Who Shall Separate Us?

I love this video - it's so comforting. Nothing can separate us from the love of God! We can cling to that promise even on the worst days when life seems hopeless because God is faithful and he won't ever leave us.

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile." -2 Samuel 22:26-27

In Christ,

Jessica

Challenge

Summer's begun and it comes with its own challenges. Looking for a summer job is one of them. I applied to two Christian summer camps in Ohio and was hoping to be hired by one of them, but that didn't happen. I found out that I had been turned down by one of the camps in April but I just found out about the other camp today because the letter I was supposed to get in the mail never arrived, so I finally called on Monday, waited expectantly, and called again today to find out that my references had not all been turned in on time, so I wasn't given the job. Now I need to look for work elsewhere. I'm stressed out and depressed, so please pray for me! Thank you! Tonight I also learned of my grades for the past semester, and I was rather depressed. Two of my grades surprised me. My Speech grade was much worse than I thought it would be, but my Illustration grade was much better than I thought it would be. I guess those all-nighters paid off! I'm going to be making changes in my life, including getting more sleep and giving up the internet for a while so that I can focus on classes. These changes can only happen with God's strength and power. I would appreciate prayer as I seek to do God's will in my life.

Even in the midst of my disappointment and failure, I've been learning more about God and following him. This week I've been reading Stormie Omartian's autobiography, and I'm astounded how God turned her life around, but then, that's what he always does if we let him, isn't it? I'm guilty of doubting God's omnipotence. Yes, I believe without a doubt that God is powerful, but I was having trouble believing that he is all-powerful. However, after reading Stormie's account of her life, well most of it anyways, (and I can't wait to read the rest!), I've been convicted of my doubt and now I have a better understanding of how much power God has. My view of God is tiny and skewed and I'm amazed how much I learn about him each and every day. If God can take someone with a physically and emotionally abusive past and give them forgiveness for their abusive mom, then God can do ANYTHING. 

The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God.
He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.

-Psalm 89:7 {NLT}

"I am a Redeemer. I redeem all things. I make all things new. Whatever you've lost I will restore. It doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter what's happened to you. I can take all the hurt, the pain, and the scars. Not only can I heal them, but I can make them count for something."
-God to Stormie Omartian

I love Stormie's word on forgiveness: "Forgiveness doesn't make the other person right, it makes you free." We're enslaved by our sins and the sins of others until we ask Christ for his forgiveness and we forgive those who have wronged us. It's a process that can take a long time, but God can restore our broken, scarred lives wholly.

In Christ,

Jessica

Strength In Weakness

I awoke this morning feeling more tired than I have for a while with a mild headache. It was going to be a long day. Getting up slowly, I struggled to get ready for class and found myself way behind schedule. I missed my 8 o'clock class, regrettably, because when I looked at the clock to leave it said 8:07 and the dread of being late again dragged me down. I hate walking in to class late and having everyone stare at me. So instead of going to class, I began to study for my final exam on my own in my dorm room. Before I knew it, it was time to head to my Speech class, which was optional today...a meeting at Beans N Cream, a local coffee shop. 

My professor kindly greeted me as I was the first student there. I expected a large portion of my classmates to show up, but only two others did. One of them was kind enough to buy coffee for me as well as himself (He offered to buy for the other girl, but she wasn't interested). God blessed the meeting and I'm glad I went. 

The day was looking cold and grey as I headed off to my Spiritual Formation class, feeling beyond exhausted. Class was dull, and I didn't get as good of a grade as I would have liked on my Colossians commentary. Afterwards I took my time heading over to the Stevens Student Center (SSC), where I worked a banquet and then finally, at 2 o'clock wearily walked into Chucks (the cafeteria). My friend Caleb was just leaving as I got there, but my friend Mia arrived shortly after, so I didn't have to sit alone for long.

Lunch finished and Mia and I headed back to our dorms. As I was trudging through the Biblical Center for Theological Studies (BTS), I suddenly remembered that I had a photo shoot with two friends of mine, Amy and Chelsea, in just 10 minutes. Rushing back to my dorm, I frantically put on fresh make up, grabbed my camera, and headed out to find my friends patiently waiting for me back in the BTS.

Thanks to their beauty (inside and outside) the photo shoot was fantastic! You'll be able to see some of the shots on my photography blog, Image-ine, very soon! 

Chelsea and Amy invited me to go to Walmart and Chipotle with them and another friend after our photo shoot. Getting off campus and spending time with them was great! We got back to Cedarville and I hurried to shower before returning once again to the BTS to watch the Truth Project with some friends. Although I would have liked to stay awake, that didn't happen and I cat napped throughout the video. Afterwards, we talked and prayed, thanking God for each other and a great school year!

My night was completed by me running back to my dorm just in time for curfew. Now I'm going to go spend some time with God, once again thanking him for all he's done. He is my righteousness and my strength in weakness. I could not have made it through yesterday without him and I can't make it through today without him, either. What a mighty God we serve!

In Christ,

Jessica

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 

-2 Corinthians 5:21

In Christ Alone - Instrumental

I posted this on my photography blog last week but I didn't think to post it here until now... :P Enjoy and God bless!

God is the Solution.

Thousands are suffering and dying in the world around us right now. Do we recognize their need and help them or do we sit back and live our comfortable lives, consumed by our own needs and unwilling to take risks? Are we overly concerned with our reputations, so much that we refuse to do good and share with others? 

I'll be the first to admit that I struggle with this. I'd rather look good and let others suffer rather than be looked down on for the sake of reaching out to others.The song Solution by Hillsong speaks volumes to my heart. This world is full of evil - it's all around us and we can't escape it. We can pretend that it doesn't exist to try and make ourselves feel better but that is one of the worst mistakes we can make because it gives the devil a foothold on our lives and keeps us from being used by God to do good works and glorify his name. Let us not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good! (Romans 12:21)

Love in Christ,

Jessica

Stuck?

Do you ever feel stuck? I do sometimes. Those are the times when I have to stop and ask God to show me where to turn. He's ever so faithful and I can't thank him enough for continuously drawing me to Himself. My own knowledge is foolish along with the wisdom of the world, but God uses our foolish preaching to save those who believe. The way God works amazes me!

The Wisdom of God

 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say,

   “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
      and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”

 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world,things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord."


1 Corinthians 1:18-31 {New Living Translation}

Love: Little or Much

I've been forgiven for much, so I have much love to give. Sometimes I don't feel like giving it, though. Those are the days when God makes me take a step back and look at all the blessings he's given me. When I realize the immensity of his faithfulness, mercy and grace in my life I'm at a loss for words. He's been so good to me despite my numerous failures. I praise him for his everlasting love!


In Christ,
Jessica