Hi there,
I was writing in my journal tonight and I started going back and reading some of the earlier entries I have written this year. What a year in Jesus this has been, so far! Most days are the ordinary, “I woke up and went to work” kind of days, but there are so many sweet testimonies woven into those ordinary days. I realized these ordinary days we are living are made extraordinary by the life of God that’s inside of us. There is really nothing ordinary about our lives if we are walking in the Spirit! It brought me to tears reading these journal entries! Here is just one small example from January:
January 4: I slept late! Woke up and read my stories for the school year that begins next week and wrote my lesson plans. After Ben and I narrowed down three paint color options for his new room, we went out to finish making deliveries from Ellen’s closet giveaways and out to eat at La Cocina in Mebane. Then, we went to Lowe’s to purchase the paint. We painted his room last night, and it turned out pretty! But I didn’t get to bed until after 2 AM and woke up at 6 to go over for morning fire at Pastor John’s house.
Enjoyed working alongside Ben to paint his room while listening to and singing along with some beautiful music. So thankful for our music. One song by Darren that has the lines, “So many people have laughed and cried; so many people have lived and died, but they’ve never believed in me, the way that you believe.” I told Ben that song has more meaning to me today than ever before. I love that Jesus has given me a heart to believe and love the Truth. It’s the same Truth that Paul taught! What I call the “Jesus-is-enough gospel”. Not many in this world believe that gospel, (Matthew 7:14: “How strait the gate and narrow the road that leads to life! And few there be who find it”). Most reject the holy Ghost baptism and add all kinds of ceremonies and dead forms to replace the life that Jesus is offering. It’s so puzzling to me why they would do that, but it’s been that way from the very beginning of creation. God offered Adam and Eve anything they wanted from that beautiful, lush garden; however, that wasn’t enough for them. They just had to add the fruit from that one, forbidden tree. This human flesh can never be satisfied!! What Jesus offers us from his rich, beautiful holy Ghost garden is all we need! That’s Paul’s gospel. That’s the road that leads to life!
But I also had this sobering thought as I was listening and painting: “Everyone in Paul’s life forsook him before he died.” And then I sincerely prayed, “Jesus, don’t let me ever forsake the Truth you’ve given to me.” Amen! Forsaking the Truth is forsaking Jesus.
This very first paragraph of my 2025 Journal explains why I decided to start writing a journal this year:
Happy New Year! I don’t like New Year’s Resolutions because they never last; however, I am hoping to keep this one. I want to remember all of the wonderful ways Jesus blessed me this year, and I am hoping someone else will be blessed and encouraged who happens to read this one day. Most of my days are pretty ordinary, but that doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t working and watching and protecting.
So far, I have 56 typewritten pages; 139 entries! I am so glad these are not just pages filled with “blah, blah, blah”. If we can see it, our ordinary, simple lives are a beautiful and extraordinary story of God.
Amen!! We are so blessed!!
Lee Ann
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I love Lee Ann’s testimony! When I read it, I can the hear the Spirit saying, “Live! It’s a brand new day in Jesus! Live!” If we are growing in Jesus, all we have- every day- is “a mouth full of thank you!” to our wonderful Father, just as Sister Willie so often says. And that mouthful of thank you is also for every single person Jesus has so lovingly placed around us. Jesus is not afraid to mix things up for us! And if we make a mess, how he loves to heal us and make us whole and happy again! I love your testimony- (I may not have the words exactly right)- our Father lovingly saying, ‘Try to make a mess so big I can’t fix it.’
What a good Father!
Donna N.
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Aw! I feel the same way Lee Ann. feels. We don’t have ordinary days; we extraordinary days in Jesus! An extraordinary LIFE in Jesus! From the non-happenings to the happenings, life in Jesus is a notch above the rest. And he has made us all beautiful stories of God.
Leeann’s email made me think of the feelings I was having yesterday about the lines from Darren’s song: “To fear the Lord is the way that is right. To give him glory and all honor with your LIFE.” Every day is a new day with Jesus, and if we give him the glory and honor with our lives, we honor each other.
Life in Jesus can be pretty simple if we don’t add to it. I love your saying: “Get right with God. Stay right with God. And you’ll be alright with God.” That’s doable.
Amy B.
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