Songs that have grabbed my heart lately and may or may not bring me to tears... every time. 

"How Great Is Our God" World edition from the Passion 2012 conference. This one never fails to create tears. It's a beautiful, musical representation of what our daily living should be. Intertwined with all communities, all races, all cultures for Jesus sake. :)

Kari Jobe - The More I Seek You. This is one I've known and loved for a while and every time It gets stuck in my head and I sing along, it continues to be a special moment with Jesus. 

Jesus Culture - Where You Go I Go. This one is self explanatory.

Owl City - In Christ Alone. This is one my favorite hymn and this is definitely an awesome version. The artist was being scrutinized about where he stood in his personal faith. He said nothing, but released this as a new single. I agree. No statement needed, simply see my life and listen to my words. I pray that's enough.

 

There are many, many more. But that will do for now. Oh how I love my Jesus. He is the only one who makes me a valid, useful and worth while human being. Without Him, I am nothing. 

Blessings, 

Jackie

Jesus Sightings...

So, in the process of getting ready for my DTS I have been blessed to see the divine hand of God going before me and working all things together for my good.

During this past month I had a garage sale as a fundraiser. There was a joint garage sale with some friends who are going to South Africa this summer (Check out pathtoafrica), then the weekend after that I had a garage sale "on my own." The location of roung 2 for the garage sale was a friends house from church, she was going to be out of town and her garage was empty. She has been wanting to remodel her house so that her mother could move in with her, but the permit didn't go through in May like she had hoped. The community that Barb lives in has an anual community garage sale. So, Barb gave me the keys to her house and told me to have the garage sale there... she was sure that I'd be able to sell allot of stuff. So, it was a sweet moment to know that her permit hadn't gone through, but she was planning on remodeling (so her garage was stripped bare) and she just so happened to be out of town during the sale... all orchestrated by God so that I could have the opportunity to make a couple hundred bucks towards my mission. Barb is such a blessing, too! She helped organize items, helped set up, the final pack up. She is an extremely helpful woman and it was a blessing that she offered her home and help to me. I saw Jesus in her.

The same weekend as Garage sale #2, I had a Momo party (in place of a spaghetti dinner). Not very many people came, which was dissapointing. BUT it was a blessing that those who came were extremely generous and it was great to see them. I think it was the most humbling experience to have many of the Nepali my mom works with come to help make momo, set up, cook, serve and then stay until all the cleaning was done. Then, not only did they serve me in that way, most took it upon themselves to donate financially as well. I was blown away. The sense of community and giving that these people have towards one they claim as their own is an astounding thing to me. I hope to help raise a generation more like them in that way. I saw Jesus in them.

Then, in general, it was a huge Jesus sighting just to receive any donations.
Over the past several months I have been planning on attending this training and yet no money was coming in. I was saving every last penny I could, but it wasn't meeting the massive goal. I was starting to get doubtful and seeking other opportunities. I knew God wanted me to Go to Vegas (I already had bought the plane ticket, I know that wouldn't have happened with peace if he didn't want me to). But, there was just so much darkness in the financial cloud that was hanging over head. Then, in a matter of 2 weeks, I get $2,500 which, is only around 25% of my total goal. But to go from almost nothing to $2,500!! Incredible. The Lord, is in fact, a sudden God.

I am so extremely excited for this trip! I still have so much to do and so much to get around. Packing, cleaning, more fundraising, spending time with family and friends before I leave. SO MUCH TO DO! It get's really overwhelming at times. It drives me insane and sometimes I just want to cry and give up. But the lord is a reassuring God. He is the ultimate provider. The complete healer and he dries all my tears as long as I trust in Him for my salvation and rest myself underneath His mighty wings. He is a good God, a loving Lord and He shows himself to me abundantly!

-Jackie

Lately...

Well, it's been forever and a day since I've posted. Here's what I've been up to:

1. Working. I work at the local Christian homeless shelter for women and children and it has been stressful. In the summer our numbers go up and with them go the stress levels. It's nice having co-workers who are fellow believers, it keeps things a so much less dramatic. Last weekend I was involved in the decision to ask someone to leave the shelter, they were very upset and disrespectful on their way out. The biggest thing that stuck to me was "It's like your goal is to kick me out!" Later I went to her partner in crime (who was allowed to stay because she was more respectful and peaceable when she was corrected), and I asked her "You don't really think I WANT to kick you out do you?" It was the perfect doorway to a whole new conversation about her walk with the Lord. I was able to give her scripture verses, to encourage her, listen to her story, tell her some of mine and pray with her. Then, last night... I found out that she asked Jesus to be the Lord of her life again. Just to give him control of her problems, her blessings and her life all over again (which, from what I understand she hasn't done since she was 16). Small victory? Yes. But one that my heart relished in. One that made me want to jump for joy at the sliver of hope that was shining in her eyes! There are extremely bad days at work, days I wish I could walk off site and never come back. But then there are moments like that where the Lord reminds me "For such a time as this, you were meant to be here!" It makes everything seem worth it.

2. Stressing out! It's now only 42 days until I fly to Las Vegas for my Discipleship Training School! Funds are coming slowly and it's wigging me out! I am more than sure that the Lord has ordained that I go on this trip, to go and preach his freedom to the captives. But my human logic says "HOW MUCH MONEY?! HOW LITTLE TIME?!" It's hard to overtake my brain with a simple word like TRUST. I've cried, I've talked to Jesus and friends. Over and over again I've been reassured of my purpose. It's just allot to think about. There's also so much packing, cleaning and prep I need to do in this next month+.

3. Fundraisers. Last weekend and this weekend I ran a garage sale (last weekend with some friends, this weekend just for my trip). Allot of people donated allot of GREAT items for me to sell. I am very thankful for those people. Combining both weekends I was able to make around $300 for my trip. Blessing. Today was the last day of the sale and a "momo party!" Momo is a dumpling like food that is extremely popular in Nepal. So, it will be a common eat for me when I am over there. My mom works with allot refugees from Nepal and I was incredibly blessed by them! They helped buy the food, prepare, cook and serve it and also helped clean up at the end! It was incredible! I would not have made it happen without their eager, blessing and able hands to aid me. I am blown away at the power of community that they have, which, America lacks.


I'm so very excited, terrified and not ready for this whole thing to happen! Yet, I know that i will be in time. God doesn't give us anything that we cannot handle and even though I've had my almost breakdowns, His yoke is light and my burdens are few.

Every time I hear a story about trafficking or I speak with someone who just doesn't know much and is just learning... my heart leaps. My heart breaks. I am reminded.

In Nepal, there is a cast (where you are born into your job type, level of wealth, etc.) where the women are assumed to be prostitutes and men pimps. When I first learned this, my heart shattered. Today I learned that there is someone I know who came from this cast, but now lives a redeemed and prosperous life apart from that label she was born into. Hearing this, knowing this... will possibly give me the strength I need to work through blood, sweat and tears to get to India & Nepal. I will fight for these people. I will love these people. If I have anything to say about it, they will not leave this earth not knowing the unconditional, incandescent love of Jesus Christ through me. I pray only I am used.

Often, when I talk to people about trafficking. It's allot of facts, statistics, what I want to do, how I want to get involved, how common it is, how it can start. It's allot of talk. I often sound disconnected. But I promise you, I am not. I push off the fire that stirs in me because, I'm pretty sure people would be scared. I am so entirely drenched in the passion of Jesus Christ and His heart for each and every of the 27+ million enslaved, that I wouldn't be able to communicate very clearly.

For now, that is all.
Praising the name of the Lord and thanking Him for His provision!
Amen and amen,
-Jackie