Sit a Spell to Spell a Bit

A is for adoption, something I really hope I get to do one day, Lord willing.

(I agree with Ash, who tagged me for this cool ABC thingamabob, and also begins with A)

B is for blog friends.  I've thought about blog friends ALOT lately and how I appreciate getting to know you amazing people.  Blogging allows me to know things about someone's heart that could take months/years of a friendship to know.  It's pretty cool.

C is for CNA, which I now AM.  My test results and certificate came in the mail last week--thank you for your prayers!

D is for Daniel.  I've had many Daniels leave footprints in my life.  Some good and some notsomuch.  This name seriously follows me around.  But I've been blessed with a couple of brothers-in-Christ that are stuck with their snippy sister: (L: Finney, my adopted lil bro, and me at Passion 2010 and R: "Skyguy", my partner in crime student ministry and fellow StarWars nerd.)

E is for experiencing the body of Christ outside of a church service.  Outside of a denomination.  Outside of a belief system.  Experiencing the love and fellowship of Christ, the joy of the Word and very little else: on the phone, in a coffeeshop, Facebook, blog, or workplace.

F is for funny pictures I find on my $800 camera that I, myself, didn't take.  Suspects under the age of 12 have taken these (can you say self-portait-queen?  There was about 100 of these on my Canon when I got back from Kenya)...

G is for [the] God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.  Recently I read a comment from an athiest on a Christian article, saying something along the lines of never being able to worship a god like the One in the Old Testament because He was about nothing but wrath.  Journeying with the Bible Retreat, and going through the OT at about 3 books a week...I wish this person took the chance to know this God for themselves.

H is for happinessssss....there's Grace enough for us and the whole human race...ohhhh happinessss....Thankfully, Lady Gaga has nothin' on this catchy David Crowder Band song that has been stuck. in. my. head!

I is for imagination.  Or lack thereof for this Interesting letter. [skuh-Ip]

J is for Jen moments.  My friends have them.  They usually consist of forgetting items in their hand, taking 6.7 seconds to receive information that has been spoken, lack of sarcasm sending and receiving, and things of that nature.  Do YOU have Jen moments?

K is for Kenya. Its crazy how you can continue to learn from a place/experience you're no longer in the middle of. I can't wait to relive a little as I share pieces of Kenya with you soon.

L is for lengthy posts and church meetings...the reason there will be a PART 2 to Jen's ABC thingamabob.

Love, Jen :)

Something that makes me so thankful, I cry...

Just close your eyes and listen. :)
If you have ever, in faith, cast your life on the mercy of Christ, this song will make you thankful.
If you never have, take these words as a testimony of many who have done it before you--they are true.
I would recomend just listening, but the lyrics are here if you'd like to read along.

Ever-Present, Thankfulness, and VeggieTales.

Thanksgiving is coming close--and while the commercial world breezed through Halloween and seems to have gone right into the money-making-Christmas-rush, I hope we can truly take this time set aside in a year, to dwell on what we're truly thankful for. And in doing this we strive to make this the character-trait, not a holiday "spirit" we save for November, that should be manifested in our every moment.

If you haven't heard this Veggie-Tales song, you should definitely track it down:

I thank God for this day
For the sun in the sky.
For my Mom and my Dad
For my piece of apple pie.
For our home on the ground
For His love that's all around.
That's why I say thanks everyday!
--Because a thankful heart is a happy heart
I'm glad for what I have, that's an easy way to start.
For the love that He shares
Cause He listens to my prayers
That's why I say thanks everyday.

It's a kids song, but the simplicity of it comes to mind every Thanksgiving. A thankful heart, is a happy heart. The concept of silencing all thoughts of the future or all thoughts of the past, and living in the moment we've been given is brought to life again. Being thankful keeps us present...right now, right here. For you, friend, it may feel like nowhere. But God cannot be experienced anywhere else but here in this moment--this is the only time that truly exists*. :)

I've been terrible at posting, and will share why in a future post (? lol). Beginning yesterday, Abigail began a Thanksgiving mission to post everyday leading up to Thanksgiving, to elaborate on the attributes of God that have been especially meaningful this year. If you'd like to join, she has an event created on Facebook! :)

I don't know what the chances of a post everyday will be, but I will do my best. As The Thankfulness Song came to mind today, I felt to elaborate on the gracious gift that God has been ever-present, even when I'm not fully-present. I'm more fully-future...or fully-past. Yet, He's always been faithfully here with me, as Emmanuel could ever be.

With a thankful heart,
Jen

*From Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning