Jump Starts

We're Off and Running...10/3/07

2007-10-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

Please forgive me for not having devotions this month. We are on our way to Jamaica to assist in the work for building the children's home there, The Zachery Foundation. On top of all of that, we have 6 scheduled church services and a couple of pastors meetings. No rest for the weary, they say. Will back next week to resume the daily devotions. Keep us in your prayer that much can be accomplished while we are there and for God to be glorified in all that we do. Pray for the our safety as well as for the safety of our family while away. Be all that you can be for God Today, for tommorrow, today will be yesterday and tomorrow may never come.

All for HIM, Pastor Janice

Is There Anyone Out There? - 9/25/07

2007-09-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

God never intended for us to live life without help. We need Him. We need His grace. Trying to do the job alone is not God's plan! Although we live busy lives with the potential for overload, we find there is a supernatural help, ease and ability to function when we become aware of His grace. This grace helps us in such menial, non-stop things like household chores, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping and chauffeuring kids all over town. (just to name a few) Sometimes you will find that just taking one item off your plate will give you a big sense of relief. God is the ONE doling out grace gifts, so it makes sense to flow with what He ordered rather than swim upstream without the life jacket of grace keeping us afloat. Because of your relationship with Jesus Christ, you can approach God's throne of grace with boldness to receive His mercy and find grace to help you in every time of need, including times of stress, pressure and busyness. In Acts 27, it describes the Apostle Paul in the midst of the greatest storm of his life. In verse 17 it reads, "Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven." The helps mentioned in this verse were giant ropes which were on board. The sailors wrapped and undergirded the ship with these giant ropes to help strengthen the boat and to keep it from falling apart in the storm. These ropes helped keep the ship together in a time of stress! In the same way, God's grace helps us in the midst of storms, stress and pressure. He wraps us up in His grace ropes and strengthens us to withstand the beating that the pace of life sometimes gives us. God offers you real, tangible grace to help you in your time of need. When you're feeling overwhelmed, overloaded and overstressed, there is grace to help! His AMAZING GRACE! It's a reality that you and I cannot do it all alone. We need Godly relief overcome overloaded lives. If you sometimes feel that the load you carry is too much for you, begin to believe God for divine connections and the right people to come into your life to help you in whatever area you require help.

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

In love with a KING, Pastor Janice

How Do You Spell Relief? - 9/26/07

2007-09-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

Our son, Zack, loves to run (except when it comes to getting his chores done). He is just built for the ability to run, run and run some more. It wears me out just watching him sometimes. The fact is though, we each have been designed to run, going the distance and crossing the finish line with joy. We need His grace for the pace to keep us strengthened and replenished for an entire lifetime. His grace brings us the relief we need in our race. We must continually replenish our emotional, spiritual and physical tanks. We cannot run on empty, (Pastor Buck is always reminding me of this re: the car). It's so important to be recharged and to refuel...(believe me, you find yourself on the side of the road, stranded.) Our souls includes our mind, emotions and will. Not only do we need spiritual and physical restoration, we need it in our soul. Sometimes, I believe we try to run this race of faith while wearing our ski jackets, hiking boots and motorcycle helmets. It would be too big of a burden, and just the weight of the extra clothing would wear us out! As we run our race, we carry the weight of the world, worries, cares and burdens which weigh us down. We need to unload. We need to cast our cares and get some relief. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. We don't know how or refuse to set boundaries. We don't say no. We create our own stress by not recognizing our God-given limitations. Often, we are stressed in the pace of life because we are putting more pressure on ourselves than God puts on us! Real faith recognizes God-ordained boundaries, which are where God's giftings, graces and callings start and stop. When we try to do more than God has called us to do, we run the risk of falling into pride which will lead to overload and burnout. Being disobedient in doing more than God desires will bring unnecessary stress and a sense of overload. One of God's greatest blessings are people! But, the relationships in our life can either drain us or replenish us. There are high maintenance friends and there are those that pour blessing and refreshment into our lives. Sometimes just talking or praying with a friend does wonders for our stress level. Be sure to cultivate the friendships God has given you; they are a gift for refreshing and bringing relief to
your life.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1 NIV

In love with a KING, Pastor Janice

Get A BIGGER Frying Pan....9/27/07

2007-09-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

How would you like to run away to a tropical island, lay in the sun under beautiful, swaying palm trees, read your favorite book and of course sip on delicious fruit drinks? Unfortunately, this is not an option for most of us. So welcome back to reality where stress and overloaded lives are a part of it. And part of that reality is realizing that often we can't do anything to eliminate, limit or retreat from our "overloaded-ness." But, I have some Good News: there is a solultion! If we cannot limit the amount of stress being poured into our lives, then we need to enlarge our capacity for dealing with overload. Have you ever tried to blow up a fresh balloon? It takes a lot of effort and air (for some this might be an easy task) to fill that balloon for the first time. But, after the headache, the worn out cheeks and the bulging eyes you finally blow enough air into that balloon to fill it up. Have you ever noticed though that it's quite a bit easier to blow that same balloon up the second time around? The air pressure inside the balloon actually stretched it and enlarged its capacity for future uses. It's the same with our lives. God wants to help us enlarge the balloon of our ability to keep pace by enlarging our capacity to handle stress and overload. When God begins to enlarge our capacity, often it's tough and we feel the pressure. It feels like we can't take anymore, ready to burst. But, usually the Lord allows just enough pressure to enlarge our capacity. Later, when we face other pressures, responsibilities and the increased pace of life, it's amazing how easily our enlarged capacity is able to cope and overcome. Each season of life brings with it increasing demands, increasing the pace. God knows ALL about our lives today, tomorrow and the future. He helps us to prepare for the pace and load we carry when He enlarges, makes room and widens our hearts, giving us the capacity to handle more! God enlarges us with strength, wisdom, knowledge, strategies, energy, ideas, innovation, rest, ability, help and whatever we may need. Isn't it wonderful to know and be able to trust God to enlarge our capacity for each season of life?
"The moment I called out, You stepped in; You made my life large with strength." Psalm 138: 3 TMB

Houston, We Have a Promblem! - 9/28

2007-09-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Are you frustrating or accessing God's grace? It is so awesome to know that God's grace is there to help us, but unfortunately many of us as Christians are not tapping into this bottomless well of grace. That's a problem...God's grace has a purpose and we want to be sure to tap into God's grace and experience its fullest effect in our lives. When we do not esteem, focus on, validate and receive God's grace, we nullify and frustrate its ability to help us. To avoid this from happening we must acknowledge that God has indeed provided us "grace to help" in everything we face. He can help us to understand and access this profound gift of grace. We receive and access God's grace simply by faith! We can't earn it, work for it or be good enough. It's only by faith; that is what you believe in your heart and speak with your mouth. It is God's will that we live in victory. In the face of a busy pace and stress-filled times, God wants us to receive an abundance of His free gift of grace--His supernatural ability--so that we can rule in life as kings over anything contrary to His will. Through His grace, God gives us internal, divine strength to stand. When we are weak because of stressors, pressures, persecutions and a fast pace, then through His grace we can be strong. God promises to give you grace in all its forms to help you.

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

9/7 - HE'S NOT DONE YET...

2007-09-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have recently been introduced to a new, mind-boggling game, Suduko. It is a puzzle that involves 9 blocks, 9 columns and 9 rows in which you must fit numbers 1-9 in each space not repeating any number. I have a book on my nightstand, one on the end table in the living room, one in my briefcase and of course one in each of the studies, (bathroom). I love the challenge and it can even be relaxing and quite intriguing, but sometimes when I think I have just about figured it out, I realize there is a mistake somewhere keeping me from completing the puzzle. Our life, here on Earth, can sometimes seem liken to a puzzle as we try to carefully fit the needed, missing pieces together, completing the perfect picture we have tucked away in our hearts and minds. But, life's puzzle can only be completed by God. He is continually working, here and there placing pieces together in your life--sometimes pieces you don't expect or even see how they could possibly fit into your "perfect puzzle." But He works it all together, taking the responsibility for completing and perfecting you. Don't worry if you don't know what your life will turn out to look like, God does. As a young girl, I remember stating, "I would never marry a preacher." Well, needless to say, God had a different picture in mind for my life and I'm grateful He has ALL the pieces and is still fitting them together to completion.

"God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure He will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again." Phil. 1:6

In love with a KING, Pastor J

9/6 - ALL THINGS...

2007-09-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

If there is such a thing as a "favorite verse", Rom. 8:28 would be one that would be at the top of my list. This verse has helped me face life-changing situations, triumph in my trials and overcome daily circumstances that would otherwise leave me drained and confused. Whenever unfortunate events or even tragedies happen, we have a choice to stand upon this promise of God, allowing Him to use them to better us, fitting it ALL into the master plan for our lives. God is aware of every situation we encounter and no matter what happens in life, God promises He will use it-(ALL the tragedies, problems, difficulties, trials and tests, hurts and pains) for some redeeming purpose. He desires to be the Lord of your life and in your life, during the good days and even in the bad . Today, be assured and encouraged that no matter what may lie ahead, rest in this promise and hope that God can and will use anything, (ALL THINGS) to create the good in you life.

"We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

In love with a KING, Pastor J