Nice girls don't change the world

All my life people have told me that I was nice and kind. Now I know that is a great compliment! But as I have grown older and more mature no one tells me that much anymore and you know what? I am just fine with that! Now before you pass out or call one of the board members of our church...because you all know my role as a Pastor's wife...let me tell you a little about some lessons I have learned the last few years.

Nice defined is 'pleasant, agreeable,socially acceptable, and exact in standards'. Now nothing is wrong with any of those words! But my role as a Pastor's wife is to assist my husband in "leading" and "guiding" people the right direction in life. Sometimes my role is to be a disciplinarian and to speak truth when it isn't "going to be well accepted". I may have to talk to some people about a conversation or a situation so that the "air can be cleared' and that isn't going to always be pleasant or agreeable either! To do what God has called me to do and do it correctly...some people will think that I am not nice!

Now years ago I so wanted to be accepted by everyone and wanted to be loved by all. Ohhh the things I would do so that everyone would look at me and think the best and the highest. I would go on outing with ladies to places that I dreaded going and would never speak up and tell them that I was not interested in those things. I was trying to be nice and appease them. I would wear things that they made me even though it wasn't my preference and style and even be embarassed but they would never know it. I have even let them come into my house and hang pictures on my walls of paintings that were NO where close to anything I would EVER pick out and "live with it" and not tell them or speak up. Because it was more important for them to be happy and think that i liked everything they liked. Isn't that what a good pastor's wife supposed to do? Well...that might have been nice...that actually might of been more like dumb. LOL. I was miserable because I was being what I thought everyone else wanted me to be...and sadly I was not being ME. Now I know that God is not wanting me to be "socially acceptable"....He is wanting me to simply obey Him and that includes being the person HE made me to be. 

We all have personalities, quirks, interests and talents that are totally unique to the person that we are and sometimes those things need to be "tweaked".  Being too "nice" and a people pleaser and never speaking up and sharing likes, ideas and desires deprives everyone around you....including yourself! It can be exhausting!! Just like being bossy and a loud mouth will just turn everyone off and cause people to avoid you and not be a good example of Christ. We are called to love people and there are ways of speaking your opinion and it be done in the right way that is pleasing to God as well as everyone around you!

I came across this book by Lynne Hybels called, "Nice Girls Don't Change the World". It was a God send to me! It talks about how Pastor's wives and women in general used to stand in the background cooking, smiling and being the silent partner and after so many years Lynne had a revelation that she was called to be something better than "looking the part" of the pastor's wife and a Godly woman...that she was to take an active role and stand "next to" the pastor. This just made something jump within me and my whole outlook changed. I was trying to be something I wasn't and things weren't working out because I wasn't functioning in the place that I was to be at.

So I stepped out and let me tell you I have had frightful days! But I know that I am doing just what I have been called to do. Let me clarify something though....I don't believe in two headed monsters...that meaning I don't say I am a Pastor or a Co-Pastor....my husband is the Pastor and I am his helper and greatest cheerleader. He is not only called but WE are called and are in this together.

So let me encourage you with this: you no longer need to just be nice....God called you to speak truth and speak it in love. Your willingness to be involved in the lives of others will cause you to be sucessful. You might speak the wrong thing but if it is spoken in love then your mistake will be forgiven with much love. We no longer need to be quiet and act like perfect ladies that we "have it all together"! That has been terribly ineffective and not very attainable to anyone from the outside the church looking in! They want to see humanity and realness and the fact that you trip, fall and lose your car keys sometimes...just like them. How can we reach the lost if they cannot relate? So get out and get messy and stop thinking that what is in your heart is not valuable to someone else!

Nice girls DON'T change the world....but girls and ladies that love Jesus with all their hearts DO! I challenge you to no longer just be agreeable and socially acceptable....I challenge you to be God's voice and speak truth in love and go where He tells you to go in obedience and girl,
....you will most definitely change your world!

Adjust that Crown,

Jonna

*Joy is the flag flown high

→I remember singing this song in children's church and I loved it....marching around with
a flag and lifting it high in the air! Revisiting this song now as an adult I realize the power
in it and the fact that it has such a greater meaning to me now:


Joy is the flag flown high from the 
castle of your heart,
from the castle of your heart, from 
the castle of your heart.
Joy is the flag flown high from the 
castle of your heart,
When the King is in residence there.

So lift it high in the sky and let the 
whole world know,
Let the whole world know, let the 
whole world know.
So lift it high in the sky and let the 
whole world know,
That the King is in residence there.


A Flag is so important to a country because it is a way of portraying itself to the rest of the world. It can unify a country and it's people in a time of trouble and can be a real sign of hope in desperate situations. Flags were used long ago during wars when the air was cloudy and dusty people would lose sight of
their group and would look up to see where the flag was and to also know who was winning the battle!

So what flag are you flying? How do you portray Christ to the rest of the world? Is what your waving filled with love, joy and peace? Is it creating unity and hope to the desperate people around you? Are you helping people find their way to Jesus and showing them that a life of a Christian is like being on the winning team?

Reevaluate what banner you have over your life today. The castle of our heart should radiate joy in your life, your words and your actions. That doesn't mean that we can't have a bad day or make mistakes! But our residences should be places of peace and harbors of joy for everyone you come in contact with. Where the King is allowed to be on His throne...there will be life and there will be ripe and growing fruit of His spirit. We want the whole world to know who resides in us! #Galatians 5:22

You ARE Graciously Adorned

❤ Jonna

Scars

A scar is just a remnant of a healing that took place over a traumatic incident. Everything within your body responded to make that area of hurt get back to as normal as it could. Unfortunately our body is not able to heal as clean and nicely as we like...thus creating mementos or "war wounds".

Some scars might not be seen by the human eyes and are internal and harder for others to know about or even for us to realize. Everything in your thought processe, mindset and heart are working hard to overcome this type of injury as well. Unfortunately unlike most physical injuries these can cause the most lasting damage.

You may be hurting today by someone or something and are struggling hard to recover from it. Know this and be encouraged....if you are still breathing and still standing then you have won the important part of the fight. You might have got hit but it isn't going to take you out. Your hurts, bruises and scars are just a reminder that you have been through a rough patch but the promises of HIS Word that is IN you is working itself OUT of you.

 You may have lasting effects in the form of marks and even some long term pain; but you are going to make it and boy will you have a story to tell! So fly the flag of victory and put down the rag of surrender. You are an overcomer in Jesus name! #James 1:12

Straighten that Crown,

Jonna

I am so Glad that You Exist!

The word exist or existence comes from the Latin word "existere"meaning: "to appear", "to arise", "to become", or "to be", but literally, it means "to stand out" (ex- being the Latin prefix for "out" added to the Latin verb stare, meaning "to stand").
In other words...you were made to ARISE and STAND OUT...this is WHY you exist...for HIS purpose and glory! Your life matters and not only am I glad you are here...God smiles when He thinks of you.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb .… Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:13, 16 NIV)


Adjust that crown,

Jonna

Is Jesus your Facebook Friend?

Ever have a Facebook friend that you really didn't want to accept as a friend? But after months of them continuing to ask to be your friend you just got weary of hitting the "not at this time" button so you added them? (well maybe that has just happened to me!) I guess persistence truly does pay off. ha.  Then before you knew it they were all over your photo albums "liking" everything and making comments and asking questions. Ugh. What a pain. I don't have time to explain all that stuff...this is old news. Then out of the blue they post a horrid picture of you from 20 years ago and you scramble to "hide" it from your newsfeed. What will people think? That picture is not the "me" now! This new "friend" of yours "pokes" you everyday and constantly sends you requests for every game ever made, and always messaging and of course commenting on every status you place. Wow...how aggravating! They are like stalking you!

Sometimes I wonder if Jesus is like that friend. He is there wanting to interact with us in everything we do and we are so good at "ignoring" Him. Yet he is persistent longing to talk and wanting relationship with the one that He made and loves. He is constantly sending us messages that He cares for us and He is with us with every move we make. He is the still small voice that helps us and warns us when we are near danger. He is in everything we see in creation and enjoy and is present in every situation good or bad. He longs to be a part of our everyday thoughts and is interested in every place we go and do. he wants to be included and sometimes we are just too busy to take the time to add Jesus to our lives.


Adjust that Crown,

Jonna

Intercessory Prayer: Mantle of Esther

(Excuse the "roughness" of the following teaching...these are the notes I used when speaking to our intercessory group)

Let me start by saying that you all are extremely valuable to Don and I and our family...and it dosn't stop there. Whatever we have accomplished in terms of success or breakthrough is because of prayer. And because of your prayer we credit you. Your sacrifice and your devotion is not ignored and unseen. Although I know that none of you want your "crown" to be here in the earthly form....I still want to tell you thank you. We do not take lightly what you do and what God is doing through you. 

Luke 16:12 If you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? 

You are guardians and carriers of the ministry of both Mercy Gate as well as for your pastor's. Your faithfulness is seen and felt. Answered prayers and conversions are the direct results of your obedience and time. Your actions, behavior, attitudes are all a direct reflection of our ministry. We are very closely connected. And I truly believe that God is going to bless each of you mightily. 

Esther Mantle

Now I do know this: that most Pastor's have a love/hate relationship with their intercessors. I hear the term you as: flighty, flaky, nuts, their head is in the clouds, strange, weird etc. There does seem to be a disconnect sometimes where people of prayer are not fully understood. "they always have a word" or a "dream". Ha. Well there needs to be balance in all of these areas with the intercessors and with the pastors. I really feel that this anxiety that most pastor's feel is because of past experiences with their intercessors. (ex. Dance showing spiritual birthing process, Tambourines by children, Flag flying in the church, Words given at inappropriate times) Intercessors are creative and expressive people! The problems we experienced as well as our fellow pastor's;  were from the ignorance and lack of experience in how to handle those situations. There is a time and place for the noise, the flags and interpretive dance and the revelations. 

One of the biggest issues we run into is pride. (Don told me that he touched on that when he spoke to you guys last month.) He talked about servant leadership and having a humble spirit. All that we are are servants to the people....you may call me pastor's wife or Don pastor but we are in fact humble workers for the kingdom. WE should never forget that we are not doing this for a title, for a position or for people to see us or for self exaltation. When we hit that platform or when we get on our knees...we need to be reminded of our positions. 

The enemy surely knows what buttons to push to get some of us to trail off in the wrong direction. You have seen pastor's preach and then find our they were in moral sin and failure....how can that happen? How could he be annointed and hear from God while he is doing THAT? Well...the same can happen with an intercessor. They can pray and hear things from the throne room of God but not be in the right place. You can actually "hear" what you want to hear and function in a role in your own talent and annointing for a time...but it will be lifted eventually. What could happen with an intercessor is that they get a word or a picture of what should happen and present it to the leadership but if they don't do what they want them to do then they start praying prayers of manipulation and develop a haughty spirit that they may know more than the leadership, know more  about the direction of the church. Trust me....we have seen this happen over and over again.

Just like me having a best friend in the church can prove to be quite hairy....telling intercessors all the details on something can cause them to lose respect for authority or for the pastor. Everyone has differing opinions on direction and plans but God gave Pastor the vision. Before you know it they are bringing a group to another church because they don't like "the direction". Our group is not going to do that. We are not going to allow each other to go astray. 

You need to be accountable to your leader....Annette. if you find yourself feeling like you know more then her or that you don't even want to listen to what she has to say or how she is saying it....welll....that is a sign of pride that leads to the Jezebel spirit...which is just a spirit that uproots authority. You need to hold each other accountable with your attitudes, words, talking about people. Gossip runs rampant in prayer groups. One person "feels" something about somebody and before you know it you are telling each other "in prayer" of course what you think is going on. 

We need to all be like Esther. She is a remarkable illustration of intercession. She intervened in a dangerous situation for her people (the Jews) with the King and it resulted in deliverance and victory. She stood against two realms...the natural and the supernatural. In her own power there is no way Esther could have had the outcome she had. She demonstrated an attitude of humility and reverance that can be the difference between intercession that fails and intercession that triumphs. 

"Esther demonstrated an attitude of humility and reverance that can be the difference between intercession that fails and intercession that triumphs."

 And we all know what happened to Queen Vashti....she refused to obey the king when summoned. She got so wrapped up in "who she was" and with all her attendants and fanfare she lost all respect and forgot about the authority the king actually had. She was wrapped up in her own selfish desires and giftings...that led to her downfall. She was dethroned and is still heralded as the first independent minded feminist. Some say that she was a bad example for all the households in the Kingdom...because she rebelled others rebelled against their husbands as well. Just like Vashti we NEVER want to FORGET who we are...we certainly do not want to cause confusion or trump any pastorly authority as well in the house of God because we may cause others to stumble. We may have a title and we may have some power but the King gave it to us and He can also take it away. 

When God calls us it is because of he awesome sovereignty. He has decided what He wants done and He is calling his faithful and beloved. He does not set office hours and like the ER...it's open 24 hours a day. He is looking for availability no matter the costs. 

Esther was one of many ladies summonded to the King's palace. She was caught up in something beyond her control. I often wonder what her life plans were...did she have a boyfriend? and now found herself in this situatuion? Whatever was going on in her life...she set it aside...she reordered her priorities and gave way to the purposes of the Kingdom. 

Hegai prepares Esther for her meeting with the King. She was already nice to look at. The training would be demanding but she needed to be found pleasing to the King. She had 12 months of beauty treatments...six months of oil of myrhh and six with perfumes and cosmetics and 7 attendants to help her. This truly is a time of patient preparation for ministry. Myrrh suggests death and 1 Corinthians 15:31 says; "I die every day for the cause of christ".  Our own ambitions and desires need to die before going before the King and we need a group of people to keep us be accountable to that. 

Esther was called the tenth month of the 7th year of the King's reign. It wasn't a full 12! We might be called to intercession but feel "not ready" or inadequate but we must trust and not rely on ourselves but only on His presence, guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. The intercessors primary concern is to please the Lord. When that prevails, the power and blessings of heaven are released on Earth.

The King loved Esther more than all the other women and she won grace and favor in his sight so much that He placed the royal crown on her head and made her his queen. The King was so happy that he declared a remission of taxes and distributed gifts with royal generosity. (Eshter 2:17-18)  The Church's first calling is to behave like a bride....the best thing we can do for the World is please God. Esther did not storm around the palace with shrill opinions and moral directives in regards to the administration.....the Church should be a blessing to the World and the Kingdom and she then in turn pleases and delights God. When God is pleased we get His attention and can then change cities and regions with His nod.

Esther approaches the King and asks him to a banquet and the King asks her for her wishes...she never even has to hint or ask him first. When we are in communion with our King He doesn't have to coax the petition out of us, we have entered into a most holy place. But a good intercessor knows that timing is everything and while Esther did not immediately tell the King; things were being worked out behind the scenes. Esther does not strive against the evil one but her strategy is to expose Haman in the presence of the King...not just in front of others...Intercessors are aware of evil but know that how we  deal with evil is not how the King will deal with it. Amazingly enough in the story, before Esther can even tell the King what she wants the King remembers something from the past and unsettles Haman's scheme. God never forgets, does he? He has so arranged the ministry of prayer that events and promises from the past shall be recited before him. 

Without Esther lifting a finger....Haman stumbles. Blind faith is at work here....sometimes we are tempted to work things out ourselves in the natural realm but we could mess up the perfectly orchestrated supernatural set up. It actually turns into what seems like a movie out of Hollywood. Haman has to announce favor and distinction and honor to Mordecai....the man he was just planning to kill!  

Sometimes we are tempted to work things out ourselves in the natural realm but we could mess up the perfectly orchestrated supernatural set up.

The banquet comes around the Haman's plot is revealed and the King gets very angry. Meanwhile Haman begs Esther for his life. When the king returned into the room he sees Haman falling on the couch next to the Queen. It is amazing the deals that the enemy will try to strike with you when He realizes the authority that you carry. But Esther spoke with Mercy to the King always out of compassion and love and not with anger or threats. She maintained her composure....she truly was graceful and knew how to walk with a crown.

Esther and Mordecai took over every deed and every job formerly controlled by Haman in the Kingdom. The ministry of intercesseion participates in the release of Christ's authority.....Mordecai sat outside the gates in sack cloth and ashes untl Esther's intercession prevailed. 

 We need to prepare ourselves for "such a time as this". We all have a past and varied backgrounds but we have been hand picked by the King and we are royalty. He sees greatness in each of us even if we think we are insignificant and without talent. We need brave women who are willing to draw close to HIM and form themselves in a place of quiet power where His kingdom is being exalted. I desire the mantle of Esther and know that with prayer and unity and keeping our focus on HIM there isn't anything that we cannot do. 

You are Graciously Adorned!

❤Jonna

Bum, Tramp or Hobo

I learned something very interesting today from one of my patients...there is a big difference between a Hobo, Tramp & a Bum. Mind you; this man was definitely homeless and had a grocery cart full of items that he wanted to cart around the Emergency Room. His emergency was that it was cold and he was hungry. But he told the triage nurse that he was having chest pain. After working him up and he knew he was being admitted for observation he began to open up.

He said that there is a large misunderstanding on the streets regarding homes people. He says that some treat every person sleeping outside the same and that just isn't the case. This man was very interesting and I enjoyed the few hours I spent with him. Although he did eat four sandwiches and numerous cartons of milk!

He told me that Hobos travel around in different areas and towns looking for work. They carry their belongings everywhere they go and are hard workers. They just do not have a home. They are the ones that usually have fell on hard times and now can't seem to get back to normal life. 

Tramps travel all around from city to city but they don't look for work. They look for the best spots to beg for money. They are the ones that are known to steal or barter to survive. They are the tough ones that you have to really look out for. They are the people who usually are hiding from the law. They will never have an identification card on them. 

Last but not least there are Bums. Now they do not travel and they do not look for work...they just beg. They usually are ill or have some type of impairment that hinders them from traveling. These are the ones that are always hanging around. They won't steal and they won't barter. They will just ask for a handout. These are the ones that are usually addicted to alcohol or drugs. 

I asked my patient which one he was and he said: "It just depends on what day it is".  Ha. 

That is life at Ben Taub Hospital for you. 

Adjust that Crown

Jonna