Christmas Miracles

8 days! 

I think all Christmas shows have a common theme and that in each one a Christmas miracle happens. Something that just could not even happen, happens. And I love it! You want to know why? Ok I'll tell you!

Because that is what this whole holiday is about. One miracle from heaven. It can be found in Matthew 1:18. Go grab your bible, favorite Christmas dring and turn there and see for yourself.

"A virgin will become pregnant…By the Holy Spirit" Um yeah…So if you didn't know, that is kind of impossible. A virgin who has never even had sex with a man is going to give birth to a son….but not any son…the son of her God. *boom* Mind blown! Really let that sink in. We hear this story every year…but don't let the power and the awesomeness of God fade into the back ground. The Gosple is so, mindblowingly awesome.

This was going to be the very first Christmas miracle (yeah I know you though it was the miracle on 31st street)! Mankind was going to receive a gift so so precious.

Today reflect on this miracle, grab your fav holiday drink and Bible to read Matthew 1:18. The whole bible is breathed of God. Every part holds power.

If you happen to take a picture of your little mini Bible study be sure to hash tag #janellschristmascountdown cause I want to see and taking pictues is just fun!

I Have Nothing To Give...Except A Massage

Teaching how to massage the neck  

Right now I am in the Dominican Republic teaching the nationals how to massage. Being able to help provide jobs for the people of the Dominican Republic has been an honor so far (day one of five). Some of these woman don't have any skills, so the only other option isn't favorable and for some even unrespectable. To provide them with a way out of bad situations is humbling.

Learning how to effleuarge

When I decided to go to massage school 3 years ago I had no idea that my education could be used like this. At best I only saw it as a way to make money so that I could go on the mission field. Ha! Oh how we limit God.

Yesterday I taught that we all have something to give. That we all have something. In the Bible a widow had nothing… but a small cup of oil (2 Kings 4:1-7).  She didn’t see what she had as significant. But the prophet told her to use what she had. And when she used what she had in her hand God touched it and a miracle happened (do yourself a favor and go read the story).

They are doing so well learning the techniques.

I kind of saw my massage education like this. I didn’t think that this could be something God could use. It's silly I know…to think that God can't use something! But we do it all the time. For some reason we have been taught that God only operates when we are going something "spiritual". But that is not the case.

I told the people here that if all they can do is just make the best banana soup then that is something God can use. It's doesn’t matter how small. God can make it great.

We all have something to give. It might seem small. It might even seem non-spiritual. Just give God what you have and he will cause increase. He will make things happen that you would have never dreamed! I used to say that I just did massage to get overseas. That I didn’t really love it like I love to minister. Now I see that they are one. Massage doesn’t have to be a separate thing. It's all apart of what I can give God. And it's a beautiful thing.

I'm so excited to use my gift...clearly! 

I'm so excited to see what else God is going to do with what I have in my hand. As I read this back to myself tears start to flow. The goodness of god is so great. Even when I believed that what I did for a living wasn't that special (a lie) God never doubted (truth). He Is a master at taking the things we thing aren't great and making them grand!

What do you have in your hand to give? It's really a easy question. What are you good at? What do you like to do? Whatever It is give it to God. The outcome might be quite hilarious!

Whatsoever Think.

I had 34 students at the night class! this is only half the room!

The Wonder of Christmas

As Christmas comes around so do all of the old and new Christmas specials, the decorations, soft ginger cookies, good cheer, bell ringers, peppermint mocha's ahh...uh ha I guess you get the idea, everything that is wonderful... is now here! 

For years it has been the traditions of most to tell stories of Santa to small children. Telling them of flying reindeer, elf's, Christmas wishes, bright presents under the tree, filling their childlike minds with awe and wonder. Parents and many others go to great lengths to keep this childhood dream alive, that is until they "grow up" and all the wonderful dreams are shattered. The wonder in Christmas takes a hit. But then the cycle continues, the children now grown, tell their children of the man in the red suit...the circle of Christmas life.

Then you have the other side of Christmas. The wonderful story of a young virgin girl who gives birth to a son. But not any son...Gods only son. Wise men come from afar, bearing priceless gifts to the new king. Angles by the thousands fill the sky, shepherds filled with delight at the site of their king. So much awe and wonder in this story too. Children are told this story as well. But like the story of Santa, it many times becomes another nice story. The wonder in Christmas takes another hit. 

For me Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year. But I asked myself why? Why do I love this time so much? Is it the presents? The music? The pretty lights? Holiday drinks form Starbucks? All of these are good but no, that wasn't it. 

What I love most about this time of year is that no matter which side you are on, Baby Jesus or Santa Clause, is that Christmas is the time for the impossible. 

Everywhere you look dreams are coming true. Miracles are happening. That is what I love. But what I don't love is that these impossible "children's stories" are just that, stories.

We tell people of the impossible, getting their hopes up but then to turn around and say it's just another nice story.  Crushing faith. That we live in the "real" world.  Personally, I am sick of it. 

I don't think this season was centered around miracles and wonder by chance. I mean both pagan and religious people have a common ground! I believe that God wants to show us that nothing is impossible with Him. That hope is alive and that love can never be beaten. We must be careful not to lead those with childlike faith off into the "real" world. Where if you can't figure it out with science then it isn't true. That can kill childlike faith. 

So this Holiday season, spread wonder and joy where ever you are. Light the fire of the impossible in someones life. Tell people that there is hope! That miracles do happen...why not show them! Keep the  wonder in Christmas this year and if you want, keep the wonder all year around! Have Christmas all the time! Because it truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Whatsoever Think...

The Lowliest of Places

This just happened a week ago! God is moving, I hope this encourages you to be revival wherever you are!

While on a treasure hunt my team went to the County Fair in our town, and we ran into a friend. She asked if we were enjoying the fair, we said yes and that we were on a treasure hunt . After a few minutes we parted ways. Our team continued to look for our treasure. After about 20 minutes this same friend came up to me kind of embarrassed “What is treasure hunting?”

I proceeded to tell her and after I was done I could see that she wanted to be a treasure. Because we are all God's treasure! I started looking at our maps and saw that her son’s name was on the list! Her son didn't need healing but she did in her knees. I then got a word of knowledge about back pain which she had as well.

We stared praying for her back and nothing happened. I then felt like her son was supposed to pray. He was really shy and barley whispered a prayer. Once he was done the mother's face was full of surprise and amazement! She felt something like oil going down her spine! She tested it out and all of the pain was gone!

I had her daughter pray for her knees, she prayed and the pain went down, but not all the way so we had her pray again. She felt the same oil in her knees! She tested it out by kneeling down in the gravel. She felt no pain!

My dad had been having pain in His foot and had so we had our friend pray for his foot. That was totally healed too!  Next one of our team members eyes felt funny. So we asked who had eye problems. The daughter couldn't see clearly far away. They prayed and her eyes were totally healed! Then the daughter prayed for the girl on our team that had eye problems and she was healed!

By this time we have gotten kinda excited and a lady who was sitting on the bleachers in the barn we were in turned around and said that she wanted prayer too! She climbed down and said she had sciatic pain. Our friend knew this lady so I had her pray, and her friend was healed instantly! Then a lady in our team said that she had the same problem. So we had the lady who was just healed pray for our team member and she was healed!  

Then we noticed the lady who had been on the bleachers had glasses on. We asked if we could pray about that too! We prayed two times and then she was healed! So she the glasses on her head like a head band! She was so excited! 

God wants to use you wherever you are! Step out across the "chicken" line and start living a supernatural life! And the greatest part is you don't have to wait until you are at church! This healing bomb went off in a barn full of pigs, goats and cows behind the bleachers next to a dumpster! God can work even in the lowliest places! 

Do you need healing or prayer? There is no distance in prayer! Nothing is impossible with God. Comment below or just receive healing in your body right now! 

Happily Ever After

I've been learning that God can speak to us any way He wants. So I was looking on my news feed and I saw a post from the Disney Princess page (yes I'm a big princess fan!):

"At the stroke of twelve, the spell will be broken and everything will be as it was before."

-Fairy godmother

This saying was from one of my favorite princess movies Cinderella. I looked at the saying that I had heard so many times and it was like I was hearing for the first time... Poor Cinderella! She had everything, great clothes, a personal carriage, a fairy godmother, true love...then she had to give it up after just a few hours. And knowing that she may never get to experience anything like that again. Then a thought hit me...

"What if it was like that with God?"

What if you have had been in a lot of pain, and then one night God shows up big and heals you from everything? But then after the stroke of 12 everything went back the way it was before? 

I have been living right in the middle of revival and when people decide to make it a lifestyle, healing and miracles are sure to follow. So I have seen people get healed, but then a few days or not even that long they are right back in the same pain that they were in before. 

Why would a good God do that? Why tease with healing, when it's not going to last?

Well let me put your mind to ease...He doesn't. He doesn't give us gifts like that only to take it back. God isn't like the fairy godmother who's magic has a expiration date. But you may say"I've been healed before but now I'm back in pain.".

Yes I know, I have experienced the same thing! But here is the deal: the enemy doesn't want you well. Because if you are, then you can serve God, holding nothing back. 

The devil just wants to see if you really want to keep your gift. 

He will try and tell you lies, that it's not real, that you are just imaging it. And if we let ourselves believe those lies, we welcome back the pain we were just set free from. 

There is a lady in my church who was healed in her neck and shoulders just a few weeks ago. She had been dealing with pain and discomfort for a long time, then God healed her! Today she told me that the pain tried to come back. But she said no, that she was healed and the pain left! 

I've talked about it before, but our confessions (words) matter so much more than we know! Hold fast to what God does in you. He is not a man that he should lie. He is a good Father. So if you have been healed, hold on to your promise. Then go release what you were given! It's too much fun! 

Be like Cinderella, when it looked bad she kept holding on to her dream. Never doubting, and she lived happily ever after.

Do you need a miracle? Do you need healing in your body? Comment below and I'll pray for you!