In the Mirror or On a Stage

Now, I say these things in the mirror...

• Believe that ALL things are possible with Christ
• Know that I am a beautiful daughter of the King
• Trust that He is working all things together for my good
• Love those who test my patience
• Pray for God's heart to be my heart
• Love better than you did the yesterday
• Believe that true love is still possible
• Give graciously
• Trust 
• Hope in the impossible
• Believe that people can change
• Love even if it hurts
• Know that you are chosen, blameless, and holy
• Pray for His will to be done and not mine

One day, I'll say these things on a stage...

• You were made for a purpose
• You will be okay
• It's okay to hurt, for the pain has already been redeemed
• You are beautiful
• You are here for a reason
• You will succeed
• You are not alone
• You have a God who loves you
• You don't have to be perfect, He already knows your not
• You will never be good enough for God, but you don't have to be
• It's okay to cry
• Tell someone
• Hope for more
• Trust 
• Love unconditionally

One day I will stand on a stage and proclaim these things. The size of the stage will not matter, for all eyes will be on who is above anyway. I will say these things even if one person is in the audience, just like I write this even if only one person reads this. It's all worth it. You are worth it. 

Be encourage to know the Lover of your Soul loves you and will forever be waiting for you to come to His feet, lay your burdens down, and let Him be the God who provides, guides, hopes, loves, and saves. 

So whether I say this in a mirror for the rest of my life or one day be able to proclaim His love on a stage, I will keep telling it, because like I said, It's all worth it. 

Fantasy Football for the Guys, Fantasy Relationships for the Girls

Yes, it's football season so the title was appropriate. As guys are having "draft parties" and 'creating teams' , us ladies have been fantasizing about what our next or current (fantasy) 'relationship' will look like..whether that's 'drafting' or 'creating' them...we don't care..

Ladies, I want you to listen and read this blog with an open heart and open mind. 

1. We are to be pursued 

2. We are not the pursuer

If I could blast that in every church, in every salon, in every mall I would. I would paint it on every street corner if it would make a difference in your life. I think it honestly is one the biggest lessons for every young woman to learn. Most of all, I think it takes courage to choose to believe it. 

I want you to know that I write this not out of condemnation, but out of a sincere heart and tell you that girl "I have been there, yes right where you are...I have thought well God this is 'the One' but God why doesn't he see it too?"

My dearest loves, I wish I could sit and have coffee with each of you and let you know a few things. 

1. If He's not yours, He is somebody else s...
This one was the biggest turning factor in my walk with the Lord. I have a few really amazing Godly men in my life and it has taken me seeing them hurt from relationships and women that fantasize that I learned this very important principle. 

Do you want your husband, the one God has called you to marry, to be pursued the way you are pursuing this other man?  

Do you want to one day have to tell you husband that your pursued a man because you were too impatient to wait for him? 

Please, take this all as I have been there...done that and fallen from that. 

2. Our men are to be respected, not hunted
I call when a man desires a women he pursues her. But when a woman wants a man, she hunts him. Godly men are to be respected, honored, and encouraged...from a distance. If you listen to the advice of #1, this will not be an issue, but some see Godly men as their own personal "comfort pillow" for tears and that "manly" attention we are desired to need. 

Women, this need can and only will be met by the truest Lover of your Soul...Jesus Christ. 

3. You are not alone...
I think many of us see relationships as the "Easy fix" to loneliness. The saddest thing I have seen in the past few years is married women who are lonely. Yes, you heard me. They thought their heart would be full and that feeling of loneliness would disappear, but that feeling only became worse. A man will not heal your past. A man will not sew your heart back together. A man will not be the father you never had. A man will not be the beauty you have never felt. A man will not be the savior you don't believe can be your all in all. He will fail, because he is just like you and me, he has fallen short of the glory of God. He is human, and he cannot be a god in your life. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

My friends, I say all this to help you see what I had to break to see. 

Picture a glass of water. You can see straight through it, but only when it is in a glass cup. Put that water in a plastic cup and what does the water become. Water. However, you can no longer see plainly through it, it has become hard to see what the contents truly are. What I am trying to do is put your heart in a glass cup. I want you to be able to see all the way through you heart at your real intention with the man you are seeing (or pursuing). I believe we put our hearts in plastic cups to try and trick ourselves into thinking we are truly 'waiting on the Lord.' My friends lying to yourself only prolongs the glorious riches that God wants to bless your life with. 

So today, as the guys gear up for fantasy football, may you exit out of his Facebook, close your laptop, open up your bible and/or journal and read Psalm 139. 


O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways. (Psalm 139:1-3 ESV)


May you know that wherever you are, you are not alone, that He has a plan for your life, and my friends, may you see that the best part of love is that it comes and makes you fall to your knees and thank God. Why do you think they call it "falling in love?" 

To end, I am not ashamed to say I pray for my husband daily. I pray my husband not only longs to pursue me, but that he wants all of me, not some of me or part of me (some of you know what I mean), but that he desires to join this life with me and partner, not for him or even me, but to fulfill the ultimate will of God. 

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed." (Ecc 4:9 NLT)

So, I pray that today you see that God has a man that will want all of you, that will want to partner with you and bring glory to our amazing God through your marriage. But until then...know that every man is someone's man, don't hunt, but respect, and know that you are never alone. 

Leave the fantasy stuff to Hollywood and Football, and lets live in the Reality of God's true love story for our lives...

Love Y'all 

Jess

Love Won't Quit on You...

Today something changed in me. I realized a very important aspect of my heart; I doubt the Lord's love for me. I don't doubt the Lord's love for you, for the broken, for the hurt, for EVERYBODY else; but I doubt His love for me. 


I heard this song a couple weeks back and was immediately drawn to it. Why? Well, the title gives it away. "Love Won't Quit on Us..." by Mikeschair  

"Don't quit on Love 'cause you're broken 

Don't quit on hope 

You're not hopeless 

You know the sun will rise again 

This is not the end

I know this complicated world gets you down, but don't give up 

Don't give up 

Don't quit on Love 

'Cause love 

Won't quit on us 

Love 

Won't quit on us "

How many times did I feel so hopeless because I was depending on the love of the world instead of the love of the Lord. 

I wanted to share this with you because I have a feeling many of you feel this way today or have felt this way. I want you to know that God LOVES YOU. And yes, He loves me dearly. 

Today the Lord told me this:

"You have the access key in the palm of your hand, it’s the surrendering of your hands that I will move your feet."

May we all surrender our hands to His almighty Love and Grace and then and only then will He give us the ability to move our feet where we are being called to walk. 


Whatever you are struggling with, know love won't quit on you, so don't quit on it. 

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11 

God will direct your path, but first you must be in His presence! 


You can start right now, He's with you...

Blessings 

The 5 "BS" Reasons We Hold On...

Hello Everybody,

I love Jesus with my whole heart, I trust that God is the Ultimate and Most Powerful Being, and I have no doubt the Holy Spirit is indwelling in my every move. I tell you all of this so that you will know that all these "reasons" I give come from a heart that has 1) experienced it in my own life, 2) seen it in very close friends lives or 3) fear for what 1 and 2 are leading to become.

"Holding On..." is only BS when its for the wrong reason. These are the wrong reasons to hold on, but there are many ways you can be the "exception" to many of these listed. Please just take these to heart as I pray it makes you think twice next time you are in the midst of these decisions in your life.

*As a disclaimer if you are engaged or married or in a serious friendship that is a devoted God-fearing relationship, please take these light to heart and situation by situation. 

"Hold On..." (according to dictionary.com)

1.to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp: 

2.to set aside; reserve or retain: 

3.to bear, sustain, or support, as with the hands or arms, orby any other means. 

4.to keep in a specified state, relation, etc

5.to detain: 

May you see me across from you in Starbucks talking you through each of these...I'm just trying to show you that your worth is far more than any BS reason is worth.

BS Reason 1: "I'm holding onto something that's worth holding on to..."
This first one might be the least "BS" reason we hold on in life. We actually have this type of relationship in possession when we act in this manner. We can hold on to friendships when we actually have a friendship history, we can hold onto a relationship when the status is "in a relationship, engaged, and/or married." May sound obvious, but sometimes our judgement can get clouded when we think we "can't make it work," or "something better will come along that is worth grabbing."

On the BS reason side of this, if your holding on to something worth holding on to and one or more of your friends says its not right, your not seeing the whole picture, or you need to really look at what you are really holding on to; you have a BS reason to hold on. Friends can be better mirrors than anything.

BS Reason 2: "I'm holding on because I'm waiting for the storm to pass..."
Again, if you take all these reasons, you might find an "exception to the rule." If you do, that is your business, but I don't know how many friends I have walked with that look at relationships and friendship as if they have the same seasons as the weather. There are no seasons in relationships, only obstacles to overcome or let go of.

BS Reason 3: "I'm holding on because I don't want to hurt them...."
As you can see this list will continue to get more "BS" heavy. Friend, as honest as Abe, you are hurting them more if you are only holding onto the relationship for their sake. I promise you, love is the most precious gift we can give someone and all you are doing is keeping them from finding someone who actually wants to give that gift to them. Don't let this stop you from finding the gift yourself.


BS Reason 4: "I'm holding on because I've never been more comfortable with anyone else..."
I have to say this is my most used BS reason. I've lived most of life with an idolatry of comfort and control. AKA crazy. I try so hard to make my life comfortable that I hold on to the people and "control" them enough to make them comfortable enough for my world. It's a crazy tragedy that has taken the life of many friendships and relationships over the years. I realized all of this while living in NYC and realizing how many "fish" really are in the sea. Living in a city of 6 million tested my ability to use this BS reason as an excuse to hold on to the friendships that had once collapsed me from moving on.


BS BS BS Reason 5: "I'm holding on because this is my only chance...I'll never find anyone like him/her..."
If you notice, this one gets three BSes...for a good darn reason. My friend, you are son/daughter of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Great I Am. He has made you in HIS Image and designed a life that is all yours for the taking. He has given you friendships that will come and go and relationships that teach you to be better, love more, and sacrifice fully. This BS reason isn't just BS its lie from the pit of hell. You are meant to be loved, pursued, and adored. Cliche words with a huge meaning. I have found many people, girls in particular, that think that one guy is who they are meant to be with (my hand raised with you sister). I promise you, don't hold on; just let it go.

I conclude all of this to say the reason I write this is that, as I mentioned above, all these reasons will only delay you from reaching a future friendship and/or relationship that could be the best thing you have ever seen. Don't let a BS reason of Holding On collapse you from Moving On...I've done it and I promise, its not the easiest wound to heal.

"Learning from others mistakes is the essence of wisdom." -Beth Moore 

I tell you all of this in hopes that you won't let a BS reason keep you from accomplishing God's ultimate timing in your life. Healing takes time, but holding on only stops it all in the middle of the journey.

Ever been on a road trip and got a flat tire? Well holding onto something for the wrong reason is like slowly taking off each tire yourself in the middle of the highway only delaying your own journey.

I pray you learn from my mistakes and have friends that will truly help you call BS....

All in love and hope,

Jess <3

What's So "Magical" about Mike?

Hello Friends,
I write this blog post today, not to be condemning of those who watched the movie, nor to tear down the the people posting status updates, or even to remark about the vulgarity of the movie itself. I write this post today for the simplicity of describing what this movie has brought out in our generation.

The story of a 30 year old stripper who lives his life in hope of doing what he truly loves. He is turned away time and time again at the bank, for his credit wouldn't allow him to accomplish the dream he holds so dear. So he works time and time again, month after month, as a man who gorges on the attention of women, for what though? Is it only the money? Is it only the immediate satisfaction of being wanted? Is it only for the hope of maybe one day finding someone who will love him for him?

I tell you what is so "magical" about Mike is not the fact that his dancing could take your breath away or his abs look like they have been created by a computer...its the fact that this Mike is like each one of us. 


"Mike" might be a character in a movie that came out in the Summer of 2012, but the definition of this Mike was depicted a long time ago. How about David? The man after God's own heart, yeah do you remember him? Yes, he slept with one of his soldiers wives and then had that soldier killed?

"Mike" right? 

Or what about Paul, killing those who believed in Jesus?


"Mike" right? 

Or what about the prostitute who turned into the spy who hid those traveling through?

"Mike" right? 

I tell you this right now, each one of us has a "Mike" inside of us, but each one of us has the capability to have "Jesus" to overcome that Mike. Each day is a battle to discover who we are, what we long for, who we long to impress, and what we long to do to make us "happy."


Covering my news feed for the past two weeks has been condemnation for this movie and the book Fifty Shades of Grey. I can't tell you that I agree that each of them is right, but I can tell you that no one on my news feed, including myself, has not fallen victim to the "sins" of those two topics. 

I ask you to ask yourself why you find "Mike" so appealing? I had to ask myself the same question, and as I sat there and watched this story of Mike, I realized why...He was just like me.

A man trying his best to make it with what life had offered him. So many people looking down on him for his career, so he spent his life tarrying away at many jobs to try and find the one job that made him supremely happy. There is a part in the movie where the girl asks him if he could wake up and do anything in this world, what would it be? He says "I would wake up on the beach and every morning make something new..." In this quote he is talking about custom furniture, but I dare to ask you to contemplate the similarity with this scripture:

"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

I do understand that stretching a quote from a rated "R" movie to the Holy Bible is very wide scope, but what did Jesus do? He went to the rated "R" territories of each city to share His love, His joy, and His forgiveness. 

I ask that we do the same as Jesus.

I do not recommend reading the book and in no way do I recommend seeing the movie. All I do recommend is that instead of using this as a tool to rant legalism, may we use as a tool to be reminded why we as Christians are here. I saw the movie, and yes, the whole time I knew I shouldn't be watching this...but you know what stopped me? The love of Christ...I knew that I would write this blog and I knew I wanted to be sitting on the other side of that big screen so that you could sit on the other side of this screen and hopefully,  His love would come to you.

God forgives you, Jesus saves you, and the Holy Spirit empowers you. May you remember that the "Mike" inside of you doesn't win, that that "Mike" will fail, but the Jesus inside of you never will. He will strengthen you to face that challenge you have today, to embark on that new journey you are being called to, and help you overcome that heartache that feels so defeating.


So there might be a "Magical Mike" that covers my news feed and the big screens of many movie theaters and soon the eyes of many women, but I tell you there is a man that covered a tree and that was buried in a tomb and rose again and that will soon come again that is far more "Magical" than anything Hollywood could dream possible. 


As I said before, I watched the movie so I don't sit here condemning, but I do sit here convicted to tell you this, that Jesus loves all, including "Magic Mike."

Though We Cry, She Sings Hallelujah!

On Sunday, June 24th at 3:50PM my Aunt Mo walked through the gates of heaven and is now dancing on the streets of heaven, playing for the heavenly choir, and most of all talking with our Savior. She fought the battle of Leukemia for over a year. She now is in no more pain, no more suffering, and sheds no more tears. 

Though we cry, she sings Hallelujah! 

I dedicate this post to her, to her life, to her love, and to her memory that will forever be apart of my life. My future family and friends will never get to meet her this side of heaven, but they will hear all about the amazing gifts she gave, her beautiful piano playing, and finally, how she never left a moment un-lived. 

There's a lesson for us here, a lesson of life, love, and the pursuit to realize this is our temporary home. As we were sitting in the hospital in her final days, nurse after nurse poured in the room. Each one touched by her and my uncle's love, joy, faith, and everlasting hope. No matter what, my Aunt Mo made her mark here on earth, and in the hearts of so many. She always knew this was her temporary home, but she always lived with an eternal mindset. 

My Aunt Mo's favorite thing was playing the piano, something she didn't get to do much in her last days. She wanted the memory of her playing to be when she could do it without shaking hands and weak breaths. I wonder what she's doing right now?

I believe she will be playing my wedding march, a wonderful melody to the beautiful births of my children, and the amazing tune to the joyous reunion with her husband. I can't tell you what these beautiful melodies will sound like, but I promise you, they will be heavenly. 

So I ask you today to thank God for the breath you breathe, the love you share between your family, friends, co-workers, and the people you have yet to meet. Thank God for the ability to do that which you love, whether reading, writing, singing, dancing, or stroking each key of a piano. 

My Aunt Mo will never be far from my heart. She lives eternally in the hearts of my family, her friends, and the people I may never know. I know that one day I will see her again, and that my friends and family, will be one wonderful day. 

This is to you Aunt Mo, I will miss you always. 

I'm Right Here in Your Heart

When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see.
If the sun should rise and find your eyes, all filled
with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn't cry,
the way you did today, While thinking of the many
things we didn't get to say, I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you. And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand. That an angel came and called my
name and took me by the hand, and said my place was ready
In Heaven far above, and that I'd have to leave behind, All those
things I dearly love.



But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye,
For all of life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for, So much yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible, that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared, And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you, and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized, that that could never be,
For emptiness and memories, Would take the place of me.



And when I thought of Worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did, My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through Heaven's gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me, From his great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity, and all I've promised you.
Today your life on Earth is past, But here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last, and since each day's the same day,
There's no longing for the past. But you have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true, Though there were times you did some
things, you know you shouldn't do.



But you have been forgiven, And now at last you're free,
So won't you take my hand And share My life with Me?"
So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me,

I'm right here in your Heart

-Unknown

Impossible to I'm Possible

I want to thank you all first and foremost for reading this blog. I pray that just that will open the door of your heart and grant access for encouragement to enter into your heart. 

I read this blog today, (which is a great morning devotional if you happen to be looking for one http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement/), that is clearly speaking to the impossible trials that we face in our lives. I don't know about you, but some days are much tougher than we let on. Some days there is a voice inside our head that tells us we "can't" we "won't" or we "never will be able to." I want to DEMOLISH all of those ideas out of your head and speak truth into your heart that penetrates the lies that Satan is tearing you down with.(Proverbs 2:1-5)

"God is the great I AM. Therefore He is my possibility for hope and healing. I'm-Possible is a much more comforting way to look at anything that feels quite impossible." -Lysa TerKeurst

We live in a broken and fallen world, where we fall short everyday of God's goodness and grace and where unfortunately, we fall victim to other's shortcomings. (Romans 3:23) No sin is greater than any other, but it doesn't mean some sins hurt less or more than others. I want to encourage you today to fight the lies with the truth. Truth will set you free, (John 8:32). I sit here writing this letter with simple tears falling down my face with this truth wrestling with my flesh. My flesh is bitter, hurt, and confused at certain situations in my life, and my heart is fighting the lies. 

I know the truth, I just don't always believe it, claim it, or proclaim it. 

I pray that today you would look at that "impossible" situation and see it as, with God, I'm-Possible becomes your weapon of truth. 

For those of you who are struggling with strongholds, addictions, hurts, wounds, financial burdens, relationship anxieties, unknown paths ahead of you, and even just believing in the truth that today, June 14, 2012, you have a purpose, I pray that this blog post isn't just words on a screen, it becomes an anthem for your heart. 

I pray you are encouraged, uplifted, and filled with the Holy Spirit who has power to release you from the lies and give you a peace that transcends all your understanding. 

Read through the scriptures mentioned in this e-mail, read the blog, and most importantly, listen for God's sweet voice telling you...

"I Love You..."

"You are worthy..."

"You are Mine..."

"I am with you..."

"You have a purpose..."

"I am your strength..."

"I am..."

"I will always be with you..."

"I am here..."

"Come unto me all those who are weary...and I will give you rest."

"I forgive you..."

"I am using you..."

"Come, and listen..."

May you hear His voice, listen to the truth and battle against the lie. 

I pray you share this blog, not for my sake, but for the sake of the names that popped into your heads that are struggling with an "impossible" situation. 

All my love and prayers,

Jess

*I sent this e-mail to the FYC (Finding Your Crown) e-mail list and felt the need to share it with all of you. May you be blessed, encouraged, and uplifted.