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Why and How to Pray for Missionaries

October 27, 2011 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment

I have this pamphlet. I don’t remember where I got it, but I love it..

It’s called Why and How to Pray for Missionaries.

I love it because it’s prayer points are so insightful.

There is so much in it that we can not only pray for missionaries,

but for our leaders, pastors, friends, family, and ourselves.

I was so happy when I found it on line to share with you.

The link above includes a pdf file you can download.

Go check it out.

Here are a few highlights and my thoughts:

We cannot work independently

We need God. We need each other.

There is much to discourage and frustrate the missionary.

• Language Disparity

• Customs and Culture

• Unfamiliar Food

• Climate

• Lack of Results

I’ve experienced all these just moving state to state. Embracing all these

differences was so much easier in Thailand than in some of the places

I’ve lived in the US. I think partly because I expected them there and partly
because it’s so easy to remember that you have a “mission” while in a foreign country.

It is not long before we are again forced to face up to the fact of

our own sinful flesh. We then recognize afresh how human we are!

It’s rough to learn what we are really like.

So true!

Pray that the missionary will experience fellowship with God in new and satisfying ways.

Amen! Loneliness is such a struggle for me. “Moving” is such a bitter/sweet word.

Our mission is to be servants to all.

Amen. Amen.

Spiritually, there must be doctrinal stability through the study of the Bible and its
application to our daily living. Mentally, we must learn how to combat

Satan’s great tool of depression. Emotionally, we need to

strike a happy balance between becoming too calloused or too sympathetic.

Pray that the missionary will get his true identity and self-worth from

who he is in Christ and not from success or

what others think or say about him.

Pray that the missionary will have a heightened sympathy and

insight into the heart-needs of those around him. Pray, too, that he will have insight

and heavenly wisdom to know what God would have him undertake,

and how he would have him go about it.

His gracious fruit must show in our lives, or our work will accomplish nothing.

Unless we have daily communion with our Lord, the pressure will result in failure..

We must keep spiritually fresh if we are to glorify him.

Pray that God will keep the missionary in that condition of health

that will best glorify him.

We need wisdom to train and teach our children in ways well-pleasing to God

and in full accordance with his Word. Pray that both parents will be godly role models
and will do all they can to help their children develop godly self-worth.

Pray that parents may have wisdom in providing for their education.

Let’s remember to pray.

Love,

Jenny

Busy Week with Mitch and Nana

October 10, 2011 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment

I decorated for fall for the first time.

I think I am normally just too busy with school this time of year.

I bought these flowers last December at 80% off with

the intention of making a wreath. At least I got them out..

and I made the pumpkins from scratch with some found wood.

Back in in 2003, after we’d just moved to Florida, I ended up with

second degree burns on my right arm after opening this pressure

cooker while it was under pressure. I was tired, wasn’t thinking clearly,

and couldn’t find directions on how long I should cook the fresh

corn on the cob I had just bought from the vegetable stand.

We decided to make chili for Mike’s parents one night last week,

and I took some time to look up the best way to cook dried pinto beans,

because ever since I started making my chili in the crock pot

my beans had been coming out crunchy – yuck!

I found the national bean council’s suggested method for

“gas free” soaking: Wash, cover with water, boil 3 minutes,

cover, set aside over night, rinse, cook.

Then I stumbled upon a you-tube video on pressure cooking beans,

and decided to conquer my fear and try it out. It worked great!

Just 12 min. under pressure and they were done.

Way better than 2 hrs. simmering on the stove.

Can’t wait to try out some more recipes.

While the chili was simmering in the crock pot, we got to go

to an open house at Mike’s work.. first one they’ve had one in years.

All the kids had off work and Mitch and Nana had just happened to plan

their visit at the right time. It was great to learn about what all his office does.

We’d planned to pick up our favorite BBQ another night..

only to discover that Chuck Wagon was closed because they had a booth

at the 45th Annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention.

How fun. We had no idea what we’d been missing all these years.

Gatherings of fiddlers playing blue grass while dancing.. gospel singing.

Banjo, dulcimer, dobro, harmonica.. all ages.. competing for the title of

Tennessee Valley Fiddle Champion. Food, arts and crafts, perfect weather..

Can’t wait to go again next year.

Saturday we went up to Fort Payne to show Nana Little River Canyon Falls.

The weather was perfect all week.

And Fall was really starting to show it’s colors.

We took the scenic drive.

Saw some hawks.

Had a really good time.

Got a few pictures.. but the sun wasn’t especially corporative.

Sunday afternoon we had a partly cloudy day

and decided to try for a family picture.

Took a ton of pictures.. this was the last one.. somehow the last one

usually turns out to be the best one.. glad we took “one more”.

Our eyes are a little squinty.. but it’s better than last year.. we never got one.

It was great seeing Mitch and Nana. Judi won every game she played..
didn’t matter who her partner was. The boys had a couple of days
off work and it was great to get in some family time.

Talladega Trip: Favorite Part

September 28, 2011 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment

If you were to ask us what our favorite part of our trip was,

we’d probably both agree: eating – with friends, at Shakey’s Pizza,

Blue Bell ice cream, at a stake place down the road from our

time share at the Cheaha State park with a view..

Mike’s second would probably be the speedway..

My second would be photographing this mill and covered bridge..

It was just so beautiful..

(inside)

And easy to photograph..

Kymulga Grist Mill and Bridge

Mike asked..

“Why did they build covered bridges?”

Do you know the answer?

A friend told me last year..

To protect them from the elements..

Keeping the ice off them helped them last much longer.

They actually have a camp ground at this park.

And a nice trail..

Mushrooms..

So nice..

Love,

Jenny

Talladega Speedway

September 28, 2011 / Jennifer Coleman / 0 Comments

Before heading back we had to stop at the Talladega Speedway.

And visit their museum.

We saw a bunch of cars.

Including a rocket car (on my left)

that broke the sound bearer driving 739.6 mph.

Mike’s favorite..

Trying on one for size.

Then we took a private tour of the speedway.

(We were the only ones there.)

Stood in the winner’s circle.

Learned things like..

Their bleachers run a mile long…

The track banks at 31 degrees. So steep you have

drive at least 80 mph to avoid falling off.

At 2.6 miles long, it’s Nascar’s biggest race track.

Start your engines.

Talladega National Forest ~ 2

September 28, 2011 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment

On my birthday we went to Sylacauga, AL for a special treat:

a tour at a Blue Bell Creamery that ended with a big scoop of ice cream.

Mike had his standard: Mint Chocolate Chip and I tried something new:

Mocha Madness. It’s my new favorite.

There are only 3 Blue Bell creameries in the country.

This was my first factory tour. Pretty cool.

Did you know that they make 42 different flavors.

Over half they rotate through – the year.

Mike and I decided that we could never work there.

Their employees get 4 breaks a day and are allowed to grab

and eat 1/2 a gallon on each of their breaks.

We also stopped by the Comer Museum. It’s an art/history/ Jim Nabors’

museum. Jim grew up there and sang in the school and church choirs.

Wednesday we went to Cheaha State Park.

Saw a beautiful tower.

You could see for miles.

I’d like to watch an approaching storm from there someday.

I am a little obsessed with taking pictures of my little car.

It looks so at home in the forest that

I found a forest name for it.. (see end of post).

This little dear was hungry; we had nothing to feed her.
While waiting for time for our lunch we took a
hike down Bald Rock Boardwalk Trail.

and saw signs of fall.

We are so glad it’s September and the weather’s turned cooler.

What a view.

Here we are.

at Bald Rock

Here we are with the view in view.

Before leaving the park we at at the Cheaha Restaurant;
reasonably priced, great food with an awesome view.
Did I mention that were are on the highest mountain in Alabama?

Next we drove about 6 miles South to find High Falls Trial.

I’d found impressive pictures of the falls on line.
The trickle we found there was a little underwhelming.

We climbed up the side of the falls along it’s three tiers.
Lowest tier above. Middle tier below.

Then way up these stairs..

The grand finale. Maybe we should try again in the Spring.

The on-line review of the hike described it as short;

they forgot to mention steep. It’s not named “High Falls” for nothing.

Time to catch my breath.

At least it’s cool in the shade.

Loving the trees.

Did I say steep?

Some flowers along the trail.

And something that reminded me of my car.
Green and small.. but big on the inside.
“My Little Green Acorn” – does the name fit?

Talladega National Forest ~ 1

September 28, 2011 / Jennifer Coleman / 0 Comments

For my birthday week Mike took me to the

Talladega National Forest for a relaxing time away.

On our way there, we stopped at a new outlet mall

just East of Birmingham where I scored big time.

Got this new cordless tool set for $75 with tax

and some new dresses and slacks.

Saturday we went out to explore the area around a nearby lake

Gorgeous roads.

We took my car. Mike got an amazing 38 miles to the gallon one time.

It averages around 27 mpg.

It’s so cute. Doesn’t it look right at home in the woods?

Sunday we went to Montgomery to visit old friends.

and their kids

River’s Edge Church was celebrating their 6th anniversary.

Red Robbin is our favorite place in Montgomery to eat with friends.

It was great seeing everyone.

Before going back to our time share we drove an hour and a half

to Shakey’s to catch part of a football game and of course

for some of our favorite pizza, mojos and chicken.

Red Letter Labor Day

September 6, 2011 / Jennifer Coleman / 2 Comments

Where’s everyone going?

Off to work.

We are so happy all the kids got jobs.

Student unemployment is close to 30%.

Joel picked up one of Josh’s shirts by
mistake and took it to work with him once.

Luckily he had been rescheduled for a few hours
later.. so he had time to go home and switch shirts.

Don’t think they’d appreciate him wearing

a Pizza Inn shirt at Donatos.

This is Josh’s 3rd pizza place job.

His first was at Pizza Hut in FL.

Second at Hungry Howie’s in Montgomery.

He knows pizza and will eat it everyday given the chance.

They aren’t the only ones dressed in red.

Judi wears red to her lifeguarding job, too.

She’s working at a brand new YMCA about 20 min. south of us.

She loves that she gets to swim everyday.

She and James wear shorts to work.

Red is one of James’ favorite colors.

He actually wears whatever he wants to work.

No one would be able to do their job

without him running the tech department.

They are so glad to have him.

This is the first Labor Day that we’ve

celebrated where all our young adults have had jobs.

Last Labor Day none of them had one.

So thankful.

Joel’s First Day @ School/So Happy to Be Alive

August 25, 2011 / Jennifer Coleman / 2 Comments

Joel missed his turn had to come home through an unfamiliar part of town.

He stopped at what he thought was a 4 way stop sign, then took his turn to go.

The big truck didn’t stop. Joel thought fast and moved farther into

the intersection so that the back door took most of the impact.

He rode in an ambulance to the hospital for chest pains.

Next morning.. Not a scratch! Good as new! Thank you, Jesus!

And thank you, guardian angel!

We can’t always learn from our big brother’s mistakes. 🙁

Joel is sad for his car.. it only lasted 10 days.

Mom and Dad are still recovering.

Anyone know of a cheep car for sale?

I Got an Alien Soul!

August 22, 2011 / Jennifer Coleman / 3 Comments

That makes 4 cars in one summer.

Mike is now “an expert in buying cars.”

We are hoping that we are done car shopping for a while.

With five cars in the family, it was time for me

to get a smaller car with better gas mileage.

Before Joel got his car, we were filling up the van close to 3 times a week.

That was pretty rough even though we were taking turns.

It’s kinda sad saying, “Goodbye” to the mommy van. (Don’t we look sad?)

We can’t all go to church in one car now..

but with music practice and youth group we rarely do.

Next time we go camping, we’ll probably have to take 2 cars; not the first time.

The saddest part is that we’ll probably never take another long road trip with

all of us in one car.. everyone’s schedules make it near impossible.

The last time we was a couple of Christmases ago when

Josh was the only one with a job and in school.

If we’re able to work it out again one day, maybe we can rent a van.

I picked the “Alien” color so I could spot it easily in a parking lot. We think

it looks like a tree. Judi said it fit me better than the dark gray color.

I think the back end is cute. I really wanted a hatch back; this one’s seat

sits up a little higher than most cars.. I am going to miss being able to see over
everyone in the van. I am so brainwashed from having two blue KIA mini-vans.