Tonight our church celebrates Pastor Appreciation. And we celebrate my amazing dad.
Yesterday I found an email I sent to my dad over 11 years ago while I was in college, late September of ’99. I was telling him all about boys, can you believe that? LOL.
“Daddy, this is the one, I’m just sure of it.”
How many times did I say that to him? Far too often. I told him all about crushes AND my classes. I described in two pages of details which classes I loved and which ones I struggled through:
“Dad, Christian Thought is the most boring subject in the world. This teacher even wrote the book that we are reading – how Boorrring! But, I will struggle through, and maybe I will learn something. Oh and I HATE Algebra too. I do not understand this stuff. English is my favorite subject. The teachers rave over my reports, and I am doing great in that class!”
Reading my email from back then, was a laughable moment yesterday morning. The difference between 31 and 20, is way more than 11, I’m sure. If I only knew then….
“The one” was not the one. He was actually the “worst” one. The dream faker. The lifetime I had prepared to follow that one year in Lakeland, only lasted for a few more weeks following that email to my dad. And I didn’t returned to school the following year either. And the few weeks between that fall heart break and our Christmas break seemed like forever.
I flipped the pages over in the file, remembering that distant life and that October heart break. And I found two more pages. This one hand written, etched in my blue college-girl writing, with the letters circled at the top, “DAD” – dated, “11/6/99″ – Ironically, November 6th, exactly 11 years ago when I wrote these precious pages.
It was a phone conversation. ‘Pastor Daddy’ gave me a very special 12 point sermon, right off the top of his heart, which brought healing and life back into his little girls hurting heart. And I’m sure he was the one who directed me to take notes!
“Get out your pen and paper Jenn, I want you to write this down”
- Thankfully today, I followed his instructions. Those 12 points were a lifeline for me during that time, and unknowingly have remained to this day…
1. Nothing is more important than the call of God in my life.
2. I will pursue no relationship before the relationship with my God.
3. I have a right & responsibility to limit my affections of another.
4. I will respect my myself enough to say No! My body belongs to the Lord.
5. No one can have a part of me (mind, body, emotions) until I give them permission to have a part of me.
6. Behave! (i really needed that one!)
7. The Blood of Jesus covers all.
~Read Job 11:13 – 19 (Message Bible)~8. I am a new creature. Every day begins a new and fresh day that begins in Jesus.
9. I am living a Higher Standard (Romans 8:28)
10. True Love is proven in the Truth of Love. Words, Actions, and thoughts are determinants in the truth of Love! (that’s my favorite one)
11. Relax and Be Happy.
12. God is able to deliver you. Do everything as unto the Lord. (Col 3:23) & Fight the Good fight of faith.
There was an interesting trending topic on twitter a few days ago #tweetyour16yearoldself. Many people are blogging about this. It’s an interesting thought. In retrospect, what would want to tell your 16 year old self, if you could?
This one is easy. Besides, “No, Jenn, he’s NOT the one,” (haha) I would say,
“Listen to your daddy, after all he Is you pastor too! Appreciate him. Take notes, and really listen. Quit debating! He is ALWAYS right! I promise you he will never let you down.”
Today I’m so thankful for my Pastor Daddy, and blessed to be his daughter.


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In my Sunday School class we have been discussing faith and the modern look at the life of Abraham. We’ve been using the Bluefish small group DVD material with Pastor Mark Batterson called, “

A Green theme, a Pink theme, last years
Orange and Red theme, and this summer I sported a dose of Turquoise.
They are a lovely selection of colors from the Winton and Newton family of paints. This box of afternoon delight has been stashed away in storage or a closet somewhere since our move back to Alabama for over two years now – and it was high time they saw some daylight.
~~ So I purchased the book about a month ago after all the buzz and the