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It is Good to Wait Quietly

May 4, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment

Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is a David vs Goliath story where a weak, poor, indebted Mexican army of 4,500 men defeated Napoleon’s mighty, invasive French army of 8,000?

I’ve recently watched a relationship between two friends go downhill because one friend loaned money to another and the one who borrowed shows no interest in repaying his debt.

Watching this relationship has shown a new light on what I went through when I was praying for or “holding out” for healing from my recent experience with breast cancer.. and surgeons.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

I realize now, that over time the idea of healing as a “promise”.. a promise not yet fulfilled for me.. caused a rift in what is normally a joyful, free, and naturally flowing relationship between the Lord and I.

John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Praying, “standing” on the “promises” in the Word, and believing for healing led to putting myself in a place were my attitude was that of a lender toward God as the borrower; acting as though God owed me the healing He’d promised.

Exodus 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

I continually find myself “doing” when God wants me to “rest” and let Him do the doing. I’ve learned to be leery of striving in the things I need to get done.. but in this case I found myself striving in believing.. in my faith. I believed I was “doing” what I was supposed to do by praying, confessing and believing.. when I should have been resting in His work.

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

I am continually relieved when I remember that my job is to rest, to trust, to worship; His is to do or not do as He sees fit.

Lamentations 3:26 It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Healing from breast cancer, healing from losing Joel.. is His job.. mine is to rest, to trust to lay it all down at His feet and know that He loves me and will do what is best for me and my loved ones in His perfect timing.

John 6:29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

The Joy Set Before Us

May 2, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment

A few pictures from 2012

Joel and Judi playing hands and foot with their cousins, Karen and Kyle.

My attempt to capture a sweet picture of Joel and Zoe’ sleeping together. Zoe woke up the moment I opened the door and spoiled my photo. Catching her on film not in a blur is a challenge. The look on Joel’s face shows that he also caught on to what I was trying to do.

Josh and Joel enjoying a little friendly competition. Love this picture.

When they weren’t working, sleeping or at school.. Josh and Joel were studying, hiking, playing guitar together or just hanging out.

Joel often helped Josh with his math homework.. Math isn’t Josh’s favorite subject.. Joel loved the challenge and was so proud that he was able to help his big brother.

This is my last photo of the three boys.. Joel was working on an English paper, Josh had just returned home from class and had something to tell Joel, James had just returned from work and had something new on his computer to show off.I love the scene.. the camaraderie between my boys.. I love that they all three chose to stay home while going to college and grow into adults together. Living, learning, playing and growing together created in them a wonderful bond.

I had a sad thought today, Joel’s birthday… I can no longer tell James or Josh to go ask “one of your brothers.” They only have one brother to go ask now.

Joel so lived and embodied this verse.. we miss him living it before us:

Philippians 2:2-4 Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

My happy thought: I had a beautiful revelation last night.. while meditating on Jesus’ description of our Heavenly Father:

Luke 15:20 So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Just a few words into the verse.. I was overwhelmed with a vision of Abba Daddy’s face..FULL of LOVE, ANTICIPATION and EAGERNESS.. the look on His face when He welcomed Joel home.

I was overcome with tears of joy.

He looks forward to His return for us and our homecoming with the same GREAT eagerness. He LONGS for us.. to embrace and kiss us… to overwhelm us with His great love.

It was that for that joy that He laid aside all of Heaven, made Himself nothing, became a servant for us and submitted Himself to endure the terrible the death on the cross. (Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 2:6-8)

We love you, Jesus!

THANK YOU!!!

Come, quickly!

His,

Jenny

Seeing Jesus through Joel’s Eyes

May 1, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 3 Comments

One of the best things I ever asked my kids to do was to pick one verse from our daily Bible devotions, copy it, then illustrate it. It takes a lot of thought (right and left brain) to accomplish. I highly recommend you try it yourself and see what Holy Spirit might teach you.

Since today is Joel’s 21st birthday, and I always knew he had a pastoral anointing. I am going to let him preach today through some of the verses he meditated on and illustrated.

A few from the Old Testament:

We spent a long time on the Tabernacle.

See the scribbles in the cloud? They are Joel’s way of illustrating God’s power.

We’d been to visit a few caves. Have you ever been in a cave with the light out?

Now that is dark… but even there God is with us.

Like the way he used candy and ice cream as temptation.. the easy road.

Our hearts are happier with Jesus on the harder road.

A verse we memorized for Thanksgiving.
Doesn’t he have nice handwriting?

New Testament Readings:

Joel’s pushing a chair up to reach the vine.

His love and power is everywhere.

Joel is wiping my tears away.

God’s face was a mystery to

Joel when he drew this one, but not now.

Revelations 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me.”

vs. 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

God in the face of Jesus.. I love that He’s sopping wet.. makes Him so human.

I think the cricket was for the locus that John ate. 🙂

Have you been guilty of trying to live on bread alone???

It’s better to go 40 days without and live on the WORD of GOD.

Have you ever wondered how Jesus knows you?

You can learn so much by illustrating your Bible readings.

Jesus’ anointing is powerful!

This one speaks volumes.

Jesus, stay with us and give us your living water.

Amen!

Let’s follow the Holy One.

Slip away and pray..

Jesus rewards those who won’t be discouraged by the crowds.

He’s a friend to sinners.. even tax collectors.

The old just can’t compare.. Law vs. Spirit.

Jesus will rescue you any day of the week.. “bah.”

No words.

.. Tears of joy.. because I know our beloved, Joel,
is so blessed to live continually in His presence..
making his home in God’s big, big house..
having the best birthday yet.

Love,

Jenny

He Doesn’t Skimp With His Traveling Companions

April 29, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment

Favorite Picture of Joel in the Smokys

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Heaven, Joel’s last day here, his first day in Heaven and Joel hiking in Heaven. I’ve found that most of my favorite pictures of Joel are of when we were hiking and really look forward to hiking in Heaven with Jesus, Joel, Mike.. anyone who will love Jesus and His creation with me.

Joel finding pleasure in surprising me.

I been thinking how odd it is that the worst night of my life thus far was the beginning of the best day in Joel’s life. It was the day Joel saw Jesus face to face.. the day Joel began to fully live.. really live the abundant life Jesus died to give us.. eternally.

God is so good!

Looking up.

Meditating on what Joel experienced the second he opened his eyes in Heaven and looking forward to experiencing what Joel experienced helps me keep reaching toward that day.

I started Joel’s last day here meditating on the Word, praying, and working on finishing a few songs the Lord had given me on my harp. Joel came over to visit with me while I played and I excitedly demonstrated for him how easy it was to play “Away in a Manger.” He replied, “Oh, yeah, I learned that one years ago.” .. so the master says to the ‘nube’. 🙂 He plays the guitar so beautifully.

That way!

I spent most of the rest of the day worshiping and praying with IHOP streaming and putting up Christmas decorations while he studied for his finals.

Around 10 AM the last of the Kinkade paintings we’d bought was delivered to our door and Joel helped me hang it in our prayer room. He was impressed with it and walked back and forth between it and our favorite Kinkade comparing their similarities.

Joel with two of his favorite cousins.

Each of the Kinkade paintings we bought are of road and/or river passing by a church or a cottage. They have an ethereal quality about them which I believe is what attracted us to them. Deep within, we all long for more than what earth can offer; we long for Jesus, for Heaven for things that sometimes seem intangible now, but will become eternally ours once He welcomes us home.


Hiking near a river in Arkansas

I created my first digital scrapbook pages in 2008. In each, I combined a photo of the kids with one of my favorite scriptures. They’ve hung in my Grandmother’s frames in three different houses now.

I used these verses with Joel’s photo because he loved to dance with all his might in worship and seeing Jesus in Heaven is something to dance about. We’ve always loved singing, “Better is one day in Your house..” and Audio Adrenaline’s ‘Big Big House.”

I am enjoying meditating on the part in the Message where it says, “He doesn’t skimp with His traveling companions.” Thoughts of traveling, hiking, up the road to our heavenly cottage, our place of worship near the River of Life where we will see Him face to face are good thoughts. He is with us always.. wherever we go.. a loving, faithful Traveling Companion.


Playing on mountain near by.

One of my all time favorite educational quotes is from a book called “Ourselves” written by Charlotte Mason. In it, she talks about Holy Spirit being our guide, our educator, in all we do.. in the “County of Mansoul” (the center of our hearts, souls, minds).

She says,

“The best treasures of the country are kept in the fairest of its buildings, in its churches, which are always open, so that people may go in and out many times a day to talk with God, and He comes and speaks with them. But, indeed, He walks about everywhere in the land, in the workshops, in the picture-galleries, and in the fields; people consult Him about everything, little things and great, and He advises about them all.”

He is so good!

After several more hours of studying for his finals, Joel came out for a breath of fresh air, stood in front of the Thomas Kinkade painting that reminds us of meeting our loved ones in Heaven and surveyed the work I was doing putting up the Christmas decorations. He was smiling, thankful, and full of longing. He said, “Normally it feels like Christmas.. but it doesn’t yet because I still have these final exams.”

Everyday in Heaven must feel like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, our birthday, Sunday worship and Jesus’ return rolled into one. Some days our earthly existence just doesn’t feel like Heaven yet. We long for it, we are thankful for the preparations our Savior is making for us; remembering them brings us joy, but we still have these final exams. Leaning on our Traveling Companion and looking forward to the day we will see Him face to face will see us through.

I Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in Heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Finding Joy in Jesus my faithful Traveling Companion through every joy and trial..

Jenny

Rock City Gardens

April 23, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 0 Comments

If you’ve ever driven through this area of the country, you have seen a ton of barns like this one.

We finished our Arboretum hike early enough that we had time

to drive up Lookout Mountain and see what the fuss was about.

It turns out that it’s aptly named. Rocks, more rocks; big rocks

with a pathway that took you through

places with names like “Needle’s Eye.”

At one point, we got turned around and ended up going the opposite way of the crowd

which in a way made it more adventuresome. Who needs maps?

While making our way up stream through the front end of

“Fat Man’s Squeeze” we unintentionally scared a bunch of people

who thought we were unable to squeeze through and had to turn around.

I think a little laughter slipped out as I explained that we’d gone the wrong way.

There were places to sit..

Beautiful trees

Gnomes hiding in caves and little fairy cities.

A wooden swaying bridge that I was happy we’d missed in our confusion.

Then the highlight was a lookout over Lover’s Leap

where it’s fabled that you can see seven states on a clear day.

Flags were hanging appropriately at half staff for the Boston Marathon victims.

Alabama’s stats.

A nice engraved stone showing where each state is for those of us who have gotten turned around.

Alabama 25 miles south and Georgia where we were standing.

South Carolina 80 miles this way

North Carolina 50 miles with the Smokys.

Seeing the Smokys stand out from this distance made me love them even more.

Kentucky and Virgina 130 miles this way

And Tennessee half a mile this way.

Proof we were there squinting into the western sun.

More walk through caves.

A tree growing between the rocks.

Maybe my favorite photo.

Rainbow hall: lined with colored windows which allow you to walk through a rainbow.

I so want to do this in my house.

High Falls.. a man made, 140 foot, water fall that flows under Lovers Leap.

Us. I tried to get the waterfall.. it’s in the very most right corner behind my shoulder.

A very beautiful day that I’d love to do over again.

Love,

Jenny

Relections on Heaven at Refection Riding Arboretum

April 23, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment

Warning: Lots of photos

Saturday after lunch, we went to the Refection Riding Arboretum

at the foot of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga.

We so enjoyed walking it’s 3 mile loop which you can drive, bike or walk.

These horses reminded me of a Canadian TV show we’ve been enjoying, Heartland.

The cool spring breeze was so refreshing.

Had to get one more with the mountain in the background. 🙂

The Arboretum has a has a level 4 rating which means

it has labled at least 120 different species of trees.

Everything is colored with missing Joel now.

We could not help thinking about how much he

would have enjoyed the hike as we walked along.

He would have loved everything about it.. the beauty, the adventure, the history, the day.

Wild hydrangeas.

As I snapped photos, I wondered if Joel and Jesus went on hikes together

and if they ever had any need for photos or scrapbooks.

One room cabin with spring feed water basin.

This cabin was dedicated to John and Margret by their grandchildren with

Psalm 19:1-3

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

Favorite flower picture.

I hear that the colors in Heaven are even more amazing than any we’ve ever seen.

These flowers were growing on a Florida Anise Tree

These mushrooms reminded me of our very first real nature walk together

at OP Schnable Park in San Antonio. The Lord so blessed us that day with tons

of different mushrooms, bees and mating garter snakes.

Pages from Joel’s Nature Journal

Joel was 10 years old.

We all took turns using our first digital camera.

Joel’s version of what the snakes were doing below. 🙂

We had to look up what kind of snakes they were

We were all amazed by God’s creation.

The one below was from a different walk at OP Schnable.

We went there often; there was so much to see

and it was an easy drive from our house.

We met our good friends, the Chagoyas, there just last May.

Back to the Arboretum..

We’ve been to St. Augustine. Glad we didn’t have to walk here from there.

Cherokee monument.

Joel so enjoyed taking nature photos.

Will I get to see all the scrapbooks he’s collected when I get there?

About halfway through our hike we came upon this rock.. it amazed me..

I took half a dozen photos and still could capture the wonder of it so I took a video.

There was water springing up from the rock.. it reminded me of the water God provided in the wilderness for the Israelites and these verses from

Revelation 21
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away,

and there is no longer any sea…3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying,

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be

His people, and God Himself will be among them,4and He will wipe away every tear from

their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying,

or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said,

“Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

I’ve wondered many times how spending time with Jesus will work in Heaven.

Will thousands of others be sharing my long, quiet walk with Jesus?

In Revelation 21:22 John says,

“I did not see a temple in the city, because

the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”

I was glad when I read in Anne Graham Lotz book, Heaven My Father’s House, last night

that I wasn’t the only one who’d wondered.. and who’d selfishly not wanted to give up

the wonderful, intimate, daily, individual, fellowship that we enjoy with Him now.

Anne believes that “There will be no place in Heaven

where God is not physically, actually present!

Because He is omnipresent,

He will live fully and completely with me every moment,

as though I were the only resident of Heaven!

And He will live every moment fully and completely with

you as though you were the only resident of Heaven!

What a wonderful place Heaven will be!”

Mike noticed, while on our hike, that sometimes the path would disappear beneath

the forest overgrowth and we would have to look up ahead to find where to go next.


Mike at edge of a bamboo forest.

He said that in life we can get so focused on the here and now

that we feel lost and have to look up to find eternal perspective again.

Beekeeper hives center right.

I’ve been meditating on Colossians 3:1-4 lately.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above,

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above,

not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

I meditated on it before.. to keep myself in check that I didn’t love earthly things too much;

now because earthly things are too unbearable.

Mike’s view.

My view.

Wild flowers and dandelions.

Yet another view.. what’s that in the distance?

Turtles enjoying the sun.

So nice to take time and listen to the heavens

and the earth declaring God’s glory.

Dogwood tree.

And for a grand finale an Azalea bush.

Looking up,

Jenny

Celtic Women in Concert

April 23, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 0 Comments

Mike and I had a very nice time away this weekend. He took me to see Celtic Women in concert Friday night in Chattanooga. He’d surprised me with tickets for Valentine’s Day.

It was so sweet of him. Celtic music is my favorite.

I love the clogging, the bagpipes, all the stringed instruments; it’s all so beautiful.

The stage was beautiful. We had good seats. The singers were very jovial

which made the show all the more enjoyable. The way the violinist danced and

especially twirled around while she played was amazing.

The climax of the show for me was when they played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

I found a youtube video.. but it’s just not the same as being there.

They sang some sad songs: “O, Danny Boy,” of course, “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Mes

(I had to find my tissues). Then towards the end they sang, “The Parting Glass.”

I could just see Joel up on stage dancing around, smiling, lifting a cup of joy to us.

He loves to dance and is always smiling.. and I know his cup is overflowing with joy.

Of all the comrades that e’er I had

They’re sorry for my going away

And all the sweethearts that e’er I had

They’d wish me one more day to stay

But since it fell unto my lot

That I should rise and you should not

I gently rise and softly call

Good night and joy be to you all

Warning: cute video of Joel playing freeze dance with all the girls at
Judi’s 10th birthday party.

James is playing the part of the dizzying
camera guy.

Spring Has Come and Zoe’s on the Run

April 21, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment

I took these photos of our tree shortly after we returned from our Spring Break trips.

I didn’t remember it flowering before, but I did remember the helicopter seeds.

I loved playing with those as a girl.

Not sure I am going to enjoy cleaning them up as this tree matures.

It’s kinda a new tree.. our first tree died in the April 2011 tornadoes.

Josh and Joel helped Mike plant this one. 🙂

It’s a Shantung Maple. We bought it expecting red fall foliage. We got yellow.

Zoe, turned her head the second I snapped this picture.

Something caught her eye and she’s ready to run.

She has managed to get through a door and run off

through the neighborhood several times in the last few weeks.

So thankful that she hasn’t been hit by a car.

Love,

Jenny

Spring Break Photos Part 2

April 17, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 0 Comments

Lake by our tent at sunset

We got home from Pigeon Forge, unpacked then repacked for

camping Thursday morning with Josh and Patrick.

Our tent.. Josh and Patrick ruffed it along a river.. no electricity or bathrooms. I like hot showers.

The National Forest was beautiful and only 1.5 hours from our house..

so we hope to go back sometime.

The river was REALLY nice.. clear.. beautiful.

First of many waterfalls.

You can see the river bed.

My very own Texas Cow Boy.

We read that there are over 100 water falls along these canyon walls.


We didn’t get pictures of the boys.. most of the time they were off on their own..


While we were hiking this trail they were running off the road while messing with their GPS getting a flat tire. We had no cell service so they were unable to reach us for help. :-/

Spring Break Photos Part 1

April 17, 2013 / Jennifer Coleman / 1 Comment


Yum Fudruckers

Judi, Miranda and James on the left. Rebekah, Nichole and Mike on the right.

Girls in Judi’s car following us bumper to bumper (the norm) in Pigeon Forge.

Our view Sunday evening.

Our view Tuesday morning after 2 days of snow.

Making snow balls.

4 inches of snow on the cars.

Which ball is smaller?

I think this one is.

Our snow person.

Our tongues keep popping out to catch snowflakes..

Mountain at the end of our road.

Friendly horses in Cade’s Cove

Cheese!

The church choir.

It was a little muddy..

James was computing while climbing the mud slide and slid himself.. ipad survived the mud. Judi said, “I have a towel you can use in my trunk.” James asked, “Where is that?” Judi, “Attached to the back of my car.” James wouldn’t budge.. do involved in making sure his ipad was okay. Judi was so great that she marched down, got the towel and gave it to him… while the girls and I laughed at James for falling in the mud and took pictures.