New Site...

Hello whoever reads this....I'll be posting on my new site from now on. It's www.xanga.com/jenlen1665 Check it out sometime! :)

We are HIS!!!!

A couple of weeks ago, I was reading through Ephesians 2. I had probably read that chapter dozens of times, but never grasped what the Holy Spirit shared with my heart that day! I love the fact that God's Word is so ALIVE and applicable to us, even though it was written thousands of years ago! :)

Eph. 2:12 "...remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having NO HOPE & WITHOUT GOD in the world."

I understand the fact that our sin separated us from God and that Christ made a way for us to draw near to God. But never before has it struck me that I had no place in God's covenant, because I'm NOT Jewish!!! So, God not only provided us with a chance to be holy from our sin, but also truly adopted us, as we had no place in His family due to our heritage. What a powerful and exciting thought! I LOVE how creative God is, and the fact that He has literally thought of every angle in His provision for us. How can you not worship Him???

Eph. 2:19 "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are FELLOW CITIZENS with the saints, and are of GOD'S HOUSEHOLD." Praise God!!!

God gives & gives & gives...

On Sunday, my pastor spoke on good deeds and how God calls us to good deeds. He quoted Matt. 5:16, which is one of my favourite verses, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." By our good deeds, God ends up with the glory, which is the way it should be anyway!

This morning, I was doing my reading in 2 Cor. 9. Paul is talking to the Corinthian church on giving financially. Ch. 9:8 says this, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that ALWAYS having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;" I got to thinking as I kept reading in 9:11-15 "...you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanskgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His INDESCRIBABLE gift!"

Think about it...God gives us resources and a desire to give to His work and the people involved in His work. We (as the givers) feel blessed because He has enabled us to give. The people who receive the resources feel blessed for God's provision and in turn, give Him praise and honour. The people they minister to see how incredibly generous God is in His provision and give Him honour and blessing. We (the givers), in turn, hear about the amazing things God is doing with the resources He gave us and praise Him for His marvelous ways!!!!! Isn't God so creative????

What a Wonderful Maker...

I guess it's been far too long since I've actually blogged on this site. I guess life had a way of getting in the way. On Tuesday night, I had the privilege of going to the Chris Tomlin/Matt Redman/Louie Giglio concert. What an amazing night of worship and reflection on Who God is and how majestic and HUGE He is! We are really so tiny in retrospect of His vast greatness. Louie spoke on God's majesty, especially in creation of space. He showed a bunch of slides from space, and oh my word, I could hardly breathe. This one was my favourite though...

Is God not the most creative, wonderful, beautiful Person? And to think He loves and cherishes us "little people" as His own children?

Blessing

Lord, Your name is holy
It's high above the rest
You're beautiful, magnificent
In us Your name be blessed

Show us how to praise You
To glorify Your name
Use our lives to bring You praise
To spread abroad Your fame

You've given us so much in life
Your only Son to die
We owe You every breath we have
To praise Your name on high

~copyright, Jen Lenhart 2005

The best day in the history of the world!!

Today is Easter Sunday, a day marking the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What a day of freedom for us as children of God! We've been given life and forgiveness and power and grace and mercy, all because God loved us and chose to sacrifice His perfect, sinless Son. What an absolutely awesome reality. Let us take that thought in and revel in it all the days of our lives.

1 Cor. 15:55-57
"'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but THANKS BE TO GOD, Who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ."

My Saving Grace

He came to die, my soul to save
So one day I with Him would reign
Christ suffered there upon that cross
So not one soul would ever be lost.

He loved us all, what Love is this?
He bridged the gap, He drew us in
We now belong to Christ the Lord
The price He paid, not one could afford

So selfless Christ, upon that tree
Would cleanse our hearts, would set us free
King of Kings & Lord of Lords
Thank You Lord, forevermore.

~copyright, Jen Lenhart 2005

The Song of my life

With my lips let me sing
Of my glorious King
He's the Love of my life
He makes all things so bright

Prince of Peace, Lord of all
On my knees I will fall
He's my Life, He's my Song
I will praise Him all day long

Who can know the wonders of
This Great God Who sits above?
All the earth, spread His fame
Sing for joy of God's Great Name!

He is lovely, He is strong
Let me praise Him with my song
God of Glory, God of Might
In His presence I delight

No other name can satisfy
No other god can even try
For I will never turn my eyes
From You, my God, my Holy Prize.

--copyright, Jen Lenhart 2005

Free from sin, free to worship God...

Romans is SUCH a great book! This afternoon, I was reading Ch. 6 & 7 and contemplating this freedom that we've been so graciously given from our loving Heavenly Father. We are not only free from sin, but we are free to be ourselves before Him. He knows our weaknesses, He knows what we struggle with. BUT He has promised us victory over sin's reign in our lives.

"Lord, may we always seek Your strength in overcoming sin. We are more than conquerors through Christ. You have told us that sin no longer is our master...You are. What an honour and a privilege to be loved by the King Himself. Help us to remember that we are ALIVE in Christ. In Christ our Saviour we pray, Amen."

Freedom

Dead to sin, alive in Christ
What is this precious gift of life?
That I should know the love of God
To walk with You in love's pure light

My old self was crucified
And I serve sin no more
You paid the price, You bought me back
You've opened up the door

Satan cannot touch me
He's powerless to try
You've freed me from his chains of death
In Christ I am alive

Joined with Christ in death and life
You've raised me I am told
And one day as Your precious bride
I'll walk the streets of gold

No other love can satisfy
No other joy I know
You'll never leave me by myself
You'll always hold me close.

copyright Jen Lenhart, 2005

God is soooo good!

Tonight at Sr. Girls club, I decided to speak on how God views us as sheep and He is our Good Shepherd. The Holy Spirit totally steered me in a slightly different direction part-way through the message, and gave me this bold message of salvation for the girls to hear! How powerful His words are....full of life and full of saving truth!

This was my favourite verse that God brought to mind when I was preparing tonight's message:
Isa. 40:11 (NIV) "He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart."

When we hold a baby, where do we hold them?? Close to our heart, all snuggled in and safe. My Lord carries me close to His heart...the center of Himself. What an incredible love. How utterly blessed we are to be privileged enough to experience that love on a daily basis. There is no safer place than in the arms of our Good Shepherd. Nothing can touch us and nothing can bring us down. Praise be to God!!