Jennifer Howe, Author at Facets of Faith

I’m Dreaming of…a Significant Life

01.08.2019 by Jennifer Howe //

Welcome, friend! We’re excited you’ve taken time out of your busy-busy to peek at the Facets’ thoughts. Thanks for making the cyber-trek and the time. This month is an opportunity to think about our dreams. Tracy offered 7 ways to realize your dreams, a fantastic read. Next week, Kim will offer her thoughts. Don’t miss Tuesdays when posts go live; or better, subscribe to receive the posts in your inbox.

Once upon a time I (Jennifer) was a “resolutionist.” But I was like so many who set lofty resolutions for a new year and break them by the third week, or day, or hour into the goals. I lost interest in breaking promises to myself. (Tell me I’m not alone, friend!) When someone introduced me to My One Word—BOOM!—I had a new way to think. Soon I was dreaming of the possibilities in the word, and I still do. This year’s word came from an intimate conversation with God about who I am in his eyes. No doubt, I always want to hear encouraging whispers to my heart from my Daddy-God. (One day I’ll share more about this year’s word, but not today.)

The question this month at Facets asks me to think intentionally about my big dreams. I know I have little “everyday dreams” that basically amount to wishes. A question has been echoing since this topic was chosen: What do I want in this life—what do I really, really want?

Having begun the journey of my word for 2019, a fat, juicy tendril is growing off the main vine. Turns out, what I want most is a significant life. I don’t mean popular in the culture or high in status. That’s not me, but I’m an Enneagram 1, the Reformer, if that tells you anything. What I know is this: I’m full of strengths and talents that can be used to help and bless others. Guess where the best parts of me (and you) come from? They are gifts from God. Since he has gifted them, it’s only fitting to acknowledge that and use them in service to him and those around me.

When I answer the question that way, I immediately think of Jesus’ teaching about the fruitful, significant life that really comes from the Lord. Take a look at John 15 with me; we may both find real, significant life. Jesus is with his inner circle, the disciples, and I imagine a walk through a vineyard becoming “a teachable moment.”

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. John 15 ESV

He sets up the characters: God the Father is the “vinedresser,” the one who tends every part of the vine; Jesus is “the true vine,” which assumes there are others; and the followers are the branches connected to the vine. The Father works in the vineyard; he removes fruitless branches and prunes the fruit-bearing ones. Why? Because big, leafy grapevines are pretty but not what they’re grown for. Hard pruning causes a vine to produce fruit!

This applies to our lives: if we say we are disciples, we place ourselves in that “branch” place. If our lives reflect the close following the disciples did—listening to, trusting, and obeying Jesus’ teaching—we can be called “clean” too. That’s the beginning of real life, eternal life, the significant kind. And it doesn’t have to be a dream. Actualizing real life is simply choosing Jesus. (If you’re confused at this point, let’s talk!)

Jesus continues:

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. John 15 ESV

Abide. That means to live in; to remain. The vitality in a branch comes from connection to the healthy vine. A leafy branch off the vine produces exactly nothing. That is not life.

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. John 15 ESV

Jesus is the vine, and his disciples are connected branches. Life flows from the vine outward, and beautiful fruit grows. Healthy branches are connected, and they should stay there. Dr. J. Vernon McGee reminds us

If we are in Christ, we should stay there. The connection can be broken, as Jesus warned Peter in the foot washing moment; we can have nothing to do with God. ¹

Abiding is a choice.

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15 ESV

The vine’s lifeblood is in the abiding. If we remain connected to Jesus, and if his words remain in our minds and hearts (as evidenced by our thoughts, words, and actions)—then something important happens. Intimate relationship with Jesus and choosing to learn and embrace his words leads to a couple of things: a regular, two-way prayer conversation with God and prayers that reflect his heart and (often) his will. In other words, we ask for things he loves to say yes to; we want what God wants!

Over time my thoughts, words, and actions can look more like Jesus and less like selfish Jen. Look, little grapes are growing! At least, I really want that to be true. (Yeah, I still make a colossal mess of things at times. *Sigh*) I’m thankful the disciples are so obviously and gloriously imperfect in everyday life with Jesus, and then the Spirit filling them changes everything. It gives me hope.

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. John 15 ESV

Wait. What? If we stay connected, and if we keep his word fresh in our minds, God is glorified. Other people see the life as good fruit on our little pruned-branch selves. We don’t grow it; it flows from the life we receive through connection with Jesus. Then other branches connect to the vine because of what they’ve seen. (Often “fruit” in the New Testament points toward a disciple’s significant impact on others knowing and trusting Jesus for life.) No one chooses to connect to Jesus because of our perfection (we are flawed); they come because of HIS perfection!

And then what? Then we don’t just say we follow Jesus—we prove we follow Jesus.

Friend, that’s the significant life I want, the dream I have unfolding little by little. I hope to live a transforming life in which others see or hear about Jesus and want him. On a good day, I think I spot grapes plumping up. Other days, I imagine the pruning shears doing necessary work. Either way, I dream of abiding and having a life that is exciting and joy-filled and beautiful. (Jesus, let’s do this thing!)

Now one of my “everyday dreams” is to hear your thoughts and dreams! What’s your biggest, way-out-there, God-sized dream? Share in the comments below or on our Facebook Page. Thanks, friend!

¹ https://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/mcgee_j_vernon/Jhn/John.cfm#John_15_6_11. Jan 07, 2019.

Scripture sourced from bible.com.

The Christmas Story: a Child is Born

12.11.2018 by Jennifer Howe //

Hello, friend! ‘Tis the season, and I (Jennifer) wish you a precious Advent time this year. The Facets settled on taking a look at the Christmas Story, but with a fresh look. When we searched for the Father, Son, and Spirit in Christmas, we found wonderful gems to share. Tracy shared about the Spirit’s role in the story last week. Be sure to come back next week to read Kim’s post on the Father. This week, it’s all about JESUS!

Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. Luke 2:1 CJB

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.*

Oh, sleepy town of David—Bethlehem, the House of Bread—overwhelmed with visitors. Caesar decreed, so “Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town” (Luke 2:3). People with family or means fill every home or rented every room. The rest find shelter where they can. Shepherds rest in the open fields under a clear sky, captivated by the stars. They listen through the usual nighttime noises rippling through the flock, alert for sounds of a threat. The descendants of David, all of them, sleep through the quiet night. The visitors won’t stay long. They will rest from their travel, visit with relatives, and wait to register until they leave for home.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Luke 2:4-5 ESV

In all the crazy-busy of the masses arriving in town and settling their families and the herds they were forced to bring with them, an unknown teenager and her husband slip through the crowds. Their travel took longer than it would; it was slow going with her need to rest and drink and eat so often. The healthy boy kicked and rolled inside Mary’s belly. “He’ll be here soon. Jesus will be born in Bethlehem. Tonight?” she wondered.

Joseph was a good man. Even so, he’d been pushed so far. Mary was beautiful and kind and precious to him; he loved her. Tonight he would care for her and the child. It was the right thing, the honorable thing. The baby would be born in Bethlehem. He would help. They would figure it out together.

The young couple’s larger family group traveled separately and more quickly for the census. By now they were settled, and no one expected the couple to join them. Joseph would have to find a quiet place of their own for their stay.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 ESV

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.*

And there He was. Larger than all of the universe and smaller than a bread box. Lord of all and Servant of all. God slipped into the creation He made with a word—and He was the Word.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. John 1:10 NLT

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT

God is a loving and generous Gift-giver, so He offered a few the opportunity of a lifetime.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. Luke 2:8-18 ESV

The shepherds heard the news and they went to see Him! And do you see what I see? “And all who heard it wondered.” Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and who else? It doesn’t say, but news of a beautiful baby travels fast in almost any culture. Add an angelic birth announcement, and people have something to talk about.

Two thousand years later, people are still talking. Some are interested in religious things or decorated things or sales increase things. ‘Tis the season. But there’s nothing in that. No “God with us.” No help for this life or relief from sin and suffering. If you want the real truth, love, and power of Jesus at Christmas listen closely.

No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.*

It’s all about Jesus. He’s the reason for the season, and I desperately need Him. We desperately need Him.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today.*

When I think of the coming Savior King at Christmas, I am amazed. Jesus was God and man. That He stepped down from heaven to earth is incredible. That He became one of us is mind-blowing. That His mission was to reconcile sinful humankind to Holy God is pure love.

I want my heart to be the place Jesus casts out sin, enters, and lives. I want a new heart, mind, and life because of the love of Jesus. You?

I also want to remember that, while He came to us as a baby, the rest of the story is amazing! Jesus grew up and now reigns as King of all from heaven. Now that’s a story worth reading. Do you know how it goes?

* Lyrics from O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Phillips Brooks and Lewis Redner.

God is…Gracious!

11.13.2018 by Jennifer Howe //

This month the FACETS are thinking about the character of God, the precious attributes revealing facets of Almighty God to us. Tracy wrote on God’s faithfulness here. Visit next Tuesday to find out which attribute Kim chose. Finally, we have a guest sharing the following Tuesday. I love each writer’s choice and voice. I hope you will, too.

Then the Lord passed in front of him [Moses] and proclaimed: Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth Exodus 34:6 CSB

Sweet friend, can I be honest for a pair of minutes? I need grace. I need more of it than the average Jo, no lie. Some days I’m more sensitive to my failings and have to admit Paul’s words both pierce and offer healing balm to my soul:

But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16 NLT

I’m a writer who lives in a world of words. Those same words are weapons I draw on a terrible, horrible, no-good day. Anyone can dip into “strengths” for the wrong reasons or intent, right? Then an insidious whisper hisses, “Jesus can’t love me. I’ve messed up too much. I’m disqualified. Again.” The voice of the liar gets in my head, sometimes my heart, too often. Maybe you’ve heard the voice with an accusation. It can crush us if we’re not careful to make intentional choices.

Accept the gift of grace. A precious gift was given. We see it in John 3:16-17—

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved… CJB

The Son, Jesus, came for a purpose. He came to represent the Father and us—to fix the gap between holiness and humanity. He was both God and man, all on a rescue mission for us, who could do nothing about the problem on our own. Since we couldn’t earn it and don’t deserve it, that’s grace! Jesus is the display of God’s gracious character on our behalf. I just love that. And I desperately need it! (You too?)

Once upon a time, I made an intentional decision. I wanted that. I wasn’t clear on how it the gift of grace happened, but I knew I wanted it, and I asked wholeheartedly. I was a beggar doing what beggars do. Sometimes when you have a need, you ask…and ask…and ask again. I needed some kind of do-over. The Good Father meets the need through Jesus. The Father’s child knows to come, ask, and shelter in the Father’s house. Then the child becomes an heir to the inheritance, in this case, beautiful grace!

Be willing to accept the gift and accept what He says. The gift of grace is for you, through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Whatever you do, hang on to that truth with all you’ve got. Grasp it like your life depends on it. Never let go! This is daily acceptance or rejection of truth, in my experience. We choose daily, friend; let’s choose well.

Beware the lies! The enemy of our souls wants nothing more than to destroy any hope, truth, or connection to our Father through the Son. So he strews a path of lies to obscure the way. Root out the lies by comparing the voice you hear to the Bible. When the voice matches the Word of God in good context, you can rest in the truth. When lies come, you’ll see them for what they are.

Let’s allow God to love us through words in Scripture. Let’s be loved. Then we can love others.

Remember my struggle with word weapons? Some conviction is truth mixed with lies. It’s true my words must become increasingly filled with truth and love and grace (because God’s people become more like the character of God). But there is no shame with truth because “no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). There’s a chasm of difference between Holy Spirit’s whisper of conviction to repent and the shame-filled hiss of the enemy. One leads to freedom; the other spirals into a trap.

Practice receiving the gift of grace. The longer we’ve listened to the hiss, the more difficult it may be to meet it with truth. We need to sit with Scripture, wash the mind with it, and counter the lies with truth. That takes time, repetition, and practice!

It’s a choice to receive grace. If we choose not to receive it, we land in a pit of pride. We isolate and insulate. In my experience isolation leads to anger, frustration, and sadness. Hope is absent. That’s a choice—but not a life I want. (None of us wants that.)

I practice receiving truth and love by spending time with Him throughout the day. I read what He has to say. I want to talk to Him often. Good habits to cultivate, for sure, but the relationship doesn’t rest on some fuel I generate through effort (it would for sure fall flat!).

Grace is a gift created and given by the giver. We can’t earn or deserve it. Because He is compassionate and gracious, His gift is always more than we can think or imagine. Think of how lavish that is!

Grace. I’m thankful for enduring grace! Now I want to respond in love to Him for that amazing gift—I want to live differently because grace leads to repentance…and fierce and fiery love for Him and others.

Which attribute is precious to you? We all want to know. Share in the comments below or at our Facebook Page.

« Previous Page
1
…
8
9
10
11
12
…
22
Next Page »