Deeply Rooted

God and I had a conversation.  Not just one. He talks to me a lot about myself.  And I am so thankful, otherwise I would be in a mess.

Today I am thankful that He told me that He made me different. Not like anyone else. My ministry may not be that of a famous person, a scholar, someone who has traveled all over. But I do get to minister to my sweet love, to my babies, to those who have walked the familiar pathway I have.

Just a girl who loves the country, the outdoors, loves her man and teaching her babies about God.  I will remain deeply rooted in myself. And what matters to my family.

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

Don't be an imitator of others - Be an imitator of Christ

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Ephesians 5:1

Fame

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2

They have lived and now they have all died. Robin Williams, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Princess Di, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Whitney Houston, and the list goes on.  They all have left their mark on this world.  It can be perceived to be good and bad. I have so many thoughts when person leaves this earth. The world erupted when Muhammad Ali passed into eternity.  As I read the comments scrolling the bottom of the screen after Ali's death, I just felt sad and hurt for the millions of people who found false hope in him.  He had supporter's from all over the world, people who believed in what he believed in, just like any other celebrity.  So many people rallied behind him in his victories and defeats, and in his private moral choices.  This is even true for the Elvis's and the Hitler's. Those with such huge fame. Those with large followings and people who lean in and truly love them and respect their opinions, beliefs and teachings.  The world mourns when a celebrity dies.

So I say all of that to say, I am saddened that we as humans rely so heavily on another human for our hope, entertainment, happiness, and beliefs. Yes, it hurts when someone leaves and enters into eternity, but my real point is not that they have died, but is that they lived.  Actually, it is what they did while they lived.  These incredibly talented, famous people were all created by God in his image. And while some used their talents is great ways, Joey Feek for instance.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:27

They were created with a purpose, and with that purpose they have led so many away from Him, and maybe not even on purpose.  And that is something to truly mourn about. And my spirit is saddened.  What if - with their amazing gifts and talents, their platforms, their wealth, their audiences they would have used if for God's Heavenly Kingdom? How would the world have been impacted by their music, their comedy, smiles and laughter?

So my question to myself and to you is: What is your gift? I certainly have no huge audience, or large fan base, but I was still created with a purpose and with gifts.  Are you allowing God to you use your gifts? Your story and testimony? Or are remaining idle or isolated? 

We have been made to be set apart from the world. We are in it, not of it. (John 17:16)

 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.  2 Corinthians 6:17

Essentials for This Life

What are the essentials in your life? Besides the obvious...air, water, food. What do you consider YOUR essentials?

It takes me much longer to actually complete a book these days. And currently, I am only on page 34 of Greg McKeowns' book Essentialsm, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. It is already rocking my world. 34 whole pages in!!

This is our first summer in several years with a very skimpy plate.  No garden, the chickens are all dead, and the cows have all been sold.  So I'm just a regular working mom that gets to come home and love her family.  There is still house work to be done, meals to cook, fights to break up, a husband to love, oh, and a house to build! But I am ever so thankful and excited that this summer we have much less to do!

So leading up to Spring and Summer, I started to think and prepare.  What would I want my/our Summer to look like? Being the planner I am and having a wide open calendar, I started to brainstorm which led to Pinterest of course.  A Summer bucket list, weekly schedules, events at church, small groups, and no time for idleness or boredom.  Oh wait! Hold the bus.  I thought I was gonna have an easy free Summer!

So this takes me back to the book. Priorities. I had never thought of the word priority in a singular sense until I read this book.  We are so used to listing out our Top 5 or Top 10.  And being raised in church of course God is always number 1, right? 2.Husband 3.Kids.....and so on...am I right again? Or is this wrong?  Maybe our priorities have shifted to other things.  The word priority remained a singular word until the 1900's.  Its means the very first or prior thing.  When is it became plural, the term would now mean we have multiple "first" things.  So how can God, husband, kiddos, job, ministry, etc, all be first?   What a grand thought!

So back to Summer and my Priority! Love God. And when I Love God, I love people. By people, I mean my husband, my kiddos, my church, small group. etc.  God will direct my path and make it straight.  I don't have to have a bucket list of activities, a perfect vacation planned, a schedule, and serve at every event at church.

God is so gentle and good. And when I get so overwhelmed by my own brain, he gently nudges and reminds me that its all for His glory.

I hope your Summer is great!

Yes, I know...

Yes, I know that there is a certain weirdness about me...

And I'm ok with that.  I embrace it.

But I will say I think the weirdness is growing. Or just in the normal sense of how Americans live now.. Or maybe I'm not weird..Maybe America has become the weird ones I am becoming more normal!  haha


Anyway, what started out as a way a to feed our family and a hobby is now becoming a way of life. Farming and gardening.  Eating fresh, natural and from the earth. The way God intended for it to be.  Not food from the grocery store packed full of junk, preservatives, and chemicals.  Now, we have to buy some of the that "stuff"...But I am slowly learning how NOT to.  And maybe by learning to do so, we won't have all of the disease and health problems in our family lineage.. So as I am learning, the chemicals are in everything and it is absolutely irritating me! I have gotten rid of so many lotions and body sprays, finger nail polishes...I hate to be wasteful, so as of right now we are using everything up and will replace all cleaning, toiletries, and food items with safe, NON-GMO and chemical free products.  I could talk about this for days on end. But I will spare you.  Just do your research and be careful of what you put in your God given body.  Be a good steward of His planet and the temple (your body). 

Told you I was weird and thankfully my husband is supportive!

I have so many friends and family members who are unhealthy, and have unknown illnesses.  Maybe this is all linked!! I just know I want to give my family the safest and healthiest environment possible. 

My inner hippie and free spirit is coming out.  Don't worry friends, I will always bathe and wear deodorant! :)

Here are some good links:

Wellness Mama
Almost Exactly

Happy Friday!
Jenn

Things that Moms Do

Have you ever noticed the crazy things you do as a mom?

For instance -

I love to sing. It doesn't matter what it is. I can even hate the song. It can be a commercial, a jingle, whatever.  This morning, after I dropped my kiddos of at daycare, I driving right along...singing song after song, every word - Kids Bible Sing-Along! 

HAHA

I immediately texted a friend of mine who would appreciate my state of insanity..

She called me and shared her morning mishap..Much funnier than mine!

She was leaving her house to take her one year old son to the dr.  A few miles from home she realized she had on her fuzzy house shoes! Luckily she had some flip flops in her car.  Geez!

Many times we put two different shoes on, put our clothes on inside out or backwards...Forget to brush our teeth or put on deodorant.

But the kiddos make it all worth!

Jenn

Thirty Five

I turned thirty-five this year. January to be exact. And I love my birthday!  I think birthdays are a big deal.


It's My Birthday! Lets Go Feed the Cows!

So was I thinking today - I sure have wasted a lot of time in 35 years of my life...

Don't get me wrong, I have done some good things, but I sure made some royal mistakes.  A friend told me I was going to love my thirties! And I have...But there have been a few tough times as well.  looking back over my life I think about how we try and teach our kids to obey us the first time we ask them to do something.  Isn't that what God wants to do as well? 

So I am on my journey to a closer relationship with God - and it has been very exciting!  I think of my past and who it has made me.  I just finished up a small group called LIFE - Living In Freedom Everyday.  I don't even know how to put into words what going through this study has been like.
Some weeks I wanted to
quit -
Hide
Give Up

But I kept going back. And it has been awesome. No description of the freedom there is in Christ.  It makes me want to tell everyone I know about this and how you don't have to live so defeated and sad.

So as I start thinking about the rest of my thirties, I want to waste NO time! I wasted enough time doing life my way. 

Hello middle age! I am excited and cant wait!

 

 
 

Sister helps blow out the candles

 
 
 
 

Vines and Branches

Saturday was chicken day...
We turned their house and built a fence so they could go in and out as they wanted.

But as we did that, I started clearing the brush in the woods where the fence needed to go.  It turned into an all day project.  Which I enjoyed.  Husband and Tripp had to leave for ball practice and Josie went on a girl day with my mom. 

So if you follow my instagram you would have seen my post about my progress...

God just spoke such insite! Here are my posts...Happy Monday, Jenn

 I have been working and clearing all morning. Hating these vines!! And then God spoke. Vines and branches. Isn't this what we are supposed to look like. So intermingled with God that you can't which is which. Not a mess, but jumbled up goodness!! I think I will stop clearing now. #formanfarm #vinesandbranches

Ok so God is preaching today! And I haven't stopped clearing yet. A new thought....we can't have new growth if the dead junk is chocking out what is trying to grow. Do you see the new green starting to bud?? Clear the dead junk in your life God says. Let the new thrive!! #goodpreaching#formanfarm