community

wow! i am continually amazed at how God teaches me lessons. today it was a lesson on community and relationship. this morning we had our first official worship team meeting, which was incredible. there were so many things racing through my mind as i drove up to my friend's home. i was overwhelmed with things, and my emotions were all over the place, and definitely not in the right place to be participating in this meeting. God knew what i needed, and provided the distraction of getting lost on the way there. as crazy as it sounds, it was like a re-set for my brain and emotions, and helped me focus.

the administrative part of the meeting was fine. what i really got out of it was the joy of praising God with my sisters. as we listened to songs the four of us just couldn't help but singing along and singing out to God. it was a sweet sound to me, and i reveled in the moment.

after we finished with the 'official' part of the meeting, we just talked a little about where we are in our lives. each woman brought a new perspective, pearl of wisdom, or insight to the conversation. i felt so encouraged, and know God used the three other women in that room to show me His love.

God created us for community, to worship together, do life together, and love together. though our relationships with Him are individual, there is something special and indescribable about bringing them together in community and fellowship.

Jen Chang

loveSTRONG ministries

Communications Director

www.lovestrongministries.com

questions and confirmations

as my first official post, i wasn't exactly sure of what to write about. jeni has done a great job summing up things and really getting to the heart of it. (thanks!!)

throughout this process i've had tons of questions. most of them come from my pragmatic side. i think, 'how is this going to happen? are women really going to be on board? are we crazy? can god really use someone like me? what are we thinking? is this really happening??' the past couple of months he has positively answered each of these questions for me.

the part that keeps amazing me is how much he cares for the details of it all. i tend to get caught up in the 'cosmic' god - he's up there and out there, but not necessarily caring about the details of my life. then he brings everything together, blesses us in the little and big things, and keeps on confirming through other women, provision, and his word that this is right where we're supposed to be.

the group of women that god has brought together to make this happen is just incredible! the women are just as excited about this as i am. there are people already stepping up to donate not only their time, but different items for the retreat. this week i was able to share our plans with a friend who is involved in the women's ministry in her church. she was so excited to hear about loveSTRONG ministries and the retreat, and again i saw god confirming what we are doing. just like god is not surprised when 'bad' things happen in our lives, he's also not surprised by the blessings.

one verse that has kept coming to mind lately is psalm 127:1 - "unless the lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. unless the lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain." (niv) the 'house' we're building has already been designed by god. i pray that we will continue to follow his blueprint.

i am so blessed to be surrounded by godly women encouraging, laughing, crying, and loving me through this. thanks, ladies!

Jen Chang

loveSTRONG ministries

Communications Director

www.lovestrongministries.com

prayer NON-warrior?

i am here trying to put some details together for the "god is love retreat" and i am marveling at the answered prayers he has given us so far.... why am i marveled everytime? i know how great our god is and i know how he has the ability to do whatever his heart desires, yet i am still marveled everytime. do you ever feel that way? then i just stop and see how our team has committed to prayer so clearly in this endeavor and i start to see with my own eyes the power of prayer and how his guidance in this endeavor is so clear. it's funny, jump back a few years ago..... i had known and heard of many "prayer warriors" and thought "wow...THEY are so spiritual! how does one become a PRAYER WARRIOR?" warrior is so fierce, so determined, so.... GRAND! and that clearly did not describe what i considered myself to be. yet, over the past few years, i had seen prayer work, even in my "prayer NON-warrior" like way. i simply started talking to god more....that was all. and i began to realize that with simple conversations, i began to see changes.....answers, really. like maybe what i use think were "coincidences", but since i had prayed, i knew (and felt) it was more. it was pretty cool at first. so, like anything else in life that's "pretty cool", what do you do?? yep, keep doing it! (like trying a caramel frappicino at starbucks) and that's what i did. now, here i sit, marveled at what god has done and is doing. i am having the pure joy of seeing god revealed everyday...in little things. but it's the little things where he knows i will know it's him. i never imagined i would not only understand prayer in a new way, but in turn, allow it to draw me close to him and be guided by his every move and live in a freedom that i never knew. for me, i may never consider myself a prayer warrior, or maybe i am....who knows (it does sure sound "pretty cool"). but what i do know is that prayer is the link between you and god. it will be what allows you to know him, surrender to him and be guided by him. it just starts with a simple conversation with him. :)

Jeni Barbush

loveSTRONG ministries

Executive Director

www.lovestrongministries.com

wow...

my first post here....and to be honest, it's mind-boggling that loveSTRONG is at the point to be "blogging" about. what an incredible journey god has brought me through in just a few short months. it's neat to see how difficult times of change can also open new doors (doors i never dreamed that would even be there TO open), but only from a result of complete focus and faith on god and his perfect plan. i am grateful for change...it ALWAYS brings about new momentum and it's how we choose to see god in it that will direct us towards his "next thing" for us. it's true, faith will never waiver. it certainly doens't exist to keep us content and "happy". it can be a tough "humanly" journey where we want answers, want clarity, want direction and get frustrated when it doesn't show up immediately. i am still learning that, and i have an inkling, i will have to constantly be learning that my whole life. but here's what is cool about it all..... we have all heard that saying "god doesn't give you more than you can handle". and although it does not say those words anywhere in the bible, we often use that to make us feel "stronger", like "come on, get over it and move on". however, i recently read craig groeschel's book, weird. craig said something regarding this that has stayed with me. the reason i believe, that god never said this is because it is not truth. i believe that god is always giving us more than he can handle....why? so we can become MORE dependent on HIM, seeking HIM in all we do and thus, following HIS will and to not "lean on our own understanding." i am grateful for this complete dependence because what it boils down to is the journey to complete faith. i love how god has used loveSTRONG's beginnings to teach me this invaluable lesson. let's be FAITH together, team....

Jeni Barbush

loveSTRONG ministries

Executive Director

www.lovestrongministries.com