iheart

2011-10-27T12:50:00.000-05:00

Hi girls,

After much thought and prayer, we have come to the conclusion that it is time to say good-bye to iHeart. Madison, Becky, and I have very much enjoyed the time we had to share our hearts with you all and have grown so much in our relationships with Christ. This has been a wonderful opportunity for each of us and I know we will never forget these past few years. Thank you so much for all of you who have supported and encouraged us on this journey!

In His Love,
Jessica, on behalf of iHeart ministry

Without Love, I Am Nothing

2011-09-23T09:50:00.003-05:00

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

I've been thinking lately about my life and the day to day actions that I take. You know, it's so easy to do all the right things with the wrong heart. I can go through the motions; read my bible, send up a quick prayer, and falsely portray myself as some perfect Christian. But I'm so far the opposite of that. Not only am I to act like Christ, I am to love like Him as well. Without love, my actions and my life is just an annoyance; a loud clanging gong or a resounding symbol. Without love, I can do as many "good" things as I possibly can, but make absolutely no impact on anyone. Without love, I have and am nothing. Only with the love of God can my life be fruitful and abundant. Once we begin to act out of love, we will see a radical difference in the impact of our lives. Make this your goal this week: to love. "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

In His Love,
Jessica

How much do you love Him?

2011-09-14T21:07:00.000-05:00

Matthew 25:37-40
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Though we claim to love Christ, our King, our love for Him is truly expressed in how we treat other people. We can choose to look after our own desires, or humble ourselves, help the "least of these" and uplift those who are hurting. Befriending the seemingly weird, poor, or not so popular people is not going to be the cool thing to do. But God says that whatever we do for others, we are really doing for Him.

The question is, how much do you sincerely love the King? Would you be willing to give up your bedroom if He needed a place to rest? Would you be willing to give up your clothing? Your time? Of course you would. If God Almighty was standing right before us, none of us would let him sleep anywhere less than the best we had to offer. We would fix the finest food, give Him our nicest things, and attempt to serve Him in any way possible. Just as we would treat the King, we are to treat the least of these. The unloved, the rejected, the homeless, and the poverty-stricken. Serving those people is not the most glamorous thing to do, but how could we treat them with anything less than our very best?

In His Love,
Jessica

What Are You Pursuing?

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

2 Timothy 2:3-5
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

We can easily get caught up in our day to day "civilian pursuits." I am so guilty of letting my day slip by without my focus on Christ. I think about what I want to get done and what I deem important rather than what I can do for God's kingdom. One thing I have learned from being engrossed in unproductive activities is that it is much easier to get myself entangled than to extract myself from a pursuit. Sometimes those little things are the ones that trip me up most. If I sleep in for just a few more minutes, or check my email really fast before I spend time with the Lord, I find those mundane pursuits cutting into my quiet time.

If I think even bigger picture to the other aspects of my life, such as friends, boys, and social networks, is my time being wasted, or am I really using it to God's glory? Hebrews 12:1-2 says that we should lay down and throw aside the sin that entangles us and run the race with perseverance, with our eyes fixed on Jesus. Good soldiers of Christ do not get entangled in sin. Their aim and energy is focused on the Lord and pleasing Him with their life. I don't know about you, but someday I want to hear my God say, "well done," because I was a faithful solider; not distracted by civilian pursuits, with my eyes fixed on Him.

In His Love,
Jessica

God's Word...

2011-09-08T09:25:00.000-05:00

...but My words will not pass away.

Have you ever felt like the Bible doesn't really apply to your life today? That the things you encounter and struggle with in everyday life have nothing to do with what God's Word says?
While the Bible does not directly say whether you should go out with Josh or David, or where you should go to college, I can promise you that God's Word has answers for you. Answers that apply to your life right now.

Think about it this way, God is omniscient, meaning he is infinitely knowledgeable about everything. He knows what will happen in your life today. He knows the the questions you have, the decisions you make, and the number of your days. Don't you think that the same all-knowing God was considering your life when He inspired men to write His Word? Of course He was! In Luke 21:33 Jesus says, "Heaven and earth with pass away, but My words will not pass away."

God's Word will never pass away. It will never lose it's power or it's truth. It will always be applicable to your life, no matter what situation you encounter.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, "...there is nothing new under the sun."

There is nothing that you will ever encounter that God doesn't already know and understand. The Bible doesn't tell us exactly who to date, but it does give us godly examples and standards for us to hold men up to. God doesn't say that you should go to a certain college, but He does say that His Word is the highest truth above all other things, and that ultimate learning and wisdom comes Him. God cares for us; for every hurt and worry. He will not let us down. God's Word is truth that we can always count on, no matter what.

In His Love,
Jessica

Engraved

2011-09-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

As children of God, we are so precious to the Lord that we are not written, but engraved in the palm of His hand. I find it amazing to think that the same God who created all things and is all-knowing and all-powerful loves me that much. Today, share with someone about how special they are in God's sight and what this verse says about believers. Tell a lost friend about how much God's desires a relationship with them. The Word of God is meant to be spread to all the ends of this earth, but that will only happen if we share and encourage one another with what we learn!

Have a fabulous Tuesday, girls!

In His Love,

Jessica

Never Give Up

2011-09-03T12:25:00.003-05:00

Sometimes you are just going to feel like giving up. Maybe you are getting sick and tired of always being the "nice girl" who follows Christ. Maybe you just want to fit in for once in your life. I know what this feels like. It's easy to feel sorry for yourself when you get rejected or when you feel like no one even likes you. You ask, "I'm always being nice and loving on others and THIS is what I get in return? Really God?"

Sometimes you just want to forget the whole following God thing and focus on getting in on the popular group, doing whatever it takes to get there. Well I'm here to tell you it's not worth it. Trust me, it's not. No matter how many friends you have, God will always be so much better. I'm here to tell you not to ever give up. Don't give up on being the girl who always has a smile on her face. Don't give up on being the girl who the hurting people are drawn to. Don't give up on being the girl who has younger kids looking up to her. Don't give up on being the girl beaming with Christ's confidence. Don't give up. People are noticing. Trust me, they notice. Little girls are looking up to you. Friends are wondering what you have that they don't. You, my friend, are a beautiful witness for Christ. You have the power to encourage others and lift them up towards Christ. How amazing is that? You have the opportunity to influence and change the world!
That encouraging word you said to the outcast girl in your youth group? It let her know that someone cared. That smile you gave the old lady at the grocery store? It lifted her up after a rough day. The help you gave your little brother with his homework? It gave him confidence to ace his test the next day. You hold so much power to encourage in your hands. Use it.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Don't let the world tell you that you aren't cool or pretty enough. You are just who God created you to be and he is so proud when you choose to show his love to others. Never, ever give up. Press on, because Jesus is so worth it. He gave his life for you, don't you think you could do this for him?
Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Abundant Grace

2011-09-01T09:07:00.005-05:00

John 1:16-17

Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:11

We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved.

So often we forget about the grace that was undeservingly bestowed upon us by our Lord. We have a place in Heaven secured for us, but not because we have done anything to deserve it. Only because of grace do we have eternal life.

Over the course of your lifetime, you will most likely hear the gospel numerous times. If we allow it, the gospel easily becomes something of boredom that we know it our head, but don't fully appreciate in our hearts. I don't think we will ever fully comprehend the sacrifice that Jesus made and how completely unworthy we are of His grace. We should be on our faces in thankfulness and praise of our Lord Jesus every single day. Yet, I must admit, I find myself guilty of letting days go by without expressing my gratitude towards my Savior. Maybe today you and I will take time to thank the Lord for the abundance grace He has given us.

In His Love,

Jessica

Jars of Clay

2011-08-31T07:49:00.002-05:00

Do you ever feel like you just can't live up to the standard? Like you aren't good enough to be where you are, doing what you're doing? Like everyone would look down on you if they could read your thoughts, if they could know what you struggle with? I do; and those feelings are hard to deal with, especially since they are true. None of us can measure up, especially not to God's perfection. We're flawed and unworthy without Christ; but there is good news: with Christ, you are a precious princess. You are worthy, you are sanctified, you are treasured. We may not look like much, but we aren't supposed to. God puts His treasure in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7) So that the world will look at the inside, the power of God inside, instead of the outside, you; His avenue to reach the world. If, like me, you don't look like much, rejoice, and let the light of Jesus Messiah shine through you.

In Him,

Becky

Without Void

2011-08-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

God's Word is a huge part of my everyday life. Precious words from my Savior are hung on my walls, written on various note cards, read around my family dinner table, and studied in my quiet time. Though I am almost constantly surrounded by His many promises and commands, sometimes I tend to look past it all. I lose sight of the impact and richness that God's Word brings to my life.
Isaiah 55:11 (English Standard Version)
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
God's Word will never return empty and void. It will never lose it's power or it's purpose. Wherever the Word of God is spoken, read, taught, or seen it will always be used the way God plans. Though from an unknowing, human perspective it may seem that God's Word doesn't accomplish the purpose we think is best, God says that His Word "shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it". That is why we never stop sharing His truth with even our most stubborn friends, why we never stop reading the Bible, and why we never stop treasuring His Word in our hearts. Because no matter how many times we encounter God's Word, it will never stop working in our lives. It will never cease to make an impact on everyone it encounters. Isn't it wonderful to serve a God whose mere words have such power?

In His Love,
Jessica

Quotes: Joy

2011-08-25T08:21:00.002-05:00

"Spiritual joy is: the settled conviction that God sovereignly controls the events of life for the believers' good and His glory. Spiritual joy is not an attitude dependent on chance or circumstance. It is the deep and abiding confidence that regardless of one's circumstances in life, all is well between the believer and the Lord. No matter what difficulty, pain, disappointment, failure, rejection, or other challenge one is facing, genuine joy remains because of that eternal well being established by God's grace in salvation."

John MacArthur

Where do I go?

2011-08-23T08:19:00.004-05:00

Psalm 143:8, 10
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul...

Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!

Knowing and understanding my future seems to be a requirement these days. Where are you going to college? What do you want to major in? Sometimes I just feel like screaming, "I don't know! Leave me alone!" But then I begin to wonder about what God wants me to do... and then I'm not sure. I don't know. It's very easy to worry and stress over something that isn't really in my control.

Interestingly enough, David, the same guy who defeated Goliath and the same guy who was king over Israel, didn't know what to do either. In these verses He asks God to show Him the right road to take, to make known to Him the level paths. Yet when He talks to God about His uncertainty, He isn't down and depressed. Rather, He praises and exalts the Lord, and trusts. He doesn't worry or stress, but He asks the Lord to lead and guide Him on the right path, fully assured that God can do what He says He can do.

You do know that God has plans for you? Plans to prosper you and not to harm you? (Jeremiah 29:11) Then believe it. Know that God is faithful. Don't worry about tomorrow; instead, pursue the things of God. Fill your life His Word and be obedient to what God asks. He won't leave us hanging, God knows how we feel.

In His Love,
Jessica

Trusting God

2011-08-22T16:52:00.005-05:00

Trusting in God is honestly one of the hardest things we EVER have to do. It doesn't just mean that you are a Christian or go to church on Sunday. No, it's so much deeper than that. Trusting God means trusting his plan for your life so honestly and completely that you never back down. When life lets you down or you are confused about why something is happening you can either fight back and try and change things or trust in Jesus.

Recently I had a moment in my life where everything was upside down and I started to doubt God's ultimate plan. However, I told myself that I was just going to dig threw and trust God. Wow, it was hard, but I know that he has everything completely under control. He will never let me drown. Everything has a specific purpose under his will. Say you failed a math test- maybe that's because God needed you to be humbled. Say the guy you like suddenly likes your best friend- maybe that's God's way of showing you he's not the one. Say your friend lets you down- maybe that's God's way of making you strong. Say your dad looses his job- maybe that's God's way of drawing you closer to him.

Whatever you are going through, I just wanted to let you know that no matter how hard it maybe, trusting God is always best. He has everything planned out perfectly and he loves you.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
[ A Time for Everything ] There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Be a Blessing!

2011-08-20T17:03:00.002-05:00

"Be a blessing!" I can't ever leave the house without my Mom reminding me of that simple truth. So often I easily respond, "Yes, Mom! Bye!" and hurry off without actually thinking about what she told me. Proverbs 10:7 says that, "The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot."

Every time we encounter other people we leave some sort of impact on them, whether good or bad. While you may not necessarily be leaving a bad impact on someone, are you really blessing them with your words and actions? This week, try to intentionally bless people; you never know how much that may brighten their day!

In His Love,
Jessica

God loves to say yes.

2011-08-18T08:54:00.002-05:00

Any time you pray for God's will, He will always answer "yes" to your prayers. (1 John 5:14-15)

A few prayers God loves to answer:

Prayers for salvation (1 Timothy 2:4)
Prayers for His Spirit (Luke 11:13)
Prayers for needs (not wants!) to be met (Matthew 6:31-32)

Want to be sure your prayers will be answered? Obey God, search His word for what He wants, then ask for it! You'll get it every time.

they had everything in common

2011-08-12T10:12:00.002-05:00

Each of us is unique. We all possess certain qualities or character traits that are different from one another, just as God created us to be. However, I find it interesting that in the book of Acts God describes the new believers not by their difference, but as having everything in common.

Acts 2:44 (ESV)
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

Acts 4:32 (ESV)
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

Those people could have focused on themselves; their talents, their abilities, what they could do better than someone else; but they didn't. Instead they corporately focused on Christ and on spreading the gospel. They were united and selfless, generously giving to meet the needs of others. The awesome thing about all this is what came from it. God mightily blessed their efforts. Acts 2:47 says, "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

They could have separated themselves by who had the nicer clothes, who made the most money, or who seemed to be more talented. But if they were focused on such worldly, superficial things, thousands of people would not be in Heaven today. I pray that right now in our churches, our youth groups, our circles of friends, we won't be separated by things that have no eternal significance. Rather, I pray that we will be united in Christ and make a wonderful impact for His Kingdom.

In His Love,
Jessica

Book Review: Peace Child

2011-08-09T15:20:00.002-05:00

Imagine encountering a people group who has never heard of running water, let alone the name of Jesus. People who live by their own law; with no sense of morality, who betray, kill, and eat their own friends.

That is exactly what Peace Child is about. It is a true story from the 1960's that gives an account of the time missionaries Don and Carol Richardson spent among the Sawi people.
As I read this book, I was stunned by the havoc that Satan can wreak and how truly evil mankind really is. Without Christ, we really are depraved and sinful people. What is most amazing about this story is how God took the awful situation and lifestyle of this people group and completely changed their lives.

Even today, 2,000 years after Jesus came, there are people who have never heard of Christ. While we live in oblivion, people across the world are dying and going to hell without Jesus. Peace Child is a compelling read that reveals to us the desperate need for Christ on this earth.

His name is JESUS

2011-08-04T10:31:00.005-05:00

Who created this world so complex and perfect?
Who believes each human being is completely worth it?
Who knows every hair on my head?
Who knows when I'm awake and when I'm in bed?
Who cares about every last sheep?
Who has my heart to always keep?
Who holds the power of life and death in his hands?
Who can calm a storm with his powerful commands?
Who can heal the sick and the broken?
Who gives us his love as a free token?
Who never leaves my side?
Who is always there for me to confide?
Who knows my every thought and hears my every prayer?
Who lets me know that he will always be there?
Who makes the oceans tremble at the sound of his name?
Who yesterday, today, and forever will always be the same?
Who deserves all honor, praise, and glory?
Who has written my life story?
Who is my refuge and rock?
Who is holding my hand throughout my walk?
Who is my example of how to live?
Who found it in his heart to forgive?
Who took the world's sin upon his back?
Who undeserving felt every beating from the Roman's attack?
Who defeated death and rose from the dead?
Who proclaims truth in every word he's ever said?
Who holds all power in his control?
Who has complete devotion from my soul?
There is only ONE man who fits this claim.
Only ONE who deserves the whole world to praise his name.
Oh praise the ONE who freed us!
His name is...JESUS!

Your sister in Christ,

♥♫•Madison

Beyond Understanding

2011-08-04T09:56:00.004-05:00

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV)
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

As Paul wrote the to the believers in Ephesus, he prays and asks the Lord to give them strength to comprehend God's love. It is amazing to think that on our own, as mortal human beings, we cannot grasp the unconditional love God has for each of us. Only with divine, out of this world power can we understand the magnitude of the love of God. Yet even with immortal strength, the understanding of God's love surpasses our human knowledge. Wow. What an awesome God we serve!

There will always be things about the Lord that we cannot fully comprehend or explain. But what an incredible thing that is! If I could fully understand every aspect, detail, and reasoning about my God, what kind of God would He be? I am mere man, made from the dust of the earth. I am nothing in comparison to Christ. The reason I am so undeserving of salvation is because I am nothing, yet Christ died for me anyways. I am so thankful that I cannot understand my Lord, because that is what makes Him ever deserving of all praise.

In His Love,
Jessica

Truth is...

2011-08-03T10:03:00.002-05:00

"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' be 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." -Matthew 5:37

Speech is an area that is tough to become truly Christ-like in. I've realized lately that my flippant answers and quick promises don't please God. As His children, He wants us to speak the truth, always (in love, of course!) and to mean what we say. It's challenging to really honor the Lord with everything you say, but try and take a step back today and think before you speak. It will make a difference!

(trying to) live in His image

2011-08-02T19:01:00.003-05:00

Let's just be honest here, it is not easy being kind and patient at all times. In fact, usually it is downright hard. Sometimes every little thing seems to bug me and it is so difficult not totally freak out on someone (usually my siblings). Today was definitely one of those days where being a smiling, patient, kind person was not happening so easily. I finally just had to go to my room and give it to God. As I was flipping through my Bible trying to calm down, I came across these verses in Colossians:

Colossians 3:12-13 (English Standard Version)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

As God's chosen one, I have to choose to put on the things that reflect Christ. I have to choose to be compassionate, kind, and humble. I have to think selflessly and be patient, even when that is the last thing I want to do. Living a life that is a sweet reflection of Christ Jesus is not easy. There is no such thing as a super Christian who doesn't daily have to surrender to Christ. We all struggle, we all are tempted, and we all have to decide to do the right thing. The incredible thing is that we can do the right thing with Christ! He will give us the strength and the power to face whatever comes our way. We can live as a radiant light for Christ, if only we will move ourselves out of the way and allow Him to take over.

In His Love,
Jessica

Wisdom & Knowledge

2011-07-26T13:35:00.004-05:00

Have you ever come across someone who is condescending towards you because you believe in God? You are the radical extremist who, in their opinion, has no knowledge whatsoever and is just stupid. Whether you have encountered someone like that or not, the world basically tells us that wisdom and knowledge comes only from being educated at the best school and making money. The world's definition of knowledge says that we evolved from nothing and a baby with a heartbeat inside a mother's womb is merely tissue. That's what we call knowledge? Did you know that God actually warns us about this kind of deception and philosophy?

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

It is very easy to influenced and deceived by the world! Ignoring the truth of God's Word seems so much easier and more fun than truly living as a disciple of Christ. We have to be careful and pay attention to what we allow to influence us. We will always deal with people that try to convince us that God's Word is not true. 2,000 years ago Paul was warning people about empty knowledge and this is still a problem today.

Colossians 2:7 tells us to be rooted and established in our faith so that we don't fall prey to lies and deceit. True knowledge comes only from Christ and anything that doesn't not align with Him is not true. As young women of God, right now we have this incredible opportunity to dig deep into God's Word and solidify our faith. Throughout our lives we will always be bombarded by the world and told that we have no understanding or knowledge. Don't be deceived! Be on guard. God Almighty is Creator of all things, He is Truth, and He is wiser than the wisest man to walk this earth. Every person, every flower, every raindrop comes from Him. Don't allow yourself to be manipulated by the world. Real wisdom and knowledge comes from God and one day every person will truly understand that.

In His Love,
Jessica

What to do with an unhealthy crush

2011-07-25T10:42:00.006-05:00

So say you have this huge crush on this guy who is totally beyond awesome and totally adores you. You think he's super cute. He's really funny. He likes the same things you do. Oh, and the best of all- he's single. Sounds like a great catch right? I mean, can it get any better? You think he could be the one.

But. And this is a big but. Say he's not a Christian, say he hates kids, say he's unsociable, say he won't be able to provide, say he has bad breath, say you simply aren't ready yet...whatever it is- you know deep down in your heart that it's not going to work out between you two. So what can you do? You really like him after all, right?

1. Well first you should definitely pray about it. NO matter is too small for God to handle. Ask the Lord to give you peace about everything and pray for wisdom.

2. You should also pray for this kid and his future wife as well. This really puts things into perspective. Praying for this guy to draw closer to God and to guard his heart will give you peace and help you see the bigger picture. By praying for his future wife, you are admitting that you might not be the one and are able to see things more clearly.

3. You shouldn't text, call, or hang out with him on a regular basis. I think this pretty much explains itself.

4. You shouldn't stalk him on facebook(or anywhere else). In fact, it might even be a wise idea to take him off your news feed. Sometimes, us girls can get a little bit obsessive with stalking that special someone and seeing what he's up to. Please don't do this- you'll just think about him more.

5. Take all of the pictures of him with you out of your room. Yes, even that special one. You might even find it fun to tear them up into a lot of pieces and trash them. It's kind of significant.

6. You shouldn't listen to certain songs or watch certain movies just because they remind you of him. That's unhealthy.

7. Tell your friends that you are getting over him so they won't bring him up all the time and you wont' have to talk about him. I'm not saying you shouldn't talk about him occasionally to your closest friend or your mom. I'm just saying that your friends shouldn't see you as a "couple waiting to happen".

8. Hang out with your friends more often. This will help you keep your focus straight on those friends.

9. Write letters to God or journal what is going on in your heart. This is one of the best ways to let your feelings out.

10. Spend your life living for Jesus. Volunteer. Have a daily quiet time. Get to know your Savior. Reach out to hurting people. Share the love with everyone. Always have a smile on your face.

Girls, you can come up with your own list like this...depending on your situation. I'm not trying to make y'all have a set of "rules" or anything like that. However, when you have an unhealthy crush, you honestly should obey God and get over it. I hope these tips helped y'all!

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Your Great Name

2011-07-23T07:00:00.002-05:00

Lately I have been realizing just how amazing and powerful our Jesus is. He is so strong and mighty. Did you know that at just the sound of His name the demons tremble? Meditate on this song by Natalie Grant:

Lost are saved;
find their way;
at the sound of Your great name
All condemned;
feel no shame, at the sound of Your great name
Every fear;
has no place; at the sound of Your great name
The enemy;
he has to leave; at the sound of Your great name

Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name

All the weak; find their strength; at the sound of Your great name
Hungry souls; receive grace; at the sound of Your great name
The fatherless; they find their rest; at the sound of Your great name
Sick are healed; and the dead are raised; at the sound of Your great name
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Him,
Becky

Let Us Boast

2011-07-21T19:39:00.002-05:00

Jeremiah 9:23-24

This is what the LORD says:

“Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.

It is so easy for us to become prideful about worldly things. Our talents, our abilities, our money, the possessions we own; society says that those things are of much value and worth. Yet God's Word says that none of those things are even worth boasting about. The only thing we can truly boast about is our God; how magnificent and awesome He truly is. Let us boast in the Lord, the One and only true God!

Always.

2011-07-18T14:39:00.003-05:00

Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Break My Heart

2011-07-15T20:20:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite songs as of late is called Hosanna, by Hillsong.

The words of the chorus say this,

//

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

//

Break my heart for what breaks Yours. That line of the song has had the most impact on me. I began to think, "What breaks God's heart? What do we do that grieves Him?" The answer is simple. Our sin grieves Him, our sin breaks His heart. But the question is, does it break ours?

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)
"The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?"

In Jeremiah God says that our hearts are deceitful, desperately sick and wicked. Our human, faulty hearts have fleshly desires that we cannot overcome without Christ. There are some desires that are much more difficult to overcome, especially when you are knee-deep in them. Sexual immorality, homosexuality, pornography, masturbation, drinking, and alcohol addictions are some to name a small few. When you are right in the midst of that sin, it seems like it is the only answer, the only fulfillment you can find. To our small, narrow minds, those struggles seem impossible to conquer.

Mark 7:21-23 (ESV)
"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²²coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

God hates sin. Do you not think it breaks God's heart to see how wretched and evil we are? Just as God hates sin, so must we. In order to overcome sin, we have to hate it. We have to abhor and detest it. It has to literally break our sinful heart. Otherwise, we will never change. We may outwardly change for a temporary time, but our heart won't, and that is what is most important. If our heart doesn't change, then what overflows will continue to be sinful.

I am not perfect. In fact, I am wretched and I am disgusting. There is sin that I struggle with big time and the only way to defeat my desires is to ask God is break my heart. I don't know what God is doing in your life or what you may be struggling with right now, but I can tell you that you can change! God can change your heart and He can triumph over your sin. We are not held captive to our sin. God's Word says, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) In Christ alone we are more than conquerors. Talk to your Heavenly Father! Ask Him to break your heart for what breaks His. I can promise you that God will listen and help you. If you are struggling and need some prayer, please feel free to email me! You don't have to share specifics, but I can promise I will be on my knees in prayer for you. I pray that God's Word will change your heart and your life just as it has changed mine.

Have a wonderful day my sisters in Christ!

In His Love,
Jessica

Book Review: Radical

2011-07-12T11:56:00.003-05:00

When I first picked up this book, I can't say I was looking forward to reading it. I thought it might be interesting, but in no way did I ever expect it to challenge me the way it did. Once I began reading Radical, I couldn't put it down.

Throughout this book, the author, David Platt, references scripture without taking it out of context or putting his own spin on it. If you are looking for a feel-good, easy read then Radical is not for you. However, if you are looking to be uncomfortable, challenged, and pushed beyond your comfort zone, I would highly recommend it. By reading this book and searching God's Word, my eyes have been opened to what we are truly here on this earth for. I now have a little more courage to share my faith and to live differently and radically as a disciple of Christ. I hope you will add Radical to your reading list this summer; you won't regret it!

In His Love,
Jessica

Not To Us

2011-07-11T15:54:00.005-05:00

Jesus' name is so powerful, so holy. No one is greater. His name is holy and beautiful. He created this world so that his glory would be revealed. This world is all in his control, not ours. We deserve nothing. We have doing nothing and could never do anything that would make us worthy of hi sgrace. Nothing we ever do will make us better or make God love us more. By his indescribable grace he has saved us. Why would such a holy God take on sinners? Why? Only because he is so amazing and has such great love for us. He is not made to love us....he chooses to. What an amazing God we serve.

Psalm 115
1 Not to us, LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

True Beauty

2011-07-07T10:34:00.003-05:00

What is your definition of beauty?
When you think of the word beautiful what automatically jumps to your mind?

Maybe you think of your favorite celebrity, perfect makeup, a good hair day, or if you look good in a swimsuit. Our world's definition of beauty is completely outward focused. We are always being pushed to be more "beautiful" by buying the latest designer clothes, getting our nails done on a regular basis, working out every day, etc. Is this really what the word beauty means? Is it true that you can only be beautiful by wearing the right clothes or having guys check you out? The answer is no. This meaning of beauty is so messed up! The Bible specifically tells us that our beauty should come from the heart.

Beauty is when you treat your family as special. Beauty is when you love the unlovable. Beauty is when you have a humble heart. Beauty is when you walk with grace and confidence in Jesus. Beauty is always having a smile on your face. Beauty is being an example.

Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

1 Peter 3:3-4
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

When I think of the word beauty I think of my role-models. I think of the women who are completely selfless and give everything for everything they do. These women have the most beautiful hearts I have ever seen and I want to be just like them when I grow up. Maybe in the world's eyes these women aren't "knockouts", but in God's eyes they are so incredibly beautiful and he is so proud to call them his daughters.

So I ask you which would you rather have: an outward beauty that is only admired a short while or an inward beauty that is rewarded for eternity?

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

I'm Diving In

2011-07-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

How refreshing it is to dive into God's Word. To be consumed wholly by those precious, holy words that were inspired directly from God Almighty. Psalm 119:20 says, "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times." I wonder if any of us have ever really been consumed with real longing for God's Word? That same verse in the Message translation says, "My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands." The Bible is such an amazing gift that God has given us.
Did you know that God promises that His Word will not return void? In Isaiah 55:11 the Lord says, "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

So I pose the question, why do we spend more time saturating our mind with worldly things than in God's Word? Instead of saturating our hearts and minds with words from God that have incredible power, we dull ourselves with music, TV, magazines, blogs, and so many other things. I have to admit, I am so guilty of not soaking myself in God's Word. I am guilty of not ingraining the words of God into my heart, and I can tell by what overflows from my life. If God is so important to us, why don't we act like it? Instead of dipping our toes in the water every once in awhile, why don't we dive in? Why don't we give God our all?

Being a Christian doesn't mean going to church and living a good, safe life. Rather, it means giving up everything for the sake of Someone far greater than we can ever comprehend. It means dying to our old self and living like Christ. Diving in. Submerging and dousing your life with God.
Don't you think that we could make an impact on this world if really dove into God's Word and lived accordingly? Don't you think God would bless and multiply our efforts?

I want you to think really hard about what I'm talking about. God has not called us to do nothing. We are here for a purpose and it's about time we start doing something. Every day there are so many people that die without Christ and go to hell. I think it's about time we stopped that. Instead of living a half-way life, let's live all out for God. Let's give Him everything we've got. We only have one life to live, so I think we ought to live it wisely.
Will you join me? Will you fully entrust your life to Christ and give Him your all? I don't know about you all, but I'm diving in.

In His Love,
Jessica

Being Intentional

2011-06-28T16:28:00.003-05:00

Last night, I attempted to re-organize the drawers in my bathroom. After accomplishing some of the easier projects, I began the daunting task of untangling the mass of necklaces I have acquired. After struggling for awhile to undo knots and loosen twists I got to thinking about how similar we are to those chains. We, as faulty humans, are a mess.

We sin, we make mistakes, and we become this knotted, tangled mess. Have you ever noticed how easily necklaces become tangled? They seem to become a messy heap even without our help. It takes much longer to untie and fix the damage than it does to cause it.
Just like those necklaces, it is much easier for us to sin and follow our own selfish desires than it is to live according to Christ. If we don't intentionally do the right thing, we automatically do the wrong thing. By doing nothing at all, we actually slide farther away from Christ.

James 2:26
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Wow, what a wake up call! I can't just have my quiet time and then go throughout my day and without intentionally putting into practice what I read. Even though outwardly it may seem like I'm doing the right thing, inwardly I am not being transformed unless I am intentional about what I do.

To clean out my messy drawers, I had to take time to organize my clutter. Now, after everything is clean, I have to be intentional about where I put my things in order for everything to stay nice. Right now, I need to clean up my sin and the junk from my heart so that I can be effective and God can use me for good. Maybe you will spend some time this week cleaning and organizing your heart so you can be intentional for the Lord. Some of my favorite verses from 2 Timothy 2:20-21 say this, "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."

Organizing and maintaining a fruitful relationship with Christ is a process. We are not perfect and unfortunately we still sin. But that doesn't mean we give up; rather, we daily get on our knees before God and ask for His help. We cannot change on our own. We cannot be intentional on our own. Only with the help of Almighty God can we daily become more like Christ.

In His Love,
Jessica

Fingerprints

2011-06-23T08:58:00.004-05:00

Have you ever gone into a situation wondering what in the world God was doing? Feeling abandoned and lost, questioning whether God is really in control of the situation? Then, once all is said and done, you look back and see God's fingerprints all over it. From every aspect and during every moment, God was sovereign and in control; yet your eyes were not open enough to see Him during those times.

I can't tell you how many times I have felt like that. Times when I feel like nothing else could go wrong and my life is ruined forever. However, my fleshly feelings are not to be trusted, and here I am today without a ruined life. It's funny how sometimes we search and look to find what we say is "God's Will" and seem to not find it. But do you really think that God would hide from us, His beloved, the divine will He has for our life? No, that doesn't seem very characteristic of Him.

Matthew 10:38-39 (New American Standard Bible)
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

Rather than hiding His Will for us, I believe that God's Will is placed right before our very eyes. Yet so many times we tend to look right over it because it does not fit our selfish ideas and desires. God's Will is where He is, where His fingerprints lie. He does not desire us His perfect plan to be hidden, but to be found and put into practice. You see, when we are in His Word and living our lives accordingly, His Will is perfectly clear. I have come to find out that those times when life is chaotic and I am confused, are the times that I am not really living as I should. Those words in God's precious, holy book are challenging and not easily followed.

C. S. Lewis once wrote, "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important."

If we live our lives with Christ at the center, with infinite importance, than we can do no wrong. We can go nowhere contrary to His Will if He is the center of our life. Only when Christ starts to slide away do we question what His Will may be. God's ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts, His plan is not usually our plan. God's Will is not for us to live comfortably, safely, with mundane thoughts and goals. God's Will is for us to live radically for Him, for life.

Acts 17:30 (The Message)
The unknown is now known, and He's calling for a radical life-change.

In His Love,
Jessica

Rejection

2011-06-21T10:18:00.004-05:00

Often times the fear of rejection scares us from sharing our faith. We are afraid of isolation or loss of friendships, so we end up letting those doubts and worries hinder us from obeying Christ.

This past week while on a mission trip, I knocked on a couple hundred doors and talked to quite a few people about Christ. Some of them listened to what I shared with them, but others rejected me. During one of our morning devotions as a group, one of my friends shared some insight from Luke 10. The verse from that passage that really hit home with me was Luke 10:16, "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

Those people I shared Christ with weren't rejecting me, they were rejecting Jesus. They were rejecting His sacrifice for them on the cross. And more than anything, that should make me sad. Sad that they are so lost and so blind that they won't even listen to God's Word.

I can't change anyone's heart, only God can. But we have a responsibility to share Christ with everyone we come in contact with, and we can't let the fear of rejection stand in our way. Don't be discouraged, be uplifted and inspired to share your faith with those around you! God is with us, and with Him all things are possible.

In His Love,
Jessica

Precious

2011-06-10T16:15:00.003-05:00

1 Peter 3:3-4 (English Standard Version)
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.

Though many of us have heard these verses numerous times, it is never bad to be reminded of how we should act and adorn ourselves. I especially love how this version of the Bible states that a gentle and quiet spirit is very precious in God's sight.
Think about how it would feel if the God of the Universe personally told you He thought you were precious; valued, of high esteem, dearly beloved.
That is something I will be working on this next week; being gentle, humble, and quiet in my spirit. Exchanging my own obnoxious, sinful desires for the peaceful, precious ones of God. What could be greater? I long to be precious in the sight of my Heavenly Father. Do you?

In His Love,
Jessica

No-Fail Plan

2011-06-09T07:41:00.003-05:00

2 Peter 1:5-8 (English Standard Version)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I think the last thing any of us would like to be ineffective and unfruitful with the knowledge we have of Christ. For this very reason, God gives us a no-fail way to produce fruit. When I read these verses last night I was amazed by how awesome God is. God loves us beyond what we can imagine and His plan and purpose for our life is right in His book, the Bible. All we have to do is take time to read, meditate, memorize, and ingrain it into our hearts and minds. God never leaves us hanging, there are always answers in His Word.

In His Love,

Jessica

Happy Birthday Madison!

2011-06-08T10:32:00.002-05:00

Hey Everyone!

Today is Madison's birthday!! :)
Madi is one of my best friends and I know that I can always go to her for godly advice or just someone to talk to. She is such a blessing in my life and totally on fire for Christ, as I'm sure you all can tell by her posts. I'm sure it would make her day if you guys left her a comment letting her know how much she is appreciated!
I hope you have a fabulous day, friend.

Love,
Jessica

Little Things

2011-06-07T08:15:00.003-05:00

As summer quickly approaches, I can't help but find such joy in the little things.

bright, yellow lemons

spending time with my sister

blossoming flowers

the sweet aroma of lavender

fresh strawberries

water droplets on a vase

Psalm 32:11 (ESV)
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Today I am rejoicing in all things. Big or small, exciting or boring, difficult or fun. I am alive and redeemed by the blood Christ shed for me on the cross. How can I not rejoice?

In His Love,
Jessica

Spiritual Preparation

2011-06-02T09:00:00.003-05:00

In order for us to be an effective vessel of God's use, we must be prepared spiritually to do the work God has called us to. In 1 Peter 1:13-16 Peter shares with us how we can prepare ourselves to obey Christ's command: go and make disciples.

1 Peter 1:13-16 (English Standard Version)
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

If you read the context of these verses in the first part of chapter one, Peter talks about being born again to a Living Hope, Jesus Christ. In view of that, Peter says, "Therefore..."

Prepare your minds for action. The best way to influence our thinking and impact our minds is to fill it with God's Word every single day. If we fail to be in God's Word, we are completely unprepared to face the world. Especially at this point in our lives when we don't have the responsibilities of marriage, children, or a full-time job, we need to get into the habit of reading the Bible daily. Then, when it comes time for those things, we are still consistent. Daily time with God is a priority that nothing else can take the place of.

Be sober-minded. A more common term would be self controlled. As humans, we obviously have tendencies to be completely out of control. When we have self control, we don't act rashly or bring attention to ourselves. I like to think that self control goes along with having a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4).

Set your hope fully on Christ. More specifically, on the grace we will receive at the revelation of Jesus. We are to put our hope and our focus on building treasure in Heaven, not on worldly things. (Matthew 6:19-20) Set your heart on the unseen, the eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. We have been made new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and are to die to our old sinful self. Sure, we will still make mistakes, but we are to intentionally turn our focus elsewhere. We were formerly blind to the truth, now we are to conform to Christ and His will for our lives.

Be holy in all your conduct. Just as Christ Jesus is holy, so we are to be holy. Pure, clean, and white. We are to live holy lives because we are now a chosen, holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). Holiness isn't just not doing the wrong thing, it is intentionally doing the right thing.

We have a lot of work to do to transform our lives like Christ. Be encouraged by the fact that God wants to help us do the right thing! He gave us His Word so that we might be able to know and bring glory to Him.

In His Love,
Jessica

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T08:58:00.003-05:00

Our freedom in the United States of America has not come without a price. Hundreds of thousands of brave men and women have lost their lives so that I might have the freedom to write this post. We have the freedom to enjoy our day, to eat, fellowship, and pray with one other all because of those people who gave their life for our country.

As we go throughout our day, let us not forget how blessed we are to live in a free nation. Let us not forget the price that was paid. Let us take time to remember and thank God for all of those individuals who gave up their families, their comfort, and even their own lives, so that we might be free. Most of all, let us not forget our Savior who paid the ultimate price for our sin upon the cross.

To anyone who has served our country or given their life for our freedom--- THANK YOU!

2011-05-28T11:36:00.001-05:00

If this is you today, come to Jesus.

God, why did you make me like this?

2011-05-26T09:18:00.004-05:00

Why me? Why did God make me this way?

Many of us girls struggle with self-image and how we look. We put so much pressure on ourselves to look perfect that we lose sight of who God created us to be. We straighten our curly hair, cover up our face, and try to change the way God made us. Why? To somehow correct or fix what God divinely, uniquely created. We let ourselves become frustrated and upset with the way God made us just because it doesn't seem like we have the ideal appearance.

Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India, struggled with the same things we do. As a young girl, Amy prayed and asked God to change her brown eyes to blue eyes like her mother's. After spending 53 years in India, saving thousands of children from Hindu idol temples and grave danger, she realized why God gave her brown eyes. If she was a blue eyed woman, the difference between her, an Irish white woman, and the Indian people would be even more prominent. Amy wouldn't have been able to gain entry into many of the places she did were it not for her brown eyes. When God designed Amy Carmichael, He already had a plan created for her life. He knew where she would go and what she would need, and equipped her with those things as a baby.

Romans 9:20
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”

We have no right to ask God why He made us like He did. Who are we to talk back to God? Who are we to tell God He didn't really know what He was doing?

God created each of us for a specific plan and purpose that we might not ever understand. Whenever you are frustrated with how God made you, think of Amy. Think of how God used her brown eyes to save thousands of children from horrible situations. How great is our God! God made each of us the way we are because He knows what we need. Our God is so good.

In His Love,
Jessica

Blessings Come Through Raindrops

2011-05-23T10:51:00.009-05:00

Sometimes we don't understand life- I know I don't. When life throws us curve balls we usually don't know how to react. Often, we get angry at God, "Why this God?" "Are you just out to get me?" "Where are you?". Maybe someone you loved passed away, maybe you are lonely, maybe your best friend ditched you, maybe you made bad grades this school year, maybe you had a really bad day. Whatever problems you have, you know how hard it can be to understand why your trial is happening.
Bad things happen. There is no way of getting around it. We live in a fallen world and nothing is perfect. However, no matter how hard things get, God is in control. Even though you don't understand it, God is working everything together for a specific purpose. Why is he letting this happen? Because he loves you and is making you stronger. My new favorite song is called Blessings by Laura Story. Honestly, this song sums up everything I'm trying to say.

The chorus goes like this:
"What if your blessings come through raindrops? What if your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know you're near? What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?"
God sometimes has mercies in disguise" planned in our life that we won't understand until much later on in life. Through every trial, every struggle, Jesus will be here for you. He loves you so much and is making you an even stronger witness for his name.

James 1:2-4 (New International Version 1984)

Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Quiet Heart

2011-05-21T09:08:00.003-05:00

Psalm 46:10a says, "Be still and know that I am God."

Hmm. Surely that doesn't mean "sit still and know that I am God." On the contrary, I believe it means a stillness of spirit, of the heart.
In our society today, it's hard to be still in spirit. We're constantly bombarded with books, movies, music, television, the internet, and cell phones (not to mention real time spent with our friends instead of talking to them) to keep our thoughts occupied every second of every day. Why? Because we don't want to think. We are afraid of being alone with our thoughts. However, a Christian desperately needs that quiet time to think and worship the Lord. Have you ever sat down to read your Bible but were unable to focus because song lyrics pop into your head or your phone beeps with a text from a friend? It's happened to me before, and it frustrates me!
So if having such a busy heart is a problem... how do we fix it?
Here are three practical ways to start.

Turn it off. Decide on a set time to be done with electronics for the night. For instance, I turn my phone of at 9 pm, and I don't turn it back on in the morning till after I've had my quiet time. It's a lot less tempting to "check it really quick" if you know it has to start up first.
Tune it out. Purpose to listen only to worship music for a week or even a month. Your heart will be more focused on worship.
Memorize. This is probably the most helpful one! Memorize scripture to fill your mind. I like to memorize words of Jesus from the gospels. When I think of them, it's like Jesus speaking right to me! It helps you relax, too.

Hope those easy ideas help to cultivate a calm, more focused heart.

In Christ,
Becky

Spiritual Growth

2011-05-19T09:52:00.003-05:00

I'm pretty sure most of us would say that we would like to grow spiritually. The purpose of this blog is primarily to encourage and help girls grow spiritually in their walk with Christ. As we strive towards this goal, it also challenges Becky, Madison, and I to walk closer with the Lord and to search His Word.

We usually post about certain verses that have encouraged us lately or a topic that has been on our hearts. As important as it is to focus on certain areas of our life, I've come to realize that if we are not obeying one specific command, then it is next to impossible for us to grow in our spiritual lives. As Jesus neared the end of His time as a man on earth, He said these last precious words to His disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Those words in Matthew 28:18-20 have impacted our world more than we can comprehend. You see, if those disciples hadn't heeded that command, we wouldn't be here today. If those 11 men didn't tell anyone about Jesus, His death and resurrection, His salvation, would have stayed right there. That command has the same urgency and importance as it did on the day Christ spoke those words. By Christ's authority and power, we are to go make disciples, baptize them, and teach them. When we obey this command, we will grow spiritually! If we are sharing Christ with everyone we know, we have to know our Bible. We have to be a living example of Jesus. We have to be prayed up, studied up, connected to a church, patient, loving, gentle, kind-spoken, slow to anger, and all the other things God has called us to be. That right there is how we grow spiritually in the Lord.
But the question is, will you do it? Will you obey?

In His Love,
Jessica

The Narrow Road

2011-05-18T06:42:00.002-05:00

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Girls, don't shy away from the hard stuff. God's road is hard, because we live in a world that is the exact opposite from all His ways. Jesus didn't promise that following Him would be easy, in fact He said it wouldn't. However, He promised He would be our strength(Exodus 15:2), our protector (Psalm 32:7), and our helper (Psalm 118:7).
Continue on the road less traveled and you will reap great benefits!

This has been on my heart lately, just wanted to share. :)
Have a great day!
-Becky

Forgiveness...

2011-05-17T09:17:00.003-05:00

Psalm 32:1 (New Living Translation)
Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!

A lifted burden, a forgiven sin; the freeing feeling of forgiveness is incredible. As humans with an inherently sinful nature, it goes against our fleshly desires to apologize or forgive. We don't want to humble ourselves and admit we are wrong. So we hold on to a grudge or refuse to make restitution with someone we have hurt. Yet all that does is cause heartache and grief. Many friendships are lost and lives negatively affected because of a minor dispute where neither party would apologize and forgive. In the Bible, God promises that there is joy in store for those who forgive and are forgiven.

Even though our human nature tries to convince us to hold on to past sins, there is nothing good that comes of it. Just as God has forgiven our sins, we are to forgive one another.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. ”

As difficult as it may seem to forgive someone, the joy and relief that comes from it is amazing! We all mess up and we all need forgiveness. Just as Christ forgave us, removing our sin from His sight; forgiving, forgetting, and moving forward; that is how we are to forgive one another. If you need to forgive someone, or humble yourself to ask someone for forgiveness, I would strongly encourage you to! God's promises are not void of truth. There is true, abundant joy and blessing that comes from a clean, forgiven heart.

In His love,
Jessica

Feelings and Faith

2011-05-11T07:54:00.002-05:00

Feelings can be hard to deal with. Sometimes you don't feel God's presence, sometims you don't even feel like you have been forgiven. The good news is, though, that God's power is not affected by our emotions. God's saving grace extends to you no matter what your circumstances, so trust Him despite your feelings!

Narrow

2011-05-10T09:38:00.003-05:00

Matthew 7:13-14
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

What does it really mean to walk the narrow road? The Greek word for narrow, Thlibo, means suffering; crowded upon with affliction, distress and trouble; to be compressed and pressed hard upon. The narrow path is not an easy one, but one that leads to an abundant life. This earth is not our home, it is our temporary mission field. Our opportunity to make an impact on eternity is right now. We look forward to our true home in Heaven, but for now, we will walk the road of affliction for our King as we make a difference for the Kingdom.

In His love,
Jessica

Dear Jesus

2011-05-09T11:39:00.005-05:00

Dear Jesus,
I ask of you today to draw us closer to you. You alone are all we need.
God, I realize that there is a hole in each person's heart until they spend every moment living for you. I pray that we fill that hole with you each day, Father.
Let our hearts overwhelm with our love for you. This is my heart's burning desire- for us to get to know you more and more each day.
We want to be a light shining for you. It completely leaves me stunned when I realize all that you have done for us. Thank you, O Father, for saving our lives.
This is something we can never repay, we know and understand that.
But I pray that we lead others to your amazing free gift and that we honor you each and every day. Give us the hunger to read your word each day.
Make us a strong girls who walk with you. Please, O Lord, grant us passion for life and living for you. It's honestly the absolute least we can do.
Thank you for the cross.
On behalf of all the other Christian girls in the world,
~Madison

The Holy Spirit...

2011-05-07T06:42:00.002-05:00

Speaks through us (Matthew 10:20)
Leads us (Mark 1:12)
Fills us (Luke 1:67)
Moves us (Luke 2:27)
Empowers us (Luke 4:14)
Teaches us (Luke 12:12)
Gives life (John 6:63)
Takes from Jesus and makes known to us (John 16:15)
Takes us (Acts 8:39)
Encourages us (Acts 9:31)
Strengthens us (Acts 9:31)
Anoints us (Acts 10:38)
Compels us (Acts 20:22)
Warns us (Acts 20:23)
Controls us (Romans 8:6)
Lives in us (Romans 8:11)
Testifies to us (Romans 8:16)
Intercedes for us (Romans 8:26)
Sanctifies us (Romans 15:16)
Reveals (1 Corinthians 2:10)
Gives access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18)

The Spirit does all these things and more for those that it lives in. The good news is, God gives the Spirit freely to those who ask Him!

"For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit."
-John 3:34

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In honor of Mother's Day tomorrow, here's a funny video for you!

Attitude.

2011-05-06T11:12:00.002-05:00

Attitude is everything.It seriously is. I've never really realized how much your attitude affects your life.
Recently, I've been struggling with some people hurting me. At first, I was REALLY upset. My grades went down, I didn't sleep at night, I clammed up to my family, and I was very angry. I guess I didn't know how to deal with struggles.

However, my attitude has COMPLETELY turned around and I'm living with forgiveness in my heart. I'm honestly just so happy...even though it doesn't make sense to be. I'm praising God through this storm because I know it is all in his specific purpose and plan. He has it alllll under control. Because, really? That's how great our God is!

No matter what you are feeling, if you change your attitude to one that pleases God, you WILL be blessed. I've noticed that our heart often follows our attitude. Even if you don't feel like it, have a happy countenance. Your heart will follow!

Ephesians 4:22-23 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

Philippians 2:5
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:4-6 (in Context) Philippians 2 (Whole Chapter)

1 Peter 4:1
[ Living for God ] Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

In Jesus' Name

2011-05-05T08:25:00.002-05:00

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your Name.”
-Luke 10:17

Holy Father, protect them by the power of your Name—the Name you gave Me—so that they may be one as We are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that Name you gave Me.
-John 17:11-12

I write to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
-1 John 2:12

I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
-Psalm 63:4

Let them praise your great and awesome name—
he is holy.
- Psalm 99:3

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,
-Mark 9:37-38

By the very Name of Jesus sick are healed, dead are raised, demons are cast out, mountains are moved, people are protected, and sins are forgiven. The power of Jesus' name is great and beyond our human comprehension. So often we worry and stress over things that God has complete control over. We actually have the audacity to worry over situations in our life, acting like God can't handle them. The same God who raised Lazarus from the dead, created each and every one of us, healed the blind, fed 5,000, and forgave our sin. Next time you are scared and worried over something in your life, look to Christ. Seek comfort in the fact that His name is more powerful than any situation!

In His Love,

Jessica

A New Life

2011-05-03T17:42:00.002-05:00

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven--and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all--life healed and whole.

--1 Peter 1:3-5 (The Message Paraphrase)

someone is watching you

2011-05-03T09:17:00.004-05:00

1 Timothy 4:12
"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

1 Timothy 4:12 is well known as a life verse for many teenagers. So often it seems that we are looked down upon because of our youth, thus making it more difficult for us to follow God's plan. Yet I can't help but think that sometimes we miss the last part of that verse. "Set an example...in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." The truth is, someone is watching you. Not only adults and your peers, but girls that are younger than you.

I remember when I was younger thinking that teenage girls were so cool. I mean, 16 was so old. Teenage girls had it made; they could do what they wanted, they could hang out with friends anytime, they had a cell phone, they were just plain awesome. As I reach that point in my life, I realize that my childish fantasies were not exactly true. Yes, it's all nice and fun being a teenager, but you also have to deal with many other things that you don't think of when you are 7.

As a young adult, I have to recognize that I have a huge responsibility. I am being watched by many young eyes, and the example I set will stick with those girls for the rest of their life. Am I setting a godly example for these young girls? In my speech? In love and respect towards my parents? In my faith? In purity and the way I treat guys? In my life?
That is something that has really been on my heart lately. What kind of example am I setting? One person who has really made an impact on my thoughts about this is my little 6 year old sister. She is adorable and I love her so much. As she has gotten older, I've noticed little ways she tries to imitate me. She wants to do her hair like me and make things together, she wants me to paint her nails the same as mine, and she wants to put her hair in a towel when she gets out of the shower. I can't tell you how sweet it is that she does those things. But at the same time, that totally makes me do a double take of my life. Would I want my sister doing the same things I'm doing? Is my example encouraging her to pursue Christ, or pursue things of this world? That's the question I want to ask you today. What kind of example are you setting? When you begin to think about who is watching you, you might start living life a little differently. We are all a work in progress, but this is just one more way we can strive to live our lives according to Christ.

Titus 2:7
"In everything set them an example by doing what is good."

In His Love,
Jessica

A Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T11:41:00.005-05:00

Today is a pretty important day. William and Kate are getting married! I don't know about you girls, but it seems to me that this particular marriage has been ALL over the place for just...forever! True, this marriage is pretty special. I mean, what other wedding is broadcasted all over the world or millions of people to watch!?

Anyways, with all this royal wedding stuff going on, it's made me think lot about my own wedding. One day, I will be in Kate's shoes- beginning to start my new life with my husband. Wow, how crazy will that be! As I think about these things, my heart started to fill with joy and anticipation because I know that when my day to walk down the aisle comes, I will be ready with a pure heart. My day of waiting will one day be over. Isn't that exciting for us girls? One day, after you have waited and saved your heart for your future husband, you are gonna get married! You are actually keeping yourself emotionally and physically pure for a purpose. No matter how hard it might seem right now, you are not doing this for nothing. Because I know that one day you are going to have a royal wedding that, in your eyes, is even grander than William and Kate's.

So how 'bout it? Won't it be awesome to have saved yourself completely and be able to tell your husband that you waited patiently for him?
It will bless your future marriage and also protect your heart.

Psalm 45:9
Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Quotation: Spirit-Filled Souls

2011-04-28T08:02:00.001-05:00

"Spirit filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire of God."

~Samuel Chadwick

Saved by Grace

2011-04-26T20:43:00.002-05:00

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Lately I have noticed an abundance of teachings about the cost of being a disciple of Christ. Jesus calls His followers to lay down everything for Him. I want to clear something up for you, though.

It's by grace that you are saved.

You will never be good enough, courageous enough, selfless enough to earn your salvation. Our good deeds are to be overflow of our love and praise for God. We love God, we serve Him, and we follow Him because He has redeemed us, not the other way around. I've heard people say that "easy believism" is heresy; but I think the Bible is pretty clear...

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9

I want you to see the goodness of God's grace, the sovereignty of His plan. When you realize the magnitude of God and the glory He deserves, service, love, and obedience for Him will come as a natural result of that! The things you do for God have nothing to do with you being saved.

NOTHING.

However, if you are a Christian and you aren't serving God out of a willing heart, aren't obeying His word, and aren't seeking to know Him more, then you need to check yourself.
Take some time today to bask in the love and grace of our great Savior!

Your sister in Christ,
Becky

What's Your Shape: Experiences (Part Five)

2011-04-26T09:45:00.002-05:00

As I've thought and prayed about writing this post, my eyes were opened even more to God's divine plan. Although it's taken several weeks for me to write this, I've seen how God orchestrated that time for me to learn and grow in my relationship with Him.

From the time we were born into this world, we have been experiencing new, different, and even the same things. Some things from our life stick out more than others; maybe the birth of a sibling, the first day of kindergarten, or that time when you did the most awkward thing at the most embarrassing time, we'll never forget those moments will we? :)

As you look back into your past, most assuredly there are things you want to forget, and others that you want to hold onto forever. Experiences help shape us into the people God wants us to be. Those moments were allowed by God and we should use them to help us determine our shape. You may be wondering what in the world the past has to do with our future? What we can do is learn from those past successes and regrets. Most importantly, I believe, is learning from our mistakes. God knows I've made way too many of those, but looking back on my life, I can learn and grow through those experiences. Even though I've sinned and made wrong choices, if I'll let Him, God can use those for good and for His glory!

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

I know that when I've struggled through those hard times, God has brought me abounding comfort! Through trials and temptations that I've faced, I can now be understanding and bring comfort to someone else who is hurting. God uses our most resented, unwanted, regretful experiences for our ministry. As Christians, we need to be repentant of those sinful moments and be willing to share with others, so that God can receive glory for them. Nothing happens that God isn't aware of and cannot use.

"Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you." ~Aldous Huxley

I pray that you have grown closer to the Lord and better understood your purpose and your shape through this "series" of posts. :) God can use each of us for His glory, if only we would be willing to surrender our all to Him and serve Him faithfully as redeemed disciples of Christ.

In His Love,
Jessica

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What's Your Shape: Spiritual Gifts (Part One)
What's Your Shape: Heart (Part Two)
What's Your Shape: Abilities (Part Three)
What's Your Shape: Personality (Part Four)

A Lesson From the Monks

2011-04-25T11:30:00.004-05:00

Yesterday night my family watched a 60 minute special on the modern day monks of our world. I honestly didn't even know they still existed. It was so intriguing to watch these men who give up practically everything to live among other monks for one purpose: to get closer to Jesus. They never leave their little "monk village", they have only two meals a day that last 10min each, they get only three hours of sleep at night, they have an eight hour church service daily, wear strange clothes, grow beards, don't marry of have children, and many more things. These things sound crazy, no?
Learning about these men takes me back to the verse where Jesus is talking to a rich man who asks how he can get to heaven:

The Rich Young Man
16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” the man inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[d] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[e]”

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother[f] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

I honestly think this is what these monks are striving for. When asked why they are doing this one of the monks answered, "we are preparing ourselves to die." Wow. I look up to these men for putting everything world behind them and striving towards heaven. That takes great courage.

Matthew 16:24-25 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Although I do think they have gone a little overboard and I don't think we are all called to be monks, I believe we can admire these men because of how willing they were to put everything on the line and surrender it all to Christ. We should take some on of their strength and apply it to our own lives. One day we will see our King and whatever uncomfortable circumstances we went threw will soon be forgotton. We should be spending each day as our last and pressing onwards towards heaven.

Philippians 3:14 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Living He Loved Me

2011-04-22T11:38:00.001-05:00

Romans 6:10
The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

2011-04-20T09:00:00.005-05:00

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
John 3:16

Believe.

It's all you have to do to be saved by Christ. Salvation is so simple, so easy for us, because it was such a big thing for God. He gave everything. What does believing in Him actually mean?
The Greek word here is pisteuō, meaning "to believe, put one's faith in, trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow"
So, have you truly believed in Christ? Put your faith in Him? Allowed that trust to change you?
If we know that we can be saved by this simple act, why wouldn't we tell people! Will you share with someone today?

In my posts the next few weeks, we will go through some of the big ideas behind our salvation and Christ's mighty work for us. Because, when you understand just what He has done for you, you will never be the same!

In Him,
Becky

Marvelous

2011-04-19T09:33:00.003-05:00

I read these verses in Job the other day, and was simply amazed by how incredible God is.

Job 37:10-16

The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
¹¹ He loads the clouds with moisture;
he scatters his lightning through them.
¹² At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.
¹³ He brings the clouds to punish men,
or to water his earth and show his love. ¹⁴ “Listen to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.
¹⁵ Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning flash?
¹⁶ Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?

God has total control and is aware of every raindrop that falls from a cloud. He gives command to the lightening to flash, He guides the swirling clouds. If that doesn't amaze you, I don't know what will! God is so awesome. His works are marvelous and beyond our understanding. What a blessing it is to have a personal relationship with the God who has power over all.

In His Love,
Jessica

Growing

2011-04-15T12:32:00.005-05:00

I'm not a very good poet, but I thought I'd share this poem I wrote with you because I feel it really shows how much we grow through life. Growing up isn't easy, but with God on our side we have everything we need. For every trial we go through, we are just growing! (:
I hope you like it:

When I turn back the pages.
and look through the ages.
I realize how much I've changed.
and want to go back to the old same.
There was never a care in the world.
Not one reason to shed a tear.
and I had no fears.
I was so full of life.
Big dreams filled my sight.
I knew God was in complete control.
and I leaned upon him, whole.
Never did it cross my mind.
that one day the world wouldn't be so kind.
I didn't know how my heart could break.
from all the hurt, death,and ache.
Growing up isn't fun.
and I've only just begun.
But I know it's worth it.
because of my purpose.
To love and honor my King.
and give him my everything.
I know it won't be easy.
all the growing, thinking, pleasing.
But I have a friend.
who's care will never end.
He will show me through.
and at the end I'll be able to tell you.
That God knows.
How much I've grown.
and He will continue to keep showing.
How this life is full of...growing.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Giving it up: Selfishness

2011-04-14T09:01:00.003-05:00

As we approach a season of thoughtfulness and celebration in regards to the crucifixion and resurrection of our Savior, it's a great time to examine our lives. Jesus died for us, now what are we doing for Him?

1 John 2:6
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Each and every one of us are sinners; I know that I've never gone a day of my life without sinning. Although it is impossible for us to be perfect, we can strive to be as sinless as possible. I'd encourage you personally to think about the root of your sin. What is the thing you struggle with most, that is consequently affecting many other areas of your life? One thing that comes to my mind is selfishness. For me, that seems to be the root of most of my sin. When I'm impatient, I'm being selfish. When I want my way, I'm being selfish. When I'm lazy, I'm being selfish. When I'm quick to speak and get angry, I'm being selfish.

Psalm 119:36
Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.

For the next few weeks, in preparation for Easter, my goal is to give up selfishness. I will not completely succeed in living up to this goal; however, I want it to prepare me to focus on my Savior. After Easter has past, I want this to be something that I stick with, I don't want to fall back into sin. I want my life to continually change to be more like the spotless example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

In His Love,
Jessica

why we are here

2011-04-12T08:29:00.002-05:00

Acts 8:4-8
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

I believe that as Christians, myself included, we tend to neglect our our sole mission and purpose on this earth. I feel like a talk about this a lot, but more than anything I have a burden on my heart to share Christ and encourage you girls to preach His Word. In the beginning chapters of Acts, Luke writes about a revival in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Before they began sharing Christ, there were 121 believers (Acts 1:15). Later that day, 3,000 believers were added to their number. Once again, there number grew to almost 5,000 in Acts 4:4.
As I've been reading through the book of Acts, I can help but that how amazing that is that they reached so many people. 5,000 people accepted Christ in a matter of days? That seems almost impossible! What was their secret? How did they do that?
These men didn't have an elaborate plan to reach these people for Christ. They simply answered God's calling and preached the Word. I really do think that if we will step out of our comfort zones and simply share our faith with others around us, we will see a revival in our families, our towns, our cities, our states, our provinces, our countries, and our nations. Will you answer God's calling on your life? Will you make a difference?

God's Word tells us in Proverbs 11:30 that, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."

When we share Christ with people and win souls for God's Kingdom, we will be given wisdom. And with wisdom, we will grow spiritually and become more like Christ. It's an all around good thing. (: It's hard, it's nerve-wracking, it's scary; but we can do it. Take a stand for Christ today, share Jesus with someone who's lost. Don't miss that opportunity God has placed in your life to win a soul.

In His Love,
Jessica

You Hold Me Now

2011-04-11T10:38:00.002-05:00

Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Your Calling

2011-04-08T11:06:00.005-05:00

What would you do for God if you knew you could not fail? If you knew you would make a difference and change someone's life? If you had unlimited resources and help? If you knew that your one purpose in life was to love Jesus? What's been pressed upon your heart specifically by God? How would you like to change your world? Who do you want to be? What do you want to do?

I've been pondering these questions lately and have actually been frustrated at myself because gosh darn it I cannot figure out what my calling is and what I'm supposed to do! I want to help in God's kingdom so badly but don't know where to start.

I'm guessing a lot of us feel like this. In my worldview class the other day we started talking about what we wanted to be when we grew older. Did you know that in Pilgrim days they choose their occupation by the time they were 14? Most of us are older than that in my class and we were kind of shocked, "How did they know at such a young age?". It's pretty crazy to think that most kids back then knew what they were going to do without question and were ready for whatever God had planned. Comparing that to our world's mindset of "I don't have to get a job until I'm like 20", we seem very lazy.

The Pilgrims believed that when you found your calling, you were supposed to carry out that calling with hard work and determination. It was your way to honor the Lord. How does that apply to our world nowadays? Is what we want to be honoring to the Lord?

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version 1984, ©1984) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

The Same

2011-04-07T09:29:00.003-05:00

What a comfort it is to know that our God is always the same. He isn't changed by moods or emotions like we are. He is not influenced and prone to sin and evil. He is perfect, unchanging, and everlasting. When things happen that cause us hurt, anger, and disappointment, we are always assured that as Christians, God is always right there next to us, just a thought away. This week, more than ever, I have been aware of God's presence. Not because I'm on a spiritual high and feel really close to God, but because He is there for me when everything else is crazy and uncontrollable.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

We change all the time. We sin, putting a barrier between us and God, causing heart-ache and hurtful consequences. So many things that we do cause unrest and conflict in our life; but no matter what, God is the same. God is faithful, and God wants to be there for you; to comfort and forgive, to love and build a relationship. He is perfect, and unlike anything else in this world, He will be faithful and will remain the same through all things.

Malachi 3:6a
I the LORD do not change.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

In His Love,
Jessica

Psalm 70

2011-04-05T19:47:00.001-05:00

Hasten, O God, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me.
May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
turn back because of their shame.
But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
always say,
"Let God be exalted!"

Yet I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.

When Your Best Friend Decides To Date(Part 2)

2011-04-01T10:09:00.007-05:00

Hey Girlies! I'm sorry that my follow up post to "When Your Best Friend Decides To Date" did not get posted on Monday. It's been pretty hectic around here! It's better late than never though, right? (:

Today I'm mainly going to be talking about your best friend dating when she honestly shouldn't be and there is a bunch of drama going on.

When your best friend wants to date, sometimes we aren't quiet sure what to do...especially when it's a bad situation. We have the responsibility as the friend to back up the Bible and correct her in a loving way. I'm not saying that she'll listen or even take your advice, but I'm saying you shouldn't encourage her to go against God's plan for relationships.

I've made a list of some very important, helpful things you can do for your friend:

1. You can pray for her unceasingly.

2. You can visit her in her home and encourage her back on the right path.

3. You can write her a letter filled with Bible verses and advice. Some good Bible verses: Ephesians 6 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a]

Luke 9:23 (New International Version, ©2011) 23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

James 4:6 (New International Version, ©2011) 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

4. You can let her borrow a book about Godly relationships such as: "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" (Joshua Harris) or "Dateable" (Haley DiMarco).

5. You can be sensitive to her and "understand" her situation even though you honestly don't.

I hope this list has helped y'all...and I'm praying for all the girls out there who are going through this difficult process. If you have an questions or any added advice, please email me at iheartministry@yahoo.com
Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Open the Eyes of My Heart

2011-03-31T09:05:00.002-05:00

Lord, open the eyes of my heart, to the lost and hurting all around me. So many times I am guilty of just living life completely focused on my own goals and satisfaction. Instead of being aware of people who desperately need Christ, I continue in my own mediocre activities. If I'm not living a life of purpose, in obedience to God's greatest command for us to make disciples, my life is a purposeless waste. I don't want to waste another week, another day, another hour of my life without sharing my faith with someone who is without Jesus. That's why we are here living on this earth. When we are not sharing our faith regularly, we are disobeying God. Until this past weekend, I had never thought of that as disobedience. But I really do believe that if we are saved by the grace of God, and neglect our mission to share that wonderful news, we are living in sin. And that is the exact opposite of what I want to be doing.
Open the eyes of my heart, Father God. Help me to see all those people who need Your grace and forgiveness.

John 4:35
Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

Don't wait another day, girls! The fields are ripe for harvest now. People need Christ today.

In His Love,
Jessica

Speak Now

2011-03-29T21:21:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 31:8
Speak up for those who can not speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. (NIV)

"In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, but I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me."
- Martin Niemoeller,
Luthern priest arrested during World War II

the definition of ME

2011-03-29T08:38:00.002-05:00

What defines you? The people you hang out with? The clothes you wear? Or the Savior who rescued you from eternal hell?
When people observe your life, do they notice how much you talk about yourself, or how much you encourage and uplift others?

Lately God has really laid that on my heart. What is my definition? What defines me as a whole? When people see my life, do they immediately recognize me as a follower and disciple of Christ?
Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to share my faith with someone. In the midst of this conversation, this guy kept asking me numerous times who I was. Lutheran? Catholic? He asked probably 4 or 5 times and each time I would answer no. This man didn't respond to the message I tried to share, but I know that I've planted a seed in his heart, and I pray that he will allow the Holy Spirit to work on his heart. At the end of our conversation, he asked me again, "who are you?" I said, "Quite honestly, I don't particularly care to tell you what certain denomination I am, because that is not what defines me. I am a Christ follower, and I believe in the Word of God, with no additions or exceptions."

The definition of my life is not what I do, or what church I go to, but who I am in Christ. Redeemed, forgiven, and freed by the bondage of sin.
As I daily take up my cross, that thought needs to continually affect my life. My definition, my purpose, is in Christ, and my life needs to be a reflection of Him.

Galations 3:26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 71:23
My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.

In His Love,
Jessica

When Your Best Friend Decides To Date (Part One)

2011-03-25T11:35:00.003-05:00

Yes, this is a pretty specific topic. It generally happens to all of us and I decided that even if all of us haven't dealt with this yet, we probably will.

When your best friend "falls in love" and meets this dude that she has decided to date, us sidekicks can have a mixture of feelings. It depends on our opinion of the situation. However, usually the feelings aren't good. We can feel hurt, confused, angry, and multiple other things. Honestly, we realise that we are definitely not going to be first anymore and always going to be second best.

Sometimes we find out the hard way that our best friend wasn't who she said she'd be. Maybe she said she wouldn't date and was "waiting for the right one"....but that didn't happen. It hurts, I know.

What can we do? First, as her best friend we can pray. I seriously think this is very important. If she isn't making wise decisions and is going through a hard time, prayer helps so much. Second, she needs someone to always be there for her. Even if you aren't her first choice anymore, she still needs you...your her girl she can come to. Third, if she isn't making wise choices, you can talk to her. This doesn't mean you have to be rude and all in her face, but it does mean that you tell her the truth in love.

The road isn't going to be easy for either of you. In fact, it will probably cause tension between ya'll. However, it's going to make you stronger and in the end you can say you went through a tough time together.
Pray for her, encourage her, and be there for her.

Part two coming Monday...check back! :)

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Enter in!

2011-03-23T07:27:00.003-05:00

I had something written and prepared to share with you today, but during my quiet time this morning I learned SO MUCH and instead I just want to encourage you!
If you are struggling in your faith, you can read all the Christian books out there and they may tell you all the things you want to hear.
You can read a thousand Scripture verses and try to conform them to what you want them to say in your situation.
However, just studying the Bible and spending time basking in God's presence is what is truly going to bring peace, joy, and hope to your life. What you read may not apply to what you are struggling with; but God's word will bring peace and comfort beyond all else!

Psalm 73:16-17a
When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God..

You may be oppressed beyond belief today. Enter the sanctuary of God. He will teach you, touch you, love you, and meet you right where you are.

O Praise Him!(:

2011-03-21T11:31:00.002-05:00

I love this video. God is everywhere. We should be have to courage to praise him anywhere at all times. He is Holy.
Psalm 62:7
My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Quick Quote

2011-03-19T07:29:00.003-05:00

"All that is not eternal is eternally out of date."

--C.S. Lewis

Attitude

2011-03-18T12:44:00.002-05:00

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

This is one of my favorite quotes because of the way it tells us that things are only how you make them- it all depends on you attitude. Lately things at my house have been....rocky. School is a mess, my family's best friends are moving, the list goes on(wayyy on). I've been feeling really down and have basically been in a bad mood for weeks. However, I realize that this attitude of mine is totally wrong. I am SO BLESSED! I have so very much to be thankful for. My current "problems" are so minimal compared to all the grace Jesus has provided me. Seriously, what right do I have to be mad at God and be grumpy all the time? Um, none!! NO matter how hard life gets, we all have a choice on how we will react. Sure, it's completely fine to cry about things and let your feelings out, but that doesn't mean we make these problems bigger than they are. So what your aren't allowed to watch TV right now? Your Savior died for you. So what your best friend let you down? Your Savior died for you. So what you weren't invited to a friend's bday party? Your Savior died for you. So what you got a bad score on a science test? You Savior died for you. Please, girls, don't think I'm trying to be totally uncaring. I'm not, I relate to all of these problems and they bother me all the time. But really? SO WHAT? You have an amazing Savior who also happens to count you every tear, have your life written out, and keeps his promise that he will never leave or forsake you! YOUR LIFE IS GREAT AND YOU ARE SO BLESSED! :)

Philippians 2:5
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Your sister in Christ,

♥♫•Madison

What's Your Shape: Personality (Part Four)

2011-03-17T09:26:00.002-05:00

Personalities. We all have them, and they are all unique to each of us; no two people are alike. Isn't that amazing? You will never be completely like any other person on this planet, no matter how hard you try. I would say we would have to have a pretty spectacular, mind-blowing Creator, wouldn't you agree? As individuals with special personalities, we each have special purposes on this earth. No one can do what God wants YOU to do, because you are the only person like you to do it. There will never be another you; nobody can help you or pick up the slack you leave behind by not following God's will. If you don't tune yourself into God's Word and listen to His guidance, you won't fulfill the amazing plan God has for your life. With your unique personality, no one else can fulfill that plan quite like you can.

1 Corinthians 12:6 (Ph, New Testament in Modern English)
God works through different people in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves His purpose through them all.

We are all different. Just because you are not just like that girl who is sooo perfect over there, doesn't mean God can't use you. Sometimes it's easy for us to think, "Oh, well I'm nothing like them, so I'm sure God can't use me." Yes, He can! Don't ever limit God like that! Don't compare yourself or try to be exactly like that other person, because you will just end up failing. You will never be that person, because you are YOU and you have a completely different personality. However, at the same time, we can learn from people who are more mature in their walk with Christ. We just have to keep in mind that we can never be them, and they are not perfect. As you allow God to work in your life and do what He wants you to do, you will be fruitful and you will enjoy working for the Lord. When you cultivate your personality into your purpose and ministry, you will be most productive and kingdom advancing. And that is what we are here for: to love God, and to love people.

In His Love,
Jessica

----

What's Your Shape: Spiritual Gifts (Part One)
What's Your Shape: Heart (Part Two)
What's Your Shape: Abilities (Part Three)

In the midst of sorrow.

2011-03-15T19:16:00.004-05:00

Last week's earthquake in Japan was devastating.

The destruction is amazing. The death toll is horrendous-and rising.
If you or someone you know was directly effected by this disaster, my heart goes out to you. Be encouraged by the fact that millions of Christians all over the earth are praying for you. When tragedy strikes, people say many things to try to ease the suffering, sorrow, and pain. However, there is only one thing that we can truly take comfort in:

God is good. (Mark 10:18)
God is sovereign and does what He pleases. (Psalm 115:3)

If God does what He pleases, and is 100% good, then what He does can only be 100% good. He knows what He is doing! Take hope in Him.

why not... it's pretty glamorous you know.

2011-03-15T09:43:00.003-05:00

Have you ever noticed how glamorous and exciting the world makes sin seem? Last week, while at my grandparents house watching TV, there comes a commercial that made me sick to my stomach. Ever heard of Sister Wives? It's a show about a man who is technically married to only one person, but has 3 other "wives" through "spiritual union". During the course of the commercial, they show climatic moments in their lives that makes them seem completely normal. Um?? Hello. Why in the world is polygamy being glamorized this way? Why is sin being portrayed as something acceptable?
As believers, these kinds of things should bother us. That is not at all right. God created marriage to be between one man and one woman and not any other way.
This is just one example of how the world makes sin seem perfectly normal and fun. Satan is all over this. He is doing exactly what he loves- deceiving. We have to be careful as young women of God to guard our hearts and our minds against this. By not allowing ourselves to be manipulated or our mindset to be influenced by sin, we can keep ourselves pure for the Lord. There are so many things for us to guard against, because we live in a sinful world that doesn't love Christ. We will have many choices and decisions to make in the course of our life. The world will try to glamorize all the wrong things to get us to turn from the right.

2 Peter 3:17
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.

Be aware of the temptations of sin, and make a thoughtful decision to protect and guard yourself against them. Our God is with us wherever we are. Even though it may seem difficult to live a set-apart life for Christ, we can do it. We are made strong through our Lord and Savior and can fight against the sin in our lives!

Proverbs 16:17
The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

Proverbs 4:13
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.

In His Love,
Jessica

Attitude

2011-03-14T11:32:00.003-05:00

Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well" she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"
So she did, and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"Hmm," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?"
So she did, and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a ponytail!"
So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"Yay!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

Blessings/ by Laura Story

2011-03-10T11:13:00.003-06:00

I heard this song on the radio the other day, and it really touched my heart.
I pray this song is as much of a blessing to you as it was to me.

Lamentations 3:22-24 (New American Standard Bible)
The LORD'S loving kindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassion's never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I have hope in Him."

In His Love,
Jessica

Odd

2011-03-08T19:09:00.003-06:00

Does being a Christian make you a different kind of woman? Think about how--if--your relationship with Christ changes you and your appearance. Can those who walk past you in Wal-Mart tell that there is something out of the ordinary about you? "Wait a minute," you may be thinking, "That's a little over the top. I don't even know those people." I pray that my Savior would transform my life so that a difference in my heart would be obvious to everyone who even glances at me. Would you make that your prayer as well?

Cleansing Ourselves

2011-03-08T07:23:00.003-06:00

2 Timothy 2:20-21 (New International Version, 1984)
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

As believers, we have to be ready and prepared at any time to be used by God. When we are not cleansed from ignoble purposes, our heart is in the wrong place and God cannot use us. As we take time to cleanse our life, we will see how our lives can be effective and purposeful on this earth. Maybe instead of not caring about that new girl at school, you will see it as an opportunity to share Christ. Is your life dirty and not so pure? Or are you living a holy life that God can use for His glory? Cleansing ourselves allows God to use us to do great things!

In His Love,
Jessica

Beating Sin

2011-03-07T12:03:00.004-06:00

We are such sinners. Sometimes it's crazy to think about...we were born into sin and have a natural bent towards sin. Have you ever thought deeply about your sin? You lie, lust, dishonor your parents, are prideful, cheat, the list is endless. What are we to do about this? Is there any hope for us?

The answer is yes. We can beat our sin. We aren't fighting for a place of victory because we are already fighting FROM the place of victory. With Jesus Christ in our hearts we can push forward and be free from all of our sins. It's not easy and it's a hard road, but we can get there. Even if we are scared of what's going to happen when we let go, the ultimate rewards are going to be far beyond we can imagine. We reap what we sow.

Proverbs 11:18
A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
With Jesus' help we can be FREE and walk in VICTORY. Will you join me in the challenge to be free from sin?

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

What's Your Shape: Abilities (Part Three)

2011-03-03T08:15:00.003-06:00

Unlike our spiritual gifts, which are given to us when we become a Christian, our abilities our things that we are born with; the natural talents and gifts that you are uniquely good at. It can be just about anything! Some people are naturally good at sports, others music, others are artistic; the list goes on and on.

Just like every other part of your shape, abilities play a huge role in how you serve the Lord. Remember when Solomon and the Israelite people were building the Tabernacle for the Lord? God provided men who were naturally gifted with "with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts... and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship." Those men had special, unique abilities and God used them for His purposes and glory in making the temple. Many times, people give excuses and say they have nothing to offer, no abilities to contribute for the Lord, which really is just a cop-out. Every living person on this earth has tons of abilities! You just have to figure out what they are. However, on the flip side, unless you use your abilities for the glory of God, they are completely worthless.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

What we need to do with our abilities is USE them for God! He created you already equipped with the talents you need to carry out God's will. There should be nothing holding us back from faithfully serving the Lord with our abilities.

1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

In His Love,
Jessica

----

What's Your Shape: Spiritual Gifts (Part One)
What's Your Shape: Heart (Part Two)

Failures

2011-03-01T19:53:00.002-06:00

Without failures, the Christian life would be impossible.

Think about that.

If you never failed, Christ would have no reason to redeem you.
If you never failed, you would be stagnant and never grow.
If you never failed, you would be prideful.
If you never failed, you would judge others.
If you never failed, you would would have no compassion.
If you never failed, you would be like Satan, thinking yourself like God.
If you never failed, you would be legalistic and self-righteous.

Be thankful for your failures. They remind you of a big God and a small you. They point out areas that you need to grow in and open your eyes to see that you are not better than anyone else. They make salvation possible.

Be willing to fail, but don't stay there. Grow.

Guysss... it's March!

2011-03-01T09:18:00.003-06:00

Hey girls!
It's March 1st, and I can't tell you how excited I am for spring! :) I am looking forward to all things green and warm! As we think about summer (that quickly comes after spring right?), there is always the dreaded swimsuit question. Where in the world can you find one? In a world full of skimpy bikinis that show all your goodies, it's always tough to find swimsuits that cover you up, and still look cute! I'm personally not a big fan of swimsuits in general, but my family goes up to my grandparent's lake house all the time during the summer, and I have to have one!

Some of my favorite places to look for swimsuits are Lime Ricki Swimwear and Rey Swimwear. Both stores offer cute, modest swimsuits that are decently priced. Right now Lime Ricki has most of its swimwear on sale, but they are getting ready to open up a brand new line of swimwear for 2011! Sometimes you can even find some cute swimsuits at places like JCPenny and Kohl's.

I hope this makes your swimsuit shopping a little easier! Don't give up hope when looking for swimsuits. It may be a little harder to find something modest, but it is definitely worth it. :)

Happy Spring!

In His Love,
Jessica

Quality of Friends

2011-02-28T11:52:00.004-06:00

What's the quality of your friends?
Who are the people you hang around with?

We all love to have a bunch of friends, but have we ever thought about the people we are hanging around with? Sure most our friends aren't druggies or anything bad like that, but have we ever thought about their character deep down?

I'm pretty blessed to have a group of amazing friends. However, as I look at some of their hearts I see that they aren't truly following God and aren't actually "walking the walk". I know none of us are perfect, but as we look into our friend's lives we need to see a general fruit producing. Are they kind to their siblings? Do they gossip behind people's backs? Do they talk to you only when they want to? Do they honor their parents? These questions really make you look at your friends hearts. I'm not saying you should judge them, but I am saying you shouldn't hang around them as much and make them your close friends. You are who you hang around with.

The Bible says,
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

When choosing our close friends we need to choose people whose hearts are pleasing to God. Sure they may not be the coolest kids on the block, but they are sure cool to God. The kids who are building up treasure in heaven is who you want to rub off on you.

I hope this post has encouraged you to hang around the right kinds of friends...they are hard to find, but are such a blessing to have. Remember: Jesus is the best friend you will EVER have! :)

Your sister in Christ,

♥♫•Madison

Do you love Him?

2011-02-26T09:35:00.002-06:00

Do you love to give?
...love to serve?
...love to sacrifice?
...love to pray?
...love to read the Bible?

Good; but there is a more important question: Do you love Jesus? He should be the reason you love those things.
Loving Jesus will overflow and pour over into all other areas of your life. If you love Him with abandon and make your life all about your relationship with Him, you will love the things you should love more than you could on your own.

Praying for Friends

2011-02-25T09:55:00.003-06:00

Ever had a friend that's slipped away from God?
One of my best friends came for a visit and she has changed so much. I honestly didn't know what to do because she acting so strange. It broke my heart to see her being rebellious against God and doing things she shouldn't. When we talked about more serious topics, I tried to be a good influence on her, but don't really know if she took it to heart.

I realize that the only two things we can do is for our friends is pray for them and be a good influence on them. We don't know where they will end up, but we do know we have a big God and he can do anything in her life.
We can make it a habit to pray for our lost friends whenever we think about them. It can give us peace to know God has their lives in his control and he will do his will.

Keeping God first in our lives, our friends will see what an difference our lives make. We can't make them become followers of Christ, but we can help them along the way.

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison

What's your Mood?

2011-02-24T10:07:00.002-06:00

Ever had one of those days? Where everything seems to be going wrong? You feel horrible because it's that time of the month and you have to make dinner all by yourself, while your lazy brothers sit and play video games. Your hair looks horrible, you didn't even care to put a stitch of make-up on, and you just want to curl up under your covers and ignore life. When life stinks and nothing seems fair, it's easy to let our moods get the better of us. Especially as girls, we tend to blame the fact that we are crabby or irritable on PMS. Okay, let's just be serious. Yeah, we may not feel that fabulous, but that's no excuse for us to sin by being in a bad mood. Yep, I just said it. Being in a bad mood is SINNING. And let me tell you, I am so guilty of letting my moods control me.

Proverbs 25:28 (NIRV)
A man who can't control himself
is like a city whose walls are broken down.

When we don't have control over our emotions, we are completely defenseless. Satan likes nothing more than to get a foothold in our life when our wall of protection is broken down. When we choose to be in a bad mood, it affects our whole day. We think only of ourselves and are doing the exact opposite of what God wants us to do. He wants us to be focused on serving Christ and other people. When all we are focused on is how horrible our day is, we can't think beyond ourselves and see God's big picture. As believers, it's detrimental to our spiritual lives when we don't stay focused and concentrated on the Lord.
And so I ask.

What mood are YOU in?

In His Love,
Jessica

No Other God

2011-02-22T09:15:00.003-06:00

Isaiah 43:10-13
¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
¹¹ I, even I, am the LORD,
and apart from me there is no savior.
¹² I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.
¹³ Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”

As I read through the book of Isaiah, there are multiple verses which talk about Israel's ignorance to the Lord in serving others gods. Throughout the Old Testament, it seems the trend was to constantly turn from the Lord because the grass seemed greener somewhere else. Over and over, God's holy, chosen people turned to man-made idols that did them no good.

Even now, there is a huge majority of people that serve false gods. People are so deceived by the devil, and have such a desire for some kind of leadership and reason for this world, that they turn to whatever they can find. It's sad to see people more devoted to someone that's been dead for hundreds of years than to the eternal, everlasting Savior, Jesus Christ. When I see our broken, searching world, it spurs me on and encourages me to take a stand for the Lord. It's easy for me to just get caught up in all the trivial business of everyday life, and put my real purpose and mission aside. I have to remind myself daily that I am not on this earth for no reason. I am here to share God's goodness with every single person I encounter. I have to ask the Lord to fill me with love for the lost people around me that overcomes any fear I have of sharing my faith. Perfect love drives out fear. And if we really love our God, and really desire to share the incredible news of Christ, that fear will disappear and be replaced with a fiery passion to be living messenger to the lost, hopeless people in this world.

In His Love,
Jessica

What's Your Shape: Heart (Part Two)

2011-02-17T08:12:00.004-06:00

Your heart, your passions, your dreams, your ambitions; the desires of your heart. Your heart plays a huge role in your life; it motivates and shapes who you are as a person. Each of us are unique and have certain things that interest us more than another. God wants to use you through your passions and interests. In fact, when God created you, He knew what you would love and enjoy doing most and considered those factors when making your shape. He was aware of all those passions and created you to enjoy doing those things while serving Him. When serving God, He wants us to serve Him with enthusiasm and passion; not begrudgingly, just because you have to.

1 Samuel 12:24 (New International Version)
But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

When our heart isn't into serving God, we lose enthusiasm and get discouraged much easier. Think of the things your love to do; things you are passionate about, and look for ways to serve the Lord with those passions. Find out what kind of ministries there are at your church that involve doing something you love. Do you enjoy music and singing? Join the choir. Do you love to minister to children? See if you can help with a childrens' Sunday School class. There are so many ways that we can serve God with our heart. If you can't find a particular ministry that you love, maybe pray and ask God about starting a ministry of your own! Don't limit yourself just because it seems like there is no way for you to do something. Prayerfully consider how you can use your heart to serve the Lord!

In His Love,
Jessica

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What's Your Shape: Spiritual Gifts (Part One)

Just Today

2011-02-15T17:10:00.006-06:00

Although it is still a ways off, my high school graduation gets closer every day, and every day I wonder more what I am going to do after that. I pray about my future most every day, trying to find out what God's will and plans for me are. It often stresses me out, but I recently read a verse that changed my outlook.

1John 2:6 (NIV, © 1984)
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

My life (and yours, too!) is not defined by one thing God has for me to do, but by walking in Christ's footsteps every single day. The Father has a plan for each of His children, but those plans are not found by sitting around. Begin the search for His plans today by walking as Jesus did.

What's Your Shape: Spiritual Gifts (Part One)

2011-02-15T08:53:00.004-06:00

Your shape is YOU; the intricate, unique design of your body. In order for us to live out God's will for our lives, we have to know and understand our shape so that we can recognize where Christ wants to use us. SHAPE is an acronym that stands for 5 things: spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. When you know your shape, you can better fulfill God's plan.
When God created us, He shaped and molded us to serve Him. That is our ultimate purpose on this earth. God has carefully thought out exactly what He wants you and I to do, and He created us with the ability to accomplish those things.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The first factor for us to understand is our spiritual gifts. When you accepted Christ as your Savior, you were given at least one spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit. Not all of us have the same gifts, which is why God tells us that we should work together for the edification of the church. In the same way, our gifts our not for our personal benefit, but for the benefit of others.

1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

When each of us in the body of Christ understands what our spiritual gifts are, we are all encouraged and benefited by them. That is how a church and ministry thrives. Even in our small ministry, I can see how God uses certain people to do certain things. For example, Becky is a super cool html wiz and made our template. I have tried before, and pretty much fail at all thing html and css. If I was the only person involved in iheart, then we may have a good picture every once in awhile, but we would be lacking in many other areas. :)
God wants us to open and discover our gifts so that we can find ways to use them for His glory and to ultimately bring others to Him. Maybe take some time this week to think and pray that God will reveal to you what gifts you have. It's also very helpful to ask your parents and family members what they think your spiritual gifts might be. Those are the people who see you in action! They may notice something about you that you've never thought of before.
Spiritual gifts are important for us to consider when figuring out our shape, but they are not the only factors for us to consider. Next up, I'll be talking about your heart!

In His Love,
Jessica

Valentines! :)

2011-02-14T10:56:00.005-06:00

Happy Valentines Day girls!

I hope y'all are having a great day- wearing lots of pink and eating lots of chocolate. :) When some of us think of Valentines Day, we think of two people happily in love and living happily ever after... Unfortunately, this can cause us to feel discontent and have us start thinking wishful thoughts. Having these feelings can be quite dangerous and cause us to want a boyfriend more and more. So what's a girl to do on Valentines? Well, I know the perfect date for you today. His name is Jesus Christ and he's definitely the guy you want to hook up with! He loves you unconditionally and wants you to spend today with him so much! Even if you have a boyfriend, this day deserves to be spent honoring and loving Jesus more than any other boy in your life. Honoring him also includes guarding you heart and keeping him first. This starts with purity. When a girl chooses Jesus as her "valentine" for her life, that means she should keep pure in both body and mind. I know a lot of girls who think they are being pure because, "Oh we haven't kissed or had sex yet", but they are being deceived. t\The thing about deception is, well, it's deceiving! Most times they are more impure than the girls who aren't pure in body! Calling us to a higher standard of keeping our emotions also pure, Jesus will give us strength and courage to press on. Everything comes into place when we keep Christ as our #1 priority. He is honestly the best Valentine in the whole world and he loves you so!

Psalm 33:22
May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Psalm 108:4
For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

I hope this post encouraged you to keep pure, not feel discouraged, and accept Jesus as your Valentine!

Your sister in Christ,

♥♫•Madison

He is Holy!!!!

2011-02-11T17:35:00.003-06:00

He is so faithful. He is indescribable. He is so worthy. Without him, none of us would be here. He is the creator of all. He picks me up off the ground when I'm broken. He gives me a hope that will never die. He pushes me to be more like him. He cares about me. He loves me- a sinner! When I pray he answers, even if not in the way I hoped. He picked my family up in his arms when my aunt died. He picks us up even now. He will always be here, cheering me on. Never giving up on me.

Through the past few years I've learned to trust God with my heart. I've given him the pen to the story of my life. Wherever he wants me to be- I will follow. If he needs me to give up something- so be it. I f he wants me to become a missionary- so be it. If his plan is that I never get married- so be it. If he needs me to lay my life down for him- so be it. He deserves everything I have. Because he is HOLY, BEAUTIFUL, and my SAVIOR!!

He deserves EVERYTHING you are girls!

Your sister in Christ,
♥♫•Madison