I Matter

I had lunch with a future friend last week. It was such a refreshing time to spend with her. She engaged me in conversation about myself and my leadership style, etc. Through her inquiry, I felt God reaffirming in me my value, my worth to His purpose and plan. Not that I ever doubted my value to Him, but as a woman, wife, mother, daughter, and friend, I have found that I have passed through many phases in ministry: singleness, young married, new parent, and now parent of older more independent children. When the kiddos were more dependent, my focus and purpose was ministering to them. As they have become more independent, I have more "me" time, and can focus on ministering outwardly again. My kids are still a ministry focal point, but I don't have all my time spent changing diapers, keeping them out of harms way, feeding them, clothing them, rocking them to sleep, taking every opportunity as a teaching moment. I can see myself as valuable to those outside of my family. I don't mean to sound conceited, that's not my heart or my intent. It's not all about me or "look at me." It's about the view of myself and the value and worth God has placed upon me...it's about me believing that God has a plan for me, Jana Gibson, to make a difference in Kansas City for Him. Thanks Future Friend for your time and for, unsuspecting to you, your affirmation of my heart.

My Husband Likes to Blog

My Husband LOVES to blog and tell everyone what's on his mind. I, on the other hand, am a people person. I like to chat face to face and interact with the person I am talking with. I have let blogging become a "duty" on my "to do" list like so many other things and it is therefore not fun.

If you are like me, and you've let your life slip onto the proverbial "to do" list, and life just isn't fun anymore, I encourage you to step back and re-evaluate what's really important to you. Take a deep breathe and enjoy this Life God has given you.

Great Quote from my friend, Tonia

"Don't look at other people and envy them - look at them and think that perhaps they envy something about you. There is always something that you have that someone else doesn't."

Gal. 5:25 (MSG) "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original."

Gal. 6:4 (MSG) "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."

Enjoy your day!

Jana

What to Think about...

Stressed?

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:6-8 NLT)

6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
7And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. (Philippians 4:6-8 AMP)

What is LOVE, exactly?!?

Ultimately love is a decision as Gary Smalley so eloquently put it in his book "Love is a Decision". It's not a romantic, mushy, gushy, warm, emotional "feeling". Some people are just "impossible" to love especially if we follow the rules of or feelings! :) SO...the God kind of love would have to be #1 a decision; we must choose to see God's value in people. Begin by caring deeply for other's. Does that mean to allow them to walk all over you and be rude and unkind or abusive? NO! Absolutely not! Which brings me to #2 a sacrifice; to pray for those who despite-fully use you. It is a sacrifice to show that sort of love, to care about another person's well-being (spiritual, emotional, & physical) even when they don't care about yours. Usually the mushy-gushy feelings will follow our decision to love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Amplified Bible)

4Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

Have a great week,

Jana

Ask and You shall receive

Lack Wisdom? Ask for it and you'll get it. :) Read a proverb a day to keep ignorance at bay. (I think that's a Jana original...I'm so impressed with myself...hee hee)

Proverbs 9:3-5 (Amplified Bible)

3 She has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town:

4 Whoever is simple (easily led astray and wavering), let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, [God's] Wisdom says to him,

5 Come, eat of my bread and drink of the [spiritual] wine which I have mixed.

Proverbs 10:13 (New International Version)

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

James 1:5 (New International Version)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Have a FABULOUS day,

Jana

Thankful

My challenge for you today...

Count how many times you complain/nag/gripe/b*^$#/or say something negative (Debbie Downer)...

Now count how many times you are thankful/grateful even for the little things...and I mean the smallest things...the things you think you deserve and don't need to be thankful for, the things that you feel should be done for you or your kids or around the house/work, etc.

Tally up the score. Which one wins?

Col. 3:14-16 (NLT): "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts."

Proverbs 17:22 (NLT): "A cheerful (merry/happy) heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."

Choose wisely!
Jana :)