UNITE in Trying Times.

I just love it when God gives you head knowledge.  Then God tests the authenticity of your words through trials. 


And either you…”Pass the test”.  Or you “fail” and become a hypocrite. 

I have done both.


Thankfully, even when we fail, we cannot fall too far from His nest of grace.  

  • His hand always open, catching us from our own disgrace.  
  • His gaze, ever before us, calling us to lift our heads to The One who offers forgiveness….the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  
  • His arms, like the staff of a Good Shepherd, hemming us in, on the right and left, gently leading us back to the straight and narrow.  Where His promises lie.

In six days I am headed to China.  A friend and I are visiting two orphanages.  (Many of you have adopted from orphanages just like these ones and I can’t tell you how much I admire you.


If internet allows, I will be posting pictures along the way, if you want to follow along….

“Like” Rich Faith Rising’s Facebook Community    here. 

At the same time, we have a meeting tonight to see where God is taking a Non-Profit God is birthing.  

Then, tomorrow night, my husband is filling our house with guys.  He is burdened for men and to help them rise, to be men of courageous.  And lead their families with grace and humility.

A friend and I are also starting a prayer group for women tomorrow.  Encouraging women to seek God as they lean on Him for guidance, praying fervently for our families.  

With so much going on.  I have seen division try to creep up it’s nasty arm.  Try to crawl out from the dark, into God’s plan, to hinder, derail, and detour us from all He is doing.

Ever been there?

But, Christ followers…..
We lean not on our own understanding!  
We must put aside all flesh rising, creating division, to steel our blessing.  
We must joyfully see the victory found in the giving of everything over to Him.

And that is my prayer for you today at UNITE.  That you would press into the fullness of Christ.  That you would take the time, each and every day, to get on your face, and lay all your “can’ts”, all your hopes and dreams, at His feet.

For it is only when we give Him everything, the enemy has no foothold to create division.  It’s in the laying it all down before Him, that the church will rise up and see God moving, globally.

See, I am the most broken of all people.  Twenty plus years ago, you would not have recognized me, in a club, or a bar, on the streets of Seattle.  I was everything you might think Jesus detests. 

But, He found me. His grace led me to repentance.  And He can find you.  He can take what the enemy wanted to divide and bring division to….And UNITE you to Himself.  

For His sake.  For His glory.  For the goodness of a prize that He has set before you.

And every tactic that the enemy once used to destroy you.  Will begin to only draw you to press farther in, closer to, more toward the fullness and freedom of a God that you come to find, will never leave or betray you.


Yes, when we are in Him.  Nothing can separate us.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

And when we get that….the fullness of His love.  Really get that.  We understand, all our man driven futile attempts will always…eventually….only lead to hopeless, bitter, roadblocks.

It is then, we begin to want His One Way ticket….more than we want what we want!

It is then, His chasing, undeserved, limitless grace….leads us fully, to have more grace for others.  

More opportunities to bless people.  A more abundant measure of trust that leads to Him establishing His work in us.

And before you know it…..

  • The test won’t matter. 
  • The, “who wins” and “who doesn’t” won’t matter.  
  • The, tactics of the enemy trying to entangle us, won’t matter.  
  • The good works or how well we perform for a world just wont matter…..


It is even, no especially, in these trying times.  The toughest trials.  These weariest of all days. That grace floods everything.  Love abounding becomes the only thing that matters……at the end of the day.

And that is o.k.  Because that is all you want.  That is enough. That is what UNITES us…to God and people, anyway.

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8 Comments

  1. Gail – Thanks for “liking” my page…but thank you more for your prayers! They mean so much! Praying I have internet so I can give updates along the way! Blessings in great appreciation for you! ~ Jen

  2. Yes! His hand is always open, and only through God’s power and strength, can we climb and soar above our trials. When we are overwhelmed and feel abandoned, we have the greatest potential to soar, for when we are fragile God is strong!

    So excited you are returning to China; blessings and prayers for you Jen!
    Denise

  3. Hi Jen
    I am so excited about your trip to China! I know where you come from my friend! For I know where I came from and it was not a nice place to have been. I am sooo grateful that He came to set me free!
    Much love
    Mia

  4. Denise – Your words always encourage me! Agreed, my friend! In our weakness, He is the strongest! Blessings to you, dear friend.

    Judith – Really? That is amazing! We are actually flying into Hong Kong. Last time we flew into Shanghai, so it will be neat to experience that land you knew as a child! So exciting!

    Mia – So glad you can relate! And oh how He shines the brightest when you have seen those darkest days! I rejoice in our deliverance & in the goodness of a God who pulls us from the pit & sets our feet upon a rock! He ever so faithful, isn’t He, my friend!

  5. He is so generous to bathe us in His gracious love… Pouring Himself-strong and perfect, into to us-weak and sinful. I can’t comprehend that kind of love, but I am beyond grateful for it!
    I’ll be praying for His glory to be made evident through you as you travel to China, Jen!
    Blessings and love,
    Mary

  6. Hi Jen, praying for you on your travels, for physical, mental and spiritual protection. I pray God blesses you abundantly and your family. Thanks for linking up my friend
    God bless
    Tracy

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