Do Not Be Afraid

The definition of afraid is: to be fearful or apprehensive about an unwanted or uncertain situation. Last weekend, I was afraid, until I prayed and asked Jesus to help me. I was less than 3 miles from my house when slush caught my wheel and sent me spinning and into the ditch rolling with my van. My two little boys were securely buckled in their seatbelts and were unharmed. I am so thankful to have seatbelts.

It is so amazing how Jesus makes it possible to transform our attitude with prayer. Mark 5:36b says, "do not be afraid, just believe". I am afraid too often and even though I do not want to admit it, it is because I am not believing God to be who He says He is and do what He says He will do.

In Matthew 5:36, Jesus says, "Oh you of little faith, why are you so afraid?" I would have to say because I am not trusting. I need to boldly come before the throne of God, repent and say, yes, Lord. I trust you. Please have your way. He is always good and the giver of all good things. His will is perfect. I need only trust and obey.

I am thankful that sanctification is an on-going process, instead of a 50/50 chance to make it or break it. I am thankful that my sins are as far away as the east is from the west. I am thankful to know that I am secure and that I love Him, because He first loved me. I would be in a very bad place without God calling me to salvation!

I would say that as Easter is approaching, remember that the season is truly about what Jesus did for us on the cross. Without the finished work of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins by shedding His blood, we would not be able to know God and escape the wrath of hell, which is eternal torment when we die unless we know Him. If you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again the third day and is alive today, then all you have to do is admit you are a sinner, ask forgiveness for all of the ways that you have broken His law, the ten commandments and you will be saved.

If you have just accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, don't be afraid to leave me an email. Let other christians know so that you can grow in your knowledge of Him. Jesus came to save all who would believe.

May God Bless You Richly as you walk with Him Everyday!
Jen

Indestructible Joy

Recently, I have listened to a sermon about indestructible joy. What a goal worth striving for. To have indestructible joy I must abide in God's Word, be in continual prayer, and follow through with obedience. I believe one of the songs that was used as an example was "Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey". We have been given joy...it is an on-going effect of our salvation.

I should never move pass the cross...it always starts their first. Meditating on the cross is where true joy begins. It should never be about me. I am daily-reminded of those very words. I am amazed at how many times I can turn a situation around to benefit myself. I am watching myself and knowingly making the choice to sin. It is shameful. Why do I do that? Self-gratification! I allow my wants to come before someone else's needs. My husband and children get the brunt of it and I am supposed to be the soft spot for them to land. I hope it won't take long for the Lord to change me, so they won't suffer.

When my children leave the house, I would like them to come back freely and always feel welcomed. I want them to have good memories. I want our home to be a place of comfort and refuge if needed. I want their spouses to feel welcome in our home and just like they are part of the family. I wonder what the Lord has in store for their lives. I am hoping for great things to come.

Love is an Action

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." I Corinthians 13:4-8a

I need to memorize this scripture for sure. Now that my two little ones are older, I seem to be moving out of the weary stage. Moms can be so hard on themselves during the early years of their children's lives. When our children are walking, talking and eating on their own it allows us to relax a little. It's hard to find replenishment when you are constantly taking care of someone else's needs.

However, enough said, this is a new season of my life. I am enjoying being able to rejoin friends in their lives. I have the opportunity to be an encourager. This is a great joy to me. I have felt so unusable. I want to fulfill my role as a wife and mother and keeper of my home, however, I desire to enjoy friendships also. To have friends, I need to be a friend. I have to say that as silly as it may sound to some, facebook has been amazing for me. Being a stay at home mom and living at least 20 minutes from town and homeschooling to boot has definately raised its challenges. An outlet is so needed when you are not able to bounce ideas off of other adults. I am thankful to have such a supportive group of friends from my church and cyberspace as well. We all need friends to get through this earthly life. God has provided so much for me and no doubt that He will never leave me nor forsake me.

Leaving a Legacy

I am striving to live a Spirit-filled life and bear much fruit. If there is one thing I want to do while I am still on this earth...it is to live and love by grace alone. I have spent too much of my saved life in worry and strife. Recently, I made a list of what I want to accomplish...I want to have happy, healthy, Christ-minded kids, a clean house ready for whomever may need it, keep my finances under control, have enough down time to plan whatever task or activity may be needed, a quality quiet time, be a supportive wife, attend a Women's Bible Study for continual growth, be an encouragement to others, be a helpful friend, be joyful and confident, be loving and kind-hearted, and be content in everything.

The past three years of my life have been spent homeschooling my two older children. I have learned a lot about sacrifice and that this life is not about me. I have learned that I need to depend on the Lord for my happiness and not my husband. I have learned that we cannot live by works...nothing we can do is good enough. Jesus makes us acceptable, not ourselves. My two younger ones have taught me how important it is to slow down and enjoy this life one day at a time...they grow up so fast. I am thankful that Jesus is the author and finisher of my faith and He will do it!!!