The Average Jane Journal #25 - How Well Do You Know God?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
What are you thankful for today? Did you make a list the last few days? One of the things that I'm so thankful for right now is my growing relationship with God. I am so thankful that because I have sought God, I am finding Him. I am getting to know God more and more everyday. I love the fact that God is everywhere but He is also so personal and is right beside me all the time.

How well do you know God? That can be answered by what name you call Him, which shows the experiences you have had with God and how intimate your relationship with Him is.

Think of it like this: All the people in your life may call you by different names. Those that have only heard of you may call you by your first and last name, or by Mr or Mrs last name. As they meet you and spend a little time with you, they start calling you by your first name. As the relationship grows, they may call you by a nickname-something that shows their familarity with you. Through the years of that relationship, knowing each other deeper and deeper, they may come to think of you as friend, sister, blessing, listener, always there, etc.

If you have children, they call you mom or mommy. An endearing name from someone that loves and trusts you. You could also be daughter, sister, granddaughter-all names given because of the relationship.

Then you have your spouse. What a perfect example of a daily growing relationship. You start out by meeting, not knowing each other very well-calling each other by first names. You spend more and more time together, the relationship growing with each experience together. Through years together and knowing each other deeply and intimately you could be called honey, babe, lover, etc.

See how your name can change when you are known more intimately? God wants you to call Him by many names, He has many. Study His many names, and cling to those that define your experiences with Him. The more intimately you know God, you will find different names for Him. Is He your Provider, Savior, Rock, Father, Lord of your life?

For more study on God's names, just google names of God. I had so many sites pop up that I decided to just let you find the one that you like the best. I have read a bit of the titus2menandwomen.org site. But this is a personal study, so you find what speaks to you most. I encourage you to find 4-5 names that you can cling to and define your relationship with God.

A great song to help you learn 4 or 5 names of God is "I Love to Say Your Name" by John Waller. Memorization is so easy when it is set to music, so this could be a start to learning some of God's names.

A cool video to watch about what all God is-go to www.youtube.com and type in "that's my king". A lot of different options will pop up. It's all the same words, but different backgrounds and pictures. The one that is called (rock mix edit), has pictures from The Passion movie. I saw a version of this at Leadership Summit and it was so awesome and powerful, especially with a church full of people. I wish I could find the version I saw. Enjoy!!

Have a great Thanksgving!! Seek God and you WILL find Him!!

The Average Jane Journal #24 - Thanks List

Psalm 118:28-29 "You are my God, and I will give You thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

I'm sure some of you have seen the youtube video going around about the parents that filmed clips of their lives with their baby that they knew chances of survival were slim. I watched it this morning, and with that on my mind-then my daily Bible reading and then listening to one of my favorite groups, this journal entry formed.

After watching that video I thought to myself "who am I to complain about anything going on in my life?" Sure, my life is not perfect but I SEE God in my life-what more can I ask for? Yes, things are happening that I did not anticipate but where else would I want to be but in God's will? Who else would I want to be in charge of my life? my future?

The verse above was part of my daily reading and I thought it fit perfectly. The video, Bible verse and the song(below) has inspired me to start a list of all things I'm thankful for. I know, it is a small thing but I feel it is something I'm to do. I would like to encourage you also to start a list, write on it everyday-maybe give yourself a goal to write on it everyday till Thanksgiving then read over it. Maybe read it with family on Thanksgiving. Continue after Thanksgiving if you feel you are meant to-hold onto it for those days when you need to remember what God is doing in your life.

When I thought about what music I wanted to listen to today, my mood chose Selah; one of my favorite groups. The very first song was "It Is Well With My Soul". I told myself that I want to live my life that way. Yes, I'm going to have hardships-but I want to hold onto God and the future He has prepared for me.

If you want to see the video I mentioned earlier, I have included the link. Grab your tissues. Basically I just want to say that we can always find things to be thankful for, no matter what is going on. I desire that remembering that will help you through whatever you're going through. Thankfulness changes us and triggers faith!! (thanks for that thought Pastor John)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkqo&feature=related

If the link does not work, go to youtube.com and type in 99 balloons.

It Is Well With My Soul Words and Music by Horatio Spafford

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, It is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul
It is well, It is well with my soul.

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole
Has been nailed to the cross
So I bear it no more
Praise The Lord, praise The Lord, oh my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound and The Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul.

The Average Jane Journal #23 - God Is Not Shocked

Well, it’s over; have you survived? At least all the commercials and junk mail are gone; we should always look for the good in every situation. (heehee)

First I just want to remind you that GOD IS NOT SHOCKED by anything; we might be, but not God. My God is BIG and if He wanted it to come to a different outcome, then it would have happened. I’m a bit fearful of what His reasons might be, but I also know God can do anything. If He wants to use a situation to show Himself-then He will. But we are called to be faithful to Him, no matter of fear or shock.

Whatever way you voted, just remember there is more to this than just who won. Our country is in moral decline, and while praying for our authorities the subject of moral decline has to be right there alongside that. An example of that decline is how badly the amendment of saying a baby is a human at conception failed. I was truly shocked at how badly that was defeated. But I guess there was a small glimmer of hope of Prop 8 being passed in California.

As I have said before this country needs a revival-a HUGE revival. Our country has a “heart” problem, not a Republican/Democrat problem. This country has turned from God. God has given me such a desire to see a revival, a turning back to Him. I often ask God where is our next Billy Graham? But I guess there doesn’t have to be one person, it’s up to ALL of us. If every one of us prayed for and had a great desire to see a revival, then we would “go out” like we are called. And we would live like we are Christians!! Do you live like you believe God is real and sees EVERTHING you do???

So anyway, after lots of rambling I guess I just want to say that God is in control. We are called to be faithful, no matter what. There was so much talk of prayer before this election, I hope that it will not go away now when it is still needed. I guess I was wrong in my first sentence of this journal, it’s not over. No matter who won or lost-prayer for this country is never over.

I really liked the daily email prayer I got a few days ago.


For Humility and Repentance
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.—II Chronicles 7:14

Holy God, as You move visibly in America, we are quick to speak of Your power and might. We praise and glorify You for such extraordinary strength and love, and thank You for Your faithfulness to our nation.

Lord, enable us now to come to You in humble intercession for our country, recognizing its sin and shortcoming, yet also knowing its potential and greatness. Forgive us for our transgressions, God, as a nation, and let us now move forward into a new day, preparing for a new administration. May we embrace the purpose You have for us. Let us see clearly Your destiny for us as a nation and as a people, and let us seek it, knowing that as we forsake evil, Your grace-filled forgiveness is guaranteed and Your healing is nigh. We ask this, Father, in Jesus’ name, amen.



In my daily Bible reading I was reading Ezekial 16:1-43. It’s a comparison of Jerusalem to a prostitute. Yes, a prostitute!! Isn’t that an ugly thought? But it was because of all the idols that Jerusalem put before God. (some of it was sexual sin, but ANYTHING you put above God in your life is an idol) What is in your life that you put above God? What areas have you not surrendered to God? Can God compare US to a prostitute? That comparison has just stuck in my head, like a shock strategy; just such an ugly image. Maybe thinking of it in a new way will help me to recognize those areas of my life I need to let go.


Don't forget to be praying for our new president.

The Average Jane Journal #22 - Chazown

I just wanted to share some questions with you. Pray over these questions and see where God leads you.


What do I love to do?

What do I do that has a significant impact on others?

What do I secretly believe I can do, but have never tried?

If money were no object, what would I do for the rest of my life?

What really angers me, a righteous anger(not just a pet peeve)?

What brings me bliss?

What good experience might God want to use?

What painful experince might God want to use?

"God knew exactly what He was doing when He created you. God gave you core values, gifts, and experiences. And where those overlap is where His Chazown(dream/vision) for your life explodes in spontaneous spiritual combustion. God has a divine destination for your life. What dream has your Father placed inside of you?" (book Chazown-Craig Groeschel)

What similarities do you see in your answers above? What do you think God is showing you?

The Average Jane Journal #21 - Bridgemaster

Growing up in church, I heard my dad tell a story that has stayed with me all these years. It was a story about a father who had to sacrifice his son to save a train full of people. It was a story to compare God's sacrifice of His Son to save us. For me this has been one of those stories that just stay with you, very impacting. Well, yesterday at church we watched a short video of this story, someone had made a movie out of this old story. It was so cool to see a story I heard so many years ago, and have never forgotten, in a new way. I thought you would enjoy the video, click on link below. If the link does not work, go to youtube and type in Bridgemaster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFpWZPRiknA

The Average Jane Journal #20 - Revival

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

I’m sure you have seen those verses a lot lately dealing with our upcoming election. What do they make you think of? What do they make you want to pray about? I wanted to share a dream I have had for awhile now. I would love to see this country have a huge revival-all across the country from all local government all the way to the top. Can you imagine that? Where all leaders wanted what God wanted? Where all leader’s hearts broke over the same things that breaks God’s heart? Where all leaders studied the Word of God and KNEW what was sin and disgrace?

All these months that I thought about this dream, has made me think of my church upbringing. As most of you know my father is a pastor and I remember having revivals at our churches. I have to say these are not fun childhood memories. Doesn’t that sound spiritual????? Here are some things that stick out, that make me not remember revivals fondly.

**Sometimes, I remember, the visiting pastor would have to stay with us. No child likes that, having to be on best behavior-maybe having to give up your room-you know like when a relative came to visit.

**Growing up, I went to church three times a week; that was a regular week. During revival week, we went every night; FOUR more times.

**Usually when there was a visiting preacher, different people in the church would want to have him for dinner. Sometimes our family would go with the pastor to families’ homes for meals. I hated doing this as a child. There we are, back to that “good behavior”. And I’m not exaggerating when I say there was one family, every time we went to their house I spilled something. I swear I was not doing it on purpose, I do not know why I was cursed. I remember the anxious feeling before every visit to their house. I remember it sort of being joked about by this family while we were there, but I didn’t find it funny because I knew my parents didn’t find it funny.

**I also didn’t like the idea of having to listen to another pastor. My dad was IT for me, and not only did I have to go to church every night-but I had to listen to someone I didn’t want to be hearing.

Like I said, the memories that revivals bring up in my childhood are not anything spiritual. Maybe your memories are different if you attended revivals. I laugh at myself now as I think back to these memories, but also feel a bit saddened. I accepted Christ at age 14, but just see all this wasted time that I did not live a life that God would have wanted. It’s pretty sad that when I think of the word revival, that those are the memories I come up with. I’m sure great things happened at all those revivals from my childhood, but I don’t remember that part of it.

I’m not a child anymore, so I want different memories-a deeper meaning of the word. I dream of this country seeing a revival. I came across an article that someone wrote, that wants the same thing for our nation. I found his comments touching, a definition that matches my dream.

"I think you have to identify what revival is not. It's not just emotionalism; it's not just a bunch of hype; it is not pure excitement. It is not a preacher just standing in a pulpit, hollering and ranting and raving and preaching about fire, hell, and brimstone. It's not about mass numbers of people coming to the Lord Jesus in salvation -- that would be evangelism.

"But what revival really is...it's God's people who have over a season of time grown cold, lukewarm, left their first love, and quite honestly are in a quagmire -- one foot in the world , one foot in the church -- and are thirsty." (written by Ryan Loveing)

We just can’t get past the fact that revival is about God’s people. Sure we want to bring others to Christ, it is our purpose on this earth to be Kingdom minded. But if you think about it, revival has to start with people that already belong to the Kingdom. Revival is reviving, which shows something has to occur that has already occurred before. Think of reviving someone’s life, you have revived them to living again-something they had done before. As God’s people, at one time, we had total “souled out”God hearts, as my pastor just recently said we were “bananas for Jesus”. We need to revive those hearts. We need to want what God wants, need to KNOW what is sin and disgrace, what breaks God’s heart.

So I hope that when you are praying for this upcoming election, on any level, that God will plant the word “revival” in your hearts. I pray that God will give you a desire to dream for a revival in this country. We need to be AWAKENED!!!! It’s up to God’s people!!

“Awaken” by Natalie Grant

Sometimes I feel like I'm just existing

I'm not really living

I'm only watching the time slip away

I've forgotten who I am in you

I'm not who I'm meant to be

I'm drifting farther away from my destiny

[Chorus:]Awaken my heart, awaken my soul

Awaken your power and take control

Awaken the passion to live for you, lord

Awaken me

My soul is longing, my heart is searching

I'm desperate for you to move

Give me a hunger, pull me closer I'm crying out to you

Awaken my heart, awaken my soul

Awaken your power and take control

Awaken the passion to live for you, lord

Open my eyes so I can see your presence Dwelling inside

Wake me up, cause I can't live another minute if I'm not shining your light

Awaken my heart, awaken my soul

Awaken the passion in me

Lord, awaken me to live my destiny

Lord, awaken me and shine your light through me

Lord, awaken me to live my destiny

Lord, awaken me and shine your light through me

The Average Jane Journal #19 - Ask God to Disturb You

“Most people die waiting! Yes, some go quickly-but for most of us we will die in bed-waiting!
Imagine yourself lying there, in bed and reflecting. Will you lie there with no regrets? Some regrets? Nothing but regrets?
The decisions you are making today are actually making the bed you will lie in while you wait to die.”

Wow, that’s quite morbid, right? But it might have gotten your attention. I want to suggest a book to you that I just started. It’s called Chazown, by Craig Groeschel.

Chazown is a Hebrew word meaning vision, dream, or revelation.

“Where there is no vision(chazown), the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18

Are you living your life with purpose and passion? What did God create you to do? What is your God given vision/dream?

What if your life changed the world even after you were dead?

What is your mission on this earth? What were you designed to do? Psalm 139:13-16

Do you have a desire to know what God designed you to do? Ask God to reveal it to you, and glorify Him with your life. How does living with focus, endurance, peace, and passion sound? This is a life lived knowing their chazown.

“God’s vision for your life is bigger and better than you’ve had the courage to even hope for. Your God is that good. That strong. And He loves you that much.”

“Are you willing to let God disturb you with dreams so big that you don’t know how they’ll be accomplished?” I love that question!!!!

I pray that this small taste of the book will spark in you a desire to know God’s vision for your life. Start praying about it, ask God to disturb you!! I have only read the first chapter-I can’t wait to see what God shows me. Maybe you will want to read it also.