Palms

1 Kings 6:31-32 He constructed doors of olive wood for the entrance to the Inner Sanctuary; the lintel and doorposts were five-sided. The doors were also carved with cherubim, palm trees, and flowers, and then covered with gold leaf.

A few friends posted the suggestion and photos of putting palms on your front door for palm Sunday. We have palms in our front and backyard. I was going to cut one or two, but I realized my husband already had. I added them to our Easter sign. I love it! I love palms and all things green!

Thank you Jesus for showing up on the that Palm Sunday ages ago. Thank you for being willing to enter into the week that You knew would end in the cross. I thank you for being brave. I thank you for being the Savior we all needed then and need now.

The verse up top of this page was from the old testament. I wanted the Biblegateway search of “palm” to reveal to me in God’s word where palms were. It was intriguing to me that they decorated doors within the inner sanctuary with this symbol. Palms were a part of their culture and landscape.

Now, I kind of want to add flowers to my front door for Easter! I think I will. My childhood church growing up had a cross that you could add a flower to on Easter Sunday morning. I have a camelia plant blooming right now. I may cut a few of those and also pull my flowers from our secret garden to our front porch. We need to make all things cheerful right now for us and for others who walk by!

This verse also mentions gold leaf covering the door. I think that would be a bit much for a front door, but I kind of do want to paint our front door. I love to paint things! I recently bought a set of watercolors with our son. He and I ventured out to the craft store before we were asked to stay home fully. I am so glad that I did go and buy those because I’ve revived my high school sketch book with some doodles and drawings with color!

Color enhances things. What is your favorite color? Mine is green. Green is good for today–Palm Sunday. Will you find some green things to liven your mood today? Perhaps you have something green you can adorn your door with?!

Dear Lord, It’s all about you. This day and everyday. I pray we continue to look to You each day we wake, and each day we fall asleep. May we never cease to pray for those in need. May we never cease to acknowledge that Your Word is full of messages for us. Help us to crack open our Bibles or bring up Biblegateway.com to search for messages. Give us open hearts and doors that are cheerful for our own joy and for the joy of those that pass by! AMEN.

Continue to Give Now

Malachi 3:9-11 [Full Chapter]
“Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. “You ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ “The tithe and the offering—that’s how! And now you’re under a curse—the whole lot of you—because you’re robbing me. Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers.” The Message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

Today’s Five Minute Friday prompt is NOW. I found that the Message Bible on Biblegateway.com had 1122 mentions of the word NOW. I picked their highlighted verse from the top of the page. It seemed fitting as yesterday my husband said he needed to write the check to the church and send it in now that our church doors are close for Sundays. We haven’t been going the last four weeks anyways do to spring break then the virus. We have been tuning into Facebook Live church, but we haven’t put a tithe into the golden plate in quite some time. I’m thankful my husband remembered it is something we need to do NOW, today.

Giving to the church and giving to other is something we need to do NOW!

I prayed and chatted with a mom friend of mine on the phone last night. We discussed how NOW is the time we need to be the church. We need to reach out and give to those less fortunate. We need to drive our goods to the schools for food pantries. We need to pray for those families that are living in poverty. We need to open our hearts to HOW we can give NOW.

Do you have a creative suggestions on how we can give NOW?

My husband will drop the church check off to the church office today and pick up cards for me to mail to those in the congregation that may need a pick me up. It’s something I can do this weekend. I love writing out snail mail. I can do that NOW that times have changed, and I have more free time on weekends at home.

Dear Lord, You are the heart maker. Forgive me when I close my heart to only my own family. Give me an open heart to serve others, give monetarily from our blessings, and pray daily. Thank you for friends that still surround me through text and phone calls. Amen.

He Will Cover Us

This verse or verses like this have been coming up time and time again for me. I love the image of God being our protector. He is our refuge. He is our strength. He knows we need Him close. He will cover us.

Do you feel like God has your under His wings?

The birds soar. The birds know where they are going. The birds take care of themselves and their young in the wild. We are in a wild time. We don’t know where we’re going exactly. We live in a time that requires protections from a dangerous virus, fear, financial stress, parenting difficulties, and many other woes. May we look up today, and may we see a bird. May we see that God is like that! He has us under His wings.

Dear Lord, You are our protector. Forgive me when I forget that You are close to me when I need you. Thank you for Your covering—peace, hope, love, and grace. Give us the ability to “fly” through today whatever it may bring. You will cover us. Amen.

Always

Hebrews 7:25 The Message (MSG)

^23-25 Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced. But Jesus’ priesthood is permanent. He’s there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them.

Jesus’ priesthood is permanent…He’s always on the throne. He’s there in the past, present, and future…for US. He will save everyone who comes to God through HIM, and He’s ALWAYS on the job to speak for US. Another version of this same verse…

“He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He ALWAYS lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 NIV)

He will intercede for us ALWAYS. That is a reassurance in the current days before us. It reassures me that each death that happens, He is on the throne to speak for them. Not sure what He’s saying about each person of course, but I can imagine He gives an account for the way the person lived and loved. I know that I, too, will go before the throne of Jesus. He will be there to greet me. That is a beautiful image. I pray that when my day comes I will have lead the life that please our Lord. I’m not perfect, but I am saved.

Dear God, You are ALWAYS our high priest. Help me to reach heavenward today and in my final day. Give me the Light of Your Love today and ALWAYS. May the sun light my path through the office window, and may I take time to go outdoors to relish in Your creation. I pray that you will forgive me for the times I don’t reach for You and instead reach for stuff or people that cannot fill the void in my soul that was carved out at my birth for YOU. Thank you for Your death on the cross for ME and for all of the people on this Earth. May we take this time of quarantine to focus on Your Word and how we are living our lives to glorify You. Amen.

Why Complain?

Isaiah 40:28-31 The Message (MSG)

^27-31 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
    or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
    He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
    He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
    And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
    gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
    young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
    they walk and don’t lag behind.

Why would you ever complain Jennifer? Or whine USA? God has lost track of me and doesn’t care what happens to me?

I’m not complaining. I’m rejoicing these days. I am keeping my grateful heart open to what these days hold. I’m praying for those who have woes.

Is our country whining? Yes. Oh yes. I see complaints a plenty on my Facebook feed. People complaining about our President. People complaining about home school. People complaining about how some aren’t following the social distancing rules just right.

God hasn’t lost track of me or you. He does care what happens to me and to you. He is on His throne as usual. Name of God: El Olam—The Everlasting God, The Eternal One.

Thank you Blossom Turner for reminding me of the fact that our God is everlasting and eternal. He is with us from our conception to our death and time in eternity. She encourages 5 minutes of your day to be in the Word. She’s right! We have five minutes (or more) to give to the Holy One at the start of our day. We can do this. We can pray. We can read. We can reflect. We can remember that God is everlasting. He is El Olam. He is reigning over our world. He has not forgotten you or me.

God sent his son Jesus as well. He became an iconic piece of history. He taught us stories, healing, and the power in resurrection. We have the words of Truth to read. We can live this life with the man who is everything!

Jesus, you are enough for me. Click here to enjoy a song that played as I wrote this post. I use Spotify, but I found the song to share on YouTube.

Dear God, You are everlasting and eternal. Forgive me when I get fearful or arrogant. Give me a heart that craves you and trusts you. Give us grace, hope, love, and patience for today.

As I log on to telehealth therapy today, give me the inspiration and creativity needed to fill 30 minute sessions with preschool and elementary kids who have been home a little too long. Give us smooth internet connections and remind me that I’m a small piece in the puzzle of these children’s and parent’s lives.

Help us to all realize that faith can move mountains and our confidence can be in You.

Amen.

Relating to My Spouse

Ephesians Chapter 5, The Message Bible:

²¹ Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.

^22-24 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

^25-28 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage.

I’m relating to my spouse in even more close quarters these days. We both are working from home starting this next week. We will share spaces, and we will be with one another often…morning, noon, and night. How will I treat him?

I will be kind, respectful, loving, and patient. Love is all those things. I have been nudged awake at 5:23 a.m. the last three days straight. I feel as if the Holy Spirit is asking me to wake and write. So, I oblige shortly after this awakening. I had a friend on Facebook claim that she too had an odd wake up time recently that repeated as well. She took time to look at the scriptures that match that clock pattern. She found Truth! I am finding the same. I need to be in the Word daily anyways. Why not follow the pattern!?

I pray that you and your significant other(s) are adjusting to this shelter in place scenario. We have had limited interactions with neighbors and strangers at stores/take out. It is an odd time. We are called to love. We are called to be in relationships. I pray you still have some special people to be at home with. If not…send me a comment in ways that I can pray for you. Being alone now must be harder than ever. I am imagining. Perhaps being in a group is hard too!

Dear Lord,

Give me a heart for Your Word. May it always speak Truth to my heart. Forgive me when I get sucked into the vortex of social media versus spending time in the Bible and other books that may be more edifying. Give us thankfulness for our spouses, family members, friends, and neighbors. Help us to be loving. Help us to be supportive. Help us not to turn our backs on others, but instead help us to greet one another in grace, peace, and Truth.

Amen.

Finding Time to Pray

I sent an email to five friends yesterday to see if they would do a video chat prayer time with me. These five ladies are women that I’ve prayed with in person as a part of Moms in Prayer International. Moms in Prayer is an organization designed to pray over our children and our schools. What a gift.

I was reluctant to start a group about 8 years ago, but I did. My friend Kim in Kansas City encouraged me to start a group in our suburb of Orlando. I had one other mom to pray with at first and slowly it grew to 3 of us then at times 4 of us. I have been praying once a week for an hour with mom friends for about 7 years! There have been brief breaks for life events, work stints, and illness.

Fast forward to this week…when I emailed those five ladies this week I was a bit sad with the replies. Three of the 5 said that they feel time will be occupied with learning how to home school their children (i.e. no time to dedicate an hour to video chat prayer). One said that she’d be open to it (yay!)…even though she isn’t tech savvy. The fifth didn’t reply at all.

I think I may just have to try it out with the one mom friend would try it out, Julie. Julie is from Australia which makes her a unique friend who will like to pray for more than one country! Our world is a fruit basket turned over right now. We need God to help us pick up the fruit!

We need prayer now more than ever for us and for our “schools”. Moms (and dads) are now called to do a unique style of parenting and schooling at a time when we social distance I am craving connection with other women and God. I, too, return to work next week to be a teleheath speech therapist with children. I know it will be hard. That is why I will set aside one hour to pray with my friend Julie. We can do this. We can pray. Our hearts are ready.

Don’t get me wrong…I know these other moms are praying too. I just wish local moms would join me in the praying together part. There is a peace and a power that the scripture led prayers bring that is like no other. If you’d like to know more about Moms in Prayer click here: momsinprayer.org There are prayer sheets that can help guide your prayers via a print out or a mobile view.

He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.1 Timothy 2:5-6MSG

I believe that prayer is special. I believe that prayer is holy. I believe prayer can seem puzzling…where do I start? I know that we each pray in our own personal way. Keep praying. Pray in the ways that make your heart fill. I will pray for us now…

Dear Lord, You are the Divine Time Maker. You have given us 24 hours in a day. From sunrise to sunset You give us time to wake, be, and sleep. When we are awake help us to carve out some time to talk to You. Give us open hearts. Forgive us when we close ourselves off to You or to others. Give us the minds to creatively gather with others in worship, praise, thanksgiving, and intercession. We have a gift of time. Help us to use it ways that please You. Amen.