Leaf Ministries

03/20/2018

Rejection hurts — and in singleness there is plenty of it to go around. Whether it’s the explicit rejection some men face when they ask a woman on a date, or the implicit rejection of wondering why no man is asking you on a date, those who are single face the fear that they are not wanted.

The world may tell you the solution to this pain is to speak worth over yourself so loudly that you drown out the whisper of rejection. However this only masks the pain. By Gods grand design, we were created to have worth spoken into us by someone outside of ourselves. What a great gift that needy design is for continually driving us towards God. And what a terrifying distortion it is when we let it drive us to mere mortals. There is no person on earth that should have the power to speak into us value or worth in such a way that it secures our identity.

The church may tell you the solution to this pain is a simplistic notion of Jesus; that if you embrace the truth that He wants you, you will be able to overcome the pain of rejection in singleness. Sounds good to me, but there is an agonizing question I find bubbling up in my soul when I consider this: If Jesus is supposed to satisfy all my hunger to be loved and wanted, why doesn’t He?
We will never find Jesus’s approval truly satisfying until we stop seeking our approval from others.

In the book of John, Jesus asks this question:
"How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" -John 5:44

When we treat people as if they have the power to determine our value, we attribute to them a power that belongs to God alone.

02/14/2018

Reminder:
Hebrews 13:1-4
"Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without even realizing it! Remember those in prison as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies."

Perfect day to be reminded to always show love and empathy towards others no matter how you're feeling that day. God is truly honored when we love others with open arms. Reach out in love today & let us know of any cool instances that happen!
Happy Valentine's Day ♥️

-Jenna

12/04/2017

Reminder:
Hebrews 13:5

Let's take our focus off of things we can get in this world and realize that we already have everything we could ever need: Jesus.

Jesus+nothing=everything

How can I pray for you guys? If you have a prayer request (even if you feel like it's little), let us know so we can all pray. PRAYER IS SO POWERFUL. Have a great Monday 😄

-Jenna

11/22/2017

Reminder:
Hebrews 13:6
So we can say with confidence,
"the Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"

Let's be bold today!!

-Jenna

11/16/2017

With Jesus, we can DESTROY fear.

How to stop fear's grasp on your life. JOY OVER FEAR. :-) SPREAD LOVE :-)

11/16/2017

11/15/2017

There is a cadence to this world, a relentless beat. It's tones boast selfishness. Birthed from selfishness, is every sin and evil desire.

Our biggest regrets in life, derive from not pausing long enough to hear God clearly, allowing Him to help make sense of what we are feeling.

Paul writes to us in his letter to the Romans, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." -Rom 12:2

When we can let go of the things of this world (selfishness), renew our minds (die to ourselves, and live for Christ in ALL that we do), then granted to you, will be this power of discernment, through the Holy Spirit. And you will be able to know what is 'good, acceptable, and perfect.' See what God is saying here is that we don't need to experience regret, He doesn't want that for any of His children. It is possible, through relationship with Him, and putting our own selfishness and pride to rest, to live a life free from the heart-ache and pain of regret.

11/14/2017

Hello everyone!
I will be tackling some tough topics and shining God's truth on things we all can at times struggle with. This first video is about s*x before marriage! Comment if you have other topics that I should dig into!!:-) Let's shine God's light today!!

-Jenna

Romans 12:1-2 Romans 13:13-14 Romans 8:38-39 Spread love :-)

11/14/2017

When is the last time you were completely dependent upon God?

Our comfort, our security, and our riches blind us from the fact that we are absolutely dependent upon God for all that we have. We need to acknowledge our absolute need for a Savior. Come to Him broken. Come to God acknowledging your spiritual bankruptcy. We have nothing to offer or give to God, but He has offered you a free gift in the grace of His Son Jesus Christ. He paid a debt we could not pay. Jesus offered His life, in your place, for your sin. That is the glorious Gospel Jesus came to preach, and to offer. The only acceptable offering for our sin, is the righteous, sinless, bloodshed of Jesus Christ. You do not have anything to bring to God, but He does offer in grace.

Do you realize that you are spiritually poor? Do you realize that you are totally, 100% dependent? See for most of us we become comfortable, and we forget our dependency. The danger of wealth, and the danger of riches; (if you live in America you are probably in the top 5% of the richest in the world) is that we become dependent upon ourselves, on our jobs, on our skills, on our abilities, and on things other than God. Woe to us when that happens. Sadly those moments of complete utter dependence become far and in-between, and God needs to rock us with major things in our lives to remind us how we are absolutely dependent upon Him. We need to look at how we are investing. Investing our time, talents, and treasures. Does the way you invest your life, show your dependence on God?

When we hunger and thirst for Christ, the rest seems foolish. We think the next gadget will fix our life, or the next relationship will be better. If I could just get this job/ promotion, have these friends, this power/control, or if we could just take everything, take money, have more time... Jesus tells us, we are hungering and thirsting for the wrong things. You've been thirsting for meaning and significance, but only your identity found in Christ will answer that question. You were created in God's image, for God's glory, and God's purpose. Are you using your life for His kingdom? Are giving your life out as a living sacrifice for Him? In that, you will find meaning; in everything else you will find emptiness. And that is why Jesus says in Luke 6:25a - "Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry."

11/13/2017

Reminder:
•Psalm 16:6-11
You will NOT be shaken. We have a MIGHTY God that won't allow you to fall if you put your trust and hope in Him. Let's rejoice today because our God is unshakable, all powerful, all knowing, and all loving!!!

-Jenna

11/10/2017

Reminder:
Whether you're feeling anxious, stressed, depressed, worried... He will give you peace. Trust that He will because He never fails us. Give Him your worries, & be patient because He is at work.

Happy Friday!!!! Have a wonderful day! 😄

-Jenna