November 11, 2023 • 29 mins
Do you remember the juice cups, that you stick the straw in? What happens every time you poke that straw through the plastic? Juice spills out! In life, the same holds true: what is inside of you will come out once poked. What would spill out of you: sourness or sweetness, grumbling or gratitude, light or death?
Today we are delighted to have Jessica Gilbert with us again as we talk about how to Light up with Gratitude as we go through the Thanksgiving Season. Not only do we want to take advantage of this cultural holiday that has a biblical basis, but we want our lives to spill over with gratitude when we are poked.
Cultivating a heart of gratitude, takes preparation, training, and discipline. As we offer practical tips and traditions to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in ourselves and our kids, see which ones work for you.
The ultimate spirit of gratefulness begins and ends with our personal relationship with God. What are you grateful for that He has done for you, protected you from or provided?
Enjoy Rend Collective’s Counting Every Blessing, appreciating all the things God has given.
From Rend Collective: Just because we intellectually KNOW God’s promises, doesn’t mean we always feel them to be true. Counting Every Blessing came from a season of real wrestling with God because we couldn’t see His promises coming to pass. We despaired instead of looking at the signs of His goodness along the way. It’s so easy to give in to looking at what God hasn’t done yet rather than counting the blessings God has already given us.
As we try to set the Thanksgiving table for Jesus to be the centerpiece of our heart celebration, who pointed you to Jesus? How can you thank them this season? Grab a seat, fill your cup with gratitude and let's light up with thanksgiving together!
Grumbler’s Guide To Giving Thanks Book by Dustin Crowe
Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks YouVersion 7 Day Plan
Corrie Ten Boom Story in Hero Tales Volume 2
SOCIAL MEDIA: @called_toshine Instagram.
Follow us on Instagram and enjoy the community as we spur each other on through inspiration, encouragement, and equipping.
And always you can find resources to help you connect to the people around you at NBS2GO! (nbs2go.com)
— A ministry of NBS2GO: Neighbor Bible Studies to Go and Cru
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Pam McCune (00:03):
Hello, Jesslyn here, and Pam, welcome to the
community where we explore howJesus is our light.
Jesslyn Adams (00:08):
We're here to spur each other on to love God
and others right where we live.
We are called to shine.
Do you remember those juicecups?
You know, the ones that youstick the straw in?
In fact, just last night atChick-fil-A, my son ordered an
apple juice with the straw.
And what happens every time youpoke that straw through the
plastic?
Juice spills out, inevitably.
(00:30):
And in life the same holds true.
What is inside of you will comeout once poked.
What would spill out of you?
Sourness or sweetness,grumbling or gratitude, light or
darkness.
Today we are delighted to haveJessica Gilbert with us again as
we talk about how to light upwith gratitude as we go through
the Thanksgiving season.
Not only do we want to takeadvantage of this cultural
(00:53):
holiday that has a biblicalbasis, but we want our lives to
spill over with gratitude whenwe are poked and, let's be
honest, we all get poked attimes.
Jessica Gilbert (01:02):
Yes, we do.
It's interesting that in theverses right before the we are
called to shine like stars inthe universe.
Paul says to do all thingswithout grumbling or arguing.
In many places Paul contrastsnot grumbling with praise,
thanksgiving and even rejoicing.
In Philippians, he encouragesus rejoice in the Lord always.
I'll say it again rejoice.
(01:22):
Let your gentleness be evidentto all.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious aboutanything, but in every situation
, by prayer and petition, withthanksgiving, present your
request to God, and the peace ofGod, which transcends all
understanding, will guard yourhearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
And in 1 Thessalonians 5, healso says Always be joyful,
(01:42):
never stop praying, be thankfulin all circumstances, for this
is God's will for you who belongto Christ Jesus.
I'm not saying I have this down, but these verses seem to
describe how we shine through,lighting up with a heart of
gratitude.
Pam McCune (01:56):
A few years ago, I remember preparing to host the
webinar on letting your lightshine in the fall.
To prepare, I was reading thebook the Grumbler's Guide to
Giving Thanks.
In it, Dustin Crowe talks aboutthe juice cup and he also talks
about what aroma are we givingoff the aroma of life or the
aroma of death?
(02:16):
I remember pondering thatconcept.
What does that mean giving offthe aroma of life or the aroma
of death?
While I was setting up my cutepumpkin backdrop for the video,
putting out my fall candles,thinking I wish the audience
could smell how good theysmelled.
And it was at that moment thatI smelled something bad, and I
mean really bad.
I diffused some purification, Ilit those candles and I
(02:39):
continued preparing, but thesmell grew worse.
Sometimes I felt like it'sgetting better.
But if I left the house and Icame back in whoa, I was hit by
a wall of the smell of death.
We did some deep cleaning.
I mean, we deep cleanedeverything and we found nothing.
We decided something had tohave died inside the wall and
(03:00):
wondered how are we ever goingto get it out of there?
So as we recorded and went liveon the webinar, we were sharing
how people could be a light andpointing them to Jesus, the
light of life and all I couldthink of.
I'm so glad the audience can'tsmell my room right now because
it has the smell of death.
It does not have the smell oflife.
Well, afterwards my dad said Pam, I think maybe it's in your
(03:23):
dryer.
I think a mouse might haveclimbed into your dryer.
I have no idea how you knewthat.
We went quickly to cleaning outthe whole laundry room.
We deep cleaned and bleachedevery single thing in the
laundry room, but death wasstill there.
Connor, our second born, came intown and he was so sweet, he
kindly spent hours helping usdismantle the dryer looking for
(03:44):
Mr.
Mouse.
Yeah, there was no mouse, butfinally in that pedestal drawer
underneath the dryer, we openedit and under all the work gloves
was Mr.
Mouse.
He had met his fate there andwas spreading the aroma of death
.
Well, we disposed of Mr.
Mouse along with all the workgloves and slowly the aroma of
(04:05):
death left as well.
After many of us in life, ourgrumbling and disputing gives
off that aroma of death andsadly we don't even notice the
smell because we're so used toit.
It might take a hardself-evaluation or even asking
others to tell us honestly whataroma are we giving off?
Searching for the problem is abig part of sending the aroma
(04:28):
away, and once we find thesource, it is much easier to
make a plan to dispose of it.
Jessica and Jesslyn, what wouldyou say?
Are you more of a grumbler oroverflowing with gratitude?
Either way, how do youcultivate an attitude of
gratefulness?
Jessica Gilbert (04:45):
I think it's hilarious that I'm on this
episode with you guys.
I'm the last person in myfamily that should be here.
I know it's not about beingperfect, right?
I'm not going to lie.
If I were poked, I you know,being a mom of three under five
years old, as I often am pokedsometimes like sourness is just
(05:06):
going to come spilling out.
I'm more of a grumbler, to behonest.
Even just preparing for thisepisode, it convicted me.
Cultivating gratitude is notsomething I have been doing a
good job of and I could feel itin my soul.
One thing that I started doingjust to go around in the car.
Everybody say something we'regrateful for.
Okay, just after a little whilesaying like, thank you God that
(05:26):
we even have this car, thankyou God that we can choose
whatever song we want to listento that over time, helped a
little bit.
I had to even bring thatpractice into my home.
As you know, I've been watchingthe kids for sometimes a four
hour stretch by myself.
I'm sitting on the kitchenfloor just scribbling on a piece
of paper.
God, I'm so grateful that Ihave food to give my kids.
Thank you for this home that Ihave.
(05:47):
Thank you for this baby boy whostill likes to snuggle with me.
It kind of started to feel goodto have a different rhythm in
the face of stressful situations.
Pam McCune (05:55):
Jessica, so honest and I so appreciate it and I
know with littles we have to sayno to a lot of things, but it
really can affect our heart.
When you scribbled on thosepieces of paper, did you feel
like it was helpful at themoment, or was it an act of
obedience and by faith, I'mgoing to do this.
Jessica Gilbert (06:13):
A little bit of both.
Honestly, I think what ithelped me the most in is that my
husband was going to come homevery soon and had I not done
that, when he walked in the doorhe would have met a Jessica
that was resentful and angry andbitter, and not a Jessica that
is happy wife to see her husband.
It really did give me thatability to say thank you God for
(06:36):
what's going on.
When he walked in, I hadalready laid those things down
before God, things that I wasfrustrated with and sought the
things that I was grateful forthere are just moments when
there is not a sweet aroma ofsounds in the house, when
everybody's in the mood.
Pam McCune (06:53):
But I've seen you turn it.
Can you tell our audience alittle bit about when you do a
dance party to change themomentum and the tone in your
house?
Jessica Gilbert (07:01):
It's weird, because my reaction when things
get loud is okay, how can I getthings as quiet as possible?
But that doesn't work withlittle kids.
Sometimes amping up the fungets them to settle down.
We'll just play songs.
There's this guy, danny Gohsings the wiggle dance.
Even if it's just the chickendance, they will just stop and
do whatever the song is callingthem to do and get in their fun
(07:24):
mode.
And then, right after we'reable to say okay, now we're
going to transition to the nextthing, put on your shoes.
Pam McCune (07:30):
Brilliant, I love it .
Jesslyn Adams (07:31):
I can relate to.
My kids are a little older, butI can struggle being grateful
when I get stressed or peoplemake requests and demands of me.
I can easily get critical ofmyself, which means I'm going to
be critical of others, can'treally see the good and the hard
sometimes.
I have been trying to work onthis.
So for 15 minutes most days,not every day I have in my
(07:54):
schedule silence and solitude.
I sometimes abbreviate it andcall it SNS.
I do try to spend some extendedtime with God alone, not with an
agenda, and for me I can easilyget distracted.
So I like to try and getoutside, really, whether it be
nature by our river or even justthe hammock in my front yard or
even in the bathtub when I takemy Epson salt bath and I lock
(08:17):
the kids out.
But during that time I ask Godto search my heart, to help me
sit silently, to maybe reflectback on the day, and I ask him
where did I feel anxious or justdisconnected from you?
Where did I feel your presence?
Where did I feel your comfort?
And it's interesting when Ithrow those questions out what
he brings to mind.
But I'm realizing I have tosilence my voice to hear his
(08:41):
voice and I don't think Irealize how often I just talk,
talk, talk, talk, talk, talk,which he loves.
To hear my voice, but only hisvoice can really calm my heart
and change my perspective, andso I call this practice the
prayer of examine.
It just helps me reflect backover my day.
Slowly.
I notice what God's been doing.
I write down each thing in myjournal when I can, or just
stowed away in my heart and mind, and then slowly marvel and awe
(09:04):
and gratefulness take overthose feelings of anxiousness,
despair and complaints.
Jessica Gilbert (09:09):
Wow, Jesslyn, that takes so much discipline to
even be able to sit for 15minutes and listen and get away
from the dishes, the noise,whatever chaos is going on in
your home, and that's soencouraging to me.
That's something that Idefinitely want to try to
incorporate into my life.
I'm learning so much from y'all.
I think for me I'd have to setan alarm on my watch because I
(09:30):
don't even look at my calendar.
I love that.
That's something I want to tryfor sure.
Pam McCune (09:34):
Jesslyn, thanks for saying most days.
I like that you put a gracemargin in there of knowing it's
not going to happen some days,oh yes, even though on the days
that it doesn't happen, whenlife is upside down, is probably
when you need it most.
Yep, let's just admit reality.
Sometimes we can't fit it in,but most times, wow.
That would be refreshing.
I have a tendency to grumble,even though one of my life
(09:57):
verses is a cheerful heart is agood medicine, but a broken
spirit drives up the bones.
Haven't memorized?
I say it all the time, but Idon't always live it out.
November seems to be a goodreset for me.
It's when I like to go on agratitude hunt and turn my
grumbling into gratitude.
In case September and October Iwas grumbling, in November I
(10:20):
can go on a gratitude hunt topersonally aim at telling God
what am I thankful for, whatwent well, what am I surprised
by?
But thank you, lord, for theopportunity to trust you in this
.
Sometimes it is spoken prayerand many times for me it is
writing it in a journal, becauseit helps me to focus a little
bit more, because my brain cango all kinds of places when I'm
(10:42):
talking and praying and end upin the grocery list On my
journal.
It helps me to actually writedown, lord, what am I thankful
for?
What is truly coming out of me?
Is it aroma of death or life?
If you have littles, maybe youcan do it with them in the car
on a walk Kids that arelistening right now.
I encourage you to challengeyour parents to take you on a
(11:04):
gratitude hunt.
You can search for what you arethankful for.
I've kept a gratitude journaland finding three things daily
to say that I'm thankful for issuch a great goal, I have to
tell you.
Sometimes I've gone four daysand realized, oh no, I have 12
things to come up with and thisis going to be hard.
Sometimes less is more, buttraining ourselves, as well as
(11:24):
our kids, is just that.
It's training.
It is cultivating a heart ofgratitude one step at a time.
Now there is traditionalgratitude that can be generic,
big picture, and there'sspecific gratitude, focusing
what is in front of you rightnow.
You can do that by beginningthinking through a tangible
daily gratitude like good,smelling hot coffee, amen.
(11:46):
Then think through a truth,something that has happened.
It could even be something youdon't feel thankful for.
Your child is sick, you're notthankful for their sickness, but
a truth could be that you'rethankful for the extra time you
are spending together.
Or a truth might be my husbanddidn't get the job he applied
for.
Thank you, lord, that ourfamily dynamic isn't changing
(12:09):
right now.
We're not going to move.
If you find your kids are justquickly naming things they see
right in front of them that toy,that toy to check off, being
thankful, slow them down toconsider being thankful for what
they are saying, maybe youcould say that's great, we want
to encourage each thing thatthey acknowledge.
But then to say let's change itup and add another layer or
(12:32):
let's try something new.
Sometimes, if we just pivot alittle, it can help us truly
cultivate the pattern of beinggrateful and going deeper.
Jessica Gilbert (12:42):
Maybe we can think of this season as no shade
November, instead of no shave.
No throwing shade or nogrumbling November, not to
punish ourselves or our familieseach time we grumble or throw
shade on them, but to becomeaware of what we're focusing on.
When we grumble, we focus onwhat we don't have.
We're grateful.
We think of all the things thatwe have in front of us to be
(13:04):
thankful for.
Yeah, this is my favorite partof the show, where we get to
share some practical ideas andlisteners get ready to take note
of which ideas might work foryou.
I know I will be.
Let's get to sharing some moreof what have y'all experienced
to help cultivate and showgratitude.
Pam McCune (13:18):
Okay, bake, take, thank.
For the bake, use your gifts inthe kitchen if that brings you
joy, or go shopping to a bakery.
Yes, once you get those bakedgoods, wrap your goodies up and
take them to someone you arethankful for.
Verbally, say thanks, or put itin a card and say we appreciate
you.
Now, on Thanksgiving Day, don'tforget people over pies.
(13:39):
Now, you may not know what I'mtalking about.
My daughter has become the cook, the baker, the planner that I
am not.
She takes after her daddy.
One Thanksgiving she and Iattempted a chocolate chess pie
that our friend makes and wespent much time bonding,
laughing, making this pie and itdidn't taste or look like a pie
(13:59):
.
It actually had the aroma ofdeath.
So if you enjoy making a messin the kitchen, do it.
And if you all spend all day onThanksgiving cooking, if you do
that and you become the aromaof death, please remember people
over pies.
Bonding with people in thekitchen and outside the kitchen
is more important than theperfect, most beautiful pie.
(14:21):
Laughter goes a long way,friends, when things don't turn
out to your expectation or asplanned, a dash of laughter will
cover much.
My friend has a tablecloth ofmemories that she pulls out for
whoever comes to her house inthe month of November.
She has them sign their nameand write one thing they're
(14:41):
thankful for and write the yearas that tablecloth comes out.
It is a scrapbook of memoriesof who's been in and out of the
house, what they were thankfulfor that year, and it is a
beautiful tribute to family andfriends.
Jessica Gilbert (14:55):
That's really cool.
There's the grateful tree.
In the past we've given outchalk and asked our neighbors
usually kids to draw whatthey're grateful for, and a
friend had the idea to use thechalk to draw a tree and let
neighbors add things thatthey're grateful for, like in
the leaves.
This could also be done insideyour house.
Cut out paper leaves or get abag of leaves from hobby lobby.
Make a banner adding words eachweek or day that you're
(15:17):
thankful for.
This sounds really doable to me.
I live on a trail and theRangers they just won last week
the World Series Go Rangers.
As I was walking the trail,there was a huge chalk display
saying go Rangers, win.
And so I guess my neighborsmight be open for this idea.
On the trail we might have totest it out.
Also with words of affirmationduring November.
Take advantage of verballyappreciating people or writing
(15:40):
notes with old fashioned pen andpaper.
You could say so grateful tohave you as a neighbor, a friend
, family, coworker, or even onsocial media.
This is a time to use it forgood and tell friends how
thankful we are for them.
Jesslyn Adams (15:51):
I love that, Jessica.
Words of affirmation are mylove language, and even my own
husband, who says that wasn'this love language when we were
first married, now says he loveswords of affirmation and needs
it.
And I think we all need it.
We all want to hear somethingreally kind.
Pam, I love what you weretalking about with the kids and
helping them think throughthings to be thankful.
So don't underestimate afaithful jar or a bucket by the
(16:14):
dinner table With a piece ofpaper, or we even have some note
cards and a pen.
We write down things at dinneror bedtime, what we're thankful
for throughout November, andread them on Thanksgiving.
It's a simple tradition thatyou can do even if you're
traveling.
I have tried incorporating thisat our meals a couple days a
week, and now I must admit thatour boys at the beginning used
to always say the same thing I'mthankful for recess, for
(16:36):
dessert or my game.
Those are all wonderful.
But recently one of my sons,maddie, said you know, I'm just
really glad I have a bed atnight.
And I thought, oh my goodness,okay, you're taking it another
layer deeper and I thought thatwas so worth it.
And so you're right.
It does take cultivatingAnother way to stimulate your
thankful heart with your kids isthe ABCs of gratitude.
(16:56):
Have a game to try to come upwith something with every letter
that you're grateful for.
If you're with your kids, tryto help them succeed with those
tough letters.
A could be for adoration of ourdog, who's so sweet and greets
us with the kiss every day.
B maybe the mini books that wehave.
Or my oldest son loves bacon.
I mean, it could be anything.
It's amazing how that changesall of our hearts, not just the
(17:18):
kids.
Pam McCune (17:18):
Great ideas.
One time during COVID, I didthis alphabet of praise on my
Facebook wall.
Oh, wow, and it's probably themost comments I've ever had on
Facebook.
They were in such a hard placethat everybody wanted to stop
and think of things that theywere praising God for and
thankful for, of who He was atthat time we did some different
aspects of his character, butthese are great ideas.
(17:40):
Hopefully one of these fits orcan be adapted for where you are
in your season of life.
Lighting up with gratitude canbe for all the blessings we have
, for the people we appreciate,or, by faith, for the things we
don't like.
But we trust God.
He has a purpose for allowingit.
But don't forget our foundationof gratitude, our relationship
(18:03):
with God.
My thankful song is RendCollective's, Counting Every
Blessing.
The heart of it is counting theblessings of being in
relationship with God.
Here are some of the words incase you haven't had the delight
of hearing Rend Collective.
I was blind, now I'm seeing incolor.
I was dead.
Now I'm living forever.
(18:24):
I had failed, but you were myredeemer.
I've been blessed beyond allmeasure.
I was lost.
Now I'm found by the Father.
I've been changed from a ruinto a treasure.
I've been given a hope and afuture.
I've been blessed beyond allmeasure.
You were there in the valley ofshadows.
You were there in the depth ofmy sorrows.
(18:46):
You're my strength, my hope fortomorrow.
I've been blessed beyond allmeasure.
Surely your goodness pursues me.
Surely your heart is still forme.
I will remember your merciesall my days, through every storm
and gale.
I am counting every blessing.
Counting every blessing,letting go and trusting when I
(19:10):
cannot see.
Surely, every season, you aregood to me.
Oh, you are good to me, okayy'all.
I'm tearing up.
Can you believe that justreading these words is bringing
me back to the hardest hardsthat I've had?
I couldn't say I was thankfulfor her, but I sang the words by
faith, to say you know what?
(19:31):
He was with me in the valleyThrough those storms and gales.
Lord, I'm counting everyblessing, letting go and
trusting when I cannot see.
Surely, every season, you aregood to me, oh, you are good to
me.
No matter if things feelthankful or if, by faith, we
choose that God's character isallowing good, we can set our
(19:53):
mind to be thankful and stop andremember the things that he has
done for us.
And it starts and stops withour relationship with Him.
It is my ringtone, it is mygo-to song to remind me of all I
have to be thankful for and itreminds me to start and stop at
what God has done for me.
(20:14):
And as we're thinking throughgratitude and knowing God
personally, who pointed you toknow Jesus, who are you thankful
for?
Jessica Gilbert (20:22):
Well, the first person who pointed me to Jesus
and led me into a relationshipwith him was my mom.
She became a believer whilepregnant with me.
She was a teen mom and sheliterally sang a worship song as
she birthed me.
So I'm told I can remembermaybe being four or five years
old, about to get a spanking forsome act of disobedience.
I did, and as I lay thereanxiously waiting for it, it
(20:45):
never came.
And my mom said I'm not goingto spank you.
You know what that's calledMercy, that's not getting
something that you deserve.
And then she handed me a pieceof candy and I'm thinking this
is a trick.
And she says do you know whatthis is called?
It's grace getting a gift thatyou don't deserve.
She told me that's what Goddoes for us and I'll never
(21:05):
forget that.
Today I'll tell you that herrelationship with God is vastly
different.
She's experienced, as many ofus have, a fair amount of church
hurt and abuse in her life.
She's put a lot of distancebetween herself and Christians.
But, guys, my mom gave me myfirst taste of the sweetness of
Jesus and that's the reason whyI work at learning more about
how to follow him, well, why Ido call to shine.
(21:27):
I want to equip people who arewalking alongside men and women
who are disillusioned anddistrusting of the church.
I want to encourage us to learntogether how to be a light that
reveals the darkness butdoesn't knock them blind.
I'm just so grateful for my momfor revealing to me who Jesus
is.
Wow, jessica.
Pam McCune (21:44):
I really appreciate how you verbally acknowledge all
that your mom did for you.
She gave us such a powerfulillustration to you of mercy and
grace that you'll never forget.
Jesslyn Adams (21:56):
Yes, Jessica, I loved your story, and it helped
me realize how impactful thelittle years can be with kids.
They do remember big timeevents, and you remembered
something pivotal at four tofive years old.
My parents, too, were a greatexample of growing up and
prioritizing faith in God.
I personally invited Jesus intomy heart in high school.
That's when I understood Ineeded a relationship with him,
(22:17):
but as I entered my freshmanyear of college, I was
struggling in my faith andpretty much put Jesus on the
back burner.
God kept pursuing me, though,and provided me a potluck
roommate that was unlike anyoneI had ever met.
Her name was Jessica, so thatwas ironic, jessica and Jesslyn
being roommates together, andeven though our names were
similar, our days could not lookmore different.
(22:38):
While I was sleeping in andmissing class often sorry, mom
and dad Jessica, on the otherhand, was getting up every
morning by 6.30, having adevotional time outside of our
dorm room, and she was doingthis in her hallway, so she
wouldn't wake me up.
She was always so kind andpatient, as I came in late at
night while she was asleep.
I sadly even remember poppingpopcorn at 2am because, let's
(22:59):
face it, I had not been makinggood choices that night.
I had been drinking everyweekend, trying to live this
lukewarm faith one foot in theworld and one foot in with Jesus
, and I honestly kept Jessica ata distance that fall.
But after Thanksgiving break wecame back and she had brought me
a Christmas present.
To my dismay I thought, wow, Idon't know if I've been the
kindest to her.
I can't believe she's doingthis.
And inside that gift were Bathand Body Works lotions she had
(23:22):
noticed mine were running low,my favorite since and I loved it
.
Her thoughtfulness and prayersfor me really drew me back to
Jesus.
Seeing her devotion to spendtime with him, to want to know
him.
I don't think I'd really seenthat in someone my age and I'm
like, okay, this exists.
Like she loves being with Jesus.
She was reflecting his love andgrace for me and slowly but
(23:43):
surely over the next few months,jessica helped me turn back to
Jesus and was there spurring meon over the next four years of
college, and she still doestoday.
Jessica Gilbert (23:51):
Wow, Jesslyn, I appreciate all the ways that
she poured into you, alsoappreciating that you said.
Admittedly, you kept her at adistance.
That gives me hope that whenthe people I'm trying to be a
light to, if they keep me at adistance that perhaps with some
consistency in my care, theywill eventually open up.
Pam McCune (24:10):
That does give hope and it's another Jessica that
was faithful and persistent.
What is it with Godly Jessica's?
In Texas, some grandmotheryears ago must have prayed for a
Godly heritage in the Jessica's.
I don't have any Jessica's inmy family, but my parents
pointed me to Jesus as well.
They brought us up faithfullyattending church, where I heard
(24:31):
many Bible stories and, I'll behonest, tried hard to get all
the right answers on Sundaymornings.
It wasn't until fifth gradethat I realized I actually
didn't have all the rightanswers and I finally understood
I had a choice to make tochoose Jesus, to say yes to him,
and once I did, I ran towanting to learn more about him
(24:52):
and knowing him.
I owned it and then Lynn andSally and Georgia and Tim and
many, many more continued topoint me towards him through the
tricky and emotional juniorhigh and high school years.
They pointed me to him one stepat a time.
Jessica Gilbert (25:09):
That's beautiful Pam.
I'm grateful for all thosepeople that poured into you, and
that's true.
I mean we talked about howstars shine brightest in the
cluster.
We need other people to do thework of being a light to others,
so I love all of those peoplethat poured into you and helped
you get to know Jesus more.
Yeah, november can be a greattime to be thankful, and
especially be thankful for thosewho pointed us to Jesus.
(25:30):
We can do it verbally orthrough a note, and, as we do,
we can also pray that God willuse us to point others to Jesus
as well.
It's been great being with youguys today.
For our listeners, come find meon the Kaldishine Instagram
account and say hi, I would loveto interact with you.
Pam McCune (25:46):
Yes, y'all should, Jessica.
We're so glad you're here.
Jesslyn, how are we going toget her here all the time?
Jesslyn Adams (25:52):
Yes, I would love that.
So, listeners, being thankfulis a choice.
Cultivating a heart ofgratitude doesn't happen from
saying thank you for one day orfor one month, but that one day
or one month is a step in theright direction, and once we
take those first steps, it'seasier to take the next right
step as well.
Laying a foundation ofgratitude and thankfulness will
(26:12):
help change us from the insideout, so that the next time we
are poked, we will spill overwith the aroma of life During
World War II, Corrie Ten Boomand her sister Betsy were
arrested for hiding Jews intheir Dutch home.
Pam McCune (26:25):
They were sent to labor concentration camp.
In one camp, Ravensbrook, thebarracks they stayed in were far
from ideal.
There was hardly space for themto move around as so many women
were tightly packed into theone bunk room.
To make matters worse, it wasinfested with fleas.
Corrie wondered how they couldlive in such a place, but her
(26:47):
older sister, Betsy, said Godhad already given them the
answer.
She told Corrie to read thepassage from the Bible they had
read that morning.
Corrie went to 1 Thessalonians 5, read verses 16 through 18.
Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is thewill of God in Christ Jesus.
(27:07):
Betsy exclaimed that's it,Corrie.
That's His answer, "Give thanksin all circumstances.
We can start right now to thankGod for every single thing
about this new barracks, such as, as Cory asked, such as being
assigned here together.
Betsy said and Cory agreed.
They went on to thank God thatthey had been able to keep their
(27:29):
Bible, that there were so manypeople there who would be able
to hear God's word, and thenBetsy gave thanks for the fleas
the fleas, cory thought.
Betsy, there's no way even Godcan make me be grateful for a
fleet.
Give thanks in allcircumstances, betsy quoted.
It doesn't say in pleasantcircumstances.
(27:50):
Fleas are part of this placewhere God has put us.
So they gave thanks for thefleas, but Cory felt sure that
this time Betsy was wrong.
Time passed, the days filledwith hard work and cruel guards,
but every single evening thewomen and their barracks would
gather around to hear the word.
They were grateful they wereable to read the Bible, but they
(28:12):
wondered why the guards didn'tstop them.
Then one day Betsy learned why.
It was because of the fleas.
The guards refused to enter thebarracks because they knew it
was infested with fleas.
God had a purpose, even forthose horrible fleas.
When it seemed like everythingwas stripped from them, here was
evidence that God cared aboutthem-- fleas.
(28:34):
Fleas was God's way ofproviding a means by which these
suffering women could be nearto Him through His Word.
Jesslyn Adams (28:42):
I love that, this Thanksgiving season, give
thanks to God for every good andperfect gift he allows, and
also thank him for how he willuse all things for good in the
lives of those who trust him.
This is how we cultivategratitude.
This is how, when pokedgratitude will come out.
We have so much more to exploretogether.
So be sure to subscribe to ourpodcast, and if today is
(29:03):
inspired or encouraged to you,you can help others find us by
taking a moment to give us areview on your favorite podcast
streaming site.
Pam McCune (29:10):
And as our thanks for joining us here, we invite
you to follow us on Instagram atcalled to shine.
As part of our called to shineInstagram community, you will
get encouragement and ideas tohelp you connect to the people
around you.
Jesslyn Adams (29:24):
And, as always, you can find resources to help
you shine the light of Jesus atmbs2gocom neighbor Bible studies
to go.
In our next episode we willlook into simple ways to make
sure we don't miss celebratingJesus's birth through the
Christmas holidays.
How can we make time to simplyadore him?
Pam McCune (29:41):
Thanks for joining us today.
We are called to shine.
Hello, Jesslyn here, and Pam, welcome to the
community where we explore howJesus is our light.
Jesslyn Adams (00:08):
We're here to spur each other on to love God
and others right where we live.
We are called to shine.
Do you remember those juicecups?
You know, the ones that youstick the straw in?
In fact, just last night atChick-fil-A, my son ordered an
apple juice with the straw.
And what happens every time youpoke that straw through the
plastic?
Juice spills out, inevitably.
(00:30):
And in life the same holds true.
What is inside of you will comeout once poked.
What would spill out of you?
Sourness or sweetness,grumbling or gratitude, light or
darkness.
Today we are delighted to haveJessica Gilbert with us again as
we talk about how to light upwith gratitude as we go through
the Thanksgiving season.
Not only do we want to takeadvantage of this cultural
(00:53):
holiday that has a biblicalbasis, but we want our lives to
spill over with gratitude whenwe are poked and, let's be
honest, we all get poked attimes.
Jessica Gilbert (01:02):
Yes, we do.
It's interesting that in theverses right before the we are
called to shine like stars inthe universe.
Paul says to do all thingswithout grumbling or arguing.
In many places Paul contrastsnot grumbling with praise,
thanksgiving and even rejoicing.
In Philippians, he encouragesus rejoice in the Lord always.
I'll say it again rejoice.
(01:22):
Let your gentleness be evidentto all.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious aboutanything, but in every situation
, by prayer and petition, withthanksgiving, present your
request to God, and the peace ofGod, which transcends all
understanding, will guard yourhearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
And in 1 Thessalonians 5, healso says Always be joyful,
(01:42):
never stop praying, be thankfulin all circumstances, for this
is God's will for you who belongto Christ Jesus.
I'm not saying I have this down, but these verses seem to
describe how we shine through,lighting up with a heart of
gratitude.
Pam McCune (01:56):
A few years ago, I remember preparing to host the
webinar on letting your lightshine in the fall.
To prepare, I was reading thebook the Grumbler's Guide to
Giving Thanks.
In it, Dustin Crowe talks aboutthe juice cup and he also talks
about what aroma are we givingoff the aroma of life or the
aroma of death?
(02:16):
I remember pondering thatconcept.
What does that mean giving offthe aroma of life or the aroma
of death?
While I was setting up my cutepumpkin backdrop for the video,
putting out my fall candles,thinking I wish the audience
could smell how good theysmelled.
And it was at that moment thatI smelled something bad, and I
mean really bad.
I diffused some purification, Ilit those candles and I
(02:39):
continued preparing, but thesmell grew worse.
Sometimes I felt like it'sgetting better.
But if I left the house and Icame back in whoa, I was hit by
a wall of the smell of death.
We did some deep cleaning.
I mean, we deep cleanedeverything and we found nothing.
We decided something had tohave died inside the wall and
(03:00):
wondered how are we ever goingto get it out of there?
So as we recorded and went liveon the webinar, we were sharing
how people could be a light andpointing them to Jesus, the
light of life and all I couldthink of.
I'm so glad the audience can'tsmell my room right now because
it has the smell of death.
It does not have the smell oflife.
Well, afterwards my dad said Pam, I think maybe it's in your
(03:23):
dryer.
I think a mouse might haveclimbed into your dryer.
I have no idea how you knewthat.
We went quickly to cleaning outthe whole laundry room.
We deep cleaned and bleachedevery single thing in the
laundry room, but death wasstill there.
Connor, our second born, came intown and he was so sweet, he
kindly spent hours helping usdismantle the dryer looking for
(03:44):
Mr.
Mouse.
Yeah, there was no mouse, butfinally in that pedestal drawer
underneath the dryer, we openedit and under all the work gloves
was Mr.
Mouse.
He had met his fate there andwas spreading the aroma of death
.
Well, we disposed of Mr.
Mouse along with all the workgloves and slowly the aroma of
(04:05):
death left as well.
After many of us in life, ourgrumbling and disputing gives
off that aroma of death andsadly we don't even notice the
smell because we're so used toit.
It might take a hardself-evaluation or even asking
others to tell us honestly whataroma are we giving off?
Searching for the problem is abig part of sending the aroma
(04:28):
away, and once we find thesource, it is much easier to
make a plan to dispose of it.
Jessica and Jesslyn, what wouldyou say?
Are you more of a grumbler oroverflowing with gratitude?
Either way, how do youcultivate an attitude of
gratefulness?
Jessica Gilbert (04:45):
I think it's hilarious that I'm on this
episode with you guys.
I'm the last person in myfamily that should be here.
I know it's not about beingperfect, right?
I'm not going to lie.
If I were poked, I you know,being a mom of three under five
years old, as I often am pokedsometimes like sourness is just
(05:06):
going to come spilling out.
I'm more of a grumbler, to behonest.
Even just preparing for thisepisode, it convicted me.
Cultivating gratitude is notsomething I have been doing a
good job of and I could feel itin my soul.
One thing that I started doingjust to go around in the car.
Everybody say something we'regrateful for.
Okay, just after a little whilesaying like, thank you God that
(05:26):
we even have this car, thankyou God that we can choose
whatever song we want to listento that over time, helped a
little bit.
I had to even bring thatpractice into my home.
As you know, I've been watchingthe kids for sometimes a four
hour stretch by myself.
I'm sitting on the kitchenfloor just scribbling on a piece
of paper.
God, I'm so grateful that Ihave food to give my kids.
Thank you for this home that Ihave.
(05:47):
Thank you for this baby boy whostill likes to snuggle with me.
It kind of started to feel goodto have a different rhythm in
the face of stressful situations.
Pam McCune (05:55):
Jessica, so honest and I so appreciate it and I
know with littles we have to sayno to a lot of things, but it
really can affect our heart.
When you scribbled on thosepieces of paper, did you feel
like it was helpful at themoment, or was it an act of
obedience and by faith, I'mgoing to do this.
Jessica Gilbert (06:13):
A little bit of both.
Honestly, I think what ithelped me the most in is that my
husband was going to come homevery soon and had I not done
that, when he walked in the doorhe would have met a Jessica
that was resentful and angry andbitter, and not a Jessica that
is happy wife to see her husband.
It really did give me thatability to say thank you God for
(06:36):
what's going on.
When he walked in, I hadalready laid those things down
before God, things that I wasfrustrated with and sought the
things that I was grateful forthere are just moments when
there is not a sweet aroma ofsounds in the house, when
everybody's in the mood.
Pam McCune (06:53):
But I've seen you turn it.
Can you tell our audience alittle bit about when you do a
dance party to change themomentum and the tone in your
house?
Jessica Gilbert (07:01):
It's weird, because my reaction when things
get loud is okay, how can I getthings as quiet as possible?
But that doesn't work withlittle kids.
Sometimes amping up the fungets them to settle down.
We'll just play songs.
There's this guy, danny Gohsings the wiggle dance.
Even if it's just the chickendance, they will just stop and
do whatever the song is callingthem to do and get in their fun
(07:24):
mode.
And then, right after we'reable to say okay, now we're
going to transition to the nextthing, put on your shoes.
Pam McCune (07:30):
Brilliant, I love it .
Jesslyn Adams (07:31):
I can relate to.
My kids are a little older, butI can struggle being grateful
when I get stressed or peoplemake requests and demands of me.
I can easily get critical ofmyself, which means I'm going to
be critical of others, can'treally see the good and the hard
sometimes.
I have been trying to work onthis.
So for 15 minutes most days,not every day I have in my
(07:54):
schedule silence and solitude.
I sometimes abbreviate it andcall it SNS.
I do try to spend some extendedtime with God alone, not with an
agenda, and for me I can easilyget distracted.
So I like to try and getoutside, really, whether it be
nature by our river or even justthe hammock in my front yard or
even in the bathtub when I takemy Epson salt bath and I lock
(08:17):
the kids out.
But during that time I ask Godto search my heart, to help me
sit silently, to maybe reflectback on the day, and I ask him
where did I feel anxious or justdisconnected from you?
Where did I feel your presence?
Where did I feel your comfort?
And it's interesting when Ithrow those questions out what
he brings to mind.
But I'm realizing I have tosilence my voice to hear his
(08:41):
voice and I don't think Irealize how often I just talk,
talk, talk, talk, talk, talk,which he loves.
To hear my voice, but only hisvoice can really calm my heart
and change my perspective, andso I call this practice the
prayer of examine.
It just helps me reflect backover my day.
Slowly.
I notice what God's been doing.
I write down each thing in myjournal when I can, or just
stowed away in my heart and mind, and then slowly marvel and awe
(09:04):
and gratefulness take overthose feelings of anxiousness,
despair and complaints.
Jessica Gilbert (09:09):
Wow, Jesslyn, that takes so much discipline to
even be able to sit for 15minutes and listen and get away
from the dishes, the noise,whatever chaos is going on in
your home, and that's soencouraging to me.
That's something that Idefinitely want to try to
incorporate into my life.
I'm learning so much from y'all.
I think for me I'd have to setan alarm on my watch because I
(09:30):
don't even look at my calendar.
I love that.
That's something I want to tryfor sure.
Pam McCune (09:34):
Jesslyn, thanks for saying most days.
I like that you put a gracemargin in there of knowing it's
not going to happen some days,oh yes, even though on the days
that it doesn't happen, whenlife is upside down, is probably
when you need it most.
Yep, let's just admit reality.
Sometimes we can't fit it in,but most times, wow.
That would be refreshing.
I have a tendency to grumble,even though one of my life
(09:57):
verses is a cheerful heart is agood medicine, but a broken
spirit drives up the bones.
Haven't memorized?
I say it all the time, but Idon't always live it out.
November seems to be a goodreset for me.
It's when I like to go on agratitude hunt and turn my
grumbling into gratitude.
In case September and October Iwas grumbling, in November I
(10:20):
can go on a gratitude hunt topersonally aim at telling God
what am I thankful for, whatwent well, what am I surprised
by?
But thank you, lord, for theopportunity to trust you in this
.
Sometimes it is spoken prayerand many times for me it is
writing it in a journal, becauseit helps me to focus a little
bit more, because my brain cango all kinds of places when I'm
(10:42):
talking and praying and end upin the grocery list On my
journal.
It helps me to actually writedown, lord, what am I thankful
for?
What is truly coming out of me?
Is it aroma of death or life?
If you have littles, maybe youcan do it with them in the car
on a walk Kids that arelistening right now.
I encourage you to challengeyour parents to take you on a
(11:04):
gratitude hunt.
You can search for what you arethankful for.
I've kept a gratitude journaland finding three things daily
to say that I'm thankful for issuch a great goal, I have to
tell you.
Sometimes I've gone four daysand realized, oh no, I have 12
things to come up with and thisis going to be hard.
Sometimes less is more, buttraining ourselves, as well as
(11:24):
our kids, is just that.
It's training.
It is cultivating a heart ofgratitude one step at a time.
Now there is traditionalgratitude that can be generic,
big picture, and there'sspecific gratitude, focusing
what is in front of you rightnow.
You can do that by beginningthinking through a tangible
daily gratitude like good,smelling hot coffee, amen.
(11:46):
Then think through a truth,something that has happened.
It could even be something youdon't feel thankful for.
Your child is sick, you're notthankful for their sickness, but
a truth could be that you'rethankful for the extra time you
are spending together.
Or a truth might be my husbanddidn't get the job he applied
for.
Thank you, lord, that ourfamily dynamic isn't changing
(12:09):
right now.
We're not going to move.
If you find your kids are justquickly naming things they see
right in front of them that toy,that toy to check off, being
thankful, slow them down toconsider being thankful for what
they are saying, maybe youcould say that's great, we want
to encourage each thing thatthey acknowledge.
But then to say let's change itup and add another layer or
(12:32):
let's try something new.
Sometimes, if we just pivot alittle, it can help us truly
cultivate the pattern of beinggrateful and going deeper.
Jessica Gilbert (12:42):
Maybe we can think of this season as no shade
November, instead of no shave.
No throwing shade or nogrumbling November, not to
punish ourselves or our familieseach time we grumble or throw
shade on them, but to becomeaware of what we're focusing on.
When we grumble, we focus onwhat we don't have.
We're grateful.
We think of all the things thatwe have in front of us to be
(13:04):
thankful for.
Yeah, this is my favorite partof the show, where we get to
share some practical ideas andlisteners get ready to take note
of which ideas might work foryou.
I know I will be.
Let's get to sharing some moreof what have y'all experienced
to help cultivate and showgratitude.
Pam McCune (13:18):
Okay, bake, take, thank.
For the bake, use your gifts inthe kitchen if that brings you
joy, or go shopping to a bakery.
Yes, once you get those bakedgoods, wrap your goodies up and
take them to someone you arethankful for.
Verbally, say thanks, or put itin a card and say we appreciate
you.
Now, on Thanksgiving Day, don'tforget people over pies.
(13:39):
Now, you may not know what I'mtalking about.
My daughter has become the cook, the baker, the planner that I
am not.
She takes after her daddy.
One Thanksgiving she and Iattempted a chocolate chess pie
that our friend makes and wespent much time bonding,
laughing, making this pie and itdidn't taste or look like a pie
(13:59):
.
It actually had the aroma ofdeath.
So if you enjoy making a messin the kitchen, do it.
And if you all spend all day onThanksgiving cooking, if you do
that and you become the aromaof death, please remember people
over pies.
Bonding with people in thekitchen and outside the kitchen
is more important than theperfect, most beautiful pie.
(14:21):
Laughter goes a long way,friends, when things don't turn
out to your expectation or asplanned, a dash of laughter will
cover much.
My friend has a tablecloth ofmemories that she pulls out for
whoever comes to her house inthe month of November.
She has them sign their nameand write one thing they're
(14:41):
thankful for and write the yearas that tablecloth comes out.
It is a scrapbook of memoriesof who's been in and out of the
house, what they were thankfulfor that year, and it is a
beautiful tribute to family andfriends.
Jessica Gilbert (14:55):
That's really cool.
There's the grateful tree.
In the past we've given outchalk and asked our neighbors
usually kids to draw whatthey're grateful for, and a
friend had the idea to use thechalk to draw a tree and let
neighbors add things thatthey're grateful for, like in
the leaves.
This could also be done insideyour house.
Cut out paper leaves or get abag of leaves from hobby lobby.
Make a banner adding words eachweek or day that you're
(15:17):
thankful for.
This sounds really doable to me.
I live on a trail and theRangers they just won last week
the World Series Go Rangers.
As I was walking the trail,there was a huge chalk display
saying go Rangers, win.
And so I guess my neighborsmight be open for this idea.
On the trail we might have totest it out.
Also with words of affirmationduring November.
Take advantage of verballyappreciating people or writing
(15:40):
notes with old fashioned pen andpaper.
You could say so grateful tohave you as a neighbor, a friend
, family, coworker, or even onsocial media.
This is a time to use it forgood and tell friends how
thankful we are for them.
Jesslyn Adams (15:51):
I love that, Jessica.
Words of affirmation are mylove language, and even my own
husband, who says that wasn'this love language when we were
first married, now says he loveswords of affirmation and needs
it.
And I think we all need it.
We all want to hear somethingreally kind.
Pam, I love what you weretalking about with the kids and
helping them think throughthings to be thankful.
So don't underestimate afaithful jar or a bucket by the
(16:14):
dinner table With a piece ofpaper, or we even have some note
cards and a pen.
We write down things at dinneror bedtime, what we're thankful
for throughout November, andread them on Thanksgiving.
It's a simple tradition thatyou can do even if you're
traveling.
I have tried incorporating thisat our meals a couple days a
week, and now I must admit thatour boys at the beginning used
to always say the same thing I'mthankful for recess, for
(16:36):
dessert or my game.
Those are all wonderful.
But recently one of my sons,maddie, said you know, I'm just
really glad I have a bed atnight.
And I thought, oh my goodness,okay, you're taking it another
layer deeper and I thought thatwas so worth it.
And so you're right.
It does take cultivatingAnother way to stimulate your
thankful heart with your kids isthe ABCs of gratitude.
(16:56):
Have a game to try to come upwith something with every letter
that you're grateful for.
If you're with your kids, tryto help them succeed with those
tough letters.
A could be for adoration of ourdog, who's so sweet and greets
us with the kiss every day.
B maybe the mini books that wehave.
Or my oldest son loves bacon.
I mean, it could be anything.
It's amazing how that changesall of our hearts, not just the
(17:18):
kids.
Pam McCune (17:18):
Great ideas.
One time during COVID, I didthis alphabet of praise on my
Facebook wall.
Oh, wow, and it's probably themost comments I've ever had on
Facebook.
They were in such a hard placethat everybody wanted to stop
and think of things that theywere praising God for and
thankful for, of who He was atthat time we did some different
aspects of his character, butthese are great ideas.
(17:40):
Hopefully one of these fits orcan be adapted for where you are
in your season of life.
Lighting up with gratitude canbe for all the blessings we have
, for the people we appreciate,or, by faith, for the things we
don't like.
But we trust God.
He has a purpose for allowingit.
But don't forget our foundationof gratitude, our relationship
(18:03):
with God.
My thankful song is RendCollective's, Counting Every
Blessing.
The heart of it is counting theblessings of being in
relationship with God.
Here are some of the words incase you haven't had the delight
of hearing Rend Collective.
I was blind, now I'm seeing incolor.
I was dead.
Now I'm living forever.
(18:24):
I had failed, but you were myredeemer.
I've been blessed beyond allmeasure.
I was lost.
Now I'm found by the Father.
I've been changed from a ruinto a treasure.
I've been given a hope and afuture.
I've been blessed beyond allmeasure.
You were there in the valley ofshadows.
You were there in the depth ofmy sorrows.
(18:46):
You're my strength, my hope fortomorrow.
I've been blessed beyond allmeasure.
Surely your goodness pursues me.
Surely your heart is still forme.
I will remember your merciesall my days, through every storm
and gale.
I am counting every blessing.
Counting every blessing,letting go and trusting when I
(19:10):
cannot see.
Surely, every season, you aregood to me.
Oh, you are good to me, okayy'all.
I'm tearing up.
Can you believe that justreading these words is bringing
me back to the hardest hardsthat I've had?
I couldn't say I was thankfulfor her, but I sang the words by
faith, to say you know what?
(19:31):
He was with me in the valleyThrough those storms and gales.
Lord, I'm counting everyblessing, letting go and
trusting when I cannot see.
Surely, every season, you aregood to me, oh, you are good to
me.
No matter if things feelthankful or if, by faith, we
choose that God's character isallowing good, we can set our
(19:53):
mind to be thankful and stop andremember the things that he has
done for us.
And it starts and stops withour relationship with Him.
It is my ringtone, it is mygo-to song to remind me of all I
have to be thankful for and itreminds me to start and stop at
what God has done for me.
(20:14):
And as we're thinking throughgratitude and knowing God
personally, who pointed you toknow Jesus, who are you thankful
for?
Jessica Gilbert (20:22):
Well, the first person who pointed me to Jesus
and led me into a relationshipwith him was my mom.
She became a believer whilepregnant with me.
She was a teen mom and sheliterally sang a worship song as
she birthed me.
So I'm told I can remembermaybe being four or five years
old, about to get a spanking forsome act of disobedience.
I did, and as I lay thereanxiously waiting for it, it
(20:45):
never came.
And my mom said I'm not goingto spank you.
You know what that's calledMercy, that's not getting
something that you deserve.
And then she handed me a pieceof candy and I'm thinking this
is a trick.
And she says do you know whatthis is called?
It's grace getting a gift thatyou don't deserve.
She told me that's what Goddoes for us and I'll never
(21:05):
forget that.
Today I'll tell you that herrelationship with God is vastly
different.
She's experienced, as many ofus have, a fair amount of church
hurt and abuse in her life.
She's put a lot of distancebetween herself and Christians.
But, guys, my mom gave me myfirst taste of the sweetness of
Jesus and that's the reason whyI work at learning more about
how to follow him, well, why Ido call to shine.
(21:27):
I want to equip people who arewalking alongside men and women
who are disillusioned anddistrusting of the church.
I want to encourage us to learntogether how to be a light that
reveals the darkness butdoesn't knock them blind.
I'm just so grateful for my momfor revealing to me who Jesus
is.
Wow, jessica.
Pam McCune (21:44):
I really appreciate how you verbally acknowledge all
that your mom did for you.
She gave us such a powerfulillustration to you of mercy and
grace that you'll never forget.
Jesslyn Adams (21:56):
Yes, Jessica, I loved your story, and it helped
me realize how impactful thelittle years can be with kids.
They do remember big timeevents, and you remembered
something pivotal at four tofive years old.
My parents, too, were a greatexample of growing up and
prioritizing faith in God.
I personally invited Jesus intomy heart in high school.
That's when I understood Ineeded a relationship with him,
(22:17):
but as I entered my freshmanyear of college, I was
struggling in my faith andpretty much put Jesus on the
back burner.
God kept pursuing me, though,and provided me a potluck
roommate that was unlike anyoneI had ever met.
Her name was Jessica, so thatwas ironic, jessica and Jesslyn
being roommates together, andeven though our names were
similar, our days could not lookmore different.
(22:38):
While I was sleeping in andmissing class often sorry, mom
and dad Jessica, on the otherhand, was getting up every
morning by 6.30, having adevotional time outside of our
dorm room, and she was doingthis in her hallway, so she
wouldn't wake me up.
She was always so kind andpatient, as I came in late at
night while she was asleep.
I sadly even remember poppingpopcorn at 2am because, let's
(22:59):
face it, I had not been makinggood choices that night.
I had been drinking everyweekend, trying to live this
lukewarm faith one foot in theworld and one foot in with Jesus
, and I honestly kept Jessica ata distance that fall.
But after Thanksgiving break wecame back and she had brought me
a Christmas present.
To my dismay I thought, wow, Idon't know if I've been the
kindest to her.
I can't believe she's doingthis.
And inside that gift were Bathand Body Works lotions she had
(23:22):
noticed mine were running low,my favorite since and I loved it
.
Her thoughtfulness and prayersfor me really drew me back to
Jesus.
Seeing her devotion to spendtime with him, to want to know
him.
I don't think I'd really seenthat in someone my age and I'm
like, okay, this exists.
Like she loves being with Jesus.
She was reflecting his love andgrace for me and slowly but
(23:43):
surely over the next few months,jessica helped me turn back to
Jesus and was there spurring meon over the next four years of
college, and she still doestoday.
Jessica Gilbert (23:51):
Wow, Jesslyn, I appreciate all the ways that
she poured into you, alsoappreciating that you said.
Admittedly, you kept her at adistance.
That gives me hope that whenthe people I'm trying to be a
light to, if they keep me at adistance that perhaps with some
consistency in my care, theywill eventually open up.
Pam McCune (24:10):
That does give hope and it's another Jessica that
was faithful and persistent.
What is it with Godly Jessica's?
In Texas, some grandmotheryears ago must have prayed for a
Godly heritage in the Jessica's.
I don't have any Jessica's inmy family, but my parents
pointed me to Jesus as well.
They brought us up faithfullyattending church, where I heard
(24:31):
many Bible stories and, I'll behonest, tried hard to get all
the right answers on Sundaymornings.
It wasn't until fifth gradethat I realized I actually
didn't have all the rightanswers and I finally understood
I had a choice to make tochoose Jesus, to say yes to him,
and once I did, I ran towanting to learn more about him
(24:52):
and knowing him.
I owned it and then Lynn andSally and Georgia and Tim and
many, many more continued topoint me towards him through the
tricky and emotional juniorhigh and high school years.
They pointed me to him one stepat a time.
Jessica Gilbert (25:09):
That's beautiful Pam.
I'm grateful for all thosepeople that poured into you, and
that's true.
I mean we talked about howstars shine brightest in the
cluster.
We need other people to do thework of being a light to others,
so I love all of those peoplethat poured into you and helped
you get to know Jesus more.
Yeah, november can be a greattime to be thankful, and
especially be thankful for thosewho pointed us to Jesus.
(25:30):
We can do it verbally orthrough a note, and, as we do,
we can also pray that God willuse us to point others to Jesus
as well.
It's been great being with youguys today.
For our listeners, come find meon the Kaldishine Instagram
account and say hi, I would loveto interact with you.
Pam McCune (25:46):
Yes, y'all should, Jessica.
We're so glad you're here.
Jesslyn, how are we going toget her here all the time?
Jesslyn Adams (25:52):
Yes, I would love that.
So, listeners, being thankfulis a choice.
Cultivating a heart ofgratitude doesn't happen from
saying thank you for one day orfor one month, but that one day
or one month is a step in theright direction, and once we
take those first steps, it'seasier to take the next right
step as well.
Laying a foundation ofgratitude and thankfulness will
(26:12):
help change us from the insideout, so that the next time we
are poked, we will spill overwith the aroma of life During
World War II, Corrie Ten Boomand her sister Betsy were
arrested for hiding Jews intheir Dutch home.
Pam McCune (26:25):
They were sent to labor concentration camp.
In one camp, Ravensbrook, thebarracks they stayed in were far
from ideal.
There was hardly space for themto move around as so many women
were tightly packed into theone bunk room.
To make matters worse, it wasinfested with fleas.
Corrie wondered how they couldlive in such a place, but her
(26:47):
older sister, Betsy, said Godhad already given them the
answer.
She told Corrie to read thepassage from the Bible they had
read that morning.
Corrie went to 1 Thessalonians 5, read verses 16 through 18.
Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is thewill of God in Christ Jesus.
(27:07):
Betsy exclaimed that's it,Corrie.
That's His answer, "Give thanksin all circumstances.
We can start right now to thankGod for every single thing
about this new barracks, such as, as Cory asked, such as being
assigned here together.
Betsy said and Cory agreed.
They went on to thank God thatthey had been able to keep their
(27:29):
Bible, that there were so manypeople there who would be able
to hear God's word, and thenBetsy gave thanks for the fleas
the fleas, cory thought.
Betsy, there's no way even Godcan make me be grateful for a
fleet.
Give thanks in allcircumstances, betsy quoted.
It doesn't say in pleasantcircumstances.
(27:50):
Fleas are part of this placewhere God has put us.
So they gave thanks for thefleas, but Cory felt sure that
this time Betsy was wrong.
Time passed, the days filledwith hard work and cruel guards,
but every single evening thewomen and their barracks would
gather around to hear the word.
They were grateful they wereable to read the Bible, but they
(28:12):
wondered why the guards didn'tstop them.
Then one day Betsy learned why.
It was because of the fleas.
The guards refused to enter thebarracks because they knew it
was infested with fleas.
God had a purpose, even forthose horrible fleas.
When it seemed like everythingwas stripped from them, here was
evidence that God cared aboutthem-- fleas.
(28:34):
Fleas was God's way ofproviding a means by which these
suffering women could be nearto Him through His Word.
Jesslyn Adams (28:42):
I love that, this Thanksgiving season, give
thanks to God for every good andperfect gift he allows, and
also thank him for how he willuse all things for good in the
lives of those who trust him.
This is how we cultivategratitude.
This is how, when pokedgratitude will come out.
We have so much more to exploretogether.
So be sure to subscribe to ourpodcast, and if today is
(29:03):
inspired or encouraged to you,you can help others find us by
taking a moment to give us areview on your favorite podcast
streaming site.
Pam McCune (29:10):
And as our thanks for joining us here, we invite
you to follow us on Instagram atcalled to shine.
As part of our called to shineInstagram community, you will
get encouragement and ideas tohelp you connect to the people
around you.
Jesslyn Adams (29:24):
And, as always, you can find resources to help
you shine the light of Jesus atmbs2gocom neighbor Bible studies
to go.
In our next episode we willlook into simple ways to make
sure we don't miss celebratingJesus's birth through the
Christmas holidays.
How can we make time to simplyadore him?
Pam McCune (29:41):
Thanks for joining us today.
We are called to shine.
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