tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7208212896380613812024-03-05T00:25:45.931-08:00Blog Hopping Toward A Stronger FaithJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-72568035786797922992014-07-22T04:28:00.000-07:002014-07-22T04:28:11.558-07:00Where He Leads, I Will Follow<br /><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Say
hello to my beautiful babies. Caroline is four going on forty, and
Anthony will be four months next week. These precious blessings from
God are two big reasons I wake up every morning...why I am on this
earth. I've always thought that one of the reasons God made me was to
be a momma. I am a nurse by trade, but a momma by heart. But I have to
confess something. I don't always appreciate the great blessing that is
motherhood. I don't always greet my children with sunshine and smiles.
Many times they've gotten frowns and scowls instead. I don't always
bless their innocent ears with sweet words. Many times, I speak rashly
instead of thoughtfully and fill their ears with words that are anything
but sweet. I love being a mother. I truly do. And my children know
it. <b><span style="color: lime;"> </span></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: lime;">But
when I allow emotions of stress, frustration, and exhaustion to be my
guide instead of looking to The One who heals us all, I blow it every
time. </span></b> <b><span style="color: lime;"> </span></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: lime;">When I try to get through the many steps of my day using my own strength instead of God's, it never works out.</span></b> <b><span style="color: lime;"> </span></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: lime;">When
I take for granted my relationship with God, my time with God, my day
comes crashing down before it even has a chance to start.</span></b> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: purple;"> I
find myself doubting that I am the mom that God intended me to be. Did
He intend for me to be a perfect mom who always has it right and ready
without even looking as if she broke a sweat? N<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">o.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>He intended for me to be a Godly mother.</b></span> </span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: purple;">A
mother who isn't only herself after God's own heart, but teaches her
kids to be as well. A mother who is forgiving and patient with her
children just as God is with her. A mother who treasures the innocence
and individuality of each child, loving them for who they are right
where they are in life...whether it is making home runs or striking out.
That is the kind of momma I want to be. But I know I won't get there
on my own. My Heavenly Father will lead me. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Because
of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions
never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I
say to myself, "the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him."
Lamentations 3: 22-24 </span></span></b></span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-75031214306896167432014-01-30T05:21:00.004-08:002014-01-30T05:21:58.394-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>BLOG HOPPING ON WEEK 2 OF</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"MADE TO CRAVE" <span style="font-size: small;">BY Lysa Terkeurst</span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">So being 32 weeks pregnant may be kind of a funny time to start talking</span> <span style="color: purple;">about eating and acting healthier, but here I am! I have to be honest...I questioned whether or not to even participate in this study because I thought <span style="color: magenta;"><i>how in the world could I possibly start a healthier lifestyle when I'm less than 2 months away from giving birth? </i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> OVER-RULED!!!</span></span> </i> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">(Thanks for this OBS leaders)</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"> </span> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">I decided to ignore those negative <span style="color: magenta;">"I can't do it"..."This is silly"<span style="color: purple;"> thoughts and give it a shot. I prayed for God to show me that this wasn't a waste of my time, but an opportunity to learn more about Him and become closer with Him...and guess what? It's totally working! Not only am I making some healthy changes little by little...not so much with exercise right now, but definitely in what I'm choosing to eat...but I'm also arming myself with some fantastic tools that will get me started on the right path to get myself back into shape after this beautiful baby boy greets us! Let me give you an example: <span style="color: magenta;">I LOVE CAKE! <span style="color: purple;">I totally do. It is one of my favorite things to eat. Last weekend, the awesome women in my life who I love so very much decided to throw me a little shower get-together and they brought with them one of the best cakes I have ever had. Of course, I had two huge pieces of it with extra icing. And of course I got to take the leftovers home. For a little while, that big beautiful cake sat in my kitchen, just begging me to eat every last bite. And I won't lie...I did have a piece of it. But by the beginning of the week, I asked my husband to take it with him to work for his coworkers to enjoy. I may have actually waved at the cake as it was leaving, but it left regardless. It had to! It was a huge delicious unhealthy temptation literally smacking me in the face everyday. And I've had temptations in my face everyday since...maybe not with cake, but with some kind of bad-for-me food. But I made some decisions at the beginning of this week: #1 I was going to drink more water and less of the other sugary beverages that have been taunting me my entire pregnancy. #2 When in the presence of healthy and unhealthy snack options, this girl was going for the healthy. And you know what? Even with a belly sticking out to the east coast and a backside sticking out to the west coast, I did a good job. I drank loads of water this week and packed fruits and veggies into my snack and meal times. So there you have my victories this week! Now onto the verse mapping:</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">If you've ever read my blog before you know that I like to list several different translations of the weekly verse, so I hope you enjoy them! </span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">I Peter 5:7-8a</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you. Keep a cool head. Stay alert."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">(MSG)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you. Control yourselves and be careful!" (ERV)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">"...casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be a sober spirit, be on the alert." (NASB)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you. Be alert, be on watch!" (GNT)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">Talk about your good advice. I love The Message translation that tells us to <span style="color: magenta;">"Live carefree before God." <span style="color: purple;">When I read that statement, I can literally see myself walking on a bright sunny day and just letting God be my gentle breeze, taking me anywhere He wants me to go with not a doubt or worry in my mind. It brings me so much peace. God brings me so much peace. And <span style="color: magenta;">He cares for us <span style="color: purple;">which is why He wants us to be on alert and practice self control over things that we could have complete control over us...things that rob our love we should be giving to Him. He never intended us to live in this kind of bondage...living under a trap door of these things with no way out. He wants us to be carefree and fill our hearts with His love so that we don't even have a desire for that other stuff...whatever it may be. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">Lastly, I've written down some identity statements based on a few Bible verses I always go to when I am bogged down with worry and self-doubt...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;">JENNY: the woman God will lift up in His own time (I Peter 5:6)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;">JENNY: the woman God will be with wherever she goes (Joshua 1:9)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;">JENNY: the woman God has commanded to be determined and confident </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;">(Joshua 1:9) </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;">JENNY: the woman God will never leave nor forsake (Deut. 31: 6)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">Nothing about cake in these statements! Cake doesn't hold me up in my time of worry, need, and self-doubt...God does. And He always will! God's blessings to you all!</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"> </span></span></span></span></span> </span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span><b> </b></div>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-15763417153339059182013-11-21T03:43:00.000-08:002013-11-21T03:43:18.634-08:00Because God Made Me That Way<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" You have searched me, Lord, and you know me." Psalm 139:1</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">It's hard to believe sometimes, isn't it, that the Lord knows us so much better than we even know ourselves. Well, I thank the Lord that He does know me inside and out, good stuff and bad, the entire package, yet He loves me all the same. He doesn't compare me to anyone because He made me exactly the way <i>He </i>wanted <i>me</i> to be. Even though I'm far from being able to say that I never compare myself to anyone, I learned a long time ago that life is much sweeter when we embrace who we <i>are, </i>not who we think we <i>should </i>be or who someone else thinks we should be. </span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do things the way I do them and say things the way I say them because God made me the way He made me!</span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">He's our biggest and brightest cheerleader. He's God, and everything He does is perfect.</span> </span> </span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Now onto this awesome online Bible study...a wonderful that God opened for me over a year ago which has changed my life completely. It is such a blessing! </span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">This week, our inspirational verse is Psalm 139:1 and what a powerful message in just a few words. But then again, that's God, isn't it? </span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">This week has been awesome because it really opened up an opportunity to discover a lot about myself, Our author, Renee Swope, really broke down this chapter in an awesome way to help me really understand what God made me the way he did from the inside out.</span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">This week focused a lot on personality types, abilities, and spiritual gifts. I'm pretty confident in my abilities and spiritual gifts, but I asked my husband for help when trying to decide what type of personality I have. Though there are four different types, I found pieces of me in each one. After reading each personality type, my husband decided than I am the <span style="color: magenta;">"Melancholy type: Desires perfection." <span style="color: #674ea7;">He knows me pretty well at this point, and I believe that he is right. He made sure that I understood that all of the "Relational Challenges" didn't necessarily fit me, but some of them do. For instance, I don't get easily depressed and I'm thrifty, but not to what I would consider an extreme, and I'm content in most situations I'm I find myself. I actually feel that contentment is one of the most important blessings God has given us. But I do lack spontaneity, I can be hard to please, and I am a perfectionist in the things I do most of the time. That trait, I will tell you, is exhausting. But it is who God made me! </span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">My strengths as a <span style="color: magenta;">Melancholy-Perfectionist Type<span style="color: #674ea7;"> are pretty accurate. I do work well alone, but to be honest, I don't like being a lone for long periods of time. Aside from my quiet times in the morning and sometimes at night, or when I'm really trying to concentrate on something (perfectionist!) I really enjoy the company of people. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I am a planner and I'm pretty organized (except for my car and our computer room). Treating others fairly is very important to me and I try my hardest to put myself in another person's shoes as opposed to judging what they are doing and why they are doing it. And creative...I am creative. I love to quilt, craft, cook new things, decorate, I love it. I've found creativity to be an awesome way to express myself.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">My God-given abilities go along with most of my strengths...<span style="color: magenta;">creativity, singing, talking, listening. <span style="color: #674ea7;">One of my favorite abilities that God has given me is to be able to see God's greatness and wonder in the simplest of things. Take snow, for example. Snow, to me, is one of the most magical things God has created. It's peaceful, quiet, and there is absolutely nothing humans can do to mess up the beauty of falling snow...no matter how hard we try. This time of year, I'm known to wait by the window when the forecast calls for snow. I just love it!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Before I talk about spiritual gifts, check out the Bible verse that describes them way better than I ever could!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;">"...so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have the gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;">-Romans 12:5-8 NLT</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">At first, discovering my spiritual was a little difficult. Just like the personality types, I found little bits of myself in each gift. But after reading them, re-reading them, and really thinking and praying about it, I decided that <span style="color: magenta;">serving <span style="color: #674ea7;">is my spiritual gift. Whether it me family, friends, or complete strangers, I love to help and serve others. I love it so much I became a nurse so I could serve others all day long. But it's not just about serving...it's about serving others, and helping them in ways they may not be able to do for themselves. I do that as a nurse, as a mother, as a wife, as a church member, and as a friend. I can think of very few things that bring me as much joy...true joy...as I experience when I am serving others. Not it isn't always a picnic, I'll admit. Especially when someone I'm trying to help doesn't want to be helped. But most of the time, it is a blessing. I've said for a long time that I truly believe God put me on this earth to help others. That is my spiritual gift. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">What has been really awesome about this week is discovering how God gave me a certain personality type, special abilities, and spiritual gifts just so that He could impact the lives of other people through me. Little old me. And He did it all on purpose, knowing exactly what He was doing the whole time. I love Him for it. He made each of us that way. We just have to slow down long enough to figure just how special He made each and every one of us so we can make His world a wonderful place the way He intended us to. And with that, I'll leave you with another awesome verse that just shows how special God made us and how much He loves us. God Bless!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: magenta;">"...and the whole body depends on Him. All the parts of the body are joined and held together, with each part doing its own work. This causes the whole body to grow and be stronger in love." Ephesians 4:16 ERV</span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span> </span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-17307554168066008432013-11-08T03:59:00.003-08:002013-11-08T05:58:38.419-08:00Being A Child of God<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well here we are in week 4 of "A Confident Heart" online Bible study. This week our inspirational Bible verse is John 1:12:</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wanted to dig a little deeper into this verse by sharing some of the other translations:</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become children of God, that is to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, rely on) His name." Amplified </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"But some people did accept Him. They believed in Him, and He gave them the right to become children of God." Easy-to-Read Version</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"However, He gave the right to become God's children to everyone who believed in Him." </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">God's Word Translation</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God." Tree of Life Version</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now here is the same verse in the New International Reader's Version, but I decided to go another verse deeper in this translation because I found it so meaningful:</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"12Some people did accept Him. They believed in His name and gave them the right to become children of God. 13To be a child of God has nothing to do with human parents. Children of God are not born because of human choice or because a husband wants the to be born. They are born because of what God does." </span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once I read all of these translations, I started thinking about what it really means to be a "Child of God". Does being a child of God mean you have to walk a straight line in everything you say and do? Does it mean we need to lead the perfect Christian example? No. To me, being a child of God doesn't mean any of those things. Actually, we would be setting ourselves up for a pretty big failure if we tried to be children of God by doing those things because we are far from perfect and we are going to make mistake after mistake...just the way God intended. As the verse clearly spells out, we are all born as children of God because of what God does not because of anything that we do. I think we mess up with what we don't do. God is always present and willing for us to receive Him. He never goes anywhere, and He is everywhere. He is a constant. We are the ones who must accept Him, believe in Him, trust in His Holy name. I know as well as anyone else that trusting God isn't exactly a cake walk because I'm just as flawed as the next girl...on some days even more.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I think about being a child of God, I often think about my daughter. She is a beautiful three year old gift from God who thankfully still has plenty of innocence and her heart and mind haven't been tainted with much negativity at this point. We have raised her knowing God and praying to God, and teach her how important it is to talk to God everyday and that she can go to Him with anything. If something really great has happened, she can thank Him. If someone is sick or in trouble, she can pray for God to help them. She, herself, was in the midst of a terrible cold this week, so before bed, we said a special prayer that God would heal her and make her better. She's had restful nights of sleep ever since. When we talked about her getting better the next day, we said "God made you better! Isn't that great?" She was so excited, and it's things like that which make me think about what it means to be a child of God. Though she may not have a true grasp what it means to trust God and have faith in His promises, if I ask her, "Caroline, when we are sick, who makes us better?" She immediately shouts, "God!" Not doctors (even though they sure help) or medicine or even Mommy and Daddy. Just God. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How I wish I could be like Caroline and immediately think of God and what He will do in the midst of trouble...to always know without a doubt that He will not fail. Instead, many times I rely on what I or someone else can do to fix the trouble. But being a child of God doesn't mean that we are never going to make mistakes or that we are never going to try and "fix" things ourselves before remembering that God is still here waiting. But to me, it means that we know in spite of all that, in spite of all our mistakes and mess ups, we know that God loves us still, and just as He promised, He will not leave or forsake us no matter what we say or do. We have loads of Bible stories and hopefully stories from our own lives that show just how much God loves us and is here for us. We just have to trust in His very name! I love being a child of God!</span></span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-48767645932823364912013-10-31T04:44:00.000-07:002013-10-31T04:53:15.107-07:00Moving Forward...<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This week...week 3 in our online Bible study...I was introduced to an awesome verse of scripture and it pretty much transformed my week, and hopefully lead me to a place where I could help others transform theirs as well. This is the verse I'm talking about...</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"...to bestow upon them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, a planting of The Lord for the display of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been going through a situation in my life, that while it is far from the most difficult situation I've ever been in, it is still a toughie. If I would let it, this situation could have real power to get me down and drown me in self-doubts and insecurities. I'll be honest, for a little while, it was. But that was only because #1 I was letting it and #2 I wasn't having as much faith in God to take care of it as I should've. I know so much better. I've got years of God getting me through tough situations, and I had no reason to believe He wouldn't do the same now. However, I could really start feeling my faith wander and self-doubt grabbing its hold on my life, on my spirit. Then, as He always does, God allowed a few things to happen.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First, He allowed something to occur that gave me just a little shove of encouragement and confidence, which in turn, made a <b><span style="color: blue;">HUGE</span></b> difference in the way I was perceiving things. Then, He brought the above verse into my life and into my heart and into my mind, which really gave me a shove of encouragement. The verse also got me thinking, as did the reading in our OBS study book that went along with the verse. Renee compares an oak to a pine. Then I started doing it myself. I thought about a pine tree. I imagined the way it would stand in a storm...flimsy, branches flying everywhere, gusts of wind and rain chipping off pieces of its wooden trunk a piece at a time causing it to become even weaker than it already was. Then I imagined an oak in the same storm, and got a completely different picture in my mind. An oak is strong, beautiful, sturdy, meant to last. It stands tall and firm in the middle of a storm. Then the last part of the scripture spoke to me:</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"They will be called Oaks of Righteousness a planting of The Lord for the display of His splendor."</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then it was like I could hear God saying to me, </span></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">"So which one are you going to be, Jenny? Are you going to stand weak like a pine only to be knocked down by self-doubt and insecurity, or are you going to stand tall and strong, and be my Oak of Righteousness...my display of splendor?"</span></b> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I knew my answer, and it immediately lifted my spirit. God is the answer in this situation, just like He is in all situations. He's not going to let me down. He's not going to leave me alone, stranded on an island of pain and self-doubt. He's going to lead me in being the strong oak that I know I can be and that I can encourage others to be, but only with Him as the everlasting leader. </span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"For the Lord will be your confidence, and keep your foot from being caught." Proverbs 3:26</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And there's more where that came from! God bless and have an awesome weekend everyone!</span></span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-82414806205827800192013-10-17T07:05:00.002-07:002013-10-17T07:05:56.466-07:00I Believe<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Online Bible Studies are back and I am super stoked. Actually, right now I am super tired, but I'll get to that story in a bit. But first I want to take a look at the definition of a very power word-a word that can bring about excitement or fear, sometimes both. I'm talking about change. </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: magenta;">CHANGE</span>: to become different</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">to make (someone or something) different</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">to become something else </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">When it comes to change, I am generally a fan depending on what you are trying to change. If someone wants to change my furniture around that's ok. If there was a vote to change the order of events of church services I'd be ok with that too (not sure if I would have much company in that though). I'm generally pretty flexible. However, there are those times when change is not my friend and I will fight it until I can't fight anymore. When my husband wanted me to change insurance carriers from a woman I'd known for decades to a company I didn't know at all, I was not a happy camper. And why was that? Why are we so afraid of change? I mean the change I just referred to was going to be saving my family hundreds of dollars a year, so why would I fight that? Because it would force me to leave my comfort zone, which in this situation, was a family friend I had known probably since birth. This was a lady whose voice was always a comfort when someone in our family got into a wreck or had a car issue because we knew that she would fix it and fix it quickly. She made me feel comfortable. She made me feel safe. And most of all, she was what I had become used to for thirty years. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">I was thankfully raised in a family of believers so I do not really know a life without God. But I do know what it is like to fight the changes that God wants me to make. I'm struggling with it right now. Worry. I'm not a huge worrier, but there are certain things in my life that I feel like I couldn't stop worrying about if I tried. My family is usually what I worry about the most...their safety, their health, their lives in general. When I have a family member going through something really difficult, I immediately try and think of a way to make it all better. That is the nurse and the mom in me. But I'm realizing that, more times than not, I can't make it better. I can't make the bad disappear. And it drives me crazy. Of course I pray about these situations always, but it is difficult for me to stop asking God to just take my family out of the painful situations and put them in happy ones again. If is difficult for me to change my nature from wanting to fix everything and make everyone better to just letting it go, accepting I can't fix it, and completely handing it over to God to fix. One of my biggest insecurities is feeling like a failure when I can't fix the people I love. But this is an area of my life in which I know change is a must, and it is what I am really trying to learn through this study. I want to gain an even stronger relationship and trust in God. Our inspirational verse this week reads:</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">"Then you will know that I am The Lord. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed." </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">-Isaiah 49:23b NIV</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">And there it is. When I trust in The Lord with all my mind, all my heart, and all my soul, He won't disappoint me. This is His promise, and I believe in a God who does not and will not break His promises to His children. </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"> <span class="text Num-23-19" id="en-ERV-4319">"God is not a man;</span></span></span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"></span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Num-23-19">he will not lie.</span></span><br /><span class="text Num-23-19">God is not a human being;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Num-23-19">his decisions will not change.</span></span><br /><span class="text Num-23-19">If he says he will do something,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Num-23-19">then he will do it.</span></span><br /><span class="text Num-23-19">If he makes a promise,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Num-23-19">then he will do what he promised."</span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Num-23-19">-Numbers 23: 19</span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> As a nurse, a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a friend, I have a lot of people around me who I love and who are always going through things...painful things, scary things, unfair things. Things that I would love to be able to lift each and every one of them out of...but here's the thing. I can't. But God can, and He will in His time. And now it is my time to let go and stop trying to do God's job for Him. My interference merely slows things down and gets in the way of His awesome plans which will trump mine every time. He's got this. Always has and always will. </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">God bless all of you! Here are some pictures of change in my life over the years:</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: magenta;">This is my cat, Callie. She has definitely changed the lives of our family. This quiet, skiddish cat turns into our guard dog when someone comes to our door that she doesn't know. She is also quite talkative with her high pitched squeaky meows. She has definitely made an interesting addition to our family...that is for sure! </span></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Even better than a cat is my family. My husband and my daughter have forced me into change and flexibility over the years and I wouldn't trade any of it for gold!</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOlX627QHxYMONiyeDWmRGbiKrcVKxF-8mgFGbBr5jBSpsooNlGxOgaRqnuW75W3e4XmITCy6NI8UtpYO_mA41P4tCCukklmERvWcq2RwYCKIE68SG_VmAUtgjn4Lzkrj4jNaZMjhhk1N/s640/blogger-image-1423641038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOlX627QHxYMONiyeDWmRGbiKrcVKxF-8mgFGbBr5jBSpsooNlGxOgaRqnuW75W3e4XmITCy6NI8UtpYO_mA41P4tCCukklmERvWcq2RwYCKIE68SG_VmAUtgjn4Lzkrj4jNaZMjhhk1N/s640/blogger-image-1423641038.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">And here we have our newest influence to change. God gave our family a new gift this summer and we are so excited...even though we know that massive amounts of change are on the horizon when we finally get to welcome "the peanut" into our crazy world. </span></b></span><br />
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So see, with change, be it a little or a lot, comes inevitable blessings from our Father. He knows what is best for us and that is all He wants to give us. I can't wait to see what change He blesses us with next! God Bless!</span></span></b></span></td></tr>
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-22560596049664154192013-09-06T04:05:00.000-07:002013-09-06T04:05:26.156-07:00Glimpses of God<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I cannot believe that we are almost done with this Bible study. It has really zoomed by, but I've learned truckloads of ways that I can get closer with God and make my relationship with Him even stronger. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The question on today's post that I am going to try my best to answer is:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">"How can my life experiences help provide people with glimpses of God?"</span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"> </span></span></b>I do a few ministries with children in our church...Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and a children's moment during Sunday morning service, and I've talked to them before about how they can witness to people. Much like myself, the children aren't big on <i>preaching</i> to people about living a life for Christ. I was raised in a household where telling people what they were doing right and what they were doing wrong as far as God goes what not the way to lead people to Him. Quite the opposite, many times I've seen that kind of approach backfire and force people to shy away from God, for fear they just are not and will never be good enough. The way I was taught and how I continue to teach the children how to lead people to God is by showing people how great God is in your life...by simply telling people, "Look what God has done in my life and look at the awesome blessings He continues to give to me!" Christianity...having that faithful and blessed relationship with God is beautiful. Letting people know how God has blessed you is nothing but awesome, and can help those people say and believe that not only do they want a relationship with God, but that they can have one too! I mean who wouldn't want a life of security, love, and peace? If we show others how God makes that happen in our lives, it's only a matter of time before they start really believing that it can happen in theirs too. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out his Bible verse from <b><span style="color: magenta;">Philippians 2: 14-16. </span></b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">I'll offer some different translations and a little verse mapping as well.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">"Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may be innocent and pure as God's perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky, as you offer them the message of life. If you do so, I shall have reason to be proud of you on the Day of Christ, because it will show that all my effort and work have not been wasted." Good News Translation</span></b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">"Do everything readily and cheerfully--no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing." The Message</span></b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">"Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world, and you offer them the teaching that gives life. So I can be proud of you when Christ comes again. You will show that my work was not wasted--that I ran in the race and won." Easy-to-Read Version</span></b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">And now a little verse mapping...</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">As Christians, God wants us to live our lives doing <b><span style="color: magenta;">everything without complaining or arguing</span></b><span style="color: magenta;"> <span style="color: purple;">so that when people look at us they can tell who we are living for...God. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Living in a world that is corrupted, squalid, polluted, sinful, and has lost its sense of what is right, </span></b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">God wants us to be <b><span style="color: magenta;">a breath of fresh air and shine like stars lighting up the sky.</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">God wants us to live our lives so that just by looking at us, <span style="color: magenta;"><b>people get a glimpse of good living and the living of God. </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">By doing that, we aren't living our lives in vain, but we are living them to <b><span style="color: magenta;">carry the light-giving Message into the night...to offer others the teaching that gives life. </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Then on the day when Christ returns, He will see that He didn't come back for nothing. He came back for the world!</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;">Just as I am doing right now, give these verses much thought before you start your day, and let the Words encourage you to do God's work in the lives of others. Let these Words, and any other verses in the Bible that are helpful and encouraging to you...let them all be our guide to our day to day. Reading these verses inspires me to be God's light in a dark world. I want to shine like a star in the sky so that all a person has to do to know that I have God in my life and in my heart is just watch me for awhile. This is my Godly goal. I will have days of success and I will have days of failure, but I will always have God either way. And God is great! <b><span style="color: magenta;"> </span></b></span><b> </b></span></span></span><b><span style="color: magenta;"> </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span><b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: magenta;"> </span></b></span></span></span></span></span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-71209319483011993112013-09-01T07:33:00.000-07:002013-09-01T07:33:00.562-07:00Stick With It<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we are! It's already week five of OBS! I have to be honest...this week I have not been very good at "sticking with it"...the Bible Study that is. Yes, I finished my chapters which is fantastic, but the week was not as inspirational and encouraging as I wanted it to be for one reason and one reason only...me! I was not opening myself up to be inspired and encouraged by the wonderful messages we receive daily from our leaders and from God. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My life has had a bit of change over the last couple of months. My husband and I found out that we will be blessed with another baby, which we are totally thankful for. But let me tell you...this precious unborn angel has left me zapped. We also have a three and a half year old who has been zapping my energy as well, God love her. Both of these angels are nothing but blessings, but I've been allowing myself to get beat down by all the negative stuff...nausea, exhaustion, hormones, exhaustion, insane-frequently changing cravings...and of course, there's exhaustion. But I have been allowing myself to be so consumed with all the negative that I completely closed my fist to the positive...and that includes getting all I can get out of this awesome online Bible Study!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, as I was catching up on my Bible Study questions and sitting down to finally do my blog hop, I was reviewing the previous few posts on the OBS website, and of course, wouldn't you know it...God spoke right to me. I opened the page to yesterday's post and right there, big, bold, and beautiful declared this awesome verse out of 1 Chronicles 28:20:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;">I mean could God have said it any clearer to me? He is saying, "Be strong, Jenny! Don't get scared and discouraged! Stick with it! I'm right here!" </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;">How awesome is that? Then, it got me thinking about good old Joshua when God expected him to carry on in Moses' place in leading the people into the Promised Land. Talk about scared and discouraged! I love this story, it is the place where God always leads my heart and my mind when I start to get just the way Joshua did at first. Just like all the other fearful times in my life, God leads me to this verse:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once again, could he be anymore clear to me...to us? Did He say "well, I'll be with you when it starts getting really tough." Nope. Did He say "well, ok. You're scared, so I'll hold your hand this time, but next time you're on your own." Not even close. God says that He will be with us wherever we go. Good times...bad times...sad times...and silly times. He's there for everything. He's here to help me not just get through this pregnancy, but to get through it with joy in my heart so that there is not doubt of the blessing He has given to us again! It's the same with this study. These studies have been such an inspiration to me since I started them about a year ago. They have changed my life and made me so much closer with God! My love for Him is so much deeper and my concept of Him is so crystal clear. He brought me here. He opened the door to this awesome study and these awesome leaders and Bible study members! And He didn't get me this far to drop the ball. He's going to continue leading me in the right direction...His direction. I just have to wake up and STICK WITH IT!!! Which means I need to get with it. Head up, eyes up, palms open. This week is going to be an awesome week. I am once again, prioritizing my relationship with God over sleeping in late, household chores, favorite tv shows, and anything else that tries to get in my way. First thing in the morning is generally when I get my great big cup of God. Coffee used to be in there too, but nausea has replaced that with gingerale. But if I don't have that time with God first thing in the morning, I'm lost for the rest of the day. I'm like a dog chasing my tail, going round and round in circles getting absolutely nowhere fast. Of course, in order to get that much needed time with God, I have to get myself up before the rest of the house. I don't know about you, but I can't really spend my much needed quiet, concentrating time with God when my loved ones are awake and moving around. So with God's help, I will start this week right and keep it that way!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gracious and Heavenly Father, </b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Thank you so much for the blessings You continue to give me. I know I have been lacking and tired this week. Please, Lord, help me to rise above the fear, discouragement, and exhaustion, and help me to open my heart, my mind, and my palms completely to Your Word and Your guidance. I don't want to miss any of the blessings you have for me. Thank you, Father, for being with me wherever I go. </b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><b> </b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span> </span></span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-53771718494198091722013-08-22T03:01:00.006-07:002013-08-22T03:01:44.515-07:00His Word Is My Weapon<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We've had another amazing week at OBS...and it isn't even over yet! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I read Chapter 4, a couple of things really stuck out to my heart. Reading how Jesus was tempted by the devil, but refuted those temptations with scripture...this is a powerful tool. Check out these awesome words: </span></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Then the devil came to Him and said,"If you are God's Son, order these stones to turn into bread."</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every Word that God speaks." Matt. 4:3-4</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jesus is saying that we need God's Word to live...we need it to sustain our otherwise empty hearts. And He wasn't just talking about then nice, encouraging Word. He said we need EVERY Word that God speaks...this includes the not so nice. But we take it all into our hearts knowing that God says all of it because He loves us more than we can fathom. His Word proves that He loves us when we're up and when we're down...when we're at our best and when we're at our worst. His love...His Word is always beautiful and always right. No one can refute it. Even the devil knows that. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another scripture that I really enjoyed reading and studying is actually found in the Bible Study questions...I'll include a few different translations to show some different perspectives. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry." NIV</span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"The righteous have enough to eat, but the wicked are always hungry." GNT</span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"An appetite for good brings much satisfaction, but the belly of the wicked always wants more."MSG</span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lots of Word for thought here. I'm going to do a little verse mapping to break the Word down a bit:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">"The righteous"/"An appetite for good"</span></b>: <span style="color: purple;">those who not only believe in God, but carry Him in their hearts; know that His love is above all else</span>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">"eat to their hearts' content/have enough to eat/brings much satisfaction": </span></b> <span style="color: purple;">Being a true believer in Christ means that we will never go spiritually hungry; we will never be alone; we will always know love; our hearts and souls are filled to the brim with God's love.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'll sum up the last chunk of scripture:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b>The wicked are never satisfied; they always want more; they are always hungry; if they aren't hungry right now, they will go hungry--their time will run out</b>.</span> Hearts of the <span style="color: purple;">wicked are not filled with joy-true joy. Their hearts aren't filled with the unfailing love of Christ either. And how much they are missing! Their hearts are empty caves unable to be filled with God's love because they refuse it. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">I fell asleep praying last night, which is something I love doing. Talk about preparing your mind for a peaceful rest. But as I was praying, I was releasing a few matters to God. Matters that had been consuming my mind and my heart throughout the day, and I just wanted to be done. So up to God they went! I know now that it's not an "if" God will take care of these particular burdens or future burdens...it's "when" He will take care of them. When I say "yes" to God and lift my burdens up to Him, they are off of my heart and into His hands...the way He likes it. Have a great weekend everyone!</span> </span></span><br />
<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-85765896296606701882013-08-16T16:02:00.002-07:002013-08-16T16:02:23.252-07:00Say What?<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Here we are!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
already week two in our “Yes” online Bible Study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Saying yes to God is definitely a life-changing experience, and
something I will need to do over and over because I mess up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get lazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I get scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows that
about me and He loves me because of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is those times when I am down and out, and feel hopeless…the times
when I am at my weakest He is at His strongest in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During those times of desperation and
heartache is when He holds me tightest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>I’ve had many “Say What?” moments with God, but there is one
that always sticks out when I think about how important it is to say yes to God
no matter what He is telling me to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
little over two years ago, my husband and I decided that we were at a point
financially where I could start working part time and be home with our daughter
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going back to work after she was
born was one of the hardest and heart-hurting things I have ever had to do, so
imagine my joy when my husband and I came to this decision of me not having to
work as much!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>I went to my bosses a few days later, explained the
situation, and they said that while they would need to do some figuring and get
certain ducks in a row, they felt strongly that they would be able to help
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a week later, I was called
back into the same office and learned that in fact they were unable to offer me
a part time position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was told
basically that if a part time position in my field didn’t exist presently, they
couldn’t make one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was stunned, angry,
and sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I very still in my office,
doing everything I could to hold back tears and thinking about a lot of
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands of questions were
traveling around in my head, the first being, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why would they give me so much hope when there was none to be had?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>I left work that day, called my husband,
and proceeded to let my tears flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>A few days after that terrible meeting, I still felt
strongly about wanting to be at home with my daughter more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved my job very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my true niche and I didn’t really want
to do anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But everyone who
knows me knows that my family comes well before my career and always has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My happiness in my career was a sacrifice I
was willing to make for my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
the feeling of determination braised with some hurt and disappointment, I
started a job search for part time work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went to websites, I called agencies and businesses, I put bugs in
ears, and of course, started looking on the internet to see what was available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everywhere I looked was a dead end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One place was only offering night
shifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A friend advised me of another
place I was looking at, and strongly encouraged me to look elsewhere because
employees were known to leave this particular agency on their lunch hour and
never come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like hitting
brick wall after brick wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>I was driving home one afternoon and I looked up and said
“Ok, God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you want from me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you want me to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you didn’t feel it was important to stay
at home more with Caroline then you wouldn’t have placed these strong feelings
upon my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So where are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you want from me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As clear as day, I heard a voice in my mind
and in my heart whisper, just once, “Be still.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Say What? I was amazed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
expecting God to answer me in one of His special ways that would really leave
me thinking, but not this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
as clear as clear could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Be
still.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>A few days later, the executive director of our agency, who
had been present at the horrific meeting a couple of weeks prior, made a
surprise visit to one of our satellite offices where I work once a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He appeared to be bummed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“What’s the matter, boss?” I asked him.</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Well, I don’t like the way our meeting went a couple of
weeks ago.”</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>I semi-chuckled and said,” Well, I really didn’t like the
way it went either, but what it is what it is, I suppose.”</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“I know that I made you feel like something was a
possibility when it wasn’t, and I know I let you down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry.”</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Say What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many
times in my life has an executive of any kind apologized for making false
promises?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a little taken back, but
I told him that I appreciated his apology of how the situation ended up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then proceeded to tell me that while he
knew I needed to do what was best for my family, he wanted me to hang on for
just a little bit to see how things would unfold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If after that time, I still felt the need to
go elsewhere, he would not stand in my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once again, I was whoa’d.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought about it briefly and looking straight into his eyes responded,</strong></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>“I love this job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am good at this job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t want
to leave, so I will hang on for a little while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I do not expect to be strung along.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He agreed, and that was that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>This conversation, to me, was just another way that God was
telling me to be still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My big boss,
traveling almost an hour to have this particular conversation with me was God
telling me again, “Be still.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remained still for about eight months until
a position became available and I grabbed it with both hands and never let
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m now working in a job that I love
with people that I love, and most importantly, I get to be at home with my
daughter more days than I work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said
yes to God and received one of the greatest blessings I will ever receive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took a while for this blessing to be in
full swing, but it was a learning experience that only God could teach me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned the importance of waiting on God’s
plan for my life instead of jumping ahead with my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned how that patience for His plan
reveals blessings I would’ve never known otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just think if I would’ve jumped the gun ahead
of God and taken a night job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
blessings I would have missed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter
what the situation, God’s got this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
has us in the palm of His hand and He is not going to let us go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>As for now, I must go and get ready for the job that I love
so that I may stay home tomorrow with the chi</strong></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">ld I love
even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God bless!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
<strong>
</strong>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-86611743883129703272013-08-08T05:26:00.002-07:002013-08-08T05:26:29.760-07:00Me and God<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am so excited to be back into OBS. I've continued Bible study while we've been on a break, but nothing compares to the OBS experience! </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Today I've chosen to my blog-hop topic on:</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">"What is holding you back from going deeper in your relationship with God?"</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I was thankfully raised in a wonderful Christian household, so I really don't remember a time when I didn't <em>believe</em> in God. He has always been a part of my life. But my relationship with Him didn't start to really mature until I was an adult. Thanks to OBS, my relationship has grown even more! But there is<em> </em>always room for improvement. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I feel like I have a deep relationship with God, but not as deep as it could be, but to be honest, I never want it to hit that point. I always want to be longing for a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God. I do believe that fear is one of the things that holds me back from God<strong>...</strong>Fear that God will want me to do something that I can't see myself doing...Fear that if I go down the path of God's plan that I will mess something up, or something will occur that I can't deal with. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Time can also interfere with my relationship with God. I'm usually the first one up and the last one down, simply because as a mother and a wife, that's the only time I have to just be with myself (I say as my 3-year old angel yells for me from the top of the stairs). I do my OBS first thing in the morning, but if sleep to long and miss that window, it's hard to find another time throughout the day to devote to it. I like to get the most I can out of the study, so I can't do it when I have kids running around and commotion going on in the background. I pray to God throughout the day no matter what environment I'm in. But I need that true one on one time with Him every morning...just me and Him...so that I can start my day right. I know you all will believe that BIG difference between start the day with God than without. What a blessing it is to start my day with the Lord. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><strong>"The revelation of God is whole and puts our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God's reputation is twenty-four carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You like it better than strawberries in the spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. -Psalm 19:7-10 MSG</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: purple;">I had never read this Bible verse before, and it has brought such a blessing to my life. This verse just lays out for you what God has promised us if we just believe</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><strong>. </strong></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><strong> God promises to point us toward the right road...<span style="color: lime;">we just have to open our hearts and our minds so we don't miss His signposts.</span></strong></span></span></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #c27ba0;">God has a life full of joy waiting for us...</span><span style="color: lime;">we just have to ensure that we're follow <em>His</em> life map and not our own.</span></span></strong></li>
<li> <strong><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's directions for our lives are clear and easy...<span style="color: lime;">we just need our eyes and our hearts to be open to Him, and not the rest of the world. </span></span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="color: #c27ba0;">God's very existence is flawless and eternal...</span><span style="color: lime;">we just have to believe. </span></span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="color: #c27ba0;">God's Word is the perfect guide for our lives...</span><span style="color: lime;">we just have to fill our hearts and minds with as much of it as we can.</span></span></strong></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and I believe that with all of my heart. This week has been a very tough week for my family as we lost one of our dearest friends, and heaven gained another angel. There have been and will continue to be lots of tears shed as we miss her, but never a doubt of God's presence. Though it has been hard to get through our day to day, God has been with us every step. He never promised us that life would be a easy. He never promised that we wouldn't experience loss and sadness. But He did promise that through it all, He would be right here with us. His arms are firmly wrapped around all of this and He is holding us tight as we remember the wonderful person who touched our hearts for so long. For this, I am so thankful. He is our strength. He is our comfort. He is our salvation from life. </span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-47391494066490133542013-06-27T03:16:00.001-07:002013-06-27T03:27:02.467-07:00Last But Not Least, And Really Not Last<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered,"you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what it better and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing is essential, and Mary has chosen it-it's the main course, and won't be taken from her." MSG</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"But the Lord answered her,"Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice, and it will never be taken away from her." ERV</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday morning, I was in a place of stress, anxiety, fear, unknown. I wasn't completely overcome, but I was getting there. I posted a comment, not only about my current state of mind and heart, but also asking for any strengthening verses or words of encouragement. After I posted, I said my morning prayer to God and off to work I went. Last evening, I was in my kitchen making a batch of caramel bars, when my daughter asked to used my Ipad to watch a show. I took a peak at my comment from earlier in the morning, and was overjoyed with the responses. I gave her the Ipad and scooted back into the kitchen where I cried in my cookie dough. But not tears of sadness or fear--tears of complete joy. My Online Bible Study girls, you are absolutely amazing. You filled my heart with such joy and confidence through your genuinely kind words--some of the kindest words I've ever received--and you have never even seen my face. That means so much to me, and I thank you. Melissa, our awesome leader of OBS, suggested the book, <b><i>Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Finding Contentment </i></b>by <b>Linda Dillow. </b>I ordered it right away...actually I'm going to Tennessee to spend the weekend with my brother's family, and I'm having it shipped to his house so I can start it ASAP. I just thank all of you girls. You have warmed my heart like you will never know whether it be from your comments and prayers yesterday, or any day. It brightens not just my day, but my life to be in this study, and to know that God planned it all. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought myself a cheap Roladex a few weeks ago, and last night, started transforming it into a "Bible-dex" filled with inspiring and encouraging words from my OBS sisters and from my own searching. This morning, I tried Tracie's idea of "sitting in God's lap." All of the verses I'd written down, and there were lots, were spread all around me as I knelt on the floor to spend my morning time with the Lord today. Such fulfillment, comfort, and peace He has given me. If you haven't ever done this, I encourage you to try it. Here are the scriptures I have so far in my "Bible-dex", and I'm going to continue to add more, so any suggested verses would be awesome, and I'll share those as well! Have an awesome weekend girls...can't wait for the next study. God opened flood gates of joy and peace for me through this study, and I can't wait to see what he's got in store for the next one. God bless!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Worry</b></u></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up." Proverbs 12:25 MSG</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> "...but it is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands trying to catch the wind." Eccles. 4:6</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"The seeds cast in the weeds represent the ones who heart the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it." Mark 4:18-19</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Peace</u> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Jesus said to him,'I promise you that today you will be in paradise with me." Luke 23:43</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."<br />
Isaiah 26:3</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
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</b></span></span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Patience and Strength</b></u></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b><br />
</b></u></span></span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him, He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:1-2</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It's useless to rise early and go to bed late. Don't you know He enjoys giving rest to those He loves?" Psalm 127:1-2</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses." Proverbs 25:15</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret to living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything thorough Christ who gives me strength." </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Philipp 4:11-13</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"Bible-dex" Card</span></b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b> <br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Ring of Prayer, Peace, Comfort, and Strength</span></span></span></b><br />
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-23642864892093780942013-06-20T04:52:00.001-07:002013-06-20T04:52:57.273-07:00Week 11: The Reset Button<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">I cannot believe we are almost done with week 11 of this awesome study, and have only 1 week to go. It has been an awesome ride! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Here is some verse mapping I did of different translations of our reflection verse this week, with the <b><span style="color: blue;">blue </span></b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;">being God's part and the <span style="color: #990000;"><b>red </b><span style="color: purple;">being my part. I also replaced the "we" and "our" with "I" and "my" to make it hit home in my heart just a little bit more. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Romans 8:26</b></u><b>:</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">"In the same way, the <span style="color: blue;">Spirit helps <i>me</i></span> in <span style="color: #990000;"><i>my</i> weakness</span>. <i> <span style="color: #990000;">I </span></i><span style="color: #990000;">do not know what <i>I</i> ought to pray for</span>, the but the <span style="color: blue;">Spirit himself intercedes for <i>me</i></span> through <span style="color: #990000;">wordless groans</span>." (NIV)</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">"Meanwhile, the moment <span style="color: #990000;"><i>I</i> get tired in the waiting,</span> <span style="color: blue;">God's spirit is right alongside helping <i>me</i> along.</span> If <span style="color: #990000;"><i>I</i> don't know how or what to pray,</span> it doesn't matter. <span style="color: blue;">He does <i>my</i> praying in and for <i>me</i>, making prayer out of</span> <span style="color: #990000;"><i>my</i> sighs, <i>my </i>aching groans</span>." (MSG)</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">"In the same way, the <span style="color: blue;">Spirit also comes to help </span><i><span style="color: blue;">me</span></i> <span style="color: #990000;">weak as <i>I am</i>.</span> For <span style="color: #990000;"><i>I</i> do not know how <i>I</i> ought to pray:</span> the <span style="color: blue;">Spirit Himself pleads with God</span> for <i>me</i> in <span style="color: #990000;">groans that words cannot express</span>." (GNT)</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> "Also, the <span style="color: blue;">Spirit helps <i>me</i>. </span> <span style="color: #990000;"><i>I am</i> very weak</span>, but the <span style="color: blue;">Spirit helps <i>me</i> </span>with <span style="color: #990000;"><i>my </i>weakness.</span> <span style="color: #990000;"><i>I</i> don't know how to pray as <i>I</i> should</span>, but the <span style="color: blue;">Spirit Himself speaks to God for <i>me</i></span>. <span style="color: blue;">He begs God for <i>me</i>, speaking to Him</span> with <span style="color: #990000;">feelings too deep for words.</span>" (ERV)</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The words I notice the most in each one of these translations are <span style="color: #990000;"><b>"I am weak" </b><span style="color: purple;">and <span style="color: blue;"><b>"God helps me." </b><span style="color: purple;">He takes care of it all. He takes care of me, of us. He knows our hearts and our minds well enough to intercede. praying on our behalf when we don't even know how to put our words together.<b> </b>That, alone, gives me so much comfort because I know that when I am overwhelmed to the point where I can't even speak His precious name, He knows my heart and soul, and He'll fix it.</span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Motions</span></u><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">This might hurt, it's not safe<br />
But I know that I've gotta make a change<br />
I don't care if I break,<br />
At least I'll be feeling something<br />
'Cause just okay is not enough<br />
Help me fight through the nothingness of life<br />
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I don't wanna go through the motions<br />
I don't wanna go one more day<br />
without Your all consuming passion inside of me<br />
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,<br />
"What if I had given everything,<br />
instead of going through the motions?"<br />
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No regrets, not this time<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind</b></span><br />
Let Your love make me whole<br />
I think I'm finally feeling something<br />
'Cause just okay is not enough<br />
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life<br />
<br />
'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions<br />
I don't wanna go one more day<br />
without Your all consuming passion inside of me<br />
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,<br />
"What if I had given everything,<br />
instead of going through the motions?"<br />
<br />
take me all the way (take me all the way)<br />
take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)<br />
take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)<br />
take me all the way<br />
<br />
I don't wanna go through the motions<br />
I don't wanna go one more day<br />
without Your all consuming passion inside of me<br />
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,<br />
"What if I had given everything,<br />
instead of going through the motions?"<br />
<br />
I don't wanna go through the motions<br />
I don't wanna go one more day<br />
without Your all consuming passion inside of me<br />
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,<br />
"What if I had given everything,<br />
instead of going through the motions?"<br />
<br />
take me all the way (take me all the way)<br />
take me all the way (I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)<br />
take me all the way (through the motions)<br />
take me all the way<br />
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I don't wanna go through the motions
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">This entire song makes me thing of a man that goes to my church. He spent close to 80 years just "going through the motions" of church, Sunday school, everything. Throughout that whole time, he says he never truly understood what it felt like to believe in God...to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. This year, He realized being a believer in Christ is more than just reading some chapters in the Bible and making sure he was at church on time. It is so much more than that. When you believe in Christ, you honestly believe in your heart that He loves you unconditionally without fail, and that He is capable of anything. He is always on our side. He is capable of helping us walk a better walk, talk a better talk, and just live a better, more fulfilling life...a life where we know we are always loved and accepted in His eyes. He created all of us. We are all His children. We just have to let our <i>hearts defeat our minds</i>, as the song says. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can remember a time when I was younger when I was essentially going through the motions to some extent. But as I got older and my faith got stronger through the experiences God placed in my path, or really His path for me, I developed a relationship with God that continues to grow in different ways everyday. I don't read my Bible everyday now because I feel like I have to or because I think I'll get in trouble if I don't. I read it everyday because it gives me strength and comfort. It's God's big instruction book for life showing me where I need to go and how I need to get there. It's my alarm clock. It's my morning cup of coffee. I love it, and it warms my heart to no end that this sweet gentleman at my church has that in his life, too. He's not going through the motions anymore. He's living the life!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-81776957933954833192013-06-13T03:17:00.002-07:002013-06-13T03:17:19.556-07:00He Heals the Brokenhearted...<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"He heals the broken-hearted and binds their wounds."</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">-Psalm 147:3</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Wow. This has been an awesome week for my family--an awesome week of faith testers, us testers, and hard work toward a stressed-less life. Immediately after reading Psalm 147:3 several times in the begining of the week, my daughter whimpered to me that the tail of one of her stuffed animals had come off. It is one that she loves and sleeps with, so I knew her little friend had to be fixed quickly. I took some pictures of my daughter for our photo assignment this week, but I took so many that I couldn't post just one! As I was looking at these pictures of my daughter attempting to "heal" her pal, I started thinking about how God heals us...</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He not only listens to our hearts, He wants to be inside of our hearts...</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78oL0MVb-xxWzX-Y2LKo698spctL7hzL7WwHf8SWMUQyaC963QXsdPbgDCtx-vD0ANhrzlINMKsgV_wIo3rg3bGd7q790GSqO6sbjCuOMbn4eUrDRZxofaIPABGxgxcaNeZv61YfrUsYw/s1600/checking+heart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78oL0MVb-xxWzX-Y2LKo698spctL7hzL7WwHf8SWMUQyaC963QXsdPbgDCtx-vD0ANhrzlINMKsgV_wIo3rg3bGd7q790GSqO6sbjCuOMbn4eUrDRZxofaIPABGxgxcaNeZv61YfrUsYw/s200/checking+heart.JPG" width="181" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is there for us when we feel like we are under <span style="color: red;">pressure</span>...</span></strong>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0RmRBx8vCTgMZnc5R8qQ3fimGA-ro0EVJiVKYGyywVqPWEhwd3kffTwwzoCMeMzoBSPaXMHGQt7e6oC6pxn0tbdmEYATvIiD_4Dm-PQMz7HsLAf1HNjhX9rZac9i_ai72ZWBQuY0q-Ok/s1600/checking+bp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0RmRBx8vCTgMZnc5R8qQ3fimGA-ro0EVJiVKYGyywVqPWEhwd3kffTwwzoCMeMzoBSPaXMHGQt7e6oC6pxn0tbdmEYATvIiD_4Dm-PQMz7HsLAf1HNjhX9rZac9i_ai72ZWBQuY0q-Ok/s200/checking+bp.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">He heals our illness or keeps them away all together...</span></strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSl4Weg1O_Ht8gaI_RRQ_3m_XLSsEKMOIcAt0wLzMnQMdOazH02ppeCIOVMi7bdsXNy-VmIPpO0fvIGME9zQlFlDqvA1xzhOVuyY9VjXotT561o3diI9SmZg7io_VLRSxs9V3WKGdrVUT/s1600/giving+shot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSl4Weg1O_Ht8gaI_RRQ_3m_XLSsEKMOIcAt0wLzMnQMdOazH02ppeCIOVMi7bdsXNy-VmIPpO0fvIGME9zQlFlDqvA1xzhOVuyY9VjXotT561o3diI9SmZg7io_VLRSxs9V3WKGdrVUT/s320/giving+shot.JPG" width="271" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">definition of <span style="color: magenta;">reflex: an action that is performed without conscious thought in response to a stimulus </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is how God want us to be everyday, not just during times of stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, and over all, bad days in life...He wants us to come to Him, lean on Him, rely on Him without conscious thought in response to life. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we start getting too <span style="color: red;">hot</span>, agitated, frustrated, anxious, helpless, all of the above, He wants to guide us...He wants to help us...He wants to heal us!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He can always hear our cries...He never leaves us...He wants to heal us...He will heal us...but we have to drown out the distracting noise in our lives, clear out the junk in our heads so we can listen for God and His guidance...</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He forever has His arms wrapped around us in love...</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He will never let us go...</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Below you will see my daughter writing down her animal's injury in her "Big Book of BooBoo's--Doc McStuffins". It got me thinking how He know's every name...He hears every cry...He heals every ailment and fulfills every need according to His purpose...</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">It was quite the learning experience I received from God through my three year old. As far as I'm concerned, He can keep these beautiful lessons coming. God bless you all and I hope that you have enjoyed this as much as I have! </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Check out my blessings blog later this evening...<span style="color: magenta;">http://jennysblessings.blogspot.com/</span></span></strong><br />
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-1194707213697984122013-06-06T04:20:00.000-07:002013-06-07T04:50:13.171-07:00Blog Hop Week 9<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Summoned by Name...</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Isaiah 43:1b-3a</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial;"><em><strong>"I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you upass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior" NIV</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Wow. The reflection verse this week from Isaiah is long but full of meaning and inspiration. And love! I decided to dig in a little deeper and list some different translations to see if these loving words could pull at my heart strings in an even bigger way. </span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end--Because I am God, your personal God, The Hold of Israel. Your Savior." MSG</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"I have called you by name--you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you." GNT (US Version)</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">So many words and messages speak to me in these verses, and they just fill me up with love, honestly. If you notice, in every verse and in the same way, the Lord states <strong>"You are mine."</strong> We are His! And He takes care of us always! These words remind me that when I'm in the bad, God is in the good and will not fail me. He can't. He won't. That's not the promise He spoke. </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><em>"<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: lime;">He</span> has called <span style="color: purple;">my</span> name</span><span style="color: blue;">.<span style="color: purple;"> I</span> am </span><span style="color: lime;">His</span>. <span style="color: red;">When <span style="color: purple;">I'm </span>in over <span style="color: purple;">my</span> head, </span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: lime;">He</span> will</span><span style="color: blue;"> be there with <span style="color: purple;">me</span>.</span> <span style="color: red;">When<span style="color: purple;"> I</span> am in rough </span><span style="color: red;">waters,</span> <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;">I</span> will</span><span style="color: blue;"> not go down.</span> <span style="color: red;">When<span style="color: purple;"> I</span> am between a rock and a hard place,</span> <span style="color: blue;">it won't be a dead end--Because <span style="color: lime;">He</span> is <span style="color: purple;">my</span> God, <span style="color: purple;">my</span> personal God, The Holy of Israel, <span style="color: purple;">my</span> Savior." MSG</span></em></span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">"<span style="color: lime;">He</span> has called <span style="color: purple;">me</span> by name--<span style="color: purple;">I </span>am </span><span style="color: lime;">His.</span> <span style="color: red;">When <span style="color: purple;">I</span> pass through deep waters,</span> <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: lime;">He</span> </span><span style="color: blue;">will be with <span style="color: purple;">me</span>;</span> <span style="color: purple;">my</span><span style="color: blue;"> troubles will not overwhelm </span><span style="color: purple;">me.</span> <span style="color: red;">When <span style="color: purple;">I </span>pass through fire,</span> <span style="color: purple;">I</span><span style="color: blue;"> will not be burned;</span> <span style="color: blue;">the hard trials that come will not hurt <span style="color: purple;">me</span>. For <span style="color: lime;">He</span> is the Lord <span style="color: purple;">my</span> God, the Holy God of Israel, who saves <span style="color: purple;">me</span>." GNT (US Version)</span></em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Obviously, the red parts are about me and the pickles I get myself into. But the blue parts are all about Him and how He never fails to fix it. You'll notice that I switched some words around to make it more personal. I was hoping that the words would affect me even more if I addressed them to myself...like God is speaking directly to me. It worked. What a fantastic reminder that I should never forget. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I went beyond the reflection verse and read verses 1-4 entirely. Check out the befores and afters:</span><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: 'Don't be afrain, I've redeemed you...I paid a huge price for you; all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you." MSG</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"Israel, the Lord who created you says: 'Do not be afraid--I will save you...I will give upu Egypt to set you free; I will give up Ethiopia and Seba. I will give up who nations to save your life because you are precious to me and because I love you and give you honor. Do not be afraid--I am with you!' GNT</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"Jacob, the Lord created you. Israel, He made you, and now He says:' Don't be afraid. I saved you...I gave Egypt to pay for you. I gave Ethiopia and Seba to make you mine. You are precious to me, and I have given you a special place of honor. I love you. That's why I am willing to trade others, to give up whole nations, to save your life. So don't be afraid, because I am with you." ERV (Easy-To-Read Version)</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Speaking of "Spiritual Vitamins..."</span></em></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">How much more spiritual can you get when you read these words as the Lord spoke them, and you take them into your heart, your mind, and your soul? How much better does it get? Much better, if we can imagine. I don't know about you, but I don't ever want to reach a place in my life when I can say "Ok, God. I'm done. I've gotten all the spiritual messages in my mind and I'm good to go." Talk about going down the wrong road. God doesn't ever want me to think that I've learned all there is to know about His Word and His love, because guess what? There is no end to it! We can't ever learn enough! As Christians, we won't ever be done learning about God and His greatness. And as Christians, as children of God, we shouldn't want to be done! Right now, as I sit in my breakfast nook typing away on this blog hop, I have a cup of coffee that I've consumed about a quarter of, and I am a coffee nut! I love it! But when it comes to waking me up and lifting me up, coffee has nothing next to God. God is the greatest morning cup of warmth and pep I've ever had and will ever had.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">This has been an awesome week again! Never fails! God bless!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Check out my blessings blog!</span><br />
<a href="http://jennysblessings.blogspot.com/2013/06/i-will-receiveall-i-have-to-do-is-ask.html">http://jennysblessings.blogspot.com/2013/06/i-will-receiveall-i-have-to-do-is-ask.html</a><br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-27584972777007826692013-05-30T19:52:00.008-07:002013-05-30T20:03:37.067-07:00Am I Really A Stress-Addict?<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Umm let me think...at times, absolutely. There are days when "Accomplisher" should be my first name, and not for good reasons. Though thankfully, since starting this study and joining the OBS group in general, my relationship with God is continuing to grow, and the result is less of my daily focus is spent on unimportant worldly stressors that I thought, at one time, made <em>all </em>the difference. Now I am in no way immune to these stressors, and I think to some extent, they will always be a part of my life. The stressors will always exist, but allowing myself to be reduced by them physically, mentally, and spiritually doesn't have to. With God as my protector, it won't. He won't let it. He won't be shaken. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>TRUST</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I did look up various translations of our reflection verse for this week, which I'll list in a second. But as far as the verse mapping goes, I don't think I can do a better job than our fearless leader, Melissa Taylor, has done this week in dissecting the verse in terms of our parts and God's parts. In the translations below, I'll bold in <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>pink our parts </strong></span><span style="color: purple;">and in </span><span style="color: blue;"><strong>blue God's parts. </strong></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"In you, our fathers put their <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>trust;</strong></span> they <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>trusted</strong></span> you to <span style="color: blue;"><strong>deliver</strong></span> them. They <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>cried </strong></span>to you and were <span style="color: blue;"><strong>saved</strong></span>; in you they <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>trusted</strong></span> and were <span style="color: blue;"><strong>not disappointed</strong></span>." <strong>NIV</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"Our ancestors put their <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>trust</strong></span> in you; they <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>trusted</strong></span> you and you <span style="color: blue;"><strong>saved</strong></span> them. They <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>called</strong></span> to you and <span style="color: blue;"><strong>escaped danger</strong></span>; they <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>trusted</strong></span> you and were <span style="color: blue;"><strong>not disappointed</strong></span>." GNTD</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"We know you <span style="color: blue;"><strong>were there</strong></span> for our parents; they <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>cried</strong></span> for your <span style="color: blue;"><strong>help</strong></span> and you <span style="color: blue;"><strong>gave it</strong></span>; they <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>trusted</strong></span> and <span style="color: blue;"><strong>lived</strong></span> a good life" MSG</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The Message translation was my personal favorite and the one I memorized this week. It is no surprise that God's role in these verses is nothing short of amazing and the epitome of strength. <span style="color: blue;"><strong>DELIVER...SAVED...NOT DISAPPOINTED...ESCAPED DANGER...WERE THERE...HELP...GAVE IT...LIVED.</strong> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">At first glance, some of that may not make a lot of sense. For instance, the ancestors were the ones who escaped danger...the ones who were saved...the ones who were not disappointed. But who is responsible for all of those amazing acts? Did our ancestors escape dangers as a result of their own strength and power or God's? Did our ancestors save themselves or did God save them? Did they help themselves, keep themselves from becoming disappointed? Were they responsible for the extreme gift of life or is God? God, and only God, is our deliverer, savior, up-lifter, rescuer, supporter, helper, and giver of life. His job as the Father is to take care of all of it. Our job, as His children, is to believe that He will.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">This portion of Chapter 8 spoke to me the most, and is honestly, I want to start all of my days:</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><strong>"Each day when we get out of bed, we have a choice to make about where our strength will come from to face the day ahead. Will we rely on ourselves or will we rely on God? Will we rely on our human strength to persevere, or will we seek the strength that God provides to our spirits, enabling us to get through even the most painful of days? Will we continue to assume that if we try hard enough we will have the power to change or make changes happen, or will we realize that God, and God alone, possesses the power to do so?"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I loved these questions. Even though part of me feels as if I have no toes left, these questions are blunt and to the point. Will you or won't you? Will I or won't I? God has opened doors for me left and right over the past couple of weeks. I'm not dumb enough to believe that this is something new. God didn't just start opening doors to fantastic opportunities and speaking to me loudly through answered prayers. He ALWAYS does this. But it is I who am not always listening. This is something I will work on. This is how I want my life to be changed. I feel strength rising in my heart and soul even as I type these words. My feeble human brain will inevitably fail me, but my heart is firmly planted with God and I won't be shaken. </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Speaking of not being shaken, read these awesome words from <strong><em>Building 429. </em></strong>You want some early-morning get up and go, grab a cup of this song. It will lift you up in a way no complicated coffee drink can touch. God Bless!</span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We Won't Be Shaken"</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Building 429</span></em></strong></div>
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<!-- start of lyrics --><span style="color: purple;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This world has nothing for me<br />This life is not my own<br />I know You go before me and I am not alone<br />This mountain rises higher<br />The way seems so unclear<br />But I know that You go with me so I will never fear<br />I will trust in You<br /><br />Whatever will come our way<br />Through fire or pouring rain<br />We won't be shaken<br />No we won't be shaken<br />Whatever tomorrow brings<br />Together we'll rise and sing<br />That we won't be shaken<br />No we won't be shaken<br />Oooh oooh oh<br />Oooh oooh oh<br />Oooh oooh oh<br />No we won't be shaken<br /><br />You know my every longing<br />You've heard my every prayer<br />You've held me in my weakness<br />Cause You are always there<br />So I'll stand in full surrender<br />It's Your way and not my own<br />My mind is set on nothing less<br />Than You and You alone<br />I will not be moved oh<br /><br />Whatever will come our way<br />Through fire or pouring rain<br />We won't be shaken<br />No we won't be shaken<br />Whatever tomorrow brings<br />Together we'll rise and sing<br />That we won't be shaken<br />No we won't be shaken<br /><br />We will trust in You<br />We will not be moved<br />We will trust in You<br />And we won't be shaken<br />[x3]<br /><br />No we won't be shaken<br /><br />Whatever will come our way<br />Through fire or pouring rain<br />We won't be shaken<br />No we won't be shaken<br />Whatever tomorrow brings<br />Together we'll rise and sing<br />That we won't be shaken<br />No we won't be shaken<br />Oooh oooh oh<br />Oooh oooh oh<br />Oooh oooh oh<br />No we won't be shaken<br />Oooh oooh oh<br />Oooh oooh oh<br />Oooh oooh oh<br />No we won't be shaken <!-- end of lyrics --></span></em></strong></span></div>
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-69295513527163562712013-05-23T06:44:00.002-07:002013-05-23T06:44:07.438-07:00Overcoming My Giants<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Verse Mapping</u>: Phillipians 4:8 </span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Well, here we are again studying the 7th week in the <em>Stressed-Less Living</em> online Bible study. I can't believe it is already week 7! It doesn't exactly feel like we just started yesterday, but it doesn't feel like we should be on the seventh week either, which makes the challenge of retaining what I'm learning seem even greater. I definitely don't want to forget anything I am learning! </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">This week is truly an amazing and special week for me because as I type I'm surrounded by my beautiful family, including my husband and daughter of course, but also my parents and my brother and his beautiful family...and I've got the ocean in the background. We are in the Outer Banks enjoying even more of God's creations. This is such a fantastic place to dig into this study even more than usual #1 because of the amazing physical surroundings, and #2 because I'm not distracted with all of my daily to do lists that are usually resting on my counter at home and on my desk at work. My mind isn't distracted with thoughts things needing to be done because I am 10 hours away from home and work, and can't literally do none of it...and if feels great! Talk about stressed-less! Yes, the lists will still be waiting for me when I get home, but my prayer this week is that I return to my daily to-dos with a new outlook and a new perspective. I want to use this week to get plenty of sleep and rest, an area I've been depriving myself of over the last six months at least. I pray that I grab this opportunity that God has given me to get a true headstart on a stressed-less life. Let's get started:</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Here is our reflection verse for this week as it is written in the listed translations:</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by <span style="color: purple;">filling your minds and meditating on things </span><span style="color: lime;">true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." </span><span style="color: purple;">MSG</span></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is <span style="color: lime;">true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. </span><span style="color: purple;">Think about things that are </span><span style="color: lime;">excellent and worthy of praise." </span><span style="color: purple;">NLT</span></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"Finally, brothers, whatever is <span style="color: lime;">true, </span><span style="color: purple;">whatever is <span style="color: lime;">honorable</span>, whatever is <span style="color: lime;">just</span>, whatever is <span style="color: lime;">pure</span>, whatever is <span style="color: lime;">lovely</span>, whatever is <span style="color: lime;">commendable</span>, if there is any <span style="color: lime;">excellence</span>; if there is anything <span style="color: lime;">worthy of praise</span>, think about these things." ESV</span></span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I love this verse, and I love how the different translations describe the thoughts we should <em>always</em> be allowing our minds to consume, as opposed to the <em>occasional </em>times we allow those thoughts to take the place of the negative ones that can usually reside in our minds. I know I am not alone in this, otherwise I don't think we would have 7,000 women engaged in this awesome study. If we all were constantly walking around with these above thoughts in our heads all the time we wouldn't have a reason to even participate in this study. Unfortunately, I cringe when I think how many times everyday I allow anger, resentment, bitterness, hatred, anxiety, and fear creep its way into my mind. As I said before, I know I'm not alone which is why this study is so important and can be such an awesome opportunity for spiritual growth and peace if we just close the door to our pride, slam it even, and let God in so He can get to work on healing our imperfect and undoubtedly messy souls. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The individual words describing the positivity our minds <em>should</em> possess all share relatively the same meaning: <strong><span style="color: lime;">true, noble (honorable), right (reputable/just), authentic (pure), compelling (lovely), gracious (admirable/commendable)</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">However, it was the last portion of this verse that really caught my eye. The New Living Translation (NLT) and the English Standard Version (ESV) both discuss thinking of things that are "excellent" and "worthy of praise." The Message, however, describes a little differently what content in our minds is truly pleasing to God.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial;"><u>"...the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly</u>; things to praise, not things to curse." MSG</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The words of the verse that I've underlined influenced my heart and my mind the most. It is a very easy concept to grasp to think the best, not the worse;the beautiful, not the ugly. Sounds simple, right? I don't know about simple, but with God holding onto us I know that it will sure be a lot easier to try.</span><br />
<br /><strong><u><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God Is Here:</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I have no doubt that God is everywhere in my life in every moment of everyday. He is always watching, He is always loving, He is always holding on to me even when I am having trouble holding on to Him. I've experienced situations when God has revealed His presence to me through the healing of a loved one. As I've matured in my faith and my walk with Him, it has become easier for my heart as well as my mind to accept His plans for the lives of my loved ones, whether His plan is to heal them physically and allow them to remain another day on earth or instead to give peace to their fragile earthly bodies and bring them Home for eternal rest. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Another area of my life when He's made His presence unmistakable is in my job and my husband's job. I've always said and will always believe that the current occupations which my husband and I hold were a gift from God and no one else. We didn't get the jobs because of the qualifications or our character. We got these wonderful blessings from God, and as a result, our faith has grown in leaps and bounds. Our previous jobs caused us many tears, high stress, and rough times. But we know now that there was a reason for it. When God chose to reach down and pick us up out of those occupational rough patches to put us jobs we truly love, we learned how important it is to keep our eyes and hands open to God's blessings and to not take them for granted. Now, even on the "bad" days, we still remind ourselves outloud that these jobs are truly a blessing from God and that we are grateful to have them. He gave us the strength to take leaps that changed our lives forever! For that reason, and many others, we give Him thanks!</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Not My Goliath:</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I'm always facing some kind of giant. At work, I have many responsibilities, and find myself always taking more and inevitably getting strapped for time. Sometimes, I can really buckle under the pressure of my everyday at work. I always have a list of things to do when I get to work, but it feels like I can't get left alone long enough to complete the list! Patients call and need something; patients walk in and need something else; co-workers and bosses need something else. It never ends! My giant in this situation isn't just the load of work and dependants, but also being able to keep my cool in a situation that could physically, mentally, and spiritually break me if I were to let it. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">A giant I'm facing at home is similar, in that I have a list of things I "need" to do at home, but just like at work, distractions inevitably arise. Caroline gets sick or hurt, and the list takes a back seat to her needs. My husband is a volunteer fireman, and I am very proud of him. But being a volunteer means that we don't really know when he will have to go out. It may be in the middle of dinner, church, early in the morning, middle of the night, or right in the middle of our family's night time routine. He usually puts Caroline to sleep every night, giving me time to tidy up the house, finish laundry, or do dishes. I'm a couponer and a "Troop-on"er, so I often use this time to organize and sort...which I ironically love because I can literally think about nothing else. But if my husband gets called out to a fire or a car wreck, this obviously trumps my housework as it should<em>. </em>I am not proud to say that many times I don't convey a loving, proud attitude toward my husband's work when it has to be done at an inconvenient time for me. My giant in this situation is my very own selfishness. Only when I'm ready to ask for His help can God give me the strength to set my selfish wants and tendencies so that I can actually show my husband how much I love him and how proud I am of him instead of completely taking him and the fact that he does many jobs I could never do for granted. </span><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Dear Lord: I pray to you today first for forgiveness. The situations I find myself in are stressfull and frustrating only because I choose for them to be. Please give me the strength to change my perspective and to change my heart. Help me to replace my frustration toward others with an attitude of patience and kindness. Help me to replace my attitude of stress with a flooding of your peace. Keep the demons of anger and resentment from my heart and my mind, and grant me the blessing of your grace to get through tomorrow possessing a better spirit than I had today. </span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">In your precious name I pray,</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Amen</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial;">Check out my blessings blog! </span></em></strong> <span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://jennysblessings.blogspot.com/2013/05/blessing-of-chores.html">http://jennysblessings.blogspot.com/2013/05/blessing-of-chores.html</a><br />
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-8010878407216835732013-05-15T03:33:00.001-07:002013-05-18T20:51:47.608-07:00Stressed-Less Living Blog Hop #6<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Verse Mapping:</u></strong> Matthew 6:33</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I focused on definitions of the words which I thought were most inspirational in the reflection verse. This week, I want to look at the different translations of Matthew 6:33 and compare the most inspirational parts of each. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." NIV</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." NLT</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Steep your life in God-reality, God initiative, God provisions. Don't worry about missing. You'll find all you everyday human concerns will be met." MSG</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." TLV</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"But first, but concerned about His kingdom and what has His approval. Then all these things will be provided for you." GWT</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Instead, be concerned about everything else with the kingdom of God and with what He requires of you, and He will provide you with all these other things." GNT (US version) </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The word <strong>"seek"</strong> is used in the first sentence in half of the translations I researched. </span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"But <span style="color: lime;">seek </span><span style="color: purple;">first His kingdom..." (NIV)</span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"<span style="color: lime;">Seek </span><span style="color: purple;">the Kingdom..." (NLT)</span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"But <span style="color: lime;">seek </span><span style="color: purple;">first the Kingdom..." (TLV)</span></span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Other translations use alternative words for "seek": </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"But first, be <span style="color: lime;">concerned </span><span style="color: purple;">about His Kingdom..." (GWT)</span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"Instead, be <span style="color: lime;">concerned </span><span style="color: purple;">above everything else with the Kingdom..."(GNT-U.S. Version)</span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"<span style="color: lime;">Steep </span><span style="color: purple;">your life in God-reality, God initiative, God provisions..." (MSG)</span></span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><strong><u>seek:</u></strong>attempt to find/discover something by searching and questioning</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">**Melissa's definition of "seek" that she included in Monday's posting was my favorite:</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"to pursue, crave, go after with all your might." </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><strong><u>concerned:</u></strong>be relevant or important to<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">; </span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> -worry, anxiety</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> -regard it as important or interesting to do something</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> -have a specific connection with or responsibility for</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be honest, "steep" was the word I was most curious to define. I just thought it was a very interesting choice for translation...at least the definition I knew. I've always referred to "steep" when I'm talking tea bags, and that is one of the definitions of steep. But I think this definition was much more appropriate:</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>steep</u></strong>: </span> <span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to saturate with or subject thoroughly to (some strong pervading influence)</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I believe Merriam-Webster just defined how are God wants our relationship and dedication to him to be. He wants our souls, our hearts, our spirits, and our minds <span style="color: lime;">to be saturated with</span> Him and His unfailing Word. He wants us to <span style="color: lime;">subject thoroughly to </span><span style="color: purple;">him...not just when we are doing our Bible study or sitting in church, but in <em>everything</em> we say and do. This week, I've realized that my heart and soul are in the right place with God. It's my mind that keeps getting in the way!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Check out the entire translations I looked up this week and see how differently, yet how similarly, these verses compare to one another. It's pretty cool. </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." NIV</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"See the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (NLT)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." (MSG)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (TLV)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"But first, be concerned about His Kingdom and what has His approval. Then all these things will be provided for you." (GWT)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what He requires of you, and He will provide you with all these other things. " (GNT-U.S. Version)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><u>I'm A Big Girl!</u></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Yea. Not nearly as big as I think I am. Thinking I can "do it all" is one of my biggest flaws. I have endless to do lists at work and at home, and getting me to ask for help is like trying to get water from a dry well. It's a job. It can be pretty pitiful actually, but I am getting a lot better with God's help. Pride is a powerful demon, and I let it get the best of me far too often. Pride is such a burden but it can be such a normal part of how I react in certain situations that I don't even realize it has taken me over until the damage has been done. </span></span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Lay Down My Pride</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Pride has always, in some way, been a constant stumbling block in my life. I realize, especially now that I am a mother, that I am very particular about certain things--how my daughter is raised, my professional work, and sometimes just carrying out certain tasks. I've never been a person that <em>likes</em> to ask for help. Even as a child, no matter what it was, unless it was something I really did not want to be doing, I wanted to do myself and in my own way. Even know, when I'm at home I get an idea in my head of how I want something done. A lot of times, I got this way "Jenny's Scenic Route" because it usually involves me taking several extra steps to complete a task that otherwise could've taken one or two simple steps. A part of me knows this, but a bigger part has an idea in her head and <em>that</em> is the way it has to be done. When my husband comes in with a perplexed look on his face, and asks what I'm doing and offers to help in <em>his </em>way, I don't see it as help at all. I see it as a personal failure because I can't do it alone. Case in point...</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I was changing our livingroom closet from a coat closet to a craft and games closet for our family, and in doing so, I had to adjust some wire shelving, which just involved moving three shelves a little further apart. Didn't seem like a difficult task to master...in my head. However, 45 minutes later, guess who was throwing a fit as well as launching the shelf at the closet wall? This girl. When my husband came home and found me exhausted, furious, and sweaty, he calmly opened the closet door, asked where I wanted the shelves placed exactly, and in about 30 seconds, it was done. I was so mad that I could've spit nails. Who was having a pride-filled meltdown? Yep. This girl...again. Two for two that day. I don't even know if I remembered that thank my poor husband for relieving me of this endlessly frustrating task so that I could finish the project I'd initially set out to do! I have plenty of ways I demonstrate patience with my husband, but this is one of the many ways he demonstrates it to me. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Pride is such an evil monster, and is placed in our hearts by the great monster himself. The worse thing about pride is that it attacks our spirits and our hearts in so many different facets of our lives if we let it. I once heard that pride is the one deadly sin that as humans, we simply don't have the power to rid ourselves of completely. I'm really starting to understand the meaning of those words. Pride is a tough demon to kill, and it is impossible to even fathom without God. We aren't strong enough to remove the pride from our hearts, but God is. And the best part...as we read in Chapter 6 and in scripture:</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><strong>"indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:4</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Thank God for His supernatural presence who is all knowing and ever present in our lives and in our hearts. I am not void of all pride in my life. In fact, I still have many daily battles with it. The difference is that now I know it. A long time ago, God opened a door of opportunity when He lead me to these online Bible studies. With that, He presented me with opportunities to start making changes that would strengthen my daily walk with Him, and it's working. I have my good days and bad, just like everybody else. But the good days would be bad, and the bad days unfathomable if God weren't carrying me and my burdens on His shoulders. As Laura Story quotes in one of her famous songs, <em>What A Savior</em>:</span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> ...You are my only hope.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> Your kindness is my friend</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> In your presence You restore us...</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> ...You are the way the truth and the life.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> You are my joy and my salvation.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> Stood in my place taking my shame</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> Upon Your shoulders...</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> ...What A Savior!</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">How my life will be so much sweeter when pride can finally be forever replaced with God's everlasting peace. I'm so blessed He's a patient God. He is without a doubt my saving grace and my only hope. </span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Blessings and Prayers:</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">This week I received a call that my five-year-old niece had fallen at school and broken her arm very badly and was going to have to have surgery. Immediately, my heart sank in fear and worry for this child who holds a special place in many hearts, not just mine. She's a child who loves to dance and sing and giggle and be silly...and a piece of her was literally broken. When someone I love is sick or hurt, I take care of them. That's why I became a nurse, a mom, a wife, and an aunt..."Aunt G" to be exact. My niece as well as my brother, sister-in-law, and my younger niece live 8 hours away, so physically there was literally nothing I could do. Spiritually, my to-do list for my family was endless. God <em>always </em>takes care of our family, so I knew in my heart that He wasn't going to be any different this time. But my mind was being a "Doubting Thomas." Not in thinking "God can't fix this..." but rather in thinking "I <em>hope</em> God will fix this." And I had just read in depth last week's chapter that encouraged us to not do the exact thing I was doing. I was letting the "what ifs" of my mind overshadow the certainty of God's greatness that is in my heart. I know better. God knows I know better. Yet He still loves. He's still patient. Though she is still experiencing some pain, my niece came out of the surgery and was telling her "Mimi" (my mother) the whole story only a short while later. God isn't good Monday through Friday, 8-4 or 9-5. His working hours never stop. His sleeping hours never start. He is holding us through it all, and has promised to never let go. </span><br />
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-43195797702237769842013-05-12T20:21:00.002-07:002013-05-12T20:21:13.873-07:00Blog Hopping Through Chapter 5<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chapter 5 was definitely packed with awesome thoughts, scriptures, reflections, and experiences that will hopefully encourage me to continue trying a little harder everyday toward a stressed-less life. Though this week hasn't felt stressed-less. I've worked more days than I am used to as a part-time nurse. I've had to do this for the past few weeks and it is wearing me out! Luckily, I am headed to the beach with my awesome family in less than a week, and whoa. I am ready. I am ready to kick back, relax, and throw my to-do lists to the wind or the surf or whatever will take it away. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The previous post I did a few days ago titled, "Verse Mapping" sums up my response to the first of this week's blog-hop topics. Now onto the next topics...</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Plugged In: </span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I didn't plug into much of anything other than this computer, my tv, and occasionally, my cell phone prior to God opening the door for me with these awesome Bible studies. These studies are my primary source of daily devotion and time spent with God. Prior to obs I read Proverbs 31 daily devotions. I actually still have the daily devotion emailed to me everyday. I usually get them when I am at work, and when I have time, I stop and read them. It's very uplifting in an otherwise chaotic day in the life of a nurse. I also like to check out the blogs of some of my favorite Christian authors such as Max Lucado, Ann Voskamp, and any of the Proverbs 31 ladies. I love all the different stories, devotions, and themes of the blogs. I usually read my devotions whether they be from a blog or an obs when I first wake in the morning and before I go to sleep at night. I'm always the first one up and last one down in my house simply because I can't spend the kind of time with God that He deserves, and that I desperately need even more than my daily cups of coffee, when the ones I love are up and at 'em. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">My husband got me a tablet for Christmas and I've downloaded some pretty great apps from well-written authors and also Bible study reference tools. My new favorite reference app is the "Olive Tree". It was a free app and it is awesome. If you look at my previous post, you'll see all the different advantages it offers from cross-referencing, definitions, scripture searches and comparisons. I love it! It is really user friendly, for which I am greatful because a computer wiz I am not. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I am still a fan of the old school style as well. I don't keep a computer journal. I'm a bigger fan of the write-it-out type. I also have several Bibles in different translations, some devotional Bibles which are really great. </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Taking It Back</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">There are many wise words that really touched my heart. The story of Hannah was appreciated and one I'd never actually read before. What a fantastic story of a great faith test passed! I found myself in a situation awhile ago with my job that reminded me of what awesome patience Hannah must have had. I wanted so much to cut back my hours to a part-time nurse so that I could be home with my daughter more. When I went before the administration and received a response of rejection, I was frustrated and heartbroken. Immediately on the way home, I started thinking of other job opportunities that would allow me to do what I wanted to do. But as I was on the interstate, approaching my exit, I heard a voice whispering," Be still." Any clue who that might have been? No doubt in my mind! I won't lie...I tried to fight His Will, and it didn't work. Every door <em>I </em>opened for myself got slammed right back in my face. This was a true blessing because I am not very good with subtle hints. I've always begged God to guide me, and if He sees I'm going through the wrong door, please slam it shut in my face! And He did. It only took a few slams for me to finally say," Ok. Ok. I get it. I won't fight it anymore. I'll wait." My husband and I used that time to prepare financially for me to go part-time until about eight months later when I actually did get to go part time! Which brings me to one of my favorite quotes from the book:</span><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"<strong>God is never late; He is seldom early; but He is always right on time."</strong></span></em><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Ain't that the truth...and thank God everyday that it is. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I'm not very good wollowing in self-pity. I cope much better when I'm productive. However, I still have the hardest time being faithful <em>and </em>active. God has proven time after time that He will always take care of me and mine. Not just that, but He will take care of us with only His best if we will just be still and let Him get to work. Nevertheless, "Doubting Thomas" here, I many times spend my time wondering when God's best is going to find me...hoping that it is soon...wishing it would be here already. Not the greatest example of a strong faith. Instead, I need to remember that God has always provided His best in my life, and He won't stop. When it is to come is not really for me to worry about. Neither is thinking I have the right to even attempt to advise God when <em>His </em>timing should be. After all, He is the pillar of perfection. If he was filled with flaws like the rest of us, there wouldn't be a reason to praise His name. I call Him "Holy" for a reason...He is forever Holy and nothing less. He has us in the palm of His perfectly loving and graceful hand, and with faith even as small as a mustard seed, there we shall stay. Amen to that.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Check out my blessings blog! <a href="http://jennysblessings.blogspot.com/2013/05/blessing-of-new-day.html">http://jennysblessings.blogspot.com/2013/05/blessing-of-new-day.html</a></span><br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-77232611606376937442013-05-07T04:59:00.003-07:002013-05-10T19:18:10.053-07:00Verse Mapping<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Well I have to start by saying how much I love this Bible study, and definitely love our reflection verse this week. I loved it so much that I decided to dig a little deeper with some heavy duty verse mapping. Check out these pictures from my journal:</span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50tEzexrW2qiZxVADm8rsfmzuGGOJCeG9ixeHBBX2iTI83puIrl_l1Z0N2qK0mok6LrOOkBa6C_NVcB-k-Y0mlgl6lAFQV_FdKS568VQfrwlPzGESsmfd44J7GhZIKauhnXGV1RLk-FVA/s640/blogger-image--2052623158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50tEzexrW2qiZxVADm8rsfmzuGGOJCeG9ixeHBBX2iTI83puIrl_l1Z0N2qK0mok6LrOOkBa6C_NVcB-k-Y0mlgl6lAFQV_FdKS568VQfrwlPzGESsmfd44J7GhZIKauhnXGV1RLk-FVA/s640/blogger-image--2052623158.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNR5lvYaz81MN8MePuQ-APjz_9y_oGL9q4lSdIkqRZzQgRisOpP4izGbJcc_E8BxBxCAhWp1YdF6FdgtV1xQUowgCbGiVLwkTFj_wLG9H7G1DoUtIuZZlf4WYViKRGEA7jqZXnMhgU6TN/s640/blogger-image--597667567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNR5lvYaz81MN8MePuQ-APjz_9y_oGL9q4lSdIkqRZzQgRisOpP4izGbJcc_E8BxBxCAhWp1YdF6FdgtV1xQUowgCbGiVLwkTFj_wLG9H7G1DoUtIuZZlf4WYViKRGEA7jqZXnMhgU6TN/s640/blogger-image--597667567.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sD9AfwsAcyhZXf5CisZCvxqKWvLKtJ-rgdu9xLxQ4R6ysmJwxd6DHd8JyHcilYEnkbXKRkcFIMGiM8_59XCP_cXwIu1uKzZV9-mUms9nE_wzprhfqpcp0D6zE91FOGDkC0dg5DZrKOW4/s640/blogger-image-1512083566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sD9AfwsAcyhZXf5CisZCvxqKWvLKtJ-rgdu9xLxQ4R6ysmJwxd6DHd8JyHcilYEnkbXKRkcFIMGiM8_59XCP_cXwIu1uKzZV9-mUms9nE_wzprhfqpcp0D6zE91FOGDkC0dg5DZrKOW4/s640/blogger-image-1512083566.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The first thing I did was explore the different translations of the verse to see which ones I liked the best. I'm usually a huge fan of the "Good News Translation", but I had some other favorites this time as well. Check them out:</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The Lord said, "I will go with you and I will give you victory." Good News Translation</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The Lord replied, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." NIV</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The Lord answered, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you peace." </span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> -God's Word Translation</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">God said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end." MSG</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The Lord replied, "I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest-everything will be fine for you." New Living Translation</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Pretty cool translations I thought. I loved looking up different translations and discovering how many ways God can show me this verse. I will say that GNT didn't quite speak to me the way the others did, but they are all awesome. </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">After I reviewed the different translations, I pulled two words out of the verse: "presence" and "rest". I looked up the words on my "Olive Tree" app to see what kinds of definitions they had. Here is what I got:</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">presence: (N) state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present in a place or thing;</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">-a person or thing that exists or is present in a place but is not seen </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">-the impressive manner or appearance of a person</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The second and third definitions really stuck out to me in describing the magnificent presence of God because he is <em>always </em>present with us, even though we can't see His physical presence. But overtime as my relationship with God has matured and continues to grow, I can actually see Him everywhere if I just know where to look. My favorite place to see God is through the blessings He gives me everyday. Listening to my three year old blessing say her prayers everynight as she snuggles into her bed...there He is. When I see a bird way up in the sky with its wings spread completely, allowing powerful wind to sweep it from place to place rather than trying to fly against it, it is truly one of the most peaceful events to watch...and to me, there God is again. </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The Latin translation of "presence" is "praesentia" which means "being at hand." And God always is.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">rest: (V) cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> -allow to be inactive in order to regain strength, health, or energy</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"> (N): an instance or period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I thought the above definitions of "rest" were good, but "rest" really became more apparent to me when it was combined with another word. I had never thought about it, but "rest" when combined with certain words can also be objects that are used to support something, i.e. armrest, headrest. I really thought about God when I read this definition. After all, who is our biggest supporter? Not necessarily in the cheerleader sense, but think about what an armrest does. It holds your arm up so that it doesn't hang down and get tired. Who holds us up when we are tired and can't take anymore? Who is our eternal support and promises to not let us fall? God. When I have reached low points in my life, when I'm exhausted mentally and physically, and when all I want to do is give up the fight, God is there to hold me up and to support me with His powerful hands. God carries me and the weight of my circumstances. He graciously blesses me with His perfect and loving support so I won't fall out from under my own weaknesses and hardships. Did He promise us a perfect life? A life without heartbreak, pain, even suffering? Absolutely not. He promised something so much greater. He promised, "...I will give you rest"; "I'll see the journey to the end"; "everything will be fine for you"; "...I will give you peace." These are the promises of God, and God doesn't break His promises. </span></strong></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-79100309147215146312013-05-02T04:20:00.000-07:002013-05-03T04:29:33.257-07:00A Blessing Received in the Undeniable Presence of God<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am going to start this week's Blog Hop by telling you how I received the biggest blessing of my life today and how God's presence throughout the situation was undeniable and soul-shaking.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone who knows me knows that I am a mother first before anything else. I have a beautiful three year old baby girl, Caroline, who I would do anything for. I work as a part-time nurse, and Caroline attends a fantastic babysitter on the days I work. She has made some great friends, her best one being her sitter without a doubt, and for good reason. She is amazing. She loves each child like she would her own, and wants only the best for them. She is someone I completely trust with my child and can say I literally have no worries when Caroline is in her care. Any mother will appreciate the kind of peace that comes with knowing that even though as her mother I can't be with her every hour of every day, she is always with someone that loves and cares for her, and continues to be one of my daughter's most positive influences. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Many times, especially in the warm weather the kids are all playing outside and when I pull up to the sitter's driveway only to be greeted by an angered, fit-throwing toddler who doesn't want to go home yet! Mind you this is the same child who not 9 hours before was crying and reaching for me, begging me not to go. Yes the same child. Today, I decided to stick around for a bit and chat with the sitter so that Caroline could play a little longer. When I told her it was time to go, she got angry again. Now it is widely known that when I have Caroline outside, especially around roads, I generally watch her like a hawk. I keep a safe distant so I don't smother her, but still watch her because she is still at that age where she will get into many dangerous situations without understanding the consequences. Today wasn't any different. She was huffing and puffing. I was watching but not responding, and before I could catch her, she darted down the sidewalk toward the drive way which happens to be parallel to one of the most dangerous roads I've ever driven on. I ran as fast as I could, screaming the entire way for her to stop, a warning she usually heeds. This time she didn't. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The only thing I could think about was to put myself between her and the road, but she was so fast. But I'd seen cars race up and down this road much faster. When I got to her, she was inches away from the road...I am not exaggerating. I did a combination grab and toss of my child to get her away from the road and danger. As it sometimes happens when your children do things to make your heart stop, I let my fear take over and I screamed at her and scolded her. Then, noticing the sitter had taken the other kids in, I put Caroline in her car seat and advised that she was to go to her room immediately when we got home and wait until Mommy or Daddy came in for her punishment. I called my husband quickly and told him what had happened. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> As soon as I got off the phone, the negative scary what-if thoughts started flooding into my mind. What if I hadn't gotten to her in time? What if there had been over sized speeding trucks racing down the road? And lastly, what if I would have lost her? I pulled into the drive and got out of the car. My husband met me on the driveway and immediately embraced me as tears streamed down my face and I verbalized all of my worst fears that had almost become realities. He held me for a few minutes, and then retrieved Caroline from her carseat. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Protective Bl<span style="font-size: large;">essings</span></b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Caroline had been punished, by her father because I was still sick at my stomach, I reminded her that God always keeps us safe. This is something we've always taught her, and today she lived it. We lived it. God kept our family safe, and He granted us many blessings today. The blessing of an empty road that at any given moment paves the way for many speeding drivers. The blessing of the ability to run, not great but fast enough. The blessing in the tears of a safe and healthy child. The blessing of a husband who understands. The blessing of a lesson learned in why we should not take each other, least of all our loved ones, for granted. The blessing in the fear of what could've happened but didn't. The greatest blessing of all...a God who knows exactly what we need where we need it and when we need it. A God who, in our scariest time, did not leave us or forsake us. The blessing of a Heavenly Father who sacrificed His child, but saved mine. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Transf<span style="font-size: large;">orming Power Surge</span></b></span> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I woke up this morning never anticipating how God was going to change my life today. I always ask God to help me be a blessing to someone in my morning prayer time with Him. But I underestimated the blessing He had in store for me. I spent a small part of my morning frustrated because of a seemingly endless work responsibility and the fact that my husband and I both had forgotten to pack Caroline's bag containing clothes and other daily needs for the sitter in the car. Regarding those events, I remained frustrated for a short time, then said a prayer asking God to release the stress and frustration from my mind and heart, and just take care of it all. I thought that was going to be the how God made His presence known to me today. But He had bigger plans. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> God in His greatness and mercy, transformed me today, and my relationship with The Lord Almighty grew in leaps and bounds. Instead of conforming to a world that has become content with doing it all alone, I'm transforming and doing it all with God. My dream that I will continue to reach for is to keep my heart and my mind with God. I definitely felt the power surge of His presence today as He wrapped our family in his protective embrace. He reminded me what is truly important in my life as He returned my thoughts of the insignificant and worldy to their rightful place...out of my mind, and certainly out of my heart. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Heavenly Father,</i></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I don<span style="font-size: small;">'t <span style="font-size: small;">even know where to begin to say thank you fo<span style="font-size: small;">r<span style="font-size: small;"> the tremendous<span style="font-size: small;"> blessing you<span style="font-size: small;">'ve best<span style="font-size: small;">owed upon m<span style="font-size: small;">e and my family today.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">I am so g<span style="font-size: small;">rateful that you have complete control over my life and the lives of the people I love most<span style="font-size: small;">. <span style="font-size: small;">Once again, you saved us,<span style="font-size: small;"> Lord. Thank you for bless<span style="font-size: small;">ing <span style="font-size: small;">Caroline, <span style="font-size: small;">our be<span style="font-size: small;">autiful gift from you<span style="font-size: small;">. Thank you fo<span style="font-size: small;">r keep<span style="font-size: small;">ing<span style="font-size: small;"> her safe <span style="font-size: small;">and <span style="font-size: small;">surrounding her with your never<span style="font-size: small;"> ending presence. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></b><b><i> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know that I can't ever fully <span style="font-size: small;">underst<span style="font-size: small;">and <span style="font-size: small;">how great you really are<span style="font-size: small;"> because there is no<span style="font-size: small;"> end to your greatness. My hope is in you, Lord. My life<span style="font-size: small;">, my heart is in your hands<span style="font-size: small;"> where <span style="font-size: small;">I <span style="font-size: small;">k<span style="font-size: small;">now you will keep it safe. You saved me again today<span style="font-size: small;">, Lord.<span style="font-size: small;"> You saved m<span style="font-size: small;">e from <span style="font-size: small;">my greatest fear<span style="font-size: small;"> today, and<span style="font-size: small;"> for this and your never-ending presence in m<span style="font-size: small;">y life, I praise <span style="font-size: small;">your <span style="font-size: small;">name. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">A<span style="font-size: small;">men</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></b></span><i><b> </b></i></div>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-54460087353133056442013-04-26T06:21:00.002-07:002013-04-26T06:21:41.353-07:00Time for A Little R and R: Rest and Review<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, so even though I'm not usually one to shake things up, I'm going to give it a shot during this much awaited blog hop for week three of my <em>Stressed-Less Living</em> online Bible study. This week, instead of only going through the blog hop topics I'm going to go through the review questions at the end of Chapter 3 as well. Here we go...</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">(By the way...have I mentioned how incredible awesome and fulfilling these online Bible studies are? They have absolutely changed my life and made my relationship with God bloom and grow! Thank you, God for opening up this door and leading me down your awesome path for my life!)</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Stressed-Less Review and Blog Hop Combo:</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. ~ <em>Isaiah 30:15b (NIV)</em></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I love this verse. Sitting outside in the sunlight on a breezy day</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">My life does tend to get pretty stressful, especially when I lose control of my overall perception of the way things are going. One of my biggest flaws is constantly putting myself under a mental ticking time-clock and making to-do list after to-do list. Actually, the time-clock and the lists aren't the true problem. The problem lies in my negative thoughts that scream "you failed again!" when I don't meet my own personal deadlines. Like many others, I am my own worst critic. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">There are a few things I like to do that bring me peace. Spending personal time with God and with His word through Bible study or devotional reading is a big stress buster for me because I'm usually don't allow myself to think about any other outside distractions, and God is a big helper with this because He knows how I easily I get distracted. I also like to listen to music and sing my heart out like there is no tomorrow. I'm a registered nurse by trade, so at the end of a long and sometimes frustrating work day, singing out loud with my favorite Christian bands really takes that layer of stress off so that when I get home, frustration and negativity are generally left down the road. I have a new found stress-reliever in my life that I've picked up within the last few months. It is probably difficult to believe, especially if you've ever seen any of the related television shows, but I love couponing. It is so relaxing to me to organize my truckloads of coupons, make my lists, and then go to the chosen stores by myself to get my bargains. I just walk up and down the isles, taking my time, and finding my deals. Since I've gotten my family pretty well stocked with 6 or so months of supplies, I recently have started couponing for toiletry and cleaning items to be donated to our church for our monthly give-away to the communities in our very rural county. At the end of the month, I gather up all my expired coupons and ship them to "Troop-ons", a program that distributes expired coupons to American troops and their families to be used for 6 more months. I love it! It is such a stress relief to do something I love to help people I don't even really know. Chillin' out with my girlfriends, my husband, or with my Caroline (daughter) minus any sort of agenda are also fantastic stress-busters, not to mention awesome blessings. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The above mentioned stress-relief practices are just a few that I do, and will continue to do until they don't seem to work anymore. Hopefully, that won't happen! However, as we all know, with the good often comes the bad. I do have a few bad, unhealthy ways that I relieve my stress. As a mom, a nurse, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and an "Aunt G", I am surrounded by people all day long. My life's work, personally and professionally, revolves around helping others, which is not just a tremendous blessing, but also what I feel is the reason God created me. I get joy out of helping others. But it is also necessary to spend time by myself daily in order to maintain my sanity. In order to do this, like many women I'm sure, I have to be the first one up and the last one down meaning I have to wake up early and go to bed late. This is not my most healthy decision because I only get about 5 or 6 hours of sleep when I know my body has always required more. When it gets really bad, my lack of rest often leads to bad moods, bad words, and making poor diet and exercise choices. Not good, I know. All of those combined make very poor choices that accumulate the stress instead of busting it. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I've been working with my healthy lifestyles coach and friend at work, and I set a goal for myself. The goal is that even though my head may not be hitting the pillow at 10pm, the to-do part of today needs to be bookmarked until tomorrow. At this time, I turn things off, grab my book, and head to bed. I haven't been doing well with that this week, but today is a brand new day, and I'm asking God to help me keep working on this goal so that I can take care of myself and continue taking care of others. Achieving this goal only becomes possible when I ask my husband for help, whether it be by doing the dishes, making the coffee, putting clothes away, or packing the baby-sitter bag for the next day, he does whatever I ask him to do. I just have to remember to ask! He also makes my lunch occasionally, and tucks in little love note surprises. Love him!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Hope From Upstream</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Parenting...wow. If you don't already have some stress heaped onto you, this is a way to get it. Parenting is the greatest blessing I've ever known, but it is also something I greatly underestimated. My daughter is only 3 years old, and since she hasn't learned the famous phrase, "But my friends all get to do it! Why can't I?" we haven't had too much of an issue. Together, my husband and I started instilling a strong Christian influence in her from the start. Literally. I always read to her when I was pregnant, and many times, children's Bible stories were what I read. We pray together as a family, and have taught her that God takes care of us and makes us all better. She is now getting to the age where she is starting to understand it when she sees a sick loved one become well. We've also taught her that attending church regularly is a priority, but that hasn't been difficult. She loves her church family. Some of her best friends are eighty year old men. As my husband and I learned as a young couple in church, and are teaching Caroline, is that there is much to be learned from the older population in your church. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The few challenges we've run into as parents of toddler are teaching her that while church can be a place for laughter and fun, there is also a time when reverence should be practiced, as in services, lessons, and prayers. We rarely take her to the nursery because we want her to learn the type of behavior that is expected during a Sunday service, and we figured she can only learn that when she actually sits through the services. Does she sit attentively and take notes on the sermons? Of course not. But she does quiet activities, such as coloring or reading, and knows she isn't supposed to be noisy. Our family and friends support us, but sometimes it can be difficult when Caroline sees her friends conversing and playing loudly with one another, as they are allowed. I've watched her stare at them, wanting to play as well. But quickly turns her attention back to her book or coloring page because she knows what she is allowed to do and what she is not. Now she is not perfect, and neither are we. She does occasionally misbehave and we occasionally get frazzled and frustrated because of it. Expecting a three year old to be quiet and well behaved through an entire church service can be unrealistic. But we are consistent in what we teach her, and sometimes, I feel like other parents look at us like we are rigid and snotty. It doesn't make us smile, but it doesn't change our minds either. The same goes with the type of entertainment we allow her to be influenced by. She isn't allowed to watch movies or tv shows that are scary, violent, etc. Over a year ago, we decided what we allow her to listen to is just as important. She listens to Christian and children's music, and she loves it! One of her favorite songs is "Amazing Grace." She sings it around the house all the time. There will reach a point, not too far from now, when we can't control the positive and negative influences she is exposed to, but she will. Hopefully, because of the foundation God has helped us to instill in her, she will make the right ones. Sitting back and watching it will undoubtedly lead to yet another stressful milestone in the lives of her loving, yet anxious parents! May God be with us!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>Stay Tuned...</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I've decided to create a blessings blog since God has taken this year to teach me what His <em>true </em>blessings really are. The site is under construction, but will be up and running soon and I hope you enjoy it and will share some of your own blessings! Stay tuned!</span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-82893495679133545092013-04-21T04:15:00.000-07:002013-04-21T04:15:19.474-07:00Peace from Stress<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> Psalm 107:19</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">This has been our inspirational verse this second week of the <em>Stressed-Less </em>Living<em> </em>online Bible study, and is means so many things to me. I really felt its meaning during the first exercise we were encouraged to do, in which we put our own names in the actual verse itself. Below, I actually did this with verses 19-21 using the Good News Translation. </span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">"Then, in <em>her</em> trouble, </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><em>Jenny </em>called to the Lord, and He saved <em>her </em>from <em>her </em>distress. He healed <em>Jenny</em> with His command and saved <em>her</em> from the grave. <em>Jenny</em> must thank the Lord for His constant love, for the wonderful things He did for <em>her</em>." Psalm 107: 19-21 GNT</span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">After doing this exercise, and reading it over and over for several minutes, my heart melted. I was so inspired and touched spiritually by these verses. The first two sentences are comforting and provide so much security knowing that I have a God who will rescue me from anything--even from myself. The verse serves as a reminder that God is always with me and will never leave me. He's not even a phone call away. He's right beside me all the time. Because of this, I need to thank Him for the protection and comfort He provides--thank Him not only with my words in prayer, but in my daily walk with Him. Also, I have to set aside my negative feelings of stress and anxiety so I don't miss out or take for granted the awesome blessings He has for me--open my hands and say, "Thank you."</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">On our knees</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">When I let stress crown my mind and my heart, there's not as much room left for God. Succumbing to stressful situations definitely puts my mind, my body, and my heart at risk. The biggest heartbreak in these situations is that I've completely abandoned the truth that God is with me wherever I go. God will never leave or forsake me. When I cry to Him, God will save me. Forgetting this really puts a damper on my relationship with the Lord because my confidence in His abilities as Lord of my life is not what it should be. In other words, I suffer a faith failure. Through this study, I want to learn to retrain my brain and my heart to not be phased negatively by the stress I face because of the faith I have in God to keep His promises, and to know that He always has His arms opens ready to surround me in His love and protection. Once I remember to automatically stay in this place during times of stress instead of letting my faith waver, I won't be shaken.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Mirror Mirror</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">Dear Lord,</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">My reactions to stress are so harmful, yet so automatic that I don't even realize how much trouble I am in until I'm knee deep in anger, sadness, and anxiety. Lord, I know that you are my Savior. I know that you, and only you, can save me from myself and my reactions to any situation I am faced with. I pray Lord that you give me the strength to not just come to you for peace in times of stress, but to carry that peace with me constantly--the peace that can only be given by you. Please help me to unclench my fists so that I may receive your beautiful gift of peace that you have waiting for me, and help me to not be so blinded by stress that I miss all of the wonderful blessings you give me everyday. Lord, thank you always for your love, your strength, and most of all, your patience with me. Amen.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Blessings</span></strong></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">The Lord blesses me in so many ways, most of which I take for granted. Everyday things like the health of myself and my family, smiling and laughing with my family, the joy of helping someone in need, the embrace of a child--especially my own. He gives me so many blessings everyday, yet I still doubt His goodness and His ability to just take care of everything. </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">This week, a work committment was scheduled for the following month on what I thought was the same day as my daughters last appointment with her pulmonologist before the doctor leaves her practice. Instantly, I went into panic mode. I thought to myself <em>this work committment is something I and many others have been working so hard for, and what example will I be setting if I don't see it through. </em><strong>At the same time, I am beating myself up for even considering the notion of not being at my daughter's appointment</strong>. <em>When it comes to something important, and this was, I never but work ahead of my family. Period. My bosses know this too. True, my husband would be there and he is more than able to handle it, especially since the situation isn't quite as scary and serious as it was over a year ago when we started taking her to the pulmonologist. But what if he doesn't ask the right questions? What if he doesn't remember all of the things the pulmonologist tells him? What if the professional goal that I and many others have worked so hard to achieve is squashed simply because of my lack of presence, causing many children to be deprived of a much needed health care service? What do I do? </em></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial;">By the time I got home from work, I was exhausted, my appetite was gone, and I couldn't even think about things I needed to do with my family and my home. I was in my bathroom drying my hair when these words burst through my crazy, stressful thoughts: <em>I will take care of it.</em> Done. As soon as I left my bathroom, I checked the calendar and realized I had been give the wrong day of the week for my work committment, which would actually be taking place on a Tuesday. My daughter's appointment was on the following Thursday. Once again, God saved me from myself as He always does. I said outloud, "Well He told me not to worry about it." My husband looked at me and said, "Who are you talking about?" I shook my head at myself and my temporary lack of faith, and responded, "God." My husband have me one of those looks he gives me when he's trying really hard to get through my confusion so he can be supportive...he had no idea what I was talking about...but he just said, "Oh, ok." The way the situation should've gone was when I was presented with the potential conflict, I should've hit my knees and prayed for the Lord to fix it and steady my heart to be at peace with the results. No doubting. No worrying. No stressing. Just praying and waiting for God to do His best. Hopefully, this will serve as yet another learning experience that will lead me down God's path, not my own. </span><br />
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-31401056595044423852013-04-12T20:57:00.003-07:002013-04-12T20:57:45.845-07:00Stressed-less Living Blog Hop #1<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, let me just say that this first week of Bible study has been fantastic, and it isn't even over yet. I really enjoy having the entire week to go through the first chapter because it is intense. I've been reading the chapter on my Kindle, highlighting the parts that really jump out at me, then writing those parts in my journal. Yesterday morning, before we went to work, my husband and I sat on the couch and I shared with him about six phrases from the book. Though I love a good book written specifically for women, this book is a wonderful resource for men and women both. Love it!</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">Ok...onto the blog-hop topics for this week:</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The Great I Am</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NLT</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">This was our inspirational verse for the first week, and what a verse. As part of this assignment, we were challenged to meditate on the above versed, and it was suggested we try something called "verse mapping." I had never heard of this, but I researched it and gave it a try. It is a pretty intense way of really internalizing the scripture by disecting it word for word. Since this verse was many words, I did sentence for sentence. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">The first sentence really pulled at my heart strings as a mother. My daughter is three and already I've said to her countless times, "don't be afraid. Mommy's here." It may take a few seconds, but these words along with singing "Jesus Loves Me" softly in her ear always calms her down and seems to bring her peace. The first sentence in this ever powerful verse brings the same peace and comfort to me. I close my eyes and can see my Father holding me in His arms and whispering these words to me. Really, this entire verse makes me feel the security and love that I offer to my own child when she is afraid. When she is frustrated or discouraged, I usually say "don't get frustrated. Problem solve. You can do this." These words are not near as strong as God's when he encourages me to not be discouraged and assures me that He is my God. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">"I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand." These words are strong, and I feel like God is saying "step aside. I've got this. Not you. Me. I'll take it from here." These words are so confident, and honestly, make me feel so silly for trying to deal with everyday stress and worry on my own, as if I have a chance next to the best that God has waiting for me if I will just step aside.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Stressed-less</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">My goal for this study is to grow in my relationship with God and to truly get away from my prideful thoughts that I can fix everything and I can do everything. My goal is to unclench my fists, let go of worry, anger, frustration, and all the negative things that way heavy on my heart. My goal is to open my hand and let God's blessing of peace come into my life to stay. God lead my to participate in the last online Bible study, which brought such joy to my life. I feel He has done the same this time, and I feel I am even more open to the experiences I will gain from participating. God has opened all the doors to get me here, and I am certainly blessed for having walked through them.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Real Problem</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">This book is so in-your-face, which I love and genuinely need. Every section in this first chapter had certain passages that really spoke to my heart and my mind. The last two sections, however, had some passages that really resonated with me and were filled with these huge "ah-ha" moments that have been complete blessings. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;"><em>The Search for Serenity</em> was probably the section I appreciated most. I love the <em>Serenity Prayer</em>. Anytime I read it or hear it read I feel like I'm no a beach and my problems are going out with the tides. I loved the different renditions of the prayer as well. All three of them will most likely be posted around my desk at work. Actually, those prayers in addition to the following passages will most likely be posted around my desk so that at every angle, I will have a reminder of how to keep things in perspective. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">"If we have no power to change a circumstance or person, then every effort to force a change to occur will be futile." </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">Hello. I mean how true is that? My 87 year-old grandmother suffers with several ailments, and continues eat things she shouldn't and do things she shouldn't. She's an adult. She's not an idiot, in fact, she spent many years practicing as a nurse. I used to get really angry with her when I would see her eating things that were in direct contrast to what the doctor ordered, but then I realized something. She's an adult. She is in her later years, and has been living the same way for just about all of them. Therefore, how exactly do I think I can make her suddenly change at this point in her life? It is simple. I can't. Once I realized this, I came to peace with it and decided that how she decides to live her life is up to her. But how I decide to react to it and how I choose to spend my time with her is up to me. Though other areas of my life are in desperate need of some fine tuning, life with Mawmaw is much easier these days.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">And Oh, the Blessings. </span></strong><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">...and how they just keep coming. Though I haven't completed it yet due to wanting my primary focus to be on the Bible study, I have been reading a book that is specifically about being grateful for the blessings God gives me, and to realize a blessing when I receive one. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">A blessing I received just yesterday was while driving myself and my daughter to her babysitter. I played some songs from my favority Christian artists, and apparently, they are my daughter's favorites too because that sweet little angel was singing like no one was around...just jammin' away in the comfort of her carseat. A few times I joined her, but most of the time I Just listened to her thinking, "My God. You do love me to give me such a blessing as this." </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">I was blessed yesterday morning as I sat on the couch with my journal, my coffee, and my husband, who sat down just so I could share some of the wonderful passages from Stressed-less living. And another blessing I received today when I asked my husband if he would please participate in the upcoming MS walk I'm doing with a few of my girlfriends. My heart melted and I immediately felt the blessing as he said, "well, I mean, what else did you think I would be doing?" The blessing of a husband who understands that because it matters to me it matters to him...it doesn't matter what it is. It's moments like those that I am reminded without a doubt that <em>God</em> brought us together. We had nothing to do with it.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">I've had the blessing of being able to go on a handful of walks with my wonderful family this week in our beautiful little country town with no fears of walking down the street...just the enjoyment of being together and basking in God's sun-filled world. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">There was a day this week when my husband, along with his fellow volunteer firefighters, was out literally all day long either putting out brush fires or helping victims of traumatic car wrecks. As I listened to the scanner, which I never do, I heard it announced that the fire my husband was fighting was on property that housed multiple gas wells. The blessing, many of them actually, was that my husband made it home safely and could tell me about it. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">So many blessings I receive everyday, but only a handful that I probably realize. This is also something I want to gain from this study. I want to replace the stress of worrying with the gratitude and cognisance of my daily blessings from God. Praise the Lord. Have a great week everyone! </span><br />
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720821289638061381.post-53703239664882219782013-04-07T04:53:00.001-07:002013-04-07T04:53:08.782-07:00Ready, Steady, Study!<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Blogging My Way To A Stressed-Less Life!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here we go again! Another online Bible study starts today, and I am stoked because I feel like this study couldn't be coming at a better time. I love my life. I love my family. I love my job. I love my Lord. But none of this changes the fact that I am stressed. Ulcer stressed? I don't think so. At least not yet. But I don't want to get there either! As mothers, wives, and just as a woman in general, we are expected to have it all together. We are expected to juggle at least fifty different balls in the air at one time, and do it with grace. We are expected to raise perfect children, maintain a marriage free from conflict and unhappiness, and all while keeping our house spotless and shining! Now these expectations, that may be placed on us by society or just myself, don't constantly hang over my head. My gracious, I would go nuts. But I won't deny they occasionally get under my skin, probably more than they should. This usually </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">happens when I have created a to-do list that has no end or when I've said "yes. sure. I'd be happy to do that." one too many times. No one's fault but my own. Nonetheless, it leads a stress snowball the size of Texas that rests in my mind, my heart, and my gut...and it's got to go. I'm excited to dive right into this book and learn some tools and scriptures to help me gain God's peace in a stressful life. My first step is writing this week's scripture on 3 notecards and posting them in places I frequent throughout the day. Ironically enough, that will be both of my bathrooms and my coffee pot. So here's to day one of stressed-less living and a growing relationship with God. </span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15074962302203688373noreply@blogger.com0