Beyond the Walls

As mentioned in my last post, there is a hidden oasis behind cinder block walls on a dusty street in Pozorrubio...a welcome haven dedicated to God. Here, in the courtyard, is where fellowship and meals take place.  Standing in the photo below are Marilyn Antonio and Kim Burdick. 

Courtyard of Faith Fellowship Pozorrubio

Marilyn is retired from her secular job and works full time now in the service of the Lord.  She was invaluable to us in many ways...acting as translator, tour guide, friend, prayer warrior, and worker bee.  What a powerhouse of faith and kindness!  Thank you, Marilyn.

One will sometimes find Pastora Connie to the left of this area. When she is not preaching and caring for her congregation, or taking care of Eliza, she is tending her beautiful birds:

Birdhouses (see upper right corner) are made of hollowed Coconut shells

Connie is a skilled carpenter.  Her handiwork is evident throughout the sanctuary.  Notice the beautiful fabric draped from the ceiling and the backlit cross:

Beautiful arrangement in front 

Here, Pastora Connie instructs the young ladies in charge of the overhead for the song lyrics, just prior to our Sunday morning worship service:

We had much anticipation over this Sunday service, as it was our first "official" time to lead any ministry on this journey.  Our travel here was for more than the formal ministry times, though.  We were privileged to encourage church leaders like Pastora Connie, who labor diligently and faithfully with little earthly reward. There is great joy in her countenance.  If she were asked, I think she would confirm that there is nothing else that she would rather be doing.  I hope that our presence was a physical reminder that God sees her and loves her. She is making a difference in His kingdom.

See what I mean by joy?

We started with singing, just like back home.

Can you tell I am enjoying this?

The remainder of the service was hearing words of encouragement  and truth from Cherie, Marsha, and Tina.

  

Charie 

Marsha (Go Roomie!)

Tina 

As each woman spoke and there was a scripture to be read, Marilyn also read the scripture from her Bible in Tagalog (language most commonly spoken here):

Marilyn reading from the Bible in Tagalog

Charie, Marsha, and Tina shared eloquently from their experiences and God's word.  It was a lovely service.  As it concluded, nearly the whole congregation came forward to pray and express their desire to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. What a wonderful morning, followed by a meal in the courtyard and an afternoon women's retreat...

Pastora Connie and Kim speaking with friends

Sweet tasting Rice and Delicious Meat Dish

Beautiful Smiles

Cherie, Diann, and Sonja

Janice and Marilyn

The children were captivated by our youngest team members.  Impromptu dancing ensued after lunch:

Danya (left) and Amber

During the church service, several members of our team had separated with the children to teach, sing, and play games. 

We were welcomed here in Pozorrubio with anticipation, excitement and love. It is humbling to have people waiting for us, people we had never met. They are hungry for more of Jesus.  Such beautiful, generous, and kind people. And I think, in a way, just showing up reminds them that they are seen by God.  They have not been forgotten.  No one is forgotten.  

You are not forgotten.

13 She (Hagar)gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.
(Genesis 16:13-14)

How I Became an International Dynamic Woman

After forty-six hours of travel and a late dinner at Faith Fellowship Aurora, we arrived at the Send Guesthouse for just one night before embarking for Pozorrubio in two large vans.  The guesthouse was kind enough to allow us to leave the bulk of our luggage with them so that we could take smaller bags for our three nights in Hotel J'Adore in Pozorrubio.

Our first morning in the Philippines, we enjoyed a breakfast of eggs, bacon, Toast, and juice at the Send Guesthouse.

Cindy, Diann, Kim, and Janice

Sonja and Tina

Devri, Amber, Danya, and Charie

On the way to Pozorrubio, we had a three to four hour ride through the countryside.  

Hard at work...not unusual to see while traveling through the countryside

Lunch was at a very nice McDonald's, where the girls were thrilled to enjoy chicken and spaghetti.  I played it safe with a Filet-O-Fish sandwich. And yes, it was just like what we have in the USA.

The Hotel J'Adore (new) boasts of being the first and only hotel in town and is quite nice.  The staff aims to please; they were gracious and kind to us. When we arrived, you can imagine our disappointment to find that there was a brown-out (electricity was off) and the interior was sweltering.  The towels we were given on our first night (to wear down the back of our shirts) were going to come in handy. 

Another disappointment for some of us was that not only were we to share a room (which we expected), but we were also sharing a bed.  Not a big deal in many parts of the world but I must admit, we Americans tend to be spoiled in regards to not sharing beds.  I grew up sharing a double bed with my sister, but since that time have had a queen-sized all to myself.  And my roommate, Marsha, is married and accustomed to sharing with her man.  We looked at each other with laughter and dismay when we saw this:

Hotel J'Adore

I know, I know.  Some missionaries are in huts in the jungle and this is lovely and luxurious.  Nothing to complain about here.  But we laughed about this a lot.  And it was especially funny the evening we partook of our complimentary massage. One massage was included as part of our hotel stay and it was a welcomed treat after a long, hot day.  

We were laying side by side on this bed while two lady masseuses worked on us. Mine massaged one arm and hand and then I felt her holding my other hand and I thought it strange that she was "just" holding it.  Until I realized that she was actually now down by my feet and I was holding my roomie's hand!  This was our Lucy and Ethel moment.  We laughed about it later.  I don't know if Marsha even noticed at the time (I think she was in a massage trance), but I was embarrassed. Especially because we were unable to communicate with the masseuses in English. When I first spoke to the lady before she started, she said to me, "I am getting a nose bleed."  I said, "Oh no, do you need a tissue?" and she shook her head side to side.  I found out later that the phrase "I'm getting a nose bleed" is used when one is unable to speak English or tired of trying.

My wonderful, patient, gracious roomie, Marsha

After leaving our belongings at the hotel, we walked down the dusty street to check out the church where we would be ministering the next day.

Bawal Umhi Dito translates to "You can't pee here."

This picture was taken through a van window as we were departing on Tuesday. Apologies for the lack of clarity. The official church sign (white sign by the door) says "Pozorrubio Faith Fellowship."  

Beyond these walls is a little church that serves as a beautiful haven on this dusty road in a precious little town typical of provinces in the Philippines. There are many economically impoverished living in the area.  Pastora Connie Ragado lives and serves behind these walls and out in the community.  

Pastora Connie and her niece, Eliza

She is a beautiful lady inside and out!  Precious Shepherd of her congregation and lover of God's children (and impressive carpenter by hobby), Pastora Connie felt called to start this church under the umbrella of Faith Fellowship.  There were many times early on that she preached to just one person.  She continued to be faithful and now regular attenders on Sunday morning number from fifty to sixty people.

Imagine our surprise when we walked beyond the cinder block walls to find this sign greeting us:

Sign in the courtyard of Faith Fellowship Pozorrubio

OMS stands for One Mission Society, which is the organization that sent the Burdick's to the Philippines for their 20-years of service.   Brent was the Pastor at Faith Fellowship in Aurora for many years. Throughout our travels, it was clearly evident that there is a deep love and appreciation for Brent and Kim and their family here.  Kim, Brent's wife (and one of my dear friends), was the leader of our team.  Kim and Brent's daughters, Danya and Devri, were also members of our team.  We were sent by OMS Dynamic Women In Ministries  and our home church, Good Shepherd UMC, and not to be forgotten, by the generous donations of friends, relatives, and co-workers. You know who you are.  I pray that God will richly bless you for giving so that our team could have this opportunity and so that many could (hopefully) be encouraged by the Lord through us during our travels. What a privilege we've had!  Your investment is greatly appreciated more than you can ever know.  Thank You.

Breakfast outdoors at Hotel J'Adore with sweet girls and dear friends Amber, Danya, and Devri

So, that is, in a nutshell, is how I became an International Dynamic Woman, not to be confused with international man of mystery!  My roomie and I enjoyed calling each other International Dynamic Woman.  Hear us roar!  :)

Stay tuned for part two and more on our time at Pozorrubio Faith Fellowship.  (I promise not to wait so long to tell you the rest of the story.)

Philippines 2014: Initial Thoughts

Women's Retreat in Pozorrubio

I have been avoiding this—the writing about my trip to the Philippines.  Rarely at a loss for words and guilty on countless occasions of exceeding the recommended 500 word limit for blog posts; I am known for throwing propriety and caution to the wind.  I write until I am done with my thoughts.  Perhaps it is fear that keeps me from writing now; fear that words might fail to do justice to what my heart knows to be true.

Don’t let me be guilty of overdone platitudes: “I went to give but how much more I received,” or “I thought I would serve but it was they who served me.” Not that any of that is untrue.  It just isn’t enough.

You have to know this about me first—I am sentimental, but I am not.  I am romantic, but I am not. Tears do not come easily to me.  I am a realist.  I am suspicious.  I have learned not to expect too much and therefore, I am often pleasantly surprised.

All that I knew was that I was supposed to go.  I didn’t know why.  Honestly, I wasn’t the least bit excited about this journey even a week before.  Oh, I pretended to be excited.  Truthfully, I held more dread than anticipation. What if the heat was unbearable?  What if I felt suffocated being around people for two weeks?  Where would I find the peace and solitude that I crave?  What if I don’t sleep and get cranky and horribly offend someone?

Please understand, I am the same woman who stood on a hill overlooking Jerusalem in 2000, surrounded by friends who were weeping for joy at their first sight of the Holy Land, all the while feeling nothing but shame for having no tears of my own.  I was miserably tired, hot, and unimpressed by the pale beige tones of the desert and the pierce of the thorny ground into my Birkenstock-exposed toes.  Jet lag is not my friend.

Afraid of setting my expectations too high, the best I knew to do was to lean in to the prayers offered on my behalf.  There must have been more than I even imagined.  I had the privilege of an assignment prior to the trip…the writing of a devotional for the women we would meet in Manila and the provinces, “31 Days of Hope.”  One of the days was about letting go.  For someone like me who lives alone and has the illusion of control, journeying with a group to other side of the world can be daunting.  I took my own advice and it helped.  Well, actually, it was the advice of a friend to me when I was escalating up the hill of a roller coaster I had never ridden before; “Just relax and let it happen.”  And so I did.

It didn’t matter that I didn’t get more than five hours of sleep at a time while I was there.  It didn’t matter that I was drenched with sweat much of the time.  It didn’t matter that there was a typhoon and we were without electricity for an entire day, and portions of days thereafter.  It didn’t matter than I had way too much rice and (sometimes) food that I could not identify. None of that mattered because this adventure, this, was the best trip I have ever taken…even better than Italy.  How could this be?

My heart was fully engaged.  That is what mattered.

On the way to the airport 07_09_2014

Manila...after 38 hours of travel

This rainbow was waiting for us at the Manila airport

Oh, I am not done…this is only the beginning…

The Summer I Saw the Crape Myrtle

In warmer climates like those of North and South Carolina, there is a beautiful flowering tree commonly known as the Crape Myrtle.  The flowers can be white or pink or purple.  In Charlotte, they line streets and can be found in commercial and private landscaping.  In my neighborhood, I can see them from my bay window when I look out at my neighbor’s yard.

I was reminded of my love of Crape Myrtles this morning as I took my daily walk.  The flowers are beginning to shed and they sprinkle the ground like colorful snowflakes.  

Crape Myrtles make me smile.  Not just because they are so beautiful.  There is a deeper meaning for me.  You see, I had lived in Charlotte for nine years before I ever remember seeing one.  In my personal timeline, I affectionately call it “the summer I saw the Crape Myrtle.”

It was the summer I turned thirty years old.  I had just purchased my very first home in March of that year.  When the Crape Myrtles began their glorious display that summer, the first one I saw was from the view from my dining room window.  It took moving in and settling right next to one for me become curious about them.  What is this lovely tree and where had it been all of my life?

I asked my friends about it and they laughed at me.  Had I not seen them everywhere in Charlotte summers?  I began to see them as if for the first time.  They lined the street on the way to my church.  They are all over my neighborhood, where I had rented for three years before I moved into my own home.  They really seemed to be popping up all over the place.  Why had I never noticed? 

I believe it is because landscaping was irrelevant to my life until I had my own yard to nurture.  Once I took ownership of a piece of land, as small as mine is, I began to notice yards and landscaping everywhere I went.  My eyes became attuned to the colors and the beauty around me as I contemplated my own yard.  I opened my heart and mind to the beauty around me and I was astounded at what I began to see.

Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears but fail to hear…? (Mark 8:18)

That summer my eyes were opened; not only to the beauty of the Crape Myrtle, but to the idea that I am capable of not seeing what is right in front of me.  If I can overlook the Crape Myrtle, what else have I not seen?

When I think of the Crape Myrtle, I am reminded to pray for eyes that see and ears that hear.  What is my role in this life I have been given?  How can I become more attuned to God’s presence and His voice?

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)

Learning to discern the voice of God is a lifelong pursuit.  I have to be open to His voice.  Not just open, but hungry for it. 

I don’t want to miss Him.  I am convinced that days go by where I close my mind and heart to what God desires to do in my life.  I don’t want to be like the people Jesus described in Matthew 13:

For this people’s heart has become calloused;

    they hardly hear with their ears,

    and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

    hear with their ears,

    understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’  (Matthew 13:15)

Oh Father, let me have eyes to see and ears to hear You.  Help me to create space for You in my days.  I don’t want to have a calloused heart.  I want a heart that is open and soft before You.  I want to be healed.

Holy Yoga...An Unexpected Refuge

Picture from Holy Yoga Charlotte Facebook Page

There is something incredibly healing about human touch.  My awareness of this fact is heightened because I do not often receive physical touch.  Gentle touch to the feet can be amazing.  As I was lying with eyes shut, arms out, palms open wide, breathing slowly and deeply…I felt something so nurturing and kind…hands coated with oil, gentle smooth pressure all over my feet in quick strokes.  Soon my feet were covered in a soft swirl of oil and the sense of care swept from my feet to my heart and to my mind…"what a thoughtful and kind way to serve me."  It is humbling.  It is loving.  It is what my Jesus would do.  Kristine, she allowed herself to be Jesus’ hands and heart towards me…towards each of us in the Holy Yoga class.  It didn’t matter that we had never met.  She gave freely. 

After class I told her how I appreciated that act of kindness.  It reminded me of the day that my feet were washed many years ago after a season of temptation and shame.  How Jesus used my friends' hands and prayers to wash me clean.  How I was physically reminded of God’s endless grace and compassion towards me.

She said she doesn’t always do that.  She just tries to listen to the Holy Spirit.  She allows God to change the course of her classes.  It was a class designed for me that day.

I had a difficult week where the voices of my past and the voice of the enemy whispered in my ear.  At every turn, it seemed, even in the midst of kind words towards me, I heard the one negative or the thing that could be taken either way and magnified it in my mind and heart as if it was shouted to me, “I am not enough.  I can’t get it right.  I failed again.”

  

As I drove myself to Carmel Presbyterian for the first time that morning, I prayed that I would find the building and get to the class early enough to get situated.  I had never taken a Yoga class.  Holy Yoga had popped up on my Facebook feed.  I “liked” it with the intention of visiting one day.  This day, I was hoping for some stretching and a little inspiration.  I didn’t know how worshipful it would be.  

When I walked into the room, Kristine greeted me with a beautiful smile and a warm hug.  There was a table set with candles and a box for prayer requests as well as donations ($5 to $8 is suggested).  I filled out a form with my contact information and a waiver not to sue if I injured myself.  Pretty standard for exercise classes.

She had all the equipment ready for me.  I was situated on a mat near the front.  There were some bolsters and bean bags to help with positioning.  Soon, the others filed in and the class began.  I was greeted with smiles and some introductions.

This particular class was called Gentle Holy Yoga…a perfect class for a beginner.  It was as much a worship time as it was a stretching time.  There were several scripture readings read by Kristine from moment to moment, mostly from the Psalms.  Also, a reading from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling as we stretched and breathed:

“Relax in my healing, holy Presence.  Be still, while I transform your heart and mind.  Let go of cares and worries, so that you can receive my Peace. Cease striving, and know that I am God.

Do not be like Pharisees who multiplied regulations, creating their own form of “godliness.”  They got so wrapped up in their own rules that they lost sight of Me.  Even today, man-made rules about how to live the Christian life enslave many people.  Their focus is on their performance, rather than on Me. 

It is through knowing Me intimately that you become like Me.  This requires spending time alone with Me.  Let go, relax, be still, and know that I am God.”

In between the readings there was worship music.  My favorite was "No Sweeter Name," sung by Kari Job:

Adobe flash is needed to watch video

As we listened, I heard the most lovely soprano voice singing along with Kari.  It was Kristine.  Later I found out that she is married to the music director at the church.  Her Facebook page tells me that she has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance.  I am not surprised.  But let me be clear, she was not performing.  She was worshipping.  She was singing along intermittently, naturally, beautifully.  It was not distracting at all…it added to the sense of peace and flow and worship.  

I had walked in to the class with a heavy heart.  I left feeling a sense of God’s peace and love for me.  He ministered to me through scripture, music, touch, the sweet aroma of oil and candles, and prayer.  At one point, as she prayed, Kristine even asked what voices we had been listening to in our heads, “Is it my voice?  Is it God’s voice?”  There was a long pause and I thought about my week and added silently, “The enemy’s voice.”  And then Kristine said, “The enemy’s?”

It was as if this class was tailored for the struggles of my week.  I shared this with Kristine afterwards.  She says it is always different.  She doesn’t always use the oil and touch feet.  She has learned to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.  I looked at my copy of Jesus Calling this morning and I realized that the reading she used was not the reading for the day of our class.  It was the one I needed to hear.

I am reminded once again of how personal God can be to us.  He met me right where I was upon entering that room.  He whispered Peace and Love to me through Kristine’s ministry.  He whispered Hope and Nurture.  And once again I am reminded that He is Enough.  And because He is, I am enough in Him. 

“Cease striving and know that I am God…" 

Psalm 46:10 NASB

To connect with Charlotte Holy Yoga click Here

To learn more about Holy Yoga and find a class near you, click Here

Dreams and Crossroads

I dreamed about a tape measure last night.  My dad was still alive, and I was buying him a Christmas present.

He was hard to buy for...a simple man who was happiest walking in the very field you see pictured above. I wanted to give him something other than the usual socks or underwear.  I found this unique tape measure, in my dream, which was actually two tape measures side by side.  I thought he could use it in his little shop/workbench in the basement.  It was sold with other crafty type stuff included in the box, similar to things I had seen in the nooks and crannies of his work table.  I also got him a paperback novel, which Mom scolded me about, "You know he can't read anymore!"  Okay, I thought in my dream, I won't give him the book.  The double tape measure will be enough.

I woke up, dream so vivid, and I asked God what it meant.  I may let you know when He reveals it. I have learned that often God will let me know what He wants me to know when I ask...it just usually isn't immediate.  

I will hear His voice when I am walking or blow-drying my hair or driving.  It will hit me all-of-the-sudden. I have learned to pay attention.  It is not an audible voice, but a strong thought that hits my mind and heart at the same time.  

So, I don't yet know what He wants to tell me from my dream.  There is also the possibility that the dream is about my subconscious-self speaking to me, revealing what my heart believes is true.  That is good information to have as well.

Once, many years ago, I had a dream about going to church in my bathrobe and curlers.  I was sitting near the front, and on this particular Sunday, the pews moved and revolved so that everyone saw me and I felt embarrassed and woefully unprepared for worship.  

I asked God, when I woke up, what the dream meant.  I was sure it was from Him.  I was frustrated when He did not answer immediately.

But then, hours later, as I opened my mouth to sing in the worship service, the meaning hit me suddenly and clearly...it was like a "whoosh!"  

I sensed God speaking, "Janice, you would never come to church physically unprepared...you always look your best.  How many times have you come to church spiritually and emotionally prepared?  How do you prepare your heart for worship?"

That was a revelation.  That was a call to respond.  During that season of my life, I started to attend a prayer meeting early in the morning before church.  I sensed that I needed to pray before I attended the service, to prepare as much internally as I always did externally.

When God asks something specific of me and I KNOW it, I have a choice.  I have a choice to obey or not. To whom much is given, much is required.  (Reading the Bible is life-changing but loaded...once I know His will and His plan, I am faced with decisions.)  Sure, if I choose not to do as He asks, I can be forgiven. But that forgiveness did not come cheap to God.  Ask Him about Jesus.

My holiness is not dependent on my righteousness, it is based on Christ's righteousness.  It is based on accepting and knowing that it is only because of Jesus that I am "saved."

But...walking with God is a relationship.  It is an opportunity to grow deeper in love with Him and to grow into maturity and into a life-that-is-truly-life.  An opportunity to become who I was created to be.  THAT cannot happen without obedience.

We face this crossroad daily, those of us who call ourselves Christian.  We have forks in the road where we get to choose to obey or to do our own thing.  Sometimes we feel that we are getting away with something when we say no to God and know that He still loves us and forgives us.  But we are lying to ourselves.  And even though there is no escaping God's love, there is also no escaping some of the consequences of disobedience.

It is true that He loves us more than we can know.  He will forgive us if we repent, but we are not getting away with anything...we are cheating ourselves out of the life that we were created to live.  When we say "no" to God, we deny ourselves deeper intimacy with our Creator.  We stifle our own spritual growth and growth as human beings.  

Saying "yes" can be painful and require sacrifice.  But the joy...the joy and peace is SO worth it.  

I'm not gonna lie and say I've learned my lesson.  I will still say "no" to God at times...I am human and I am selfish and I struggle to say "yes."  My desire is to learn to say "Yes!" more and more so that the "no's" are fleeting.  

With each "yes" I am stepping closer to His heart.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me..."  

John 10:27 KJV

Easter

Today...

Miracle for Jen

I am still trying to wrap my head around all that I experienced this past weekend at the Knowing God Ministries conference in Apex, North Carolina.  The weekend was entitled, Making a Difference in my Corner of the World.  

I attended the conference by invitation of a friend who is also an alum of Grove City College (in Pennsylvania.)  Fuller, whose name at GCC was Karen Fuller, was only an acquaintance when we were in school.  We reconnected last year at an alumni event in Cary, NC and have become heart-to-heart friends.  Our faith especially connects us as our life experiences have been very different.  We share a heart for God and currently, the experience of being single gals.

Fuller and me at KGM Conference February 28, 2014

Fuller is on the ministry team at Knowing God Ministries (KGM).  She is gifted in speaking, writing, photography, and I'm sure in a multitude of other ways. I am so glad that I responded to her encouragement to attend this event.  

The main speakers at the conference were Linda and Jen Barrick.  Here is a picture of KGM founder, Tara Furman with Jen and Linda:

Tara Furrman, Jen and Linda Barrick (photo taken by Fuller Harvey)

Where do I begin?  Certainly, the highlight of the conference was hearing Jen's story and witnessing her joy and her relationship with the Lord.  Also, Linda is a gifted speaker and teacher in her own right.  She leads a Bible study in Lynchburg, VA that has grown to include over 600 women weekly.  Her sweet spirit and her openness was refreshing and touching.  I was encouraged by both the simple and the profound reminder that God is near and He wants to be my deepest friend.  

Take a look at this video to get a taste of what we heard this weekend:

What we heard is even more profound if you know the Barricks' story.  They were hit by a drunk driver in 2006, when Jen was 15 (she is now 22) on their way home from church.  Jenn was not expected to live through the night.  She was in a coma for nearly 6 weeks.  When she started to come out of the coma, instead of swearing (as her parents were warned that most people do), Jen prayed, praised God, and spoke the words to praise songs.  

Click Here to watch the short version of her story on You Tube  

Needless to say, I was honored to get to meet these beautiful women and to hear their story.  I was challenged to get back to the basics of my faith...God desires a love relationship with me.  That really is the point of the cross, the reason why Jesus came, the reason he had to die.  My sin does not have to keep me from a Holy God because of His great love for me.  The same is true for you.

In addition to three teaching sessions with Linda and Jen (which were all fantastic), we had the opportunity to participate in three breakout sessions with other dynamic women of faith.  I was blessed and challenged by these sessions as well.

Check out the adorable decorations (I love the "vase" and tulips):

Photo taken by Fuller Harvey for KGM Ministries

Such a fun weekend and impactful on so many levels.  I am so glad that my friend, Fuller, encouraged me to attend.  

If you are interested in reading Jen's story, she has a book called "Miracle for Jen" available at Amazon.  The Barrick family also have a website called Hope Out Loud.  

Finally, I was blessed to watch a two-part series produced by Joni and Friends:

PART 1

PART 2

These videos are free to watch.  If you have some time, they are well worth it.  

Jen signs her books with her favorite Bible Verse:  

However, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived--the things God has prepared for those who love Him."  I Cor 2:9