The Artist

To behold your marvelous creation
Is to catch just a glimpse of your splendor
A kiss of your breathe formed the universe
With an exhale existence began
Oh the beauty that exudes from your great design
A masterpiece matched by none
I am but a canvas
And You, the Artist

WAR what is it good for?

Missiles coming from all directions

Dodging bullets from the ultimate assassin

Running faster than I ever thought I could

Pushing harder than I could have imagined possible

Trying to press through to you Oh God

I wanna meet with you

Come fall upon me

Take me over

Fill up my spirit and flow through me

Let me be engulfed in your glory

Numb me to this world

Manifest here in this room as I lay on this floor

Crying out for one more glimpse of you

Like oil, let tears anoint this place for you to be lifted high

I wanna meet with you

See your wonders

Experience all your splendor

Wrap me in your majesty

I wanna meet with you

Leapin' Lizards!~Annie

Play this video while you read...great song....

 I’m so anxious. I want to get to where God wants me but it seems so far away, so far out of my reach. I realize it is in His time and not my own, but the anticipation sometimes makes me restless. Then I begin to wonder if it’s something I’m not doing, if I’m missing some major piece of the puzzle and I wonder if I’m missing it. I have all these dreams and I don’t know how I could ever see them all come to fruition! There are so many! I know that the understanding is beyond me and that surely God has instilled these desires, these visions, in me God has a plan, but the waiting has me eager, He is set to amaze me.  

My thoughts are jumbled in this post. Could be because I’m not usually awake this early (it is 6 am and I have been up for a couple hours) or maybe it’s because I feel so jumbled up in general! I’m praying about taking a big leap of faith (big for me anyways) and I’m excited about it, but leaping is scary! I’m seeking God for guidance in my decisions, asking God to really give me revelation of some things.  I tend to self-examine too harshly, or maybe not harsh enough, I don’t know, but I know that there are areas in my life and spirituality that need to change and grow and this obstacle that I’m looking at is sure to challenge that and push me out of my comfort zone. It would be a good thing but definitely a difficult thing!  I only want His perfect will in my life.

oh and here is a pic of my new hair!

its so red!!!! wooohoooo!

No(every)thing Going on....

I'm sure I have a mind blowing blog post somewhere in me but there is not much to write about and yet SO much I have to write about at the same time! Easter soon, Easter Play, Praise Team is great, and leading kids in worship.....God is moving.....full update soon I promise!

Accomplishments for this week:

Two of the many girls I had to fix up for prom this year, not to shabby for a cosmetologist that is terrified of braiding! Pretty proud of me! All my girls turned out great!

The heArt of Worship

Dictionary.com says that worship (as a noun) is, reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred. (As a verb) The object of adoring reverence or regard, to render religious reverence and homage to, to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thin).

Bible Dictionary says it is: homage rendered to God, which it is sinful (idolatry) to render to any other created being (Ex. 34:14; Isa. 2:8). Such worship was refused by Peter (Acts 10:25, 26) and by an angel (Rev. 22:8, 9). [I have posted these scriptures at the end of the blog]

  I feel that this has been the leading of the Holy Spirit to write this blog. I have prayed that everything I say is in accordance with God’s word and that this is something that ministers to you and helps you view worship in a new way! This is what worship means to me.

 Worship is not about singing or playing an instrument. Worship is an intimate time with God in which you express your love for Him (just as you take time to tell your loved ones how much you care for them). It is about the intent of your heart. What you do to show worship cannot truly be worship unless your heart is set on God. His spirit then comes down and changes your song, your instrument, your dance, your art, and it becomes worship. I am worshipping Him even as I am writing! I believe that God’s favorite moments of our singing and dancing and playing, is when we misstep, hit a sour note, sing the wrong lyric, because when you are so in tuned to Him, none of that matters. You could have the most incredible voice and never please God.

Isaiah 29:13 says:
 The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

 He doesn’t care about the ability. He cares only about the heart behind the voice, the motions, the music, and the words!

1 Corinthians 13:1-3:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

If your actions do not come from a place of love, it means nothing! Worship is a time to love on the Lord! And to let Him love on YOU!

 Sometimes a praise band may play a song you have never heard, or may play a song that you don’t particularly like. In this case you can use the opportunity to worship with your hands and feet by moving and swaying or clapping and raising your hands. You can even worship with your mouth, this doesn’t mean you have to sing, you could take that time to talk to the Lord and tell Him how holy He is, how wonderful and mighty He is, tell Him he is worthy! He wants to hear you praising Him! He deserves it! Think of all He has done for you! Jesus gave everything! He gave His very life! Doesn’t that make you want to show your appreciation and gratitude!? If someone gave you a million dollars surely you would scream, jump and shout! I would jump a little for just a hundred dollars! If we can be excited over something as temporary and meaningless as money, why not be just as excited and even more so, over our eternal God!

 I hope to encourage you to set your heart on God today. In everything you do, let it come from a place of love and adoration! Find a new way to worship the Lord! Worship is a LIFESTYLE!

Exodus 34:14
 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Isaiah 2:8
Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.

Acts 10:25, 26
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.

Revelation 22:8-9
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

Just an encouraging picture of worship from the Hope4Healing concert with Kari Jobe



Rain, lines, skype, and some sweet Jesus Time!

I am sitting in the pick up line at Thomson Elementary.  Its raining and it's a little dreary.  But in a strange way it's kind of nice.  Just me and God, and of course my netbook. And just got a skype from Lee Ann!  I really miss her! But I am so happy for her! I feel like today, the Lord has a happy heart.  Im sure He always does but today, I can feel it.  Tomorrow is the Kari Jobe concert and I could not be more excited! I think the Lord has something special in the works here. God is so amazing! I challenge everyone to have some Jesus time today. And try to see the world through His eyes this week.  Let me know what you see Him doing!

Me waiting in the rain

You Are For Me

You Are For Me - Kari Jobe
(click the link above after you read this!lol)
I sang this song at church today and after such a trying week and much heavy heartedness, I felt like I could breathe again when the final words were sang.  Sometimes we just need for God to remind us "I am for you" and then everything is ok again.  So no matter how deep your valley is, or how dark things seem, or how broken you feel, just know that He is for you! He will always reach down and pick you up.

Time MARCHes on

March is sure to be a busy, yet very rewarding month.  Many birthdays, lots of exciting adventures, and I'm sure lots of stress! lol First off, we will all be missing our co-worker and friend, Lee Ann, she and her husband will be in Ukraine, going through the adoption process for the next three weeks. I'm asking you guys to please take time to say a prayer for them; safe travels, and a smooth and speedy adoption. We are so excited for them! And we will be quite busy trying to take care of her clients! I'm nervous because I know the amazing work I have to live up to! Myrtle Beach at the end of the month for Chloe's TCB competition! Kari Jobe next week! I'm praying for it to be the most radical move of God we have ever seen! I want this place turned upside down. I want God to mess up everyone's perception of worship, and show them just how worthy He is! And of course the new VCC home! It has been a long time coming for many there (not so much for me) but I know that God is positioning us just where we need to be.  This is about to get interesting!

Big Things Happening

Well, in the past few days there have been lots of exciting things going on.  For one, The Vine Community Church, has a home! We are located in the Thomson Door and Drawer Building.  We have all been hard at work getting it ready and we are very excited. And TIRED! lol God is moving and I mean moving FAST! We have a new sound board, speakers, drums, so many things I can't think to name because I am just so sleepy! Also, we are all creating art pieces to sell to raise money for our church funds. Here is a picture of one of  mine:

I will talk more about this project later,  but this is now for sale!

I am looking forward to the days to come, but I am very tired and worn out.  It is becoming difficult to remain positive through some of the trials I am facing but I know the Lord makes all things work together for my good! I receive whatever the Lord is trying to do in my life! I know it will be something great! Goodnight for now!

Update: Second finished painting

Brief descriptions/translations are on the back.  I would love to get $30 each.  It may sound like a lot and its not because I think my work is worth it but because God is worth it.  Remember all the money raised goes towards our church building and equipment funds. Any further donations or "bids", if you feel lead to make them, would be great too!  Thanks for your help and prayers!

Truffle Pops

You will need:

1 package of oreos (dbl stuffed if you prefer) and 1 package cream cheese
[You may also use 1 cake (already baked) and 1/3 container of frosting {your choice of flavors}]
Melting chocolates
Zip Lock Bags or a Food processor
Toothpicks/Popsicle sticks/or skewers
wax paper or a pan for cooling
sprinkles* optional

(If using cake, bake cake first and let cool. Let cake take place of oreos and 1/3 of frosting for the cream cheese)

1. Crush oreos in a zip lock bag or in the food processor. Kids may enjoy using the zip locks.

2. Add softened cream cheese and mix together to form a "dough"

3. Form dough in 1 inch (may be smaller or larger) drops. Freeze or refrigerate until firm. While dough is chilling begin to melt the chocolate/melting candy.

4. When firm, skewer with toothpicks/Popsicle sticks/or skewers

5. Once chocolate/melting candy is fully melted, dip treats in.

6. If desired pour sprinkles before melting candy sets

Tips:

If you desire 2 tone truffles, dip one color, let cool, then dip second color

You can also fill a zip lock with chocolate and cut a tiny hole in the corner and drizzle melting candy over the truffle.

Plate on decorative platter for serving!

Enjoy! ~Jessie

I have set my face like flint!

Have you ever felt the Lord has made you a promise?  I feel as though He has promised me something.  It is a desire that He instilled in me a long time ago.  I know He has nurtured this gift, this desire my whole life, and that the time is coming for it to be revealed.  I have prayed and I know God has brought me to this point.  And I know that I need to remain faithful with what I have been given, and faithful in my prayers.  It is difficult to remain steadfast.  I need help from the Lord to keep my face as flint. (Isaiah 49: 7 For the Lord God helps me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.) Have you ever felt God had given you a word of knowledge? Something that you just know for no reason at all.  I feel that the Lord has told me that something will happen to set things in place.  I just pray that it is not just my human nature, my flesh, trying to deceive me into believing it is God's will when actually it may not be.  I know that I have Godly knowledge.  I have experienced several instances where the Lord has told me things that I shouldn't know.  It's an incredible thing.  One of my spiritual gifts.  But I always seem to second guess them.  I know He will reveal it to me in His time.  Until then I will remain faithful Lord!

Climbing through a window/Walking through the door

I woke up in an  unusually good mood today.  I say this because I am not usually a morning person.  I was early for work, had a great day, and felt like God really worked through me today.  I prayed this morning, maybe with a little more fervency than other mornings, that God use me, work through me, let me show Christ through my actions my words and my work. I prayed that I be aware of Him today.  I recently had a prayer answered in an absurd way.  It was unthinkable for God to answer me in such a HUGE way.  It was crazy but that's the way our God works.  So this week I have boldly asked and believed that our church, The Vine Community Church, find a more permanent location.  So as I spoke with a woman at the shop today, I felt the Lord lead me to invite her to the Kari Jobe concert we are hosting in March.  But I said, "Lord, I don't think this lady would like praise and worship music." But  the Holy Spirit urged me to ask her if she liked that style of music.  I don't really know if she did but it opened the opportunity to tell her about our search for a building.  She then offered to do a little research and see if she could find anything being as she works close to a family that owns several properties in our area! I pray that through my obedience and the prayers of our members, the Lord will lead us to the place that He had laid out for us!  If this is God's will!  I know the perfect place is just sitting and waiting for us to submit ourselves unto Him!

Wondering what God has planned for 2011

2009 wasn't really the best year of my life.  My church fell apart.  It left many of us heart-broken and feeling abandoned.  But there are no orphans of God, and that is what I held on to.  2010 was a year of mostly searching and waiting.  Halfway through I found a wonderful church home at The Vine Community Church.  The year ended with the tragic loss of a friend, Jacob.  Jacob was similar to David, in that I believe he was a man after God's own heart.  He loved  people in a way I have never seen before.  You didn't have to know Jacob well to love him.  There was just something about him.  I miss him very much.  2011.  I NEVER make a new years' resolution.  I think they are ridiculous.  But the time of Jacob's death just happened to be just before the new year.  This year I want to love the way Jacob loved.  The way God loves.  I think I have been more aware the past few weeks of how I react to things and I have been praying for God to soften my heart and let be more compassionate.  I believe this year God has a plan to use me.  I don't know exactly how, but I'm readying myself.  I think He also is preparing to do something great in our community.  I'm praying for a BIG move of God.  I believe he wants to just blow through and shake things up!  I want to be shaken by the move of the Holy Spirit and be forever changed.  I can't wait!