But Why???

Im really excited about this blog tonight, so please be patient with me, as I try to share this with you. After being at dinner with a precious friend, I got very fired up and could not wait to get home to blog.
These words have been heavy on my heart---
But Why God??
Have you ever been praying for something for a long time and God closes the door.
No wait--- even better he slams the door shut.

I love to see God at work but over the past couple of months, he has revealed to me why he had to close certain doors. I have learned through the shut doors that I have to trust HIM even more.
I am learning that through the Wait period of waiting for certain prayers to be answered, I am falling more in love with Him.
I am learning to pray even harder when the situation I have been praying for does not turn out the way I want it to.

After reevealuting and praying through certain situations, I have seen that God has protected me from what I thought was the right answer to my prayer. I am so INCREDIBLY Blessed that God has such a sweet plan for my life. Even when I am down he knows exactly what I need and is going to PROVIDE it at Just the RIGHT TIME- in the Lord's timing which is never early, or late it is right on time.

The next time I want to say But Why God?? I will now say Thank you God, and claim his scripture over my life and for the prayer request I am laying at his feet.
I want to Bring him Glory in all that I do--
I will trust and believe...
Changing the Words that Come Out of my Mouth that they would be more Positive...


Faith is to Trust,
Jenn Smith

Its Catch Up Time.....

Wow!! The last 2 weeks have been a blur....

On Thursday February 16th-20th my precious friends Michael and Abby Wood came to town to visit. OF course I loved having a 2 year old in my house. Gavin is so much fun. We played Candy land and Chutes and Ladders every day while they were here. Gavin is really good at playing games. I could not get over how much he has grown and loved chatting with him. He is so much fun! I loved getting to hang out with Abby. We had much needed girl time!


Wedding Shower
Abby and I got to go to a wedding shower for our sweet friend, Tara. I am so excited for her and Ryan! I loved being able to catch up with old friends. I can not wait to see Tara as a bride!

The Power of Prayer
Last week on Tuesday my Precious friend Carla went into the hospital. On Thursday she had to be put on a ventilator. The drs told them they would have to keep her on it for 5-6 days. Praise the Lord for answered prayers--she came off the Ventilator on Saturday morning! She is improving daily! I am so thankful because she is one of my best friends.

Just Thankful
Im beyond blessed with meeting girls that I have gotten to love and spend time with over the past few weeks! It is so fun to hear other girls stories of what the Lord has done in their lives. I love praising God for changing their hearts! It has been such a blessing to meet these girls and to get to do life with them.

The Running....
Well I am learning so much about my body as I train for this Half Marathon. We have been training since December and I loved getting to sleep in this past Saturday. We moved our long run to Friday- boy was I exhausted afterwards. Here is the crazy thing we were suppose to run 7 miles and somehow we did 8 miles... Whoo-hooo! My body is so sore! We are down to 4 weeks before the run!

Engagements----
Ive had several friends get engaged over the last few weeks- so the wedding season will be coming back this late spring!! On Friday night I got to celebrate my friend Meg, as she is going to the chapel. Again---answered prayers-- Gods timing is PERFECT!

Im counting down to my cousin Kristen's wedding in Alabama. I can not wait to see my family!

Reading
My sweet friend Holly, told me about the book Circle Makers- it is a book written all about PRAYER! I can totally tell you that it has rocked my world! I have totally changed the way I have started praying, but I also I have been looking for scriptures that go along with my prayers. Im learning to PRAISE God through the requests I am taking before the Lord. My goal is to finish it this week!


Prayer
On Friday my sweet Aunt Nan will be having surgery for her colon cancer. Please pray for a smooth surgery and that the doctors can get it all! Also for my Uncle Robert-he has Krohns disease and stress does not do well on his body! As my Aunt has reminded me we have been waiting for this day since September-its almost here!!

Teach with Jamaica---
I bought my airline ticket tonight!!! July will be here before I know it!!! I can not wait to go and meet the children in Jamaica! I look forward to working with all of the teachers in the sessions we will be teaching. Please pray as I continue to raise money for this trip. If you are interested in knowing more about this trip, please let me know!!

Well I promise I will update with pictures soon, I broke my digital camera:((
I am excited about this upcoming week to see what God has in store for me to learn!

Blessings and Love,
Jenn

Scripture Memory for the Week

Psalms 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.

I love this verse because it is such a sweet reminder that when we walk with the Lord he will constantly provide for all our needs. Just keeping walking with him and Give him all glory!!

God Bless
Jenn

Verse for the Week

Jeremiah 29:13
And YOU will seek me and find me,
when you SEARCH for me
with all YOUR HEART!

First of all, I just love this verse, and it reminds me how I need to be running to the Lord. I do not want to miss out on any good word or blessing he has for me because I did not run to him. In the past I would only give God half of my heart, because I liked having the Control. Well having that control just brought me more heart ache and I was not doing life the way God wanted me to. Now I want to know God so intimately and not hold on to anything, but let him have it all.

God Bless
Jenn

Hello Valentine

Good Morning Precious Valentine!
Just because its Valentine's Day doesn't mean to be down or blue.
Do you realize how much my love for you goes through and through?
No you may not have your Special Valentine--
But I'm the Valentine that loves you UNCONDITIONAL,
without Perfection,
Each day I FALL more in Love with YOU,
because you are MY CHILD,
whom I LOVE so deeply.
I gave my only SON JUST for YOU-
so that you WOULD Spend Eternity with me.

I love you when you are obedient,
I love you when you are still,
I love you when you are a MESS
with massacre running down your face.
I love you because YOU are MY CHILD.
I love you more than you can imagine and can not wait till I get to spend FOREVER with YOU!

You are MY VALENTINE-
EVERY DAY,
not Just TODAY!

Verse for the Week with a Story
Luke 1:45

Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be ACCOMPLISHED!

Last week I read this verse and it goes along with last weeks verse. The Lord is teaching me about the Power of Prayer and asking for the things I long for but wanting GOD to use me. Today we went to get Fro Yo, and the Lord totally allowed a conversation with a very sweet friend named Anna- it started all over me telling her I had been to 7 stores looking for the heart marshmallows. She had just gotten them at Walmart on Saturday. A conversation started---and then the boldness came, I asked her where she went to church- her reply- Prestonwood, she had just started going but only to the 11 o clock service. We began to tell her about young singles and our bible study. Now she is going to start coming.. Praise the Lord -- that he gave me the BOLDNESS to start talking to her... So I am believing like never before that the Lord's will for my life be Accomplished... Not what I want, but what he has for me.

Believing,
Jenn

Dropping to my Knees

This morning I woke up the sweetest peace, joy, and love. Why?? you might ask, because my roommate Audrey and I had a wonderful prayer time late last night. We got on on our knees and praised God for all that he is doing in our lives, and then laid things at his feet.

Over the past few weeks, the Lord has been teaching me to stop and SURRENDER by getting on my knees and praying. Oh my dear Friends, if you are not taking time to get on your knees before the Lord do it... I can not even begin to tell you how my prayer life has become such a sweet and precious time because I'm on my knees.

If you are asking God to answer a specific PRAYER, please do not give up, keep PRAYING. Remember her will answer it in his timing and according to his Plan.

Praising God,
Jenn

Verse for the Week

Matthew 21:22

And Whatever you ask in PRAYER, you will Receive if YOU have FAITH!

When I read this verse last week, I immediately put it in my Journal. I have realized that in the PAST, I have prayed about everything except a mate. The Lord has show me that I need to be giving this area to him as well. I made up every excuse why I should not PRAY for My Future Mate. I was having lots of doubt, but now I have Surrender and am praying for my future mate, praying for whatever he might be going through, and praying that we would meet very soon.

If you are having doubts about something you are praying for and not having the FAITH- go read the whole Chapter of Matthew 21...

Having Faith Like Never Before,
Jenn

PS Its never too late to jump on the memory verse train, Ive had several people join this past week!

My HERO
My Momma
Melinda Gale Alexander
Today, Friday, is another special day its My Best Friends Birthday! My very best friend, happens to be my Mother. When I came in to her world we immediately had a special connection. As I gave her one of the biggest scares when I was very little(meningitis) she never left my side- 14 days later. All I wanted was my momma..

My Mother has to be one of the most Godly, Patient, Loving, Soft Spoken woman I know. She is a true picture of the Proverbs 31 woman. I can not be more blessed to have a mother that has prayed with me, for me, and most of all watching her spend time in the Word from a very early age. She taught me how important it is to start your day with the Lord.

Even when times are tough she looks at the Positive, prays through those times, and most of all gives me Wisdom. Thank you mom for wiping the tears, through the hard and good times, for always being my Biggest fan. I'm blessed by you every day! Thank you for teaching me what a true heart for teaching and loving people is all about. I may not look like you, but I have alot of your characteristics and mannerisms...

You are totally the kind of mom I want to be one day! I can not be thankful enough to have YOU as my mom..

Happy Birthday,
I love you!
You are my HERO!
Jenn