j simon

Great Day at Lunch

I told ya I'd have a blog post Thursday on two people and "done". I'm gonna bring ya that tomorrow instead.

I had lunch with a friend today. I have only known her a few months. I met her when we did some business together. She's not much of a church person. She's a good human. A rare human. She is also facing some tough stuff in her life. You would never know it. She is doing it with strength, style and grace. She is going through some surgery next week. Say a prayer for her. I wont tell you her name, just pray for "Simon's friend". God will know who you're talking about. I told him you'd be calling.

Today at lunch we had a God talk. I told her about my faith. I wasn't selling or evangelizing. Just an honest talk about my relationship with my God and why I love and trust Him. 

It was cool. I wasn't "a pastor doing recruiting" or "doing my job". I was just a photographer guy talking with a friend about my Father. After telling her about my awesome God... I think I have loved him more this afternoon.

This old song has been floating through my brain all afternoon.

All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

blessings, joy and peace
jess

  

The 7 Observations from Sunday @ The Ridge

For those who have been asking about getting a copy of the 7 Observations from my talk Sunday, here they are.

If you were not at The Ridge on Sunday, the back story is this. 1 Kings 17:1-8. Elijah was sent by God to the brook. The brook gave him exactly what he needed for an extended period of time. Then the unthinkable happened… the brook dried up.

I hate it when that happens!! Not literal brooks...I mean when relational brooks dry up ... vocational brooks dry up ... emotional brooks dry up... financial brooks dry up. When what once was a roaring flow of essential life nourishment begins to slow to a trickle, and then gets muddy, then gets dusty. And we look at God and say “What the heck are you thinking?!!!!”

You are too spiritual to ever question God but I do occasionally. As a matter of fact, many times God and I just disagree. I understand He is God and I am not but I don’t always like what He does. And, I really don’t care for some of the stuff He calls me to do at times. That “love and forgive those that hurt you” thing He tells me to do… I’m not a fan. If I were God I wouldn’t have said that.  :)

I have learned that trusting God is all about when we disagree on a course of action. It is in those times I learn if I am trusting Him or me. And, it is in those times I learn it is ALWAYS better to trust HIM.

The 7 Observations from Sunday:

1. Yesterday’s right answer is not necessarily today’s right answer.

God lead Elijah to the brook but he didn’t intend for it to be his permanent landing spot. I know many who are still stuck living the right answer to yesterday’s question. They are committed to it because they are confident it was the right answer. They are right… key word… WAS! Brook is now dried up! Time to move on Ethel!

2. God’s direction always includes his provision.

3. Seasons of change are painful and frightening. Remember, they aren’t conclusions, just transitions.

God wasn’t done with Elijah and he is not done with you. It seems fatal and final when brooks dry up. It’s not. It’s just time for a new season.

4. Be as willing to be obscure as to be prominent.

Everything in God’s creation has a dormant season. Including you. Dormant seasons seem like dead seasons to the untrained eye. Many pick up the leaves that are falling off, paint them green, tape them back on and declare that they are living in victory! Bull! (I can say that now that I am not a pastor.) Dormant seasons are better lived when you accept both words. Dormant: it’s true, I am not at my best and most beautiful right now. Season: seasons are temporary. The Fall is inevitable but Spring is coming. Give it time.

5. The God who gives the supply also removes the supply. Blessed be the name of the Supplier.

6. Trust God for the PRESENT season.

7. Your dried up brook may not be a sign of failure, but completion.

Elijah, Hoss, this project is done. How cool! Heck, my world is full of started, procrastinated, considering, paused, in progress but rarely DONE. Wouldn’t it be cool to say at the end of your day that your project is done? Wouldn’t it be cool to say done at the end of your week? Month? Year? What if at the end of your life you could say, done? I know two people who can. More on that on Thursday’s blog. Very cool stuff. See ya then.

It's Freaky Friday Baby!!!

Hey kids. I am speaking this Sunday at The Ridge while Don continues his honeymoon in Italy. Poor guy. He has no privileges. :)

Ya know, Don has become one of the people I love and admire most. He has become my close friend. He has made his share of mistakes but even those contribute to making him the person he has become. And, last time I checked we have all made a few mistakes in life. His love for God is genuine. He is a prayer and faith giant! He is relentlessly positive and hopeful! He is already a phenomenal leader! His passion for The Word and desire to help others is so strong. I am ready for him to return. He is gonna be a world class pastor!

In the mean time, I do have a small problem. I have had a crazy busy week and I have no clue what I am gonna say Sunday. I must get ready ... so I must get quiet. The quality of what I have to say rises in direct proportion to the amount of time I spend in silence and solitude before I go talk.

I am notifying all my peeps that I am gonna be very silent and absent the next 2 days. (“peeps” is street slang for people close to me. It makes me sound very cool when I use it. Also gives me street cred in my hood) I will be turning off my phone for long periods, so I may not answer calls or return text. Please leave me a voice mail if it’s important, but ya probably won’t hear back from me till Sunday afternoon or Monday.  

Pray for me that God will give me peace, clarity and words that bring His wisdom to His People. 

And one more thing. Please people… do all you can to put a stop to the incessant questioning of the chicken's motive for crossing the dang road. Just freakin' leave it be! Enough is enough!! _^*

blessings, joy and peace
jess

·        _^* Givin' credit to my friend Scott Davis for the chicken and road rant. He is one funny human. You can follow him on twitter @sdministry or check him out online at www.scottdavis.org 


 

Simone Goes Home

Simone went home from the hospital today!!!

Thank you Father that she is better. Thank you all for your prayers.

This is Simone sleeping tonight on her daddy's lap taken from his iPhone.

 

This picture is taken from Nana's Blackberry. She is staying close to her baby and been helping make sure she is well taken care of very. Way to go Nana! You rock!



We are very blessed!

 

Words I Like

Pain is inevitable.

Misery is optional!

Joy and peace must be pursued.

Simone Update- Wednesday Evening

Well, the little Simone girl is improving, but she just isn't eating enough to go home yet.

She is still getting IV fluids. She seems a little stronger today than yesterday, but she gets tired while trying to eat and decides to go to sleep instead.

The elephant on her head is the work of her father. It isn't part of the medical treatment. :)

Josh and Tiffani are amazing humans and awesome parents. They are tired... but doing relatively well. Thank you for your prayer support for them. Please keep praying for them and our baby Simone.

Keli has stayed at the hospital the past couple of nights and is being a HUGE help to Josh, Tiffani and baby Simone. Keep her in your prayers as well.

Thank you all for your encouragement to our family. We are very blessed!

Tuesday Afternoon- Simone Update & Other Stuff

Hello friends, countrymen, countrywomen and random others.

Simone is improving. She also has an ear infection, so she is continuing to take antibiotics. She still isn't eating well and it is up in the air if she will get to go home tonight. Overall, things are MUCH improved and we are grateful!

It occurred to me yesterday that neither of my girls ever had an overnight stay in a hospital while they were growing up. We had a few ER trips that lasted into the wee hours but neither of our children ever had to be hospitalized.

Cooks Children's Hospital is a wonderful place! What a blessing!!! I am so thankful for the generosity of many who have sacrificed their time and money to make that incredible hospital possible for our community... and especially right now, for our Simone.

Their generosity inspires me to want to do something to help. I don't know what yet. Maybe I can do something with my photography to help parents with children that are ill. Maybe awesome and creative pictures for families with kids going through cancer treatment? I don't know. I love kids! But, being around kids who are in pain is so dang hard for me! Geez! I can be such a girl! 6'4", 232 pounds of wimpioli. I am obvious proof that being big, and being tough aren't synonymous. I just need to man-up.

By the way, many have asked about how my diet and exercise program is going. I slacked off for a couple of weeks. I didn't totally fall off the wagon and start eating one pound bags of M&Ms but I have partaken in the occasional "tear and share" package. "Share".. ha! But, I am back on hard-core starting yesterday. I'll get back on track with the Monday updates. Just to clarify, when I say "hard-core workout" I mean 10 minutes on the elliptical machine and not always 10 minutes in a row. No weight training or stuff like that. I tried weight training before but those things are heavy. And, they make ya tired and sore. I don't like tired and sore. 
 
OK, we both gotta get to work. You need the job and I no longer get paid for goofing off so let’s do our part to turn this economy around. Work, earn, spend. Work, earn, spend. Repeat after me. Work, earn, spend. Work, earn, spend. 

Simone Update - Monday afternoon

We just got news that Simone's meningitis is viral not bacterial! That was our hope and prayer.

She is still a sick little girl. She is having trouble eating. Gaining weight was an issue for her before she got sick, so that is a concern. Please keep her in your prayers. Please!

Simone Update - Sunday afternoon

Simone seems to be doing better. Her fever is down and her eyes are clearer. We are still waiting on test results to determine viral or bacterial.

Please keep praying for her. And, for Josh & Tiff.


 

Pray for Simone

Please pray for my granddaughter Simone. She is in the hospital with spinal meningitis. She will be ok but is gonna be very sick for a few days.

Also please pray for Josh and Tiffani. It is so hard for them to see their 8 week old baby this sick and feel so helpless to do anything about it. 

Here is her picture with her sad face and IV arm.