iShineInMinistry

Ecclesiastes 3:1

To everything thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

I am in my third week of no longer working in the beauty industry…awaiting what God is telling me to do next. It seems I always think I will stay in a place forever; then God decides that the season is coming to an end and it’s time for me to make a move again. Apparently, comfort is not ever going to be a place that I get to stay in for any amount of time. Each moment I feel like this may be a rhythm that I have found, the Lord decides to shake me up and relocate me again! This time, I literally have no idea what will take place next…I have a few “no’s” that that He has given me with regard to job opportunities and two scriptures to cling to that have continued to pop up over the course of the last two years!

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NET)

For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the LORD. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.

With each passing day that I cling to the Lord and wait for an answer of some sort, I am comforted by His word and faithfulness as I stay in this interim season. I know that He is giving me the peace that I need to make it through this time without having a fit (or any indication of a steady job in the near future). I also know that He placed me where I was for a specific reason and purpose; however that reason seems to have been fulfilled and the time is now to move on after seed-planting. I know we would love to see the fruit of the things God gives us to do; but we know that He is faithful in everything He calls us to, even if we don’t get to see the outcome firsthand. This is a truth I can hold onto with joy as I walk into the next thing.

As I sit, pray, wait and write…I get to watch the two scriptures that He has given me unfold right before my very eyes. I will make sure to keep you all updated on where this leads. I also intend to write an anthology of short stories to share the interesting antics that took place in my life over the last 12 months. Please stay tuned and keep me in prayer!

Hearts and hugs,

Jacquelynn Marie

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Is the Lord calling you to do something new? Are you hesitating because the path is unknown?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I feel like we as the body of Christ need to really get ourselves more disciplined and devoted to prayer. Our prayer lives should be amazing because we get to talk and listen to the Creator of the universe; yet it appears that this is one of the areas of worship where many of us lack. I would like to challenge each of us to make sure to spend at least one hour in prayer for the next 15 days. It does not have to be one hour all at the same time…you can do two times a day for 30 minutes, four times a day for 15 minutes or some other variation. Whatever the case, make sure that it as at least 60 minutes by day’s end of you seeking God’s face.

If you need some inspiration on what to pray for, please take a look at the listing below and go from there!

- Your Family

- Unity in the Body of Christ

- Revival in Your Community

- Unsaved Family Members, Friends and Coworkers

- People in Our Country and Other Countries that Need Help and Hope

- A Heart Devoted to Prayer

- Opportunities to Share Jesus with People that Need Truth, Faith and Hope

I will start us off today with a short prayer, but make sure to keep it going over the next two weeks! Happy praying! Lord Jesus, we thank You for the grace, mercy and love that You continue to show us. We thank You for Your unfailing love, Your faithfulness and Your good and perfect gifts that You continually give to each of us. Please forgive us for not praying more and for not trusting You with our lives in such a way that we continually run to You, our Heavenly Father. Forgive us for not trusting You, for not showing You the reverence, love and respect that You deserve. Forgive us for abusing the gift of grace that You so freely give to us at all times. We know that You ultimately have our best interests at heart in everything that You do, as You lead us, guide us, direct us, chasten us and give us opportunities to trust in Your word and Your love. Please remind us of the precious promises that are given to us in Your word and help us to believe that You are who You say You are…help our unbelief Lord!

I pray that You will revive this city, that Your Holy Spirit would do a work in the hearts of the people that reside here. I pray for healing to take place, for captives to be set free and for those who are hopeless to hope in You. I pray for wisdom for our lives as we walk through our day to day tasks and I ask that You will guide us and remind us that You have a purpose and plans for us; plans to give us a future filled with hope if we would just give You the chance to be part of our lives. I pray that we will have hearts of sincerity when we ask You to take over and that we will truly surrender, fully trust and obey as You lead us to the places where You call us to go.

Draw us near to You Lord, fill us with faith, let us glean from Your word and seek You always. We love You, Lord and ask all of these things in the blessed name of Jesus – thank You for saving us, Amen!

Romans 12:12 (NKJV)

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Please remember to faithfully pray over the next 15 days!

#The Charmed Life – Charmed Guests

This week, each of the iSparkle sites will feature one of my younger #TheCharmedLife girls. Meet Dasia, a fabulous tween that loves to write and serve Jesus. She is a wonderful big sister, daughter and friend...and this week she wanted to share about love and serving since it's Valentine's Day weekend. I hope you enjoy. Hearts and Hugs! Dasia (age 12)

Luke 6:35 (NIV) But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

This weekend going on a service trip for church, helping throughout the retreat, others, and I have learned about how much work and time it can take to serve others. (Who knew it takes so many people to set up chairs?) Serving others - does that mean something like giving a chip to your little sister? No, this kind of serving is truly honoring God and shining His light through you. This has also has taught me about caring more for others, especially for Valentine’s Day!

This Valentine’s Day, take time to put others in our shoes- it may not make you incredibly happy, but it really matters in God’s eyes. Show your love for someone by putting them first, just like you would for God. Pray for them, do chores for them, (I’m sure my mom would love that!) give your time to them! And not only that, take your new outlook on serving each other through your whole week, month, year and life!

Mark 6:34 (NKJV)

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

With Valentine’s Day just a week away, love is in the air! We ministry girls always know that love is all around us; because we serve in full-time ministry and get to see amazing ways that God works through His love and in people’s lives. We have such an amazing privilege as we often get to witness blessings and miracles first hand. I hope that you will not ever lose the wonder of the beautiful calling you have…that your heart will continue to be filled with compassion so that you can see God’s love at work in every part of your life in full-time ministry.

As we walk through this week, I want each of you to think of someone that you minister to that you have not seen or spoken to in a while (think 2-3 months). Reach out to them, whether through text, a phone call, social media or otherwise and see how they are doing. If you are at a loss of who to minister to, ask the Lord whom He would love you to show grace, kindness and compassion to during this season of love and see who he reveals to you.

There may be someone hurting that has fallen off your radar and needs to see the compassion of Christ through your obedience. Let’s all purpose in our hearts to be charmed life ministry ladies that show the compassion of our Lord and Savior so that we continue to be His hands and feet. We are so very blessed to minister to those around us and this lost and dying world. Happy serving and Happy Valentine’s Day!

It is almost the first day of February and also the start of thinking of all things Valentine’s Day! I personally adore this holiday…it’s the pinkest holiday of the year! There is also an abundance of all of my favorite things. Things like hearts, bows, treats and glitter…I’m so excited! But, I, like so many of you other charmed life girls, love the beauty of LOVE!! There are so many people in my life that I love, there are hobbies I love to do in my spare time, there are a variety of ways I love to serve the Lord. I LOVE JESUS!! I could keep going, I’m sure you can tell.

However, what I want all of us girls to really think about is how we can take a moment out of each day this month to make someone feel loved. I really want us to pray about this, ask the Lord and see what He tells us to do. He could ask us to serve in a new ministry. He could begin to have us write a journal to our future husband (God already knows who he is even if we don’t yet). We may get to spend time with loved ones more often or simply send a sweet gift for no reason at all. Whatever way He shows you to give love, do it!

I am personally joyful for the month of February and all that it brings. I pray that we will all find ways to be loving and kind, live the charmed life of love and allow God to do something new and fantastic in our lives…starting today!

Happy February…

PS – It’s also Black History Month, you should LOVE to learn something new too!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV)

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…