jesus, He runs to us. He is always right there with us, so patiently waiting for us to love and honor Him.

We can all make bad choices in this life, but when we resist and turn back to the Lord....He receives us like the prodigal son. Thank you Lord!

Urgent Prayer Request...

Please pray for my brother-in-law in FL. His name is Doug, and he is my sister Beth's husband. He had a massive heart attack this afternoon.

The Dr. was unable to do stints. He has several blockages, and considerable heart damage. One blockage is in his main artery.

They are not walking closely with the Lord. They both need deliverance too. I think they believe in God, and that is where it stops. My sister called me and asked me to pray with her...

Please pray that God will show His power here, and that no matter what the outcome, it will draw my family closer to Jesus.

The latest update is that they plan to do open heart surgery after at least 24 hrs. Doug is stable, but apparently he also has a diseased valve...he must be losing blood because his pressure is extremely low, and they are pumping him full of fresh blood. So I imagine they will do the surgery either tomorrow afternoon or early Sun am.

Thank you all for your prayers for my Florida Fam.

Will We Exchange Truth for a Lie; Life for Death? by Jenn

Jesus is the lighthouse-photo by jennography




















This morning I read an article in Christianity Today Blog...about one of my favorite christian singer/songwriters who "came out" and admitted he was gay...and I was so moved and so infuriated at the enemy!

The following are my writings on the subject matter.

We can all read truth for ourselves in the word of God/the Bible and (a) drink it in and believe it to be truth..all of it, or (b) we can deny it through compromise, and thereby turn our backs on our loving Creator. Either way...God's word is truth, and truth will have the final word in the matter.

The words spoken by Ray Boltz at the close of this article got to me!!!. What is spoken here is totally against what the word of God teaches. He says, "This is what it really comes down to," he says. "If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I'm going to live. It's not like God made me this way and he'll send me to hell if I am who he created me to be … I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself."

Ok...Ray says he no longer hates himself...Well, we can all find reasons to hate ourselves for whatever flaws in our physical body or mental state. Yet, the word of God says to "deny self" and follow after HIM. Die to the flesh! To love God first...then we will love ourselves and CHOOSE to please and serve Him with our lives...based on GOD's kind of love...not the love we "think or feel".

What about Romans? Or the letters to the churches from Paul??? Where these behaviors are said to be detestable to God...

Romans 1:25-27 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things (which can be ourselves OR others OR even material objects) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

Romans 13:13
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness (does not say DON'T DRINK...but it does say NOT DRUNKEDNESS - the drunkedness is what leads to many other sins of the flesh), not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Galatians 5:17
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Joshua 24:14-16 (New King James Version)

14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
16 So the people answered and said: "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;

Serving of SELF is actually putting oneself, others, or material things (even our time) above God. To serve God does not always "feel" right, but if we make the choice to deny self, idols and other desires, and pursue God through Christ and through the Holy Bible, we WILL be serving the Lord in Truth according to His words.

Life is not about living how "we feel". I'm learning this for myself every day. Many times I have put other people or things before pleasing God. I'm sure I did this JUST YESTERDAY in fact...BUT, when recognized...confess it to God, repent, turn around and go in the direction of a BETTER way in Christ! Keep making the choice to do this, rather than to give in.

God does care about our hurts, and is moved to compassion by our pain, but He said that He would bear our burdens. He also said in the Bible that when we feel we are going to fall into temptation and lusts of the flesh, HE will always make a way out for us.

Our lifestyle is a choice. Homosexuality is a choice! Just as choosing to drink to being drunk is. When one knows it is a temptation/weakness in their body to get drunk... when we know something is a temptation to our body chemically, genetically or whatever we want to label it (born that way)...it ALL still boils down to a choice..."Are you going to take that drink?" OR "Are you going to resist and follow after the things of God?" Are you going to look at pornography when you know it is harmful for the mind and to your family? Are you going to choose to do it anyway because it FEELS good, so it must be good!?! Or will you resist, and turn from it. The same about doing drugs to feel good...it is a choice....or any other struggle where one has temptation in a certain area of their life...EATING THAT EXTRA PIECE OF CHOCOLATE. =) For me, it would be smoking a cigarette when stressed. Every day I would feel so much better to have a cigarette....YET I determine to CHOOSE NOT to do it, because I know it is harmful to my body and mind...hurtful to my family too.

Life boils down to choices, and this IS the word of God. He gives us the choice to make. "choose YOU this day" God doesn't tell us in his word to do everything that feels good, and that gives us warm fuzzy feelings, or fame and wealthy gain... He said, "SEEK HIM FIRST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS...THEN he will add all these things". see Matthew 6:32-34.

Doing what feels good may not always end good. Drunkedness=Hangovers, destruction of families, even death. Pornography = depraved mind, degrading of women, broken families and most often leads to abuse of all kinds. Sexual Sins = disease in the body, break up of homes, abuse of all kinds. Overeating=Obesity and health issues of all kinds. Anyway, the list goes on. Every one of us has something more than something else that could lead us down a path of destruction.

This doesn't mean it will be easy to choose truth. In the word of God, Jesus spoke that "in this world we WILL have trouble, but take heart...I have overcome the world"! I'm paraphrasing...search the word in John 16:33

Christians (myself FIRST)! We've got to stand up for truth, and quit compromising the word of God! We are all sinners, yes! But that does not mean we go on purposely sinning and living like WE want, then trying to make it OK by saying, "God made me this way". That would be like telling a man/woman in a wheelchair...you can't run a race because God made you this way. No, Joni Erickson Tada and Nick Vujicic show us if we would trust God first...we can run the race! Click here to read Joni's story of HOPE. Click here to see Nick's story of HOPE .

God must be so sad at this mind-set...of making excuses for our sin. Really...it is the sin of the world that began in the garden of eden. It is there, Jesus came for us...thank you so much Lord! Yet, we do not have an automatic one way ticket to heaven because Jesus died for us. If so, we just could live any way we wanted, and still expect to get there. Doing this, we give no regard or respect for the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf...

It sure makes me sad because I'm GUILTY too of making excuses for my sin at times. Yet, we simply cannot!

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not bashing Ray Boltz (or anyone else for that matter)...his music is wonderful and uplifting! Yet the mindset in the christian community is becoming more twisted than it already was. Instead of it being based on the word of God, it is based on man's rules and thoughts. Now, many churches are buying into the lies as well. Exchanging truth for lies.

The Holy Spirit in me is rising up for truth, and to speak up about this! To speak against the schemes of the enemy of our soul who wants to deceive us, and lead believers away from the truth of God's word.

I don't believe God hears our prayers at all...when we refuse to turn from our wicked ways. In 2 Chronicles, God did say, IF you turn from your wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven.

I know for my own self, this is so very true. When I am stubborn with pride to do things my own way, God stops me in my tracks. When I am obedient to His word, He pours out blessing upon blessings (NOT always in the form of money...but provision...he meets our every need!). All I have is God's word to base it on, because the Bible is the truth.

We either believe it all, or believe it none...we cannot believe only parts of it. If we are not believing it all, then we are lukewarm and God says he would rather spew us out.

It isn't about our works, or how nice we are...it is about if we are walking in Truth.

Revelation 3:15-17
15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

Living the Christian live cannot be GRAY or compromising. There is grace, but first there MUST be repentance...a turning around from the sin. Grace cannot be extended, when repentance hasn't occurred. Think about even when Jesus was hanging on the cross...one thief had remorse for his sin and turned to Jesus and asked that he remember him...and Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Luke 23:43 Did the other thief go with Jesus? No, because he did not repent. The other thief even took it one step further to mock Him. Really...we mock Jesus when we choose to deny the truth of His word.

Paul says this to the church:
2 Corin. 12:21
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

God is saying here...
2 Chronicles 7:14
4 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

Revelation 9:12-21
12The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.
13The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.

17The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.

20The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

God's word teaches us to love the person, and hate the sin. It does not say to accept the sin as being OK, or dismiss the sin by saying it is "just the way God made me". There is a better way...a righteous way...by way of a loving God. We can still love ourselves and resist sin.

I'm not writing this to condemn anyone, only putting God's word out there for us all to ponder and to search. And I ask (of myself first), will we stand for truth, or continue to believe lies...no matter what that lie of the enemy is...God help us all to search God's word earnestly, and discern truth from lies.

Whether or not one agrees with what is presented, if this will prompt us all to search deeper into the Bible, God's Holy word, then Praise the Lord!

James 5:19-20
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Let us pray for one another, and encourage one another with the truth.

Touched Photography 4 -This is my FAVE

Touched Photography 4, originally uploaded by jennography.

Well, my friend new blogger friend Angela W. requested to see these pics, so I added a few to my blog here below.

You can see more pics and also Dreas work on her flickr streaming. Click Here to see Drea's flickr photography. Also, she has a photography business, Touched Photography at www.touchedphotography.com

As I said, these were under the direction of Drea, and she really knows her stuff. She needs to model like professionally too because she is just beautiful inside and out!

Hope you enjoy the shots I took, and let me know what you think. =) I had a lot of fun taking these.

Touched Photography 1

Touched Photography 1, originally uploaded by jennography.

Touched Photography 3

Touched Photography 3, originally uploaded by jennography.

Touched Photography 2

Touched Photography 2, originally uploaded by jennography.

Fun shot of me taken by Drea of Touched Photography

ME taken by Drea of Touched Photography, originally uploaded by jennography.

On Sat. my friend Drea asked me to come take some photos of she and her son for a baby-wearing ad. I was so delighted at the opportunity.

Her direction and instruction was so appreciated too! It is amazing what can be learned in a short amount of time. The girl IS super talented!!! =)

I am so blessed that God has crossed our paths, and that we live so close in proximity. I've enjoyed getting to know her, and her precious family.

I had a lot of fun, and of course the photography is easy when the subjects are so photogenic like the Burger and Drea are.

Here is a pic of me that she took for fun after we finished. I love it!

Sun Protection Zone has my back!

When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time at the beaches in Florida. My father had a beach house and we would spend 2 weeks out of the summer with him....sometimes we would stay a whole month because my grandparents would be there too. Since my grandfather and father worked in the citrus harvesting business together, the beach house was very necessary for when they would travel further south to supervise the crews in that area. They would stay there for several months at a time.

I have to say that I enjoyed the beaches very much and have fond memories of those times swimming in the ocean.

The downside to that is...I have very fair skin. Therefore the sun was not my friend. Back then we did not have a lot of information on how to protect our skin, nor did we know as much about the harmful effects that the sun's rays can have on our skin...short term, and long term.

Do you have fair skin? Or do you have a child with fair skin? Do you want to protect your skin no matter what, even if you have the beautiful olive skin that tans?

Unfortunately my daughter has inherited my fair skin. It is so wild how one child can have the beautiful skin that tans so easily, and one have the kind like mine...where it turns red, then white again. Of course, we now have learned that ALL skin types need sun protection.

Have you ever experienced the kind of sunburn that keeps one from sleep? I've been there myself...AND most every summer with my daughter. It is the most horrific thing because as a parent of a child going through the pain, you feel helpless! I would drive to and from the pharmacy to purchase every anti-itch/pain relieving cream, spray, what-have-you, possible short of an emergency room visit for the shot! I've cried through the night with my daughter, because at a certain point all you can do is cry with them.

We have tried everything to prevent...even the 70 SPF's, putting t-shirts over swimsuits, everything! She loves the sun and water so much. It is hard to keep her away completely. Even with all of my efforts of trying different lotions that are waterproof...applying and reapplying... she still ends up with a horrible burn on her back during the summertime. Can anyone relate?

Through a sister blogger I found out about a neat company in sunny Cypress, CA called Sun Protection Zone. They have wonderful products for all ages! The sun protective shirt caught my eye, and my daughter's as well with the cool tropical pattern.

The fabric actually has a sun protection factor of 100% and UPF of 50+. I thought...WOW! I've got to give this a try! Why not, I've tried everything else!

You may be asking what the heck is UPF? Well...I asked myself that too! "The UPF rating indicates how effective a fabric is at blocking out solar ultraviolet radiation. UPF is the SPF equivalent for UV clothing and UPF50 is the highest rating one can get."

My daughter tried the sun protection shirt several times over the past weeks, and it is so amazing!!! She did not even turn pink on her skin where the shirt covered her, like she usually does when she swims in clothing.

Now I KNOW there is a difference between just putting a t-shirt on her. I could never figure out why she would still get a burn, even with a t-shirt on. The fabric in her new sun protection shirt is called "SunSkinz", and is tightly woven with proprietary high-density yarn. It is a 4-way stretch fabric that is so comfortable, light weight, dries quickly and stands up well to chlorine and salt water. Which is really cool for us because we live very near to the ocean.

My daughter LOVES her new "cool" sun shirt! She enjoys wearing it so much too because she looks like a little surfer girl in it.

This product has solved a HUGE problem for us because my daughter's most prone area to be burned is her shoulders and upper back. You know how when you go to the ocean, and stay in the water, the sun beats down on the shoulders and upper back because that is the area most exposed to the sun? The sun is like a magnet to those areas. We are so pleased with the results.

Not only will this be good for using while in the water, but when we go on field trips or outside events...even when it is overcast you can still get a burn. It will be great to have this kind of protection all year round.

I'm going to let my friends and family know about this great product. Especially for my new baby niece who lives in Florida...the Sunshine State!

Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear...Awaken from the Spell, and Seek After the Truth- by Jenn

As christians we should be alert, and be sure that we are measuring everything against the word of God. This is a reminder to myself and encouragement for us all...

It has been on my heart for quite some time to share this with everyone! The Holy Spirit has prompted me to just DO IT, and share from my heart on this subject. So here goes! =)

The enemy is all about tickling our ears and giving us "feel good" feelings that go beyond the true peace, joy and contentment in living the abundant christian life. The enemy uses the same old tricks as he did back in the garden of Eden when he told Eve that she could be as a god if she ate of the fruit of the tree that was forbidden! Same tricks, more modern methods. It can be masked under many titles...one of them is "New Age"...there are other more subtle titles.

This has troubled me ever since I've seen Oprah talk on the subject of "The Secret" many months ago. I used to be an Oprah viewer...not avid...like, I didn't have to see it every day! Yet I enjoyed the show if I caught it... until she got off on religious tangents. The Holy Spirit in me rose up and took notice.

She claims to be a christian of Baptist upbringing, yet denies Christ as being the only way.

Don't get me wrong...she has a lot of positive and informative materials on her show about weight loss and inspirational messages, but she is playing on emotions and drawing a huge crowd through this avenue, and leading even Christians astray from the Truth.

I believe if we deny Christ as being the only way, the truth, and the life...we are getting into dangerous territory.

The Bible says that the ONLY way to the Father is through Jesus Christ.

This is how the enemy operates through subtle and glamourous ways. He takes just enough truth to make it believable, and mixes that with lies... then it becomes all about self, and not about impacting the world by sharing the love of Jesus. It becomes about whatever we can do to feel better, look better, become wealthier.

The word of God says not to be even concerned about what we will wear...Matthew 6:28 (New King James Version) 28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; (As a matter of fact, when Adam and Eve took their eyes off God, that was when they got concerned about what they were wearing!)

Even many churches today get hung up on material things...what people wear (feeling like they must dress up to please or impress God), how many members they have warming the pews vs. another churches and they boast about it...these are all traditions of men and Jesus is not one bit concerned about what we are wearing and whether our church roster holds more than another's! There can be a church FULL of people who are totally lost or ineffective for the cause of Christ.

I'm not saying to purposely walk around without trying to have some personal hygiene and care for yourself. Yet should we risk an opportunity to share Christ by making people feel they must look or act a certain way before they are welcomed in? After all, the cleaning up is really from the inside out.

God is concerned about the position of our hearts, and if we are sharing his love with a lost world. Jesus said in the Bible that the most important commands to him were (1) loving God (Father Son and Holy Spirit) with all our hearts, souls and minds and (2) loving others as much as we love ourselves. Mark 12:29-31

New Age teaching is all about self and feeling good....if one thinks hard enough one can will it!

I'm not saying we shouldn't have goals and be hopeful. We should stay hopeful in Christ, and positive and not be a negative sour-puss (and believe me, I've been guilty of that too!), but God teaches us how to live in His word, The Bible.

I could be way off base here: I believe that God gives us dreams and "a purpose" or mission or vision...for our lives. Yet our God given dreams should be about a bigger cause than ourselves (not merely for wealthy gain or fame or even to feel all warm and fuzzy inside)...it should be first and foremost about spreading the gospel/love of Jesus Christ to the lost.

We know in the Bible that Jesus says in Matt 6:33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you".

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit-Three in One...the Bible, gives us everything we need to know about how to live (MORE than Enough). We don't need an extra written book, manual or DVD to help us along.

Check out both of these videos...shocking!

Oprah Denies Christ as the Only Way

Oprah - New Age Teachings

If we as Christians would exercise the power of the Holy Spirit we have in Jesus Christ, and live out our lives in joy according to HIS word, people would not need, "The Secret".

I'm wondering would Jesus who said to His disciples "Go and tell the world of the GOOD NEWS" want us to present this as some "secret" that people need to be "let in on"? It is no secret that Jesus took such horrific pain, so that we can live! It is something we should shout from the rooftops! We shout for our favorite teams...let's shout for Jesus!!!

If we would devote our time to studying the Bible, fervent prayer and fasting(in Jesus name!)...we would see the miracles come! Again, preaching to myself here first!!!

I've already seen the hand of God performing miracles here even in our home church in past months. A young girl who was to have spine surgery at DUKE Hosp was prayed for and completely healed by the power of God, through Jesus Christ! She was to have her spine broken and aligned with a titanium rod...God healed her, and Duke was astounded!!!

I personally have received a healing in my body when my dear sister Pastor Diane C. prayed over me...In Jesus Name...and by NO other name would I give the glory to, nor would she. She does not take the credit, and neither do I...I didn't do a mind over matter thing..."think positive or hard enough" to get healed (I tried that too and it didn't work!). (although staying positive is something that is good to do!) GOD through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit healed me through my faith in HIM alone and in HIS Holy word, the Bible! =)

Here are a few scriptures that remind us that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life:


Ephesians 4:13-15 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
3.. till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

1 John 2:22 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is NOT of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

2 John 1:7 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Beware of Antichrist Deceivers
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

John 10
Jesus the True Shepherd
1 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 14:6 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Deuteronomy 13:2-4 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Personally, the Bible has everything I need to live the abundant life. It is up to me, (and all christians) to read it and live it out. =) Something I work on every day. Once again...I know I am preaching to the choir here, but I pray that God will keep us all uplifted and sober in these last days. Even christians can be taken away if we don't keep one another encouraged and grounded in the word of God. It is our responsibility to keep one another pointed to Jesus. If one stumbles, we lift them up in Jesus name. So...if I am not in line with God's word with what I have shared, please correct me...in love. =)

You know, there are so many miraculous healings (by the power of the Holy Spirit...through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior) going on in places overseas (and especially countries where Christians as so persecuted),and that is because they commit themselves to studying the word of God day and night, devoting themselves in Bible study, and fasting in prayer, even 24 hrs a day with small groups of believers. It is amazing, people are being healed...truly healed! If we did the same (you may already be), we would see the hand of God in such a mighty way.

Please know that I share all of this from my heart and passion for Christ, and know that I am preaching to myself here too because I'll be the first to say I don't spend as much time doing these things as I should...but I will never stop trying.

We can't get what we need from talk shows or self-help books. We can only get what we need from the Bible, God's Holy word and believing, accepting, receiving the precious gift of Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Then, we grow as we study the Bible...the word is God...and the power of the Holy Spirit guides us every day. It is only by God's word can we know how to truly live. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can be truly rescued from the darkness. You all know this...and that is GREAT! =)

Let us pray for God's truth to be revealed to Oprah and all those who are lost and christians especially to be sober...we need to lift one another up in prayer...in a mighty way. Can you imagine if she were to turn away from this teaching, and back to the truth of the Bible?...what an impact she would have for the kingdom of God! Let us be sober and alert...and let us pray for her and for one another in Christian love.

Stay strong believers!

After Haircut! Luv Luv it!...Great Hair, Great Visit!

After Haircut! Luv Luv it!, originally uploaded by jennography.

Each time I visit home, I realize more and more how truly blessed I am to have true sisters in the Lord, who are "real" and don't put on airs. One in whom I can be my wild and crazy silly self with. Who loves through the good and bad times. It really takes years to develop these kinds!

Diane is a keeper! =) I totally have missed my friend !!!...not only her wonderful talent of beautifying hair...but her sweet spirit, compassion, kindness, "girl talk", God counsel, and sisterhood. She soooo loves the Lord, and she is such a dear!

I'm totally loving my hair cut a little shorter. I may go shorter still before it is all over with! Feels so much better off my neck.

Thursday was a fiasco...today is my haircut tho!

Well, yesterday the oven caught on fire yesterday. Pretty scary...the inside was flaming and would not stop. Thankfully I had already taken the biscuits out, or that would have caught fire too!

I was a bit out of my element (no pun intended-b/c the element of the oven is what caught fire) as we are staying with my mother-in -law and she was already at work.

So I called 911, then called my mother in law to find out where the breaker box was located. This house is very old, and there are 2 breaker boxes. Needless to say, the flip switches were mismarked as well...so I was flipping all the wrong switches, and even the "main" switch was not marked properly...meanwhile the fire is still picking up speed!

The fire dept came....three roaring vehicles, about 12 men...I mean, in this small town they jump at the opportunity to fight a fire! lol.

It scared us pretty bad because the oven sets in the wall, and I could not tell if the fire was going through the walls and cabinet.

So my brother-in-law shows up, and DUH he turns off every switch...and got all the power off...even the firemen didn't do THAT and even they couldn't figure out the breaker boxes...after the power was off, it was like the fire went out...POOF!

All is well and the fire stayed contained in the oven. The top element had shorted out or burned out. Still a lil' scary!

That was yesterday...today...I get to be pampered by my home hairdresser! She is so talented and very "with it". I can't wait to get my hair cut. I'll not be able to post pics until later...unless I can get them uploaded on here. I'll try, but it is a little more complicated on this computer than mine for some reason. I guess I am just more used to a MAC.

The Long and Short of it!

Hey ladies,

I just thought I'd let you know that according to Elle Magazine's Top 10 Hairstyles for Fall 08, short hair is VERY IN (some long to med styles are in as well). In case you have a hankering for a drastic change to go shorter...

The mushroom bob is very in (for very tall and thin ladies), as well as the assymetrical short shag (which is quite short, while still giving the appearance of length to the lip).

I like the assymetrical look myself. Since I am neither tall or thin, it would be a better choice for me.

I'm thinking about going shorter! =)

Have a fun week.

Jenn

Manic Monday

We are back in full home-school mode. Here is the curriculum we are using this year:

Bible

Singapore Math

Shurley English Grammar by Brenda Shurley

Writing Strands

Spelling- The Spelling Workout. (Although Spell to Write and Read looks quite interesting and I may move the children to this when we finish up Spelling E...they are only a few lessons shy of finishing... The video is demonstrating for younger children, but I've read review for grades 3 and up this is supposed to be outstanding! Click here for more information on it)

Robin Hood

Latina Christiana

Art

Music - Jordan and Josh are both taking piano, and Josh is self teaching the drums
Early Composers

For now we are using Abeka Science, History and Geography. After next week our books should come for the below, and I will switch out and begin these:

History - The Story of the World

Apologia Elemenary Science - Botany

Our school started back on Tues, Sept 2nd, but today was our "official" Monday morning of school. Actually, we are home-schooling in our hometown which is 5 hrs from our home in eastern NC.

We are visiting family this week. We originally came in for our nephew's birthday, and to escape tropical storm Hanna, (which did not turn out to be too threatening of a storm for our area).

My husband had to stay to fair it because all of the chaplains were on stand by for the weekend...something called "code yellow". He said we did lose power for a few hours, and one of our neighbor's trees blew over onto their house.

You can never be too careful with these storms though. I am originally from FL and have been through a lot of storms in my lifetime. So I know that tropical storms and hurricanes can turn/change direction, weaken or strengthen, all in a matter of hours. =) Extra precautions are always better than no precautions.

We have enjoyed being home visiting family and friends. Originally we planned to return next Sunday, but we are thinking about driving back next Monday. We drove here on a Friday and the children did quite well home-schooling in the car. =)

I can't put it off returning too long because I've got to get pack to begin packing up our home! (Also I miss my husband and he misses us!)

On Nov 1st we are relocating to a nearby larger city where husband is doing his chaplain residency at a hospital there. God has led us to some wonderful apartments across the street from the hospital. This will save us so much on gas because he will be able to walk to work every day. We are even considering selling my car. I think we can get by with one vehicle. He may actually be doing a supervisory program after his residency. If he does this, we will be there for 2 yr.

The only reason why we would keep my car, is for when he fills in and preaches at other various churches in surrounding counties, I would still be able to drive with our children to attend our regular church.

We are praying about what to do about the car.

Our ministry has always been a mini-evangelism type. I do feel it is important to be along side him wherever he is serving, even if for only one Sunday. Most of the time we are asked if we sing, and usually we sing together during the service too. Yet the flip side is I also do not like our family to be taken away from the commitment to our home church either...

So...pray with me about what I should do about that, and what we should do about the car. I desire to be obedient to God.

Have a blessed week!

Photos at Nana's House

Bumblebee 1, originally uploaded by jennography.

This weekend we are at my mother-in-law's house in western NC. We may actually stay for the week and return home next weekend.

She has the most beautiful yard!!...with zinnias and an assortment of flowers that I have no idea the name of.

Along with the colorful array of flowers and trees, many creatures come to enjoy and play.

Here is one friend, the bumblebee. Also I got some great shots of hummingbirds, butterflies, and hydrangeas.

Enjoy more photos on my photostream. =)

My Hubby, the resident!

Here is a pic of my hubby. He is a chaplain resident as of this week...looking quite important in his resident lab coat. =)

Actually Today!

Actually today is Jordan's "official" birthday. Since we had a big family party this past weekend, we are pretty much doing a "Jordan" day today.

She makes the rules for today.

The first rule was NO school for Jordan Day. It is a holiday...hehe. We did do Math and Reading...but a much less intense day.

In the late morning we went to the park with friends, and afterwards I took my little Diva girl to get a pedicure and manicure. She was soaking it ALL in like the girlie girl that she is!!! lol.

(However, she did not want the paparazzi around during the event. We can see the celebrity's feet and hands only. =)
Here is the finished product:


From Fingers...






To Toes...

Jordan is 12!

I can't believe that my little baby girl is now a very grown up 12 yr old!

We celebrated together with out of town family. A small family birthday party.

First we had dinner at a fun restaurant on the water. Then we walked to the water and enjoy strolling along together, and watching the boats (and the people with their cute pets). Afterwards we drove back home and enjoyed eating birthday cake, and watching Jordan open her gifts.

Jordan wanted her cousin to make her birthday cake with her only...no mom allowed in the kitchen. lol. So the night before, the girls made the cake together. I have to say, it was quite fancy too with the little tier and coffee grounds made into swirls around the edge. Very creative! It was Jordan's favorite, Red Velvet Cake with Butter-cream icing. =)

We had a wonderful time and I hope you will enjoy the slideshow. Blessings!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Well, I'm Back and They're Gone =(

We had a wonderful visit with our family this weekend! They headed back early because our niece has a volley ball game, and our nephew has football practice.

It went by way too fast, as always time flies when we are having fun, Jordan and Josh are so sad their cousins have left. They laughed and cut up and just had a ball together. =)

I'll blog more later (I have lots of photos to upload from our visit and from celebrating Jordan's birthday with family), right now we need to take our car for the brakes to be fixed. We found one place open on Labor Day. We've got to fix them today because David begins a chaplain residency at a hospital about 35 mins away. The brakes on his car went out on him last week...grinding horribly!

Sorry I've been out of touch, but our weekend was busy and I did not want to take away from any of our times together.

Blessings to you all! Jenn


Our Family on the waterfront