There is a little bit of truth in everything and nothing is 100% the truth.

Very early into the 2024 year, the Lord spoke these words to me in my prayer closet.

Now before everyone has a come apart, because of the 'nothing is 100% the truth' part, I ask that you take a moment and allow me to pray for us really quick and then, if you feel led to continue reading, I urge you to. As always, I am happy to answer any questions via email.

I can love you and disagree with you.

Father God, I come to you in this sweet moment of opportunity to share the word you have spoken to me. Lord, I pray that whoever is on the other side of this screen, you divinely orchestrated to be here. I pray that the veil would be lifted, they would have spiritual ears to hear and soft soil to take in the words you spoke to me. God, may your Holy Spirit be ever present within me, guiding me as I speak, providing the words you would have me to share, and closing my mouth when anything is unpleasing to you or failing to glorify your holy name. Lord, I am human, and my flesh may fail, but with you- the delivery of this message can and will be successful. May I be a vessel that represents you well. Amen 🩷

At some point in my spiritual journey, I became angry with God.

pause - before all the gasps and the 'she can't be angry with God' and 'she can't question God' thoughts, I challenge you to read the book of Job, if you've already read it, re-read it with an open mind and heart and ask the Lord to grant you understanding and wisdom.

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The Lord said to Eliphaz, "I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has." - Job 42:7

Part of having a personal relationship with God, includes spaces of complete vulnerability, honesty, and trust. It's mutual, going both ways. God knows what is in your heart, friends. Truth be told, while yes, we trust him, it is not always easy. It often comes with a lot of reservation, hesitation, and doubt.

Our heavenly father is not surprised by any of the emotions within us. No matter how many times we cover them up with "I TRUST YOU GOD" he still knows when we are struggling beneath the overarching proclamation.

And what does that really say about how much we trust him? If we can't trust him with our most vulnerable feelings, during our weak and fearful moments. We trust him but not enough to say, 'God, I know you got me, but right now I feel unsteady. Right now, I feel abandoned by you. Right now, I am struggling to see your promises come to pass.' Friends, when I stopped tiptoeing around God and learned to lean into him like the Father, Friend, Comforter, Healer, Provider, and Way Maker that HE IS, things changed.

*I'll add a small disclaimer here, those vulnerable conversations take place solely between God and me. I don't stand in the middle of street screaming my frustrations and expressing my doubts. Those personal relationship moments take place in an intimate setting.

At the point I found myself the most frustrated with God, I decided to make a prayer closet [war room] in my house. A space devoted to the Lord and cleared of everything that could be a distraction. I covered the walls in scripture, prayers, and His promises. Speakers for worship music and supplies for bible study. It wasn't too long afterwards, my son wanted to start using it- but on one of my doors, I tape prayer request over people the Lord placed on my path or on my mind, and I didn't want him to be able to read them. So, we created a second prayer closet in our house. 😍

By no means, am I suggesting this is necessary to be able to speak to the Lord, but what I am saying is my relationship with Him 100% benefited and grew from it.

[please enjoy these very low quality😅, raw edits of the prayer closets]

1st Prayer Closet

2nd Prayer Closet

As my personal relationship continued to grow, I became more aware of His voice, His presence, and His call on my life. I began to sit in silence in His presence more than I came in prepared with my long list of things to ask for or complain about. He started revealing the most beautiful, indescribable things to me. Things that somehow my spirit completely understood, but my human mouth couldn't find the words to explain to anyone. At least not without them thinking I was completely crazy. This went on for months. In the beginning I would make attempts to share, and the words were just never there. After a few attempts, I stopped, and I started journaling what He would tell me. That seemed to flow more easily. However, at some point He made it very clear to me that some things were not meant for me to share [at least not yet anyway] and the things that He did want me to share, He would very clearly direct me to do so. Which brings me here 😅

There is the overarching theme in relationships, rather it's an intimate, friendship, coworkers, church friends, etc. That if we don't agree on something, one or both parties become offended. As if our personal opinions are a personal attack on the other person. But what if it's just that- what if our personal relationships with Jesus, brought us personalized responses from Jesus? What if it bring us different answers or opinions because we're on different paths, different timing, different needs, different understanding, etc. It doesn't make one right or wrong. It makes mine right for me at the time, and yours right for you at the time. Can't we just accept that, and love each other where we are each at? Who I am to tell anyone; what God did or didn't say to them? We are seldom mindful of where someone's spiritual maturity lies. If we aren't careful, we run the risk of pushing people the opposite direction, before they even get a chance to walk into a relationship with Jesus. Because our very representation of Him, scared them away from their Savior instead of showing them how desperately we ALL need a Savior.

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 
-Hebrews 5:1-2

The way the Lord started moving my Spirit to gain greater understanding - was through bible verses. A verse I read [2] years ago may have a completely different meaning or application to me today. Maybe I am applying it to circumstances which look different today or maybe my spiritual understanding has matured making the meaning completely different. That doesn't make the meaning/application any less true for me in the moment, years ago, and it doesn't make my interpretation/application any less true for me today when I read it.

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. -1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Our job is to point people to Jesus, so that he can save them. Perhaps if we stop trying to do God's job for Him and focus on loving His people and pointing them to Him, there would be far more people running into His arms than running away from His Church. Now part of loving someone, is correcting and teaching - IF YOU ARE CALLED AND EQUIPPED TO DO SO. And even then, I don't think there should ever be a point in your ministry, whether it is your 1st year or 40th year, that you aren't consulting with the Lord prior to stepping into those conversations.

The Lord placed the following scripture heavily on my Spirit to include. I typically have a reason or thought process for including bible verses to support the message. However, the Lord was persistent on this one and has someone in mind that will see it. 🩷

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. -1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Jesus sat with sinners, and I hope you will too.

You are absolutely called to love the sinner, while hating the sin.

Jesus loves you and I am trying,

Jennifer #sittingwithsinners