What is your purpose in life?

I don’t want to be famous. I just want to speak life over people’s walks with God. I want to motivate others to hunger after God to the point they keep showing up to pray and read their Bibles so that can hear God and learn the joy and excitement of living a spirit-led life.

Most people I know who have made huge mistakes or been victims, they or the people involved were truly NOT being spirit-led; regardless of their label “Christian”, “church leader”, etc. God never leads people down a path that is destructive to themselves or others.

Hence why I am such a proponent and encourager for people to figure out what is it is to live a devotional life. A life of simple and pure devotion to Christ! (Check out 2 Corinthians 11:3.)

This is the purpose of my life (I'm pretty sure). To encourage you, motivate you, inspire you to pursue God with your whole heart and being, daily, so that you are living at the center of His will and you fulfill your purpose in life.

LUKEWARM - What is it by definition?

You know you're a nerd when you have fun working on a 75 page paper....

Here's a little excerpt....

"Consider what ‘lukewarm’ in the Greek means, the word in which God describes the church of Laodicea in the Book of Revelation lukewarm is chliaros in the Greek, which means, “ the condition of the soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor and a fervor of love.”  Further definition is needed. Torpor is defined as sluggish inactivity, lethargic indifference, apathy, and dormancy; fervor on the other hand is intense heat, passion, and zeal."

Attempting to make this fit as part of my worldview, and will feel like I need to find a way later to refer back to it later when I pose the need for greater discipleship.

Why is this fun? Because it is confirming...no longer do I take offense when people try to criticize me and say that I am too passionate for Jesus...really, according to these definitions can one really be too passionate? Funny how a critical opinion can be received as an affirming compliment.

I was born for such a time as this, to be open and transparent about my faith to serve as an encourager to those who do not want to live the lukewarm life, but find acceptance for their zealous pursuit of the Lord.

It's OK to love God above all....really, it is!

Late night prayer...

Up late reflecting, venting on the page.
Wondering and wandering with my thoughts.

My pen meets the paper and the ink begins to pour,
All of my random thoughts that explain why I'm awake....

And so this becomes my late night prayer to enter into His peace.
Where I can quite my mind enough to go to sleep...

"God, please don't ever leave me -
You alone are all I have...
Who will see me through this life of mine.

Life pulls and tugs,
And beneath the hugs,
Are hidden guilt and continual fear.

Over what I did not manage to do,
Over what I cannot really do.

I try to grin to hide the anxiousness,
Put on a smile and call it happiness.

I'm not ashamed of admitting my weaknesses,
Or being honest about the truth of me.

Because within my soul and heart,
Live two parts.
One part me.
And one part Jesus.

And it is only because of who He is,
That I am able to endure who I am."

- Jennifer Morin 6/14/2012, 10:30 p.m.

G'night....

Danger of Comparisons

Most of us do this or say this right?

• "Well, I'm not as bad as so & so?"
• "At least I don't spend as much as so & so's wife."
• "I would never be like so & so."
• "I don't drink as much as so & so."
• "I serve way more than so & so."

Comparisons. We live our lives daily, comparing ourselves to 'so & so', all the while we try to keep up with the Joneses. Right?

Here's the danger: You're not living to your personal best, your personal potential if your eyes are on everyone else.

Another danger: You live in denial of the areas you really need to improve in, since 'you're doing so much better than everyone else'.

When you are feeling holier than thou, better than others, superior above others, read the Book of Proverbs, read Ecclesiastes. Let the Word rebuke you in your pride and let light shine in the areas in YOUR LIFE that need improvement.

This isn't to condemn you at all. This is to admonish you and encourage you to take your eyes off everyone else and put them on you so that you really can become everything that God is calling you to be.

See, 'so & so's' assignment from above is very different from yours. Their calling, their gifts, talents, and experience are all different from yours, so how can you really compare yourself to them?

God knows the plans He has for you....YOU!

If you want to compare yourself to someone, compare yourself to Jesus. Let that sober you and set the standard to live by. And go by God's opinion of you - let your confidence rest in who God says you are. Not 'so & so'. You are accountable to God - let Him be your standard and set your standard. This will put you on the path that will lead you to where YOU are supposed be - at the end of your life!

10 Years Ago, today - My Day of Salvation

TODAY IS OCTOBER 14, 2011 - It is a significant day for me!

Today marks an anniversary for me. Ten years ago today, I gave my life to Lord at a Billy Graham crusade.

And it has been the most amazing 10 years of my life.

Just the other day, I noted on a friend's FB page that my wedding day was the 2nd most amazing day of my life...my first son's birth was the 3rd, and my second son's birth was the 4th.

The #1 day of my life was the day I heard of the love of Jesus & His offer of free salvation to me.

October 14, 2001 was a Sunday. I was a realtor at the time. And on that Sunday, I had an open house from 1-4 p.m. I remember it was a huge, gorgeous, custom-built home on Jill Jean Ave. off Norris. Gorgeous neighborhood of custom built homes. There was no reason why this home shouldn't have sold that day, except for the fact that I had to leave Bakersfield at 4:30 p.m. to make it to Fresno for the Billy Graham Crusade event start at 7 p.m...And I had a divine appt. w/ God. I took my friend/hairdresser Rachel w/ me. (BTW - she has witnessed numerous things in my spiritual walk, it's as tho' she is my ordained witness to God's hand in my life).

Now while I 'raised my hand in a church service' numerous times the summer proceeding this road trip, nothing really happened. My hand-raising was more agreement that my life needed to change...but I still lacked knowledge of who Christ was & the importance of His death on the cross, the power of His resurrection, and the role of the Holy Spirit in my life.  That summer, my hand-raising was more out of emotion, and not necessarily an understanding of salvation and Jesus Christ. I understand why change never took place until this night w/ Billy Graham.

That night at the BG event, Billy spoke of the love of Christ. I mean the deep love and acceptance Christ has for us. Now, if you knew anything about me from childhood & up....that was what I always longed & yearned for: unconditional love & acceptance.

Then Mr. Graham went on to explain what sin in my life was doing. And boy, at this time of my life from 2000-2001 - boy, did I have sin....multiple ones. The summer of 2001, wow, I think I tipped the scale w/ all my partying and 'relationships'. I was in need of a Savior for sure!

That night, he didn't just ask us to raise our hands, he said come down to the football field (as we were in Fresno State's football stadium). And I told my friend, "I gotta go down there"!

Raised my hands -
Finally fully surrendered
to the LORD!

Once I got down to the football field (from all the way at the top of the seats in the stadium), I raised my hands high during the prayer, and this time - I meant it. I fully understood what the sin in my life was doing, I fully understood what Jesus Christ did on the cross, I fully understood that if I wanted to go to heaven, I needed Jesus...and I fully understood that the Holy Spirit would change me from the inside out. I was finally at the place of understanding & was fully embracing all that God was, is, and would do in me.

That was the best night of my life. However, while I meant every word I said, I did not go from party animal to angel overnight. Overtime, however, all the things I thought were fun (like drugs & alcohol) lost their appeal (the power of conviction)...and I began my walk with the Lord. Despite drinking on the weekends, I still made it to church (yes, w/a hangover sometimes). But as I told one of my friends, "If I stop going to church....then I'll never stop drinking". (And I'm not talking one drink on a Friday night...I mean, drinking from 8 p.m. - 3 a.m. on Friday & Saturdays...and 2+ on the weeknights).

I did not 'get right & then start going to church'. I realized that the information at church would help me pursue God with greater ambition. I continued to learn about the Bible. And of course, I showed up in time to worship the Lord and sing to Him. I was so zealous to extend my worship and love to Jesus. All that He forgave me for, all that He was doing in my life, and all that He would continue to do....it all deserved my praise and worship. He is amazing!

I quickly learned at church to walk with God included: a prayer life, time in the Word, church attendance, serving others w/ the love of God, and depending on HIM daily.

Although, I am still no where near perfect...I am so grateful that looking back over the last 10 years, I stayed on the path set before me. I have not, for one season, gone back to the 'old life'. I did everything I could to get out of the club scene (in fact, relocated out of Bakersfield for a season).

Now, I stay in the Word, I stay accountable to my God-loving friends, and stay in a place of thanking and worshipping Christ for the life He saved me from.

To read my testimony that was published in a Billy Graham Decision magazine, click here:
http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage.asp?articleid=440

I am celebrating my 10 years with Lord today.

I'm in awe of where He brought me from...

and now where He is taking me!

Have a fantastic Friday!

What is your most common sickness? You're Prescription is in!

Last weekend, I was so sick. I was coughing 2-3 hrs./night (and I'm not asthmatic). By last Sunday, when I'd cough, my chest was burning. I was exhausted, no energy, yet the days before - despite my sickness, I just kept working out (not wise of me at all). I worked through the headaches and congestion, thinking I would 'just get better on my own'.

Finally, after 5 nights of interrupted sleep from the cough, I finally waved the white "I surrender" flag, and went into Kaiser on Monday morning first thing. (Who cares if it was a holiday, I could not last another day or night with this cough and pain.)

Get examined, everything checked, everything listened to. Diagnosis: Sinus Infection and Brochitis. Ugh! No wonder I was so miserable. However, I figured this would be the diagnosis, because this is always my diagnosis. In the 4 times I've been sick in the last 6 years, it's always been sinus infection...obviously I waited too long to see the doc. But I am so prone to sinus infections. When I leave my allergies unchecked, or a cold takes awhile to leave, a sinus infection is around the corner.

Obviously, I need to take better care of myself in this area since I am so vulnerable here. Get comfortable with the Netti Pot, right? I know.

But let's apply this entire scenario to the sin in our lives. There is a sin that so easily entangles us. You know the one. The one that is so easily to fall into, the one you are so vulnerable to.

Personally, I know the ones that are so easy for me to get entangled in. They are very black & white ones. Unlike missing the symptoms of my sinus infection, I don't miss the thoughts and actions that lead up to those sins. Luckily my little 'spiritual radar' starts beeping when I am headed the wrong direction.

I've ignored that beep a few times, and I can hear the siren going off to back up out of the danger zone. Luckily, I listen to that one most of the time. But there have been times that I've let words pass my lips and BAM! I blow it! I hate that feeling that follows, don't you? Why do we do that to ourselves?

The key is at the first sign of your 'symptoms' (when the radar is beeping with warning), we need to be proactive right then! This is what I know works for me when headed toward sin:

1. Pray for forgiveness for the thoughts/words/consideration of doing what I shouldn't do.
2. Ask God to give me strength to not even entertain the thoughts and get out of the situation.
3. And then, I try super hard to: avoid the things, people, conversations that derails my thoughts.

We've got to be proactive and recognize our vulnerabilities so that we can guard our hearts and be of sober mind. Especially when the 'potentially derailing situation' presents itself. When we're not proactive, when we don't recognize our vulnerabilities, we fall prey to our weaknesses. And then it's too late.

Like me losing sleep for 5 nights, some have lost their homes, families, jobs because they ignored the symptoms of their sin.

You're Prescription is ready!

In all areas in life, we have to remain proactive, constantly going to the Chief Doctor for the 'Scripture Prescription'! God has the strength to give you, the wisdom to apply, and the help you need in times of trouble. Go to HIM a.s.a.p. Don't wait until the inward sin has moved outward! Avoid the sabotaging effects of sin by going to the One who will help you with your vulnerabilities & weaknesses!