Vintage Gwen Chapel-She Shares Truth

Confession time....

I've been working more and I have yet to figure out a new routine! And I tend to be a night owl and it's so hard to break that habit! My husband works 2 nights out of the week and a long time ago when he'd be at work I'd just stay up.  So bad I know! Lil' Hunkie will be starting Pre K in August so I'm gonna have to figure out a new routine pretty quick!  So I've been doing my studying at night and have been loving the She Reads Truth study on Ruth. Today is a She Shares Truth day, I missed the last one and wanted to join in this one since I've been loving the study! 

And what I'm loving most is, the book of Ruth is not just about Ruth. It's so much about Naomi too!

God didn't leave her out, He wanted to redeem her too!

Naomi took a look at her circumstances and renamed herself.  What she was looking at was what she no longer had, not what was in front of her which was a daughter in law so devoted to her that she'd die the same place as her mother in law. 

I've done the same as Naomi.  In every instance I was focused on what I didn't have.

Being single it was a struggle keeping my focus on God and not my singleness, having a miscarriage I wanted to focus on the loss instead of how big God was, and in motherhood I tend to let my failures keep me from the bigger picture, that I am a good mom regardless.  

And in every one of those circumstances I renamed myself....Jennifer the failure. 

But God knew my heart and just like He knew Naomi's heart...that part that still believed God is God no matter what....and He brought forth "treasures hidden in the darkness." (Isaiah 45:3)

While I was single I helped start my church's youth mission trip and spent most of my 20s going on that trip.  That trip still goes on today! I actually get the team ready!

I didn't focus long on my miscarriage loss.  God directed me to name our baby and I have testified about that at church.  I then had someone come to me and tell me that she named her baby too and finally after 20 years she had peace. 20 years!

And motherhood, well I'm still a work in progress and that treasure is still being formed! But hearing "I love you momma", "I sure did miss you momma", "You're the best mom ever!" definitely keeps me thinking I"m Jennifer the good mom instead of Jennifer the failure mom. 

To God, I am and will always be Jennifer My daughter, My servant.

And knowing that helps me keep my focus where it should be, that God is my Redeemer no matter what. 

Happy Weekend lovelies! 

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Nehemiah

Well I've been a bad blogger lately! May has been so busy, can you tell?

I've got a few crafts I'd like to squeeze in and a few recipes I've wanted to share.....

We'll see how I do since tomorrow May is behind us!

Just finished a She Reads Truth study on Nehemiah and wanted to link up for She Shares Truth!

This study was great timing as my church has started a building project! We are building a new 400 seat (wowza!) sanctuary! I was able to pass along a few encouraging quotes to our leaders.

So for the She Shares assignment I'm going to answer a few questions....

Why does the book of Nehemiah end the way it does?

I think the ending is a great reminder....sometimes we need a Nehemiah in our lives.  What God found in Nehemiah was a focused, get the job, no one's going to stop me attitude.  Don't we all need that type of person in our lives? A positive influence who will help us to the finish line.

But. 

Nehemaih is awesome!

 But he's not Jesus.  

The children of Israel were in a pattern and the only person to get them out of that pattern is Jesus.

It's always Jesus!

What does God want us to see here about Himself and the Church?

I think God doesn't want us to forget what can happen when we join together and work towards a common goal. There's a lot of work to be done for the Kingdom.  There's no time to not be His holy people. There's no time to give the enemy place.  There's not time to be a lazy Christian and not do what you know is right. Jesus has come and is coming again soon!

Loved going through Nehemiah! I also joined Kristin Schmucker's 31 Day Scripture challenge and finished the book of Leviticus today! I will be sharing what I gleaned from that book soon!

Have a happy weekend lovelies!!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Our Remarkable God

Back today with a post for She Shares Truth. When I read the prompt for this last Monday I immediately knew I had experienced somewhat of a commissioned moment just the day before!

I got the opportunity to go to lunch after church with some of my family without my Hunks (Lil' Hunkie was at grandma's and Hunkie wasn't feeling good). My youngest brother has a fairly new fiancee and though she's been coming to church with my brother she's not been around church as long as my family has.  I've not spent much time with her yet and had wondered about her children. So I asked  about them.  Well she immediately started crying and I immediately felt bad to make her cry in public! She has 3 kids and doesn't have custody of them right now due to things that couldn't be helped and wasn't her fault in the past. She told me the whole story right then and there. 

God has been moving in her life. I mean it is plain as day what He is doing for her! She's got a peaceful home and a new job close to that peaceful home with an increase in pay!

And she mentioned that God had been blessing her.  But then came some words that I knew God had a response to in the form of my voice. 

"I just hope He'll work with my kids so I can have them back."

{It was something like that, I know for sure she used the word hope.}

Now first of all, I'm glad she is hoping. But sometimes there's one more step past hope. It's called faith. It's called belief.  

So when she said those words, the Holy Spirit was quick to respond with....

"No, no, God is not done.  He has began a good work in you and will finish it."

More wet eyes.

On both sides of the table.

And my red-headed sister in law saying "Get me outta here!"

Cause she knew God had just spoken and didn't want wet eyes in public too!

And do you know what? God moved in one of her children's situations this past week.

He is simply not done!

I believe God is constantly working but to get to actually see it, well it's remarkable!

Happy Weekend lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-It's Simple

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Amplified

 

"1 AS FOR myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom;

2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.

3 And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you.

4 And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],

5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God."

 

The bottom line of these verses..... Salvation doesn't need to be a mystery or some deep thought provoked idea or complicated even.  It's simple, Christ was crucified and we need to know Him as such.  And as Christians we don't need to have enticing and persuasive language to be a witness. What we need is the Holy Spirit operating in us, for the Holy Spirit will be the one to persuade. And when we are persuaded by the Holy Spirit our faith is strong and rests where it needs to...in the power of God.

I made the above graphic on Instagram yesterday and said it was my prayer for the day.  It's my prayer today and really always and I love that I found a prayer out of these verses. For some reason connecting faith with the power of God....resting my faith in the power of God....well it's just burning in my chest.  It's yes and amen. It's a simple prayer that really covers all that we might ever need.  And it's been in the Word all this time!

Thanks God!

 

Have a blessed weekend lovelies!

 {Linking up with SheSharesTruth.}



Vintage Gwen Chapel-The Lord's Charge

"The Lord's Charge to Joshua." 

That's the title to Joshua chapter 1 in the New Living Translation. 

But I'm pretty sure that what God tells Joshua is a charge to us all.

Sometimes to get a deeper meaning of scripture the proceeding verses need to be read. Moses is dead and a very important job is left to Joshua...to lead the Israelites into the Promise Land. And so God just lays it all out.... how this important job is to go...how it will be accomplished....only with trust in Him.

And when God says "Study this Book of Instruction continually, meditate on it day and night..." I can't help but to think He's really saying "have relationship with Me!" "Study and know Me!"

"Meditate on Me!"  See when God says 'study the Word' I take it to mean 'study Me'. 

{John 1:1 'In the beginning the Word already existed.  

The Word was with God, and the Word was God.'}

So right there, plain as day, in black and white, is the key to accomplishing life.

Read the bible. 

Continually. Ouch! Day and night. Ouch, ouch!

But it comes with reward!! Prosperity and success!

And the one thing we find easy to tell others but have a hard time believing for ourselves...

God is with us. Wherever we go.  

Isn't that easy to tell others but a task to convince our selves sometimes?

But God promised. And He doesn't break promises. 

Making the Lord's charge to Joshua my own today.

Happy Weekend!

{Linking up with She Shares Truth.}

Vintage Gwen Chapel- Oh Jonah!

Recap of Jonah 1 & 2

Don't you just love the story of Jonah? I sure do!

First of all, did you see the map that She Reads Truth shared? Wow! I mean WOW!

Looky here...

source

This puts it in perspective doesn't? And by "it" I mean that no matter where we go, where we try to hide....God is there. Even if there wasn't a storm on the way to Tarshish I truly believe God would have showed up in Tarshish! Man I'm thankful He pursued Jonah! Proof He pursues us!

Second of all, did you notice God work on the men on the boat? 

Amazing that in the middle of a storm, in the middle of what Jonah was not supposed to be doing that lives were still turned toward the Lord! See verse 16 of chapter 1....

"Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows."

And lastly, I'm sure you can relate to where we find Jonah in chapter 2....in the deepest, darkest place he's ever been. I recently heard a mother tell her story of losing her 3 year old daughter call this place a black hole. I've had my share of black holes...not many thankfully but I've felt helpless. So Jonah prays. God hears cause He's in the hearing business and out comes Jonah from his black hole. And he knows he's still got to go. And that's the importance of coming out of a black hole....that we go forward....away from the dark.  Action must be done, there's no point in camping on the edge of the black hole! 

Be blessed lovelies!!

Linking up with She Shares Truth.

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Psalm 38

Oh my goodness. 

Is Psalm 38 a downer or what?

It's the perfect example of the lowest of low especially if you read The Message version.  

Verse 17 sums up the whole chapter...

"For I am ready to halt and fall; my pain and sorrow are continually before me." Amplified

Halt and fall.

You know sometimes it takes getting to the place of 'halt and fall' before we realize just how much we need God.  How much He is the only solution to our pain and sorrow. 

And as long as we believe and say verse 15...

"For in You,O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God." Amplified....

then He will make good on Salvation. (Verse 22)

Amen? Amen!!

Linking up today with She Reads Truth for She Shares Truth.

Have a happy weekend!  

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Psalm 130

Joining with She Reads Truth today in their fun new experiment...She Shares Truth!

I am late to the game but that's ok! Basically, they give a scripture, you write/share what you think of that scripture and then you link up on Fridays during Lent. 

Should be inspiring and fun! 

Psalm 130 The Message

1-2Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life!

Master, hear my cry for help!

Listen hard! Open your ears!

Listen to my cries for mercy.

3-4If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,

who would stand a chance?

As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,

and that’s why you’re worshiped.

5-6I pray to God—my life a prayer—

and wait for what he’ll say and do.

My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,

waiting and watching till morning,

waiting and watching till morning.

7-8O Israel, wait and watch for God—

with God’s arrival comes love,

with God’s arrival comes generous redemption.

No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,

buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

I love reading different versions of the Bible! For study purposes, I really like the Amplified and The Message versions. They are eye opening! I read Psalm 130 in what SRT uses...English Standard Version and then switched to The Message and found myself  chuckling just a bit at the first verse..."Help!...the bottom has fallen out of my life!"...and quickly agreed...yep, I've said that a few times! But I've also said and done the rest of this passage...

Cry, wait, hope, look, wait, and hope.  

And also found the same at the end of all that crying, and waiting, and looking and hoping....redemption.  And not just any redemption but plenteous (in the Amplified), generous redemption!! What a promise! Thank you Lord!

Be blessed today lovelies!