Open The Boxes

This post will consist of some status updates from our recent move to CT as well as some insightful thinking. So please, read on. As I sit and type this, I am sitting on my oh-so-comfy king size bed. Yay!
Our moving company pulled out of our driveway on July 2nd and arrived with our home-in-boxes on July 11th!! I expected it to take them a few days, but was not anticipating 9 days. My goodness. We did plan ahead and packed suitcases (swimsuits, thank goodness), toiletries, underwear and air mattresses. So we were "camping" kind of, the first week being our new home. The kids loved it of course. Lots of time at the pool and exploring our new city, paper plates, plastic forks and spoons, lots of sandwich meat and cereal, a make-shift trash can, laundry-mat every other day and fun times eating out! I have to say, it was simplistic. Once we finished complaining, it wasn't too bad. Haha.

Well, we have now gone from that scene to the BOX scene. Those of you who have moved recently (or ever) know it well. Boxes, boxes everywhere. We are unpacking one thing at a time and all of our things are finding their new place in our new home. It's so great how the Lord reminds me of things through everyday routine...As I have gone though the boxes unpacking, I have found myself making a mental note several times. It says "nah, I don't want to have to deal with unpacking that/those yet, I will move on to something else and come back to that one". About there is when the Holy Spirit kicks in and says "That'll preach!" Wow. How many times do we do that in our own lives? We have these boxes in our hearts and our minds. You know the ones I am talking about, yours are probably different or even perhaps the same as mine. The boxes contain the things we don't want to or don't like to deal with. They often contain hurt, disappointment or regret. When our mind goes down that path and the Lord starts to push us to open them up, our emotional reflexes close them quickly. The truth is that order and healing cannot take place until we have opened those boxes and allowed our Abba Father to help us deal with their contents. Furthermore, a cluttered heart and a messy mind cannot be used to their full potential. God has a purpose for your life. He needs you to play for His team and you need Him to play for yours. His desire for you is not mediocre life, it isn't middle-of-the-road mentality. His desire for you is life more abundantly (John 10:10). He wants to help you deal with whatever you might have in your boxes. He knows what's in them already. Some things may be easy to unpack, some may take some time. So, I encourage you to finish reading this blog and then take a few minutes to just be quiet before the Lord and search your heart. Let Him show you the boxes you are avoiding opening. They may be from last year, they may be from your childhood. Let Him help you open them. Let Him help you heal. Let Him help you forgive. As you do, I promise that with the help of the Creator of the Universe, more things will find their place, you will unlock your potential, you will accelerate your destiny.

If you would like to share about your boxes, I would love to pray for you. You can always email me personally   proverbs31qt@hotmail.com.

WOW

WOW! < I have heard that reply from almost everyone that I have shared our moving news with recently. Wow, that's awesome. Wow, that's huge. Wow, that's far. Wow, what about your Mom? Wow, the snow. Wow, when can I come visit? Haha.
The thing is, that has been my exact response to God. Wow, God. Look at you just work things out. The ringtone on my phone right now is "Your Love Never Fails" and I love the bridge where the truth of Romans meets a really catchy melody and reminds me that "You make all things work together for my good". He does. You can imagine all the details that had to fall into place for us to be on track to pull out with the moving truck on July 1st. I am so thankful that my BIG God who opens doors and closes doors also cares about every little detail. From selling our home and truck to adopting out our sweet St.Bernard, God cares about every detail. A few of the details have already fallen into place and a few of them will do so in the near future.
As you read this today, be encouraged that the maker of the stars also cares about every detail of your life. Be reminded that you are only here and able to read this because of His grace and mercy. Just like you, I am clinging to His word that He will work all things together for my good. Lord knows, I would worry night and day about all these little things if I let myself. AND, it is much easier to sing those lyrics when you are in the season where all the details are worked out. Hanging on to that promise when many details are not yet worked out, or have not been worked out in alignment with our comfort zones...now that is a different story. So that is where I sit as I type these words. Thankful in my heart for all the things he has already worked out (like us getting the home we originally liked best in CT) and expectant for all the things He is working on already that I cannot see yet. We serve an amazing Savior, He is bigger than our IF?'s, our WHY?'s and our HOW?'s. Trusting in Him is what brings us peace and having that trust when we cannot see is what we call faith. (Hebrews 11:1)

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Lewis Family News

I love how God changes seasons in His perfect timing. He always does; and knowing He is in control of every detail of every season is what blankets life with His peace that passes all understanding.
Okay! So we know I am blogging about season change....but what is the news? Keep reading.

When I was 15 years old, I had the opportunity to visit New York City on a journalism trip with school. At the time, I was just excited to travel somewhere new with my friends. Little did I know, while I was there (looking up at the tall buildings and sticking out as a tourist), God would plant a passion in my heart that would begin a thread in the tapestry of my marriage, motherhood and ministry. This city that never sleeps became (in a matter of about 2 hours) my favorite place on earth. It is with a smile on my face that I would like to share with you. After much prayer and fasting, Chris and I have accepted a ministry opportunity as campus pastors of Faith Church NYC, just off Times Square in New York City! With our launch service approaching quickly in August, our family will be moving the first week in July. We are beyond excited. Of course, our excitement is bittersweet. We will miss our family, friends and I will miss my Chic-fil-a; but what a mission field! We are stoked to be his hands and feet to reach His kids in my favorite place ever.

We will be having a friends and family bash of sorts, in June. Details and RSVP information will be posted on facebook and anyone not on FB will be contacted via email. Thank you all for your prayers as we transition in to this new season of our ministry. Feel free to inbox me with questions and such. I will be blogging again soon about other details and the kids response to the news. Love each of you!

By His Grace,
Jessica

Practice Does Not Make Perfect

Isn't that what we are told in school, sports and life? Practice makes perfect!!?? Somehow, I think we have been set up. In reality, there is no such thing as perfect. Not on this earth anyway. Thanks to this hunt for perfection, we have an indebted society who continues to buy beyond their means because they think material gain somehow gets them closer to this unattainable perfection. Teenager girls battle this huge identity crisis because the perfectionistic ideals are blasted at them from every angle through social media. Teens feel they are never good enough; many of them end up in this twisted warp that if they can't be good enough they maybe they can somehow be bad enough. They turn to sex, drugs, porn, alcohol......and the list goes on. Adults seek perfection too, we can have the perfect amount of energy with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, a wrinkle free face with cosmetic surgery, politicians can even sell the perfect lie with enough money! Well, I would like to shed some light on this "perfect" situation. Money cannot buy perfection and even if it could.....you couldn't see it. Perfection is something that is on the inside. Isaiah 23:6 (NIV) says "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Jesus is perfect and when He lives on the inside of you, He brings His perfect peace that passes all understanding. No matter what you drive, how many scars you have, what life looks like on the outside for you right now........ His perfect peace is available to you. You can't buy it, it can only be downloaded from its main source. Trust in the Lord, put your faith in Him. He wants you to sleep well at night, He wants to take your anxiety and your worries. His yolk is easy and His burden is light and he wants you to cast your cares upon Him today. Do we trust that He really can take care of things. Or do we only want Him to step in once we have tried to handle life ourself and realize we are in a bail-out situation?
Our perception of perfect is twisted. God made us perfect, perfectly designed for what He has called us to do. What we think of as perfect is twistedly different from what God intended as perfect. He made you just the way you are. Love yourself more today. Love Jesus more today!
And go to sleep with His perfect peace in your heart tonight knowing that one day soon your bills won't matter, your to-do list won't matter, your social status won't matter, your dirty dishes won't matter. One day soon we will stand before the Perfect One and all that will matter is His message of Salvation, Hope and Peace and what we did with it while we were blessed to be here.

All of life comes down to just one thing. To know you oh Jesus and make you known.

Peace Out,
Jessica

For The Wives

As backward as it sounds, my busy life is what has inspired this posting. If you are a wife, or ever plan on being one, please read on and make a mental post it note :) First let me just say that life has always been busy for me. And now that I am a full time wife, mother, pastors wife, childrens pastor, business owner, daughter, sister, aunt and friend................I am busier than ever. We all are. The demands of each of our lives take a toll on our marriages, our schedules and our families. Today as I write I am thankful of what I have been taught over the years, about life and priorities. I want to share one of those secrets with you. It's something I have know, but that the Lord has poured out fresh in my spirit in the midst of my busyness lately. Ladies, take care of you husbands. No matter how busy I am, I always make sure to include time for those little things that I know Chris likes. Although your husband is a grown man (well, most of them anyway) and he is the provider, he is really a 7 year old inside who wants to be taken care of. Too often we are too tired, or selfish to go out of our way to do something we know he appreciates. When it's for the kids, or ladies book club or our other social agendas, we find the time and fake the energy. But we know our husbands love us unconditionally and they often get the short end. The results you will see when you respect your husband unconditionally and start to do romantic little things for him like you did when you were dating.....you will be amazed. He needs and deserves to be taken care of. Like it or not, your marriage should come before your children. And you have the power to take the first steps to make it that way. Everyone has their long strungout opinion of the John and Kate Plus 8 drama. But in their own words they have said that everything they do is for their kids. Ladies, love your husbands. Even though you're exhausted, go out of your way to let him know he is loved and well taken care of.
And here is what I want you to take away from reading this.............Life gets crazy and sometimes we need a break, we need help. And that is ok. However----if another female is helping take care of your kids, its called baby-sitting. But if another female is helping take care of your husband, its called adultery!
I am thankful that I know what I know at my age and have had the opportunity for women and God to pour these truths into me. I am so thankful for the awesome marriage I have with my husband. He is my soulmate and best friend!

Mammaw

It's been a hard week. A week ago tomorrow, the hospice nurse gave my Mammaw hours to live. And Saturday night a little after 7pm, she took her last breath and went Home to be with Jesus. She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer almost 4 1/2 years ago. It was a miracle for her to make it this long. She even worked full time at Emory Eastside Hospital up until this February. Now her time on this earth is over and she is no longer in pain. God is good, He is helping my family through this very difficult time. A heartfelt thanks to those of you who have prayed, sent cards and food.
It was hard as I sat next to my Mammaw during her last few days and hours. Her kidneys were failing her and although she was in and out she knew we were there and she was sure of where she was going. I will always remember watching her frail right hand as she stroked the pillow beside her and told us she saw Jesus's face. I am still kind of in a state of shock in realizing that she is really gone. I can't imagine how people deal with the death of a loved one when the family does not have the Lord to cling to. I don't know how I would have gotten through the past 6 days without God, my Rock.
I wanted to write this blog as somewhat of an update to those of you who have been praying for my family. You're prayers are felt. I'm sure I may end up including more about my sweet Mammaw in future postings. Feel free to follow my blog and post your comments. God Bless!

Girls Night Out

I began to write some of this in the 'description' section of the GNO event. After a couple paragraphs, a wave of wisdom came and I decided it was too long for a description, haha. This post it to my GNO ladies and ladies in general. Let's just be honest. As busy women of today's society, we just don't take care of ourselves. I mean, there are days when I can hardly find time to take a potty break. Y'all know what I mean. We always seem to fall last on the list. And as you well know, most things that are last on the list....we never get to. I want to see women get back to the days of REAL friendship. Now, will things ever be the same as they were in your parents generation? Absolutely not. We live in a much different and ever-changing society. But does that mean we should never make "me" time and always put ourselves last? No way. In today's world, we keep up with our girlfriends via Facebook, Myspace, phone calls and texts. For whatever reason, we have lost the intimacy of true friendship. Some of us like it better that way. Maybe you have been hurt by a friend or family member you trusted and held close to your heart. It is easier these days to keep our friends as close as we want through electronics and not share our lives and hearts. We're less vulnerable that way. You can agree with me or not, but there is nothing that replaces a genuine hug from a friend when you're world is falling to pieces. No wall posting or text can replace having a girlfriend who loves you just like you are and understands you. To have a friend who sticks by you when you can go shopping and when you're too broke to go shopping and hardly have money to even gas up for a trip to the mall. To have a friend who knows you aren't perfect and doesn't care how many piles of laundry are waiting to be done at your house.
The Lord placed a vision of Girls Night Out in my heart for many of these reasons. Many social clubs, families and churches have similar events. But I want Ladies to come to our Girls Night Out and know that they will be accepted and not judged. They will be welcomed and loved, just like they are. Many women have completly shut off from friendship that goes past a social event to which they wear their "everything is okay" mask. The truth is, sometimes everything is not okay and you need people you can reach out to. You need women in your lives, girlfriends who can pick you up when you're down. Real friendship. Now, some of you will read this and say "no thank you, I am fine in my world of emails and texts", but for those of you who could use a Girls Night Out with ladies just like you, who will accept you no matter if you are sporting Prada or Faded Glory....please come join us. And if you need a new friend to talk with, or have coffee with. Someone who will love you unconditionally and encourage you. I want to be that friend. Get in touch with me and we'll chat or meet up and hang out. God has called me to love people. It is what I do every day that I live.
And on a last note, start making time for yourself. Buy a cheap foot scrub and soak your feet one night a week while you watch your favorite show. Do any of us really have time to sit and soak our feet? Probably not, we all have super long lists of to-do's. But, you are worth it. And when you start your day knowing you have a purpose and knowing how much you are worth...you get more done and are mory effective. Ask me how I know. Okay, I better wrap this up. It could become really really long! Take a minute to leave me a comment. And if you're in the area join us for our next GNO! I'll look forward to seeing you there.