Quite frankly -every since I was a small child -I've hated the word 'change' ...it meant something had to be different whether it was something small like a piece of furniture being moved to the other side of the room or a wall being knocked down (which happens often in my house purposefully - LOVE U MOM) or something major relating directly to Jena - like for example a failed relationship or something in my character that needed adjusting. But anyway, I was recently accused of having a 'stub - born' ;) streak. Yeah, believe it or not this girl can get feisty...and sometimes unfortunately if I am not careful it sneaks up in me and out of me. YIKES!!! So as I am now 24 years young :) ...you would think that I would have this change thing down pat...at least a little. But no -ugh ! God is reminding me that I am 'a work in progress' I am glad he sees the end - the finished project - because sometimes I wonder if it would be easier if he just toook me out. (took out meaning like with a gun - gosh the brother influence popping up here) Nways, after all my babble Enoch (our new pastor here and my good friend) reminded me today that we are called to change.
Genesis 12:1-9 'Then the Lord said to Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives and your father's family. Go to the land I will show you. I will make a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make you famous. And you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you. I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you." 'So Abram LEFT Haran as the Lord had told him. And Lot went with him. At this time Abram was 75 YEARS OLD. Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and everything they owned. They took all the servants they had gotten in Haran. They set out from Haran, planning to go to the land of Canaan. In time they arrived there. Abram traveled through that land. He went as far as the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. The Canaanites were living in the land at that time. The Lord appeared to Abram. The Lord said, "I will give this land to your descendants." So Abram built an altar there to the Lord,who appeared to him. Then Abram traveled from Shechem to the mountain east of Bethel. And he set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. There Abram built another altar to the Lord and worshiped him. After this, he traveled on toward southern Canaan.'
Also read Eph. 2:1-10 & Romans 12:1-2
This man Abram LEFT - he was 75 and yet God was telling him to CHANGE DO SOMETHING/BE SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT. Guess if a old man can change a 24 year old girl has no right to shake her finger at God - and say "ARE YOU FOR-REAL??? " ....Plus he can snap my finger in half if he wants....Just a thought
Genesis 12:1-9 'Then the Lord said to Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives and your father's family. Go to the land I will show you. I will make a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make you famous. And you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you. I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you." 'So Abram LEFT Haran as the Lord had told him. And Lot went with him. At this time Abram was 75 YEARS OLD. Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and everything they owned. They took all the servants they had gotten in Haran. They set out from Haran, planning to go to the land of Canaan. In time they arrived there. Abram traveled through that land. He went as far as the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. The Canaanites were living in the land at that time. The Lord appeared to Abram. The Lord said, "I will give this land to your descendants." So Abram built an altar there to the Lord,who appeared to him. Then Abram traveled from Shechem to the mountain east of Bethel. And he set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. There Abram built another altar to the Lord and worshiped him. After this, he traveled on toward southern Canaan.'
Also read Eph. 2:1-10 & Romans 12:1-2
This man Abram LEFT - he was 75 and yet God was telling him to CHANGE DO SOMETHING/BE SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT. Guess if a old man can change a 24 year old girl has no right to shake her finger at God - and say "ARE YOU FOR-REAL??? " ....Plus he can snap my finger in half if he wants....Just a thought
3 comments:
hmmmm....funny how a girl who trusted God to send her all the way to Africa is suddenly stressing about change. =) You must be one of those...aw, what are they called? oh yeah, humans!
Praying for you and missing you.
hi Jena I found your blog on a Google search. I live in Uganda and work for a study-abroad program that brings American students here. I'd love to talk to you about potentially sharing informally with our students about your life and work here. If you would contact me or reply here with how we could be in touch personally, that would be great! Thanks!
This is Amazing. I agree that we are all called to change. If an amount of time has passed without any difference in my life I would wonder how connected I am to Jesus, because we ARE all works in progress and none of us are done- no matter how much we may want to believe we are (myself included).
Ryan and I are currently faced with a number of choices about running an effective ministry that are not popular at church, however I heard something that has really stuck with us and had become our slogan. Change is neither good nor bad, its a fact of life with Jesus. It is only our attitude about it that can be good or bad. Just thought I would share, as you have encouraged me today. I know that you understand. As I sit and look around at our fourth apartment in 5 years of marriage because God knows change keeps me humble, I came across your blog for the first time. Love you! You are my hero.
Also, I believe we share a simialir heart, as I want to devote my life to the needs of African-American children here in Baltimore. I just thought it might be nice if you knew that someone understands that heart... I do, and because it was encouraging for me while I was looking at your pics. to know that I wasn't alone in this. Its a big deal :).
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