Name: Jasmine Occupation: Training Consultant
- What made you decide to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
I was raised in the church and came to understand the reality of a Savior at a young age. I accepted him at a young age as well, and I don’t know that I can pin down a specific reason why other than I knew his grace. I had by that age seen the things that He’d done for me like saving my dad from a house fire that happened when I was in kindergarten. I also got to witness my father’s salvation when I was about 5 years old. I believe that this also helped me to see who God was and make a decision to follow Him. Though I accepted Jesus at about 4-5 years old, I was baptized at 6-7, after I saw my dad baptized.
2. What are you currently listening to?
I am always listening to a mix of individuals both in terms of music and sermons. I believe that in different seasons you need different words and worship. In this season, I am listening to Steven Furtick, John Gray, Toure Roberts and Sarah Jakes Roberts, and Joann Rosario Condrey and last but not least, my pastor Mike Hilson. I am also listening to Elevation Worship, Hillsong, Bethel, Jesus Culture, Housefires, United Pursuit, and Tasha Cobbs during worship. Specifically, the songs So Will I and Reckless Love have consistently wrecked me!
Periodically, I also like to listen to Judah Smith, Carl Lentz, Robert Madu, Shawn Bolz, Todd White, Christine Caine, Priscilla Shirer, Kris Vallotton, and recently Mike Todd. All solid preachers of the Gospel with no cut cards. Essentially, I enjoy preachers and teachers who give it straight.
3. What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading through the Bible in one year, specifically a version called “Everyday with Jesus” and I am reading a book on dreaming called “Dream Wild” by Jennifer LeClaire. Both are highly recommended. Dream Wild has been great for me in this season while I am awaiting the fulfillment of some of God’s big promises to me.
4. When did you really know for yourself that Christ is real?
I have always known and firmly believed that Christ was real. But to be honest, as a young child I feared Him more than I understood Him. I knew that he died for me. I knew that he watched over me, but I didn’t understand the ins and outs of our relationship. I would say that my knowledge of the reality of Christ is an on-going process. I say this because there is always more reality to discover and more facets of His character that I have yet to learn. I was about 10 years old when I had my first “encounter” with Holy Spirit that I can recall. In short, it’s the first time I can remember knowing that God was speaking to me. I was about 16 years old when I understood that my relationship with the Lord had to be different from my parent’s relationship with Him. It was then that I began to study more and read the word more on my own to understand what it said outside of the passages chosen for Sunday morning messages. I learned in that time what it was to “hide the word in my heart” and to use it to share with others. At about 21, I started to understand the differences between religious practice and actual relationship with the Lord. I dove deeper into healing, restoration, and the supernatural. I could go on and on but from there, I have never looked back. I have come to believe that while God did not create religion with denominations and social practices that we know today, he certainly will use it to get people through the door.
5. How do you maintain and keep a fresh relationship with Our Father?
Honestly, by honoring it as a relationship. Relationships don’t just flourish spontaneously. They flourish and grow because there are two committed people willing to work on remaining connected and handling the ups and downs of life together. I have been blessed to see this exemplified even in my parent’s 32-year marriage. Therefore, I try treat my relationship with not just the Father, but with the triune God (Father-God, Friend – Jesus, and Counselor/Comforter/Teacher – Holy Spirit) with care and willful attention. I talk to them all regularly, about the good and the bad. I am always honest with my feelings and thoughts. Sometimes I feel too honest but I am reminded that they know it all before I say a word but they still honor our relationship in the sense that they like to hear about things from me. I know that they are already committed to me and so I stay committed to them by spending time with them, reading the word, and asking questions. I invite Holy Spirit into my worship. I invite Jesus to ride in the car with me or to take walks together. It might sound weird, but I’ve even invited Him to sit and watch movies with me and every time I get some sort of revelation that I never would have gotten otherwise. I sit with the Father while soaking in His presence. I let them interrupt my days and nights. I invite them into my waking and sleeping thoughts. I just try to treat them as if they are really real and really there, because they are. I realize that I don’t have to come a certain way or be a certain way to experience the presence and transformative power of our God. I think of how I would want to be treated in a healthy relationship, and I do my best to treat God the same way. I would want attention. I would want intention, thoughtful and purposeful and planned out time and energy. I would want honesty. I would want faithfulness and loyalty. So, these are the things that I try to uphold to maintain my relationship with God.
6. What do you like to do for fun?
Love this question! Lots of people think that Christians don’t have fun but we have the best kind of fun! I enjoy fellowship whether that’s watching movies, shopping, dinner parties (really anything with good food), dancing, going to concerts and conferences, open mic nights, worship nights, and theme parks. Anything with good people is a good time.
7. What does it mean to you to live in HD (His Daughter)?
It means understanding the power that I have. It means that I walk in authority by virtue of my relationship to the Father. It means that I can always come to him boldly and honestly, with and in anything. I believe in walking in the authority that we are given as daughters of the King, both spiritually and practically. The Word says that both male and female were made in God’s image, which means that we have the unique ability to present a part of the Father’s heart that our male counterparts may not be able to present. We have all have His creative power but only His daughters can bring forth new life as He does. We can all encourage, but as His daughter I am able to represent the nurturing and “emotional” aspect of my Father. All God’s children are beautiful but as His daughter I believe that we get to carry His beauty in a different way. We have a beauty, like His, that captivates. Most importantly it means everything to me to know that I can never be forsaken because I belong to Him. This knowledge is the lens through which I view the world around me and everything that happens to me.
8. If you could have witnessed anything in the Bible, what would it be?
This question was hard. First, I thought, I’d like to be there at the resurrection… then I realized that we get to live daily in the light of a resurrected Christ. Then, I thought maybe Pentecost because it would be awesome to see Holy Spirit come down with tongues of fire (always wondered exactly what that looked like) but I have experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit falling upon a room of waiting, expectant people. So, I landed on the beginning. Genesis chapters 1-2. I’d like to be there for the creation. I want to see just how God weaved everything together with words and breath. I want to be there to watch as things come alive for the first time and are named and given purpose. I want to see how he looks on everything and calls it good, knowing the end from the beginning and how things would pan out in the messy middle. I want to see what it really was like for Adam and Eve to walk with Him in the cool of the day completely whole, with nothing between them. It’s hard to fully imagine it in light of the earth we know today. So, I’d like to have witnessed Eden before that stupid serpent shows up.
9. Current Bible translation you are using:
I’m one of those people who reads multiple translations. I love going through scriptures and comparing language used in different translations. One of my favorites that I’ve done that with is 1 Corinthians 13. Romans 8 also wrecked me in a whole new way when I read multiple translations of that passage of scripture.
I frequent the NLT, NIV, NKJV, Passion Translation, Message, and Amplified Bibles. I also like God’s Word, ESV, and HCSB translations.
10. One scripture that calms you down:
Psalms 27:13-14 “Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” NLT
Living in HD 