Faith is {not} Enough!

Through this time of God carrying me (hence the new wings added to my background) I have been clinging to a book that I mentioned several blogs ago. It has become my second Bible. This book is full of the scriptures and promises found in them and the best thing about it... it fits in my purse! So if I am having a meltdown or just waiting in the MD office I can pull it out and remind myself of the promises He {God} has given me. Ok I almost had a hysterical moment because I couldn't find where I stuck the thing 2 hours ago...moving on. I also want to mention to you that the word {Faith} has been resignating in my spirit and the words..."Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." {Heb. 11:1} I found myself in Hobby Lobby last week  & I picked up a cute wall hanging that had the word {faith} on it and I just didn't like the colors and I thought, "well where will I put it?", and I just put it back down.  So this weekend I was in several different Hobby Lobby's {which by the way is my happy place} and I saw this and just had to have it...

Ok back to the book...I could just kiss Jackie Mize right now because of her obedience to write her heart in it. In the chapter of the book titled Before Pregnancy:  Desire to Conceive, Fulfillment Over Barrenness, She starts off with a prayer that goes like this..."Father, we thank You that children are the heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Children are Your idea, Father; You thought up children, and family and home. you instituted the family in the Garden of Eden. You ordered children; you commended them when You said to Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply." You said that the barren womb is never satisfied. Lord, the Word declares that I am wonderfully and fearfully made by You; therefore, I'm perfect and able to conceive and have children. You said that I {my wife} would be a fruitful vine by the side of our house and our children like olive plants around our table. We are not ashamed but happy because our quiver is full of children."
"Thank you, Father, that You designed and fashioned me {her}, to have children, that in the Bible barrenness was the exception, not the rule, not Your will, not normal, something against Your plan and purpose. And in Your goodness and faithfulness, every barren women in the Bible who was godly and believed Your Word became pregnant; You opened her womb and blessed her, and she became pregnant; You opened her womb and blessed her, and she gave birth to a precious baby just as I {she} will. You make the barren women to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children."
" You said, Father, that because You are our God and we are Your people and have a covenant with You, that You will love us and bless us and multiply us and bless the fruit of my {her} womb and that neither male nor female among Your people would be barren.
"Father, we are redeemed from the curse of the Law by Jesus, and being barren in under the curse of the Law; therefore, we will receive from Your grace and have children.
"Father, no plague, no evil shall come nigh our dwelling. We are healed by the stripes of Jesus. Sickness of any kind is taken out of our midst. You said to ask anything of You in Jesus' name and it would be done; and that if two of us on earth agree as touching anything it would be done. So we pray and we agree with You and Your Word, Father, that we will conceive and bring forth a healthy, precious baby to Your glory and honor. We pray all this according to Your Word and will. You said, This is the confidence that we have in You, that if we ask anything according to Your will, You hear us; and if You hear us, we know we have the petition we desire of You. We have it now. Thank You, Father, in Jesus' name."
Then she list the scriptures that she was decreeing and declaring in this prayer:

Psalm 127:3-5 (New Living Translation)

 ³ Children are a gift from the Lord;

      they are a reward from him.

 ⁴ Children born to a young man

      are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.

 ⁵ How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

      He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

Genesis 1:28 (New Living Translation)

 ²⁸ Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Psalm 139:14 (New Living Translation)

 ¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

      Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

Psalm 127:4-5 (New Living Translation)

⁴ Children born to a young man

      are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.

 ⁵ How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

      He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

Psalm 113:9 (New Living Translation)

 ⁹ He gives the childless woman a family,
      making her a happy mother.
   Praise the Lord!

Galatians 3:13 (New Living Translation)

 ¹³ But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Psalm 91 (New Living Translation)

Psalm 91

 ¹ Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
      will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
 ² This I declare about the Lord:
   He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
      he is my God, and I trust him.
 ³ For he will rescue you from every trap
      and protect you from deadly disease.
 ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers.
      He will shelter you with his wings.
      His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
 ⁵ Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
      nor the arrow that flies in the day.
 ⁶ Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
      nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
 ⁷ Though a thousand fall at your side,
      though ten thousand are dying around you,
      these evils will not touch you.
 ⁸ Just open your eyes,
      and see how the wicked are punished.
 ⁹ If you make the Lord your refuge,
      if you make the Most High your shelter,
 ¹⁰ no evil will conquer you;
      no plague will come near your home.
 ¹¹ For he will order his angels
      to protect you wherever you go.
 ¹² They will hold you up with their hands
      so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
 ¹³ You will trample upon lions and cobras;
      you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
 ¹⁴ The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
      I will protect those who trust in my name.
 ¹⁵ When they call on me, I will answer;
      I will be with them in trouble.
      I will rescue and honor them.
 ¹⁶ I will reward them with a long life
      and give them my salvation.”

1 Peter 2:24 (New Living Translation)

 ²⁴ He personally carried our sins
      in his body on the cross
   so that we can be dead to sin
      and live for what is right.
   By his wounds
      you are healed.

Exodus 23:25 (New Living Translation)

 ²⁵ “You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I^[a] will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness.

John 16:23 (New Living Translation)

²³ At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.

Matthew 18:19 (New Living Translation)

 ¹⁹ “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.

1 John 5:14-15 (New Living Translation)

¹⁴ And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. ¹⁵ And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

{Still} with all the faith in these scriptures it is {not enough}!  Your probably thinking what is this girl talking about.  I was reading in James at lunch on Tuesday and God revealed to me this simple fact found in this scripture... {I know this is long, but stay with me}...

James 2:17-24 (New Living Translation)

 ¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself {isn’t enough}. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
 ¹⁸ Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
 ¹⁹ You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.^[a] Good for you! Even the {demons believe} this, and they tremble in terror. ²⁰ How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
 ²¹ Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see,{his faith and his actions worked together}. His {actions made his faith complete}. ²³And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as {righteous because of his faith}.”^[b] He was even called the {friend of God}.^[c] 24 So you see, we are shown to be {right with God by what we do, not by faith alone}.

So we're not talking random acts of kindness here!  We are talking about a man who when told by God to place his child on an altar to be {burnt} as an offering to Him... Did just that! He had {faith} that God was going to take {care} of his child. Now you or I may have said to God, "are you crazy?... no way", but Abraham {walked} out his {faith} in God. He knew God had a plan {although he couldn't see it} he knew God saw the bigger picture and He would {declare him to be righteous}.  "²² You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete."  Did you get that?  It may sound crazy to pray the next prayer, but go one step further and that is how you walk out your faith...

"Bodies, we speak to you in Jesus' name; you will com in line and agreement with the Word of God. you will respond to His holy Word. You will function properly and perfectly, the way God intended you to. Every part, every organ conform to the Word and plan of God as we come together in marital love. Body, conceive! Be pregnant. Cooperate with God's plan. Grow to a perfect baby- spirit, soul and body. Your Word says, Father, that none shall cast their young, nor be barren among your people and the number of our days You will fulfill. This pregnancy will be fulfilled. We decree it in Jesus' name and receive Gods' best; we won't settle for anything less in Jesus' holy name. Thank you, Lord, that it is so and done to Your honor and glory. Amen. {Ex 23:26}

In Romans 4:18-21, Apostle Paul wrote about Abraham's faith:

18. Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," just as he had been told: "This is how many descendants you will have."
19. He did not weaken in faith when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah's inability to have children,
20. nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, he became strong in faith and gave glory to God,
21. being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised.(ISV)

Having faith is hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances. Having faith is never doubting the promises of God. Having faith is being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised to do.


This is just how God works... so hold tight. Tonight I decided to get a shower before going to church. I wanted to hear worship music, so I drug the Apple into the bathroom counter and started my favorite playlist {which happens to be the Passion 2010 CD} I was consumed by the Spirit of God. I couldn't even finish putting on my make-up, so I headed to church with no make-up {bye, bye insecurity} I didn't care!  I had to get there to see what God had to say to me tonight.   {I am a leader in a college/career age class called {Envoy}... So I get there and walk in and everyone is coloring a picture.I know what your thinking, but my 1st thought was "ah, therapy", bahhh I know I am pathetic} So I sat down {30 min late mind you} and started coloring "my stars" purple.  Yeah I totally missed the fact that there were letters all over the page and legend at the bottom on "what color were to go where" {yeah I totally laughed at my self}  Anyway, the title of the lesson was {Against the Odds- overcoming the fact that life isn't fair}... Ouch!  Deborah, one of the Godly mother's who mentor me, spoke about how we have to persevere to prevail.  Gen 50:20 says, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  {Eyes Wide Open... for sure}  She then asked 2 questions: 

 1. What is your suffering moving you toward? 

She pointed out that we as Christians will "beat the odds and come out on the other side different." 

2. What is the basis for the passion that fuels your dream?

"Do you dare to hope that God has the power to transform even the most horrendous events in your life into a catalyst for unimaginable success?"

Hello... that one is for every one of us, in any "valley" or "pit"! 

EWO,

Jenny

Abundance is... His presence that overtakes me when I can't carry myself, obedient "Mothers" in Christ who teach what God has laid on their heart,  pumpkin latte (decaf of course),  spicy chicken wraps from Wendy's, a warm safe place to call home. 

P.S.

So after I bought the pink cross on Friday... that is when I had the {meeting with God at the altar} experience on Saturday morning. Yeah, He knows our hearts and when we walk out our faith and actions and then they begin to work together and become {complete}.  {Completeness} that's what I want, don't you?

.... so I know that was a long one, but it has been welling up in me for the past 5 days ok?  {Big cheese}

"Spirit of Natalie"

Today is the wedding day of my God-Sister Natalie. {3-13-10} (I am writing this much later than I wanted because of the craziness of yesterday)  I am the Matron of Honor and the duties are endless. My goal today is to absorb anything that could go wrong.  I am prepared to be on the look out and on Bride patrol.  I will start by telling you how my day started...
  My nervous tummy woke me at 6:30 AM before the sun even rose, or at least I thought it was just my tummy!  My stomach was in flutters for her. I remember how I felt the day of my wedding and every time a close friend gets married I get that feeling all over again. Today was different, I got up then quickly returned to bed to try for another 45 min of beauty rest, you guys know I like to sleep. {wink}  I placed my hot pink eye mask with black closed eyelashes embroidered on it over my eyes to avoid the sunrise bothering me and I just laid there. Then I began to cry. Not just any cry, it was from the depths of my being. I felt God's presence so incredibly strong it overwhelmed me. I tried to hold it in so I wouldn't wake Jonathan, but it was impossible I was overtaken by the presence of His throne room.  Have any of you had a throne room experience?  I have seen others have them at women's retreats and church. I have even had a few myself, but this one was different.... I was completely consumed!
 Let me let you in on something, I have been asking God to take me deep into Him and out of this world so that He can refresh my spirit, mind and body.  I have asked for a out pouring of His Spirit on me because I can not live this life any longer without knowing He is hearing my prayers. I have felt like maybe I was praying for the wrong thing and He wasn't answering because I was "way off base" with my prayers. Have you ever felt like He wasn't hearing you or that you may be praying the wrong thing?  I have truly found and lived the true meaning of the word {Faith} the past few months. It has a whole new profound place in my life.
 So back to the "awakening experience" this morning. I'm in bed sobbing from the depths and He speaks to me.  He poured out His thoughts into my mind and it was an experience I will never forget! It was out of the blue and completely unexpected. He began to speak to me and assure me that He had heard my cry and I have moved His heart.  He said that He would give us a baby girl in His timing and the reason He has not done this sooner is because of the destiny that He has on her life and she "will move the hearts of many". The "Spirit of Natalie" will be upon her and He will protect her from this tainted world. She will have a fear for Him and through Him she will do great things for the Kingdom.  Then He said "I will take you deep, very deep in Me for her forthcoming. Peace will now reside in you all the days of her life."  Yeah... I was speechless too!  {eyes wide open for sure} I mean blown away by the fact that {I} have moved the heart of God!  He has heard my cry!
 After I came out of His throne room I was shaking and still consumed by His presence.   Of all days He new I need this encounter today. As God was speaking all of this to me I prophesied all this out loud to Jonathan simultaneously so he heard all of it too. By the end of it all he was holding onto me as if he wanted to feel His presence too.  I immediately called Vickie, Natalie's mom, I had to find out the meaning of Natalie's name.  Her dad, Chris, answered the phone and I asked him. He said, "um, I'm not sure, my brain is kinda fried right now." He was officiating the ceremony of his daughter and was a wreck, so he handed the phone to Vickie and she told me that the name {Natalie} means "Christmas Child".  I explained the whole experience to her and she said, "well I have been praying for you hours a day since we spoke last Saturday."  I told her that I could tell! {eyes wide open}
So I kept asking God what He means by the spirit of Natalie?  Of course He answered... although it took the whole day to understand it.  I know I couldn't take the waiting either.  It all comes down to "the spirit of {giving}.  She will be a giving child. As I stood beside Natalie today in her breath taking beauty her dad spoke of how she has always given to others even before thinking of herself.  Her mother told me during our early morning phone conversation that when Natalie was little she would get so excited for others on their birthday when they were receiving gifts. Truly thrilled for them, sitting back being gentle and quiet, not rushing the birthday girl because she wanted to see the new gift for herself.
  I looked at her and she has truly become a Proverbs 31 women. I was blown away by the fact that God will give me a child with such demeanor and patience. Untainted and pure to stand one day beside her groom. I know that is rushing it, but really that's how I interpreted His words.  I truly feel the effects of God's rewards for mine and Jonathan's obedience to Him.  "May the Almighty bless you with the blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the earth beneath, and blessings of the breast and {womb} Gen. 49:25.
  The other thing I forgot to let you in on was I have been praying for her personality and demeanor. "Be full of peace - a calm, sweet spirit and tender heart." Is. 54:13  I have also spoke against the fear of bringing her up in this world and His protection upon her to protect her from the evil that is here. It is a cruel world and especially on women, {right Beth?} "For thou hat possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. Psalms 139:13.
Another take on the "Christmas child"is the fact that we consider it to be the time when the "promised child came to earth."  He has promised her to me and she will one day fulfill the destiny of living here on earth. She will be a {promise} that I have been chosen to one day carry. "Thus saith the Lord that made me, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee: Fear not, Oh {Jennifer} my servant; and thou {Jonathan} whom I have chosen. Is 44:2.  So like I posted several days ago... isn't God {Amazing}?
Oh, and you thought it stopped there? Nope!  Friday I visited a new chiropractor, Dr. Melanie Trexler, who is an incredible Christian women. I haven't seen a chiropractor since we have been married (almost 5 years) but I have seen on in the past for migraine headaches and was healed through it. So I had the day off because of the wedding and I had a 9:30 appointment that lasted until 10:40!  She started with a nerve scan to see which nerves are irritated from the vertebra being miss aligned. I "scored high" on 4 areas. #1 was between my upper shoulder blades, which contributes to my sinus and headache problems, I have known of this problem area for years. #2 was around mid-back it controls the stomach and intestines. (I didn't tell her I was having reflux issues for the past month) but I did tell her that it takes an "act of congress" to make the "depths of me move." I blamed that on being a woman and the commonality of this and just shrugged my shoulders like, yeah that was T.M.I.  #3 was the one in the lower back and well... it is the one that controls the ovaries and uterus.  Yep, I was thinking... "you've got to be kidding me?" Pastor Lane prayed that our bodies align for the forming of this child in like um... January!  #4 you guessed it, it gets better... my legs were 1/4 in. off in length. The right leg was 1/4 inch shorter than the left. That may not mean much to you, but to me, the legs are attached to the pelvis and well that is what holds the uterus!  The exact parts we have been praying to align.   I am just blown away as I laid on the adjustment table with tears streaming and worship music in the back ground singing praises of healing.  I could not believe it!  Autumn was right, Melanie's gift is {healing hands}.  It makes me realize how God uses us for the destiny of others. He moves through us because He is not here in the flesh anymore. Remember I was talking about the {Faith} word earlier?
So I am just overwhelmed by His promise of the Promise that is yet to come through {me}.  Undeserving, sinful {me} who by {Grace} is covered and made {clean} by the cleansing of the {blood} that was shed on Calvary.

Whew... that was a lot to fill you in on. The crazy thing is... this is only half of it!  Yeah 1/2! I will have to tell you the rest in person. So keep praying because this {mother} will need to be continually covered in prayer. I do not want the Enemy to come and "steal, kill and destroy" this promise that God has given me.  God will knit her in my womb in His timing.  He said that I was going to go {deep} and I need you guys covering me all the way.

{EYES WIDE OPEN}
G

Easter is around theCorner!

... and so is my birthday!{yours too Hallie}  For some reason they are not as exciting as they use to be. After 25 I have kinda lost count of how old I am and you know it's just not the same.  Well it's a rainy day today and a smoothe day at work, {Thank you Father for a smooth work day}and I have spring fever. With Monday being in the 70's and that little taste of sun I am craving more. Wanted to share some fun thins for spring like how to make an Easter basket out of paper and this cute picture!  You don't know what you are missing if you are not in church with a body of believers.  I could not live life without them lifting me up in prayer. My life would be very lonely and sometimes hopeless.  "Let us think of way to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25(NLT)
 Enjoy the rest of your Thursday... Jen

Also thank you guys for texting, calling and FBing me!  I had no idea all of you read my blog!  Nothing would thrill me more than for you to become a follower so that I know you are reading and so you can leave comments. {just click on "follow" beneath the picture frame that says please follow me} I have been so touched and blessed to know that you guys are praying for us. We truely can feel His presence with us. I can tell a difference just in the past week!  I will probably post several of your comments on here so that I can look back at it one day and be sure to send you a baby shower invite! 

***Also Jonathan's results came back normal! So we will follow up with the MD to make a game plan in 2 weeks and who knows we could pop up pregnant at any time! The master plan still belongs to God who will knit this baby together in His timing.

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb."

Psalm 139:13

Abundance is... friends crawling out of the facebook corners praying for us! and Friday off work!!!