Disclaimer: I just went on a rampage through the fridge looking for chocolate ice cream to write this post.
Current mood: ________ (you decide for yourself)
The countdown is approaching single digits which is crazy. The goodbyes are slowly starting to happen, the supplies are slowly starting to be packed, and the tears are quickly starting to flow.
Three weeks ago, I went to my church in Nashville and the man talked about the “power of a witness is who we are and less what we say”
John 15 says “Show yourself to be my disciples”
Show: verb. display or allow to be perceived.
Take a moment to read John 15.
ABIDE
While I read John 15, I think of the fact that each year, Metro Nashville Schools expect teachers like me to help teach students to grow pumpkins, lima beans, peas, and sunflowers. If anyone knows me well, they would know that I do not keep anything alive (including two fish and two toads… RIP Hugo, Hugo, Zeke, Sherman) The past two years, I would get many suggestions from teachers and parents: “move the flowers away from the window. Move the flowers closer to the window. Water the flowers more. Water the flowers less.” Pretty much… spend more time with the flowers. Well… I didn’t spend more time with the flower, and these little flowers were pathetic. We would send the flowers home before spring break and for two years, my kids came out with these sad small flowers, some looked like they were burnt, and others wouldn’t even grow. Other classes would come out with these MASSIVE flowers. I would only roll my eyes and think “It’s their classroom. It HAS to be their classroom, right?” This year, I told my kids “Sorry guys. Obviously I am not good at this thing.” to which they responded “well maybe you should try harder.” Maybe if I picked back the leaves, checked the soil more, probably watered it way less. They are right. I should’ve tried harder to keep these plants living.
And then I think of the word ABIDE. I picture myself sitting and reading the bible. I picture community with my close friends. I picture myself praying. Spending time with something that really matters and seeing the fruit that comes from it. The times I felt closest to God were the times that I really abided in him.
I think it is easy to think of the girl traveling the world as someone who has it all together and abides well with Jesus. That has been something I struggled with recently is not having it together but feeling like I need to in order to leave. This passage has been helpful to realize that I am constantly being pruned to bear fruit. I also think of my beautiful friends who show me so much love.
I REALLY hope that this year I will learn more about God and learn to follow him deeper. I will have the best stories, coolest photos, life changing experiences but then I will come back. I will be perceived as “Adventurous Jenna” “Outdoorsy Jenna” “Cool Jenna” for a year.
But I want this year to inspire others to be perceived not like those titles or whatever title you put on yourself (“sporty”, “pretty”, “fun”, “skinny”, “hard-worker”) but what if we perceived our friends as “people who love others well and show Jesus to others.”
When I think of people abiding well in Jesus and bearing fruit, I think of my friends. They have such a heart for Jesus and love others well. I know that I can bring anyone to our friend group and they will be welcomed and loved. My favorite example is two years ago when I found someone to sublease my room for a summer. The girl and I worked intramurals together in college but I didn’t know her very well. She was interested to subleasing my room for a summer and I asked my roommates if that would be okay. Of course, they were excited for a new friend and said yes. They loved that friend so well that summer. They invited her to things, hung out with her, shared stories with her, etc. That girl that I invited to live with my friends ended up being a bridesmaid for one of my roommates. I forget that there was a time when I was the only one to know her. I wonder what our lives would be like if we chose to not love her well or not invite her to things. We would have a massive friend hole!
That is a silly example of showing Jesus to others but I think that is what is beautiful! When you abide in Jesus, it is easy to show him to others. It becomes something natural. When you have 11 days left of your normal life, you take a step back and admire people in your life. I think of my friends who love others so well and do an outstanding job of showing Jesus to others, I think of my sweet church family that I have been with since I was little, and my family. I smile knowing that each of those groups has helped me tremendously not only right now on this journey preparing to travel the world, but also in “normal” life. I think we can downplay the normal life and get too caught up with work, family, husband, kids, gym to stop and 1. abide in Him and 2. see who we are being a witness to.
I want you to stop and think of people around you that you can be a witness to. A lot of you guys have funded me to travel the world telling others about the love that God has for them. You are providing me food, shelter, etc. for 11 months and I am using that to love on all different people from many different cultures. Giving money for one person is helping many. But now think about people that you aren’t giving money to but you are giving life to through your actions. Who is that person? Who is someone that you are showing yourself to be a disciple? Or if you cannot think of someone, who could it be?
Your prayers and support has brought me to 11 days. Your encouraging texts, emails, Facebook posts, etc. have been encouraging when days are hard. I hope that you will see where your money is going around the world and you realize your gifts hold so much meaning. But it is also the 25 years of support and love that has brought me to this place. But I also want to encourage you to continue to reach out to others and show them the same love and support that you have shown me with your kind words and encouragement not only this past year preparing me for the race but also the years that you have known me.
This week, who will you show that you are a disciple of Christ?
