30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 6-14

30 Days of Thankfulness

Day 6: A Warm Home

Today, I am thankful for a warm home to abide in.  When I was a sophomore and junior in college, I participated in weekly early morning prayer walks on campus. One bitterly cold January morning, I was overwhelmed with compassion for the homeless - for those who have no warm shelter in which to take refuge. On cold winter days, I often remember that moment and I am grateful for my home, for its warmth, for the blessing that I have never had to worry about where I will sleep and how I will stay warm and safe.

Day 7: Full Kitchen Cupboards

Today, like yesterday, I am increasingly thankful for how the Lord provides and has always provided.  I do not take for granted that I have food to eat.  Thank you, Father God, for providing for your humble children.

Day 8: Healthy Cravings & the Lord provides!

I neglected to have my regular glass if orange juice this morning, but when I got to work there was a bag of tangerines waiting for me to devour! The Lord provides!! Pregnant girl's best friend! Simple pleasures. Thankful for a pregnancy void of much morning sickness and for healthy cravings!  

Day 9: Sleep

I am thankful for a few more weeks of good sleep! I instinctively woke up at 6:00am this morning, remembered today is Saturday, and rolled over and slept until 10:00am! Probably won't be ANY mornings like that after Baby Girl arrives.

Day 10: Memories with my Cambodian family

Today, we are feeling sad that we could not attend our brother Chamrang's wedding in Cambodia, but I am feeling very thankful for the memories that we have already shared together.  I cherish the memories that we have already made together - family meals, watching the nephews play, going to the market for groceries, and family vacation at the beach - and I look forward to the many memories to be made together in the future! 

Day 11: Safety

Today, I'm thankful for a safe (albeit LONG) trip home from a meeting in Indianapolis. I got stuck behind either an accident or a breakdown and either way, I'm just thankful that the Lord was watching over me. God is so good to me! Creator, Sustainer, Protector, and Provider!

 

Day 12: Baby Girl Gifts

Today, I am thankful for all the ways that friends and family are already blessing us and Baby Girl with baby clothes and baby wipes and baby wash and baby elephant toys and so much more!

Day 13: Schooling

Today, I am thankful for the wisdom, strength, and determination that the Lord has given my husband to go back to school. Titus got a 98.8% in his first class and is in week two of his second class. REALLY proud of him!! Also, very thankful to the Lord for blessing us with Titus' FREE TUITION!

Day 14: The Lord's Promises

This morning, I woke up very heavy-hearted - burdened by the thought of Thanksgiving without Grandmom and burdened by all the devastation in the Philippines. Today, I am thankful for the Lord's promises.

*I will never leave you nor forsake you! (Deuteronomy 31:6)

*I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart... (John 14:27)

*I am with you always! (Matthew 28:29)

Thankful,
Jewel

White Robes and Heavenly Culture

February is Missions Month at Brookhaven. As long as I can remember, February has always been Missions Month! I love it! During high school especially, February was a very formative month in affirming my call to missions, and in expanding my heart for all nations and cultures. This year, our theme verse has been Revelation 7:9
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language [my favorite part!,] standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”
Yesterday morning, as our congregation was reading the verse collectively and aloud, a beautiful illustration developed in my mind. It was a picture of a small gathering – friends from Mexico, Ecuador, Cambodia, Mozambique, Uganda, etc. – dressed colorfully in their appropriate cultural attire, worship Him. It was a beautiful depiction of not only God’s creativity, but of how God is Savior and Father of all mankind!



Then, as our reading continued, we reached this:
“They were wearing white robes…”and I paused. White robes? We’ll ALL be in WHITE ROBES?? And I realized… it won’t be about who we are and where we’ve come from, but about HIM! Our culture will be Heavenly when we are united in His return! I can’t even imagine what a day of rejoicing it will be!

With a passion to see
Christ glorified in Cambodia,
Jewel

A Gold Medal Husband and a Worthy Wife

After breakfast, devotions, and getting completely ready for work this morning, I crawled back into bed with my husband for a few more minutes of togetherness before leaving for work.  Oh how I love him while he sleeps - hair a mess, face so wrinkled.  Maybe because in his unconsciousness, I can truly see him for who he is - quiet, yet strong; still, but moving; humble, yet so empowered.  I laid my head on his chest - always so warm - and thought, "blessed."

I am so blessed.  My husband is a gift of true grace.  His patience is long.  His sacrifices are many.  His arms are always reaching and his heart is always open.  His love so much bigger than all my failures and shortcomings.  Our first nine months of marriage have not been without hurt feelings and difficult circumstances, but even when my heart feels OTHERWISE, I know I know I KNOW without any doubt that my husband loves me unconditionally and is unselfishly and sacrificially trying to be the best husband and to make me happy. He makes mistakes and wrong assumptions (and I do too! (PROBABLY MORE!)) but he loves me. He really loves me. I hope he can say the same about me.

With my head on his warm, naked chest, my next thought was, "I am the bride of Christ."  Such a beautiful metaphor.

On Mount Sinai, God declared that His covenant was a marriage contract, "The time is coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 31:31)

This covenant was a marriage contract which was sealed with the sprinkling of blood. As we have partaken of His blood and His body, we enter into this new marriage covenant with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our first and foremost responsibility during this betrothal period - our waiting for His return and our eternal union with Him - is to be faithful to Him. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:2,
"For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." Faithfulness is expressed in a life worthy of the Bridegroom. We are to be presented as a chaste or pure virgin.


May I be found worthy in both unions...

Love, Love, Love,
Jewel

1st Family Camp

Last week, my sweet husband and I spent the week in a small, humble, room on the 100+ -year-old campgrounds that belongs to our district of the Wesleyan Church.  More than 100-yeasr-old!  In 100 years on our campgrounds, think of

♥The number of persons called into ministry!!
♥The number of lives committed and re-committed to Christ!!
♥The number of children who heard the message of salvation for the first time!!
♥The number of sins forgiven!!
♥The number of burdens laid on the altar!!
♥The number of relationships healed and restore!!
♥The number of persons healed!!

God has always been faithful to work in mighty big, mighty powerful, and mighty surprising ways on Fairmount Campgrounds!

Since Family Camp 2011, I have been anxiously awaiting experiencing Family Camp with my husband. Family Camp has been a part of my life for around twenty years, and is an experience that my husband has heard much about. He had no idea what to expect, but he very much enjoyed experiencing the Christian Community like he never had before.

Some of my favorite moments included:
♥Lying in bed, beside my husband, listening to an hour-long crazy, loud storm. A muddy campground isn’t necessarily the ideal, but we needed the rain and how powerful the storm was! I loved it!
♥Swimming at Kokomo Beach with my fun-loving husband and eleven crazy children that I love! When I arrived, my husband had 8-10 children lined up on the side of the pool and they were all jumping in one at-a-time in “wave” fashion. It was quite the show! We jumped, splashed, raced, dunked, and did lots of other crazy things in the pool. Riding in a 15-passenger van with my husband, two friends, and 11 children was no less than very entertaining.
♥Cuddling little bodies in the nursery. For at least the fifth year, I was hired again by the nursery directors to run the two- and three-year-olds class in the evenings. Some evenings were harder than others (getting decent volunteers was like pulling teeth!) and some were more fun than others, but every night I enjoyed cuddling Tea, Isaiah, Micah, Hannah, Garrett, and others.
♥Singing praises to Jesus under a tent in the rain. On Tuesday morning, another loud storm rolled across our campgrounds. Just as we started our worship time – 30 bodies gathered under a tent, behind the barn – the rain fell hard. It soon became too much of a “distraction” and a danger to the instruments and sound equipment, so we were ushered inside the children’s barn for the remainder of service.
♥Walking hand-in-hand or arm-in-arm with my husband around the campgrounds during the “cool” part of the day. The beauty of being on vacation was no agenda! We walked leisurely, stopping at various campsites and cabins, and moving at our own pace – slow!
♥Laughs around the campfires. Many of my friends are still getting to know my husband; those he is comfortable with have seen a side that he so often protects – the very funny side! Some of my best Family Camp memories have been late nights around the campfire. Although there were fewer fires, and fewer late nights this year, memories were made!
♥Chats with Christian brothers and sisters. No book, sermon, study, nor devotional can replace transparent, heart-felt, digging into deep subject matter conversations with sincere brothers and sisters in Christ.

On Sunday evening, the last Family Camp service of 2012, the speaker requested that all children's workers come to the tabernacle and bring our children on the stage following his direction. Because I had been in pre-K nursery, I hadn't heard the Message, but his point seem to be to implore parents and church leaders to stand up for the children, to protect their rights, and to increase their own faith that they may be an example and a rock for the children. It was a powerful moment; one that I was glad I could participate in.

The previous morning, I was able to help serve Communion at the family service. Looking back, I am so glad that I was asked to help, as it was a very powerful and formative experience.  How humbling it was as I repeated to each person

"This is His body and His blood,

which were given for you..."
realizing: He lovingly died for each one - each one of His children, for each of their souls.  Humbling, yet empowering, as I offered the Bread and the Juice; symbols of The Sacrifice, of amazing grace, of His broken body, which saved my broken spirit.

Love, Love, Love,
Jewel

A green Green Card!

Titus received his Green Card! (And yes, it is green!) We are praising the Lord!! He is now a permanent resident (at least until his status expires in 2 years!) The process/journey of applying for a fiancé visa, [Titus] transitioning to the USA, applying for a Green Card, interviews, appointments, documentation, etc. has been a CHALLENGING experience. It has, at times, tested our faith, and brought us to our knees in exhaustion; but through it all, we have seen the Lord MOVE MOUNTAINS and we can stand today and testify to His FAITHFULNESS and His GOODNESS! When Titus was still in Cambodia, every time (3 or 4 times) that we needed to exchange paperwork, there was someone (short-term teams or missionaries) going to and/or from Cambodia/USA at just the right time. This saved us 100’s of dollars, and much time and frustration. The same week that we submitted his Green Card application, I started a full-time, well-paying, job with benefits! The Lord is in the details, and we are so immensely THANKFUL for that! His blessings are new every morning. Praise Him!!

With his Green Card, Titus will be allowed to re-enter the United States. That means… we’re planning a trip to Cambodia! Titus and I have already been talking about how we would LOVE to see his family accept Christ while we are there!! Please, please, please join us in praying for the salvation of his parents, brothers, cousins, and every member of his family! While our time in Cambodia will be short and busy, we plan to commit much of our time and energy sharing God’s Love and Good News with the Hem and Romdenh families.

We do not have dates yet, but I am already raising funds for our next trip. Right now, I have lots of unique and beautiful Cambodian souvenirs (jewelry, wallets, hair accessories, & scarves) for sale, as well as some things that I have hand-made (journals, flower magnets, headbands.) If you are interested in purchasing any of these, browse my  my Facebook (facebook.com/jewelromdenh). Thanks to those who have already supported us in this way!

The Lord has been opening doors [and surprising us!] with opportunities to share our story with 3 other Cambodian-American couples who are also pursuing visas of some kind. One of the couples – Amy and Thanak – found my blog while searching the embassy and visa requirements on the internet. If that alone isn’t surprising – Amy lives less than 40 miles from us! The Lord works in mysterious ways. I never thought that the Lord would be using us in this way (other than helping Jessie & Aldean!) and never did I think that my blog would be so far-reaching! Titus and I were HUGELY blessed by having another couple help us through the visa-application process (Thank you Novs!) and it has truly been a blessing to be used in this way! Pray that God will continue to use us to be a blessing and encouragement for these three couples [and potentially others] and that the Lord will continue to guide them. [Megan and Tee pictured above.]

Additional prayer requests include: Please pray for wisdom and discernment as Titus and I continue to pursue his education at Indiana Wesleyan University. The process has been more complicated than what we anticipated, requiring receiving his transcripts directly from Cambodia, not accepting any of his credits from the WBI, and requiring an expensive English proficiency test.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and the support that you have provided for us as a couple in the last year. We have truly been blessed by having so many wonderful friends and family members! To those who we do not hear from regularly: please, let us know how you are doing!

Serving Him,
Titus & Jewel

Beautiful Reminders on a Beautiful Day

Saturday morning I intentionally arrived early for a lunch date with a dear friend. I parked my car at the quaint tea room where we would be meeting, and I walked across the street to a small park and sat myself on a swing. I basked in the glory that was God revealing Himself in His Creation - the heavens and earth, the skies, and trees, and breeze. It was a beautiful day. It was SUCH a beautiful day!  I swung. I sang. I smiled. I took these pictures (from the swing) and found myself so so so grateful for so many things!

Marion General Hospital through the clearing of the trees

I am grateful for access to healthcare - something that is not available so many places outside of the United States.  It is not only easily accessible, but it is GOOD!  Also, I have wonderful medical insurance, making healthcare it more affordable.

The Mississinewa River

I am grateful for clean water.  I don't have to travel to where there is clean water.  I do not have to boil my water. I turn on my faucet, and there is clean water (hot or cold!) 

God's omnipresence. He is always with me.  Always. Always. Always. I am grateful for the peace, security, and that comes when I recognize that He is present with me through my sorrows and my gladness.

Psalm 19:1-6 - "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat."



As Spring approaches, the grass turns to green, flowers bud, and birds sing outside my window, I am reminded of God's promise, “Behold, I make all things new.” [Revelation 21:5]

Spring is coming, it always does.

I can see and feel the evidence of Spring approaching, and I am reminded that we have hope. For although the leaves wither and fall, we can have confidence that after Autumn and Winter pass, Spring will come, and with it, new life. God is faithful; He has always been and He always will be. Spring has never failed us; the leaves always return to life -- beautiful life.

Psalm 8:3,4 -  "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them."


This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

Love love love, 
Jewel

A Covenant of Love

Around two weeks ago, God reminded me in an almost audible way that He has promised Himself to me.   He reminded me that as Titus promised himself to me on our wedding day, so my God has promised Himself to me.  The closest and most intimate relationship that man can experience is that of HUSBANDandWIFE, and the Lord wants this kind of relationship with me! 

As a newlywed, my vows and my groom's vows are fresh in my memory.

"...I Chamnol, chose you Jewel, to be my bride, my love, my life, my ministry partner, and my wife. I promise you with all my heart to take care of you, to support and protect you, and to provide for your needs spiritually and physically.  In spite of the differences between cultures, language, food and weather, I promise you, I'll never leave you alone nor abandon you. I'll be with you until death set us apart. I thank God for creating you and putting you into my life. I'll be faithful to you and I love you forever."

and

"I Jewel, choose you Chamnol, as my best friend, my love for life. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, and my most tender care. Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to you. I promise to love you, and to support you. I pledge to respect your family, your culture, and your talents. I pledge to give you strength for all of your dreams.  From this day forward, you shall not walk, minister, or sleep alone. My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. As I have given you my hand to hold, I give you my life to keep. Please wear this ring as my promise of faith, patience, and love, for the rest of my life, from here to eternity."

So also my God has promised Himself to me.  I read this passage in Hosea 2:19-20 this morning, and I am humbled - humbled by His covenant of love with this unfaithful bride, whom He will never abandon nor divorce.

And then I'll marry you for good—forever!
I'll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness.
Yes, I'll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go.
You'll know me, God, for who I really am. [The Message]

How thankful I am that God loves me and continues to call me back to Himself. He is so faithful - so so so faithful.  I am blessed to be called 'His'.

Love love love,
Jewel

Psalm 139 LOVE

O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

You perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely, O Lord...

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, You are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will give me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to You, the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to You.

For you created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

[Psalm 139:1-4, 7-16; NIV]

I am not only the daughter of this big and awesome God - the King of kings, Savior and Creator of all - I am His creation. He put me together with

strong hands and a heart full of love. I am the child of a heavenly father. He created who I am, my inmost being. He gave me emotions that can feel His love, strength, joy, and peace. He gave me LIFE! He made me in His image - wonderfully and fearfully. I am His and He is mine. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT! I am His and He knows me -- better than I know myself, and better than anyone ever will. He knows my ways, my thoughts, and my words before they are a reality. Nothing, not the darkness nor the depths, can hide who I am from Him. He goes with me -- into the Heavens or into the depths, on the wings of the dawn, and to the far side of the sea. There His hand will guide me; His hand will hold me.

His love is inescapable.

God, I am sitting still in Your love, Your goodness, and Your beauty. I am amazed at who You are, and what You have done -- what You have done in me and what You have done through me. May I see myself in You, and be who You created me to be. I am Yours; all that I am is Yours. You made me wonderful, and You gave me life. I give the deepest part of who I am to You. I am Your child -- may I be honorable, obedient, and worthy of my maker.

God, I cherish You, my Maker. I trust your hand to hold me and guide me in the darkness and the far side of the seas. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Search me, try me, and guide me to everlasting life in You. Lord, I make this my prayer, that I may be eternally and gratefully Yours, for all the days of the life that You have given me.

Eternally Yours,

Jewel

Immeasurably More!

I took this picture this morning from the parking lot at my work:

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
Psalm 8:1

I am humbled.  Humbled by His power. Humbled by His presence.

Humbled by His goodness.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

A week or two before Christmas, IWU (Indiana Wesleyan University) called me about a job interview. A what? A job interview? I already have 3 jobs! Since May, I have applied for almost every job at IWU that I have qualified for and I couldn't believe that I was finally chosen for an interview. This is a big deal... like a real, professional, GROWN-UP job.  I traded in my jeans and t-shirt for dress clothes and told the daycare that I would be an hour late, and I interviewed in front of FOUR very intimidating professionals.  A few days later, my would-be-boss called me saying that they were recommending ME to HR for hiring.  After enduring Christmas (& New Years) break without any news, I finally got a phone call on Tuesday with a job offer... a real, professional, GROWN-UP job offer.  I took it.

I knew after the first phone call that it was a blessing from God (seriously good benefits, including a salary that is twice what I make at 3 jobs right now, getting paid to work out and participate in the wellness program, and BONUS: free tuition for hubby) but I prayed about it everyday for three weeks, and God has finally given me peace.

I don't want to leave the daycare. I really don't.  I don't want to leave my babies. :( I don't want to not see them grow and learn and become little boys and girls that walk, and talk, and pee on the potty.  But... I don't want to be guilty of not embracing God's gift - His provision, His favor.

So, next Monday - January 16th, 2012 (I seriously just wrote 2010 and had to backspace!) - I start my new job as Program Support Specialist in Graduate Organizational Leadership.  I really do not have a good idea yet of what I doing (and that FREAKS ME OUT) but I know that eventually, I will.  Until then... this is what you get:

Love love love,
Jewel

5 years blogging!

Between a wedding and honeymoon, working 3 jobs, being a new wife, and moving into our new apartment, I have had LITTLE-TO-NO time to blog in the past few weeks and I am so disappointed about that.  I have been blogging regularly for just over FIVE years now and to think about all that I have written about on here.. all that has happened in these FIVE years... WOW!  To be honest: I blog for myself, but it definitely makes me feel proud and loved to know that others enjoy reading my blog (even if it's only occasionally!)

So much has happened in only the last week of my life.  God has been so real and faithful to me this week, reminding me that He is Sovereign (Isaiah 45:9) that He has complete authority - and I trust that He will continue to provide and to guide.

Last Sunday morning, I found my gas tank empty. I was so frustrated having to stop and get gas on the way home from church, and angry at myself for accidentally filling the tank (I got distracted *flirting with my husband.*)  On Monday afternoon, gas went up 22 cents!  I laughed at myself for being so frustrated and I thanked God for the blessing of an opportunity to fill my tank before the price jumped.

Last Friday, my favorite Uncle Tom passed away suddenly.  A few days later I was working at Cracker Barrel -- having an almost-miserable time encountering difficulties that slowed down my ability to finish my side-work before I could clock out and go home -- and a co-worker told me that my Aunt Regina (Uncle Tom's wife) and Aunt Janie were there and asking for me.  I was then grateful that I was STILL at work and able to spend some precious moments with them before the craziness of the viewing and funeral.

My twin sis Jessie also received a blessing in her own frustrations.  On Friday, she was trying to buy airline tickets and kept getting error messages that her credit card was being denied.  On Saturday, she was able to buy her tickets for $200 cheaper than Friday's price!

Today I am thankful for reminders of God's faithfulness and sovereignty, and I hope that I am blessed by reading this blog in five more years!

Love love love,
Jewel

immeasurably more

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. [Ephesians 3:20,21]

There is no problem that God cannot solve. None. There is no sickness that God cannot heal. There is no miracle that you can dream of that God cannot perform. There is no prayer that God cannot answer. There is not one sinner that He cannot save. There is no backslider that God cannot bring back and restore. There is no mountain that God cannot move. There is no giant that He cannot slay. There is no need that God cannot meet. There is no marriage so broken that God cannot heal. There is no church so dead that God cannot raise up. You are amazing God, You can do immeasurably more than what we can ask or think.

I can testify.

We can choose to live our lives in the confines of our own natural understanding and perceived limitations, or we can choose to believe what God has promised for us - that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us! Our Father is the biggest, strongest and most powerfully wonderful Dad in the universe and He has promised that He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or imagine!

Credit to Pinterest

All powerful, untameable;

Awestruck I fall to my knees as I humbly proclaim

'You are amazing God.'

Indescribable, uncontainable;

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God!

Incomparable, unchangeable;

You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same.

You are amazing God!

[Indescribable by Chris Tomlin]

Love love love, Jewel

How to Make the Bed Unto the Lord:

I heard a convo on the radio a few weeks ago about making the bed unto the Lord and I have not forgotten it.  I have thought about it a lot in the last two weeks as I have been cleaning our church building.  If God has given me the assignment to clean His house, I'm going to let no streak remain on the windows, no stickiness cling to the trash cans, no scuff mark lie on the floor, no ink or dye stain the chairs, etc.  The perspective of working unto the Lord has almost blown away my mind.  I forget about ME.  I remember Something bigger.

"Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah)."

Colossians 3:23,24 (AMF)

It's not about perfection, it's about excellence. There's no bondage in it, there is freedom in it - it's about fulfilling the excellence He called you to.

Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman:



The way we do our work day by day provides the best exterior reflection of our commitment to serve the Lord in a real, physical way. It doesn't matter whether that work is in the home, in a corporate office, on the mission field, or in the janitor's closet.  May my clean carpets, vents, stairs, shelves, whiteboards, tables, podiums, chairs, toilets, urinals, sinks, mirrors, doorknobs, and windows be a testimony of my love for the Lord.

Love love love,
Jewel

Big & Little Blessings

Love love love,
Jewel

Wants and Haves

Yesterday, I had a painful realization that I have been wanting too much and I have not been giving enough consideration or reflection to what I already have. None of the things that I want are bad, but I am guilty of being ungrateful for what I do have.

Praise the Lord, I woke up with a thankful spirit, and I believe that is due to going to bed with a thankful heart, and praying a prayer of thankfulness. So, since yesterday evening, I have been desperately trying to erase the wants in my mind and engraving a list of haves on my heart. Here are just a few:

- I want more sleep ……………. I have a soft bed, air-conditioning, and warm blankets that allow me to sleep well each night. I also have a dad who gets worried when I don’t wake up with my 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd alarm; the same dad makes me coffee every morning before work. ♥♥♥
- I want a better job ……………. I have a good job that offers me 40 hrs/wk, with people who ask about my life and make me laugh – people I have really enjoyed getting to know. ♥♥♥

- I want more time with Jessie before she moves to New York for one year ……………. I have two more weeks, and I am going to take advantage of every day with her. ♥♥♥

- I want Grandmom to be cancer-free and healthy ……………. I have a God who is Father and Healer, and has faithfully brought Grandmom through much sickness, hospitalization, and therapy in the last two years. ♥♥♥

- I want my fiancé beside me ……………. I have confidence that God will open the way for Titus to come to America in a few weeks. ♥♥♥

- I want a vacation ……………. I have a 3-day-weekend with a list of fun, stress-free activities planned, including: camping with friends, sitting by the fire, time with family from Ohio, a 50%-off sale at Goodwill, reading a book, watching fireworks, grilling out and swimming, and sleeping in. ♥♥♥

As I post this, I am on my way to lunch. I have leftover chicken salad and a bowl of fruit; a blanket for a sunny picnic in the soft, green grass; my Bible, journal, highlighter, and pen. My sister is on her way to Kokomo Beach, where she will relax in the lazy river, and get her tan on. However, tomorrow, she will be at home, writing a paper for grad. school, and I will be receiving a big paycheck (and saving it for a luxurious honeymoon. ♥♥♥)

Love love love, Jewel