tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265068382011-04-21T15:07:32.584-04:00My Derbe. What does that mean? Derbe (/dur'bee/) was an ancient town in Asia Minor. On his journey to preach about Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul was stoned in the nearby town of Lystra and went to Derbe to recuperate and then preach some more. Derbe was a peaceful place for him and he made many disciples there. This blog will be a peaceful place for me to process the happenings of life and perhaps preach a little too. :)Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.comBlogger451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1163489755291665782006-11-14T02:33:00.000-05:002007-02-12T13:48:33.486-05:00

I'll keep this blog up for a while, but I'm moving to WordPress. So, you can find all my archived posts plus new and exciting posts here, at http://myderbe.wordpress.com Hope to see your comments there soon. :)

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1163391956297407382006-11-12T23:19:00.000-05:002006-11-12T23:25:56.296-05:00

Just wanted to say that I only remove comments that are spam. I removed two identical comments today that were links for ways to make money. I removed one the other day that was a long, long spam post about religion that I have seen anonymously posted on other blogs. If you post an original comment pertaining to the blog, I promise I won't delete it even if I disagree with you, providing you

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1162847357817928752006-11-06T15:57:00.000-05:002006-11-06T16:09:17.830-05:00

Yes, that's right. The gift of discontentment. I'm working through the Women of Faith Bible study on "Cultivating Contentment" with some other MOPS moms. Our mentor Vickie is leading it, and after one group session, I know this is going to be GREAT. The writers of this study present an idea that I have never considered before --- viewing discontentment as a gift. "Why is it that nothing on

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1162684560424153462006-11-04T18:28:00.000-05:002007-02-07T07:25:46.776-05:00

I'm still reading "Blue Like Jazz." Usually, I scarf down books, gulping them down as quickly as I can. With this book, though, I am nibbling it. I bite off a tiny bit and chew and chew and chew. I'm also trying to read a few other books at the same time. One of the books I've recently begun is "Friend Raising" by Betty Barnett. This is a book recommended by NTM to help us begin our

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1162444347469065232006-11-02T00:02:00.000-05:002006-11-02T00:12:27.483-05:00

Psalm 143:6 -- "I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land." Psalm 145:16 -- "You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing." These two verses jumped out at me tonight. Look at the difference between my hands and God's hands. My hands are empty. Totally empty. Imagine what Psalm 143:6 looks like. I stand before God and hold out my empty hands

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1162232408285710862006-10-30T12:32:00.000-05:002006-10-30T13:20:08.303-05:00

I probably have more questions than answers about this. How do we minister when we have small children? I mean, how do we handle the logistics of it all? But also, what is our responsibility to make "wise" decisions about protecting our children from bad influences? And what is our responsibility to minister to those people who might be bad influences? I sure would love to hear input from

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1162098142881266512006-10-29T01:02:00.000-05:002007-02-12T13:46:45.793-05:00

My friend Molly has had some interesting posts and comments on her blog lately. The other day, she provoked me to think some more about doctrine and love. I've had some rambling thoughts about this for a while now. My husband and I even talked some about this with Ross from NTM Australia when we had dinner with him back in August. A lot of local churches (or even large denominations) that

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1161144124679909572006-10-17T23:41:00.000-04:002006-10-18T00:02:04.700-04:00

At the Extraordinary Women conference, Jill Briscoe shared a story that I have to share with you. Last year, Jill and her husband Stuart traveled to a closed country to secretly minister to some pastors and their wives. They spent a week there. Stuart taught the pastors in one attic while Jill taught their wives across town in another attic. They slept on blankets on the floor at night and

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1161119608410383212006-10-17T17:12:00.000-04:002006-10-17T17:54:15.156-04:00

In early September, I enjoyed the privilege of hearing Jill Briscoe speak at a conference. Wow! I could sit and listen to her all day. And it's not just because of her cute British accent. :) She can open up the truths of God's Word. I was like a sponge, just soaking in everything she said. That day, Jill spoke about Ministry According to Jesus. This morning at MOPS, our mentor spoke

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1160882843468785112006-10-14T23:21:00.000-04:002006-10-14T23:27:54.243-04:00

Please pray for Jenna and her family. Their much-hoped-for and eagerly-anticipated son was born very early and into the presence of Jesus. My heart breaks for her, though I cannot understand her pain. It sure does make me feel pretty selfish and greedy for crying and having a temper-tantrum with God because it looks like I'll only have six children.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1160685554851261842006-10-12T16:06:00.000-04:002006-10-12T16:39:14.873-04:00

This whole idea about Grace has really gotten me thinking. What about works? I know we're saved by faith, but we are supposed to do good works after we are saved. Right? When I mull that over in my mind, the scripture fragment that keeps being whispered in my head is "We are His workmanship!" Yes, good works will follow our belief in and acceptance of Jesus; but they will be His good works.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1160523059076419282006-10-10T19:26:00.000-04:002006-10-10T19:30:59.090-04:00

Just something funny I wanted to share. In the car a little bit ago, my children were talking about whether or not it's better to be a boy or a girl. The girls said it's better to be a girl because you get to go to our church's Ladies' Brunch in the spring and eat all you want, and there are donuts there. (These are MY girls!) Then we said that the boys can do the same thing at our church's

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1160493076363583022006-10-10T10:28:00.000-04:002006-10-10T11:11:16.380-04:00

On Sunday, I heard a pastor say that because Christ has died for us and saved us from Hell, we owe Him a huge debt and all He asks or requires of us now is that we live holy lives. I don't know that he intended to, but he strongly implied that we have to live holy lives to sort of repay that debt to Christ. I became physically uncomfortable listening to that. That didn't sound right to me.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1160195387946193832006-10-07T00:14:00.000-04:002006-10-07T00:29:47.956-04:00

OK . . . so one of the things Donald Miller mentions in this book is that non-Christians feel like all Christians have an agenda. That Christians want to convince everyone else to believe what we believe. That we want everyone to know we're right. Well . . . I think that's probably true. I mean, I do think I'm right. And I do think that all the people who don't believe what I believe are

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1160162388967109322006-10-06T14:57:00.000-04:002006-10-06T15:20:44.540-04:00

Oh, oh, oh! I should be moving clothes from the washer to the dryer. I should be unloading the dishwasher. But I sat for a few minutes with a cup of coffee to finish reading Chapter 2. It's so good! And I have to tell you about it.I'm offended by parts of this chapter. I mean, Donald Miller is a little insulting to the Republican Party. And I am, after all, a Republican. Aren't all good

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1160115887919283752006-10-06T00:36:00.000-04:002006-10-06T12:38:35.120-04:00

Chapter Two of _BLue Like Jazz_ is called "Problems." Donald Miller describes watching the news and seeing horrible atrocities happening around the world, like the genocide in Congo. Donald is telling his friend Tony about the two and a half million people who (at that time) had been killed in three years and about the women who had been repeatedly raped. Tony asks Donald if he could ever do

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1159937326813300142006-10-04T00:29:00.000-04:002006-10-04T00:51:48.036-04:00

I haven't blogged in quite a while and after two women's conferences and a couple good books, I sure do have a lot to say. :) At the MOPS Convention, Donald Miller read from his book _Blue Like Jazz_. As soon as we got home, I ordered it from Amazon. I have only just begun reading it, but I think this book is going to shake up my view of Christianity. I know parts of it will make me

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1155845779912608872006-08-17T15:59:00.000-04:002006-08-17T16:16:20.000-04:00

I was glad to see this Michelle Malkin column today. It's all about Hezbollah's manipulation of the media. We will probably never know an accurate count of civilians who have died. I feel sorry for the people in Lebanon. Many of them are not involved with Hezbollah and would probably prefer their country had not been hijacked by this terrorist organization. Bridges are out; communities have

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1155761016162902112006-08-16T16:38:00.000-04:002006-08-16T16:49:21.136-04:00

Hey! Check out NTM's brand new two minute video.http://www.ntmfm.org/videos/REACH/

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1155746785372502652006-08-16T12:37:00.000-04:002006-08-16T12:46:25.373-04:00

OK, I want your ideas! This year, I have decided that my girls will each do a journal with me. I will write in the journal -- asking questions, giving assignments, and answering their questions or giving them encouragement. Then each morning, I'll give them their journals which they will work on throughout the day. They will answer my questions/assignments and they can tell me anything or ask

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1155621772086158272006-08-15T01:54:00.000-04:002006-08-15T08:25:51.790-04:00

First, let me say that I welcome your comments. I would love to hear your thoughts. :) OK. I've been thinking about Peter for a while now. I relate to Peter. Peter was a talker. It seems like things were in Peter's mind and out his mouth without spending a lot of time in a filter somewhere in-between. I can relate. But Peter was also right in the middle of things. He wanted to be

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1155442377242338832006-08-12T23:33:00.000-04:002006-08-13T01:28:28.166-04:00

We spent the evening with the chairman of New Tribes Mission Australia. My husband (Patrick) met him last year in the Philippines and God used that encounter to help draw us to NTM. From our conversations, I have several thoughts running through my head. I'm not sure I can get them all into a cohesive, neat little essay, but I'm just going to do a little stream of consciousness writing. Maybe

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1155409290418043622006-08-12T14:54:00.000-04:002006-08-12T21:35:34.850-04:00

Finally, Lauren got the dress she's wanted for a couple years! She found these matching dresses for her and Samantha on EBAY and bought them with her birthday money. We also found another dress with pinafore on EBAY, which I bought for a great deal. That one even has the pockets buttoned on the front -- just like Laura's are described in the book. Lauren loves to wear dresses, especially ones

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1155405303421461382006-08-12T12:56:00.000-04:002006-08-12T13:57:34.560-04:00

What We're Listening ToJack Johnson's Curious George soundtrackVeggie Tales Worship SongsAndrew PetersonWhat We're Reading Patrick:Stephen LawheadJennifer:Anne Tyler's "A Patchwork Planet"Lisa Whelchel's "Taking Care of the Me in Mommy"Lysa Terkeurst's "What Happens When Women Walk In Faith"The Kids:Sarah, Plain and TallBarnyard BoogieMcBroom Tells The TruthPeril At King's Creek (A Felicity

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1155326417021542012006-08-11T15:30:00.000-04:002006-08-11T23:59:30.853-04:00

You have to check out this. It's a blog which contains some great links with information about Green Helmet Guy. Have you heard of him? He is this guy who keeps showing up in the media photos of war-torn Lebanon. He's also been filmed directing photograhers and videographers and setting up photo shoots, so to speak, of dead children. It's very disturbing. It's also a clear indication of the

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1155006072366427992006-08-07T22:47:00.000-04:002006-08-10T18:27:13.413-04:00

We were talking in Sunday School about Christians and our role in the world. What should be our focus? Some Christians are very involved politically, exerting a lot of time and energy to bring about policy change. Some Christians focus much of their time and energy on boycotts and writing letters to certain companies whose policies are offensive. Some Christians are involved in charities and

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1154995498648350922006-08-07T20:02:00.000-04:002006-08-07T20:04:58.680-04:00

Caleb told me tonight that he has three wishes. 1. That we had a big road right in front of our house just for my children to ride their bikes on. 2. That we never had to clean our house.3. That he never had to wear clothes because --- "I lo-ooove to be naked!"There you have it --- a glimpse into the mind of a 5-year-old boy.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1154191011266866252006-07-29T12:28:00.000-04:002006-08-07T13:03:07.013-04:00

My husband played this song by Derek Webb for me this morning. I LOVE the words. It's a good reminder of how we Christians should be seen by those around us. T-Shirts (What We Should Be Known For)words and music by derek webbthey'll know us by the t-shirts that we wearthey'll know us by the way we point and stareat anyone whose sin looks worse than ourswho cannot hide the scars of this curse

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1154062434370513262006-07-28T00:53:00.000-04:002006-07-30T13:12:07.706-04:00

OK. Back to bodily functions. I read this CNN article tonight. It's about the debate over breastfeeding in public. The headline shouts "Lactivists: Where Is It OK To Breastfeed?" First, I laughed over the term "lactivist." Women who have become activists about their rights to breastfeed wherever they are when their babies need to eat have been named lactivists. I think that's very clever.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1154055037665642762006-07-27T22:05:00.000-04:002006-07-30T05:40:23.490-04:00

What is lifestyle evangelism? Wikipedia says this is a form of evangelism in which a believer can encourage others to become believers if they demonstrate their faith by living a godly life. Christians need to be involved in lifestyle evangelism. We all should live a good testimony before others so that God can be glorified. Matthew 5:16 tells us "Let your light so shine before men, that they

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1153947811791019992006-07-26T16:10:00.000-04:002006-07-26T23:58:13.466-04:00

I know you all are expecting another post on my kids' bodily functions, and I hate to disappoint; but I am thinking today about the Christian's responsibility to spread the Gospel. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:1 -- "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." Paul refers to himself as a steward of the mysteries of God. And he passes

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1153404196877080362006-07-20T09:30:00.000-04:002006-07-21T10:57:33.956-04:00

Because my last post has provoked people to offer me chocolate, movie tickets, airline tickets, and prozac, and because I fear my venting may have been an unintentional advertisement for birth control, I vow to post positive things today. Some snippets of how wonderful my children can be: (I like to call these the light at the end of the tunnel moments, when I catch a glimpse of how all our

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1153341112319694862006-07-19T16:00:00.000-04:002006-07-20T09:48:09.720-04:00

OK. Before I start today, I just want to say that no matter what I am about to say, I love being a mom. I love my six children. They are wonderful and beautiful, and I'm sure they will grow into adults I am proud of. I love my husband. I've covered that in a recent post. :) And I love being a stay-at-home mom. I would not want to miss out on the day-to-day stuff of raising my children. I

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1153197590998780532006-07-18T00:07:00.000-04:002006-07-18T19:35:15.503-04:00

I think my 2-year-old drank water from the toilet today. Yes, this is the moment that will earn me that Mom of the Year Award. My daughter came running into the room half-screaming in horror, half-laughing, "Momma! Jackson is drinking from the toilet!" I jumped up, sprinting through the house calling out for Jack. He waddled into the kitchen with a large plastic cup in his hands and water

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1152911992511689372006-07-14T17:19:00.000-04:002006-07-17T20:25:47.403-04:00

Before we head outside to play, I suggest, "Hey, boys, you can take some Little People out to the sand table and pretend they're at the beach!" I think my suggestion is clever and will be fun for them. I am pretty excited about my idea. But my boys are not interested in regular sand and mere beaches. With a rather evil-sounding laugh, Silas looks to his brother and growls, "No. Let's pretend

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1152737173702634422006-07-12T16:41:00.000-04:002006-07-12T16:46:13.730-04:00

Caleb definitely does not have his head buried in the sand.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1152735061104555422006-07-12T15:55:00.000-04:002006-07-18T09:02:59.310-04:00

When I walk with little boys, I learn all sorts of things.* Every stick is a light saber, equipping them for battle.* Tiny berries make good bombs to throw, even if you do have to help them explode by stomping on them.* Shady bushes along the path are monsters waiting to attack us as we pass by.* Mud puddles have a strong magnetic attraction to boys.* Engineers make tunnels just so little

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1152251124167524282006-07-07T01:19:00.000-04:002006-07-17T21:54:28.650-04:00

There are days when I want to scream or run away or lock myself in the bathroom. Anything to escape the craziness of six children. The other day I contacted my husband at work and threatened to hole up in the nearest hotel, eat an entire bag of cookies, and watch What Not To Wear for hours and hours. He assured me that if I ran off and left him in charge of the kids, I would definitely see all

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1152248414192234232006-07-07T00:48:00.000-04:002006-07-07T16:41:42.630-04:00

Beautiful Childby Sara Grovesbeautiful child right from the moment you were bornyou overtook my heart my worldmy beautiful childtender and sweet both in your crying and your sleep you radiate a sense of hopeyou're beautifulAnd I have seen the most amazing sightsin my travels on the earthmisty seas and amber harbor lightsand other things of matchless worthbut next to you all of the beauty seems so

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1152213079573235432006-07-06T14:32:00.000-04:002006-07-06T15:18:35.066-04:00

I have become a huge fan of Robin Jones Gunn's Sisterchicks books. "Sisterchicks in Gondolas" was no disappointment.In the latest Sisterchicks installment, Jenna and her sister-in-law Sue journey to a palace in Italy to cook for a week-long retreat. With each page, I felt as though I were right with them strolling the streets, tasting the gelato, oohing and aahing over ancient works of art, and

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1152210588181465092006-07-06T14:23:00.000-04:002006-07-18T00:08:20.173-04:00

Guess this probably isn't the best picture to use on those prayer cards we'll give out at churches. But this picture is a pretty accurate representation of our family. Maybe our family verse should be -- 1 Corinthians 4:10 "We are fools for Christ's sake"

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1151817259255466972006-07-02T00:29:00.000-04:002006-07-02T01:44:12.606-04:00

It's late and my heart's full. I've been thinking about my husband and our marriage. *sigh* I was so young when we got married. I mean, I didn't think so at the time. I thought I was so grown-up, and I can even remember having conversations with Patrick in our early years of marriage about how I didn't feel like people treated us like "real" adults. I was 21 when we got married. 21. So

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1151693830243433472006-06-30T14:36:00.000-04:002006-08-13T08:03:02.883-04:00

This morning my 6 year old Rachel broke a lamp. She is doing jobs to earn money to replace the lamp. Restitution. I think it's important to teach our children to make restitution when we can. But this made me think. Sometimes we can't make restitution. Sometimes we make such a mess that there is no way we can make up for it. That's when Mercy shows up. Our 3 year old drew on the bathroom

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1145764116306166242006-04-22T23:15:00.000-04:002006-04-22T23:48:36.320-04:00

Several years ago, Patrick and I identified the Law & Order Principle. This is when something bad happens to someone because that person was doing something he shouldn't have been doing. We noticed on the television show Law & Order that often the victim of a crime was doing something stupid ---- dealing drugs, hanging out at bars late at night, dating drug dealers, embezzling money from his

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26506838.post-1145505969535018942006-04-19T23:41:00.000-04:002006-04-20T00:07:08.410-04:00

My first entry. A blog. Wow. Let's get started.Tonight my seven-year-old Lauren had a soccer game. She really wanted to score a goal, but didn't. She tried her best, and it pleases me so much that she was satisfied with that. Well, she didn't try her best in the first half. She kept talking to another girl, the girl who chewed on a dandelion stem the whole game. At half-time, I

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04909120443068419942noreply@blogger.com0