Giving Thanks

Sometimes in the busyness of life we can forget that these good things that surround us, the things that make our heart beat fast with expectation, the things that make us smile... those things were planned for long ago.

There was a plan set in place long before you got here to make your heart joyful. The beauty of the sunrise that made you stop and stare, the laughter of your children, the phone call from a friend. These were personal kisses from heaven waiting for you, for the exact moment you would need them.

God is faithful and His goodness will endure forever. Even in our tough seasons where things look dark and anxiety ruins most days, God and His goodness is walking with us.

Today I just wanted to share our praises and join with you for somethings you are giving thanks for this Thanksgiving season!

We at YFC Campus Life Military, are thankful for:

* God's great provision through others that we are able to have 2 part-time paid staff as well as are in a position to take on a third in His perfect timing.

* For jobs that fill in the gap but allow flexible hours to be able to accomplish home life and YFC tasks to be attended to

* For a team that is coming together for the same mission and same goal: reaching every military teens with the love of Christ

* For place(s) for our next fundraiser and the details of such coming together

* For the future partners that God is preparing even now

* For the vision we have to cling to and for The God of that vision to trust with it

Our personal prayer requests are these below:

* For Rachel, new beginnings and fro family being together for Thanksgiving.

* For Jeni, the opportunity to help with the bills, for The Lord so perfectly scheduling each day that all things that need to get are, and for joy and peace in this season of financial hardship.

* For Vanessa, to be able to travel and visit friends in this season, and to be at the holidays and half way point of the deployment. Also for friends to do ministry with.

Each of us can agree that one of the most precious things we are thankful for is not a thing but a person.... YOU! We are thankful for your prayers that are making a difference and impacting our ministry here. We are thankful for your love and your support. We are thankful for your life! We are so thankful for YOU!

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Friends

Friends, each time I write this blog I think of YOU! The YOU that sits on the other side of the screen, the you who spends your time reading these word, praying the prayers and spending YOUR time in these moments with us!

The above verse was the verse of the a couple days ago and all I could think about was YOU! Our prayer team. YOU were who I prayed this verse over yesterday and again today. We are thankful for you and for your willingness to stand in the gap for us. We are delighted to know we are being prayed for and we can see the answers to those prayers already. 

Thank you so much for YOUR part on our team! You are loved, you are thought of and you are cherished! Even if we have never met we are in this together and your seeds being sown here have eternal results. We will celebrate together someday and one day in His presence we will remember these things that He was faithful to do through us, as a team!

Today I bring you some praises:

Vanessa: had a blessed trip to her Uncle's house in CA, CiCi seems to be mending from her ear infections and cold and that Vanessa has several fun things still left to do this Fall to help pass the time during this current deployment.

Rachel: her parents are finally all moved in and her life has some very exciting things to keep her smiling ear to ear. Her son is doing well in his senior year and is blowing us all away with his drive and dedication to finish strong. Her other kiddos are in beautiful stretching seasons as well, and Rachel in this season actually has the time to enjoy the people in her life.

Jeni (myself): God has allowed many wonderful meetings to happen, right on time and I am meeting so many possible volunteers that it makes my heart burst with excitement of what's to come. I also have been able to start with AmazonFlex that will hopefully be a blessing to my family while we await to come on as paid staff with YFC.

Prayer requests:

For Vanessa: for travel mercies and for restful and enjoyable time with friends. For organization and thinking space (can be hard with a busy 1 year old in arms) for peace and joy in this month as she pushes past the half way mark and leans into that final stretch of deployment

For Rachel: for her family as they continue to transition and for her time and schedule as it unfolds. For her relationships and her home. For her fundraise to be successful and for her heart to rest in joy and peace.

For Jeni: for being able to make time to do YFC things while taking on a side job with Amazon Flex. For our homes to be provided for. For a seller or renter of our house in GA or for a quick process with the bank to do what we need to, to be out from under it. Pray that I will hear God well and that I will be exactly where He wants me to be at the moments He wants me to be there. 

For our YFC mission here: for the harvest of teen hearts, that they will know and love the Lord. For businesses to partner with us in the future of YFC Military here. For the Chaplains we have begun speaking to and for open doors on both bases. For volunteers and leaders to come along side us and for our hearts to be ever ready with the gospel of peace for all who we encounter.

Thank you again friends. We could not do this without you!!! We pray for your lives as well. May each of you be healthy in body and strong in Spirit through Him who is able. 

Peace be with you.

"...But I say WAKE UP..."

"...But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe[e] for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” 
John 4:35b-38

Ever have one of those, "Wake up, and look around!" moments? It can be both exciting and humbling. We can feel inadequate and yet ready to go, all at the same time. We are in this moment here at Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base. We see the fields, they are ripe and ready. We see the harvest and we are excited to work with The Lord to gather it. What a crazy thought... That He would ask us to join HIM! What a JOY!

PRAISES!!!!

Praise God for those who have planted here, for the fields that are ready and for the hands that prepared our work before hand. Praise God for His faithfulness throughout our journey here and for His vision and clarity to our purpose. Praise God that He has called us and that He is building us up for the work at hand. Praise God for the workers to come and for the leaders in standby. Praise God for the HARVEST! And praise God for this season of Thanksgiving, may it be bountiful and joyful, refreshing our souls in His promises and faithfulness. 

This week please keep our team in your prayers personally:

For Vanessa as she travels to see family and friends throughout this month, as she gains a young roommate for the time being and as she continues to lead this team towards God's mission and will for this area. Pray for her strength and wisdom in her household duties while she, her daughter and her husband continue to push through deployment and army separation. Pray she is constantly covered in love, peace and joy in this season as tough and trying as it may be. 

For Rachel as she celebrates her birthday this week (Monday in fact) that this year of life will be such a blessing and one to remember for a lifetime. Pray for her family as they have many transitions and life seems to be joyfully unsure and beautifully full to the brim. Pray for her as she parents her children in God's love and stature in this time of transition and transformation and for her children's heart as they embrace this season of life with their mom, family, school and friends. Pray for clarity on some of the things she has been asking God for, that she may feel peace in the midst of waiting, and certainty in decisions regarding her work, family and future.

For myself (Jeni) as I start to fill my calendar with the workload of YFC and the transition therefore for our family from stay at home to work from home (mostly) mom. Pray for our home and family dynamics as Caleb helps to balance my work schedule with his and helps with the weight of family life while I get my bearings. Pray for our provisions as we are now in talks with our mortgage lenders for our house in GA to help relieve us from that debt that weighs heavy one us with no renters, no buyers and now storm damage. Pray for our oldest soon as he approaches his senior year of basketball and track season, that he will stay healthy and strong for both. Please pray for wisdom as we parent and as we teach, that God will be glorified through us. 

As a mission field team please pray for:

Provisions, clarity, joy, strength, favor and FUN! Ask God to open doors where we should go and close doors where we should wait or look else where. Pray for continued favor with chaplains, community resources and financial support. Ask God to help us be a blessing to all who cross our paths and that military teens, families and this community of Southern Colorado Springs will be impacted by The Christ in us. Lastly but so important... please pray for more workers, volunteers and leaders to come forward and to joyfully offer their support and time in this mission. 

Thank you for faithfully praying with us for God's mission field here. We cannot do it without HIS power going before us, with us and behind us and without others lifting us up as we plow the fields before us! 

Blessings Friends,
Jeni