Sovereignty of God

How do you react when something completely unexpected happens, the plans you thought you had change drastically and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it?  Or maybe you are just going through a trial that is controlling your every move?  Are you devastated? Flip out? Throw a temper tantrum? Cry like a baby?  Get mad & angry? Doubt God is even there?

Oh the sovereignty of God!  In these moments, do we really trust Him?  I'm 100% certain that a change of plans or a completely unexpected event or a trial in our lives does NOT surprise Abba Father!  Is it just a test perhaps?  Rance and I studied I Peter over the summer with our college class at church and if you LET (meaning you have a choice!) His Word challenge you then it may just change your perspective on the purpose of trials and sufferings.  1 Peter 1:6-7 says:

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Read it again and again.  Peter is telling us to GREATLY REJOICE through various trials!  Why???  God is clearly using Peter to write His words to tell us that the genuineness of our faith is being tested!  Yes, God does test us!  God desires our faith to be so genuine, much more precious than gold that perishes, that when we are tested by fire that our faith may be found SOLID, FIRM, founded upon the ROCK (Jesus), so genuine that it may be found to the praise, honor and glory of Jesus Christ.  Can you imagine if we reacted this way always when we are facing various trials (all testings of life), when things aren't going our way, and when the completely unexpected happens?  What if we greatly rejoiced?  I cannot answer for you but I desire the genuineness of my faith to be found to the praise, honor, and glory of Jesus Christ.  Just as the intense heat removed the impurities from the gold, the intense trial has the purpose of revealing and removing our impurities, to make us more complete and genuine in our walk with Christ.  Peter goes on to say this in Chapter 4 verse 12-13:

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Read it again and again.  It seems as though Peter's readers were astonished that they had to suffer as Christians!  I think Christians still live in this bubble today.  Do we trust the Word of God??  If we do, if we believe His Word to be true, then we would not find it strange or astonishing when we face fiery trials.  Peter's response is as if we should expect these fiery trials and testings of life.  These trials are not strange that try you and I.  Again, scripture tells us to REJOICE because we get to SHARE in Christ's sufferings.  You and I will never ever ever suffer the way Christ did on our behalf.  What if we reacted to sufferings and trials in such a way that the world got a glimpse of the pure nature of Christ. 

Last Thursday, October 11th - Rance was getting everything ready and preparing for our weekend trip to Greensboro, NC for the middle school state championship cross country race at Guilford College.  Hotel rooms had been booked over a month ago and everything was logistically planned out.  The high school runners were going also to practice on their state course and to support the middle school team at State.  The middle school girls team finished the season undefeated and conference champions.  To say they were excited about racing for the State title is an understatement.  They were estatic. 

Rance went online to check the race times one last time to make sure he had everything written down correctly only to find the State race was no longer on the calendar at Guilford College for Saturday, October 13th.  Certainly this was a mistake.  It's the state championship race - how on earth does that get canceled?  Maybe it was just moved?  You can imagine as a coach that sinking feeling in your heart when you are not sure what is going on but you know something isn't adding up.  After a couple of hours of searching and phone calls to Guilford College - Rance found out the race had been CANCELED (I will leave out the details on why).  Yes, last minute.  Is this really happening?  We have everything planned out, hotels booked, a middle school team totally pumped and ready to race for the State title, and a bunch of parents planning to attend also. 

Here we go.  Fiery trials?  REJOICE!  The unexpected happens?  REJOICE!  Plans change?  REJOICE!  Explaining to middle schoolers they will not be able to race for the State title?  REJOICE!  The most fascinating part about all of this is watching Rance and the middle schoolers and their reactions.  I am not going to pretend like their were not tears shed by both coach & runners.  Are tears sin?  HECK NO!  Yes, they were disappointed but it was amazing to see how God worked through the entire situation.  As Coach's wife - my job is to cover it all in prayer.  The praying began that Thursday morning when Rance called (before telling parents/kids, etc) to let me know what had happened.  I knew the Lord was not surprised by this but more than anything 'Lord what are you wanting to teach us all through this?'. 

Rance began calling and searching for another 5k or ANY race to enter his runners into that Saturday.  Since we already had hotel rooms booked in Greensboro and tickets to SCAROWINDS in Charlotte for Saturday night - we were still heading east regardless.  Praying, praying, praying. 

We knew of a race - in fact - a BIG, BIG race (it's basically known as the high school pre-state race for all of the state of North Carolina 1A-4A schools) happening that Saturday on the high school state course in Kernersville, NC but again it was for high schoolers and the registration was closed.  That did not stop Rance from calling/emailing the guy in charge of this race (let's call him George) asking if there was any way he could get his middle school teams in this race as well as his high school runners that would be on the trip too.  He explained what had happened with the middle school state race.  Could it be so?  The entire day went by and Rance never heard back from George.  I did not stop praying.  I love the sovereignty of God.  He knows what is up!  He is not surprised!  He has a perfect plan!  He had a purpose in canceling the middle school state race!  Rance has had a faith that can move mountains since I first met him.  That same faith did not change through this.  He was confident the Lord would do something through all of this and he was most excited about the spiritual applications he could teach his teams. 

At 9:46pm Thursday night, the Shulers were getting ready for bed when I just had this urge that Rance needed to check his email.  He thought I was crazy but we did it anyways.  Sure enough sitting in his inbox was an email from George saying HE WOULD ENTER ALL THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN THIS HIGH SCHOOL RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!  Let me explain the sovereignty of God right here.  George actually knew the situation that had went on at Guilford College and why the race was canceled and all that.  He was allowing middle schoolers to enter a race in which they did not even meet the requirements to run in (not being high school age).  Did we dance a jigg in the Shuler household Thursday night at 9:46pm.  YES WE DID!  What an honor that these middle schoolers were going to get to RUN on the state course that they will eventually race on at State in high school - yet they could do it as middle schoolers!  What's funny is, NOONE would even know they were in middle school - they were being entered just as if they were a high school team.  Some may have noticed how short and tiny some of our girls were but that's all ;) 

I cannot explain all that took place over the next couple of days as far as the team talks and the spiritual applications and the way all things work together for GOOD according to the Word of God.  The cross country teams actually got to see how what seemed so devastating (their state race being canceled) turned out to be not so devastating.  It's all relative.  Yes, they may have won a state title - but is that not just an earthly treasure?  You win and it's soon forgotten!  What's even more incredible is how the team study this season is on Hebrews 12 and the last verses that the team studied on Saturday morning before race time - applied perfectly to the entire situation.  Is that surprising?!?!

Oh why do we find it strange concerning trials & sufferings that happen to us?  Thank you Jesus for the fiery trials of last weekend!  The weekend definitely did not go as planned but

we are grateful for your perfect purpose in it all and for providing an even bigger blessing through the race we ended up racing in on Saturday.

More to come on the race & SCAROWINDS...

 

Warms my heart...

The picture below warms my heart to the very CORE!



In the back:  Lisa, Dana, Leanne, Jennifer
In the middle:  ME!
Laying down:  Ashley



Wondering why this picture warms my heart?  The woman pictured above are not only my Sisters in Christ but each one of these ladies have played a different role in my life since I moved to Robbinsville and for each of their roles, I am incredibly thankful. 

We took the picture above just a couple of weeks ago because we are planning a women's retreat for some very special ladies in November - some of which I do not even know yet but cannot wait to get to know! 

Just a little background on these lovelies:

Lisa - She is precious.  We bonded soon after I moved to Robbinsville when our friend Jinny asked us to meet for prayer on Wednesday's at lunch.  PRAYER BONDS PEOPLE.  We share a special bond that I value so much.  We have prayed over each other's families, friends, co-workers, community, discipleship groups, and the list goes on.  Still to this day, she is one of the first people I text or call to ask her to pray over something.  She is so trustworthy, so genuine, and such a beautiful person.  I am grateful for her friendship. 

Dana - I LOVE HER to pieces!  Dana and I have completely opposite personalities but our love for Jesus and desire to be disciple-makers is the same!  Because of that, I think we make a good team.  She is one of my best friends because she loves Jesus, encourages me, challenges me, speaks the truth in love to me, and will NOT give the advice that I want to hear but Godly counsel only.  She has 4 beautiful children and I strongly admire watching her as a mother.  She inspires me in more ways than she even knows when it comes to raising her own garden, making her own clothes, & experimenting with things to see different ways to save money.  On a side note, she makes the very best homemade bread I have ever had.  What's even crazier, Dana is from Lagrange, NC (yes, EASTERN, NC also).  I thank God that He called us both to Robbinsville, NC - otherwise our paths may have never crossed.  The Lord gave me a true, honest, real, beautiful, Godly friend.

Leanne - She is sweet as can be.  I am just getting to know her better and better and I am enjoying every minute of that.  Her love for the Lord and walk with Him is growing and that always brings me much JOY!  She is so kind and has a very gentle spirit about her.   

Jennifer - We share the same name!!!  She's also my pastor's wife!  She will always be super special to me because she's one of the first people I got to know before I moved to Robbinsville.  Her and her husband, Pastor Noah, did pre-marital counseling with Rance and I and it was a time that I will forever be thankful for.  They shared their stories & walked us through Scripture on what a God designed marriage really looks like as well as a Godly wife & a Godly husband.  It was a special time of bonding with them with much vulnerability!  I thank God for the way Rance and I were challenged by her and Pastor Noah before marriage to DIE TO SELF daily.  It's a choice.

Ashley - She's SO fun!!!  I think Ashley & I bonded the most when our husbands & us had an hour long car ride home from Blue Ridge, GA (after visiting a church there) and we shared some very intimate stories with one another that made us laugh until we cried.  Best car ride ever!  Ashley's growing excitement for Jesus is precious.  I love the way she is so eager to know Him more and how excited she gets to talk about Our Daddy! 

I am SO blessed by each of these ladies I could cry!  Am I being dramatic?  Nope, it's just an overflowing heart of thankfulness! 

 

Hebrews 10:24-25

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

XC RaNdOmS

I cherish the memories & relationships that are built during cross country season.  It's a crazy, insane jam packed schedule from August until November but having the privilege to invest in the lives of teens is simply priceless.  I have never actually been a big cross country fan until I moved to Robbinsville.  The focus still isn't cross country though - it's building relationships & investing in each runner's life with the intent of building trust with one another, exampling the life of Jesus in front of them, sharing the gospel (for those that haven't heard) and teaching/training those that desire more! 

I literally take a zillion pictures during the season but we are one big family and I love capturing moments and praying over each runner and the bonds that God Himself has formed. 

We Are Robbinsville!



Kelly & Lily & my sweet Jessie that is known for jumping in pictures at the last minute! 
I love her for it!



Sweet Ava!  She runs with me at ALL the races.  I do believe we have a FUTURE runner on our hands.  Her big sister, Elaina is on our middle school xc team.



Lil Frank with the Swain XC High School Girls Team
They requested a picture with him ;)

Our middle school running stars!
Miss Harleigh & Miss Ashlyn



Lily LOVES cross country!

We always stop and eat at Downtown Pizza in Murphy after some of the races and I had to capture how much Lily loves her CRACKERS!

Yummmmmmm!!!!!!

Harleigh & Ashlyn

Some of our middle school girls at a Saturday 5K!

Murphy Medical Saturday 5K!
My handsome Coach always participates in these!

Shawnda & Coach are ready to start their watches

Coach Knight!

DOWN POUR OF RAIN during this race!  It doesn't stop Shawnda though!

lil Frank checkin' his time!

Funnest & Sweetest Kid!  Will Hooper!

GO COACH!!!

Crossing the finish line! 
Notice the gospel message he had put on the back of his  ASU jersey from college

Zach in the lead & Ashlyn following closely behind!

Fontana Dam 5K Race!

Our Silly Middle School Girls

Another FUTURE Black Knight XC Runner!  Miss Emily!
Her two older sisters, Sarah & Jessie, are on the middle school team!

Go Meghan!!!



Coach watching Sarah about to cross the finish line!

 

Elaina, Sarah & Meghan before the Fontana 5K!

Giving Jesus the GLORY!

Fontana is GORGEOUS!

Capturing the EXCITEMENT as the Middle School girls finished their season UNDEFEATED & Conference Champions!

Heavenly Father.......

Lord, thank you for your provision.  Thank you for the ministry that you have so graciously blessed Rance and I with.  I thank you for the relationships and bonds that you have formed over the years simply through Rance coaching cross country.  These runners & teenagers are precious to us Lord and I cannot fathom how much MORE precious they are to you.  God I pray for your protection over each of them.  I pray that they can grasp the bigger picture - that life isn't about running & winning but about a relationship with YOU & pursuing YOU & knowing YOU & living ONLY for YOUR Glory.  Oh that they would get a hold of YOUR sweet love & the abundant life that you offer & have a heart like Jeremiah when he said Your word burns like a FIRE in his heart, like a FIRE in his bones - even when he wants to hold it in - HE SIMPLY CANNOT!  Lord, shower them with Your love, Your wisdom, Your understanding, Your divine illuminations!  Father, help Rance and I to model after your Son to the best of our ability so that we do NOT blend in with the world but shine like a LIGHT in a dark room.  Lord you know how my heart aches over the junk of the world that is sucking teenagers in every single day.  It's evil and they don't even recognize it.  Lord give them YOUR eyes and give me YOUR eyes and give Rance YOUR eyes.  God I thank you from the depths of my soul for your never ending grace, your constant love, and your SON Jesus. 

In Christ Becoming,

Jenni

Breaking News People!!!!!!!

Today was a BIG day in the town of Robbinsville.  It was OPENING DAY for our very own BOJANGLES.  This is huge people.  Needless to say, the lines were massive and the parking lot was PACKED and I enjoyed every second that I waited in line for my FABULOUS lunch.



I feel SO blessed! :)

*MaNdOn*

Are you confused?  I'll explain later in this blog!

A couple of weekends ago, I went on my first flight out of Knoxville, TN and headed down south to Florida for Mandy & Brandon's wedding weekend.  It was super neat to FINALLY see where Mandy grew up and experience life with her family for a few days.  We had lots of QT and bonding time before the wedding festivities began.


 Just a few pictures to capture the few days I was there...


*Bonding at the Larson residence*

  

Mandy & her mom rehearsal night!

  

*The Larson's*



Brandon & Mama Gale

AMAZING groom's cake!!! Please look at the detail!



Wedding Day!!!!!!!!!




Lauren has her hair did!



Lots of good food to keep our tummies full!



the flowers were GORGEOUS!
And Katie too ;)



Picture with the groom before he suited up!



Mandy's wedding gift from Brandon :)
FRAMED CPA license!

Mom & Dad Larson plus Seth



GORGEOUS BRIDE and her soon to be sister-in-law!



First picture AFTER behind the scenes as Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Pierce
I think he could eat her up in this picture!




Mandy's first picture with her new family!!!




Cousins now???? HA!




Absolutely beautiful!!!



MANDON?!  This is what Mandy & Brandon's photographer's named them while shooting TONS of gorgeous pictures at their wedding.  Just a few I stole from the photographer's blog:

The weather was gorgeous, the bonding time was priceless, and the newlyweds were off to St. Lucia the next day!!! 

It is hard to believe my friend is married to my cousin OFFICIALLY!  What is even harder to believe is Mandy now lives only 5 minutes away from my parents!  Cuhhhrazy. 

May these two always focus on Jesus & continue to put the other's needs above their own daily.  A marriage the way God designed is simply abundant.