The Yay Project

  • Home
  • The Yay Project

The Yay Project Hi, I'm Jenni Lien & You Are You (YAY)! Let’s celebrate our God-given design 🎉
(4)

Gentle reminder (from God to me, and maybe you) 🫶 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitud...
21/08/2024

Gentle reminder (from God to me, and maybe you) 🫶 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

My pastor, from when I was living in Hong Kong, often said “Let the Holy Spirit speak to you” which I thought was great because truly God knows how to reach us and what we need.

🌸 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:14)

This morning, I only had a short time to pray and journal, but it was one of those moments where I knew even 10 mins seeking God earnestly and honestly would make a difference. And I felt him remind me of the above truths, and also that:

I can rest, relax and meditate on the *facts* that Jesus is King, our Father is the Almighty, and his Spirit is in us helping us in our weakness.

I pray I, we, don’t take this for granted today but truly rely on God for everything we need—nothing is too small or impossible for our God who moves mountains.

May we learn to live in love with God more and more, and be his willing hands and feet to generously share the love we have freely received—even if it costs us. 🩷

18/08/2024
“Do you still trust me? Amidst disappointments and perceived ‘failures,’ do you still have faith that I have a better pl...
13/08/2024

“Do you still trust me? Amidst disappointments and perceived ‘failures,’ do you still have faith that I have a better plan than you could possibly imagine? You can trust me, child. I’m right here with you. Look up. Look up at me.

Let me cup your face, cradle you in my arms, remind you that I call you mine, and promise to care for you and nurse you back to health. Surrender, child, with a heart full of hope. Always and forever, you can put your full faith on me.”

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

🩷

I remember when I first started sharing on ig, and wrote a post like “perhaps some might think it’s uncool to love God s...
09/08/2024

I remember when I first started sharing on ig, and wrote a post like “perhaps some might think it’s uncool to love God so much but honestly is it not the best way to live” and I still feel this way because—it’s the truth amen?

In this world, many think it’s normal to be passionate—we see people waiting hours for concert tickets, obsessing over sports scores, overspending to buy a thing… and this intense longing really is only satisfied by God. Everything besides God can lose its lustre… maybe sometimes we take God for granted and allow his lustre to diminish in our eyes too. When this happens, may we notice God calling to us and put him in his rightful place in our lives—as Lord of ALL.

There is no God like our God and no life like one lived for the Lord! Life on earth now, preparing for eternity with our majestic King. 🥳

🌸 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

“Leave it to me. Trust my timing and my ways. Enjoy your life in the meantime. I love you, child. Always operate from th...
08/08/2024

“Leave it to me. Trust my timing and my ways. Enjoy your life in the meantime. I love you, child. Always operate from this place.”

🩷 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19-20)

We are loved. 🙏

“You can do it. You can grow from this experience. You can trust that you don’t have to obsess for my doors to open.” **...
05/08/2024

“You can do it. You can grow from this experience. You can trust that you don’t have to obsess for my doors to open.”

***

The main lesson I’ve learned during this last month of life:

🌸 the doors God wants to open will open.

I’m sure I’ve learned this lesson before but it feels fresh. Because sometimes I can still get so obsessed with the answer to a prayer. When I want something so badly I didn’t realize that maybe it’s becoming an idol.

In my recent situation, the door seemed to be opening and when it closed… honestly it took me a few weeks to bounce back. When the answer came, I believed it was right that the door didn’t open, that honestly it was good for my character to experience disappointment and learn to humbly walk out my “I trust you, God” belief. But still, it hurt.

Then shortly after, other things I’d been praying for happened so smoothly in a “I kind of forgot I prayed this” way (but thank God, he never did 🫶). While these new blessings didn’t totally remove the sting of the closed door (though maybe it should have—in that I was reminded of God’s sovereignty? They were probably equal in how much I wanted them but maybe the difference is I hadn’t idolized the other one), I felt God was gently nudging me:

“You can do it. You can grow from this experience. You can trust that you don’t have to obsess for my doors to open.”

Intercede, yes. Obey, yes. But for me/us to ultimately hold prayers in a relaxed way, knowing God is in control and has the *right* answer.

If you’re struggling with any disappointment today, praying for your heart (and mine still) and for renewed faith in God’s perfect ways. He’s got more in store for you—more than you can imagine.

🌸 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I recently moved cities and so have been checking out new churches and small groups. One huge benefit is getting to hear...
31/07/2024

I recently moved cities and so have been checking out new churches and small groups. One huge benefit is getting to hear more peoples’ testimonies!

Last night, over tacos, I spoke with two different women who had “in the crushing, God really made new wine” type testimonies aka that God used rock bottom/hardships to help them grow in faith—which is my testimony too.

After thinking I knew best for decade, when I felt like I was on top of the world, one swift action showed me that, if my life truly wasn’t built on God, it really hurts when God pulls your idols away (even if they’re unintentional idols).

Then in the five years since, seeking God has been a transformative experience and daily I feel more surrendered and confident of my identity as his daughter and that I am wanted and needed in this time on earth because *he* has chosen to place me here. May the same be true for all of us. 🌸

So all to say… if you’re going through something tough, wondering if God is the right answer, let our testimonies encourage you:

Going *all in* with God is the best thing you’ll ever do. He is God. 🩷

🌸 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. (Psalm 86:8-10)

“I want you to have hope and not worry. Hold onto the hope you profess. I’ve got your future in my hands. I’m overseeing...
28/07/2024

“I want you to have hope and not worry. Hold onto the hope you profess. I’ve got your future in my hands. I’m overseeing all and you’re seeking me—perfect combo. I love you, child. Have faith.”

🩷 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

Ooh this verse is hitting me hard this morning. You too? Let us hold onto to God, the Almighty. There’s nothing he can’t do. 🕊️

It’s normal for humans to get weary. And when we do, God wants us to rest—in him. 🌸 “Come to me, all you who are weary a...
26/07/2024

It’s normal for humans to get weary. And when we do, God wants us to rest—in him.

🌸 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

And rely on him.

🌸 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

What a good God we have the privilege of loving and serving! May we never feel embarrassed about loving and serving God with our whole being. He is so worthy.

Whatever our situation is today—because whether we’re in a mountain top or valley season, we’ll all get weary in some way—praise God he knows and has what we need. Always.

Praying 🌸 Love you, Lord. Help us see you, and rely on you, in our everyday moments more and more. 🙏

A “not today satan bc I have the Holy Spirit” post 🕊️ I think we all go through moments where we face temptation of not ...
19/07/2024

A “not today satan bc I have the Holy Spirit” post 🕊️ I think we all go through moments where we face temptation of not going to God when we need him.

This could be outright disobedience—e.g. not doing something we know he’s said to do, like is a clear biblical command.

Perhaps more often it’s a subtle thing, going to secular music to numb our emotions rather than worship music to surrender to God.

It’s not that God expects us to be perfect or never listen to non-worship music (though may we be wise about what messages we’re letting in!!) but may we notice when we’re dragging our feet going to the throne of God… and stop it.

And recommit to choosing God as quickly as we can.

Our emotions aren’t truth—God is.

So just a lil pep talk if you need this, writing this as a reminder for me too (I don’t think we ever get to a “we’re too old or mature to face this temptation” stage), may we stay on guard and uplift one another to seek the Lord.

🩷 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

🩷 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)

Forever his kingdom reigns. ☀️🌸🫶

Some days, we don’t have the strength to face things head on. And that’s ok. Because 🌸 the Spirit helps us in our weakne...
16/07/2024

Some days, we don’t have the strength to face things head on. And that’s ok. Because 🌸 the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26)

Praise God. Praise God. 🙏

Let’s declare this today. 🕊️ God loves to love us—and this includes pruning, stretching, and challenging us. His ways ar...
11/07/2024

Let’s declare this today. 🕊️ God loves to love us—and this includes pruning, stretching, and challenging us. His ways are higher and we can trust him. Praying we rely on his strength, rather than our own, and can’t wait to see and hear more testimonies of his faithfulness. Our God is awesome, amen? 🫶

This might be the most countercultural verse… seek the good of others not our own? Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:24 fro...
10/07/2024

This might be the most countercultural verse… seek the good of others not our own?

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:24 from BibleRef:

“Paul has rejected the philosophy that Christians are free from any and all restrictions because our sins are forgiven and we live under God’s grace. This is the attitude which simply says, “everything is allowed,” and stops there. In contrast, Paul now says the standard for every Christian should be what it written in this verse: “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” This was the theme Paul explored in chapter 9, saying that even his “rights” were not as important as the spiritual good of other people.”

May we remember 🌸 we’re accountable for our thoughts, words, and actions. Lord, purify our hearts and help us live with greater understanding of the eternal weight of glory that awaits us. Help us love you and love one another. 🕊️

Dear God, I love and know I need you. 🩷
07/07/2024

Dear God, I love and know I need you. 🩷

🌸 For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— (Ephesian...
04/07/2024

🌸 For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— (Ephesians 2:8)

🌸 You will be hated by everyone because of me,but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)

🌸 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Bible verses of the day. 🕊️

This morning, I felt God remind me to “tend to the grass too.” Often, I sense God giving me variations on an image of me...
03/07/2024

This morning, I felt God remind me to “tend to the grass too.”

Often, I sense God giving me variations on an image of me playing in the grass among wildflowers. Lately, a lot of my work has involved discerning God’s vision on a longer-term piece and doing my best to obey accordingly. While this is important (essential!), so too is caring for the patch God has already entrusted to us. May we be faithful in all things God calls us to, and remember:

🌸 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

🌸 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:23)

Nothing like the Word, amen? Sending love, friends. Blessed are we to be shepherded by the Great Shepherd. 🩷

Waiting on the Lord > just… waiting. If we’re waiting, we might as well pray and ask the Lord of all creation for help, ...
02/07/2024

Waiting on the Lord > just… waiting. If we’re waiting, we might as well pray and ask the Lord of all creation for help, amen? And truly, what a privilege it is. May we remember he is where the best help comes from. And more than being a helper (Holy Spirit!), he is Lord. 🔥 And love. And everything we could ever need. If we’re waiting on an answered prayer, may we keep praying and go *all in* with him. At the right time, he will answer. 🫶 will we believe?

Thank you, M, for resharing this post (from nearly four years ago exactly!) 🩷 Needed this reminder. :) God is good.
02/07/2024

Thank you, M, for resharing this post (from nearly four years ago exactly!) 🩷 Needed this reminder. :) God is good.

Have you ever thought that if God chose us for something, then he believes we can do it? Our walks, our purposes… in Christ, we can handle it all.⁣

*For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— (Ephesians 1:4-5)⁣

*For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)⁣

Sometimes, even when walking as Christians, we can temporarily forget just how magnificent God is. May we be unblinded and recognise his majesty, enjoying our surrender to him. There is no downside! With him, we will go deeper than we could ever wander on our own (from Oceans - Hillsong, listening to it again this morning). ⁣

God didn’t make us for the mundane, whatever mundane means to us. He’s got a tailor made plan for our lives, that’s part of his bigger plan. Praise God we can walk together with him daily, closely.⁣

I pray we ask God to use us for things that are only possible with him, all for his glory. Lord, we love you. Prepare us and allow our lives to testify brightly for you. Open our eyes to see where you’re calling us to step out.⁣

God bless 🇨🇦 Celebrating this Canada Day weekend by exploring two of Canada’s sweetest towns, Niagara on the Lake (wine ...
02/07/2024

God bless 🇨🇦 Celebrating this Canada Day weekend by exploring two of Canada’s sweetest towns, Niagara on the Lake (wine country!) and Stratford (aka Justin Bieber’s hometown).

*paddle boats!
*getting ready for the Canada Day parade
*ice cream with strawberry rhubarb pie mix-in
*what are friends for
*eating as many baked goods as poss
*the Canadian Red Ensign (flag before the current one)
*after the rain
*whoa cool

On the drive, chatted with friends about what we’re thankful for re living in Canada, especially during this stage of our lives when we’re pursuing, building, growing, hoping and enjoying changing even as adults.

To more growth for us and our countries. 🥂 Lord, grateful for your pruning and new growth. May we experience more of you in the year ahead. 🩷

New week. Same God! No other name. 🕊️ May we humble ourselves before him daily, and have faith that even if we don’t *fe...
30/06/2024

New week. Same God! No other name. 🕊️ May we humble ourselves before him daily, and have faith that even if we don’t *feel* like God’s ways, timing etc. are better… it is. It truly is, amen? Let us go *all in* with our Lord. Our lives will never be the same.

Love you, Lord. We are grateful for you. 🩷

Sometimes our emotions are obvious. When we’re going through something (e.g. heartbreak, disappointment, anger… even a c...
25/06/2024

Sometimes our emotions are obvious. When we’re going through something (e.g. heartbreak, disappointment, anger… even a crush!), it can be all we focus on for a while. We can overthink, wondering why, if only, what if, etc. Other times, we need a little encouragement to open up. We know it would be good to face it and bring it to God, but it seems easier to ignore it for one more day…

When we get like this, isn’t it comforting to remember these words from David:

🌸 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139: 7-10)

So just a gentle reminder: whatever is happening, whatever happens, God is there. And God is for us! He is our redeemer, confidante, true love—and so much more. We can rely on him fully, whatever the season. May we praise the Lord!

More in this week’s newsletter plus:

🌸 Self-care coping strategies (featured audio)

🌸 Pitching at a tech party

🌸 Reflecting on a year after my Master’s in Entrepreneurship graduation + attending a Praxis lab

More at pinkandnew.substack.com 🌸

& listen to this week’s episode on the pod x

Tips from a Christian Unicorn ($1B) Founder (x2!) 🌸 Last week, I went to a fireside chat at Velocity with Iyinoluwa Aboy...
20/06/2024

Tips from a Christian Unicorn ($1B) Founder (x2!) 🌸 Last week, I went to a fireside chat at Velocity with Iyinoluwa Aboyeji.

He’s the co-founder of two unicorn (i.e. valued at over $1B) companies, Andela () and Flutterwave () and a Velocity alum. To be honest, it was a busy day and I almost didn’t go, but I had a hunch that perhaps he’d be a Christian. (Anyone else no longer surprised when people at the top of their field also happen to be passionate Christians?)

So in a room full of ambitious entrepreneurs, largely in science and tech, and amidst great business advice, I was excited to hear him say things like:

✨ “I pray *a lot*”
✨ “Doing the right thing is a choice” e.g. when he decided Flutterwave would no longer process payments from p**n sites
✨ “I try not to operate from a place of fear… if I have one, it’s that I don’t finish the work [God has given me]” 
✨ “I flew [on business trips] after church…”
✨ “Be unapologetically you”

May we remember, as we pursue God’s plan for our lives and when he blesses us with success, that the best lifehack is doing things God’s way. We don’t make excuses—that x, y, z needs to be compromised now so we can win the market and that we can ‘make up’ for things later—but build upon God’s foundation. Amen? Grateful for encouraging testimonies and praying we have more opportunities to testify boldly, too. God is moving in all of our lives!

Drop an amen if you’re committing to following the Lord in all ways. 🫶

🌸 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! (1 Chronicles 16:11)

Has your church been talking about God’s apostolic gift lately? God has been teaching me a lot about it (via my church a...
10/06/2024

Has your church been talking about God’s apostolic gift lately? God has been teaching me a lot about it (via my church and other places) and more and more I’m noticing cool ways he’s activating it in different ways in the church. So if…

🌸 you’re working on something
🌸 you sense God might be calling you to start something
🌸 you want to find community in this space

I hope this week’s Founder’s Diary testimony in the newsletter helps to further ignite this hunger God’s placed in us to follow him into new pastures—and that we can grow in this area together, too!

More in this week’s newsletter, out 6am ET tomorrow. 🌸 pinkandnew.substack.com

And if you’re interested in a longer, raw-er version of this update, listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 🌸

Sharing a few snaps* from the past few months. 🌸 We still have over six months to go, but pretty sure I’ll always look b...
07/06/2024

Sharing a few snaps* from the past few months. 🌸 We still have over six months to go, but pretty sure I’ll always look back at 2024 as one of the sweetest years of my life because God taught me afresh, and gave me many opportunities to practice, how to follow him with joy.

🌸 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:9-12)

No matter that is happening in our lives, whether we’re in a deepest valley or highest mountaintop, in the early stages of pursuing our God-given vision (🌸 Pink and New) or enjoying the fruits of our labour, we will only truly have joy when we’re abiding in God. And abiding in God brings the sweetest joy we’ve ever experienced. Let’s not miss out, amen?

Let’s remain in his love, keep his commands, love each other as he loves us—and enjoy his joy every day.

*with church friends, MBET friends, founder friends—all people I’ve met since moving back to Canada. All to say, gentle reminder if you need it, it is possible to make new friends as an adult, especially if we pray and ask God. :)

Tonight 🌈 🩷✨ Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (Psalm 36:5). Let’s pray: Lord, I ...
06/06/2024

Tonight 🌈 🩷✨ Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (Psalm 36:5). Let’s pray: Lord, I believe in your faithfulness to me. 🫶

Our new collab with The Salvation Army! This week, let’s talk about the importance of self-care and how we can seek God ...
30/05/2024

Our new collab with The Salvation Army! This week, let’s talk about the importance of self-care and how we can seek God for healing when facing compassion fatigue, burnout, vicarious trauma, and more.

Plus a little life update with reflections after a funeral, the joys of realizing you've been shaped by God (and that he's now shaping other areas), and the importance of obedience over ambition.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🎙️✨
✨ About You Are You podcast ✨

Everyone has a God-given calling. Hurts hold people back. We are passionate about helping women seek God for emotional healing, maintain their emotional health, and live out their God-given calling. Let’s pursue God—together.

Courses 🌸
Blog 🌸 .yay.project

Newsletter link 🌸 pinkandnew.substack.com
29/05/2024

Newsletter link 🌸 pinkandnew.substack.com

We’ve got some exciting news to share in tomorrow’s newsletter 👀 all about our new collab with The Salvation Army! Get all the details (including a welcome video from our host!) at 6am.

Sign up 🌸 pinkandnew.substack.com

Anyone else sense that God’s reminding them to live more expectantly? 🌸 verses and prayer ⬇️This has been a recurring th...
29/05/2024

Anyone else sense that God’s reminding them to live more expectantly? 🌸 verses and prayer ⬇️

This has been a recurring theme for me this season. Sometimes, even when we’re doing our best to fix our eyes on God and believe in his promises, it can still be hard to shake off doubt.

But we can, amen?

🌸 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:4-6)

🌸 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. (Matthew 21:21)

🌸 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt (Jude 1:20-22)

Holy Spirit, make us more like Jesus. Draw us close. Help us see we need you more than air. May we go all in with you this season, loving you more and holding you more tightly than ever before. Amen. 🙏

This weekend, I read a newly released book called Just Act, written by Angie Peters () who is the President and CEO of Y...
21/05/2024

This weekend, I read a newly released book called Just Act, written by Angie Peters () who is the President and CEO of Yonge Street Mission (), a Christian development agency Toronto who believes that:

“…each and every one of the 500,000 people experiencing poverty in Toronto has immense value. All our resources and energy at Yonge Street Mission are focused on working to respond to immediate needs and help people move from surviving to thriving.” 

I feel like this book was written for me, and think many readers will feel this way. For about a year now, I’ve felt God teaching me—through multiple avenues—about his love for, and will for Christians to care for, those who are experiencing poverty. I’ve been learning and having conversations with people who have experience in this area, but actually understanding what God might have me do has been a challenge.

If you’ve felt or are feeling like this, confused about how to serve yet 100% believing that God can break generational poverty, definitely check out this book which provides practical, accessible guidance on how we can “just act” where we are with what we have, whether we’re serving as individuals or with our churches or businesses. 

And let me know 🌸 Is this an area you’ve felt God teaching you about lately too? How? Would love to hear!

Address


Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Yay Project posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Yay Project:

Videos

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Alerts
  • Contact The Business
  • Videos
  • Claim ownership or report listing
  • Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Share