Seven Pounds

If you haven't seen the movie 'seven pounds' and don't want me to spoil it, then stop reading. lol. Otherwise, definitely keep reading...
I finally got to see the movie seven pounds this weekend and it definitely was not what I expected. I was crying my eyes out as I figured out the plot and the final scenes drew near.
To remind you of the plot, Wil Smith plays a character plagued with the guilt of causing a car accident killing his fiancee and 6 others in another car. Viewing his mistake as the murder of 7 people, he sets out to save the lives of 7 good people. He donates a lung, part of his liver, bone marrow, kidney, and his physical possessions to people he deemed worthy. Throughout the rest of the movie we see Wil Smith searching to find the last two people to help. The movie ends as he commits suicide to provide a blind man, and a woman with heart failure with his corneas and heart.
At first I was just crying because the plot was so sad, but after awhile, I realized that I was crying because of the beautiful message that was being conveyed through the film. To me, Seven Pounds was a depiction of life without the grace of God. Without this indescribable gift of grace, we too would be living our lives carrying the weight of our past mistakes and sins. We would be in the same position as Wil Smith, preparing to give up our lives to rid ourselves of the guilt of our past... paying the penalty of death. We too would be living in misery just waiting for the moment where we call our executor to say 'it's time.' 
Thankfully, this movie is not how life is. Thankfully, we have been gifted with the grace of God. Thankfully, the penalty of sin is no longer death. Thankfully, Jesus Christ gave his life to pay the penalty so that we don't have to. Thankfully, our sins have been erased.
 I know this movie isn't necessarily meant to be a depiction of the grace of God, but it spoke to me in a powerful way. Even if you have seen it, maybe watch it again and look for the ways that God will speak to you through it.

Love is in the air!

 

 The girls had such a great time at a Valentine's Tea party hosted by our friends from Church of the Apostles!

 We began the event by making Valentines for friends and/or family

 It was picture perfect :)

 Audaijsha

 McKenzy

 Naomi

 Keyona and I

Keyona

Show a little Love

Hi friends!

I'm excited to be part of what God is doing through Mission Year this year. The poor are being cared for, relationships are being developed, and the Kingdom of God is being built! But Mission Year cannot continue to spread the love in some of the most under-resourced neighborhoods in our country without your help.

I need your support to continue strong in my ministry here! We are doing a Love Drive for Mission Year during the week before Valentine's Day. Please show me some love and consider making a special contribution toward my Mission Year by clicking below:

https://www.missionyear.org/love/janellefenton

If you donate $50 or more, you get a special-edition Love Drive t-shirt! Thank you in advance for your support of me and Mission Year.

Just Words

We had a beautiful weekend here in Atlanta so I decided to play some guitar out on the front porch. It just so happened that my neighbor, Tamika, came out to grill in her front yard. After a wave hello she began cooking and I continued to play and sing. After about 10 minutes, I began playing "All I need" by Shawn McDonald

As I sit here and think
About all that You've done
About how You gave me Your one and only Son
And I'm trying to fathom
All that You are, but so far, Lord
You're so beyond me
I fall down in reverence
And I fall down in fear
And I'm asking You, Lord, won't You please draw near
Won't You open my eyes
So that I can see
The way that You are working in me

All I need is Your love
To come and fill this heart of mine
My heart is a desert that has gone dry
And I need Your love to carry me by, by, by, by, by
To carry me by, by, by, by, by
To carry me by

And I lay down my life
And I put it before You
all that I am is in your hands
and I’m not gonna question why you’re so faithful
Why that You give me the blessings that You have
Let the glory be known, let the glory be shown
to lift You up unto the throne
You are my God, You are my King
To You I give, I give You everything

When Tamika heard this she walked over to our yard and stood right in front of me. Her eyes began to water and I began to see tears streaming down her face. After the song was finished she asked who I was singing to. I told her about how the song was written to God and began to go over a couple of lyrics with her.
I was very moved by this moment with Tamika. Not only was it wonderful to share that moment with her, but it was a wonderful picture of God as well. As I watched her tear up throughout the song, the words rushed over me as if I'd never heard or sung them before. "All I need is your love" moved from just words to a heartfelt prayer.
I'm so thankful for this moment where I could see God moving in her. It was a moment I will not forget.

A lot can change in a year!

2011 is here. As I look back over the past year, a lot has changed. Gone are the late night study parties and full loads of classes and on with this crazy life I've taken part in the English avenue neighborhood of Atlanta, GA.

I never expected to find myself here. In fact, if you had asked me exactly one year ago if this is where I thought I'd be right now, I probably would have just laughed at the thought. But now, here I am, working in a Women's personal development program and an after-school tutoring program. Here I am living with a team of people I just met 4 months ago. Here I am living in a neighborhood I would have been scared to drive in yet alone reside in. It's all just so strange! But I'm glad to be here. I'm glad to see the ways God is working here. I'm thankful for new relationships and experiences. And I'm looking forward to another great year!