Do Good. Show Love.

I read this the other day and found it very fitting.

There is SO much going on in our country right now.

So much.

So much that it's hard for even me to put into words what's going through this head of mine.

I, admittingly, have never been crazy into politics.

And I can honestly say that I wouldn't even want to talk politics because of my lack of knowledge in so many areas.

But what I do know is this.

We HAVE to do better!!!

That last sentence stuck out to me as if it was in BOLD letters and flashing!

Keep advocating in love.

LOVE!

Love - a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person.

Just this past week, my youngest daughter and I sat through and read and talked about the "love" chapter in the Bible; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 13:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.

You know, this verse is spoken a lot.  But I think we need to remember to include the verse immediately following that says - "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers."

Here's the deal my friends, we're not always going to agree on "stuff."
Yep.
Even Christians are going to disagree.
And you know what?!?
It's OK!

What's not ok is to make others feel less than because they do not share your same thoughts, opinions, or even values.

Let us not grow weary in doing *GOOD*

Here's what I want to try and convey -
In the middle of a lot of chaos and uncertainty in our country, we need people to stand up and stand together and continue to show love *regardless* of how you may be feeling.

Instead of lashing out on someone for their opinion, could you sit down and have a conversation and hear them out - ask why it is they believe what they do?!  Without the intention of trying to change their mind but rather simply try and understand where they are coming from...
Could we meet together and see what changes we can start helping to make locally, in our own towns and cities?  Because if every city was doing that - imagine what change could start to take place!
Could we join together and pray for our elected officials?
There are a lot of issues we are facing in regards to immigration and borders and abortion and racial discrimination and women's rights and education and gun control and the list continues on...
Just like the very first post - the world has been hurting for a LONG time.  
It's not going to be fixed over night.  
But I do think we need to do our part.


I know some of you who read my blog know me personally where others may not.
And, if you didn't already know, yes - I am a Christian.  However, my intent isn't to push my beliefs on you, but rather just simply be me.  So sometimes, yes, I'll talk about my church, or God and even share scripture.

What it all comes down to is this - I truly believe that we are called to love God and love people.

Plain and simple.

I believe God made us each unique with our bodies and mind.

We are ALL different.

But that's what makes our world so very beautiful!

We are better together my friends!

Instead of us being so quick to tell everyone how we feel, let's take time to simply listen.

Sometimes a response isn't always needed; sometimes people just want to be heard.

These three remain: faith, hope and love.

I have FAITH that regardless of what's going on in our country, God is ultimately in control.

I have HOPE that we can come together and help make needed change.

And I'm sure going to LOVE people in the meantime.

Because the greatest is always going to be LOVE!

xox,

Jenny

Just me and my thoughts...

[Rejection steals the best of who I am by reinforcing the worst of what's been said to me.]

...Or someone flat-out rejects me, my idea, my invitation, my kids, my project, my whatever, and it messes with me more than it should.

Relationships feel increasingly unsafe. Opportunities feel increasingly risky. And life feels increasingly uncooperative. I carry on, because that's what we girls do. But this nagging sense of rejection, real or simply perceived, is doing more of a number on me than I care to admit. Rejection steals the best of who I am by reinforcing the worst of what's been said to me.

Rejection isn't just an emotion we feel. It's a message that's sent to the core of who we are, causing us to believe lies about ourselves, others, and God. We connect an event from today to something harsh someone once said. That person's line becomes a label. The label becomes a lie. And the lie becomes a liability in how we think about ourselves and interact in every future relationship...

Excerpt from 'Uninvited' by Lysa Terkeurst

Ok.  Just keeping it real...
This book, although I didn't realize it, is EXACTLY what I needed to pick up last night.
It's been sitting in a stack since Christmas (my sister gave me a few new good ones) and I keep looking at the pile, hoping I would have time, make time, to start reading them.

So I picked this one up and, seriously, only read that first chapter.
It hit me hard.
This is where I am.
Or rather, where I have been.
Or tend to go at times.


This past June, my husband was let go of his position at our church.  Needless to say, it was a tough time for more than just our family.  After much prayer, we felt this was an end to a season and we knew God was telling us we needed to regroup and find a new place to worship as a family.  That was a hard decision and one we prayed over diligently because this church was more than just church to us, these people, they were our family.

This also came in the midst of what I consider one of the most trying seasons in our marriage; Phil's grandmother had passed away, our oldest daughter was dealing with a bully at school and in counseling for personal issues she was struggling with, health concerns for me, multiple issues with our vehicles, Phil's Dad's cancer aggressively attacking his body, my grandfather passing away, me in the middle of an enormous project at work...it was just one of those seasons you wish you could get out of.  And as quick as possible.

And trying to be the glue that was keeping us all together, I kept pushing on.
I kept trying to be the same Jenny I've always been.
I was determined that God was teaching us something through this season and I was sure that one day we would be able to look back and say, "remember that time when..."

I was reminded with today's message at church that sometimes God doesn't take you out of your trial because He wants you to walk through it.

And...because everything tends to register a song in my mind, I leaned over to my hubby and whispered, "It's like TobyMac's song, Move...Keep Walking..."

well, ummmm, he just shook his head and gave a little smile.
Don't let him fool you though...this is one of the reasons why he loves me.

But for real.  Part of the lyrics to the song are:

I know your heart been broke again
I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet
I know you’re feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet so 


Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet 


Hold on, hold on
Lord ain’t finished yet
Hold on, hold on
He’ll get you through this
Hold on, hold on
These are the promises
I never will forget
I never will forget

I know your heart been broke again
I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet
it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet so
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet..
 

What I'm trying to get at is this - I kept moving.  We kept moving.
Some days were easier than others.
And to be honest, some days were just plain tough.

You see, we went from being a big part of a church family, to just a faithful few who decided to stand in the gap with us. 
There were times I felt alone.
There were times I felt rejected.
There were times I allowed something that was said to stir up all these things I store in the deep places of my mind that scream to me, "you aren't good enough."


But here's one thing you may not know about me.
I don't allow those thoughts to stay long.
And so I would dive into scripture or devotion and remind myself of who I was and what God has called me to do.

But, then something would happen. 
One thing in particular, I would notice those who I thought were my friends had unfriended me on Facebook.  And I would question what I posted or might have done that would make that happen...because to me, I'm still the same Jenny I've always been.  Do I get on people's nerves because I share about God a lot, quote scriptures, or ask for prayer.  Because that's just me...and I won't change that.  Phil reminded me one night when I was struggling that those who really knew me and knew my heart, would never question it.

But here I was...allowing negative thoughts to take hold and tell me I was just one small person and who am I to make any kind of difference?

I have all these ideas and dreams inside this crazy mind of mine, and I truly do believe we are better together, but how could I make that happen when I couldn't even figure out why someone wouldn't want to be my Facebook Friend anymore.

Real problems, right?
shewww...that's a whole other post.


On the outside, I was doing a pretty good job of keeping it all together.
But, let's be honest, inside, I was falling to pieces, allowing my own self to feel like I had been  rejected.

It was starting to become a cycle in my head and I knew it wasn't going to lead to anything good.

So, what did I do?!?
I started daily focusing on who God says I am to lose sight of what I "thought" other people saw me as.

In the fall, we found ourselves back at the church Phil and I met and it was like coming home.
Our girls are getting plugged in and we are all excited about opportunities we have to get involved on a deeper level.

We ARE better together and we just have to keep surrounding ourselves with the people who will pour water on the fires of our fears and throw gasoline on the passions of our dreams.  We need people who are able to handle us at our worst and then celebrate with us at our best!

All this to say, in order to help someone else along the way, you're going to find yourself in seasons you may just not want to be in.  And, take it from someone who's been there, you HAVE to make it a priority to make sure you are taking care of your self, your mind, first. 

Stay strong and let me remind you as I was reminded this morning, a faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.

So when trials come, and I promise you they will, just keep moving...keep walking!  Sometimes you're not going to soar, sometimes you're not going to run, sometimes you're just simply going to walk.

And that's ok.

I pray that when you find yourself simply walking that someone comes alongside you and walks with you.

I pray that you can be that someone that comes alongside and simply walks beside someone in need.

Let's be a team of people who speak life into others.
Let's be a team of people who share hope with others.
Let's be a team of people who show love to others.

Let's be a team of people who never let someone walk away from you feeling rejected.

For the next 2 weeks our church is fasting.
And the intent isn't to loose weight.  In fact, you don't even have to choose food for your fast.
The point is to fast from some "thing" that takes your time and attention and replace that time focusing on God. 
Our family, daughters included, have chosen to fast from our i-pods, i-pads, phones, tablets, social media, etc.  This is something very new to them so instead of not allowing "screen time" at all, we have set back the allotted times even more so.  My hubby and I included.  And most importantly, once we're all home in the evenings, we have a basket that we'll drop them in until that allowed time so we can truly focus on each other and spending time praying for how God can use us, individually and as a family, this year.

My hope is that God will do just that - reveal to me how I can be used for Him.
How I can take what's in this head and heart of mine to continue to reach others...to help make our world a better place.
To stop relying on social media for validation of something I may or may not be doing right and know that if I'm doing what He's called me to do - His approval is all I need. 

Thank you all for being a part of this journey with me.
Thank you for reading my thoughts when they don't always make sense to me.
Thank you for believing with me that we ARE better together!

xox,
Jenny

I still have a dream...

THIS.

This is how I, Jenny Harsin, feel.

That in spite of the difficulties and frustrations that are surrounding us at this moment in time, I STILL have a dream.

And I believe God has set me apart to help in some small way.

I have a dream, but even more so, I have a vision.

I believe we cannot acknowledge the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. without simultaneously acknowledging the work that still needs to be done.

And the work has to start with each of us individually.

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

The change MUST start with us.

Even if it be just one person at a time.

We have to be willing to step out of "comfort zones," to go against the crowd.

To love instead of hate.

To simply look to the neighbor beside you and see what you can do to help make their world a better place.

To come in when the rest of the world says stay out.

Oh goodness...I so want change.

But guess what my friends?!?

You cannot give out what you don't have within. 

I think about this a lot.

Churches, in general, support mission work.

In fact, the majority of the churches my hubby and I have been a part of do so.

But I have found it to be more "world-wide" focused instead of locally focused.  And where I don't believe there is anything necessarily wrong with this, in fact I believe people are following "go into all the world and preach the gospel," I do believe we are missing out on some of the greatest needs right here in our own country, state, county, city, and community.

I'm just keeping it real here...

Sometimes it seems it's a good opportunity for photo ops to "show" that yes, we are making a difference.  Does the mission work not happen if no pictures are shown to document it?

Mission work, to me, is a person or group of people sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities, as educational or hospital work.

Instead of going and helping another country, what would it look like if we got things right, right in our own backyard first?!  Or would it not seem as significant if you didn't cross an ocean to get there?  The photo op in your neighbor's back yard just isn't as appealing, right?

Please hear my heart and don't get me wrong, I do believe that there are some truly fabulous things happening in other countries via mission work - but when do we start to focus on our own country?  When we're the ones in dire need of teams of mission workers coming to us?  When do we come back from a mission trip and notice that while yes, that country doesn't live like we live, there are people within our own country who don't live like we live?  

I just think if we could get it right, right where we are - how much more would we be able to give ourselves to others?

I think locally, unfortunately, churches have become more focused on bringing people in, that we have forgotten that more often that not, Jesus met people right where they were.  And I know some churches are striving to do just this.  In fact, our family is excited to get involved with the program at our church, Adopt A Block.  But there has to be more.  If the "church" was truly loving on the community the way I think Jesus intended us to, I believe our churches would be filled on Sunday morning.  

Why?

Because people would feel the love of Jesus and would want to be a part of loving others.

They would want to be involved with a community that shows love.

No matter what.

And to be transparent, I think more isn't being done, we don't go into the unknown, because we're scared. 

"People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they have not communicated with each other."  - Martin Luther King, Jr.

We have to start communicating with each other.

We have to be able to talk about our differences by acknowledging there IS a difference.

I believe greater things are yet to come, but it has to start with communication.

Communication will lead towards truly getting to know someone instead of placing them in a box...a box, more than likely, they don't even fit in.

And only then, will we be able to start to work together towards a common goal - making this world a better place, one community, city, county, state, country at a time.

What if instead of talking about, and keep going back to, what "evil men" do, we choose to be "good men?"  

What if instead of talking about 'this is the way it's always been and it's just going to continue to get worse', we step up and say, "I'm going to do my part to change this in my lifetime?"

 And please, don't tell me I'm naive...tell me that you, too, recognize that change needs to happen! 

I have shared this before, but a favorite quote of mine from James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey is a great reminder that we are better together: 

"If you play only the white notes on a piano you get only sharps; if only the back keys you get flats; but if you play the two together, you get harmony and beautiful music." 

Think of what beautiful music we would miss out on if we only played one color of the keys.  But instead, by using both the sets of keys, something beautiful is produced.

That's how I envision our world...working together to create a beautiful place. 

All this to say, that yes, the time is always right to do what is right.

Even when it goes against the crowd.

DO the right thing.

Be willing to stand up and walk the other way.

Be willing to use your voice for someone's who may have been silenced.

Speak Life!

Share Hope!!

Show Love!!! 

Decide what you will do today to help others.

More importantly, "others" who don't look like you.

Wrapping up my thoughts, I personally like this prayer by Martin Luther King, Jr.:

"If I can help somebody as I pass along;

If I can cheer somebody with a word or song;

If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong;

then my living will not be in vain.

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought;

If I can spread the message as the Master taught;

then my living will not be in vain.

Yes, Jesus, I just want to be on your right or your left side.

Not for any selfish reason.

I want to be on your right or left side, not in terms of some political kingdom or ambition.

But I just want to be there in LOVE and in JUSTICE and in TRUTH and in COMMITMENT TO OTHERS, so that we can make this old world a new world,"

TOGETHER (that part added by me)

xox,

Jenny

Snow Thoughts

My official countdown to Spring and Summer time is now ON!!!
This past weekend, we had our first real snow of the season, and let me just tell you...I was once again reminded that I wasn't made for winter.

Not even kidding.

It's fa-reezing!
And no matter how many layers, no matter how close I sit to my little space heater, I just cannot get warm enough.

However, as I woke up this past Saturday morning, I got to thinking.
It's ok if I don't love the cold and snow.
But what I DO love is being snuggled up and warm at home with my family.
The beauty the winter season brings with its sunrises and sunsets and yes, even the snow.
The pure happiness and excitement the snow brings to my hubby and our daughters and even our dog!

Maybe I was trying the whole mind over matter thing.
Maybe I was just trying to not be grumpy.
But really, I was just trying to look for something TO love and be thankful for....because, if you look hard enough, there's always something.

So, although I was wishing I was sitting on the beach staring at the ocean, I sat in my cozy chair and watched the snow fall...and here's some random thoughts I had.

You know, no snowflake truly ever falls in the wrong place.
As long as it continues to snow for a period of time, with the temperature just right, no matter where the snowflake falls, it's going to stick.  And eventually, with the addition of the other snowflakes that continue to fall, it's going to start showing that something is indeed happening.

Kind of like life sometimes, huh?!

Sometimes we're going to "fall" into places that maybe we don't think we're ever going to fit in or make a difference. But if we surround ourselves with like-minded people, while remembering that we are like a snowflake and each bring our own uniqueness, if you stick together long enough...BIG things can happen.

As I sat and admired the beauty of the untouched snow - it made me think that the way we treat others - the kindness that we share, the smile we give to a stranger, an encouraging word passed on - each of those, much like the snow, beautifies anything it covers.

We have it in us to help make this world a more beautiful place.
And I just don't mean visually.
Imagine what a fresh snow looks like...glistening, and bright, and clean; a fresh start, a clean slate.
If we could just take time to cover others with kindness, and love, and with hope...think about how beautiful this world would be.

And playing in the snow...while I don't personally enjoy spending time in the cold, especially when it's still snowing, my hubby and girls sure do.
And don't get the wrong impression here.
I DID go out and enjoy some laughter with my family.
I'm a good wife/mom like that.

10 minutes is better than no minutes, right?!?
I think it probably took me longer to get all layered up, looking like the Michelin Man.

But, I wouldn't want to miss out on the fun just because I don't "love" the cold.

However, Day 2 came around and when our daughter, Tatum, asked if "we" (meaning her and me) could go outside to try and build a snowman,  I was like, "ummm...why don't you ask your dad, or sister, or Avery?!?"

So, ok...I'm not the best mom!
First, it was cold, ya'll.  Like bitter cold AND windy.
Second, we had a fluffy snow.  Definitely NOT snowman building snow, but my daughter doesn't get that and was determined to at least try!
And did I mention it was cold?

But Avery to the rescue...thank goodness for girlfriends, right?!

After I got them all bundled up so much so that they could barely walk, I gave them 15 minutes.  And told them I just thought it was way too cold for them to stay out longer than that...and off they went.

And let me just tell you how determined these girls were.
After a few snow angels and trying out the little snowboard (or how we rocked it out, a boogie board) ramp, I looked out the window watching them both crouched down trying their hardest to build a snowman.
Together.  The cold not even phasing them (so I thought) because if one of them couldn't figure out how to make it happen, tag teaming would surely get the job done!
I stepped away long enough to look for my phone to take a quick pic, but by the time I came back to the deck door, they were barreling in and stripping off the multiple layers, ready to move on to something else.

They reminded me that even in extreme situations, as long as you have a friend to endure whatever it may be with you, you're going to make it, regroup, and be able to eventually move on to something else!


And then there's this:

One of my least favorite back roads we have to travel to get to a main road.

To make a long story really short - I got stuck on this road for HOURS during a snow storm once and just cringe thinking about having to drive it when it snows.  If I have to drive before the roads are what I consider "drive-able," I generally take one of two other, longer, routes.

But this morning, I had a chauffeur as Phil was able to get me to work, in a truck already heated and warm, where I could simply enjoy the view on the way in and be dropped off right at the entrance to the hospital I work at.

How's that for service?

Besides the fact the he knows I don't like the cold and snow, he knows I hate having to drive on our back roads even more so.  Added bonus for him is that he LOVES being able to get out and drive in it. 

But most important, maybe one of the things I'm realizing is that sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone to appreciate the beauty of what is around you.

I don't know what that looks like for you, but for me, if I simply allowed the things I don't like to hold me back from going "outside" - I would surely be missing a lot.

Friends, we are better together.
Join me in stepping outside - as fragile as we might be at first, if we stick together, we can accomplish much.

xox,
Jenny


 

New Year

Happy 2017!!!

It's been a while since I've been able to sit down and focus on blogging, but I'm making it a goal of mine to get back to doing this weekly!!!  So, please, someone hold me to it!

A lot can happen in a year.
I don't think I realized just how true this could be until this past year.
2016 will be remembered for our family as one filled with our greatest joys, but also one filled with our greatest hurts and deepest losses.

As we have sat together and reflected on the past year, a few things have been constant:

* Faith
* Family
* Friends

Faith, by definition is a complete trust or confidence in someone or something; strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

There's this song, Oceans, that I love...and some of the lyrics are:

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my [faith] will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
That's where we've been.
And my goodness, we have persevered.

We have learned that sometimes you just have to accept what God has allowed.
It hasn't been easy, but we continued to trust that God was greater than our hearts and knew all things.
And I can say I truly believe we have come out stronger.

Through it all, I can say It Is Well!

Family.
This past year was a trying one for each of our families as well.
We experienced a lot of death.
A lot of loss.
Both Phil and I lost a grandparent and Phil, his father.
And other distant relatives as well.
And death is hard, whether you are aware of one's time left here on Earth or not.
But, for the most part, I can say that death has allowed our families to draw closer.
Maybe even made us rethink the way we are interacting with the people in our life, the ones who you would think you should be the closest to.

Friends:
This past year I can honestly say that we were shown true friendship.
We have friends who have loved us and our girls, who have stood in the gap praying for us through some trying times.
Friends who have rejoiced with us and friends who have cried with us.

We have "no matter what" people...friends who we consider family.

Our "circle" may have gotten smaller, but, sometimes less is MORE!  And I believe that God brings people in your life for a reason - I'm thankful for each and every friend in our life.  Some we see/speak to on a regular basis and some we go months without seeing or speaking to...but true friendship remains through any time or distance.

If you haven't noticed the theme...this past year has proven once again that we ARE better together!

As we look forward to a new year, we have much to be thankful for and are excited for the possibilities that are ahead of us.

We have been reminded many times that as long as you have people in your life that love you and support you - you can and will be ok. Summing it up, this is how I feel:

In closing, I wanted to share this as it has always been a favorite quote of mine:

"Make the least of all that goes and the most of all that comes. Don't regret what is past. Cherish what you have. Look forward to all that is to come. And, most important of all, rely moment by moment on Jesus Christ."

May 2017 be a year filled with GOOD things!  May you remember that no matter what tomorrow holds, we have a God who will hold it all together!  And may you be the light for someone this year, look for the good and remember WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER!

xoxo,

Jenny