ministry spotlight ~ rob & leah

Hey there, troopers! You might think I've been avoiding you, but in actuality, I have been attempting to be intentionally disciplined and purposeful. I've been striving to spend quality time with God and finish my work before playing on the computer, so please bare with me as I work out the kinks (it is not at all natural for me!).

I have some exciting missions news. Some friends, Rob & Leah, are on a plane as we speak (or perhaps they've arrived) to the Middle East on a quest to bring love and encouragement from Sandals Church to a couple of our brothers and sisters who are serving there (Derek and the Georges). They also intend to capture the lives of those individuals and the people they love and serve on film in order to bring their lives back to us in a vivid way. I'm excited! They will probably have updates and pictures on their blogs as they travel. I hope you will keep up with their journeys and pray for them along with me as they go. Leah asked that we pray for the following:

1. Safety
2. Peace as we travel in our own hearts and minds
3. That we would be such a blessing and refreshment to our precious brothers and sisters
4. That God would impact our lives in huge ways with this trip, and show us his will regarding us and missions
5. That this would be so much more than just a fun trip
6. That God would inspire us with ideas, stories, and creativity for our coffee table books (this is their plan for the photos)

Photo courtesy of kimmysun.

back in the saddle again (imagine me in a cowboy hat, chillin' on a horse, open fields all around me)

Ok, so I was confronted tonight at church by Leah about not blogging enough. See, Leah and I don't see each other much. Sundays at Sandals, to be exact...and only on Sundays when we are not consumed in other conversations or responsibilities and we actually touch base with each other. I find that most of these encounters with Leah are encouraging, uplifting, challenging, or thought-provoking, so they are definitely a good thing. But they are rare. So when I asked Leah if blogging was a Christ-like behavior that I needed to be more disciplined in (as I've been struggling with making His priorities my priorities and being disciplined in the things that matter to Him), she said, "Jenelle..." Ok, let's be honest. It's 1am and I'm bad with details, so I don't remember precisely what she said, but it was along the lines of desiring community and doing life together, knowing what's going on and how people are doing. And that hit me. People. People are what matter to me. Apart from God, nothing matters more. Why do I read blogs? Because I love knowing how people are doing, what they're thinking about, what's inspiring or discouraging them. I love walking with them even when the busyness of our lives won't allow it.

So, to the faithful few who do read my ramblings, I apologize for being distant. There have been many times I've thought of you (whoever you are!), even times when I've taken pictures or video just for your sake. But, being the perfectionist that I am, I always want to produce something worth reading, something worthy of your time. Although I write to share my life, I also hope that I write to bring glory to God. I hope that my writing - my life - inspires, challenges, and encourages those who give up minutes of their day, and brings glory to the one who we should be living every moment of our day for. So I do not want to just put words on a screen. I want to suck up your minutes in glory to HIm. So if the words serve only to take you to your knees in prayer for me or something I've written, then praise be to Him. If those words help you to see that you are not walking alone because someone else shares your struggles, then the glory is His. But God help me to never just put words on the screen. I know how many of His minutes in my life are wasted each day soaking up words and other distractions. None of us need more distractions; we all need more things that point us to Him, in whatever way that may be.

On that note and without any more rambling, I've been thinking a lot about prayer lately. I've never met anyone that wouldn't be blessed by spending more time in prayer. I have been convicted lately of how desperately I need to walk in intimacy with Him. I want my life and my thoughts to be a constant flow of prayer. Now I have to make my priorities match that desire. So, this is something I'm aiming for each morning before I start my day. Pray for me because I suck at discipline and I suck and consistency, but man, I want to know Him more deeply and I want my heart to be more like His. I read a quote the other day that Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision, wrote on the inside of his Bible - "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God." I long for that. I believe it will only come through constant prayer. Pray for me to fight that battle each morning and throughout the day.

P.S. Thank you, Leah, for wanting to walk alongside me.
P.S.S. If you read this thing, leave me a comment and let me know you're out there! I want to know who you are!

JC's girls girls girls

There is a ministry at Sandals that makes me very proud to call it my church. There was a woman in our church who was a stripper. After God changed her life, she realized there were a lot of women (and men) in that industry that are dying on the inside and need the love of Christ. She felt a burden to meet that need, and thus began the vision for JC's Girls. The girls in this ministry, sometimes referred to as the Holy Hotties, and the leadership of our church have received a lot of criticism from a lot of people. These precious women that are going into the unreached places and giving everything to reach broken people with the hope of Christ have been called things that I won't repeat here. But God is working through them and changing lives. It is amazing to hear some of the stories. It is such a blessing to look down into the chairs at Sandals and see women that would be cast aside or asked to leave many churches...but to see them loved, accepted, and welcomed at Sandals, because they need the love, forgiveness, and hope of Christ as much or more than many. God is working through some amazing women who have chosen to be obedient and stick themselves out there despite the risks. Check out some of these responses that came from a documentary about them that was shown in the UK (and here are a few more). I was very encouraged. I hope you are too. Pray for these girls. They are not fighting an easy battle.

the house saga... part iv

Dare I say that my parents' house has sold!? It appears as though God is answering the prayers of many in very cool ways (as He often does). There was a family in need of a home to own, with all the financial resources and no restraints...and their good friends live up the street from my parents. Papers have been signed and they are in escrow to soon become neighbors! So, as far as we can tell, God is answering the prayers of my parents, and at the same time, meeting the needs of this other family that desperately needs to own a home. (Brief Insight: They are trying to adopt a child from Russia and one of the requirements is to own a home. The Case Worker visited the house last week, and it seems their on their way to having a new daughter by the end of this year. What a blessing to them and to my parents!)

Please continue to pray for my parents as they work out all the details and get everything packed up (again!). The plan is to move them up to Arrowhead on November 4. Let's see what God has in store this time around! (This is the new place.)

Oh, and please lift up the family (Jared & Jennifer) that was unable to buy the house. God didn't put them in my parents' life on accident. Pray that they would know how to be a blessing. Pray for the family as they discover what God has in store for them.

the house saga...part III

Well, sorry I have vanished from the blog world temporarily. I determined that if I could not sleep, I could not blog...and not having gotten enough sleep for...well, for awhile, I have had to steer clear of my blog. It has been difficult at times, as I have had so many things rolling around in my head that I wanted to put on paper...but another time, I guess.

So, to keep in step with the rule (no sleep, no blog), I should probably not be blogging now. However, there is something I would like my few faithful readers to lift up in prayer. You may recall the news about my parents' home and their upcoming move. Well, apparently, that wasn't God's plan...or perhaps, just not His timing. Some things fell through that were out of my parents' hands and now they are caught in the frustrating inbetween, not knowing if they're moving or not moving or when or how or...you get the picture. I think the most frustrating and draining part for them right now is the unknown, not knowing which direction to move, so instead, feeling slightly paralyzed.

Please pray for wisdom for both of them. Pray for willingness to listen and obey even if it may not be what they'd hoped for. Pray that God would speak loudly when He does so that there is no question about their next step...not that He would reveal the whole path, but that they would know with certainty where to place their foot next...as it is currently hovering over an unknown. Pray for patience as they wait as well. And pray for joy...that they would find joy in knowing that the God that they are waiting for to show them the way, is the same God who is in control of every moment. Also, please lift up the family who had set their hopes on buying my parents home. As far as we understand, they are facing an unexpected financial hardship.

Thanks for praying as you're led. I'm excited to see what He has planned. I know it's good. It's always good. Now for that sleep my body's been longing for... God bless!

Hurray for Lois!

This is an email Shannon worte this morning. It encouraged me, and brought some tears.

Dear Friends,

Lois arrived at the finish line last night (Sunday) at 11:47 PM, and is now rejoicing with the angels in the presence of the Lord. In true Lois fashion her last words to us were, "OK you guys, I'll see you later. Jesus is calling...tenderly calling." Trav's response was, "Go mom!"

All the kids and my twin brother Brian were gathered around when she made that announcement. Then she smiled really big, and started laughing softly just as if she could see the finish line with Jesus waiting there for her. A few hours later she was gone, and those were her last words to us.

The kids and I are genuinely excited for Lois, and clapped when we knew her time among us was finished. With big sighs of relief all around we talked about how in heaven there are no more tears, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more medications, IV's,. wheel chairs or canes.

And we could only imagine the reunion Lois was having at that moment with our first daughter Erin who's been there waiting for Mom for over 20 years now.

It's been the most joyous and sorrowful day we've known as the M-gang - but the joys of having Mom home far outweigh any sorrows we might feel. We'll be getting back to everyone with details about the memorial service later this week.

More later as the situation develops,

Shannon for the M-gang

Please continue to pray for this family.

on to glory

I don't really have any idea who reads this, but I want to share with whomever is listening. I just got news today that a precious woman is on her way to glory. Her name is Lois Murray. She has been battling for years against cancer, trying to honor Him in it all. He has brought blessing after blessing, but has also allowed some very difficult and painful times. She has struggled, as any of us would, but she has clung to His grace like only a warrior could. His grace is what has brought her this far. I praise Him for the testimony I've watched in her.

On one hand, I'm grateful. I'm grateful that she is soon to be free from pain for the first time in a long time. I'm grateful that she will soon be gazing into the eyes of the One who has held her close to His heart throughout it all. I'm grateful that, as she and her family know well, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain," and that she is moving ever closer to "the God of all comfort." She is so close to the glory, the freedom, the peace, the joy, and the awe that she has dreamed of and lived her life for.

On the other hand, my heart breaks. By His grace, and through His story, she has been a testimony to many. She will be loved and missed by many. There will be a huge hole in the Murray home and in many hearts. Pray with me that God would wrap His arms around that family even more tightly than He has already done throughout the trials of the last several years. Pray that the lessons, love, service, and words of wisdom that she has poured into her family would radiate in each of them as they learn to better serve each other in the coming years. Pray that the seeds of her trust and reliance on her Father that have been planted in those who have been touched by her, particularly her children, would grow and blossom and glorify Him even after she is with Him. Pray for her in her last moments. Pray for her husband, Shannon, and her children, Cara, Travis, and Alisa, as they trust Him for so much.

blessings out of the blue

I know I struggle with believing that God enjoys surprising us with blessings from time to time. This week, both my mom and another friend said, "We pray for things, then when God answers, we're surprised! Why are we surprised that He does what He says He'll do?"

So what blessing did he shower today? Some of you know my parents have been in the process of trying to move. Yes, trying. They have found several "dream" houses, yet as soon as they get their hopes up and the paperwork begins to flow, something falls through. On the other end of the spectrum, they've had a few good offers made on their house. Again, they all fall through. A couple weeks ago, they found the house I think they've been dreaming of for years (they thought the other houses were it, but this one is what I picture everytime they talk about a new house). They signed papers with a contingency on selling their current house...which has been on the market for 3 months with no luck. So they decided to take extreme measures.

For a little over a week now, they've been doubling as professional painters during every waking moment outside of work and church. The house looks amazing...with the exception of all the tape on windows and corners and the lovely arrangement of each room's furniture smooshed together in the center of the appropriate room. So like all other nights, tonight, they came home from work and put on their painting clothes. As soon as they began, there was a knock on the door.

A couple renting a house across the street had been eying ours for some time, but had yet to make a move. When they saw the "For Sale" sign come down (during renovations), they feared it had been sold. Over and over they made clear how desperately they wanted to buy our house. After 3 months of making sure every little thing in the house was in order each time we left, this couple was blown away with undone paint and absolute disarray.

They really want the house, they have the financial means to do it, and It appears that all their ducks are in a row. Please pray for this couple, my parents, and their precious realtor over the next couple days. Perhaps God will bless my parents by plopping a blessing in their laps.