God’s special possession

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  1 Peter 2:9 NIV

Most of us spend our entire lives trying to earn acceptance.  People do the craziest things to be accepted.  We love the feeling of being accepted.  But today, today things have changed.  I’m God’s special possession.  I’m His chosen princess.  I don’t have to perform or earn it.  God simply says, “I chose you.”  Therefore I will stop trying to earn the acceptance of others, because in all likelihood, I’m not going to get their approval if they haven’t given it to me by now.  That’s their problem, not mine.  The good news is this: You don't need it to be happy!   I know who I am, who’s I am & I know I’m amazing. 

XO, 

Jennifer @gods.girl.jesus.freak 

Joy comes in the morning

• Many times I have felt like giving up . . . throwing in the towel.
• Many times I have laid in the bed at night and my problems have gotten so bad that it even seems like the darkness of the night has even turned its back on me.
• So, I lie awake in bed to worried to go to sleep, wondering will the night ever end and will I be able to get some sleep.

But God tells us of the unspeakable joy that the world doesn’t give you and the world can’t take away ... so why do we worry if we are blessed with the gift of God’s Great Joy?!?


Sometimes our struggles seem worse at night, but when sunrise comes it brings hope again that we can continue. “Weeping may endure for a night,” the psalmist says, “but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).  ~ Anne Cetas

Lamentations 3:19-33(NIV)

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.

28 Let him sit alone in silence,
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
    there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
    and let him be filled with disgrace.

31 For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.

Not even a Thank You

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy 

Luke 17:11-19

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Better to do our deeds to honor God and serve others than to do them to collect gratitude. May the grace of God be seen in us even when our kind acts go unappreciated. ~ Randy Kilgore



Prayer

"Lord, we like to be recognized for the things we
do. Help us to remember that we are not owed any
recognition or thanks but that we owe You a lifetime
of gratitude for the salvation You offer through Jesus."

Celebrate endings - for they precede new beginnings.

   
   

Waiting is hard.  It just plan sucks.  Pray persistently.  Wait patiently.  The Lord blesses the faithful & those with a joyful heart.

                 

                         Psalm 13(NIV)

            For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

2How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

4and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”

and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5But I trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6I will sing the Lord’s praise,

for he has been good to me.

Signs Signs, Everywhere a Sign

I don't know about you but I get signs & messages from above all the time. They help point me in the right direction or they valid something. These signs, or secret messages, from above can be anything from an announcement or song on the radio to reading something that helps you along your journey in life. They answer or valid a specific question you've been praying about.

It's not a coincidence that I think about my Grandmom or "talk to her" & as soon as I get in my car a song comes on the radio . . . the same song title that was on my shirt when I came to visit her when we had a little moment together.

It's not a coincidence that on Friday I watched an old YouTube video about Oprah talking about religion & Pastor Mark talks about the same exact video in his sermon & answers all of the questions I had about what I watched.

It's not a coincidence that all of the books that I've read loop around to each other or connect in some kinda way. The book choices come to me . . . I don't look for book to read.

It's not a coincidence that yesterday I was stuggling with an issue & then right after I went & played Hangman & I get slapped in the face with the word "morals".  I'm not stupid I get the message . . . thank you.  Every now & then you need a little slap in the face.  Oh, I get those often too ;-)

It's not a coincidence that I prayed to find something (begged actually) & as soon as I came home I found it. It was something near & dear to my heart!

It's not a coincidence that yesterday I had a big fight with my ex-husband & have been reading about prayer & that I need to bring my issues to Him. I tend to pray for other people way more them I pray for myself. So here's what I woke up to: "'I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.' John 16:33...Dear friend, God is aware of all your circumstances and is in control. Take your troubles to the Cross and trust God to carry you through these times." Oh & you can't forget the one from Joel Osteen (currently my favorite pastor to follow & read) "The very thing the enemy uses to try to destroy you, God can turn around and use to bless you. What situations are you believing God to turn around in your favor?" And then this one from the day before "If you will stay in faith, God will not let the enemy have the last laugh.  You will have the last laugh."  I've been reading about trusting God & giving Him your problems. He makes all things good.


Trust Jennifer . . . trust.


Take heart . . . in this world you will have trouble.

Commit your body to God

"Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1 (NIV)



OK, I've been struggling for months with where to start on my Spiritual Journal journey. I've been so lucky to have had the most amazing joy filled year. So here's my start . . .

Seems like most of us struggle with weight. I certainly have! I already know that no product, book, pill or myself will be able to fight my weight issues & unhealthy living. So thank God for Rick Warren. His daily devotionals always seem to come at the right time. I've been thinking about battling my unhealthy lifestyle head on -- again. I now know that only God can give me the strength to make it through the uphill battle & help me stay up on that hill. Dear God please give me strength -- I know He will ;-) but if you don't ask then you won't receive . . . right?

Anyways, so I thought I would share my devotional that I read this morning . . . http://profile.purposedriven.com/dailyhope/post.html?contentid=5635

Let the detoxing begin!!!

“Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates the body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV)

"The way you contaminate your body is by what you eat or drink, and the way you contaminate your spirit is by what your see or hear." Rick Warren

A Spiritual Journal

A journal is a book in which you keep a personal record of events in your life, of your different relationships, of your response to things, of your feelings about things, of your search to find out who you are and what the meaning of your life might be. It is a book in which you carry out the greatest of life's adventures - the discovery of yourself. It's a place to befriend yourself and to explore the uniqueness of your life's journey.

Spiritual growth does not refer to some aspect of life or one compartment labeled "religion." It concerns all of life . . . our goals, our time, our relationships, our work, our politics, our inner lives.

We grow spiritually as we discover the gifts God has given us, develop and nourish them, and use them in service to others.

We desire spiritual growth out of gratitude to God for His mercies and out of a desire to serve others. Our spiritual growth is a response to the gospel . . . the Good News that God has loved us, redeemed us in Christ, placed His Spirit within us, and made us members of His kingdom.

Spiritual growth always begins with God. He chooses us and brings us into relationship with Him and other Christians in the church. Spiritual growth is a growth in grace. It begins in grace, continues in grace, and ends in grace.

"Grow is the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18)

He places us in the church, in relationship with other believers. Here we are fed by His Word and nourished by His sacraments. We grow as we worship God together with other believers, as we pray, meditate, tithe, and practice SIMPLE LIVING. God brings people into our lives, people we need and who need us. From them we receive encouragement, comfort, and challenge.

Most important of all, God places His Spirit within us to transform us, to shape our lives, to empower us, and to make us more loving.

All this He does out of His grace, His undeserved goodness. The path to spiritual growth is a path of grace.