"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;" 2 Corinthians 4:7-8.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10.
Have you ever hesitated to serve? Why? Did it seem too dificult for you to do? If God calls you to do something, why would He leave you fend for yourself? God created all of us for a specific and magnificent purpose! He has prepared us, though circumstances in life to do these things. With His strength, we can do anything that He calls us to do! See Philipians 4:13.
Apart from Christ, we can't do anything, but through Him, we can do anything and everything we are called to do! Weakness is not an excuse to say, "No, God, I can't do this." But a reason to say, Yes, God, give me strength to take on this difficult task and complete it for your glory." So what are you doing? What are you not doing? God has called you, and qualified you! Seek Him, and His purpose for your life, and you'd be amazing what He'll do through you and for you!
Just a thought. :) - Jess
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Relationships
re·la·tion·ship
noun
~ a connection, association, or involvement.
~an emotional or other connection between people (dictionary.com)
On my fifteenth birthday, my dad gave me this ring. When he gave it to me, he said "I'm giving you this to represent the fact that I'm going to be here to help you in your search for a husband. As you begin to date, I want to be there to help you make decisions on what guys to date and, in the future, which one to marry." One of the most difficult problems that teens face today is relationships. Girls become consumed with a guy, fall in 'love', then drop him for the next one a week later. Lately, I have been reading the book, "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris. On page 19, he says...
"The Bible teaches us that if we truly trust in Jesus Christ, we die to our old way of living. And we can no longer live for ourselves-- we now live for God and for the good of others.
Because of that, relationships with the opposite sex can no longer be about "having a good time" or "learning what I want in a relationship." They're not to be about getting, but giving. Every relationship for a Christian is an opportunity to love another person like God has loved us. To lay down our desires and to do what's in his or her best interest. To care for him or her even when there's nothing in it for us. To want that person's purity and holiness because it pleases God and protects him or her."
I have read and reread these paragraphs many times in the last few months, as I have begun to develop and strengthen relationships with others in my life. I want to make sure that the relationships I am forming are founded upon God's will and Word, and that they all bring glory to Him. I also make sure that the people who I'm forming these relationships with are going to help me grow in my relationship with God, not hinder it. I have chosen to love these people as Christ loves us.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:10-11
~*Madds :)*~
~an emotional or other connection between people (dictionary.com)
On my fifteenth birthday, my dad gave me this ring. When he gave it to me, he said "I'm giving you this to represent the fact that I'm going to be here to help you in your search for a husband. As you begin to date, I want to be there to help you make decisions on what guys to date and, in the future, which one to marry." One of the most difficult problems that teens face today is relationships. Girls become consumed with a guy, fall in 'love', then drop him for the next one a week later. Lately, I have been reading the book, "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris. On page 19, he says..."The Bible teaches us that if we truly trust in Jesus Christ, we die to our old way of living. And we can no longer live for ourselves-- we now live for God and for the good of others.
Because of that, relationships with the opposite sex can no longer be about "having a good time" or "learning what I want in a relationship." They're not to be about getting, but giving. Every relationship for a Christian is an opportunity to love another person like God has loved us. To lay down our desires and to do what's in his or her best interest. To care for him or her even when there's nothing in it for us. To want that person's purity and holiness because it pleases God and protects him or her."
I have read and reread these paragraphs many times in the last few months, as I have begun to develop and strengthen relationships with others in my life. I want to make sure that the relationships I am forming are founded upon God's will and Word, and that they all bring glory to Him. I also make sure that the people who I'm forming these relationships with are going to help me grow in my relationship with God, not hinder it. I have chosen to love these people as Christ loves us.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:10-11
~*Madds :)*~
How are you?
Happy day after Christmas! Jess here. Hope your holidays were a blessing. So much has happened since my last post. A new school year began, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and so much more! Did I mention my bracelet count is up to 12? But enough about me... Madds has been doing well also. We are both very busy with school, sports, and church activities. When handling all this craziness, a passage I've recently read just makes me feel at peace. Turn with me to Psalm 37. I recommend reading all 40 verses, but that can seem like a lot. A part of the passage that really speaks to me as a teen is verses 3-5, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (ESV) When ending a time in your life (like a calendar year, or a school semester) it tends to fell overwhelming to think about the future. But if you give your dreams, and heart to the Lord, he will help you. If it's in his will, he will then give you what you ask. We just have to say faithful to him. :) Hope this helps you and comforts you the way or did me! There is soooo much more in this passage to discover. I am limited on time and space, but if I could sum it all up for you I would! But trust me, God says it a lot better! Have a blessed day!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Passions and Obligations!
Hey! Jess here.
I updated the verse at the top and the weekly message box to the right, as you can see. A Chaplain at our church did an acceptional job this week. He had some good points. There is one though, that I cannot stop thinking about. I kept thinking on it until I realized, I totally changed the subject of the message, which is why I am writing this post. The message was about the nutrients of a good ministry. The passage he used was Romans 1:8-17. Number three on the list of nutrients was purpose. (Please check out all four in the box to the right, when you get a chance.) Romans 1:14-15 say, "I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome." Paul feels obligated to them. Obligated. Some people have a passion to spread the Good News, but passions can die down. Paul feels obligated! He's made it a priority. Where would he get an idea like that? Try The Great Commission, see Matthew 28:16-20. Verse 19 reads, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." I learned from a previous youth minister that if you trace "Therefore go," back to the original Greek, it more closely translates to, "As you are going..." Do y'all get that? We should already be going! We are obligated, just like Paul! Yeah, he was like the first missionary, right? I heard that that is one of this nicknames. People, we have obligations right where we are, and thats why we are where we are! Spreading the Good News cannot be just a passion that lights up when we want, and dies when we do not. It is an obligation that must be filled!
I hope and pray that this was an encouragement to you, to keep your ministry in mind and to pray for God to reveal opprotunities, and not a rude awakening about where you have been slacking. We all fall short of this at times, but it's getting back up that shows the world who you are and who your heart beats for! Stay strong! I want to leave you with this verse, to show that God can and will help us come through with our obligations, even though we fall short.
"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 :)
-Jess(:
I updated the verse at the top and the weekly message box to the right, as you can see. A Chaplain at our church did an acceptional job this week. He had some good points. There is one though, that I cannot stop thinking about. I kept thinking on it until I realized, I totally changed the subject of the message, which is why I am writing this post. The message was about the nutrients of a good ministry. The passage he used was Romans 1:8-17. Number three on the list of nutrients was purpose. (Please check out all four in the box to the right, when you get a chance.) Romans 1:14-15 say, "I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome." Paul feels obligated to them. Obligated. Some people have a passion to spread the Good News, but passions can die down. Paul feels obligated! He's made it a priority. Where would he get an idea like that? Try The Great Commission, see Matthew 28:16-20. Verse 19 reads, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." I learned from a previous youth minister that if you trace "Therefore go," back to the original Greek, it more closely translates to, "As you are going..." Do y'all get that? We should already be going! We are obligated, just like Paul! Yeah, he was like the first missionary, right? I heard that that is one of this nicknames. People, we have obligations right where we are, and thats why we are where we are! Spreading the Good News cannot be just a passion that lights up when we want, and dies when we do not. It is an obligation that must be filled!
I hope and pray that this was an encouragement to you, to keep your ministry in mind and to pray for God to reveal opprotunities, and not a rude awakening about where you have been slacking. We all fall short of this at times, but it's getting back up that shows the world who you are and who your heart beats for! Stay strong! I want to leave you with this verse, to show that God can and will help us come through with our obligations, even though we fall short.
"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 :)
-Jess(:
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Don't do this, do this!
Jess here!
Well, this is father's day, but that's not what I wanna talk about. I want to talk about what Jesus tells us, compared to what adults tell us (teens, young adults). Adults tend to tell us what we shouldn't do. And that's all fine and dandy. If you look in the Bible, though, most of the commands of Christ are what we should do, not what we shouldn't. He does tell us what we shouldn't do, also. My point, if we kept our attention on doing the things we should do, we wouldn't have the time or want to to do those bad things that we shouldn't do. Just saying. Thanks, to my new youth minister, I am able to understand this and share it! :) Later!
Well, this is father's day, but that's not what I wanna talk about. I want to talk about what Jesus tells us, compared to what adults tell us (teens, young adults). Adults tend to tell us what we shouldn't do. And that's all fine and dandy. If you look in the Bible, though, most of the commands of Christ are what we should do, not what we shouldn't. He does tell us what we shouldn't do, also. My point, if we kept our attention on doing the things we should do, we wouldn't have the time or want to to do those bad things that we shouldn't do. Just saying. Thanks, to my new youth minister, I am able to understand this and share it! :) Later!
Friday, June 8, 2012
God is good :)
Jess here!! I tend to post when on road trips!!! Hahaha. Well I just wanted to share a verse that just made my day today :)
"Lord, Your love reaches to the heavens, Your loyalty to the skies. Your goodness is as high as the mountains. Your justice is as deep as the great ocean." Psalm 36:5-6 NCV
This verse just lifts me up and helps me to remember that God is just all around amazing!! And that He doesn't leave us hanging! Just keep that in mind today, okay? Troubles big and small may come today, as well as blessings! Remember that God is with you through it all! :) have a blessed day !
"Lord, Your love reaches to the heavens, Your loyalty to the skies. Your goodness is as high as the mountains. Your justice is as deep as the great ocean." Psalm 36:5-6 NCV
This verse just lifts me up and helps me to remember that God is just all around amazing!! And that He doesn't leave us hanging! Just keep that in mind today, okay? Troubles big and small may come today, as well as blessings! Remember that God is with you through it all! :) have a blessed day !
Monday, June 4, 2012
Jess's bracelets
Yep! That's a grand total of nine! Some look rough, but that's what happens when you rarely take them off! Some look really messy because when the come untied I have to re tie them! - Jess:)
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