Random Things

Hello JAM Members,

God is so good, right? I love spending Wednesday at Terrace Manor. Each week - you amaze me more and more. God is using you as a light in an otherwise dark world. The residents love spending time with you. Jesus came to earth to serve and than to die for our sins. Each time we help someone else and show them God's love, we grow closer to Jesus and walk more in His footsteps.

What other ways can you serve the Lord? I can think of so many. We can serve the Lord everyday. Help your parents with the dishes or hold the door open for another person. You serve the Lord by praying and seeking His guidance for your life. I know this is the hardest thing for me is to put my own ideas about how things "should" work and really wait for and listen to God.

We have parent night next Wednesday. We will have subs, chips and soda. Your parents should receive an invitation in the mail today or tomorrow. Please encourage them to come to learn more about JAM.

And I thought I would post a couple of the pictures from our lock-in last summer. We had so much fun! I can't wait until we do it again.

Keep on serving and loving God!! Until we meet again ~ Abby

Crazy Love

Hello JAM!

I've been reading a book lately called Crazy Love. I am reading it with an online book club so I am only on Chapter 3, but it has moved me beyond belief. The biggest thing I have learned so far is that our God is BIG so BIG!! He created the earth and all that is on it, but more than that...he created all the galaxies and everything in between. He is so BIG.

So what, as followers of God do we have to do for this BIG God?? Simple, we have to love Him. We love Him by worshipping Him, praying, reading His Word, singing to Him, loving others and I could go on and on. I love Jesus and I love serving Him. This book reminded me how Big He really is. He created everything and even crazier is that He knew me before I was even created.

This BIG God loves you too. He loves you so much that He gave His Son so they you may have eternal life. I hope that you know Jesus and have asked Him into your heart. I pray that one day every knee will bow down to Him and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the almighty Savior. The lover of our souls - the guarantor of eternal life.

Take some time today to spend time with Him - tell Him your hopes and dreams, but listen too for Him to speak and show you His love.

We meet at Terrace Manor next Wednesday. Please be there by 6:00.

Blessings,

Abby

PS: Keep warm out there. I here it's supposed to be in the thirties next week!! Wooohooo!!!

Prayers Please

Please pray for Haley, Ciera and their friends. They were in a sledding accident. Ciera is banged up, but nothing broken. Haley broke her foot. Please pray!!!!!!! Our God heals.

Update

Update: Below it says we meet next time on January 5 - It is actually January 7. I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas spending time with family and remembering Jesus.

In Christ,

Abby

It's Been A While

Sorry Jam Members, I haven't posted for a while. It has been a difficult month, but I am happy to say that I am recovering from my surgery and hope to get back to normal soon. Since we aren't meeting again until January 5th, I would like to encourage you to pray everyday and write down something you are thankful for. Afterall, we are in the season of our great, great Savior's birth. We have that to be thankful for, right?

Here's my "short" list...I could go on and on.

I am thankful for God allowing me to lead Jam. I am thankful for my health and healing of my arm. I am thankful for my loving husband who loves me and keeps me close to him no matter what. I am thankful for my father who sacrifices everything for me and anyone else in need. He is fabulous. I am thankful for my salvation. I am thankful from friends like Katie, Julie, Donita, Missy, Susan, Eric, Anna, Ana, Justin, Jenn, Jennifer, Tori and many others who love me for me. I am thankful for having a job that pays the bills and working for a wonderful boss who supports me in all ways. I am thankful for having the opportunity to go to school for my Master's Degree. I am thankful for God's Love Story, the Bible. I am thankful for Haley, Ryan, Tim, Cody, Dalton, Ciera, Amy, Nicole, Marah, Michael, Sydnee, Anna and many other wonderful youth who I have been honored to serve through Jam. I am thankful for Dan at the coffeeshop for letting us meet there. I could go on and on.

Remember guys, we have a lot to be thankful for.

Don't forget, we start reading the Bible in a year on January 1. Since we don't meet again until January 5 - we WON'T meet at Terrace Manor, rather we will meet at Jabberwok and catch up on January 1-5...then we will be on our own. Of course, we will talk about what we read. Get your Bibles ready!!!

Julie, Katie and I will give you the chapters you need to read each day. This will take us about 15 minutes a day. Do more than read it, let God speak to you through the Words.

This is going to be a great year.

Humble Servants

Wednesday was an amazingly humbling experience for me. What joy we brought to the live of the residents of Terrace Manor. We did not do anything overly exciting or well planned - we just shared our time and our love with them. I will forever remember one of the residents telling us that she keeps God close to her all the time and that He helps her when she is lonely. How true is that? Even when we are lonely, sad, or frustrated, Jesus is near and we can call on Him.

I look forward to continuing to show Christ's love in our community. We don't serve because it feels good for us or that we get something out of it. We serve because Jesus commands us to take care of the least of thee. He wants serving to not be an act, rather a way of life.

I challenge you this week to serve when other's don't expect it. Offer to clean up your bedroom or to do the dishes when it isn't your turn. If you see someone with small children, hold the door for them. You can serve all the time and often it makes a big difference to the person you are serving. Remember to serve is to live for and like Christ.

Be like Christ this week and help your family, friends and neighbors without being asked or expecting anything in return.

God is great!

Blessings,

Abby

Contest

Happy Monday Everyone,

God is Great! Take some time today to make some noise!!

Good news, I received a T-Shirt that says John 3:16 on it and it is Navy Blue. It is a great looking shirt. If you would like to win it, post here telling me the best thing about being a follower of Christ. For example, I would say. The best thing about being a follower of Christ is that I know the Lord loves me no matter what. Life isn't always easy, but knowing that the King of Kings is on my side is all the strength I need to get through everything.

Post your comment by November 1st to be included in the drawing.

Blessings,

Abby

PS. See you at Terrace Manor at 6:00PM on Wednesday