Pray For Pivotal Canadian Elections

Canada's Federal Election is just days away on October 19, 2015.

I have spent the better part of today praying over this from my hotel room in Louisiana. Even as I prepare for the services here, Canada weighs heavy on my heart and in the spirit there is a push to pray.

This year for the first time my speaking schedule fell into place that I just so happened to be speaking in 3 Canadian provinces and visited 4 in just the last 3 months consecutively.
While there ministering it rose up in me each time that this nation is at a critical tipping point. There was and is a sense of urgency that things could go one way or the other that will have a long reaching effect - not just for Canada but will impact us here in the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Today I have been praying this Prayer Strategy for these Canadian Elections found
in the last 5 verses of Psalms 84.

A Strategy To Pray For Canada. What I hear the Holy Spirit saying ...

Verse 8 - O Lord hear our prayer

(This prayer that proceeds in these verses has some same verbiage that is used in the National Anthem of Canada ...)  It is as if an invitation, a doorway to God is hidden/placed within the song of the nation which grants Him access. 

Verse 9 - Behold, Look - O God our shield and look upon The face of thine Anointed.

( Declaring God is and continue to be the true shield of the Nation, not any man made systems) 

Verse 10 -  For the Lord God, a sun and shield: The Lord will give GRACE AND GLORY, no good will He withhold from them that walk up rightly. ( Declaring Grace and Glory On and For Canada) 

Verse 11 -  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand (elsewhere) 

( More can be accomplished in 1 day in the high court of heaven than a thousand in the earthy courts of a nation and so the Church Arises and conducts spiritual business on behalf of the nation.) 

Verse 12 - O Lord of hosts (angel armies that assist us) Blessed is the man (Nation) that trusts in Thee. 

The churches in Canada I have had the honor of being in are strong and they are praying.
Let's join them and declare that ...

1.) This election will serve God’s purposes for Canada.

2.)  That Canada will be a country whose elected leaders are individuals of character, and integrity.

3.) That these elected officials will be a friend to Israel in their policies and in their diplomatic maneuvers.


Lyrics of National Anthem

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee

I Call You Blessed, 
Jen Tringale 

It's All About Vision.

Many times we can find ourselves trying to figure out what we think our destiny in life is supposed to be.  Many people have asked me in the past, "what propels you towards your destiny?"  The answer is very simple and still vitally important, the answer is vision.

Vision is a very big word and yet is every bit as unique and intimate as it is big.  That is because vision is personal.  It comes from the inside of you and becomes a part of you.  Giving vision is also very intimate to the Father.  When God opens His realm of mystery and reveals to you a piece of His heart that is His plan and He entrusts it to you it is a defining moment that you never forget.  It should be treated as sacred and revered.

This interaction between man and God points to His desire to share and reveal His heart and reminds us again of how much God invested of Himself in you and I that He calls us His friends.  Each time that God our Father breathes vision into our spirit, speaks to our heart, or reveals more of His plan it is only because His Son paid our price and sacrificed His life that He is able to do so.  Now we know why vision giving is so intimate and sacred to our Father.  It was the death of Jesus on the cross that made the way so that He could release that vision.

It is not hard to come up with a plan, an idea or even a cause, but when somebody with a God breathed vision tells me their plan, idea, or cause, I know they had to have spent time with Him.  And so each time that vision is revealed to you it marks you in way that whenever you pause to recall it, it is just as real to you as the first day He showed you.

People with vision bubbling within them carry a conscience stream of thought connected to that vision.  It is always just below the surface, ready to be jotted on a napkin, sketched out on a notepad, or eagerly shared over coffee with a friend.  A person with a vision rolling around on the inside of them gets invigorated by opportunities to talk about it or to communicate it in someway.  In fact they need outlets to do just that in order to keep it vibrant and alive.  Developing relationships that are safe places for you to share and talk about vision are necessary and any time spent doing so is never wasted time but a wise investment of your time,  You are feeding the vision and your belief in the vision every time you do this.

Stay focused, remain true to the calling God has placed on your life, and receive the vision He has given you.  Then run with that vision until you have finished your race.

Listening to His Voice in difficult times.

"The people who were standing nearby said, "see how much He loved him."  But some said, "This Man healed a blind man.  Why couldn't He keep Lazarus from dying?""  John 11:36-37.

I cannot begin to express how important it has been in my life to listen to the voice of God and allow His words to carry me through situations and circumstances no matter what other people are saying around me.

In John chapter 11 we read about Jesus and his good friend Lazarus.  Jesus is out in the world traveling and ministering when He receive's word that His friend Lazarus is very sick. (Verse 3)  Jesus, being lead by The Spirit says in verse 4, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death."  What a statement of faith!  How about this verse for an example of speaking out in faith no matter what the natural circumstances are showing!

You can read John 11 and see how the story unfolds in detail but for the sake of this post I'll summarize.  Jesus has received word that Lazarus is very sick.  Again, Jesus being lead by The Spirit declares that Lazarus will not die and stays where He is for the next two days.

The story progresses and Lazarus dies, or as Jesus puts it, Lazarus simply "fell asleep".  Jesus comes to the home of Lazarus and his sister's, Mary and Martha, 4 days after the death of Lazarus.  By the end of the story we see Jesus standing in front of the tomb where they've laid Lazarus to rest and calling out "Lazarus, come out!"  Lazarus emerges from the tomb, alive and wrapped in grave-clothes.

The main point here is that Jesus didn't allow the opinions of the people around Him to determine His actions.  He didn't allow the whispers behind His back to determine His trust and faith in the Father.  He'd received the voice and instruction from God telling Him to wait and that's exactly what He did.  He obeyed the voice of God.  All He did was listen and obey.  It didn't matter about the people talking about Him, it didn't matter about the ones voicing their opinion on the matter.  He was determined to obey the voice of God.

The same is true for our lives.  When we've heard the voice of God and received His direction for a specific situation in our lives it doesn't matter what others are saying around us.  Because if it's contrary to the voice of God than it's wrong.

Let me ask you, what has God spoken to you?  What direction has He given you concerning difficult situations and circumstances in your life?  Make sure you're listening to His voice and direction and block out the voices around you telling you to do something different than what He has already spoken to your heart.

I call you blessed,

~ Jen.

How to pray!

"And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him." (Luke 22:41-43 NASB)

For the believer, prayer should be the simplest thing we do in life.  Yet, we can easily make prayer more complicated than it should be.

Prayer is necessary for our lives and yet it gets pushed to the bottom of the list, left for the end of the day and many times forgotten altogether until necessity demands otherwise.

Prayer is one of the most important ways we communicate with God and so it's necessary for our lives that we pray often and we pray without hesitation.

The often repeated quote by a great man of God, Smith Wigglesworth has been a favorite of mine when he said, “Most days I never pray more than 10 minutes but I also rarely go 10 minutes without praying!” 

I have always liked that quote because it paints a picture of his prayer life which was more connected and ever-aware of God with him and in him wherever he was and whatever he was doing.

Prayer is active communication with God more than it is a compartmentalized amount of time set in our scheduled day.  I will say it’s important to have both active in our life.  Make sure you set a specific time each day to spend in prayer with God and also keep yourself open to be actively speaking with Him throughout your day.

There is a passage in Luke which is so simple and when we consider the revelation available from the verses we see a brilliant picture of how Jesus communicated with God while He was on earth.

The first part of the verses says "And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray...” Notice Jesus withdrew about a "stone's throw away...” It's important that we get away from the noise and busyness of life when we pray; we need to quiet ourselves and settle down when we pray.  However, notice Jesus was only a stone's throw away.  We aren't supposed to remove ourselves from the situation we're praying over or remove ourselves from life completely.  We are simply supposed to step aside for a moment while we get clarity and strength from Heaven.  Is there a specific issue you're praying about?  Don't walk away from the situation, don't retreat in defeat.  No, step aside for a moment while you receive wisdom and the answers you need from God through prayer.

No matter what situations or circumstances may look like God has the best for the situation and He knows your way forward. This is how we should approach God when we pray.  We know He has the best for our lives, we know from His word that He has pre-ordained good things for you and I to live out.  So when we pray we should be seeking His will and His plans above what we think is best.

Finally we see the immediate response to Jesus’ prayer from Heaven.   "...Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him."  Because Jesus got quiet before Heaven, He humbled Himself before God and gave God control over the situation; God honored Him and sent His angel to strengthen Jesus for what was going to happen next.

Keep In Mind These 3 Simple Keys to Prayer

           

            1.) Go get still and quiet before God but don’t forget He is with you everywhere and you can talk to him wherever you are, sharing your day with Him.

            2.) Don’t try and force an answer you want or think is best. Listen for His plan and look for his wisdom to come to your heart about those things that are happening around you.

            3.) Take your strength from His presence for the situation at hand. Jesus came that you might have life and that more abundantly. Take and receive plenty of help, strength and peace in the presence of the one who is more than enough and supplies your every need!

I call you blessed,

            ~ Jen

Refilling your life in Him

Typically I try to take Monday's off while I'm out on the road traveling.  Monday is the day to catch my breath and rest from a busy weekend of ministering.  It's typically on  my days off that I have to make sure I take time to read in the word of God and replenish myself.  When I'm feeling tired or drained spending time with Him is a sure way to replenish myself and refuel.

My supply for life comes from this time of rest in His presence.  In life if we don't stop to refuel we'll get delayed somewhere along the line.  I've learned, in my personal life or in my ministry, if I don't stop and allow myself to be refueled through Him I'll become burned out quickly.  Nobody else can do this for me, I must initiate this time of rest for my own life.  

This is the #1 way you can keep out of negative thought patterns and attitudes creeping on you and altering your day to day environment.  You have to have enough on the inside to stabilize you just from dealing with the world and your surroundings as it is. But when the enemy of your soul comes and makes a play for your mind and emotions to get you off track your ability to recognize it and shut it down will be greatly increased when you have been re-charging your spirit with the word of God and spending time with Him.

All those negative feelings and worries don't have the right to stick around in the same environment as the presence of God and His words stirring in your soul.

So, what are you believing Him for today?  Are you seeking His face, trying to hear His voice for direction in your life?  Are you stressed or worried about life?  Don't allow those negative feelings to stick around.  Kick them to the curb and allow the power of Jesus that lives inside you to take over those areas and fill you with hope, joy, peace, and victory. And if you need to, steal away for a little while today with your bible and a cup of coffee and get a fresh supply for your heart and mind.

I call you blessed,

Jen

Your Gift, Your Calling

In this blog post I wanted to share with you some ways you can become good stewards of the calling God has placed on your life.  There are specific steps which every successful leader has taken in their lives which will help propel you into the place God has prepared for your life.

"How can I progress or move forward in God’s plan for my life?"   That's a question I get a lot.  Hopefully through this blog we can discover some truth's which will help you move towards your goals of walking in the calling God has given you.

First of all, you need an on going communicating relationship with God.  The kind where it’s a part of your everyday life. Where you are looking for and expecting His guidance and leading in everyday situations. Nobody gets to the place of hearing God on the big things without first developing a relationship with Him and learning to hear his leading for the smaller things in life.  When you move along with your day ask The Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in everything you do.

Secondly, you can’t be afraid you will fail. This will keep you immobilized every time.
If it's time to take some steps forward then pray and get direction. Talk about it with a couple trusted mentors or leaders in your life and get their feedback and then once you have taken these steps all that is left is to take action.  Remember, if you're operating in God's will and direction for your life than there is no possible way you can fail!

Thirdly, get around people that are successfully walking out God’s purpose for their life and observe how they do what they do. You can learn so much just by simply being around the right people. On the flip side you can lose a lot of ground if you are still hanging around people who have no direction.  Remember the word of God says "Where there is no vision the people perish."  Surround yourself with people who have a vision for their lives.

The last thing I always tell people looking for their purpose is this. Start where you are.
Get involved where you are and if you are seeking God He is going to steer you right over to where you need to be.

Remember that God’s promise to you is that He would be the author and the finisher of your faith. He is in this for the long haul.  Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

I believe these will be some key steps which will help you discover the vision and help you steward the calling and gifting's God has given you.

Believing the best of you and for you today,

Jen Tringale

Anchored in Trials

 "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]." (Philippians 4:13 AMP)
Paul was locked away in prison while he wrote this letter.  If we look back through the book of Acts we read about Paul in Jerusalem being persecuted by the Pharisee's.  The Pharisee's didn’t accept Paul’s ministry or his message and were threatened by the gospel of Jesus. Really they were opposed to anyone preaching Jesus as the Son of God in that day.

 So Paul goes to Jerusalem and meets with the Church.  One day as Paul is walking into the temple, he is taken captive by the local Pharisee's claiming he has broken the law by preaching against the law of Moses and bringing gentiles into the temple.  There is such a riot over this issue that the Roman soldiers are called in to figure out what's going on and bring some sort of resolution.  We could spend weeks going through the story of how Paul ended up in jail by the Roman government and the significance of everything involving the story.  However, in this post we simply need to understand that Paul was imprisoned while he penned these letters.

Even though Paul was imprisoned at this time of his life he still takes every advantage available to witness and minster to those around him.  During Paul's journey to Rome where he would appeal to Caesar, he ministered to and preached Jesus to countless high profile government officials.  He didn't allow his physical circumstances to get in the way of him fulfilling the call of God on his life.  Mere chains were not enough to drag Paul down and prevent him from influencing government and culture.

There is a verse found in the book of Jeremiah, if you've spent any amount of time in church you've heard this verse before.  It says, "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts  and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP)
The word says, "Before you were in your mother's womb, I knew you."  God knows you!  Let that sink in for a moment, reread it a few times.  God knows you!  Not only does God know you, He has a plan and purpose for you, plans for good and not for evil.  He has chosen you for success.  God has set a plan for your life that only you can fulfill with His strength because He created you specifically for this purpose.  What is that purpose?  Seek Him and He will reveal His plans to you.  Jesus told us to "knock and keep on knocking..."  He said "Those who seek me will find me..."
Today I want you to be encouraged.  No matter where life has taken you, no matter what unfortunate circumstances have come your way, know that God knows you, He has a plan and purpose for your life, and through the strength of Jesus Christ you can overcome any and all situations, persecutions, and circumstances that stand in your way and try to prevent you from fulfilling your God given destiny.

I call you blessed,

        - Jen.

Focus on Eternity

You know, I learned a long time ago that it's best not to focus on the physical things in my life but to keep my focus on heaven and on what God has promised me.
2 Corinthians puts it this way, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 KJV)

It says in verse 16 "...though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."  We can experience setbacks in our lives and yet remain confident and strong that we're being built up in our spirit man.  When we decide to stand in the face of defeat and say " I place my faith in God that He is performing a good work in my life and He turns all things, even adverse circumstances, to my good", we are becoming stronger and stronger in our spirit, the core, and the center of who we really are.

Verse 18 says to place our focus on eternity.  You see, God has a set plan for your life. In other words, He has prepared for you the realm of influence you will have, authority and even a geographical place for you to carry out His purposes.  He's set you aside for such a time as this, to be the deliverer of His answer to the world's problems.  When you have a plan for your life like that, you can't fail.  When you have a plan for your life like that, you don't look at the chaos in the natural.  No. You look at the success in heaven.  Has God called you to start a church in your community?  Then turn your gaze to heaven and see the people of your community in heaven.  Turn your eyes to heaven and see the success that your church will have.

When we take our focus off eternity, off heaven, we are giving our worries and fears in the natural too much credit.  We know that they deserve no credit because we operate from a higher place than just what you can see, feel and hear. This is why we are victorious in what we set out to do for His kingdom.

So place your focus on Eternity.  See His plans for your life walked out in victory.  See the answer to your prayers that have already been received and answered in heaven.  

Dreaming

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

We all know this verse by heart.  Actually John 3:16 is the most well-known verse in the entire bible by Christians and non-Christians alike.  The verse is pretty straight forward.  God gave us Jesus. But what if we could take this verse and the understanding of what Jesus accomplished through His life, death and resurrection and apply it to our lives in order for us to live extraordinarily today?

Jesus accomplished everything for humanity when He rose from the dead after His crucifixion.  That's why when He was hanging on the cross He said "It is finished."  He has finished His part of securing everything for us.  Now, you and I get to uphold our end of the bargain and we get to use the power He released to us through His name to bring restoration to the world.

The book of Acts quotes the prophet Joel when it says,
‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy....  (Acts 2:17-19 NLT)

So how do we live an extraordinary life?

We allow the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself thru our lives. We develop a partnership of moving in step with what He shows us. We allow Him to speak through our lives to others.

What I've always loved about this verse is the part about dreaming.  It says "Your old men will dream dreams..."  I believe that dreaming dreams is not something only reserved for a specific age group but that God is inspiring all of us as believers to dream dreams. Dreams are not meant to stay dreams. Dreams are meant for coming true and then starting over with newly inspired dreams and walking those out too!

So I'll ask you a question, “what are you dreaming about? God is calling us to live extraordinary, to dream big dreams and set out on adventures in partnership with Him!

Spend time with God. Ask Him to reveal the dreams He has placed within you. Get ready for some amazing adventures with Him as you walk it out one step at a time!

Remember, Jesus accomplished everything for your life on the cross. Because of Jesus we can dare to live out our dreams and see them become a reality!

I call you blessed,

Jen Tringale
www.jentringale.com

God's New Years Resolution For You

Today is New Years Day. The close of 2012  has come and a new year has begun. Today countless people around the world will begin their annual ritual of creating their new years resolutions. People will take a little time to reflect on their lives and make determinations on what they'd like to change or accomplish. The process is different for everybody, some take it very seriously while others take a more laid back, wishful approach.

Statistics show an overwhelming majority of the people making their new years resolutions will not follow through in completing them. The majority will not see the complete change they envisioned when their goal setting began and will give up within the first 2 weeks. Yikes! Not very encouraging is it?! Still, it is the opportunity of a fresh new year to set the proverbial reset button so to speak and start afresh that entices even the most complacent individual to become a dreamy goal-setter!

Something I learned long ago was the importance of getting myself before God and allowing Him to impart His vision for my next season. I could spend time plotting out my own resolutions, projects and plans, but since God in His infinite wisdom has 'pre-pared' some things for me for 2013, I'm much
better off asking Him and letting Him download those things to my heart. You see God would actually like to plot out your new year with you!

Proverbs 29:18 says "Where there is no vision, the people perish..."
When you don't know where you're going you'll never go anywhere.  If you don't have a vision for your life you won't really complete much of anything.  But when you do have that vision from heaven, you can then see your path and move out. With a charted course, you have a destination of arrival, without it a lot of time is wasted wandering aimlessly.

Having a vision for your life is incredibly significant and important. When you get before God and allow His vision to permeate your decision making, you'll be able to complete any task set before you.  When obstacles or hindrances come you'll have an extreme vigor and tenacity about you because of the vision God has placed in your heart.

When I get before God, hear His vision for my life, and accept that vision as my own I am positioned for success.  I believe that's where passages like Psalm 91 truly take hold.  When we walk down that road that God has set before us we are unstoppable!

As we move forward in this New Year I encourage you to get alone with God and ask Him afresh for His vision for your life for 2013.  Once you have that vision, don't take it for granted. That plan is specifically created for you. You are chosen and set apart for His specific purpose to use your life to help and bless others in a unique way.

Walk in that strength and remember, that you don’t have to see the whole picture just take the step that’s in front of you and keep going!

Thank you for taking time to read this blog. I pray you're encouraged and inspired to press for the best!

I call you blessed,

~ Jen

A Christmas Risk

So much to do and so little time! Have you felt like this lately? The busyness of the holiday season is upon us as we move closer and closer to Christmas day.  December 25th,  it's the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. 

The point of this entire holiday is to pause and celebrate the Savior of the world being born. Born in a stable and wrapped in swaddling clothes. The humility of Jesus is so inspiring. Here we find the King of all kings. The One creation had been waiting for. The One who deserved to be born in a palace with the finest doctors and nurses taking care of Him, with the finest linens and the most luxurious baby bed, was instead born in a barn.   

But I want to take a moment to look at the people like you and me who had to respond to God’s directives and seemingly risk it all in order for Jesus to come. Maybe you have heard this story a hundred times but I encourage you to take just a moment to read on and consider this scenario afresh. You may just find the inspiration you need to take that next step of faith that is waiting on you! 

Mary proves as a real-life example of what a strong godly, faith woman looks like. Just a  teenager when she became pregnant with Jesus, she was engaged to be married to Joseph, a local carpenter in their village.

One night as she was sleeping, Mary experienced a visitation from Gabriel, the angel.  Gabriel is an arch angel and he is used as God's messenger at various times throughout the bible.  In this visitation, Gabriel told Mary that she would become pregnant with a baby conceived by the Holy Spirit and that this child would be the Savior of the world.  It is Mary's response to all this that gives such inspiration.  Luke 1:38 says" And Mary responded, 'I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever He wants.  May everything you have said come true." What a response of faith and real gut-level trust! 

When God promises something it doesn't matter what the risks are. When you know Him, you know everything will come out better than before!

You see, when God directs us to do something, no matter what the potential risks are, we really aren't taking any risks at all.  We can be assured that when He tells us what to do, it will be the best possible thing for our lives.

Consider the blessing that Jesus was to Mary.  This humble virgin, a God- honoring teenager, who's engaged to be married, risked everything she had.  Mary risked her entire life to trust and listen to God's promise for her.  Her reward?  She gave birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world, the Prince of peace, the King of kings, Immanuel. What a beautiful picture.   

Joseph was a strong father and man of God himself and he stuck by Mary's side through it all. But Mary had to take that first step. She was a strong woman of God who was trusting, strong, courageous, brave and fearless of what people might think of her. This is the woman that gave birth to Jesus and raised Him and gives us such a great example. Both man and woman are made in the image of God according to the book of Genesis. Through our ferocious ability to trust and follow God, we have the power to change history for His glory. 

We have the ability to be THIS generation's Ruths, Marys, Elizabeths and Esthers!!

I encourage you this Christmas season to embrace God's promises for your life and walk in those promises, knowing that what He said He will do, and though it may not be what you expected, it will always be better than you could have ever dreamed! 

I call you blessed,

Jen ~ 

Never Give a Crisis Your Respect

I learned a long time ago that if you give a crisis your respect you'll become a slave to it. That crisis will control everything including you!

"Your immediate reaction to circumstances will make a big in determining the outcome."  

Bad news always makes a play for your emotions and attempts to knock the wind out of you. Whether those emotions be sadness, anger, disappointment, or anxiety, all of it has the potential to take the wind out of your sails and knock you off course.

So what do I mean by not giving a crisis your respect? Simply put - don't respect it with your response! Your best defense against a crisis is to not allow your emotions to go haywire.  Not always easy granted, it takes a steel core on the inside, but remember that as a believer, circumstances don't have the last word, you have do. 

I can either agree with the how it looks/sounds and resign myself to that outcome or I can hold myself in a place of trust in God and His Word that I have hid in my heart feed what my response will be. Why is this so important?  Because when you speak the Word of God and hold yourself in a place of faith, it releases the power of His Word to go to work for you!

"When you speak the Word of God and hold yourself in a place of faith it releases the power of His Word to go to work for you." 

Let your response to crisis be a wise response. Yes, bad news may present itself abruptly but it has no more authority over you than the authority you relinquish to it.  This is why the Word says, ".... and let the peace of God rule your heart and mind."  Col 3:15. Let the peace of God call the shots in your life.

I could tell you countless stories in my own life where this principle has brought nothing short of miraculous results in the face of certain devastation. I chose instead to take God at His Word and spoke it in faith and that Word went to work for me. 

We all remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  They were standing in the kings court and he gave them an ultimatum with life or death consequences....   Daniel 3:15 (NIV) 

"If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

These men replied exactly the way I am talking to you about. Their answer was one of confidence and faith that God would without a doubt bring them out of their trouble.

Verse 16 - 18 says... 

"O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  "If it be so..."  wait lets stop right there! If what be so?  Well, they are answering the king's ultimatum of, 'if you do not worship you will be thrown in the fiery furnace', so  obviously they are replying to his threat of throwing them in that fire. 

"If it be so, ( if you do throw us in that fire) our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, ( even if you don't throw us in that fire) be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

You see obviously it makes no sense to tell someone, "if you throw me in a fiery furnace I am STILL not going to bow to your idol" ... Well duh... you'd be dead!  

No, they were saying of a surety they knew God would deliver them, but if the king chose not to throw them in that furnace, be it known to you o king,  we are still not going to bow and worship that idol! Their faith in God was rock-solid. These men knew their God. They knew He was faithful and He always came through and they were not giving that crisis, not even a blazing fiery furnace, their respect. They were giving God and His track record their respect instead.

So, next time you are up against a wall, remember this is not your time to play the martyr.  You rise up and react from peace and come through with grace and with courage, knowing that God has your back and He is a pro at crisis-management!

I call you blessed, 

                - Jen 

Being Thankful

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I can speak from personal experience when I say that praise is a force. We are a three part being, spirit, soul and body.  We are in contact with both the natural and the spiritual realm. This allows us to access the more powerful realm of the Spirit and bring God into our natural circumstances, changing the very atmosphere.

I have been in hospital rooms with individuals who were in critical condition, you could feel heaviness and darkness in the atmosphere and in those times as we began to praise God and magnify Him the darkness left and His light and presence came in.
This is the atmosphere where the miraculous can take place.

You can do this in your home, in your car wherever you are - you see, praise is a force  and it can also be used as a weapon. A weapon against an enemy you cannot see but it is real and is trying to work against you. Praise elevates you into a place with God where tactics of confusion, anxiety, and depression cannot touch you.

Praise is a force, it is a weapon and it is also a fortress. The Psalmist David wrote the Name of the LOrd is a strong tower the righteous run into it and they are saved.

When you, out of your own mouth say the name of Jesus and magnify Him, the power in His Name encompasses you like a shield, it protects you. I think of times I have been in dangerous situations and I spoke the Name of Jesus and I came out untouched. You see, that moment wasn't the first time I had spoken His name, I could speak that name in faith because I had spent time magnifying His name before, I had built a strong confidence in the power of His name, and you can too!

This verse in Thessalonians that we started out with Paul wrote as part of his final instruction before ending his first letter to the church, he was listing solid life lessons for us to live by.

Have you ever met or known someone who is simply happy all the time?  It seems like life can't drag them down. Even when negative circumstances come up they seem to stand resilient to experiencing disappointment and in the end they come out on top.  This is the reason, because they choose to live their lives based on verses like this.

Notice the last part of verse 18 says "...For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  what is God's will?  That we give thanks in all circumstances!  We have a lot to be thankful for. We live in a free country where we are safe and secure. We have a Savior that became our sacrifice in order to give us eternal life.  And we have a Father that loves us so much that He was willing to offer His only Son for our redemption.

Most of us have families that we'll be spending this Thursday with, eating lots of food, watching movies and football (football in my families house) and sharing laughs and love with those we consider near and dear.  We have much to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I call you blessed,

- Jen.

"Selective Amnesia"

"Hello, it's Tuesday, November 6th ... who are you and what do you believe ...???"

As a kid growing up, election time was nothing more than a nuisance. 
Debates interrupted my favorite t.v. shows, posters and signs that were plastered everywhere just got in the way while playing outside, and oh the commercials!!! Honestly, even as an adult there are still times when I don’t feel that much different! 

However, once I reached the age when I was eligible to vote it was made clear to me that voting wasn’t merely just an option but that I had been given a responsibility that I was not to take lightly.

I have heard it said that, "With responsibility comes sacrifice." I believe that's true, but I don’t have the same first-hand experience of this truth as those who have fought and served to protect my right to vote. I don’t know what its like to leave my family, my home and my own ambitions to serve, honor, and protect America.

My grandfather did though, as well as 3 of my uncles and my cousin, who is more like a brother. They each made that choice and their choice leaves me humbled by their passion to serve. I love these men in our family and when I take my responsibility to vote seriously I feel as though I honor them in some small way and the countless others who have fought for this nation that we call home.

You can say what you want about the system being corrupt, the candidates being tainted, and the country being jaded. But if you say that to most american soldiers they will tell you that’s just an excuse. Just like my parents told us growing up, "It doesn’t matter what other people do or don’t do, you are responsible for what you do."

"Remember Who You Are And Whose You Are In The Voting Booth."

For the Christian, voting shouldn't be about aligning with the republican, democratic, or independent party. Look, If you haven’t noticed, the parties have drastically changed in the last decade. The platforms of both major parties and what they stand for are very different from what they use to be. We have only one guideline, actually an obligation in voting and that is to the Word of God and to the blood of Jesus that redeemed us.  Our vote, like our actions must be in alignment with the Word of God. And there is much more in the Bible that speaks to the issues of our day than most realize! 

Each year around election time I hear some christians and even some leaders refer to  Psalms 21:1 when it comes to politics, this verse says,  “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.” I love this verse but so many times it is stated almost as if implying, “ It's all solely in God’s hands, so whatever happens is ok because it is His will”

But that takes this verse out of context and frankly is a lazy ignorant stance of bad theology. If this were true than it would be pointless for us to pray for righteous leaders and law makers for our nation if it is all just a "given" right?. But that's not what the word of God says. Throughout the bible we are encouraged to pray. The bible also says that "when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice but when the wicked bear the rule the people mourn" - Prov 29:2. So obviously then, who winds up in power can go either way. Sobering but true. History confirms it. 

If you think about it then, this verse in Psalms 21 is better applied AFTER the election! After a leader, president, or king has already been put in office. The verse says "the heart of the king is in the Lord’s hands...", but in this country we have a say in the electing of who that king is!

"With Authority Comes Responsibility."

You see the belief that,  “It's all in God’s hands” isn't in line with how God has chosen to operate. For example, even as a child of God myself, never has His will for my life ever just been a “given", simply because it was His will for me. Even though I am His child and the bible even says, "He holds ME in the palm of His hand."... still ... it is not an automatic! No, I have a part in the outcome. I have decisions to make, I have to choose His best for me. You have to choose. So it is with our vote, we do have a part to play in the outcome of the election.

I can’t vote on behalf of everyone but I can decide where my vote goes and what I am in alignment with. Don't fool yourself, you are not voting for a person, you are voting for the policies that candidate has declared they stand for. My vote isn't aligning with a person, it's aligning with the issues, policies and matters of morality that are in alignment with the Word of God. To vote and align otherwise would be to stand separated and apart from the truth. 

I have heard it said that your vote is like your seed. No candidate, platform or campaign is perfect or even close to it. Neither am I. But in all the rhetoric, debates, posters and commentary let's not allow our moral compass to suddenly get “selective amnesia.” This is no time for favoritism or generational party-loyalty hold-overs. This is the time for christians to rally around the truth.

Here Are Some Christian Voting Guidelines.

Get yourself and your vote in alignment with the Word of God. 

In the bible we see that there are some things that are sacred to God. Two of these are named in the book of Genesis, the book of our beginning. These 2 serve as very clear guidelines that show us where our vote belongs. 

 #1. Life is Sacred.  It is precious. Only God can give life.

The right to life is the first and most fundamental principle of human rights. Every Christian is called upon to vote to affirm the intrinsic value of human life and the dignity of every human being in a way that transforms the culture. This means a candidate whose stance and policies are pro-abortion are NOT in alignment with the Word of God. There is no grey area on this. 

 #2. Marriage is Sacred.  

Marriage is defined in the bible as between a man and a woman. Relations outside of this are clearly outlined as being outside of the design of God and they fall under the curse as all sin does. Let's be clear, religious organizations didn't make this up, it is in the bible.

Both presidential candidates have been repeatedly asked during this election and have publicly stated their belief and policy stance in regards to the issues of life and the definition of marriage. The two candidates have opposite stances about these so it is critically important who you vote for. Click here to read the candidates FOR and AGAINST POLICY STANCES : http://downloads.frcaction.org/EF/EF11L04.pdf

The bottom line is that for christians, this election is only cloudy if we make it that way. Align your vote with what is sacred to God. Keep your moral compass consistent. Remember who you are in the voting booth! Actions speak louder than words. Align, unify and act.

I call you blessed,
Jen ~ 

www.jentringale.com 

A Winning Strategy

I truly believe that every person has a God-given purpose for their life.

This familiar quote speaks to this truth from the book of Jeremiah in chapter 29 and verse 11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." To each of us that purpose is unique but engaging in the discovery process is of equal importance no matter who you are. In fact, as a redeemed people it is our responsibility to seek to know.

But if there is one thing I am sure of it's that whatever that process may be ... it is definitely worth it!

Truly the best part is that somewhere in that discovery process there is a stumbling upon of the big picture. That thing that moves you to action. And no matter what your purpose may be it boils down to this, a simple invitation to serve. To serve not out of guilt but out of passion to make a difference. To bring Jesus into reality in peoples lives. And the purposes in each of us through which Jesus makes Himself real are as vast, creative and unique as the stars in the sky!

Essentially the simple definition of the word 'calling' means, an invitation to service. Each of us have an opportunity, some would even say an obligation, to cultivate whatever abilities and talents God has given us in order to fulfill that purpose to its highest and fullest!

"Whatever your purpose may be, it boils down to a simple invitation to service."

Think of it like building a structure:  First you make sure that you're working on a solid foundation. Secondly, you need to have your materials for building ready and the tools it will take to put those materials together. Consider for a moment the life of Nehemiah and how he went about his own discovery process to fulfilling his purpose which happened to be rebuilding the wall and the gates of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah's profession at the time was as the royal cup-bearer for King Artaxerxes. In Nehemiah chapter 1 we read that while doing his job, seemingly getting by just fine, Nehemiah is informed that his people in Judah are in trouble and that the walls of Jerusalem have been torn down and the gates burned. Immediately Nehemiah's heart is heavy and deeply troubled. Verse 4 says that as soon as he heard the news that he "sat down and wept.”

A good indicator as to what your purpose is and in what way you are called to serve is to ask yourself the question, "What am I moved by?"... "What do I have compassion for?" You see whatever it is you feel compelled to do something about is typically a sign as to what you are called to.

Nehemiah wept over what he had heard. He was deeply moved for his city, his people and their legacy. He could have jumped into action quickly but choosing wisely, his first move was to go and seek God. He went to God to get His strategy for how he was to go about making a difference.

As believers we have been given access to God’s wisdom. Only His wisdom holds the answers to society's problems and we are called to bring it into reality. To be salt and light in the earth. To bring real answers to real problems. We are called to restore.

When we choose to set ourselves apart and inquire of the Lord in prayer we are setting ourselves up for success. This should be normal protocol for how we live and is the most important aspect of moving forward in any area of life. Especially in the pursuit of fulfilling ones purpose!

So when you are facing a decision, even when you feel that you have a good idea of how to move forward, settle yourself before God and get His plan and His strategy for your success.
It may just be direction for one step, but more direction will come as you obey.

This is part one of a series so be sure to check back in the coming weeks.

I call you blessed.

Jen ~

visit my website at jentringale.com/

The Forgotten Gift

I don’t know about you but as a fairly driven, to-do list keeping, on-the-go type of person myself, the idea of accomplishing and resting seem pretty opposite. Rest is something you do once in a while on a Saturday morning or during that week of summer vacation right?

In a culture that constantly pushes forward at a rapid pace, it seems night or day there is always something or someone that is demanding your energy and attention. The belief is that those who don't keep up with all the demands will fall behind and things will crumble apart.
And yet the biblical principal for accomplishment and success is quite the opposite of our mainstream way of life. The Bible says in Job 22:21 
“Submit to God, be at peace… in this way prosperity will come to you."

Even today in our world, peace is the hottest commodity. People go to great lengths to learn the secret of how to find it and keep it. The secret is found right there in the word of God and it isn’t a diet, a mantra or even a sunny beach. According to the bible the secret is to submit yourself to God. Simply put to be still and know that He is God. Stop and consider Him and His love for you - this is true peace. Adapt to this lifestyle as a believer the bible says and ..."prosperity will come to you."

I don’t know about you but prosperity coming to me sounds much more attractive than me having to chase it down! The truth is, peace has already been given as a gift to every believer by the only one who ever really had it to give and that was by the Prince of Peace himself, Jesus.



The moment when Jesus presented us with this gift is recorded in the Bible in John 14:7 when He said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

His gift of peace is a perpetual, unending supply that never runs out and cannot be taken away. The only way you and I can lose our peace is if we choose to let it go.

Thoughts of “what if”, “how” and “when” start flooding our mind and the next thing you know anxiety, fear, worry and disappointment have replaced our gift of peace with something else called stress. Stress is a life-stealer, taking days, weeks even years off of a persons life-span depending on how long it is allowed to work. Stress and peace cannot be in the same place.

Sometimes I think some people live so long with stress that when they finally get back into a place of  peace and resting, after a while they feel rest-less and unproductive. They have become so use to the feeling of being driven and pushed they have to re-train their soul how to let peace be in control again. The truth is making the decision to create a lifestyle of living in His peace can actually restore back the time that stress had taken away.

There is no level of work, family even calling that exempts you from the need to rest.

I encourage you today to go back and pick up your gift of peace. Let go of stress; cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. Become protective about your gift of peace. Re-train your thoughts to think thoughts of peace and not anxious stress-filled thoughts.

Judge God as faithful and let Him bring prosperity to you. Let Him lead you what to do instead of being driven to do. Give yourself permission to rest and live the life that Jesus died to give you. A life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

I call you blessed,

Jen Tringale
www.jentringale.com

Power Play - Part 2

"Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm,confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and  remain at rest.  The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me’? Tell the people of Israel to go forward!  Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." (Exodus 14:13-16 AMP)

Let's jump right in and pick up where we left off last week.

Moses said "...See the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today." The best way to set yourself up for success is to start to imagine or picture your victory.  This practice of imagining your victory is something almost every professional athlete takes advantage of.  Olympians that train for months and years to compete, practice seeing themselves crossing the finish line first and winning the gold. God gave us our imagination. When you allow Him to inspire your imagination you rise to a level of dreaming with God, allowing Him to show you what He wants to do in and through your life. 

In order to live in victory you have to believe you are victorious and picture yourself walking in victory.   

Moses then said, "... For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again."
The next step to moving forward in your victory is to position yourself by aligning your life with God's word and declaring it over your life.

"The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest."

What does that mean?  It means in order to take your position of standing strong in His promises you must stay in peace."...and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest."

Choose the peace that passes all understanding and choose to remain at rest.
When peace is absent in our lives, chaos builds its home.  You have to be proactive in choosing your peace, even in the midst of adverse situations.

"The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me’? Tell the people of Israel to go forward!
Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."

We've learned the a few keys to kingdom victory, this last point is one of the most crucial.  
We must take action!  So far we've positioned ourselves for success.  We've imagined ourselves walking in success and in freedom, we've chosen peace and remained at rest.  Now we're ready.  
We have to stretch out our hands and walk through to the other side.  

You see, everything we just accomplished in the previous steps is of zero importance unless we are willing to take action on our faith.  We have to walk into our victory.  
The Israelites weren't driven through the Red Sea, they chose to put one foot in front of the other and act on what they believed. They walked through the Red Sea and over into their freedom and prosperity.

 What were our steps for victory?

1.) Fear not.
2.) Stand firm and undismayed.
3.) See our salvation and imagine ourselves in victory.
5.) Choose peace and remain in rest.
6.) Take action!

You were made for greatness! You have the Greater One, the Holy Spirit on the inside and nothing is impossible for those who believe!

I call you blessed!

~ Jen

www.jentringale.com