Flattery at its finest.

Tonight, I had the pleasure to spend some time with Fintan. He is small in stature, with sweet eyes that capture your attention. He loves Super Heroes, Toy Story, chocolate, and talking. When we were coloring today, Fin asked me to draw Optimus Primes' head. Naturally, like any decent babysitter would do- I said,  "Sure." Yes, me the girl who lives with an art ed. major but is not one herself said yes to drawing something. The challenge began. He gave me the action figure and I was able to draw a sketch that sort of resembled the figure. Fin then colored in the head and was pleasantly satisfied. Next, Fin said, "can you add arms to it?" I did. Then Fin enthusaitically told me at least two times, "You are really good at drawing." How did this happen? I do not know since drawing is not my forte.

Later that night, as we were sitting around the dinner table enjoying meat loaf and mashed potatoes, Fin said, "Jillian, you are the best babysitter I have had."

I replied, "Thanks Fin."

Vivian, his older sister then responded, "Fin, you are just trying to be flattering."

Fins reply to that was, "How? I am not dressing classy."

Viv said, "No, you are trying to flatter with your words."

I jumped in while quietly laughing saying, "Fin, I appreciate the compliment. Though, it is true. You do like to flatter everyone."

The flattery then continued while doing the dishes. Fin proclaimed, "I think I am going to have Fin's Famous Fiesta and will invite one special person! So Jillian...do you want to come."

I of course answered back, "Sure, just let me know when it is."

Who wouldn't want to go to a five year old's fiesta (little did he know that tomorrow is Cinco De Mayo).

The night ended with hide and seek, ice cream, and some stories. 

Fin will probably be a ladies man when he gets older. His eyes, compliments, and sweet laugh are hard to not make a person smile. I wanted to share this story because it made me think of some life lessons. First, little kids notice things and share them. Fin noticed that I was struggling to draw, so he  encouraged me through that. Little kids also are creative and spontaneous. He wants to have a fiesta. I would never think to do this. Lastly, I think flattering people with compliments is a good thing (to a point of course). Lets be encouraging. Tell people we love them. And show love in a tangible way. This is my challenge to you and to me.

hitting play.

the thought currently replaying in my head today is this- has it seriously been two years since i was beginning to prepare for being the RA of pink hall? 

tonight, we had the Knuha staff for next year join our weekly staff meeting. sitting in the circle of these 16 other women made me incredibly joyful. there was an intense amount of beauty, love, and goodness being reflected. i remember two years ago when i first went to a meeting, anticipating life as an RA. now, i look back on what the Lord has done to me by being an RA and ARD.

it is incredible what two years of Res Life does to a person. i almost started crying tonight thinking about the past two years. God has done BIG things and i am in awe of His goodness. there have been ups and downs. good times and crappy times. yet through it all, life has happened and relationships have been formed.

going from a freshmen to being an RA, to then becoming the ARD, to now a soon to be graduate is crazy. changes occur. seasons come and go. and life happens. this is not the only lesson i have learned while being at NWC, though it has been a valuable one.

let me repeat it: LIFE HAPPENS.

we cannot hit pause, rewind, or fast forward for life. what we can do is hit play and take part in the action. as we allow life to happen, we need to remember the good times (so use the memory God gave us) and we need to keep trusting the Lord that He has the future in His hands.

my future is currently the furthest thing from being planned. all i know is on May 12th i will be walking across a stage.

with the days i have left (< 4 weeks) at NWC i'm going to hit play and rest in the Lord each day for what He brings into my life.

an almost empty row.

Driving into the church parking lot this morning felt like one would think it would- like coming home.
A smile came upon my face as I walked towards the entrance. 
I recognized the faces of the greeters and got two hugs before walking inside.
Next, the pastor's wife asked me about my spring break trip making me feel loved.
Then I stepped into the sanctuary and something happened, whatever it was it did not seem right.
Everything seemed foreign.
None of my friends were in our usual section near the middle.
I stood in the back for a minute recognizing barely anyone.
Was I in the right church? Did something happen to me? 
Walking to the right side where some empty seats were, I found a place to sit down.
Ironically, it was almost an entire empty row besides two men sitting on the far left side of it. 
This was new. I had not sat alone in church since freshmen year.
I thought to God, is this really happening? 
Am I sitting alone at my home church on Easter? 
But, I did it. I sat there. My heart feeling, I guess, kind of lonely.
After a few minutes of me thinking about life and where I was at in it,
my dear friend's mom came up to me and asked if her and her boys could sit by me.
My heart screamed out please do as my lips quietly said, yes.
God provided. He knew that I was not going to be sitting by myself.
My spiritual family (and pretty much second family) was there with me.
Even though my close friends could not be seen or were just not there, I was not alone. 

an empty bench. somehow it connects to what i wrote.

This experience made me think about a few things. First, there are probably dozens of people who sit alone at the church I attend every week. I want to find them and be their friend. Second, I am never alone. Even if my friend's mom would not have come up to me, Jesus was in my heart speaking to me. He is alive in me. Lastly, things are going to keep changing. As I graduate, I do not know what my life will look like yet even for the month after graduation, but I do know that God has a plan. He delights in me and has good (which could be different from my definition of good) for me. This foreign feeling might continue as I journey along in life outside of Northwestern, yet somehow that is alright with me. I am a sojourner on this planet. Nothing will truly seem like home until I see Jesus face to face in heaven.

a short recap

The shortest version summary of my urban immersion: a time to broaden my perspective.

The short version summary: My perspective on ministry, God's love, God's creation, what it means to abide, the difference between rest and work, injustice, sex trafficking, and much more all was impacted. God wanted my eyes to be opened, mind to be thinking about what has and is happening, and heart to be full of His love for His people. People need Jesus. They do not need me. They do not need just a theology lesson. They do not need just a meal. They need hope which is found in Jesus Christ. My life has been changed because of this past week. It will take a great amount of time to process what happened, but that will come. I am not sure how specifically life will change other than God showing me that without Him I have nothing to offer people. I am so blessed by the Lord's sovereign plan and graciousness towards me. More stories will be written, but for now I thank my Heavenly Father for a change in perspective.

Please keep praying for my team and the debriefing and processing we are going through. We want God to get all the glory for the stories we share and what happened. Also, pray for Al. He is an elderly man I got to talk with for awhile at a nursing home. One of the hardest and greatest nights for me was talking with him because of how lonely he seemed.

P.S. Come to the Welcome Home Spring Benefit Show featuring two NWC bands. There will also be testimonies of what happened from the 4 spring break trips. https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/338248332894260/

minneapolis spring break trip. prayer please.

On Thursday I will embark on an adventure to Minneapolis. Four other women from Northwestern and I will be going on this trip to learn about what is happening in the nonprofit/ministry realm of Minneapolis, take part in the work happening, and show/share the love of Jesus. I was blessed to participate on this trip last year and was called to go on it again for spring break. Why? Three reasons- God has a plan (not sure what it is), God wants an earth full of worshipers (John 6:40), and I want the people in my own backyard to know Jesus (Isaiah 61). 

I am telling you this because the trip needs to be covered in prayer. Would you please be in prayer for me and the other four women going on the trip?

Pray that Jesus' name would be spoken with complete confidence (Psalm 18:31-32, Psalm 67, Luke 12, Galatians 5:1). This is something I struggle with and need boldness for. I do not want to be fearful of rejection or any other lie the devil tells me.

Pray that we would resist and not fear the devil (Isaiah 53:10, 1 Peter 5:8-11, Romans 16:20).

Pray that as we plant seeds through out words and actions, we would trust God to do the growth (1 Corinthians 3:5-9, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6).

Pray that my group, the people we work with, and everyone we would come in contact with would today or one day understand what it means to be a child of God, that salvation is only found in Jesus, and that He lavishes His love on us (Ephesians 1, Romans 10:1-4).

Pray that I would find my rest in the Lord during this trip. During this past week I have wanted to just go home and sleep, but that will not be happening. I need to trust in God's plan and that I would find Him to be my strength (Isaiah 40:28-31).

Pray that God would be glorified in everything we do and say (1 Corinthians 10:31, 2 Corinthians 10:14-18).

On the trip we will be working and staying with Source. We will also be going to different ministries and nonprofits each day to see what is happening all around the Twin Cities. If you have any questions about the trip please let me know.

Thank you for the prayers my dear brothers and sisters.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
-Revelation 21:1-8.

break blessings.

1. little nuggets of wisdom from adults like Mr. G. when we say 'in Jesus name' during prayer, essentially it should mean 'let your will be done.' (i was told John MacArthur talks about this so read pages 123 & 124 in his book for more info- Objects of Prayer).

2. conversations around a kitchen counter about some hefty topics that make you think, want to know more and just praise the Lord.

3. friends to cook and eat with.

4. our family fondue new years' tradition.

5. "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." - The Help. (I don't watch many movies, but I recommend this to everyone. I will gladly watch it with anyone too.)

6. a game night with high school friends. 

7. coffee and sleep. i keep learning that coffee is so much more enjoyable when you don't need it to stay awake. i also learned (for the second time) that when you don't (or do) drink coffee, drink a good amount of water (thanks cody).

8. being able to say, "see ya when i see ya" instead of "goodbye" to friends who live in other states. 

 9.  blankets and a fire place.

10. candles (in a house or a cabin).  

11. Jesus...

    "Always faithful
     Always good
     You still have me
     You still have my heart" 

christmas card written by papa wilzbacher.

i would like to share what my dad wrote for our family's Christmas card this year. it is exploding with truth and love.

'Twas a week before Christmas and Mike just found out, 

"You're not doing a letter?" he said with a pout. 

"No, it's not on the list this year" Julie said. 

"But feel free to do one yourself instead."

So here I am not, tapping away,

Wondering what in the world to say.

Rather than recall the events of 2011,

I think I'd prefer us to focus on heaven.

It might be nice if all roads led there,

But in the end would that really be fair?

Not to our Savior who hung on tree

So we could be with Him for eternity. 

The gift of salvation is ours to receive. 

All we need do is choose to believe. 

If you already have, then don't be silent- 

The world needs to know why His Son was sent. 

Christmas Blessings from the Wilzbachers-

Mike, Julie, Eric, Jordan, and Jillian

(also, not sure why but for some reason i think this song fits.
they sang it at hope cc for offering awhile ago.)

 This is War- Dustin Kensrue  This is war like you ain't seen.
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
With hangdog hearts we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.

This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.

This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it's final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man