Are you Harboring?

While looking for Harley a local shelter told me 50% of pets recovered are found in a backyard weeks later. Well-meaning people see a lost animal and decide to keep it safe and off the streets until the owner comes looking.

Meanwhile the owner is frantic going door to door looking for their lost pet. Possibly even knocking on the very door where their pet is at and maybe no one is at home at the time.

Are we harboring something that others are looking for? Are you well meaning but holding onto something that someone else is seeking? Make someone's day and share the Jesus that is in you. You may have the very thing that brings freedom to someone's life. Just a thought. 

Adjust that crown!

Jonna

Get up & Back away

"When you are up close and inspecting yourself you will be critical and see all the flaws. Take the time to get up and back away and see the whole picture and those imperfections won't be so obvious anymore."

Those are the wise words of our Painting with a Twist instructor yesterday during one of our painting sessions. There was no wine at our session but a whole lot of whining at one point when all the painters seemed to be aggravated with their skills.....or lack thereof! Everyone was looking at what they were painting and comparing it with the finished model and no one was very happy with their work. We all lacked the skill and the experience that the instructor had with the brush strokes and techniques. After all...she had painted this a zillion times and who are we to think that we could emulate that at one sitting?

Perspective is a funny thing. I stood up and looked at my canvas from afar and realized that I actually wasn't far away from where I should be. There were people who had great paintings and others that looked quite interesting as well! ha. I was doing really good at that point!

The instructors model painting had so much detail and I was trying to replicate that but she kept telling us that everyone's painting was on target and was going to look great by the end in it's own unique way. There were many moments of doubt and I even had thoughts of giving up! This was supossed to be FUN by the way! LOL. I kept adding more paint and strokes to the painting thinking that maybe I could make it better and actually almost destroyed it! I finally just put the brush down and told myself to stop. There was a point as well when I just panicked and didn't want to attempt the lettering of the scripture and it was obvious that I needed some professional help! Well fortunately I asked the paint instructor and she was more than willing to help and she did bail me out.

You may be looking at your life today and think that you are just not worthy or have too many imperfections...just stop criticizing yourself and take a step back and see yourself through the eyes of your creator and your perspective will change. Yes..your life may not look like the life you would like to have at this point; but you are on target and all the details will come in time...we need to have patience and embrace our own unique life with it's own set of challenges. We can't look at the Monet and think we can do that!

We need to look at God and know that He created us and that He hasn't forgotten us or given up on us....whatever trouble we are in...He is the professional who will guide us and help us out of our jam. We just have to ask and then refer to His written word that is our life line. His letters to us is what reminds us of who we are...we are loved and we are HIS. We just need to get up and back out of the way and take our hands off of things so that HE can take care of His own. We are His own unique Masterpiece!



Adjust that Crown!

Jonna

BE-Attitude: Poor in Spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."   Matthew 5:3

Sometimes this part of scripture is misquoted as "blessed are the poor for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." NO...just because you are in poverty does not give you a streamline into the gates of heaven! ha. Poverty is NOT a blessing although some may choose it...it is NOT what this scripture is about. What Jesus was talking about was a spiritual condition.

Being self-reliant, self-confident, self-centered and swimming in our own self-esteem and in what WE can do teeters on a form of humanism. Humanism says that man doesn't need a savior and shouldn't rely on someone else for salvation...everything a person needs is within himself.

Poor in spirit is having a humility that is the realization that ALL your blessings come from the grace of God. We are actually nothing without our creator and because of Him we should constantly give thanks and be grateful! The opposite of humility is pride.To be poor in spirit we have to understand that what we know and what we have is ONLY because of our God and we are reliant, confident, centered and have a great esteem that is TOTALLY reliant on HIM and not our own selves as our source. 

Jesus is saying here that blessed are they that put my teachings into practice. Blessed are they who acknowledge they can't fulfill God's call by themselves. Blessed are they who realize that they are spiritually bankrupt without me. Blessed are they that turn their face to God to fulfill what they were created to be. Blessed are they who place their faith and dependence on me. We cannot achieve true happiness and bliss on our own merits!

In reality everyone who is in the Kingdom of God had to be poor in spirit at one time in order admit that they needed Jesus and with a broken and contrite spirit asked Him into their heart! The problem here is STAYING humble before God and acknowledging HIM with every day, every breath and remembering that every thing that we have comes from HIM. By no merit of our own do we come close to the gates of heaven and no works that we do with our own hands can bring us anywhere close to eternity if it doesn't involve Christ.

"Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me." Psalms 51:10

Adjust that Crown!

Jonna 

BE-Attitudes: Kingdom Character

Matthew 5 contain some of my favorite teachings by Jesus! It's the very popular part of the scripture called the "Beatitudes" within the famous Sermon on the Mount; which start with "Blessed are..". Now the Bible doesn't list that title name specifically in the scripture...well not in any version that I have read...so I did a little research. Where did the actual Beatitude name come from?

When the Bible was translated into Latin the phrases at the beginning of each verse began with the word "beati"or "beautis" which translates into English as "Blessed (happy) are they" and the noun form is the actual "beatitude". So when the Bible was printed the headings for Matthew 5 was lovingly called "Beatitudes."  Even Webster dictionary states that the word "Beatitude" means: 1. A state of utmost bliss, 2. any declaration made in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 beginning in the Authorized Version, "Blessed are".  Synonyms for the word beatutide are as follows: happiness, blessed, bliss, gladness, joy, and warm fuzzies!

Now as you read the actual Beatitudes you just might not feel the warm fuzzies or the bliss...you may feel the opposite of that and be more like 'Woe is me.' But that is okay...none of us have arrived and thankfully every day we have new mercies that have been given to us! Each one of these verses are a state of ATTITUDE and character of how God wants each of us to BE! And we all know that Kingdom mindsets are not built in a day! FYI: I will be posting via my blog each of the verses for the next few days and simplifying them for our personal application. 

I believe that when Jesus says “blessed are they" at the beginning of each verse that He is not only describing people as being filled with inner joy and peace because we are in right standing with God....but also He is giving praise for good character and then pledging a divine reward because of it! Now if that doesn't give you the warm fuzzies then I don't know what will! 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matt 5:3-11

Adjust that Crown!

Jonna 

Double Happiness!

Two men, both seriously ill shared the same hospital room. 

    

 One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation....

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color
and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band -he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window.The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

To his amazement; It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

You have the ability and the opportunity to be the eyes and ears for someone who just can't see things positively for themself. There is tremendous happiness found in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled! If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy. 

Adjust that Crown, 

Jonna

Opinions

An old man and a young boy were traveling through their village with their donkey. The boy rode on the donkey and the old man walked.

As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding. The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.

Later, they passed some people that remarked, "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk." Hearing this the man and the boy then decided they both would walk.

Soon enough they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey.

Finally,  they went by some people that shamed them by saying, "How awful to put such a load on a poor donkey."


Moral to the story? Out there in life someone will always find something negative to say about you no matter what you do. So be confident and listen to the voice that is the authority in your life...God and Godly counsel. The opinions around you are only comments based on limited information that doesn't define who you are. It is important to remember the old saying, "Opinions are like arm pits...everyone has them and most of them stink."


But one the other side of the coin it is good to remember that we should NOT believe all the good as well as all the bad that is said about us. Re-evaluation is a healthy thing and we all need "tweaked" now and then. Just don't let someone change the direction in your life unless it wisdom that you know lines up with The Bible and the voice of your savior for...YOU!

Adjust that Crown!

Jonna

Ahhhh Massage!

How funny is it that we do not hesitate to remove our clothes and inhibitions and let a complete stranger massage our body! I just went to a very nice spa and got the BEST massage of my entire life! I was WAY too eager to strip and get under those warm covers and let this lady I met literally 60 seconds before touch my bare flesh and try to work out the knots and stiffness I have allowed to creep in.

It has been a tad stressful recently and I could feel the tightness in my shoulders and neck. It was amazing how the masseuse knew right where to focus just based on how my muscles felt. She worked on my neck and shoulders for almost 30 minutes alone. I was amazed about how loose and easier I could move. It was an amazing 80 minute massage!

Just think what God could do in our lives if we were willing to fully undress and reveal our vulnerable sides and let Him work out the difficult areas of our life. Our shoulders aren't meant to carry all that stress and tension. He wants us uninhibited and free to carry about His purposes in a joyful and victorious fashion! Let it GO!

Adjust that crown!

Jonna

Fringe

Fringe defined: 

1. An ornamental border made of hanging material used as a decoration                

2. A narrow area along the edge of something

3. An area of activity that is related but not a part of what is   central  

4. Something that is marginal, additional or secondary to a process

I don't know about you...but I love fringe! Fringe on furniture, purses and even clothing is so beautiful not to mention quite expensive. I have this heavy upholstery fabric blanket that I adore that Don bought me and all around the bottom of it is this large, thick fringe that unfortunately my dog loves as well. I love the way the fringe drapes around me when I cover up with it...so very nice! Fringe is really pleasing to the eye but what I have found out is that it just doesn't hold up to time or wear and is quite high maintenance!

Fringe is both loved and hated in the upholstery world. It adds alot of monetary value but is hard to attach permanently since it isn't a central part of the woven fabric piece. Most items need to be hand-stitched or double stitched with a sewing machine to ensure it will stay but like any furniture salesperson knows....if it experiences high use then it isn't gonig to be there for too long. And for clothing items or blankets...well forget throwing it in the washing machine because it will definitely come off!

Being a Pastor's wife I have seen many types of people come and go in our churches. There are actually people right now in our church that Don and I label as "fringe people" just between ourselves. These are people that are valuable to us and they sometimes are part of minstries in the church and are faithful. What makes them fringe is the fact that they have never fully committed to the vision of the church. They are distanced from the central part of the heart of the church and at times are off doing their "own" thing and dangling "by a string". Many times with heavy hearts after a situation or difficulty occurs; we have seen them fall off the grid altogether.

Why do people like to stay "in the fringe"? Well good question! My opinion is that they are afraid of committment. When you are so tightly woven in something and a part then you have your hands in everything! When something goes wrong you feel the pain and when something goes right you experience the joy because it is a part of you. You have many woven areas of your heart intertwined in others and in relationships as well as ministry positions. You want to help make the place the best and you use your talents for just that so you are not so easily moved or hurt enought to uproot and go elsewhere. But when you are in the fringe you can rejoice in the joys as well but also not take part in the pain of a mistake. Non-committment protects yourself and puts you in the position of leaving and in fault-finding. You reserve the right to complain since you didn't have a part in that. There are no long- term hurts and you haven't really put much into relationships so it is so much easier to disappear.

The gift of community that we have in a local church is not simply Christians who are really nice to each other and the people they go to church with. Genuine community is more like a movement where groups of people have been set free by Christ to pursue radically different agendas with their life and lifestyles together. Doing life together in a way where we really need each other brings Christ and his Kingdom very close to this Earth. For Jesus once dwelt among us as a humble servant; and he continues to dwell among us in this same way. As Paul writes in Philippians, Jesus takes up residence in brothers and sisters who, "being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose," consider others better than themselves and look to the interests of others above their own". 

If you find yourself in a "fringe" situation then do something about it! It is where the enemy wants you....separated and not connected from the people and the support you need! You say that you don't "feel a part of the group"? Well...yet another lie of the enemy! Jump in and stop being the victim. Your insecurities are NOT what God says that you are! You are a part of the family of God that will exist for all of eternity together so why can't we be together here on earth? Fringe is beautiful but so is a gorgeous tapestry that is woven together and interwined to make a pattern that is coveted and valuable. Be a part of what God wants in the Church...UNITY. Where you find unity...you find a good thing. 

Adjust that Crown, 

Jonna

The 5th Vital Sign

Monitoring signs of life as a nurse include blood pressure, pulse, respiration and temperature and all are considered routine things. These measurements are vital though in diagnosing problems and reassessing them will show if a patient is stable, improved or if their condition is worsening. In 1999 pain was added to this vital sign list in the healthcare world and was labeled "the fifth vital sign".

Many physicians realized that pain affected pulse, respirations and blood pressures in a way that if not paying attention to pain; then they were not seeing the whole picture. You cannot treat a blood pressure without addressing pain because they directly affect each other. Pain needs to be fixed first and then naturally blood pressure will be corrected if that was the origin. Health care is a ever-changing field and if you are "doing it how it always has been done" then a physician, nurse or hospital is missing out on new signs and symptoms and innovative treatments that could help them diagnose and have better outcomes for their patients.


Just like vital signs in people; churches need to be monitored for increasing or decreasing life. Every church has preaching, teaching, worship, missions and fellowship. Is there something we are missing? We work so hard to have what we need for our people and new converts. But does that address the full picture? If we are truly a growing organism then the passion of reproduction inside our walls should be also a priority outside of our walls. What if Mercy were the 5th vital sign? What if addressing pain was added to the list of priorities in the church?


The Bible is pretty clear about how Christians and the church should care for one another. Mercy is compassion, blessing and favor despite a person's situation and that doesn't just include those who are saved. There are two different things that we need to look at here: First, how are we helping our members and secondly, how we are impacting those in our community. I believe that Church is a hospital for the hurting but unfortunately sometimes we get so caught up in ourselves that it is so easy for us to live communally. It is so easy to feel safe in our fortress that we created and protect ourselves from the "evil that lurks beyond". Helping the hurting can be messy!


Showing mercy is a characteristic of life in God's kingdom, it's a demonstration of power. The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:7 explains that mercy is one of the marks of righteousness, a gift of God. God has made it possible; so naturally his people must do it. When Christians mirror the heart of the one who has saved them it brings a new level of living and victory. Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan. Modeling mercy to our "neighbors" is part of the basic response of God's people to his covenant. True Christian faith produces genuine compassion and fruit in the form of acts of mercy toward those in need. It was this characteristic of mercy that caused Christ to go among all kinds of people to help. Believers are to respond to the mercy shown them in the same way. Because much mercy was given to us .....we need to give that same mercy to others.


I believe that Mercy is the factor that is going to affect our life, growth and our ever-changing culture. There are so many hurting people out there; the needs are vast and where and how we get involved and to what extent has blurry lines but what I do know is that the mix of truth and mercy coupled with the wisdom of the holy spirit is what is going to reach others in these last days. We all need to check our own vital signs and re-evaluate and re-prioritize what is working and what isn't working. God help us to be the heartbeat in our communities that fulfills the Great Commission and be the effective help for the hurting in every place we go and in every word we speak.

Adjust that Crown, 

Jonna

Choose Happy!

The Savior specifically prayed that God would not take us “out of the world” (John 17:15) and therefore out of our problems or trials. “In this world your joy is NOT full,” Jesus taught, “but in ME your joy IS full”. True happiness and satisfaction are found only by turning away from the worlds thinking and renewing your mind in Christ. So CHOOSE to get to church and revive yourself; CHOOSE to rub elbows with others who are in the same "boat" as you and no matter how your morning is going....chaos and mayhem all around...laugh at your situation that is by the way--just a season....and CHOOSE to be happy! 

You are alive and breathing and we all tend to take the truly amazing gift of life for granted! :))

Adjust that Crown!

Jonna

Where did you go God?

“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)

In Psalm 10 David asked why God seemed so far away in times of trouble. I think if we are honest, that same question has crossed our thoughts as well. Why does God seem so far away? It reminds me of a bumper sticker that read something to the effect of “If you can’t feel God in your life, guess who moved?”

God’s love is constant, but our anger, our grief, and our doubts can push Him away from our thoughts. The negatives crowd out that small voice we know is not from our own brain waves. Despair robs us of the closeness we once felt. Then we somehow convince ourselves that God is so far away! Crazy how quickly that can happen!

Yet the Bible tells us God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) God is always there. Sometimes we just need to look up from our troubles to see Him. Maybe it will be in the form of a friend, a rainbow on a stormy day, the words to song or a passage of scripture. Perhaps it will be a sudden calm that coats us like a protective shell. David learned that. His faith helped him to see God through his despair. He says later on in Psalm 10 -“O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear” (vs. 17).

God is a gentleman. He waits to be asked before entering into our situations. He also knows our hearts, and if we get lost in ourselves He will bring us someone or something to help us realize that we haven't been alone at all. He's been waiting on us to give it all over so that He can work it out on our behalf.

Adjust that Crown, 

Jonna

Checkers or Chess?

     Popular trauma surgeon Dr 

Red Duke told me one day, "Some people do life like they are playing Checkers and what they should be doing is living life like a game of Chess." Now considering what he does for a living I am sure he has seen his share of silly antics and rash decisions that has gotten people in intersting trauma situations! It is true that some people just don't think before they do things and because of it they rely on the intelligence and quick thinking of others to save them.

In Checkers, all the game pieces are the same except for red and black colors and they move in the same way. You win when you have either trapped your opponent or you can overtaken all their pieces off the board. Now Chess sounds like about the same game except that each piece in Chess is differently shaped and have different rules and abilities. While Checkers sometimes involves random luck; you have to have a strategy to win at Chess!

In life we cannot just wander around and be random and hope to be sucessful at anything! We have to think before we speak and do things. People can get hurt by our bad judgements and our random actions. We need to be a people that have a strategy and a plan! 

God needs you to understand that life isn't a game of chance...it is something that has been thought out and planned for thousands of years. He has strategized so that you can win in the end. In order to win at Chess you have to trap the other parties King and you announce "Check Mate" meaning, "the king is dead." Well at least we know this...OUR King is alive but the strategy is still the same. Say "Check Mate" to the King's that shouldn't be ruling in your life,

Our King is coming and we need to be ready and waiting and have a heavenly strategy for finding others to take along us!

Adjust that Crown, 

Jonna

What is your Rub Rating?

Wyenbeek Machine

In my pursuit of a good fabric I have learned something! (imagine that!)  Upholstery fabric has a Rub Rating; it is a abrasion resistance test made by a Wyzenbeek machine that tests fabric rubbing together in two perpendicular directions until it tears. So a "rub" is the ability of a fabric to resist surface wear caused by flat rubbing contact with another fabric. The Wyzenbeek Method is a standard test used in the United States. So a rating of 30,000 double rubs is a great choice for high traffic areas or commerical use and a 15,000 double rub rating is an average household rating.

How is this information useful? Well I am glad you asked. Our durability and abraision resistance on a daily basis needs to be at least 30,000 double rubs! Think of how many people we "rub" elbows with on a daily basis either at work, church or strangers that we encounter. We have a great incidence of getting irritated quickly and having a break down. I know that all of us have experienced road rage or maybe even cafeteria rage...when people cut in line. ha ha. These breakdowns can cause a tear in our testimony and although that happens to all of us sometime or another; we really we need to take our irritability factor much more seriously because it is the opposite of love.

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on it's own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoiceth in truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things."  1 Corinthians 13: 4-6

Consider your rub rating. When you are in contact with others are you wearing them out or are you adding to the quality and value of their life? Some of the most beautiful and expensive fabrics in the world are the ones that are the most tightly woven and with higher thread counts. The quality of your life is directly proportional with how you interact with others and the love legacy you leave. We all want to have a life that is not wasted and we certainly want one that endures the test of time. 


Adjust that Crown!
Jonna  

Our love story

Donald: You have read stories of “Love at first sight” well this isn’t such a story. Understand our first encounters with each other were both memorable. My first introduction to Jonna was, me introducing myself to her and then introducing her to someone else. Then her first recollection of me was me standing on top a car (the roof) yelling at someone across the parking lot. I believe her question to a friend was “who is that idiot?” Yep you guessed it…I was the proverbial idiot.

Jonna: It is really funny when you realize that we both double dated with each other's best friends when we were teenagers! When those relationships didn't pan out; well we just decided to get together. The first time we actually met was at church...big surprise! Don was a loud talker and always the center of attention and I was very quiet and well mannered and liked to stay out of the spotlight. And yes...one of my first memories of Don was after that church service in the parking lot of a Pizza Hut and he was standing on one of the vehicles hoods and jumping up and down yelling something and then while eating pizza he made his "pizza pie" eat the salt and pepper shakers as well as the napkin dispenser on the table. Of course Don probably remembers that I didn't eat because I didn't want to get sauce on my new outfit and that I was somewhat repulsed at everything he did....sounds like a great beginning!

Donald: I will never forget what she looked like that night. Jonna was wearing a Polo shirt with the collar popped because that was the style of the day. Her smile lit the room up…matter of fact it still does. Her eyes…to borrow a line from a popular song of today, “Oh her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they’re not shining” are so captivating. Brown eyes have never seemed so bright. Her hair was long and blonde back in the day. She was absolutely beautiful. But as we talked I realized she was beautiful inside and out. So I had to ask her on another date.

Jonna: What “repulsed” me about Don is actually what I craved. I loved watching him be so happy and alive and entertaining with those gorgeous blue eyes. Yes...even jumping on that car hood! When he spoke everyone around him stopped and listened. He contains such wisdom, charisma, charm and of course incredibly good looks and I found myself getting sucked in like I have NEVER before in a relationship. Don's outlook on life was and is so carefree and spontaneous and so much fun! I was so busy “acting” proper and being well-behaved that I found myself boring but I so wanted to participate and break out of my shy-box!

Donald: I knew she was “the one” within two weeks…I think it took her a couple of years! But on one hand I’m grateful our love story isn’t a fairy tale because the stuff we have been through together, our commitment to one another, a fairy tale love story couldn’t hold up to the challenge. We dated for two years before we were married. I was extremely sick during those days with Crohn's disease and she was confident and strong. I’ll also never forget the night I proposed. We went out to a nice dinner and then we went for a walk on the beach. It was a full moon…I know for a fact that we had never gone to the beach at night before, we had gone plenty of times during the day but never at night. So as we walked down the beach on that full moon-lit evening…I asked her to marry me. When I pulled out the ring I was so glad the moon was bright because the light of the moon made the ring seem larger and more brilliant. I was the happiest guy in the world when she said yes…matter of fact the only other time since then that makes me so happy is the fact that she continues to say “yes” everyday.

Jonna: He has always had a heart for the things of God and wanted to do GREAT things with his life. He talked about a ministry style that hit my heart...that God loved us so much and had more Mercy and Grace than we ever even thought! It excited me because of my religious style of upbringing to find someone that wanted to do things different and "out of the box' and I felt myself falling in love so fast and so deep with this amazing man. When he finally asked me to marry him one night on the beach...I was thrilled and excitedly said yes!


I said "yes" to full-time ministry as well as "yes" to a chronic disease of which both brought many challenges, victories as well as blessings down the road. I didn't realize that the "in sickness" part was going to come so quickly though! What I witnessed in my husband during the struggle of his life was a faith that was so strong and unwavering and I would watch him minister and pray for people and see them healed while he was still so incredibly sick. One day God chose to heal him and I got to be a part of that wonderful miracle! No greater time in my life; other than the birth of my two boys will ever compare to that moment.

Donald: I know couples are supposed to have songs and I’m not real sure if “we” do…I know the song that makes me think of her is the song “Cherish” by Kool and the Gang. I cannot hear it and not think of Jonna. See love stories are more than the oooh and the gooh…it is how you stay together during the difficult days. When your spouse is sick for twelve years and you don’t leave, you love him in spite of it and through it. When your wife decides to go back to school you celebrate it and help her dreams come to pass.
You've heard the saying, “Marriage is made in heaven…but so is Thunder and Lightning!” But boy, doesn’t it create a beautiful show when the heavens are lighting up?

Jonna: Don has officially gotten me “out of my box” and sometimes he probably wonders if he created a monster! But over the years he has been my encourager to go and do and be the best that I can be. It was him who watched the kids and went the extra mile when I decided to fulfill a dream of mine to be a nurse. When I didn't think I could make it....he was there telling me all the reasons why I could. He has helped me out of my shyness and continues to lovingly push me to speak my heart and to be the person that God intended me to be. I am so blessed to be doing life with Don and I thank God that I was positioned at the right time and the right place to connect with him....I know that it was God's plan all along!

Don & Jonna: Everyone has a beautiful wedding day and so much time and thought and money has been put into that one event. We had 7 bridesmaids and 7 groomsmen and well....it was more like a circus! But in all of that all you have when that day is over is likened to a seed. At first glance the seed really isn't very pretty and there just isn't much to it. Trust me...the first few years of our marriage weren't very pretty! But just like a seed if you diligently take the time to plant, water and nourish it; it can bloom as a wonderful flower that has the potential to be even more beautiful every single year.

Marriage, like life, brings with it many joys and also many challenges. And we also know that love, while beautiful, does not always show its prettiest face. There are days when we may find it hard to express the depth of our love for one another. Sometimes it is difficult to find the right words to say “I am sorry” or “I forgive you”; “I need you” or “I am hurting”. There have been days we wondered, "what in the world did we get ourselves into?" But we have found that even when things don't smell like fresh flowers and all those feelings and goosebumps aren't there...well...there is still something that is deeply rooted in our lives that is powerful and it is sacred as well as fragrant and it is just waiting to bloom. Sometimes we just have to move in faith to get past issues for that thing to come forth. There is nothing more beautiful than a maturing flower that catches your attention and causes you to stop and stare in wonder. That is our prayer for our love and our marriage as well as yours.

You may find yourself today as you read this; that you don't feel like you are living a love story...it is likened more to a horror story! Don't lose heart and don't give up....plant that thing in prayer and water it in time and in faith look for it to bloom into a new thing. Speak to the King in Him or the Queen in Her and you will start to see a King or Queen rise up. Whatever the situation; love, understanding, acceptance and forgiveness has the ability to make things grow the right way.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Don & Jonna

The Redeemed

I was cleaning out an old wallet of mine the other day and ran across some gift cards I had received as a gift...I excitedly went to my computer to check on balances. One of them had only .47 cents on it but the other $50! Wow.....how did I overlook that? Well according to Time magazine more than 40 Billion dollars worth of gift cards were left unredeemed in the last 7 years! Were they lost in the holiday trash or maybe stashed away for a rainy day and just forgotten? I am quite confident after checking with my husband and kids and realizing that we all have a gift card that is at least one year old that has never been used; that everyone has as least one in their posession!

More than half of us either didn't find anything we wanted with our giftcard or accidentally let our cards expire! 75% of people carry a card around with a balance on it that is insignificant and will eventually just throw it away. Another 1/3 of people just don't like the store or restaraunt or forgot they even had it when they visited the establishment. We have unredeemed potential in our pockets!!!

There is value in you that is just waiting to be redeemed! Imagine the billions of people on our planet that were created for greatness and have potential that is untapped, forgotten about or are considered insignificant and not valueable.  Redemption used in the Bible refers to the purchase price paid to secure our freedom; specifically in reference to the saving activity of God. Christ’s death was the purchase price and gift to us so that we can have a better life.

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." (NIV Ephesians 1:7)

God redeemed the world 2,000 years ago through Christ’s death on the cross and placed that amount on a card for you and I to use. Christ’s death was the ransom price paid instead of us. Today, think about the value of the gift God gave you. How valuable is it to you? Have you redeemed it by faith? Do you continue to use it to serve others? Do you have your card stashed away for a rainy day?

A gift is given for the receiver to use. You have many gifts inside of you just waiting to be "cashed in". Thankfully this gift of salvation has no expiration date but what I do know about it is that the sooner you redeem it...the quicker you can live a fuller and happier life of faith, hope and love. This Jesus is the best gift anyone of us can ever receive and use. We ARE the redeemed!

Adjust that Crown, 

Jonna

I am loved and it feels GREAT!

Do you remember the feeling the first time you fell in love? My how the world seemed more colorful and you had a skip in your step and a twinkle in your eye? Well...what happens to that feeling over time? Well we all know that "feelings" fade and you have to start working at keeping the "sparks alive" if you are in a relationship.

It takes hard work to have commitment, trust and a person that you can share your dreams and goals with. Love actually starts changing over time from the goose bump moments to a solid stable love that isn't so easily moved. One that isn't based on dates and fun times only; but on life experiences....the good, bad and the ugly times.  Communication and sharing with each other and listening to each other's hearts over time forms a bond that cannot easily be broken. This is what I see in my parents marriage; they will be celebrating 50 years on February 2nd. They are devoted to each other and love each other with all their hearts...they even can complete each other's sentences! They are faithful and have each other's well being as their number one priority. They kiss in front of us, hug and say they love each other all the time...So sweet.

Experts say that our brain has pleasure centers that are so very powerful and when triggered releases a chemical called dopamine which produces euphoria, energy, sleeplessness and is similar to a cocaine high! No wonder they say that "Love is Blind"! Love can be addictive in quality and can cause you to do some silly stuff. But just like a high...after a bit of time....the feeling wears off and you are off trying to either find a new relationship or a new drug because you just have to have that "feeling". And thankfully most people in long relationships have found out that matured and true love goes so far beyond the feelings of euphoria.  What most married couples have cannot even be explained and is truly a beautiful thing that cannot even be put into words...

Being the Love month and all...I wanted to encourage you that whatever relationships you are in...I  hope that the most important one is with your savior Jesus Christ. I know that we all have precious memories of when we asked Him into our lives and most of us can remember the "doo dads" and the emotions involved with that. But just like our physical relationships with others; our relationship with God has to be worked on as well. We have got to invest into it to get close and to hear His heartbeat and will for our lives. We cannot rely on the "high" we originally got long ago...we have to have grown and matured a little and moved on to the trust and committed relationship that only TIME can bring.

Even in the hard times and in the good times I know and I trust who Jesus is in my life. Every sunrise is made for me and every breath comes from Him. I cannot be upset with Him and most certainly could never walk out on Him. Just like He would NEVER walk out on me or leave me. Jesus loves me more than anyone could and will ever love me. I feel kisses from him when I see a butterfuly and I feel hugs from him when he gives me peace in the storm. There is NO other relationship more coveted or more pure than the one between THE creator and his beloved.

I want to know the heartbeat of God for my life. I don't want to wonder what He wants for me...I want to KNOW because of my close relationship with Him. I want to finish His sentences when He talks to me and I want His best interest in mind in EVERY thing I do! In order to do that I have to be devoted and faithful and I need to know that 50 years from now...He is going to be there for me just like He is today. God is the sweet lover of my soul and for that....I want to sing!

Adjust that Crown,

Jonna

You are HERE!

Have you ever been lost and stopped at one of those big mall signs and started looking for the large red dot that says, "you are here?". My how handy those things are! You just look up the store you are trying to find and then start out from the dot right to where you need to be. I am defintely directionally challenged so those large maps are a life saver.

Today I saw an elderly couple looking at one of those maps at the large hospital I work at. I hardly even know where I am going half the time but I couldn't resist the urge to help out any way I could. They looked puzzled and frustrated and were so close to the map that the man almost had his nose pressed against it. ha. To make it even funnier....it is one of those high tech touch screens and they kept touching it repeatedly so it would never stay on the right screen to help them.  I asked how I could help them and they said, "we don't know where we are and we don't know where we are going." I chuckled and said, "well...I can only help with so much." They smiled and together we found the "you are here" dot on the sign and looking somewhat intelligent; I managed to give them directions to their destination. They were suprised that it wasn't near as confusing as what they were making it out to be. I watched them meander slowly down the hall and made sure that they made the appropriate turn, and when they did...I went on my way with a smile.

The cool thing about being "lost" is that God always knows right where you are at. You might not have a clue about what in the world you are doing and feel all alone and frustrated...but he has you marked and knows "you are here" and according to Isaiah 43:16 He will make a road through the sea, and even through rough waters just for his kids. Thank goodness we have the Bible as our map...it has all the answers we need. Although sometimes it can be daunting and confusing...He will give you revelation if you just ask!

The beauty of it all is that you can start right where you are AT! Even though you feel lost and frustrated..there is hope! That is how God is. He meets you right where you are and uses what you think you don't have as well as what you think you can't do or be. He sees the "dot" and shows you the way out of your circumstances and situations and no matter where you are...He has a plan for your life.

God will point you in the right direction and even lovingly watch you; making sure you make the appropriate turns...He cares for you dearly and wants the best for your journey and will even smile at you as you go. So when you are feeling overwhelmed and alone and unsure of what to do...go to the map and find yourself....it will put it all in perspective. You will find out..you really aren't that far off from your destination after all.

Adjust that crown!

Jonna

Learning from Thumper

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I just love in the Disney cartoon Bambi where the little bunny Thumper is reminded to watch what he says and what he does. It is so cute how after being reminded by his mom, he has to repeat the wise words from his father, "If you can't say nothing nice then don't say nothing at all." This is such great wisdom that we can use in our lives everyday by what we say and do. 

Have you ever had a thought and was so tempted to speak it out or do something but felt prompted not to? Well...wisdom will do that. Wisdom is not obtained in one day..in fact it is a culmination of experiences and/or misadventures that brings a person to a point that they have a new level of understanding and behavior. Thankfully we can learn by other's mistakes and we have the ability to be "ahead of the class" so to speak IF we allow ourselves to be open and teachable.


In the cartoon, Thumper has to repeat at two different instances some things that his father just told him that very day. One was about not saying anything if it isn't nice and the other was about not eating just the flowering part of a plant and then leaving the green stems. His mother is there reminding him and getting him to repeat the advice outloud so that he will remember and also be accountable to the people around him.

What things have the Father reminded you of lately? He speak to us all and gives us words of wisdom, promises and encouragement. The Bible is overflowing with fabulous things that we need to make a part of "us". We need to repeat them daily and live by them because they bring life and hope. And if we have something wonderful in us then we have the ability to give something wonderful to others as well. 

What can we learn from Thumper? Well, that none of us are perfect and most of us need reminding from time to time of who we are and what we should be saying and doing. We all need a mentor that we are learning from because we never should stop growing and NEVER should stop learning. We need to respect those in authority over us and appreciate what they offer us and know that even if we are in a situation that is less-than tolerable...well...there is always something beneficial to be gleaned. 

2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. 3 When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! 4 In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through - all that bloodshed! 5 So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. 6 It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. 7 God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, 8 the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? 9 We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? 10 While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. 11 At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. 12 So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! 13Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! 14 Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. 15 Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.                             Hebrews 12: 1-15 The Message Bible

Make sure you are repeating the wise words from your Father today...it will bring life to you as be a blessing to the people you encounter. I love you much and don't forget WHO and WHOSE you are...children of the Most High God :))

Adjust that crown!

Jonna

Legacy

What you doing today will be mirrored by your kids and grandkids. What will they remember you by? Most of us do not have a expansive amount of money or things that will be passed onto the next generation but what we do have is eternal. What your priorities are now and what you do everyday will be repeated by the generations after you. Legacy is something we all want to leave. No where in human history is someone who wants to live their life and make no mark. We all want to leave a lasting impression.

I know that I want my kids to live better, be better educated, circumvent the issues and the trials that I had to go through and sail further and higher in life than I have. I want them to step on my shoulders and do things that I only dreamed of. But most importantly I want them to be spiritually minded and live for God in a way that is wiser than I. I want to leave a legacy of love and passion for the Kingdom of God. I want God to be happy with what I pass on as well.

The legacy that God is impressed with is founded and centered on what is most important to Jesus Christ. A lasting Legacy is like passing the baton to the next generation so that they can do greater things for the Kingdom of God. Having fingerprints all over people's lives is something that will be mirrored into eternity. And leaving a  legacy that is etched upon the

"A Legacy worth living for is found in men and women who carry on His mission for His glory. We cannot do this by ourselves, but each one of us can be responsible that our lives contain the aroma of Christ that impacts others and they choose to live for Him. It is not our glory, but His glory reflected through us; it is not our legacy, but His legacy continuing through us. There is nothing greater than a coporate Legacy and I believe that Mercy Gate Church best days are yet to come"      Pastor Don Gibson

Legacy in the greek: "A legatum" was a bequest or legacy. The words derive from the verb, "lego", which means, “to send with a charge.” Leaving your Legacy is like leaving a CHARGE to the next generation...what could be better and more powerful then that?

Adjust that Crown, 

Jonna

My Charleston Chew

Ever had high expectations about an event or a situation and when it occurred you were left feeling sad and disappointed because it didn't turn out as planned? Yes, unfortunately I have too. In fact, the greater my expectation the greater my capacity for disappointment.

I was reminded of one such upset when I received a candy bar as a gift on Christmas. When I was in kindergarten we drew names to exchange gifts for the holidays. I got the name of a girl that was in my class that i didn't know very well but at that moment I knew exactly what I wanted to buy her! We received an Avon magazine in the mail and in it was a necklace that had a solid perfume locket attached to it that I wanted so very bad!! It would be the perfect gift! My mom told me that it was too expensive but I pleaded and even gave up an ice cream cone and told my mom to put money towards it. The day she told me she ordered it I was so very excited!

The day of our class party came and I had my gift wrapped perfectly and was so proud! We gave out our presents and I watched as she opened it. She smelled the perfume and wrinkled her nose and without a word skipped away with her friend. I felt sad that she seemed to dismiss such a great gift so quickly and didn't even seem to like the perfume. My sadness faded a bit when I realized I was holding my gift from her...it was a strangely shaped gift! The thoughts of what it could be going was dancing in my head. But as the paper slid off the very long and skinny item...my eyes started to sting...it was a Charleston Chew candybar!

I remember crying but not a whole lot more about that day. To make matters worse, on the way home I fell asleep on the bus and was awakened by laughing students and I am sure I cried again from embarrassment. 

I had an emotional attachment to that gift and certainly an unrealistic expectation about it. Just because I wanted the gift doesn't mean someone else would. And just because I would have received gratefully doesn't mean that I should have expected someone else to receive the same way. My mom found out by my teacher days later that the girls family was very poor and have been going through some very hard times. I actually needed to be happy that I got anything at all!

So this Christmas my brother in law being the sweet man that he is...bought me the horrible Charleston Chew Candybar and we all just sat around and laughed! I hate that candybar..every year somebody buys me one as a reminder! Ugh.

For many, disappointment is a common thread in life. Please consider too that disappointment with situations and with people might have more to do with you feeling disappointed with yourself. If you have high expectations for others, it may be because you have high expectations for yourself. In fact those self-expectations are probably so high that it's practically impossible to ever meet them! This is just one of the ways in which we self-sabotage ourselves! You might see the world as unfair or unfriendly because things don't happen the way you think they should or because people don't behave the way you think they should. You have to be careful not to get stuck in the cycle of disappointment! 

Life is unfair and there are many questions we will never know the answers to. As God's kids we need to take life in stride and not place too much on our fellow man. I tell people all the time to not put Pastor Don or I on a pedestal...only God should be exalted. Give room for people to show their weaknesses because we all have them. Instead of being hurt;  acknowledge the disappointment with the person and clear the air. Holding onto disappointment is a slippery slope and causes a root of bitterness. Learn to laugh at your own faults and that will help you excuse the faults in others. 

I still have to remind myself that I should only expect the highest things from God. He is the only one who NEVER disappoints. You disappointed in someone? Well put yourself in their shoes....because the Charleston Chew you might get from them just may be the very best thing they have at the time to give and you need to recognize and be grateful for that. 

You Are Graciously Adorned!

❤ Jonna

10 Covenants for Living!

According to John Maxwell, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, there

is a list of 12 covenants used by Lou Holtz, the football coach at the University of South

Carolina. At the beginning of each football season Holtz would quote the

“twelve covenants” to his players to remind them of their mission. I 

have left out the last two b/c they pertained to football only : 

• We will accomplish what we do together. We share our success, and we

never let any one of us fail alone.

• We are all fully grown adults. We will act as such, and expect the same

from the people around us.

• We will not keep secrets. Information that affects us all will be shared by

all of us, and we will quickly and openly work to separate fact from

fiction.

• We will not lie to ourselves or to each other. None of us will tolerate any

of us doing so. We will depend on each other for the truth.

• We will keep our word. We will say what we mean, and do what we say.

We trust the word of others to be good as well.

• We will keep our head. We will not panic in the face of tough times. We

will always choose to roll up our sleeves rather than wring our hands.

• We will develop our abilities and take pride in them. We will set our own

standards higher than our most challenging opponent, and we will please

our fans by pleasing ourselves.

• We will treat our locker room (home/church/workplace)
like home and our teammates like friends.

We spend too much time together to allow these things to go bad.

• We will be unselfish and expect that everyone else will exhibit this same

quality. We will care about each other without expectations.

• We will look out for each other. We truly believe that we are our

brother’s keeper.

I don't know about you...but if we all lived by just these 10 covenants our world would be a much better place!

Adjust that Crown,

Jonna