Tag: happy

I Am a Model

Jennifred Jones

Today I am modeling…

Many people want to be noticed, remembered, looked up to, thought important…maybe even become a model!

They don’t know it, but they already are! We’re all modeling something every moment of every day to somebody, to nobody, to ourselves…what do they (we) see? Is it something we’d be happy to see, something we want to see, something we’re proud of? Is it even something we really want to model or are we only modeling what others (or we think others) want us to?

These are deep questions to ponder. All my growing up years on into college, I was in constant inner turmoil. Do I look good? What will others think? Do my clothes look right, am I stylish, is my hair okay, my glasses on straight, am I too skinny? I was a self-conscious wreck!! Finally at 21 I learned it was okay to be who I was. I looked okay in my homemade clothes (I was too tall for most dresses and pants), I was born with curly hair, that’s just the way I was made and my glasses helped me see better and being skinny I could be more active. So there!

But before that revelation, I was modeling shyness, insecurity, inferiority, self-consciousness, not really any fun to be around. I wasn’t happy to see me, I wasn’t proud of myself and was all wrapped up in myself so I couldn’t think about anybody else! Crazy how that works! (It was all me, myself and I)

A new mindset had to be formed where thoughts of others and their needs became important to me. What a relief to not be so self-consumed! There was freedom to think new thoughts, find new interests, make new friends, try new things and go different places. There would always be someone fun to meet and talk to.

How about you? Are you modeling who you are or want to be, or are you modeling what you think others will want to see?

Only flip the switch inside of you and you’ll become the something new.

The Need to Be Needed!

Jennifred Jones

Some may think it’s selfish to feel needed.

I believe it’s part of our drive for purpose. We want to know something we did mattered in someone else’s life…that we were noticed. (I also realize it can become backwards and cause people problems, dependencies etc. etc. etc.)

But! What I’m getting at is this need to make something of value to someone else. It’s like a gift that no one else could or did make and they are happy to receive it. They like it and they like you for giving it to them. That makes us happy. That’s how it’s supposed to be.

People need what we can provide for them in a good honest way!

I want to raise this idea up a notch. In our relation to God, it’s different. He made us, but he doesn’t need us. He wants us. He doesn’t need anything of ours. It’s all his anyway. But we’re his kids and like any earthly father, he wants us. That’s a big difference between the need and the want. The want comes from choice. The need comes from a necessity.

We not only need to be needed, but we want to be wanted.

God wants us. Let’s want him back.

Good Friday

Jennifred Jones

All over the globe Good Friday is observed. Why?

Easter-time is the most exciting time of year for me. We’ve been talking about Life and Green Pastures and that leads right into Easter-time and newness and hope and new beginnings… new growth, regrowth, color, light, happy sounds in nature. Everything on earth wants to celebrate!

Many of us have had dark winter days too many days in a row, too many months in a row, too many years in a row. We need a fresh spring, a fresh start, a second chance at life. If we allow it, there is hope for us and hope for anyone, no matter what their past winter days have held for them. The snow will melt, the ice will turn into streams of clear living water which will cause a freshness, a restart to us… if we let it.

Everybody is searching for solutions, direction, help in these times of trouble. Even a brown field will sprout fresh seedlings, a dark tree branch will grow buds and flower itself all over! Baby birds will hatch on the coldest days in their warm nest.

The key to the sprout, the key to the bud, the key to the hatching is the same source of power that will give us a fresh start, a new beginning, another chance, a clean slate, and there will be no strings attached! No penance or works needed on our part, no special outfit, hat or shoes needed for this Easter service. You can think about it this weekend. What would my life look like, feel like, be like if I decided to have a new beginning?

That’s why God sent Jesus. He did all the work for us. All we need to do is say, “God help me. I need you.” and see what happens.

It’s going to be a good Friday and a good weekend!