Housekeeping...

Hello Friends,

     I hate cleaning. For those of you who have known me over the years, you can agree with that statement. It's not that I'm unwilling, most of the time. I'm generally willing to help clean up messes, especially outside of my own home. But, when it gets to working at home or cleaning my room... forget it! Let's not even get into organization skills... I always have the desire, but never the motivation or know how.

     When I came on staff here in Vegas, I became head of our housekeeping and hospitality department. Talk about a shocker. My first month or so on staff here I felt nothing but inadequate for the job at hand. Who was I to be in charge of cleaning a base that, over the summer, would host over 60 people at a time?! Who was I that even though I've always struggled with any sort of organization or motivation to clean my own spaces was left to make sure that this building was well kept and stewarded well? I remember sitting at my desk almost daily, with my head in my hands thinking "Daddy, I don't know how to do these things! How do I even start?! Jesus, give me grace!!"

     It was a stressful time, to say the least. But what I forgot is that God not only qualifies us for what we're doing when we serve Him through our adopted authority, but he gives us what we need to accomplish the practical tasks before us. Since I've started working on the hospitality and housekeeping I've created a calendar for all of our guests that stay on base (students, teams, guests, speakers, etc.), I've recently organized the janitors closet so is more functional, i'm getting deep cleaning projects done and the most miraculous part of it all? I'm enjoying it. If you're my friend on facebook you've probably seen that I've even made a video of celebration after organizing the closet. It's something that I enjoy now.

    Will I enjoy it forever? Probably not. But I'm confident that while I'm here, serving in this way, I will be given the grace to enjoy how I serve Jesus. I will be able to live in Joy that even things like mopping floors and scrubbing upholstery is a blessing to the ministry here in Las Vegas. I can move forward knowing that while my solutions and organization may not be perfect, I'm doing my best to improve anything I can.

     I think I used to question that God gave situation specific grace to people. But, now I'm truly proof. He didn't just give me mercy in this situation. He's not jut giving me enough to barely scrape by, but he's giving me above and beyond what is necessary to complete my tasks. I'm not just able to do what I must, I'm happy about it. And while I have my down days, where I don't feel like even thinking about a mop, overall I can say that Jesus is good and He has made me qualified for this position.

     When I first started this position, heck when I first moved here in general, I felt so unsure and so "unsafe" you could say. Not in a physical manner, but there was a certain security I was lacking. But i'm learning that I can find my safe place in Him.

     Yep, there's my wordy mess for now.
      I hope whoever reads this is encouraged that whatever seemingly tedious task is before you can be achieved with joy and authority. Just ask Jesus for His grace to abound in you through that job! You'd be surprised how little things can excite you after that. :)

Blessings and courage be sent to you,
Jackie Poole 

Fully Adopted.

[Adopted]
1. Legally take another's child and bring it up as one's own.
2. Take up or start to use or follow (an idea, method, or course of action)

     Since I've moved to Las Vegas, the Lord has been after my heart hard core. During my Discipleship Training School, I thought that I had gained an understanding of the difference between having an orphaned heart and having an adopted one. Turns out, those 5 months were just the tip of the iceberg of things God had to show me about this.

     Turns out, I've lived most of my life as an orphan. Now, don't get me wrong - my parents have always loved me and supported me in the best of times and the worst of times. But I allowed the devil to speak identity into me and I allowed him to to declare my worth. Worst part? I believed him. I used to believe that what other's thought of me was important and worth worrying about. I had a fear of man that controlled me. I believed that I not only could I disappoint God, but I did so frequently. I felt that just by being myself that I was more of a liability for God's kingdom than an asset, let alone a royal. These, among others, were the lies I held so tightly to. The lies that I said my morals and self worth were based on. 

     It's now been a year since I began my DTS and God has been drilling into me this entire time about how I am not only in His kingdom, but an adopted princess, a chosen royal, an authority in this world. I've been researching online, reading books and receiving council on what being an adopted royal means. And I'd love to say that it's an easy transition from a beggar in the courtyard to a princess in the palace. But the honest truth is that it's been a constant struggle.

     Sometimes I still think that God is disappointed in my performance because other people are.  Sometimes I still think that if I don't constantly serve Him and if I ever say "No" that I'm letting Him down and not doing my job. I still find myself insignificant. I still struggle with thinking that my skills and talents aren't worth half a penny or anybody's time. The truth is that God is always proudly cheering me on, proud of who I am and what I do, He says it's okay to say "No", because rest is important. God declares me significant, talented, skilled and qualified to serve Him in the positions I've been put in, no matter how comfortable that leaves me. 

     All this to say, I'm still learning. Daily I find myself enamored with who God is and just how deep His love and adoption is for me. There is nothing he keeps from me as an adopted child, no privileges that I don't get. He puts it all on the table. He gives it all. He accepts it all. 

     For some this may be the most basic of ideas. But to me, it takes allot to sink in. It's still not fully absorbed. I constantly question things, but I constantly hear the Lord say "I am your daddy and I keep no good thing from you!" and "I am your daddy, find comfort in my love." I think so much of my life I've focused on Jesus as my lover, but now I'm starting to see Him as a Daddy too. A poppa that never fails, that never forgets, that is always there, that never expects a performance. A daddy whose arms I can crawl into and sing with for hours.

     Perhaps this blog post is pointless to most, but to me... it's everything. I've just been so enraptured by how deep it all is. God is so good, so Holy, so worthy. He is SO WORTHY of it all. I am amazed by how truly good and worthy He is. I could ramble about it for days. I could type about it for months. Guys, I AM FULLY ADOPTED. I'm not a half child of Jesus. I'm a full royal. Drenched in the Father's love. I'm still learning what all that means, but it's a glorious adventure.

     The more I understand all of this, the more I understand why the entire world needs to hear about all of this. The streets of Las Vegas, the streets of Nevada, the streets of this nation, the streets of the world are full of sons and daughters of Christ who could have suffered the lies of the Devil telling them that they're never going to be good enough for God's love. That they're not worthy. 

But they are good enough and they are worthy, thanks to Jesus. 

I want to tell them all about my Daddy and how good He is. 

That is all... for now. 

-Jackie