Letters to God from Jenny

Copyright © 2015 Jennifer Lee Cadwell.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-6085-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6086-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6087-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014920916

WestBow Press rev. date: 1/13/2015

For My Father In Heaven

Dear Reader,

These are my daily devotions to God.

In these letters, you will read about my life as an ordinary woman. You will find that she could be very much like you.

As you begin to read my letters, I have placed at the bottom, a verse from the Bible. All verses are taken from the King James Bible.

The verses are also cross-referenced within the Old Testament and the New Testament.

I have placed an asterisk after the verses that are from the Old Testament referring to Jesus.

These letters began on June 28, 2000. I will continue to write them daily to God for as long as I live.

June 28, 2000

Dear God,

I’ve been thinking about how much evidence there is in this world that you have created.

It seems there isn’t anything you left out.

The ivy plant is a good example. It’s beautiful against the snow in the winter time and it loves to twine around the trees.

I have an ivy leaf that I keep in my Bible. It stays green.

There is another vine that you created. It has a name and it is called, The True Vine.

This Vine is Jesus.

As the ivy is forever green so is Jesus. As the ivy twines around the trees, Jesus twines around our hearts.

It was the will of you to have Jesus come and grow like a plant taking root in dry ground.

This is written in the book of Isaiah.

It isn’t easy to have a plant grow in dry ground but he did and his roots grew deeply.

He rooted and grounded us by his love. He wants to come and dwell in our hearts by faith.

Dear God, I want Jesus to come into my heart and live there. I want him to cultivate me into the plant he wants me to be.

Thank you so much for the gift of your Son.

I pray he comes soon.

Love,

Jenny

St. John 15:5

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

June 29, 2000

Dear God,

I can’t thank you enough for all that you have given me. You have helped me so much.

I wonder what it is that I can do for you. I know one thing I can do. As you have served me with your Son, I can serve you with my love.

I smile within myself because it’s like I have my very own secret. I read in the Bible that God likes it when we do things for him in secret.

I like to go in my closet and shut the door. I am in complete darkness but my eyes are filled with light. You light them for me. I pray to you and I like that it’s our very own special place.

When I come out and begin my day, nothing seems too hard. The world does creep in though and sometimes it is hard.

My mom’s situation makes me so sad. I can’t believe she’s hung on.

She is paralyzed from the tongue down due to this horrible stroke. It seems so cruel but I know you are with her.

Please have your Son return to us as soon as possible. This world needs to be set right.

Love,

Jenny

St. Matthew 6:4

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

June 30, 2000

Dear God,

We leave tomorrow for Rockford, Illinois. Please surround us with your angels and protect us.

I want so much to live for you and do your will. I know about the word will. It can be a verb and it can be an object. If it is a verb, it is alive and to me means a duty.

I feel it is a duty to worship you and to do your will.

How do I know what your will is for me? I believe that you sent Jesus here a long time ago. I believe that the Bible was written by God-inspired men.

I can use Jesus as an example as to how to live my life. I’ll pray and go to church and love my enemies. I don’t think I have any enemies. I will however try to dispel any bad thoughts I may have of someone. I’ll have reverence for you.

I will do these things and gladly.

I await your Son’s arrival with anticipation. I know he’ll come. I want to be changed in a wink of your eye.

Love,

Jenny

St. Matthew 24:31

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.

Cross-reference

1st Corinthians 15:52

Ina moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1st Thessalonians 4:16

For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch angel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

July 1, 2000

Dear God,

We’re home now. Thank you for getting us here safe and sound. You take such good care of us. I love you and need you so much.

I have a song that keeps repeating in my mind.

It’s I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.

The lyrics are, I have decided to follow Jesus and No turning back, No turning back.

Songs are so inspirational. I love to sing to them. My favorite group is Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

My songs were of the 70’s. 1969-1971 are my favorites.

I think of what was going on then.

It was the Vietnam War.

What a war that was. We had to stop communism. There was South Vietnam and North Vietnam.

The North should not have invaded the South.

It’s like today, North Korea better not touch South Korea.

This world is here for all of us to enjoy. Why should anyone try to take our joy away?

I am glad we have the military to keep us from invaders.

America is special.

The Civil War, was fought so we could have the freedom to live in a righteous manner.

We had a cause, a very important cause. That cause was freedom ringing throughout the land to free this country from the appalling disgrace of slavery.

We won that War and thank goodness because as I sit here right now, I might hear a slave next door crying out.

War is a terrible thing and perhaps one day we will hear of war no more.

I pray for the day you send your Son.

I think the whole world will delight in the joy of it.

Love,

Jenny

Isaiah 2:4

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.*

Cross-reference

1st part

St. John 5:22

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.

2nd part

Hosea 2:18

And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

Zechariah 9:10

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

July 2, 2000

Dear God,

Today will be a fun day. I love being here. I have missed my family and I miss living here in Rockford.

It was where I grew up. I remember when we moved here.

I was in the 3rd grade and we lived in Mt. Airy, Maryland. I couldn’t believe it when my Dad said, Jenny, we are moving out west to a place called Rockford.

When he said out west, I thought of cowboys and Indians. I really didn’t have a concept of what he meant. He did however mention tornadoes.

Mom got a teaching job there and so off we went. I remember packing and my three aunts came and helped us.

It was hard on me for I was leaving my friends from school. I loved walking up the little dirt road and catching the bus to take me to school. It was a long ride to Damascus, Maryland. It was so fun though.

The one consolation was that my aunt Louise had brought cookies to take with us. They were Oreos. I couldn’t believe that there could be a cookie that tasted that good.

I wish I could have lived in the days of Jesus. I know they didn’t have Oreos but I sure wish he could have tasted one. He would have said, Jenny, could you bring me some milk?

I pray one day we will all see Jesus.

Love,

Jenny

St. Mark 9:41

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Cross-reference

St. Matthew 10:42

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

July 3, 2000

Dear God,

Today I go see my Mom. I know it will be hard. Just be with me and give me strength while seeing her. It’s so sad. I want her to live yet should it be this way?

When I think of Mom, I am so proud of her.

She at first became a nurse. Then she decided to be a librarian. Then she decided to be a teacher.

She became a 1st grade teacher.

She was a cool Mom.

When I was about six, I decided to test her.

I had on a new pair of patent leather shoes.

We drove into Frederick to buy groceries. I began to scuff my shoes real loud in the store. Mom told me to stop. I didn’t.

Later when we got home, I heard her call me from the basement. She was sitting on the first step up.

All of a sudden she grabbed me and put me over her knee and spanked me.

She asked me, Jennifer, why did I do that? I answered with tears in my eyes, Because I scuffed my shoes.

I was so surprised that Mom would do that. I watched my p’s and q’s after that.

Thank you for Mothers and Fathers.

The Old Testament commandment says, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

You are my heavenly Father. I will please you in every way.

Thank you for sharing your Son, your only begotten Son. You named him Jesus.

Love,

Jenny

St. John l:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.

Cross reference

1st part

St. Matthew 1:20

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

1st Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1st John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.

2nd part

Romans 1:3

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh,

3rd Part

Hebrew 2:14

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself like-wise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

4th Part

Isaiah 40:5

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

St. Matthew 17:2

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

2nd Peter 1:17

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

5th Part

Colossians 2:3

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

July 4, 2000

Dear God,

We didn’t see Mom yesterday. I’m going today.

Life can be difficult when parents get older and sick. Mom suffers so much and it’s hard to visit her. I feel so sad and wish I could help her. I can only stay for one hour because it doesn’t seem possible that a human being could suffer so much. She is trapped in her body and she cries when we talk about life. I just want her to come out of it. I don’t want to let her see me cry and be in anguish. Her stroke is permanent and it’s only a matter of time before she dies.

I don’t understand why she has to go through this.

She isn’t alone. The woman next to her is in the same condition yet her daughter is always by her side. If I lived in Rockford, I would be by her side and make myself strong to attend to her in every way. Thy will be done for her.

She awaits a marvelous future with you.

The 4th of July is here already. Protect us as we go to Kirkland, IL. The fireworks are the best I’ve ever seen. The little carnival makes it even more special.

I love you, God and need you. I did forget to check for signs of you yesterday. I’ll look for them today. Send your Son as soon as you can.

Love,

Jenny

St. Matthew 5:4

Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

Cross-reference

Isaiah 61:2 and 3

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn:

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.

St. John 16:20

Verily, verily I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

2nd Corinthians 1:7

And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

Revelations 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

July 5, 2000

Dear God,

We had a great 4th of July. It’s always fun to see my family.

Mom has always been a trooper her whole life. Even in this situation and not being able to speak, I can tell through her eyes how much she loves us.

Jackie is so fun to be with. She and I are so close. We go through our ups downs together. Life is like that.

Your Son told us that each day would have enough troubles of its own.

I’m so glad I can rely on you. There is no better soul to lean on than yours. We are like you and made in your image so you have a soul too.

Every breath I take comes from you.

I’m so glad we are able to stay with John’s mom, Louise. Please keep her healthy and strong.

Please help me to do your will today. I guess my word for today is help. I turn all my troubles over to you, my Rock and Redeemer.

Love,

Jenny

Genesis 2:7

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

July 6, 2000

Dear God,

Thank-you, for the wonderful lady, that works at my Moms nursing home.

Her name is Pat. She is your God-send for Mom. The little bird book you had me buy Mom, is being read daily to her. I feel help has arrived for Mom. She loves birds and all of nature.

Being a true girl of the soil, this must take her back to the farm in Ijamsville, Maryland, where she was born. I’m so relieved that Pat can do this for her.

Now, I just turn Jackie’s problems over to you. All things are possible with you.

My older brother Carl is doing well. His home is called Olson Terrace.

The people of Rockford support these special homes and I feel so grateful.

I know when Dad died in 1988 of cancer of the colon that you would find a place for Carl.

Thank you for always being with me and helping me in tough situations.

I am so glad that I am born again. My new nature helps me get through this life.

It can be a hard life at times, but I feel no matter what comes my way. I bring you with me.

Your Son Jesus is so close to my heart. What a beautiful Son you have. Please send Him