tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73325996096129586212023-11-15T10:25:03.511-06:00Deeply RootedHave the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:7Deeply Rootedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860823530315439747noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7332599609612958621.post-8049970476142370142012-10-06T15:39:00.002-05:002012-10-06T15:39:44.533-05:00Happy Birthday Dad!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Every girl has a Father, but not every girl has a Daddy. I
am one of the lucky ones. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Today my dad turns 55, so I thought I’d share how thankful I
am that he is MY dad. Thousands of people look up to my dad, seriously
thousands. He is Pastor Jeff, the Senior
Pastor of Valley Family Church, the spiritual leader of our congregation. He is
the guy in charge, a spiritual Father to many, and people look to him for
guidance and to set the example. My dad
is the kind of guy that you <i>want</i> to
follow, he is one of those leaders that you just watch in awe. His character is impeccable. Who he is on stage is who he is at home and I
am so thankful that THAT kind of man was my dad. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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He was intentional about the time he spent with me. Every
morning when he would take me to pre-school, I remember singing a song that
always ended with him calling me Sunshine. When we got a little bit older, he
would take each of us to practice. In between shuffling the 4 of us from
building to building, we’d have “down time” before the next kid had to be
picked up, during that time we’d drive through the back roads and go “deer
hunting.” Of course, this wasn’t real
deer hunting, but to us it might as well have been. We’d drive until we spotted a deer, then we’d
just sit and watch. That’s when my dad
taught us the valuable lesson, “when there is one, there is two” and sure
enough, there has always been a second deer. It’s silly, but he was intentional
about the time he spent with us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Once we got into middle school, my dad started “Big Daddy’s
Bistro.” We loved Big Daddy’s Bistro.
Every morning for 12 years my dad prepared a hot breakfast for us to
enjoy before we left for school. Each morning my dad would prepare, French
toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, breakfast burritos, waffles, fruit
parfait, crepes, you name it – we had it. Our time at Big Daddy’s Bistro wasn’t
just so we could have a 5-star breakfast every morning, he used that time to do
a devotion with us and then we always end with some time in prayer. He was intentional about spending time with
us each morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My dad also rarely missed one of our games. (My mom didn’t
either, but today is about my dad.) Among all of the other responsibilities
that he had, he always took the time to come to my games no matter where in the
country I was playing. Now, we wasn’t
perfect and sometimes things came up, but even if he couldn’t be at a game I
knew that he had tried really hard to make it happen because he was intentional
about being an involved dad.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My dad was and is, intentional. He was intentional about
being a reflection of my Heavenly Father.
Although he had other things to do, other responsibilities, other people
counting on him, he was intentional about putting everything else aside to
spend time with us. I know, because of
the example that my dad set, that my Heavenly Father desires to spend time with
me. I know because of the example my dad set, that my Heavenly Father will
always provide for me. I know because of the example my dad set, that my
Heavenly Father cares about what is going on in my life. I know because of the
example my dad set, that my Heavenly Father loves me unconditionally. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I have high standards because of him. I’ve seen how my dad
treats my mom, how he has treated my sister and I, how he raised my brothers
into men of God and that’s the kind of man that I want to marry. My dad is the
best leader I’ve ever known, he is the smartest man I know, he is one HECK of a
teacher, he is funny, loving, a man after Gods heart, and always looks out for
other people. He is the best dad that could ever walk this planet and best of
all he is MY dad.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could go on and on about how great my dad is. This dumb
little blog doesn’t even come close to showing how thankful I am that Jeff
Jones isn’t just my father, but my daddy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Birthday Dad, I love you with all of my heart! Thank
you for setting an example that thousands can follow. Thanks for being a reflection of the
character of God. And thanks for giving me a reason to set the bar high. Happy
55<sup>th</sup> birthday, Senior Citizen! : )<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Deeply Rootedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860823530315439747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7332599609612958621.post-4234036225259530682012-09-20T23:39:00.001-05:002012-09-20T23:39:42.571-05:00A Day in the Life...
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<br />
<br />
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Class has officially started! The first 2 weeks were
dedicated to orientation. We got
acquainted with the school, the church, and the teachers. In the morning we’d come in, go over the
student handbook, etc., then we’d have what was known as “student revival.” It
was a time for all of the students to gather together for worship and a
powerful message from one of the Rhema Pastors or Teachers. I left everyday
grateful that God brought me here. The messages were so rich and challenging,
and I loved what I was learning!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the first day of preschool until the last day of high
school my parents would send us off to school with a prayer. Every day…and I mean EVERY DAY, we would go
through this routine: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mom and Dad:
“<i>Alright, what do you know?”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">
Annie: <i>“Jesus loves me, God loves me, Dad loves me, Mom loves me, Meghan loves
me, Luke loves me, Eric loves me. Today, I’m going to have a great day. I’m a
good friend to my friends and I love to learn.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">
Mom and Dad: <i>“And
today is going to be a day filled with _________ (laughter, joy, patience, fun,
etc, they’d fill in the blank.) The Lord watches your coming in and your going
out. He takes you all the way to school
safely and brings you all the way home safely. You’re a good friend to your
friends, and you love to learn!”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everyday, as we rolled our eyes, we’d confess that we loved
to learn and they’d confess that we loved to learn. Looking back, I’m so
thankful that they made us confess that every day because the reality is, <b>I love to learn</b>. I get excited about
learning new things and studying new concepts. So here is the class list of all
the fun things I get to learn at Rhema:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Old Testament Survey
with Karen Jensen.</b> I LOVE the Old Testament and can’t wait to study under
the awesome teaching of Ms. Jensen. Everyone raves about how great she is, so I
know it will be fruitful!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>New Testament Survey
with Jeanne Orrison.</b> I LOVE the New Testament. I guess it’s safe to say
that I just love the whole Bible, really. I love studying the Word and being
under faith-filled teaching of the Word is like drinking a cool glass of water
on a hot day. Refreshing. Earlier this week we were given a quick history
lesson on the 400 years between Malachi and Matthew. I left the class giddy
with excitement because it was so fascinating. I could talk about it for
days…the history is just amazing and reminded me of the time I spent in Greece.
Ahhh, I love history, especially Biblical history!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Faith Library with
Pastor Ken Hagin</b>. I want to increase my faith and I know this class will do
just that. The reading list for this
class is spectacular as well. I love to read so I’m excited to dive in!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Understanding Grace
with Tad (The Dean). </b>We’re learning what Grace is. The unmerited favor that
God has given us. We don’t deserve it and we don’t earn it, but He still gives
us it. How great is God?!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Spiritual Growth
Principles with Doug Jones. </b>Who doesn’t love a class with your Uncle? Just
kidding, he isn’t my Uncle. But he is from Michigan and he is HILARIOUS, so I
guess we could be related… This class is awesome. It is so challenging and I
feel like I need to spend an hour in prayer after each class to get saved. Just
kidding, but kind of serious. Talk about refining the junk out of your life!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Financial Management
with Craig Hagin. </b>If we want to be successful in life we need to know how
to handle money. Thankfully, I’ve grown up knowing the smartest moneyman on the
planet. My dad is brilliant with managing money and has led by example, so I
feel like I have a good grasp on Financial Management, but there is always more
to learn! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There you have it, my 1<sup>st</sup> term class list!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many of you are wondering, what the heck does an average day
at <i>Bible School</i> even look like? Well,
I’ll tell you. Everyday Monday-Friday we have class from 8:30am-12:30ish. It just depends on the day. This gives a chance for everyone to go to
school and work full-time so we can still make a living since the age range of
students is 17 yrs old – 80 years old (seriously). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have the same classes M,W,F and T, Th. The first year students are divided into 2
groups. I’m in Group 2, so I take all of my classes with Group 2 students. However, 3 of the 6 classes are combined with
all of the Group 1 students. On Tuesdays and Thursday, the entire student body
gathers for “Exhortation” or “Announcements” and we have a time of prayer and
worship or…you guessed it, announcements. When you are a first year student,
you don’t choose the classes you take, there is a set curriculum for every
first year student. During your second
(or third) year you can choose which “track” you want to take. Those “tracks” are specific for a certain
area: Pastoral, Evangelism, Worship, Kids Ministry, Missions, Biblical Studies,
or Youth, etc. Within each “track” there
is a set curriculum you take through out the year. Each year is broken up into
4 terms.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So everyday M-F, I go to school from 8:30am-12:30pm. Work
from about 1pm-5pm at one job, 5:30-9:30 at another job, and 10:00-10:40pm at a
3<sup>rd</sup> job. Most nights there is a worship services or prayer meeting
of some sort, so when I’m not working I go to those. Basically, it has been a
non-stop pace of life. Does that help a little bit? Now you know what an
average day in the life of a Rhema student looks like! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I can’t even put into words how amazing this season of life
is. I love everything about it. It felt like I was walking in a mucky ditch for
a while but now I feel like I’m walking on a street filled with rainbows,
butterflies, and cotton candy. So, when life feels kind of sucky, keep pushing
through because God’s got something AMAZING on the other side.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Deeply Rootedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860823530315439747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7332599609612958621.post-11351621658251903822012-09-17T21:43:00.000-05:002012-09-17T21:47:59.804-05:00He is Faithful<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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I love getting the chance to meet new people, however I’m
also living my worst nightmare. For anyone that suffers from Palmer
Hyperhidrosis, you know the pain that I’m going through. My hands tend to be
“clammy” (we’ll stick with that descriptive word), so meeting so many new
people, means shaking so many new hands. And who likes a clammy hand? Ugh, it’s
the worst. Hah, but oh well, all you can do is laugh about it, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I just love Tulsa, I love the people, and I love the
opportunity to grow in my walk with God. I feel like I’m in such a sweet spot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the past 2 weeks I’ve spent at least 45 hours at
Starbucks, 12 hours at McDonalds, and 5 hours at the NRC (Rhema rec center). I
didn’t have WIFI yet, so I was stealing WIFI juice from all the local joints. The
main reason I need this sweet WIFI nectar was to help with the launch of Valley
Family Church Online. It is basically an interactive church service with
worship, announcements, a message, and a live chat room. Because of technology we are able to reach
people form around the world, no matter the time or location barriers, how
neat? It has been an honor to be a part of this project. Now that it is officially launched, go check
it out! Services are every Monday night at 8 & 10 pm EDT and Saturday at 10
pm EDT. (shameless plug) <a href="http://www.valleyfamilychurch.tv/">www.valleyfamilychurch.tv</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like I said last time, this bird has been set free
financially and I am now responsible for just about everything. This responsibility
has opened up a wonderful chance for me to exercise my faith and trust in God. Well,
I have to share some awesome news with you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve always believed in the importance of tithing. However,
I’ve never really had a chance to tithe consistently, because I wasn’t making
money consistently. Throughout college, volleyball was my job. But, this summer opened up my first
opportunity to tithe on a regular basis.
I’ve heard my dad say numerous times, “If you give God <i>His</i> 10%, He will bless your 90%.” I’m
telling you, it is true. I get chocked up just thinking about it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Knowing that I would soon have to pay for everything, I made
sure to be extra diligent with my money this summer. I faithfully gave 10% of
every pay check, I worked hard to find extra ways to make money, I rarely spent
the dough, and I listened to the Holy Spirit when I thought I should give a
little extra for an offering. I’ll be honest; at times my flesh didn’t want to
give up any of the money. But I knew in
my spirit that it wasn’t my money anyways and if I wanted to walk in the
blessings of the Lord, I had to trust him fully. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The way God has blessed me in the last couple of weeks is absolutely
unreal... I was praying for another job and was just hired at a golf course
down in Tulsa where I make $10 an hour plus tips! During my first night on the
job, I randomly thought “wouldn’t it be cool to be handed a $100 bill.” It was
a fleeting thought, but not 5 minutes later someone handed me a $100!!! I
couldn’t believe it. My jaw dropped and I had to laugh. I walked away with $120
in tips on my first night! If that’s not God’s blessings and favor, I don’t
know what is!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not only that, but I recently received two unexpected
checks! It was shocking, but another great reminder that God’s economy works.
When we walk in wisdom, diligence, and trust in God, He will bless us. There
are so many other stories I could share about how God has shown himself
faithful to me, but this blog would be too long. Maybe I’ll share those stories
at a different time. His Word says, <i>“Bring
the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test
me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw
open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not
have room enough for it. (Malachi 3:10)</i>” Well, I put God to the test and
his blessings have POURED.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His blessing haven’t just been financially either. Last year
was a tough year for me. It seemed like there was a never-ending pile of
disappointment. I was running on sheer will-power most of the year. I had to
keep reminding myself, “This is only a season…this is only a season.” To be
frank: it was one of the suckiest seasons of life I’ve ever had. No, it WAS the
suckiest season of life I’ve ever experienced. But, Praise the Lord (seriously)
I have made it to the other side and I feel like I’m walking in the Promised
Land. Remain faithful to Him, trust in Him, and lean on Him to be your joy and
strength and he most certainly will be! People say it all the time, but I’m
telling you it is the absolute truth, I’ve experienced it for myself time and
time again: <b>He is Faithful</b>! I pray
that each of you reading this will be able to experience for YOURSELF God’s
faithfulness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love life. I love God. I love where He has placed me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And if you’re wondering: I’m still single ;). Just another opportunity
for God to show Himself faithful, hah :).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Deeply Rootedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860823530315439747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7332599609612958621.post-535878130489048242012-09-09T22:46:00.001-05:002012-09-09T22:46:21.935-05:00The Beginning...
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<br />
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Throughout college I had several professors encourage our
class to write every day, “as it is the only means to being a ‘great’
writer. Well, I am not even a “good”
writer, so I suppose I should practice. It actually works out pretty nicely too
because I’ve had a few people tell me I ought to keep a blog while I’m down
here in Tulsa… so, here is a blog.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I currently live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I graduated from
Spring Arbor University in May and moved here in August to attend <i>Rhema Bible
Training College (RBTC).</i> I’m a 21-year-old girl living 815 miles away from home
so I can go to Bible school, whaaaaa? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve been down here for a week, so I will try to give you
the highlights of the week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a 14-hour car ride by myself we arrived Friday night.
My mom, sister and I spent most of Saturday and Sunday moving in, rearranging
and organizing. I am SO thankful for my mom and sister. I would have been a
lost little puppy if they hadn’t helped me ease into the transition of being on
my own.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that I’m a college grad, I’ve got to start paying for
things. And by things, I mean, like, everything: housing, food, tuition,
internet, student loans etc. The gravy train has dried up. El-sha-daddy (the
endearing name we’ve given my dad) has pulled the plug and set me free. The
idea of paying for everything was nerve-racking at first but it’s been a great
opportunity to exercise my faith! Thankfully, I serve a God who supplies ALL my
needs and I know that if I’m faithful to Him, He’ll be faithful to me. If I
wasn’t a believer and didn’t know that God had my back I’d probably be freaking
out a bit more. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thankfully I have a roommate to help ease the transition.
I’m living with Morgan, a strawberry blonde beauty from my church in MI, who’s
already drawn the attention of quite a few guys. She is great and it has been
so nice having a “partner in crime.” I mean that literally too, one night this
week we were at a social gathering of sorts, and found an iphone lying on the
ground. We thought it would be funny to
take a picture of ourselves and set it as the background…so we did. Whoops.. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> I’m excited for the
many adventures we will have this year! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We live in an apartment building across the street from
Rhema (called Student Housing) so I can walk to class, church, etc. And then
anything else I need is seriously a 5-minute drive. SCORE! For you Kalamazoo people, it’s like
the best of Westenedge, West Main, Gull Road, and Downtown Kalamazoo all on one
street. Incredible! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall, I’m LOVING Tulsa. The only thing I’m not digging so
far is the heat. It’s been at least 102 degrees every day, which is just a tad
bit too hot. All you ever want to do is be inside, but I hear it should be
cooling off soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, the best part of this Tulsarusalem is the fact that
every night there is an opportunity to grow, by way of a church service, a
prayer meeting, or social event. I am never lacking an opportunity to be fed
the Word of God. And it’s wild, because
being fed the Word of God makes me even hungrier for the Word. The best part is that classes haven’t even
started since we’re still in orientation week! I can’t imagine how much better
it will be once classes start! Eeeek!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m most excited for this season of life because I just want
to soak up the Word. I love learning and I truly love the Bible. I’m just so
jacked up! I know that I suck apart from Him and I’ve realized how dependent I
am on Him. I know that He has a LOT of work to do in me and I’m ready for that.
I’m ready for my roots to grow deeper and deeper. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The next two years will be exciting, no doubt! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Before I forget: boys.
Ha, the main question I get from family and friends is about what cute
guys I’ve met. Well, I ain’t lying, I’ve seen a few cuties walking ‘round and I
don’t mind it... But, that’s not why I’m here. My number one focus is on my
relationship with God. I’ve screwed up enough times to realize that I don’t
want anything to jeopardize what God wants to do in and through me. He’s got it
figured out and I’ll just sit back and let God be the matchmaker. But I also
ain’t saying that I’m not scoping the potentials. ;) I’d say I’d keep you
posted, but I won’t…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Until next time….</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Deeply Rootedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860823530315439747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7332599609612958621.post-41221687144787119042010-12-04T02:29:00.000-06:002010-12-04T02:29:24.828-06:00Did You Know?By: Annie Jones<br />
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Did You Know?<br />
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<div style="color: #38761d;"><i>Did you know that I am beautifully and wonderfully made? A Daughter and princess of the most High King? Adored and loved by the God of all? </i></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><i>The one who aligned the stars and set the world in motion thinks highly of me His thoughts toward me are good. His plans for me are good. He loves me with an everlasting love; nothing will separate me from Him.</i></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><i>It’s easy to forget, it’s easy to let this world, which doesn’t know a thing about living, tell me how to live, how to think, how to view myself. I let this filthy, skewed world tell me whether or not I am beautiful, worthy, or good enough. Good enough? For who? Good enough for what? What does this world have to offer? Nothing. But God! He thinks I’m beautiful, He thinks I’m worthy, He thinks I’m more than good.</i></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><i>Before I was even conceived God had a good plan for me. He approved of me and set me apart for His purposes. He has confidence in me. If God is for me, who can be against me? There is nothing, no attack, no weapon, no scheme of man that can hurt me. He shield will protect me. He is my strong tower, my safe refuge. When life gets me down, and I feel like nothing, God is my present help.</i></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><i>People are fickle, they can hurt me, they can break my heart, they’ve left me feeling rejected and worthless. But who are they? Did they create this world? Did they create me? No! Because according to my Master and my Creator, the only One who isn’t fickle, my worth is far more precious than rubies! He has never rejected me or made me feel worthless and He never will.</i></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><i>My hope, my confidence is in the one whose heart I have ravished. Yes, I have ravished His heart. There is no flaw in me! So I will run, run into the riches of God’s love, run into His embrace of love. His love for me burns like a fire for all to see, a fire that cannot be quenched. Nothing will ever compare to His love. I am my beloveds and He is mine. I am free to love Him and I am free to live for Him.</i></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><i>So I ask you again: Did you know that I am beautifully and wonderfully made? A daughter and a princess of the Most High King? Adored and loved by the God of All? I love Jesus, and He loves me, my life is His.</i></div><br />
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I wrote this for one of my classes this year. The first section is a phrase that I believe God gave to me this summer as a way for me to remember where my worth is found...<br />
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When it comes to anything God related, I get really choked up. Like, honestly, you could tell me any cool God story, and the whole time I'm sucking in air begging myself not to cry. So, when I have to share this "poem" with my class, and pretty much pour my heart out about how great God is and how much He loves me...you can only imagine my emotional state. I get in front of my class and before I can even say the first sentence I am already crying...but it's not just a few tears. I'm full on sobbing in front of my <i>entire</i> class. I knew there was no way to control my tears, so I just pushed through it and read the poem. Although it is very personal and I was so embarrassed to have cried in front of my class, I feel like I need to share it because I know that God can speak to you through it. Whether you are a boy or girl it is the truth of the Word (just written in my own words).<br />
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As you read what I've written, believe it, because its the truth. Read it out loud, seriously...go in a room by yourself and read it out loud...not just in your head. There is power in the spoken Word. Read it, and read it again, and anytime you are feeling down read it again. That's what I do. I remind myself WHO I am and WHOSE I am. And man oh man....I am beautifully and wonderfully made....did you know?Deeply Rootedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860823530315439747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7332599609612958621.post-63453372272985905002010-11-30T21:07:00.000-06:002010-11-30T21:45:46.921-06:00Why Deeply Rooted?Well, I've been wanting to start a blog for quite some time now. Sometimes I have things on my mind and I just want to write them out, but don't really know where to take it. I suppose this will be a great outlet. Even if know one reads it (I'm sure my mom will, HI MOM!) I'll probably continue using it for my own sake. I'm not sure what I will write. Most of it will be about my journey with God and how I'm learning to be deeply rooted in Him (keep reading this post) but I might just share funny moments/ everyday realizations too. You'll just have to wait and see! I just want to start off by apologizing for any mis-spellings/bad grammer...I tend to over use the comma, and it's almost always incorrect. I also use a lot of "..." so bare with me...<br />
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So, why did I name this blog "Deeply Rooted"? Well, I actually kind of wrote something about it already. It's about a verse that I read this summer that has challenged me almost everyday. I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to copy and paste my previous "blog" about it. :) My prayer is that through this blog you will be able to see God working in my life and be encouraged and strengthened by it. Here is the post:<br />
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<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div>*One of the things I love about Michigan is the trees. Everywhere you drive in Michigan you will see beautiful trees. In the fall they are rich with oranges, reds, and yellows, aww what a beautiful sight. In the winter, they express a strength that often times we forget, bearing the weight of the heavy Michigan snow-fall. In the spring, they show the birth of new life in beautiful shades of green. In the summer, they give us the much needed shade from the heat of the sun. They all look different, they have different leaves, different heights, sizes, and shapes. Yet they share something that some of us never even think about.<br />
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It wasn’t until this summer that I realized the power of this forgotten system that keeps the trees standing in the wild Michigan seasons.<br />
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<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img); });" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs403.snc4/46622_1378846591999_1256910100_30898612_3008793_n.jpg" style="width: 393px;" /></div></div><br />
In the beginning of the summer I did my own little study of Colossians. I read and re-read Colossians; I’m not really sure how many times. In typical fashion, God always showed me something new that I swear was not there the first time. Colossians 2:7 seemed to be the one verse that stuck out the most, and just so happened to be the cornerstone verse that shaped my whole summer.<br />
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<i>“Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving."</i><br />
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HA! What an incredible verse. <br />
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What does that even mean? The roots, the very essence of who you are, the core of the person on the inside planted in God— fixed on Him, having a firm foundation in Him. To be rooted in God is the firmest foundation that someone can have. Think about it. In the natural, we see trees everywhere, especially in this beautiful state; what is at the bottom of every tree, roots. When we see a tree, it is solid. When the wind blows, it is not shaken. When the seasons change, the tree stands strong. When the storm comes, the tree cannot be moved. Why?<br />
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What is the one thing that will hold a gigantic tree up in the fiercest of storms—roots. What nourishes the tree through all kinds of weather—roots. What is the very source of life in a tree—it’s roots. A-ha, it is not much different in the supernatural. God is the source of life, He is the strong tower, we can run to Him in any kind of weather and any kind of storm and He will shield us, when we are down and dreary He nourishes us. When our roots are planted deeply and firmly in Christ, then it does not matter what happens in the circumstances around us, because we know who we are. Because I know who I am. I know who God says I am, I know that no matter what, the love of Christ will never fail me. I know that my roots are planted in a ground that will never falter.<br />
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I know that my roots, the very essence of Annie Jones are firmly fixed upon the only One who has never let me down, the only One who has never failed me, the only One who has never lied to me, the only One who has never left me no matter how much I deserve it—Jesus. My roots are in Him, and my life has never been better.<br />
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When I made the decision to <i>truly</i> plant my roots and continual fix my eyes on Jesus, it was like I hit this whole dimension of God that I never knew was possible in the 15 years that I’ve been a Christian. I was finally in a position where God could use me on levels that He could not use me before. Summer 2010 was the most rewarding summer of my life. I have this sense of who I am in Christ that is unshakable, because my ROOTS are in Him. But it’s not just a one time thing, the verse says to be continually built up in Him, and to become increasingly MORE established in the faith. It never stops, it is a process of learning and growing, but it starts with the root system.<br />
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I encourage you today, to establish yourself in Christ, to begin the journey of letting your roots be planted in Christ. It is more then just claiming to be a Christian and making a few facebook status’ about God—because we all know enough of those people. It is SO much more than that. It is about being secure in who Christ says you are, it is about having a real relationship with God, and living in a way every single day that represents your love for Him. It’s time to take your life to the next level, get rooted in Christ. I promise it is the best thing you will ever do.<br />
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Thanks to all of you who helped me along the journey this summer, especially all of the En Fuego students and leaders...you are an example of people rooted in Christ and such an encouargment to me!*<br />
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There you have it folks...May you be encouraged to be deeply rooted in the God who loves you very much. More to come later! </div></div>Deeply Rootedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860823530315439747noreply@blogger.com3