Morning Musings

This morning was the first time in months that I was able to just be lazy. Can I get an AMEN. So upon waking up ridiculously late, I made some breakfast and coffee, sat down and had some much needed QUIET time with Jesus. Notice the capitalized quiet?? Like so many others, my life is a series fast paced events that leave little time to just be still. (seriously…today is the first time to clean my apartment in a while…)

So I woke up and decided to eat a grapefruit and be thankful. This led me to Psalm 139. David gives such a raw and intimate view into his heart. He recognizes that he is, because God made him to be. This always so amazing to me. God MADE me, He MADE you, He MADE everything. We are the product of the ultimate Creator! Not only did He make us, He loves us with such a fierce love that we can never match or deserve. This is a reason to be excited and staying on holiday topic, thankful.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” Psalm 139:14

My heart is so full knowing that God cares about every single thing about me. He made me unique and creative and gave me a personality that is different than anyone on earth. He gave me gifts and a passion to use them. He has given me a network of fantastic, beautiful people that I am beyond blessed to be able to call friends. I could go on and on about what I am thankful for, but don’t worry I’ll stop. J

What is important to understand, is that it is unfortunately just as easy to be ungrateful. It is entirely consistent to your attitude. 

So those are some of my thoughts on this lovely morning before Thanksgiving.

I encourage you all to start living a life of thankfulness! Even tomorrow if you are dealing with burned food or crazy family! 

Have a blessed holiday!

-Jordan-

I'm Back 2.0

I just wanted you to see how cute my mom and I are...

Well, I forgot I had a blog. This year has been so full that I haven't even thought about sitting down and typing out some random thoughts to put on the internet. So, if you are curious, here is a look at my year.

PART 1 (MARCH)

I TURNED 23!       

     

Around the time that I was about to have my birthday, I saw an article that my friend posted on Facebook called "Why 23 is The Worst Age". So naturally, I read it. The article basically described a confused/broke young adult with a college degree and no future. After reading about how horrible my year should be as a new 23 year old, I was frustrated. It amazes me how most young people view this age as a waste. Yes, most of my close friends are married or in a serious relationships. Am I, "in the depths of despair?" (Anne of Green Gables reference)...No! Over the last few months I have come to appreciate being single more than ever. And unlike many of my single christian ladies, I'm not sitting here waiting for the "perfect man". I have realized the importance of this season. Since it is just me that I have to take care of, I have found that I can say YES. I can say yes to anything God would have me do, and not have to worry about how it would effect someone else. Don't get me wrong, I am really looking forward to getting married and having a family someday, but I am not going to let that halt my life. My life does not start when I say "I do" to a man, It starts when I say "I will" to Jesus. (Hey that was good.)

Next soapbox. College opens doors to careers, but don't let it cripple you. What I mean is, we are young! Just because your dream job hasn't come along, it doesn't mean you should be wandering aimlessly. Get a job to pay the bills and plug in somewhere doing what you love! (Even if it is not for  pay) Now, if you are like, me and are not done with school....hang in there! Yes, I didn't choose the longer route,(pay as you go), but I promise it will be worth it if you don't quit. This is a pep-talk for myself too.

All of this to say, 23 has been one of my best years so far and I am only half way through it! I have had so much fun and made new friends that like to have fun. So there. 23 is fun.

Red Velvet Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory is heaven. 

PART 2 (MARCH)

I MOVED OUT!

In March I moved into my own little apartment, and I absolutely LOVE it! I am really enjoying having my own space and being able to make it a reflection of my personality. The biggest difficulty I have had, is learning how to cook for one person. Seriously....it's so hard. Tonight I am going to make spaghetti, I think. I will have to freeze the leftover sauce. This should be interesting.

 PART 3 (JUNE)

MY BEST FRIEND GOT MARRIED! (Yes, I teared up while writing this...)

I have honestly rewritten this part five times. It is so hard to describe how wonderful and surreal this event was. Cathryne and I have been friends for eleven years now and I am so incredibly blessed to have her in my life. Through the years our relationship has stayed the same. Not our lives, but our friendship. No matter what season our lives are in, she has always been the same, steady, wise, and beautiful person. I remember being in Jr. High and going through wedding magazines with her and dreaming about that most magical day of a girls life. Magical is the only way to describe her wedding. It was the perfect day and I am so happy to have been a part of it.

See Cathryne's blog! Slice of Southern Pie

 PART 4 (JUNE-JULY)

VICTORY CAMP_SUMMER 2015

If you didn't know, I have the coolest job in the world. This summer was incredible. I was given the opportunity to head up our kids camp services. I did this last year too but I felt even more on my own this year so it counts more. Haha! I came up with games, wrote puppet skits, made schedules...etc. I was definitely in my element. I love the microphone and got to be the MC for hundreds of campers. My absolute most favorite moment, was when I had the opportunity to bring the Word on one of the nights of camp. (aka...preach) It was amazing to see God move through me and to see lives changed because I said yes. Even though I panicked a bit before I went up.

I love my staff and interns!

PART 5 (RIGHT NOW)

I just wanted to share a few more things that have made this year a winner.

1. Torri Kelly - look her up....now.

2. Toute Suite - If you live in, or around Houston, go there.

3. SnapChat is life. Follow me: jschlem

4. Top Golf is ridiculously fun.

5. How did I survive 23 years without a Keurig.



Well that is all for now! It took 3 1/2 cups of coffee and a ton of rewrites because my cat kept jumping on the keyboard, but I did it!

Have a great rest of the week!

Because I'm a Lady

"Because I'm a Lady", has become my go to excuse on why I do, or do not do things. I tend to get this picture of Audrey Hepburn in mind and think, "What would Audrey do?". (Other people that come to mind; Kate Middleton, Taylor Swift, and Emma Watson)

I know I sound silly but it's true. We all have people that we look too for inspiration and advice.

Luckily for me, I have many men and woman in my life that are amazing influences that are actually accessible. (No, I sadly do not have Kate Middleton's number)

I feel that it is so important to have a community around you that not only cares about you, but cares about the decisions you are making, good or bad. Lately I have had several frustrating and confusing situations that have caused me to make hard choices, some quickly and some only decided last night.

I found this decision making list on Pinterest a while back and it is GOLD. I have always had a hard time putting into words why I want to do something, hence the "Because I'm a Lady" thing.

My real inspiration for being this "lady", is the Proverbs 31 woman. No, I do not think I will ever live up to her standards. I mean, I am not the type to wake up at the crack of dawn. More like the crack of 10:30. I do feel however, if she needed to make any decision, she would have a list to this extent.

8 Tests for Decision Making

1. Scriptural Test - Has God already spoken about it in His Word? (2 Timothy 3:16)

2. Secrecy Test - Would it bother me if everyone knew this was my choice? (Proverbs 11:1)

3.Survey Test - What if everyone followed my example? (1 Timothy 4:12)

4. Spiritual Test - Am I being people-pressured or Spirit-led? (Galatians 1:10)

5. Stumbling Test - Could this cause another person to stumble? (Romans 14:21)

6. Serenity Test - Have I prayed and received peace about this decision? (Philippians 4:6-7)

7. Sanctification Test - Will this keep me from growing in the character of Christ? 

     (2 Corinthians 3:18)

8. Supreme Test - Does this glorify God? (1 Corinthians 12:31)

I hope this was helpful to you! It definitely has been for me.

Have a lovely day!

- Jordan

"Freedom is being so in love with Christ that you do exactly what 

you want to do and it accords with Christ."

John Piper

        

A Quick Christmas Vacation

Location: The Cabin (Mason, Texas)

Fondly labeled the, "Gem of the Hill Country", Mason, Texas is a quiet, small town that is home to hospitable and amiable people. My grandparents own a piece of property right out of town that has a small cabin on it. Growing up, this was one of my favorite places to be. We could explore the property, the town, and float down the river which was luckily right down the road. This trip, we had my family of five, my brother's girl friend and the grandparents. Needless to say, it was a very cramped week in a two room cabin. In the winter, the land looks dead but I believe it still holds a certain wild beauty.

These are just a few pictures from our property that I wanted to share.

\

THE CABIN

Have a great weekend!!

Listen In

Sitting in my room completely floored at the raw and beautiful melodies of Bethel's Steffany Gretzinger's new solo album.

When I hear the songs I just picture the story of Mary and Martha in the Bible.

Luke 10:38-42New International Version (NIV)

At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”


When I read this story, I feel sad. Not for Martha, but because too many times I am Martha.

We get so caught up in our lives that we do not realize that Jesus is present.

In busy moments, there never seems to be room for Him. 

This isn't just an observation, but truth. You see, as humans christians, we fill our time with normal functions such as work or school and then add on the "religious" aspect to our lives - church/practice for a church club/small group/church outing/church dinner/Bible study/etc.....

Do you see where I'm going with this??

All of these things are great, even amazing. But, are we approaching our lives as a Mary or a Martha.

Most of the time, it's as Martha. While we are doing what we are required to do or even what we want to do, are we recognizing Jesus. 

I catch myself missing Him most in ministry settings. It's so easy to get in the mindset that while I am doing "God's work", we are spending time with Him. But in reality I'm not.

Martha is in mission mode. She is preparing super for JESUS and His DISCIPLES. I know I would be hurriedly getting things ready and yes unfortunately probably get frustrated if my help was just sitting in the living room doing nothing.

But what she doesn't recognize, is that the Savior of the world is sitting in her house!!!

Tonight, spending some time with Jesus, I prayed that I would have a heart after Him, that I would be prompted by the Holy Spirit to recognize His presence every day. 

Steffany Gretzinger gives such a pure reflection of a love relationship with Jesus.

Take a listen to my favorite song on the album!

 

I Have What?!? (My story of an unexpected diagnosis)

OKAY.

I have wanted to write this for a few months now, I just didn't know how to approach it.

In April of this year I was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). This is an auto-immune disease, and basically the immune system tries to over achieve on its job and in doing so is attacking the central nervous system.

That said, I was in complete shock. It is one of those unexplained things that no one knows why you have it or how to cure it. Over the past months there have been several tests such as MRI's and the dreaded spinal tap (which actually wasn't that bad :) ).

Right after we found out, I decided that I didn't want to tell people, Not because I was embarrassed or anything, but more because of the way people think.

Before I started seeing the neurologist, I took my weird numb leg thing to my regular doctor. She informed me of all of the possibilities of what it could be. When  MS was mentioned, I knew in my spirit that this was going to be my storm.

I decided right then that whatever these tests said, that I was going to stand on the Word of God.

Psalm 30:2

O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

Since my family didn't have this revelation sitting the dr's office, when the results came back they were a bit taken aback. I realized then, that God had given me over a month in advance to get prayed up and my faith built up in order to be a rock for them.

Okay back to the not telling people. No matter how thoughtful or helpful someone is, in some situations you just don't want to hear it.

My reason was because I have not accepted the diagnosis. 

Psalms 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

I believe that who we let speak into our life, is just as powerful as what we speak over ourselves. So instead of giving people a platform for worry, negativity, or uneducated opinions, I kept it to myself. 

Now obviously I did tell my family and close friends and even people in my church that I knew would stand with me in prayer. Over time I have been able to tell more people in my life, but with the strong faith of someone victorious over this disease, not a victim. 

I can't say I have only been strong and not felt beaten down at all through this. Let me tell ya...there have been some moments that I just cry and asked God why.

When you are laying in your bed with terrible pain from the legions on your spine, or wake up and your hand can't hold your coffee cup, it's hard to see sunshine and unicorns. 

But in all that God is there. In the questions there is a peace that I have only known because of this storm. Having that sometimes makes this seem worth it. It's like God needed me to take a time out from my life and learn to actually rely on him fully. Some would look at a incurable disease and see no hope, but the amazing part in this, is that I will be a living testimony to everyone that God is the cure.

Please understand that I am not insinuating that God just lets people suffer to teach them lessons. NO. He is perfect and the healer. Sin coming into the world so long ago, is the reason we as humans face these attacks. God can however use what Satan meant to destroy you, to bring glory to Himself and to speak to you in a new way. 

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

I hope that makes sense in writing as much as it does in my mind. 

Even though I believe that Christ has already bought my healing and that I will have the testimony of being freed of this disease, I still am wise. The medication process has a complete pain up until a few days ago when I got a call that informed me I would be getting my half a million dollar a year medicine for FREE. 

Can I get an AMEN! Such a blessing! 

So to end this very long look into my brain, I just want to encourage you.

If you are going through any trials whether it be physical or not, trust God.

I challenge you to just try it out! He won't leave you hanging, he always answers, and is always there. 

Lots of Love!!!

Krause Springs - Spicewood, Tx

Krause Springs