March 2 ~ my Boo's Birthday!

Rance isn't all about cakes and candles and all for his birthday.  In fact, he really prefers me to make him pineapple casserole (his favorite) on his birthday instead of a cake.  THAT IS HARD FOR ME!  For some reason in my head everyone should have a cake and candles on their birthday - or a dessert of some sort! 

Instead, I realize that loving him is doing what HE LOVES and for breakfast he requested a sausage biscuit with a slice of tomato and that's what he got!  While the rest of the day was an ordinary Wednesday (that being that day we BOTH have a crazy jam-packed schedule from sun up to sun down), we did enjoy pockets of time together in the midst.

 

Rance works all day at ETM's property on Wednesdays, so we enjoyed a TEAM lunch in the middle of the work day. 

 

I LOVE celebrating my boo - I don't just love him, I really, really like him a lot!

Prayer Update - March 24, 2016

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been studying back through how Jesus spent His final hours on the earth, specifically focusing on John 17, one of my favorite passages in God's Word.  There is SO much to take away from this ONE chapter in the Bible; afterall, it is the final words and thoughts of Jesus.

Think about it...

• Jesus spent his final hours PRAYING to the Father
• Jesus no doubt had completed His job assignment from Father on this earth when He says in verse 4 "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do."
• Jesus' love for His disciples is revealed so clearly in His prayer for them (vs. 6-19).
• Jesus had given "them" (His disciples) everything He had received from the Father and He was confident in their revelation and knowledge of Him (vs. 6-8).
• Jesus prayed for all future believers and He reveals His confidence in the disciples and their training when He says “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their (the disciples) word."  The disciples would continue the flow through! (vs. 20)
• Jesus prays for UNITY among believers; afterall, the WORLD will know Him through how WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER!  (vs. 21-23)

While the list above by no means covers all the take-a-ways from John 17, this time while studying, verse 3 stood out to me like never before...

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

While knowing God was not a new revelation to me, to see that in Jesus' final prayer, His final words, His final thoughts on earth, He prays for SO much more than just salvation and what we deem as 'eternal life' in heaven.  Jesus prays that we would KNOW God!  You see, the word "KNOW" in the Greek means ginosko, to learn to know, come to know, to understand, perceive, have knowledge of, to become acquainted with.  It's the same knowledge of God that Paul refers to in Philippians 3:10 when he says his purpose is to KNOW Him...

"so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely]..."

We do not have to wait until we get to heaven to experience eternal life but we have a purpose right now to KNOW God more everyday, to learn more about who He is, to get to see His glory right now, to experience and understand the wonders of His person in an entirely new way TODAY, to walk hand in hand with Him on earth!  Eternal life can start here and now for all believers!  In Jesus' model prayer He says "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  Jesus desires for His kingdom to come to earth!

I don't know about you but something HUGE shifted for me when I began waking up everyday declaring that my PURPOSE on earth is to KNOW GOD MORE and to make Him known to other people just like Jesus did.  To KNOW and experience the KING of KINGS and LORD OF LORDS on a daily basis is worth getting out of bed for!  HELLO ABUNDANT LIFE!

What are you waiting for?  God longs for us to KNOW HIM and experience His goodness right now!




 

Just a peak into this last month through some snap shots! *Campers for Christ 2016 campers & leaders* campfire, Bible study (what does a man of faith look like?), and testimonies     *CFC guys playing a serious game of NINJA*     Such a neat opportunity that Rance has to spend one day a week at Robbinsville Middle School teaching middle school boys how to be WISE guys.     We enjoyed a night away with who Jayden refers to as "Nona and Pop"! We are so blessed by this family and how they have adopted us as their own since my (Jenni) first time in Robbinsville!     Thankful for the opportunity to spend a few days out east serving my mom a couple of weeks ago as she underwent a major surgery but is recovering well and learning to receive grace through allowing others to help her.   Praising God for NEW LIFE! My best friend, Laura, and her husband Neil welcomed their baby girl Molly into the world February 23, 2016! SO grateful for the time with her while in eastern NC!   Living on the other side of the state and being in full-time ministry does mean being absent often times in celebrating people we love, but I am grateful that I can rejoice from the other side of that state and be so thankful that LAUREN was loved on in a big way last weekend as she had a girl's weekend celebrating her upcoming marriage!     ANOTHER SWEET LIFE and gift from the Lord ~ Rance's sister & her husband welcomed their second child into the world on March 15, 2016. Meet Kamdyn :)   Rance was blessed to have the opportunity to speak at Church of the Lamb again this past Sunday. What a joy it was to be with everyone there!   Jayden WELCOMES and ADORES the Stecoah men that eat and meet on Tuesday nights weekly.  He's a big fan of people!   We continue to thank the Lord for the progress being made on the office building as the walls are going up as we speak!     *Rance, Ben, Lee, Tim* Ben (pictured 2nd) is the leader of this project and the brains behind organizing and running the construction of the property. We are blown away by his skills and abilities and thankful for his leadership on our team.        Wild man Jayden ~ his determination, strong will, and heart for adventure seems to grow daily!  I literally cannot take my eyes off him or he may be jumping off the roof top next.         And if you made it all the way to the bottom of this update, THANK YOU for your continued love and support and prayers for our family!  God bless you for your commitment!             Prayer Requests: To walk in constant awareness of His presence no matter what distractions are thrown our way! Health & growth of baby Shuler. Rance & Jenni's continued preparation and wisdom for all discipleship groups as well as Rance's leadership and preparation for FCA, WISE Guys, Sunday School, Campers for Christ and other speaking commitments.  Daily decisions being made as construction continues on the property. Prayer & financial support partners.

*Sunday Fun*

The weather has shifted these last couple of weeks and we have thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine and warmer days.  A couple of weeks ago began the first of many get-together's for the Campers for Christ 2016 trip in April.  I am not sure who is more excited, the campers or the leaders!  Jayden and I thoroughly enjoy preparing and being with the group as well. 

We have a strong group of leaders this year and many campers (middle and high school) signed up to go.  We are thankful for the opportunity to invest in young boys lives and build relationships with each one.  The first meeting was a blast - full of bonding, games, testimony, food, and studying Hebrews and what a man of faith looks like!

Will you pray for the leaders, the campers, and all the preparation that goes into this trip? 

 

Jayden had a blast watching these boys run wild.   Excuse the overload of pictures of him!

He is all about putting his hands in his pockets these days!

 

That Sunday evening we joined the Thacker's (Ben, Jess, Josie and Wyatt) for some fun at Stecoah park right down from our house!