All Things New

10/07/2021

Would you consider being an intercessor for a church sponsored event November 5-7? As many of you know, God had us lay down All Things New retreat ministry a few years ago...at that time North Carolina had 2 hurricanes within a few weeks of each other which caused us to have to cancel our event. It was DURING the rain of one of the hurricanes that Janelle and PJ spent time seeking the Lord, listening for His direction. Independently, they each were impressed with the Bible verse: "Unless a kernel falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" John 12:24. As that verse was in our hearts, acorns started pelting the roof...seeds literally falling to the ground. As a result, our team laid down the ministry and each of us began offering life and encouragement in our local areas...in MN and NC.
I (Janelle) was wondering what new life would be coming forth at God's perfect time...would it be retreat ministry or something else. Fast forward to summer of 2021and the prompting to attend a local church plant. This church has decided to host a men's and women's event inspired by Wild at Heart. The men's event occurred 2 weeks ago and the women's is coming November 5-7. If any of you have attended one of these life changing events, you know the difference it can make in a person's life. We wanted to invite you to partner with us in prayer...for the women attending and for our church members who are organizing/speaking. Please PM us if you would like to join us in prayer! The event is called "Masterpiece"

06/23/2020

A friend taught me a valuable lesson yesterday...my friend is a red shouldered hawk. If you haven't noticed by now, God uses nature a lot to encourage me; speak to me.

While sitting in my sunroom looking into my backyard, I saw the hawk 3 times. Flying. Perching. Little birds screaming, "Go away" which made it hard to miss! The third visit, the hawk swooped to the ground about 20 feet from where I was sitting. I was entranced! Wondering what it had caught for dinner, I watched. It pecked, scooted it's talons, pecked again. Satisfied that dinner was in it's grasp, the hawk flew to the branch to savor the meal. In the talons was a worm...phew, no screeching to make my stomach queasy had it caught a small mammal. Thank You Lord, You made this lesson a little easier on me :)

That hawk was high in a tree and focused on a tiny bit of nourishment for it's body...nothing evidently too small to be worthy of ingesting. It had success because it tuned out all the distractions, all the things that weren't nourishing and laser beamed onto a worm!

When the hawk swooped to the ground, I was preparing for my Bible study ladies to come over. I got thinking how we were gathering to feast on God's Word. My prayer for myself, my Bible study friends and you is that we would be like the hawk, looking for nourishment for our hearts, no matter how small. To forsake distractions and discouragements and have supernatural, laser focused eyes to daily be on a treasure hunt for God's love notes, refreshment, reminders of His character...in His Word, in nature, in fellowship, in the grocery store, in each day's mundane. We need nourishment for our hearts, souls, minds and bodies like never before. This is a secret to HOPE which is a stepping stone to JOY which increases our LOVE for Jesus! This keeps our hearts full of LIGHT...I desperately need it and want to purpose to find it, live in it, give it! This is LIFE!

Blessings of His Love and Life!
Janelle

05/07/2020

I glanced at my devotional titled, "Streams in the Desert", and it made me think of this time we are living in. Life has become somewhat of a desert...things dried up quickly with all the shelter in place mandates, etc. However, there is still LIFE and living water to be found because of who God remains to be in spite of man made changes.

As I sat with God on this, I was given the picture of a stream running into a rock. At first it may be stopped, but eventually it trickles around it and creates a new path. The picture above is of the Mississippi River which starts in northern Minnesota as a trickle. Water flowing slowly hitting resistance, bumps and blocks...with perseverance and the push of a water source, it finds its way around rocks and other blocks that threaten its movement. It gains depth and width, volume and speed and becomes a MIGHTY river from that tiny trickle persevering through the challenges.

Perhaps life as we knew it seems thwarted. But is this an invitation to find new paths to life...new waterways? To nourish our heart and to refresh others? New ways of seeing God as our vital giver of life?

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

God doesn't get "stuck". He is up to something new; He is the ultimate creator of new. As my life seemed like it was put on pause (like yours), I began looking for new opportunities, partially out of boredom, honestly partially to distract my mind from going to fear with all the negativity. Now I am realizing I was being invited to new opportunities I would never have "planned" for. So here are some things that have been added to my life:

~~My daughter is home from college giving us more family time (she will leave for the summer again and my oldest son will leave for boot camp)

~~Because of the above, I was able to arrange an outdoor family photo (long overdue and something I had been sad I neglected to get done last summer)

~~I am part of an online community sewing fabric masks for heath care providers to use over the N95 masks. I haven't sewn in years! I am loving the beautiful fabric the group provides to use for the masks! The sense of accomplishment making a few daily is good too!

~~Because of the above, I have been able to also make masks available to my neighborhood using all those craft supplies I've felt guilty about having in closets but not using. Guess they are "for such a time as this"! I've made connections with neighbors I never would have!

~~I've discovered a few parks with trails I didn't know existed

~~While exercising my young dog, I've made a couple new friends who also have dogs needing exercise

~~I can't resist the fresh flowers at the grocery store, so I am making arrangements regularly. I didn't really splurge before, but since we aren't going out to eat and other things, I am feeding my heart with the beauty of flowers! AND it expanded to the outside...I've never planted so many flowers (and vegetables)

~~No one likes to paint trim...well that activity starts looking pretty interesting right now! Loving the fresh look!

~~I'm home more and get to see the fox that runs my fence line, the deer elegantly leaping or cautiously staring at me as they munch leaves, I cherish the Carolina wren that sings each morning as I take it in longer than usual, Mrs. Cardinal didn't escape my notice as she flew into my bush to sit on her nest, the foggy morning giving way to clear skies with the rising of the sun...there are still so many little things to enjoy!

~~Not seeing people as much makes me love them more, and I realized I have not been using my hospitality gift over the past years...its been reawakened!

These are the little trickles of life I am finding right now...the streams in the desert. And just like the Mississippi, who knows if one of these or several of them may grow into something mighty! For now, it's life to me and for others! Thank you Jesus that I am not stuck because you are a way maker!

Encouraging you to find paths to life, streams of water in the desert! Would love to hear any new streams you are experiencing!!!

Blessings of LIFE!

Janelle

03/31/2020

During this time we are doing a lot of waiting...how are you waiting...in despair? with frustration? in hope?

Read Psalm 33:20-22...notice all the positive words based not on situations, but on our unchanging God.

Because of who God is and that He doesn't change, we can find shelter for our hearts. He is not surprised by Coronavirus, He has not stopped listening to our prayers, He is still on the throne and has a plan. He is the ultimate "shelter in place" no matter the circumstances.

As we wait for "this, too, to pass", we can be training our hearts to shelter in His presence...an aid now and for the future. Have you ever tried to put a jacket on a wiggly toddler or attach a leash to the collar of an excited dog about to go for a walk...it's difficult to accomplish quickly! It takes patience in waiting for them to settle a bit to succeed. This is true for our hearts in receiving peace and hope as we let God's love rest upon us (Ps. 33:22). It takes stillness and trust in Him and not the moving target of fear from constant news watching or entertaining the worst in our minds.

Look out your window right now...first let your eyes focus on the furthest distance to let them relax. Take a few deep breaths, enjoying this quiet moment. Now look for something that makes you smile...a quirky squirrel, a flower blossoming, a bird flitting, a garden waiting to be planted. Tell your heart God is watching over them and they are well...

Now remember: He is watching over you and you are in His care. Do something that would make Him smile! Dance, shout hallelujah, declare a prayer of trust, hug someone in the room with you, write out a Bible verse to dwell on, sing some worship...

Now, apply Psalm 33:22...let God's unfailing love REST upon you. Savor the moment of being a joy to your Father and let His delight, His love and affection rest upon you. Let it quiet you. Let it strengthen you.

Tell your heart, God is watching over you and you can trust Him! Tell Him of your love and trust!

Reread Psalm 33:20-22 (or read the whole Psalm), which verse or words do you want to feed on in your heart for the rest of the day or week. Make a note card and put it in a visible place as a reminder.

Ask the Lord to be your helper and shield for anything that is weighing on your heart. Remind yourself of His faithfulness and His love, let that rest upon the situation as you remember He WILL walk with you into the future concerning this matter. Let hope increase based on our unchanging God!

Is there someone you could point to Jesus by encouraging them that we can wait IN HOPE for the Lord?

Blessings of hope!
Janelle

03/27/2020

I wanted to share an encouraging story from this week in hopes it helps you find refreshment for your heart in the middle of a seemingly stressful time in history. This happened a few days ago, now looking back I see how this simple act was a reset to my heart...a reset that my Father knew I needed and perhaps you do too!

Earlier this week, I put my dog, Maggie, out to potty at 6:15am and noticed a couple bird chirps. I remembered reading a bird book to my children that said there is a pre-dawn and sunrise song. Like a warm up then the concert. Since it was relatively warm that morning, I made my morning tea and sat for the show on my front porch. It was cloudy and still the birds did not fail to come through. A few chirps turned into banter turned into glorious praise at the rising of the sun (though I couldn't see it in the cloud cover) As the sky got brighter the birds started flying tree to tree. It filled my heart to experience nature in a slow morning enjoying so many things going right in the world in this small act...
--the sun DID rise even though it was cloudy in my town
--the birds are not stopping their singing nor should I stop my praise for the Son of God rising in this cloudy hour of history
--I had a slow morning to enjoy this concert due to being out of work temporarily
--there IS beauty to be found when I look for it instead of the news/FB/etc.
--Maggie still needs to be cared for which invited me to this beautiful moment...I bet there are people around us that need caring for that will turn into beautiful moments that become stories retold in the future...may we seize our moments and be refreshed!

10/31/2019

A beautiful reminder this morning that God is in your moment today... right where you need Him to break through....

Red Rocks Worship ~ Breakthrough (Lyrics) // When You speak, mountains move Listen To The EP "Sparks" Here https://redrocksworship.lnk.to/SparkID • music mee...

01/28/2019

I was just thinking about how God doesn’t wastes single thing in my life...

The gardener at the Miksh house in Salem keeps a compost pile. He also grows the most beautiful assortment of vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers. In fact, that garden is gorgeous. I love taking …

01/11/2019

Consider attending this life-changing weekend! The Lottery is now open (til the 16th)!

Ransomed Heart has a special announcement regarding our April 2019 Captivating event that women and men will want to hear. Discover more in this conversation featuring Stasi Eldredge, Stacey Burton, and Allen Arnold.

11/17/2018

From Andrew Murray's THE POWER OF SURRENDER:
God does not ask you to give the perfect surrender in your own strength, or by the power of your will; God is willing to work it in you. Do we not read: "It is God that works in us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13)? And that is what we should seek for--to go on our faces before God, until our hearts learn to believe that the everlasting God Himself will come in to turn out what is wrong, to conquer what is evil, and to work what is well-pleasing in His blessed sight.
God Himself will work it in you - with His power.
Look at the people in the Old Testament, like Abraham. Do you think it was by accident that God found him, the father of the faithful and the Friend of God, and that it was Abraham himself, apart from God, who had such faith and such obedience and such devotion? You know it is not so.
God raised him up and prepared him as an instrument for His glory.
Did not God say to Pharaoh: "For this cause have I raised you up, to show my power" (Exodus 9:16)?
And if God said that of him, will not God say it far more of every child of His? Of you?
Oh, I want to encourage you, and I want you to cast away every fear.
Come with that feeble desire; and if there is the fear which says: "Oh, my desire is not strong enough, I am not willing for everything that may come, I do not feel bold enough to say I can conquer everything"--
I pray that you learn to know and trust your God now.

Say: "My God, I am willing for You to make me willing."

If there is anything holding you back, or any sacrifice you are afraid of making, come to God now, and prove how gracious your God is. His power is your power. Don't be afraid that He will ask you to do anything He won't empower Himself in you to carry out. Trust Him, fully. Then watch Him work wonders in and through you.

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."
Philippians 2:13 NLT

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

11/16/2018

Nothing like a Francis Chan quote to give people their for the day 🙌🏽 We’re grateful for Francis and all he’s done to minister to people at our PULSE events over the years!