Pride: Lay It Down.

Ya know, I never thought I'd be able to say I'd done half of the things I've done or met half of the people I've met already, but God has blown my expectations out of the water!

Thus, I never thought I'd see Joni Eareckson Tada in real life or much less, serve her dinner, but I did that yesterday. It pays to be a banquet worker at Cedarville University, and I'm not just talking about eating the delicious leftovers. I've met and interacted with a few well known people, and experienced how diverse the way people live their lives. While I get excited to meet the people who attend banquets, I'd be just as happy to greet a street sweeper as I would be to greet a Hollywood star. I'm not putting the rich and famous on a pedestal above all of us commoners, because the rich and famous are the same as we are in God's eyes - helpless and in need of mercy.

And yet, God has trusted each one with a different job to fill, giving greater responsibility to those with greater power. This means that the people that we idolize and follow have the responsibility to lead us away from themselves and to the cross where Jesus died and was buried. They can't do it on their own, but with God's help it's completely possible. We ourselves also have a great responsibility, even though most of us do not get to speak to thousands of people every week like Joni. We've been given the power to lead people to the cross by the Holy Spirit, who lives in our hearts.

How are you leading others to the cross today? Are you willing to lay down your pride for sake of drawing people to Jesus?

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

-Philippians 4:13 {NLT}

Don't Get Distracted.

(I just posted this on my photo blog, so if you already read that, my apologies for the double post.)

It's easy to get distracted by things of this world and forget to talk to God. Don't let material possessions or other people stop you from spending quality time with your Savior. He's your King, Father, and Shepherd. Give him your life and commit to serve him selflessly. It's so worth it!

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. -Mark 8:35 {New Living Translation}

Practical Ways to Help?

I've always struggled to find practical ways to help people in need. I know that God has called believers to pray for each other, (Ephesians 6:18) and that prayer produces powerful results (James 5:16).

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). -Ephesians 6:18 {Amplified Bible}

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. -James 5:16 {Amplified Bible}

But I wish there was more I could do to alleviate physical pain and suffering and soothe emotional wounds for individuals all over the world who are less fortunate than myself. Do you feel a similar tugging in your heart?

There's so much need and in all honesty, it's overwhelming. Yet, in the midst of all the confusion, pain and suffering in this world, God's in control and He's working even when we can't see the results. 

Paul understood the way God works. He said, "I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow." -1 Corinthians 3:6 {New Living}

Clearly God uses each and every one of us in different ways to lead people to Himself. We may never see the fruit of our labor, but God is using us; we can be sure of that.

So do you have any ideas? How can poor college students who can't even pay for their college education on their own minister to the needy people of India, Latvia, and Cambodia, among others? I'd love to do something big like writing a song or selling my photographs and giving the proceeds to an organization, and I've always wanted to sponsor a child through Compassion or World Vision but I've never had a consistent job so that's nearly impossible at the moment.

Jennifer, Jhen and Rylie's project, Compassion's Cry has inspired and encouraged me to act now. I'm just in need of practical ideas for what to do. Any ideas or suggestions you have are much appreciated. Thanks so much!

Together we can impact this world for Christ through prayer and acts of love!

In Christ,

Jessica

Do you know Him?

I never get tired of this!

Family Arrived and Faith in the Future

Monday was a great day. It was the day my family arrived. Then Tuesday got here, and I wasn't near as excited anymore. My dad called my brother and I out to the garage to help him get down at least thirty boxes from the attic. Afterwards, we had to move them all into the house and began unpacking.

All of our boxes piled up in the garage

After lunch, a lengthy trip to Super Walmart, and setting up our internet everyone was pretty exhausted. And thus, some nagging ensued, as well as complaining and arguing.

Sometimes, actually more often than not, my family drives me a little crazy. We argue and complain. It's easy to let ourselves become ungrateful. Even though my family has just arrived, it feels like life is the same as it once was a couple of years ago when we lived in the house before. All the cruel, ugly remains of the past seem to have returned. If the members of my family don't do anything to change our attitudes, resentment and anger are likely to build up in these lives of ours and lead us straight into sin. I've always struggled to convey the way I feel to my parents because they often act as if they don't understand and their personalities clash with my own personality. My hope was that things would have changed and relationships between each of us individuals would be perfect, but this life is messy and nothing seems to work out exactly how we think it will.

However, quite a few bloggers have changed my way of thinking and now more than ever, I want to focus on the small moments. They're what matter most because the small moments build on the bigger events, and those build on the eternal future.

The story of Jesus follows that same pattern. Jesus Christ entered the world as an itty bitty baby and even at a young age, as he meditated on God's word he grew in wisdom and knowledge. He paid for all of my sins and all of yours, as well as everyone else's with one act of love: his death on the cross and resurrection on the third day. His action cleansed us of all of our sins and made us right with God and because we have a right relationship with the God of the universe, he's promised us that we can live with him forever if we choose to declare Jesus the LORD of our lives and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. (Romans 10:9)

That's the essence of the gospel and the reason why I believe every moment matters. I'm confident of the future I have in Christ, and I don't want to waste the small moments on the way to living forever with my King. Do you?

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. -Hebrews 11:1

Faithful God

Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. 

-Deuteronomy 7:9

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. -1 Corinthians 10:13


He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! -Deuteronomy 32:4


Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 
-1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Odds and Ends.

First, I would like to thank all of my followers who read, comment, and commit to pray for me and my family. Thank you so much! May God bless you richly.

Switching gears...

I'm excited to announce that this summer I'm a guest blogger for Not of this World, a magazine for missionary kid teenage girls. Courtney does a fantastic job gathering and compiling information to publish a monthly edition of the magazine. I'm so glad I stumbled across the magazine a little over a year ago - it's been so helpful and encouraging! Missionary kids, you should definitely check it out! If you would like to know more about me and hear my testimony, read my introductory post.

What makes me even happier is that my family is arriving in 10 days! They were able to buy a 2002 Honda Accord for their furlough in the States this coming year. Praise God for his provision! I'm glad that my family will living three hours away from Cedarville University. That means that I'll be able to visit 'home' frequently.

On another note, today's my brother Jon's 16th birthday! It's hard to believe that I haven't seen him for a year and this time last year we were the same height. Now he's taller than me!

There you have it! God is doing great things and I praise him for his goodness!

Have a blessed day!

In Christ,
Jessica


Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. -Psalm 37:5-6