"Ain't nothing sweeter than a Georgia peach."

Georgia...the land of peaches as my sister would say.

  This past week I have spend my time in Georgia/Alabama. What an incredible week I have had! I came down to Georgia for several reasons but primarily I came down to visit my best friend, Liv Lawnick. Liv and I met about 5 years ago at Newberry College in South Carolina. She was one of my athletes and I her athletic trainer. Liv and I did not become close until we both ended up moving to Columbus, GA in 2013. Now, if you would have asked me to chose one person from Newberry to bring with me to GA, it would not have been Liv. Liv and I were friends but not close and not someone I typically would call up to hang out with. We were in different stages of life. When I moved down to Columbus, GA, Liv was the only person I knew and she invited me over for dinner. Sense then our friendship has grown tremendously and we both have been through so much. She is my best friend. She is the person I can call up in the middle of the night and cry to. She is the person I can FaceTime 10x a day and not get bored. She is "my person." 

  I went on my first job interview for a physical therapist assistant position. The interview went great and I am eager to get started working wherever God leads me. I am not praying specifically for a position but just praying for God's guidance. 

   I turned 28 down here. Liv and I carried on our birthday tradition of thrift store book shopping! We both LOVE to read and kind of have an addiction to buying used books. After our binge shopping of books we went to get Mexican food at my favorite restaurant down here, El Carrizo. We topped off the night by going to Bruster's Ice Cream. Some may think, "What a boring birthday", but to me I enjoyed ever minute of it. 

   While I was down here, I also had a great opportunity to attend the Global Leadership Summit. I got to hear from some great speakers such as, Bill Hybels, Sheryl Sandberg, and Gary Haugen, to name a few. I will do another post on my experience at the summit later and go into more detail. I highly recommend the summit to anyone, even if you do not consider yourself a leader because everyone is a leader in some way.

   Another huge reason I came down to Georgia is to attend Cascade Hills Church. I talk about this church a lot because it has had a huge impact on my life and it is why I have a desire to be back down in this area. This church is AMAZING and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. This church gives you the opportunity to get plugged in as little or as much as you would like. Their is literally a bible study, small group, or church service you can attend and be a part of every day of the week. They do a really good job incorporating all ages as well. Living in so many places I have come to realize that my age group often times gets neglected and it's really frustrating, so I took advantage of the opportunities while I was here. On Saturday, I attended the Women's Fitness Group and got to meet a handful of ladies to workout with and fellowship with. Saturday night I attended the Young Professionals bible study. Following bible study I attended church service where I got to worship and here a great message from Pastor Bill Purvis. Following service Liv and I got to have a great conversation with Pastor. On top of all of that, we got to have shaved ice after church! Now, if you know me you know how much I LOVE shaved ice!!! 

   Today was the best of all the days here! I got to baptize Liv! What a great experience and opportunity! I am so happyy for her and I can't wait to see her life continue to flourish. 

   I have one more day down here and although it will be sad to leave my best friend and the church I love, I know that I will be back soon. I may even move back here if it is where God guides me. 

    After completing my 100 happy days and enjoying my trip down here, I will be taking some time away from social media and tuning in more to God. From August 16th - September 6th I will be fasting from social media. I need some time away from the distractions, the negativity, and I need to dedicate the time i spend on social media to God. I will still continue to blog as I feel more connected to God through my blogging and don't really consider a distraction but a channel for me to express my thoughts and spread God's word.

- Jenn 😘

   

Purpose Driven Life Day 24

Day 24, May 24th, "Transformed by Truth"

   - Acts 20:32 says, "Now I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends." God gives us everything we could possible need. He shows us and tells us in His word. "Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth." (Rick Warren). In order for us to grow spiritually we must fill our lives with the word of God. God speaks things change, everything around us was created by God. "God's Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever!" (Rick Warren). God's word is as essential as food to us. We need spiritual nourishment to fulfill our purpose. More often than not believers have "spiritual anorexia". We need to make make abiding in God's word 1st priority:

ABIDING IN GOD'S WORD
    1. I must accept its authenticity
        - God's word is the authoritative standard of life, compass for direction, counsel to listen to make a wise decision, and a benchmark to evaluate everything. Troubles come because we base our choices on, culture (everything everyone is doing), tradition, reason (logical), and emotion. Proverbs 30:5 says, "Every word of God is flawless." We need to see what the Bible says first before we make any decision in our life. There are times in my life where I wish I would have followed exactly what the Bible says, I would be better off. We are not going to get God's blessings if we are not obedient with what His word says.
     2. I must assimilate its truth
         - We must receive the Word of God. We must listen/accept with a open attitude. If we are not learning something from reading the bible or from a sermon we need to check our attitude. God can speak even through the most boring teacher when were are humble and receptive.
        - We must read God's word. If we read the Bible 15 minutes a day for a year, we can read the entire Bible in a year. If we read for 30 minutes a day we could read the Bible twice a year. All of us can make time for this. "Daily bible reading keeps you in range of God's voice." (Rick Warren). If you are having a hard time hearing God's voice, dig into his Word.
        - We need to research and study the bible. Ask questions and write down our thoughts. Keep a journal. Write down your prayers, your notes from sermons, your answered prayers, everything!
        - Remember it. You remember what is important to you. Reading and reflecting on God's word helps us resist temptation, make wise decisions, reduce stress, build confidence, offer good advice, and helps us share our faith with others.
         - We need to reflect on it - meditation. Meditation is focused thinking. We select a verse and
reflect on it over and over and over in our head. "If you know how to worry, you know how to meditate." (Rick Warren). Like I've said before I should be a expert meditator because I know how to worry. I need to take that energy of worrying and turn it into mediation on God's word.
      3. I must apply its principles
          - We must put all that we learn into practice. Satan fights us on this. He doesn't care if we go to bible study and read the bible, he cares when we start applying it. Blessings come from obeying  the truth in God's word. John 13:17 says, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." We have to obey God in order to get his blessings no matter if its difficult or painful. "The truth will set you free, but first it may make you miserable." (Rick Warren). We have all been through things that have made us miserable but in the end we are better off. It is important to discuss personal
applications in our lives with others that we trust so that they can help us make wise decisions. This is why is it important to have a small group and a church family. "We always learn from others truths we would never learn on our own. Other people will help you see insights you would miss and help you apply God's truth in a practical way." (Rick Warren). Be careful who you take advice from though.

Point to Ponder: The truth transforms me.
Verse to Remember: "If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32
Question to Remember: What has God already told me in his Word that I haven't started doing yet?

Purpose Driven Life Day 15

Day 15, May 15th, "Formed for God's Family" 

  - God wants a family and created each and every one of us to be a part of it. Ephesians 1:5 says, "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure." God didn't need a family He desired one. When we place our faith in Christ, God becomes our FATHER and we are apart of His family. This means all other believers become our brothers and sisters and the church our spiritual family. Rick Warren says, "Every human being was CREATED by God but, not everyone is a CHILD of God." In order to become a child of God you have to be born again. This means believing that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. "You become part of the human family by your 1st birth, but you become a member of God's family by your second birth." Rick Warren. The invitation to be a part of God's family is universal, it is having faith in Jesus. I know we think that our family here on earth is very important and they are but, our spiritual family is even more important because that family will last forever. Our family here on earth is fragile, the family can be broken from divorce, distance, growing old, and/or death.

BENEFITS OF BEING IN GOD'S FAMILY
   - The benefits of being in God's family are simple:
        1. We are given the family name
        2. We are given the family likiness
        3. We are given the family privilages
        4. We are given the family intimate access
        5. We are given the family inheritance
   - Galatians 4:7b says, "...and sense you are His child, God has made you also his heir." Heir is defined as a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death. "Here on earth we are given the riches...his grace...kindness...patience...glory...wisdom...power...and mercy but in eternity we inherit even more." Rick Warren. The 5 things we inherit when we go to heaven are:
   1. We will get to be with God forever
   2. We will be completely changed to be like Christ
   3. We will be freed of all pain, death, and suffering
   4. We will be rewarded and reassigned positions of service
   5. We will get to share in God's glory
Rick Warren says, "The eternal inheritance, not retirement, is what you should be looking forward to and working for." We need to look forward to eternity in heaven more than our retirement.

BAPTISM: IDENTIFYING WITH GOD'S FAMILY
  - Baptism is publicly proclaiming your faith. It signifies your inclusion in God's family. Baptism symbolizes your death to your old life and announces your birth to your new life. When I was growing up I grew up Lutheran, we were "baptized" as infants. Once I got in college and after college I started going to other churches and really felt that I had not truly been baptized. I did not have the choice when I was a baby, my parents chose for me. When I was doing a internship at Newberry College in Newberry, SC my baseball players invited me to church. I did not know they were doing baptism that Sunday but they were. I felt the tug in my heart to go up and get baptized. I went in my jeans and a t-shirt and was baptized right then! It was the greatest feeling! Now, baptism doesn't make you a member of God's family, only faith in Christ does. If you have not accepted God into your heart then being baptized doesn't mean anything. You have to accept God into your heart first and then get baptized. Baptism is like an act of initiation. It should not be delayed, once we accept God into our hearts we can be baptized that very day.

LIFE'S GREATEST PRIVILEGE
  - Jesus makes us holy. Being included in God's family is the highest honor and greatest privilege you will ever receive. If you have not accepted God into your heart and believe Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior you can say this simple prayer:

   Dear God, Thank you for loving me, enough to send Jesus to die for my sins. I believe he rose from the grave. I believe he is Lord. Come into my life and save my soul. Thank you for loving me today and receiving me into your family. 
    Amen


If you prayed this prayer please comment!  I'd love to hear from you and help you grow in your faith.

Point to Ponder: I was formed for God's family.
Verse to Remember: "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by brining us to himself through Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:5a
Question to Consider: How can I start treating other believers like members of my own family?

Remembering EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON!

First off, I apologize for not writing for a long time but I have been through so many ups and downs. Good news is I have been in remission for 3 years now!!! I came to the realization today that I have a blog that is titled "Everything Happens for a Reason" yet, I struggle with believing that. Currently, I am going through a hard break up and I am learning to trust in God and trust in myself. Every day is a struggle for me. Each day I wake up and I feel the devil on one shoulder trying to bring me down and God on the other side picking me up. I was so invested and so committed to this relationship, I sacrificed so much and loved so deeply. I forgot a lot of the values and rules that God has given us, I lived with the guy before marriage. Now I know that living with your significant other before marriage is common these days but its not biblical and God's not going to bless the relationship if you do not follow the rules he has laid out for us. We are both christian's and knew better but due to our own selfish wants and financial gains for moving in together we lived together. Now I've learned my lesson and I will not do that again and I will seek God more and follow his laws that he has laid out for us. Don't get me wrong I do not regret the relationship at all I have learned a lot and I have grown a lot in many areas of my life. I am physically stronger and healthier. I am spiritually the strongest I have every been. Mentally I'm a work in progress as the ending to our relationship ended by him telling me that I am everything he wants in a spouse, I made him happy, but I did not get "God's vote in marriage". That messes with my mind a lot but I am working through it and will be stronger and closer to God with the battles I am facing. Financially he taught me so much from tithing to saving and eventually investing. I've learned that everyone comes into your life for a reason, a season, and a purpose whether good or bad. I have so many good memories and some not so good memories but the good memories far out way the bad. Thank you TJ for all the good memories, I am grateful you were a chapter in my life.

But here I am and I have a blog that is titled "Everything Happens for a Reason" but do I believe it? I'm struggling hard with that, this guy was everything I wanted in a spouse. I felt secure with him and he filled the voids I had. I had a warm feeling with him and now its gone. It's been about 5-6 weeks now and I have gotten closer to God and I'm learning a lot about myself and a lot about what exactly I want. I've been in a difficult situation sense he is deployed, I've been living with his family in AZ to finish school and again save us money while he is deployed. I am moving back to Ohio at the end of the week, finishing my clinical assignments for physical therapist assistant school, taking my boards and then I will see where God directs my life from there. I'm learning more then every to lean on him and trust in him. I struggle with once I am happy and things start going great in my life I stop spending my quit time with God. I feel when I am with a guy I get some idolatry going on with them and its not right. I need to also put God above all and lean on him all the time not just when I am going through a storm.

I've met some great people through social media pages and blogs and some old friends that are here to support me every step of the way and through every minute of the day when I need them. My family as well have been very supportive. A few songs that are getting me through these difficult times are "Every Storm Runs Out of Rain" by Gary Allan, thank you Brett Macy for that suggestion. Another song that was on my phone and came on when I got in the car all the time is "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue. Now, this song when I heard it would make me so angry because I would think of my ex and be like no your not by my side but one of my friends, Justine Carlson sent it to me in a email and it made me realize that this song isn't about a worldly man being by your side its about God being by my side through everything. All worship songs have helped as well but the one that gets me every time and has sense I was baptized is "Whom Shall I Fear" by Chris Tomlin. Whenever I hear this song I feel God's presence and I know that something good is about to happen in my life. It puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it.

I recently started rereading Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I have read it before and you are suppose to read a chapter a day and take it in journal about and talk about it with someone else. My best friend Liv Lawnick and I are doing it together and I am going to try to blog about it every week to show what I am learning and growing. There is 40 chapters and 40 days is very spiritually significant time period in the bible. God shows that 40 days is a spiritually significant in many ways. He shows whenever he wants to show someone there purpose he takes 40 days. A few examples of this is Noah's life was transformed by 40 days of rain and Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai. For the second time reading this I am going to go through it like you are suppose to a chapter a day for 40 days and see what God shows me. Now I think I know my purpose and through sermons I have heard throughout the years especially by Bill Purvis at Cascade Hills Church in Columbus, GA, I know what my spiritual gifts are they are serving. I feel so fulfilled helping others and having an impact on there life. It's taken me a long time to figure this out but physical therapy is definitely what I am called to do its just where? in what setting? in which state? and with what type of people? I hope to learn the answer to these questions over the next 40 days and the months leading up to taking my boards and applying for jobs.

Another friend of mind recommended some sermons to listen to to get me back to "baseline". I have only listened to 2 of the 7-8 he has recommended but they have really helped me understand EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. The two I've listened to so far are both by Rick Warren. The first one is titled "Winning the Hand you are Dealt" and the second one is titled "Transformed: Change your life by Changing your Mind". Both have been
amazing and I highly recommend listening to
them, they can be found on youtube. Also any sermon by Bill Purvis or Brent Purvis from Cascade Hills Church, they have a app or you can go onto there website and listen to them.

It's all about finding myself again! Finding Jenn. It's amazing how in one instance you can think you have your whole life figured out and in the next your lost. I will get through this and I will bounce back stronger and better then ever. God is bringing me back to Northeast Ohio for the time being and as much as I don't want to go back to my hometown and live with my family again, no offense family :) I'm just 27, I know God has a purpose for me there. I pray he reveals it to me. I think I know what is. I think I am suppose to help my sister get back in church and get saved. I think I'm suppose to help my brother's girlfriend find her purpose. God has a plan and it will be revealed. I know I don't want to stay in Ohio but he is calling me back there for the time being so I am going to embrace it. We will see where God leads me from there once I graduate and pass my boards. He's got a plan and I just need to TRUST HIM.