Stripped of my pride

Hi blog friends! How are the each of you doing? To be perfectly honest, these past couple of days have been kind of frustrating for myself. God has changed up my plans and intervened in my life in ways that I didn't expect. As a graduate teaching assistant, we were recently given our new schedules for the times we will teach at next term. Before I got my schedule, I kept telling myself that the Lord was going to bless me and that I was going to get a wonderful teaching schdule. And then..yep you guessed it, things didn't go as planned. Although one of the times that I teach at was alright, the other was not. I have to teach way later in the day on Friday's, and I'm pretty upset about it, especially since its going to be spring term. 

Initially, I was pretty upset, but as I got to thinking about it, I realized that just because things aren't necessarily going my way doesn't mean that God doesn't love me anymore. Also, I feel that God was stripping me of my pride that exact moment. Deep down, I felt some kind of entitlement for getting the schedule that I wanted. Maybe that was God's way of saying, "Jessica, things aren't always going to go the way that YOU plan them. They will only go the way that I have planned them. You can choose to accept this truth or not, and how you respond to it really makes a huge difference."

hmmmm.

okay God.

your right...yet again.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13

What is God teaching you lately? I'd love to hear! It's fun to see how He is working on the each of us in different ways. 

When you meet a blog friend in real life...blessed!

     Hi blog friends! How are the each of you doing? Boy, do I have a lot to tell the each of you! First of all, I just got home from California last weekend, and I had an amazing trip. I went to California Adventure and Disneyland with one of my best friends, and was able to attend my first communication conference with her and watch her present her research on blogging. Here are a few pictures from our trip:

{below: Julia and I in the front row, having a blast on the "Tower of Terror" ride at Disneyland. I was just a little bit scared...maybe ;)}

{below: reunited with Tigger at Disneyland! Love that guy!}

{below: Julia and I hanging out in one of the Disney shops, trying on Minnie ears!}

{below: Julia and I hanging out with Goofy in Disneyland! He was such a gentleman ;)}

That pretty much sums up some of my favorite parts of the trip, but we also did a lot of other fun things! :) Julia and I had a blast together. I felt that somehow her and I became closer friends throughout the trip, and I think thats because both her and I are falling more in love with Jesus. It's a funny thing, isn't it? The closer we get to the creator of the universe, the better the relationships are that we have with other people that are centered around Christ. 

Also, your not going to believe this one! One of my favorite bloggers, Katie from Hope Engaged, and I were able to meet in real life! It was CRAZY and a total God moment! The Lord totally blessed us beyond belief. Heres the story: When I was traveling to California, I had randomly commented on one of Katie's pictures on Facebook, telling her that I would love to make candles with her sometime (she had posted a picture about how she wanted to make soy candles) and that I also wished that her and I lived closer so that we could do so. Katie commented back, and mentioned how she wished the same thing and ALSO how she saw that I was on my way to Disneyland/California through one of the pictures on my Facebook page. She asked if I was free to meet up, and I told her yes! At first, she didn't think she would be able to, but then it ended up working out! I was so thankful. Here's a picture from our adventure together:

Katie and I had a blast hanging out for about an hour, just talking about life. I told her a bit about my testimony and how Jesus changed my life, and she told me about her family and also more about how her and Kevin met. It's crazy how natural everything felt with Katie, and also how it feels like her and I have been friends for awhile yet that was my first time meeting her in person. God works in BIG ways my friends, through any source! I am amazed to see the way that God is using technology to His advantage to bring His followers together. Wow. It still doesn't seem real! I really hope that I get to see Katie again sometime soon, she is such a light for Jesus and one of the sweetest people ever. Love that beautiful lady!

Anyways, I'm off to run some errands. I hope you all are doing great, and seeking Jesus above everything else. He is SO SO good! Let us not forget how special it is that we have the opportunity to have a relationship with God Himself!

xoxo

I love you guys!

Jess 

Authority over the enemy

Hi blog friends! How are the each of you doing? This weekend has been a crazy weekend. We had a GIGANTIC snow storm here in town, and it was so bad that they cancelled last Thursday and Friday of school. I bet my students were happy when class was cancelled on Friday! haha. Also, the snow isn't even gone yet. It's still so bad outside that they cancelled church this morning, for everyones safety. So this morning I had my own little church service with just Jesus and I, in my bed with my comfy blankets. Jesus and I talked about a lot this morning. I poured my heart out to Him, as lately I just have felt robbed of my intimacy with Him. The closer I get to Jesus, the more spiritual attack I notice from the enemy. The enemy hates my intimate relationship with Christ, so I'm not surprised this is happening. Thankfully we have power in the name of Jesus to call out the enemy. We have AUTHORITY over Him. 
"Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you."  Luke 10:19
I'll be honest with you, I haven't felt that kind of authority lately. I feel like I have been letting Satan have way more power of me than he deserves. I feel Jesus revealing this truth to me, and also that He desperately wants to reclaim His territory back over my life. I am so thankful that God is faithful to do this in my life. No matter how far we stray away from the Lord, He is faithful to restore and strengthen us once again, as long as we continue to live our lives for Him and rely on Him completely.  Today, I have a lot to do. I have an assignment I need to complete for my graduate class, and it's making me kind of nervous. In my devotional this morning I read about in Luke 10: 38-41 where it talks about Mary and Martha, and how Martha comes to God with a heart full of lists, and Mary comes to God with a listening heart. Man, did I feel convinced as I read this passage this morning. Lately, I have been coming to God only with a list of things that I need to get done. Instead, I need to be more like Mary, and simple sit at the Lord's feet and give Him the chance to care for me. I need to simply just tell the Lord what is on my mind and what is bothering me.  "But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."  Luke 10:41 Do you ever feel more like Martha than Mary? How can you work on coming to God with more of a listening heart instead of a "listing" heart? Also, do you realize how much authority we have in the name of Jesus? Call out Satan on all of his evil lies! We are OVERCOMERS!  I love you guys! Love always, Jess

F A I T H over fear

Do you ever feel like fear consumes you? Like, whatever your going through, you may never reach that point where you overcome it? That's how I have felt lately. Lately, I've been having an issue with falling to sleep. Either it takes forever for me to fall asleep, or I have to take a sleeping pill. It's been driving me crazy. Last night, I hardly slept at all. It's been pretty rough. I've prayed about it, cried about it, freaked out about it, and more. 

I know partially the reason behind my lack of sleep is a spiritual attack. Another big reason is that I am in grad school and teaching two public speaking classes, which both put a lot of pressure on me. Satan uses whatever I am worried about that day or am over thinking about as bate to get me to worry even more and not fall asleep. 

 I googled "Bible verses about fear" and so many different encouraging verses came up. It's crazy how powerful the word of God is.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me

Psalm 23:4

I also love this one, which says: 

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

Psalm 4:8

What fears are you tackling lately in your walk with God? Remember, we are conquerors in Christ! It may not always be easy, but God promises to give us strength to get through it all if we simply just trust in Him. Funny that when we turn our fears to God's word and what He says about them, they fade away. He is good my friends, and He loves us oh so much. 

I love you guys! 

Love always, Jess

The accuser: be aware

Hi blog friends! How are the each of you doing? Life for me over here in graduate school is going well, just stay busy and trusting God in all my circumstances! He is good, my friends.

Lately I have really been struggling with accusation from the enemy. The enemy is always right there waiting for me to make a mistake, so then he can start throwing out lies at me about how I am such a failure and there is no hope for my future. Although these lies sound irrational and are highly unbelievable , I still find myself believing them when the enemy spits them out at me. 

I was reading my devotional by Renee Swope this morning, and it matched exactly up to how I have been feeling lately. She talked about how one of the enemy's goals is to get us to believe lies that leave us feeling inadequate and unsure of ourselves, which is exactly what he did with Eve in the garden. Once Eve ate the forbidden fruit, her eyes were opened, along with her husbands eyes, who also ate the fruit as well. They suddenly became aware of their nakedness, or their inadequacy, and they made coverings for themselves. God then steps in, and asks them who told them they were naked. Or in other words God says: "Who told you that something is wrong with you?" {Genesis 3:11}

Renee then talks about in her devotional about how God wants us to be aware of our enemy, who continuously tries to whisper lies into our hearts and tries to get us to move away from God and from each other. She quotes: "God also wants us to be aware that we have an enemy who is constantly trying to convince us that we're inadequate and that something is wrong with us."

The sad part is that often we go along we Satan's lies, and believe them, as Renee Swope continues to talk about in her devotional. She quotes : "Rarely do we stop to ask: Who is saying these things? Who is causing me to doubt myself? Is it me? Is there something from my past that led me to believe this? Or is it the enemy of my soul disguising his voice as my own?

Today my friends, I encourage to no longer give into believing the lies that Satan whispers to us about ourselves. I pray that we each would stand firm in our faith today, and that we would reflect on the voice of truth in all of our thoughts. Let us remember that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. {Romans 8:37}

If your looking for a new devotional, I strongly suggest that you look into the devotional I featured today on my blog. Click HERE to check out Renee Swope's "A Confident Heart" devotional!

I love you guys!

Love always, Jess 

Jesus is always GREATER.

Your new boyfriend?

....Jesus is greater.

That vacation your going on?

...Jesus is greater.

Your best friend?

...Jesus is greater.

That scholarship you just got?

...Jesus is greater.

The college you just got into?

...Jesus is greater

Let us not forget my lovely friends, that Jesus is greater than ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. I thank God everyday that He brought me to a place on my knees a few years ago in desperate need of His love and grace. It was in that place of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness where God began to pursue a relationship with me. Because of that hard time, I realize more than ever now that God satisfies my heart in all areas, and in ways the things of this world never can.

 

The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.

Isaiah 58:11

Do you guys struggle with believing that God can really satisfy EVERY desire in your heart? Do you believe that He actually wants to pursue a relationship with you? HE DOES!! Email me if you'd like to know more :)

xoxo love you guys

Love, Jess 

Living up to others expectations

Hi blog friends! How are the each of you?? I've been good, just enjoying my last few days of winter break. It's been a blessing having so much time to relax lately.

However, I feel that God has put on my heart more than ever lately just how much I measure myself based on other people's expectations of me. Whether I am thinking about how many "likes" I am getting on an Instagram post, or wondering if others around me happen to notice the new type of clothing that I am wearing...it seems that I am always comparing myself to others perspective's of me. This isn't how it should be, and I really feel like God is trying to make it clear to me right now in my life that He wants me to simply focus on who I am in Him. That's all that matters anyway.

"When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise."

2 Corinthians 10:12

Why is it so amazingly easy to take our focus off of who we are in Christ, and become concerned with how others see us? I think its because thats the way the enemy gets in our heads and tells us to think. He whispers lies to us like "your defined by how others see you" or "it doesn't matter who you are in Christ." It's all a bunch of lies, and we need to tell the enemy to back off! God calls us to STAND OUT and not think like this world anyway. In Him, we are called to develop a very unique, yet extremely powerful thinking pattern.

"Don't copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Romans 12:2

So my friends, I encourage you to be bold today and have a Christ-like mind. Stand firm against the enemy, and pray that the Lord would give you discernment and strength to think of yourself only based off of who you are in Christ.

Is it easy for you to give into thinking of yourself based on how the world defines you? Do you often forget who you are in Christ? Do you get caught up in impressing others or living up to others expectations like I often do?

I love you guys!
Love always, Jess