On Top of the Mountain

"So be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself to Me there on the top of the mountain."

Exodus 34:2

Be ready in the morning! Go to the top of the mountain and meet Me there.This is when God wants me to come to Him so that I can begin my daily climb in strength, not weakness. Why? Because I'm at my best, in strength and hope, ready to begin the climb of household chores, being a helper to my husband, teaching my children, and the list goes on and on. Last night I buried yesterday's fatigue, and this morning I took on a new supply of energy. Blessed is the day when the morning is sanctified- set apart to God. Successful is the day when the first victory is won in prayer! Holy is the day when the dawn finds me on the mountaintop with God! Each morning begun on the mountain will make me strong and glad the rest of the day.

Have you, this morning, met with God on top of the mountain? He's waiting for you there. Stop what you are doing right now, and go meet Him. Prepare yourself tonight and be ready in the morning to go to the top of the mountain.

Bloom Where You're Planted

"Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
Isaiah 65:24

Do you ever feel like you are out in left field all by yourself? You know that God has called you to do "something", but you aren't quite sure what that "something" is yet, so you're just faithfully serving out there in left field. What we don't often realize is that behind the scenes, before He ever flung the stars into space, God had today in mind. He had this very week in mind. In fact, He had you in mind. And He knew exactly what He was going to do. God is never at a loss to know what He's going to do in our situations. He knows perfectly well what is best for us. Our problem is, we don't know. And we say to Him, "Lord, if You just tell me, then I'll be in great shape. Just reveal Your plan to me and I'll count on You." But, that's not faith. Faith is counting on Him when we do not know what tomorrow holds.

When a man or woman of God fails, nothing of God fails (Psalm 102: 12). When a man or woman of God changes, nothing of God changes (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). When someone of God dies, nothing of God dies (Psalm 90:1,2; Isaiah 40:28). When our lives are altered by the unexpected, nothing of God is altered or unexpected. It was the prophet Isaiah who wrote: "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24) "Before you even utter a word," God promises, "I'm involved in answering. In fact, while you're speaking, I'm involved in bringing to pass the very thing I have planned from the get go." You don't have to be smart to be obedient to God's plan for your life. You don't have to be clever. All you have to do is obey.

So, what now?
God's solutions are often strange and simple, so be open. Don't make the carrying out of God's will complicated. It isn't. Remember, He equips those whom He calls.

God's promotions are usually sudden and surprising, so be ready. He watches you as you faithfully carry out the small tasks preparing you for the big ones.

God's solutions are always sovereign and sure, so be sensitive. God is in control of all things and He knows what's best for us.

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans of peace and not of evil, plans to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11

Sweet sister, bloom where you are planted, even if it is out in left field. Give your all to the tasks God has called you to do today; whether it be laundry, cleaning your house, teaching your children, answering phones at work, do it as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23,24).

Leave me a comment. I'd love to hear how you are blooming where God has planted you.

Let's Praise the Lord Together, Part 5

"Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; oh, sing praises to the Lord, to Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice. Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!"
Psalm 68:32-35

I pray that you've had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to enjoy the fellowship of friends and family. Did you set aside time Thursday to praise God for who He is and all He does for you? Let's finish up our week of Alphabet Praise; we have a few more letters.

U

Unsearchable
"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable." Psalm 145:3
Upholds me
"Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand." Psalm 37:24
Upright
"Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He teaches sinners in the way." Psalm 25:8

V

Victorious
"The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
the Vinedresser
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." John 15:1

W

the Word
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1
Washes away sin
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7
Living Water
"Jesus answered and said to her, 'whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.' " John 4:13-14

X

Excellent
"O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9
Exalted
"Let them praise the name of the LORD; for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven." Psalm 148:13

Y

Yah/ Yahweh- The One Who Is; The Self-Existent One
"Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name Yah, and rejoice before Him. Psalm 68:4
"Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:4

Z

full of Zeal
"Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9:7



Father, thank You for washing away the sins of this sinner. I praise You, that when I abide in You, I am victorious over the enemy. God, I praise You because You are good and upright; You uphold me in Your hand. Thank You for being my Yahweh.

Let's Praise the Lord Together, Part 4

"Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful." Psalm 147:1

Oh, how God loves to hear our songs of praise rising to the heavens. They are beautiful sounds in His ears. Let's get to praisin'; for it is good! Today we start with the letter P.

P

Protector
"The LORD is your protector; the LORD is your shade at your right hand." Psalm 121:5
Perfect
"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Psalm 18:30
My Peace
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation." Ephesians 2:14

Q

Quick to Listen
"I sought the LORD, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3
Quieter of my Soul
"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10

R

Redeemer
"Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is His name." Jeremiah 50:34
Righteous
"I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." Psalm 7:17
Refuge
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

S

Shepherd
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
Safety
"I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8
Strength
"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him." Psalm 28:7

T

Teacher
"Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statues, and I shall keep it to the end." Psalm 119:33
Tender
"The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psalm 145:9
True
"But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King." Jeremiah 10:10a

I praise You, Father, because in You, I find true peace. Thank You for hearing me when I cry out to You. Lord God, You ARE my righteous Redeemer in whom I find refuge and strength. I praise You Lord for being my Shepherd and leading me in Your Truth everlasting. May my praise be beautiful in Your ears.

Let's Praise the Lord Together, Part 3

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever, Amen."
Revelation 7:1

I can't wait to get started today. Let's dig in. We'll start with the letter K.

K

Kind
"For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the LORD endures forever." Psalm 117:2
King
"The LORD is King forever and ever..." Psalm 10:16
Keeper
"Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." John 17:11-12

L

Lamb
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Revelation 5:12
Longsuffering
"The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression."
Numbers 14:18
Lifter of my Head
"But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head." Psalm 3:3

M

Most High
"For You, LORD, are Most High above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods."
Psalm 97:9
Mighty One
"The Mighty One, God the LORD, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down." Psalm 50:1
Merciful
"For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." Psalm 86:5

N

None like Him
"Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me." Isaiah 46:9
Name above all names
"Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth." Philippians 2:9-10
Never changing
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8

O

Omnipotent- Almighty, All-powerful
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless." Genesis 17:1
Omniscient- All-knowing
"O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it." Psalm 139:1-6
Omnipresent- Present in all places at all times
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence

O Father, how I praise Your name; the Name above all names. You are the Lord God Almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing. Thank You for being with me everywhere I am. I praise You for being so merciful to me and so mighty to save. God I praise You, that in a world so full of change and insecurities, I can rest safely in Your arms knowing that You WILL NEVER change. Precious, Lord, You ARE MY King and MY Lord who has lifted up my head and I give You ALL PRAISE AND HONOR FOR YOU ARE WORTHY!!!!!! PRAISE HIS NAME!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!

Let's Praise the Lord Together, Part 2

"I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore."

Psalm 86:12

Good morning, dear friend. Are you ready to praise the Lord with all your heart and glorify His name together? We'll start with the letter F today. Here we go!

F

Faithful
"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever, with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 89:1
Father
"A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation." Psalm 68:5
Fortress
"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

G

Good
"For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." Psalm 86:5
Glorious
"Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples." Psalm 96:3
Great
"For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods." Psalm 96:4

H

Honorable
"His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever." Psalm 111:3
Holy
"He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded He covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name." Psalm 111:9
Hiding Place
"You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word." Psalm 119:114

I

I AM
"And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'." Exodus 3:14
Immanuel
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, 'God with us'." Matthew 1:23
Ish- Husband
"For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth." Isaiah 54:5

J

Judge
"But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another." Psalm 75:7
Jealous
"...For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." Deuteronomy 5:9
Jehovah-Rapha- the God who heals
"O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me." Psalm 30:2

Oh Father, how I praise You today. Thank You for always being my Faithful Father. I praise You that You are good and always ready to forgive and pour forth Your mercy upon me. God, You are holy. Thank You for being a jealous God, who wants all of me. I praise You that You are Jehovah-Rapha, my God who has healed all my hurts. I bless Your name today.

Who did God show you He was today? I'd love to hear from you. Much love, precious one!

Let's Praise the Lord Together

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."

Psalm 100:4

Do you ever find yourself asking God for things more than you are praising Him for everything? God created us to praise Him, "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise" (Isaiah 43:21). This week, being the week of Thanksgiving, I'd like us to focus on praising and thanking God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit for who He is. To make it easy, we'll do what's called "Alphabet Praise". This means we will go through the entire alphabet, listing some characteristics and attributes of God for each letter. I'll give you a few characteristics/ attributes of God for each letter to get you started and then you can list some on your own. After we've done our "letters of the day", we'll spend time praising God in prayer.

Ready? Let's get started.
Father God, I praise You because You are

A

Abba- "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out 'Abba, Father'". Romans 8:15
Abundant life Giver- "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
the Alpha and the Almighty- "I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

B

Bread of Life- " I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never go hungry, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." John 6:35
Bestower of blessings- " He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." Psalm 24:5
Bright Morning Star- "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
Revelation 22:16

C

Creator- "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1
Compassionate- "The LORD is gracious to all and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy." Psalm 145:8
Caring- "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

D

Deliverer- "I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
Psalm 34:4
Director of my path- "A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."
Proverbs 16:9
Discipliner- "For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines..." Hebrews 12:6

E

El Elyon- the Lord Most High, the Sovereign Lord- "For the LORD Most High (El Elyon) is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth." Psalm 47:2
Eternal- "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms..." Deuteronomy 33:26
El Shadday- God Almighty- "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

Father God, I thank You that You are my Abba. You are the Bread of Life who gives me life abundantly. I praise You that I can cast all my cares upon You and know. Thank You for delivering me from the pit I was in and directing my paths. I praise You that You are El Elyon, the Lord Most High, who is King over all the earth. You alone are worthy of all my praise.

I'd love to hear from you. How are you praising God? What did you add to your list? Leave me a comment. Happy Praising!

To Know Him More

I'm sure you've heard the term "quiet time" and been told you need to be having one. But what exactly is a quiet time, why do you need to be having one, and how in the world are you suppose to to do it one? Please visit http://howtohaveadailyquiettime.blogspot.com/ for more information on how to have a quiet time so that you can know God more.

I'd love to hear how God spoke to you. Leave me a comment. Much love, sweet sister.

Grace Activated by Faith

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7

Grace is activated by faith. Our faith activates or releases the grace of God; "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8) Grace strips us of our need for anything but humility. Then it gives to the humble one a treasure chest full of the blessings of God. However, the treasure chest can only be opened with the key of faith. This is why so many of God's children feel powerless; they have no key of faith.

We would expect the lost to have no key of faith, but why don't the children of God have the key of faith?
1. Many believers have not humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God. Instead, they have been tricked into a false faith that centers on what they believe about themselves and their human potential and abilities.
2. They don't understand Biblical faith. Their faith is placed in what they believe about God rather than on the whole counsel of the Word of God.

The certainty of faith is found not in the believer but in WHO and WHAT is believed. If we believe in what we say, our faith rests in ourselves. But, if we believe what God says- in the context of the whole Bible- our faith rests in the infallible Word of God and in the character of God.

What is your faith resting on? Yourself or God and who He says He is?

Stop right now and pray. Ask God to help you place your faith only in Him. Ask Him to open your eyes to any ways in which you are trusting in the wisdom of others rather than in His Word and character.

Oh Father, I thank You that even when I am without faith; You are faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). I thank you that Your grace is always sufficient and Your strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) Guide me today in Your path and lead me in Your truth everlasting, for Your ways are perfect (Psalm 25:4 & 5; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 19:7-11)

excerpt from Lord, I Need Grace to Make it Today, by Kay Arthur

My Story

It’s only By His Grace

We lived in Panama City, Florida. I was 7 years old and our church was hosting its yearly revival. I remember this night like it was yesterday; the evangelist was preaching his message, I was sitting on the third pew, middle section of the sanctuary with two of my friends. As the message of the Gospel was preached and the invitation was given something inside of me burned. My heart raced and my palms began sweating. Never before I had experienced this type of moving within my soul. Something, no Someone was calling my name; calling for me to come closer to Him. It was a calling that could not be ignored. A calling so strong that I had no other choice but to follow. With knees wobbling, hands trembling, and tears streaming down my face I made my way down the aisle. I had my eyes set on my earthly daddy who was standing down front and I made a b-line straight for him. I grabbed his hand, looked into his eyes, and said, “I need Jesus in my heart.” We found a quiet place where we could talk and he walked me through the message of the cross. In the best way that my seven year old mind could understand, I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and come live inside my heart.

In the spring of 1990 I heard the Lord calling out to me once again. I don’t remember what my dad’s sermon was about that day, but I do remember my heart racing and my palms sweating as I began hearing that still small voice within my spirit speak. The Holy Spirit was saying to me, “I want you to serve Me with all your heart for the rest of your life. I have a special plan for your life.” Just like the day I gave my heart to Jesus, I made a b-line down that aisle for my daddy and told him what had just happened. He prayed with me and told me how proud he was of me. Exactly a year later, on that same spring day the Lord confirmed this calling to me. He had a plan and I was willing to follow.

I would love to be able to say to you that I have always followed God’s plan for my life exactly as He has laid it out before me, that He and I have always walked hand-in-hand, and that I have always been a Godly example to all those around me, but unfortunately that’s not the case. Yes, there has never been a time that I can remember not being in church, around God’s people, actively doing God’s work. I literally grew up there. If the doors we open, we were there. But, I have discovered the hard way that there’s so much more than just doing the work of the Lord; I’ve come to realize it’s all about allowing Him to do the working in me.

I’m not going to re-hash for you all the bad choices that I’ve made along the way. That’s not the important thing. What’s important is that God has always been there for me no matter what I’ve done or where I’ve been. His arms have always been open wide waiting for me to turn from my sins and make a b-line straight for Him. I want you to know though, that I have been in a deep, deep pit of sin. I have found myself so entangled by the chains of the enemy that I could barely breathe. I know what it’s like to feel all alone, hopeless, ready to end it all. I know the pain of suffering from guilt and shame. I know what it’s like to try so hard and do nothing but fail. I know all too well the feelings of defeat and bondage. But, I also know a Savior that loves me unconditionally and I know that He love you too.

I do want to share with you a miracle that God performed in my life 6 years ago. My husband and I had been married for three years. To say that our marriage was on the rocks is an understatement. We were, at this point, tolerating each other for the sake of the children. I hated him. He hated me. We could hardly stand to be in the same room together. Divorce papers had been drawn up some months before and it was only a matter of time before we parted ways. I would not find out until about a year later that the lawyer who my husband had write up the divorce papers was a Christian and told him she would not file those papers until we sought Christian counseling for our marriage. We did seek out counseling, but even though the advice was good, it didn’t change our marriage in the least. Why? Because we needed more than counseling; we NEEDED Jesus to heal our marriage. Let me stop here for a moment and say to you, “Counseling is a good thing. Christian, Biblical counseling is a good thing. I am all for it. I have a degree in it. But, until you and I are willing to let God work within us, changing us to be more like His Son, nothing that anyone says is going to make a bit of difference. He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. True healing, lasting healing comes only from Him.” Ok. I’ll get down off that soap box.

The first step for me in the healing of our marriage came when I attended a women’s conference with my mother-in-law in November of 2002. Margaret Kennedy was the quest speaker for the weekend. Keep in mind that at the time I had wandered so far away from God that to look for Him through my eyes, He was nowhere to be seen. But, praise His name He is El Roi, the God who sees, and all the while He had His eyes on me. God spoke so plainly to me through Margaret that weekend; it was as though He Himself were standing before me. I saw in her a love and passion for the Lord I had never seen before. I felt the love of God pouring forth from her. God began that weekend to heal my broken heart and battered body. To put into words for you all that I experienced during that one weekend with the Lord would be far more than these pages can hold for now. Just know that since that moment I have never been the same. God began healing me that weekend and set my feet to walking down a new path, a straighter, much narrower path than I’d been used to. The next Sunday I went forward during the invitation and told the pastor about the encounter I had with the Lord. I explained to him that up until that point I wasn’t sure if I was truly saved or not, but now there was no doubt in my mind whatsoever. I knew Jesus, He knew me- we went together like peas and carrots.

My husband was not happy in the least with my “new found freedom” because he knew he was soon to follow. I began praying for him like nobody’s business. Within a month he was on his knees at our kitchen table crying out to the Lord to save him. That December, my husband and I were baptized together. It was the most precious gift we received that Christmas. The times that I value most to this day are those times when my man and I sit together at our dining room table and study God’s Word. Within a few months both of us were actively involved in our student ministry department. Chris was teaching a 12th grade boys Sunday School class and mentoring a small group of them. I was teaching a 7th grade girls class and mentoring a handful of them. God was doing a mighty work in us and allowing us to do some mighty work for Him.
Growing up I had always enjoyed writing down and journaling my thoughts; it had been an outlet for me. If you ask my parents they will tell you it was like pulling teeth to get me to talk; writing just came natural. The Lord began prompting me to pick up my pen and begin writing for Him. I’ll be completely honest with you and tell you that I was very hesitant. “Are you sure Lord? What would I write about? Who would read it?” Over and over again we would go back and forth. I guess God got tired of me questioning Him so much and one day spoke loud and clear to my stubborn heart.

We were at Panama City Beach for a Disciple Now weekend. There were probably 100+ kids there from our church. During one of the worship services I made my way to the back of the chapel to pray for the speaker and our students. Little did I know that the Lord was about to speak to me. I knelt down before Him and began praying. I prayed for the students and for God to move mightily among them. Then I began talking to the Lord about this writing thing He had been calling me to do. I said to Him, “Ok Lord. If You really want me to do write then I need You to give me some kind of sign. I need for You to tell me loud and clear so that there is no doubt You want me to do this thing.” I had not so much gotten those words off my lips and the speaker said, “Maybe God is calling you to write a story.” Uh, excuse me! What did you just say? My eyes popped open and I look toward to heavens and said, “Uh, God. Was that meant for me? I take it that’s my sign, my clear word from You.” Yep, it was my sign. Not only did God confirm to me that day my calling to praise Him through my writings, but He placed within my heart a burning passion for others to know Him like never before.

My heart’s desire and life’s passion is to first and foremost seek after Him in all things. This journey that He’s got me on is more than I ever dreamed possible. I want to share with all those He places in my path His unconditional love, never-ending patience, abundant mercy, overflowing grace, and magnificent healing. For it is only By His Grace that I am what I am today.

"By the grace of God I am what I am,

and His grace toward me
was not in vain."

1 Corinthians 15:10a, NKJV

Teaching Topics

Need a speaker for an upcoming retreat or women's event?

Contact Jenifer at jenifer@byhisgraceministry.com for details. Below you'll find a sampling of lessons taught in the past. Jenifer is more than happy to work with your women's ministry team to develop specific topics for your women's event. Or, of course if you don't have a preference, she would love to share with you what God has been teaching her lately.

God...who are You?

When you think about God, what thoughts come to mind? Do you picture Him as caring, kind, and compassionate? Is He always forgiving, always faithful, always a friend to you? Does He love you unconditionally, meet you where you are, heal your every wound? Can you go to Him with anything, at anytime? Or, do you view God as judgmental, full of wrath, not caring about your life struggles? Do you see Him as unapproachable and unloving? Do you view God as only loving you when you do something right or something you feel is worthy of being loved? Is God untouchable to you- someone who is way up there in Heaven sitting on a throne that cares nothing about little you?

Jenifer's goal is to lead you to look into the person of who God is and how He loves and cares for His children. Her desire is for you to grow in your relationship with Him and for you to know with all your heart that He loves you with all His heart. She wants you to experience, like never before, the God who sees all your hurts and longs to heal your wounds and leave knowing that He is God Almighty, the God Most High, the Great I AM, the Lord.

Jenifer has complied this into a 9 week Bible Study entitled "God...who are You & what can You do for me? Getting to know the Almighty God." Interested in this for yourself or your church's women's group? Contact us here for more information.

To Know Him More

Most of us have heard the term "quiet time" and been told that we need to be having one. But, what exactly is a quiet time, why do we need to be having one, and how in the world do we do it?

Jenifer would like to share with you a few things the Lord has shown her about the importance of spending daily quiet time with the Lord.

To Love, Honor, and Cherish

Marriage is not easy, especially when God is not the foundation upon which it has been built. Jenifer openly shares with others the struggles she and her husband went through early on in their marriage. It wasn't until God became number one in each of their lives that their marriage began its journey down the road of healing and forgiveness.

Jenifer and her husband are a living example that nothing is impossible for God. Her desire is to

bring hope to the wounded and to encourage them to continue fighting for their families.

The Parable of the Soils

In Matthew 13:1-23 Jesus told the parable of the soils to teach His disciples and other followers the importance of the preparedness of ones heart for the Word of God. He used the familiarity of planting because this was something most were all able to relate to and understand.

Jenifer discusses the four types of paths/ ground described in this passage that Jesus will later tie together with a person’s heart: the earth path, the rocky path, the thorny path, and the good path. Which path best represents your heart?

Dancing with Foolishness?

Mankind, by himself, cannot seek after God because man is corrupt, evil, and full of sin. Psalm 14 is a picture of a people who have turned their backs on their Creator and are running as hard as they can away from Him. The joy of this Psalm is that God loves all peoples, desires to know them personally, and has provided a way to be re-united with them.

As Jenifer studied through this Psalm, she couldn’t help but remember the many times in her life that she ran in the opposite direction of her Creator; times when she was foolish and chose to do things her way. There have been times when she has lived like there was no God. And the sad thing is, these times didn’t just affect her, they affected all those around. Jenifer will share a particular occasion in her life when her dancing with foolishness affected someone around her. She will also share what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

**A weekend retreat would consist of a Friday evening session and two sessions on Saturday. "My Chains are Gone" would be an example of material for a weekend retreat. "God...who are You?" can be adapted for either a weekend retreat or a one day women's event.

My Chains are Gone
Psalm 18 is David's thanksgiving and praise of God for the many times God had delivered him from his enemy. David desired always to keep these memories fresh in his mind and to speak of them often. It was his passion to share with others what God had rescued him from. Psalm 18 is a beautiful Psalm full of poetry and imagery of a God who fights for and protects His people.

Session titles for this lesson would be:

~Live in Freedom- Verses 1-6

~Does Prayer Matter?- Verses 7-19

~Be Proud of Who You Are- Verses 20-28

**Coming Soon:

Sister, Get Off that Camel!- Genesis 24

Fees:
I do not have a set speaker fee. Any love gift will be graciously accepted and in turn be put back into the ministry of By His Grace for the purposes of furthering God's Kingdom. I do ask that travel, food, and lodging arrangements be taken care of by the host church.

I look forward to serving you and your women's group.

Contact Me

You can contact Jenifer of By His Grace Ministry here. We would love to hear from you, pray for you, or answer any questions you might have about this ministry.

You can expect to hear back from us within 1-2 days.

We Believe

~Doctrinal Beliefs~

By His Grace Ministry holds to the latest statement of faith as found in The Baptist Faith & Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000.

~Our Mission~

The mission of By His Grace Ministry is to:

~reach the lost,

~equip the believer, and

~unite Christians to impact individuals, families, churches,

and communities for the rebuilding of lives from the inside out

all for the glory of the Lord God Almighty.

Forever Rejoicing

I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be on such a great adventure with the Lord. He has delivered me from a deep, deep pit of sin and I will forever rejoice in Him. “Forever Rejoicing: A Journey through the Psalms” began as a direct command from the Lord. As, I lay in bed one night talking to the Lord about where to begin the New Year in His Word, He immediately said to me, “Psalm. Begin in the Psalms.” So, that’s what I’ve done and am continuing to do. I invite to join me in this journey as we study through the book of Psalms. There are 150 beautiful Psalms, so it’s going to take us some dedicated time to get all the way through them. I know you are probably thinking, “there’s no way I can do that!”- I was thinking the same thing and even asked the Lord if He was sure that’s what He wanted me to do- guess what He said- YES!

As we study through each of the Psalms I will share with you my thoughts, challenges the Lord has presented me with, questions for you to answer to help you dig in more or thoughts for you to ponder. This is a big commitment I know, but God is calling us to step up, to stop making excuses for the sin in our lives, to stop being so lazy, and to allow Him to transform us into the Godly women He so desires us to be. So, grab your Bible, notebooks and pens, a good cup of coffee and get ready to dig into God’s Word. I can’t wait! Here we go. Look through the list of Psalms, choose the Psalm you would like to read, click on it, and enjoy your time with the Lord. This list will be updated as we study through a new Psalm.

Father, how we praise Your Name. You are Yahweh, the Lord. Thank You that You are a personal God who loves us where we are, but refuses to leave us there. You desire for us so much more than we could ever begin to imagine. You always have our best interest in mind. As we embark on this journey through the Book of Psalms, we commit to You right now that we will set aside time each day to spend with You; time in Your Word, time in conversation with You, and time listening to You speak. Teach us new truths from Your Word that we may hide in hearts so we can be the Godly women You’ve called us to be to the precious ones You have placed in our lives. Father, I ask on behalf of each of these women, myself included, that You would place in our lives a Heart Friend to join us in this journey; someone to walk with, someone who will encourage us when we are struggling, someone who can strengthen us and hold us accountable to this commitment we are making. It is my prayer that our lives would be transformed more into the image of Your Son, our Savior, through the digging in of the Word. Precious Lord, we love You and we give You all praise, honor, and glory. Bless our time in Your Word. Amen.


Introduction to the Psalms
Psalm 1- By the Streams of Living Water
Psalm 2- Part 1, The Anointed King
Psalm 2- Part 2, The Anointed King
Psalm 3- Part 1, How do You Treat Your Enemies?
Psalm 3- Part 2, God is our Defense
Psalm 4- My Righteousness
Psalm 5- My God and My King
Psalm 6- Discipline=Christ-likeness
Psalm 7- How do you SEE God?
Psalm 8- Star Light, Shine Bright
Psalm 9- Praise Him in the Storms
Psalm 10- He is our Constant
Psalm 11- Bring it On!
Psalm 12- We are not Alone!
Psalm 13- Sorrow is but for a Moment!
Psalm 14- Dancing with Foolishness?
Psalm 15- A "Q & A" Gathering
Psalm 16- Golden Nuggets of Truth
Psalm 17- Sleep in Peace
Psalm 18- Part 1, Live in Freedom
Psalm 18- Part 2, Does Prayer Matter?
Psalm 18- Part 3, Boasting in the Lord
Psalm 19- God's Word is...
Psalm 20- I will boast in the name of the LORD
Psalm 21- Part 1, Praisin' and Rejoicin'
Psalm 21- Part 2, Clothed with Righteousness
Psalm 21- Part 3, Victory is Coming!
Psalm 22- Part 1, The Psalm of the Cross
Psalm 22- Part 2, The Roar of a Lion
Psalm 22- Part 3, God is still Holy and to be Praised
Psalm 22- Part 4, He makes Everything Beautiful
Psalm 22- Part 5, He had Hope
Psalm 22- Part 6, A Savior's View
Psalm 22- Part 7, Tell of His Greatness
Psalm 23- Part 1, The Pearl of the Psalms
Psalm 23- Part 2, The LORD, He is my Shepherd
Psalm 23- Part 3, I Shall Not Want
Psalm 23- Part 4, "It's ok, little one, I've got you"
Psalm 23- Part 5, In His Presence in Contentment
Psalm 23- Part 6, Those Pesky Flies
Psalm 23- Part 7, Lush, Green Pastures
Psalm 23- Part 8, The Living Waters
Psalm 23- Part 9, Restoration for Dolly
Psalm 23- Part 10, The Path of Obedience
Psalm 23- Part 11, Keep Walking Through
Psalm 23- Part 12, His Rod and His Staff
Psalm 23- Part 13, He Prepared the Way
Psalm 23- Part 14, His Anointing
Psalm 23- Part 15, Goodness and Mercy
Psalm 23- Part 16, Remain in Him
Psalm 24- Who is this King of Glory?
Psalm 25- Lift up Your Soul
Psalm 26- Walk in His Way
Psalm 27- The Tent of the Lord
Psalm 28- Lift Your Hands in His Holy Sanctuary
Psalm 29- Don't Fear the Storm- Praise the Lord
Psalm 30- Jehovah-Rapha is His Name

Testimonials

~ What others are saying ~

Jenifer faithfully served on the Women’s Ministry Team at Faith Baptist Church for over two years. In all that she has done while serving, whether leading in the Discipleship Ministry to our women, teaching Bible Studies, or planning and helping with our Away Retreats, she has served well. It is always a joy to work with a sister in Christ who desires to bring glory to His name. Psalm 115:1
Dianne Hart, Faith Baptist Women’s Ministry Leadership Team
Youngsville, NC

With the heart of a servant, Jenifer shares her intimate knowledge of God and His truth. She deeply longs for others to search His Word, not the world, for truth. She also longs for others to further develop a relationship with their Creator, since it is, after all, the most fulfilling and meaningful relationship we will ever invest in. While she admires and respects many voices in the world of Christian Ministry, she is fully aware that the only voice that is never wrong and never fails is that of the Lord. She does not place herself or others on a pedestal, but instead stands upon her rock, Jesus Christ!
Jamie Miller, Franklinton, NC

Jenifer has been a gifted and faithful friend in ministry. She has been an excellent resource both to me and those she willingly gives her time to invest in for the cause of the gospel. The feedback from women who have sat under her teaching has been testimony to the gifts God has given her. She has been an asset to our church and to the Kingdom of God.
Brad Paradis, Pastor of Discipleship and Young Adults
Faith Baptist Church, Youngsville, NC

Having known Jenifer since 2005 has been an added blessing to my life. When my husband and I relocated from the West Coast to the East Coast she was the first young woman I mentored. At that time she had young two children, Hannah and Will. She and her husband added sweet little Lydia last year, 2007. I have witnessed first hand how she prays over her family and loves her husband in a way that he can "sit at the gates" as in Proverbs 31. Since mentoring Jenifer, I've also had the privilege of serving with her on a Women's Ministry Counsel for two years while planning a Women's Retreat for our church. She not only has a heart that wants to love and serve God but also a heart that is teachable, reachable and approachable. She cares about other women's spiritual lives and prays and studies in order to help them. She has led many Bible Studies that have been a positive influence on many women in the last couple of years. But most importantly is her personal relationship with Christ. There is no doubt that Christ is first in her life.
Deb Paradis
Mentor, Youngsville, NC

As a pastor at a growing church I am always looking for young leaders that have both skill and heart. Jenifer has both of those and offers them, without hesitation, to the ongoing work of Faith Baptist Church. Her desire is to serve the Lord and her church as well. May her tribe increase!
Rich Paradis, Associate Pastor & Pastor of Education
Faith Baptist Church, Youngsville, NC

Jenifer - I want to thank you for being a wonderful vessel for God to use in so many ways. Your "I AM, Who?" study is one of my favorites. Whether we looked at Immanuel, Adonai, El Elyon or Abba, the daily work brought me to a new level of understanding about who God really is. The study offered the perfect blend of scripture and thought/reflection. Several times during this study I felt it was written exactly for me and whatever I was dealing with at the time. It was applicable to the "right now....today" with useful insight and sometimes very humbling realizations. Most of all, Jenifer, I appreciate the honesty, compassion and scripture you offered at each class. It is so obvious that your eyes are on Jesus. Not only is your study written by his hand, but your concern for every person in our class was phenomenal. You are such a gifted teacher and I am honored to be a student in anything/everything you teach or facilitate.
Debra Sanders, Wake Forest, NC

Jenifer Jernigan has served Faith Baptist Church faithfully in a variety of ways. With a servant’s heart and attention to detail, she administrated our Guest Reception each Sunday for many months, ensuring that our guests enjoyed the best hospitality we could provide. She serves in Sunday School and women’s ministry and has been influential in the spiritual growth of many women through these ministries. Thank you, Jenifer, for using your gifts and talents in service to the Body of Christ at Faith Baptist!
Tim Sexton, Pastor of Outreach
Faith Baptist Church, Youngsville, NC

I just met Jenifer a few months ago while taking the Virtuous Woman’s Bible study but was immediately hooked. Jenifer’s classes have an immediately warm and Godly feel to them. When she talks about the Scriptures and shares her insights you feel her passion for the Lord and for helping others dig in and experience the abundant joy she has found in her walk with the Him. In class she uses visuals to help explain the concept or principle she is covering; they are powerful and really stick in your mind. Her enthusiasm and genuine joy are addicting. I get up early now to run to her blog to see what is new and reread past devotionals. She stresses the great benefit of spending time with the Lord in the Word that she has found and that Scripture promises, and I can attest, it can change things that have been unchanged for years. She has a cute saying, “These are not my opinions or my interpretations this is God’s Word”. You can see in the blog she hears God speak, memorizes His Word, believes what the Word says and practices it in her life. And the best part is, she teaches you to be able to do it too and see the results for yourself; and when you don’t see the results as soon as you would like, she is there encouraging you to believe and persevere through the struggle “keeping your eyes on Him”. She is what she says, a servant of the Lord.
Dot A. Wiggins, Youngsville, NC

Jenifer loves her sisters in Christ with a compassion and faithfulness that has inspired me to drop to my knees, to dig deeper, to reach farther, to see my own potential through Jesus Christ in new and exciting ways. She is encouraging. She is thought provoking. She is sincere. Above all, her love for the Lord is evident; her teaching of the text is inspiring; and her devotion to the truth is paramount. When Jenifer prays, when Jenifer speaks of Christ Jesus, my heart swells for I know I am in the presence of a daughter to the King.
Kelli Worley, Youngsville, NC