iShineInMinistry

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

There have been so many life-altering transitions over the last two months. God is really shaking me up, making sure that my eyes stay on Him and I don’t get too comfortable anywhere. As I continue to get settled in my new job, new apartment and other changes around me, I realize that I am not quite sure this is it for me (again – oh my stars!). Do you ever get those unsettled feelings, like God is telling you, “This isn’t it either?” How does your heart respond in those moments?

Right now, I am mostly walking through each day, allowing Him to handle what’s right in front of me at the moment. I am surrounded by quite a few unsaved people, most of whom I can figure out with regard to motives. As I discern how to react, move forward and respond, all I can do is pray and trust. If you find yourself in this “interim” season as well, here is what we can all do as we walk with Jesus.

Pray that God leads us on the path He has and that we follow the directives He is giving. Trust that if things turn out differently than what we hoped or thought, He is still faithful. Remember that there are things that will happen that we do not understand, but He does and He is always going before us.

Now, with that said…how do we actually let this play out in our lives without teeth-grinding during sleep at night, stress eating or getting anxiety during the day when things seem uncertain? Well, the true answer is…sometimes we can’t. Some days will be great and we will be filled with trust, joy and expectancy. Other days, we will just want to throw in the towel, eat cake and hope for the best. We are allowed to have these feelings and process through the emotions and thoughts that crowd (and cloud) our minds. We all know that everyone has their moments of, “Why is this my season? Can it not be?”

David had his seasons as he was being chased by Saul and challenged by his own son, Absalom. Abraham had his seasons as he hoped for a son…and then had to take that promised son to the altar of sacrifice. Elizabeth and Hannah endured that season as they were literally barren and dismayed. Everyone has these seasons…no one is exempt.

This week, I encourage all of us to write down everything before bedtime. Every thought, hope, dream, desire, rant, annoyance…everything that is reeling. Then, surrender it to the Lord each night and keep giving it back to Him (no matter how many times it takes) and press forward so that we can keep living #thecharmedlife and giving all glory to God, no matter what comes our way! Have a wonderfully blessed week.

Hearts and Hugs,

Jacquelynn Marie

Psalm 121:7-8

"The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."

Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

#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!

 Matthew 14:28 (NET)

Peter said to him, “Lord if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”

God allows so many amazing opportunities to go on an exciting journey with Him as we serve in full-time ministry. We get to help those who are hurting, take mission trips and partake in a plethora of blessings that are unique to our calling. When we yield to the Father, He gives us unimaginable experiences as we take steps of faith and learn to trust Him more. May I ask, what new adventure are you on with the Lord right now as you live the charmed life?

Now, some of you may be bursting with fabulous stories of things the Lord is doing in your midst and in the ministry. Some of you may have one crazy impossible story that ends in a “but God” moment and there may be just a few of you that feel like you have nothing to contribute to the conversation. My question for each of you is, when was the last time you took a step of faith into something completely unknown?

Are we continuing in the same plan on a different day and just getting by on our own abilities? Or, are we letting our great, big God show us indescribably blessed things? I hope it’s the latter and not the former, because otherwise we are missing out on some fantastic ministry opportunities!

While we continue to live the charmed life and serve in full-time ministry, look for those ways you can step out in faith and take a little (or gigantic) adventure with our Lord and Savior…who knows, you could end up in Sri Lanka (or the supermarket)! Trust Him to do the big things in life as you faithfully serve Him and allow His perfect will to be done as you minister to the people He calls you to.

Isaiah 6:8 (KJV)

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Mark 10:45 (HCSB)

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life – a ransom for many.

Hey you! Charmed Life girl in full-time ministry…how is your heart as you do the work of the ministry? Are you ready and willing to be a help to any and everyone that God places in your path? Are you ready to pray and step in to intercede when someone approaches you with a prayer request? Are you ready in-season and out of season when God calls you to do something that was not on your schedule? I hope that the answer to these questions is yes; but just in case, let’s dig a little deeper.

Who are the ladies that you spend time with the most? Do you find yourself only making a priority to serve if they are involved? When someone that doesn’t have the same appearance of what you are used to with your friends comes to the Bible study, do you welcome them with open arms or hope that they don’t sit at your table and take one of your friend’s seats? What drives you to serve? If the Lord calls you to do a particular outreach that He didn’t tell any of your other trusted friends to attend, would you still go…all alone? Are you truly living the charmed life as you serve?

Many times, even in full-time ministry, we ladies have the tendency to swing towards what is familiar serving to us. We pick opportunities that our friends also like or do things where we are sure there will be no sign of what could look like failure on our end.

Can I encourage each of us to take a bigger step of faith as we live the Charmed Life in full-time ministry this year? Pray for more faith and more chances to do things where God will show up…even if your closest friends don’t. Allow Him to truly rule and reign so that we can see amazing things happen as we serve in 2016. I pray that you will take this to heart and purpose in your heart to do the will of God, even if it means going it alone (God will be with you!)…trust me, you will be glad you did!

Luke 4:8 (NET)

Jesus answered him, “it is written, ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I got to spend some time with the ministry team that I worked with when I was a Pastor's assistant in Las Vegas last week and it was such a great time. It was fun to remember working in full-time ministry and being able to minister all the time and work with like-minded people.

The other great part was sharing what it's like to be working as a light in the world in Manhattan. As I shared stories and experiences, I exhorted them to be an encouragement to those they minister to that work in the world...day-in and day-out. It is very much a battle for them (and now I understand what they mean firsthand) and those who work in full-time ministry get to be the ones that bless, serve and encourage those lights in dark places!

I pray that you will take this to heart and live the charmed life in ministry, blessing those that are sent out into the middle of all the darkness. Pray for them, encourage them, send them scripture and serve them with your whole heart so they can go out and sparkle for Jesus as you shine in ministry and bless them!

Have fun being an encourager to the body of Christ...they need you!!

Romans 14:18 (NASB)

For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.