His face looks funny in the next one – he was stretching hard.

Hope your summer is restful!

Reading Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace was a great way to be inspired on getting a hold of your money. I encourage you to read his books or listen to his radio show. Even if you don’t have debt, he’ll give solid advice.  Here is his http://www.amazon.com/Financial-Peace-Revisited-Dave-Ramsey/dp/0670032085

I’ve recently attained a mindset where I am constantly trying  to find new and creative ways to save money. Here are some ideas that work for me:

- Get store reward cards. The Kroger Plus card is by far the best one out there – you can get 10 cents off every gallon of gas you purchase, plus countless discounts at the register when you buy groceries. Food Lion, Staples, Panera, Kmart, and American Eagle are just a few of the stores that have free reward cards.

- I’ve recently started eating breakfast and lunch at home. I live really close to work, so the drive isn’t an inconvenience for me and I’m not racking up the gas usage doing so.

- At Walmart, I buy almost everything “Great Value” brand – cheaper and tastes the same (to me) .

- This past Christmas I sent out postcards instead of cards to family and friends. Not only was the custom card cheaper as a postcard, but the stamp price was too.

- This past Christmas I also scaled down on the gift giving and gave presents to just family.

- Since I graduated and all my friends have scattered across the states, birthday giving became harder and more expensive. I decided to utilize Facebook. Whenever close friends and family have a birthday I film and post a personal video Birthday message for them. It is thoughtful, personal, sentimental, and free.

- Made homemade valentines for some of my close friends this year. Homemade gifts in general are great I’ve found. The more meaningful and sentimental, the better.

- I made the rule that I could only go to Starbucks once a week. And no sodas at sit-down restaurants (unless it’s a Sunday and I’m exhausted). Or alcoholic beverages. Those lattes and sodas add up real fast.

- As a horse owner, I spend a fair amount of money on buying feed for my horse. If you do the same, watch Tractor Supply or other feed stores for their discounts and stock up when the feed goes on sale. Or sign up for their email list to be notified of sales and get coupons.

- I also recently started taking out $30 in cash at the beginning of the week. This money is the only money I can spend on eating out. It has helped me see how much I spend, instead of swiping plastic all the time.

- Keep up with your tithe/giving. It’ll will help when you file taxes.

All that said and done, check your heart and checkbook to see where your money is going. Are you using it to further the Kingdom? The Message Matthew 6 says it this way:

Let me know if you have any ideas – hope an idea or two of mine can help you!

I was listening to a sermon by Perry Noble, the lead pastor at NewSpring church in Anderson, SC (check out the incredible Kingdom work they are doing at newspring.cc) and his message seemed to sum up so much of what I learned the later half of 2010. Here are some of his thoughts intertwined with mine.

One lightbulb that switched off in my brain is that being a follower of Christ is so much about self discipline. Christianity is a simple willingness to follow Jesus one step at a time (in the words of Perry). Its about surrender and submission. Day in and day out. You chose whether to accept or reject Christ everyday. Are you going to be proactive for the kingdom by exercising self discipline and being obedient? Perry stated if we saw a normal functioning grown man in a kiddy pool with arm floaties on, we would think that’s weird. He’s grown. Mature. Completely able to venture and swim on his own. But instead he stays safe. In the same spot. In the church, we call that faithful. How I long for myself and the church to be obedient. We don’t have to pray about reading the bible, sharing our testimony, serving, loving on a homeless man, about getting baptized, about joining a church, inviting a co-worker to small group…just do it.

The one thing to take your relationship with Jesus to the next level is…different for everyone. My prayer is that every church would realize this. Every ministry. Every follower. God doesn’t call us all to the same styles of service. It is not going to look the same for everyone. God wants all of us to continue to take “next steps” with him. We are called to bear fruit and take new steps with Him constantly. Those fruit and steps are going to be different as we function as different parts of the body of Christ. You and I will never become who God wants us to be, until we stop trying to be who man wants us to be. So quit comparing yourself to other churches or on the flip side, think your way of ministry is the only way to go. Its not your way or the highway. Its His way…and I am going to guess He is more creative.

Any body who accomplished anything great for God faced great opposition. But the beautiful thing is, He provides provision. Perry stated “If he brought you to it, he will lead you through it.” How sweet these words are when you have experienced it firsthand! Thinking about the bumpy road Connect Rome endured the summer of 2010, I can proclaim His goodness so much more. If you are facing opposition, dwell heavily on His goodness. His cross. His promises. His gift of the Spirit. Dwell on the rich goodness and I guarantee the spring in your walk will be filled with peace, confidence, and purpose.

Those are just some random thoughts until next time…

My prayer this Christmas is that you experience the ultimate love and peace in Jesus Christ as we celebrate His birth! Merry Christmas family and friends!

With lots of love -

Jeannene (& Dude)

There are many prodigal sons
On our city streets they run
Searching for shelter
There are homes broken down
People’s hopes have fallen to the ground
From failures

This is an emergency!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
We’re crying for them come back home
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

There are schools full of hatred
Even churches have forsaken
Love and mercy
May we see this generation
In it’s state of desperation
For Your glory

This is an emergency!

Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!
Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!

And all Your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

Working in ministry, I feel like I keep coming in contact with Christians who seem to think their church is God’s only plan for people to find Him. I think missionaries, Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, non-denominational and other Biblical teaching churches are all apart of God’s plan to expand His Kingdom. The church is Christ’s bride. Christ died for the church. So if you are a Christian, I challenge you to quit complaining and not dwell in arrogance. We all have opinions, but I think we should be more passionate about spreading the Gospel instead of discouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ who serve. Each church is a part of the body of Christ. Are you encouraging them? Is it possible that the diversity in our churches will help us reach more people? We are all on the same team.

Rick Warren wrote this the other day, which I think goes right along with encouraging churches: “To grow a mature faith, you must learn to trust that God is working in other’s lives even when you disagree with them.”

Colossians 3

Rules for Holy Living

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^[b]7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

That doesn’t mean I don’t want to live a life of significance, but I often desire a life that is simple. Sometimes I joke about moving out West with my horse and herding cattle in the middle of no-where with no conflicts or people. And maybe a front porch with a cold drink in my hand. And a rocking chair. Ok. You get the picture. But essentially, I dream of living a drama free life. I would go so far to claim that one of my pursuits in life is to be a woman of wisdom, integrity, and loyalty – and to not be seen as a woman of gossip or causing problems. To me, this is healthy. I think about this daily and how I can perfect these qualities. In fact, I have noticed in the last year that I have gone out of my way to remove myself from certain situations that I foresaw to bring conflict, drama, or commotion. This can be good and bad.

“Simple” according to dictionary.com throws out some of these definitions: easy to understand, deal with, use, etc; plain; not complicated; not complex or compound; occurring or considered alone; mere; bare; common or ordinary; not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious.

However, the more and longer I work in ministry, the more I am learning that I am not called to live a simple life in that sense. And if you are a Christian, I would argue you aren’t either. During the past semester, there have been moments where I felt bogged down with the drama that was taking place in my circle of friends, co-workers, and family. At times I would feel incredibly discouraged and sometimes embraced being ignorant to avoid the stress, anxiety, and obligation to do something. How selfish that is. Someone once told me that drama will always be present and around so long as you are serving broken people. I want to serve broken people. I don’t want to surround myself with people who already are living with Jesus. I want to bring the crowds to Jesus.  Galatians 6 states it like this: 1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

I think as Christians we are called to a life where we pursue God, obey Him, love His people, and make a positive impact for the Kingdom. And while that might seem simple laid out, I look at Jesus’ life that is full of dramatic events, miracles, and actions and feel convicted. Jesus calls us to carry the burdens of others, to make yourself last, to serve with humility, and show compassion. Ultimately, to do that without getting your hands and feet dirty is impossible. Getting in the middle of peoples’ mess to show His grace and mercy requires you to get in the middle of drama and chaos.  With this new perspective, I almost rejoice when an opportunity arises where I can jump in and shower a person with Christ’s love, hope, and grace. No longer do I seek isolation. Instead, being more proactive for the kingdom in the middle of drama, trials, and heartache is what I feel called to.

Picture yourself at the extravagant and impressive Grand Canyon. You are sitting in a comfy folding lawn chair with a cold drink in your hand and your spouse (or if your single, your best friend) is sitting next to you. You both are sitting there in awe of God and his nature and creation. And at that moment, life seems perfect. Your view of life is flawless as you are comfortable and all is beautiful. However, in a matter of minutes everything changes as big and obnoxious RV pulls up in front of you and completely ruins your view. Immediately, you get riled up with anger, disappointment, bitterness, confusion, and unhappiness. You are livid with the situation. Why would the driver do that and block your view? Why can’t they change or move? Who do they think they are? What was once a calm, positive, and serene moment and situation seemed to turn for the worst. But refocusing, moving your lawn chairs 50 feet to the side, and changing your perspective on the situation can shed some new light. When Josh told me this rather simple illustration, I couldn’t help but ponder on it through the weeks when unexpected things happened or when I was frustrated. How often do I let myself get distracted when things don’t go “my” way or how I think they should?

This story reminded me to refocus on things that matter.  The Kingdom. Working at a church and in the ministry, it seems rather easy to let serving and ministry become work, rather than a calling of making it simple for people to connect to God.

Colossians 3:1-3 states it like this:

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.