"Christmas time is here"...lalalalala

Yes, it is that time again...and as always A Charlie Brown Christmas is enjoyed over and over and over again at my house.  So it is no wonder that song plays in my mind throughout the whole season!  Of course, he's in good company with Rudolph and the Grinch, and we can't leave out old Frosty!  What I love about putting up the tree and making Christmas goodies and watching Christmas classics isn't really the act itself, but the inclusion of family - namely my girls.

Christmas is a special family time of year.  We make an extra effort to spend time together whether it is reading a portion of the Christmas story each night or enjoying cocoa by the fire or just wrapping presents to place under the tree.  Christmas is about togetherness, and I think that is precisely the way that God would have it!

So take advantage of it!  Run with it!  Enjoy it!  I know that I will! :)

Wrapping up an incredible season

Wow!
I am amazed at God's plans. I never imagined when I called Phillip Brooks to ask if I could come see the new building downtown (they had just moved in -- literally, the paint was still wet)...
...that I would begin a journey that would bring me closer to God in every area of my life, working as a host on a station called 88.7FM The Cross.


I'm moving into a new chapter of my life now, following a calling that I don't completely understand, but that I'm obeying anyway. My wise friend Leslie Lamb says when God directs you, it doesn't always feel easy or smooth, but it always works out... always! I'm walking in that promise. (Romans 8:28)


Thank you to all of you who've shared your car, your home, and your office with me as I've made a journey as a disciple, some of it on the air. Thank you to the callers who've encouraged me along the way, and for the prayer requests that allowed God to use me in a way I could never have realized on my own.


That being said, I may be leaving afternoons, but I promise I'm not going far. We're still looking at what kind of role I can play to help the mission of The Cross, and bring value to the incredible ministry that goes on here. I'll still be filling in from time to time, and you'll definitely hear from me when it comes to Sharathon time!


By the way: you are going to have a blast with Sam Lenox! Give him the encouragement, the love, and yes, the grace he needs as he steps in to fill a new role and a new calling of God on his life to serve you; bringing you God's word, entertaining you, and sharing his heart and his Christian walk with you on the air. (I'm looking forward to it, too!)


Blessings!


Jay
jay@887fm.org

The Blessing of the Season

I have to say, all things considered, this IS my favorite time of year . . . continually turning our focus to home, community and fellowship.   With school letting out for the holidays, I will not be teaching voice lessons in the afternoons and no basketball games, so I am looking forward to at least SOME  "home"  time!   I am hoping to get some things reorganized that have been let go for crazy schedules, maybe some Christmas decorating and definitely a lot of cooking!! :))   Mmmm!  When we're not in rehearsal for the upcoming  "Scrooge"   production at Family Church in West Monroe ( www.familychurch.org),  I also hope to have some fun family times with special treats,  popcorn, movies and games!

We, like many of you, will have an empty seat in our family circle, that we are believing God to redeem and restore.  So, today, I would encourage you to join us in focusing on what IS . . . and NOT what IS NOT this holiday season.  Let's bind our hearts together to bear one another's burdens and agree for the restoration of relationships, according to God's perfect plan.  Then, let's also PURPOSE to leave it in His hands to handle, as only He can, so we can be FREE to enjoy the precious 'present' - - the GIFT God has right in front of us this holiday season (and everyday of the year) of our family and friends!!

There may be an empty hole in our hearts, but if we'll let Him, God will fill up the spaces all around it . . . to overflowing!!  Let's give Him the opportunity!!  If you don't have a church family, let me invite you to join us at Family Church in West Monroe.  Let's do our part, by making ourselves available to our families, friends and local church, . . . and I assure you, GOD WILL BE FAITHFUL to do His part!!   After all, He's the One who began the whole "relationship" thing - - it's the REASON for the Season and the reason WHY we're here!!  TRUST GOD for the blessing of this Season!!   HE IS FAITHFUL!!   :))  Blessings!  Jenny

My Case For Christian Radio

As I was getting started on today's blog, there were so many things coming to mind confirming the continual goodness of God  :))   - - and I am ALWAYS up for a "bragging session" on our great God - -  but, He gently quickened my heart [ through the music playing on air ] to those who need a ray of hope today.  Those who may feel like they are drowning in their circumstances, who need a word of  'TRUTH'  to apply to the  'facts'  glaring at them in their faces, cheering them on to "KEEP ON FIGHTING - - DON'T GIVE UP!!" 

So, allow me to share with you the partial lyrics of a few songs that have just played - - letting you in on why I keep Christian music / worship on, at ALL times :

1000 Generations "You Fail Us Not"  :   " ... No matter the war,  our hope is secure!  You fail us not! ...  Whatever may come, we'll rise above!   You fail us not!   You're bigger than the battle has ever been!   You fail us not!"

Kutless   "That's What Faith Can Do"  :   " ... You're stronger than you know.   Don't give up now!  The sun will soon be shining.  You've gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining. ... Life is so much more than what your eyes are seeing.   You will find your way, if you keep believing.   Overcome the odds when you don't have a chance.    When the world says, "You can't!"   It [faith] says, "YOU CAN!" 

Building 429   "Always"  :  " ... Maybe you're fighting for your life,  about to throw the towel in.  Hold on!  Hold  on!  Hold on!  ... I believe always, ALWAYS our Savior never fails!   Even when all faith is gone,  God knows our pain and His promise remains ... ALWAYS!"

I don't know about you, but on any given day . . . I could be at a place to crater and give up under the weight and the pressures of my world . . . BUT GOD!!   So, keeping music on, whether singing 'ABOUT' or 'TO'  the only One Who can DO anything about it and Who truly cares more than I can comprehend, sets my eyes and my heart on HIM, and my hands and feet to DO His will!! 

I encourage you today to allow the music of the Word to wash over you, and to direct you to the One Who can save, heal, deliver and restore you . . . making all things new, for His glory!!   Hallelujah!!  :)   Jenny

God IS IN The Unexpected

Good Morning!! I hope this day finds each one of you blessed and encouraged . . . KNOWING that our GREAT GOD is on the throne and IN CONTROL!! He is WITH US, even in the midst of "the unexpected!"

This morning, when I was rushing to finish up tonight's dinner, gather up all my things and head out to work at The Cross, I inadvertantly locked my back door as I was closing it, not realizing my keys were INSIDE on the hook. After making acouple of unsuccessful calls to those who have an extra key, I called Phillip, at the station, to ask for a ride.

Then, as I have come to condition myself, I said, "Okay, God, . . . THIS did NOT take You by surprise. So, what am I supposed to get from this (other than, "haste makes waste!") - - and could we HURRY, PLEASE!!! I have to go on the air in 20 minutes & it takes five minutes to GET there (as You know :) ). I didn't get a profound, booming revelation in the moment, but did begin to realize that I had not really even noticed how beautiful the morning was : the cool air, changing colors of the leaves in the trees framing our home, set against the backdrop of the bright blue skies . . . tiny flowers growing out of the stump of a tree . . . WOW!! I had to take out my phone and snap some pictures!! It wasTHEN that I noticed . . . I wasn't anxious or stressed out!!! In fact, I felt like I was on some kind of 'field trip' in my own front yard . . . because I stopped to consider the truth of Who is ACTUALLY in control. Even in our mistakes, He has a BLESSING - - if WE will but put our reactions and thoughts in check just long enough to give Him an opportunity, even in the small things, to bring joy into the midst of our choices and schedules!! We ARE His heart and He desires to lavish His love on us . . . so LET'S LET HIM . . . even in "the unexpected!" Stay BLESSED!!! :) Jenny

"Light up the Night"

Last night was Halloween...or "you know, that thing." :) We have made it a tradition in our neighborhood to get together with our friends and let the kids just have a good time, trick-or-treating and playing and just having fun, as God intended! Last night we decided to do something just a little bit different: we invited the WHOLE neighborhood to a "Light up the Night Block Party."

It was amazing! We had food, fun, and fellowship, and at the end of the party, we had a hay ride...or as one sweet boy called it, "A hay back ride!" It was my favorite part of the night as we all cuddled close in a lighted trailor going from house to house. But, the icing on the cake was the songs that ALL the kids began singing: "He has the whole world in His hands" and "Jesus loves the little children". It was beautiful (if not a little loud) as they raised their joyous voices, not only in praise to the Light of the world but in invitation to other children that they passed. One little girl added, "Jesus loves ALL the little children of the world, and that includes you..and you..and you." And she was right, amazingly and abundantly correct, and I am pretty sure that God smiled generously as we traveled the streets last night, shedding just a little light on an infamously dark night!