Capture the Flag

Our students had a blast playing Capture the Flag tonight.  Here are a few highlights...

getting the flags and snacks ready...

rule and strategy time...

some students came more prepared than others- love the black ninja ready to hide in the dark!

We love our students and are so thankful for the opportunity to invest in their lives- they are great!

Youth Camp

Jeremy and I spent last week at summer camp with our students. It was an awesome time where we got to know each other better, relationships were formed, true worship was experienced, and the students really grew in their relationships with Christ.

Jeremy and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to invest in the lives of our students.  They are an awesome group- so much fun!  Jeremy has been the youth pastor for going on 8 months, but this trip really changed how we look our what we do.  We opened up more to them, and they to us.  They really are "ours" now.

I love it!  Thanking Jesus for an awesome week and our awesome students!  Excited for a fourth of July cookout with them this week!

E-Camp

This week we are taking our students to camp in Myrtle Beach, SC.  I am praying fervently for life change, relationship building, and safety.

If it comes to mind, say a pray for our students that they will draw closer to the Lord and each other.

Road to Recovery Sermon

A few weeks back Jeremy preached at church for our last series- Road to Recovery.  Below is the video link if you'd like to watch.  As always, I'm so proud of my husband- he does such a great job when he preaches!

http://elementc3.com/media.htm

It's In the Works

I've been meeting and dreaming and planning and praying for this new ministry lately.  It's only in the baby stages and no where near launching, but I'm so excited for what the Lord has in store for this new women's ministry!  Would you join with me in prayer over the planning and prep needed to make it a success?

This is What Youth Ministry is all About

This is how I spent my Friday night/Saturday morning.  Spending quality time with our youth ladies at a girl's sleepover.

What a sweet sight this morning to wake up to 10 girls sleeping on our living room floor.  I couldn't help but just praise God for them and for the opportunity He has given us to make an impact on their lives.  This is what youth ministry is all about.

What Women Want

I know it's been quiet around here lately.  I've been busy working on some of my goals for 2012!


I don't know if you noticed, but in my 2012 goals list I mentioned that one of my goals was to launch a women's ministry at our church.  I've been working up a proposal the last couple of weeks, and I'm getting ready to meet with the pastoral leadership this week.  Be praying that I can clearly communicate my heart and vision for this ministry as well as keep my heart focused on the number one goal- women coming to know Jesus and growing in Him daily.  


As I was reading and preparing for the proposal, I remembered this quote that I had read while I was in college.  It's about what women really want in life.  I was so struck with how much it described my own desires, that it is engrained in my mind.  


I thought I'd share it with you today. 


Women generally, no matter their age, religion, or marital status, want basically the same things: 


 In their relationships with men, they want faithful fathers, brothers, husbands and sons who love and respect them, rather than mocking, ignoring, or hurting them. They want fun, but meaningful sexual relationships
 In their relationships with women, they want honesty, and true sisterhood, as well as older women who can mentor them.
 They want the satisfaction of bearing and rearing children well.  
They want a place to call home-not simply an apartment or house, but an affectionate, safe "sit by the fire" home where they can be themselves without fear and where others can come to receive something from them.
They want a sense of significance, of doing something that really counts in the world. Something only they can offer.

(via “Does Christianity Squash Women” by Rebekah Jones)

BUT most women have lost hope that this “dream” can come true. 

How about you.... does this describe what you want in life?  Have you lost your hope in this dream?  I pray that through Christ we can all discover abundant life through fulfilling our God-given roles and joyfully serving Him.  I truly believe it is only through Him that these dreams and desires can be fulfilled in a woman's life.  

I'm excited to begin developing a ministry to help women understand that!

A Leap of Faith

The past two weeks has contained another twist in the road for Jeremy and I. We had to take a big leap of faith and move towards what God was calling. In the past two weeks, we decided that the best way that we could serve the Lord and fulfill His calling on our lives would be for Jeremy to quit his job as a car salesman, and for us to again seek a ministry position- even if the position was not paid. It was a scary choice. We knew we could cover the bills with my paycheck, and we also knew there would be little left over. But we always know that God is faithful and will provide. We knew we had to act, or we would get too scared to do anything. We knew that it would be hard to tell people, but we did it anyways. We knew some people would think we were crazy, but we seek the approval of our Master- not friends or family. It's just another chapter in our marriage and ministry journey- one that we have come to understand that we'll never be able to plan out for ourselves. Last week Jeremy was offered the student pastor position at the church we have been attending. At this time it is not a paid position, but what an opportunity! It is a fairly new church plant- only 4 years old, but it already has an average attendance of about 350 each Sunday. (that is great for this area!) They are launching a new campus early next year and there are exciting things ahead! We are excited to dive in head first into this new adventure, seeking to build the Kingdom and reaching people far from God! The details and transition are still being worked out but we are so thankful for this opportunity. Please keep us in your prayers as we move into this position!

Letting Go, Moving On, and Being Real

I’m just going to be real with y’all.  The past two weeks have been full of surprises and struggles and ups and downs.  I’ve tried to write this post several times, but the words just wouldn’t come, the hurts were too fresh.   I’ve alluded to the fact that things weren’t all peaches and cream lately, talking about disappointment, and encouragement from Scripture last week.  This blog is suppose to be a journal, of sorts, of “life with the Jenkins”.  So I want to share the journey the Lord has been taking us on the last two weeks. 

Twelve days ago we were “suppose” to be moving into this sweet little cabin…

We had the boxes packed, the deposit ready, even the linens washed to fill our first home.  I can’t even tell you how excited I was.

Jeremy was suppose to be starting a new job as a youth pastor in the mountains of North Carolina and we were so excited to be beginning a new journey together.

But like I’ve said, our plans are not always God’s plans. 

This story really begins about 7 months ago.  Jeremy sent his resume to the church in February and he had his first interview scheduled at the beginning of  April.  He and I went again for a second interview in May.  We knew that there were three candidates that the church was considering and we knew that they had narrowed it down to two- with us being one of them. 

Jeremy received a call the day before our wedding (on June17th) and the pastor said that the search committee would like to offer him the position, tentative on a church vote. We were sooo excited!  The call couldn’t have come at a better time  and we felt much more secure knowing that a new job was on the horizon, especially because of the fact that we were getting married the next day.

A couple of weeks after our honeymoon Jeremy and I went up to the church to meet everyone for the  first time and Jeremy preached an amazing sermon.   We really enjoyed the day we spent there and we felt very welcomed by everyone at the church. 

Everything seemed to be going great and we started searching for places to live in the area.  We found the cabin, went and visited and knew that was where we wanted to live as soon as the job was official. 

The church is a traditional Southern Baptist church and the church had to have a congregational vote for Jeremy to officially get the job.  We thought it was a done deal.  We really didn’t even consider the “what if” the vote was no. 

Two weeks ago tomorrow,  one simple phone call changed everything we had planned for at least the next several years of our lives.  We didn’t quite get the 75% majority vote that we needed.  We didn’t get the job.  And with those few words, we were left sitting in my parents house, surrounded by boxes and suitcases wondering what in the world we were going to do. 

From that night until now, my emotions have run from confusion, disappointment, heartbreak, rejection, anger, bitterness, sadness, frustration, and finally hopefulness and peace this past week. 

I’m finally loosening the grip on my plans, being ok with the unknown (not fully ok, but much more than before).  I’m not taking anything for sure until it is a done deal. 

It’s been a rough two weeks, but it’s time to let go, and it’s time to move on.  We don’t understand everything, but we do understand that that we are still in the center of God’s will right where we are. 

We’ve actually had a pretty wonderful week this week- Jeremy found a full time job working at a car dealership in Spartanburg, SC (so if you need a new car, you know where to go! ) and I was offered a position as a teacher assistant in the local school system.  We feel so extremely blessed to have been able to find full time jobs so quickly!  We are so grateful for my parents allowing us to stay with them until we can get settled into our new jobs and find a place to rent.  We start our new jobs next week, so keep us in your prayers!

For now, our “plan” is to focus on us and our marriage and just really begin living on our own.  We have been married for two months but still haven’t really been able to be just the two of us.  We’re excited to be able to do that soon!  We’re going to take a break from searching and applying for church jobs and just work and build up our savings and just enjoy life.  We’re not really planning.  We’ve seen where our plans get us so we’re just going to take it one day at a time and thank the Lord for each day He gives us- no matter what it may bring.  I’m learning to trust Him more fully and to live with the freedom of not having my plans written in stone.

“For this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it”

Psalm 118:24

Disappointment

My plans become too final in my head.  I plan and dream and hope, and in my head it somehow crosses the line of hopeful and enters the land of concrete.  I'm learning one step and one day at a time that doing so too often leads to disappointment.

How many times does the Lord have to teach me to trust in His plans, not mine?

Today I headed back to a post I wrote six months ago, and was reminded that we shouldn't write out the plans of our life in Sharpie, but in pencil.  

Jesus, teach me to be an open page who readily accepts the plans you erase to write anew.

Billy Graham Library

My mom, brother, Jeremy, and I all went to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC this week.  It is basically a museum about the life and work of Billy Graham.  I was really impressed with the beautiful grounds, the friendly staff, and the quality of the displays inside.  I would highly recommend it if you are interested in Billy Graham or evangelism. 

The museum is located about 2 miles from where Billy grew up, and includes a newly built barn "library" as well as his childhood home which has been moved to the grounds. It takes about an hour and a half to go through the entire library and house, and is free to the public! 

I really enjoyed the displays and rooms devoted to Ruth Graham, Billy Graham's wife.  I have read several of her books and respect her very much.  Below is her engagement ring that Billy bought for $65 :)

Below is their wedding invitation, cake topper, and her diploma from Wheaton College.  Jeremy is from Wheaton, Illinois which is where both Billy and Ruth Graham went to school.  We have visited the Billy Graham museum on Wheaton College's campus, but I enjoyed the library more.

Here is the Bible that Billy Graham used to preach

I loved these letters that people had written him where they didn't know his address, but wrote his name and "The World" or "don't know address" below. But I guess when you're as famous as him, the post office can figure it out :)

Presidentil Medal of Freedom given by Ronald Reagan

Walking through the illuminated glass crosses to get to the painting by Thoma Kincaid

Billy Graham's childhood home

I loved the inside of the house- it is my colors! 

Jeremy walked into the kitchen first and then came and told me that it was my dream kitchen.  Yep, he was right. I love it!

If you are ever in the Charlotte area, it is worth your time to stop by the museum!  I highly recommend it

In the Center of God's Will

source

Life never seems to turn out like we plan, does it?  We chart out our path, thinking, for some reason, that there will be no twist and turns along the way that we can't see.  Life just hasn't worked out for Jeremy and I like we envisioned it a year ago when we got engaged.  We had planned for Jeremy to find a full time job in the ministry sometime in the Spring semester of his last year at Liberty, for him to start a job a couple of months before the wedding, and for me to move in to whatever apartment or house he had found after we got married.  It seemed like a good plan.  It seemed like a God-glorifying plan.  But it wasn't God's plan, it was ours. 

"The mind of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps."  Proverbs 16:9

We started applying for jobs in November.  Seven months later, we still don't have a job lined up.  I don't think I ever thought to myself that it could possibly take this long to find a job.  But when you're working with churches, the timelines can sometimes be drawn out.  They accept resumes for a month to 3 months, they interview for one to two months, they do second rounds of interviews with a few candidates, lasting another month, they pray about it for a few weeks, they have the final candidate come to meet the congregation, the congregation prays about it for another week, and finally the church takes a vote.  Next thing you know, its been 7 months since you first sent your resume to the church.  It's hard.  But it's life, and it's the way it has to work.  We just for some reason didn't expect it. 

We've had things seem so sure, totally expecting to have a job within a couple of weeks, and then something out of our control happens. We've learned to accept that nothing is a sure thing.  Even with the prospects on the table right now, we know nothing would be finalized probably for another month. 

I'll just be honest, it is hard to deal with the questions, it is hard to deal with people not understanding.  It is hard to hear the question, "so where are you going to be living" one week before your wedding and not be able to give someone an answer, and then have to deal with the look of shock and almost panic on their face for us. 

We have heard many times over the past few months that God will put us where He wants us, and that He has a plan for us.  I'm grateful to be marrying a man who has reminded me that we don't have to wait until we find a job to be in God's will.   We know that we are in the center of God's will right now, a week away from becoming husband and wife and neither without a job or a place to live.  For some reason, this is where He wants us right now.  We don't understand it, but then again who can understand God's plans. 

"Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand His way?" Proverbs 20:24

We are waiting, hoping, and praying.  We've accepted that God's timing isn't the same as ours, and that our plans are not always His plans.  Look at God's promise to Abraham that He would give him the promised land.  What Abraham didn't know was that he was just a small little part of that plan, and that it would be almost 500 years before his descendants came into the land promised by God.  God hasn't ever worked on our time schedules.  We're choosing to have faith, to cling to one another, and to walk through the uncertainty together, knowing that we'll walk out stronger and closer at the end because of it. 

It's kind of exciting though, too.  We basically get an extended honeymoon, a time to focus on us and our marriage for a while without the distraction of going to work everyday and having to deal with the challenges of a new job right when we have a new marriage.  I think it's in a way a blessing in disguise, not one we would have choose, but a blessing none the less.  We know there are stressful days ahead, but also fun and exciting ones. 

We're taking it one day at a time, assured that we are right where we are suppose to be, walking in the center of His will, putting one foot in front of the other, and trusting that the Lord will provide.   

We ask for your prayers, that God would reveal His plan to us and that He would provide in whatever way He sees fit.  Be praying for us, one week from today we'll be getting married.  We have a lot to do between now and then, pray that we will be preparing our hearts while we prepare the details.

Where He Leads, We Will Follow

We want to thank everyone for all the prayers about Jeremy finding a job.  He is still looking, but has several prospects right now.  He has a couple of interviews coming up and a lot of churches where he has applied are accepting resumes until the end of March.  We are expecting the next 2-3 weeks to really determine a lot. 

It has been a scary, new, and exciting experience for us to go through this process of searching and applying for jobs.  We are living by faith, knowing that the Lord will provide.  We have gotten asked many times what we are going to do if Jeremy doesn’t have a job by the time we get married.  We don’t know for sure, but we trust that the Lord will provide- in whatever way He sees fit. 

I’ve learned a lot about trusting in God over the past 3 months.  I’ve learned to be patient, I’ve learned to not be anxious, and I’ve learned to get excited about new adventures.  I’ve learned what a privilege it is that God chooses to use us and intervene in our lives to place us in areas where we can serve and glorify Him.  We’re learning what it means to depend on each other, and how starting our marriage at the same time as possibly moving to a new place is going to cause us to NEED to lean on each other more than we ever have before. 

We are ready and willing to follow wherever He may lead.  We are ready to take risks, to go anywhere.  Whether the Lord places us here in Lynchburg, in North Carolina, across the country, or across the world, we’ll go.  Faith is our invitation for adventure.  We are privileged to be a part of God’s plan, and are ready to follow wherever that plan may take us. 

Please continue to be in prayer for us- Jeremy has an interview for a position at a church here in Lynchburg this week and has another interview coming up in a few weeks.  Pray for peace, direction, and opportunities.

Please Pray

Please pray for my fiance Jeremy and I tomorrow.  He has an interview at a church in North Carolina for a youth pastor position.  Pray that Jeremy will be able to clearly communicate his passion and vision, and that if this is where God has for us, that everything would work out smoothly.  Also pray that we don't get our hopes up, but wait patiently for an answer, and follow wherever He leads.