Testimony – Karen Jayne Jennings.

“Karen Jayne Jennings entered Heaven on 13 August 2009 into the presence of her risen Lord”

This is an edited excerpt of a testimony given by Karen;

I have early recollections of attending The Salvation Army and cannot remember ever not knowing Jesus being my Saviour from sin. Jesus was a part of my life; I never questioned it. On completion of my schooling and while in teacher’s college I started going out with Philip. After a few years we married. I was very much in love. While I enjoyed teaching and loved married life, I was also starting to experience the symptoms of MS.

What was happening to me? I still had my faith and knew (in my head at least) that God would have the answer. I prayed one morning, "Lord there has to be an answer for me. There must be more to this Christian life than I’m experiencing. It’s supposed to be good! Please show me!" Lying in that hospital bed after the diagnosis of MS, I poured my heart out to the Lord and was enveloped in such a comforting, fear dispelling presence. I was also convicted of my desperate need to be cleansed in the presence of such a pure, holy, perfect God. I knew at this time that I had been rescued by a loving God and that I was His child. That wave of well-being was to continue with me constantly.

The main lesson which I have been continually challenged to learn and practise is the need to be directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (filled with the Spirit). It has been the difference between life and death for me. When I’m filled with The Spirit I can cope with being sick and when I’m not (Jesus isn’t my boss) I can’t cope. I have soaked myself in the Word and have made the decision to obey what I’ve read. I’ve had to do many things by faith when I’ve thought God’s direction has been too hard or "not me" or I just plain didn’t feel like doing it. As I’ve done His Word (because I’ve had to many times) I’ve discovered the absolute joy that is to be experienced when I’ve done things God’s way and not my own.

Every morning I have to pray and in my prayers I have to tell Jesus that I’ll let Him be my boss. That means I obey what I’ve read in the Word and what I know in my heart. It has taken me all these years of sickness to really know and feel the consequences of my actions attempted without God being my boss. I know that God only wants the best for me so I will trust Him in everything that happens. Because I’ve been in obedience training I have been ‘doing the Word’ in faith many times. A wonderful thing has happened as a result. I have had many of the rewards promised in the verses. I know without doubt that God’s way is the only way to live.

I desperately need you right now.

I was in Perth this week, and had an afternoon of flicking through channels on Mum & Dad’s Foxtel. Now, It’s been weeks since I’ve watched any commercial television at all, let alone had access to several hundred channels – so it was a novelty. But, interestingly (well, maybe it might be normal..) there was nothing on! Nothing that grabbed my attention anyway! Except.. I saw “veggie tales” on the episode list! And, I thought – “that’s just what I feel like watching!” But it wasn’t on for another 25 mins. So, I flicked to the channel anyway – it was “ACC” – the Australian Christian Channel.

Anyway, to make a long story short, the program on before ‘veggie tales’ was featuring a preacher who was a quadriplegic. Her story seemed quite amazing, they had a little piece prepared about her life before she came on. And, in the end I only stayed to watch the TV for a few more moments, but I heard the first point that she wanted to make in her ‘preach’.

WAKE UP EACH MORNING DESPERATELY NEEDING JESUS

She went on to fill in her point with some anecdotes and scripture – and the sentiment of the line sunk in with me, and stuck for the rest of the day – and evidently enough for me to write about it. I think lately, even though I’ve been growing in my listening and obedience (Praise God!), I haven’t felt a desperate need for Jesus – first thing. Or, I haven’t known that I’ve needed it. I’ve been reflecting on my days and realised that I do desperately need Jesus. There is no greater need in my life. I’ve got no strength outside of His. None at all. No wonder I’m tired, I’m trying really hard all on my own.

God please transform the first moments of my day – renew my passion for your love, and your strength. Keep reminding me about how much I need you.

Related to this, I was listening to 614’s “Souls and Justice” album on the way home in the car today, and kept having to go back and play this song over and over.
Lord, I need you. Thanks Danielle for writing words so familiar to my heart’s cry.

“The Wall” – Danielle Strickland

I see the wall before me,
I wonder will I ever be free,
Oh, I know the pain to try and climb
Yet, in You, peace is mine.

Lord I need you now,
Lord speak to me just now,
Lord, wrap in your might, teach me to fight somehow.
Lord, I need you,
I need you right now.

I see the giant face-to-face,
And, I can fight, but only by your grace.
Oh I, seem so small in this war,
And yet, there’s hope – that’s what your power is far, what it’s for.

Lord I need you now,
Lord speak to me just now,
Lord, wrap in your might, teach me to fight somehow.
Lord, I need you,
I need you right now.

I see the cross before my eyes,
I know the place where I must die.
Only, only by the strength you give,
Can I learn learn to die and live, again.

Lord I need you now,
Lord speak to me just now,
Lord, wrap in your might, teach me to fight somehow.
Lord I need you now,
Lord speak to me just now,
Lord, wrap in your might, teach me to fight somehow.

Lord, I need you,
I need you right now.

I need you, right now.
Wrap me in your might, teach me to fight, somehow.

Freedom Day 2008

I just had a highly productive meeting hashing out some details for WA’s Freedom Day on April 19.

I went in feeling unmotivated and discouraged, I came out feeling excited and empowered! Praise Jesus!

Behind a loud-blowing brass band, we’ll be marching through Northbridge to the Murray St mall, in an effort to raise awareness about Traffiking and Exploitation. We’ll be hanging out in the mall for the afternoon to chat with people, hand out some Kidzones and invite people to come to the screening of “The Jammed” at 6.30pm. 

The Jammed is an Australian film, that has one three Australian Film Industry Awards – Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Music. In recent news:

The Australian Catholic Film Office (ACFO) has awarded its 2007 Film of the Year to Dee McLachlan’s The Jammed. Director of the ACFO and jury chair, Jesuit Fr Richard Leonard said 2007 was one of the strongest years in many for Australian films.”The Jammed, The Home Song Stories and Romulus, My Father were among the best,” Fr Leonard said. “The jury felt that The Jammed was a singularly courageous piece of cinema. Even though the extremely violent world this film portrays means many people would not want to see it, that does not allow us to ignore the sex trade in women and children occurring in our nation,” he said.

The movie traces the story of three women brought to Australia under false pretences for sexual exploitation. The Jammed reveals not only the horror of modern human trafficking and slavery but also peels back the complex moral layers involved for everyone, including governments. Fr Leonard said it would be hard to think of a social issue which the whole Church is presently speaking with such clarity. “Pope Benedict’s statement on human trafficking for sex, his message to mark World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerants have strenuously called for all Catholics, Christians and people of good will to do everything they can to counter the causes and the evil results of human trafficking.” “The Jammed plays the role of raising our consciousness on this issue.” This uncompromising and confronting film illuminates a dark, tragic side of Australian society and thus makes a significant contribution to increasing people’s awareness of an under-recognised but important issue of faith and justice.”

Here is a preview:

 

A poster summarising the day’s events will be out shortly. Watch this space. 

Blessed.

So blessed, I can’t contain it.
So much I’ve gotta give it away!

I have had the most blessed 2 weeks.
I have been blown away by the power and love of Jesus.

Jesus is LORD.

Jesus is my LORD.

Mother Teresa

I was reading an article about Mother Teresa today.. and one small paragraph caught my eye:

She was a Catholic fundamentalist who opposed the Vatican Council reforms of the 1960s, and tried to intervene in an Irish referendum on abortion. The Church accepted her only because she attracted new believers.

Now, I don’t know much about the things she was fighting for, it didn’t go into it, and I don’t know enough about her life, but I’m sure she probably made a habit of causing a stir. I’m sure that she was being obedient to God no matter what the “rules” were. She was fighting for something.*

But, I think the greatest thing about this passage is that they liked her too much because of it. Haha! I think it’s sometimes the same for the “Salvos” that you hear about that are a little “wacky” or “out-there”. They’re fighting for things that matter, and saying things or doing things here and there, that maybe haven’t been approved by the PR department… But, generally those are the ones who are in Corps and Out-posts who are getting people saved, seeing souls won for the Kingdom. Hallelujah!

Bring it on LORD!

–
* Quote of the Week: “The difference between people that do something and people that don’t do something, is that the people that do something, do something.” Banning Leibscher (find him at JesusCulture.org)

one+two+three+four+five+six

So a few things:

1. Jesus is amazing. And He told me some things tonight that made me cry but in a good way. If I seek Him, He will be found by me, if I seek Him with all my heart. Praise the Lord. He loves us. Oh, How he loves us.

2. We are the light of the world. Read: YOU are the light of the world. And your light CANNOT be hidden. Not, SHOULD not, CAN NOT be hidden. The Darkness has no choice but to run. So STOP putting the basket over your head! (I’m yelling this to myself really loadly)

3. Come down to JESUS CULTURE tomorrow at 9.30am to do some City Invading, or if you have no money but wanna get in on the Holy Spirit dance party action, come down at 5.30pm. 171 Rooks Rd, VERMONT (Just off Canterbury Rd – Victoria that is..)

4. The WA Police don’t like our ideas about Freedom Day, which means we’re going to have re-think our strategy a little. God grant us some more super-amazing ideas. Or tell those Police men & women to be nice to us. Plus, isn’t there something in the old rules that says The Salvation Army is allowed to gather in public anywhere they want to?

5. Our WA Social Justice group were talking about how we might need a bit of a budget for things we wanna tackle this year, even if for printing costs and the like.. I thought a nice starting figure would be $5000, so I put it out there, everyone thought it was a crazy optomistic number. Found out today the DC is willing to honour the $5000 for the year. Bring it!! I should make crazy suggestions all the time. So, $5000 isn’t that much, but God – please multiply it, so that we can to do our bit so that Your Justice can be seen.

6. Jesus is LORD.

Proleptic

Word of the Day:

"Proleptic" is that which represents or characterises something in the future as having already occurred, or already having been accomplished in the present.

I read it today in a Chapter called "The Gospel; Repent, for the Kingdom Is at Hand" in a Section called "What Disciples Believe" in a book called "Mere Discipleship; Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World" by Lee C. Camp. I can’t recommend the book to you yet, because I’ve not yet read it in it’s entirety, nor understood much of what I’ve read, however it’s a challenging read, with some great "Ah huh!" moments so far!

Camp is using the adjective "Proleptic" here:

"Jesus’ life and ministry – and subsequently the life and ministry of the church – thus proleptically realizes that coming age, in which the enemies of God will be entirely defeated. So, Jesus "watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightening" (Luke 10:18). but Satan’s ultimate defeat still stands in the future".

Kinda like when I read the other day a conversation… "Why don’t you just give up?" "Well because I’ve read to the end of the book, and we win!"

The Victory has already been won! Hallelujah. We’ve just gotta live as though we believe it, and do our part to usher in the new kingdom.

"Moreover, if the gospel be true, then our fundamental identity will be wrapped up in the new kingdom. Full allegiance must be given, shared with no other. There is no dual citizenship, but only complete commitment and obedience… Indeed, it is as if we have called to a holy war. Everything must now be set aside for this one calling."