Trust Him!

So, with the start of this New Year came a lot of new changes in the Sheneman household and with in me....
One of those things I wanted to do differently was to not focus on the 'what ifs' but to fully place my trust in the God who knew my path before I ever walked it.

Have you ever met people in your life who were so caught up in asking you questions like, "well, what if?" or "are you sure that's what you're suppose to do?" you know all the questions that really make you rethink what you are doing because someone else asked. My question to you would be, "where exactly does your trust lie..in God or man?" Man doesn't control or set your destiny God does...and if you are being obedient to what He has called you to do then He will provide! He's just GREAT like that. Don't give place to negativity; it is breeding ground for the enemy. Not trying to be overly spiritual but it's truth.

There are some really exciting things that are starting to unravel for my husband at work and as his wife I can either ask questions like, "well, are you sure... or what if?" but I believe that's not what God would have me do. I am called to be his helpmate and supporter so instead when he begins to doubt I shut down that mindset and 1) bring to remembrance the prophecies that were spoken over our household and his business & 2) remind him that in the natural it looks impossible but with God ALL things are possible. If it were possible to do in the natural then how much credit would we actually give God? Chances are none of it...and He knows it. That's why He operates in the SUPERNATURAL. Right? Make sense?

You may be a wife who needs to support your husband in the same manner or you may be a husband who needs to support your wife. Either way if God called you to do something and it seems impossible chances are it is but that's why you have God on your team! He is ABLE.

It's all about a changed mindset. When the world brings fear and doubt His word brings peace and hope!  
Romans 12:2 "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." NLT


Just trust Him, be obedient and let Him show off BIG in your life! 


By Grace Alone,
~Jenni~

New Season.

For the most part, the majority of us know when a new season is approaching & I don't mean because today is Wed., March 21st--the second day of Spring because the calendar says so or is it?
There is something that changes in the air...our environment. There's a shift that takes place allowing one season to end and another to begin. For me, the pollen and heat is a given that 'Spring has Sprung!' I didn't need to see it on a calendar or watch the news...I could feel it...There was a change that affected my body as a result of the shift that took place in the environment--the new season.

I won't go into a full blown Earth Science lesson here because that's not where I want our focus to stay and plus I am no longer a 6th grade teacher. However, there's a correlation between a physical and spiritual change.
When I was a teacher, Biblical integration was necessary. We were required to integrate Biblical principles/scripture(s) into "secular" curriculum. It was a must before our principal, who would pay a visit to "grade" us, as well as the accrediting team who put the stamp of approval on our school.

Anyways,so here is where the Biblical integration is going to take place: just like the change of seasons that take place here on Earth, we each experience seasonal changes in our own lives. You may be in a season of sewing and you  are....waiting...waiting...and still waiting...while others of you may be in a season of reaping. God tells us in Genesis 8:22, "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."


If you know anything about planting or gardening then you know that the minute you plant that seed there's not going to be an INSTANT harvest. There's the watering, the sun light & the natural maturation that needs to take place for a healthy, well nourished plant to blossom. Are you with me? Great! 
Just like in our own lives we go through different phases of maturation AKA growth spurts. God has each given us a purpose and destiny. With that being said, we all start off the same--a "seed" and from there is where our growth spurts vary. 
Ecclesiates 3:8 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

There's no doubt that we reap what we sow--Biblical principle; however, the principle that we have a hard time grasping is that our season of harvest doesn't always come in the same season that we sowed our seed. Got me? I know. It's a hard concept for me to grasp much less type. The good news...the harvest WILL come...Why? We sowed our seed! The problem with instant gratification is that it isn't Biblical...plain and simple. It seems as though that is the American way of life--see it...get it! But that concept is totally contradictory to The Word. There's a reason why we must wait. There are lessons to be learned & most importantly there's got to be an unwavering faith and trust in the One who is watching, helping, and enabling us to grow bigger and stronger. He can be trusted. I promise. 

The biggest problem we face is when we are ready to 'throw in the towel' because it hasn't happened when we wanted it to. **NEWS FLASH** Prepare to keep waiting if that's your mindset. God knows best we don't. 

This is coming from a girl who is a fighter but almost got to a point in her life that 'throwing in the towel' was a better option. Thankfully I didn't listen to the lies of the enemy but I trusted in the One who had my life, my destiny, my purpose in the palm of his hand. As a result, I'm a little bit stronger today and my faith and trust is greater in Him. 

I will leave you with this verse in the hopes that whatever season of life you're in that you will cling to the One who knows your end from your beginning. Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

In His Timing,

~Jenni~

P.S. I now must tend to my motherly duties...it's 11:03pm I should be asleep but I'm not and it's probably not a bad thing seeing as though my son is screaming in his crib and I have a husband who is out of town for the next few days! Just a season...right?!?!? ;)

Worship!

You may be like me when it comes to worship in that there are just a few of those songs out there that bring you to tears and maybe even your knees when you hear them.

Well, that was me this past Sunday. You may know it, 'Worthy is the Lamb!' It is a true worshipers song. It's a song that I know all the lyrics to and can have my eyes shut the entire time basking in the glory of the One who is SO worthy. It pretty much is my 'Thank You' song to my Heavenly Father.

I am a worshiper. I'm not a singer in the least bit, but I believe God doesn't care whether or not I can sing, heck if He wanted me to sing then he would have given me that ability but He didn't. He gave me the ability to worship! I'm so thankful that He has given me arms/hands to raise to Him and a mouth that can sing praises unto Him. I really believe He smiles down on his children who are unashamed to enter into his presence that way. There's so much freedom in being able to do so. I realize that for some it is uncomfortable at first (been there), but when you really understand what and who you are doing it for it doesn't matter who is looking at you. You aren't there to put on a show it's about glorifying the One who paid it all for me and you. The One who sacrificed his ONLY son (gulp) for us---undeserving...sinners. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it. I have a son and right now he is my only son (child) and there is just NO WAY I could or would sacrifice him for anything or anyone. There is NO ONE deserving enough to me that I would send my son in your place. Did you get that? Did you think about your own child(ren) for a minute? If so, then you should have some serious conviction and gratitude to the One who DID do what we could never do.

At night, when I rock Bear in his nursery before putting him in his crib I typically will sing at least one song to him and it pretty much goes like this: 'Jesus loves Bear this I know...for the Bible tells me so...little ones to Him belong...they are weak...but Jesus is strong...Yes, Jesus loves Bear...Yes, Jesus loves Bear...etc...'
My prayer during that time with him is that God would instill in him a love for worshiping Him. Trey can sing & he has family members that do so as well...and there are plenty of singers on the Hartley side of my family so I can only hope he has that talent, but above all I want Him to be a worshiper. The one who at a very young age raises his hands before the Lord, eyes closed just fully engaged in the One who is worthy of it all.

When I was pregnant with Bear I would have visions of him standing in the front row at church with his hands stretched out as far as he could reach them. It was beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes. The irony in this is that when he was born we were told he couldn't hear. The devil is a liar. I laugh now because God is good and I believe that much more that those visions were from Him.

I write this blog to encourage you as a believer to really grab a hold of the fact that God enjoys when we worship and praise Him. Psalm 22:3 "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." (NLT) And I don't mean just standing there singing a song. Let your guard down and I promise you that the feeling that overcomes you when you "let loose" is one of the greatest feelings ever. 
Most importantly, worship is our "repayment" to Him to show how appreciative we are for what He did for us. 


This boy gets it even at a young age. He is anointed. He is a worshiper. 

Double Whammy...

So this past week was a complete wash in the Sheneman household. On Monday of last week we woke up, had breakfast and headed to the gym...little did I know Bear and I were about to get tackled to the ground...and we were down for the count for a good 5 days.

There is nothing worse then watching your child vomit profusely in front of you. His sweet eyes would gaze up at me crying out for help and there wasn't a thing I could do for him but hold him in my arms, cup my hands to his mouth and pray that this would pass quickly.
Unfortunately, "passing quickly" was not going to be the case for my boy. I was by myself with Bear and towards the latter part of that day I began to feel nauseous. Unfortunately, diarrhea had reared it's ugly head and Bear was that much more pitiful. Oh.my.word. I managed to get him in the bath tub, grabbed the garbage can and sat next to him outside of the tub (I'll spare you the rest of the details). Needless to say, it was not a pretty site. It was at that point that I became so helpless and wondered how I was suppose to tend to him and take care of me.
Of course, it was the night that Trey had a business dinner to tend to. Thankfully Gigi showed up, mask and all, and then right behind her walked in Trey. I said, "Thank God" and headed back to the bathroom.

Seeing my son so sick was frightening...it had gotten so  bad (no wet diapers in over 17hrs) that Trey & Gigi headed to Children's. I stayed back because I was still sick. Me sitting at home didn't last long as I called on a friend to take me to my boy. I couldn't not be there for him despite how incredibly awful I felt; It's a mamma thing. So, after some blood work, zofran and gatorade they sent us home. They told us if Bear didn't have a wet diaper in the next 4 hours that we were to head back to Children's. I was REALLY doing some praying. That was the last thing any of us wanted for him.

Praise Jesus for wet diapers! From there the diarrhea continued and a few isolated vomiting incidences occurred.  Meanwhile it was Wednesday and Trey was still feeling good (Praise Jesus), Gigi on the other hand not so much...and I can't say it escaped Trey because it didn't. But it's now Sunday and we all are doing well.

Boooo to the God awful stomach virus that reared it's ugly head in my home. Don't EVER come back here. Thank you.

Girlfriends!

I have lived in GA going on 3.5 years now and I am extremely grateful for the relationships I have formed.

I have to admit it hasn't been easy. Not when you have lived in one place your entire life and you move away in the middle of your 20's. However, God is slowly answering another desire of my heart--to bring authentic, trustworthy women into my life. Trust--HUGE deal to me.HUGE.HUGE.HUGE. Understand? :)
Lets face it ladies we aren't exactly known for being saints. Our mouths like to move.A LOT. Know what I mean? You do. Don't lie. ;)

So, I am thankful for those ladies who I know respect and love me enough to keep those things which I hold so dearly a "secret." You know those things that if you say them to just anyone they will look at you strangely or will have SOMETHING to say. I know you know what I am talking about.
Thankful for the girlfriends who don't judge but share the TRUTH (God's Word) in every situation I face. I have 3 of those ladies in my life and I am truly thankful for them. I literally can call them up even if we haven't spoken in a while and it is like a breath of fresh air to my soul.

You are probably asking, "how do you know they don't divulge your business?" Simple. If there is a girlfriend in your life who has no problem telling you about their friend or best friends "dirty" business then the likelihood of them sharing your "dirty" business is HIGH. Just a friendly FYI. Totally free of charge.This time.
Mind you, I realize that we ALL fall short of the glory of God and we are far from perfect, especially women, but the Bible is clear when it says in Proverbs 18:21 NLT, "  The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." EEKS. If that doesn't make you wanna shut your trap then I don't know what will.

That certainly is not the friend that I want to be...and therefore, I look for girlfriends who desire the same thing.
Let me be clear in this blog as to not confuse anyone...but I once was in high school and guess what? I did these things...and it didn't make me look good either. BUT I'm an adult now with a family and I don't care to do those things anymore. Being a wife and a mom takes the energy out of me, leaving me no room to talk about someone else's drama or issues.

If you are the girlfriend that can be confided in, YOU ROCK, there are many a women in this world who would love to call you friend. God smiles down on it too; I know it. If you still have to work on that area of your life; it's ok just take steps to being a better friend and maybe this calls for a little confession time and I don't mean just before the Lord. :) God will honor you for that; I know it.

I celebrate my 3 girl friends tonight for honoring the Lord and respecting me. I am pretty sure they will have a diamond studded crown when they get to heaven. Can I just say that I get to hang out with one of them next week!!!! Totally excited. She has been "incognito" for a while due to a move and lots of working but I am totally excited that our babies will get to hang out and we will laugh and maybe even shed a few tears together. Who knows. I seriously think we were suppose to be blood sisters but God got confused and gave us separate mom's. I love her. I cherish her. I value her A LOT.

God calls us to authenticity in our walk before Him and in our family and friend relationships! Walk that out. Tomorrow is a new day!

Here's to TRUSTING and being TRUSTED...and to those of you, ladies, who desire the same pray that God would specifically bring a friend into your life who is that woman. They are out there. I believe it. I know it. He still answers prayers!

14 months old!

Yep. February 9, 2012 we celebrated our son who turned 14 months old. He's such a cutie-pa-tootie! He makes me & Trey smile everyday and he is our biggest blessing.

Just a few things:
-The funny face

-He likes to excuse himself from the table by pushing against it so his chair slides back. Needless to say, the high chair is coming back down stairs!

-Can walk but chooses to still push his walker and everything else you can think of. 

-LOVES chicken. Enough said.

-Recently gave him grapes, apples, raisins, craisins, salad w/ ranch dressing, peanut butter, strawberries, cereal bars, watermelon & cantaloupe...

-He's been teething lately. Not surprised since I feel like he has been doing so since he was 7.5m old. His bottom molars are taking FOREVER...his top molars cut through and I didn't even know it until one day he just happened to tilt his head back with his mouth open & there they were. 

He most definitely is our pride and joy and we are blessed to call Bear our son! 

Marriage.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord does NOT ever give us more then we can handle. I believe it.  I rest in it. I find peace and comfort in it. So, I am pretty confident that what Trey and I walked through the last 3 years of our lives didn't catch God by surprise.

At the end of last year we were both at our breaking points. I had 2 nights away with friends that did my heart good. One friend introduced me to 'The Love Dare' and the other said this, "Are you willing to fight for it?"

All I can say is watching 'Fireproof' and doing "the Love Dare" are two TOTALLY different things. I did it. I completed it and I am thankful for the journey I was able to walk through. Thankful for my girlfriend who held me accountable and would check on me through out the dare. There were times when I told her it's going great and then there were times when I wanted to scream.
You know because us women are emotional beings! :)

Early on in the dare I learned that so often God reaches out to us, embraces us, welcomes us into his arms and we push him aside, put him on the back burner and attend to him when we need something. I thought about how he loves us despite our faults...yet he still expects us to change...but in the process his love never fades...it never gives up on me (us).

As I set out on the journey, I knew going in that it had nothing to do with Trey...it wasn't about whether he responded kindly or not to certain gestures that were done...it was more about what I was asking God to do in me and through me in our marriage. I certainly was not and am not the perfect wife. However, I am on a journey called marriage and as many of you know it is not an easy one. We have been through hell and back and I truly believe God is smiling down on the both of us right now as we have chosen to keep our covenant before Him and each other.
I believe with all my heart that we will one day stand before other married couples who may be going through trials in their marriage and their only source of hope is to hear our story. A story of two very flawed people who were willing to die to themselves in order to see God's hand of grace and mercy at work in their lives--in their marriage.

Thank you to those who supported us through. Thank you for not pointing fingers or pointing blame. Thank you for being more concerned about the solution then anything else. Thank you for praying me and Trey through it. We are a better couple today because of it...not perfect but better.

Here's to the past 3years babe....and the next 60 we have ahead of us!