Update from Jen

Living overseas has its ups and downs just like living anywhere else. There are amazing days and then there are really tough ones. There have been many trials but over the past few months have been some of the toughest times so far since Stephanie and I moved here. One reason is because Stephanie and I have both been down at the same time. Before it’s only been one of us at a time and we have been able to help encourage and pick the other one up. I definitely draw closer to God through these trials.

I am so thankful that He is a God who hears our prayers and answers us. How amazing that we have a God who cares! Through His Word He has reminded me of so many incredible truths this week. Overwhelming gratitude FLOODS my soul as I am reminded of God’s amazing grace for me! God’s unfailing love for people, His beloved and treasured creation, is truly remarkable and incomprehensible. Oh how I wish everyone understood how much God loves us! As I think back over my life I am reminded of how He has drug my life out of the pit of despair and darkness and hopelessness, set me feet on His solid rock, and given me a hope and a future! He has redeemed my life! He paid the price of death that I was meant to pay. Oh my...how He has completely and utterly transformed my life! That is something to shout about! But yet He doesn’t just rescue me. He has a plan specifically for my life, plans to prosper me and to give me a hope and a future. As I am reminded of these verses I recognize that He will turn every single one of my failures, poor decisions in life, and difficult trials into something useful for His kingdom IF I cooperate with Him. This brings me so much hope and freedom knowing that God uses everything for good for those who love Him! Wow! How ever thankful that I serve a God who is Unfailing Love; who is Grace and Mercy; who is my Redeemer; who is my King; who is alive! And He can use someone like me, an ordinary person, a screw up, a mess up, and He transforms me, gives me freedom, and abundant life and a story to tell others!

In college, God spoke very personally to me through Isaiah 43:1-3. I heard God speak to me and say “Jennifer, fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name. Jennifer you are mine. I have a purpose for you, though at times it will be difficult, I will be with you every step of the way.” I can still hear God’s voice calling to me just like it was yesterday. ”When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...Do not be afraid for I am with you” (Isa 43:2-3,5). I have been studying Daniel so this is even more personal to me as I just read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan 3) walking through the fire, not even touched by the fiery flames except to remove their shackles, with a 4th person which was probably Jesus Christ Himself. God has been walking through this fire with me the whole time. I am a little slow but I am thankful to realize it now. And I am thankful that walking through the fire refines my faith.

As I read on in Isaiah 43, God reminds Israel how He made a way when there was no way. Then He says in verse 18-19, “Forget the former things; do now dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Wow! God is making a way where there seemed to be no way. He is doing a new thing in this ministry! Let me tell you this is exciting because a lot has changed for me over the past 5 months with the ministry I am serving with and there seemed to be no way and I was getting more and more discouraged until I cried out over and over to God. He heard my cries and has filled my spirit with hope, joy, and excitement. I am looking forward to seeing this new thing God is doing and seeing how He makes a way in the desert! It is a new season indeed; it is just much greener and brighter to me than it was a week ago. Oh how I praise Him!