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28

January, 2013

35 Comments

Bring it.

I have been quiet this week because the rain hasn’t quite let up here. Note: I am about to share some personal events that I normally wouldn’t share on a blog but, ya’ll- the sky is falling. And I assume I am not the only one on earth that has felt this way- so we should talk about it- right?

In the midst of Sarah’s recovery and writing deadlines, 6 days ago my 13 year old son started having severe pain in his side and just returned to the hospital for the second time this week. We believe he will be fine- it is an uncommon issue with his intestine that they hope can resolve on it’s own- but the cause is unknown. So our son is on the third floor of children’s hospital tonight with Zac.  Here he is looking cute for the grandparents and now apparently my blog.

photo

And then a few weeks ago, while Zac and I were at Passion conference, my 11 year old daughter was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night, then ambulanced to a second hospital with a life threatening allergic reaction. We laid in an Atlanta hotel room for hours in the middle of the night paralyzed and unable to help. Kate’s great of course now.

My mother has spent the last several weeks with my grandmother who is on hospice, and like most of you I could continue presenting you with sorted difficult things in our life right now….

So the brilliant timing of all these events coupled with Sarah, means this reoccurring theme has woven it’s way into conversations:

You are under spiritual attack. Or Is this Spiritual attack?

And my answer is… I don’t know.
(I will say if it is you devil-  it is below the belt to mess with my kids.)

What I do know:

There is a very real and very active battle and the prize is faith. God gives faith and Satan steals faith. God loves faith more than any other thing in us and Satan hates our faith more than any other thing.

Faith is the measure to which we believe God is God.

And Faith is the measure to which we let God be God.

And suffering can squash faith or build it.

Why God may let us suffer…

1. Jesus is best known through suffering.

Every stinkin’ time I want to be mad at God- he shows me Jesus. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering.” And it’s happening- he seems to inhabit suffering.

2. I am getting stronger.

Hey- all this drama and all I can think is nobody is stroking- nobody is dead. I have a morbid but helpful  perspective that I have never had before, a strength… I think… I should stop before I am pummeled by the Dark Lord.  But I can run further and longer than I could before. I am not despairing… faith is growing.

3. I hurt for heaven.

Done and done. Come. But since I am not there yet-

4. I want more than ever for my life to mark something.

We are a breath but if I am here for just a minute- I’d like my one little breath to feel more like a mighty gust of wind. And that takes surrender and that takes perseverance and not wasting my minute away on facebook or hulu plus.

So it’s good. The apostles left persecution, “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering.” acts 5

Hear me. It is an honor to suffer. It is a privilege. I want to know Christ and share in his suffering, and  if that takes bouncing around way too many emergency rooms- so be it. I think.

My dear awesome friend Annie Downs just texted me these words….
The enemy is relentless BUT defeated!

Amen and amen and good night!

UPDATE: Conner is home from the hospital and on the mend.  Sincerest thanks for prayers and encouragement today.

35 Responses to Bring it.


Susanelizabeth says: January 28, 2013 at 3:57 am

I needed this. I am praying for you Jennie, right now. And thank your friend, Annie. I love this quote and plan to use it on my FB wall, if that’s okay. I will share her name to give credit where credit is due.

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Carol Hulin says: January 28, 2013 at 4:16 am

Dear Jennie….I’m glad you’ve shared. That’s what we’re here for…praying, praying praying…
And yes as Annie Downs said the enemy is relentess BUT defeated.

Amen and amen

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Lindsey says: January 28, 2013 at 4:17 am

Reminds me of the David Crowder song,
“Can you overcome this heart, that’s overcome…” He has overcome the world! As always your raw, honest thoughts match my own…than you for sharing so openly. Helps me have courage to do the same.

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jaimee says: January 28, 2013 at 4:19 am

i am currently doing your stuck study. good stuff there. i have been in a pit for about 5 yrs and have just begun to get a grip on the edge of this thing. all that God’s been teaching me is being reiterated by your study. He never sends anything our way, or allows satan to send anything our way, that He won’t use for our good if we trust Him. He is ever so good to us. prayers for you tonight, sister.

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shuana searcy says: January 28, 2013 at 4:19 am

This was such a beautiful and timely post. 4 of my five children are in crisis with one of my of the kids doing things that has floored me and left me thinking God why and where did go wrong. I have new health issues and have wondered where is this going to stop. I felt as if the enemy was definitely involved and I still do but I hold on to hope of the Lord who has paid it all and won the victory over satan. Thank you for posting this.

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Brandi Exley says: January 28, 2013 at 4:59 am

Jennie, I’ve just started following you a few months ago (I live in Kenya and am out of the loop stateside a lot):). A friend sent your book “Anything” to me and I felt like I was reading a book of many things I have felt and walked through. When we lay it ALL down and give everything to Him, it is such a threat to the enemy. I do not like giving the enemy credit at all but I do know that when we are threatening to him he works overtime. After all, his purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. So, keep on friend, you are an amazing encouragement to so many women (threat) and so real about your feelings and emotions (threat), you are obedient to Him (threat), your faith is amazing (threat). you compel others to Christ, (threat). We are in his territory and he thinks he can win but thank God we are MORE than conquerors and the enemy does not win. Thank you for being real and thank you for your obvious hunger for Jesus and His kingdom!

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Daniel Farrow says: January 28, 2013 at 5:02 am

Jennie, you are SO right dear sister-in-Christ! I’ve encountered something myself this week that I had never gone through before and fear of the unknown was a real challenge to my faith. But Jesus and the love of my family and close friends are helping me through it. The fear was so real that I thought I would be unable to eat and turn a small situation into a life-threatening one, but I know my saviour lives and that He is able to keep me against that day. So thank you very much for sharing your story because it is encouraging me to keep walking out mine. Shalom & rest in God’s arms. He’s never let you go! :D

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Rebekah Lyon says: January 28, 2013 at 5:34 am

Wow…that.is.a.lot! Praying Christ’s protection over you and your sweet family—AND strength for this marathon you are currently in. Almost instinctively I want to say, “I’m sorry you’re going through this.” But instead can I say, “I hear you & am walking with you in prayer for whatever is needed minute by minute”? Not wishing any of this on you (especially not on your children) but am acutely aware of Who has you, them and “this” (whatever “this” is at the moment). Thank you for your honesty and sharing where God is growing you. It strengthens my faith and resolve. May God, our Father of HOPE, always grant you exactly what you need to trust Him more…especially in this particular season. (And may this season be nearing it’s trying end :)

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Bill Thomas says: January 28, 2013 at 12:32 pm

Thank you Jennie. God brings pain in our lives to show us his healing power – not only healing for our bodies, but healing for the soul – and that for all eternity. The pain that we feel on this earth is only a whisper of the pain that His dear Son suffered so that we would not eternally suffer. We are praying that your son would be healed – as you have prayed for our daughter, Sarah. You and Zac have brought much comfort to us and now we ask that you be repaid with the comfort that only He can give.

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Joanne Viola says: January 28, 2013 at 1:58 pm

Thank you so much for sharing even in the midst of pain. I, too want “my one little breath to feel more like a mighty gust of wind”. I want to stand before our Lord & know that my life mattered & made a difference. I have been holding onto Micah 7:8, “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” May the enemy KNOW that we are rising up with a vengeance! I also loved the quote from your friend, Annie Downs. Thank you for sharing it all with us. Blessings upon you & yours!

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Jen says: January 28, 2013 at 2:28 pm

Praying this morning for you and your loved ones and thanking God for how you are sharing your gifts and your life. Two months ago I had never heard your name, but at the beginning of this year I started “Stuck” with my small group and am almost finished reading “Anything.” Your words and experiences are impacting me at just the right time…wrecking me in the best way and freshly opening my eyes to His glory and my relationship with the Savior. I pray you find renewed strength and encouragement this week! Love from Minnesota!

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Karina Allen says: January 28, 2013 at 5:42 pm

Oh Jennie! Wow! I wish I would’ve known about all of this sooner but I know now. I am praying! I count it an honor to wage war on your behalf & on behalf of your precious family. I read this and honestly feel as if it is part ‘attack’ and part the consequences of living in a broken, fallen world. Either way, there must be fervent prayer & unshakable faith. My prayer for you is to experience intimacy w/ Christ that only comes through suffering. Know that you are strong. It is not your strength. It is God’s strength. He saw this season before time began and He knew that w/ His power, you could handle it. Count this season a joy & a blessing. You will come out of it with perseverance & character. Heaven does await but the Lord is so faithful to let us experience a bit of it here. I pray an open heaven over you. May His peace, healing, comfort & blessing rain down in abundance. One of my Pastors always says, “New Levels, New Devils”. It’s so true! If you were not a threat to the enemy, he wouldn’t worry about you. God has given you influence and favor and truth for this time. He is making a mark through you. Be confident in the call that He has placed on you. And trust that He will bring good out of this and bring glory to His name! I love you SO much & am terribly grateful for you!!!

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Chelsey says: January 28, 2013 at 11:44 pm

Praying for you. Adding you to my prayer journal and lifting your family up. It’s odd–when everything comes all at once, right? But you’ve mentioned something before, that we are all in this together, and as crazy as that sounds since all of us are complete strangers, it may be a little comforting to know there are thousands of brothers and sisters in Christ, united, in this fight together.

I pray that the heavens will open up for you–that the waterfall of grace will just lavish upon you and your family. That you’ve never felt so close to the Lord and his goodness before.
You are a true encouragement and your blog as well as your books have put me in such a good place with God. Keep on pressing on towards the goal.

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Kim Marceau says: January 29, 2013 at 1:27 am

When the sky is falling we are closer to Heaven. When Heaven breaks loose the enemy fires more missiles in his impotent fear and defeated rage. We hold up our shield of faith against the shrapnel. We get hurt in this battle. We might be injured and scarred and scared but the Healer holds us in His hand. The Sword of the Spirit tears holes into the darkness – letting the Light of Heaven shine through into the classrooms and hospitals and prisons and alleyways we live in. Thank you for your words, Jennie – praying for you & your family & your ministry, that God will continue to be glorified in your lives.

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Rob Zwicker says: February 6, 2013 at 4:22 pm

Bring it!
My Awesome wife and I are trying to figure out how God is calling us. We are pumped but regularly feel like we are under attack. She always says “bring it!” She handed me your ‘Anything’ book after she read it twice. Thank you. This is my new favorite book. I may make the guys in my small group read it.

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Anne Watson says: February 8, 2013 at 5:14 pm

I was on your site just doing some research when I came across this blog post. It struck a cord with me because I dealt with unexplained pain for over 20 years and then finally got a diagnosis of Celiac Disease. It’s an autoimmune disorder characterized largely by issues in the intestine’s. It’s a little difficult to diagnose but I have learned SO much over the last two years. I would be happy to share my story with you about it. After I was diagnosed, so was my 14 year old daughter. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you.

I am also a Women’s Ministry Director in Frisco, TX so I would love to pick your brain, too. Maybe we can help each other out!

Thanks, Jennie and best of luck!

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Lauren says: February 25, 2013 at 5:07 am

I find so much comfort in this blog! Thank you for sharing. I shared a bit of this with you, but my father suffered from a stroke this weekend that almost killed him. He was life flighted to San Antonio. My heart is so torn and so heavy, and I am just lost. He was abusive towards me, but I am still holding on to the fact that I am only 20 and I just want a Dad. Whatever happens, I am mourning a huge loss. You are an encouragement to me. Not much has kept me going, the Lord just has spoken to me in huge ways because of you, so thank you!

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