Inn Crowd or Stable Few?

…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,because there was no room for them in the inn.
                       Luke 2:7 NIV

The Stable Few

When I think of the Nativity, I think of a man named Joseph, who wasn't technically the Father, choose a child over his disbelief.

I think of a young mother Mary who chose faith over ridicule and shame.

I think of two young people who risked everything for a child. Who were brave enough to face a long journey only to have a child in the most inconvenient of places.

I think of Shepherds who had a life changing experience; who got to see angels in all their glory singing what I am sure was an amazing song.

I think of Wise men who accepted the prediction in scriptures, followed a star and brought gifts to a baby they said was born King of the Jews.

The Inn Crowd

I think of a inn keeper who would not give up his own room or another for a pregnant woman.

I think of a man (Herod) so disturbed and threatened by this child that he would declare that all boys in Bethlehem under two be killed.

I think of all the people who mocked and hated this baby when he became a man. And the people who do this even still today.

I remember that when I put myself first, when I am unkind, or (insert ugly behavior here) that I might as well join the Inn crowd.


But...I remember why this baby came in the first place. This unique circumstance and that the beauty of the Nativity is the gift behind it:


NO MATTER whether I am with the Inn crowd or the Stable few,
His birth was a gift to humanity, to me:
I am forgiven.
I am loved anyway.
He came for me.
He is for me.
I will be with him for eternity.


I remember that a long time ago a baby made such a huge impact that the majority of the world celebrates His birthday...on this wonderful day called Christmas!


Adjust That Crown!
Jonna





 

One Sweet Night!

I love the scene that I get in my mind when I think of the Christmas story; all the beautiful angels with white flowy gowns and the star filled night with singing and shepherds looking on in wonder. In my mind it is so peaceful and majestic and perfect. What a wonderful story and image the nativity brings.

 

 

But when I really really start to think about all those details surrounding the story...I start to realize that it wasn’t really so sweet. The baby Jesus always looks perfect and serene in the nativity; all sleeping; no colic or gas. We all can agree that sleeping babies are totally sweet, right? What about this travel plan that involved a pregnant woman riding a donkey and lets not forget the husband that didn’t make advance reservations at the hotel. Anyone been there? That can cause a trip to go bad quick. Right? I often wonder why people practically worshipped Mary…now I know…if she endured this without complaint she is deserving of sainthood! To give birth to a baby in a barn next to smelly and noisy animals; no to mention having complete strangers gawking...can be quite a daunting thing!  It doesn’t sound so sweet to me...actually something quite like a disaster and quite dysfunctional at that.

 

And let’s not forget the family is being chased by Herod because he wants to kill all the babies, then the life of Jesus being misunderstood by many, accused and betrayed by the ones closest to him, and beaten and hung on the cross by the very people He was trying to save. So when we just reframe it all in this perspective;  SWEET is a far cry from the truth!

 

Speaking of things not being sweet. Have you ever ate Wasabi, sauerkraut, brussel sprouts or any other horrid item? Well I don't like any of those either...but there is this West African fruit called the “taste berry” or “miracle fruit” that when eaten with anything sour or bitter...they all taste sweet! It is an almost tasteless berry that contains a protein that binds to the taste buds on the tongue to cover the bitter receptors that then causes everything to taste sweet!

 

Jesus came to give us the tools we need to get our earthly issues and bind them up in heavenly places. Just like the protein that covers and fills in the bitter and the sour part of the tongue….Jesus gives us hope, gives us peace and gives us joy so that we can endure even the hardest of things and have faith to get through them. Now THAT my friends is SWEET!

 

 

There is nothing like the peace of God that passes, transcends and goes way over and above all Earthly understanding as stated in Phillipians 4:7 You may be going through some really hard thing but I am here to tell you that you need to hold onto hope. You need to ask Jesus to bind your hurt and to fill you with faith…He is your present help in time of need. Jesus can take all those things that you are feeling drowned by and he can make them sweet. I didn't say that He will take it all from you...but what Jesus came to give...the joy in the middle of heartache...is one of the SWEETEST presents that anyone could ever give or receive. Jesus is the sweetest name that I know and that is why the Nativity scene to Christians can be one of the most precious stories ever told.

 

Adjust That Crown!

 

Jonna

 

*Inconveniences

This morning I woke up to the very loud and piercing sound of my smoke detectors alerting me to a power outage. It is November but it still feels like summer around here so after 30 seconds of no air conditioning I got out of bed. The dogs started whining and I let them out. I proceeded to the bathroom and flipped the switch...no electric. I went to the kitchen and put my cup under my keurig...no electric. I will be honest other than laughing at myself...it frustrated me. I can't live like this!

Little inconveniences can be quite frustrating! They are annoying and are often time consuming. But in the middle of it all there is always something to be thankful for. When I finally realized that I had a gas stove that wasn't affected from the power outage....I put my tea kettle on and had some hot tea. In the midst of my irritation I found something to smile about. 

What about you? Is there anything in your life that you can just look past the muck and the mire and find something to truly smile about? I am sure you can....if you look hard enough :))

You Are Graciously Adorned!

❤ Jonna

*Assumptions

I like to help around the church office every once in a while. I heard my husband talking about his
incredibly early flight that he and our executive pastor had in the morning and I thought I would take matters into my own hands. I googled flights and in just a matter of seconds found a time that would fit them better AND much cheaper. One gold star for me!

Well to my dismay; the flight that I booked for him to the city of Charleston was to the wrong state!!!! Imagine my surprise when I got a call from him at the airport and he told me! I was shocked and embarrassed! Who would have thought that there was an airport listed in South Carolina and in West Virginia with the same city name?

Oh my face turned even redder when Don told me that the only seats on the right flight were in first class and they were a cool one thousand dollars! Yikes! I found myself saying, Well go for it! haha. Of course he wasn't going to do that. I hung up the phone and prayed. Oh my did I mess things up!
A few minutes later I got a call from Don and he said that a manager walked up and told him that they could get on this other flight with no extra charge if they left "right now". Of course they jumped up and ran and called me when they were getting seated. I wish I could say that all turned out great at this point....but their golf clubs AND their luggage didn't make the switch.

Sometimes when you don't know all the information and you are just looking from the outside in....you can make assumptions that it isn't being done right. The fact in this case was...the flight that they got was the best one available. I jumped in at the last minute thinking I knew more than the secretary who booked it...and made a big mess. What lesson did I learn?

Assumptions can get you in trouble...in fact you can think you know what exactly is going on....and later find out that you were FAR from the truth. Communication is the key and if I would have talked to the person that made the arrangements first...well this blog would not exist and my husband would not have a ban on me ever making ANY travel arrangements for him or for the church! haha.

When in doubt...do not assume anything...ask!

You Are Graciously Adorned!

Jonna

*Giving Thanks for the Little Things

"Only he who gives thanks for little things receives the big things. We prevent God from giving us We pray for the big things, and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet not really small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from him the little things?  If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even where there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith and difficulty; if on the contrary, we only keep complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty, so far from what we expected, then we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ."
the great spiritual gifts he has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts. We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward, eargerly for the highest good. Then we deplore the fact that we lack the deep certainty, the strong faith, and the rich experience that God has given to others, and we consider this lament to be pious.
- DIETRICH BONHOEFFER, exercpt from "Life Together,"

ahhhhh Selah...there just anything for me to say or add :))

Adjust That Crown

Jonna
 

*Life is Like A Theatre: Invite your Audience Carefully!

Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front row seat in our lives.
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a DISTANCE. Seriously! It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible,not-going-anywhere relationships or friendships. Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to how you are influenced.
Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill? When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse? Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know or appreciate you? The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row of your life and who should be moved to the balcony of your life. "If you cannot change the people around you, CHANGE the people you are around."

Remember that the people we hang with will have an impact on both our thought processes and ultimately our actions. Jesus hung out with the down and out and the sinners but he influenced them in a positive way. In our lives we must have our focus and our eyes on Jesus who is the one we are watching and trying to be like in our Center Stage. We need to be striving to be like HIM so we should be surrounded with "heroes of the faith"...people we want to be like and who are going to help us be more like Jesus.

We never want to forget about the back row friends or those we had to place in the balcony of our lives. We should love and respect them as people but not let their words cause us defeat or cause us to REACT. We need to be people of ACTION that is thought out and timely; filled with the love of Jesus and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that those "balcony or back row people"will eventually be influenced by us and come on down closer to the front as we learn to not just be a disciple but to also disciple others.

          Adjust that Crown!
          ❤ Jonna
 

Burger King Crown

We all love a crown...even if it is a Burger King crown. I remember being a kid and putting on that flimsy paper crown and instantly walking straighter and holding my head higher. Then telling my siblings, "off with your head!" It is funny how even being a small child you realize the authority that comes with wearing something on your head.

Most of us would say that we are not deserving of a crown. In fact we would say that we are meek and lowly and would never be worthy enough to wear something of such value and title. Well I am here to remind all of you that we have eternal crowns that we will wear in Heaven so why would we not consider it here on Earth?

There are five Heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers. They are as follows; the Imperishable Crown (1Cor 9:24-25), the Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thess 2:19), the Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), the Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4), and the Crown of Life (Rev 2:10). The Greek word translated “crown” is stephanos and means “a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor.” This word is used figuratively in the New Testament of the rewards of Heaven that God promises those who are faithful.

So if we are going to rule and reign in Heaven; why wouldn't we rule and reign here on Earth? Well I am here to say that is what we are supposed to do! We get confused about why we are here...we are to spread the love and the saving grace of Jesus to everyone we meet! We are the ambassadors of Christ! Since we represent Him and are actual kids of the King then of course we wear a crown...whether we like it or not...whether we think we are worthy or not. It is a lie from the enemy to believe that you are less. You were made worthy by the precious blood of Christ...not defined by your past or even what you did yesterday.

So straighten your back and sit like you are of worth because you are. No slouching...because we all know that causes your crown to slip. If your crown falls...well put it back on for goodness sakes! No one is perfect on our own. Now speak and act like you have the authority of all of heaven at your fingertips. We are to be a light to the World and to cause change and betterment of our communities and our homes...we can do this by speaking life and speaking the truth of Jesus.

Just share your story...it may not be much but it may be everything to someone in your path. You may see yourself as wearing a flimsy crown but Christ sees you through His Righteousness and that my friend is the most valuable crown of all.

Adjust That Crown

Jonna











 

Why We Chose Halloween Hot Spots

Christians get kinda weird when it comes to days like Halloween. All over social media I have noticed strong opinions; some condemning others who are participating or are dressing up. I have noticed many scriptures flying around and passionate statements being made regarding churches and their hypocrisy.  Some think we should ignore the day altogether and hide out and pretend that no one is home. Others want to have a "Fall Fest" at the local church and dress up like Noah's Ark characters and have games such as a Jonah and the Whale fishing game. Others think we should be praying and interceding for the evil going on around us. While there is nothing particularly wrong with any of those things we have to remember that people have different convictions based on many different things. Some have come from the occult and want to stay as far away from anything related to it. Others try to balance it all out and participate but on a more wholesome level. Then there are the group that have no problems dressing up as Dracula, ghosts and serial killers.

Who is right and what is the stand that the church should take on this holiday that originated as evil? Well there isn't one answer. We all have to live according to what we feel is the right thing to do for our families. We just cannot condemn others who do not look at it the way that we do.

 MercyGate Church decided their stance by looking at their vision statement. We are a church where we want lives changed, relationships restored and destinies discovered. In order to do that we have to get out of our four walls and go into our neighborhoods and make relationships and connections with people. What better day than to use Halloween as a networking time?

 MercyGate Halloween Hot Spots are like neighborhood block parties. We gave each neighborhood representative from our church money to purchase inflatables, food, candy & signs. Each of these locations represent our church.  They invite all their neighbors and multiple families from our church show up to help run it. The environment is one that isn't "come and go" but "come and sit for a while" while your kids play games. This gives us a unique opportunity to actually have a conversation with people we normally would NEVER talk to all the while their children are having a great time and getting candy and snacks!

^14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."        Matthew 5:14-16The Message (MSG)

We are to be a light to this world and are called to love our neighbors...so what is better than inviting all your neighbors to your house?  Think about it....What other day in the year do complete strangers come to your door, ring the bell and wait for you to come and answer! What an amazing opportunity to get to know people when they are out having a great time smiling and enjoying the evening.

We as Christian have got to start being strategic. What we have done in the past has not worked and will not work for the next generation. So if you aren't part of one of the Halloween Hot Spots then you need to go get some candy and get prepared to greet and bless people as they come to your house. We cannot and will not let the enemy take over this day....even if you have a little kid dressed as Freddie Krueger at your door saying "trick or treat". We claim every person and every soul for the Kingdom. That is what Jesus called us to do.

Adjust That Crown

Jonna

 

No longer a Slave to Fear

"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God," Romans 8:15-16

Have you ever been paralyzed in fear? The feeling of not knowing what the future holds and even how to respond can be one of the worst feelings. All of the sudden all kinds of scenarios of what might happen or what could happen are flying in your head and it is just scary. You feel like you have no control and no matter what you do it could be the wrong decision.

Well as you can tell I have been there too. While a little bit of fear is normal and can be healthy; ongoing continued anxiety and stress isn't. Living fearful is a horrible slave master because everything is filtered through the "worst case scenario" concept. I don't know about you but having those nightmares and dreams makes for many restless and sleepless nights.

God is the miracle worker and He can work out things that our little minds couldn't even imagine!
All we have to do is call on Him and He will be there for us. No situation is so bad that God wont walk it out with us.  In fact He will be the one inspiring us and giving us all the reasons to rejoice. and move forward. Our deepest fear becomes NOTHING in the light of His presence. He is the perfect Father of all fathers. We are "fearfully and wonderfully made". Psalm 139:14

Our fears may creep up and try to torment us, but if we focus on God's beautiful hope they will fade into something insignificant. God will never forsake us, reject us or stop loving us. We will never be destitute. We will never be unloved. We will never be shrouded in loneliness. Fear is no longer our master. We can have true freedom from fear because we have someone greater living within us than anything in this world and all we have to do is call out Abba Father!

Adjust That Crown!

Jonna 

*Come Out Ready

Prayer is so very important in our lives but I am going to say that watching is as well. In fact, Jesus about this subject to His disciples in Matthew 26:41, when He said, "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation... " He said this immediately after getting onto them earlier in the same chapter for not 'keeping watch' with Him while he was agonizing in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.

I would like to stop right here and ask why are we often willing to pray but often unwilling be the one on watch? I don't know about you but anytime I have watched a movie where someone has to take watch while the others sleep...I have always wondered if I could stay awake. Haha. I am not a night owl. Keeping watch can seem boring and lonely. Also I wonder if you think that "what is one person watching going to do?" There is a big forest out there and surely I will miss something. Also...we have an omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God who is able to do all things. He will protect us and keep us safe, right? After having a little talk with Jesus we can just sit back and relax, go to sleep and He will handle it all for us!

I am going to warn you...It is our responsibility to watch as well as pray because our adversary is sneaky like lion, seeking, hunting and planning for his next victim to devour. No matter how we look at it; we are in a fight and most of the time we are the object of the hunt. The worse type of fight to be involved in is one where you didn't even realize you were in. It is called spiritual warfare and we can't just let the "heavenlies" take care of it all. Our "guardian angel" isn't going to protect you from all the fiery darts either. Lethargy, complacency and exhaustion will find us as easy targets for things that we never thought we would be involved in. In boxing, it NOT the punch that you see that causes you the most damage...it is the punch you don't see that usually knocks you out.

I will not claim to know a whole lot about boxing but what I do know is that once that bell rings you are supposed to come out with your hands up ready to fight. Your opponent is not obligated to wait until you are absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure you are ready to fight. They aren't going to wait for you to tie your shoe or adjust something and just hang back with courtesy until you get it all together. The same is true concerning the devil. He specializes in waiting for an opportunity to attack you when you are most vulnerable, especially when you are not paying attention.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."                                                                       Ephesians 6:10-18

The full armour of God isn't just a great topic for a sunday school class for children...it is the way that we were meant to live every single day of our lives. Every morning we wake and put on every tool that God has given us so that we can be prepared and ready. It isn't just an "object lesson" for us to say is cutesy and cool...it is full on warfare! You may be saying, wow...being a Christian and being in this "fight" doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Well being in the world and being in that misery sounds much worse. We are fighting for our freedom in Christ, our purity, our minds, our families, our destinies, our purposes in life...our joy. It is so worth it to take a little bit of time out of our day to prepare and be ready for what the day brings. Getting our minds and spirit right and ready to hear from God so that we can advance His kingdom is a powerful and life-giving thing.

Athletes do not gear up just to hang around and watch tv and chill with friends. When they take the time to tape those knuckles, get that heart rate up, put on those boxing gloves....they are ready for action. Start your day today ready so that you will be prepared and mindful of anything that comes your way...and you will overcome it with God on your side.

Adjust that Crown!

Jonna

*Dreams

There is nothing more wonderful than seeing your dreams or the dreams of others fulfilled. Recently I went on a trip with my oldest son Trey. He had always dreamed of going to Scotland and Ireland and I had the amazing opportunity to experience it with him! He had worked so hard to save up his money and we planned for months for the perfect trip for his 25th birthday. Trey told me, "Mom. I don't want wait until I am older to see the world or do the things I dreamed about. Why not do it now?"

I loved the look on his face as he experienced the history, the architecture and the scenery of the place that was only but a dream before. It thrilled me as a parent to see the excitement and even the tears that he encountered at times on our trip; and it brought such joy to my heart.

As I stood on the edge of a cliff and looked out into the ocean and took in the most overwhelming of views; I couldn't help but think that what I was experiencing with Trey is what God wants for me. God wants to sit back and see the dreams and destinies of my life fulfilled even more than I even want to see them myself! He longs to see the potential in me to surface. He wants me to live out the calling He has destined for my life.

Yet I get those dreams and visions and even promises that I know that I have and put them on a shelf the for another time, another season, or another year. I have other things to do or focus on. I tell myself that maybe next year or maybe it wasn't even meant to be? I love the attitude of Trey..."Why wait? Why do when I am older what I can do now." I remember him also saying to me, "I don't want to grow up and have regrets."

 What about you? What do you have that you are putting aside that you can actually start to set in motion even today? You can take one small step today towards something that is near and dear to your heart. Revive those dreams and make it happen...anything is possible!

You are Graciously Adorned!

❤ Jonna 

Husbands Crown

Proverbs 12:4 “A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.”

Who wears a crown? Someone of royalty or great stature—likely a prince or a king. Yet, how do you know that he has that high position? By the crown he wears on his head. Without the shiny, gem-studded crown, he would just be seen as an ordinary man. But it is the crown that shows off his true position, the truth about who he is.

I saw in that simple picture how a wife has the opportunity to show the world the truth about who her husband is. By her behavior, she can showcase whether he is just an ordinary man or whether he is one who stands above the rest and is worthy of respect. In this way, our actions as wives affect more than just ourselves; they directly reflect our husbands, as well, even if they had nothing to do with the action in question.

And when we choose to wield it wisely—conducting ourselves with “noble character”—a wife becomes a crown that her husband can wear proudly. It is not a plastic toy that a child would wear, but a real treasure that makes him walk taller.

It’s a truth that is really quite powerful. It can be something of great opportunity—to shine for the sake of our spouse, or it can be one that begets misery, bestowing instead disgrace. The difference depends completely on how we treasure this truth.

Recently, I was recalling this mental image and I realized that it doesn’t just end there, between a wife and her husband. The Bible is rich with the allusion that an earthly marriage is merely a reflection or a preparation for the eternal union that will bring us together with Jesus. He constantly touts himself as bridegroom and us as his bride.

So just as we can be a crown for our earthly husbands through our actions, so can we be a crown for our eternal husband, too, in the way we act. Our behaviors—especially that of serving—should showcase the greatness of the husbands we so dearly love, both the one we share a name with now but also the One who awaits us in the life to come.

This article re-posted via iBelieve, written  December 26, 2012.

Adjust that Crown!
Jonna

Prayer Arrows!

Jeremiah 50:13-15

For battle at close range, we have the Sword of the Spirit. But what do we use when trouble looms on the horizon? Our strategy for warfare must adapt with the distance of our enemy, taking range into account. When armies draw up their lines they do so just out of reach of the enemy's weapons. Range is an issue which affects all military arts. This concept is easily understood by picturing two boxers. If one of the fighter's arms is four inches longer than the other, it makes it very hard for his opponent to safely throw a punch. The boxer with the longer arms can stay out of the way of his opponent's swing while still being able to hit his mark. Gaining the benefit of range is highly beneficial for one, yet difficult for the adversary to overcome. Perhaps the greatest weapon of ancient warfare was the bow and the arrow. Many historic battles were won against all odds, through archery. Although attacking from a distance gives one great advantage, maintaining that advantage requires speed and accuracy.

Speed is achieved by acting quickly in order to hit your opponent before they hit you. If the other side manages to formulate a strategy before you can take action, you have given away the advantage of range. Accuracy is developed with traning and practice. Ancient warriors were able to shoot an average of 10 arrows per minute. The more they used their weapon under pressure of warfare, the greater the speed and the greater skill they developed. Archers also had mobility on their side. Since the bow and arrow are lightweight and easily stowed on their backs, they could move undercover easily on the battlefield.

The Egyptians were known to use chariots to carry armies of archers into battle. If the target were close in range then the archer would aim a little above the horizon. They were taught never to aim directly at the target, as the trajectory of the arrow would fall with gravity over distance. At long range, archers would aim into the sky above their heads at an angle toward the enemy target. If speed and accuracy were aligned, the trajectory would prove right on target.

--> Psalms 25:11-13

Prayer is our most accurate and speedy weapon against the enemy. It is also our most strategic way of providing impact without engaging the enemy at close range. Just as a skillful archer can accurately determine angle, we must focus our prayer in the direction of God's will.

In the movie, "The Patriot", Mel Gibson was reminding his sons of their training target and he said, "Aim small, miss small." His point was: don't aim at the enemy as a whole, but instead aim at the button on his jacket. That way if you miss the button, you still hit the enemy in the chest. This tactic applies so perfectly to our focus on prayer. Because prayer is primarily a private practice, there is not much attention made of skill level. But there is a right and a wrong way to pray. The only thing the disciples asked Jesus to do was to teach them to pray. And Jesus answered by laying out a pattern of prayer. An important part of this pattern was the model to pray our answers and not our problems. Most prayers look more like grocery lists for God than a Holy Spirit led conversation! Although our prayers should be focused, they need to be focused on the right things.

There are two main categories of prayer:

1. Our personal purpose
2. God's corporate purpose

Jesus stated the solution to all of our problems when He said, "Thy Kingdom come, they will be done." Since God's will is always perfect, praying His will over a situation will bring your solution. Although we don't always know the root of our problems we do know the sources of our answers. Prayer bring unity of force between Heaven and Earth. It is our pathway to God and also the method He uses to form us into His image.

With the focused aim of an archer's arrow, let's pursue the target of focused prayer.

Bow: As a bow is drawn back, it stores up enormous energy. When the arrow is aligned and released, the energy held in the tight bow transfers to the arrow instantaneously. Prayer is much like this coordinated effort of elements. Part of the process takes strength and another takes skill in the retraction and execution of the exercise. The bow represents our obedience. We must prove our submission through the flexibility of bending to God's will.

Archer: The archer must possess enough strength to pull back the string of the bow. Although it seems contrary to go back in order to go forward, a retraction of action is required to dispense energy for propelling. When we bend our will toward God's we create an enormous storage of energy. By pulling back from our own desires and yielding to the obedience of the Spirit, we strengthen ourselves as mighty warriors.

Arrow: The arrow represents the will of God. We learn the will of God by reading His Word and applying it to prayer. We should test the will of God by writing out our prayer of petition using scriptures. If our prayer is aligned with scriptures and kingdom priorities then it will create a straight arrow for God to use.

Our formula for focused prayer shold combine these 3 elements:

1.  Bind the enemy by ackowledging and uncovering his schemes
2. Deal with our flesh through repentance
3. Loose God by applying His Word to our circumstances.

Praying the way Jesus taught us bring corporate correction and deliverance and as a result we are set free personally as well.

Aiming our prayer is not an "each woman for herself" approach. It is a corporate strategy of unity and victory. Arrows aren't as effective or all that easy to use at a close range. So we cannot wait until the enemy is upon us to pray the will of God. Although praying for a miracle is sometimes a matter of life and death, we should not rely daily on reactive measures of prayer. If only amassed ranks of archers would aim their arrows up high and let heaven guide their destination; then the enemies camp will be destroyed.

We have got to keep our quivers full and ready at all times so that we will not be reactive to situations but will act in Godly ways and with steady and stealth fingers so that we will bring restoration to HIS Kingdom and not destruction.

Adjust That Crown!
Jonna

Be Still

Don’t let your mentality limit God, don’t let your environment limit God, don’t let what you see limit God, don’t even let what you have or who you know limit God. Is He not the same God that created the heavens and the earth, the entire universe belongs to Him. He said the silver is His and the gold also, and even the cattle on thousands of hills. He is faithful. His word cannot return to Him void, but it must accomplish that for which it is sent. Be still and watch Him work, the problem is that you have been too busy with your thoughts and plans that you have left God no room to work. God can only work in your stillness. Two people can’t control a ship at the same time, one has to control and the other has to relax. Which one will you rather be? When things are out of your control, why don’t you leave them to a God who never has things out of His control. Sometimes it’s easier said than done right? He is silently working things out together for your good. Romans 8:28

Adjust That Crown,

Jonna

See Saw Effect

I enjoy being on a see saw and I haven't been on one in years! It is a basic staple to traditional type of playgrounds. It is really interesting how children instinctively understand what actually is a very complicated physics concept. They get on the see saw and they just know how to make it work. The heavier child knows to go further up the see saw towards the middle or he or she will be on the ground and the other child will be in the air. With a see-saw there are a whole lot of adjustments you can make to determine just what kind of fun you are going to have.

Like a see-saw we all have balances and adjustments we have to make everyday in our lives that determine what goes on in our mind and life. Consider your imagination and your thought life; what is it that causes you to dwell on certain things that aren't the best for you? We have a playground of fun going on in our minds 24 hours a day! We have power to control our thoughts, imaginations, visions, dreams, etc. by taking authority over them. If we find ourselves focusing on the negative or fearful things; then the positive and victorious things are being put down or going downward. If we rebuke and cast down those bad thoughts that we are exalting in the forefront of our minds; then the good will be lifted up!

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

When you allow the enemy to plant an imagination in your mind; you have two options; entertain it or recognize and cast it down. We can believe what we "see" in our thought life and perceive that it is real and take actions based on wrong perceptions OR recognize that it is contrary to the Word of God and overthrow it. We need to take every thought captive and make them a prisoner. Don’t ignore them and hope they will go away. Focus on changing those thoughts to what God would say over your life or situation by casting the lie down to where it came from and then releasing the truth out. 

 

 "Whatsoever is true, honest, pure, just, good or lovely; whatsoever things are of a good report. If there be any virtue to it, or there be any praise; think on these things."                                                                                                               Philippians 4:8

We cast down imaginations by our will. We "will" to stop thinking about bad things, wrong things, things that are against God’s Word. We "will" it through Jesus’ name. You can actually take your hand as if you are grasping the bad thoughts right out of your mind and then throw that down. This physical action brings a strong image to the mental action...but it might look a little strange!

We don’t give up or give in, we overcome by practicing faith that God’s grace will change our thought life. We will be the one in control of our thoughts and not let some random person take over our heads as well as give away the seat to someone who will sabotage our minds.

Adjust That Crown!
Jonna

*Peanuts: A Powerful Ingredient

So why do you think you are insignificant? A small fish in a big ocean, a little speck in the midst of millions. It is so easy to feel little and powerless but I want to remind you that little everyday things can be powerful ingredients to something big! 

Let me give you an example. The peanuts laying all over the steakhouse floor that you walk and squish are one of the components for dynamite. Who would have thought?! Nitroglycerin is what makes dynamite explosive and comes from glycerol that is extracted from the peanut. That simple peanut butter sandwich all the sudden does not look all that innocent!
 

So who are you to determine what is insignificant? Apparently your definition isn't a very good one. God uses every little thing in this world and that includes you! You were born with a very specific purpose and plan and if you are still breathing then there is plenty that you can do to make a mark in this life.

Significant defined: having meaning; having or likely to have influence; important; noticeable amount (according to Webster's online dictionary)

I want you to remember this: You have meaning. You have influence. You are important. You are noticeable. God loves you and has called you to a life of significance with the receiving of His name. You are the King's beloved child and He is pleased with you. And just like that peanut.....you have a powerful part to play in this life. He needs the ingredient of YOU.

    
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31

 
Adjust That Crown!

Jonna

The REAL Thing

What direction should I look? There are three big screens in front of me and the stage. The singer is in the center and I can actually see him but my eyes wander to the large animated screen way above the platform. I find myself alternating looking to the left, center and right side alternating from the different angles and views. It is kinda neat to see the details of the guitars and even the cool necklace the singer is wearing. After a while that I start to feel a neck pain coming on from holding my neck up so high. I find myself mentally reprimanding myself to redirect back to watching the actual person...the "real thing" on stage.

Have you ever found yourself in this predicament? The different views and bright colors capture your attention and you find yourself looking into a monitor the whole concert. Could you have just stayed home and watched this from the comfort of your own living room?

Well this recently happened to me and God spoke to my heart with a thought. Conveniences can keep us from seeing the reality of where God is in our lives. Our eyes quickly turn to the bright flashing things and we tend to forget that God is in the simple everyday. We don't need to see the fine details or try to see more than what we should. Seeing God and focusing on Him and only Him is the only thing we should be viewing. All the other things are fluff and can be distraction. We go to concerts to see someone perform live and not on a screen. When we want a word from God we want it one-on-one heart-to-heart and not via a second party or screen...We want the REAL THING! Keep your focus on Jesus the author and the finisher of your faith!

"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:2

Adjust That Crown!

Jonna

*Time Out Corner

I remember getting sent to the corner when I was little. Although I cannot EVER remember doing anything to deserve it. Haha. I was an angel! I hated being in that corner. I was isolated and had to keep my nose pressed against the wall or my time would get extended. It was dark in that corner and dusty and sometimes had spider webs. You couldn't see anything from that vantage point and it would make me go cross-eyed. Everyone would see me in the place of shame and giggle. I was humiliated. I am a middle child and consequently a people pleaser and nothing hurts my feelings more than to know that I have disappointed someone. I would promise myself to never do anything to get me back in this place. Ever! But yet somehow found myself there over and over.

You ever been in trouble? The walk to the principals office or even to your boss's office can be gut wrenching and your heart starts pounding and you think, "What did I do?" You play scenarios over in your head about why you are getting called in. Well, that is what I do. I guess I have a guilty conscious!

There are many times in my life as an adult that I can remember where I felt like a failure. I wasn't able to follow through with something or I felt bad because of a missed opportunity. I should have known better! I would beat myself up.  I remember being ashamed one particular time and I continued to tell God in prayer that I was sorry. I was sorry that I didn't obey the still small voice, I was sorry that I didn't listen to instructions and messed up a situation that He was working on through me. I was sorry that I lost my temper and said something that I couldn't take back. I found myself feeling like I should be punished. I found myself actually saying, "I don't deserve your love and compassion. I don't deserve your grace. I don't deserve your mercies."

God gently reminded me that NEVER was there a time that He ever sent me into a corner because of my failures. NEVER was there a time that He chastised me and told me to isolate myself in shame. NEVER did He ever tell me to go to my room with head hanging low to think about what I have done. But He ALWAYS has been faithful to direct me when I was lost. He has ALWAYS helped me up, dusting off the shame and setting me on the right path. He has ALWAYS used the trials that I have encountered to make me better and to grow me. He isn't frowning at me and pointing his finger towards the corner.

      "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size - abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become."  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

That is the great thing about Mercy. It is the withholding of a punishment that we really do deserve. It is all about what we should have gotten but because of the gift of grace and the extension of mercy it is withheld. We want to put ourselves in the corner of shame and the cool thing is that God wants to put us in a place of mercy. Mercy is like seeing a prison and knowing that you should be in it and being oh so grateful that you are free! He wants to give us one of the greatest gifts and it is like we are turning our noses up and refusing to take it. Jesus died so that all of these things could be given freely to whosoever will.

So give yourself a break when you mess up....look up, acknowledge it and receive the forgiveness. Stop punishing yourself. You are ever so deserving of His gifts and you have to remember who you are...it is a right and a privilege of a child of the King. Aren't you glad that His mercies are new every morning?

Adjust That Crown

Jonna

Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys

I have heard this phrase "Not my circus. Not my monkeys" many times before, but I prefer to put the monkey first because I usually get involved with people first and then I get drawn into their circus! Haha. It really reminds me of when my boys were little and I was struggling to find balance in my home and in my sanity. I felt like a ring leader in a circus trying to direct and not get eaten by the lions or trampled by the elephants all the while trying to entertain and look like I had my act together.

The reason why I really like the phrase is that it isn't my drama and I can choose to walk away from it and have no stress. Maybe I can secretly smile as well knowing that this for once doesn't involve me and I am going to quickly be on my way so that I do not somehow get sucked in!

We all have been in situations where you know that if you say something you end up looking like one of the clowns. In a moment of innocence you want to give your opinion or even try to help someone in need and you find yourself getting the short end of the stick. This reminds me of a situation at a grocery store one day when I noticed an old man in a wheelchair trying really hard to reach something on one of the upper shelves. I watched as he attempted several times to get this item. I couldn't handle it any longer and asked him if he needed any help. He turned and looked at me and loudly said, "I am not an invalid. Just because I am in this chair doesn't mean I can't do anything!" Just as he said that a few cans fell on him as well as on the floor. I bent over to pick them up and he said, "Get away. I don't need your help." I was shocked and saddened by his response. I looked at him and said, "I know that you don't need my help but I want to help you." I put the cans on the shelf then turned and got my basket and went to the other aisle. I avoided him the rest of the shopping trip, praying that God would help to heal his hurting heart

Sometimes it is easier to avoid people and avoid the inevitable conflict. I think that is why people these days do not stop to help people on the side of the road or get involved in fights or other disputes. People want to help and have giving hearts but are afraid of rejection or of getting hurt. There are many good Samaritans who have lost their lives just trying to help others. But what about the everyday squabbles especially involving social media and wanting to defend someone or even put your own opinion out there?

"Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."      Phillipians 4:8-9

Well if a situation doesn't really involve you then it may be a very wise thing to first reflect on why you are thinking of getting involved. If your motivation is anything less than for the good of everyone then you definitely do not need to be a participant. If your wanting to convince someone to see your "right" way and that their outlook is totally wrong...well that may be a great indication you might not need to jump in. If getting involved is going to cost you time that you don't have, sleepless nights, or strained relationships then please back away! There are some things that come with a cost too high to justify the heartache. If you aren't going to be part of the solution then don't be part of the problem. Get involved only if you are able to be a healthy part of a solution. And trust me...sometimes drama will not have a solution other than all parties choosing to close their mouths or choosing not to be that "keyboard warrior". Jumping onto a pile when you can bring no added value just muddies the water and makes a really big mess.

Jesus wants us to act in wisdom and be people that can bring truth to situations. Loving people even has its costs but if you act with a heart of love then you cannot go wrong. Measure your motives and make sure it lines up with the Word of God. Will you be a witness of what God would do or condone? Will others see Jesus in what you write, say or do?

Because remember, if we don’t learn how to free ourselves from all the trivial distractions then it does become our circus and guess then who the monkeys are....



❤ Jonna

Learning to Crawl

There is this statement that I have heard all of my life, "You've got to learn to walk before you can run." Well that is awesome and all but I propose a better phrase and that would be "you have got to learn to crawl before you can walk." Parents of babies know this all too well. There has been some that have actually skipped that whole step! My son Trey crawled for a day, started walking and never looked back.

Unfortunately most of us have to go through the slow and often frustrating steps to get where we need to go. Watching a baby attempting to walk is comical but also anxiety ridden. They cry when they fall because it is scary and I am sure very aggravating! Sometimes the fear will cause the baby to just be resigned to crawl and not attempt the "scary walk" anymore!

You may laugh at this but that is me in regards to fitness. I want to be fit but find myself failing and on my backside crying about it. Every Monday I start and usually won't make it to the next day without bombing. Then I wait another month or so to attempt it again. Working out is scary not to mention painful and well...I love to eat! Let's not even mention the whole gym thing which can cause any fluffy insecure person to want to do a drive by and just pull into Marble Slab and wallow in chocolate goodness! Oh...I know that is just me! =D

It is time for me to get myself back though. Don't get me wrong...I do not hate myself with all this extra fluff BUT I know that it isn't healthy and in the back of my mind a voice is calling me out..."Jonna. You can do this! Kick your "self" and get with it. Get fit. You will feel better and live longer. You need to do this as a representative of me." It's not audible but it is a yearning that my spirit is calling me up to a higher level and it is causing an all out world war 3 in the flesh!

Why is the will so hard to overcome? The flesh is in NO way more powerful than our spirit man. So I am putting myself out there and saying...I will be conquering this flesh! And by telling you...I am being accountable to someone and that my friend is half the battle. 

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:1-2

Instead of starting Monday as I usually do; I will be starting Sunday...why not...it's the Lords day and I am giving this all to Him. With His help and knowing that I am not fighting against flesh and blood (not even my own) but principalities and powers...well it gives me a new insight! So let's start crawling together towards whatever it is that is holding you back from being a better you. With Gods help & each other we will win that prize and feel great too at the end of the race!

How about you?

Adjust Your Crown!

Jonna

*Warning Labels

I had bought some face scrub the other day and couldn't wait to use it.  I picked up the container to
read the instructions and started laughing to read the comment "for external use only. Not intended for internal use." Really? Is there anyone out there trying to scrub the INSIDE of their face? haha. It just really cracked me up UNTIL I started looking at other items around my house.

-ZQuil sleep aid: "Warning. May make you drowsy"
-Hair Dryer: "Warning. Do not use in water or while sleeping."
-Iron: "Warning. Do not direct steam at people or animals or iron  clothes while wearing them."
-Lighter: "Warning. Keep away from flame"
-Shampoo: "Warning. Do not ingest this product"
-Hairspray: "Caution. Do not spray in eyes"
-Can of whipped cream: "Do not inhale contents"
-Container of nuts: "Warning. Contains nuts"
-Sun shield in Car: "Caution. Do not drive with sunshield in place"

Doesn't all of this just make you laugh? Unfortunately though I have a feeling that these labels would not exist if someone hadn't tried to do this before and got hurt or sued the company. Warnings are all around us and I understand that although they seem so silly; we all need information and instruction. Just like the ten commandments in the Bible; we all know that lying, stealing, adultery and killing are all common sense things that we would never do intentionally. God knew what we needed when He presented them to Moses. Mankind needs rules and most importantly we need it in print.

^"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

What warning labels are you heeding to? I am sure you are not trying to inhale whipped cream but maybe you are struggling in another area of your life. God has given us warning labels and we need to heed them. They are put in place to help us stop and reevaluate what we are doing. You will never see the warning in print though if you do not read the instructions....the Bible is our instruction in life and is chock full of stories that are to help prevent you from making the same mistakes as others did. It also is full of encouraging things to give you hope and to remind you that you are loved!


Adjust That Crown!

Jonna

*From the Outside In

Formal occasions do not come often and if you have ever been invited to attend one then you know the stress of what a "black tie event" might be like. All the knowns and the unknowns that come with such a party can be terrifying. Do you really wear a "black tie" or does that mean a tuxedo? What do the ladies wear? Should I stay with a black dress or choose something of color? These worries are only a very small part compared to the anxiety of a four or more course meal adorned with a sea of utensils!

My eyes turned toward my husband at such an occasion and he had a definite look of bewilderment! There were 3 glasses and a coffee cup with saucer to our right, 4 forks, 4 spoons, 3 knives, two small plates to the left and two large plates stacked up on top of each other of differing size in front of us. There was a fancily folded napkin and a nameplate and various items in the middle of the table with a giant arrangement and with all the fanfare and the opulence of everything I remember my head started to swim. I whispered to Don not to touch anything and just in case we could wait until the first person starts and follow whatever they do but that I was pretty sure that you work from the outside in.

Our drinks were poured and then it was realized the third glass was for wine which we didn't want so they took one glass away. One less thing to worry about! Bread was brought and to my obvious horror Don reached out and took a knife and started to butter his bread. I had told him what I had thought about the etiquette of multiple silverware BUT I also added a lack of confidence statement afterwards. Kinda like, "I am positive but I am unsure." Haha. I looked around the table and was amazed to see that everyone was following him! Someone made the comment that they didn't know "what in the world to do" and was glad that someone knew! Don just smiled and we faked it until we made it.

It is ironic how you can feel like a "fish out of water" in a situation but with a little bit of boldness be the leader. God has called us to be leaders and to be the hope for people in our circle of influence. We might not always know what to do but with His help and the courage that he gives us everyday...to walk by faith we have the ability to do anything.


 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1

Adjust That Crown!

Jonna

Those Pesky Flies!

It is really hilarious how one little pesky fly in the house can cause a person to go from being an adult professional to a raving lunatic. Running around jumping on chairs with a rolled up piece of paper swatting furniture, hitting the walls, even slapping  peoples faces in hopes to squish the elusive fly. How can one fly be EVERYWHERE?? It always seems to be one step of ahead and can I even add that I think it taunts and laughs at how slow we are. I have thought that I had caught a fly once just to realize that it had survived and landed on my head. That is when you just get the can of raid out and proceed to fumigate the whole house!

Little aggravations and frustrations can really get you. Just like the fly it comes in our space while we were minding our own business and proceeds to steal our peace. It shows up and it will not relent. Before we know it our emotions are getting a little out of control and we start showing our "character" to everyone. We start running here and there and anger starts showing and before we realize it our mouth is in bad need of extermination!

Jeremiah 17:18 and Psalm 1:3 both instruct us to be like trees firmly planted. First Peter 5:8-9 teaches us to be well-balanced and self-controlled in order to keep Satan from getting the best of us. As Christ followers we are to be rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined. Philippians 1:28 tells us to be constantly fearless when problems comes against us. Psalm 94:13 says God wants to give us power to stay calm in adversity. All of these scriptures are referring to being stable in our emotional life.

The answer here is preparation! Keep the door closed to the enemy getting in to steal your peace and always keep a good fly swatter handy. Everyday there is an opportunity for us to get upset or to be blind sided by an issue BUT if you are prepared you can ACT and not REACT and that is the key to successfully keeping those pesky flies in your life at bay.

Adjust That Crown!

Jonna