**We never expect our boys to be perfect. Here are a few things we do expect from the Strother Brothers! •We do always expect them to be kind and respectful. We expect them to always treat eachother with kindness, love, and respect. •We always want them to know they are strong and sweet! •We expect them to always cheer eachother on in all they do in life. •We expect them to always have good fun. AND LOTS OF IT! Good fun helps you grow. •We expect them to know that they always have a place they belong. They are loved and that they can do the same for others. What they do matters to make a space and a place for others to feel that same way. This is how we do things in the Strother home! 🏠 And honestly, we are enjoying these teenage years, as we had hoped for when they were toddlers. Because perfection is not what we are after but that their hearts would be in the right place before their God and others. “A wise man knows there is a time and place for everything.” 💙
#StPatricksDay
Known as the Laurica or Breastplate, St. Patrick wrote this prayer (or hymn) to gird himself with as he confronted the pagan High King of the Druids, during a dark time in Ireland’s history.
“I bind me to-day,
God’s might to direct me,
God’s power to protect me,
God’s wisdom for learning,
God’s eye for discerning,
God’s ear for my hearing,
God’s word for my clearing.
God’s hand for my cover,
God’s path to pass over,
God’s buckler to guard me,
God’s army to ward me,
Against snares of the devil,
Against vice’s temptation,
Against wrong inclination,
Against men who plot evil,
Anear or afar, with many or few.
Christ near,
Christ here,
Christ be with me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ be o’er me,
Christ before me.
Christ in the left and the right,
Christ hither and thither,
Christ in the sight,
Of each eye that shall seek me
In each ear that shall hear,
In each mouth that shall speak me—
Christ not the less,
In each heart I address
I bind me today on the Triune—I call,
With faith in the Trinity—Unity—God over all.”
Beloved~ what’s a mistake you made that became the best part of the story?
What event do you remember most because of how imperfect it was at the moment but makes you laugh and smile as you recall the beautiful imperfections?
We remember the mistakes not perfection.
We have the ability to change our perspective and see the mistakes and imperfections as enjoyable and useful.
The thing you thought was a mistake becomes your favorite part of the story.
I always say ~
Mistakes Make Memories
Isn’t that what God does for us? He takes our imperfections and makes something beautiful out of them if we let Him. He uses our mistakes even for His glory as He shows up and there’s room for Him to move and make.
💙
Obviously ~ we have so much more to do before we jump on a plane and share the good news to a nation not our own! If you don’t know We have been preparing and praying for this for years now! And it’s hard to believe here we are about to depart on this great adventure with so many suitcases! •One thing I do know God is in the midst of this in so many ways before we even leave. It’s been a great adventure already! •I can’t wait for the #Strotherbrothers to continue to see God in new and exciting ways the next month and the rest of their lives! This is our prayer! •It’s a beautiful thing to talk about how great God is with your children. It’s another beautiful thing to see them step out and rely on their God for themselves! May we continue to see both as we do the same as parents. •Keep posted for updates! And will you pray for our family that the power of the gospel will go forth through the light we each carry within us? 🕯️ Have you been on a mission trip? If so, does it still changed your perspective as you remember how you saw God provide in so many ways? #familymissiontrip2024 #discipleyourchildren #missions #servetogether
Beloved ~
When I turned 40 I reexamined, realized, and was reminded about what truly matters in life.
I have always known that life is short and people matter.
I want to be in the good fight with those that know what that means and is willing to love as Jesus loves no matter the cost. Full of truth and grace revealing His glory.
I slowly stopped, apologizing for things that I value that are Christ-like. And as I did I found strong friends of God. Those who value these Christ-like characteristics and walk as children of the light.
I also found those who preferred pretending. Pretending they value the things of God but in reality live in fear that their true hearts will be exposed in the light. So they chose the darkness.
I want to be in the light and therefore I have to unapologetically walk in the manner I have been called. Will you join me?
Here are some of the values that are non-negotiable and worth being unapologetic for as I have found them to be evidence of His Holy Spirit and commandments given to those who believe ~
•honesty
• grace
•loving-kindness •caring and showing it •loyalty •repentance •reconciliation •trust •joy
Just to list a few.
I have found that faithful friends of Jesus value these things also. I have found these are our family values and as it should be as a family of God.
And for that I am grateful because these values keep us steadfast and secure in a world that is upside down and disappointing. These values remind us of never ending need for Jesus’ help!
People can devaluate them, depreciate them, or reject them.
But they still guide me to good things found in Him.
They still lead me to value the gospel of Jesus daily. And in the time I have stopped explaining or apologizing for these values being important to me I have found a renewed love for sharing the gospel to all who will hear His good news!
Life is short. Keep His lovingkindness before your eyes and walk in His truth that sets free and leads to
Beloved~ 3 Things I am learning and loving in this season of having older teenagers and a 7 year old, of being in my 40’s, loving my man for almost 20 years, and of being in the will of God are ~ #1 ~ Walking in the Light and being the light means there’s no time for drama, pretending, or lies. There’s a world waiting for our light to illuminate their darkness. Those longing for someone to do that will embrace it without pretending, drama, or lies. All of these things only steals away from what God has fully given us in Christ Jesus. Life is short and there’s no time for any of that, as I see it. #2 ~ Slow mornings are cultivated and protected. And are refreshing to the heart and soul. ☕️ #3 ~ Steadfast love and abundant faith are not usually on display for the world to see until it accomplishes the work of the Holy Spirit where God is glorified! But the fruit of a steady heart and an abundant faith that can move mountains are seen by all as Love. That’s where the world will see God and His love and will for them. Loyalty and Love make room for grace and truth in love. I still ask the Lord every morning, “What do you want from me today to show love to those around me?” And I proclaim along with that request, “Lord, I need you today.” While I am learning a lot. There’s still some things that never change. What are you learning in this season of your life? I’d love to know! Comment below and encourage others along with me. 💙, Jessi Without love it all means nothing.
Beloved~ Recently, I was told by someone special that in all the world her favorite place to be is around our table with the laughs and good times shared together with good food! This made me cry as I was grateful for our family table. I wish people knew the magnitude of importance gathering around the dinner table has on families! Joy, laughs, hearts shared, stories told, lessons learned, truth share, grace given, and so much more all happens around the family table. •And it’s us, the parents, that cultivate this beautiful space. No matter where we are either at our table or a night out we make it a special time together! And when you make room for everyone, your family table becomes everyone’s favorite place to be on any given evening! I always make more food or make it stretch for our boys could invite many last minute guest to the table. 💙It doesn’t mean you have to have the fanciest table or setting you just have to make room and a welcoming space for all to feel loved and seen. May you make what you have a beautiful family table and find joy throughout the years that there is a space for you, for those you love, and strangers you are called to love around your Family table. You may never know the joy you bring to so many and yourself! It’s not an easy task but it’s worth it! 💙
It’s worth it!
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,”
Hebrews 6:19
#saltysweetcollective #thecollective #bible #itsworthit #lifewithhope #impossible #nothingisimpossible #withGod #life #way #truth #grace
To be truly blessed means to have favor with God through the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Nothing is impossible with my God. He has redeemed, restored, and most of all loved me for who I am and who He created me to be, me. He can do the same for you. There is nothing my God can’t do! He stands in victory and because of His righteousness we can stand with Him steadfast and secure. #saltysweetcollective #blessed #strong #reels #steadfastandsecure
Beloved~ this world through sin crosses over many things that should be stay set apart for holiness. This topic is one of them. Hear me say, just because women are created in His image and we are warriors doesn’t mean we are to be Sheparding Pastors. • Yes~ we can preach the good news! In fact we are called to and honored when we do. • Preaching is proclaiming the good news to all who will hear. It’s not necessarily teaching and shepherding. Our sin wants to encompass all of that because, well you know, the fall in Genesis. • Many bring up warriors of the scriptures to say women should lead. Well, they were warriors fighting battles and did it in such a way that God was glorified not women as a whole. That can not be our goal to prove women can do something. • Women are great leaders but if it’s the Lord we are proclaiming, do it His way. Not in our own understanding of what we want to happen. This is a #hottopic in the #sbc #baptist community and I stand with men are pastors and women are valued. When women take what was meant for men aren’t we doing the same thing society is doing to women right now? ••Rejoice in how we’re are equal but different. We have our roles ordained by God and we are fully content and grateful when we humbly find rest in those boundaries. Women proclaim the gospel and the word of God! You have an audience. But keep His commandments and see His love flow into the world through you loving His people as He has compassionately commanded. 💙, Jessi ~ a proclaimer of His gospel His way.
One way to fight spiritual battles against spiritual forces is … We don’t let darkness overtake us but we walk in the light 💡 wherever and whoever is around. This is confidence in Christ. He is working all things out for the good of those who believe. #helpusbelieve #spirirualbattles #spiritualwarfare #bewhoyouwerecreatedtobe #createdforapurpose #nomatter
#saltysweetcollective Truth & Grace #Conference was so beautiful and gracious!
Beloved, Make plans to join us next year!! 💙
Beloved~ Read His words that are given to us in love. Find rest for your soul and rejoice. 💙, Jessi S.
Beloved~ Believe. Just know He is able to do far more than we know to ask. Hasn’t he shown you that in your own life? Hasn’t He provided and guided you in ways that you would have never believed were possible if He had told you? But God always showed up! In His presence is where joy, beauty, and freedom are found. •Joy•Beautiful •Freedom Those are the words I keep hearing as we try to describe what is happening at this chapel. We are unified in those 3 words. That should stand for something. God is the One drawing the nations to Himself. And He will always use the unexpected and weak to profound the strong and wise. May we stand in aww of His beauty and freedom as we worship joyfully. It’s the hearts that were there displaying His glory. He’s after our hearts. He pursues those He loves. We just have to love because He first loved us. 💙, Jessi
Beloved~
We don’t want to leave.
#asburyrevival #asburyrevival2023
“Revival isn’t hype. It’s humble people hungry for Jesus!”
Revival isn’t hype. It’s humble people hungry for Jesus!
