Monday, August 29, 2011

For the Display of His Splendor

That we may be a planting of the Lord for the display of HIS splendor.

I want to bloom wherever I'm planted to be a "display of HIS splendor"as it says in the book of Isaiah.  That has been a desire of my heart for many years. It wasn't until this summer that a series of events led me to a big life change that God had planned for my life several years ago. Oh how he knows me and my comfort zones!  I have been working in education for over 20 years as a Teacher Assistant and the past ten years as a teacher in a small Christian school here in Chicago. I have loved teaching children both in elementary school and Sunday school over these many years. As any teacher will tell you it is more than a full time job; and I married just the right man to be a "teacher husband".  Matt adapted to my weekends of lesson plans and grading, and spending our own money on things, "I really need for class"! What a responsibility teaching has been and what a privilege.  It has been a huge part of who I am for all these years, so it was a hard decision to "retire".  But God had a different plan for this season of my life.

You see, ten years ago at a women's conference, God put another call on my life. He said to me that I was going to teach women.  I was dumbfounded.  I was very comfortable with teaching children and thought maybe I had misunderstood.  So months and even years began to pass and I wasn't hearing anymore from God about this and almost forgot about it. Then God put a woman in my path who I was destined to be connected to. She was the director of a residential home for women with addictions here in Chicago, called New Life for Girls. When Ms. Pam came to speak at our church, God put a fire in my heart that I had to go talk to her and be connected with this ministry. When I sheepishly approached her and told her that I felt God had told me to connect with her and the ministry, she took it all in stride as if such things happened everyday and invited me to come see the ministry. As they say...the rest is history. I served on the board of directors for awhile, taught a weekly bible study for almost five years there, helped with fundraisers and just learned to minister God's love and truth under Ms. Pam's guidance. I fell in love with the ministry of helping hurting women! I felt like I had come home....probably because I was working through some residual woundedness of my own.

 About a year and a half ago, God moved us back to a church we had attended when our kids were younger. The church had grown and we were thrilled with the life and love we saw there.  We were returning to our old church as empty nesters with all our children grown, but in my heart God had placed a deep hunger for ministering to hurting women. It was amazing how God brought us back there. After several months there, our Pastor's wife spoke to me and said they had been praying for someone to start a recovery program for women at the church. Hearing of my love and experiences at New Life for Girls, she wondered if I might be interested in facilitating a weekly recovery program for women.  I remember crying to my husband after my conversation with her, when I realized the journey God had planned ten years ago to fulfill the calling He had put on my life at that time.

Last year, God showed me I needed to work part-time at my school because the recovery ministry
was growing and the demands for mentoring and leading groups and training leaders was growing too.
So, I worked part-time last year because God was weaning me from my old comfort zone and showing me that my identity was not limited to teaching children at school. Then this summer, God began to show me that I needed to leave my comfort zone completely and focus on the ministry He had led me to start at our church. I struggled with leaving teaching school, and God was so patient with me, giving me many indicators that it was indeed Him speaking this change into my life, and showing me my husband was in agreement that we should take this faith step. I had many friends, family and my pastor and his wife praying for me. Suddenly this past weekend, I knew God was asking me to just put out my foot and take the first step of faith toward his new plan for me. By Sunday, I was ready to tell my husband that I had decided to "retire" and focus on the recovery ministry. My pastor came up and started talking to my husband on Sunday morning before the service and I asked pastor to pray for me regarding this decision which he knew I had been wrestling with for awhile. When he and my husband
laid hands on me and prayed for me, I just had that moment of clarity of "knowing" what God was telling me to do. I felt so supported by these two men of God in my life.

God has a great sense of timing... and humor.  I had been waiting to hear from the school about working part-time again this year and so on Monday, I sat down at the computer to write to my principal to tell her that I had decided not to return and why.  My phone beeped that I had a message, so I checked and saw that it was our assistant to the principal who had called. I returned her call, to let her know that I would not be returning to school for this coming year, and was ready to email my official notice to the principal. As we talked, I had to laugh because she had been calling to tell me that they didn't even have a part-time spot in the program for me as of yet for this year because of enrollment changes! So, God allowed me to have the time I needed to get into agreement with His plan for me and then just in case I was slow in coming into agreement, He closed the position as a final confirmation to me of His will.

I have real peace about this decision and my husband and I are in agreement that we will depend upon God for our financial needs to be met as we line up with what we believe to be His will for us. I have been called to mentor women and write in this season of my life. I want HIS splendor displayed to all who read my story of being in agreement with God. I want other women struggling with waiting on the fulfillment of  God's call on their life to be encouraged that God hasn't forgotten. He has plans just for you. I want women struggling with transition to a new season of their life to be inspired and comforted with His peace.  I want husbands and pastors of women to realize how important their role of encouragement, and support, and prayer are to a woman in transition. Their prayer covering is so important to the process. I want women to see how important their friendships are to one another in being part of God's process of transition to new plans and purposes. I thank my women friends who have been with me through these years, praying with me, waiting with me, crying with me, and now celebrating with me and encouraging me through the rugged places in the journey of obedience ahead. 






Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Woman of God

I have been blessed to have as friends, many delightful women who have blessed and continue to bless my life. Tonight I spent time with a friend who has blessed my life for many years. She has been a friend, a confidant, an encourager, an example, a mentor, and a co-laborer in ministry. I have been blessed to see her faithfulness to God in the midst of some challenging life circumstances. She is perfectly imperfect, humble and always learning and growing.
She is my friend. a true, life treasure, a "sister of the heart".  Several years ago I wrote this poem for her and am so blessed that she is still part of my life. 

WOMAN OF GOD by Teresa Jobst

This woman of God, she knows whose she is.
She knows her salvation comes from Him alone.
He has been her rock and her refuge,
Her light in the darkness, her help in times of trouble.
He commands angels to conquer her enemy.

She leans into Him, trusting His ways above her own.
She knows His voice and waits in quiet expectation.
For she knows He will lead her beside still waters,
And restore her when she is spent,
Even granting her the faith to believe what she can't yet see.

She braces her mind with his living, powerful word.
She knows He has given her favor and lifted her burdens
That she might carry His healing to those who are broken.
His grace abounds over her and spills out to touch the wounded.
He sets her feet on paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

This woman of God who gives herself to Him with surrender,
Has given herself to many others as wife, mother, mentor, caretaker, friend.
He delights over her with singing, rejoicing in His beloved creation,
As He declares in familiar chorus, " Yes, she is good, she is very good."
This woman of God, who knows WHOSE she is.


A true friend is like a beautiful garden, nourishing the soul!

  




Monday, August 22, 2011

The Will of God

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=F9B20CNU  Watch this Steven Curtis Chapman music video on his song, "Do Everything" for a great Monday jumpstart to your week!

You know as I watched this video and listened to the song this morning on God Tube, I was struck that in this fun and catchy song, there is a lot being said about the will of God for my life. I think Steven Curtis Chapman really hit upon 3 things in his chorus that are God's will for me as a believer.

  1. Do everything you do to the glory of God.
  2. Try to bring a smile to His face.
  3. Tell the story of His grace.
Do Everything to the Glory of God: The apostle Paul tells the Corinthian believers over the question of what is permissible to eat or drink, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink or WHATEVER YOU DO,
do EVERYTHING FOR GOD'S GLORY. (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Everything is pretty inclusive isn't it? So when I'm doing my housework, or tutoring a student it should be to God's glory just as much as when I'm teaching a Bible lesson, or mentoring a woman in her faith, or worshiping, or praying. So, playing with my grandson, trying out a new recipe, shopping, exercising, reading, napping....all should be done to the Glory of God? That's His will for us? Yes, and I dare say that it will infuse these daily activities with a fresh sense of God's presence in even the most mundane of activities.

Try to bring a smile to His Face:  How often have I really given thought to God smiling? That something I do could bring a smile of joy to God's face? How much do I just go on auto-pilot unaware that God does delight in me and in my giving my life to Him. Psalm 34:1 says "I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth." I think we can also bless the Lord by being more present in our relationship with him moment by moment, seeking to bring a smile to His face by the things we say and do all througout our days. After all the Word of God says "he rejoices over you with singing" (Zeph 3:17).  Maybe it's God's will for me to give Him something worth singing and rejoicing over and smililng about. Wow, I've really got to work on this one.

Tell the Story of His Grace:  We have been given a clear commandment concerning His will on this one in Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations....teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you..."  We are charged with telling others of His grace and making disciples (faithful followers).  It is His will that I share my testimony of how Christ proved His love for me by willingly dying for me, a sinner. I can share God's patient work of love and healing over my life.  I can make time to "mentor" those who are new in their faith. I can pray for those who are seeking understanding of who Jesus is.  Because God continues to work in my life, I constantly have examples of His grace to share. 

Isn't it amazing that on a Monday morning, God can use a song and teach me so much about His will for me and I'm not even sitting in church?

Think I'll replay the video one more time!




Thursday, August 18, 2011

Traditions~Keeping Family Ties Strong!


Traditional Birthday weekend in Kenosha
Playing Uno on our Kenosha Weekend!

There is a special bonding of hearts that happens with our families when we participate in traditions. It reinforces our sense of belonging to one another. It identifies us to ourselves as the "___" clan!  It gives us the opportunity to invest in our history as a family! It brings joy to family members of all ages and a sense of security in what sometimes seems a fragile world.

My husband and I started a tradition about 4 or 5 years ago of going to Lake Geneva and Kenosha area of Wisconsin to celebrate our shared birthday. It coincides with the Art in the Park fest in Lake Geneva so we started going and spending the weekend and inviting our adult kids to come along.  Last year we were joined by my son's new wife and step-son and his mother-in-law.  This year my daughter was able to join us again too. The laughter and comraderie and love for one another just makes our yearly birthday tradition so special for my husband and I.  It is wonderful to look back over photos of these times together in Wisconsin and revel in the treasure of family.

As we as Americans face some difficult financial times ahead, we especially need some of these weekend family get-a-ways. These family mini-vacations are priceless. It's worth the small investment to us to keep up our tradition of this birthday weekend celebration...no other gifts needed, just having our kids with us is the best gift we could ever receive. 

We have other family traditions as well that are unique to us.  How about you? Are you keeping family traditions, making new ones as you add family members?  It is an investment in strong family ties! 

Feel free to click on "comment" and share your favorite family tradition!



                                            
Poppi with daughter Amy and daughter-in-law, Brandi  
in Kenosha 2011

The "grandmas" at Art in the Park 2010
Lake Geneva

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Attitude

Please watch this Godtube clip:

www.godtube.com
We have all struggled with difficulties in life from time to time. Maybe some of you have lost a job, lost a business, lost your home, lost a relationship, struggled with an addiction, had some deeply challenging health issues, or grieved the death of a someone you loved. Whatever we may come up against, I am convinced that it is our attitude that helps us or hurts us as we go through life challenges. God gave us a free will. We always have the choice to whine and complain and remain in our pain, or to surrender, trust, and receive the peace, presence and power of God.
I know from first hand experience that the temptation to whine, complain and remain is very strong when I am reeling from one of life's "gut punches".  I will be honest and say I have given in to that temptation in some situations. But I have learned the hard way, that having an attitude of surrender, trust and being willing to receive God's peace and direction is the better choice. This little boy's attitude in this clip, has been God's grace gift to him.  He is such an example to us with his choosing of determination, a smiling countenance, and cheerfulness. He has overcome greater things in his young life than I have ever faced or maybe will ever face!  He inspires me by not being in denial of his situation, but having an attitude of willingness to learn to do what he can, and to let others support him by doing things for him that he can't do for himself.
 God's grace has been poured out for me too, Do I have the attitude of availing myself to hold out my cup and let that grace overflow my life in all situations,  or do I have a pity party and sit immobilized
with an attitude of resignation and defeat?  I want to have the attitude that will allow me to experience the presence and power of God over my circumstances. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (trials, struggles, pain), but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 6:33
Attitude: It's my choice how I face life's trials.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

3 Things I've learned about Balance

Most women I know should have a degree in juggling. You know, like the person who entertains us at a circus by juggling rings, balls, swords, or firesticks? In the world we live in today, women learn early on to multi-task with career, marriage, kids, further education, self-care, and church ministries. Some women may be energized by all this "juggling", but many are truthfully just worn out! I've been in both camps at different times of my life, so let me share what I have been learning over the years about the importance of achieving some of that elusive balance in my life.
1. Determine who or what is the "hub" of my life.
  • What is my center, what is my motivating force of life?  It took me a long time to realilze I was not the central focus of  my life.  When I came to faith, I saw that I was never going to be happy with me as the hub of my life.  It was only when I put Jesus in the center, that I began to experience any real balance happening in my life.  Matthew 6:33 says "And seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Things will fall into place if God is in the right place in my life because He will guide me.
  • The Bible instructs us to have Jesus as priority # 1.  Colossians 3:17 says "And whatever you do in word or deed do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus {the Hub}, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
2. Recognize there are seasons in my life.
  • What season are you in?  A farmer doesn't do everything in one season. In Spring he plants, in Summer he tends and weeds, in Fall he harvests and prunes, and in Winter he and the soil rest.
  • We, too, have seasons.  We don't have to do everything at once no matter what our culture tries to say to the contrary. We have the season of childhood for learning and acquiring skills and discovering our gifts.There is the summer season when we are young adults, learning where we fit in the world; perhaps in a marriage and with children or developing a career or a business, and learning where we fit into ministry in the body of Christ. Then there is the Fall, when we begin to harvest  the "fruits" of our labor. Our children have grown up, our businesses have thrived or failed, and we begin to see the spiritual fruit if we have sowed into others lives. Then there comes Winter, a season many fear instead of embrace; but an important season. This is a time to rest, reflect and regroup. We reflect on past seasons and share wisdom with those who are in other seasons to help them arrive at Winter well prepared. This is a time where we may apply the phrase "work smarter, not harder".  I have been blessed by the example of those who have gone through the Winter season and left me a trail to follow.
  • You can't rush the process of each season. Enjoy the season you're in with all the things that accompany it. Two synonyms for balance are orderly and stable; not chaotic, hurried and stressed. Nothing grows well in that kind of "soil".
  • Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 "For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven...."
3.  Receive the rewards of living a balanced life:
  • Peace is a much sought after commodity today. So many individuals and families live with very little peace in their lives regardless of financial provision. When we seek to live in balance in our life, the Bible says in Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is focused on you, Lord."  We are able to feel peace in our lives even in the midst of times of unrest around us because of Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace. We can access this peace by talking to the Lord in prayer at any time of day or night (beats waiting for a bill to clear Congress).
  • Contentment is something we all want in our life, but I have found few truly have it. We base our contentment on acquiring possessions, titles, fame or fortune.  We grow anxious and stressed trying to work at an impossible speed to achieve and keep these things, only to find they don't bring the contentment we were seeking. The apostle Paul stated plainly, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content."  (Philippians 4:11).  That, is real contentment.
  • Strength for the difficulties of life is another reward we get from living a balanced life. Paul surely must have learned this well as we look back at his life because we hear him say in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength. 
I continue to learn to live a balanced life.  I try to remember not to rush the season I am in and to take time to enjoy it and reap from it.  I have set a goal to have more of a farmer mentalilty than a juggler mentality. Some days I have success at that goal and other times, I allow the world to squeeze me into it's mold and then have the reward of stress and anxiety. But I think those days are fewer and more far between than they used to be.
                                               ***********************************
Let me introduce you to a new friend that I met at a Writing Workshop. She writes and  performs songs. Her name is Jen Letamendi and she has just posted her first You Tube video singing one of her songs. She strives for balanced living and has 2 wonderful blogs you can check out:  www.babystepstoabetterme.wordpress.com and www.letsmakemistakesday.blogspot.com

Here is the link to Jen's youtube debut:  http://youtu.be/6_MsVQhvjX8

Saturday, August 6, 2011

True Wealth

Today I had a delightful afternoon with some friends that remind me of the saying that "a friend is a present you give yourself"  These women came bearing birthday cake, gifts, and their stories and riotous laughter. I later reflected how blessed I have been by the "beauty" of friendship in my life.  Over the years I realize how my friendships have encouraged, inspired, comforted, counseled, and even healed me.  I am so thankful for the women God has put in my life over the years as friends. I dedicate this poem I've written to each one of you!

                      Friends of the Heart by teresa jobst
Their spirit a fragrance more intoxicating than any perfume.
Their encouragement more luxurious than any silk or satin.
Their faithfulness more enduring than any precious stone.
Their thoughtful counsel a fine woven tapestry
Their laughter a rich and matchless daily accessory.
Their forgiveness like diamond earrings sparkling in candlelight.
Their love a soft cashmere wrap that comforts me.
These timeless beauties have graced my life
Friends of the Heart, my true wealth.




Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Serious Debt Reduction

In light of recent weeks talk of debt reduction in our nation's capital and ensuing "COUNTDOWNS" to a vote to raise the debt ceiling by major news outlets, I couldn't help but think of someone who set the bar pretty high when it comes to seriously dealing with debt.  A democrat? A republican? A financial guru?  A wall street genius? A political analyst? None of these. Perhaps I can best reveal him by this poem I wrote a few years ago:

           Flow to Me

No greater peace is there
that exists for me,
than from my precious Prince of Peace
who willingly embraced Calvary.

He knew the cost was high
as he bore the burdensome tree,
still he pressed on enduring,
to set this debtor free.

He saw my greatest need
when in His greatest agony.
He cried out, "It is finished",
and bought my priceless victory!

So when I face challenges or pain
and all my peace would flee,
I set my heart upon such great love
that allows His peace to flow to me.