Season of 40

                                                                  

Season of 40...

Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a season for everything. My season of being 40 years old is up, as my 41^st year is now here. To me 40 is more than the number that comes after 39. Studying the number 40, I learned that God used this number to represent the transformational journey. A caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly in…forty days. In God’s Word, the number 40 is used to show the period of probation before the fulfillment of a promise. Noah and the Ark…40 days. Moses received the Ten Commandments after fasting…40 days. Elijah survived on the run being fed by ravens, then God appeared to him…40 days. Let’s not forget that Jesus fasted in the desert and was tempted by the enemy before going out with the power of the Holy Spirit to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and raise the dead…40 days and nights. There are so many other mentions of the number 40 in the Bible, you should check them for yourself (Plug for God’s Word).

In my season of 40, I outgrew situations and situations outgrew me. My Spirit was fed and my Soul went on a fast. I taught lessons and more importantly I learned lessons. “Knowledge is only power if you apply it”. The word Yes took a vacation and the word No took up residence. I went on a negative diet and a took a seat at the positive buffet. Though I was a new creation in Christ…I was not a perfect one. I had to be forgiven and I had to forgive. For me , I took my season of 40 as Life…it is not always sunshine, but if I continue to allow God to order my steps, He will lead me through my purpose…and give me my rainbows along the way.

Even if you don’t agree with me, thank you for Seeing it Jen’s Way!!!

ABSOLUTE...

On this very day 9 years ago...the woman who gave me life, ceased living hers. The one thing that still resonates with me is that my mom's death was ABSOLUTE. She was absolutely dead lying in that casket. She absolutely would no longer be my compass. My life would absolutely never be the same...The death of a parent is something you never truly get over...you adjust and adapt because you have to and life goes on.

Earlier this evening the devestating news broke that Whitney Houston passed away. My first thoughts were of shock and disbelief. Then I thought of her family. She left behind a child, a mother, a brother, an ex-husband, and a host of other relatives. I didn't pass judgement on the icon that was known as Whitney Houston, I prayed strength for her family. The reason behind her death will not change the fact that Whitney is no longer alive. The one thing that is known for sure is that her death is absolute.

Psalm 30:5...Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Matthew 5:4...Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Continue to R.I.P. Mama...I absolutely miss you.
Thank you for Seeing It Jen's Way.

I Shall Live...And Not Die!!!

Healing: to restore, repair, or cure.Three years ago on this very day, God healed me from blood cots in both lungs. I acknowledge this day every year...not that the devil can get the credit, but so that God can get the glory from my testimony. You see, we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the words of our testimony(Rev.12:11).  To this very day, the doctors are still shaking their heads, both of my lungs were filled with clots. Not a medical miracle, but a miracle of the healing power of the Blood of Jesus Christ. Powerful prayers went up on my behalf and I stood on the word. One of the healing scriptures that I stood on was Psalm 117:18..."I will not die but live, and proclaim what the Lord has done." What is proclaimed out of the mouth is so important. Life and Death are in the power of the tongue(Proverbs 18:21) If you are believing the Lord for healing or standing in the gap for someone else, continue to keep the faith, get a word and stand on, pray...and do the necessary medical treatments. God is no respecter of persons(Acts 10:34), if He healed me, He can heal anyone.  I do not know everything, nor do I walk on water, but I serve the one that does. God is a a lot of things to me, and one of those things being My Jehovah Rapha...The Lord that Heals. Even if you do not agree with me, thank you for stopping by and seeing it Jen's way.

In the Mist...

The first day of December...2011 is almost poof. Though I am at the end of the year that made me 40, I am in the middle of THIS season of my life. A quick definition of middle is not at the beginning or at the end...in between...in the middle. Being in the middle of a thing doesn't always feel good, but I know that I am not alone. Zephaniah 3:17...The LORD your God in your midst The Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness He will quiet you with His love He will rejoice over. Every time I read that, I shout. Even when we are in the middle of situations that don't feel good...always remember that HE is in the mist. Whatever God is in the midst of, always has the promise of restoration and renewal. The blessing is to praise him in middle of it, stay positive, and be encouraged...psst, in the end...you win. Even if you don't agree with me, thank you for Seeing it Jen's Way. 

Peace of Me...

The month is August is quickly escaping me and I have not posted anything this month. Not for a lack of desire, but trying to make 30 hours out of 24 just doesn't add up. Giving away "Pieces of me", I lost my "Peace of me". Peace is a necessity in my life. Changes sometime bring about the lost of peace; in the mist of EVERYTHING going on, I hid a word in my heart. "The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace." Psalm 29:11. I knew there was a lesson in the blessing, but I couldn't see the forest for the trees. It was brought full circle for me today, and God yet again showed me that he was God all by himself. When you try to tell folks about it, it sounds like a lie cause you really don't know how God did it...you just know that he did it. God restored my peace on a situation that was a long time in the making. Now does that mean that my life is perfect? No, never will be. I am so humbled and thankful that God used me...and I let him. Peace Be Still...and it is. Even if you don't agree with me, thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

No Greater Love...

Love, I am not talking about romantic Eros love. Not that you are the moon,stars and all the rest of the galaxy... love. I'm talking about the pure unconditional Agape love. The greatest commandment that Jesus ever gave us is to love one another. We are our brother's keeper. How can we hurt that which we are commanded to love? Folks don't always make loving them easy. Truth be told, some make it darn near impossible...but God. God loved mankind sooo much that he gave his only begotten son. Jesus loved us sooo much that he gave his life. Holding up my arms in surrender, because there is no greater love. Every once in a while you hear about things like movie "7 Pounds", that is not the norm. For most of us, walking in Matthew 25:35-36 is too much."For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." We are so caught up in our own existence, that we neglect our fellow man. It is not about us...it never was. If I'm loving on you and you are loving on me...nobody is lacking. Reality states that you can't feed or clothe everyone in need. The lesson is do something. If God laid someone on your heart, call them up, text, or email. You never know what folks have going on behind the scenes. Sometimes the greatest thing you can do is just listen...not judge, or give our two cents. If you give your two cents let it be of Godly wisdom. Here is the blessing, Jesus died so that we could live. If you are reading this I love you with the love of Jesus...because it is the greatest love I know. Even if you don't agree with me, thank you for taking time to see it Jen's way.

Because It's Really Love...

The season of love continues...So many folks in my life are experiencing this very thing, and it's lovely. A very dear friend of mine will be officially "jumping the broom" this weekend. As long as God stays in the midst, it will be a "till death do us part" situation. God's timing is never our timing. This is what I know to be true: "We don't pick who we fall in love with, and it never happens like it should." When it does happen, there is no denying it. However, most of the time we have to go through "something" to get there. In our 20's, we played or got played. In our 30's, we struggled to recover from our 2nd decade, learned lessons, and got healed. By the time we reach our 40's, we seem to have a better gasp of things. 40 is not the magical decade that everything is perfect, it is however the decade when we come into our own so to speak. Our sense of knowing comes quicker to us. The "list" that we all made has been edited and now seems obtainable. Being over 6ft tall or must have a J.Lo booty is no longer a requirement set in stone. If God is the head of their life, or they love your kids we can work with that. The lesson is I won't try to define love, because it is so complex, it is many things to different people. The blessing is however when you find it, you will know it...Even if you don't agree with me, thank you for taking the time to see it Jen's way.