Flexible

Sometimes God calls you to be flexible and to go with what He has planned, which isn't always our plan. Two weeks ago that's what happened. I had planned a trip to visit my parents and have a Dr. appointment, which was good because I ended up doing something to my back that week and my Dr. here tried to help me, but it didn't work. While I was visiting my parents my Dad needed help teaching his kick-off as his co-worker was sick, so I got to help out last minute teaching a class and I got to visit with people I hadn't seen in a while. God knew that I not only needed to see my Dr that week but that my Dad was going to need the help. 

Getting ready to teach! 

It's been so Nice on the coast, but the waves have started to get big again... I'm so excited! :) 

I had the opportunity to be a part of an event with a bunch of churches and other organizations in one of the towns here. I wasn't sure what exactly to expect, but it turned out to be a good time to meet some new people and to get information out about CEF and Good News Clubs. I was thankful that Sam, David and Steven could come out and help me. It's always better with others! 

I was thankful that Samuel, David, and Stephen could come out and help me. It's always better with others! 

We got to facepaint... or have others facepaint on us. :) 

 God is good and I'm so thankful that I'm not doing this life on my own. 

~Jolene 

Time To Come Back

 

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a year since I've been on this Blog and writing. I've decided that it's time to come back and start writing things that God is doing and also just fun things that I've been able to do. 

It has been quite the year and if I were to write everything that has happened... it would take way too long. So, in the next couple posts, I will cover the main Big things that have happened. 

Enjoy some ocean pictures from this Summer. 

Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. 

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by. 

 When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. 

 So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. 

This song really encourages me that even when life is crazy and you feel like you're being "tempest-tossed." That we need to look and see what the Lord has done in our lives and count our blessings! 

This is a great reminder to me right now, as my work picks up and with everything going on in our world. But I need to stop and count my blessings and see what God has done! 

With that being said, here are some of the blessings that I am counting. 

Blessings from God! 

*A beautiful house I get to live in! 

*Wonderful landlord, who is generous and a believer. 

*Neighbors who like to play games and go for walks! 

*That my roommate and I get along. 

*A wonderful church family. 

*Great volunteers who love the kids!

*New connections are being made.

*Seeing Killer whales! 

*My knee isn't in pain most of the time.

*Encouraging friends and family

The list goes on, but I'll stop there. 

What are some blessings you are counting? 

This World is Not my Home

This world is not my home

"This world is not my home

I'm just a-passing through

My treasures are laid up

Somewhere beyond the blue.

The angels beckon me

From heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home

In this world anymore.

Oh Lord, you know

I have no friend like you

If heaven's not my home

Then Lord what will I do.

The angels beckon me

From heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home

In this world anymore.

I have a loving mother

Just up in Gloryland

And I don't expect to stop

Until I shake her hand.

She's waiting now for me

In heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home

In this world anymore.

Oh Lord, you know

I have no friend like you

If heaven's not my home

Then Lord what will I do.

The angels beckon me

From heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home

In this world anymore.

Just over in Gloryland

We'll live eternally

The saints on every hand

Are shouting victory.

Their songs of sweetest praise

Drift back from heaven's shore

And I can't feel at home

In this world anymore.

Oh Lord, you know

I have no friend like you

If heaven's not my home

Then Lord what will I do.

The angels beckon me

From heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home

In this world anymore..."

What a beautiful song and a great reminder that this world isn't our home, but that we have an eternal home to look forward to! 

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

O soul are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There's light for a look at the Savior

And life more abundant and free

Turn you eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there

Over us sin no more hath dominion

For more than conquerors we are

And turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

His word shall not fail you, He promised

Believe Him and all will be well

Then go to a world that is dying

His perfect salvation to tell

And turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

This song is a good reminder to keep our eyes on Jesus, no matter what is going on. Whether it's a virus going around, ministry isn't going how you thought it would, you tweak your knee really bad, or you have stomach problems and acid reflex for over a week. 

In Him we are more then conquerors and He wants us to share with others the salvation we have in Him! My little problems are nothing compared to what He did for me and you in dying on the cross and all the pain He went through. 

With that being said, it just reminded me of why I do what I do and that even though I don't enjoy having acid reflex and not being able to take my walks and enjoy active activity's for 4-8 weeks, because of my knee. I still have the joy of sharing the Gospel with children and with those around me! 

So, I hope in this new year that I will remember to keep my eyes on Jesus and I hope you will too! 

Happy 2021! 

New Town

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm Loving my new town and house! God has blessed me So much with a wonderful landlord, friendly Christian neighbors (had lunch with them today!), Godly housemate, a killer view of the ocean from the house, and the house came fully furnished! 

God worked out the whole thing of getting this house and my housemate. I'm so thankful for a God who cares and is faithful! 

Every-night I try and walk down (1.5mile) to the north point to sit and watch the sunset and the whales. :) It's a great reminder of how amazing and creative our God is! Here is a picture from every sunset I've watched from my time of living here. I hope you enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed looking at them all! :) It's been fun to see how different each one is. Oh, and there is a whale in two of them. :)

Just Go...

"You just have to go. You just have to go. Even if there is no clarity about your return, you just have to go." -Nick Ripkens book "The Insanity Of God."

Most the time I feel like God is telling me to just go and I don't have any idea of when I may come back or what the end of that journey is. God tells us a lot to just take one step and to just trust Him. Abraham, Joseph, Hosah, are just some examples of people in the Bible who God told to Just Go and they didn't know what the next step was after that or what would happen on the journey God was putting them on.   

It's hard to trust Him when we can't see what will happen on the journey or even just the next step. 

But God... He is so Good, Faithful, True, Loving, Kind, Patient, Amazing, Powerful, Forgiving, King, Savoir, Friend, Omniscient, Omnipresent, and I AM. 

In everyone of those stories, God was Faithful when they trusted in Him. 

You may ask, "Why are you even talking about this?" This is where I am at in my life right now... Just getting back home and starting a new journey in the craziness of this world. :P (Thanks Coronavirus for adding to it.) 

I'm at the point in my journey that God is telling me to Just Go and I don't know what is after this or even what will happen in the next year, but I will trust God and Just Go. Because I have seen God be Faithful, True, Good, Loving, and So many things in my life. I don't deserve God's Love or Salvation, but because He does Love me and sent His only Son Jesus to take my place I can have salvation. I'm truly amazed by God and His constent Love and discipline towards me. Even when I mess up everyday... He is still Faithful. 

All that being said, I am Just Going into the next journey God has placed me on and I don't know what will happen, but I know the One who does! 

Is there something that God is telling you to Just Go and do? 

BTW... The Insanity Of God is one of my favorite books and I highly recommend you to read it. It made me look at the world through a whole new pair of glasses.