Searching for God Knows What ~ Donald Miller

Searching for God Knows What ~ Donald Miller

Miller captures God the way the Bible does. There is no sugar coating Christianity. He speaks the truth and not what we want to hear as Christians but what we need to hear. This book may make you uncomfortable at times but it is an example of why we believe what we do and God never called us to be “comfortable Christians”.

Miller says “Being a Christian is more like falling in love than understanding a series of ideas.” This is so true, and what it is all about. We get fed ideas all the time about how a Christian “should” act but Miller is challenging us to get back into the Word and be real with God. This is the first book I have read by Donald Miller and certainly won’t be the last. He has a way of drawing the reader in while speaking honestly. This book was received from booksneeze.com

the end of another chapter

Well, it has finally come to an end. By "it" I mean by Bible College career. I have written every paper, exam, and assignment and reached the end. I am graduating and so excited.

As I look to the future, I have no idea where God is going to take me but I know it will be a ride. I am planning on taking a year off from school and working and then possibly going back to school, but it is all in God's hands.

This is one of those times I wish my dad was here to celebrate with me. I know deep down he is celebrating in Heaven and saying, "yeah! that's my girl!"

I'm off for now.

Keep it real,

Jenn

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be
By Max Lucado

I was so excited to receive this book from booksneeze. I opened it up and it was hardcover and a smaller book. It is a great book for graduates! I was impressed by the different topics in the book and how relevant it was to my life as a graduate. Some of the topics Lucaudo are: finding your uniqueness, your work matters, putting a smile on God’s face, Heaven’s custom design, studying your story, being the best you can be, relationships, purpose and taking risks for God.

This is an easy read but feel it is better used more like a devotional book. It is definitely a book you would give someone as a gift. There are some pictures in the book as backgrounds and they enforce the message of that particular chapter or devotion. Like I said, it is a great book for graduates and anyone that like Max Lucado.

How Should a Christian Live?

This is an incredible book for a personal or group setting. The topics covered in this devotional are: abundant life, promise by God, His people, Faith, how God gives, good things, humbleness, God’s truth, trust, goodness, living in His love, and enjoying expectant life. It also has definitions which help to get a better understanding on what is being discussed. The book also consists of a word search or crossword; fill in the blank assignments as well as a few pages at the end of each lesson for journaling.

I would suggest this book to anyone in ministry or looking for a book to help them grow spiritually. With the book comes an mp3 of Bible reading audio which is a great way to hear God’s word. It seems like in our lives there are so many “things” that can get in our way and lead us in a different way than where God calls us and the direction we should be going in as a Christian. I was given this book by booksneeze.com

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John C. Maxwell

Maxwell speaks very clearly on connecting with people and how to engage beyond a simple “hi, how are you?” He breaks the book up into two sections “Connecting Principles” and “Connecting Practices”. In the first section Maxwell shares with the readers how connecting increases our influence in every situation, how it is about others; it goes beyond words, always requires energy and is more a skill than a natural talent. The second section of connecting practices talks about connecting on a common ground, doing the difficult work of keeping it simple, creating an experience everyone enjoys, how connectors inspire people and how we as connectors need to live what we communicate.

This book is a great read for anyone. As someone preparing for ministry it is a good book to understand how to connect with people on a personal level where people feel a connection; whether it be personal, or in a church. Maxwell captures the importance of connecting with people in such a powerful way. I give it five stars and a must read! I was given this book to review from booksneeze.com.

Wow!

It has been so long since I have updated!! It's been a rough year. My dad passed away Dec.26/08 very suddenly. I am in my last semester at Briercrest, actually, last 2 courses. God has been teaching me so much!!

I am going to get back into this blogging thing. I promise....that is, if there are people out there that read it.

I'm bad at this blogging thing...

I have decided I am not so great at this blogging thing. I try to keep up, but life happens and then months have passed.
I'm still working at the girls home and loving it! I've been incredibly busy with school, I am officially a senior and will be done 1 year from now. I am still praying and looking for an internship place and learning patience in the process.
There is a lot going on with church stuff, and just ask that you would be praying for my family and church.
Christmas is approaching quickly and I'm happy to say I'm half done my Christmas shopping! I am excited to have 2 weeks off and spend it with family and friends celebrating the birth of Christ. I will try to do better with the blogging....I'm not even sure I have many readers out there...

Keepin' it real,

Jenn

Blessed...

So, today has been kind of a frustrating day, so I'm going to share what God has blessed me with, these are just some of the things.

~ Christ who loves me for who I am
~ A family who loves and supports me
~ Awesome nieces and nephew who make me laugh
~ Friends who I miss dearly but I love so much
~ Mentors who give me a big kick in the butt when needed.
~ Co-workers who I am getting to know more and more and so excited about that.
~ A job that is incredible!
~ A roof over my head, food on the table, a bed to sleep in, central air in my house, more "things" than I could ever imagine, the technology to keep in touch with friends and continue school.

God has blessed me but at times I need to think about what He has blessed me with and praise Him for that.
Things are going not too bad, it's been busy lately, trying to finish up coursework and help move family. I am really enjoying my job and the girls I work with. I'm looking to see if God wants me at a new church or right where I'm at and also wanting to get plugged into a young adults small group. I'm waiting on God to reveal where these might be at and when I am supposed to go for it.

Keeping my feet dirty for Jesus!

Not sure if anyone still reads this...

Well a lot has changed since my last post. I am living back at home after being at Bethany for a year and a half (since the last post). I felt a heavy calling from God to move home (I know...crazy! But it was God so I had to listen). I finished my fall semester and packed up leaving my best friends and the worlds best roommate to come home not knowing what God had in store for me. I am currently in school through Briercrest College and Seminary in Caronport SK Distance Ed and loving it but so ready to be finished!
I have an incredible job working at a girls home. www.newlifegirlshome.com The girls are great and I'm looking forward to getting to know them more as I continue my work/ministry there.
I am also looking for a place to do a 4 month internship for school. I would be doing it September 09-December 09 or even Aug-Dec. If you know of anything let me know.
I'm continuing to seek where God is leading me because some days it can seem very cloudy, and it isn't because of all the rain we've been having this summer.

Until next time,
Keep it real and get dirty for Jesus.

Back @ Bethany

I am back at Bethany and have been here for 3 weeks today! It is good to be back and into the schoolwork...yes I do enjoy doing work. But it really is great to be back and see everyone again, at times it doesn't even feel like I was gone. There are also times when it can become akward because I wasn't here for a certain event or something like that.
I am missing home somewhat. I miss my family and neices and nephew. They are growing up so fast. My 4 year old neice started school this fall and from what I hear loves it!
I do need to get going, as this is just another way to procrastinate!

Later!

Watch out Sussex!

I got back into Bethany!!!! I am ecastatic!! I cannot wait to see everyone back there! I will post more later!!!
Leave one!

Job # 3

Hey! Well, this is job number 3 that I'm testing out this semester! I am employed at Sears call center...taking orders. Not a GREAT job, but it's a job, and the latest I'll work after training is 7pm. I do have to miss the evenings during camp at the acres though. But will be back in time for C&C stuff! It should work out well! I still have not heard back from school, it's getting down to what feels like a crunch time, because I will need to apply for government loans if I do get in, and will need to know soon! Better get going! Leave one!

Long Overdue!

Hey, well this has been an interesting month! I am once again jobless, and continuing to look for employment. May 7th I went to a Paul Baloche/Robin Mark concert, it was incredible! I enjoyed Paul more than Robin though. May 14th my family was over for Mother's Day, May 18th I went to see a friend that I haven't seen in a while, and the best part was she didn't know I was coming! May 21 my neice turned four! She was very excited that it was her birthday and that she was getting presents. May 22 my parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary, I made them a scrapbook, I was pretty happy with the way it turned out. This Thursday I'm going to Kingston to a FMC ladies thing, should be good.
We didn't make it out to the acres for the long weekend, it was too cold and rainy! I am waiting to get back a letter from someone who is looking over it, then I will be sending in my stuff to re-apply. I would like to have it all in by Friday. I know this is short, but I thought I better update, and don't have too much time as it's 2am, and I have to be in town job hunting all day tomorrow.
Ciao! Leave one!

Crazy List of Sevens!!

Lisa, this is for you hun!

7 things I want to do before I die:
1. Get married.
2. Have kids.
3. Lead at least 1 person to Christ.
4. Go to Ireland to visit Kate!
5. See my sister come to Christ.
6. Adopt at least 1 child from another country.
7. Graduate, and enjoy my job.

7 things I cannot do:
1. Play guitar.
2. Work in the Library.
3. Math.
4. Play piano as well as I would like to.
5. Go a day without music.
6. Go a day without having a Diet Pepsi.
7. Skate

7 things I say most often:
1. Nice.
2. Sweet.
3. Ah stink!
4. Hun.
5. Shoot.
6. Frig.
7. Oi!

7 places I might like to visit before I die (no order):
1. Ireland
2. Australia
3. Isreal
4. Western Canada
5. Jamaica
6. All of the states in the USA.
7. Fiji

7 things I hate:
1. Finger nails across a chalkboard.
2. Liars.
3. Disrespect.
4. People saying they will do something, and not doing it.
5. People thinking I can fix their problems.
6. Throwing up.
7. Not having friends around.

7 activities I enjoy:
1. Traveling.
2. Being outside in nice weather!
3. Being with friends.
4. Singing.
5. Being with family, and extended family.
6. Camp.
7. Hanging out with my nieces and nephew.

7 friends who I want to do this list of 7's:
1. Kate
2. Mel
3. Chelsea
4. Jeff (my brother)
5. Jeff T.
6. Michelle
7. Sheldon

Dedicated to my nieces!

What can I say? I have the best nieces in the world! I'm allowed to brag, I'm an aunt! Emily and Erin just turned 15 yesterday and are great girls! It won't be long before they are off doing what God has called them to do, whatever it may be! I know that they will do great things in their lives!!
And, Jessica, turned 17 today! She is an awesome person and fun to be around! From picking clothes out for other people at Winners, to just chillin and talking seriously she is a great friend!
They are a lot of fun, to hang out with and be around!!

Happy Birthday Girls!
I love you guys and can't wait to see you!

Welcome...not 1 but 2 babies into the world today!!

Lauren and Marley were born on April 18th 2006! Marly has dark hair 7lbs 2oz and Lauren has blonde hair 6lbs 2oz!! Very cute twins I must say!! The first picture is my dad and Marley, the second, me and Marley, third, me and Lauren, fourth, me and Lauren, fifth, my dad and both of them!

Staying Open to God...

Well, it is almost the end of April, and along comes with the end of April, a few birthdays of neices and sister-in-law! It makes life fun though!!
Things are going pretty well, I'm just staying open to what God has in store for me, and following His leading in my life. I'm waiting to hear back about a Summer Internship at a church near Toronto, so hopefully that will work out, if it's all in God's will of course! That would also give me a head start financially for school! I am starting to think of the letter I have to write and the forms I need to get filled out in order to come back.
I'm praying for the possiblity of going to visit some friends at the end of the month, I am about 1/2 way there financially, just need about $60-70 more, and I'll be good to go! I'm just praying that the money comes in, and if it doesn't, well, I guess I know I'm not supposed to go!
I hope you are all doing well!
Keep on staying open to what God has in store for you!

Twenty-Two years and still going!

I am indeed 22 today! We had a family dinner yesterday, I think there were 15 (two extras) of us total here! Well, the next birthday party in our family there will be 15 and no extras! It sounds like the twins will be born April 11th! I will keep you updated.
Things are getting better at work, I am still looking for a job with more hours, it's getting busier now that spring is here! We have five birthdays in our family in April, and it will be two more, and that's just in my family plus I have three of my friend's birthdays in April! It's a crazy month!!
But things are getting better around here, I've got some time off next week, with a church event that my mom is running on Tuesday the 11th, and if the twins are born, and then I'm off Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday, possibly going on a trip then too! I'm not sure, but we'll see, I'm not going to say where...but really hoping I can go!
Need to get going! See ya, leave one
J.

Keep on, keeping on....

I guess I haven't updated in a while! Like my blog says, I'm taking one day at a time! I have had a rough time with a few people at work just telling me off, and what I'm doing wrong and just yelling at me and blaming things on me, because I am a hostess. Well, I had had enough and I talked to my manager last night and today my shift was a lot better!
I am in the process of looking for another job right now becuase I'm not getting as many hours as I was told I'd get. I've had 63 hours so far since I started (Feb.15), and because I was hired on full-time I should have been getting 40 hours a week! I've lost at least a 100 hours of work because of this. This week, I have 3 shifts, I am very grateful though because they are day shifts, and I have no split shifts which is really nice! But, at that I will only be working about 12 or so hours!
I am waiting for the day when I can apply back to school! I have my application filled out as much as I can up to this point, ready to send in via internet when the day comes!! I will also have to re-apply for OSAP and all that fun stuff!
So life has been nuts! Between, work, church, worship team, youth, college and careers, family and God time (not all in that order) it has been keeping me busy.

I want to leave you with this quote from a pastor from Oakville Ontario! He is a really neat guy and I really respect him.

"When someone says to me, 'I'm spiritual but not religious,' I imagine Jesus sighing with relief." - Bruxy Cavey, Teaching Pastor at The Meeting House

Another day goes by, another day closer to going to school...

It has been a rocky road these past few months. I'm finally starting to get into my work, getting to know people, and having fun at it! I am waiting for the day that I can apply back to Bethany, and praying I get in! Also, praying for the finances to come through for me!! That's a huge area where I just need to trust God in! The money I'm making now will not pay off school bills even for a semester!
I found out yesterday that I am going to be an aunt again! My sister is expecting in September!! Yeah, that's right, my sister-in-law is expecting twins in April, and my sister is expecting in September! It will make for one busy big family! I will be an aunt 9 times! (Including my little nephew Riley who passed away in Oct. 2005 only a few hours old). Please be praying for my family as there will be a lot of busyness happening!! Also, it would be nice if my sister went early so that I could see my little neice or nephew before going off to school!!
I better get going, I have to work tomorrow morning!! Night everyone!