Today was my first day back to work... And what a beautiful day it was. I didn't realize just how much Healing those precious children would bring to me after last week. I felt my Heart fill with pure JOY as soon as I stepped into that classroom.
Last week a friend from the school brought us dinner and left a cd that he had made that was marked "broken worship".. I hesitated to listen to it but when I did I felt God draw me in while listening to Hillsongs "Desert Song".....
"All of my life, in every season, you are still God. I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship...I will bring praise....No weapon formed against me shall remain."
The message in that song is clear... Whether we are walking through the fire or in a season of rest ; God is still God and therefore we do have a reason to praise..
Why is that sometimes so hard to grasp?
Probably because we think that once we find Jesus we will never experience hardship again. Sometimes we wonder, "Well, God, I'm doing what you have called me to do... So why is all of this happening?" or "I'm doing this for your glory, so why would you stop me from gaining the desires of my heart?"
After listening to this over and over I am feeling restored and I DO have a reason to sing.....
We are not sure what lies ahead for our family but we will continue to pray for God to make that path known to us and for us to have peace in whatever and whenever that may be.
This morning I came across James 1:5.... "If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - ask him, and he will gladly tell you."
Well friends, I am asking. Maybe if you have time, you can ask on my behalf too.
To any of you who are walking through the fire I pray that you would let the Lord refine you through the flames.... In Him, We are victorious.
If you don't know this song I posted it below...
Love
Jessica
Psalm 139 says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made... your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
If I lost it all... Would my hands stay lifted?
Last night I had a hard time sleeping. The last two days have been such a Whirlwind of emotions. It all happened so fast that I didn't really have time to let it out in the moment... It wasn't until the next day when I returned from the hospital that I was able to wrap my mind around it all and start processing all of my feelings. I've had moments where I think I am at peace and then hours later I feel completely heart broken. As I laid in bed Wide awake last night God reminded me of Job. He had family, wealth, friends, respect of all, good health and most importantly he had God. However, he lost it all. All. In. One. Day. It was all gone. His family and his wealth were taken from him, yet, he continued to praise God. Soon after, he lost his good health and the respect of all. His friends blamed him and soon turned on him.
In the end, God steps in.. Job pleads for forgiveness. Job realizes that the one thing that has been constant through it all has been God. He realizes that he is and always has been God's and that God is bigger than all....all problems, all gains and all loss. God restores Job and provides for him once again, but the experience has forever changed Job and made his faith stronger.
We may not always have a choice about the situations we are put in or the tragedies that we are faced with, but we do have a choice in how we respond. I have a lot of growing to do in the area of being thankful and praising God in all things, but I believe that He will never let me go and He will hold my hand and carry me when things get too tough. Today I feel the nearness of God and I am finding peace knowing we will always belong to him. Even if everything else in life is ripped from us, HE remains unchanged. He is full of grace and loves us with open arms.
I wanted to share a song that has really hit home today... It's such a song of healing for me right now.. Please listen to it if you have a chance. It's called "I'm Still Yours" by Kutless.
”When my life is not what I expected, the plans I made have failed.... When there’s nothing left to steal me away, will You be enough for me? Will my broken heart still sing?
If I lost it all, Would my hands stay lifted, to the God who gives and takes away?
I am SO grateful for all of the blessings in my life. Please Lord help me to keep my hands lifted to you regardless of my circumstances...
Ask yourself this... If you Lost It All...Would YOUR Hands Stay Lifted?
Thank you for all of your prayers.
GOD BLESS,
Jessica
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
In the end, God steps in.. Job pleads for forgiveness. Job realizes that the one thing that has been constant through it all has been God. He realizes that he is and always has been God's and that God is bigger than all....all problems, all gains and all loss. God restores Job and provides for him once again, but the experience has forever changed Job and made his faith stronger.
We may not always have a choice about the situations we are put in or the tragedies that we are faced with, but we do have a choice in how we respond. I have a lot of growing to do in the area of being thankful and praising God in all things, but I believe that He will never let me go and He will hold my hand and carry me when things get too tough. Today I feel the nearness of God and I am finding peace knowing we will always belong to him. Even if everything else in life is ripped from us, HE remains unchanged. He is full of grace and loves us with open arms.
I wanted to share a song that has really hit home today... It's such a song of healing for me right now.. Please listen to it if you have a chance. It's called "I'm Still Yours" by Kutless.
”When my life is not what I expected, the plans I made have failed.... When there’s nothing left to steal me away, will You be enough for me? Will my broken heart still sing?
If I lost it all, Would my hands stay lifted, to the God who gives and takes away?
I am SO grateful for all of the blessings in my life. Please Lord help me to keep my hands lifted to you regardless of my circumstances...
Ask yourself this... If you Lost It All...Would YOUR Hands Stay Lifted?
Thank you for all of your prayers.
GOD BLESS,
Jessica
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Mercies in Disguise
To all of our family and friends around the world.... Thank you for your prayers and encouraging words during the past few days. We feel your love and know we are held by a Big God who plans far out weigh our own plans....Thankful tonight for HIS protection once again over our family.
This song has been healing for me today... Enjoy.
Blessings
By: Laura Story
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?
When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?
This song has been healing for me today... Enjoy.
Blessings
By: Laura Story
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?
When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Remembering September 11th
This morning I came across this prayer by Max Lucado and wanted to share...
Do it Again Lord...
We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, What a horrible dream.
But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.
There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)
We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn't.
And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.
Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.
And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.
Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here on that Tuesday, you saw there on that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.
And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.
But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.
We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Disaster has done what discussion could not. Doctrinal fences have fallen. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.
And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.
Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.
And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you've used her to heal a hurting world.
Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
Through Christ, Amen.
Dr. Max Lucado
Do it Again Lord...
We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, What a horrible dream.
But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.
There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)
We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn't.
And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.
Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.
And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.
Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here on that Tuesday, you saw there on that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.
And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.
But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.
We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Disaster has done what discussion could not. Doctrinal fences have fallen. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.
And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.
Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.
And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you've used her to heal a hurting world.
Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
Through Christ, Amen.
Dr. Max Lucado
Monday, September 5, 2011
Back in the swing of things...
We are all three back to school and enjoying being back into the swing of things. Our sweet little students remember us and our teacher friends both American and Chinese were excited for our return. Feels great to be so loved by the people we work with. We are very excited for this new semester. Grace is right back where she left off six weeks ago and absolutely loves her kindergarten teachers Nina, Joyce and Lisa. (two of them are in the pic at the top of the blog) She has the same teachers as she had last year because she is in a special class that has more instruction in English. The parents of the students pay more for that class because they want their child to be exposed to more English.... And with grace in the class it really encourages the children to use their English. With all of that being said the kids and their parents love having grace in the class and I think they feel like its money well spent since their kid is buddies with the American child at the school lol!
Grace is understanding more and more mandarin and is learning so much! Her teachers can speak some English but 99 percent of the time they talk to grace in mandarin so that she can learn their language. She comes home and says things that we don't understand, pretty nuts! I never realized what an awesome opportunity this would be for Grace. We are so blessed to not only work at this wonderful school but that she can get a head start on her education at the same time.
In other news we are now approved to start volunteering with the Baoan orphanage with their weekend outing program. Most of the children have never been on a trip outside of the orphanage. This program is designed to get them out into the "real world" and let them experience things that they wouldn't get to do otherwise. We will be aloud to take the child to the park, movies, shopping etc. Unfortunately we won't be able to post pictures of the child but we can write about them our blog.
One more thing.... I have a bunch of new students this semester that dont have English names yet so I got to name them today LOL!!! So I named them after all of my girlfriends .... They are precious! They will actually keep these names (unless of course they hate their name) ... I will post pictures soon! Peace signs included ;)
Not much else to report .... Thanks for all of your prayers. We pray for our family and friends daily and miss you all!
Love,
Jess
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
WOW
Tonight Grace came out of her room where she was playing with her baby dolls to ask me "momma is my whole life for Jesus...." wow....
I am sure that God can speak to even a 3 year olds heart... They may not know exactly what it all means but I believe he can start working in their hearts long before they even understand .... I don't think I'll EVER forget hearing those words come out of her mouth.
I am sure that God can speak to even a 3 year olds heart... They may not know exactly what it all means but I believe he can start working in their hearts long before they even understand .... I don't think I'll EVER forget hearing those words come out of her mouth.
So long Lakeland, Florida
"Oh,what I would do to have the kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in and onto the crashing waves.
To step out of my comfort zone into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is, And he's holding out his hand.
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me;
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed.
The waves they keep on telling me time and time again,
"You'll never win.....
With two days left until we start our journey back to the other side of the world so many thoughts are rolling through my head... Feels like I'm stepping out of this comfort zone of America all over again. Mostly I'm ecstatic, ready to see my husband, ready for Grace to see her dad, ready for routine, and excited to see what doors God opens in these next six months of our life. The last six months of our lives forever changed us as a family and I have a feeling God is going to rock our world all over again.
Although I know what to expect this time around I feel like God is bringing me out of my comfort zone again to a new place with all new people and a new way of life to get used to. However, this time around, I will be a little more comfortable and a LOT more trusting of God's plan. I have learned the importance of being out of my comfort zone.
God has shown me that the place we are most vulnerable to His plans and His voice is one that is unfamiliar and uncomfortable. I believe in different seasons of our lives God may ask us to be in a place That's not 100 percent comfortable... If you're too comfortable you won't experience it as He wants you to.
As I started packing today the faces of our precious students, the faces of the children in the orphanages, and the faces of the amazing friends and families from our fellowship rolled through my head ....it became clear once again as to what our purpose in china is.
Thank you lord for allowing us another six months to serve you and your people in china. We are forever grateful for everything you've given us, and feel privileged again that you've chosen us for this job in this season of our lives.
So long Lakeland Florida.... See you in January!
"But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth"
-Casting Crowns
To everyone who has contributed in any way and prayed for us along the way.....Thank you. Thank you for taking a risk for the sake of another, for giving without expecting something in return and for letting God shine through you.
To climb out of this boat I'm in and onto the crashing waves.
To step out of my comfort zone into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is, And he's holding out his hand.
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me;
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed.
The waves they keep on telling me time and time again,
"You'll never win.....
With two days left until we start our journey back to the other side of the world so many thoughts are rolling through my head... Feels like I'm stepping out of this comfort zone of America all over again. Mostly I'm ecstatic, ready to see my husband, ready for Grace to see her dad, ready for routine, and excited to see what doors God opens in these next six months of our life. The last six months of our lives forever changed us as a family and I have a feeling God is going to rock our world all over again.
Although I know what to expect this time around I feel like God is bringing me out of my comfort zone again to a new place with all new people and a new way of life to get used to. However, this time around, I will be a little more comfortable and a LOT more trusting of God's plan. I have learned the importance of being out of my comfort zone.
God has shown me that the place we are most vulnerable to His plans and His voice is one that is unfamiliar and uncomfortable. I believe in different seasons of our lives God may ask us to be in a place That's not 100 percent comfortable... If you're too comfortable you won't experience it as He wants you to.
As I started packing today the faces of our precious students, the faces of the children in the orphanages, and the faces of the amazing friends and families from our fellowship rolled through my head ....it became clear once again as to what our purpose in china is.
Thank you lord for allowing us another six months to serve you and your people in china. We are forever grateful for everything you've given us, and feel privileged again that you've chosen us for this job in this season of our lives.
So long Lakeland Florida.... See you in January!
"But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth"
-Casting Crowns
To everyone who has contributed in any way and prayed for us along the way.....Thank you. Thank you for taking a risk for the sake of another, for giving without expecting something in return and for letting God shine through you.
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