The High School Yearbook

Lessons in Patience, Part Three

     Once upon a time, as a senior in high school, we were asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” We had to fill out this paper for the school yearbook with our future plans, the college we would attend, the career we would have…
     Last weekend, I got together for a game night with a few friends from high school. Just for laughs, I took along the yearbook from our last year of school together. We all glanced through it, giggling at the makeup, the hairstyles, the memories…
     One thing that really stood out to me, as I read through our “future plans” for our lives, is that most of us are NOT where we thought we would be! Like me, some went to different colleges than what we had planned for ourselves. Also, like me, some ended up in totally different careers than what we had planned. And some who didn’t plan to get married or have families, did – while, some who did plan to, actually didn’t.


My point is that clearly, life doesn’t always turn out the way we thought it would. Sometimes, that is a wonderful thing. Other times, it can be a challenge that requires us to be patient and to put our full trust in God.


     I think that for the rest of my earthly life, I will be learning lessons in patience. I also think I am ok with that, because it reminds me that I need to be dependent on God!
God said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses…For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
     It is EASY to become impatient, as we look ahead to our future hopes and dreams! One thing I DO know for sure is that God has designed a plan and a purpose for each of our lives!
“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. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD.” Jeremiah 29:11-14
     Another thing I DO know for sure is that it is ok if things don’t happen the way we thought they would, or if things aren’t happening as quickly as we had hoped.
“My thoughts are not like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
     The truth of the matter is that God is faithful! Even if He seems silent, He is still working in our lives! Even if we are in a waiting period right now, He has not forgotten us! I believe every one of God’s promises! Do you?
“Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9


SO, my friends, no matter what your high school yearbook said, no matter what your 5-year plan was, or is, just be still and KNOW that God promised to make all things work together for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)


I hope this was an encouragement to you ~ to trust and to be patient!


PLEASE ~ put me on your prayer list! I really need to walk in patience, as so many details of this next missions trip are up in the air right now. I need to be patient! I need to stay yielded, surrendered, and just trust that all things WILL work together for my good.

“Hurry Up…And Wait!”

Lessons in Patience, Part Two

The people I’ve worked with and the parents of my students will agree I do well showing patience, as a teacher.
In my daily life though, I annoy myself with my own impatience!
Every now and then, I will actually stand in front of the microwave and command it to “Hurry up!” AS IF a microwave isn’t already astonishingly fast at reheating food and boiling water!
I do the same thing with my little 4-cup coffee maker. I put the water in, measure the coffee, then stand there and wait impatiently while it makes my hot, delicious coffee in under 5 minutes!
Seriously, I just don’t like the process of waiting…it bugs me. How about you? I can’t be the only one feeling this way, right?


I learned a lesson in patience when I was in Lesotho, Africa, on my first international missions trip.

A co-worker who had been on a missions team to Africa warned me ahead of time that I should pray for extra helpings of grace and patience. He said that some people on the team, and some of the nationals there, would rub me the wrong way. He said that it would actually be a good thing though because God would use them like sandpaper, sanding down the rough edges, while developing Christ-like love and patience in my life. My friend could not have been more right!


It was the summer of 2004 and I was excited to be experiencing many “firsts” in my life.
* my first time being on a plane
* my first time being in Africa
* my first time becoming a clown for kids’ programs
* my first time speaking through a translator
* my first time on a trip with the legendary Pastor Nat Saginario

Pastor Nat has been leading short-term missions trips for over 20 years! Several of the team members, who had been on a trip with him before, asked me, “Are you ready to hurry up and wait?”
Huh? What? “Hurry up and wait?” I really had no idea WHAT they were talking about!
But, once we arrived in Africa, I quickly began to understand…


You see, like a good team leader, Pastor Nat was insistent that team members be prepared and be on time. So, our team of Americans would hustle around to be prepared and on time…and, then we would wait…and wait…and wait some more…
Yes, of course, it was important for us to be prepared.
     “But make sure in your hearts that Christ is Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have. Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with respect.” 1 Peter 3:15
Yes, of course, it was important that we be dependable, being where we said we would be at a given time.
     “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
But, I quickly learned that it was also important to be flexible with our schedule, to be open to change, and to be accepting of others who were clearly NOT time-oriented. All of that requires a big dose of patience!
     “Therefore I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, putting up with one another in love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

The missionaries who had been there for years would just laugh and say to us “T.I.A. = This is Africa!”

I now finally understood the phrase “Hurry up...and wait!”

PLEASE ~ continue to pray for me, as I am trying to wait patiently… I am still in the process of figuring out where to spend the next 5 months of my life! It is my heart’s desire to volunteer on an international mission field, coming alongside an established ministry. I am trying to be prepared, to be faithful, to be flexible, & to be patient!

“When Herbert Was Much Younger…”

Lessons in Patience, Part One

Before there were MP3 downloads, there were cds, before cds, were cassette tapes, before tapes were records.  Does anyone out there remember those?  When I was growing up, one of my favorite records was called “Music Machine”.

We listened to that record so much, that my siblings and I could probably still sing those songs now, 20 years later.  One song that was especially catchy and fun was about patience.  It was about a snail named Herbert and his wise father.  This song is one of my first memories of learning about patience.
Here, I’ll sing a few lines for you:

There was a snail called Herbert who was so very slow
He caused a lot of traffic jams wherever he would go
The ants were always getting mad & the beetles, they would fume
But Herb would always poke along and sing this little tune
Have patience, have patience.  Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient, you only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you

God has provided me with MANY chances to choose patience.  Sometimes I win the battle with patience, and sometimes I fail.  If you are anything like me, I wish I could just learn my lesson!  This is just proof that we need to stay plugged into Jesus and keep reading the Word!

PLEASE ~ pray for me to be patient, as I am still waiting
to hear back from two different mission organizations.

•  “We pray that you will lead a life that is worthy of the Lord. We pray that you will please him in every way. So we want you to bear fruit in every good thing you do. We want you to grow to know God better…We want you to be patient. Never give up…He has made you fit to share with all his people.” Colossians 1:10-12
• “Since God chose you to be the people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:11-13
• “Preach the word. Be ready to serve God in good times and bad. Correct people's mistakes. Cheer them up with words of hope. Be very patient as you do these things. Teach them carefully.” 2 Timothy 4:2

10 More Reasons to Get More Involved:

My first post challenged every born again believer to get more involved in missions.  But, I DO understand why many would hesitate to "sign up".  

It is true, not every single person is called to be a career missionary on a foreign mission field.  But, every one of us IS still called to be involved in missions.  Are you saying, "What does that mean?"  Well, I am glad you asked!    

We can choose to PRAY ~ for missionaries, for mission organizations, for people groups... 
We can choose to GIVE ~ of our finances, some needed supplies, words of encouragement to those serving, our time to volunteer help from home... 
We can choose to TELL ~ share God's heart for the nations with others, bring visiting missionaries into our churches, pass along specific missionaries' updates or missions magazines... 
We can choose to GO ~ use a week's vacation to go with your family, go on a 10 day trip with a church group, volunteer short-term for a few weeks to a few months, commit to 1 or 2 years, or become a full-time missionary.


Whatever way you choose to be involved in missions, you will be blessed and those you are serving will be blessed too!  Just choose to obey, it is SO worth it!  

Here are 10 more verses that are 10 More Reasons to Get More Involved in how God is working around the world:

1. So that the hundreds of people groups who do not yet have the Bible in their language would be reached.
Acts 2:5-11 “And there were living in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. Every one of them heard the Spirit speak through the disciples in their own language/tongue the wonderful works of God…Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? …We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

2. So that you will be fulfilling God's purpose for your life & enabling others to fulfill their purpose too.
Acts 20:24 “But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work given to me by the Lord Jesus. He has given me the work of telling others the good news about God’s kindness and love”

3. So that the thousands who have never heard the Good News of salvation may hear and understand.
Romans 10:13-15 “Scripture says, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Joel 2:32) How can they call on him unless they believe in him? How can they believe in him unless they hear about him? How can they hear about him unless someone preaches to them? And how can anyone preach without being sent? It is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ (Isaiah 52:7)”

4. So that those who are serving will be encouraged in their walk with Christ and that others will see they can make a difference for eternity too.
Philippians 1:20-24 “I hope that I will always be ready to speak boldly for Christ…As long as I live, I can bring people to Christ.”

5. So that the name of Jesus will be praised in all the nations of the earth!
I Chronicles 16:23-31 “All you people of the earth, sing to the Lord. Day after day tell about how he saves us. Tell the nations about his glory. Tell all people about the wonderful things he has done…Praise the Lord, all you nations…All you people of the earth, tremble when you are with him…Let the earth be glad...Let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord rules!’”

6. So that all will have the opportunity to hear the message of salvation and choose life.
II Peter 3:9, 15 “God is waiting because He does not want anyone to perish…He is giving us time to get His message of salvation to others.”

7. So that people will be blessed as they are used of God to help the ministry of missionaries.
I Timothy 4:16 “Stay true to what is right. Then God will bless you and use you to help others.”

8. So that even young people will come to realize they can make a difference in the world, by teaching God's Word, and that the older generations would be inspired by the passion the younger ones have to reach others for Christ!
I Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live…Until I come back, spend your time teaching God’s Word.”

9. So that the prophecies will be fulfilled.
Revelations 5:9 = “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy…for You were slain, and have redeemed us by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation…’”

10. So that we can be assured that we did all that we could, and we will look forward with hopeful expectation to this view in Heaven:
Revelations 7:9 = “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands…”

Because He Said So!

As children many of us questioned “WHY” to things our parents said. Do you remember what was so frequently their answer? It was, “Because I said so!” That was that! There was no more discussion on the matter. They were in charge and if they said those words, “Because I said so” – you knew you had to choose to obey, or face the consequences. Even if you still didn’t understand their reasoning, their words were the final say.

You might be questioning, “Why would Jenn Noll be challenging ME to get involved in missions?” Or, you might be asking yourself, “Why should I even care about missions?”

The answer to that is Because He Said So!

People who have believed on Jesus Christ as their personal Lord & Savior believe the Bible to be the truth, the final say. A read through these 10 Bible verses will make it clear we all have a responsibility to help share the Good News with others, Because He Said So!

The Great Commission given by Jesus to “GO into all the world and share the Gospel” has not ceased! It was not just to go then, but to continue going for all generations & to all peoples. It is for some to go, for some to enable them to go, and for others to uplift their ministry in prayer!

You can choose to be involved in missions by Praying, by Giving, by Telling, & by Going….

I am challenging you to take the time to read these verses ~ then, decide if you could be more involved with missions.  Will you Pray?  Will you Give Finances?  Will you Tell Others?  Will you volunteer to Go?   

Psalm 67:2-4 “That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations…Let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!”


Jeremiah 1:9 & 10 “The Lord spoke to me. He said, ‘Today I am appointing you to speak to the nations and the kingdoms…I want you to build them up and plant them.’”


Jeremiah 22:16 “’He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?’ declares the Lord.”


Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the world’s light…You glow in the night for all to see! Don’t hide your light! Let it shine! Let your good works shine so others will see them and praise your Heavenly Father.”


Matthew 9:37-38 “The harvest is so big. But there are only a few workers. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into His harvest field.”


Matthew 24:14 “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”


Matt 28:18-20 “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”


Mark 11:17 Jesus quotes from Jeremiah 7:11 and says that the temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations = “Then He taught, saying to them, ‘Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’.”


Luke 10:1-3 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out…’”


Acts 1:8 “…You will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”