Trusting God with the "Small Stuff"

Lately, I've been reminded that God cares about even the tiniest details of my life. I think He truly meant what He said when He told us to trust Him with everything.

Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Everything? Really? I always assumed this verse meant "everything" as in everything spiritual or everything I would be too embarrassed to mention in my Sunday school class. But everything, everything? I guess I've never really trusted that God cares about the insignificant worries of my life. He really does care about every corner of my life and that I can truly trust Him with every detail.

God is with us every step of the way, weather good or bad!

Psalm 118:6 and 7- The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.

 

2 Timothy 4:18- The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.

2 Thessalonians 3:3- But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Philippians 4:19- And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

He knows our needs and He knows our desires. He loves us - why would He want anything but what is best for us? Does that mean we will all be wealthy and healthy? No. Does it mean life will always be perfect? No. It does mean that we will grow each day in appreciation OF His care for us.

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding."

Is there evidence that God cares about the "small stuff" in your life?

Can you think of a time when God helped you in a circumstance that was making you feel anxious or unsteady?

Are you trusting Him with everything today?

God Bless,
~Jenna

Hot Dogs and Sin Have More in Common Than You Think.

So I was downing a hot dog for lunch recently (ketchup,mustard, no relish, pickle on the side), and I realized a deep spiritualtruth—sin is a lot like a hot dog. How so? I'm glad that you asked.We all know that hot dogs are garbage, right? We joke that they are made of mystery meat. In fact, I Googled, "what's in a hot dog?" for journalistic integrity. (For the sake of your stomach, don't follow my lead,but know that I can call hot dogs garbage with a clear conscience.) Not only are they made of less than stellar ingredients, they offer very little in the way of nutrition. No vitamins. No minerals. Just a lot of fat and salt with as midge of protein. We all know this to be true. We aren't surprised by the fact that hot dogs have nothing good to offer, and yet we scarf them down anyway. In fact, Americans consume 9 billion hot dogs a year.



So what do hot dogs have in common with sin? Sometimes we choose to sin like we are choosing to eat a hot dog. We know we shouldn't do it. We know the sin won't offer us anything in the form of spiritual"nutrition." We've been warned that sin is bad for us, and yet we take a bite for a fleeting moment of pleasure, control, or self-absorption.

Hebrews 11:25 calls the pleasures of sin "fleeting." Isaiah57:20–21 promises that sin will not make life easier, but instead will cause turmoil. Galatians 6:7–8 warns us that sin is not harmless; it will always catch up to us.

If I could wave a magic wand and grant one wish for you, it would be that you would lose your appetite for sin. I want you to know that God promises that sin can never satisfy and to choose to believe that truth when the opportunity to sin presents itself. I'm not pointing the finger here. I willingly choose to sin, too. There are plenty of moments every day when I have the opportunity to pass on attitudes or behaviors that aren't holy, but instead gobble up the sin even if I have to slather it with lame excuses or justifications.


Can we work together on this one? Can we call sin out for what it is—disgusting—and encourage each other to turn away from sin more and more? My desire for each of us is that our hunger for God would grow more and more as we cut back on our cravings for sin. What ideas do you have for encouraging others to feast on God more and settle for sin less?

Just a bit about me, and my testimony!

Many of you may now I am a Christian meaning I love the one and only God who changes lives. This didn't happen until June 2009. Some of you may know my testimony but those of you who don't...I hope it helps you see that everybody fails some time in their life. I am here to testify that there is always a chance to get back up and do what is right.
I remember always being down. I knew all I had to do was lie my way into attention. Make my life sound miserable and then I would receive the attention I needed. That is not the way it should be!! I had a hard heart and I hated the fact that everyone I knew was so happy and excited about what this "God" person was doing. I would have to admit I despised anyone who would try to speak the truth over me. That meant my parents, my brothers, family members, youth pastor’s even teachers.

I am NEVER going to forget the day my mom announced, "Jenna you are going to Fusion Bible Camp this year!" she purposely did it well I was sitting there eating spaghetti by my very own youth pastors. (Did I mention this was a fundraiser towards the camp.Yeah?)Then I found out that my youth pastor’s wife was the one that talked my mom into it all. Thanks Bre!!  I was so mad. To this day though I am so glad I went.  I was not only ready packing wise or for a WHOLE week with people who I could absolutely NOT stand to be around for the life of me. Well that changed the second I stepped on the bus to leave for this camp. I remember sitting alone on the bus, and feeling like I didn't have anyone there that saw that I was alone and needed a friend. I can't remember much of the bus ride except for the fact that I got chocolate on my pants.And I learned that my youth pastor, yes you Casey, was uber loud and hyper and talkative.  He drove me up a wall for those couple hours :).
Camp was fun. I roomed with some crazy people and I felt accepted for who I was. I had no clue that sometime during that week my life would forever be changed. I loved the worship but I never took it to heart. I also liked the pastor and his humor, but then again I didn’t take it to heart. By the third night I was soooo jealous that everyone in my cabin and youth group were having these huge life changing things happen to them and here I was with nothing out of it yet. I remember sitting in prayer which isn't required but my crazy youth pastor made us attend. I don’t even think he knows that if I hadn’t attended prayer that very night I wouldn't be where I am today. I sat there and it all really kind of got to me that the ONLY reason people were happy and having things happen to them is because they knew God and were living for the right reasons. My first thought was well I don’t know how to ask this "God" person to take my heart and my messed up life. Right then and there Alisa and Betty came up to me and asked if I wanted to accept God and I kind of nodded my head in pure shock, some what unsure and Alisa looked at me and said,” Jenna yes or no." I looked at her and said yes I want Jesus. The second they placed there hands on me I felt free to worship and free to be me. Everything clicked and made sense. Worship started and I asked God to change me, to use me, and to fill me. I was changed and so ready for what God was gonna do in my life, but I wasn’t ready for the many decisions that were to come. There were many challenges I was faced with. Some of them I have worked out and overcome. There are others I am still struggling with. I know there will be a day when I won't have to deal with these problems, God and I will be one forever.
To this day I stand firm in God. Sometimes I wonder why I did this to myself. Why should I be doing this the hard way, there is an easier way? I am here to tell you I have been there and it never works.  Guys there is a person who is there all the time for you to run to and adore. He is there running this race with you. He holds you; He catches every tear that is cried in his hard. He knows your heart, you passion and your fears. He can’t ever give you more then you can handle on your own.
Recently God has really put it on my heart that I can be a light and a witness. He has told me to reach out to the broken and the hurting. One thing you guys do not know about me is I get really bad anxiety and shut down and get shy when I have to meet someone new. Why? Because I have always wanted to be accepted and liked. I have learned that it doesn’t work that way you aren’t always accepted for who you are, there should be an obvious difference between the “average” person and a "Jesus Freak". This world will be changed one person at a time.
 This is my hearts cry. I want to be there for anyone who doesn’t have a person there for them. Guys I am here for you. This is only part of what God has done I have gone to many camps and encounters and conferences but I don’t have enough room to tell it all. I have been through a lot. I am here to tell you I am alive and made it through every part of life so far and I am not going to stop. If you want to know more about me I would like to connect with you.