Hallstrom Heart & Home

Understanding The Lord's Will For Your Life

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:38:28 GMT

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

-Proverbs 3:5-6

When I re-dedicated my life to Christ, I didn't just give Him my life, I actually gave Him my will and choices too. I understood that following Jesus wasn't just about a Sunday service or listening to worship music in the car. It was a lifestyle totally and completely dependent on Him for all things.

After letting it all go in February 2011, my life went semi-ok for awhile. The Lord placed me in a church, with a wonderful group of believers. He orchestrated a job for me and the phone *literally* rang out of nowhere. He gave me friends and a new lease on life. But I still struggled.

During this season I was so confused as to what God was doing and how He was moving me. I followed after Him as the Holy Spirit led, but I didn't get it . I did as He asked, but I had no idea why He was asking me to do certain things. Have you ever felt like that? He tells you the next move to make and you're like, "But why, Lord?" If you don't feel that way, then I can tell you with absolute certainty, this article isn't for you! But if you have, stick around.

I want to share with you the secrets the Lord gave me and how I began to not only understand His will and what He's doing, but why He's doing it. It's a cool place to be in your relationship with Him when you know where He's moving, and why He's moving in such a way.

The Beginning Of Understanding His Will For Your Life

The evening I surrendered I had an incredible experience with the Lord. It's like He bathed me in His love. And for the first time ever, I felt loved . Truly loved, like maybe my life wasn't an accident.

Something I had struggled with throughout my entire childhood was believing I shouldn't have been born. Trauma has a tendency to make people feel like they are a mistake, when the truth is God didn't mistakenly make you!

In fact, scripture says so! Psalms 139 declares that the Lord knit us together within our mother's womb.

When my daughter was young she would ask how she came to be. I love her so much that I would kiss her all over and say, "I made you! And God made you!" Except according to the scriptures, God places us and forms us. We women, we are the wonderful chosen vessels God uses to bring forth His created children.

But there's another verse I want to show you:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

Revelation 4:11

God didn't just create you, it was His will that you were created and are here. He chose you. In fact, this word will is the same word Jesus used all throughout the scriptures to declare that He was doing the will of the Father who sent Him. But in the original Greek, this word in Revelation 4 is translated as pleasure, not will. It's the same word Jesus used, but the meaning behind it is that it was God's will and pleasure to create you, for you to have your being. He was pleased to make you!

This is the beginning of understanding His will for you life - it's knowing He wanted you here, He made you to be here, and He knit you together for it is HIS will for you to be here. You are not an accident.

At first my faith journey wasn't too bad. But then it began to get hard. Like, real hard. Life should be easy with the Lord, right? But no, I was led through some extremely tough seasons, and I was struggling to understand what God was doing.

There were times I would search the internet, looking for signs and wonders, a word from a pastor, anything that would explain to me what was going on. Every road I tried didn't solve the overarching problem I had. Why is Your hand moving like this Lord? Why are You leading me this way?

After looking for signs and wonders and searching the internet for some shred of advice and coming up empty, I went to the Word. I opened my Bible and found Solomon's prayer. And that began this entire journey to understanding what God is up to when He's up to it.

The Starting Line: Praying For Wisdom

I first started praying for wisdom because I was so lost in the discipleship 101 training course the Lord had me in that I felt I needed help to get through it. Because of childhood trauma, I had a lot to overcome and work through. I couldn't understand what He was doing, and why certain things kept "happening" to me. But I wanted to. With everything in me I wanted to get it.

Now I can look back and see clearly all the ways He was intimately involved in putting together the puzzle of my life - pulling up pieces that didn't fit into His overall design for who I am, and placing other pieces that would bring clarity to the big picture.

Some of those pieces that were placed by others (trauma, hurts, betrayals) have a hard time popping out of place when they've been glued down by the one who placed it. And that's very much what He was doing, picking at the glue to get the pieces unstuck. Then removing it (not always gently) to get it out of the way so He could place a healing piece, or a piece that declared His glory, righteousness, and truth.

None of it happened without a mess, and that's what brought me to this prayer: Lord teach me Your will for my life. Give me wisdom to see what You're doing.

I wrote a prayer on a notecard and stuck it in my Bible. I prayed it every day for years. I'm not 100% positive where it is now, because I updated the prayer some time back. The first one I wrote down was in January 2013.

About 3 years after I first started praying for wisdom a friend told me she comes to me for advice when she needs to know what she should do.

God was answering my prayer. He was giving me wisdom and changing my mind to think like His. Instead of my thoughts, He was giving me His thoughts. Instead of my plans, I was beginning to see His hand in His plan He had for me. But that moment was prophetic, because for the first time someone else could see what God had been doing internally for some time.

It takes time for a train to get started and up to speed, but once it does, it's almost impossible to stop it from moving forward. Prayer is like it - it takes time for it to get moving in your life, to get you up to speed. But once it does, not even the devil can stop what God is doing. Your God-sized prayer train is going to run him right over!

So, let me give you the prayer I have written down now. It's not the original, but it's just as good. If you want to understand what God's will is for your life, it's starts with wisdom. Wisdom is the beginning of all understanding.

"Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.

Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.

I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life."

Proverbs 4:5-13

The Prayer For Wisdom

Father God, I pray Your Spirit would rest heavy upon me.

Give me the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

Give me the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

And I pray that You would grant to me according to Your riches and glory,

that I would be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in my inner man,

that Christ would dwell in my heart through faith.

I pray that I would be rooted and grounded in love,

to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge,

and that I would be filled with all the fullness of God.

Amen!

This prayer (that I pray over my children as well) is a combination of two Bible passages: Isaiah 11:2, Ephesians 3:16-17 & 19.

I have one more for you, which is taken from Ephesians 1:17-18.

"Lord, give me that spirit of wisdom;

grant me that spirit of revelation so that I will be captured by Jesus Christ.

And over the eyes of my heart,

I pray that You would release shafts of revelation light into them,

that I might know the hope of Your calling,

that I might know the glorious inheritance that lives inside of me,

and that I might know the surpassing greatness of Your power that works in me."

Amen

The Middle Miles: Calling On The Lord

Fast-forward several years from the time I first prayed for wisdom and the Lord interrupted my faith journey again. I was 7 months pregnant with my first child when my best friend passed away from cancer.

A few days after my daughter was born my mom came to visit. It was during her stay that I realized she had some form of dementia, and I felt like my world was falling apart. I no longer had a best friend, but the mom I knew was slowly slipping away.

The next 2 years were filled with grief. A few weeks after my mom left I went into the kitchen and pulled up Facebook. I saw something (a bit of gossip), that I needed to call my bestie about immediately. I pulled up her name and I almost clicked the call button when I realized she was gone. I couldn't call her.

I sank to the floor in my kitchen and cried out to the Lord. Instead of silence I heard these words, "Call Me!" Shocked I said back, "What?" And the Lord responded again and said, "Call Me!" I was a little slow with it so I asked, "You want me to call You?" And I swear to you, it's as if the Holy Spirit sighed in my heart and then He said patiently, "Yes, Jessica, "call" Me and tell Me what you would have said to her." So I did. I began to tell Him everything I would have said to her.

It felt weird at first, like I shouldn't be "gossiping" with the Lord. And this began a new way of operating in our relationship. I started to see Him as someone I could confide in and share everything with Him. I moved from praying to Him, to conversating with Him on all matters of life. He became my 'mom' and confidant. He became my best friend.

I was lost in how to be a mom, and anytime I called my mom to ask for advice, many of our conversations would take an angry turn. It hurt at the time, but I recognize now that the disease does this. As the person is struggling with what they can't remember other emotions come to the forefront because of fear.

I began to trust Him and to go to Him when I needed wisdom for anything and everything, and He gave me great advice. He would nudge me on the paths I needed to take when my daughter had acid reflux or wasn't sleeping well. He would direct my steps when I didn't know how to handle a relationship. I consulted Him on everything parenting - and it grew into all areas of my life.

In some ways it was the loneliest time of my life. In other ways, I felt like I was gently cradled by His hands as He led me day by day in everything I did. I began to trust Him with my heart, my thoughts. I learned He wouldn't condemn me for the thoughts I have, but gently led me to think above my circumstances. He taught me to "Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]." (Colossians 3:2 AMP)

According to Google, the middle miles of a marathon are the most boring ones to get through. "The middle miles of a marathon, roughly miles 10–18, are a critical, often monotonous, "grind" where initial adrenaline fades, requiring mental focus and steady pacing to avoid burnout before the final, harder, six miles. This phase is about conserving energy, maintaining a consistent pace, and breaking the race into smaller, manageable mental chunks."

Eventually we'll all get there in our faith journey. We had some big firework moments in the beginning of our faith walk - some amazing encounters with the Lord that caused us to go, "You are so real! More real than anything on earth!" But then we hit a part of our journey where the Lord isn't causing these firework blasts to go off every 6 months. We're in that monotonous part of the run where His voice is softer, we have to become more still to hear it.

We can't rely on those early feelings of adrenaline that got us through the beginning years, and we have to find a steady pace to avoid quitting the race.

This part is important, because this is where many believers become 'lukewarm.' They can't "feel" the Lord anymore, so they assume He isn't there or doesn't care. They can't hear Him the same way they once did, so they stop praying and talking with Him how they did in the beginning. Maybe your Bible study falls off.

And it's here that the Lord interrupted me to tell me the secret to keep going. "‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ " (Jeremiah 33:3)

I began to call Him. Instead of calling friends or family, I called Him instead. I told Him everything in my heart: my worries, fears, mountain top highs and joyful news.

And then He changed all my plans around. He had been doing that - but this unlocked a new level with Him when I began to tell Him everything. It gave Him permission to intercede differently than He had before.

I got pregnant with twins (not my plan). I went through some severe pain in bringing them into this world (not my plan). I had a few hard years as a mom adjusting to having three kids, 2 and under. Also, not my plan! But could I trust that this was His? Could I lay mine down and still call on Him when He changed my plans? Could I still say yes and not be offended when He switched things up on me?

Because here's the thing, His ways are not at all like ours. And if we can't handle Him switching up the plan on us, then we definitely can't handle it when He downloads things into our mind and heart that catches us completely off-guard and throws us through a loop!

Some of the things He shares will make us feel crazy, or like we've stepped into an alternate universe. And if we can't learn to handle our plans being altered for His glory, we will definitely fall over when He shares His understanding of things! We'll break from the weight of it.

The second part of understanding the Lord's will for your life, is calling on Him. And then keep calling on Him. Tell Him everything about yourself, and let Him change your plans, your thoughts, your emotions, and your will to conform to His.

This part was critical for my faith journey - because without surrendering every plan to Him, letting Him have everything, I wouldn't have been able to understand His will for me. The surrender part comes first, and then comes the understanding. But first we have to let it all go, all of it. Let Him change it, remake it, shift it, expand it. Whatever He wants to do, give Him full access!

The other key to calling on the Lord, is that when you share your thoughts with Him, He will want to change those. He will listen with incredible patience, but then He molds them to His Word.

That's why this middle part is critical. This is where "the rubber meets the road," so to speak. This is where we get serious in our training, and everything in us begins to conform to His image.

His wisdom set up my foundation. But opening myself up to Him allowed Him to begin shaping me as His temple. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and in order for His Spirit to live and reign within us, He has to conform every thought, feeling, behavior and action to His liking.

Unlocking The Gifts He's Given You

During the spring of 2022 I embarked on a serious fast for 30 days, and that set me up to hear Him better. I was fasting for something specific, and I didn't get an answer on that. However, what changed was my ability to hear Him better. I could sense "where" He was moving, and I just followed.

I did another intense fast in October of 2022 and it was during this one that I had an overwhelming experience with the Holy Spirit, and He unlocked my ability to know what He was doing. Shortly after that He led me to study and learn about the gifts He had given me.

What's so odd about this entire experience with the Lord is the fact that I had studied gifting and how God gifts His children, but I had never spent time with Him learning about my gifts. The first time I felt as though I was given a purpose on earth was when my mom gave me a Myers Briggs test when I was 13. Reading the results I thought, "I was made on purpose!" Up until that point I was sure I was an accident. Or maybe more specifically, a cast-off.

Taking that test caused me to dive deeper into understanding the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But in all that getting and knowing, I missed what I was being drawn to, and I didn't lean into learning how to wield the gifts He gave me.

We need people to speak life into the areas that we are gifted and called to, but if you've never had that, don't fret. The Holy Spirit is the giver of gifts, and He Himself will give what He wants you to have and teach you about it.

Often we're so busy wanting what someone else has that we miss what our own gifts are. When we become more infatuated with someone else's life, their path and calling, we'll completely miss what our own is. God can't activate your gift if you're too busy watching someone else live out theirs.

After reading a few books that lit up the Holy Spirit's gifts in my life, the Lord took over and shaped and molded me into His service. Through praying and waiting on Him I learned what it was He wanted me to do for Him.

Understanding the ways in which the Holy Spirit has gifted you will change your walk with Him. It will ignite a purpose within you and give you a future and a hope.

I needed some deeper heart work before I could even get to this point. I needed His wisdom before I could walk in His gifting. I needed His friendship before I could understand how to wield the gifts He gives. Because they're His , not ours.

Not everyone requires the level of early training that God put me through. If you have wisdom, knowledge, you know how to call on Him but that's where you're stuck, then this is where you begin! Start fasting and seeking His face for the gifts He's given you. Take a spiritual gifts quiz. This will help you with where to start, and then let the Holy Spirit lead on.

My suggestion to you would be to take more than 1 quiz. Usually it's a combination of quizzes that help you hone in on the top 1-3 spiritual gifts that you have. Here are a few resources to help you get started:

https://giftstest.com/
https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/
https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/women-leadership-spiritual-gifts-growth-service
https://spiritualgiftstest.com/

Every believer has at least 1 gift. What I have found is that as you cultivate that gift (or gifts), the Holy Spirit sees you as faithful and He gives you more. This is the meaning of the parable of the talents. When we use what God has given us He opens the storehouses.

After you discover what your top few are, take a few days and pray about which one the Lord would like you to focus on. Ask Him to lead you to books or resources, to ministries or people who can give you the tools to grow in that gift. Don't be afraid to use what He has given you- this is one of the greatest keys to unlocking His will for your life.

Give Thanks, For This Is God's Will For Us

I probably should have put this as the number 1 thing!

"In every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Want to know God's will for you? Give thanks to Him in all circumstances.

We have a tendency to think He's against us when life is hard. But maybe, maybe, life is hard on purpose? Paul learned that all in circumstances He should give thanks to God because this is God's will for him. What is God's will for him? It's stated earlier in the verse: being thankful in every situation.

Paul's letters are a testimony to what God did in and through him. He was thrown in prison and people were saved because of it. He was beaten, abused and tormented, and people were saved because of it. He was shipwrecked and stuck on an island. and the entire crew witnessed the power of God. Not only that, but Paul was able to bring the gospel to the people of Malta as well!

Every circumstance is a chance for us to see where God is at work and how we can be a testimony for His goodness. When we went through hardship and God brought us through, we gave thanks. But during that season, I learned to give thanks.

One particular hardship was the last 6-8 weeks of my twin pregnancy. My body was shredding apart to accommodate 2 babies. Night after night I would cry for hours because of the pain. Instead of the Lord taking my pain, Jesus came to me night after night.

Every evening I had visions of His body being stripped of flesh, as lash after lash stripped His back. I saw His body nailed to a cross, the nails driving through skin, snapping tendons, and piercing veins. When the cross was thudded into place, His whole body slammed down the wood causing splinters to go into the open wounds.

And no, He didn't take my pain. Instead, He met me in mine by showing me His. I experienced the slightest, tiniest, not even a sliver of the pain He experienced for me. And He went through that for you too.

Now when I partake of communion I remember what He went through because He let me see it. Now when I eat the bread, I know what it meant and how broken He was for me. That's more than a gift, that's unbelievable understanding of His grace. I don't want to go back to that season, but I wouldn't trade that season out for anything easier. I got to know my Jesus through my suffering, and in that I give thanks.

It was excruciating bringing two babies into the world. It was horrific what He went through to forgive us. He delivered on a promise, and brought forth total and complete wholeness in Him.

Sometimes our circumstances are what they are because we're birthing a new way of thinking, believing or understanding - and some don't come through a painless delivery. And some deliveries are beautiful, powerful, and filled with glory!

But some require a deeper understanding of who He is and what He did - and we're not the best learners without some level of uncomfortable truth confronting our lopsided reality.

So, if your circumstances are less than ideal today, God's will for you is that you learn to praise Him in it and thank Him for it. Because He brought you here on purpose, for a purpose, to fulfill His will in your life. This isn't a punishment, it's a divine intervention to birth something new.

Now Walk In It

You're here, so chances are that you want to grow deeper in your understanding of God's will for your life. In that case, whichever point shed light on your life as an area that might be missing- that's the beginning point.

If it's wisdom, begin praying for wisdom. My prayers will get you started, but please make this yours! Find Bible verses about wisdom that resonate with you, and make a prayer out of it.

If deeper growth in your friendship with the Lord is where you're at- start calling Him instead of friends or family. It's not that they aren't good sources for us, but they often don't have the answers we're really seeking. It might feel good to call them, but that feeling doesn't last. So call on the Lord. His friendship lasts. And He's always available, day or night.

Maybe you're stuck on your purpose. Take a few spiritual gifts quizzes. If you already know your gifts, are you walking in them? The fullness of them? I just finished a book last week called Heavenly Secrets To Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts by Tracy Cooke. It's fantastic. He does a great job of breaking down each spiritual gift, praying for those gifts to activate, and how God has an assignment for each of us in this life. I highly recommend it!

Or perhaps none of those resonated but the final one. I never learned how to thank God for all things in my life, the good and the hard. But He taught me how.

Now I can clearly see when the enemy throws a dart, why he's throwing it, and what God's doing with it. The enemy can't throw anything at us unless God allows it or we give him access.

If we keep giving the enemy access to our lives, then we have to learn to cut him off. We can thank the Lord for those hard times. Because it was in that season that we learned how to cut off the giants head, to take back what the enemy stole, or to shut the door we opened.

This is also another lesson altogether but I'll briefly state the point of it here: if someone else kicked a door open in your life through trauma or abuse, those are doors you didn't open but God still needs to teach you how to shut them. This is where most of my hard situations came into play, it was in shutting these doors that I learned to thank God for what I didn't know I needed to learn.

In all things, we can thank God for His tender care, concern, and desire to see us free in Christ Jesus. No matter where you are on the journey today, He loves you and wants to bring you up higher and to grow deeper with Him.

Are you ready to walk in it?

All my love,

Jessica

Dreams & Visions: The Kitchen Is Like The Heart

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:58:08 GMT

"‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams."

Joel 2:28-29

The Lord is able to instruct us while we sleep. He gives counsel on what to pray, who to pray for, what to speak and when to stay silent. He shows us our future and gives us guidance in what is to come, sometimes long before it happens. He provides warnings and helps us thwart the enemies' evil plans. There's so much to learn from what He is speaking to us while we're sleeping!

If you haven't seen the introduction to dreams that I wrote, you can find it here: Diving Into Dreams: Learning How To Hear The Voice Of God In The Night . That is a good guide as to why God gives us dreams, what His purpose and plan is behind it, and how to begin praying and hearing Him speak when you sleep.

A few weeks ago I went into what it means when you dream of an attic space, you can find that here: Diving Into Dreams: The Attic Space of Our Minds and I spoke on what it means when you dream about being in a basement: Dreams & Visions: The Basement Floor of Our Hearts

Now, let's dive into the next part of our spiritual house: the kitchen.

Dreaming About Certain Places In A House

One element that the Lord has given me revelation into is when we're dreaming about certain parts of a house, and how that correlates to our waking life.

Because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, often the Lord will show us things about our lives by having us dream about certain rooms in the house. He hides messages for us in symbols, in parable form, to give us instruction about certain parts of our life that He's highlighting for us to work through with Him.

Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you,

Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own."

-1 Corinthians 6:19

Each room in a house represents a different part of our life, relationships, family, and areas God is highlighting to bring us into greater freedom with Him. Sometimes He shows us specific details if we're seeking greater clarity or asking Him for help in some area. If we get stuck, He often gives us dreams to show us where we're stuck, and how to become unstuck and move forward in our faith.

When You Dream About Being In A Kitchen...

So what does it mean when you dream of being in a kitchen, either in your house, or in someone else's "house"?

The kitchen is the heart of the home- and that's exactly what it means when you dream about being in a kitchen, you are seeing into your own heart in your spiritual "home" (The Holy Spirit's temple). The Lord will often reveal to you what's sitting in your heart, or what is affecting your heart, by way of it showing up in the "kitchen".

He can show you the spiritual state of your heart (is it cluttered, is it clean?), the problems in your heart (what's in your kitchen space with you?), the people who have access to your heart and how you feel about it. In all these cases, He's highlighting something to you.

Another element that's very common is dreaming about being in someone else's "kitchen" space. That is God revealing to you what is in their heart, hidden in their spiritual home. The Lord might show you this to be aware of someone's heart posture toward you, or to be aware of how they feel or think about you. What He shows you will reveal what might impact your relationship with them.

The Lord could also be showing you someone else's heart space (being in their kitchen) so that you have an understanding about how to pray for them, how to guard and protect yourself from them, or how to walk with them in relationship. (Or the reasons why you can't be in a relationship...)

When you draw near to the Lord, He will draw very near to you and show you things you do not know, to protect you and align you with His will. Pay attention to what He says about those who are around you!

Below I outlined a few dreams I have had, and then how the Holy Spirit interpreted those for me. In this way, I hope to share with you how the Lord reveals what's in your own heart, and in the hearts of those around you.

Example 1 - Friendships

I once had a dream in which I stood with another friend in a kitchen space. This friendship was new to me and just beginning to blossom. I had been praying for a few weeks asking the Lord if she would be a safe person for me to share my heart with, and then the Lord gave me this dream.

In the dream, I didn't recognize this kitchen, and everything was unfamiliar to me. Nothing about this space felt like my "home", which is how I knew the Holy Spirit was revealing to me that this was "her home," and more specifically, her heart. We were chatting at the kitchen counter and spending time together.

So what was the Lord showing me? I knew immediately that this was about my friend's heart posture toward me and not a revelation about my heart. Because the Lord was overhauling many friendships in my life at the time of this dream, I had become very aware that He wanted to be present in every relationship. I was learning to take direction from Him for every friendship, only allowing people in that He pre-approved. This dream was an answer to prayer for me- showing me the condition of her heart.

We were standing at the counter. A kitchen counter in a dream speaks of a few things: something on offer (something on the table, can be good or bad). If something is under the counter then it's likely a deceitful deal or bribe that's happening (and who it's happening with). That was not present in this dream.

A counter can represent the pulpit or the place in which we are fed. It's also (if it's in a kitchen), the place where we are served or receive nourishment and food. (Bible references: Acts 24:26, John 12:2, Ps 26:10 (bribery), Prov 21:14, Matt 15:22-28, John 6:67-68)

In this case, being at the counter with this friend was the Lord showing me that her heart was offering friendship and nourishment to my heart, and that I could offer her the same in return.

The Lord gave me this dream to show me that we will mutually edify and strengthen one another with nourishment (being at the counter together), and that I don't have to be cautious in a relationship with this person. This person's heart isn't turned against me and there aren't any hidden agendas or feelings that would be a source of confusion later on.

Often we can get into a friendship or relationship and become entangled in their web of emotions that aren't of the Lord - be ready to heed God's voice if He reveals something about someone's heart that is against you! It doesn't usually end up getting better without divine intervention.

Example 2 - What's Cooking

The kitchen is primarily used for cooking, and this will be a common theme within dreams as well. If you see someone cooking in your dream or you yourself are cooking, it's almost always a strong warning from the Lord. The only time it wouldn't be considered a very strong rebuke or warning from Him is if He tells you otherwise.

The first time we see cooking in scripture is when Jacob is preparing a stew in Genesis 25. Within this chapter, Jacob manipulate his twin brother into selling his birthright to him for some food. The next time we see cooking within the scriptures is when Rebekah advises her son to cook some food and give it to Isaac to thwart Isaac from blessing Esau as the firstborn. In both instances, we see treachery and manipulation involved with the cooking of a meal.

The word used in the Hebrew for Jacob cooking a stew is zûḏ - which means to deal proudly, to act presumptuously, presume, to deal arrogantly, to defy proudly, to boil or to seethe.

The same can be applied if we see it within our dreams. Now why is this such a strong warning from God? Because Jacob couldn't trust God to bring about His promises to him. Jacob didn't trust that the prophesy, which was spoken about him from birth (Gen 25:23), would come to pass by God's hand. He arrogantly assumed that God needed help in "getting the job done." Jacob acted presumptuously toward the Lord's plans by manipulating his family and the situation to get what he wanted.

If we receive a dream from the Lord and we are cooking something, God is warning us to stop trying to manipulate situations or people to get the outcome we desire! He won't stand for it! And He will end up disciplining us for it.

Jacob had to serve Laban, a man more manipulative and treacherous than himself. Jacob was disciplined for 20 years under Laban's hand of manipulation before he decided to move on from that place. God will teach you His ways and plans whether you like it or not. It's better to just wait on Him to orchestrate the circumstances to your advantage, than to manipulate the pieces yourself.

If you see someone cooking in a dream - this is a strong word of caution regarding that person's heart. This means that they are manipulating you, or they might speak well to you, but their heart is secretly against you. Spend time in prayer as to what the Lord would like you to do. Because one of the meanings of the word zûḏ is to boil or seethe in anger toward someone...be very prayerful about what God shows you.

I once had a dream in which I saw someone cooking in a kitchen and I passed by them and up a staircase to the attic. In this instance, the Lord was showing me that their manipulative actions and words had poisoned my heart (me passing them cooking in the kitchen), and that I needed to ascend higher with the Lord (up the staircase) by forgiving them and renewing my mind (attic) from their words and actions.

God often uses dreams to show us what He needs us to do in order to be truly free from the past. In this case, He was revealing to me who I needed to forgive and how to renew my mind from what was said and done against me. It didn't make their actions right, but it gave me freedom.

The most expensive commodity in the Bible is freedom. Jesus paid His life for it - to set us free from the wages of sin and death. If the Lord reveals what will set you free from the entanglement of sin and death, or other people's sin, heed His voice! Forgive! Move carefully! And spend time in prayer with Him when He reveals things to you.

Bible references: Gen 25:29-34, 2 Kings 4:39-40

Example 2 - Is Someone Baking?

Baking is similar to cooking - but with a slight twist. We are first introduced to a baker in Genesis 40, when Joseph interprets his dream and then it comes to pass. There's a really cool principle to see within the two interpretations of these dreams in this chapter.

Let's take a look at the cup-bearer and baker - both of whom were put in prison when they offended Pharoah.

In the first dream, the cup-bearer says this, "“In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me. The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes. I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” “This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer." (Gen 40:9-13)

The baker then gives Joseph his dream, "“I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head. The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.” “This is what the dream means,” Joseph told him. “The three baskets also represent three days. Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh.” (Gen 40:16-19)

The same amount of time was given to each man for the dream to come to pass, with differing results. Why? (This is also a parallel to Jesus being raised up in 3 days - and the devil being cast down in the same 3 days!)

The reason we see the cup-bearer and baker together is because it's an example of the wine and bread brought together - it's communion. This is a principle of partaking of the blood and body of Christ to forgive us of our sins. But the interpretation of these dreams shows us the difference between being attached to the vine, and what happens when we let go of the promises of God. Let me explain.

With the cup-bearer, this is the principle God is relaying. This servant takes ahold of the grapes and squeezes the juice into the cup for Pharaoh - the Lord is saying that those who take hold of the blood of Jesus (He is the vine, His blood the grapes), who truly grasp and apply what His blood did for us on the cross, will receive grace for their offences. Just as the cup-bearer was a servant of the king, so are we today. We can't add to what He did, we just grab hold of it and allow it to permeate our whole being- squeezing everything we can from His Word and applying it to our lives.

However, the baker represents the man who hears the truth (that Jesus is the Bread of Life), but allows the birds of the air (the devil) to steal the truth God has imparted to him. The devil attacks our minds - that's what he did to Jesus in the wilderness, using scripture as his basis for trying to get Jesus to sin against God. And it's what he did to Eve in the garden, lying to her so she would question God's voice. Satan hasn't changed. He comes in speaking deceit, and he's hoping you believe it.

When the Lord imparts His Word to us, the devil comes immediately to snatch it away. The Parable of The Sower in Matthew 13 speaks to exactly this: "Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up."

When the truth is imparted to us, we have to learn to seek the Lord if we don't understand it. If we doubt in our heart, that's the moment to cry out to the Lord to forgive us of our unbelief and to ask Him for help to believe His Word! It's only the Lord's wisdom and knowledge revealed to us that will help us understand what He had written. The devil tries to get in right away and steal that word of truth He gives. If we let the devil succeed, we will lose out on walking in that truth.

That's why this story about the baker and cup-bearer is so important. The cup-bearer takes hold of the promises of God, and squeezes them for all their worth, truly grasping onto God's Word with his hands. The baker on the other hand, allows the devil steal the word of God from his mind. Joseph is showing that if we let that happen, it will eventually lead to death in our lives.

Example 3 - Who Else (Or What Else) Is Present?

The main context of the dream will be centered around who else is present. If no one else is there, then the Lord is highlighting something that is within your own heart. What you're doing in the kitchen, is very likely the subject God is drawing your attention to.

Is this your kitchen now? Then He's showing you something in the present. Is this an apartment type of kitchen? Then this is likely about a particular time, or about a particular issue, and perhaps who was around you during that season of life. Is this a kitchen you don't recognize but has identifiable features?

Something that pops up for me frequently is a cabin-style kitchen. Cabin's are generally places we rest in during our wilderness seasons. Think about what a cabin is, it's a getaway location that you *sometimes* own where you spend a weekend or week. Cabins aren't your main home, but can be a home-away-from-home to spend some time during the summer or winter months. So if you see a cabin-style kitchen, perhaps the Lord is showing you this is a short resting place on your journey to where you're going.

I once was in a cabin, in the kitchen, and the Lord highlighted a specific area to me within the kitchen that He wanted me to focus on and nourish. I knew this was the focus I needed to have in my faith walk with Him over the next few weeks. The cabin can often represent a stop on our wilderness journey - it's not where we're headed, but it's a place to rest along the way.

Are you in the kitchen and passing through into another room? Then the Holy Spirit is drawing your attention to what is passing through your heart or is affecting your heart. (See my other dream articles for specific rooms and information about those rooms).

If someone else is present, then He is highlighting a specific relationship aspect. As I mentioned in the beginning, if it's someone else's kitchen, then this is their heart posture toward you. (The Lord might also give you a dream of someone else's kitchen if you will play a role in their life...see the dream below) If it's your kitchen, then this pertains to your heart posture toward them.

Dreaming Of Being In Someone Else's Kitchen (Heart)

I once had a dream in which I was standing in someone else's kitchen. The kitchen had commercial grade appliances and cupboards, suggesting that this wasn't a warm heart but rather a business as usual heart. Then I watched as an army came in, dressed in dark blue. They began to rip up the flooring, at the directive of a Man that very clearly was revealed to be the Holy Spirit. They replaced all of the flooring, and then the Holy Spirit came to me with a massive baby- I sank to the floor under the weight of the baby when He put it in my arms. I then got up and carried the baby to the bathroom, where I saw whose heart this belonged to. This person was in the bathroom, crying. I gently handed them the baby.

The army was God's army, or angel army. The commercial grade kitchen represents a business-like heart, one that is in the business of serving the Lord, but not in communion with the Lord. Think Mary and Martha - Martha was busy serving Jesus, and not learning how to enjoy the presence of Jesus. Mary understood and knew that there was nothing she could offer Him except herself. That's what the Lord was revealing to me about this person's heart. They are so busy serving Him, but they aren't enjoying Him.

But then, an army comes in (God's angel army), and they rip up the flooring - ripping apart the foundation of business-like religion. It's showing this person that serving, while it has it's place, isn't our main focus under the gospel of Jesus. Being in an intimate relationship with Him is the main priority.

The foundation is replaced, meaning the Holy Spirit will do a new work in this person's heart- laying a new foundation of understanding. The Holy Spirit will teach them how to simply be with Jesus and partake of His goodness.

The Spirit hands me a baby (a representation of a promise from God, a brand new way of thinking, something new being birthed in the Spirit). This means I will likely be present for the birth of the promise, or have a role of some kind. It might also mean that my role is simply to pray and intercede on behalf of this person - to pray for the things the Lord showed me in the dream to come to pass.

I then bring this promise to the person who is in a bathroom, which is how I suddenly realized whose heart this was and what God was doing. Being in the bathroom is an indication of a deep spiritual cleansing work and renewal of the mind (and clearly, the heart). When I handed her the baby, that was the end of the dream.

In this case I was able to see that the foundation of someone else's heart needed to be redone and the Holy Spirit would oversee the work. This process will change the commercial grade kitchen (being busy serving God), into a homey kitchen that welcomes the presence of Jesus and enjoys what He's done. This new heart will become a resting place for Jesus, doing His will no matter what.

The Heart Of The Matter

Whatever the Lord is showing you, it's to bring you into greater freedom. I think one of the hardest things to do is forgive someone who has wronged us. It's also tough to receive a message about someone we love who doesn't love us back in the same way, or has ill intentions toward us.

The Lord will often give me warnings of someone's repressed jealousy, manipulation or unresolved triggers by showing me what's in their kitchen (heart). While the information stings, the consequences of ignoring it tend to be much worse. It's better to pull back and allow time and prayer to do the heavy lifting, than to end up stabbed in the back by a friend or family member later down the line.

And when the Lord shows you what's in your heart, do the hard heart work and forgive, let go, renounce the wrong feelings or emotions, and leave it all at the foot of the cross.

I know forgiving seems hard because you were wronged, but forgiveness isn't reconciliation- it's not always what God is asking you to do. He's just asking you to let Him have it, and to let go of it. And if a reunion is meant to happen in the future, He'll let you know and lead you there.

Sometimes He shows us what we cook up, what we're busy baking, and He's asking us to let Him work the situation out on our behalf. Maybe He reveals how "commercial" our kitchen is, and He's saying it's time to sit down at His feet and stop serving up what He never asked us to. The Man who multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish doesn't need us to serve Him dinner! He just asks us to enjoy the one He made. His invitation is to sit down, eat of His Word and enjoy what He did - all of it. He did all of it. Every single thing you can think of was nailed to that cross - so receive it.

Writing to you with joy,

Jessica

Dreams & Visions: The Basement Floor of Our Hearts

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 14:52:42 GMT

"‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams."

Joel 2:28-29

The Lord is able to instruct us while we sleep. He gives counsel on what to pray for, who to pray for, what to speak and when to stay silent. He shows us our future and gives us guidance in what is to come, sometimes long before it happens. He gives warnings and helps us thwart the enemies' evil plans. There's so much to learn from what He is speaking to us while we're sleeping!

A few weeks ago I went into what it means when you dream of an attic space, you can find that here: Diving Into Dreams: The Attic Space of Our Minds

Now, let's dive into the next part of our spiritual house: the basement.

Dreaming About Certain Places In A House

One element that the Lord has given me revelation into is when we're dreaming about certain parts of a house, and how that correlates to our waking life.

Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own.

-1 Corinthians 6:19

So what does it mean when you dream of being in a basement, or being in a very low level (underground), either in your house, or in someone else's "house"? I'm going to share what God showed me, and give you some Bible verses for further study.

When You Dream About A Basement

The basement is the bottom room of your home, and it correlates to the deep depths of the feelings and thoughts that you have in your heart. Did you know that scripture says your heart has thoughts?

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

-Proverbs 23:7

So not only does your mind have the ability to think, your heart does too. "While not in the same way as the brain, the heart does have its own nervous system and can process information, make decisions, and adapt to physiological demands, leading some to refer to it as a "little brain". This "heart brain," or intrinsic cardiac nervous system, contains around 40,000 neurons that are similar to those found in the brain, and it plays a crucial role in regulating heart rhythm and responding to the body's needs." ( Your Heart Has a Brain of Its Own )

What science discovers, the Bible has already confirmed!

The basement is (most often) referring to what is being revealed to us in the very depths of our hearts. We aren't often aware of what's in our heart, or what we're really feeling. We think we know, but the Bible declares in Jeremiah 17:9,

“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?"

This word deceitful is the Hebrew word ʿāqōḇ - it can be translated as crooked, deceitful, polluted, foot-tracked, hilly or steep. It's rather like saying, "my heart is hard to decipher, the terrain of it is tough to walk on."

But God knows our hearts and He treads upon it! Most often we aren't even fully aware of what we're feeling, or thinking in our hearts, but God knows it all! And He reveals to us the innermost part of us, and shows us what's hidden in the depths.

The next time you read this verse I don't want you to feel badly about your heart, but rather, invite the Lord into it to walk upon it. Ask Him to reveal to you what's hidden there, this is how intimacy grows between you and your Heavenly Father.

On occasion, the basement, or underground, can mean hell- that would be a very specific dream and I would imagine you would know if you were dreaming about a place in hell.

At other times, the basement can represent the place where we are hiding: meaning the place where we might be hiding from ourselves, hiding our feelings, or hiding from God.

The basement floor can represent depression, the place we feel the most sad or despondent toward the Lord (could be why He's revealing it! He wants us to be free from anything or anyone that prevents us from moving forward in faith).

And lastly, the basement can represent the deepest parts of our heart that is weak toward the flesh and ways of the flesh. It's the untrained and uncaptured feelings or fleshly desires that are not submitted to God and His authority.

All in all, the most general reason you would dream of a basement is if God is drawing your attention to deep feelings that have been stored away, or locked up, feelings you haven't wanted to "deal with." This might be feelings of resentment, anger, bitterness, jealousy, pride, anguish toward someone or something. I outlined a few examples below that will show you how God might highlight these areas to you.

Why would God reveal your deepest feelings to you? Because if you don't know about it, or can't name it, then you can't deal with it. Period.

Did you notice that Jesus had people name things to Him when He spoke to them in the scriptures? He would say things like: "what do you want?" (John 1:38) Or He would say "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark 10:36, 51)

We have to be able to name something before we can deal with something!

During an instance when I was dealing with a "basement" feeling, I was skirting around the issue of what I really felt when the Holy Spirit stopped me and said, "Name it!" I didn't want to. It was such an ugly feeling, so awful I didn't want to put words to it. And again, the Holy Spirit almost growled at me and said, "Name it Jessica!" So I said out loud, "I hate..." and I named it in His presence.

As soon as I said those words about what I was feeling, the literal weight of what I had been carrying dropped off my shoulders, and peace flooded into my heart. Even as I write this, I can see in the Spirit that I had carried a very burdening weight of hatred- and it caused me to sag because of it.

I needed to put words to it in order to reveal what was hidden in the depths of me. Once I said it, the weight of hatred lost its power over me, and the anger I felt began to flow out of my heart like poison being extracted.

And that's what God is often revealing to us when we're sleeping - if we dream of a basement, He's showing us what's hidden there. If someone is in the basement, He's revealing to you what you really feel about that person. Maybe you dream of your hidden sin in the basement- that's God revealing what's hidden in your heart and what has a stronghold on your life. If it's in the temple, and it's unholy, it's going to prevent you from walking fully with Christ into greater areas of faith. It must go!

Basements don't usually have windows, they're damp and dark, and it's because that's how our hearts operate also. They are dark areas where feelings can bubble around and no one knows about it. But God knows, and He sheds light on our dark places. There might not be windows, but God's light is all the window we need to defeat the darkness and move forward in our walk with Him.

If we can't learn to name it, then we can't be free from it!

Basement Details

Let's go over a few details that could pop up in a basement dream/scenario and what they could each represent. This might help you as you're working out your interpretation with the Spirit!

Some things, we don't have the capacity to deal with at the time that it happened. This is why the Lord could be revealing things to you from many years ago, because at that time your body, mind and soul didn't have the ability to process what happened. But now, the Lord believes you are ready to handle what He is showing you.

Going down to the basement

Going down the stairs to the basement = descending into the depths of your heart. Going down the stairs means descending into the depths to get to the bottom of your heart, and what is happening in there.

'Descending' isn't always a bad thing- it can sometimes mean going down into the depths of a feeling, a memory, a moment, a relationship, an idea, etc. In Genesis 28 we see that angels are ascending and descending on a ladder reaching to heaven. Sometimes "going down" isn't bad, but it might feel like it.

So if you see yourself 'going down' to the basement, it's probably the Lord calling your attention to 'go down into the depths' of a certain feeling, relationship, or memory. He might be asking you to stay in that room or place with Him and fully work it out.

What does this look like? It looks like sitting across the table from a friend at coffee, or going to a counseling session. I heard a pastor say recently, "We've lost the art of understanding the Holy Spirit was given to us as a Counselor." Wow! Preach it pastor!

We've forgotten that the Holy Spirit is our perfect Counselor! He's so much better than any professional you'll ever go to. I'm not saying don't get counseling, but I am saying, if they aren't a Christian- find a different one. And if they aren't pointing you back to Jesus? Stop going immediately!

And they should never supplement the True Counselor, He should be the first Person we seek for advice. If you go to your counselor first, and the Holy Spirit last, it's time to change that! You won't see your life change without the Lord being the First Person in your life, period.

I once had a vision of how this works. I wrote about it in Invite Jesus To Be Your Best Friend , you can read it there. But generally speaking, late at night or early before anyone else rises, go sit on your couch with a cup of tea or coffee, and just start pouring your heart out about the situation or person God is drawing your attention to. Tell Him everything. Ask for His advice, ask for His guidance. Let go of the feelings you have about this person or situation or memory by forgiving them, and repent of any wrongful thoughts or feelings you have. Anything that comes to mind, say it to Jesus! Be honest with the Holy Spirit.

This is a simple example of how to begin seeing the Holy Spirit as your Counselor, but it really is that simple. We're the ones that overcomplicate our relationship with Him.

Boxes or bags in the basement

Boxes or bags in the basement = the Lord showing you what might be "cluttering" your heart and needs to be opened up and dealt with.

Boxes (especially if it's not open) usually represents a memory or feeling or past situation that has been "put into storage." If it shows up in the attic, then it's a memory that has affected the way you think. If it shows up in the basement, then it's something that has affected the way you feel.

Some things are so bad that we don't have the capacity to deal with it at the time it happens. Maybe we were too young or immature when the situation took place- so it went into a box to be dealt with at a later date.

We have a tendency to think that if we just "put it away" then it's been dealt with...not so. Our bodies hold onto those feelings and memories for us, and until we unpack them and open them up, we won't be able to move on from it.

Bags *usually* represent a burden or carrying baggage. That burden could be money, needing to feel secure, something about business or your job, carrying oppression or issues from the past...etc.

If it's in a bag vs a box, then it's probably the Lord calling your attention to that this is something that has burdened your heart and is physically weighing you down spiritually. Jesus calls us to "cast all of our cares onto Him, because He cares for us." So, if a bag shows up, the Lord is saying, "cast that care onto Me! I can take care of it better than you ever could."

Cast it, put it down at the foot of the cross. Let it go! Live free and find rest in Jesus.

Boxes are memories/situations, and bags are cares and burdens. Both can leave a weighty feeling deep within the depths of your heart.

Being in a specific room in the basement

Being in a specific room in the basement = pay attention to what kind of room it is, it's probably the Lord showing you what part (room) of your heart needs to be examined with Him.

Rooms often represent chambers of the heart, or a certain part of the heart. Is an office in the basement? Then the Lord is calling your attention to your job or position, possibly the place in which we do business with God, or a kingdom office or position. What was in this place? Start examining your feelings about one of those things with the Holy Spirit.

Was it a bedroom in the basement? Bedrooms represent intimacy and union - what was in the bedroom? Who was in the bedroom? What feelings do you have about the person or objects in the bedroom? That's a pretty big clue to the meaning of the dream.

Is a kitchen in your basement? Now, that would be something to unpack! I can't do it all here, but I can give you a general definition and you can take it from there with God. Kitchen's represent our heart (not our deepest feelings in the heart), but our heart and the things we are aware of, if even subconsciously. We'll go into the whole kitchen later.

But, if you find yourself in a basement kitchen, then the Lord is uncovering deep seeded feelings you have in your heart that you're not willing or wanting to deal with. Because the kitchen is the heart, if the heart is in the basement, then you're probably burying what you feel, your motives and plans, passions or ambitions, affections, or intents. It's almost like you're trying to pretend or cover up what you know you're feeling or thinking, and burying it in the basement.

Hallways = a passage in time or life/a specific journey. This could be a journey with someone that you took in the past or will take in the future- and your deepest feelings on it.

Bathrooms = an area of repentance/cleansing/conviction that is being brought to the surface. Bathrooms can also be a hidden secret or lust of the flesh, and that cleanup is required. If it's an old bathroom in the basement, then old issues of the heart and your deep feelings on it that need to be examined.

..........

Let me just pause here for a moment and say: bringing up memories, or issues, or hidden sins in the presence of the Lord, won't be the death of you. The death of your flesh yes, but not the death of you as a person. The devil has been lying to people for a really long time, telling us that we can't be or share the worst of us with the Lord. News flash! Jesus already knows it and died for it! So we might as well be honest with Him about what He died for!

Some of these things are going to make you cry, and can I just tell you, crying won't kill you ? Did you know there is a healing process that happens in your brain, body, and heart when you shed physical tears?

Dreams are often an opportunity way that God is using to speak to us about things we need to be honest about with Him. So cry if you feel like it. Rage for a minute if you need to (but, you know, not on your spouse or kids. Do that in the car by yourself or something. God can take your anger, your kids shouldn't have to).

Ok, just had to say that before we move on.

..........

There are other rooms in the basement, living rooms = God exposing something or making public a particular thought or feeling you have. Living rooms are also where truth is exposed without hypocrisy. It's also the public area of our relationships...

Cellars, ooh, that must be a deep, dark thought that's been preserved by you.

There's more to this, but for the sake of this article, let's keep moving.

Basements can flood!

It's the bottom part of our physical house, and the same is true of our spiritual temple.

In real life, if we get too much rain and not enough sun, then our basements can become flooded. The same thing can be paralleled in a spiritual sense- if the enemy comes against us in an onslaught (like in Isa 59:19), then our hearts can be flooded.

If we don't spend enough time with the SON of God to dry up those flood waters, we will be inundated by the devil's attacks!

So, when the devil comes in like a flood, go straight to the Son to dry up those waters. If Satan's attacking you 24/7, you better be soaking yourself in the Word 24/7, constantly worshipping, listening to sermons, reading Christian books.

And if you're telling me, "I work, I can't possibly be in the Word 24/7!" Ok, but can you put worship music on when you're doing emails? Can you listen to sermons in the car to and from work, and spend time in your Bible after your kids go to bed instead of watching TV? I think the answer is yes to at least one of those, and that's the answer to your flooding problem.

Be with the Son, and don't focus on the devil's raindrops. It's the only way to power through a season like this without ending up under water.

Many basements have gyms!

Working out or being in a gym is an example of doing the physical exercise of faith.

What kind of exercise are you doing? Lifting weights is building your faith. If you're overexerting yourself then it could be taking on more than you can handle. If you're working out with someone it could be doing faith beside someone, or if you're spotting someone it might be helping them with their burden. Just be careful to not take on someone else's sins or burdens! They need to feel the weight and impact of that themselves.

But if you're just doing general weight lifting, then it's likely that you've moved into a season of learning how to build your faith in a specific area.

Are you stretching? That is preparing for ministry (stretching your muscles of faith), waking up to something spiritual or being taken to the next level in your faith. Enlarging what you can carry...

Stretching can also mean exaggerating something (if the dream appears to be in a negative context), or forcing dominion or physical power over something or someone.

Most often, stretching will appear as your faith being stretched for ministry or enlarging your capacity.

The type of exercise is important. You might need to spend some time with the Lord if He shows you something different than what I mentioned.

Unfinished Basement?

Some basements never get finished. Do you know someone who has remained bitter or angry their whole life? I bet the depths of their heart looks a lot like an unfinished basement.

Maybe it's moldy or mildewy - living on old manna or yesterday's revelation instead of going to Jesus today, because He is our daily bread.

If there is a specific area that's unfinished, God is showing you that is where He's looking to transform you.

Maybe the space isn't unfinished but it's under construction. Construction signals that the Holy Spirit has been invited into the depths of your heart and He's overhauling your feelings and emotions. There is an acknowledgement on your part that you need to renew your feelings, renew your emotions, and your heart is currently "under construction." A dream like this is a really good sign! Keep doing the hard work with the Lord to submit your heart to Him.

Is it dark down there?

Probably means Christ hasn't been invited in to transform your heart, because He is the light of the world and when He's been inviting in, He lights up every space He enters.

You can recognize Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and yet keep Him out of the depths of your heart and mind. You get to choose what you invite Him into, what areas of your life you decide to surrender to His Lordship.

If it's dark in the basement, perhaps the Holy Spirit is saying, "Hey! Let's turn some light on here! Invite Jesus into this dark space!"

Dark rooms or dark hearts can also represent areas of our life that have a demonic presence, an area we're blind to or that we're actively living in sin. Might be something we do in secret that we don't want Jesus to shed His light on, maybe because we're lying to ourselves or to Him about our secret desires.

Demonic oppression can also come from sin done to us. I want to say this with sensitivity, but also speak directly; in the occurrence of rape, that's a sin done to someone against their will, and it opens up a demonic door in their life. If this happens (or something of a similar nature), then go into the Lord's presence and confess everything that happened to you, how you felt, how you feel now, lay it all down. Get it all out there with Him. And then, here's a prayer you can pray to close this area off from the enemy that forced his way into your life:

Lord Jesus, heavenly Father,

This happened against my will. This happened to me against Your will.

Today, I break agreement with what happened,

and I declare that this evil done to me is not mine to own!

I did not welcome this, I did not invite this.

I shut the door on the enemy that forced his way in.

Where the enemy sowed darkness, Jesus flood me with Your light.

Jesus, cover me with Your precious blood that bought my freedom.

I receive healing for that which was hurt,

I receive peace where the enemy tried to sow war, conflict and trouble against me.

I receive Your joy, infuse my heart with gladness and give me 100-fold joy for every bit of pain that I endured.

I give You my sadness, my pain, my anguish, and I receive instead the goodness of the Lord.

In Your Holy Name I pray, Jesus,

Amen

When you are robbed of your light, when someone steals your dignity, inviting Jesus into that place of pain and shame is the path to freedom. He wants you to know His love, and to feel His peace and joy pour over you to heal any area the enemy tried to take from you.

You know when you've been in a dark room for awhile, and you turn the lights on? It stings for a minute, makes your eyes water. That might happen when Jesus floods the dark places of your heart with His light. Don't flee though it feels uncomfortable. Instead, learn to embrace the feeling of His light on your face. He loves you so much, and He wants something so different for you then darkness.

Let Him bring His light! It will break you free from the chains of bondage and darkness, and a new day will dawn as you let go of the night.

Why Is Dealing With The Depths Of Us Important?

Most of us cry out for a deep, intimate relationship with the Lord. Most of us desire something really great with Him! The depths of us wants the heights He could give us, but we can't go higher if we don't first go lower.

It's often what's hidden in the dark that prevents us from going higher with Him into the light. So why does God reveal deep things in our hearts? Because it's these motives, intents, feelings, triggers- that keeps us from hearing Him. These unboxed memories clutter our hearts, and clutter prevents clarity.

Want to know what He's saying to you? Start dealing with unforgiveness, bitterness, anger you have toward someone. Want to know what His plan is for your life? It comes through the renewal of your mind and putting off the things of this world. Now we know the heart has a "mind of its own" - so let your heart be transformed to His Word.

"And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]."

-Romans 12:2 AMP

Being transformed and progressively changed by God's Word is how we begin to perceive His will for us. Does His Word say forgive? Generally speaking, the basement dreams will show what we're holding on to, those are the areas that are blocking us from hearing Him speak clearly, and knowing what His will and plan is for our lives.

We all want to experience more of Him, letting Him into the depths of your heart is where you will encounter Jesus, see the face of the Father, and begin hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. Fling wide the door to your heart! He's so looking forward to going on this journey of faith with you.

Writing to you with joy,

Jessica

Prayer To Hear From God In Your Dreams

Lord God, I pray that You would activate within me the ability to hear You speak when I sleep.

Bypass my senses, my reasoning, my logic, and give me Your senses, Your reasoning, Your wisdom and understanding.

Your Word says that Your ways are not my ways, Your thoughts are not my thoughts.

So, give me Your ways, and give me Your thoughts.

While I sleep, open up my ability to hear You clearly.

Speak to me while I rest.

I pray for deep, restful sleep.

I pray for sleep that refreshes, for sleep that heals.

Anything that You want to reveal to me about my past, my present, or my future, do so when I close my eyes.

I pray for Your divine protection over me when I sleep, that it wouldn't be a time of terror but a time of revelation from You.

And I pray that when I wake and approach You to understand what You have said,

That You would answer me when I call, and give me clarity when I ask for it.

I pray for ears that hear, a heart that understands Your will, ways, leading and voice.

I give myself to You.

I give my dreams to You.

Be my God in this area of my life.

In Jesus' Name I pray,

Amen

Beautiful Cities in the South of France

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 19:23:07 GMT

We flew into Paris and spent several days there before boarding a train and heading to the South of France. As we were leaving Paris my daughter looked over at me and said, "Can we come back? You and me? I love this city." Girl after my own heart.

But the South of France did not disappoint- and ended up being our favorite part of France. We rented an Airbnb in the little town of Èze, located 7 miles to the east of Nice.

At the train station we rented a car. If you can swing it, I highly recommend it! While I didn't drive it at all so I can't speak to the ease of driving on French roads- my husband loved the experience and it was nice to not have to depend on train station schedules and taxis to get around. We were able to pick up and take off whenever we wanted - and it allowed us to explore some little known areas along the coastline.

Èze, France

Our French Riviera vacation began in Èze. We picked it because of how central it was to some of the sights we wanted to see ( Monaco being one of those places!) and for the beautiful view from the house. It also had a pool, which our kids loved.

After unpacking and settling in, we hit a local grocery store to get some supplies and prepare for our week-long stay.

Our Airbnb had 3 bedrooms upstairs, each with their own air-conditioning units. Two of the bedrooms open up to a balcony that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. The master bedroom has its own bathroom with a rain shower, and the other two bedrooms share a bathroom between them. There was plenty of closet space, a washer & dryer, and we loved the outdoor patio! I spent most of my mornings here in my Bible study looking out at the sea. It was perfect.

This is where we stayed, in case you're interested in being in a similar location: Èze, France Airbnb .

Èze is a seaside community, but the village nearby dates back to the medieval times. It was first populated in 200 BC and was occupied by the Romans and later the Moors.

French and Turkish troops both vied for control of the village - and in April 1860 it was finally designated as part of France. There's rich history surrounding the town and we loved being here.

La Turbie

A 12 minute drive to the east and north of Èze is a small town called La Turbie. It borders the principality of Monaco, and gives you a great view overlooking Monaco City and the Mediterranean Sea. It was established in 7-6 BC and the original medieval village still exists today.

La Turbie is probably most famous for the monument, the Trophy of Augustus. This monument was built in 7 BC in honor of Augustus's triumph over the 45 tribes that occupied the Alps. Tickets can be purchased at the base of the park which gives you access to the monument. The Trophy of Augustus is climbable and the views from the top are worth the trek up!

Menton, France

Menton is probably best known for its beaches, gardens, and colorful buildings. Menton is located past Monaco, and is just west of the Italian boarder on the Mediterranean. We spent an afternoon here on the beach, exploring downtown, and eating sandwiches from a local restaurant. If you have an afternoon or a day, this is a charming town to visit in the South of France!

Nice, France

Nice was our final destination in our southern France tour. It's famous for it's pebbly beaches, incredible food, architecture and colorful buildings. It would be easy to spend many days here!

We started our tour of the city by heading up to Castle Hill. Colline du Château was a military citadel built on top of a hill overlooking the bay below. Today it's a park, but it stood as a castle from the 11th - 18th century until it was destroyed in 1706 by French troops.

Within the park grounds, there are restrooms, a playground, old ruins of the former castle, an ice cream shop and a cafe. Hike up the hill or take the elevator to the top!

Wherever you travel to in the South of France you're sure to have a good time and fall in love with it. Every sight was incredible, the food was fantastic, and we enjoyed our time. We loved it so much that we didn't want to leave! Usually we long for our own beds after awhile, but this place captured our hearts and it was hard to let go.

If you've been, share your favorite spots! We're hoping to get back again someday.

As always -

Happy Traveling, Jessica

Making Memories In Monaco City

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 14:54:27 GMT

Part of our amazing France trip this summer included a day trip to Monaco City, Monaco. We flew into Paris , and spent several days there. Then we took the train to Nice, and stayed in Eze. While in Eze, being only 10 minutes from Monaco, we drove over and spent an entire day in the city!

Most of our day trip was spent on The Rock of Monaco , a 203 ft tall flat rock that boasts the Prince's Palace, incredible gardens, walkable streets and other historic buildings. It's a very easy day-trip, and our kids did a fabulous job of handling it. The day we went was warm, right around 90° - but they still did great! Ice cream toward the end definitely helped with the heat.

Without further ado, here are some of our favorite things to see on The Rock in Monaco City.

Prince's Palace of Monaco

The Prince's Palace is the current residence of the sovereign prince of Monaco. It was built in 1191 as a fortress and became the stronghold of the Grimaldi family. Throughout the years it has been besieged and captured by many foreign powers.

Now, the palace is home to Prince Rainier's son Prince Albert II. The state rooms are open in the summer to the public.

To get to the palace, which is located on the Rock of Monaco, you can either take a bus to the top, or hike to the top. It's a rather steep incline, 62 feet up, but it's very doable! Our twins were able to do it, and they're 5.

The hike is a mix of stairs and inclines. The beginning of the hike is in the woods, which turns into the fortress walls near the top. The first thing you will see when you get to the top of the Rock is the Prince's Palace.

Jardins Saint-Martin

As you walk past the Prince's Palace, toward the edge of the city, you will find the opening to the Saint-Martin Gardens. The gardens are a series of paths with sculptures, lush greenery, and beautiful views of the Mediterranean. There are bathrooms within the gardens as well, in case you need to use them.

There are several overlooks that are great spots to take pictures or enjoy the view. We walked past fountains, which the kids loved. The flowering trees were a big hit. But the part our kids loved the most, is a pathway filled with cactus and desert vegetation. Along this path are geckos and lizards! That was a highlight.

Within the grounds is the Princess Grace Statue and Statue du Prince Albert Ier, as well as other wonderful statues.

Musée océanographique de Monaco

The Museum of Oceanography is a museum of marine sciences just past the gardens on the Rock. It's a museum filled with sea life and includes a variety of ocean related objects such as ships, tools, weapons, and animal skeletons. And the basement level has a massive aquarium with over 4,000 types of fish.

The museum took 11 years to build, using over 100,000 stones from La Turbie, and it towers over the Mediterranean. This museum can also be seen from the Jardins Saint-Martin.

(See my article on La Turbie! Another fabulous city that we enjoyed so much)

Chapelle de la Visitation

The Museum of the Chapel of Visitation is an art museum and Roman Catholic chapel. It's open for visitation 10:00am-4:00pm daily.

Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate

The Cathedral was built from 1875 to 1903 and consecrated on June 11, 1911. The current church is located on the site of the first parish church in Monaco, which was constructed in 1252. It was dedicated to its patron Saint Nicholas.

Within the cathedral walls is where many of the Grimaldi family members are buried, including Prince Rainier III and his wife Grace, Princess of Monaco. Also found here is the transept, the high altar, and the episcopal throne.

The church is open daily from 9:00am-6:00pm and it's free to walk through and spend time there.

Monaco Courthouse

The Monaco Supreme Court is the highest court of law in the city-state of Monaco for judicial appeals and administrative issues. Members of the supreme court must be at least 40 years of age and are French jurists, either professors of public law, or members of the French Court of Cassation, or Council of the State .

The Courthouse is located across the street from Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate, and down the road from Prince's Palace. It's also near the entrance of the gardens!

The Monaco Open Air Cinema

Visit the The Monaco Open Air Cinema! An outdoor movie theater showing films on the cliffside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea!

Located next to the Musée océanographique de Monaco, it's easy to walk to. Their website shows what will be airing, as well as showtimes and pricing.

Visit The Chocolaterie de Monaco

This shop is has been a chocolate confectioner since 1920 and offers gourmet chocolates, tea, coffee, donuts and desserts. We stopped in for a brief rest from walking around and touring everything on the Rock.

Our kids enjoyed some chocolate covered nuts, and my husband and I got an Italian hot chocolate. Wow. Delicious.

On Your Way Down...

When you're ready to head back down, be sure to stop by the Vue panoramique sur Monaco - a lookout spot along the path back to Monaco City that offers a beautiful view of the harbor and city beyond.

Or stop on your way up! Either way, it's a great spot to take in the view of Monaco.

There is so much to do and see beyond The Rock as well. We didn't venture past the harbor (though we did enjoy watching yachts coming in and out!) because our kids had had enough after The Rock. Traveling with children is definitely a different experience than without. Certain parts of our adventure days needed to be modified so they could handle the sightseeing. Their brains get tired faster than ours do!

But! If you're heading to the city and want to see more, here are a few other places to explore:

Jardins de la Petite Afrique - lush gardens filled with exotic plants and flowers
Casino de Monte-Carlo - the very famous casino that opened its doors in the late 1850's/early 1860's and continues to leave a legacy worldwide today
Opéra de Monte-Carlo - the opera house is known for its incredible architecture and began operation in 1879
The shopping
The beaches
Le Jardin Japonais - Princess Grace Japanese Garden
The Champions Promenade - waterfront street with feet imprints of famous soccer players
Port Hercule - the only deep water port in Monaco
Port de Fontvieille - a rock sheltered port that can be seen from The Rock and Saint-Martin Gardens
Jardin de l'Unesco - UNESCO Garden featuring large sculptures and beautiful flowers

And that's just a few items to consider!

While the entire country of Monaco is only 514 acres, there's so much to do and see within the small area. If you go, let me know!

As always -

Happy Traveling, Jessica

Passing Through Paris, Our French Family Vacation

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:37:36 GMT

"Paris is always a good idea"

-Audrey Hepburn

It's been on my list to visit Europe for a long time - but life just kept happening.

The timing finally worked out and we booked our tickets for Paris! Our kids being a little older before we took a big trip like this was one of the things we were waiting on. Now that the twins are 5, this kind of trip felt possible.

We flew into Paris, France, spent several days here before taking the train to Nice. Thinking about taking a trip to Paris and wondering if you can do it with kids? Yes you can! Here is everything we fit into the 4 days we spent in Paris!

Day 1 - Exploring The 2nd Arrondissement

The neighborhood we booked our Airbnb in was the 2nd arrondissement - and we found that it worked extremely well for sightseeing and relaxing. Because the neighborhood was quieter than being right next to the Eiffel Tower, but also a quick 12 minute walk to The Louvre, it was the perfect area for our kids to be able to go to sleep easily without any noise, but also not too far to walk to the sights.

Our first day in town we spent exploring near our place.

The Square Louvois was right down the street from us, and our kids spent a few minutes playing on a teeter-totter in the park. The fountain in the center of the square is near the entrance of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and it was created in 1830 by Louis Visconti as an homage to the four largest rivers in France.

We left the park and headed to the Palais-Royal and the Jardin du Palais Royal. The gardens are beautiful to walk through, worth taking some time to do it.

The Palais-Royal was built in the 1630s by Cardinal Richelieu for his art collection. When he died, King Louis XIV took over the ownership of the property, and then it passed along to the Dukes of Orleans, and then Marie Antoinette before it's destruction in the Franco-Prussian war. Much of it has been restored or is in the process- we saw some scaffolding and projects happening while we were there.

We had a late lunch at a cafe near the palace, and then decided to head in for evening and put the kids to bed early. Because we had an overnight flight, we managed to get a few hours of sleep on the plane, but we all needed a solid night's sleep to have a successful next day.

We ordered food in that first evening, ate and put our kids to bed by 6;30pm. They slept for over 15 hours that first night- Mikael and I couldn't believe it. If you travel with kids, plan to have an early first night! It worked wonders for us, and after that everyone was adjusted without any jet lag issues.

Day 2 - The Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral & Île de la Cité

In terms of walking and sightseeing, this day ended up being our most impressive- we probably did 6-7 miles. Somehow, our kids made it! There was ice cream bribery involved, so there is that.

After our amazing night's sleep, we headed out to The Louvre . I bought tickets in advance, and they do say to be there 30 minutes prior to the time stated on your tickets to line up and get in. Our kids hated that part. It was warm, but not awful.

We waited in line and got in right around 11:30am- and spent 2-3 hours there. It was about all our kids could handle, and I don't know about you, but after awhile my brain was tired and all the images began to blur together.

It is definitely a place I would love to visit again in the future and spend an entire day at. My oldest, after seeing the Eiffel Tower turned to me and said, "Can we come back mommy? This is such a cool city." Maybe we'll do a mother-daughter trip one day and mosey through The Louvre again.

The Mona Lisa is small, and the space is crowded- but you have to see it if you're there. We whizzed through that room pretty quickly.

The paintings are unbelievable. So much of the artwork I studied my Freshman year of college in Art History, and it's something else to see it in person.

But the rooms I was most enthralled with were the Egyptian artifacts, The Hebrew history and biblical items, and much of the history of the Grecian/Persian/Babylonian empire eras. Those rooms I would love to spend more time in and absorb the culture and treasures.

We left The Louvre and headed to a nearby restaurant, Café des Arts for a late lunch. It was at the cafe that Skylar realized France has a delightful bread called croissants. She fell in love and ate them the entire time we were there.

After The Louvre we walked across the Seine to Île de la Cité where we saw the Notre Dame. Parts of it are still under construction after the fire in 2019.

We explored side streets around the island and that became one of our favorite parts of the day. We passed by two women at a coffee shop and one woman was telling her friend that she's from a state called Minnesota, and was trying to describe it to her. It was a unique moment when we were passing and ended up sharing about our home state with a complete stranger!

But we also found a police station on one of those side streets, and Erik was in heaven watching cop cars and motorcyclists come and go.

After seeing the Notre Dame and exploring the Île de la Cité, we headed back toward where we were staying. We had dinner at a cafe on our way back, got the kids ice cream as an incentive to keep going (it does work)!

All in all, a really impressive day considering our kids were tired and we had walked many miles. They all crashed when we got home and we made our plans for another day of sightseeing.

Day 3 - Palace of Versailles & Palais Garnier

I was so jazzed for this part of our trip. We got up at a normal time, had some breakfast and coffee, and then we took an Uber to Versailles.

Our ride there was fun, passing by old French villages and cities. We pulled up to the palace and I gasped out loud. Usually the kids are overwhelmed by the sights, this one blew me away though. It's so incredible it took my breath away.

Just being dropped off in the street and walking up to the front took nearly 7 minutes, now that's a grand entrance.

We presented our tickets at the gate (get them ahead of time!) and started our self-guided tour. There isn't a lot to say without being redundant - it's incredible, it's majestic, it's massive and ornate and mind-blowing. It can be easy to see how the people living there or ruling from Versailles would be ignorant of the plight of their people if they never left or didn't care to see beyond their walls. We got lost in the opulence of the place, many ooh's and ahh's from the girls.

The gardens alone contain 2,000 acres of manicured lawns, different styles of trees, flowers, fountains and ponds.

After spending nearly 2 hours inside, we got the definite, "I'm not interested in walking these gardens," look from Erik. So we strolled through them a little bit and took some pictures, then headed off in the direction of the town of Versailles to find something to eat.

We stopped at an adorable ice cream shop (more bribery) and walked up and down a few streets to get a feel for the town.

Then we grabbed an Uber and headed back toward Paris. After rinsing off and resting for an hour, we headed out to get an "early" dinner. Most of the restaurants fill up around 8pm at night, so our regular 6pm dinner schedule suited us well! We never lacked in getting a table because we were in and out before the rush.

There was a restaurant we saw around the corner from where we were staying with incredible flowers all over the building - that's where we ate pizza and pasta and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

We ended our evening by walking a few blocks to the Palais Garnier, getting some dessert nearby, and we took it to the steps of the Palais. Someone was playing music to about 60 people sitting on the steps, so we joined them. He serenated everyone with a few classics. When he started calling on audience members to sing with him we figured that was our cue to head out and get to bed before we became an embarrassment in the Parisian streets. Our lack of the French language is enough of an embarrassment for this trip- no need to pile on!

Day 4 - The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe & A Seine River Cruise

There's a side street that showcases the Eiffel Tower and I've seen it in pictures on Pinterest... and we found it. If you want the same kind of photo, head to Le Castel Café near the Eiffel Tower, the pictures from the street are majestic.

We left mid-morning and to be honest, I thought we missed our window to get good photos without a lot of tourists there. We pulled up and the street was nearly empty. So we grabbed some quick pics and I'm telling you, not even 5 minutes later and there was probably 60 people that showed up to get their shot. I would suggest getting there before 9:30 if you want those insta-worthy pictures! We cut it close, next time we'll rise early for this one.

We crossed the street to Le Castel Café for some fresh croissants and coffee and headed to Jardin de la Tour Eiffel. In the park we found some shade to enjoy our croissants and coffee with a view.

Then we took off toward the Arc de Triomphe. The side streets along the way provided us with more picture opportunities, fabulous sights and beautiful scenery. The twins started to tire out on the way, so they got to enjoy piggy-back rides.

There was a beautiful cathedral we stumbled into along the way. We sat down in the church for a few minutes and I prayed over the city, the people, and those who are seeking Jesus' presence that they would experience Him.

Our afternoon was lowkey after a morning of sightseeing and a few miles of walking. We rested up, the kids took a quick nap, before we went down to the Seine for our river boat cruise. Our cruise started at 6:30 and went until 8:00pm. Everyone gathered at the foot of the Orsay Museum to load onto the boat.

The cruise was a really fun way to cap off our stay in Paris before we headed to Nice. The 3-course dinner was fantastic, the musical talent and ambiance really wonderful. The only downside to the cruise (I'm not sure if this is true of every boat?) is how warm it was inside. I'm sure there was some level of air conditioning happening, but not it wasn't very effective. That was true of many indoor cafe's and restaurants, museums and cathedrals we visited. The indoors is generally warmer, and far less air conditioned than most people would prefer it. I brought a jacket on the cruise thinking it might get chilly, it didn't!

What I did love was the personalized kids menu for the dinner cruise. That was a hit, especially the chocolate Eiffel Tower dessert at the end.

We capped off our last night by walking back through the Tuileries Gardens near The Louvre. The kids enjoyed the Bassin Octogonal for awhile, and tried to get the ducks to come over. There are massive Koi fish in the Bassin that entertained too. Mikael and I soaked in the final moments of our trip before we got ready to take the train to Nice.

We walked the expansive gardens which were created by Catherine de' Medici in 1564. She commissioned a landscape architect to create them for the Tuileries Palace.

After a beautiful late night stroll (the sun wasn't setting until well after 10pm when we were there!) we walked back to our Airbnb to finish packing.

Final Notes About Paris

Some final highlights and notes in the event you're headed to Paris some time soon!

We were in Paris the second week of June and the weather was perfect. Absolute perfection. I've heard a lot of people complain about the summer being hot in Europe...I don't know, it wasn't as warm as where we live in the US so honestly, it felt great to us. Maybe it was the timing (June was fabulous!), maybe it's because Virginia is so hot and humid in the summer that this felt amazing... or perhaps God orchestrated perfect weather for us. Either way, being there in June was a great decision for us!
Staying in an Airbnb vs. a hotel gave us a lot more space to spread out and feel comfortable. I highly recommend it!
Uber is super easy to use in Paris. We didn't bother with the metro or train system for getting around, just walked or used Uber when we needed to.
The sun was up early and down late every day. By the end of our trip, it was still light out after 11pm!
If you keep an American "family" dinner time (like 6pm), we never needed a reservation unless it was a higher end restaurant. Because our dinner time was so much earlier, the restaurants were bare and never crowded. Just a tip!
The river cruise was a big highlight. I recommend it.

All in all, this was an amazing trip, and we loved every second. I was surprised by how well our kids did too, even with walking a lot. Having a lot to see helps!

Don't be afraid to take your kids on big trips. It might be a little more stressful, but the fullness you feel when watching your kids' eyes light up at seeing something new, priceless. I will cherish these memories forever.

As always...

Happy traveling,

Jessica

Diving Into Dreams: The Attic Space of Our Minds

Fri, 30 May 2025 20:25:48 GMT

"‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams."

Joel 2:28-29

Last week, I wrote an introduction to dreams, you can find it here: Diving Into Dreams: Learning How To Hear The Voice Of God In The Night .

The Lord is going to pour out His Spirit in ways we've never seen before, and with that will come visions and dreams. Acts 2:17 says,

"‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams."

When the Spirit is poured out on all flesh, God promises we will experience dreams and visions, and men and women prophesying! Isn't that interesting? So, it's worthwhile then to spend time learning about the dreams God is giving us, spending time with Him to understand what He is saying while we sleep.

In Psalm 16:7 David says,

"I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;

My heart also instructs me in the night seasons."

Dreaming About Certain Places In A House

One element that the Lord has given me revelation into is when we're dreaming about certain parts of a house, and how that correlates to our waking life.

Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own.

-1 Corinthians 6:19

So, here we go, let's start with the first part of our spiritual houses - the attic. I'm going to share what God showed me, give you some Bible verses for further study, and then I'll outline specific dreams I've received from the Lord and the interpretation the Holy Spirit gave to me. I pray this helps you!

When You Dream About An Attic

The attic is the top room of your home, and it correlates to the very top room of your spiritual body that houses the Holy Spirit: your mind.

When you dream you are in an attic, or going up to an attic (via stairs), or looking through the contents of items in an attic, or with someone else in an attic, all of those refer to what God is showing you in your mind. And most often, He's showing you what needs to be renewed within your thought-life, or with relationships, or what may need to be cleaned up or examined with Him in order to move on in your faith.

Let's walk through a few scenarios of what God could be drawing your attention to:

Walking up the stairs to go into the attic: generally speaking going upstairs means to climb up higher with the Lord. It's the Lord making you 'mindful' of His ways, and He's leading you up in your faith walk to a place in your mind that He's drawing your attention to.

Could suggest something that will be a process or a journey, stepping up or going higher in your faith. There might be some level of discipleship with the Lord, and a certain level of effort that will be required from you. Climbing steps could require an exercise of your faith on your way up.

Standing in the attic: what did you notice when you were there? Was it dusty? Was it clean? Did it look nicely finished or were all the wood beams showing? The state of the attic, shows your current mental state or thought-life about something. If things look old, the Lord is likely drawing your attention to your old ways of thinking, and wanting you to renew your mind and thoughts to conform to His ways and His thoughts. Meditate with the Lord on the condition of the attic He showed you, and write down what He reveals you to work on with Him.

Is it under construction? I'm going to outline an "attic construction" dream below that I received from the Lord.

Construction signals that the Holy Spirit has been invited into your mind and He's overhauling your thoughts and mindsets. There is an acknowledgement on your part that you need to renew your mind, renew your thoughts, and your head is currently "under construction." A dream like this is a really good sign! Keep doing the hard work with the Lord to renew your thoughts, for you will be rewarded for your hard work with Him.

Are you looking through boxes or bags inside of an attic space? This is usually a sign that the Lord is bringing to the forefront some memories that have been stored away or "boxed up" from your past. He's shedding light on past memories that need to be dealt with...there's likely some unforgiveness, bitterness, sadness, or other emotions attached to those memories that are keeping you from moving into greater freedom with Him.

If God shows you this, my best advice is to take some time (could be at night when you're by yourself, in the morning during your Bible study, a weekend afternoon...) and either journal or talk them out with the Lord, the memories that are bubbling to the surface and all of your feelings associated with them. Get honest. What did you feel when it happened? How did you feel afterward? How are you feeling now? Explain your thoughts and feelings about the whole situation, the after effects, about the people associated, and even what you think of the Lord in all of this. This is important! Often we have bitterness toward God for not doing something different, or not changing certain circumstances in our life. Get honest about it. That's how you work through the entire contents of a "boxed" up memory and deal with it for good so that it doesn't live in the attic space of your mind!

Is there someone else with you in the attic? That can be a pretty good indicator into what the Lord is drawing your attention to that needs to be renewed.

Let's say that there's a person in your dream, maybe not in the attic, but in your dream, and then you end up in an attic space. The Lord could be showing you how the relationship has affected your thoughts or your mind. He could be showing you how that person has affected you, and that a renewal of your mind is required to let go of something that was in that relationship.

He might show you a person in the attic, or in the kitchen (which has to do with the heart- we'll get to that later), and how they have affected your heart and what that's done to your thoughts. The Lord is showing you how to renew your thoughts by dealing with the feelings in your heart! (see dream #2 below)

Are there other rooms in the attic space of your dream? Bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms...those are all indicators of something specific happening in your thought life. Bedrooms=alignment with someone or something. Bathrooms=cleanup required, or a cleaning process that is happening. Living room or spaces=that which is more public...each of these shows what is in the mind that God is drawing our attention to and what He's asking us to do. (see dream #1 below!)

These are just a few likely scenarios the Lord might show you in a dream, and what each one means. In each and every case, the attic is representative of the mind and our thoughts. God often shows us the state of our mind, so we can work more effectively in our relationship with Him. As we deal with past memories, relationships, current situations or trains of thinking, our faith will expand and we'll learn to hear Him in greater measure.

Dealing with our thoughts, changes our lives!

...Regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].

-Ephesians 4:22-24 AMP

Now, we're going to move onto dreams of attic spaces. Every single dream below the Lord gave me, outlining very specific things He was showing me about either myself or my relationships.

Dream #1 - A Friend's Attic Space

I had a dream not that long ago in which the Lord showed me the attic space of a friend. We'll call them Friend.

This Friend and I were pretty close once. But as the Lord pressed into me to go deeper with Him, Friend and I grew distant. As the months turned into years, more distance and space grew between us as I kept leaning into the Lord and being obedient to the plans He had for me.

Over time, there were subtle shifts in Friends' behavior that I couldn't quite put my finger on. My discernment was kicking up, but I couldn't hone in on exactly what was going on. So I prayed, and I asked the Lord for wisdom and understanding about the situation, and then He gave me this dream.

In the dream , I was standing in an attic. New sheet rock had been put up on the walls, but the walls hadn't been finished yet. The floors had all been sanded down, and not yet redone. New windows had been installed, and everything was in a state of "under construction." To my left, I saw a set of blueprints on the table. I went to look at the blueprints. I saw that there were plans for 2 bedrooms, spaced apart, and 2 bathrooms attached to those bedrooms, also space apart. It was clear from the blueprints that these bedrooms/bathrooms were meant to be separate.

As soon as I picked up the blueprints I heard the word, "abandoned." Suddenly I knew in my spirit that the instructions had been given, and the plans abandoned by Friend.

I put the blueprints down and moved away from the table. As I did, I saw Friend sitting on some steps. The steps were also sanded down, but hadn't been refinished. Friend looked despondent, it's the word that immediately came to me. Friend didn't see me.

I turned to my right and I noticed a door, it was the only part of the attic that hadn't been stripped bare. The door was made of old, solid wood. I opened the door and to my surprise, an entire bedroom opened up to me. It was completely furnished. It looked like a bedroom that you might see in a Victorian bed and breakfast. There was a beautiful bed, wall sconces, a reading nook, dark wallpaper and carpeting, a dresser with clothing in it, and a bathroom was attached off to one side. The bathroom also was fully furnished and functional.

Immediately when I stepped into this bedroom I knew who it belonged to, it was Friend's friend from her past. The word of Friend's friend was imprinted into my mind. There wasn't anything obvious from the room that gave it away, but the Holy Spirit downloaded that knowledge to me.

As I stood looking around the room, moving about to take it all in, suddenly I woke up.

Let's break it down.

In the dream, I was standing in an attic. New sheet rock had been put up on the walls, but the walls hadn't been finished yet. The floors had all been sanded down, and not yet redone. New windows had been installed, and everything was in a state of "under construction."

Standing in the attic is seeing inside the current state of the mind. The truth of God's Word has been revealed to this person, and they have begun the work to renew thoughts, renew opinions and ideas, to turn away from old ways of thinking and be established in grace and truth. The process has begun, but it hasn't been finished (construction). That's why the walls and floors weren't completed yet.

To my left, I saw a set of blueprints on the table. I went to look at the blueprints. I saw that there were plans for 2 bedrooms, spaced apart, and 2 bathrooms attached to those bedrooms, also space apart. It was clear from the blueprints that these bedrooms/bathrooms were meant to be separate.

As soon as I picked up the blueprints I heard the word, "abandoned." Suddenly I knew in my spirit that the instructions had been given, and the plans abandoned by Friend.

The table was on my left because there is a real weakness present in Friend's thought life that needed God's strength. The left is often a sign of God's strength demonstrated through our weaknesses. It can also mean rejection, as in the blueprints were rejected, not wanting to depend on God's strength to fulfill His plans for Friends' life. The blueprints are God's plans for Friends' life. At some point, the Holy Spirit clearly laid out the plans God had for Friend, and in order to move forward in greater relationship and communion with God (the table), a decision needed to be made to follow Him. The table speaks of communion or fellowship, and also the planning place, the place where decisions are made. Friend didn't like God's plans, and had made a decision to abandon them.

On the blueprints, I noticed 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms which were separated. Two means to divide and separate, bedroom is our intimate connections with people or God, including those who are in our inner circle, and bathrooms are the place in which we are cleansed and washed by God's Word. It's a place of conviction and repentance, turning from old ways and being renewed into God's ways. The plans had been abandoned because God showed Friend there needed to be a complete division from someone or something, that both parties would be cleansed by the Lord, but separately. This relationship had run its course.

It was at this point in my dream that I suddenly understood whose mind I was in, and God was showing me why He had separated us many years earlier. While I had been willing to do the hard work of renewing my mind, Friend lost the courage and hope to keep going on in faith. Friend didn't like the Lord's plans, and became despondent to the work of the Holy Spirit.

As I stood looking around the room, moving about to take it all in, suddenly I woke up.

The bedroom is located to my right, because the Lord is showing me that Friend has given this person authority and power (RIGHT), and an entire room has been set up in Friend's mind. It was immediately downloaded into my mind while I slept, that this is the relationship the Lord desired to separate Friend from. Friend's friend was keeping Friend from moving into holier realms with the Lord, becoming a distraction and a stronghold for Friend. Whatever ideas or thoughts this person has, it is preventing Friend from moving deeper with Christ, and caused Friend to abandon God's blueprints for their life. This bedroom and bathroom was the only place in Friends mind that the Holy Spirit wasn't allowed to touch or makeover - that means this person has a stronghold on Friends' thoughts. Friends' friendship has run its course because the friend hasn't put off the old self and been renewed in the ways of Christ, and it's preventing Friend from fully allowing the Holy Spirit to do a new work in Friends' mind. The bedroom must be torn down for the Lord to complete His plans for Friend. The Lord wants Friend to let friend go, and when this happens, the division of the friendship will cause both people to be united in deeper communion with Christ, being cleansed in their hearts and minds and sanctified into greater glory with Him.

And that's it!

Now why did God give me this dream? The number 1 reason He shares things with me is so that I can start praying. Now I know who to pray for, what to pray for, how to pray, and what God is desiring to do in Friends life. Prayer changes things! The blueprints might be abandoned right now, but maybe not forever.

Friend is still hanging out in the attic, the Holy Spirit says, "Pray for revival! Revival of hope, pray for courage to flood in!" Dreams give us clear instructions for prayer or action.

The second reason He showed me is because I asked! I was wondering! I knew God had separated Friend and I for a reason, but I didn't know whyyyyy.

I trusted the Lord and I was obedient to the call when He asked me to put distance between us, but I still wanted to know why. That part wasn't clear. I do also want to say this- I have been asking why for over 2 years. It might be almost 4 years. I would have to go back into my journals to see exact dates. In the right time, the Lord revealed the reason to me. Had He given it sooner, I wouldn't have been ready for it.

The only reason I mention that is to say, if you're asking why and you don't get an answer, don't assume one will never come! Just because God doesn't answer your prayer today, doesn't mean He won't tomorrow. In my case, it was many tomorrows later - but He replied, and He gave me the why.

Verses for further study:

2 Corinthians 5:1
Genesis 40:17, 19 (birds can represent the "spirits of the air-the devil", being despondent is allowing depressive and hopeless spirits to take over, and not letting the Lord continue His work)
2 Corinthians 10:5
Romans 12:2
1 Corinthians 2:11
2 Timothy 1:7
James 1:8

Dream #2 - What's In My Mind

This is a dream God gave me several years ago about the state my mind was in regarding a family member. We'll call them Family. Some dreams I have them in the first person, some in the third person. This was a third person dream- meaning I watched myself during the whole dream.

In the dream , I saw myself walk into the kitchen. I noticed Family was standing near the stove, cooking something. I watched as Me walked past Family, and went up a set of stairs. I then saw Me in the attic. The attic was run down and dusty, wood beams on the ceiling. The old wood floors had a thick layer of dust on them. It was evident no one had been in here for awhile. I watched Me go over to a box and open it, rifling through the contents. Another box was near by, Me looked through the contents of that one too. The boxes contained things from my childhood. Most of the attic had been cleaned up of boxes, but it was evident that there were still a few remaining. In the center of the room several had been opened, and Me was looking through the contents. Then I woke up.

Let's break it down.

In the dream, I saw myself walk into the kitchen. I noticed Family was standing near the stove, cooking something. I watched as Me walked past Family, and went up a set of stairs.

The beginning of the dream sets up the rest of it - the Lord was calling my attention to the Family Member who had affected my heart (the kitchen represents the heart, we'll go into it later). Family Member was cooking, it was poison - Family had poisoned my heart. I then walked up the stairs to the attic, the Lord is calling my attention to go higher with Him, and needing to walk up the stairs to get to the attic means there will be some effort required in removing the poison from Family Member.

The attic was run down and dusty, wood beams on the ceiling. The old wood floors had a thick layer of dust on them. It was evident no one had been in here for awhile. I watched Me go over to a box and open it, rifling through the contents. Another box was near by, Me looked through the contents of that one too. The boxes contained things from my childhood.

This area of my mind was still stuck in old ways of thinking and not renewed by the Spirit. The Lord was calling my attention to specific memories that involved Family. While the poison from Family had affected my heart, it had also affected my mind and how I thought. The things Family had said or done in the past (boxes=memories) hadn't just hurt my heart, but impacted my mind as well. The Lord was bringing me into a season of opening these memories so that He and I could go through the contents of them together. They were all memories from my childhood.

Most of the attic had been cleaned up of boxes, but it was evident that there were still a few remaining, and in the center of the room several had been opened and Me was looking through the contents. Then I woke up.

Most of my mind had been cleaned up of the memories (boxes) because I knew that I had done a lot of hard work involving Family many years prior. The dust suggests that it had been awhile since I had worked out some issues I still had with Family, and while much of my mind had been cleaned up, there was still some memories and residual traumas that were preventing me from being renewed into a new creation in this area of my life. I still had parts of my old self to fully put off, in order to be completely renewed in my mind.

Now what you wouldn't know but I will tell you, I had done a hard several years of work regarding Family in my mid-20's, that's why much of my 'mind' space had been cleared. But the Holy Spirit couldn't do a complete reconstruction until the rest of the memories were dealt with and tossed out.

Something God showed me through this dream...

We can be matured and moving into greater areas of sanctification and glory in some areas of our life, and be spiritually destitute in other areas. In this case, in regards to Family Member, I was destitute. I had yet to let go of past traumas and poison that kept me stuck! I still had boxes of emotions left untouched.

I want to share with you a neat nugget God gave me while I was unpacking these memories and emotions. Something God said to me is, "Memories can't hurt you. The memories that you have from these traumas, this person who hurt you, they can't physically jump out of the memory and hurt you again. The residual emotion lingers, but the physical trauma is past!"

I'm sharing that with you because often we don't want to walk down memory lane, the hurt was real. Real physical pain was experienced! But what the Lord was showing me is that the person from the memory, can't physically jump out of that memory and hurt me again. It's the emotions we felt at the time that is continuing to plague us when we examine the memory. And Jesus wants us to be free from it!

So why did God give me this dream?

The Lord wanted me to unpack all of my emotions tied to certain memories. I'm going to walk you through each step we took, because it might resonate with something He has you do.

The first step was me saying, out loud to the Lord, what happened to me. Just speaking about what happened, took a lot of the power away from the event. Our words carry power, and when we release them into His hands, the power and pain from the trauma tends to go with our words! Putting the events into words, naming it in His presence, meant I was no longer trying to hide from reality or downplay it in my memories. That's important!
The second thing the Lord had me do, was feel through the pain of it. I called out what I was feeling. I cried, sometimes sobbed. I told Him how I felt about it, what I felt like should have happened but didn't. I put all of my emotions into words, and then I casted those emotions onto Him, because He cares for me .
Next He had me deal with all the emotions I had toward other people in these events. Were there other people involved? Was there someone who could have done something but didn't? Release those people, those hurts, those emotions, into His loving arms.
This part surprised me, but it's as if the Holy Spirit bubbled this out of me and taught me the importance of it. You might have emotions or anger toward the Lord. Maybe there is some bitterness in your heart because God didn't stop this from happening. Maybe some burning hatred at God. This is a real step in the process of releasing negative memories. If there's a part of you that feels like God should have stepped in or intervened on your behalf, stopping the person from harming you, then there will be bitterness, anger, frustration, and even hatred that you're feeling toward Him. Telling Him what you're feeling about Him, will be a big step in the healing process!
Then, it's forgiveness time! God's going to ask you to forgive them, forgive all people involved, and to forgive Him if you're angry with Him. And then to receive His healing love into the memory.
Lastly, the invitation to the Holy Trinity to be in this memory, healing every part of it. Invite the Lord to heal the pain, to restore every broken piece, to give you unspeakable peace. Ask the Holy Spirit to counsel you - He's the most powerful Counselor I know. And He's perfect in His counsel. Give Jesus the memory, put it at the foot of the cross, and receive His healing love. Ask the Lord to give you incredible joy, and may it cover every inch of the pain.

What happens if it's still bothering you...repeat all the steps.

If the memories that are plaguing you or haunt you are deeply painful, then it might take a few months, or even a few years to really express every bit of poison from certain events. If traumas were repeatedly happening to you, then this could take awhile. It's easy to be discouraged when it feels like you're still dealing with it...but just keep in mind, some of these things happened again and again over the span of years .

I once was talking to someone about why they quit going to counseling. They had tried counseling a few times and said, "It didn't work. I could tell I was going to be there forever." My response was, "Did you think years of trauma was going to be resolved in a day?"

Sometimes we quit early because it's hard, because we become discouraged about the length of time something is taking...don't diminish how awful some of these things were that happened to you. Eighteen years of hurt isn't done in a day. Be honest with yourself. Take real stock of the damage, of the situation, of the depth and length of what happened. And then be ready to walk it out till it's fully done!

You might be wondering, can some of these memories ever be fully healed? I'm here to say yes, absolutely 100% yes they can be. But you can't quit on it.

You can't quit on yourself, or on God. It's ok to take breaks. Sometimes we need to. But when the Holy Spirit prompts you to come back and keep working, don't ignore Him! He really does know what He's doing with you, and you can trust that He has your best interest at heart.

Verses for further study:

Acts 10:4 - the mind is a place where memories are stored/in this case God heard and remembered Cornelius' alms
Matthew 6:20 - this work is a treasure! There is a reward in heaven for it
Acts 1:13-14 - the upper room is likened to the attic
Philippians 3:13
Isaiah 43:18
Romans 8:5-6

Dream #3 - What's In A Family Member's Mind

This is a dream God gave me to show me what was happening in the mind of a family member, and why boundaries with this person was important.

We can forgive someone and think that means they can still have full access to our lives - but if they haven't done the work, or are unwilling to do the work, then our lack of boundaries with certain people will only end up keeping us in painful cycles of trauma and abuse. In this dream, God showed me why boundaries with Family Member (FM for short!) was vital for my spiritual growth.

In the dream , I was standing in a garage. The garage didn't belong to me, I had never seen it before. There was a lot of junk all over, I didn't see any cars. It didn't feel like I could move very much within this space, because of how many boxes and items lined the walls and were stacked up all around me. In front of me was FM, we were talking about something. FM walked away from me, and headed toward a rickety wood staircase that led up to the attic. I watched as FM started walking up the stairs- I remember feeling hopeful. FM got near the top, and stumbled on the last step and didn't make it into the attic. Then the dream changed.

Let's break it down.

In the dream, I was standing in a garage. The garage didn't belong to me, I had never seen it before. There was a lot of junk all over, I didn't see any cars. It didn't feel like I could move very much within this space, because of how many boxes and items lined the walls and were stacked up all around me.

The garage represents someone's ministry (or faith journey) that's been stalled, retired, parked, in storage, or going through a spiritual tune-up. It can also mean restoration of a person's ministry. Because a car wasn't present, that means FM has let go of the ministry purpose God put in FM's heart. We all have a specific purpose or role to play in God's kingdom, we can reject that purpose, thereby kicking the car out of the garage (letting go of the ministry God would have us walk out on earth). The reason FM has let go of any ideas about following God's plan for their life, is because of how many memories (boxes) and issues of life (junk), FM has and would need to deal with in order to move forward in FM's faith journey. The garage space would need to be cleaned up before a car (ministry purpose) could even be parked in it, and then be worked on before being released into the world.

In front of me was FM, we were talking about something. FM walked away from me, and headed toward a rickety wood staircase that led up to the attic.

The conversation wasn't revealed to me, but whatever was said, it caused FM to begin the journey with the Lord, going higher with Him in faith to deal with the thoughts and ideas in FM's mind. These thoughts are preventing FM from being able to clean up the garage space that would allow the Lord to use FM for ministry. God has a wonderful purpose and plan for each of us, to move His kingdom forward and change lives here on earth. If something is preventing Him from using us, He wants to clean that up! He wants to uproot fear, lies, tormenting emotions, trauma, evil thoughts and imaginations - anything that gets in the way of faith growing in our hearts.

I watched as FM started walking up the stairs- I remember feeling hopeful. FM got near the top, and stumbled on the last step and didn't make it into the attic. Then the dream changed.

There is evidently some effort that will be required by FM to even get into the attic space and clean up their thought-life. There might be a war against the flesh to choose to go higher with Christ, acknowledging that the selfish desires are even there. Stumbling on the last step suggests that FM will take their eyes off God and slip back into a place of ungodliness. The fear of what might be found in FM's mind when God opens the boxes, the fear of the work required, causes FM to look away from God and back at the flesh, choosing that instead.

Why did God show me this?

First, because He had made it evident that boundaries were necessary for my heart. Without a deeper understanding of what's going on in FM's head/heart, I wasn't sure why boundaries were required for the long term. God revealed to me to keep long-term boundaries and do not deviate from it.

Knowing this information allowed me to submit and surrender to God's plan without feeling guilty about it. It also allowed me to strengthen my resolve against being manipulated by FM, and that was important in my own spiritual growth.

Whatever God is revealing to us, He isn't giving us understanding to harm us or because He hates us- but rather because He loves us so much that He wants us to be free from anything that hinders us from being close to Him. If the fear of man, or being able to be manipulated by man keeps us from surrendering to His perfect will and plan, then He's going to show us what we need to know to let go of or walk away from, to follow Him fully. Isn't that the desire and cry of your heart and soul? To follow Him with abandon?

Verses for further study:

Genesis 28:12
Acts 20:9 - don't fall asleep on what God wants to do in your mind!
Isaiah 26:3
Proverbs 3:5
Romans 7:21-25
Colossians 3:2

The 3-Step Process In Ephesians 4

There is a 3-step process in Ephesians 4:22-24 that causes us to be able to clean up our thought-life. The first step in verse 22 is " that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." In order to even get into the attic space of our minds and look through the boxes, we have to be willing to put off our former conduct, our fleshly, corrupted self.

If you notice how the verse reads, it says that the old man grows corrupt- that means that if we don't choose to put it off, that our flesh will grow more and more corrupt. Deciding to go up the stairs to the attic and deal with the memories, is this part of the verse: putting off our former way of thinking or living. Being willing to even open a box of memories, is choosing to put off our old ways of thinking and being.

It might be a battle to even choose to do that. It might take some time to see all the ways in which we have been deceived by the lusts of our desires, or what caused us to think that way in the first place. Choosing to go God's way, might be a battle. Don't be afraid of the battle - it won't kill you. Instead, it creates a resilience and strength within you, and a fusing of your life to the ways of the Holy Spirit. It changes you!

The second part is mentioned in verse 23 - "and be renewed in the spirit of your mind." This is in part where we see boxes being dealt with and moved out in a dream, making room for the construction to take place. In the dream about myself, I opened boxes and dealt with the memories. That's the first step in renewing your mind.

If the memories aren't opened and examined, then they remain stuck within you. But as soon as they are opened up? Now they're not longer stuck in your heart and mind. And as they're being dealt with, the Holy Spirit goes to work reconstructing your thoughts and emotions. We are renewed in the spirit of our mind! Our mind is a vessel for the Holy Spirit! (Or other spirits...) And allowing the Holy Spirit complete access to it, gives us a brand new mind conformed to the thoughts and plans of the Lord God Almighty.

The third part is- "and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." Construction is complete and we walk in a new way of thinking and being. If you stumble, don't fret. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off (repentance), and remind yourself that you are a new creation in Christ Jesus. You are brand new. Walk like it!

Why Is Dealing With The Past Important?

The first time I talked about this is in the article The God Who Heals . You can read the whole story there (under the surgery section).

Many years ago, when I was about 12, I incurred a wound on the bottom of my foot that got infected. When we went to the doctor to get to remove the infection, he had me sit on the exam table. The doctor didn't tell me what he was going to do, but he put his thumbs on either side of the wound, and then he split the wound open. I passed out from the pain.

After it was opened they numbed it up and cleaned it out. Now all I have left from that memory is the faintest of scars on the bottom on my foot. You wouldn't have any idea I have this scar unless I told you, that's how faint and faded it is.

A few years ago the Lord showed me the reason this all happened- because He is that Doctor. He's the Surgeon who gently places His thumbs on each side of the festered and infected wound, splits it open and reveals the original cut, in order that it can be cleaned out completely and stitched up to heal well.

If there are traumas in your life that never healed the first time, God's going to split those wounds open. It often happens when we "unbox" those memories in our mind. That's the Lord splitting open the wounds from our past, revealing the infection (bitterness, betrayal, anger, frustration, anxiety, depression), so that He can clean it out completely. Confronting the emotions we have, crying in His presence, is the infection leaving your body. Telling Him how you feel, what happened to you, is the infection seeping away from your heart and mind. Inviting the Holy Spirit in, letting the Perfect Surgeon have free reign in your life, is the cleansing process that heals you.

Isn't that beautiful? I know it doesn't always feel like it, but that's how much the Father cares about every detail in your life. He orchestrates certain events to happen to split wide those wounds so that they can be healed up the right way. Some of those events take our breath away and cause us to pass out from the pain, I know. But that's how intimately concerned the Lord is with your healing process. Sometimes ripping the band aid off is the best way - even if it doesn't always feel like it.

Once you have done this process a few times you'll realize how deeply God cares for you. And in this process you'll experience an intimacy with the Lord that your soul longs for. Ever wondered how to get closer to God? This is how. Ever craved the depth of His presence? This will get you there.

No longer will there be a veil of your traumas and emotions, thoughts and feelings that separate you from your Father. That closeness you desire will heal and replace every wrong thought, and bring you into complete restoration and fullness.

Embrace the Lord if He leads you into the attic space of your mind! Healing, health and wholeness stand before you. Say yes to this process with Jesus, I promise you won't regret it.

Writing to you with joy,

Jessica

Prayer To Hear From God In Your Dreams

Lord God, I pray that You would activate within me the ability to hear You speak when I sleep.

Bypass my senses, my reasoning, my logic, and give me Your senses, Your reasoning, Your wisdom and understanding.

Your Word says that Your ways are not my ways, Your thoughts are not my thoughts.

So, give me Your ways, and give me Your thoughts.

While I sleep, open up my ability to hear You clearly.

Speak to me while I rest.

I pray for deep, restful sleep.

I pray for sleep that refreshes, for sleep that heals.

Anything that You want to reveal to me about my past, my present, or my future, do so when I close my eyes.

I pray for Your divine protection over me when I sleep, that it wouldn't be a time of terror but a time of revelation from You.

And I pray that when I wake and approach You to understand what You have said,

That You would answer me when I call, and give me clarity when I ask for it.

I pray for ears that hear, a heart that understands Your will, ways, leading and voice.

I give myself to You.

I give my dreams to You.

Be my God in this area of my life.

In Jesus' Name I pray,

Amen

Diving Into Dreams: Learning How To Hear The Voice Of God In The Night

Thu, 08 May 2025 00:52:59 GMT

“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.

And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days."

Joel 2:28-29

In the near future we're going to see the Spirt of the Lord poured out like never before- and something that will happen is the giving of dreams and visions.

Dreams and visions are not only for Old Testament prophets, they are given to any Christian who desires to follow the Lord and wants to hear from Him. If they were just for a time in the OT, then Peter wouldn't have received a vision in Acts 10. Joseph received several dreams, one telling him not to divorce Mary, and the second to warn him of upcoming danger. Paul had several visions throughout his ministry. And John, well, John wrote the book of Revelations based on the visions God showed him.

All throughout the Bible God used visions and/or dreams to speak to His people who were longing to follow His Word, leading and voice. They're available for you today too!

Years ago, I asked the Lord to give me visions and dreams. A few months later, the Lord answered that prayer and my dream life lit up in a wild way.

God took me on an adventure over the course of the next few years as I dove headfirst into studying His Word about dreams. I looked for resources from those who have gone before us, who have done the hard work of hearing from Him about dreams. And the Lord led me to the right books to help me interpret what He was saying and speaking.

Through trial and lots and lots of error, through many conversations with the Lord and waiting on Him for hours, days, weeks, and even sometimes months to understand certain principles about dreams, I am here to share with you the things He has given me.

I strongly, strongly sense in my spirit that this is going to be one way that the Lord communicates to His Bride before He returns. And if we believe scripture to be true, and we take Him at His Word, then we know that dreams and visions will be poured out on ALL flesh. This isn't just for adults, children will dream. Men and women will dream, old men and young women, teenagers and toddlers. God is going to pour out the ability to hear His voice on any and all persons (flesh), who wish to receive from Him. Are you willing?

Prayer

Before I go into this topic more, let's pray for our ears to be opened, our hearts to desire, and our minds to receive the information He wants to give us in the night.

Lord God, I pray that You would activate within me the ability to hear You speak when I sleep.

Bypass my senses, my reasoning, my logic; and give me Your senses, Your reasoning, Your wisdom and understanding.

Your Word says that Your ways are not my ways, Your thoughts are not my thoughts.

So, give me Your ways, and give me Your thoughts.

While I sleep, open up my ability to hear You clearly.

Speak to me while I rest.

I pray for deep, restful sleep.

I pray for sleep that refreshes, for sleep that heals.

Anything that You want to reveal to me about my past, my present, or my future, do so when I close my eyes.

I pray for Your divine protection over me when I sleep, that it wouldn't be a time of terror but a time of revelation from You.

And I pray that when I wake and approach You to understand what You have said,

That You would answer me when I call, and give me clarity when I ask for it.

I pray for ears that hear, a heart that understands Your will, ways, leading and voice.

I give myself to You.

I give my dreams to You.

Be my God in this area of my life.

In Jesus' Name I pray,

Amen

Dreams Are For Today

There are those who believe that visions and dreams aren't for today, I disagree. God spoke to His people in dreams and visions from Genesis to Revelations, in both the New and Old Testament. If He spoke for thousands of years through dreams and visions to many different people, to both men and women, under the Law and after the Cross, why would He suddenly stop after Revelations was written?

God used dreams to warn people of impending danger, to speak about His will and plans for the world. He used dreams to give instruction and teaching, to prophecy and to correct, to change the hearts of men, to tell women what was to come.

While Pilate was deliberating on what to do with Jesus and the crowd that thirsted for bloodshed, his own wife had a dream from the Lord.

"While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

Matthew 27:19

When she woke up from this dream she immediately knew several things: Jesus was just and perfectly righteous, and that anyone who touched His holiness was cursed.

Pilate's wife wasn't a follower of Jesus, she wasn't spirit-filled, and yet she knew that this was no ordinary dream and the message in it wasn't to be ignored. She received divine revelation while she slept.

Joseph was given dreams about his future. Then he grew in all understanding and wisdom to be able to interpret dreams later in life! That means that Joseph, who was considered a master of dreams, grew in his understanding of how to interpret them.

When he first received dreams from God in Genesis 37, he had no idea what they meant. Fast forward 13 years and he was able to interpret Pharoah's dreams, as well as provide wisdom to implement what God was saying to him. Pharoah received divine instruction on what was going to happen to Egypt in the coming 14 years, he just didn't know how to understand it or what to do with it. But Joseph did.

It's encouraging to know that Joseph grew in his understanding of dreams, and his ability didn't happen overnight.

We have a tendency to believe that if God gives a gift, we should just have it without growing in it. But often, we have to grow in stewarding what He's giving us. We grow in faith, in prayer, and in wisdom over time as we walk with Him. If God has gifted you and you're not an expert in it, don't be discouraged! Use this as a launching pad in walking with Him, praying for wisdom in how to steward what He gave you.

Samuel, Nathan, Solomon, King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel, Joseph (Jesus' step-father), the wise men, and so many more were given dreams or visions that are recorded within the pages of scripture. Paul, Peter and John had dreams or visions regarding the church.

So, if we believe that the God of our souls is the same God yesterday, today and forever, then why would we assume that the Lord who gave visions and dreams from Genesis to Revelations suddenly stopped giving them? Perhaps our thoughts are the problem, not His?

Why God Uses Dreams

There are a number of reasons that God used dreams in the Bible to speak to people. But perhaps the main reason He did it is because it bypasses all of our arguments and reasoning when we're unconscious.

During a particularly tough health year in life, I once had someone tell me that perhaps medical marijuana would be the answer. When I argued against it, this person said, "maybe you just need to wrap your mind around the benefits of using it for this health issue. I had to wrap my mind around why it can be good for certain people or situations."

The Bible is very clear that we have to bring every single thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus. Is what we're thinking holy, righteous, pure and just? Or are we trying to wrap our minds around why the world's evil ways are for our benefit?

I believe God speaks in dreams because this is how He can bypass all of our sophisticated arguments and fleshly reasoning.

2 Cor 10:5 says, "We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ." (AMP version)

While I love this version, check out what other versions have to say:

- We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God (NASB)

- Casting down imaginations (KJV)

- We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God (ESV)

- We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. (NLT)

- And all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God (God's Word Translation)

And perhaps my personal favorite: "For we overthrow arrogant 'reckonings,' and every stronghold that towers high in defiance of the knowledge of God, and we carry off every thought as if into slavery--into subjection to Christ." (Weymouth New Testament)

If we have set our minds on something that isn't correct or true, God can bypass our ways of thinking and speak His ways while we sleep.

If we have believed a lie, whether of our own volition or not, the Lord can show us the truth when we close our eyes and our brains shut down. And what do I mean by of our own volition? Sometimes we tell ourselves lies because we don't want to believe what is true. The truth has a way of cutting deep into our hearts, painfully searing us in places we'd rather not feel pain. But sometimes we are told lies by other people, by family members or friends- and God will use dreams to tell us the truth about a situation.

In Genesis 20 God comes to Abimelech in a dream: "But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man
because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

Abraham, a man God recognized as righteous for his faith, lied to a king about his wife saying she was his sister. While it wasn't totally a lie, it wasn't true either. (Sarah was Abraham's half-sister). God visited this king and ensured that the seed of Abraham would not be corrupted because of his own lies. The Lord spoke to Abimelech about the truth, and then Abraham had to answer for the lies he spoke.

Sometimes other people lie to us about what is true because they don't want to admit either what they have done wrong, or to avoid tough conversations, or because they are lying to themselves. In these cases, God can use dreams to cut right to the heart of a situation and cast down imaginations (the mind creating its own ideas that are not of God), and proud obstacles (a thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress). If it hinders our progress to believe a lie, then wouldn't God want us to know the truth? Wouldn't we?

One thing I have learned to do in my relationship with the Lord is to ask Him what's true. When I can't perceive beyond what I'm seeing, when I don't understand a situation, when I'm unsure if what I'm being told is holy and right, I ask Him to show me. I ask Him to tell me what is true, and then I wait to form any thoughts on a situation until He has answers me. And He always answers. It might take some time, but He will give you the wisdom and knowledge you seek!

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ "

Jeremiah 33:3

We can even, in the innocence of our own understanding, do what isn't right without the Lord's intervention. In Matthew 1 Joseph discovers Mary is pregnant. We are not told if she tells him or if she begins showing and he is made aware, we just know that she is found to be with child because of the Holy Spirit.

"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:19-21

Joseph was just. He was going to be kind to his betrothed even though he was likely feeling hurt by her 'betrayal', and thought to himself that he would secretly put her away. And the Lord intervened and let Joseph know that his assumptions were wrong, she did not betray him. God also revealed that Joseph's actions needed to be corrected in order for him to follow the Lord's plans and will for his life, for Mary's, and for the Son who would save the entire world. Instead of Joseph acting on his own thinking and self-reasoning, God intercepted with the truth and made him the step-father of Jesus Christ!

And because Joseph was obedient, the Lord operated through him in other dreams (Matthew 2:13 & 2:19). The Lord continued to speak to Joseph because of his willing heart to follow the Lord and the plans God had for him.

How about an example of someone who disobeyed what God spoke in the night?

In Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar is given a dream about the pride of his heart and the coming judgement for his kingdom if he refused to acknowledge that all he had been given, came from the Lord. Daniel interprets the dream and gives this advice to King Nebuchadnezzar:

"Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Daniel 4:27

The Lord used a dream to correct Nebuchadnezzar and then he was given 12 months to listen and obey, to repent of the pride in his heart. Unfortunately, he didn't.

"All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever..."

Daniel 4:28-34

For 7 years Nebuchadnezzar was disciplined and corrected by God. The Lord gave him a warning in a dream, a way of escape for 12 months, and then He fulfilled the word He spoke through Daniel.

Sometimes God gives us dreams to warn us of things that are imbedded deep within our hearts that sets itself up against the Lord. He can show us what those things are when we can't reason or argue with Him about them.

In the last two years this is an area in which I have come to experience the Lord's love the most. I have received many (so many!) dreams from God about my own thoughts and arguments, feelings and emotions, reasonings and false imaginations about myself, other people or situations. In every case, the Lord showed me the lies of what I was believing, the actual truth of the situation, and what I was feeling or thinking that wasn't of Him. And time after time, I came into His presence and confessed my sin, confessed my feelings and thoughts that I created, and I surrendered them into His loving arms. And time after time, He received my sinful ways and covered them with His mercy and grace. Instead of judgement I found mercy. Instead of harshness He extended grace.

If He shows you something about yourself and you feel shame or embarrassment about it, can I offer a word of encouragement to you? I know it's hard to come into His presence with the knowledge He gives us during dreams, of our own false ideas or made up scenarios we created. I know there's a sense of shame or embarrassment we sometimes feel when the Holy Spirit cuts right through into the depths of our heart- separating bone from marrow.

But when you come into the Father's presence, when you share the false, made-up narratives, the feelings you have about why you created them, the reason and root for creating them in the first place... when you bring all of this to Him and talk everything out in His presence, He will love on you.

When you bring Him the depths of your heart, He pours out His love to your heart.

When you bring Him your thoughts, He gives His grace for your thoughts.

When you surrender your feelings and emotions about people or situations, He extends mercy for your faults and failings!

Instead of shame, He will give you peace. Instead of feeling embarrassed, you will feel loved. Instead of being angry or frustrated or sad, He will replace it with joy.

He never wants us to experience shame. Instead, He reveals things to us to bring us into greater freedom in Christ.

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

Galatians 5:1

Some translations say yoke of slavery. If there is anything in our hearts or minds that keeps us entangled in bondage, or burdened by slavery, then Jesus wants us to be set free from it!

One of my favorite quotes is " Feelings are indicators, not dictators. They can indicate where your heart is in the moment, but that doesn't mean they have the right to dictate your behavior." ( Lysa TerKeurst)

If our feelings or thoughts, our imagination or arguments have become the manual that we follow in life and not God's Word, then He's going to reveal it to us so that we can bring all of it captive to Jesus. In this way, every part of our flesh comes under the obedience of Christ Jesus.

It just might be that God reveals it in a dream because during the daytime, we're too busy to hear Him tell us the truth!

Are You Ready To Dive In?

A friend asked me yesterday what I do when my "faith isn't there yet." I love that question! And I think it applies brilliantly to the topic of dreams and visions as well.

If you haven't heard sermons or pastors speak much on dreams or visions, then it's likely because they haven't pursued this for themselves. We teach what we know! And if that's the case, it might be hard to believe that God wants to speak to you in this way. But He does. I know He does, for He said it in Acts. 2.

Acts 2:17

No longer would God's Spirit only come on a single king or a prophet for a season. Now, the Holy Spirit is given to all people; young and old, male and female.

Do you have the Holy Spirit? Then this gift can be for you! Do you want God to speak to you this way? Then ask! And if you're unsure or doubtful, if your faith "isn't there yet," then this is my recommendation.

Start by praying and ask the Lord "Is this of You? And if so, show me." Being willing to follow Him, His leading and voice are the first steps to take in being humble before Him and not proud in our thoughts and ways. Asking Him if something is true, asking for His guidance, is a prayer that He will honor. And if He shows you that it's true, be willing to humble yourself under His hand. "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Search the scriptures! Is written there? If so, study what's written. Study what God did within His Word. It's the quickest and easiest way to know what He's speaking to us today. Spend time meditating on verses that contain the questions you are asking Him about. Are you praying for dreams? Look at how He spoke to His people, how He gave dreams, how He used them. Spend time letting His Word speak to you!

And if there's still a wrestling between the flesh and the spirit, then tell Him you're willing to believe what is true, you just need help with it. God gave us the story of the man who struggled to believe so that we would know this is a normal part of the faith journey. We're not alone if we're at war within ourselves, wanting to believe what's written as truth, but struggling to do so. And so in the pages of the Bible we find these words, "Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24) Often our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak. So ask God to help you with your unbelief.

Diving in sometimes just means being willing to start asking or praying, and then seeing what God does with our requests. Sometimes it means going headfirst into resources, sermons and materials to learn more about it. Or it could mean that you start having conversations with God about your doubts and unbelief. In any case, all of these are ways we can begin going deeper into the next part of our faith journey.

The question for you today is, are you ready to dive in?

Writing to you with joy,

Jessica

For Further Study

If you have a resource you love on this topic, share it below! I'm always looking for ways to deepen in my understanding of visions and dreams, how to interpret what God is saying, and growing in wisdom to apply what He speaks. Share your knowledge! May we all encourage each other to keep running this race together.

Vision Of The Construction Site

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:59:49 GMT

A few months ago I released a video on TikTok detailing a vision I received from the Lord while at women's Bible study one evening. Our Bible study would begin with a time of worship, moving into a Bible reading of the passage we would be studying, followed by a teaching taken from the text we had just read.

One evening we were reading through Colossians chapter 3, and when we got to verse 10 the Lord sent me into a vision.

"Do not lie to one another,

since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge

according to the image of Him who created him..."

-Colossians 3:9-10

In this vision, I was standing in a living room. This living room had crisp, clean white lines. A nice white sofa, white walls, white flooring. Everything was decorated with a nice white, and it was spacious and open. Even though everything was white and crisp, it was clean and inviting, so pure and holy.

And as I was standing there, I suddenly realized the Holy Spirit was standing opposite me, and in His hand was a clipboard. He was going through and checking things off and making notes. He also had a hard hat on and a construction vest. He was friendly toward me, but it was also very clear that He was here on official business to get work done!

As I was watching Him look at His notes on this clipboard, I suddenly heard an explosion outside the window. My attention was drawn to these floor to ceiling windows on the other end of the living room, and I saw that outside there were workers blowing up the ground to expand onto the house. I moved to watch the workers blow the ground up and as I did, the Holy Spirit turned to me with His full attention and said, "Oh, don't worry about that." And I looked at the Holy Spirit and said, "I am worried about that!"

I knew instinctively that this was my yard! And these workers were blowing things up in it! The Holy Spirit looked at me and said, "You keep your eyes focused on Me, you look at Me. Don't worry about what We're doing outside." And I looked at Him and said, "But how can I not be worried about what You're doing outside, because it affects me." With tenderness He responded to me, "All you need to do is stay here with Me, in this living room, in this space. Stay with your eyes focused on Me."

After He said that I heard another explosion outside and I turned with my whole body and asked, "What are They doing?" And He said, "Well, We're breaking new ground." And I asked, "What for?" And He said to me, "For more."

And then He began to download this idea of understanding to me that when there are bombs that are going off in our life, whether that's relationships or jobs, family or friends, issues with bosses or coworkers; that when there are things that begin to explode in our lives, that's the Lord breaking new ground for more.

He's unearthing things from the soil in our soul, dirt that's embedded in our hearts. We usually don't realize there were sinful thoughts, desires or emotions in our relationships or lives until the dirt is displaced and it reveals the rubble that must go. We don't realize that we're holding onto things selfishly, or that we react in certain ways personally, because it's a blind spot. The Lord is in the business of blowing up our blind spots and calling our attention to them, so that we can deal with them. He wants us to move through past trauma, work our way through issues, so that we can let them go once and for all and move into the more He has for us.

Sometimes He allows explosive situations to show us just how easily we get rattled by outside situations, and let our gaze slip away from Him. And sometimes He orchestrates scenarios so that we're made aware of places in our heart and soul that require our attention. Because if we don't know that there are dark places in us, then we don't invite Him into those areas to do a new work.

Sometimes we're so rattled by the bombs that we don't realize it's the Lord doing a new work, breaking new ground, expanding us for the more He has for us. Stay with the Holy Spirit in these moments. Let the Lord do what He needs to do so that we can move forward with a bigger temple, expanded territory, ready to receive more from His hands.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,

whom you have from God,

and you are not your own?

For you were bought at a price;

therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit,

which are God’s.

-1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Renewed In Knowledge

In Colossians 3:10 Paul uses the phrase "renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him." This word renewed in the Greek is anakainoō and it means to renovate, to cause to grow up or make new, to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state.

So when the Lord brought me into this vision with the Holy Spirit, He was showing me the renewal process that happens in our lives as we move into greater glory in Him. The word knowledge is epignōsis, which means recognition, full discernment. This word is used in the New Testament to say 'of the knowledge of things ethical and divine.'

Let me tell you a secret I have learned from Him. I have learned to ask of the Lord to help me discern what is happening behind the scenes in any situation that bothers me. In the past I had a tendency to create my own narratives about a situation, without asking the Lord what was true. And then the Lord one time gave me a dream showing me that my desire to write the script left me with an inaccurate (and very false) perception of what was going on. So not only was I wrong about peoples' motives or actions, I believed the wrong thoughts because I had created them!

I learned that whenever I try to put the pieces together with my limited knowledge of a situation, that I'm almost always wrong in my estimation of what is happening. The Lord showed me to come to Him and say, "help me discern accurately what this is about!" And now when I ask, I receive the fullness of His knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes. I get to see what is hidden, and it draws me closer to the Lord in the process.

We can do the same thing with ourselves. Perhaps there are parts of us that we do what we do not want to do, to quote Paul again. So come to the Lord and ask, "where does my desire to do this thing come from? Why am I driven by my old man? Lord I surrender this part of myself to You. Give me full discernment into this area so that the hidden things can come into the light, be exposed, and You and I can work through it and I will be completely renewed."

Today if there are bombs going off in your life, let them! Let them explode into the dirt. Let them remove debris and rocks and rubble. Let the Lord do His job! And learn to see the Holy Spirit as the Overseer of your construction site, the Lord's holy temple.

I know it's tempting to take our eyes off the Lord and put it on our surroundings. Don't! The Holy Spirit is saying to you today, "Keep your eyes on Me. Stay here with Me. Rest in the living room while I do the work outside that needs to done. I'm expanding your temple, I'm making room for more. I'm adding more rooms, I'm laying new foundation. You have prayed and asked for bigger blessings, for greater territory, for increased responsibility. I heard your prayer, now let Me do the work that needs to be done to answer your prayer. Stay with Me, eyes on Me. And we will get through this together."

With joy always,

Jessica

In The Face Of Evil, Jesus Brings You Peace

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 04:10:09 GMT

"Peace I leave with you;

My [perfect] peace I give to you;

not as the world gives do I give to you.

Do not let your heart be troubled,

nor let it be afraid.

[Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance

and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]"

-John 14:27 (amp)

Yesterday I was in my study with the Lord when He led me to see His peace and how He brings it to us. He shed light on how we feel His peace, and how it most often comes during a time of great need, during a time of darkness.

There are certainly seasons we have in which we are given peace and rest on all sides- but when do we most often crave that peace that surpasses all understanding? It's during times of evil and intense hardship that we cry out for the Lord to put our hearts at ease! And during these times when we call on Him, He will come forth in the person of Jesus and lead us in His everlasting peace, with grace and mercy. We need His peace most when our circumstances lack the light.

If you're facing something evil right now, or in a place of complete darkness, or in the valley of hardship, then keep reading because the Lord has the answer for you!

In Our Valley Of Darkness, Jesus Comes To Us

In Genesis 14 we find Abram in a position of war. To be honest, I never thought of Abraham as a man of war, and yet the text is clear that he was ready to do battle when necessary! I think we should keep that mind, that the "father of all who believe" (Romans 4, Galatians 3:6-9) was ready to go to war when asked. Sometimes we have to really fight for our faith, are we ready for war?

"And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar— four kings against five . Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people."

Genesis 14:8-16

I underlined several parts of the text I want to focus on. The first part is " four kings against five...Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled ." First off, there were 5 kings that joined together against 4 kings, and they met in the Valley of Siddim. In the Hebrew, 5 is the number for grace and favor, 4 is depicted as the number of creation or earth (4 corners of the earth). The Valley of Siddim is the valley of division, field of demons. The etymology of the word Siddim means to deal violently with, ruin or destroy.

There are going to be times in our lives in which we set out to do battle in grace with God's favor and come up against the world in the valley of the field of demons. They are going to deal with us violently, ruin us and try to destroy us. Asphalt (or tar) has really interesting symbolism in the Bible. Tar symbolizes the atonement (of the blood of Jesus), protection against sinking, judgment, and the works of people. Depending on our situation and how we respond depends on what the asphalt pit will mean to us!

When we come up against something demonic in our lives, or hit a valley filled with evil activity, do we flee in fear? It's when the king of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and left his post of war that his people were captured and their goods plundered. If we flee from grace of the Lord (5) because of what the world (4) is doing to us, then the demonic valley filled with asphalt pits will become a place of judgement and we'll fall at the hands (or works) of people. BUT, if we fix our eyes on the blood of Jesus (atonement) He will protect us and keep us from sinking!

Of course we know from scripture that the king of Sodom wasn't a godly man, so he wasn't likely to call on Jesus to save him. But me and you? We can call on our Savior when we find ourselves in the Valley of Siddim. Whatever our place of demonic induced darkness happens to be, He will cover us with His precious blood and keep us from sinking. Looking to Jesus keeps us in the center of His grace, and nothing the world throws at us can get to us!

But what if we run in fear? What if we flee in a fit of anxiety? Then I have another word of encouragement for you, because the story doesn't end here. It continues with " They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre ."

Many years ago the Lord showed me that when we find someone sitting beneath a tree in the Bible it is a picture of dwelling in the shadow of the Almighty. We very often find Abraham dwelling beneath the Terebinth tree which is where he would commune with the Lord. You know who else sat under a tree? Deborah, the female judge and prophetess would render justice under the palm tree.

So, while Lot was living in the land of sin and evil, (which he chose to dwell in, let's not forget), Abraham was choosing to spend his time with the Lord.

Let me give you one quick truth from the lives of these two men: Lot appeared to be *technically* blessed with the blessing that Abraham wanted. They both had similar livelihoods and great possessions which signified similar levels of wealth (Genesis 13:6). But it was Lot who had children.

If you are waiting on a promise from the Lord and you see others who have been given your promise and not you, don't let yourself be jealous of them! Instead, choose to spend your time with the Lord under the shadow of His wings. Because one day, the ones who have your blessing but walk in the ways of evil, they will be captured by the enemies and have their possessions ransacked.

Stick close to Jesus, He will bring your promise in due time! And while you wait, you don't have to worry about your home, your family, your livelihood, or anything else God has given you be stolen from you. He will protect you and He will preserve all He's given you.

Ok, moving along. Genesis 14:14 says, " Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants ." The number 14 in Hebrew has several incredible meanings, and we find it twice here, chapter 14, verse 14. While the original text didn't have chapters and verses like our Bible does now, I don't believe anything in God's Word is by accident. There is a reason that all things line up like they do!

This website states the number 14 this way: "To write fourteen in Hebrew, they wrote two Hebrew letters: yod-daleth. These signify the hand (outworking) of the door. It pictures a release or deliverance from the prison with the opening of the door. Fourteen is the number of deliverance or release. Israel was delivered from Egypt by the Passover lamb that was killed on the 14th day of the first month (Passover). When the ship that was carrying Paul to Rome was caught in the storm, they were delivered on the 14th day ( Acts 27:33, 34). In Gen. 12:10 Abram went down to Egypt in order to deliver himself from the famine in Canaan. This was the 14th time Abram’s name is mentioned in Scripture. The 14th time that Abraham is mentioned is in Gen. 18:13, where the Lord told them that Sarah would deliver a child (Isaac) in the next year."

Fourteen is the strong hand of God at work to deliver us and open the door to our prison cell. And, it's a double measure of the number 7, meaning double spiritual perfection. Abraham took on the call to go up and deliver his brother from his captors, taking on the strong hand of God to open their prison doors and set them free.

But! What I found very fascinating when I studied this chapter was that he took 318 trained servants to go to battle with him. Do you know what word occurs 318 times throughout the scriptures? Peace. The word for peace comes up 318 times. God gives us peace in the midst of our troubles.

Abraham knew he was meant to deliver Lot because he was spending time with the Lord and knew God was with him. So in peace, with a peaceful heart believing in faith God was with him, he went out against 4 kings. And he recovered all. Isn't that amazing?

When we dwell with the Lord, which really just means when we spend time with Him day in and day out, our hearts will remain at peace and we will know that He will deliver our enemies into our hands. We need not worry, He will be with us.

So if you find yourself running from the battle out of fear or anxiety, then call on the name of the Lord. One man escaped and called on father Abraham to deliver Lot and his family. You can call on the Lord God no matter what time of day it is, or no matter how far you've run. There isn't enough speed in your step that will outrun the Lord's love for you and His ability to deliver you. So call on Him if fear takes over and you fall from grace!

The story continues on from there:

"And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley),

after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

And he blessed him and said:

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Genesis 14:17-20

The king of Sodom met with Abraham after his victory over the king's enemies. The king's name is Bera (Gen 14:2), which means son of evil. I think it's safe to say that Sodom was led by a king who delighted in evil, wouldn't you?

But in the very next verses we see the first mention of Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High. In Hebrews Jesus is said to be from the order of Melchizedek, our High Priest forever, sitting at the throne of God interceding on our behalf.

Melchizedek is the king of Salem, and Salem means peace, derived from the word shalem, to be or make whole or complete. In the face of those who are the sons of evil, we can be assured that Jesus, our High Priest, will meet with us and bring us peace.

The word priest, just like the word peace, is also mentioned 318 times throughout the Bible. Jesus is our High Priest, and He is our Prince of Peace. And in these verses it doesn't say that King Bera leaves when the King of Salem arrives, so even in the face of evil we can have peace! It doesn't matter who is against you, because the Lord God and your Savior Jesus Christ the High Priest, is for you. Amen!

This is the first time we see the beautiful truth of communion as well. Melchizedek brings out the bread and wine, signifying the future broken body of our Yeshua. Then he blesses Abraham (Abram) and declares that it was the Lord who delivered his enemies into his hands.

One big truth from this passage is that taking communion is an amazing way to declare our enemies have been defeated by the blood of the Lamb. I went through a challenging season of sickness and disease many years ago, and it was taking communion nearly every day that put the disease to death. I can tell you it's been 9 years and it hasn't risen from the dead since. Taking communion brings life to our bodies!

And secondly, the Lord God delivers our enemies into our hands. When we dwell in the shadow of the Lord, He takes care of anyone who would come against us. He gives us peace in the face of true evil.

Stick with Jesus! Stay close to the Lord! Remain under the tree! He will protect you, preserve you, deliver you, and keep your heart steady and give you His peace.

But What If Evil Seems To Win?

Ok, so you might be like, "that's all well and good, but my situation is a dumpster fire right now and I'm losing." Alright, let's take a look at another passage that also has some key truths about the number 318 in the Bible.

In the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance , entry 318th is the Hebrew word ochoreyn, meaning last. We find it only 1 time in the scriptures and it's in Daniel 4:8 " But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation."

At this point in the story we've seen that King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream from the Lord and he's already brought in every single wise man in the realm. In comes the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans (influential wise men known for their skills in mathematics and astrology), and soothsayers (people who are supposed to be able to foresee the future). The very final man called before the throne is Daniel.

Have you ever felt like everybody else is winning and you're just, losing? Or perhaps that you're constantly overlooked, even though God has chosen you and given you very specific gifts and talents? I wonder if Daniel felt that way.

We know that Daniel's character proceeded him because Nebuchadnezzar says of him, "I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation." The king was fully aware that the Spirit of God was in Daniel, that nothing troubled him, and that Daniel would be able to interpret the dream. So that's how we can know that even if Daniel ever felt unfairly prejudiced against for being picked last, he didn't let it show in court. Because Nebuchadnezzar specifically calls out Daniel's inability to be troubled by secrets.

Sometimes it's a mystery why the people of this world are being picked first, but it isn't to God. Sometimes it's a mystery why random events are happening, but it isn't to God. Sometimes it seems like evil people are plotting secretive endeavors, but God's not shocked or surprised. And if we stick close to the Lord, then we won't be troubled or surprised by the events of this world either. And we can walk in to our boss's office with strength and assurance, even if we're the last one summoned before him.

What's also odd about Daniel being called in last is that at this point he has already interpreted the king's dreams before, and was given a promotion. So wouldn't he be summoned first? But that's often how the world works, they want to forget the ways of God and those who walk with Him, in favor of the people of the world and those who walk in evil. And so often we forget that true wisdom, true knowledge and all truth, comes from the Lord God Almighty. And no one and nothing compares to Him.

King Nebuchadnezzar calls out Daniel's ability to not be troubled by anything, and that tells me that by sticking close to God he remained at peace .

Jesus said in Matthew 20:16, " So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” You might be in a position right now where it feels like you're being overlooked by everyone around you. Maybe you even feel like the Lord keeps passing you over in favor of other people. But Jesus said that those who are last will end up being first.

We're all called by God to live out a life of purpose when we come to Christ. But how do we go from being called to being chosen? We have to be willing. Willing to wait on Him and to surrender totally and completely to His will. And when that happens, there will come a time when those who pass us by won't be able to ignore us because we'll be the only ones who carry the truth and wisdom and knowledge of the Lord. We'll be the only ones with the answers they're seeking.

Daniel spent his time in prayer (Daniel 6:10), and he grew in wisdom and knowledge of the ways of God. In Daniel 2 we see the first dream Nebuchadnezzar has, and Daniel needs time to hear from the Lord on the meaning (Daniel 2:16-19). In Daniel 4 he no longer requires hours of time to hear the Lord's interpretation.

But perhaps your life is a dumpster fire? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego know a little something about that. In chapter 3 they refused to bow down to worship the gold image and faced burning consequences as a result.

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Daniel 3:16-18

We all want to see miracles in our lives. We all want to walk in God's glory and see His hand move on our behalf. But how many of us are willing to stand up and do the right thing even if it means being thrown in jail or into a blaze? True miracles are seen when we choose to do the right thing in dire circumstances. Otherwise it wouldn't be called a miracle! It comes when we need it most.

Instead of Nebuchadnezzar witnessing the death of three men, He saw Jesus coming to save Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego from the fiery flames. "“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:25) He knew that the wisdom of God rested on these men! And yet, yet, he returned to his advisors who practiced evil and magic within his kingdom.

If your feet are to the fire, call on Jesus. If your whole life is going up in flames, cry out to the Lord! It's Jesus who comes into our situation and protects us from the heat, and we will walk out without any burns.

Maybe you're in a place right now where your boss, your parents, your coach, should know better. They have seen how you walk, they know how you talk. But yet, they pass you over in favor of someone else. Maybe you're being thrown into the fiery furnace and life is getting hot . Maybe you're ignored, or hated, or in the valley of darkness. There's only one answer I have for you: call on Jesus. Call on the blood of the Lamb, and He will enter into your midst and give you His peace.

You might be coming in last right now, spend your time with God. You might be surrounded by evil, spend your time with the Lord. You might have enemies on every side, go sit under the tree. Because a day is coming when you will be called on to do the job God as for you to do, and no one else will have the wisdom and words of the Lord to speak what He would have you speak. The day is coming when only you will be able to pick up the sword and go to war, because you've been taught how by God. Don't let yourself be troubled, your time is coming.

Daniel might have been picked last by men, but God chose him to be first. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were thrown into the fire for walking in righteousness, but they walked out unscathed. You might have people around you who are like the sons of evil, but Jesus is at your side infusing you with His peace.

Choose not to worry about your life. Just stay close to Jesus.

With joy always,

Jessica

For Further study & reading:

You Are Crowned With Righteousness

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 04:29:12 GMT

During a tough year that our family was going through, the Lord gave me a vision to help strengthen and support me. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:2, I'm not sure if I was in my body or out of my body when I had this vision. I know that my spirit was caught up into heaven, whether or not my body was, I can't say for sure.

One Sunday morning I was listening to a sermon and talking with the Lord while I listened. Suddenly I was taken into heaven. I was standing on the left side of the throne of God and seeing myself through someone else's eyes. Or perhaps it was me standing there in my body, that I'm not sure. As I stood there, I saw myself standing before the throne of God.

I was clothed in the most beautiful golden-white gown that shimmered when I moved. I stood on a pure gold floor, and everything around me, the walls, the ceiling, the throne, was made of solid gold. But what caught my eye the most as I watched myself, was the crown that was fixed atop my head. It was solid gold, and it looked heavy . I could tell it had a significant weight to it, and I wondered how I held my head up while wearing this incredibly weighty crown.

I was given some time to watch myself, because I believe the Lord wanted me to truly see what we look like as believers in Christ Jesus. We are crowned! We are crowned with righteousness! Whenever we come to the throne of God, we come crowned in glory. We're not paupers off the streets in His presence, we're righteously and beautifully dressed!

As I stood there on the left side of the throne watching myself speak to the King, suddenly I was put into my own body before the throne, and I was looking up at my Lord. In that moment, several things became apparent to me. One, the crown that appeared so heavy I didn't know how I could hold my head up, I realized I couldn't feel it. While it looked like it weighed 50 pounds, I couldn't feel it's weight at all. Two, nothing in this body was uncomfortable. I was completely whole. No aches, no pains. And the floor which should have felt hard beneath my feet, I couldn't feel it. And the dress that I should have felt against my body, was weightless. I felt no discomfort in this place! Three, I could see the Lord God Almighty! Sort of.

As I gazed upon the throne, the Lord was shrouded in light. And while I couldn't make Him out exactly, I had a strong sense in my spirit that He had a form, and it was like that of mankind. He shifted when I spoke, and leaned in when I prayed. He desired to hear from me . He was delighted I was in His presence!

And just like He showed me this vision to encourage me to keep going even though it was tough, I am sharing it with you to encourage you that our Heavenly Father sees you in this way. He delights in your presence. He loves it when you come to His throne. He wants to hear from you. He loves you! He loves it when you come and speak with Him!

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:16

But another beautiful truth that He sank deep into my heart was this: we are crowned. We're not waiting until we get to heaven to be crowned (although the scriptures are clear, crowns will be handed out!) He sees us crowned right now . He sees us arrayed in beautiful finery, crowned with His glory. And why would we not be? After all, if we have received Jesus as our wonderful Savior, then the Bible says that we have been justified by faith and made completely righteous because of His perfect blood sacrifice for us! (Romans 5:1-18, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

In the book of Esther we meet a man named Mordecai who was put in a precarious situation. Whenever Mordecai's name is mentioned in Esther, he's most often sitting within the king's gate. It's very likely that he had an official position of business located within the gates. (Esther 2:19) I think there is a wonderful inference we can take from these scriptures about Mordecai and it's this: wherever God has placed you today, walk it out with diligence and honor.

Mordecai had a position that was within the king's gate- we don't know from scriptures if he loved his position, what he even did in his position, but we do know that he was placed at the right place, at the right time, to hear very specific things that would change the course of his people.

Because of Mordecai's position, he happened to know when the king wanted to select a virgin from among the people to become the new queen, and he submitted Esther to be a virgin contestant (so to speak). Because of Mordecai's position, he happened to overhear of two eunuchs wanting to overthrow King Ahasuerus (Esther 2:19-23). Because of his position, he happened to learn of Haman's desire to kill the Jews. (Esther 4:1) And because of his conviction and beliefs, he went to the queen and advised her on how to do the right thing to save the Jewish population living in Persia.

The lesson we can learn from him is this, God has us in the place we currently are in for His divine purposes. It might not feel lofty, Mordecai wasn't a king and it was his little cousin who was queen. It might not feel prestigious, he had to watch Haman parade around with a title making people bow down to him. But he was strategically positioned by God to do God's work.

No matter where you are right now, it's exactly where you're supposed to be. Even if it doesn't feel like it. God has strategically placed you for His divine purpose, and He will move you around to where He desires you to be. It just might require some patience on our part if we're waiting on the Lord to bring us to the promised land He has shown us!

When Esther reveals to the king the heinous acts that Haman is desiring to do to annihilate the Jews, he has Haman hanged on the very gallows he created for Mordecai to swing from. That's poetic justice my friends. And in Esther 8:15, Mordecai leaves the presence of the king dressed in royal apparel, with a great crown of gold, and a garment of fine linen.

This, this is how God sees you when you come into His presence. You are dressed in fine linen of royal colors. You are crowned with a great crown of gold. You have right standing before the throne of God because of Jesus Christ!

Esther was afraid to enter into the king's presence because she could have been killed for it (Esther 4:11). But you and I, we don't have that fear! Once upon a time only the priest could enter the Holy of Holies on one day of the year. But today, we have the ability and the right to stand before the Lord whenever we want to, wherever we are located, and however we need to come. Come crying. Come laughing. Come singing. Come dancing!

And when you come into His presence, know that you are royally dressed, with a crown atop your head, standing on a floor of solid gold, and the King delights in you being there.

In the very final chapter of Esther, which only contains 3 verses, we see that Mordecai is placed second in command to King Ahasuerus. He's given incredible authority over the kingdom of Persia, and all because he subjected himself to where the Lord had him and remained humble in the position God had placed him in.

I don't know about you, but I would say 80% of any anger and frustration I take to the Lord has to do with where He has me right now. I'm currently walking in many blessings He has given me, and some incredible things He's promised me I have. And yet, and yet, I can find myself disgruntled by the future promises He has yet to bestow on me. Why are we so like that?

I believe (and have learned from His hand) that the reason we spend such a significant time waiting for promises is because our flesh rises up and becomes impatient with His timing. We just hate to wait.

There's varying reports as to the actual age of Mordecai when Esther becomes queen, but it's likely he was somewhere between the age of 60-90. That means that he was given a position by the Lord and diligently worked it for many, many years before he was elevated by Him to a great position in the kingdom. My friend, it works out in our favor to patiently wait on God's timing.

And while we wait, know that when you come into the presence of the King you are crowned. Just as the crown appeared to have weight to it in my vision, so too does your presence carry the weight of heaven, even though you can't feel it. You can't feel it, but you are heaven's heavy weight! Wherever God has you right now, you are heaven's glory walking around on earth, positioned exactly where He desires you to be.

We know from scripture that there are 5 crowns awaiting us in heaven. We know that one day, Jesus will hand out crowns to us. 2 Timothy 4:8 says we will receive the crown of righteousness. 1 Corinthians 9:25 says we will receive an incorruptible crown. Revelation 2:10 declares we will be given the crown of life. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 speaks of the crown of rejoicing. And finally, 1 Peter 5:4 talks of the crown of glory.

I don't know if we as believers will receive all of these, one of these, or a few of these crowns. But I do know this, the Lord showed me that when we come into His presence and pray, He already sees us crowned. Whatever title comes with that crown, I don't know! Only He knows.

We can walk tall knowing heaven's glory is on our head. We can stand in our current position knowing the Lord has clothed us in royal finery. We can hold our head high, despite our circumstances, because the Lord is for us.

Mordecai didn't shrink in the face of danger, he faced it. Don't be overwhelmed when trials come, they are meant to. They strengthen us and turn us into true heavyweights for heaven's glory. Stand in grace, rejoice in hope, give glory in your tribulations. Just as the Lord turned the tables on Mordecai's enemies, so too will He do the same for you. You are crowned. Walk like it.

With joy always,

Jessica

Proverbs To Live By

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 03:01:34 GMT

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:

but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

-Proverbs 1:7

Because of some circumstances in my childhood, my first full year of school was 4th grade. My second full year of school was 6th grade. That means by the time I turned 12 (toward the end of 6th grade), I had only had 2 full years of schooling in my back pocket. That's a lot of missing years!

Looking back, I can say the Lord was very favorable toward me. He gave me understanding when I wasn't taught it. He gave me knowledge I didn't know to ask for. The rest of my schooling years, He provided understanding again and again. It is truly a miracle that I made it through high school and college - and I can say it's by the grace of God and His mercy to me that I did!

But after I surrendered my life to Christ, the veil lifted from my mind and I realized just how much I lacked in wisdom and understanding. What I should have learned in childhood, I never did. Common sense wasn't taught to me, and I had to beg God for wisdom to get through even the simplest of tasks in life.

Late one night, when I was struggling to know what to do in a work setting, I called out to the Lord and pleaded for wisdom. I knew I wasn't wise, and I knew I wasn't that smart, but I also knew that Solomon had asked for wisdom and God gave it to him. So, armed with the Bible in one hand and my broken heart in the other, I asked the Lord to give me wisdom. I begged for knowledge and understanding.

I wrote my prayer down on a notecard, and I began to pray it night and day. Little did I know that this little prayer would change my life.

It's been many years since I first cried out to the Lord in my bedroom, alone and afraid for my future. And in that time, God has not only given me wisdom, knowledge and understanding, but a great life and a wonderful family.

His wisdom helped me through countless personal decisions. His wisdom has given me guidance, purpose, and understanding about situations and people beyond what I could know. When I lack, I ask.

He's answered parenting questions, dropped words of knowledge into my head or understanding to my heart. In the process, He healed so much of me that lacked what I wasn't given.

This is a collection of my favorite Proverbs, written by the second wisest man to walk this earth. Turn this into prayers for yourself or for those around you who need the Lord's understanding. May He give you the same miracle He gave me: bestowing wisdom, knowledge and understanding to you because you dared to ask Him to give it to you.

Proverbs To Live By

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:

but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

-Proverbs 1:7

"A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel"

-Proverbs 1:5

"My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,

So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;

Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,

If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;

Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God."

-Proverbs 2:1-5

"For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly"

-Proverbs 2:6-7

"When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you"

-Proverbs 2:10-11

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

-Proverbs 3:5-6

"But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil"

-Proverbs 1:33

Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the first fruits of all your increase;

So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

-Proverbs 3:9-10

Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,

And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

-Proverbs 3:3-4

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.

-Proverbs 3:33

Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;

For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.

-Proverbs 3:13-18

Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.

Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.

-Proverbs 4:5-7

My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
Lend your ear to my understanding,

That you may preserve discretion,
And your lips may keep knowledge.

-Proverbs 5:1-2

Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.

Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.

-Proverbs 4:25-26

With joy,

Jessica

Praying Scripture: Ephesians 3

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:22:01 GMT

"Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Praying scripture is one of the easiest, and most beneficial ways we can pray! For we know that the Word of God is living and breathing and active, but also that His wonderful words put into prayers delight His heart. He loves it when we pray His words back to Him! He loves answering those prayers too.

In this prayer, we will be praying Ephesians 3 (and a small portion of Philippians), asking the Lord for strength in our spirit. We know that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. When we pray for a strengthened spirit, we are asking that the Lord increase our spiritual man to overcome the weakness of the flesh. It's an important prayer!

This prayer also focuses on Jesus Christ and being rooted in Him, knowing Him, and having a greater understanding of His love for us. Write this down and pray it over yourself, your children, and loved ones!

Heavenly Father, grant to me, according to the riches of Your glory,

that I be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in my inner man.

Give me exceeding faith in Christ, being rooted and grounded in love --

to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;

that I may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Work out Your power in me and give to me

exceedingly above all that I ask or think.

Grant to me comprehension with all the saints what is the width

and length and depth of You, Your Spirit, Your love.

Amen

With joy always,

Jessica

Kids Playroom Inspiration & Organization

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 02:02:46 GMT

I think we've moved our kids playroom around 3 times now. It started upstairs, then moved to the basement, and now it's back upstairs. There's something about the basement that has our kids feeling like they're headed into the abyss! So, it's back upstairs. For now.

We started by painting everything in Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams , and I love the color. It's such a beautiful gray that brings depth to the rooms in our home. We then added a gallery wall with pictures from our last family photography session, and I love how it turned out.

I picked up picture frames from Hobby Lobby. Here are the exact sizes I used!

1 - 8x10
2 - 9x12
2 - 12x16
1 - 11x17
1 - 16x20

If you're looking for a similar style, here are some options for you! ( Farmhouse wood frames )

There's one wall in the play room that transitions into our main area upstairs, and on that small wall we added a rustic wood growth chart . I absolutely love it. About every six months we take our kids' measurements and add it to the ruler. It's a great way to keep track of how tall they are getting, and we can take it with us wherever we go!

I added a snake plant to the space as well. Snake plants are known for removing toxins from the air, thereby improving the air we're breathing day in and day out. They also boost mental health, help with minor health issues, increase oxygen, and they don't need tons of light or water! Our snake plants thrive almost anywhere we put them, you can't go wrong with adding one to your home!

In our actual play room we have a space for our son to have all of his cars and Hot Wheels playsets. He loves having a spot that's just his and he often hangs out there for hours at a time.

In another corner is a reading nook with a tent that my oldest enjoys crawling into from time to time with her books. In that area I also have a small table and chairs that I refinished many years ago. ( See the end result here )

In the opposite corner we have a play kitchen and trunk to hold their American Girl/Our Generation accessories and clothes. That works so well to keep everything together. And these baskets from Target are functional for storage and are a nice touch in any room.

And finally, the last area in our playroom that we decorated is our gallery wall and we added storage organizers with fabric bins to keep toys organized. These white cubbies look nice, and when the toys are put away it feels so organized!

Happy painting, decorating, renovating, and DIYing!

With joy always,

Jessica

Invite Jesus To Be Your Best Friend

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 22:36:02 GMT

"Until now you have asked nothing in my name.

Ask, and you will receive,

that your joy may be full."

John 16:24

A few weeks ago I saw on a comment on a sermon video on YouTube that stuck with me. In the video, the pastor was inviting people to walk in real relationship with the Trinity, to become friends with the Holy Spirit and with Jesus. And someone commented, "But how do you actually do that though? I just don't understand how to become friends with Jesus."

I wanted to reach across the screen and touch that person's heart with the knowledge of how to make Jesus your best friend, because it's a beautiful revelation that the Trinity from heaven gave me many years ago.

And while we can reach through the screen to share wisdom and knowledge, it's sometimes hard to share the actual practicality of the point we are trying to make! So, if you have ever struggled in your relationship with Jesus, ever wondered like this person, "But how do I actually make Jesus my best friend? How does that work and what does that even look like?" Then this article is for you.

Or perhaps you are wanting to walk in closer communion with the Holy Spirit. Then read on! Because I'm going to share my real experience with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Together, They showed me how to walk with Them as my best friends.

August 2013

One afternoon in August of 2013, I received a text from my best friend's mom. It just requested that we get lunch together, and she hoped I was doing well. Without knowing anything, that one text said everything. There wasn't any reason for her to want to grab lunch, unless something was going on.

We got together at a nearby restaurant and after the server took our order, she began to share with me that my best friend had been diagnosed with cancer. She shared the details from her past month of being misdiagnosed at first, having surgery for something that wasn't necessary, and all of the steps that had led to them finally figuring out that it was cancer. I knew most of it. But this cancer diagnosis was new information, and suddenly every conversation I had had with her over the last 6 months made sense as the details clicked into place.

In one conversation in March she had mentioned being extremely tired, more so than normal. But she explained it away by saying she was just exhausted because finals were around the corner and she wanted to "graduate strong." She was in grad school for physical therapy.

Another conversation we had had toward the end of April clicked through my memory...she had been upset that her brother and dad (who came into town for her graduation) had commented on her appearance and said she needed to rest more and not overwork herself. When she talked to me about it we focused on her feelings about the comments and conversation, as women often do. But looking back, I realized they saw something that my best friend didn't know, or maybe didn't want to see.

Mid-summer she said her fatigue was likely due to tonsilitis, and surgery had been scheduled. It was during this process that they discovered it wasn't tonsilitis (after they took her tonsils), and that there was something more sinister going on.

As my whole world fell apart, I remember sitting in the sun thinking, "This doesn't feel right. The weather should match the storm that's raging inside of me."

Fast Forward...

A few years later I had seen God's hand throughout this cancer journey that was really incredible. One night I cried until the early morning hours, completely unsure what the future was going to look like now and clinging to my Bible that spoke of hope and a good future. Truthfully, I wondered if Jeremiah 29:11 (my life verse) was really true and if God's Word would really hold up. Did He want good things for me? Was there hope for my future? Our future? Her future?

In desperation, and through the tears, I remember being so angry with the Lord and calling out, "She was supposed to be in my wedding! I was supposed to be in her wedding! This isn't supposed to be a part of our story!" I didn't even ask God for anything, I was just crying and screaming and wrestling with Him in my heart about the future and that this wasn't the plan. This wasn't my plan. It certainly wasn't her plan. Obviously He wasn't aware of our plans and needed to get on board!

The one and only time I have ever been so angry that I threw my Bible was during this season of being overwhelmed by every emotion that was coursing through me. The uncertainty, fear, doubt, anger, sadness, depression, angst....it was so much and I didn't know how I would survive it. And the rage I felt toward the Lord, it was all-consuming.

But here's the thing, while there were times I was absolutely sinful in my thoughts and in my actions (throwing a Bible is not an innocent activity!), the Lord never abandoned me. He loved me through every tantrum, He held my hand even when I tried to let go. He never left me. He just let me be exactly where I was, physically, emotionally and spiritually. And He gently led me onward.

He answered the prayer I hadn't asked, she ended up being well enough to be my Matron of Honor and was by my side when I said "I do." And there were other ways His hand was present. The job I was at while she was in treatment allowed me to be with her every Friday for awhile - I look back on that and am so thankful for the extra time.

He may not have answered the ultimate prayer I had, but He was with me during the entire experience.

*Just a side note: if you're in the middle of something similar, or maybe just a challenging season and you feel like God is silent; He's not actually silent to punish you. He's just letting you get everything out that you need to. One night recently, I was on my couch spewing out all of my anger and thoughts and feelings on something and the Lord said nothing. Not a word, not a nudge, nothing . I even said, "My whole world is falling apart and You can't even speak? You have nothing to say???"

The next day I woke up and the answers to my questions had been downloaded to me while I slept. In my dreams, He visited me and showed me the way forward. And when I asked why He didn't speak to me the night before, when it felt like I really needed a reply, the Holy Spirit gave me a brief vision.

In the vision, I was laying on the couch and speaking everything that was in my heart, casting cares and worries. The Holy Spirit sat in the chair next to me with His notepad and pen, just taking notes. He looked up at me in the vision and said, "Last night you didn't need Me to speak, you just needed your Counselor."

If He's silent, it's not because He doesn't love you, it's because it's not what you need from Him. Sometimes what you need to do is get everything out, all of your thoughts and feelings out in the open with Him. Sometimes the answer can't come because we have too much noise in our heads, and it's not until we release that noise in His presence and it no longer lives inside of us, that then we can clearly hear Him speak.

I have walked seasons where the noise was deafening for months or even years - and He couldn't fully speak until I had released all of it into His care. He just might be waiting for you to give it all to Him before He speaks to you. It's hard to hear Him when we're filled with everything else!

January 2018

I got the call in January of 2018 that she had passed away. In some ways, I felt relieved. I was no longer living in a state of limbo, wondering and waiting for anything to happen. And then came the guilt, feeling guilty for being relieved, feeling guilty for everything I hadn't done or said that I should have done or said. Deep sadness began to close in on me. I could barely breathe.

I was 7 months pregnant with my first when I received the devastating news. The next day I was walking out of work, and it felt like my entire world had just collapsed. Again.

It didn't feel like I lifted a real prayer up to heaven, more like a cry that escaped from my heart while I walked down the sidewalk to my car. In desperation I cried up to the Lord, "What am I going to do? How will I go on? And who will be my best friend?"

In that moment, Jesus showed up on my right side, and the veil between us was so thin it felt like I could reach through and touch Him. He leaned in and whispered into my ear, "Will you let Me be your Best Friend?"

Truth be told, I hesitated. At this point in my journey I was very well aware of the cost of saying yes. Following Jesus and picking up our cross to do so, it comes with the cost of dying to self. And in our walk of faith, there isn't a single selfish or sinful thing within us that is going to be allowed to live on. We are, every day, becoming more and more like Him, and less and less like ourselves. In order to do that, we will have to pay the cost of our dying flesh.

So I weighed the cost of saying yes, but I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that I didn't want the consequences of saying no. While there's a cost to saying yes to Him, there are major consequences to saying no - so I said yes.

The delight of the Holy Trinity in that moment, I can't even describe it. It was all-consuming joy, and it filled my spirit-being and seeped into my heart. And then I made a request. I turned my head physically to the space I knew Jesus was occupying next to me and I said, "Yes, yes I will let You be my Best Friend. But Jesus, I know that when I walk near to You that there isn't a single place in me that's hidden from You, and that the closer I walk with You the more we have to deal with me - so can I have some space? Can we be a little distant until the baby comes? I know if we're close I won't be able to stop the grief from coming, and I don't know how that grief will affect my unborn girl. Can You give me a little space until she's here, and give me joy instead?"

I don't know what caused me to ask for that, I just wasn't sure how grief would impact my little Skylar. I wanted her to be as protected as possible. I still don't know what grief does to an unborn child, but this I do know: I woke up the next day with unspeakable joy. I almost didn't feel the distance the Father, Son and Holy Spirit had put between us although it was definitely there and I noticed it. They had respected my space and honored my ask, but that joy. That JOY! For 2 1/2 months I walked with the Joy of the LORD coursing through my veins. My little girl got the fullness of the Joy of the Lord during the final trimester. It was profound.

And Then, Reality Came Crashing Back In

The morning after Skylar was born the grief began to crash through my body like hurricane waves. The grief was relentless, and it was clear the Lord wasn't going to let me escape it. If I thought I had any chance at dodging the sadness, He made absolutely sure I wouldn't have the strength to when my mom arrived into town and I realized she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's.

With one punch the Lord took my best friend, and with the second He took the mom I had known - and I couldn't stand or pretend like I was going to be ok. I can see now that it was with a loving hand that He delivered both blows back-to-back, ensuring that I wouldn't rely on any strength of my own or hold back any of my grief. It was with kindness that He removed the two women who were most important in my life, so that He would become the Most Important Person to me.

For about 6-8 weeks I did nothing but cry. And can I tell you? It's the most healing thing you can possibly do. Let me show you a beautiful scripture to illustrate that point:

"In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ ”

2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.” ’ ”

7 Then Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord the third day?”

9 Then Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing which He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?”

10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees.”

11 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz."

- 2 Kings 20:1-11

In this passage Hezekiah weeps before the Lord, which we know because he's speaking to God when he begins crying. Hezekiah asks the Lord to remember him, and the Lord does. But the revelation I received some time ago when I was reading this begins in verse 5. The Lord Himself tells Isaiah to return to Hezekiah and say, "I have seen your tears, and surely I will heal you ." Healing and tears are mentioned in the very same verse!

One of the most interesting things about crying is what is contained in tears of sadness, grief and when we're crying because of complex emotions. The article What are Tears Made of? The Biochemistry of Emotion states this: "Water is a large component of tears, although other materials also make up the fluid. Such materials include hormones, neurotransmitters, and more....Emotional tears contain a higher concentration of hormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters when compared to reflexive or basal tears. This is thought to be because emotional tears are the waste product of emotional responses."

There are hormonal waste products released from our very bodies when we cry, and that's why it's so healing to weep. But the most healing thing we can possibly do, is weep in the Lord's presence and offer up our emotions, our prayers and petitions. He tunes His ears to our cries, and He sees our sadness. Not one of our tears falls to the floor or is wasted in His presence. Not one .

"You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book."

-Psalm 56:8

There's another beautiful nugget in this passage: Hezekiah didn't blame the Lord for his upcoming death sentence even though it was the Lord who said (through Isaiah) get your affairs in order for you are about to die! Instead, he cried in God's presence, and asked for the Lord to remember him and to remember that he has walked with God.

Something happens when we approach the Lord's throne and we don't blame God for the things that have happened in our lives, but instead cry out for Him to remember us. Crying in the presence of the King releases grief and sadness, and the emotions released in our tears prevent us from growing bitter toward the Lord, toward the world, and toward others. Instead we offer it up to Him, and pray for Him to remember us and to change our situation, and to heal us. That's when we see miracles come about in our lives.

And The Holy Spirit Speaks

A month or so after my mom visited I was scrolling Facebook on my phone in the kitchen, and I saw something that I wanted to share with my bestie. Honestly, it was gossip about two other people we knew that would have made for great conversation, though it was not in the least bit edifying.

I picked up the phone without thinking, and searched for her name. I was about to click call when the reality crashed down around me and I realized with earth-shattering revelation that I could never call her again. And there wasn't a single person to share my gossip with who would have cared about it.

I sank to the floor and bitter tears leaked out of my eyes. I couldn't even lift my gaze, I just said to the Lord, "I have no one to call."

And suddenly, as if you and I were having a conversation over tea, I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Call Me!" And in my heart I said, "What?" And with, what I can only describe to you as a feeling of giddiness, I heard the Holy Spirit say again, "Call Me!" Like He was excited to hear from me!

And this time I said, "Uhhh, I was about to call my bestie and gossip...." Which I said with a mixed feeling of shame and uncertainty, because surely the Lord didn't want to hear me gossiping to Him. I already knew it was wrong, therefore why would I commit a wrong with Him? Do you know what I mean? I prefer to leave Him out of my wrongdoing!

And the best way I can describe this, is that the Holy Spirit spoke with exasperation in His voice when He responded to me with, "Yes, I know what you wanted to talk about. So tell Me instead!"

Hesitantly, I began a conversation with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father, and told them everything I would have said to my best friend. It felt weird at first, because I had never spoken to them so honestly about *gasp* gossip, or juicy news I would have said to friends or family. Overtime, the Lord changed my heart posture from one ready to pick up the phone and gossip, to not having a desire for it.

But something else happened, Jesus, and His beautiful Holy Spirit, became my best friends. I had a wonderful, loving relationship with my Heavenly Father; but now I had something special with His Son and His Spirit too.

A unique aspect of the Lord's Spirit is that He is the personality of the Father and Jesus. He brings this zest, and passion, and fun . The Holy Spirit is funny ! Isn't that wild to think about? And the more you draw near to Him, the more He shows you how amazing His personality is, how delightful He is. It's a joy and it's our privilege to get to know Him!

Thinking back on some visions or pictures the Holy Spirit has given me with Him in it, and I can only laugh at how He presents Himself to me! He is so joyful, it's hard not to be enraptured with His Presence whenever He shows up. And the wonderful Jesus we have that gave up His life so that we could have HIS Spirit indwell in us? What a miracle! And we get to know Them! And They so want to know us.

The Holy Trinity has a deep and profound desire to know us, to love us, to commune with us. After all, They made us, in Their image. They want to know you!

Pick Up The "Phone!"

The next time you're in the car and about to dial someone's number (or rather, click on their name), call Jesus instead. The next time you're doing chores or laundry, cooking in the kitchen or working in the garage and it crosses your mind to make a phone call, call Jesus instead.

He so longs to hear from you, so longs to begin this beautiful relationship between the two of you. Tell Him the gossip. Tell Him the news. Tell Him when something is disappointing, or awful. Tell Him when you're having the best day ever, as my daughter would put it. Tell Him all the things. Because that, that is the answer to the questions I saw from a complete stranger. "How do we actually make Jesus our best friend?" It starts when we begin to treat Him like He's our Best Friend. It starts when we "pick up the phone and call Him." It starts, when we invite Him to be our Bestie.

While Jesus was the One who reached out to me and asked me if I would let Him be my Best Friend, it started when I asked Him what I was going to do now. He only extended the invitation when I asked Him for help.

He's waiting and hoping you will ask Him to be more to you, so invite Him to be. I can promise you, the most amazing and wonderful adventure with Him awaits on the other side of inviting Him to be your Bestie.

He and I, we're besties for the resties. Will you let Him be yours?

With joy always,

Jessica

Exploring The East Coast: Watkins Glen, NY

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 19:50:51 GMT

Something we've talked about doing for a few years is visiting the Finger Lakes region in New York. We finally got there this fall! I was hoping for more fall colors in the region (we went the last weekend of September), but it was beautiful weather and some leaves were beginning to change along the lake.

We drove from Niagara Falls to the town of Geneva at the top of Seneca Lake, and then followed the road along the lake down to Watkins Glen. It was a really cool drive. Seneca Lake is the largest of the finger lakes, and it took us around 45 minutes to drive the length of it. The entire time we were able to see the lake and the rolling hills that surround it on both sides.

We only spent a quick 2 days in Watkins Glen, but we were able to enjoy and see a lot while we were there!

Hike Watkins Glen State Park

As we drove into town the first place we went to was Watkins Glen State Park. I have seen pictures online, but wow, is this hike ever cool in person!

To start the hike, drive to Glen Mountain House Snacks & Souvenirs near Jacob’s Ladder. There is a nice big parking lot (free to park!), gift shop, a restroom and playground. The start of the trail is right next to the restroom, easy to find!

We used the restroom, then headed down the trail toward Jacob's Ladder to begin our hike. Jacob's Ladder is at the top of a steep staircase heading down, and there is an option of a slower incline up and down instead of the stairs. We took the stairs.

At the bottom, the trail stretches out before you, up and down stairs, twisting around bends, and follows the stream that runs beside it. The canyon gets narrow at points and wider at others. It's about a 1 mile hike to the waterfalls, and then another mile back the same way.

We passed a few smaller waterfalls and bridges before coming to Rainbow Falls, which is the perfect place to take a photo. Go a little further and you will get to Cavern Cascade, another highlight along the trail.

All in all, I would say plan to spend an hour or two in the gorge exploring and hiking. It was a pretty easy hike for kids, and I was impressed at their stamina. I think the views and waterfalls helped keep them engaged!

Explore Downtown Glen Watkins

The town itself is picturesque. We had dinner at Seneca Harbor Station and sat on the patio overlooking the lake. After dinner we walked around downtown and stopped by Ben & Jerry's for ice cream. A little further down is Colonial Inn & Creamery , boasting homemade ice cream and an inn that dates back to 1837.

We walked by Nickel's Pit BBQ Watkins Glen , which smelled divine. If we make it back, we're heading there for barbeque!

The downtown area is filled with unique shops and restaurants, mixed in with old and new buildings. We loved walking up and down the streets and stopping in to browse through the stores.

Check Out Other Waterfalls Nearby

South of Glen Watkins is the Village of Montour Falls, where you can see Deckertown Falls , Eagle Cliff Falls and a little bit north closer to town is Aunt Sarah’s Falls .

Deckertown Falls is a short walk from the parking area to the falls and very easy to find. If you desire for more of an adventure, follow the trail and head upstream to see more waterfalls! The trail is difficult and entirety of the gorge (should you choose to hike it) is around 1.5 miles. The website has more information for those who like a challenge!

Eagle Cliff Falls is close to the parking lot as well, and it's an easy walk to the waterfalls. The falls are located within Havana Glen park.

Aunt Sarah’s Falls are located on the way from Watkins Glen to the Village of Montour Falls and are close to the roadside. There is parking across the street from them, and then you'll have to cross traffic to get to the side of the road they are on. But these falls don't require any hiking or walking if you're looking to see something with minimal effort!

Stay At Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel

We LOVED our stay at the Harbor Hotel. It was a really nice reprieve after our hotel experience in Niagara Falls .

The rooms are spacious, the bathroom felt luxurious, and all of our clothing that was STILL wet from Niagara Falls dried instantly upon being laid out on the floor in our room. (Read more about our Niagara Falls trip and our very wet weekend, haha)

The hotel has its own bar and restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The staff was so sweet to our kids, and the chef made whipped cream smiley faces on our kiddos' pancakes and waffles for breakfast. I had the best oatmeal I've ever had, prompting me to completely change the way I make oatmeal now. Only old-fashioned stove-top oatmeal for me from now on!

We had a view of the lake from our window, and the kids enjoyed walking out on the dock and seeing people sail away on their boats. The small harbor is adorable, and we could see fish swimming in the water below.

This was a fun place to stay for 2 days. I would love to see it in the height of summer when everyone is boating and enjoying the lake. The swimming wouldn't be so frigid, and the small town would be teeming with people and chatter. I imagine that it would be the perfect summer town to visit.

If you go, let me know!

As always...

Happy traveling,

Jessica

Exploring The East Coast: Niagara Falls, NY

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 15:48:47 GMT

When I was about 6 months old my parents moved from Minnesota to Toronto, Canada. We lived there for several years before coming back to the states. While there, we visited Niagara Falls many times, however I don't remember it at all! And it's been on my list to get back there and see it as an adult.

When we realized our kids had a nice long weekend coming up, we booked our trip and headed to Niagara Falls!

See The Falls

No trip would be complete without seeing the falls. The best way to view them from the US side is on Goat Island. Near the falls is an overlook to get close to the river. A restaurant, gift shops and tour for Cave Of The Winds is all within walking distance from where we parked. There are bridges to walk across and get a closer view of the rapids and Bridal Veil Falls, and the overlook has a great view of both.

Plan to spend some time on the island touring the area and viewing the waterfalls!

Where We Stayed

I would not, at all, recommend the place we stayed at during this trip. Win some, lose some. This time we lost! So in an effort to help you avoid our mistake, don't stay at voco Niagara Falls - The Cadence . Right when walking in it smelled like air fresheners and perfume, overwhelmingly so. It was as if the place wasn't cleaned well or that they needed to cover up a bad smell. The rooms were also tiny and humid, even with the air conditioning running. Our clothes that got wet from Niagara Falls didn't dry the entire time we were there! (Which was 2 nights, so you would think a few pairs of socks and shirts could dry off in 48 hours, but not the case at this hotel!) So skip this one.

A few places to recommend: Cambria Hotel Niagara Falls , Courtyard Niagara Falls , Sheraton Niagara Falls , Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino , and Hyatt Place Niagara Falls .

Eat At The Restaurant That Created Buffalo Wings

The very first restaurant to create buffalo wings is located in Niagara Falls! In 1964 a group of friends came into the Anchor Bar extremely hungry and Dominic (the bartender at the time) asked his mother to make something for the group. She deep friend chicken wings, put a special sauce on it, and served it to them. The wings became a hit, The idea for buffalo wings spread across the globe, but the secret sauce has been a guarded secret at the Anchor Bar and it's what has led to the bar boasting "The Best Wings In The World."

Head To Goat Island

Goat Island on the US side is where you can view the Falls. The island sits in the middle of Niagara River between the Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls. There are walking trails and a bridge you can cross by foot to get a better view of the water as it cascades over the edge. Cave of the Winds is a walking experience nearly into the waterfalls. And Top of the Falls Restaurant is located near the parking lot and nearby waterfalls.

Parking on the island costs $5-20 depending on the day (weekends are more), time of day (we went after dark for fireworks and it's free after dark!), and time of year (costs more during peak season).

A map of the island will tell you where to park, the hiking trails that go around it, and where the activities and shops are located.

Tour Cave Of The Winds

We got tickets for Cave Of The Winds, which isn't actually a cave, but rather a walking path/staircases that go in and around the base of Bridal Veil Falls. And, it is windy, as the name suggests.

If I can recommend a few things:

Go when it's sunny and warm (if you can)
It's impossible to predict the wind, but less windy days are better
Bring clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting wet
Wear shoes with backs! The stairs and paths are very wet. Our tennis shoes got soaked, but I wouldn't recommend flip-flops or shoes that might slip off easily. Sandals with backs would be great!
Plan to get wet

We went at the end of September and the days we were there happened to be cold and rainy. The wind was a major factor as well! We were soaked by the end of it, even though they gave us ponchos (it's included in the price of admission!)

But it's pretty neat to walk right over the base of the falls. As you walk up the stairs, the falls literally thunder beneath your feet. It's wild!

As you can see from the photos, some of us loved the experience, and some of us were not so sure.

Watch The Fireworks At The Falls!

Friday and Saturday nights the falls are lit up with a light display and fireworks are shot off into the night.

We got into town around 6:00pm, and the first thing we did was head to dinner, and then off to Goat Island to see the fireworks.

The fireworks began just before 10pm and lasted about 5 minutes. It rained the entire time we were there, but it was worth it to see the lights. Our kids were in awe of the fireworks over the falls!

For the full schedule and times, visit: Niagara Falls Fireworks Schedule .

Walk Across Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow bridge connects Niagara Falls, NY to Niagara Falls Ontario Canada. A passport is needed to cross both ways. You can cross by bus, drive across, or on foot! Many people walk across the bridge to the Canadian side to get a better view of Horseshoe Falls (the entirety of it can be seen from that side).

For more information on border crossing, go here: Border Crossing & Rainbow Bridge

I hope you get a chance to see Niagara Falls. It's an incredible sight.

As always,

Happy traveling!

Jessica

Do You Know How Complete You Are?

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 18:24:44 GMT

"There is no fear in love;

but perfect love casts out fear,

because fear involves torment.

But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

We love Him, because He first loved us."

-1 John 4:18-19

This Christian walk has good days and bad days. And generally speaking, when we're having bad days it's because we've forgotten that the death of Jesus has made us perfect and completely satisfied every requirement for us to walk in His love. I know for myself personally, the only way that the devil can get to me is if he lies to me about how much God loves me, and if I believe it. Satan can talk his talk all day long and that's what he does, but the problem descends upon me when I actually believe him and his lies. Until I believe it, he's just making noise that isn't true!

But if I believe him, that the Lord doesn't love me so completely, so perfectly, so wonderfully, then the lie becomes my truth and I have fallen into the trap replacing God's truth for satan's lie. Don't be deceived by the devil's lying tongue!

If we're walking in the Lord's love, then we won't have any fears whatsoever. No fear of the future, no fear of how He will give us His promises, no fear of failure (because we know all things work for our good), no fear of shame, no fear of Him not being faithful!

When we remain in His Word, we're training our minds to believe what is written. When we worship Him, we're lifting our eyes and hearts to follow Him. And when we take Him at His Word, trusting that what is written is true for us, we will feel and know that we are loved and that He desires good things for us. But we can't just feel it, we have to know it.

There Is No Fear In Love

The word fear in the first part of this verse is the Greek word phobos, it's where we get our word phobias. A phobia is an anxiety disorder that causes an irrational, persistent, and excessive fear of an object, situation, or activity. What's fascinating is that even the internet knows that a phobia is irrational! But our minds don't if we begin to believe in them - then they become real to us, our new reality. And how do we change our reality? We focus, or refocus our mind on what's written in God's Word instead of thinking about our irrational fears.

Let me say it this way, if you're experiencing fear of any kind, then you're not keeping your eyes, heart or mind fixed on Him. Because He is love, and when we fix our gaze on Him every fear will have to be cast out - because His love will fill us, consume us, and flood our hearts! And the fear will dissipate as we remain in Him.

In Him there is no fear, so remain in Him! And the fear will die as love is birthed and takes root in your heart.

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

-Ephesians 3:17-19

Pray

The first part of casting out fear is bowing our knees to the Father. Then we pray, that He would strengthen us with His might through His Spirit in our inner man, that Jesus Christ would dwell in our hearts, increase our faith; and that the Lord would root us and ground us in His love. We pray that He will grant to us great comprehension that we might know just how great is His love for us, bypassing our knowledge, and filling us so completely with the fullness of God. Amen

But Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

The Greek word for love used in this verse is agape - but how it's actually translated in the Strong's Concordance is: love, that is affection or benevolence, specifically a love feast of charity.

And what does charity mean? An organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need. In our case, we can look at the Organization as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all working together and set up to provide us help in our time of need.

"God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear..."

Psalm 46:1-2a

I included the first part of verse 2 so we can see that the key to not having a fearful heart is to look to the Lord and recognize Him as our refuge, our strength, our help in times of trouble. If we don't see Him as these things, then we will be filled with fear instead! But if we grab ahold of this promise, meditating on these words, and continually come to Him to be our refuge, our strength, our help, then fear will have nowhere to go but to flee from us; for His perfect love casts out fear.

And the word perfect is the Greek word teleios, derived from teleo- the words Jesus uttered on the cross, "It is finished." He was perfect in all His ways, He fulfilled the law of Moses keeping every commandment, every requirement, so that we can look at Him and say, "You, my Yeshua, are my perfection. You did it perfectly, so I look to You."

What do you need? Finances? Look to Him, ask Him for help. Ask Him to give to you according to His riches in glory (Eph 3:17).

A better marriage? Bow your head and ask Him to be in the center of your marriage, to make it great, to provide His wisdom and love to flow through you both.

A house, a job? Ask for Him to perfectly align His plans for your life to receive the right home that He has handpicked for you. Pray for Him to bring about the right position that will give you purpose and meaning, filling you up and challenging you to become better at your craft.

I can tell you that every single one of the above things are prayers the Lord answered for me. I have had jobs literally land in my lap out of nowhere, that I wasn't necessarily qualified to do, yet He provided greater than I could have asked for. We have had finances show up overnight, providing for our family in unbelievable ways. We have had Him open doors to step into our home, which was far better than any house we looked at. He has caused our marriage to flourish and blossom, giving us a wonderful friendship filled with love.

And all of this He did because I asked Him to, submitting to His will and His plan and putting Him in the center of my life. Some of these prayers came over a period of time, some of them were answered overnight, but here's the thing- when you ask Him to be in the center of your situation or problem He'll never leave you hanging. He always, always , comes through.

When we come to Him with our problems, and we learn (and remember, it takes time to learn some things!) to trust in Him, He will fill us up with His love and cast out every fear that we have in our hearts. Casts is the Greek word ballo - which means to throw violently or intensely, to throw down, thrust, strike. Sometimes this process feels a little violent, because if fear has been allowed to reign supreme in us for some time it might feel like a warzone within us as we turn to Jesus to take up residence. His Holy Organization goes to work casting out the demon of fear that we have allowed into our lives.

Let Him do what He does, defeat the enemy and give us victory. Surrender to His will and plan, and keep praying for His hand to intervene in your situation. I promise you that if you keep coming to Him, what you will find is a love feast. A perfect, wonderful, amazing feast made just for you to feed on.

Pray

Lord Jesus, I look to You to be everything I need. I'm in trouble, I'm struggling with (name the trouble), and I need You to fix it for me. Come into my situation, I give it completely over to You to take care of and to manage. I pray that You would cast out every fear and every doubt that I have this day. I recognize that when You said on the cross "it is finished" that you paid for my debts, my sins, my health, my life; and I give all of these over to You and trust You to take care of me. Your Word says that if I come to You, You will hear me and answer me. I'm coming to You, hear my prayer for (name what you need), provide for me, answer me, and give me blessings and favor over my situation. I trust in You completely. Amen

Because Fear Involves Torment

Fear, phobos (to be afraid, frightened, filled with terror) involves torment. Torment is the Greek word kolasis, which means infliction or punishment.

Infliction is defined as the action of forcing someone to experience something very unpleasant: the deliberate infliction of pain on others. When satan whispers into your ears different lies, he's deliberately inflicting pain on you. The key to not receiving this action is to either ignore his lies, or to counter it with the truth. If He says to you, "how can you believe the Lord will come through for you? He hasn't yet so obviously He won't..." All we need to do is what Jesus would do, which is to say, "It is written."

Keep verses about the Lord's faithfulness in the forefront of your mind.

" But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one."

-2 Thessalonians 3:3

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise."

-Hebrews 10:23

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds."

-Psalm 36:5

Remind yourself of His faithfulness and the enemy will flee, because His word will guard us and strengthen us from the evil one.

When we are fearful we are allowing satan to torment us. And when we let him torment us, we are not only allowing him to inflict pain on us but we are then receiving his words as our punishment. Don't let him speak to you! Instead stay in God's Word let His love consume you. Let the Lord speak His promises over your life. Let God's Word remain in your heart!

Pray

Lord Jesus, I choose to remember Your faithfulness. You are faithful to perform Your Word. Guard my mind and strengthen my heart. Keep me protected from the evil one as I choose to trust in You and in Your Word. Come through for me as You promised You would, and keep me from being tormented by the devil. I pray the blood of Jesus over my mind and my heart, keep me encompassed in You and don't allow any lies to be whispered into my ears and infiltrate my mind. Instead, may Your blood cover me and protect me, keeping me free from punishing thoughts. I know that You will keep me in perfect peace, for my mind is stayed on You. Amen

But He Who Fears Has Not Been Made Perfect In Love

Being made perfect in love is having a heart that fully knows the price Jesus paid on the cross. We have to know what He did, what He paid. We have to believe in the completeness of it!

Anytime I struggle or waiver in faith I remember that the Lord put a tiny verse in Mark 9 that says, "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” That's what our response should be. Cry with tears, grieve with fullness of heart, or simply say it out, "Lord help my unbelief! Help me where I don't have faith to believe in what You said You would do!" He always answers that prayer. He comes to our rescue and fortifies our minds and hearts with His faith, and it replaces our fears and doubts.

If we have any fear or doubt or unbelief in us, then we haven't been made perfect in His love and the price He paid for us. There's nothing wrong with His Word, so if we're fearful or doubtful then something in us needs to change.

I had a friend last year attack me for believing in the Lord's ability to heal. I know healing is real for I have experienced it - again and again. It's impossible to tell someone who has had the Lord's hand descend upon them that His hand doesn't descend. When you've experienced His healing, His grace, something miraculous from Him, you can't doubt it to be true! Because you know that you know what you went through!

When I asked the Lord what to do in that situation He said to me, "her inability to believe is her issue, not yours. You keep following Me and believing and trusting as you have, for My life is in you when you come after Me." And then He said to me, "Never let someone else's doubt or wavering belief affect your ability to believe in My Word. Keep believing that if it's written, then it's true. For I am yesterday, today, and forever."

We are perfected in love when we simply believe His Word as it's written. If it was true then, it's true now. Part of what we need to do in our walk is align our thoughts with His Word and how it's written. And that, that is repentance.

Sometimes repentance is a big, tearful act. Sometimes it's with great sadness and sorrow. But sometimes, it's a simple choice!

"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

-Acts 3:19

Repent is the Greek word metanoeo- which means to think differently, to reconsider. It's the literal act of taking our thoughts (or the lies satan has fed us), mull them over and compare them next to the Word of God. Do they match? If not, toss out the garbage and grab ahold of what's written as your new truth. Let your truth be His truth!

When we repent of what we've been thinking and align it with God's Word, it's then that we will experience the second part of that verse: times of refreshing coming into our lives. We will be refreshed, rejuvenated from His loving presence when we believe what He said.

Anyone who has fear in their hearts or in their minds has not grabbed ahold of His Word and made it their absolute truth, their solid foundation, their rock on which they stand. They have not allowed their mind to be perfected by what He did. Is that person you?

Pray

Father, I confess the parts of me that struggle to believe in Your Word and that what You said is true. I repent of every evil thought, and I ask You to change them all to align with Your Word. What You wrote in the holy scriptures is true, and I choose to believe in everything You said because as it was true then, so is it true today and forevermore. You are perfect in all Your ways, and I pray that You would lead me and guide me in Your perfection. I choose to let go of every lie that hinders me, and I pray that You would replace them with Your thoughts, Your truth. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

We Love Him, Because He First Loved Us

Ahh, there's the key to understanding His perfect love! We don't love Him because we can or because we should, we love Him because He loved us first.

We recall to mind what He did on the cross. We think about the beatings He took on our behalf, His back being stripped apart so we can declare our healing (Isaiah 53:5). We remember the cross of thorns piercing His perfect skull to redeem our thoughts. We imagine the soldiers casting lots for His clothing so that He could declare to us that He was made poor, so that we might be made rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). We keep thinking about what He did!

In my article The God Who Heals I mentioned my all-time favorite story by an author. I'm going to repeat it again, because this is what His love did for you, for me.

"Once when I was taking communion alone, the Lord granted me an amazing experience. After I had eaten the piece of matzah and was meditating on the cup of His suffering, I sensed His presence with me in the room. I could see with the eyes of my heart that the Lord was also holding a cup in His hand, and that He wanted to drink it with me.

I held out my cup of grape juice to Him. Just before drinking His cup, the Lord held it out toward me, and He spoke a traditional Jewish blessing: "L'chaim!" For those who have seen Fiddler on the Roof , you will remember that when drinking a toast to the bride and groom at a Jewish wedding, we declare, "L'chaim!" This means, "To life!" I noticed that the Lord had a bittersweet smile on His face as He pronounced this toast. The Lord was drinking the remembrance of His suffering, and I was drinking nothing but life.

I answered Him, "L'chaim bi'shua," which means, "to life in Yeshua." Before drinking, I added, "It's death to You, but it's life to me."

I sensed that the Lord didn't want me to watch Him as He drank the bitter cup and as He remembered the bitterness that it represented. I closed my eyes, and we drank it together. The Lord's word for His children as they take communion is "What was the cup of bitterness and death to Me is the cup of life to you."

The value of Yeshua's blood is beyond our ability to imagine, but we trust in it even if we cannot fully understand it. This was an incredibly sacred and special moment to me, and I will never forget it."

-Jill Shannon, A Prophetic Calendar: The Feasts of Israel

This is how much He loved us, that He came to the cross and suffered greatly for us to have life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10b).

Pray

Jesus, my Yeshua, You did so much for me. Today I trust in what Your blood did for me at the cross, and because I trust in it I receive every blessing that Your life paid for me to have. I receive healing, I receive Your provision, I receive the promises You spoke over me and I open my hands to You. I receive every good thing that You would have for me, knowing and trusting that You want to give to me more than I could ask or imagine. Thank You for what You did for me, I love you, because You loved me first. Amen

Do you know how much He loves you? Do you know how complete you are in Him? Keep your mind fixed on His great love for you, and know that He bought and paid the incredible price for your freedom, for your promises, for your life.

You were worth it to Him. And you still are today.

With joy, Jessica

Traveling Across America: Salt Lake City, Utah

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 02:33:57 GMT

Years ago I flew into Salt Lake City on my way to Montana for a summer internship, and all I remember from flying in and out was the incredible size of the Great Salt Lake, and all of the salt that surrounded it. In the distance, the snow-capped mountains stood majestic against a blue sky, and the city stood in the midst of a beautiful valley. I remember thinking at the time, "I'll be back." Well, I finally made it back.

My husband and I had the chance to take a quick trip to Salt Lake City without kids and we had a wonderful time exploring. I have to say, this is a city that is very walkable. It's easy to get around on foot or by Uber, and there is a lot to see within a short distance!

These are just a few highlights of our trip.

Swimming In The Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake is visible from the airplane no matter which direction you're coming in from. The white salt surrounding the lake and area identifies just how salty the lake really is! The earth's oceans have around 3% salinity, while Great Salt Lake has 5-27% in certain parts. It's saltier! And part of the reason it's so buoyant when you're in it.

There is a $10 admittance fee to the Great Salt Lake State Park where there is a decent parking lot if you want to drive, outdoor showers to rinse the salt off, and a gift shop with bathrooms, souvenirs and historic facts about the lake.

Also located on the lake is The Great Saltair, an outdoor concert venue and amphitheater - it's visible from the State Park.

Downtown Salt Lake City

As I mentioned earlier, it's such an easy city to walk. Everything is fairly close! We stayed at The Grand America Hotel in downtown which made it easy to get around. Salt Lake City has its own light rail system called TRAX that runs through much of the downtown area, and parts of it are free to ride. Check out the website before you go for ease of getting around! Because everything was so close, we walked everywhere and enjoyed the warm, dry air. It felt like an oasis after our extreme heat and humidity!

Temple Square

The Mormon temple is located northeast toward the Utah State Capitol building in downtown Salt Lake. The temple was closed and under construction while we were there - however we walked through the gardens and saw the headquarters. There are gardens and parks near the Temple Square that are beautiful and worth seeing.

The church office building is a 28-story, 420 ft tall structure. It's size is impressive when you're standing next to it.

Utah State Capitol Building

The state capitol is located near a neighborhood that sits along the hillside. We walked around it and enjoyed the nearby hills and houses. The Mormon Battalion Monument is on the capitol grounds and is a 100-foot monument dedicated in 1927 and made of rose pink granite and bronze.

The City Library

The Salt Lake City library is something to see. The architecture from the outside is incredible, and inside spiraling fireplaces and a rooftop terrace make this library unique. There is a walkable wall that goes up 6 stories passing shops and reading galleries. If you have time, don't miss this one!

The University of Utah

The University of Utah is located on the northeast side of the city toward the mountain range, and the U is visible from the city. It was founded in 1850 and has over 35,000 students that attend! It's the #1 university in the west, and in the top 10 for public universities in the United States.

State of Utah Council Hall

The Old Salt Lake City Hall was built between 1864-1866 and served the city until 1894 when it was deemed too small to be used as a city hall any longer. In 1975 it was designated as a national historic landmark and now is the home offices of the Utah Office of Tourism and the Utah Film Commission. A decent sized gift shop is on the main level as well as a public restroom. If you find yourself hiking the nearby trails (see below for local hiking ideas!) this bathroom is a great rest stop nearby.

City Creek Center

Near the center of the city is a shopping mall with dining, stores and events. At the time of this post, City Creek Center boasts 98 different eateries and stores to dine and shop at. It's a great place to get something new or pick something up that you may have left at home! We spent an afternoon having coffee across the street at Alpha Coffee and then walked over to shop and see the center.

Theatres & Museums

One morning we met up with my husband's friend and he briefed us on the incredible arts scene in Salt Lake City. Within just a few city blocks there are several theatres and art museums to enjoy!

The Eccles Theater hosts plays and concerts all year long. Capitol Theatre features plays, comedians, concerts and specialty events. The Utah Museum of Fine Art (UMFA) has incredible art exhibitions on display, and as I mentioned above, near the Great Salt Lake is a large outdoor concert called The Great Saltair. There are many cultural events to take part of while you are in town if you so choose!

Gallivan Center

The Gallivan Center is an outdoor venue that provides entertainment year-round. Festivals and concerts are frequently held here, and it operates as a private and public event space.

Local Hikes

There are great hiking trails and local hikes within a few minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. I had one hike picked out before we arrived, and one of our Uber drivers recommended a quick (albeit steep!) hike just behind the capitol building downtown. I detailed the two hikes we did below, but if you're looking for more adventures check these out as well!

Grandeur Peak, about 3 miles to the summit
Lake Blanche, 3 miles to the lake
Grizzly Gulch, 2 miles
Red Pine Lake, 3.5 miles to the lake
Bell's Canyon, 3 miles to the reservoir (2 miles to the waterfall along the trail)

Ensign Peak

We hiked this with our friends in just over an hour up and down - it really doesn't take much time to do! However, it is steep. Be prepared for the uphill climb which is straight up for nearly .7 miles. The way down is much easier, although our shins took a beating!

There's a sign at the trailhead pointing out which way to go, and there were quite a few people going up and coming down while we were there. At the peak is a monument of the place where Brigham Young saw the valley and declared this would be the place to settle and construct The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ensign Peak offers fantastic views of the city and is a quick drive from the capitol building below. We took an Uber to the trailhead, but ended up walking all the way back from the peak to the capitol building, and then back to our hotel from there. Total distance from the top of the hike to our hotel was just under 3 miles. If you're staying downtown, it's definitely within walking distance! Although, going uphill for that long is more challenging than going back down.

Donut Falls

We hiked Donut Falls our last day in town in the morning, and had plenty of time to fly out later that day. Donut Falls is about a 40 minute drive from downtown, and it's easy to identify where the trailhead begins once you get there. We were dropped off in a decently large parking lot (there are a lot of trails nearby and quite a few people parked and hiked all around us), and a bathroom marks the entrance to the trail. Don't panic if you need a restroom before you begin! One is provided and well-stocked.

The trail is fairly easy terrain, and 3.5 miles out-and-back. I would consider this an easy hike! I will say that it was crowded when we went (late Sunday morning), so if you're looking to be alone go on a weekday.

In order to see the donut part of the falls you will need to hike up the rocks to the very top which is challenging, and we didn't bring the right shoes to do it and decided not to. But we were able to watch water cascading down the rocks into the stream below. We watched people hiking up the rocks to get to the donut falls area, and they said it was awesome. Be ready to climb if you want to get to the top!

Where We Ate

We only had a few chances to eat out, and we asked around for local recommendations when we did. These were the places that came highly rated!

Oquirrh Restaurant

One free evening we got dinner with friends at Oquirrh Restaurant in downtown. I highly recommend the House Made Spaghetti - it's fantastic .

For more dinner ideas:

The Copper Onion

We had lunch one afternoon at The Copper Onion - and it was pretty good. I will say, it didn't compare to the house made spaghetti, but the food was good and the atmosphere delightful.

For more lunch spots:

Salt Lake City has a lot to offer in the summer. Many people we know visit during the winter for the skiing, and I can see why! Mountains surround the city from every angle, making it a great spot to visit when it snows.

But if you find yourself here any other time of the year, it's really a beautiful place with history and charm, not to mention great hiking. If you've been, share your favorite spots with me. If you haven't, I hope you get a chance to see it! While we were there, they announced the Olympics will be held in Salt Lake City in 2032 - maybe that's a good time to visit. Until next time!

Happy traveling, Jessica

The God Who Heals

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 15:41:53 GMT

"...for I am the Lord who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26b

This is one of my most vulnerable and honest posts about my walk with the Lord that I have written to date. If you're here reading it, I pray that the Lord speaks exactly to the place in your heart that you're needing Him to.

This particular post is my journey with the Lord and how He has healed me in so many ways. These stories are about the different ways God chooses to heal. It's about how He healed me, both physically and emotionally, in areas I didn't know needed true restoration to flow through them. This is about my journey with the Lord into the deep areas of my heart that required healing and how, perhaps, He would like you to know that He desires to heal you too. It just might not look the way you think it will, or think it should.

This is about learning to walk with the God who heals you.

Maybe Healing Is Growing In Understanding What Jesus Did At The Cross

One September evening in 2019 I was giving my daughter a bath when I suddenly felt like I was going to vomit. I glanced at my husband and said, "I think I'm going to be sick." To which he immediately replied, "You're pregnant." He was right, I was pregnant. It was with twins.

I recall crying in bed after I found out it was twins because I wasn't sure how I was going to survive the pregnancy. I felt like I barely got through my singleton pregnancy!

My husband looked at me that evening, really looked at me and said, "Babe, no matter how much it costs, we'll fix it. Don't even worry about it, we'll fix it." A massive part of me healed that night, I just didn't realize it until much later.

The first part of my twin pregnancy was extremely rough. I was so sick I couldn't keep down any food or water, and I lost so much weight it made my doctor nervous. She prescribed me some medication so I could keep down some food and liquids. It helped some.

The last 2 months of my pregnancy were even more excruciating. I could feel my body shredding apart as my belly stretched to accommodate two babies. I was in agony. It was during those evenings, while my body shredded apart, that I began to have visions of Jesus.

I had visions of His body being whipped until He was so marred no one recognized Him. I had visions of His back completely torn apart exposing His bones, and the cross being laid on it, putting splinters into His muscles. I had visions of His skull being pounded as a crown of thorns pierced through His flesh and into His bones. I had visions of His eyes as He looked at me and saw me, and He spoke gently saying, "I did this for you." I began to know and to understand the depths of His love for me, that I was forgiven of every wrong, healed of every hurt, loved in my very depths.

Night after night I would cry in agony, and night after night He would come to me with visions of what He went through for me.

I began to understand the real weight of love and the Father's love for His creation, that He would send out His own arm, and then injure it for our salvation. (Isaiah 63:5) But He didn't just buy our salvation. He bought our freedom, our healing, our provision, our sanctification, our holiness. He bought it all. He paid it all. (Isiah 53:5)

I began to understand His love for us and what He went through to buy us back, because I was going through the smallest measure of pain to bring two little babies into this world. He was beaten so that we could know Him. I was shredded apart so I could hold my children. The cost of love is great and I began to understand why He paid it, and just how great was His love for me.

My friend, He loves you dearly. Perhaps your healing will come through the deep understanding of what His love for you cost Him. If we don't truly understand the cost, how can we even begin to appreciate the price tag on our lives? It was through my deep pain that I began to know, I am worth His life. And so are you.

He never sends suffering, for we know that death and destruction comes through the work and hands of the devil. We know we will have pain and suffering because we live in this fallen world. However, sometimes it is after we have suffered a little while that we begin to understand in great measure just how much He went through to buy our souls back from the gates of hell. Sometimes it takes suffering to know the heart of our Savior.

Don't blame the Lord for going through pain! Instead, lean into Him, cry out to Him. and let Him bind you up with His tender loving arms and teach you more about Himself. He so wants to teach you in greater measure about His desire to see you healed and whole.

Maybe Healing Looks Like Surgery

When I was 11 or 12 I was at a friend's house and we were playing in this little creek that wound its way around her home. We had been splashing in it for awhile when I suddenly felt something sharp slice through the bottom of my foot. I pulled my foot out of the creek and blood gushed out of the cut. The fear that tore through my heart at getting hurt wasn't because of the pain of the cut, but because of the emotional trauma that I knew awaited me at home.

At home I was given a lecture about getting hurt, but I was also distinctly aware of how upset they were that my injury might cost them money. I went to bed that night and real fear gripped around my heart, causing me to become afraid of money, of the cost of medical procedures, and trauma began to set in.

The next day my foot wasn't any better, in fact it was getting significantly worse. Part-way through the afternoon I noticed a red line was marching up my ankle. I didn't know much about medical things, but I was pretty sure that wasn't good.

I showed my mom and she got very concerned and went in to tell my dad she had to take me to the doctor, there was no other option. It was either that or I could lose my life.

I recall there was some rather nasty things said, a lot of swear words mixed in with money complaints and doctor this-and-that. (I'm sparing you what was really said, but I think you get the gist) But this is what happened while I stood in my dad's office listening to my mom plead that this visit was important - I learned my life was barely worth the cost of the urgent care bill. The seeds of worthlessness began to be sown deep within my heart, and I hung my head in shame that I had been so stupid as to step on something sharp in a creek. This was one of many memories that I have where I learned that if I costed anything extra, or anything at all, that I was a burdensome child. For a long time I wished I had never been born.

But did you catch what I said? It was a learned way of thinking, and the Lord taught me that all things learned can be unlearned and rewired according to His Word and His truth. I was in my early 20's when He began to deal with this area of learned thought-process, as He tenderly taught me that there was no expense spared on His part to redeem me and heal me.

To wrap up that story so that you aren't left hanging, I went to the doctor that evening and he looked at that red line going up my leg and knew he had to completely clean out the infection. I was sitting on his exam table when he put both of his thumbs on either side of the deep cut that was beginning to sew itself back together, and then he split it open and blood gushed out, again. That's the last part I remember as I passed out from shock.

Later they numbed me up and cleaned the whole thing out, I ended up being fine. Everything healed up great, and all I have left of that day is a scar on the bottom of my foot. Except I didn't realize there were a lot more scars forming on my heart, and I added a new one: fear of doctors who split open wounds on their exam table. I couldn't see the part where he helped heal me and clean out the infection, because the extensive fear in my heart already ran deep, and only kept going deeper.

But this is a story about how the Lord uses surgery and incredible doctors to heal us.

When Mikael said to me, "It doesn't matter how much it costs, we'll fix it," a part of my heart began to heal from the trauma I had incurred as a child. Those words were like a balm to my heart and sweet waters to my soul after years of hearing bitter and angry cursing. My life mattered to someone, and the cost wasn't important.

I began to see how the Lord had divinely orchestrated certain events to cause an outcome only He knew about. I began to see how He had planned a twin pregnancy so that I could later receive Mikael's words and be healed from so many memories of having costed too much money. My eyes were opened to the unique ways in which He works, and how He brings about a wonderful plan to heal His beautiful children from lingering hurts and years of sadness. His hands work within us in very intricate ways.

I wish every one of our scars only needed a few words or a sudden touch in order to be healed, but the truth is that the Lord often splits open our wounds with His thumbs, and then cleans out the infected area like a surgeon with his scalpel. Most often we are injured in the very place we need healing, because unless we know where the infection is how can He begin to clean it out? The cleaning usually begins when we cry out to Him to heal the area of our pain, and He never goes to work without our cooperation and permission.

It was almost 2 years exactly from the day my husband said that to the day I had surgery to bring my ab muscles back together. (Otherwise known as a tummy tuck) About 6 months after I gave birth to our twins I began physical therapy to try to bring the muscles back together. I was in therapy for the better part of a year when I asked her if there was any hope of healing without surgery- she gave me a look that spoke volumes, and I knew what the answer was. I had known for a long time, because the Lord had already been leading me in that direction. I was just too afraid of actually walking in it.

While Mikael's words soothed my heart, they didn't take away the fear I had of seeing a doctor and going under the knife. Throughout my childhood, the door was left wide open to the spirit of fear to come and go as he pleased, and he had wound himself around my life and imbedded roots deep within my heart. I knew part of digging up those roots meant facing the very fear I was afraid of, and the Lord often has us doing that by going into the very battle we wish to run from. In my case, it meant putting my life into the hands of a surgeon I didn't know. But ultimately the Lord was asking me to trust that He would see me through and wake me up on the other side.

I found an incredible surgeon and had a great consultation. We decided to go ahead with it. At this point my abs were so far separated that you could fit your entire fist in my stomach and feel the organs. We would go for a 2-mile walk and I would have severe pelvic and back pain for days following. I couldn't work out without debilitating pain. Just eating made my stomach hurt. It was time to get over the fear and do the thing God was asking.

The day I booked my surgery a storm blew through and left an unbelievable rainbow hanging in the sky. This was exactly the way in which the Lord was leading me, and it was Him promising me everything was going to work out well. At the time I just wished it could have been a different way, but that's not how God works.

Surgery ended up being a breeze, and recovery was pretty easy (if you compare it to a C-section!) I let my body heal and slowly got back into working out. It was 6-8 months after surgery that I realized I was able to do any workout I wanted without the consequence of pain except for a little muscle soreness. I was back. I was completely healed and then some. And I no longer feared surgery, or doctors, or the pain that it takes to be healed. I had learned to truly put my hands in the One who made me, and to trust that He will see me through every challenge, be with me as I face every giant.

While I know the Lord could have just waved His hand over my belly and brought the abs back together, what He taught is that sometimes He's after something so much greater than the healing of the thing we're crying out for. He's after total wellness, complete wholeness.

It was through this that I saw the demon of fear fall as his head was severed in my presence. My fear of doctors crumbled into a heap at my feet and I realized that perfect love, the love of a Father, casts out every fear as we walk with Him down the path He's carefully laid for us.

And, if I had never gotten pregnant with twins, I would never have heard my husband say the words that healed so many scars that crisscrossed my heart from childhood.

Sometimes the Lord asks us to walk down a path we don't want to, because we're afraid of putting our life into the hands of a doctor. But what we're really saying is, "Lord I don't trust You and that You will see me through." And it's this lack of trust, the fear and the doubt, that He's looking to eradicate from our lives so that we can move boldly forward knowing that He is the ultimate healer, and we can trust Him however He's leading.

Jesus Himself chose Luke, a doctor, to be his disciple. That must mean that if we allow the Spirit to lead us into find the right one, that we can trust they have been given hands that heal and a gift from the Lord.

Sometimes healing comes through surgery.

***Disclaimer: this is not a word for everyone. I have heard of people receiving dreams from the Lord to avoid surgery! Whatever we do, we must be actively praying and seeking His will and guidance for our life. We can know that if we do that, He won't steer us wrong but will lead us perfectly according to His plan for our lives.

Maybe Healing Looks Like Choosing Jesus To Be Our Savior

At this point in my story you can see that I grew up in an emotionally (sometimes physically) traumatic home. I would actually go so far as to say that I was living in a constant state of fear and anxiety, and just trying to survive it somehow.

Living in a heightened state of fear allows the spirit of fear access to your heart, but it also often brings with it the spirit of anxiety that imbeds itself in our bodies. This spirit of anxiety raises all kinds of hell if we surrender to it instead of actively choosing to go to war against it and surrender to Jesus instead. I would know, for I have seen this giant fall in Jesus name.

I have an entire article on my baptism of the Holy Spirit, you can read it here , but that's actually where my awareness of this giant began.

I surrendered my life to Christ following college and when I did that, the Lord deliberately kept me in a place of isolation for another 5 months. At the time I believed He wasn't answering my prayers- now I am so unbelievably grateful that He knew what I needed, and what my heart and soul would later desire.

He kept me isolated in a job that I hated, in a town where I knew no one, and I had 5 months to study scripture alone with Him. Because I just had Him, I learned in this 5 months to see the Holy Spirit as a teacher, and He became my ultimate Authority on His word.

I started in Acts and it didn't take long before the Spirit began to instill in me a desire to speak in tongues, except that I had a very strong fear and had been taught that the devil is in this gift. My word! Can you imagine teaching that a gift straight from the Lord Himself is a place that the devil has access to???

It was during these few months that the Holy Spirit began His teaching with me in what to believe, how to believe, and that if it's written in His Holy Bible and I have a problem with it, then the problem lies with me and not with Him. I began to learn how to take my problems with His Word to Him, and to pray that He would align my thoughts correctly, reorder my beliefs, and help me deal with the fear and the doubts. There isn't enough praise in the world that I have for what He taught me in those months, and I can't thank Him enough for "leaving me stranded!"

I began praying for the gift of tongues. Actually, let's be honest, I began to tell Him everything I knew to be wrong with tongues and that everything I was taught about it was correct. He was the one who was wrong. Even now I am humbled by how much He loved me through those years, despite my attitude!

It was sometime after a year of telling the Lord everything wrong with tongues that my heart began to change and I began to want this gift and to ask for it. I still had my doubts, I was still acting like a Thomas every time I prayed about it, but the fear I had had was beginning to dissipate and be replaced with curiosity and longing.

It was another 6 months or so of talking about it with the Lord that my heart changed and I began to ache for Him to bestow this gift to me. Many years later I learned this is actually biblical as Paul says, "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts" in 1 Corinthians 14. The word desire is the Greek word zēloō, which means to covet earnestly, desire, move with envy, be jealous over, be zealous. Paul says to move with envy over God giving us His spiritual gifts! What does that mean? For one, I was taught that if God didn't give it, then it wasn't meant for us. But Paul is saying we ought to burn passionately for these wonderful gifts from heaven and to beg the Lord for them!

That's what I began to do, to beg for it. I was on my knees crying out, quite literally envious of anyone else who had this gift. I needed it.

And one quiet morning I was hit with a lightening bolt from heaven, baptized in the Spirit, and able to speak in tongues. It took some time to learn it and walk in it, but I now had the gift and started to learn how to steward it.

As I began to bumble in this new gifting and call on my life, learning to speak this language like a child learns to talk, the devil suddenly took interest in me and began to hurl attacks my way. I got into a car accident that left me reeling and injured. A few months after that I was driving home from Duluth (living in Minnesota at the time) and the wheels of the semi-truck in front of me exploded. I watched as tire bits flew all around me and the only thing I experienced was a tiny piece of rubber hit the windshield. But it was enough.

I couldn't see how the angels flew around my car preventing the tires from blowing through the roof. I couldn't see how God protected my life. I saw the tiniest dent in my windshield. And I began to feel like the my insides were screaming and my ears were buzzing every time I got into my car. I was now having full-blown panic attacks, and I felt so out of control.

I realized I needed to drive in order to get to work, but I could barely get in my car without feeling like Satan himself had a vice grip around my heart. The fear was overwhelming, and the anxiety caused my heart to race and my thoughts to scatter. There was no "thinking logically" to get out of this mess, I had to find a solution.

I recall thinking that maybe I needed medication to get through, and the Holy Spirit about sounded a gong of alarm through my brain when I had that thought. I turned to Him and said, "how am I going to survive? I can barely drive!" And the Lord was very clear with me: if I chose medication I was not choosing Him. Who would I choose?

I began to realize that choosing to go on an anti-anxiety med would be deliberately not choosing God, but also that the Lord called it a who and not a what. Perhaps I will share more on that subject at a later date.

For the purpose of this story though, I will tell you I chose the Lord and not a drug to help me get through. Would it have been easier to go on meds? Oh yeah, for sure. Would I have regretted it? 100%

I knew I had to survive getting in my car every day somehow, so I did the only thing I could think of to get by. I began to put sermons on every day in my car while I drove to and from work. Instead of listening to my racing heart and scattered thoughts, I struggled to focus on what the pastor was saying about the Word.

Day after day I filled my car with sermons, and little by little I got better. I won't tell you this was an easy fight, it was not. I won't tell you that this giant only took a few stones and a day to fall, he did not. Truthfully, this was a fight I was in for 3 years. But at the time I couldn't see with clarity that I had had 18 years of fear and trembling being sown into my heart, and that the Lord undid in 3 what my family did over 18. I couldn't see how God cut down the time and not only redeemed the anxiety I had from 18 years of childhood, but also healed me of being anxious as an adult. It wasn't until a few years after being healed of it that I saw clearly how He had worked that whole time.

So why didn't the Lord protect me from the car accidents? I think this is something we can get hung up on as Christians, that if the Lord didn't protect us then perhaps He wanted it to happen. I don't believe He ever wants these things to happen to His beloved children, but on occasion allows the devil's attacks to make it through so that we can see where we are vulnerable and weak. Because if we don't know where we're hurting, how can He come in and offer healing?

The car accidents only brought my anxiety to the forefront, but it was already well established in the background. God wanted it front and center so that together we would deal with it and overcome it. Together we watched that giant fall, and I walked deeper into relationship with Jesus and into greater freedom. Chains were broken and demons fled as I put on sermons, continually looked to Him to get me through.

While the Lord was after removing anxiety from my heart and life, and having the demon of anxiety's head cut off in my presence, He was also interested in stretching my muscles of faith and having them grow. His Word says that "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) And because I couldn't drive without distracting myself, I (unknowingly at the time) was hearing and hearing and hearing, and my faith was growing greater and greater. As faith grew and sprung forth it began to choke out the spirit of fear and replace it.

We all have choices to make in this life. We can choose Jesus to save us, and then do whatever it takes in following Him to get us through each day, or we can choose something else to save us. God was very clear with me that if I chose anti-anxiety meds I was actively choosing them to save me, and not Him. I didn't want that. I wanted Him.

It was about 3 years or so following the first sermon I listened to in my car that I no longer experienced any anxiety while driving. It was probably around 2-3 years after that it suddenly dawned on me that I couldn't remember the last time I had felt anxious...about anything. In the place I am living in today, I almost never feel the grip of fear or anxiety. Ever. If I do it's so rare, and when it happens I either put on worship music or go back to what the Holy Spirit taught me and listen to a sermon.

One time in the last few years I felt that anxiety well up and I was like, "Lord! Help!" And all I heard back was, "Trust your training." Oh yeah, that's right, I have been well-trained by the perfect Faith Trainer. I don't need to be anxious or fearful, for I have a God who loves me so perfectly that it casts out every fear, every anxious thought.

Perhaps you haven't experienced the healing you so desire to experience because you're running to everything or anyone to save you, except for the only One who actually does save.

Maybe Your Healing Will Come From Partaking in Remembrance of Him

Shortly after Mikael and I were married I began to get UTI's, every single month. This went on for over a year, and I knew I was under attack (yet again). The devil was assaulting our marriage, but also my body, and I wasn't here for it.

I wasn't sure what to do to end the onslaught, and month after month of antibiotics were wreaking havoc on other parts of my body. In what I would call desperation, I turned to communion to heal me.

I began to partake of the Lord's supper every day, sometimes twice a day, hoping (without truly believing if I'm being honest) that God would heal me. I confessed every day while I ate the bread that by His stripes I was healed, and declared that because of His shed blood I was forgiven. Sometimes I could barely choke out the words because while my head wanted to believe it would happen, my heart struggled to have hope.

This time it only took a few months before I saw Him heal me. Three to six months after I began taking communion I stopped getting urinary infections, and then they just vanished like they had never even happened.

In the years following I've only ever had 1. I went from getting them every month to only once in the last 7 years.

Now partaking of communion is my first response to a health issue or pain - because I know what He did for me. I know (in small part) the incredible price He paid for my healing, and I want to honor Him by eating the bread and drinking the cup in remembrance of His broken body.

One of my favorite things I have ever read about communion from an author I deeply respect is this:

I answered Him, "L'chaim bi'shua," which means, "to life in Yeshua." Before drinking, I added, "It's death to You, but it's life to me."

-Jill Shannon, A Prophetic Calendar: The Feasts of Israel

I have been teaching my children this incredible truth about communion and the price the Lord paid for us to have life. Jill's story brings to my mind the verse, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b)

I have made a habit of partaking of His body, bringing to my mind often of what He did to purchase my healing, your healing. Whenever we lift the cup and the bread to our lips may we remember, "it's death to You, but it's life to me."

Maybe Healing Will Come When We Cease From Fighting, And Rest

Some battles are won through fighting, and some battles are won through resting.

It's been my practice for many months now to take communion when myself or someone in our home is sick, and then simply hand it to Jesus and rest in what He did. If I have an unexplained pain or headache, I will enjoy communion and then say at the end, "it's in your hands Jesus, I trust You to take care of me." And He does.

I can't tell you the number of times that He has healed me by just resting in what He did and trusting Him to be my ultimate Healer and Physician. The end of Isaiah 53:5 states: "And by His stripes we are healed." The word healed is the Hebrew word rapha, which means to mend by stitching, to cure, to heal thoroughly, a physician, repair and make whole. I'm not sure how you read it, but by my standards that's a rather all-encompassing word that means He is a Physician who heals everything!

Recently we had a guest speaker at our church and he gave an incredible testimony of how the Lord healed him. Bishop E.W Jackson had a tumor that spread aggressively in his chest and throughout his ribs. It came to the point that if he wanted to live, the surgeon would need to remove all of his ribs on one side. Bishop Jackson's surgeon said "it's either this operation with fiber glass and grafted skin to create ribs, or the cancer will kill you." He went home and prayed about it and the Lord said to him, "I'm going to heal you."

(Here is an example of how surgery is not the answer!)

Some time later Bishop Jackson went back to the doctor and he told him, "it's gone!" And his doctor (not believing him) gave him an MRI and looked at it and he said, "there's a little line like somebody went in and took it out." And Bishop Jackson said, "somebody did."

Not just somebody or anybody, the Physician of the universe.

( Click to watch the entire sermon )

Sometimes healing comes when we stop trying to bring it about and rest in what He did. I had to learn how to rest in Him, and it took some time of practicing it again and again before I was able to finally do it. It took a complete renewing of my mind to take communion, put it in His hands, and then really leave it there and not pick it back up.

When Jesus said cast our cares He meant our thoughts. We carry our cares in our thoughts, letting our minds run us ragged instead of taking hold of what we're thinking and discarding the trash and keeping only those that are pure, holy, righteous and truthful. Resting in His finished work is a true learning process of casting every care and anxiety onto Him, and letting Him catch them all. All He gives in return for our trash heap when we hand it over is health and life.

Meditate on His wonderful healing promises. Enjoy His communion and presence. Put all your worries and cares into His hands, and let your heart and mind simply rest.

Maybe Healing Will Come Through Taking Authority Over The Problem

Well, we're getting personal now.

A year or so after the twins were born I had been learning how to take authority over problems in my life in Jesus's name. Just like faith is a muscle to be exercised, so too is authority a growing process. When you first start it might feel awkward and uncomfortable. If you asked me to go running with you I'd feel awkward and uncomfortable and in pain the entire time- and you would likely encourage me that if I just kept it up a little at a time, one day I would get to the point where I didn't feel my heart trying to explode in my chest and I would have a smooth, steady running pace. Speaking our authority works the same way.

My first real brush with speaking authority the Lord gave me victory, and I think He did that so I would power through the times when I didn't experience immediate wins.

One Sunday I had an incredible power encounter during church. Later that day, riding my high, I was lying in bed when I suddenly knew something didn't feel right. I was in the middle of my period and I knew something was going really wrong. I went into the bathroom and I began hemorrhaging blood. This has never happened to me before, and hasn't happened since. No, it was a very targeted attack leveled against me from the demonic realm.

As blood gushed from me I began to pray fervently in tongues, this probably went on for 10-15 minutes. After about 15 minutes of praying without ceasing the Holy Spirit gave me these words to speak and its as though they burst out of me, "In the name of Jesus and by the power of His blood, I command my body healed! No demon and no devil is allowed to touch me, because I am a beloved child of the The King!" I had barely finished speaking when the bleeding stopped. Completely.

And that was it, I was done with my period for the month. I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I was healed that day by the power of Jesus Christ and His Holy Name.

It's taken some time to get used to speaking my authority over the situations in our home, but the more I do it, the easier it gets. I have also noticed that the more I speak, the more I see the darkness flee and miracles happen. Sometimes it's just small things here and there, but it makes a big difference in our home life.

This evening as I was writing, my daughter called down from her room, "I'm scared!" As I was walking upstairs I said, "I cast out the spirit of fear and intimidation by the power and name of Jesus Christ. Jesus, because of the shedding of your blood, no demon may enter this place and terrorize my children! Your word says that perfect love casts out fear, in your Holy Name I cast out the spirit of fear and declare instead that my daughter has Your Spirit which is power, love and a sound mind!"

I got to her room and she just looked at me like, why are you here ? I said to her, "is everything ok?" She just smiled, gave me a kiss and laid down.

Maybe healing will come when we learn to take authority over this world and speak as Jesus spoke.

"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Matthew 18:18

Maybe Healing Will Come When We Surrender To His Timing & Leading

Sometimes we just have to let go of what we think is best for our lives and trust that He knows better than us.

We can have the best doctor, the best plan, be resting and taking authority, trusting and believing, and it's simply not His time for it. We can pray and fast and be in the Word, meditate and fill our minds with scripture, but the Lord says, "Not yet."

Whenever this happens I ask Him, "What would you have me do in this season while I wait?" And He always gives me an answer as to what He would like me to focus on during that particular season of waiting.

In John 9 we find the story of the blind man. "Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."

It's tempting to believe that our healing isn't happening because of some sort of sin in our life, because of something in our past, because of the faults of our parents. And while there are cases of being injured or diseased because of certain sins we commit, there are also circumstances and stories like this one: that the works of God should be revealed in us.

Maybe this blind man believed it was some sort of sin that caused him to be blind. Perhaps he prayed, and begged, and pleaded to the Lord to heal him. Or maybe he just accepted it and lived like that. One thing is for certain from this text though, he was never healed before his appointed time because Jesus Himself planned on visiting him and making him a living, breathing testimony of His glory.

Maybe your healing has an appointed time, hand-picked just for you, that your life and miracle would become a walking testimony of the goodness of God.

After Jesus made clay with His spit and rubbed it in on the blind man's eyes, he told him to, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent).

This Hebrew word Siloam has incredible etymology. It's derived from verb שלח (shalah) which means to send; to send whatever from messengers to arrows. It can also be used to describe a plant's offshoots or branches.

When Jesus sent the blind man to the pool and he came back seeing, He was literally "shooting out a message to the world that He heals the blind." This man became a walking messenger of the miracles of Jesus. He was sent out to prove Jesus is the Savior.

Perhaps your healing will come about in the right time so that when it does, you will know only Jesus could do what He did, and all you will be able to say is, "Jesus did it! My body was dead but He raised it. I have no one to praise but Him." You will be sent out to declare His hands heal and His voice created your miracle.

I think it's interesting that the blind man washed in the pool of Siloam and that the verb shalah can also be used to describe a plant's offshoots or branches. It's a beautiful tie to the idea that He is the vine, we are the branches. When we continually wash in the pool of Siloam, we are choosing to live tied to the vine, and we come away seeing. The scales fall of our eyes and we see His glory and splendor and wonder and might. We see our Savior, and that His arm is outstretched ready to save us from everything that ails us.

When we get to this place, where we're living content in our walk with Him, we can really trust that He knows what's best and will bring it about in just the right time.

Often in our walk with the Lord we are given the idea of the promise, a spoken word, a vision or a dream. We now know "what" we're waiting for, but He doesn't usually reveal the "how" or the exact "when". I have noticed the Lord almost never reveals the 'how' until it turns into 'now', but let's that remain a mystery as we trust and walk with Him. It's a major aspect of growing our faith.

He very often gives hints toward the 'when'. But even that is generally crypted unless He wants to give a very specific date. I have only been given a specific date once, and He did answer it exactly.

Most often He reveals a certain time-frame or time-line, and my job is to simply trust that He will be faithful to do what He said He would. If only the job was actually as simple as it sounds! But it very often requires a stretch of faith, a deep work of heart-surrender, and a complete overhaul of our mind as we learn to trust that He will show up as God.

I have yet to see God fail in His promises to me. I trust that He will do as He said He would, whenever He would like to do it.

My Final Thoughts

I hope you come away from this article knowing that the Lord desires to heal you and to see you healed and whole.

I have so many stories of the unbelievable ways God has healed me, I can't even remember them all because it happens with such frequency now. The more I grow in my understanding of Him as my Healer, the more I see Him show up and show off as my wonderful Physician.

In Becky Dvorak's book The Waves of Healing Glory she writes, "There comes a point in each of our lives when we all have to call upon the name of the Lord for ourselves and trust in His healing grace for our own bodies." This is the point in which many of us are at - will we call on His name to heal us? Will we trust in what He did to save us? Can we accept that His grace is enough for our weaknesses?

My dear friend, you are so precious to Him. It doesn't matter what you were told, how you grew up, or even what you did yesterday. Your life is so deeply precious that when He was whipped and beaten, the Psalmist seeing what was to come wrote this of Jesus:

"I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me."

How can you count all your bones unless they are exposed? It brings me to my knees to think of my Yeshua so badly beaten that every bone was exposed to the light of day, and it's with this fear and trepidation that I can confidently declare that it is by His stripes that I am healed. I can come to the table and know what He purchased for my freedom, for my health, for my life.

When the days of weakness come, and the pains in your body are overwhelming, may this be the anthem and song that you declare: "it's death to You, but it's life to me."

L'chaim bi'shua,

Jessica

Exploring The East Coast: Berkeley Springs, WV

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 01:22:47 GMT

West Virginia, a state described as "Almost Heaven"

We live near the West Virginia border, and every time we head that direction we begin singing "Country Roads, Take Me Home" by John Denver. Even though WV isn't our home, the mountains give the soul an air of nostalgia and it feels like home. Maybe it's because in Psalm 121 David penned these words:

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth."

Whenever we head toward the mountains it's as though our very souls find rest, and we feel at peace with the God who created them.

On a sunny (and hot!) July Saturday, we headed toward the mountains and found our way to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia - home of George Washington's bathtub and the refreshing springs that run through downtown. If you live on the East Coast and you're looking for new places to explore, this is a great place to spend an afternoon!

Dip Into The "Hot" Springs

According to the sign next to the "hot" springs (and this website), the temperature of the springs are 74.3° all year-round. I'm guessing it feels warm-ish in the winter, but let me tell you, it feels absolutely delightful on a 100° summer day. I can see why George Washington visited so often he had his own bathtub carved into the rocks to enjoy the water!

The springs are located downtown in one of America's smallest state parks, Berkeley Springs State Park. A pool is located within the park grounds- and is open Memorial Day to Labor Day. There's also live music and concerts held on park grounds and we had a chance to listen to a band play while we were there!

Berkeley Springs is also one of America's first spa towns. The resort was established in 1778 and it attracted celebrities, presidents and royalty because the water is renowned for its healing properties. I can't say whether that last part is true or not, but the Native Americans who frequented the springs long before our settlers did believed it to be true.

Spend a few hours dipping into the springs or book a spa treatment!

Drive By Berkeley Castle

The castle overlooking the town of Berkeley Springs used to be available to the public, but it has since been closed to tourists to walk through and see it. However, you can book a private event and hold a party within the grounds!

Berkeley Castle was originally built as demonstration of love. Colonel Samuel Taylor Suit fell in love with a woman named Rosa Pelham, a daughter of a confederate officer. He proposed but she declined because of their age gap - at the time she was 17 and he was 46. Five years later he ran into her again in Berkeley Springs. She mentioned in a conversation with him how much she loved castles, and he used the moment and opportunity to propose to her again. He promised to build her a castle if she would marry him. Just three days later, they were married. I guess it was love for her? Haha!

He died before the castle was completed, and his wife Rosa lived on the property until 1916 when her money ran out from throwing lavish parties and spending her fortune. She sold it to the bank.

Now the castle is privately owned by a foundation, and events and parties can be booked at the castle for anyone interested in a unique event space!

Visit A Bathhouse Or Spa

There are a wonderful bathhouses and spas in downtown Berkeley Springs to visit.

Berkeley Springs State Park has two facilities that offer spa treatments and walk-in tubs in a private setting that can be reserved for 30 or 60 minutes. Both facilities are within the park grounds, and on each end of the main springs that run through the park. Stop in and book a treatment or call them to reserve time in one of the tubs!

On the edge of the state park you will find The Country Inn, and located within the hotel is the Renaissance Spa . This spa has mineral whirlpool baths, massages, mani's/pedi's and other spa treatments. Stay at the Inn or just visit the spa!

One block from the state park is Atasia Spa , located in a historic building. If coming into town and partaking of a treatment from a master massage therapist is on your to-do list, then Atasia is where you want to be.

Where To Stay

If you're looking to stay in town, The Country Inn is the perfect place to be! It's right next to the state park, has Renaissance Spa located within, and The Country Inn Restaurant & Morgan Tavern has breakfast, lunch and dinner. Because it's in the heart of downtown, everything is within walking distance (more or less).

If you're looking to get away from it all, then Coolfont Resort has you covered. Located on a 12-acre lake, this resort has cabins, houses and lodges nestled within the woods and on the lake. Treetop Restaurant & Lounge is on the property, as well as tennis courts, a volleyball court, kayaking and fishing. It's a great spot to unplug and get away from it all.

But, if Coolfont is too rustic and The Country Inn is too downtown, then head 10 miles down the road from Berkeley Springs and you'll find Cacapon Resort State Park , a beautiful resort located within the Blue Ridge Mountains. The resort has a spa, golf course, indoor and outdoor dining, mountain biking and fishing, swimming and hiking. The resort lodge is available to book, but if you're looking for amenities and also the woods, they have cabins and unique stays as well.

Where To Eat

While we were there, we hit up one of the several breweries in Berkeley Springs. For breweries visit Cacapon Mountain Brewing Co , Ravenwood Pub or Berkeley Springs Brewing Co where we had lunch with our kids. If you go to Berkeley Springs Brewing Co get the mac and cheese, it's amazing. They also have live music and an entire kids area with toys, puzzles and games. My husband and I had a nice lunch while our kids played!

Lot 12 Public House serves upscale dining with a local chef in a downtown historic building. For dinner we headed up the side of a bluff to The Canary Grill where we enjoyed live music. We were sat in a booth with a cut-out window (a big perk for our kids!). The food was decent, but the kids' menu was a huge hit. You know sometimes you go to a restaurant and the kids menu is small and not that entertaining for an hour? They had one of the best kids menu I've ever seen - very large and kept them entertained the entire time. Impressive!

In the heart of downtown is The Naked Olive Lounge , a speak-easy restaurant and bar with unique cocktails and cuisine. Next time we're around, we'll likely stop in for a bite at the lounge. I'm partial to unique speak-easy's!

The Country Inn has their own restaurant, as well as each of the other resorts I mentioned!

Wander Downtown

Downtown has some unique locations to hit up if you're wandering around! Berkeley Springs Antique Mall is quite large and boasts interesting and unique antiques both old and some newer. We brought our kids through and they were amazed at the "antiques" from the 80's ... sad to say that some of our toys when we were kids are now considered antiques.

Wander further and you'll find Hobos Donuts, a bakery and cafe with delicious looking donuts! Along Washington Street are gift shops, restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

Or if you want a fun experience, head to Berkeley Springs Salt Cave ! Salt therapy is a natural remedy that aids in respiratory and skin health, decreases blood pressure, relieves tension and is said to improve sleep. I am now researching salt caves and booking an appointment. Skin health and other benefits here I come!

In truth, this is a fun east coast town to visit for a day or two, or just an afternoon! We enjoyed seeing the town with its rich history that many people before us have frequented. Dip in George Washington's bathtub, and know that he sat there many times! Enjoy a spa treatment or soak in a giant mineral tub as many of our ancestors did before us. I don't know if it was healing or not, but it sure was refreshing.

Come see why Berkeley Springs brought in presidents and celebrities, and enjoy the same waters they did!

Happy traveling, Jessica

Are You Willing To Launch Out Into The Deep With Me?

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 19:24:34 GMT

How Immersed In Him Do You Want To Be?

There’s no limit to how deep you can go with Him. I was meditating with the Lord and He gave me a vision of what life looks like when we fully surrender and live launched in the deep with Him. Let me paint this vision for you as He gave it to me.

Before we come to Christ, we are like the unbelievers standing on the shores of the sea. There’s a multitude. Just as you can’t number the grains of sand, so too we can’t number how many unbelievers there are in this world. But when you decide to say yes to Christ and choose Him as your Savior, you go from living in the dry, dusty sand to being immersed in the depths of Him. Instantly, you are wet from head to toe in the deep of the ocean and of His love for you.

But the Lord showed me something that happens to the believer who is suddenly wet. For one, it’s shocking. It’s a shock to the system to be suddenly loved and filled with Him after being dry for so long. It might feel like too much after being beaten on by the sun and the elements. Think about how much lotion stings on a sunburn.

While there’s that momentary experience of feeling refreshed, when that feeling wears off we are left with the uncomfortable realization that we’re in deep waters with Him, and not used to it. That’s what it’s like when we suddenly receive Christ. We have a sudden family, a sudden home, a sudden overwhelming sense of His love, and we’re not used to it. We’re used to the harsh sun, having to fend for ourselves and not being able to trust or depend on anyone else for sustenance.

And what happens when we realize we’re uncomfortable, is that we leave the deep waters and head back toward shore where we feel safe. If you were in a position of having to fend for yourself as a child or an adult, it feels comfortable to go back to that. It feels unsafe and overwhelming to let go and trust that God will provide! And it takes a renewing of the mind, of the heart, and of your emotions to believe that He is a safe Provider.

He showed me in this vision that we can’t ever get back out of the water, but we can choose to live close to the shoreline. We can live with just our feet in the water if we want, still feeling the sand of the world. But we can’t ever get out because the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in us. “The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29 AMP)

There’s no getting out again (so in case you’ve heard that you can lose your salvation you can’t!) But you can live as worldly, or as close to the world as you choose to.

And here is what the Lord showed me, some Christians spend their whole life standing in foot deep water and never go deeper. His heart is so grieved for those who never get to know the fullness and depth of Him. His heart is saddened when we prefer the comfort of our old life to the potential of a new one.

Sometimes, some of us will become uncomfortable with our foot deep water and decide we want something a little deeper. Status quo just isn’t good enough; we want something greater. So we cry out to the Lord and He begins to coax us in deeper. This could be a slow process, one step, and then another, and then another.

There are others where, a situation or a conversation, an accident, an unforeseeable event causes a sudden change in their life and a decision must be made immediately. Will I go deeper with the Lord to get through it, or will I find a worldly vice to cope? The choice is laid out on the table, the invitation to be immersed in His depths is presented.

And then there are those who knew when they made the decision for Christ, this was it. The water is too cold and feels uncertain, and they head to the shore only to come back deeper because there is no other way of living. There is nothing greater than Christ. He’s it, forever and ever.

The Lord is saying, don’t let the uncomfortable feeling of the water prevent you from going deeper with Me. Don’t limit yourself to knee deep, waist deep water just because you can’t see below the surface, and it scares you.

His invitation is always there, to launch out into the deep with Him and to live life as far out as you will go. He wants to invite you there. He’s also saying to you today, “I know it’s uncomfortable for you. I know that, and it’s ok. Acknowledge what you feel with me, because I see you. I see how dry your family life was and how odd the water of love feels. I see the abuse of your father, and how it left awful marks on your heart. I see how the water stings when it touches those areas. I see the harsh words of your mother, and that it’s all you’ve ever known, and my loving words lapping around you are almost unbearable at times. I see you. I see all, and you can tell me everything you’re feeling as we go deeper together.”

Deeper into forgiveness. Deeper into the Spirit. Deeper into Him.

Don’t Let Satan Lie To You About The Lord's Safety

Also in this vision, the Lord showed me that many Christians believe they aren’t safe out in the depths with Him. There’s a lie Satan whispers into the ears of believers and unbelievers alike, and sounds like this: “how can you think you are safe out there in the deep ocean waters? How can you believe God will keep you from the storms? How can you believe you can trust Him?”

Or it might sound like this: “How can you believe He will heal you? How can you trust that He will be faithful? Perhaps you should look for an alternative….” Don’t let those lies take root!

If we swallow that lie the spirit of fear will take root in our lives, preventing us from experiencing all He has for us. The other lie Satan wants us to believe is that if we do go deep with Him, but then don’t see our promise within a certain time frame, that He won’t be faithful to deliver it. And that is a lie. Because my Bible says that God is faithful. My Bible says that God delivers on His promises. My Bible declares that He WILL, and He DOES.

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) This verse in my original Greek text is written: “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen.”

What kind of promise? All of them! And where are your promises found? In Him! Not apart from Him, not in a man-made solution (although He does lead us to those through His Spirit! For we are His and He partners with us to provide solutions for His Kingdom purposes!) And if He does lead us to a man-made solution, we can believe that He is the One behind the scenes bringing about a divine solution. Amen!

If Abraham hadn’t held on to the promise, he never would have seen his 99-year-old self become a dad. If Joseph had become discouraged in prison and let bitterness take root in his heart, he never would have stepped into the palace. If David had dropped the sword and stopped his training process, He never would have had the crown placed on his head. And there are so many stories like this all throughout the Bible, to give us the courage to hope in Him despite what our day looks like today.

Letting Go Of Our Life

Part of going deep with the Lord is letting go of our timelines, our plans, our will for our life, and letting Him have complete and total control. When we do this, fully let go and let Him, we begin a life of flowing in the Spirit.

“He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” ³⁹ But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).” (John 7:38-39 AMP)

When we fully let go and let Him have His way, then we live immersed in the water of our Holy God. From the throne of God flows out rivers of living water – literally His Spirit flows forth from the throne of God. We can know we are living in His perfect will for us, ordained from the throne, when we live immersed in Him following the Shepherd’s voice.

“Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Christ),” (Revelation 22:1)

How Deep Are You?

I want you to take a minute and try something with me. Wherever you are right now, close your eyes and ask the Lord, “Show me where I am in the water.” Take a few minutes to do this. Don’t rush it, just breathe deeply and ask the Lord to give you a vision.

Very likely what will happen is a picture will come to your mind, and you will see how deep you are. Perhaps He will show you how close or far from the shoreline you are, the color of the water, the shallowness or depth of it. You might be waist deep, neck deep, or floating in the depths. And wherever you are right now, pray this with me:

Lord God Almighty, my Love, my King,
Take me deeper.
From where I’m located right now, take me deeper.
I want to know the depths of Your heart for me.
I want to know Your thoughts toward me.
I want to know how You feel about me.
Bring me to that place.
Father, where I have fear to go further,
Dismantle those and speak truth directly into my heart where I am afraid.
Uproot the spirit of fear and the parts of me that have struggled to go beyond where I am.
Remove those areas and roadblocks completely.
Whether it’s people that hinder me, vices I have, friendships that limit me,
Family that prevents me; remove either the fears, the people, or the situations that
prevent me from being all-in with You.
I want to know You.
I want to experience YOU.
I want all of You.
I open my hands, and surrender my heart, give me everything You will for me.

In Jesus Mighty and Holy Name.

Amen

How He Protects You From Storms

Most captains will tell you that ships are safer at sea than portside during a storm. This is what one naval officer had to say about a naval vessel at sea vs in port. “Tsunami or hurricane, a ship will certainly be susceptible to damage while pier-side or anchored in a harbor. Not only is her own maneuverability restricted to pick her way out or avoid beating up against a quay or pier, but she may be damaged by OTHER vessels breaking their moorings and mucking about. A tsunami could pitch her onto the beach or against other obstructions, not to mention the drastic run of water retreating out to sea before a tsunami wave strikes…. Smart mariners know how to safely navigate typhoons at sea… There are dangerous and less dangerous areas to try and ride one out. Additionally, smart seamanship can reduce the effects of the storm on the vessel’s ride. A vessel has little or no chance to move once caught in port. Therefore, most would put to sea to avoid being banged about in the tight confines of a harbor.” -Brion Boyles

Right now, He's showing me how the storms of life look depending on where we are in the water with Him. The shoreline gets beat up by hurricane style winds and waves.

Out in the deep, the Lord helps us navigate the storms of life. He might have us ride some out, going up and down along the waves until the storm subsides. The whole time He is with us, anchoring us, showing us how to get through. At other times, He gives us a dream or a vision and shows us how to completely sidestep that storm, keeping us safe from danger.

Mary and Joseph experienced this when Joseph received a dream telling him to move his family to Egypt to keep Jesus from being murdered by a bloodthirsty spirit that came upon King Herod. (Matthew 2) Joseph being sensitive to the Spirit of God, kept him and his family safe from a Satanic spirit.

In my own life, the Lord has given me many warnings before a storm is about to come. He gives guidance in how to sidestep it completely or shows me how to ride it out. Whenever He has me ride a storm out it isn’t because He isn’t in the storm, but always because He’s looking for something truly spectacular for me to learn, or become, or a promise to be received on the other side.

One such storm came late last year when I had several dreams warning me that a friend was about to come against me. In my dreams the Lord showed me what kind of spirit was behind it, and that it wasn't from Him. The Lord didn’t prevent the attack from coming, but He did warn me what was coming, when it was coming, and what my response was to be.

I was devastated after this friend verbally assaulted me. That night my heart was torn apart. But in the middle of the night around 4am, several angels surrounded my bed and nudged me awake. For the first time I experienced angelic activity in a new way. I heard them, I felt them, and I saw them.

I poured out the pain of the attack to my Father and He sent me a beautiful gift.

I wouldn’t trade the brutal betrayal for the wonderful way the angels of heaven comforted me that week. In my mind, it’s one of the most blessed weeks I had in 2023. What started as an assault, ended in my spiritual blessing and favor from heaven. Don’t assume that all storms are meant to harm you, but rather believe that they will bring you higher and further with Him.

The best place to be, the safest place in the midst of any storm, is launched into the deep. When the storms of life come, and they will, He guides us safely. Even if the storm is hard, He will send help to get us through.

Don’t be afraid of being all in for Jesus! Don’t be afraid to let go and let the Spirit flow through you! For out here, is your best adventure yet. Out here you have an Awesome God who protects you, warns you, guides you, loves you. Out here, you are safe .

The question the Father has for you today is, “are you willing to launch out into the deep with Me, and stay there?”

With joy, Jessica

A Daily Prayer For My Children

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:19:16 GMT

"All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
And great shall be the peace of your children."

Isaiah 54:13

Sometime around 2014 the Lord challenged me to put my prayers on note cards and stick them in my Bible. It was through this practice that I learned the art of praying continually as Paul spoke about in 1 Thessalonians 5.

Since then, I have seen many answered prayers- simply because I kept at it. Some prayers would change over time as I learned the Lord's will in a certain situation. At other times, the Lord so completely changed my heart that the prayer was no longer relevant. And through it all, He has been faithful to answer so many of them.

This prayer sits in my Bible and every day I open it up I pray it. It's a prayer the Holy Spirit led to me write for my children.

We have had many big feelings in our home as of late - it happens to be the age where they are learning a lot in a short amount of time and experiencing friend drama and school issues in a way they haven't had before. I asked the Lord how I should pray for them to help them stay rooted and grounded in His love, to not be swayed by every feeling, and He led me to Isaiah 11:2 and Ephesians 3:14-19. When our children are rooted and grounded in Him they won't be tossed by every whim or desire they have!

If you have had any similar situations in your home and wondering what to pray for them on a consistent basis, perhaps this one will help you get started.

Father God, I bring my children (names) to You

and I pray the blood of Jesus over their hearts, minds and emotions.

Fortify their minds and hearts against disappointments,

and I pray You would teach them how to manage their emotions and not be

swayed or led astray by every feeling that they have.

I pray Your Spirit would rest heavy upon them.

Give them the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

And I pray that You would grant my children,

according to Your riches of glory,

that they be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in their inner man,

that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith.

I pray they would be rooted and grounded in love,

to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge,

and be filled with all the fullness of God.

In Jesus name,

Amen!

"The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

and he will delight in the fear of the Lord."

Isaiah 11:2-3

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:14-19

With joy, Jessica

Surrender Your Emotions, Surrender Your Understanding, And Give Him Your Mind & Your Heart

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 19:21:50 GMT

Let The Lord Be God Of Everything You Feel, Everything You Think

Recently I had an incredible dream in which I was having a conversation with the Holy Spirit. I had the ability to speak to Him and talk with Him as if I was sitting across from a friend at a coffee shop. It was rather amazing! My family and I recently took a road trip to visit with a few people close to us, and I had this dream while we were at their home.

In this dream, the Holy Spirit stood opposite me in their kitchen, which was how I knew this was a current event; not something happening in the future or in the past. The Holy Spirit was drawing my attention to that He was speaking to me right here, right now. In my dream, He answered some questions that I have had embedded in my heart for a long time.

I come from a family of incredibly smart people, engineers and architectural types. In many ways, I have been the oddball in a family of incredible intelligence, not because I’m not smart in my own way, but I am definitely not math smart or science smart. I realized from a young age that my lack of “logical intelligence” allowed me easier access to faith and belief, because my mind never tripped me up. I had no barrier to believing in that which I could not see, and faith comes more easily to me than to some others in my family.

So, a question I had had for a long time was, why would the Lord give certain people incredible brain intelligence and it could be the cause that trips them up from surrendering it all to Christ? I really wrestled with it.

There’s something wonderful that happens when we take our questions and concerns to the King, He answers them. I once had a question that I asked the Lord when I was 11 or 12, and He answered it 20 years later in such a wonderful and unique way that tears poured forth and I was so undone. I hit my knees and stayed there with Him for a while. He cares so deeply about every question we have, every concern, every care! And He wants us to communicate with Him in those areas.

But this particular question, He answered for me in a conversation with the Holy Spirit.

In my dream I was sitting at a stool at the kitchen counter, and the Holy Spirit stood opposite me on the other side of the island. I just knew it was Him, though I had never met His form, the form He takes on as a man. The Bible says we are made in His image, I met the image of the Spirit of the Lord.

He brought up the question I had had in my heart for so many years and He said to me, “You know how smart people are tripped up in their belief in Me because of their logic, their reasoning, their mind?” And I said back to Him, “yes, I struggle with understanding that barrier.” And He said to me, “In the same way, the sensitive and feeling people of this world are tripped up by their emotions. You are a feeler, and how many times have you let your feelings about Me, your emotions about a situation, completely derail your faith in trusting Me?”

And immediately the weight of understanding this thought was downloaded into me: that no matter if we are given incredible intelligence or a heart filled with sensitivity, we can be tripped up in either area in our walk with Him. Our intelligence can prevent us from truly surrendering our all, because we rely on our own wisdom and understanding. Or, our emotions can prevent us from diving into the deep end, because our emotions and feelings become our god. When we let our feelings rule our life, they often take the form of anxiety, depression, and lacking discernment toward situations because a cool head is required to see from God’s perspective.

“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”
Romans 12:2 AMP

“We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,”
2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP

“Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 AMP

“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” -Philippians 4:8 AMP

Every single verse has this in common: however God made us, however He purposed us, we are to keep our thoughts centered on Him. If we are gifted with incredible minds, keep your mind on Him. If we are given sensitive hearts, keep your heart fixed on Him. This is how we stay in the center of His will.

It’s our emotions that can prevent us from diving into the deep with Him. Why? Because the Holy Spirit said to me is, “Faith defies logic, and faith defies feelings. Faith is a choice to trust Me no matter what your situation looks like, no matter what your eyes see. Faith is living in total abandon to Me, what I say, and what My Word says.” And that’s why it’s so hard to pick up that cross and not drop it when our brain says, “this doesn’t make sense!” Or our heart says, “this hurts too much and the weight is too heavy!”

We have to choose to keep walking with Him every single day regardless of what our logic speaks or what our emotions cry out to us. We have to put effort into choosing to believe what is written in His Word, no matter what! Paul calls this the exercise of faith.

“So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].”

Philippians 2:12 AMP

Work out in this verse is the Greek word katergazomai ~ which means to perform, accomplish, achieve, to work out or to do that which something results. To do something that accomplishes a result.

Salvation is the Greek word sōtēría ~ which means rescue or safety (physically or morally), deliver health, salvation, save, saving.

Working out our salvation is exercising our faith to believe we are healthy, we are rescued from every enemy, we are delivered, we are safe both physically and morally. The same word salvation is mentioned twice in Luke 1:69-71, and again in verse 77.

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
⁶⁹ And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
⁷⁰ As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
⁷¹ That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us…
⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,”
Luke 1:69-71

How are we saved? We have knowledge of our salvation through the remission of our sins. We keep our mind focused on how much we have been forgiven! (verse 77)

Think about a time you have trained for something (a marathon, a bike race, sports) and just how much time and training went into preparing yourself to run that race well, or to play that game effectively. It takes a lot of time, patience, perseverance and practice!

We can apply the very same training to our faith if we want to. We can spend our days praying, in the Word, talking with Him, listening to worship music, reading books that bolster our faith and trust in who He is, OR we can spend our time watching tv, listening to secular music, reading fiction novels, busying ourselves with a million other people and activities.

It’s not that we can’t do any of those OR things, but rather, where is the majority of your time spent? Just like training for sports or a race requires due diligence and preparation, so too our faith requires the same from us if we want it to actually grow deep roots and become unmovable and unshakeable.

Today the question is, what’s tripping you up? What areas of unbelief have a chokehold on your faith? Those are the places the Lord wants you to bring to Him. There’s no place of judgement when we come just as we are, into His throne room, and spill our guts at His feet.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16

In fact, what happens when we come with our questions or angst is that we obtain mercy in our time of need. And oh my, but do we ever need His mercy to flow through our areas of incredible weakness!

But something He taught me awhile back is this, that we have to learn to say it. We have to say what’s really in our heart, what’s really on our mind, without paraphrasing or manipulating our words to make us “look” better in front of Him. We have to stop covering up the real meaning of what we’re thinking and feeling. We have to learn to say it, exactly as it is.

Late last year I was working through an area of trauma from my childhood and I was deeply upset with the person who caused it. I was talking to the Lord about my feelings of this person, without saying what I really felt about this person. Do you know what I mean? Like the real thing feels so awful and ugly that in your head you’re like, “I can’t possibly admit that before the throne of grace, because how could there possibly be grace for how ugly I feel?” That’s where I was at.

I had worked through so many things and feelings throughout the years, but for some reason I couldn’t admit what I really felt to the Lord about this person. It felt too real and raw, and Satan wants us to believe that the realness of our hearts will incur God’s wrath, and not His Holy Mercy.

But in that moment while I was wrestling with my words and quite literally, beating around the bush of what I meant, the Holy Spirit broke through my thoughts and said to me, “Say it. Say it!” The command was so strong I would have been deliberately disobedience if I didn’t speak what I really felt. And He said to me, “If you don’t say it, I can’t fix it.”

I just let the ugliness of my heart pour forth. And you know what happened? He tenderly and gently bound the wounds of my broken heart. He poured healing oil into the cracks. And with His expert hands, He carefully pieced back the parts that had been broken when I was very little, very young.

He ministered to me and gently shushed me as a Father does to His little girl. And then He said to me, “Now forgive them.” In that moment I took the first step toward deep forgiveness. Not surface level forgiveness, but deep forgiveness. The darkest places of your heart that no one but Jesus is allowed to see.

It was this deep place that He asked me to surrender to Him, and to let light drive out every dark corner. That’s a deep, deep place of holy surrender and forgiveness. And that place will require letting go of the emotions that trip us up, and the logic of what we believe to be true, and instead choosing to be obedient to what His Word calls us to do.

Forgive despite how you feel. Trust even when your heart or mind wants to get in the way. Have faith, choose faith, even when the situation says, “I can’t see it! I can’t feel it! I don’t know how to believe it!”

And forgive even when your head knows they wronged you, and your logic says they don’t deserve it. Forgive despite what you feel, and despite what your understanding knows is true. Forgive anyway.

Because what happens when we choose to do as He asks despite how we think or how we feel - we find mercy, grace, and a heart and mind cradled safely in the hands of the Father. We find ourselves deeply close and intimately loved by Him. We see Jesus. And Jesus is all I want to see.

With joy, Jessica

Favorite Verses From The Psalms

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 16:04:13 GMT

"If you need a guide for your
ongoing relationship with God, read Psalms."

~ Jim George

As the wise Billy Graham once said, "I used to read five psalms every day - that teaches me how to get along with God. Then I read a chapter of Proverbs every day and that teaches me how to get along with my fellow man."

There are many times that we don't know where God is leading us or why the road is taking so long. Whenever I find myself in that place of, "when will that next thing come that You promised me?" I turn to the Psalms. There's something wonderful about this book that feeds the soul just right.

May these feed your soul too. Save them, put them as your iPhone screen, or add them to a place to remind yourself that He is faithful, and He delights in you.

The Beauty Of The Messy Middle

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 15:04:41 GMT

Embracing the space between the word spoken and the promise received

A few weeks ago I was driving out to my daughter's school for an event, and the Lord and I were talking about different things happening in life when I saw a beautiful tree that arrested my attention. On the bottom, the tree had all purple leaves and flowers, but on the top they were changing into the yellow that they would be for the rest of the summer season.

I passed a few of these trees on my drive, and then there was a stretch of 3 or 4 that stood out. These ones were extreme in their colors, and the tops were bright yellow. In the middle, the purple and yellow had met together and were intertwined creating a vivid experience. I couldn't help but say to the Lord, "Wow! These purple and yellow trees are just stunning!" And He immediately responded and dropped this word into my heart, "This is how I see you when you're in transition, it's the beauty of the messy middle." And He began to download this word to me: the time in between the word He spoke to you of a promise, the beautiful word given to you for a wonderful future, is the purple flowers on the bottom. But as that word matures into faith in your heart, it becomes the lasting color of the yellow on top. The time between, He considers to be the beautiful journey of you becoming the steward of that promise He gave you. It's the messy middle. You aren't yet beholding the promise He spoke of, but no longer who you once were. It's the discomfort of the in-between.

When the Lord gives you a dream or vision, hold on to that. Allow that word to grow within you and don't let the enemy snatch it away. And as it grows, it will blossom into a beautiful promise of belief. Often these promises from the Lord come with a waiting period, and that's where our faith is tested. It's during this time that we have to learn to hold fast to what God has spoken, learn how to believe and contend for what He said. Our character is forged through this process of becoming as we wait.

And this waiting process is where we find our messy middle. We aren't yet there in the promised land, holding the promise in our hands, but we've been changed through the vision God gave us. There's no going back to who we were before He spoke! And the middle between, is often filled with bloody battles, tear-stained mornings and evenings. The waiting between isn't who you used to be, but also not yet who you are becoming on the way to the promised land, and yet the Lord calls it beautiful. It might feel disorientating, leave you uncertain or insecure, but God doesn't see you as a mess. He sees you as stunning, someone worthy of Him crafting you into a lovely masterpiece. And it's all a part of the process He calls sanctification.

Sanctification is the action of making or declaring something holy, the action or process of being freed from sin or purified. During the wait, the Lord is removing anything that can't come with you into the promised land. He is burning off anything that could poison your promise or prematurely abort what He wants to fulfill in you. If there is trauma from your childhood, or bitterness from past seasons, maybe unforgiveness for certain wrongs, those things will need to be burned up by the Lord's fire. And most often our character is forged through extreme adversity while the Lord gently shapes us in His hands.

I love this quote by Sherrilyn Kenyon , because it perfectly describes the process of sanctification we go through with the Lord on our way to the promised land. “Strength through adversity. The strongest steel is forged by the hottest fires. It is pounded and struck repeatedly… The fire gives it power and flexibility, and the blows give it strength. Those two things make it able to withstand every battle…”

“Strength through adversity. The strongest steel is forged by the hottest fires. It is pounded and struck repeatedly… The fire gives it power and flexibility, and the blows give it strength. Those two things make it able to withstand every battle…”

-Sherrilyn Kenyon

If you feel like you're being held to the fire, burned on every side, rejoice! The power of the Lord is being forged deep within you. If you feel like you're being pounded and struck from different angles that seem to hurt the worst within the very depths of you, have hope! The Lord is crafting within you His perfect strength. It's His power, His strength within us that allows Him to use us for His kingdom purposes. And it's our surrender to the process that creates the flexibility He is requiring of us so that He can wield us however He chooses for the battles in this world. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

If we have not been tested and tried through adversity, and learned to submit to Him through it all, then He can't truly use us for His will and plan. And we can know with absolutely certainty that "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

So even though it's a hard process, and even though it hurts, it means that He is working out all things for our good and His glory.

I know it's uncomfortable, but it's all a part of the process He has us go through on the way to the promised land. His spoken word will come to pass in your life. Hold on. Have hope. And if you can, learn to embrace the messy middle, the journey between the promise given and the promise received.

Ask the Lord to give you joy in the process, for that is a prayer I know He desires to answer. And lift a song of praise! For you are becoming, and He sees you as absolutely stunning, wonderfully beautiful, perfectly made by His righteous hands.

With joy, Jessica

For more on the sanctification process, read ( You Are Perfected, And Being Made Holy )

The Secret of "Silent Saturday"

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 15:04:35 GMT

“Now after the Sabbath,

as the first day of the week began to dawn...”

Matthew 28:1

In recent weeks I have seen many posts and videos on the meaning of "Silent Saturday", and the significance of this day planted between the death of Jesus on Friday and the miraculous resurrection on Sunday.

As I was reading the words, "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn" in Matthew 28, the Holy Spirit suddenly dropped a word of knowledge into my heart. He said, "after the Sabbath, after the rest, comes the resurrection." Wow!

The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word verb שבת (shabat), which means to cease or to rest. The Sabbath day is the last day of the week, as the Lord rested from His work on the 7th day after completing all He desired to do. He modeled for us in the same way that we should have a day of complete rest from our work, allowing our bodies, minds and hearts to cease from toil. However, after the death of Jesus, the Lord again modeled how we ought to rest from our work, by reversing the order in which we rest and work.

Before the cross, the work came before the rest came. We had to work and toil, labor and spin, before we were able to take a break. But under the new covenant, Jesus demonstrated that HE accomplished the work for us, and we spend our first day of the week (Sunday) at rest with Him before we head off to work for the rest of the week. Under the shadow of the cross, we rest then we work. Isn't He amazing?

But what the Holy Spirit also pointed out to me, was that we have to learn how to rest in Him, with Him, before we will see the miracle of Sunday. When we're walking with Him, there will be many deaths that we experience. Our plans, purpose, desires and will, hopes and dreams, often die as we get closer and closer to Him. The process of sanctification that the author of Hebrews speaks of in chapter 10, is our flesh being put to death- again and again. Just as the body of our Lord Jesus died to save us, so our fleshly appetites die away and we are purified- inside and out. Impurities that are lodged in our heart and mind pass away and are replaced with the saving knowledge, saving awesomeness of our Yeshua.

Read: You Are Perfected, And Being Made Holy

The etymology of the word Sabbath points to the way we spend our time between the death of our flesh on Fridays, and the resurrection of our miracles that we are hoping to see on Sundays.

verb שוב (shub) tells of a reversal in motion, this verb is mostly translated to turn or return, and is often used to mean to convert or return to a more fruitful way of life, and hence to restore, to retrieve or even to abstain, to reply and to repeat
noun שובה (shuba) means withdrawal
noun שיבה (shiba) means restoration
noun תשובה (teshuba) means answer

Where is your answer from the Lord found? In returning to the presence of Jesus, being with Jesus, withdrawing from life's activities to be with Christ. The secret of "Silent Saturday" is to rest with Jesus. Silent Saturday is not silence from Him, it's learning to be silent with Him.

Jesus demonstrated this to us in Luke 5:15-16 "But the news about Him was spreading farther, and large crowds kept gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion]." (Amplified Version, emphasis mine)

Continuing on with our study of the word Sabbath:

verb ישב (yashab) means to sit or to remain or dwell
nouns שבת (shebet) and מושב (moshab) mean both seat or dwelling place
verb שבת (shabbat) means to rest or cease activity, noun שבת (shabbat) means a rest or stoppage
(shebbet) means cessation and is closely similar to the noun שבת (shebet), meaning seat
verb שבה (shaba) means to take captive, or to put a halt to someone's preferred trajectory and coerce them to go somewhere else
nouns שבי (shebi) and שביה (shibya) mean captivity or captives collectively, but with the emphasis on being moved somewhere rather than the static condition of being imprisoned
noun שבית (shebit) or שבות (shebut) means captivity but since the parent verb speaks of a sudden change of destiny rather than a particular destination, this noun may also be used to mean restoration
noun שבו (shebo) describes some sort of gem, apparently a real "head-turner."

**All references found on Abarim Publications : https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Sabbath.html

I saw a quote recently that went something like (I'm paraphrasing), "Growing closer to Christ is realizing that I don't have a choice at all, it's only His choice that matters." That's why Paul wrote that he was a slave to Christ Jesus, because the act of resting in Him means being captured by the Lord completely. If we're sitting down from our work and resting in Him, we are actively choosing to dwell in the secret place of the Most High. We are choosing a different life that runs contrary to what the world would say we should do.

In the world, if you don't work you don't eat. In God's economy, if you don't rest you won't fully realize the completed work He did. When Jesus said, "it is finished," He meant it. He was saying to you and to me, "come sit with Me and I will work for you. Come sit with me and realize how much I have done for you." We don't realize how much was done on our behalf if we're not dwelling with Him, captivated by His glory.

It's in this process of resting on our "Silent Saturdays" that we realize He's never been silent at all- He's always speaking. He's declaring His goodness over us, speaking His promises over us, encouraging us, speaking freedom and victory over us. But unless we get quiet with Him, we won't hear Him proclaiming His awesome might over our hearts and minds. We can't hear how much we're forgiven and free when we're so busy spinning the plans we have for our future, trying to figure out a way to get our miracle.

As I draw closer to Christ I realize more and more, it's not about my will at all, but rather only His Will that matters for me. Whatever He has planned for my life, I willingly open my hands to receive. Whatever He wills, I want to be my desire too. As I rest in Him, praise and worship Him, I realize that I have no will of my own, but only that which He purposes and promises for me.

"If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are,

know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children,

how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is]

give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him."

Matthew 7:11 (AMP)

Do you believe He wants to give good and advantageous gifts to you? Do you believe that He is perfect as He is, and desires to give you what He believes to be perfection? If not, ask yourself why you don't see Him as a wonderful, good, loving Father - and spend time with Him in that place. Pour out your heart of doubt and unbelief. I promise that all you will receive in return, is His faith and ever-loving kindness that heals those areas of doubt. I know that to be true, for I have walked that road many times.

For every area of doubt I have received His faith. For every area of sadness I have received His joy. For every area of pain I have received His love. The key is at the end of the verse, "keep on asking Him." Keep on pursuing Him. Keep coming to Him with all of your thoughts and opinions, and He will sanctify every area of your life, causing your thoughts to line up with His Word.

Choose today to rest in Him. Choose today to hide in the shadow of His wings, and then, then, you will see a new day dawn on your life. Your resurrected promise is coming. Your miracle is on its way. Rest in Him while you wait for Him to deliver it to you - the good and perfect gift He has planned for your life. ��

With joy, Jessica

You Are Perfected, And Being Made Holy

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 02:30:25 GMT

“You have been set free from sin

and have become slaves to righteousness.”

Romans 6:18

Have you ever gone about your day and felt yourself slip into a past transgression? Or perhaps a dream will bring back some painful reminders of things that have happened in the past? Maybe it's not your mind or a dream, but people in your life who knew you from a different place and time that want to remind you of your past mistakes.

Well, I have good news for you. You are no longer that person. You are complete, made wonderfully perfect, because of the blood of Jesus!

But maybe, maybe that knowledge doesn't quite take away the thoughts you are having. I had a week like that. I have had some recurring dreams for the past few months and there seemed to be a central theme that was coming up - a mistake from my past. Not a mistake from a few years ago, we're talking a mistake from 15-16 years ago.

After surrendering my life to Christ I spent much time in prayer receiving the Lord's forgiveness for the things I had done wrong. That's the life of a believer. As we become sanctified, as we grow in Christ, we face the sins we have committed and receive forgiveness for them, and then let them go. We recognize the true gift and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to completely absolve us of our mistakes!

But what if, what if you are like me, and there's one particular instance, or perhaps a few, that keep coming back up? It might mean there is some kind of bondage in your heart and the Lord wants to set you free absolutely and completely. The Lord wants us to be set free from every sin and chain that would threaten our present and future. So, if there is a particular instance that is recurring over and over, perhaps this will encourage you to let it go once and for all!

You Are Perfected

First off, I want to speak to your heart and soul. You have been perfected. Hebrews 10:14 states, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (emphasis mine)

This word perfected is the Greek word teleióō - which means to complete that is (literally) accomplish, consummate in character, consecrate, finish, fulfill, make perfect. This word perfected derives from the same word that Jesus speaks in John 19, "It is finished." The word finished is the Greek word Teleō, which means to complete, to set out for a definite point or goal. When Jesus hung on the cross and said, "It's finished," He was saying, "I have completed the task the Lord set out for me. I have finished my race perfectly. My death is the ultimate sacrifice forever." For the Hebrew writer to use teleióō, he understood that because of Jesus' sacrifice, his absolutely perfect sacrifice, that we have been (past tense) made complete and consummate in character. Our part is to receive what Jesus has already done on our behalf!

So then why do we have things that come up from our past at certain times?

We Are Now Being Sanctified

I have come to discover that at the very right time, when I am ready and willing to receive what the Lord wants to do in my heart, is when He will bring up certain things from the past that I need to deal with in order to walk fully free from the weight and guilt of it.

This will look differently for everyone depending on what it is that's in your past. But, I want to give you a very real scenario and example of what the Lord showed me this week, as I believe it could help other believers be set free from past mistakes as well.

I mentioned that for many weeks I was having recurring dreams. Not that all of the dreams were the same, but the person in them was the same. There were different elements in each one, but after another dream with this same person I finally said, "Ok Lord! What is it that you are wanting to show me?" If I'm being really honest with you, I probably had 5 or 6 dreams with this recurring person before I wised up and realized it was the Lord drawing my attention to something that was unresolved in my heart.

On a slower day in my week, I began to work through each of the elements in the dream to see what the Lord was drawing my attention to. And then when I was certain of what He was showing me, I began to mentally review each of those areas of hurt and the ways in which I was directly impacted by hurt, or the ways in which I had hurt this other person. After walking down the path of the past, I began to cry and release each of these memories. After a minute or so of walking down this path, I realized I needed an audience.

I have had a vision of being in the throne room with God before, and I mentally pictured the throne again and out loud I said, "Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father, I invite you into this place with me." And I brought up each memory, confessed my part of every wrong in Their presence, and I could physically feel the Hand of Grace touch me as I confessed every past mistake pertaining to this person. I confessed the parts of me that knew not what I was doing, the parts of me that knew what I was doing, and the parts of me that had deeply hurt this other person. I forgave every memory where that person had hurt me, and I let go of all of the pain. And then, after releasing every memory in the Lord's presence, I began to bless this person and their life. I began to wish the absolute best for them and to want the Lord to release favor and goodness on every part of them. As I blessed this person, I felt the breath of Jesus on me as He fully released His forgiveness into my heart and filled the cracks of pain left by memories with His grace and mercy, tender forgiveness and wonderful Presence. After doing this I was exhausted, but also, totally and 100% forgiven and set free.

See, the thing is, I knew I was forgiven before I had even started my speech in the Lord's presence. But often knowing with our head, and knowing with our heart are two different things. The confession before the throne is what fills our heart with the knowledge that we have been truly set free. We are forgiven!

It was the release of memories in the Presence of the Almighty that relaxed the weight of sin on my heart and allowed the Lord to fully extend His Hand of mercy and grace to fill every fiber of my being. Every painful memory, every crack in my heart that I hadn't realized was there, the Lord healed completely in that moment.

This is only one example of how Jesus has taught me to enter into His presence and to release my sins to Him and allow Him to do what He does, wash me with His tender loving care. But this is also what the second part of the verse of Hebrews 10:14 is actually stating, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified ." We have been made perfect, but we are continually and always being sanctified . The Greek word for sanctified is hagiazō, which translates as to make holy that is (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate - be holy, sanctify. Here's how Blue Letter Bible describes it:

to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
consecrate things to God
dedicate people to God
to purify
to cleanse externally
to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
to purify internally by renewing of the soul

This is what it means to be sanctified. We have been perfected, Jesus' sacrifice once and for all has forgiven us and made us righteous not because of ourselves, but because His righteousness is so perfect that it made a way for us to be right before God in heaven.

But, but, when you wonder why are you still dealing with things from the past, or why the same sin comes up again and again, it's because you my dear are being made holy each and every day! This is a continual process until you die!

Coming into the throne room (which I acknowledged I was doing in my head and heart, and not actually doing physically), confessing every past memory surrounding this person, was me acknowledging everything before the Lord and consecrating my heart to Him. This confession allows every dark place of sin, every sinful root that has had a place in our lives by our own mistakes or by others, to be uprooted in His presence. Then we are purified and cleansed from it completely. It's a renewing of the soul as Blue Letter Bible states it!

The next evening I woke up from a dreamless sleep. I slept soundly, and I woke up refreshed and free. It was like a weight had been dropped off of me this week, because one had been. Past mistakes are a bondage to us, and those chains are heavy to carry around. They drag us down and the weight of it keeps us from rising out of the dust and running free in the race of faith.

How To Recognize God's Speaking To You About Something

First, The Holy Spirit Speaks

Do you know how the Holy Spirit speaks to you? It's going to be unique to just you. Take a minute to identify when it is that you know He's saying something, when He's moving you in a certain direction, or when you feel Him speaking. My friend gets a "gut" feeling. She feels it in her gut when the Holy Spirit is nudging her to move. For the longest time the Holy Spirit would move me toward something through His peace, or move me away from something through the absence of His peace. When I would think about taking a job, if I wasn't at peace then I knew it wasn't for me. When I was dating I would get a feeling of agitation when certain people would ask me out, and I knew it was because they weren't for me.

When you think about your relationship with the Holy Spirit, how does He most often speak to you? That's the fist and best way to know what the Lord is asking you to deal with. It might be that the Holy Spirit brings someone to your mind often, and you weren't thinking about that person. Or maybe a circumstance keeps coming to the forefront. He's getting your attention.

Now the Holy Spirit speaks to me in new and unique ways. Sometimes He'll drop a word of knowledge into my heart, or speak a sentence of wisdom into my mind. Sometimes He just whispers to me throughout the day, or prods me to do something specific. As my walk with the Lord has deepened, so has my way of hearing the Spirit grown. Because as we grow in Him, He grows in us, and we get to experience Him in new and unique ways. He will become more vibrant in our lives.

This is also something you can pray and ask for. I often pray that the Holy Spirit would fill me to overflowing, that He would speak to me and often. I pray that I would grow in my ability to hear Him. That's a prayer the Lord loves to answer!

Second, God uses Dreams

The Lord often uses dreams to speak to us. If there's an element of a dream that keeps coming up while you are sleeping, it's time to lean into it and ask the Lord, "What are you saying to me? I am Your servant and I am listening!"

All throughout scripture dreams are used to show us the future, to show us or draw our attention to something, to give us greater perspective into what He is doing. Something that has been extremely helpful for me in my walk is the book The Divinity Code to Understanding Your Dreams and Visions by Adam Thompson. He has an incredible gift from the Lord in understanding dreams and visions, and how to interpret them to know what God is saying to us while we sleep.

As we come into the last days, we know that dreams and visions will increase. (Joel 2:28 & Acts 2:17) The Lord has given me dreams for years, but it wasn't until recently that I realized just how much He was speaking to me through them. In the past year He has exploded this area of my life, and given me greater understanding of what He is saying while I sleep. I pray He does the same for you! And if He does, begin to study and lean into that place as He opens your eyes and heart to receive more from Him.

Third, He Uses Circumstances

Often, God will use our own circumstances to get our attention. For a few weeks a recurring theme began to pop up in my life. Everywhere I went, someone or something would rub my soul in a way that left me feeling exposed, and I didn't appreciate it. I told the Lord as much. But it wasn't until I finally realized He was getting me into a place of willingness to deal with an uncomfortable bit of my past that I realized why my circumstances were all out of disarray. It's because I wasn't at peace, because I was avoiding dealing with something difficult in my own heart.

Avoidance is actually a lie. We think by avoiding something that it will go away. Or that by avoiding a difficulty that it won't come back around - but it does. In fact, the longer we avoid it the harder it will be. Avoidance is a tool the enemy uses to keep us in chains, so that we continue to be a slave to his tactics instead of running the race of faith in freedom. Bondage prevents us from running well. It's like wearing out our tennis shoes and running with blisters, instead of heading off the track for a minute and letting Jesus put brand new shoes on our feet. He refreshes us in His presence so we can run more effectively. Avoiding something is just eating up the lie the devil is feeding us, instead of coming with honesty to Jesus about what is really in our heart, and then consuming His goodness.

But sometimes He'll use our circumstances not to deal with a specific past issue, but maybe a heart issue. It could be a disappointing job interview, a negative pregnancy test (again), a job loss, a relationship that doesn't work out - because He's trying to deal with something in our heart that we maybe didn't know was there, or didn't want to face. It could be that we don't trust Him with our heart, with our money, with our relationships, with our future, with our family...whatever it is, He wants our complete trust and our whole heart surrendered and devoted to Him. But there also might be underlying issues that go beyond trust, and He wants to get to those things too.

If your circumstances are disappointing over and over, take a few hours or a day and enter into His presence. Ask Him to show you what it is He's wanting to do or what He's drawing your attention to!

Fourth, He Uses People

And not always in a way that we like! I was at my neighbors house borrowing a ladder and she asked about our plans for the next few weeks. I was simply telling her my plans when an insecurity I didn't like bubbled up to the surface and she could sense it. She started asking about it, and I tried to explain what I was feeling. It wasn't until I got home and actually started digging into my heart before the Lord that I realized the top layer insecurity wasn't the issue. It was what I was avoiding underneath that was the problem. It was the person that recurred in my dreams, the sins from the past that the Lord was wanting to deal with and uproot in order to cause me to be free in my present and future.

He might use someone with just the right word at the right time. Or maybe it will be a random person that causes something to bubble to the surface like I had. Or it will be a coworker, or a conversation with a friend that allows something to rise within your heart. Whatever it is, begin to look at and address what's coming to the surface, but also what's hidden underneath.

You Are Becoming Holy!

To be honest, becoming holy in Christ is going to be pretty messy at times. It won't feel holy. It won't feel like we've been perfected. It won't feel like sanctification is taking place! Because it's not about how we feel, it's about what God has said. His Word says we are currently being sanctified. That means our feelings will have to play catch-up with our reality! And this verse doesn't quite explain that the process toward holiness is often a messy one.

The process of sanctification will look like tears, heartache, dead dreams and lonely nights. But on the other side of the painful process, is a healed heart and a mind rooted in Christ when we are willing to walk that road with Him.

Every time the Lord has asked me to work through something in my heart, whether it's a past mistake, a broken heart or a dead dream, I have won in the end. Some issues take longer than others, but in the end they all bring about greater freedom in our walk with Christ. Abarim Publications states that the greatest commodity in the Christian faith is the true freedom that Christ bought for us. I absolutely agree. And that's why the Lord is so busy in our lives bringing about our sanctification. Because true holiness that comes from Jesus restores our hearts and minds to a much freer, healthier place. Jesus is our freedom!

I pray your path to sanctification would lead to beautiful and bountiful fruit. I pray that every painful experience would draw you into deeper relationship with the One who heals every hurt. I pray that as you walk into greater holiness, that you would know Jesus and His heart that beats for you. You are loved! You are perfected! And don't be afraid of the pain when it comes, for He is making you holy as He is holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16

With joy, Jessica

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Small Bathroom Makeover

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 19:12:13 GMT

Small Bathroom / Powder Room Makeover!

We moved into our new home almost a year ago and I finally got around to re-doing the small powder room on our main level. It took me awhile to get to it, because I spent quite a bit of time deciding on a primary paint color for our home. Once that was taken care of, all I did was find a shade within the same family for our bathroom. Picking out the right paint color for your home is a job!

But first things first, this is the canvas we started with...

Before

Choosing A Color

For our main level, we waffled between Repose gray and Agreeable gray - moving both colors around different rooms to see how the light would hit it. In the end, Repose was the winner!

Because we used SW Repose gray for the main color of our home, we stuck with the same color family and went 2 shades up for the powder room to Dorian gray to get the look we wanted. When we moved in the paint was a very yellow color, and we wanted something to make the gray tiles pop in the bathroom, not to mention update the entire look of our house by getting rid of yellow.

I started by painting everything, and it took me just a few hours to get 2 coats painted with some drying time in between each coat. We picked out a mirror for the bathroom (when we moved in there wasn't one!) and my husband hung it for me.

I debated between two different mirrors at the store. In the end, I went with a very classic oval mirror with a thin black frame, and that choice informed the rest of the decor I added to the small space. I wasn't sure on a farmhouse distressed white mirror or the black, but I'm so glad I went with the black in the end!

The first thing I knew we wanted to change was the towel rack that was above our toilet, and to find something that matched the mirror. We found this black towel rack at Walmart. It's perfect. And inexpensive.

The second thing we needed to figure out is where to put our soap dispenser. The bathroom sink doesn't have any vanity space to fit the soap, and for a year I've had the soap wedged between the cold water handle and the spout! Not a great long-term solution. So when I picked out a 4-piece shelf set , we used the smallest shelf as a soap holder below the mirror and out of the way of our sink. It was the prefect answer to our problem!

(click on the pictures to shop exact products)

Decorating

Home decor is such a personal choice for everyone. In our old bathroom before we moved, we only had 2 things that adorned our walls: the farmhouse windowpane arch sign with the H for our family name, and a personal piece of art that my friend Lindsey did at our wedding many years ago. I love both items, and really wanted everything to work around them.

I picked up a set of 4 shelves At Home, and then decided they were just a bit too gray for me and I whitewashed them with linen white chalk paint . I brushed the paint on very lightly with a paint brush and then used one of my husband's old T-shirts to wipe each side down to the exact shade of distressed white/gray that I was looking for. They turned out absolutely perfect!

In the first picture you can see how I brushed the paint on and the amount I used. The distressed gray still comes through a tiny bit with the white on top. In the second picture you can see what the final product looks like after I wiped the paint to get the right texture, and what the shelf looked like before I whitewashed it.

After the shelves dried, my husband hung the largest two above our toilet, and the smallest one near the mirror for our soap.

Then it was on to the decorating! I hung our farmhouse windowpane above the top shelf, and I love how it matches the mirror. I found the Hello Sweet Cheeks sign and black candle at the At Home store. When I was trying to decide on something to fill the space between the sign and candle, I had a sudden thought that maybe the fans my brother and his new wife had at their Colombian wedding would work perfect...it did. And that completed our bottom shelf!

On the top shelf, I put this beautiful Hearth & Hand vase by Magnolia and added her mistletoe foliage to it. Every room needs a pop of green in my opinion...even if it is fake. ��

And the small black Bible was given to us by our pastor on the day of our wedding. I added a Swedish vase that my mother-in-law gave me when we first left Minnesota- it hadn't yet found a permanent home and this just might be its final resting place!

We put the Bible verse sign back in it's original place. The black letters and white canvas look perfect with the rest of our decor. And if you're interested in an original Lindsey print (she handwrites the letters!) You can shop her prints on Etsy at Palmberg Print .

Finally, I knew I wanted something in the corner of the room to pull everything together. I found a white metal vase and natural grass At Home, and after putting it all together I was really pleased with the way the green popped in the space.

And that was it! All in all, this project took me about 3 days from start to finish - mostly because shopping with two toddlers takes far more time than you would think it would...

When we put the last item into place my husband and I just stood there and looked at it all for awhile. I love the feeling you get from a job well done and a project completed.

Click on any of the pictures to shop exact products, or very similar items. And if you find this helpful, leave a comment!

After

Happy painting, decorating, renovating, and DIYing!

With joy, Jessica

Why Waiting Hurts

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 02:46:23 GMT

2 Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision

And make it plain on tablets,

That he may run who reads it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;

But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

Because it will surely come,

It will not tarry.

4 “Behold the proud,

His soul is not upright in him;

But the just shall live by his faith."

Habakkuk 2:2-4 (NKJV)

One of the hardest parts of the Christian walk is the waiting. We spend a significant amount of our journey with the Lord waiting on Him. Waiting for miracles, waiting for Him to show up, waiting for Him to move mountains, waiting for our promises!

We spend time waiting in His presence. We wait when we are in prayer. Much of our faith journey is spent waiting! It's obviously an important part of our faith journey. But why does waiting hurt so much? Why is it so hard?

I think the Hebrew word for wait can teach us a lot about why waiting hurts so much. I first spoke on this in my article Though Your Promise Tarries, Wait For It .

The Hebrew word for wait is châkâh , which is

(long) (tarry) wait,

long, longs,

wait, waiting, waited.

The Strong's Concordance mentions this about waiting: apparently akin to châqâh through the idea of piercing. These two words in the Hebrew are almost identical, and it explains so much of why waiting for our promises to be birthed is such a painful experience in the Christian walk of life.

The Hebrew word for piercing is châqâh, and it means

to cut, carve, cut in

to engrave, cut a limit

also to entrench:—carved work, portrayed, set a print

This is truly why waiting hurts so much! It's not because we're just waiting for the promise. It's because during the wait, the Lord is piercing our flesh over and over - quite literally carving us into a work of art that can be displayed for Him. He's taking us from the massive piece of stone we once we were, and carefully carving us into a heart of flesh that is pliable in His hands.

Job & 1 Kings

The first two places in the Bible that we see the word châqâh, piercing, is in 1 Kings and Job. 1 Kings 6:35 says, "Then he carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them, and overlaid them with gold applied evenly on the carved work." Solomon had beautiful carvings placed in the Temple of the Lord- beautiful works to be displayed for Him. (Today, we are that temple, a home for the Lord to dwell). And the second place we see the word piercing is in Job 13:27, "You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet." The word for limit is this word: châqâh.

Have you ever felt like your walk was limited? Perhaps your actions or life was limited in some way? Almost as though the Lord has literally put you in stocks to keep you from moving forward into the very place you're needing a breakthrough to happen?

Job very much felt this way - as though the Lord had put him in stocks and set a limit for the soles of his feet. He felt as though he was imprisoned in his life. Let's quickly note that the Lord didn't bring upon calamity to his life, Satan did. But, the Lord did allow it, and then He abundantly blessed Job double for his trouble at the end of the trial. Sometimes, the Lord desires to bless us so abundantly that the trial and waiting is necessary to pull out any unworthy characteristics, because He wants us to be wonderful and safe stewards for the blessings He gives us.

That's where the piercing comes into play. We are carefully carved and chiseled into fine works that the Lord proudly displays because we are His temple. We are like carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers decorating the walls of His kingdom.

Cherubim, Palm Trees & Open Flowers

Cherubim refers to a particular type of angel and it comes from the verb karabu, to bless, to be mighty. Cherubim also speaks of praise and worship - they praise and worship God in His temple. The wings of cherubim cover the Ark of the Covenant in the temple, symbolizing the readiness to do God's will. This is us. In the piercing we learn to praise and worship the Lord instead of complain. In the piercing we come near to the Ark, a picture of the Person and saving work of Christ. In the piercing we become ready to do God's will. Amen!

Palm trees speak of longevity of life, fruitfulness, flourishing, and its branches speak of victory. That's why the palm branches were laid out before Jesus on His way to the cross - there was victory in His death. So too is there victory in our flesh dying as the Holy Spirit within us comes more and more alive. The piercing causes parts of our flesh to die, giving life to the Holy Spirit and His ways, His leading and His voice. There is victory in death. What's born of the flesh dying is longevity of life and fruitfulness. The palm is mentioned many times in the Bible in conjunction with being stately, tall and upright (see Psalm 92:12).

This is what is happening during our time of waiting - we are becoming stately and upright. While it doesn't seem like it, we are actually becoming extremely fruitful. Seeds are born in the dirt. They grow in the cover of darkness, and finally they push through into the light. But it's still much time that passes before we see that little seedling become a small tree, then a larger tree, and then a tree that bears much fruit. So too are we like these trees, starting our journey in the cover of darkness where no one knows or sees what is happening, becoming a small tree and then a much larger tree that is able to bear and hold much fruit. We will eventually flourish like the palm tree, at the appointed time God has for us.

I want you to see what Job said at the very end of the book. We hear about the first part being preached, "Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning..." (Job 42:12) but the Lord opened my eyes to the final verse, "Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life." That's a promise, to die a man or woman who lived a long and full life. It's one thing to be blessed with much, it's quite another to be able to enjoy the blessings for a long time. Is it much of a blessing if we die before our time?

In the Strong's Concordance the final verse is written like this: "So Job died, being old and full of days." Full is translated as satiated, full and satisfied. While the blessing from God is nice, being able to be completely satisfied with our life and be blessed for a full amount of days is much preferred!

And finally, the open flower is a picture of us with open hands ready to receive all that He has for us. It's a lovely representation of us being chiseled into a stunning flower that will bear fruit as the Lord diligently watches over us, ready to bless us with the breakthrough and promise at the right time for our harvest . It might seem as though we are the last to bear fruit compared to those around us. But don't be discouraged in this! The Lord knows what He is doing, and He says, "I will hasten my word to perform it." (Jeremiah 1:11-12) We don't need to try to perform it ourselves, He will take care of that for us.

This is us dear believer. Any of us who are in a period of waiting, in a long wait between the flower blossom and the fruit, are given the same promise from God as Jeremiah. God was saying to Jeremiah, "while sometimes there is a delay, wait for the word I have given because I am faithful to the word I gave." He gave the same promise to Habakkuk in chapter 2 - letting him know that even if there is a delay, the Lord will not be late on delivering on the promise. We can be assured that while the promise delays, it is not late in coming through in our lives!

While we wait, we are being carved into lovely cherubim, a stately palm tree, a beautiful flower blossom that will one day bear fruit. The cherubim is a picture of us being blessed by the Lord when He speaks His good promises over our lives. It's also a representative of us becoming mighty in His Word, of us drawing near to the Person of Jesus (the Ark), and of our praise and worship that we lift up to the Lord in our waiting. The palm tree is our character being shaped and formed into a believer with great character, very stately in our presence, but it also represents the victory we have in Christ. You may think that while you're waiting God is wasting many years of your life - but the Lord is in fact bestowing upon you greater longevity that you may enjoy the blessings to the absolute fullest in the latter days. And the open flower is us, with open hearts and hands ready to receive from the Lord the promise in our right season of life.

What To Do While We Wait

But what should our response be to the Lord while we wait?

1 - Be Honest With Him

I will be very honest with you- during my early seasons of waiting I had many days of screaming (mostly in my heart, not often out loud), crying, anguish, turmoil and real heart pain that I attacked the Lord with. I won't lie to you and pretend like there isn't real evil in my heart. Guess what the Lord was after while I waited? That all of these things would be chiseled and carved out of me. Some of these evil words and intense emotions died a very hard, long, and painful death over a few months or years. And all the while, the Lord kept on chiseling His masterpiece. When I look back at some of the very ugly things I have said to the Lord in the secret place of my heart, I know with certainty that I wasn't ready for Him to bless me. I would never have wanted those ugly areas to come with me into the promised land!

So if this is where you are- in a screaming match with the Lord, cursing His name, my truest and honest suggestion would be to keep giving Him the ugliest parts of yourself. Don't throw up a veil and hide these areas from Him. Instead, give Him what you're really thinking and feeling, because it's in this place of true honesty that He will chip away at the filth and evil thoughts. When we are honest about where we are and what we're feeling, then He can really go to work on us. If we hide this place, we will never reach the promised land or bear the fruit we wish to. We can't, because there will be so much hidden in the depths of our hearts that we won't be safe with the blessing He has for us.

Keep being honest. He will love you through it, dry your tears, and chisel those parts away. They might die a slow, painful death, but what will be left will be stately character with uprightness of heart. And your true victory comes when He carefully pierces these areas out of your flesh, leaving behind His marks: kindness, goodness, patience, gentleness and self-control.

2 - Learn To Praise Him In The Storm

Praise and worship is a part of this process. After the screaming and yelling, when your heart is contrite and you bow your head before Him in repentance for over-reacting and lashing out, this is when we praise Him for loving us and being with us in the pain. This is when we lift our heads in worship and sing to the Lord who died for us. This is when we allow His goodness to wash over us while we sing to Him. And as we do this, the Lord will sing over us too. Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” He is with you in your suffering, He is the One who saves.

And what you will find is one day you will wake up and there will be no more words of pain and sorrow, of anger and frustration over the situation. Your promise hasn't come, yet you find praise and worship on your lips for your King of kings. We can praise Him in the storm. We can praise Him while we wait. We can praise Him without the promise at hand - because He has been truly, truly good to us.

3 - Draw Near to Him While You Wait

The Cherubim with their wings stretched over the Ark shows us just how near they are to the Person of Jesus. In the sacrificial system mentioned in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and so on, the blood of the lamb had to be sprinkled on the mercy seat which covered the Ark of the Covenant. The blood then was a picture of the lamb's atoning sacrifice, and the Lord completely overlooking the sins of His people. At the cross, Jesus' blood was poured out permanently forgiving us of all our sins and allowing us to always be close to the Lord. No longer is there a veil between us, no longer is there a priest who intercedes for us. Now we can step into the throne room at any time with only a prayer or a sigh on our lips.

While you wait, spend that time with Jesus. Get to know Him personally. Read the Bible, pray, and talk with Him. Be as close with Him as you can, as close as the Cherubim were with the Ark. The best way to spend our waiting time is with Him. He's the One who comforts us and loves us when we're hurting, and He's the One who gives us joy and peace, gladness of heart and a purpose even if we haven't possessed the promise. One day the promise will come, and how sweet it will be to celebrate that victory with Jesus, our best friend and confidant. He likes to be with us in our pain, but He also wants to rejoice with us in our triumphs.

5 - Be Ready, No Matter The Season

But while we're waiting we should be ready in season, and out of season. 2 Timothy 4:2 says, "preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season..." Although Paul was speaking to Timothy to encourage him while he endured hardship for the gospel of Christ, I believe this applies to every believer as well. We must be ready in season and out of season. We should not waste our out of season times while we're waiting for the Lord to move on our behalf.

Paul, of any apostle would know what it meant to suffer for the gospel of Christ. He had endured every hardship for Him, and then still encouraged others to be ready to preach no matter what season they were in!

We never know at what point the Lord will say to us, "It's your time! Go forth!" And if we have not spent our waiting time wisely we won't be ready to walk into the land!

During the time in which the Israelites left Egypt and crossed the promised land, only 2 men in the entire company of Israel grabbed a hold of the promises of God and believed that what He spoke was true. That means that during the time since Joshua and Caleb left Egypt, (they would have been slaves!) that they spent their wilderness time taking hold of the promises of God. They spent the time between slavery and the promised land saying, "The Lord is for me, who shall be against me?" "The Lord is mighty to save." "The Lord promised to me that I would walk in the land flowing with milk and honey." We don't know exactly what they said daily, but by the time they got to the final destination and spied out the land Caleb declared, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30) That's faith! Caleb spent his wilderness time building himself up in faith! He spent his time believing that God was faithful to the word He promised!

Spend your time this way. If you haven't yet, begin building your faith today regarding the Lord's promises to you. Write down the promise and declare it daily. This is how we prepare ourselves to be ready for the promise whether we're in season or out of season. Then when the Lord calls you up for the wilderness and the promise land is at hand, you won't end up back in the wilderness with the rest of the people - you will be able to walk into the land flowing with milk and honey. You won't live always out of season as an unbelieving fool, you'll be ready to be plucked up in your appointed season because you believed God would be faithful to His word.

Our Response While We Wait Matters!

I believe our response to the Lord while we wait determines how long our waiting process will be. Not in every case, there are definite promises that we are waiting for and the Lord has appointed a specific time to us, and nothing will hurry along His perfect time for our lives!

But there are certain times when we are waiting on a promise and our response during it can speed up the waiting time- if we're willing to submit to Him. If we grab onto the promise and not give fear or unbelief a stronghold. If we praise instead of complain. If we allow Him to prepare us to be ready for the promise instead of pushing Him away or hardening our hearts against the chisel. All of these things will aid in our victory coming sooner than later. But if we walk away from Him for a time or season instead of being pliable in His hands, or succumb to doubt, or allow bitterness to grip our hearts, then our wait will increase.

At the end of the day, I trust the Lord to do good for me more than I could ever trust any person, why would I not take Him at His word and believe He will fulfill every promise? I trust Him to as He said He would.

Lovely believer, the waiting hurts because we're not just watching the clock tick by for days on end. The waiting hurts because we're being pierced again and again, just as Jesus was pierced for our transgressions. His hands were pierced, redeeming the works of our hands and our livelihood. His feet were pierced, redeeming our walk with the Lord, that we can be in communion with Him daily. What a privilege! His head was pierced, redeeming every evil thought we have, redeeming every disease and memory problem. His side was pierced, redeeming the inner most parts of our being. And His blood was poured out on to the ground, the very ground we come from, so that every single part of us that was made by Him was also redeemed by Him.

We are perfectly, and wonderfully made. Every part of us. And Jesus was pierced to redeem every part of us. So don't despise the chastening of the Lord - for it is to our benefit that He devotes so much time to character development. You are a masterpiece. I can't wait to see how God chooses to display you.

With absolute joy,

Jessica

For further listening & reading

Chaim Bentorah https://www.chaimbentorah.com/2021/04/hebrew-word-study-almond-tree-%D7%A9%D6%B8%D7%81%D7%A7%D6%B5%D7%93-shaqed/
The Lord Was With Joseph, by Scott Pauley https://amzn.to/48ILdRZ
The Tension Of Transition, by Craig Cooney https://amzn.to/46CpCZm

Please not e that this blog post includes affiliate links from Amazon . If you do choose to purchase something, I may earn a small commission – at no additional cost to you. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Thank you for your support!

Is Your Imagination Blocking The Lord's Voice?

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 20:55:24 GMT

"Since you have heard about Jesus

and have learned the truth that comes from him,

throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life,

which is corrupted by lust and deception.

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."

Ephesians 4:22-24

One of the first areas the Lord began doing a new work in me after I surrendered my life was in the space of my mind. He began to undo many years of lies and unbelief, and filled my head with His word and truth. But He also asked me to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and that required much work and effort on my part! For much of my 20's, He and I worked on the renewal of my mind to align with His Word, His beliefs, His truths, and His vision for me.

In July I had an incredible encounter with the Lord. My husband and I were driving home from Annapolis after a doctor appointment and because of the nature of the appointment, I was the one that drove us back to our place. The sun was shining when we got on the road, and our drive looked perfect.

As we were on our way home, I began to roll around an argument in my mind. For a few months I had been struggling with a close relationship, and I poured out many prayers before the Lord. But there was still this unresolved tension between us that needed to be dealt with. I knew I would be seeing this person in the near future, and I began to create scenarios in my mind and then consequently coming up with my "perfect arguments" to counter things they might say to me.

As I began to form these arguments in my head, I could feel the tension in my flesh desiring to "create arguments from nothing" at odds with the Spirit telling me to leave it be. In my head there was a war beginning to resound - the flesh vs. The Spirit - and the flesh was having a hard time dying.

Suddenly I noticed that massive thunderclouds were rolling in, quite literally out of nowhere. In the passenger seat my husband said, "dude, this storm is forming on top of us. I can't see where it's coming from - it's just popping up on us as we're driving."

Well, that got my attention. I began to wonder if this storm was supernatural, and so I tried to think about something else instead of having an imaginary argument. But even as I tried to think of something else, suddenly it seemed like a demonic attack began to start. Satan began to whip scenario after scenario into my mind, trying hard to keep me imagining myself arguing with this person. I felt powerless to stop it.

Out of nowhere the heavens seemed to open up and the rain poured out. We went from sunny, blue skies to torrential downpours in the span of only a few minutes. And all the while, the war raged on in my head and in my heart.

We probably drove through sideways rain for 5-10 minutes. I kept trying to stop these negative scenarios from coming into my mind- but the devil was relentless in pounding scenario after scenario into my head. Now I knew this was a spiritual battle, and all of my human efforts were failing me. No matter what I did I couldn't get Satan to stop the onslaught.

And then I thought about scripture and I wondered, "What did Jesus do when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness?" And the Holy Spirit whispered, "He spoke the truth, and it cut right through the lies."

In that moment I didn't have a verse to pull out to combat the lies of these negative scenarios the devil was throwing at me, so instead I spoke the truth into my head, "These scenarios aren't real. This isn't reality, it's made up. It's not real life ."

The second, the very second I thought that into my mind the rain just stopped. It had been raining so hard that it was coming down sideways onto the roads, but the very second I spoke truth into my head the rain quit, and so did the scenarios. They just died, and the devil fled with his evil imaginations.

And then I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Creating stories in your head, making up negative scenarios and having 'arguments' with people, creates thunderstorms, lightning, thunder and rain to pound into your mind."

Stop Creating False Narratives!

There's a reason there are so many scriptures that tell us to keep our mind fixed on Christ. It's because we need to! True peace, true holiness, true joy, comes from keeping our whole body in the Word. There's no other way to have lasting peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness and self-control! Jesus is the only answer to every problem.

The devil is after our mind. There are so many amazing books out there about the warfare for our mind. What we believe and what we think is crucial in winning the battle. If we keep our eyes focused on Jesus and our mind in the Word, Satan won't have a foothold into our lives. But when we take our minds off Christ, that's when trouble arises.

There's a comedian out there, I can't remember which one, but he has a bit about his wife having a bad dream that he's cheated on her. So she wakes up mad at him for cheating in her dream-state. They get up and go to work, and all day she's stewing on this dream that happened while she was asleep, and her anger rises at him. They get home and she's steaming and barely speaks to him. He's like, "What did I do? " Finally after dinner he approaches her again and she yells, "You cheated on me!" And he's like, "What? I have not!" She literally spent all day creating an argument against him before he even entered into the argument with her at home - over nothing!

Now if I'm being honest, I think early in our marriage we had a similar scenario. And Mikael said to me, "That didn't happen! Get it out of your head!"

This is what's happening when we create negative scenarios in our mind. If we're angry with someone or mad about something, and then we spend all day rolling negative thoughts and images around in our minds regarding what we're angry about - we're actually choosing to live in our sinful flesh in our heads. Every time we create a new imagination or have negative arguments with someone, we're choosing the flesh! Ephesians 4 in the NLV states it this way, "put away the old person you used to be. Have nothing to do with your old sinful life. It was sinful because of being fooled into following bad desires."

There's a reason the Lord tells us to take every thought captive. I am thankful for the work the Lord did in my mind, renewing it to conform to His words. Much of the work was done in my 20's, but every once in awhile new arguments arise - and nothing about it belongs in my new way of life. I could feel Satan throwing every fiery dart he could to keep me from putting that old self away - and that's how many of us can be deceived or fooled into following a bad desire.

There are times when we desire to create false narratives in our mind. There are times when we want to walk down that path in our head. But that isn't who we are anymore! We are new creations, seated with Jesus in heavenly places, made righteous by the blood of the lamb, and there's no reason for us to be fooled into following our old, sinful nature anymore. So rid yourself of false narratives. Turn away from negative arguments with people in your mind. And tell yourself the truth: It's Not Real!

End The Evil Imaginations And False Imagery

A few months ago I saw an Instagram video of a woman saying, "Who are these people who are focused on their to-do lists before falling asleep? Is no one else living in their imaginary world with their dream man?" The comments were what got me though. Comment after comment stated things like, "I feel so seen! I spend every night in my imaginary life with me and The Rock. We're married and have a great life." Or, "I waffle between imaginary relationships with these actors..." "I have a decade long imaginary relationship with so-and-so!"

I mean, truly I can't tell you how many comments were of women stating who they were in an imaginary relationship with in their mind. And all celebrities of some kind, that these women had created a relationship with in their head. Immediately the Lord brought this verse to me: "The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart." (Genesis 6:5-6 NLT)

I put the NLT verse down because of how it's written: "everything they thought or imagined was consistently evil." These women, who think they are doing something innocent by carrying on an imaginary relationship in their minds, are actually committing adultery in their heart. The Lord doesn't differentiate between actual adultery, and adultery of the heart and mind - as Jesus clearly laid that out for us during His ministry on earth. It's a sin if you commit it, but it's also a sin when you think on it.

What's truly fascinating about this verse in Genesis (which is the first time we see the word imagined in the Bible), is that it's what was in the hearts and minds of the people of the earth that caused God's heart to break - not what they actually acted upon. Because what you think about often proceeds what you are willing to do. Thinking about adulterous relationships for many years, very well could lead to committing adultery physically. What we think about precipitates what we do in our actions.

The original Hebrew states the verse this way: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Imagination here is the Hebrew word yêtser, which means a form, conception (that is purpose), form, framing, purpose, framework; graven image. It's idolatry to create an evil imagination of this kind! Not only that, but these women who are creating a false relationship in their mind, they are conceiving, giving birth, to evil thoughts.

What you think about it is entirely a choice given to you by God. But what we do with our minds is so vitally important in our walk with the Lord. Now I'm not accusing anyone of what these women were commenting on in this video- I'm only pointing out what an evil imagination looks like in the context of the Bible. But the Bible also states that as the days of Noah (which is where we first see the word yêtser), so will the days be right before the end. We're coming into that place, and it's becoming evident and even celebrated to have evil thoughts in the heart.

But the most important thing about what we think is that if we are not focused on Christ, we won't be able to hear from Him. If our minds are filled with evil and false images, we can't hear God's voice! He speaks in a still, small voice, and only the mind that has taken thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ will hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking.

Do you wish to hear from God? Put away any thoughts, imaginations, or false 'arguments' from your mind, and the Lord will have a place to speak.

Quit The Arguments

"We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.

We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.."

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT)

I don't even need to go into this one - as it was my introduction! But it's still important to note that when we create false arguments with people, we are forming thunderstorms in our minds and hearts.

Next time you create a false argument in your head, I want you to note how you treat your children, husband, coworkers, or anyone else around you afterwards. Has your anger arisen? Is your temper quick? Is your tongue untamed? Because this is the result of an untrained mind - it comes out in our emotions, words and actions. That's why we must capture our rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ! Our thoughts must be taught!

I feel a surge of hope when I read this verse in the New Living Translation - because I know that I can be taught anything. I don't always know or have wisdom in all things, but I know I can be taught by Christ to have wisdom. I know I can be taught by Jesus to be obedient. I know that with the proper training, I can be taught!

The Bible says the Holy Spirit is our teacher, He is our wonderful counselor. So if you struggle in this area, let hope arise in your heart that you can be taught something different than what you are thinking today! Rebellious thoughts can be trained to be Christ thoughts. All you need to do is ask the Holy Spirit to help you!

“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues

and before rulers and authorities,

don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,

for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

Luke 12:12 (NLT)

Jesus knew how the disciples' minds worked; He knew they would be creating arguments in their heads when they ended up in tough situations. And this verse was included in the Bible because the Lord knows we are all like this. We like to create 'arguments' in our heads, defending ourselves to our enemy. But you know what this does? It doesn't leave any room for the Holy Spirit to work in and us through us. It leaves no room for the Spirit to teach us what to say.

Walking in the Spirit means quitting arguments in our heads against our enemies, so that He can be free to speak to us and through us at the proper time. It will take discipline to quit these arguments. It requires us being obedient to the words written in the Bible to stop what we have a habit of doing. But! If you want to hear God's voice, the arguments need to end. Negative scenarios prevent God's voice from breaking through the noise. And all this does is create thunderstorms in our minds and hearts that cause us to treat people poorly around us.

Stop Reliving The Past

Is there a situation or scenario from the past that still haunts you today? Is there a memory that you struggle to let go of because of shame and embarrassment?

Well, I have good news for you: The Lord has already forgiven you for it. In His mind, it's dead and done and completely forgiven. But if there's something that you keep reliving in your mind, or maybe it's not frequent but it pops up here and there- then you need to forgive yourself. I wrote an entire article on this topic: because when we know we've committed a wrong or did something embarrassing in our past, it can be hard to let it go. And Satan doesn't want us to let it go. The devil is quite the lawyer, he wants to keep you buried in shame and regret, not remembering that the Lord's Word says, "I remember your sins no more!" Read: Jesus Says You Are Forgiven!

I've had to let go of quite a few past mistakes. Because I've done this in my own heart, I'll share what I did to let it go.

1 - Start by admitting everything you did wrong in this thought/past memory that keeps coming up. Often Satan brings up the past because we haven't truly acknowledged what we did wrong, and he knows that. He knows that if we try to bury the part that we did, that we're still trying to live in a lie. If we want to receive true forgiveness from Christ, then it starts by admitting what we did that needs forgiving!

2 - Once you know and acknowledge your part in this past situation that keeps arising, open your hands and receive the Lord's forgiveness for your part in the wrongdoing. Let the forgiveness of Jesus wash over you. Tell Him, "I receive your complete forgiveness for my past wrongdoing." It seems simple, and it is. But if we want the devil's accusations to stop coming, it starts with us admitting we messed up and receiving God's forgiveness. Satan can't argue with the death of Jesus - and the death of Jesus bought us our complete forgiveness for every mistake we have ever made. But we have to receive it. And we can't receive it if we don't admit what we did that needs forgiveness.

3 - After receiving Jesus' forgiveness, then you need forgive yourself. Look yourself in the mirror, admit what you did and that Jesus forgave you, and then tell yourself, "I forgive you. I forgive you for messing up without thinking about the consequences. I forgive you for acting in error. I forgive you for doing wrongdoing before you knew that it was wrong." Sometimes, we mess up in ignorance, and we know now that it's a sin but back then we didn't. Forgive yourself for ignorant mistakes. Jesus paid for our ignorant mistakes too. (See Leviticus 5 & 6) But sometimes we mess up and we know what we did wrong. Either way, every mistake requires us forgiving ourselves for the wrongs we did.

Once you receive Jesus' forgiveness and forgive yourself, the weight and power of the past sins will lose their power. Satan won't have the same ability to remind you of the mistakes in the same way he used to. Part of the power of the mistakes is us not acknowledging that we did them. When we put words to it, the power of our mistakes will seep away.

4 - Bring any part that others did against you to the Cross. If there's any anger or unforgiveness you have in your heart toward someone else in your past scenarios, forgive them (as often as you need to) and bring them to Jesus. Let Jesus deal with them, and He will. But He can't deal with them fully until you let them go into His hands. Bring them to Jesus, and Jesus will deal justly with all of those involved. If true wrong was committed on the other person's part, the Lord will discipline them.

You need not carry anger, bitterness or unforgiveness in your heart any longer. God will do what He does, which is perfect justice on your behalf. But in the meantime, let it go! Not doing so only harms you.

5 - Move on. When Satan brings it up again (and he'll try), just remember this day. Remember the day in which you received forgiveness and let it go. Once it's done, it's done in the eyes of the Lord. Don't give any room for him to come against you with any kind of sophisticated argument. He's a loser and a liar, just move on.

Once you deal with some of these past situations that keep coming up, you'll notice that your heart is lighter and your thoughts freed up to hear from the Lord. His voice will become clearer. We can't hear Him through the clutter - and past mistakes are just clutter in our minds keeping His voice from coming through. So take out the trash, and suddenly His voice will be easier to hear without the baggage that blocked it out.

End The Noise, And Hear Him Speak

It's in this newly created space of your mind that God can speak. Dealing with the false arguments and narratives, ending evil imaginations, letting go of the past, is what gives you the freedom to hear from Him. And we need that freedom, because all that the past mistakes are is bondage. The evil imaginations are chains that keep us imprisoned. The false arguments and narratives aren't real, but they create real negative emotions that Satan uses to entrench us in spiritual warfare. If he can get our mind actively working against us, then we won't step out as the warriors in Christ we truly are.

Our birthright, bought by the blood of Jesus, is to walk in the Spirit and take an offensive stance against the enemy. But if the enemy can keep us in chains and bondage in our minds through his tactics, then we'll never hear what the Lord wants to do with our lives. We won't hear Him speaking truth to us. We can't when we're bogged down by lies and baggage.

Deal with the past. End the false imaginations and scenarios, and go spend time in God's Word. Take those thoughts of yours captive to Christ. Ask Him to teach you about His ways, His plans, and He will. Ask Him to make His voice clear to you. End the noise and hear Him speak.

And don't be discouraged if it takes time. Depending on how long you've been letting your thoughts have their way in your mind without reigning them in, likely depends on what kind of time it will take to capture them. Ask Jesus to redeem the lost time, and to speed up the process.

And don't stop just because it takes a few weeks, or a few months, or perhaps years. It's so worth the time it takes to have that wonderful, amazing ability to hear Him speak. The beauty of His voice and Him speaking to you will totally, and 100% outweigh the pain of being retrained for Him. I promise you. He has retrained me, and now I hear Him clearly and often. And wow, wow. I have never once thought since I've arrived to this place, "I wish the struggles had never happened." No. Now with confidence I can look back and say, "Thank you Jesus for sticking it out with me. Thank you for teaching me Your ways. For now I hear you clearly, and I so so love Your Voice above all else."

With joy,

Jessica

Touring The Colorful Cartagena, Colombia

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 01:48:05 GMT

There's So Much To See & Do In Cartagena!

When my brother told me he was going to propose to his girlfriend, I began to dream of the future Colombian wedding they had talked about. My brother's girlfriend (now wife!) is from Colombia, and I secretly hoped they would throw an amazing Colombian wedding. In September of 2023, that dream came true!

My husband and I booked tickets and a week-long stay in Cartagena to celebrate the wedding festivities - and we were not disappointed. The city is a colorful display of Colombian culture. The food was fabulous. And my sister-in-law's family was gracious and kind the entire time.

The only drawback was the heat*, and I say that with an asterisk because not everyone feels the same way about hot temps and high humidity! Me being that person lol. However, if humidity is something that gets to you and changes your mood entirely, then the heat of Cartagena might drive you mad. My children turned into little puddles during our trip, and my husband wasn't the biggest fan either. However, I thrived. Everyone is different!

After we returned from our trip, we chatted with several people about Cartagena and they said it was the most humid city they had ever visited. I believe it. Most days the temps were in the 100's and the humidity was at 90-95% without rain. But the beauty of the culture more than made up for it.

Where To Stay

We flew into Rafael Núñez International Airport after a quick layover in Panama City, Panama. We arrived late, nearly midnight, and took a taxi straight to our condo.

Something fun to note, when we flew in (and out) we walked off the plane onto the tarmac and then into the airport. Our kids loved that part of the trip. Walking right next to the airplanes was a highlight for them.

1 - Morros City (and other hotels near Bocagrande Beach)

We stayed in Morros City , a condominium located right on Bocagrande Beach, one of the best beach areas in Cartagena. It's also right next to great shopping and amazing restaurants and cafes. I actually can't recommend this place enough. They have incredibly tight security, which is a plus if you're traveling with small children. The condo is right in the heart of the city, and only a quick taxi-ride from The Walled City. Our place was barely over $100/night on Airbnb - we stayed 7 nights for just over $800!

Search on Airbnb's website for "Morros City, Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia" to find a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom condo for your Cartagena trip!

But if you're looking for a hotel, Madisson Boutique Hotel , Hotel Capilla del Mar , Hotel Cartagena Plaza , Hotel Cartagena Dubai , and Decameron Cartagena are all along the same waterfront beach as Morros City. A little further down is ESTELAR Cartagena de Indias Hotel & Centro de Convenciones - which is a beautiful 4-star hotel with a fabulous pool.

2 - Staying Inside The Walled City

I outlined our visit to The Walled City below, and if you're looking to stay inside the historic walls here are a few great options!

Charleston Santa Teresa Cartagena is a stunning 4-star hotel decorated in a Colonial style with a beautiful republican patio restaurant. There's a spa and wellness center within the hotel, and a rooftop pool.

If you're looking for a 5-star hotel then look no further than the Sophia Hotel , a boutique hotel with luxury accommodations. There's a rooftop lounge and it's located in the historical center of The Walled City.

Alfiz Hotel , Hotel Boutique las Carretas , Hotel Quadrifolio , Hotel Boutique Bóvedas de Santa Clara by Accor and Tcherassi Hotel + Spa all have wonderful rooms and stunning architecture. If we were to return to Cartagena in the future, I think we would choose to stay inside The Walled City.

While I loved being where we were, right on the beach, it would be cool to stay in a hotel in the heart of Cartagena's bustling cultural center!

Staying inside the walls you are close to the best bars and restaurants - and within walking distance of everything you could want to do or see. But if you're looking for a true beach vacation, then stick to my recommendations in #1!

What To See When You Visit

1 - The Walled City

Cartagena is a former Spanish colony and major port city for Colombia. In the Colonial Era, Cartagena was a key port for the export of Bolivian silver to Spain, and because of this was a target for pirates.

Construction of the Walled City began in 1614 and wasn't completed until 1796 - taking nearly two centuries to complete. The walls were built in several stages, and the ultimate design was to protect the inhabitants from the constant pirate attacks.

Today, the Walled City is home to flourishing businesses, restaurants and incredible culture. There are several restaurants that sit on the top of the wall, giving their guests an unbelievable view of the setting sun over the Caribbean while they dine.

Emerald museums and jewelry stores with authentic Colombian emeralds are sprinkled within the walls. Artists selling their hand painted canvases, majestic churches and cathedrals, fresh squeezed fruit juices, and the aroma of Colombian coffee wafting from the nearby Starbucks are all part of the experience you will have when you walk through the city.

We spent 2 days exploring the Walled City, and I truly felt as though I had seen everything there was to see by the end of the second day. Walking the city limits isn't very difficult, however it would be pretty tough with a stroller. We didn't bring ours with us when went, and our 3 year-old twins surprised us. They managed to walk several miles for nearly 5 hours. We did take breaks and had lunch, and by the end they were definitely done, but they did it! We planned to spend 3-4 hours, but they just kept going! They were as in awe of the colors as we were, and the ice cream and shopping for fun toys might have contributed to the energy bursts.

We stopped in the Caribe Emerald Museum and Factory and had an excellent tour of the facility. We learned where the emeralds are mined, the cut, clarity and color of the emeralds, and how to spot a good gem. Learning the history was fascinating, and we enjoyed our tour. I highly recommend seeing this place if you're in the Walled City!

We took a self-guided tour of the Gold Museum (right next door to the Caribe Emerald Museum). The museum is filled with gold artifacts and pottery of the Zenu people who once inhabited the land. Many items are intricately made and quite old. It's a fascinating tour and worth stopping in to see everything! Not to mention the building is absolutely adorable, with a stunning courtyard.

Just down the street from the Gold Museum is the Cathedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandría. A traditional mass service was in progress while we walked by and we joined in to listen to the sermon and hear the music for a bit. Personally, I love historic church buildings. I could spend hours in them admiring the architecture, windows, and how the sound carries throughout the entire space. Across the street from the cathedral there is an entire streetside filled with artwork from local artists. We walked over and bought a piece to hang in our home.

Directly in-between the Cathedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandría and the Gold Museum is the Plaza de la Proclamación. There were naval officers in the Plaza square when we walked through with our family, and pigeons. So many pigeons. I'm not sure who was more terrorized, our kids from the pigeons or the birds from our kids.

Another church we visited is Santuario de San Pedro Claver which was built in the 16th century and has a museum attached to it. We took photos at Baluarte de San Ignacio, which has the original cannon's pointed out toward the water. A pirate ship sits in the harbor with the cannon's staring directly at it. (The pirate ship is available for private tours or regular boat cruises! We enjoyed a cruise toward the end of our trip.)

My family enjoyed dinner one evening on the wall at El Baluarte San Francisco Javier and it was fantastic. The food was great, the ambiance couldn't have been better. Watching the sun set while we ate, magical.

And no trip to the Wall is complete without taking a picture of the Monumento Torre del Reloj, the clock tower. It's easy to spot, located at Calle 24 and Avenida Venezuela. Just outside the Walled City across the street from the clock tower is a park named Parque Del Centenario. Inside the clock tower bridge is a large courtyard with vendors selling jewelry, clothing, gifts and souvenirs, fruit and other food. Both places are worth spending time at!

2 - The Food

My husband reviewed restaurants and food choices before we even booked our flights. He couldn't wait to eat the local fare.

I prefer to order seafood when we're near the ocean, because I love fish. Cartagena has, hands down, the best fish I've had, ever. Ever!

If you love seafood, eat the fish. My sister-in-law suggested I try the Mojarra, which ended up being my favorite dish. Mojarra is a light fish, full of flavor. The second night in town I ordered it, and then ordered it 2 more times and had it at the wedding. I tried the salmon, (had to!) and it was good too, but not quite as well prepared as the Mojarra. I tried the shrimp, amazing; and mussels, also good. But the Mojarra was *chef's kiss* delicious.

I mentioned we had dinner at El Baluarte San Francisco Javier and watched the sunset. We had lunch one day at the Collage Charladero Restaurante and the server was so sweet to our kids. The placemats at the Collage are chalkboards, and our kids had a fun lunch drawing with chalk and we relaxed for a few minutes out of the heat.

Several times we had breakfast at Ely Cafe , which is a few blocks from where we stayed. Their latte's are fantastic and their juices are fresh squeezed. We ordered Evie a croissant the first morning we were in town and she looked at us like she had never experienced breakfast before that day.

Skylar and Erik split the pancakes and ate every bite and wanted more, and I ordered the granola bowl because I couldn't wait to have fresh fruit. Every time Mikael and I travel somewhere tropical I have to eat their fresh fruit - there's nothing like having mangos and papaya and pineapple picked straight off the vine and served up fresh!

A few honorable mentions, we had breakfast at The Great Pan de Bono, dinner at San Martin Restaurante Bar (they even put a picture of our group on their google page!), and stopped for coffee a few times at Juan Valdez Café La Mansión which is a neat location with a water fountain out front.

Our final evening in town we dined at Restaurante Candé which was incredible. I had the fish, again. The kids ate chicken strips, which are tastier than any chicken strip or nugget you can find in United States. My brother and his wife made the reservations and we had a private room which was nice. The restaurant is large. The first floor has many dining areas with plants everywhere to create privacy for diners. Restaurante Candé had live music playing, the kids loved it! Upstairs they have several private dining rooms and it's much quieter.

Near the famous Clock Tower in the Walled City is The Clock Pub Cartagena . We had a drink here one afternoon to break up the walk for our kids.

I know I'm missing places we dined at in town, but the ones I mentioned are all worth experiencing. If you can, don't miss El Baluarte San Francisco Javier or Restaurante Candé . Both are fantastic.

3 - The Neighborhood Of Getsemani

My brother and his fiancé set us up with a driver during our stay in Cartagena. His recommendation was to explore Getsemani and the surrounding neighborhood. We spent a morning there, walking up and down the colorful streets and shopping.

Our driver was right, it was probably our favorite part of all of Cartagena. He said many people miss it and opt for the Walled City, which isn't far from Getsemani . In fact, we were able to walk from Getsemani to the Walled City fairly easily. If you have time, don't miss this one!

Our favorite street was umbrella street, Calle de Las Sombrillas. Umbrella's lined the 'ceiling' of the entire street. We turned the corner and walked down another street filled with flags, and yet another filled with lights and hanging plants.

**To get to the Umbrella Street, search Calle de Las Sombrillas Cartagena and the exact street in Getsemani will pop up on Google maps. Then simply enjoy the surrounding streets as well!

Several of the streets had incredible murals that made for great pictures. Paintings of angel wings, butterfly wings, and similar artwork filled the walls of the streets. Along Carrera 10b is a "I *heart* Getsemani" mural by Artes Palencia on the wall near Calle de Las Sombrillas. Walk down Carrera 10b and you'll run straight into it, just a few blocks down from Plaza de la Trinidad.

Before leaving Getsemani, take a minute to stop at Plaza de la Trinidad, a small urban square surrounded by colorful buildings and marked with a beautiful church called Iglesia de la Trinidad. Iglesia de la Trinidad was completed in 1643 and was originally built because the bishop of Cartagena requested it from the Spanish monarchy. The bishop during this time argued that the neighborhood of Getsemani had a strong population of people that lived too far from the Catholic church inside the Walled City. The king of Spain granted permission for the church to be built after requesting a censes to be completed in 1642. The result of the censes and the distance of Getsemani from the Catholic church in the Walled City was enough to move the king to give permission for the church to built, and the Church of the Holy Trinity still stands today.

The day we went to Getsemani, we left early in the morning and spent a few hours in the neighborhood. Our goal was to avoid the heat of the day, but it was already over 100° by the time we arrived (9am!). The kids began to wilt and needed a break, so we stopped to get ice cream at Gelateria Ceiba and sat in the air conditioned cafe. Mikael and I ordered iced coffees and we took a minute to let our body temperature return to normal.

After getting ice cream, we walked down several more streets and shopped local artwork. We found an artist we liked and he brought us into his home and showed us painting after painting of his art. He took us into his art studio and showed us where he paints - that was probably the highlight of the day. Our kids had a chance to meet a local artist and see where he creates his art, and I loved having him show us unique pieces and allowing us time to pick something out.

When you're buying a painting on the street it's easy to feel rushed to make a decision. It was nice having time to think through what I wanted and where I would put it.

4 - Parque Del Centenario

After exploring Getsemani, we walked over to Parque Del Centenario, or Centennial Park. Centennial Park is decently sized, filled with historic statues, fruit carts, walking trails and stunning foliage. And just in case you might need it, there is a bathroom located in the park grounds.

The park also contains sloths (which we saw high up in the trees!), parrots, monkeys and iguanas. We didn't end up seeing the other animals, but capturing the kids' enthusiasm when they saw the sloth was fun.

We walked down sidewalks, stopped at the bathrooms, and enjoyed the statues. When our kids showed interest in climbing them was about the time we decided to head out... There's no need to get kicked out.

5 - The Beaches

There are a few famous beaches to enjoy in Cartagena.

Bocagrande Beach sits on the outside edge of the peninsula toward the Caribbean. This side of peninsula has beaches up and down the entire length of it. Near our condo was Playas del capilla del mar, Playa De Bocagrande, Playa Hollywood, Playa Las Velas, and there is also a public beach on this side as well (a quick google search will give you the exact location of these beaches!)

We visited Bocagrande and walked along several others. Morros City has its own private beach.

One of the best beaches in Cartagena is Playa Castillo Grande, located near the end of the peninsula. On the other side of Cartagena, past the Walled City near the airport, is Playa Marbella. It's on this beach that you will find Letras de Cartagena.

The Rosario Islands near Cartagena boasts turquoise waters and white sand. We considered taking a ferry to one of the islands for the day and then decided against it. Between the heat and the ages of our kids, we weren't sure how long they would last.

6 - Local Forts & Castles

This first one feels a little bit like cheating - because it's nearly impossible to see it without an invitation. The Fuerte Santa Cruz de Castillogrande sits on the very edge of the Cartagena peninsula inside the heavily guarded Club Naval. Club Naval is Cartagena's Naval Club, and most people don't have access to the fortress ruins without knowing someone in the Colombian navy. It just so happens that my brother's fiancé has a family member in the navy, and they used Club Naval as their wedding location.

Known mainly as Fort Castillogrande, it was ordered to be constructed by royal decree in 1608 - and built by Cristóbal de Roda and Francisco de Murga between 1626 and 1636. It was considered an integral key to the defense of the port, but in 1697 it was attacked by the French and destroyed. Part of it was rebuilt in the 1700 and 1800's. Now it's a private location for the Officers’ Club of the National Navy.

If you're missing out on seeing cool forts, head across town to San Felipe de Barajas Fort located in the heart of Cartagena. This castle was built in 1536 and is located on top of the Hill of San Lázaro, which is a perfect place for a fort. From here any enemy approaching by sea or land would be spotted.

On the Isla de Tierra Bomba sits another fort, Fuerte de San Fernando de Bocachica. The Spanish built this fort in the 17th century to defend Colombia from incoming attacks, and it suffered heavy damage in the 18th century. This fort requires a short boat ride in order to see it.

7 - Enjoy A Boat Cruise

There are several cruises in Cartagena that will allow you to experience the surrounding areas.

One of the main cruise options is to sail to the Rosario Islands and spend the day. There are many options to choose from. Whether you are searching for an all-inclusive experience for the day, or simply wanting a ferry to bring you to the islands, Get Your Guide has it all. Descriptions of each one, how much they cost, and the time commitment is on the website.

I said we experienced a private boat tour of Cartagena's waters aboard a pirate ship. There are a few options to consider! Taken straight from the website, " La Fantastica Cartagena is the only replica pirate ship that has daily boat tours in Cartagena. We have day trips, sunset cruises, private parties, and after dark boat tours to fit every itinerary."

We enjoyed a pirate ship tour on the Galeon Phantom , which is a sailboat in pirate ship style. This was an unforgettable night. It rained the evening of our private cruise, but we didn't let that stop us from hanging out on deck and watching the city lights go by.

There is a covered dining area and private bar which we took advantage of when it down-poured. Oh, and the dress code? All white.

Have you been to Colombia? Or another country in South America? Drop a comment and let me know your favorite destination and what you loved about it! We're always scoping out new places to visit and things to see with our family.

Happy traveling!

Jessica

Do Not Lose Heart Faithful Servant

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 20:39:49 GMT

"Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will

reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

This verse is one that the Lord has used to minister to me personally over the last few years. Today however, the Holy Spirit arrested my attention on one particular word within the text: "If we do not give up." I had read these words so many times - and yet I had never looked into the meaning of the final words of this verse. Different versions of the verse write, "we will reap if we do not lose heart" and, "we will reap, if we do not become weary." The Amplified Bible writes, "for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in."

The word for 'proper time' is kairos. Karios means opportune or seasonable time, the right time. Our harvest is scheduled for the exact time in which the Lord has ordained it to happen. There is a perfect, opportune moment for your promise to come. That time is up to the Lord. He ordains the harvest.

To be perfectly honest with you dear reader, this verse hits extremely close to home for me. Not only because I have personally seen and been through the trials of not giving up; but because I have seen what happens when someone loses the battle. I have seen what happens when someone grows too weary and gives up before reaching the promised land. You may also have a friend or family member that has given up too early and never realized the fullness of reaping the harvest.

In the wilderness, the Israelites hardened their hearts and turned themselves against believing that the Lord God wanted good things for them. The Lord brought them up out of Egypt, showed them wonderful signs and miracles in the wilderness, and just as they were on the edge of the promised land they gave in to fear instead of taking hold of courage and believing in faith that God would do as He said He would. The author of Hebrews has some harsh words for these men and women who refused to believe. Hebrews calls them disobedient, deceived by sin, even though they "saw My works for forty years." (Hebrews 3:9)

Not believing that the Lord will do as He promised is disobedient to Him who gave the promise, and it's choosing to be deceived by sin instead of taking hold of faith and trusting in the Lord.

Someone close to me grew weary in doing good. I have seen the steady decline in this person's health, emotions, mental state, and overall well-being as a result of choosing to grow weary. In the end, their trust in fear rather than faith in God's Word caused them to give up on a specific promise God gave them for their future. The fate of those who choose not to believe is dying in the wilderness, and never reaching the Promised Land.

Galatians 6:9 sits in my current reading page in my Bible, and every morning I open up the Word and read this promise again, "Keep me from growing weary Lord. Guard my steps as today I choose to do good, for at the proper time (karios) I know I will reap a harvest if I do not give in."

Today as I was reading these words the Holy Spirit asked me, "What does 'do not give up' mean?" I immediately went to look it up, and my heart quickened within me when I realized what it said. The Greek word for 'do not give up' or 'do not lose heart' is translated specifically as "if we faint not." This word for faint is ekluō, which means to relax.

Suddenly, as I read these words I felt the Sword of the Spirit piercing through me into the very depths, convicting me of every time I have relaxed, becoming lazy while I wait on the promises to be fulfilled. I was reminded of the days in which I have woken up and declared to the Lord, "today, I can't. Today I don't have the energy." God isn't just saying "don't lose heart" when life gets tough. He's saying "do not relax in contending for the promise."

He's saying, "Do not take time to believe in the fear of your heart, instead choose the faith of My word. Do not take time to let go of the promise because your heart hurts from the waiting. Do not relax your grip on the promise you are praying for!"

Ekluō also means to loose, unloose, to set free. To have one' s strength relaxed, to be enfeebled through exhaustion, to grow weak, grow weary, be tired out. There are going to be very tough days, weeks and months as we're contending for our Promised Land - but Paul is saying "Do NOT grow weary, do NOT be lazy!" Do not loosen your grip on the promise!

This will require real work and effort to stay in belief, to stay fastened to the Word of God. It will require your time and energy. In order to not become weary, it means there will be months and even years of filling your mind and heart with sermons as you struggle through the fear of unbelief, and grab fast to the faith of God's promises. Do not lose heart though. Instead, take up the mantle of responsibility and dive into God's Word while you wait.

Some Days, All You Have Are Tears

And that's ok! On the days in which I told the Lord, "I can't and I won't" were the days in which my battles increased. But on the days in which I arose from my bed and cried to the Lord, "my heart hurts so much!" He battled every battle for me as I wept at His feet. On the hard days, just weep - He will take care of everything else.

"My tears have been my food day and night,

While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Psalm 42:3

There will be days in which your only nourishment and food will be tears. On those days, come to the throne with a heart of sadness and just weep in His presence. He will show up as your Yeshua Hamashiach - your anointed Savior.

But how many days do you rise like I have and said, "Today my heart hurts too much to believe that You are faithful to deliver as You promised?" And relax in your faith walk on those days? How many days in your waiting period do you allow the weariness to override the Lord's goodness and His Word? On those days the Holy Spirit is saying: do not grow lazy while you wait - even though it hurts.

Embrace The Pain & The Hurt

This past week I went through a particularly hard trial of betrayal. After an extremely tough day, I laid in bed with tears leaking out the corners of my eyes and I said to Jesus, "it hurts, I don't want to be in pain." I was about to shut my heart down from feeling the intensity of the fullness of what was going on when suddenly in my spirit I heard a horn impatiently beep and He said, "You're not getting it. You're staying stuck in the pain when you don't embrace it."

And in the depths of me I turned my heart to Jesus and I said, "I will embrace every pain, every hard time, just as You embraced every whip, every beating, for me."

In that moment, with my eyes closed, the Holy Spirit suddenly flicked on a light behind my eyelids and my eyes were momentarily blinded by the brightness. As if to be sure I had seen it to the fullest, He flicked the light on and off a few times before it went out completely. And then I heard, "Well done."

And I knew I was somehow passing a test that I had been failing for some time. The test of trying to get around painful circumstances for a season, or ignoring the pain for a few days instead of facing it head on right away. In that moment, I knew that the obedient thing to do is to embrace every heartache, every painful experience, as a lover embraces her beloved.

Because that, that is what Jesus has done for us. He embraced every pain, cried every tear that came to Him when His heart broke for His people. He didn't just endure every whip, He accepted it for you and for me. He hugged the pain and allowed the cross to kiss His body, that you and I may have life more abundantly.

Our true freedom from past mistakes and current hurts comes from embracing the pain that resides within those circumstances. The Lord Himself endured all things so that through His death, we might be born again into a new family. But His death didn't just bring about our eternal life, it also paid for us to be healed, to be condemnation and guilt free, to be loved and favored and blessed by Him. His painful death bought our abundant life.

But sometimes that abundance comes through a death in us too. As we wait and experience pain in the waiting, our flesh is dying and our spirit is reviving. This death of the flesh will be painful, and sometimes excruciating - but new life will be born through the ashes of grief.

So today if it hurts, if the waiting is hard and you desire to relax your grip on the promise, don't. Instead, embrace the pain of waiting, embrace the trial and let Jesus come minister to you in your tribulation as you wait for Him to deliver what He said He would.

The only way through every heartache and every grief is to turn toward it and to walk through it. You will find that as you face it and walk into it, that the pain will move quickly through you and soon you will be through the worst of it. Keep walking in it and then you will get through it completely.

"And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]. Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Romans 5:3-5

Rejoice in your sufferings as Paul did, embrace the pain as Jesus did, and one day soon, in your kairos moment, the promise will come.

With joy,

Jessica

Sightseeing in Seattle

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 17:15:41 GMT

My grandparents moved to a suburb of Seattle when my mom was just a teenager, as a result we spent many of our family vacations in the Pacific Northwest. There are so many wonderful places to see in this area!

Mikael and I decided to bring our kids to experience the places I enjoyed as a child and young adult - and our family had a fabulous time. We rented an Airbnb for a week in Gold Bar, WA and spent time hiking, sightseeing and visiting with extended family members. If you're headed to the PNW, check out some of these travel destinations for your next vacation.

Mount Rainier

Every time we visited Seattle when I was growing up we hiked Mount Rainier. I can't imagine a trip to Seattle without seeing this majestic mountain! My favorite part of flying into the city is seeing the large mountains rising above the clouds. Whether you look out to the right or left side of the plane window, you can usually spot Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens, and Mount Olympus. There may be others, those are the ones I remember catching a glimpse of whenever we fly into town.

But Mount Rainier sits head and shoulders above the rest. She's an impressive 14,410 feet high, and is the 5th tallest mountain in the lower 48 states.

Growing up we hiked many trails on the Sunrise side of the mountain, but this year I wanted our family to experience the Paradise side. We weren't disappointed! It's a longer drive from Seattle, but in my opinion the views are worth the trek.

We left Gold Bar around 8:30am and reached Mount Rainier just after 1:00pm. Door to door the drive takes just over 3 hours from where we stayed - however we ended up stopping a few times.

When we arrived we parked near Paradise Inn , located in Ashford inside the national park. If you're looking to stay near the mountain and enjoy hiking for more than a quick trip, lodging at the Inn would be the perfect option.

There is plenty of parking near the Inn and visitor center, but I do recommend getting there early to get a good spot or going on a week day to avoid the crowds. We went on a Thursday and had no issues.

Our family met up with my parents and a few extended family members and we all hiked together. We walked to Myrtle Falls Viewpoint , which has a waterfall at the end and wonderful mountain views. It's also paved. We brought our double stroller for the twins knowing they wouldn't be able to handle steep inclines. Myrtle Falls Viewpoint is a quick .7 mile out-and-back paved hike, but it is steep in certain spots so be prepared if you have a stroller or littles with you!

Beyond the falls the pavement turns into a gravel path and strollers would be hard to use on it. I recommend this trail for anyone with little kids and a stroller! For those who are not hindered by strollers- the hike beyond the pavement is along Skyline Trail and is one of the most popular hikes in the park.

To see the falls, there are steps down to a lower bridge that offer views of the falls and Mount Rainier. This part of the trail is not paved and not conducive to strollers. We walked down without the stroller and took a few pictures, enjoyed the view for a minute, before hiking back up to continue our adventure.

During our hike up we took the opportunity to take family pictures of Mount Rainier. Opposite the mountain is the Cascade Mountain Range - and they are stunning as well.

Pro tip - travel in July & August for the best weather!

The best time to visit Seattle to experience beautiful, sunny weather is in July and August. Growing up, we almost always traveled to the PNW during the month of August, and every time we had the best weather. This trip we arrived the last few days of July and stayed through the first week of August. The weather was perfect.

We have experienced rain a few times when we've traveled outside of those months. We came for a wedding one year in September and it rained on us a few times, and the weather was generally gloomier. I highly recommend coming in the heat of summer to experience the best Washington has to offer!

After visiting the falls we headed back down the way we came until we hit a fork in the trail. On the way down, Nisqually Vista Trail splits off to the right from Skyline Trail and Myrtle Falls. We took the right and enjoyed stunning views of the Cascade Mountains and Paradise Inn off in the distance.

This trail is also located at the base of Jackson Visitor Center , you won't have any trouble finding it. A creek runs through the center of it and there are other trails that split off with waterfall views as well. We were able to complete this hike in 30 minutes, while walking slowly and letting the kids play in the creek. Part of our group continued on and hiked unpaved trails that split off from Nisqually Vista Trail . Mikael and I walked with the little kids and stroller group back toward the Visitor Center.

After hiking for a few hours we took our time looking through the visitor center and checked out the gift shop. There are binoculars that give you a closer view of the mountain, as well as some interesting information about Rainier scattered throughout the center.

We walked back to Paradise Inn and put our names in for dinner at the Paradise Inn Dining Room . They don't take reservations, it's on a first-come, first-serve basis. All I will say about dinner is this: if you have a larger group (which we did), your service might be subpar. The food was ok, the service not great, so if you're on a budget and want an enjoyable experience with fantastic food, then skip this one. If you're interested in a unique dining experience on Mount Rainier like we wanted, then you'll likely enjoy yourself regardless of the food or service. The dining room itself is beautiful, and I had a nice time. Not everyone in our group felt the same way though, so keep that in mind if you plan on dining here!

Mount Rainier is by far my favorite travel experience near Seattle. Both the Sunrise and Paradise sides of the mountain provide a wonderful experience. Don't skip this one when you travel to the city!

Take A Ferry Through The Puget Sound, Visit The Islands

There are many options for taking a ferry ride through the Puget Sound and enjoying the Puget Sound Islands .

This trip we took the ferry from Kent in the morning, and docked at Whidbey Island where we spent the entire day sightseeing, hiking and exploring. To take the ferry, drive up (or walk up!) to the ferry dock and get in line for tickets. The ticket agent will direct you to a line where you can drive onto the boat and park your car during the ride.

Our ferry ride to Whidbey Island was a quick 20 minute ride - and we got out of our car for a few minutes and enjoyed the Puget Sound views while we boated across the water.

We docked at the island and drove to Admiralty Head Lighthouse and Fort Casey. We spent a few hours hiking near the lighthouse and walking around the fort. We also walked down to the beach and the kids splashed in the water and experienced the Pacific Ocean for the first time. It's definitely colder than the lovely Caribbean waters they are used to!

After exploring the beach and Fort Casey, we drove to Coupeville, a small town on the other side of the island. Here we ate a late lunch at Front Street Grill , walked around the town and down to the end of the pier. At the end of Coupeville Wharf, a seal swam right under the bridge we were on! The kids loved seeing a seal in the wild and enjoyed looking at all of the starfish in the water.

One thing I would love to come back and see (that we didn't have time for during this trip) is Deception Pass . At some point, we will need to make another trip out to experience the most popular national park in Washington State.

Downtown Seattle

It's not a Seattle trip without seeing Seattle!

What I love about downtown Seattle is that most of the tourist destinations you want to see are within a short car ride or walking distance from each other. It's nice to be able to park somewhere and see everything without driving a long distance in between attractions. That's a huge bonus when you have little children!

Space Needle

I think the most iconic Seattle building is the Space Needle . At the top of the Space Needle is The Loupe, a rotating glass floor that let's you see the city from every angle.

When I was a kid there was a rotating restaurant on the top floor and we had dinner there as a family. They have since done away with the restaurant and now it's a tourist experience, being able to lean out over the glass walls and floor to see the city below and Mount Rainier in the distance.

There are still food and beverage options for those wanting that top floor Space Needle experience. The Loupe Lounge, Atmos Wine Bar and Atmos Café are all wonderful options that will give you city views while you dine and drink.

Seattle Great Wheel

Can't skip out on seeing the Seattle Great Wheel ! We parked downtown and headed for the pier, within seconds all 3 kids began asking to go on the Ferris wheel.

After lunch (and bribing them to eat their food by letting them know our next stop was the Ferris wheel), we bought tickets on the pier and got in line. I would say standing in line for tickets took me maybe 10-15 minutes, and then it was another 15 minutes or so in line for the Ferris wheel before we got on. All in all, we probably waited 30ish minutes to ride it.

We've had a few different Ferris Wheel experiences, and this one is definitely a neat experience. The mountains in the distance and neighboring islands make for spectacular views at the top - and it lasts longer than a few others we've been on. I highly recommend giving it a try if you have kids. Or even if you don't! There's a bar at the entrance, and if you don't have anyone under 21 in your car you're allowed to bring the alcohol on board while you enjoy the ride.

Walk The Piers

There are several Piers located at the waters-edge overlooking the Puget Sound. Each one has unique attractions and restaurants specific to that Pier.

Pier 54 - boasts a hot dog stand, Ivar's Restaurant, Simply Seattle Gift & Souvenirs, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, the museum and souvenir store, and several other restaurants and places to eat.

Pier 55 - has a Starbucks on the water front, and Argosy Cruises is located here as well. We watched several cruises head in and out while we walked along the water front.

Pier 56 - has several restaurants including Elliott's Oyster House, The Wing Dome, The Seattle Shop at 56, and Sailing Seattle.

Pier 57 - also known as Miner's Landing . Pier 57 is where the Seattle Great Wheel is located, as well as an indoor carousal and small amusement park. We had lunch here at The Fisherman's Restaurant Seattle , thought about getting ice cream at Seattle Bay Creamery (and didn't), but we did ride the Great Wheel and enjoyed ourselves.

Piers 59 & 60 - is where you will find The Seattle Aquarium .

Pier 62 - a quiet pier for people wanting to rest or enjoy the views.

Pier 66 - boasts Anthony's Pier 66 & Bell Street Diner , as well as Bell Harbor International Conference Center . Just beyond Pier 66 is the Edgewater Hotel , which we debated on staying at but in the end, decided something quieter would be better for the kids.

Visit Pike Place Market

It's not a Seattle trip without stopping by Pike Place Market!

The first time I saw this market was when I was maybe 13 or 14 years old. I remember the sounds, the smell of the fish, and just how incredible the entire place felt to me. Coming back to it, I can't believe how much of my memory is the exact same!

There are 6 floors of shops, restaurants, fresh fish, boutique clothing and accessories, and so much more. The highlight during our visit was watching the fish throwing. The top floor has fresh caught fish and seafood - and whenever an order is up, the employees throw the fish back and forth through the market! The kids loved it.

Pro tip - to catch the fish throwing it's best to visit on a weekend! During the week, there's less people and less likely you'll see the fun.

Stay At One Of The Many Cool Hotels

When researching a hotel we found so many interesting and unique places to stay. I mentioned the Edgewater Hotel , that would have been an amazing place to stay. It's right on the water and its unique spaces offer incredible views of the harbor, Mount Rainier and the city.

Hotel Max is a boutique hotel designed for the creative spirit. If you love art, photography or music, this is the place to stay! Honorable mentions of places we thought about, but didn't book included: Hotel Sorrento , Seattle Pioneer Square , Mayflower Park , Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle , Hotel Theodore , The Maxwell Hotel (another strong front runner that we almost booked!), The Inn At The Market , and the Graduate Seattle .

In the end, we stayed at MarQueen Hotel , a boutique hotel with an old-world feel. The MarQueen has a prohibition style speakeasy, spacious apartment-style rooms, and charming furnishings.

Our room had 2 king beds, a front sitting space, and a separate kitchen and dining area. We loved how much space we had and that both beds were kings. Mikael and I slept very comfortably, and our kids snuggled together in the other bed all night. I was shocked that they all slept well together!

Attached to the hotel is Caffe Ladro . In the morning we grabbed a few breakfast muffins and latte's and enjoyed them in our room.

If you stay in downtown Seattle, I hope you get the chance to enjoy one of the many unique hotels! It's an unforgettable experience.

Visit Idyllic Leavenworth

Leavenworth is one of those American cities that's famous for looking exactly like a European city. It's a Bavarian village themed city of around 2,400 residents, and everything architecturally looks exactly like it was plucked from Germany and placed in the Cascade Mountains.

Leavenworth is a 2-hour, 14-minute drive from downtown Seattle (depending on traffic, and just over 3 hours from Spokane, WA. It will take your breath away!

We left in the morning on a Friday to see this little town, and we weren't disappointed.

We walked around the town, walked down by the river (even dipped our toes in the water!), souvenir shopped, had lunch at Ludwig's , and then ice cream at Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co. Most of our day was spent walking in and out of shops and enjoying the incredible town nestled within the mountains. Leavenworth has a ski hill , a waterfront park , a Nutcracker museum , and is famous for its Christmas decorations and celebrations.

It's definitely worth the drive if you're up for being in the car for a few hours.

Pro tip - drive to Leavenworth mid-week to skip out on the traffic. Leavenworth is located on US Route 2, and during the weekends it gets very backed up!

Hike Local Water Falls

Mount Rainier National Park has over 150 waterfalls that can be seen from the road or on hikes. Myrtle Falls is just one of the many places to see beautiful falls on the mountain! A list of waterfalls can be found here , and I highly recommend finding which one(s) you want to see while you're visiting the state.

Whenever we come into town, we inevitably end up hiking Snoqualmie Falls. Snoqualmie Falls is a 268-foot waterfall and they are a short drive from my grandparents home, which is why it's a favorite of ours! These falls are located at the end of a moderate hike, and it's a 1.4 out-and-back hike from the parking lot. It's a beautiful hike if you're looking to see waterfalls located within the Cascade Mountain range.

Check Out The Many Mountains!

There are so many mountains to experience other than Mount Rainier within the state of Washington. If you have time, check out some of these other ones!

Mount Baker

Mount Baker is a beautiful mountain, and visible from the Seattle area. Baker is a 10,781 ft active stratovolcano in the North Cascades of Washington. It's a 2 1/2 hour drive from Seattle, and there's hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, camping, kayaking and so much more.

Mount Baker is one of the snowier mountains in the state. Even in the summer there's snow on every side! However, it can't beat out Mount Rainier for actual snowfall every year. Paradise near Mount Rainier's base is known for the crazy amounts of snow it gets every year. The record amount of snow Paradise has seen is 1,122 inches!

Mount Saint Helens

My parents remember the day Mount Saint Helens blew her top. They talked about how stately she looked before her eruption, and how much she changed after.

I was 14 when I saw Mount Saint Helens for the first time. I only know her as a brown, muddy mountain. She still looks like she just spewed out mud yesterday. Before the eruption, Mount Saint Helens sat at 9,677 feet; after the eruption she shrank to 8,307 feet. Near the mountain is an observation area that gives you a great view of the lava dome and the side that collapsed during the eruption. This outdoor deck is probably one of the best places to see the mountain-side, unless you plan on hiking.

There's quite a few hiking trails that loop around the mountain and give you great pictures from every angle. The wildflowers are stunning in the spring and early summer, and there's waterfalls along some of the trails.

Mount Saint Helens is a 2 hour, 40 minute drive from Seattle, and definitely a neat volcano to see!

Mount Adams

Mount Adams is in the second biggest mountain in the state, second only to Mount Rainier. At 12,281 feet she's a tall one! Adams is around 3 1/2 hours away from Seattle give or take, depending on which side of the mountain you want to hike. When you're flying in she's the mountain you see just past the very large Mount Rainier.

Near Mount Adams you can berry pick, hike, camp, mountain bike or backpack. If you head just a little bit further south you'll hit the Columbia River Gorge near the Oregon/Washington boarder. The gorge is a deep canyon overlooking the Columbia River, and has incredible views and hikes for all.

Honestly, it doesn't matter which direction you head from the airport, Washington won't disappoint you. The mountains are stunning, the city is beautiful, the Puget Sound with distant islands and mountain peaks rising from the islands are fabulous. Beautiful scenery like this is my kind of eye candy. If you go, I hope you have the best time.

It's the perfect place for a family vacation- or to enjoy by yourself. Drop me a comment if you've been or end up visiting!

Travel on my friends!

Jessica

Pack Your Suitcase!

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 22:22:07 GMT

Pack Your Suitcase! Get Ready To Go!

Last night I had a dream which I believe speaks to where some of us are today.

In my dream I was in my room, sitting on the floor. In front of me was a suitcase, and I had piles of clothing and toiletries all around me. I was taking my time deciding what to bring with me, and not paying any attention to the actual time. Suddenly my husband came in and said, "I ordered the Uber! We have to be ready in 16 minutes!"

I looked down at my suitcase and I thought, "Oh no! I don't have enough time to pack everything that I need to bring!" In my dream I began to frantically throw everything in and put together my toiletries as quickly as I possibly could. There was such a sense of urgency in my Spirit that if I didn't hurry, I wouldn't be ready to get in the car to go where we needed to go. I had a very real sense that I should have prepared earlier, and I should have been ready at the door with my things before we called for an Uber to pick us up.

I believe that for some of us, we have been in a place of waiting on the Lord for a very long time for dreams and visions to come to pass. We have sat at His feet for many hours, and we've gotten cozy there. Maybe even a little apathetic. We have grown comfortable taking our time sitting, taking our time packing, and we won't be quite ready when He says, "Time to go! Let's move! Grab your things!"

What has the Lord given you to steward? What's His dream that He's placed on your heart? What has He asked you to do specifically? To prepare for a baby? To prepare for ministry or a new job? To prepare for your future spouse? To prepare for a physical move to a new state or country? To write a book?

If you were really honest, have you done all the things that He has asked? Have you made preparations and fulfilled everything He asked you to? If not, today is the day to begin packing with urgency!

If there is something the Lord has called you to do, begin preparing with renewed vigor and strength. He is coming very soon to tell you, "The car is coming! It's time to go!" We will want to be waiting at the door, prepared and ready with our suitcase in hand to go where He is asking us to go. Get ready. Be prepared. Our husband the Lord Jesus is on His way to hand out the next assignment and send us on our journey. Be ready at the door, for soon He comes.

Prayer

Lord, while I wait I pray that you would reveal to me what I need to be doing.

Show me if there is something I need to do now

to prepare for what You will have me do next.

Reveal to me what steps I need to take.

Prepare my heart and mind for what's ahead,

and show me what needs to be left behind.

Give me instructions in how to be ready.

I am Yours, I am ready to do Your will.

I will go where You go, and move when You move.

Amen

With joy, Jessica

Are You Willing?

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 14:28:16 GMT

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,

And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

Recently I had a vision during a moment of surrender. For many years I have loved Isaiah's words to the Lord, "Here I am! Send me!" I love that Isaiah offered Himself to the Lord as a servant, and the Lord took him up on that offer. Isaiah is a reminder to us all, that whomever desires to come before the Lord and says, "Here I am Lord! Use me! Send me!" That the Lord will use that person to be His servant for the kingdom.

When we come to the Lord and say, "I am yours, use me," we are surrendering our hearts and lives to be used as God wants to. Each time we surrender, we put more of our faith and trust in His hands.

A few weeks ago I surrendered a part of me that I didn't realize needed surrendering. I gave up my security and safety. I let Him know I was willing, no matter what that meant, or what it cost me.

Late One Evening...

I was about to fall asleep, drifting into the deep. As I was waiting for sleep to come, I prayed and talked with the Lord. The more I talked the more I realized that a small part of me was still apprehensive about the future, still a little bit afraid to completely let go and let God.

As I was realizing this, that even though I had jumped into the deep end many, many times, still a small part of me clung to the life-preserver. In that moment I looked to Jesus and said in my heart, "That's it. I'm done playing it safe. I'm done clinging to lifeboats and life-preservers. I'm all in for You. No matter what that means, no matter where this life goes. It's You and me forever, Yeshua. Wherever You go, I will follow. Whatever You have for me, I receive. No matter how hard the road, or how long the journey, I will obediently go where You are."

The minute I said that I went into a vision. In my mind's eye I saw myself floating along in the most serene river, flowing wherever the Spirit willed. I noticed that at first I was floating in a boat on the river, but as I spoke of fully letting go, fully saying to Jesus, "Whatever You will, no matter the cost," that the boat began to sink below the surface.

I started to panic, and I said to the Lord, "how will I float?" And the voice of Jesus nearby responded and said, "No one sinks when they are with Me. Keep your eyes on Me. Nothing can sink you when you choose Me."

I surrendered to the feeling of letting go of the security of the boat, and it disappeared below the surface. For some time I just floated on the river, watching the beautiful scenery go by. There were towering mountains capped with white snow in the distance. The river flowed through fields of wildflowers, with swaying willows and trees along the banks. Everything was at such a place of peace. I noticed that my body was at complete peace, as if every fiber of my being was humming with rest. In fact, I noticed that never before had my body felt like this: full of joy, full of peace, full of complete rest.

I drifted off to sleep while in this vision of floating down the river with the Holy Spirit, completely at rest, at peace.

Peace - Shalom

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, and it derives from the verb (shalem)- to make whole or complete.

Abarim Publications says it this way:

שלם

The verb שלם (shalem) means to be or make whole or complete, and is also used to describe a righteous recompense or proper restitution (whether positive or not). The familiar noun שלום (shalom) means wholeness, completeness or peace.

Other derivatives are: noun שלם (shelem), peace offering; verb שלם (shalam), to be in a covenant of peace; adjective שלם (shalem), perfect, whole, complete, safe.

Solomon's name derives from the word shalom, and it makes sense that the second wisest man to ever live (the first being Jesus), would have a name deriving from this Hebrew word for completeness.

When I truly relinquished every part of me that was somehow trying to hold on to control, when I let Jesus have my life preserver in the deep end saying I would go anywhere He asked and do anything He required even if it scared me, it was then that I felt this peace. When I offered myself to Him I received this covenant of peace from Him.

It doesn't make earthly sense. It doesn't make sense to give up complete control of our lives, to say yes to whatever God asks of us. It seems dangerous and unsafe. And yet, it was then that I felt the most safe and complete than I ever have in my entire life. It was then that the Lord gave me a vision of my life floating along this heavenly river at complete wholeness, complete rest filling every part of me. It was like every cell in my body suddenly came alive.

So Be Afraid! But Jump Anyway

Years ago I heard this story. I honestly can't recall if it was in a sermon or if I read it. Maybe I saw it on Facebook? I really can't remember.

The story goes like this. An older woman is swimming laps in the pool. She's going back and forth, back and forth. After awhile, two young girls appear by the side of the pool near the deep end. The older one, about 8, is trying to convince the younger one, about 5 or 6, to jump in with her.

As this older woman swims by she hears the older one saying, "come on! It's so much fun! It's not scary at all, it's the best feeling in the world! And then we'll swim and play and splash. It's not scary!"

A few minutes go by, and the older girl is still trying to convince the younger one to jump. Finally, the woman stops swimming her laps and she looks up at the two of them. "What's the matter?" She asks the girls. The older girl responds, "She won't jump with me! She's too scared."

The older woman looks at the younger girl and says, "What's the problem?" The young girl says, "I'm too scared to jump!" The older woman says, "Do you like to swim?" The young girl nods. The older woman asks, "So what's holding you back?"

The little girl says, "I don't know! I love the water, I'm just afraid to jump." The older woman looks at her and says, "So be afraid! But jump anyway."

That story has stuck with me for many years. Anytime Jesus invites me to take a leap with Him and I'm scared to do it, I almost always hear the Holy Spirit saying, "So be afraid! But jump anyway."

This is my challenge to you. Let go. Let go of whatever you are trying to control. Let go of that situation you are trying so desperately to make happen on your own. Let go of your fear, of your worry. Let go of your life! Come into the presence of Jesus, invite Him into the area of your life that you're trying to control and relinquish your control of it to Him. Let Jesus take it over. Let Jesus have it. Surrender to Him.

For many years I have jumped into the deep end of the pool when God said, "Jump!" But a small part of me was still clinging to the life preserver. Finally, I gave Jesus that little bit of safety.

In the vision the Lord gave me, as I saw the boat sink and drift away I heard myself panicking and saying, "I'm afraid! How will I stay afloat?!" And Jesus said, "Nothing sinks with Me. I walk on water! The waters will never overtake you. Stay with Me. Choose Me, and I will choose you."

Today, Jesus extends the same invitation to you. He invites you to become one of the chosen, to separate away from the many. (Matthew 22:14)

All Christians are called by the Lord. We are all invited to partake of the more He has for us, to be a kingdom partner. His hand is open, and He extends the invitation to anyone willing to step out in faith. But few are willing to let go of the safety of the boat, the safety of the life-preserver. Will you?

For many are called, but few are chosen. Few are willing to say yes to whatever God asks of them, to give God every pain, every heartache, to follow Him into the deep whatever the cost. Few are willing. Are you willing? Will you say, "here I am, send me?"

I don't know what challenges you face, I don't know what sorrow you carry. But Jesus knows. And Jesus cares. And today He's inviting you to let it go, to let Him have it all. I promise you it will end up blessed beyond measure. Your life will end up better than you could have ever planned it! Let go of everything that's holding you back from the fullness of the life God intends for you to have.

The Holy Spirit is inviting you to jump, even if it scares you. Today He says to you, "So be afraid! But jump anyway." You won't regret it.

Complete peace, rest and wholeness awaits you on the other side.

With joy, Jessica

The Vision Of The Throne Room

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 01:17:59 GMT

How The Lord Sees You When You Pray

One morning, during a particularly hard season of our lives, my son woke up early. He was teething at the time, and in pain. I went in to get him and noticed he was still really tired and I thought, "If I bring him to bed with me, I bet he'll fall asleep again."

I brought him to bed and within a few minutes he had completely fallen asleep on me. I started scrolling through my phone and opened up YouTube. The first video that popped up was a sermon, and I clicked on it. I had been listening to the sermon for 15 minutes or so when the pastor shared a story of something that happened with his daughter. She had lost something and they couldn't find it, and the pastor was going to give up on the search when the Lord said to him, "are you willing to let this go?"

In that moment, something that I had been praying about for months bubbled to the surface of my heart and I said to the Lord, "I'm not willing to let this go." And then in my heart I screamed to Jesus, "I won't let this go!"

As I spoke, I was suddenly transported in the Spirit to heaven. In the vision, I was looking at myself through the eyes of someone else, and I could see myself standing before the throne of God.

I was wearing a crown of gold, dressed in silk finery with slippers of silk on my feet. The floor I was standing on was made of pure gold. As I looked at myself, dressed as a princess in the courts of heaven standing before the throne of God, I realized this is how God sees me when I pray. He sees me as His daughter, His princess, His child dressed like royalty.

As I watched myself through the eyes of another, a boldness filled me that I hadn't had before, and I said to the Lord, "Father, I'm not willing to let this go! I'm not willing to give up on this dream You have given me!" As I said those words I was suddenly in my own body, dressed in finery, looking up at the throne.

I knew I had a crown of gold on my head, but I didn't feel the weight of it. I looked down at the slippers on my feet, they fit perfectly. I stood on solid gold, and the steps before me were made of pure gold. I looked up at the throne of gold and it was completely shrouded in white light, yet I could discern through the light that the Father had a shape. My natural eyes couldn't see His figure, but my spiritual senses understood He had a form.

I looked up at the throne and I said to my Father, "Lord, I will not give up this dream You have given me. I will stand and I will fight. If I have to fight for years I will!"

As I spoke, I discerned in the Spirit that the Lord shifted His weight and leaned forward to hear me better. He cared about what I was saying. He desired to hear me. He wanted me to know that He desires and yearns to hear from His children. He wants us to come into His presence! He wants us to pray, to talk to Him. He cares about what we have to say!

I lifted my left hand in the air, and as I did I noticed my arm was covered in gold bracelets of different thicknesses, and there were many of them. My vision ended with me staring at these bracelets, and I knew it was significant but I didn't know why.

And then I was back in my body. The sermon was still playing in my headphones and my son lay on my chest completely asleep.

The Gold Bracelets

I mulled these bracelets from the vision over and over in my mind throughout the entire day. I asked the Lord, "what does this mean? What is the significance of the bracelets?"

As I was in the middle of asking the Father the next morning, a full 24 hours after I received this vision, suddenly God gave me a picture of a tree trunk. He showed me how the tree trunk has rings for each year, each growing season, and each ring shows the type of conditions that happened during that growing season.

As He revealed this picture of a tree trunk and what it means for a tree, the Holy Spirit then explained to my heart, "each bracelet represents hard experiences and challenges in your life. The harder the experience, the thicker the bracelet. When you give your hardships to the Lord, He spins them into fine gold, and they adorn you."

I immediately understood this to mean that every thing we go through has a purpose. Pain has a purpose in the kingdom of heaven. When you experience something extremely challenging, and you invite Jesus into your pain and hardship and walk that journey with Him, He shapes you and molds you and changes you until you are refined like gold. Your character becomes more stately and polished. And you come out of the challenging season with far greater patience and perseverance, strength and determination, beauty and loveliness. You end up walking taller and more assured of who you are, because you are more assured of who Christ is in you. It's a difficult process, with a worthwhile end.

The Lord explained this all to my heart, but what He also wanted me to know is this: He knows everything that we have gone through and our difficulties are not cast aside. He ensures that we are adorned with our hardships, that we are rewarded for walking through painful trials with Him. He doesn't cast aside our tough seasons, instead He gives them places of honor and we wear them as a badge. How beautiful is that? How wonderful is our God?

You Are Royalty

When you pray, this is how the Lord sees you. You are dressed in finery. You are crowned with gold and standing in a throne room. The Lord moves forward to hear you. He desires to commune with you, to be near you, to have you ask Him questions and be with Him. He desires your presence!

Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace

[that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear,

so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace

to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].

Hebrews 4:16

Come with boldness. Come with expectancy. When you mess up, don't cower and fear and hide from the Lord, but instead enter into the throne room with confidence knowing that His grace flows freely for you. There is nothing that can separate you from His amazing love for you - for Jesus has bought you with a price and placed a crown of righteousness on your head. "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8)

If you have given your life to Jesus, and loved His appearing, then you have this crown on your head. The Greek word for appearing is epiphaneia - it's where we get our English word epiphany. It's the idea of suddenly receiving a great revelation or realization. This is the moment when you surrendered your life to Christ, and received Him as your Savior. This is the moment in which you realized your need for Him to save you from yourself. At that moment, you loved Jesus and His appearing in your life, and a crown was laid up for you in heaven. This is the crown of righteousness which Jesus bought with His precious blood, and the Lord will bestow to you on that day.

But today, today when you come to the Lord with your prayers, your tears, your angry screams and every word spoken to Him, you come into the throne room dressed in finery with the softest shoes on your feet, and a gold crown on your head. You come dressed as royalty for you are royalty.

Be bold. Be courageous. Be brave. Pray. Your Father loves to hear your voice.

With joy,

Jessica

Elsa-Themed 5th Birthday Party

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 20:38:54 GMT

This year Skylar realized what birthdays mean and how special they can be. She was so excited to turn 5! Her request for her birthday was that she wanted to dress up as Elsa and be with all of her friends. Oh, and to eat lots of cake and to open many presents.

When I sent out the invitations I wrote to the girls: "dress up as your favorite princess." Many of the moms texted me right away and said their girls were excited that they were invited to a princess-themed birthday party. Skylar wanted to look like a princess on her birthday, and every girl coming was excited to look the part as well.

Balloon Arch

For Skylar's Frozen birthday party, we started out by buying Frozen-themed balloons to make beautiful balloon arches for our entryway. I bought two of these balloon sets on Amazon to complete the look in our front rooms. I also wanted a large balloon arch for parents to take pictures with their kids and to set the backdrop for the special Elsa that was coming to the party.

I used the balloons to decorate the light outside our home for our guests to know they were at the right house - and any extra balloons we had were used as decoration.

Elsa Character From Princess Parties

I searched through a few different Princess Party websites before coming to Princess Parties by Heidi . Their company was close to our home and the reviews spoke for themselves! We hired an Elsa-inspired Disney character for the birthday party.

A day before Skylar's birthday party, Elsa called to wish her a happy birthday and to tell her she was excited to come and to meet Skylar and her friends. Skylar got off the phone and said to me, "I didn't know she was really real!" It made her party extra special having a personal phone call from Elsa beforehand.

Special Book Reading & Craft By Elsa

One of the perks of having a professional party planner like a Disney character come to your home is that they kind of run the show. Elsa read her own story to the girls and was great at engaging them with questions. She also led a crowning ceremony for Skylar.

After the book reading, Elsa brought out a craft for the girls to make their own crowns which they all loved. And each girl had a crown to take home at the end of the party.

Frozen-Inspired Cake & Cupcakes

We ordered a Frozen cake and cupcakes from our local Sam's Club for Skylar's party. The process was easy - and the cake turned out great. During a regular Sam's Club run, I went to the bakery and filled out the form to special order a Frozen cake and cupcakes (there are several different options!), and then put in the date I planned to pick everything up. It was so smooth!

The day before her party I went to Sam's Club, purchased food for the party and picked up the cake. I know many local grocery stores with bakeries and Costco have the same service. I highly recommend doing this for your child's next birthday party!

Princess Themed Decorations & Party Favors

I purchased Princess-themed napkins, plates and cups to go with the overall "dress like your favorite princess" theme of the party. The plates are inscribed with the words, "Make A Wish" and the napkins say, "Once Upon A Time."

For the party favors, I stuck with the Frozen theme and every girl went home with a goodie bag of Anna and Elsa inspired items.

This was a birthday that Skylar will remember forever. She had a wonderful time, and her friends all enjoyed themselves as well. Elsa coming to her party was such a treat, and I know it's going to be hard to top this one!

I hope your little girl has an extra special day too. Happiest of birthdays to her!

With joy,

Jessica

Consume The Food Of Royalty

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 15:17:00 GMT

Last week I was scrolling through Instagram videos and came across a woman who earns a living saving bees. I got sucked into her videos and I watched as she saved bees from trash cans, sewers, old barns. In every random place there were bees, she came in and took them away to a new home.

I probably scrolled several of her videos when I stumbled upon one particular video in which she described how a queen is made. She explained that when an old queen leaves the hive or is about to die, that the worker bees recognize the change in her scent and begin to create a new queen bee for the hive. They do this by choosing 10-20 newly hatched female larvae and begin feeding them a special diet. The worker bees have a milky white substance secreted on the top of their heads called royal jelly, and this exclusive diet turns on the female larvae's reproductive system, turning her into a queen.

When she said that these babies only ingest a special diet of royal jelly, immediately the Holy Spirit spoke to me regarding this food of royals and how it creates a queen.

The Holy Spirit said to me, "All who come to Christ are royalty, joint heirs with Jesus. Those who are aware of My gospel, My righteousness, My gift of grace to you, are the ones who are aware of their position in Christ Jesus. My Word reminds you of who you are, what My blood bought for you. My Word keeps you in the truth. When you know the truth, you will live and act like the prince and princess you are!"

And then the Holy Spirit began to bring to my mind verse after verse about honey. He reminded me that Israel is called the land flowing with milk and honey. There's a specific reason that the Lord chose milk and honey to describe His beautiful land.

The Cow & The Bee

Milk and honey are pictures of abundance, of provision, and of fertility. Both foods represent the idea that Israel is both a nourishing and pleasant land to live in.

What's fascinating about milk has to do with the cows that create it. Cows have 4 stomachs. When a cow eats their food they chew it just enough to swallow it and it goes into the first and second stomachs. She eats until she's completely full, following the same process.

When she's done she rests, and then coughs up bits of food and chews it completely, swallowing again. This food, now called cud, goes into the third and fourth stomachs. In one day a cow will spend 6.5 hours eating all of her food.

So why did the Lord call it the land flowing with milk? Because a cow eats her food just as we read our Bibles. We consume it quickly, not digesting very much. Then when we're resting or going about our day, if we come back to the words we read and begin to meditate on them, we are bringing God's word back up into our mouths. We consume the words again and again, chewing slowly before swallowing. It's during the meditation process that we receive wisdom and revelation!

Sometimes the Lord will drop wisdom into our hearts when we're reading His words the first time, but most often the real revelation comes through meditating on His words, chewing on them all day just as a cow does. When we feed on His word like this, spending hours going over verses in our mind or listening to sermons, our entire being is nourished and comes alive!

And this doesn't have to be done out of a religious spirit. There are days when a verse or passage has me puzzled and I just work it over and over in my head. Through this working out of the Bible in my thoughts He brings revelation light into my mind and heart to understand His words better. Or when I'm cooking or cleaning I'll listen to a sermon, letting the Word wash over me through the words of a preacher. This is meditation!

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Joshua 1:8

Did you notice the result of meditation? "For then you will make your way prosperous." Did you know you can make your way prosperous? That it's something you can do ?? And following that are the words, "Then you will have good success." Success and prosperity comes from meditating on the Word of God!

The word prosperous here is the Hebrew tsâlach, which means to advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable. Tsâlach can also mean to break out or come out mightily. It's the idea of your breakthrough coming by way of meditating on the Bible! Meditation is your way forward through your trials, through your suffering, through your painful circumstances.

If you are praying for a breakthrough or praying for a miracle, find a verse or passage about the miracle you are contending for and begin meditating on it day and night. You will make your way prosperous by doing so.

In fact, the Hebrew word for you will make is the same word, tsâlach. Your prosperity is in what you do. When you make your way about meditating on God's word or listening to sermons, you become prosperous. The only part for you is to eat the verses up, chew on them and rest in them, that is how you make your way! And prosperity will just come.

The Hebrew word for good success is śâkal. This word most often translates as wisdom. The Lord views success as having wisdom. Not just any wisdom, the wisdom only He provides.

By meditating on the Bible you will break through in the areas of your life that need a miracle. The Lord will prosper you when you choose to make your way in believing His words, and He will give you wisdom as you study the Bible. This is your success in life.

Eat Royal Jelly

The baby bees only consume royal jelly when they are transitioning from being a regular worker bee to becoming the queen of the hive. So too do we need to consume the diet of royals if we are to remember what we are: a royal priesthood.

I love the song Back To The Garden by Crowder. The lyrics go like this:

I was born to be royal I was made to be free

But I was torn from the garden When that devil lied to me

.....

I was born to be royal

I was made to be free

Whenever I play this song the Holy Spirit always reminds me, "you are royal and you are free. You are no longer striving to be royal, striving to be free. You already are."

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

1 Peter 2:9

We have to be so careful with what we're consuming, because just as Crowder sings, the devil lies to me. The devil is always lying to us, constantly. He comes in to take away our knowledge that we are royalty.

The minute, the second you surrender your heart to Jesus and receive Him, you are born from death unto life! And this new life, this new way, means that you are now royal! So act like it! Consume the diet of royals!

The devil is going to come in and try to steal this word. He will lie to you all day long about the truth of what Jesus' death did for you. My friend, the blood of Jesus made you a royal priesthood! So take care that you are careful about what you listen to and what you allow into your mind and into your heart. Keep yourself in the Bible- it will remind you all day long that you are royalty.

Get In The Battle - Lead The Charge!

But perhaps you are wondering why you are facing battles if you are royalty? Let me remind you that we are on this earth to change it. We are in this world, but we are not of this world- and this world is going to remind us all the time that don't belong to it. But the other part of being royalty is to lead the battles. A king doesn't hide behind his soldiers- no he goes before them and leads the charge. There will always be an enemy to contend with, because Satan is on this earth to steal, kill and destroy us. But the Lord has given us the ability to overcome him by the blood of the lamb!

I have faced many challenges and many battles ever since I surrendered my life to the Lord. It was like suddenly I had a target on my back. For a long time I acted like a victim in my mind about it- and I spent quite a bit of time complaining to the Lord about facing so many challenges.

And then one day the Lord brought me to David's story and I read it with fresh eyes. As I was reading about the number of battles he faced, the amount of challenges he had on his way to becoming king, the Lord spoke to me and said, "It's a privilege to be chosen for battle. It's a privilege to fight in My war."

I began to see battles differently. I began to see myself as a servant of the Lord. When I pray in the Spirit I'm putting on the full armor of God and fighting. When I'm being obedient to the Lord and what He has asked me to do, I'm changing the landscape of the battlefield and eating into enemy territory.

Last year was a tough year for us. We faced challenges on every side, and it was hard to go on. But I kept getting up and fighting, sometimes only on my knees with my face to the ground. This went on for months and months, and then one day the tide turned and suddenly we were seeing the spoils of war pour forth. You can read about it here: Take God At His Word .

One morning I was basking in the ways the Lord had provided so many good things at the end of our hard year and He said to me, "There are so many spoils of war to be won by My people, if they would only get into the battle and fight. Fight from the position of knowing who are you in Christ ."

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."

Romans 8:14-17

You are a joint heir! When you pray, pray with the knowledge that you are an adopted child of the Lord. When you worship the Father, worship Him knowing He has given you every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer! (Ephesians 1:3)

But I love how this verse ends. We are "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."

We will suffer in our walk with the Lord, but we suffer with Him. We never suffer alone, so share with Jesus everything you are going through, for He is already there with you in your suffering. AND There is glory in going through suffering! And not just glory laid up for us when we get to heaven, but real tangible glory to be had here on earth for going through suffering!

There is glory and spoils of war won when we fight in the battle. Every time the Israelites fought they not only won territory for their people, they often won goods, valuable items and cattle. They flourished when they went into battle! (1 Samuel 17:53, 2 Samuel 8:11, 1 Chronicles 18:11, 2 Chronicles 14:13, 2 Chronicles 20:25)

So too will you flourish when you go into the battle field and stand strong in the Word of God. We are promised evil days, but that means we are also promised good days. So stand strong in the evil day and you will then see many good days.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Ephesians 6:10-13

The verses immediately following verse 13 talks about putting on the full armor of God. In order to do that we must be in the Bible consuming His good words. When we consume the diet of royalty, we will act like royalty. And even when evil days come we won't faint in the battle because we know we are princes and princesses, sons and daughters of the King Most High.

In fact, Isaiah says this about God's people,

"You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,

And a royal diadem in the hand of your God."

Isaiah 62:3

A diadem is a jeweled crown worn as a symbol of sovereignty. It's a sign of authority given to the one who wears it. The Lord is calling us a royal diadem, a symbol that we are a reigning people with authority. We are a weapon for the Lord! Let's act like it. Let's pick up the charge and get in the battle, claim the authority you have been given! Don't let the giants consume you, instead consume the Word of the Lord and you will eat up the giants in your land.

Take up the full armor of God so that you are able to withstand the evil days, and when you have done all, you will still be left standing to enjoy the good days.

Be like the baby bee, consume only royal jelly and you will find that you are reigning in life as a queen. You will reign in life like the royalty you are. We are joint heirs with Christ, for the blood of Jesus bought us our position and our place.

Writing to you with joy,
Jessica

Pray The Blood Over It!

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 01:42:00 GMT

One afternoon I was sitting at my desk and thinking about a situation over and over in my head. If I'm being perfectly honest with you, I was stuck in a negative mental loop. Instead of bringing my thoughts captive to Christ I replayed this scenario over and over.

Quite literally as I was thinking negative thoughts about this situation, suddenly a bright red cardinal flew right by the window I was next to and perched on the windowsill outside. I was barely 2 feet away from this bright red bird.

I halted my negative loop immediately and then I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Pray the blood of Jesus over it." And I did. In that moment I surrendered this situation to the Lord and prayed His blood over it. I prayed His blood would cover it completely, and for restoration, redemption and favor to reign in this area.

What Troubles You?

If there is anything today that is robbing you of your mental freedom, pray the blood of Jesus over it! We can get stuck in negative mental loops, and all that does is keep us chained to the situation. Instead of finding freedom we end up remaining stuck in our past or in our negative ways of thinking. Praying the blood of Jesus over our troubles provides us freedom from our troubles, but it also brings about restoration and redemption. We can't redeem ourselves or our problems. But Jesus can. His blood paid for it, so pray it over your life and your problems!

Some time ago the Lord gave me a deeper understanding of the word Egypt in Hebrew. I believe there is so much depth in understanding what Egypt means and how what we think is so vitally important to the health of our mind and body.

The meaning of the word Egypt in the Greek is Temple of Ptah, Married to Tragedy. In Egypt the Israelites were slaves to another people, they were in essence married to a tragic life. They couldn't get out of it because they were bound to it through chains. They needed freedom, which could only come by way of a miracle!

Do you know anyone in a tragic marriage, or maybe you yourself are in a marriage of tragedy? Pray the blood of Jesus over it! The blood bought your freedom and will provide you with the miracle you need.

But what does Temple of Ptah mean? The name Egypt is an English rendering of the Greek name Αιγυπτος (Aiguptos), which in turn is a transliteration of the Egyptian Hwt-Ptah, meaning Temple of Ptah. Ptah was Egypt's creator-god who had created the world via his thought and his word. ( Abarim Publications )

What we think becomes what we create. I believe this translation in the Greek shows us that what we choose to think and believe can cause us to either be in bondage like the Israelites, or free from slavery if we keep our focus on Jesus Christ.

Just as the children of Israel needed a savior to get them out of Egypt, so do we today. We can also stay married to tragedy if we replay negative situations over and over in our mind.

But the Isrealites didn't call Egypt by this name. Instead they referred to the land of Egypt as Mizraim. Mizraim has an especially interesting etymology. In Hebrew Mizraim means Double Siege or Double Distress. It comes from the word (masor) meaning siege, and from the verb (sur) meaning to bind, besiege. It's also derived from the word (mesar) meaning distress and the verb (sarar) to bind.

This is how the Israelites pictured Egypt: it was a place of double distress, double siege because they lived in a place where they had no rights. Even worse, they were completely controlled by another people and their men were whipped and their children slaughtered. Listen to this "Another derivation of this same verb is the noun מצורה, stronghold. HAW Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament notes that a stronghold or walled city may be an instrument of protection during the first stages of a war, but will turn into a lethal trap if a siege last long. A beautiful figurative use of this word occurs in Psalm 31:21, where the author compares himself under siege by his troubles."

What we choose to allow into our minds can become a place of stronghold for us! If we play negative mental loops over and over in our minds we can actually create a stronghold. Just as the Egyptians had a god who created the world through his thoughts and his word (does that not sound like a rip-off of our lovely Creator?) so too can we create tragedy by thinking negative thoughts about our situation. We end up becoming married, in bondage, to what we think. We can end up like the Psalmist, under siege by our troubles!

One of the meanings of the verb (sur) in Hebrew is to lean or incline. When we lean into any negative train of thought we end up being bound by our troubles. This is why it's so important to bring our thoughts captive to Christ!

We can choose what we incline toward. The Bible is very specific, it says "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings." (Proverbs 4:20 NKJV) We can either incline our minds and our bodies toward troubles and distress, or toward the word of God. But we have to choose with intention what we listen to and focus on.

Don't Focus On Your Troubles, Focus On The Blood

I believe that the Holy Spirit gave me a beautiful word of wisdom that day when He said to pray the blood of Jesus over my troubles. Sometimes it's hard to capture thoughts we have been thinking or looping in our minds for years, maybe even decades. And I believe the Holy Spirit is saying today that we don't have to fix our troubles, we just have to let Jesus and His blood redeem and restore them.

When we pray the blood over our area of slavery, we end up doing just as 2 Corinthians 10:5 says to, we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

"We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ." (Amplified Version)

All this verse means is that we bring our thoughts to Christ. Was Christ perfectly obedient in His life? Yes! All we have to do is is take our thoughts to Him, and He will give us victory over our troubles. Jesus bought our victory and freedom through His blood, this is why we pray the blood over any situation that is keeping us in bondage!

The Lord wants us to bring any and all things to Him. Whatever has us in bondage in our thoughts, those things must be surrendered to Jesus.

Whenever the situation comes up in your mind, pray the blood over it. Every time. And watch as the blood of Jesus goes to work for you bringing about victory and freedom, wholeness and forgiveness, healing and restoration, redemption over every area of your life.

Amen!

With Joy, Jessica

For more reading, check out these related posts!

Pray For Divine Appointments & Right Happenings

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 01:19:00 GMT

This morning I was driving my daughter to preschool and talking with the Lord. There's something I've been praying to happen, something I have been praying to see the Lord do, and the thought occurred to me, "Do I need to figure out what door to open? Do I need to make something happen? Maybe I need to figure out my next step..."

It's easy to fall into wrong train of thought when we're waiting on the Lord to move. We believe that if the Lord isn't moving that we somehow have to make something happen for ourselves. We start to doubt that the Lord is leading us and directing our steps, and that we can trust Him with our future.

While I was still in the midst of thinking this thought, the Lord suddenly arrested my attention with a memory from years ago. He brought me back in a vision to another place and another time, when He the Lord made something happen for me out of His power and His strength. While He was showing me something from the past, He spoke to my heart and reminded me that I don't have to make things happen for myself, He the Lord will do it. I only need to wait on Him, and to pray that He will provide the divine appointments and right happenings for me.

I want to share this story with you. I pray that if you are in a place right now of believing that you need to make something happen for yourself, that this story will encourage you to wait for the Lord to bring about the right time and place to make things happen for you. Only He is all-knowing and all-powerful to put every piece together in the right way to make things line up perfectly for you.

The God Of Divine Appointments & Right Happenings

Back in 2015 I was working for a church. I had been working there for over a year and I loved my boss and position, but the Lord began to move my heart to desire something different. At the time I was overworked and underpaid, but I didn't care because I enjoyed what I was doing. Until one day, I didn't.

I can't remember when I began to feel differently, but one day I began to "feel" like I should move into development work at a non-profit. Now I had no experience, and the only person I knew that worked in development didn't know of any openings.

I tried to forget about it but this feeling wouldn't go away. Instead, it began to grow and intensify. I remember thinking, "This doesn't make any sense! It's not at all what I majored in and I have zero experience. I can't get a job in a development department without something to my name."

I applied for jobs and I talked with my friend about it, but nothing was working out. I wondered if the Lord would do something with it, but I couldn't make anything happen for myself.

One day my friend asked me to go on a double date with her and her fiancé, me and my boyfriend (now husband). It was a great idea! She and I were trying to introduce our guys to each other, we wanted a connection to make sure the 4 of us would be best friends in the future.

Her fiancé just so happened to work as a director in development for a non-profit. I knew this, but I really didn't think anything about it. During the course of dinner I ended up talking about how I felt the Lord moving me in this direction. I shared this feeling I had, and that I felt like God had something different for me than where I was working. Nothing happened during dinner, except that I shared what I had done in the past (events, project coordination) and how I felt the Lord moving me to do something different. This was on a Saturday.

Monday morning I got a text from my friend. Her fiancé wanted to know if I was seriously interested in development. He just so happened to have a resignation letter from someone on his team on his desk when he got to work that morning. This team member just so happened to be the one who was in charge of events and projects on their development team. And it just so happened that my experience fit in perfectly with the person they were looking to hire.

The Lord happened to put me in that room, at the very right time, so that I would be the one who fit the job that the Lord was about to open for me. He happened to give me the right appointment, at the very right time. He happened to work it out, and all I had to do was live my life the way I had been, waiting on Him. He intercepted me and moved me into a completely different future.

Pray For Right Happenings & Divine Appointments

A few months ago the Lord prompted me to write a prayer down while I was studying Habakkuk. I was drawn to the first few verses of Habakkuk 2, but it was the words "appointed time" that jumped out at me.

The Hebrew word for appointed time is moed, and there's something significant that I believe the Lord has for us regarding this idea of appointed times.

Moed: appointed times, meeting, feast, festival

This word moed is often used to describe the appointed times of feasts and festivals in the Old Testament. But this word doesn't quite accurately describe what the Lord is saying to Habakkuk here. The Lord is telling Habakkuk that He has picked an appointed time for the vision to happen, and He will make it happen at that time. I love the way Sarah Fisher describes moed, "Moed, instead, reflects the times that God has specifically appointed to honour and remember moments in history when God rescued his people."

Moed is the idea of the Lord intervening on behalf of His children, rescuing them, and us remembering those times. This is where the Hebrew feasts and festivals come into play, it's a remembrance of the Lord and what He has done.

We do the same thing when we celebrate Easter, remembering the Lord and His death, His resurrection, and how His death bought our freedom and victory. And again on Christmas, remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior. Moed is a celebration of remembrance, an appointed time in which we remember God.

But moed is derived from another Hebrew word, yāʿad: to fix, appoint, assemble, meet, set, betroth.

Yāʿad is the idea of the Lord meeting with us, His bride, at an appointed time to engage in marriage. It's a beautiful picture of the future we have in heaven with our Beloved Betrothed!

But the Lord arrested my attention and asked me to begin praying for moed moments, for divine appointments from Him. He asked me to start praying that He would set up appointments between us (Him and me), and that I would surrender to His set appointed times for me and my life.

And then He reminded me that I used to pray for qarah moments too.

Qarah means to encounter, meet, befall, happen, come to meet. In the Old Testament, qarah is most often depicted as something that "happens" to someone.

The most famous passage often repeated is in Ruth 2:3 "So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech."

Ruth happened to end up in the field of Boaz, the relative who would find her attractive and want to marry her, who happened to be a relative of her father-in-law. This is important, because in Hebrew law it's a close relative who can be a kinsman redeemer, who can marry a woman whose husband has died and thereby redeem her and her future. She happened to end up there.

Are you waiting to meet your spouse? Pray for a qarah moment, that the Lord would happen to direct your steps to meet your future Ruth, your future Boaz. He directed Ruth's steps, He can direct yours too.

There's another interesting place that this word shows up, and it's in the book of Esther. The first time we read of it is in Esther 4:7 "And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews." At this point in the story Esther is married to the king, and Haman hates Mordecai and the Jews and has figured out a way to kill them all.

Mordecai happened to hear how Haman was going to destroy the Jews, and he told Esther about Haman's plans that she might appeal to her husband the king. She does this, and the second time we see the word qarah is in Esther 6:13, "When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him.” "

What happened to Haman? The very law he put into place ended up backfiring on him. He was hanged on his own gallows. But first, let's look at the story together, because I want you to understand God's heart. He desires right happenings for his people, and He will cause them to happen even in the face of those who hate you.

So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5 The king’s servants said to him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.”

And the king said, “Let him come in.”

6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ ”

10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.”

11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”

12 Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.

Esther 6:4-12

Haman not only died for trying to kill God's people, he also happened to have to honor Mordecai publicly before his death. Now, that's what I call God's justice.

You Don't Have To Make It Happen, God Will Do It For You

You don't have to direct your own steps or cause things to happen for yourself. All you have to do is make yourself available to the Lord, and then say yes when He shows you what's next.

Pray for the Lord to make things happen for you, to give you right happenings. Pray for the Lord to give you appointments that change your future. Pray that the Lord would meet with you. This type of prayer will cause you to end up right where you need to be, exactly when you should be there. You don't have to make it happen for yourself, God will do it for you.

And He will even do it in the face of those who hate you. So don't give any thought to those who wish you harm, God will exact His justice and revenge on them. You need only be still in His presence, and pray that He directs your steps aright.

Prayer For Divine Appointments & Right Happenings

Lord God Almighty, worthy is Your name!

You alone are holy and worthy to be praised.

Yahweh, I pray for Your glory to descend on me.

I pray that You would meet with me,

connect with me.

I pray for right happenings,

and that you would give me divine appointments.

Order my steps aright,

that I would walk in Your will for me.

Cause things to happen for me.

Amen

With Joy, Jessica

For further listening & reading

Joseph Prince, The Kairos Year Of Right Time, Right Place (https://youtu.be/R7T0ZkHG0yY)
Sarah Fisher, Moed: The Creator's Appointed Times (https://hebrewwordlessons.com/2018/09/16/moed-the-creators-appointed-times/)
A Lion Has Roared, Deeper Meaning of "Moed" (https://www.alionhasroared.org/index.php/feast-days/deeper-meaning-of-moed/)
Joseph Prince, Right Place Right Time (https://amzn.to/3HAtrVp)

Please note that this blog post includes affiliate links from Amazon . If you do choose to purchase something, I may earn a small commission – at no additional cost to you. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Thank you for your support!

Is Your Faith Crippled?

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 19:08:00 GMT

A few nights ago the Lord interrupted me during a dream. I was asleep, dreaming about something random, when suddenly the voice of the Lord spoke to me.

In my dream His voice suddenly rang out and He said, "Those who don't take My Word seriously, will never receive the fullness of what I have to offer. Believers who read My word and see the words, "I am the Lord who heals you," but don't believe I am willing to heal them, will never see me as The Healer. Believers who read the words, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you," but they don't see me as their Counselor, as their Instructor, that I love them; will never experience the fullness of My Counsel, My Love, My Instruction.

Believers who read the words, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest," but don't come to Me with their burdens, casting their cares at My Feet, will never know the rest I provide.

Believers who read, "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," but don't trust Me for their future, don't believe I desire good and WANT to prosper them, will never see My prosperity. These believers will never know the wonderful future I have in store for them, because they could not let go of it and trust Me to provide it for them.

Believers who read, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God," but do not give Me their anxiety, and pray to Me regarding every anxious situation, give Me every anxious thought and thank Me, will never have My Perfect Peace reign in their lives.

Believers who read the words, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still," but never let Me fight their battles and insist on fighting them themselves, will never see Me as their Warrior.

Believers who read, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus," but don't believe that I WILL supply EVERY need of theirs, and trust Me to give them what they need according to MY riches, will never see all that I can give them. They will live in constant lack.

I was hearing the Lord speak to me, and then suddenly He woke me up. As I meditated on these words that He had spoken to me in my dream, suddenly He gave me a vision.

The Vision Of The Toes

In my vision the Lord showed me believers in the race of the faith. And as I looked at believers everywhere, all over the world, in different places of the race of faith, suddenly He showed me their feet. These believers were all missing toes.

And He said to me, "notice that every believer has their big toe. The big toe is their faith for salvation. When they accepted Me as their Savior, their soul was redeemed from death unto life, and their big toe represents the gift of salvation they have received from Me."

But as I looked at these believers, I noticed they were missing other toes. Some were missing one or two toes, some were missing every single toe except for their big toe. And then the voice of the Lord impressed on me again and He said, "every time a believer reads a promise in My Word but refuses to believe it for themselves, or puts more trust in their lack of faith to believe for their promise and less trust in Me as their God who provides miracles and promises, they hinder their ability to run effectively. They are missing those toes. For every promise that a believer reads in their Bible but is not willing to trust Me to give them that promise, they will miss that toe until they choose to see Me as their provider in that area."

And as I looked at believers everywhere, I noticed that most of them were crippled in some way. Many believers all over the world were missing toes. And because they were missing toes, they couldn't run well in the race of faith. They hobbled along, not effectively sharing the true saving grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The proper meaning of the name Yahweh, is " He Brings into Existence Whatever Exists. " In the realm of heaven, your healing exists. God's Word says, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." Jesus bought your healing. (Isaiah 53:5)

In the realm of heaven, your prosperity exists. Because God's Word says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

In the realm of heaven all of your needs are met, and there is provision for every single thing that you lack here on earth. The key is belief. Faith unlocks your heavenly provision here on earth. Whatever you are missing, whatever you lack, believe the Lord for it and you will see it.

Are You Missing Any Toes?

Is there something that you lack? When you look at your life, are you struggling to believe the Lord for something? Whatever that thing is, there are a few key principles to follow in order to grow your faith and receive your miracle.

Number 1

The first thing we must do as believers who are missing toes is to identify what it is we're struggling to believe God for. When I come to the Lord with an area of need, or an area in which I lack the faith to believe that He is good and wants good for me, I come into His presence and confess my lack before His throne. I don't hide it, I don't pretend that I have faith that doesn't exist, instead I am completely honest with my Father. I lay my heart and my need bare, and then I surrender it to Him. I cast my cares, worries, anxieties and lack unto Him because He cares for me and I know that .

There is no one who can take better care of you than Jesus, our Lord and King. So give Him everything that you care about. And the key here is to cast it over and over and over unto Jesus. Cast it as often as you need to, until one day you leave that care at His Feet and stop picking it up.

Number 2

We need to counter the lies with the truth. Whatever you struggle to believe God for, be it health, provision, a future, a career, whatever your need- find those verses in the Bible that tell the truth about your need. Write them down. Write as many down as you need to.

If you are weak, find verses about God being your Strength. If you are sick, or your body isn't functioning optimally, find verses about God as your Healer. If you need a miracle, find a verse that speaks to the Lord making all impossible things possible.

This part is important. We have to feed our faith in order for it to grow. And the food in which we use to feed faith, to feed our belief, is the truth written in God's Word. Jesus Himself countered Satan's lies in the desert with the Truth written in His Word. If we don't learn to counter the devil's lies with God's Truth then we are literally coming into agreement with the lies and turning our back on what is right and holy.

We must bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and that means we have to turn over every thought in our mind and examine it. If it doesn't line up with God's word then it must be chucked out! And the way in which we remove lies is by retraining our minds with Bible verses that contain the truths we need to water our little mustard seedling of faith.

So open your Bible and find those verses. Meditate on them day and night, and your tiny bit of faith will grow into incredible belief that overtakes your unbelief and wavering heart of fear. Whatever you feed will become what you are. Feed your faith. Feed your belief. Chew on God's word and feed at His table.

Number 3

Pray. All of my close friends know this about me: I write down my prayers on notecards and stick them in my Bible, in my journals, under my pillow, in areas of my house that I know I will see them daily and pray for them.

I have verses hanging on my plants, and when I water my plants I meditate on those verses. I have a prayer for the Lord's anointing on my life sitting with my makeup brushes. If you open up any one of my journals a good amount of notecards will fall out. I pray these prayers until the Lord answers them or changes my heart to pray something more specific or completely different.

Take your area of need and write down a prayer asking the Lord to fill you with the faith to believe for your miracle. Ask for the Lord to give you strength to retrain your mind, to fill your heart with faith, to guard your mind against lies, to fill you up with the faith of Jesus.

Prayer changes everything! Let it change your heart, your mind, your life. Let it fill you with the faith to believe for your miracle. Pray for your missing toe to grow.

Don't Get Discouraged And Quit!

Don't let the enemy come after you and discourage you into quitting. He will. We know he will. But don't let him steal your baby seed of faith.

It will take time for your faith to grow, it doesn't usually happen overnight. (Although I have heard of situations where it does!)

When you plant a seed into the ground it often takes weeks until you see it sprout, and a few months until you see the plant take shape. It's only after a few months, or even a few years, that the seed becomes a full tree that bears fruit.

When I was a kid we planted two apple trees in our yard. It took years for us to any fruit come from it, and the first few years that it produced apples we weren't that impressed with them. So we did research. We learned how to care for the trees better, how to spray them and keep bugs away from our apples. I was in my mid-teens when our trees produced a bumper crop one year, and we had apple everything for awhile. Apple pies, apple tarts, apple jams, frozen apples that were in our freezer for years.

My point is, don't be discouraged if it takes time to see any growth in your faith. Trust that you are doing what is right by feeding it with the word of God, and don't quit prematurely.

The enemy is going to steal your verses, so guard them close to your heart. If that doesn't work, he will send out the bugs to eat your fruit, be smarter than him. Find the spray that keeps you in line with the truth of God's word. Your spray might be worship music, or listening to sermons and podcasts on faith. Be in the word.

When I listen to sermons filled with words of faith my faith grows and I become like a warrior ready for battle. Sermons are my spray. Sermons get my blood pumping. Sermons prepare me for war.

Find your spray. It's going to be something unique to you. Whatever it is, figure it out and use it to nourish your faith and keep your tree from being eaten by the enemies lies and traps. It's your job to guard your heart, and to let God and His word grow your seedling of faith.

The Lord Wants To Prosper You

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 1:2 NKJV)

John penned these words to Gaius who was praised for unselfishly providing to the cause of Christ. Gaius would often provide accommodations for the Lord's servants as they were traveling from city to city. He would feed them and give them a place to stay.

John wrote that he prayed Gaius would prosper in all things AND be in health. The word prosper here is the Greek word euodoo, which means to help on the road, succeed in reaching, to succeed in business affairs, to cause to prosper, be successful. There is only one word for prosper used in the entire New Testament, and it's this word.

***Now I want to interject something here: some translations completely omit the word prosper, which the Lord included in the original Greek text. I think this is important to remember, we can't let someone else's unbelief affect our ability to believe . I don't know why some translations omitted prosperity from this verse, but let's be a believing people who trust that what the Lord wrote then is true for us too. We can't let our parents, our past, or our friends dictate what we choose to believe about God's word and His promises. God desired Gaius to prosper, and He also desires us to prosper in all things AND be in health.

The Holy Spirit inspired text ensured that the Greek word for prosper meant a prosperous journey, to succeed in business, to be successful. This matters! It matters because we hear teachings that God doesn't want to prosper His people, and this is NOT true. It's not biblical. It's a lie Satan uses to trick believers into falling into poverty and despair.

Now what is true is that we can't love prosperity more than we love the Lord, that will lead to death and destruction. Nothing can come before our love for the Lord. If it does, it will become an idol in our heart, and a place in which we sell ourselves short for the kingdom. God must come first.

But biblical truth that we need to learn to believe is that God wants His people to prosper! He wants us to flourish! He wants our businesses to succeed so that we may be like Gaius, providing for God's people to go out into the world and spread the gospel. God wants us healthy so that we have the stamina and strength to share the good news. He wants us free from sickness and diseases because Jesus paid the price for our health!

And the Lord wants our souls to prosper. He wants us full of faith to believe for our miracles. He wants us to be filled up with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to flow in alignment with Him, so that we might go out preaching and healing and praying. He wants our souls to be well!

The Lord doesn't want us to be missing any toes. He doesn't want us lacking in any good thing. So whatever you might be missing, be sure that this year you make the choice to grow your faith in that area. If you lack the faith, then be like the father of the child who fell to his knees at Jesus' feet and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-25)

These words were written that we may know the example to follow when we also struggle with our belief. Ask the Lord Jesus to help you. Ask the Lord Jesus to give you His faith, His belief. Make the choice this year that it will be your year of faith, your year of believing for what you lack, your year of standing in faith and fighting the good fight until you see the goodness and promises of the Lord fall upon you.

Choose faith. Choose to believe.

How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

“Your God reigns!”

-Isaiah 52:7

"You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?"

-Galatians 5:7 NLT

With Joy, Jessica

Take God At His Word

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 00:56:00 GMT

A few years before the Lord moved me and my husband to D.C., He gave me a passage in Genesis that spoke to every fiber of my being. The words jumped off the page, as if they were meant for me.

2 Timothy says that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) God breathed is the Greek word theopneustos, which means inspired. Inspired means of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse or (of air or another substance) that is breathed in.

That's why when we read our Bibles, when we're seeking for an answer or to hear God's voice, one passage might stand out to us and literally breathe life into our souls. It's a now-word from God, a word specifically meant for us in the very season that we are in at the present time.

But sometimes, sometimes, God gives us a verse or chapter that speaks prophetically to us. It hasn't happened yet, but for some reason the passage He gives us quickens our souls, and our hearts beat a little faster. It speaks to us in a divine way, and we know it's a promise from the Lord for our future.

It might be a promise for a child, for your career or position in life, for a spouse, or something very specific that God is building in you. Whatever that word is that quickens your heart and sits in your spirit, begin meditating on it!

When God Gives You a Word, Believe Him!

Has the Lord put a certain passage on your heart? Did you read something that still sits heavily in your soul today? Maybe you read it a few weeks ago, a few months ago, or even years ago, and it's still there. This word still sits in the depths of your heart. It hasn't happened yet, but you know that you know that the Lord spoke to you. If this is you, then believe HIM! Don't let discouragement or bitterness take root. Instead, bring any discouragement and sadness to the Lord and keep reminding Him, "You promised!"

I was in college when the Lord began to stir my heart to live somewhere other than in the Midwest. But college came and went and I was established in the suburbs of Minneapolis. I had a great job, amazing friends, and I loved my church community. I was definitely rooted...and yet, this feeling of moving away was still present.

One afternoon I was fasting and praying and the Lord brought me to Genesis 12

Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,

From your family

And from your father’s house,

To a land that I will show you...”

Except instead of Abram, I heard "Jessica." It was such a strong word that was meant particularly for me, and I was even living in my parents home at the time. I didn't understand what God was doing or what He was going to do, but I knew that God had directed me to this passage. I wrote the verses down and kept them in my Bible, meditating on them every few days. I trusted that somehow, someway, the Lord would bring it to pass.

It was several years later that God moved me and my husband across the country. In what I can only describe to you as a God appointment, He caused my husband to get the job that would move us. I didn't have to manipulate the situation to get God to answer, I just wrote down the promise and trusted His timing.

Do You Have a Now Word From God?

Has He breathed some part of scripture over you and you know, you know, that it was from Him? Maybe it's even been a few years, and it's hard to hold onto that promise.

When the days stretch into months, which turn into years, it can be hard to trust that we really heard God's voice when the word we received isn't happening immediately .

Abraham is a great example of a man who received a word from the Lord and then had to wait to see it come to pass. He waited 25 years to see the Lord fulfill His promise. Jacob waited 14 years to have Rachel. Moses spent 40 years in exile before he became God's prophet and led the Israelites out of captivity.

The best words from God take time to come to pass. I have learned that the greater the blessing from the Lord, the longer it takes to come about. And that is ok. I don't ever want to rush ahead of God's timing and forfeit the greater blessing He has in store for me.

I wrote down Genesis 12:1-3 and kept them in my Bible. The Lord gave me those verses nearly 12 years ago. Many, many years have passed, and I continued to stand on the promise that the Lord would establish us in the land He would show to us.

We've lived in Virginia for 7 years, but we never felt truly established. We bounced around from apartments to townhouses, but every road leading to a home was blocked. I knew the Lord said He would bring us to a land He had in mind for us, but it just wasn't coming to pass. We felt like nomads.

A few months ago I heard a message that stuck with me. This person said to write the promise from God on a piece of paper and put it under your pillow. I was feeling pretty discouraged, because we had just had an entire year of setbacks and heartbreaks that prevented us from moving into a house. But something in me said, "do this thing."

So, I wrote it down. I wrote down the promise that the Lord told us He would bless us and establish us. I put the paper under my pillow, and then I prayed. And I was honest with the Lord. I told Him my heart was heavy, my faith low, and I just said, "Jesus, be my faith for me when I am weak. Be my faith, and bring it to pass as You said you would."

We moved to Virginia in September 2015, and my husband started his new job on Rosh Hashanah 2015. It was the beginning of our new life outside of the Midwest. And the week of Rosh Hashanah this past September, 7 years after we moved to a new place, we saw a house that felt like it was divinely appointed for us.

We started the necessary steps to move forward, and the Lord led us and guided us as we made the move to our new home. It's now December, and I'm writing this from our living room. No longer are we nomads, wandering from place to place. The Lord brought us to the land He promised to show to us, and we are now living in it.

It's been years since the Lord whispered those verses into my soul and caused my heart to quicken. It's been 7 years to the very month since we have lived in this land without feeling settled. BUT, the Lord did it as He promised He would. He did it. He was the One who gave me that word, and He was the One to bring it to pass.

What's Your Word???

Beloved, what's your word? Do you have one from the Lord? If you have received a word or a specific Bible verse that sits heavily in your heart, write it down! Write down the promise, put it under your pillow, or hang it on your bathroom mirror. Remind the Lord that He promised this to you!

Of course the Lord knows what He promised to you, but you and me, we forget. We allow time to cause bitterness to take root, and we start to feel upset toward God because He hasn't brought about the promise we want in the time we want it. But God doesn't work on our time, He operates outside of time. When the Lord looks at us He sees our promise already fulfilled. He sees our entire life-span, so when He looks at our lives, He sees our promise already at hand.

It was during the last 7 years that I began to see time the way the Lord sees it. I began to see my life with promises fulfilled and prayers answered. Even if a prayer hasn't been answered for me today, I now know that it will be in the future.

If the Lord says it will come to pass, I believe Him. If the Lord gives a word that is for me and my future, I believe it will happen. Just because it hasn't happened today, doesn't mean it won't happen soon! It might not be this year, or even next year, but if God has given me a vision then He will be faithful to bring it about.

We are so quick to let go of our trust and belief. But today, I want you to hold on to that now-word God gave you. Write it down and remind yourself every day that the Lord promised to bless you. If the Lord made a promise, He will be faithful to complete it!

After all, is He not GOD?

Today, choose to trust Him. Choose to believe in Him. If you struggle to believe, then ask the Lord to give you the faith of Jesus. His faith is perfect. His belief is unwavering. Ask the Lord for Jesus' faith to be your faith, for Jesus' believing heart to cover your wavering one. The most wonderful thing we can do is to trust Jesus to be everything that we lack.

And declare today that the Lord who gave you the promise, will be the same Lord who fulfills it. Amen!

With Joy, Jessica

Prayer For The Promise

Lord God, there is a promise that You gave me.

You promised (name the thing

He promised to you)

Just as You said it, I believe it will come to pass.

Even if years go by,

I will trust that You will do it as You said

You would.

Father, I look to Jesus to be my faith.

Give me Jesus' unwavering trust and belief.

Lord, I pray the blood of Jesus over my promise.

Today I declare that You hear me,

and You will answer me.

Amen

Though Your Promise Tarries, Wait For It

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 15:51:00 GMT

This is a word I believe the Lord has for a lot of people in this season of life. There are many people waiting for promises to be fulfilled, waiting on promises only He can deliver. We can't do it of our strength, only He can.

Yet, it seems like He's taking His time bringing about the promise. Why the wait? I believe Habakkuk can teach us why we might be in a season of waiting, why the promise is delayed.

2 Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision

And make it plain on tablets,

That he may run who reads it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;

But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

Because it will surely come,

It will not tarry.

4 “Behold the proud,

His soul is not upright in him;

But the just shall live by his faith."

Habakkuk 2:2-4 (NKJV)

A few things that are really interesting about this passage that I want to highlight. First, the vision that Habakkuk received from the Lord is for an appointed time. Everything that the Lord promises to us is for an appointed time. It might be that the promise He gives you is near-term, or maybe it's a long-term promise that is developed through years of prayer and waiting on the Lord. Whatever the case is, all things have a season under the sun. Your promise will not arrive until the appointed time is here, so pray for your appointed time to come!

Now I want to take a look at the words tarries and tarry in verse 3. In some translations the same word is used: tarry. The Amplified Bible uses the word delay in both instances, and the NIV says linger and then delay. Just to give you an example of the different translations.

The first word tarries is the Hebrew word mahah, and it means to linger, tarry, wait, delay, hesitate. The second tarry is an entirely different word, 'âchar, and it means to delay, defer, remain behind, to loiter, procrastinate, be late.

It's interesting that our Lord made sure to differentiate between these two words. Although the vision is taking its time and is delayed, it is not late. We have a tendency to believe that God is late in bringing about our promises, but the truth is that God is right on time. It's just on His time, not our time.

The Lord Himself was the one who spoke these words to Habakkuk, telling him that although the vision is taking time to come to pass, He the Lord is not procrastinating in bringing it about.

The same is true for your life today. If God has promised something to you: a specific future, a baby, a home, a family, a spouse, a job, financial blessings, health and healing; He is not late in answering. Most often the delay is to teach us something.

Let's take a look at the word wait. The Lord told Habakkuk, "Though it tarries, wait for it.." The word wait is the Hebrew verb chakah, which means to adhere to; hence, to await:--long, tarry, wait. But its akin to the Hebrew verb chaqah through the idea of piercing. Chaqah means to cut, carve, cut in--carved work, to engrave.

As I was studying these two words side by side, the Holy Spirit suddenly spoke to me regarding the relationship between waiting and a carved work. "It is in the waiting that the Lord is carving you into a fine work. He painstakingly pierces into our flesh, removing debris and dirt that can't be a part of the final masterpiece. It's in the wait that you are perfected into one of His good works, a piece of art. A masterpiece."

The Lord told Habakkuk to wait, and the word He used indicated that the waiting would hurt, it would pierce Habakkuk. Because learning patience, the process of growing in longsuffering, hurts. We tend to be impatient and undisciplined when it comes to waiting on the Lord. But our faithful Lord is after faithful servants. And part of faithfulness is growing in the fruits of the Spirit, and those fruits are born through intense periods of longsuffering.

It is in the wait that the Lord pierces into our hearts of flesh and removes the parts of us that are impatient with Him to answer our prayer. He's turning us into a carved work of art, a beautiful work that will receive the gifts He has to give. Sometimes it takes time for us to turn into that beautiful work.

I have good news though, the length of the wait depends on you. If you are compliant and willing to lean into the Lord as He engraves you, the process can be sped up. The more we humbly submit to Him and His will, His timing, and His plan, the faster His hands can carve.

The waiting hurts, because our flesh is being shaped into something beautiful.

Lastly, I want to point out the language the Lord uses. He says, "Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come." The Lord gave Habakkuk a vision and He said wait for it, because it WILL SURELY come. Not maybe it will arrive. He didn't say it will possibly happen. No, the Lord said will surely.

If the Lord gave you a vision for your future, and you choose to wait on Him while it tarries, the Lord promises that it will surely be delivered. You don't have to strive for it, or work for it, or try to earn it. All you have to do is wait on the Lord to deliver it.

I think this passage gives us such hope for the future. There are visions and dreams that every believer has been given by God, and we can be assured that He will bring those to pass. I know it hurts to wait. Just as a chisel pierces the rock to carve it into something magnificent, so too does waiting pierce our hearts of stone and turn it into flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

The wait shows us what is in our hearts; shows us how impatient and rebellious we really are. The Lord is careful to remove these things from us before He gives us the vision, gives us our dream. He desires a true masterpiece to steward His good gifts.

Wonderful believer reading this, you are a true masterpiece, and worth every minute of the Lord's time. Wait on Him, He will surely come.

With Joy, Jessica

Prayer In The Wait

Lord Jesus, I am waiting on a promise from You.

I heard from You regarding (name your dream/vision/promise from the Lord)

I know that even though the promise tarries,

it will surely come.

Give me patience in the wait,

Give me strength to hold on,

Keep my gaze fixed on You.

Bring the appointed time about quickly.

If there is anything keeping the promise from coming, remove it in Jesus name!

I pray the blood of Jesus over my life,

Over the dream you gave me,

Over this time as I wait.

Make my waiting time a productive time,

And make my hands ready to receive all that

You have for me.

I give You my promise, and trust that

when the time is right,

You, the Lord, will make it happen.

In Jesus name.

Amen

Covet God's Good Gifts

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 20:36:00 GMT

Many years ago, the Holy Spirit stirred within me the desire for one of God's spiritual gifts. I had this overwhelming desire to speak and pray in tongues. The feeling came on gradually, but over time it became a burning passion, an all-consuming idea that filled my thoughts and prayers.

While I prayed for it, the Lord undid a lot of unbelief and wrong-thinking I had regarding the gift of tongues. Instead, He replaced my doubts with His Truth. But the most interesting thing was that the Holy Spirit stirred my heart to desire this gift, He stirred my heart to burn for it, and then later opened my heart and mind to receive it.

If you happen to be someone who believes that they aren't close with God because you don't know the Bible the way some people do, don't let that be your belief. Because the Word says, "For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children." (Romans 8:16)

What does it mean to be God's children? It means that we are taught by Him, He speaks to us like a Father, He lavishes us with His good gifts, He encourages us and loves us, and He witnesses to us through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit in us teaches us things that are within the Bible, even if we don't know it's in the Word. So be led by the Spirit! You can't go wrong.

I want to share with you the scripture that aligned precisely with what I felt during the time I was praying for this good gift. (If you want to read the entire experience, check out Receiving The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit )

I pray this gives you the encouragement to keep praying for things God has put on your heart, to search the scriptures for the truth within, and the courage to pray bold prayers that might scare you a bit.

Praying For The Gift Of Tongues

In my article Receiving The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit , I shared what led me to start praying for this gift. I had this yearning in my spirit for more; more intimacy with God, more power from God, more depth and strength. I didn't know if praying in tongues was the thing that would answer that prayer, but it was the thing the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask for. (BTW, it did exactly what I hoped for - gave me intimacy with the Lord in a way I can't describe. I wish as Paul did, that all believers everywhere spoke in tongues).

I struggled with this prayer for 2 years. I studied the scriptures that mentioned praying in tongues, and I noticed that Paul regarded it as highly valuable. If Paul thought it was a gift worth having, then there must be something about it!

Toward the end of my years of praying I no longer had reservations about receiving the gift of tongues. Instead I had this zeal, a burning passion, for the Lord to answer my prayer. I needed God to hear me and answer me!

I can't quite put it in words, but it was like my spirit burned for the Lord to give me this gift. When He did, when the Holy Spirit came on me like the early church received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, I knew my prayer had been answered. My tongue was loosened, and I began to speak and pray in tongues.

And then the attacks came from the devil. I had so many demonic attacks during those first few months of praying in tongues that I almost gave up. I started believing that I must be doing something wrong for the devil to attack me so strongly.

But the Lord ensured that I heard a message during these months that strengthened me. This pastor said, "if the devil is attacking you because of something you are doing, keep doing it! He fears what you carry. If Satan is attacking you, it's because there is a purpose in what you are doing, there is kingdom impact in what you have in your hands. Don't stop just because Satan hates you. It should be a sign all the more to keep going."

I held on to those words and I persevered through the attacks. Eventually they stopped, because the Bible promises us that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. (James 4:7) The word resist is the Greek anthistēmi, which means to set one's self against, to withstand, resist, oppose. We must set ourselves against the enemy's attacks, and over time they will end.

I learned several things from this experience, that if we persist in our prayers, eventually God will answer. And if we let go of our expectation as to how He should answer us, He will answer our prayers in some really big and spectacular ways.

But I also learned that if we persevere through the demonic attacks against us, that we will be strengthened by the Lord through it, and the devil will flee. It's hard to keep going when we are under fire, but it's important that we learn how to keep going, to keep fighting. We have to keep running the race of faith, and that means sometimes we will run through enemy territory with a target on our backs. But if we keep running we will move into promised lands, lands flowing with milk and honey.

Keep running! Your promise is coming!

Coveting God's Greater Gifts

A few years ago I was studied the gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12.

"Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." 1 Corinthians 12:29-31

As I read these verses, the words earnestly desire jumped out at me, and I looked it up. The words earnestly desire is one Greek word, zēloō. Zēloō means to burn with zeal, to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger (or in the good sense) to be zealous in the pursuit of good. It can be translated: to have warmth of feeling for or against; (covet) earnestly, pursue, to strive after, busy one's self about him, to be zealously sought after, to envy, be jealous over.

It's one of the only places you'll find in the Bible where the word covet is used in a positive sense. It's used again in chapter 14:1 "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." And again in 14:39 "Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues."

Paul spoke many times about desiring spiritual gifts, especially that of prophesy. Because as he said, prophesy edifies the whole church, but speaking and praying in tongues edifies only the person doing it. Yet, he said that he wished all people spoke in tongues, as they will be personally edified. (1 Corinthians 14:1-5)

The word edified is oikodomeō, which means to be a house-builder, construct, confirm, build up, (be in) building, edify, embolden.

When we pray in tongues, we become like the one who is built on the firm foundation of God, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." We are built up internally, established firmly, like the ones whose lives are built upon the rock.

I love how Blue Letter Bible translates oikodomeō: to restore by building, to rebuild, repair; to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness. Wow!

There have been times in my walk with the Lord that I have fallen into despair, felt the depths of depression or anxiousness, and when I cry out to the Lord He says to me, "Go pray yourself into peace."

Oikodomeō is a verb. Praying in tongues is a verb. It's an action, it's a call to us to do something. We can't open our mouths and do nothing. We have to open our mouths and pray, we have to participate.

In order to be filled with the Holy Spirit we have to align with the things of the Spirit, and one of those things is praying in tongues.

Praying in tongues aligns us with the heavenly realm, and it builds us up on the inside. As Blue Letter Bible comments, it repairs us and promotes growth. If we are anxious, we need to be repaired! If we are in despair, we need to be repaired! Praying in tongues is the Lord's restoration in our bodies, hearts and minds. It fixes that which is broken. It takes our houses of sand, and replaces it with a foundation of rock.

Is There A Gift You Zealously Want?

The first gift the Holy Spirit put a burning passion in me to have was the gift of tongues. But after that gift came and I began to use it, I started burning for other gifts. I desired wisdom, knowledge from the Lord, for the gift of prophecy, for the gifts of dreams and visions. The more I desired, the more I prayed.

Zēloō is a feeling that requires action. If you have a passion to have one of the spiritual gifts from the Lord, then learn to covet this gift and to pray for it. Turn it into a positive action by zealously praying that God would give you this gift. Pray and ask, ask and pray until the Lord answers you.

There are some wonderful men and women of God who have gifts that I desire to have. When I hear their testimonies or see how they hear from the Lord in a special way, I begin to pray to have these gifts also. And the Lord has answered many of my prayers in really special ways. He has spoken to me personally and encouraged me. He leaves me in awe on a daily basis. And I can't thank Him enough for every answered prayer and gift He has graciously given.

Is there a spiritual gift that you wish God would give you? Is there something that you've read in His Word, a promise that speaks to your heart and you think "I want this Father!" If so, then cry out to the Lord for it. Come to Him with that burning feeling, with that zeal to possess something. And keep praying until you hear from Him.

Remember, some prayers take time. I prayed for 2 years to have the gift of speaking in tongues. I prayed for 9 years that the Lord would establish us in the land He promised to us.

Joseph had to wait 13 years from the time of his dream until the time the Lord promoted him in Egypt. And then he waited another 9 years from the time of his promotion until the day his dream came to pass and his brothers knelt as his feet.

The things of the Lord take time. We have a tendency to rush ahead and want what we want when we want it. It is those who wait upon the Lord who will be lifted up. The ones who don't wait, will never get lifted. So, don't be discouraged if your dream takes time to mature. Instead, keep waiting on the Lord, and you will see His goodness.

Write down your prayer, the one that consumes you. Write it down and stick it in a place where you will be reminded to pray for it often. For it is those who diligently seek the Lord, who ask and keep asking, who the door is opened to.

Be the one who keeps seeking, keeps asking, keeps waiting in the Lord's presence. He always rewards those who stay at His feet.

With joy, Jessica

Maui, Hawaii

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 20:59:34 GMT

We love traveling, and it's been a minute since we've taken a trip (other than to Minnesota where our family lives). We finally got away as a couple and spent 7 beautiful days in Maui and one day in Honolulu. The weather was perfect. The food was fantastic. And those views! We couldn't have asked for a better vacation to take without kids.

We have taken big vacations with kids. And while we love traveling and making memories with our family, sometimes it's nice to get away as a couple.

Our flight took off early Sunday morning, and we landed just after 4:00pm Hawaiian time in Kahului, Maui. We took an Uber from the airport to our hotel which was only a few miles away. We opted to stay at the Maui Seaside Hotel in downtown Kahului for the first night to be close to the airport, because we planned to drive the Road to Hana the following two days. I'm glad we did it this way! Our Uber ride to the hotel was 4 minutes, and the views for our first night did not disappoint.

The front desk staff at the Maui Seaside let us know that across the street is a large food truck park, so we dropped our luggage in our room and headed across the street to see what they had to offer. I had the best Ahi Poke bowl and Mikael enjoyed pork belly. It's worth stopping at if you're in Kahului for any length of time!

Day 1 - Monday

We woke up early and grabbed a shuttle from the hotel to the airport to pick up our rental car. We started our road trip by grabbing coffee and fresh smoothies in Paia and then headed to Baldwin Beach . We enjoyed our coffee while listening to the ocean waves and taking in the scenery.

The rest of our Road To Hana trip can be found here: Driving The Road To Hana

A few highlights on Day 1 included the waterfall hikes, coastal views, and the black and red sand beaches in Hana.

We also opted to stay in Hana at an Airbnb. Spending the night in Hana allowed us to enjoy several hikes and sights without feeling rushed.

Day 2 - Tuesday

We got up early Tuesday morning and hit the road. Before heading out of Hana we stopped at a local coffee shop for coffee and bagels. Then it was back on the road past Hana toward the southeast end of the island.

My favorite part of day 2 by far was the The Pipiwai Trail hike at Haleakala National Park. This 4 mile out-and-back hike was absolutely stunning. There are many waterfalls to see along the trail, a bamboo forest, and the beautiful Waimoku Falls at the end.

After our hike we headed back toward Kahului and ended up stopping at Baldwin Beach Park again. We enjoyed an hour of sun before the rain blew in. It was at Baldwin that we caught our first rainbow of the trip!

For a full rundown of our hike and the waterfalls, check out The Road To Hana !

We checked back into the same hotel that we stayed in our first night to be near the airport for Wednesday's excursion.

Day 3 - Wednesday

Early Wednesday morning we headed back to the airport to drop off our rental car, and then we caught an early flight to Honolulu.

Southwest has cheap flights from island to island. We flew out early and came back the same day. Definitely a worthwhile investment! Our flight left at 7:50am (there is one earlier flight if you want to catch that) and we took the last flight back at 8:30pm that evening.

There are so many amazing experiences on Maui, but I will never forget flying from Maui to O'ahu. The entire flight took a total of 20 minutes, and there were rainbows and rainstorms that followed us the entire time we were in the air.

We landed and took an Uber from the airport to Duke's Waikiki . We had lunch at Duke's (make sure to make a reservation in advance!) and then went out to Waikiki Beach for the afternoon.

We spent several hours basking in the sun and walked over to the Waikiki Shopping Plaza. We had dinner and ice cream at the Plaza, shopped for awhile, explored downtown, and watched the sunset over the ocean before grabbing another Uber back to the airport.

One thing we didn't have enough time to do in one day was hike Diamond Head Crater. If we ever get back to O'ahu that's first on my list of to-do's!

However, we did enjoy Diamond Head from a distance while watching the sun set over the Pacific. That was lovely.

We caught the last flight out from O'ahu to Maui and our hotel provided a shuttle from the airport back to the hotel. The Maui Seaside Hotel offers free shuttle rides to and from the airport. For the shuttle, just call the front desk and let them know what time you need to be picked up or dropped off. We loved having this perk available to us.

Day 4 - Thursday

Thursday morning we checked out of our hotel to head over to the west side of the island: Lahaina and Kaanapali Beach. Our 45-minute drive took us around the entire south and west side of Maui. In the distance we saw Kaho'olawe Island, Molokini Crater, Lanai Island and Moloka'i Island.

In Lahaina we stayed at the Westin Maui on Ka'anapali beach for the remainder of our trip. The resort staff was amazing, and they allowed us to check in early (right around 11:00am), and when we checked out on Sunday they kept our luggage while we enjoyed the pools and dinner before going back to the airport.

One of the first things we did when we checked in on Thursday was hit up the concierge staff to book a few activities for the end of our trip. We booked a Luau for Friday evening and snorkeling for Saturday. There are so many local activities to enjoy, and the concierge staff was amazing and booking everything for us.

Our resort had several different food and dining options. For dinner we ate at Hale Moʻolelo. But there are other options as well!

Waicoco - an indoor/outdoor oceanfront restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hale Moʻolelo - a spacious outdoor bar with fun cocktails
Wailele Luau - an amazing outdoor Luau experience with a buffet dinner and dessert. Drinks are served with the meal as well!
Hale ʻĀ - a sophisticated pool bar serving artisanal cocktails and bites near the adults only pool deck.
Mahele Market & Eatery - grab-and-go style foods!
Starbucks Cafe

Day 5 - Friday

Friday morning we got coffee at Starbucks and enjoyed it from our balcony while rain showers moved through. We had an unbelievable show of rainbows for nearly an hour.

After our coffee we hit the gym. The Westin has a great gym, and since we hadn't technically worked out in days (other than hiking), we were feeling restless to get our muscles moving.

The rest of our day we enjoyed the pools and ocean, and late afternoon we went back to our room to get ready for the Luau. We went down a little early to stand in line which I recommend doing.

The Luau was around $180/person, and included an hour long show, musical entertainment beforehand, and our food and drinks were included. The buffet had an incredible selection of Hawaiian fish and other foods, as well as chicken and beef, noodles, vegetables and fruits, potatoes and rice dishes plus 8 incredible desserts.

I highly recommend taking in a professional Hawaiian Luau if you end up on the islands!

Day 6 - Saturday

Saturday we booked a snorkeling excursion for the morning. All we had to do was head downstairs toward the ocean, and our trip took off right from the beach!

We checked in with our guide at 9am and waited until they gave us instructions to board the boat. While we were waiting it sprinkled on and off and we ended up getting some beautiful beach shots.

Once we got on the boat our guide gave us some fresh squeezed juice and croissant breakfast sandwiches. They gave us flippers, life jackets and snorkeling masks and explained how to use them. We traveled entirely around the east and south side of the island to get to a spot where it wasn't raining with calm waters.

During our ride we passed several other Hawaiian islands including Moloka'i and Lanai Island. The crew anchored the boat, gave us some tips for snorkeling, and then dropped us in!

I've never done anything quite like it before. Mikael has his diving certification, but this was the first time I had ever spent time looking under the ocean water.

One of my friends who loves diving once described it as more peaceful than other environment- I can see what she means. There's something so surreal and quiet when you're completely submerged.

I loved watching the different fish swim around, and I was surprised by how colorful everything was.

After snorkeling for awhile we got back in the boat to warm up. The crew served us lunch and beverages while everyone dried off.

We spent maybe an hour or so hanging out in the same spot while people ate, got back into the water, or just enjoyed the sunshine. It was another 45-50 minute boat ride back, and the waves were significantly bigger this time.

Back at the hotel we headed to the pool for another hour or so before getting ready for dinner. We took an Uber to downtown Lahaina where we spent time exploring before our dinner reservations.

Downtown Lahaina has outdoor shops, bars and restaurants, and we spent time making our way through the area. We stopped at Lāhainā Banyan Court which is a public square with a historical courthouse, wharf, and Maui's oldest living Banyan tree.

We slowly made our way down to Pacific'o on the Beach where we had dinner by the ocean. Our table was at the edge of the patio, and we enjoyed the setting sun while listening to the ocean waves.

After dinner we headed back to our hotel and had a drink by the ocean while listening to local musicians play music at the Hale Moʻolelo. The perfect end to the perfect day.

Day 7 - Sunday

Our last day unfortunately. In the morning we stopped by the front desk to book a hospitality suite to use later in the afternoon. The Westin has several hospitality suites that anyone checking out same day can reserve if you're not leaving immediately. We were able to reserve a suite for 3pm in the afternoon, several hours after checkout, and we showered and changed before leaving for the airport.

We made a reservation and then headed down to the bar to catch the Viking/Bills game for a bit while having breakfast. Skol Vikings!

After we checked out, the valet took our luggage and we soaked up a few final hours of sun. Finally we said goodbye to the ocean and headed our hospitality suite to wash off and get ready for our last dinner on Maui.

We walked next door from the Westin to Whaler's Village to do some last minute shopping and put our names in at the Hula Grill for dinner. Our table was on the beach, and we dug our toes in the sand while the sun set over the ocean. Bliss.

Then we walked back to the hotel, grabbed our luggage and called an Uber to head to the airport. Our ride back around the island was dark, and we had a chance to see the city lights as we drove by. The airport ended up being packed when we got there, so plan ahead! A lot of people fly out later from the island to the mainland, so the airport was busy. It took us awhile to get through security and to our gate. We didn't have much time to spare, so keep that in mind!

And then we flew out and said 'aloha' to the island and our easy, breezy week away from the kids. We took off around 9pm Hawaiian time, and landed at 7am in Denver, central time. We had a short layover before flying from Denver to Virginia.

Honestly, this week was one of the best weeks we have had in a long time. It was our first big vacation away from the kids, and I thought I was going to be so sad over it, but it felt so good to have couple time. And we loved doing things we haven't been able to do since having kids. It was a great bonding experience for us, and reminded us that we were people before we had little people.

Oh, and we were excited to see our kids too. They were thrilled to have us back as well.

Aloha, Jessica

Driving The Road To Hana

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 23:09:00 GMT

W e started our Hawaiian trip driving the Road to Hana, and it was an unbelievable experience. I highly recommend taking a day or two to explore this side of Maui!

We rented a car and headed out early to get a good start on the day. Our first stop was at a local Whole Foods in Kahului. A tip we received the night before we left was to get food for the road trip to Hana. There are small stands and food trucks along the drive, but I'm glad we grabbed water, snacks and sandwiches to have with us. The prices were cheaper going this route, and we had food with us for our hikes.

Our second stop on the road was in Paia at the Island Fresh Café where we grabbed smoothies and coffee. The smoothies were fantastic (and fresh!), I definitely recommend stopping here.

After grabbing food from Whole Foods for lunch, and smoothies for breakfast, we headed down the road to our first waterfall.

Day 1

Twin Falls - mile marker 2

Our first waterfall on the Road to Hana was Twin Falls, located just after mile marker 2.

(PS, sometimes the mile markers are hard to see along the road, so keep your eyes peeled when you're driving).

These falls are at the end of a 1.8-mile out and back hike, and there are other waterfalls and sites along the trail. This is a pretty popular spot along the road, you almost can't miss it. It's $10 to park, and parking attendants are nearby to help you find a spot and answer any questions you have. Because it's a popular waterfall, you will likely see many other people while hiking.

It took us just under 25 minutes to get to Twin Falls, and about that much time convincing ourselves to get in the water. I kid, but the water was cold.

Waikamoi Falls - mile marker 10

Located at mile marker 10 you will find Waikamoi Falls. There's a short hike to the pools and falls if you're interested in getting out and seeing them. They are also visible from the road!

The Garden of Eden - mile marker 10.5

Halfway between mile marker 10 and 11 is the entrance to the Maui Garden of Eden . There are several waterfalls and sites that can only be seen inside the arboretum including: Lower Puohokamoa Falls, the Upper Puohokamoa Falls, an enchanted forest, bamboo trail, art gallery and orchards. If you decide to stop, plan to spend time here!

Coastal Views

Much of the drive is coastal, and the views are fabulous.

Puaa Kaa Falls - mile marker 22

This waterfall was a nice one to stop at. There's a large parking lot and a restroom. We spent time in the water and ate a snack at a nearby picnic bench before hitting the road.

Upper Hanawi Falls - mile marker 24

We parked along the side of the road and snapped a picture of this one from the bridge.

Next Stop - Hana

Hana Town is located at mile marker 34. We got into town around 3pm in the afternoon and checked into our Airbnb. There are a few nice hotels and resorts in town as well, but we opted to stay at a local Airbnb for the night. After we dropped our things in our room, we decided to explore Hana before heading to dinner.

Black Sand Beaches

There are a few black sand beaches near Hana, one is located in the Waiʻānapanapa State Park and a reservation is required to get in. We didn't make a reservation before arriving because we weren't sure how much time we would spend hiking in the morning. We ended up skipping this park.

The other black sand beach is Hāna Bay Beach Park, and no reservation is required to enjoy the sand. We went to Hāna Bay Beach Park and dug our toes in the sand.

Red Sand Beach

On the other side of the cliff from Hāna Bay Beach Park is a red sand beach called Kaihalulu Beach. Hands down this was my favorite spot on day 1 of our road trip. While the black sand beach was nice, it was the red sand beach and the hike to get there that was the absolute highlight of our day.

Kaihalulu Beach is located at the end of a very, very tricky trail. I will say that we didn't have any issues with it. BUT, I want to make sure that I give the trail the respect that it deserves, because it can be extremely dangerous. There are stories of young children, elderly men and women, and even experienced hikers that have slipped and fallen off the cliffside. In our research we discovered that locals will not share where this trail is located if you can't find it by yourself. There have been casualties along this trail, be warned.

That said, we didn't run into any issues while walking the path. I can definitely see how this trail could turn from a nice hike to a hospital stay in a hurry. So, exercise caution if you decide to hike to this beach!

We parked near the Hana Community Center and headed away from the city toward the ocean. There are signs mentioning the risks associated with hiking the trail, and that's how you'll know you've found it. The first part of the hike goes through some overgrown bushes, and past that it's mostly pine needles mixed with mud and sand. Purple flowers bloomed alongside much of the path.

When we got to the beach there was a Hawaiian monk seal hanging out! A quick google search told us that monk seals come ashore once a year to molt, where they shed the top layer of their skin and fur. When they come to shore they will spend about a month hanging out on the beach.

We felt so blessed to have the chance to see a Hawaiian monk seal molting on the beach.

Day 2

We started our second day by hitting up a local food stand for coffee and breakfast. We ordered lattes and bagels from My Titas Café in Hana.

After breakfast we hit the road past Hana. The mile markers change and begin counting down instead of up at this point. It's a slower drive leaving Hana than heading to Hana, because the road goes through a few small towns and narrows into one-ways for a lot of it. Exercise caution!

A few miles after Hana we noticed the jungle sounds increased, and the trees began to change. It rained on and off during much of our drive.

Paihi Falls - (just before) mile marker 45

Just before mile marker 45 you will find Paihi Falls. There isn't great parking nearby, so we snapped a quick picture from the car.

Wailua Falls - mile marker 45

Wailua Falls are located at mile marker 45 and we quickly realized why it's a favorite among many people who visit Maui. These falls are stunning and easy to see from the road. There's a great spot just past the bridge to park at and walk back to the waterfall. When we arrived there were several other couples taking photos, and we still had plenty of space to park.

The Pipiwai Trail at Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park is located at mile marker 41, you can't miss it. There's signage along the way and a large parking lot on the left. We pulled in and paid the entrance fee to hike.

Once inside there are two hiking options. The trailhead splits into two and on the left is the 4 mile out-and-back Pipiwai Trail up to Makahiku Falls and Waimoku Falls. The trail on the right is a shorter, half mile hike with coastal views and cliffs. We went left and headed into the jungle.

I was excited to do this hike, mainly because of the promised bamboo forest along the trail. I highly recommend hiking the Pipiwai Trail if you're up for it. There is a 800 elevation change from start to end, so keep that in mind.

Starting The Pipiwai Trail

The trail started off with rocks and packed mud and quickly turned into tree ruts and lots of mud. It also rained on and off during our hike, which turned the mud into puddles.

Makahiku Falls

The first waterfall along the trail is the Makahiku Falls, about .5 miles up the trail. There is a sign with information about the falls and an overlook spot.

Further up the trail w e ran into the famous Large Banyan Tree. And then it began to rain and the trail got even muddier than before. Wear good shoes! I had on my Ryka trail shoes and they were amazing the whole way. My feet stayed dry even though we were skirting puddles (and walking through puddles).

After the Bunyan tree you will see more waterfalls, pools and bridges. The entire hike is a lovely surprise of "What's beyond this bend?"

Bamboo Forest

The final 1/2 mile or so takes you through the Bamboo Forest. Actually, there's a sign just as the forest begins that says you have .8 miles to go to reach Waimoku Falls. Most of this section is paved with wooden walkways, making it easier to hike the last chunk.

Waimoku Falls

The final stretch is a mix of jungle and bamboo forest, standing pools of water, mud and wooden walkways.

You can see the falls when the jungle clears, but in order to get close there is a rushing stream you will need to cross. If you feel safe wading through the water or jumping stones, then go for it. We crossed the stream and had a rewarding closeup view.

That's the hike! The views up are amazing. The hike down was far more crowded than the way up. I would recommend getting an early start if you want the trail to yourself.

Baldwin Beach

After our 4 mile hike we hit the road to get back to Kahului. The entire hike took us just over 2 hours to complete.

We decided to end our day at Baldwin Beach before going back to the hotel. It was here that we caught our first rainbow of the trip. If you fly into Kahului Airport, Baldwin Beach is only a 10 minute drive away. And it's lovely. Just an absolutely beautiful beach.

And that was our Road to Hana road trip! If you're planning a visit, I hope this helps you. We had the best time hiking and exploring waterfalls, hanging out in Hana, enjoying the many beaches and scenic views.

With Joy, Jessica

Family Pictures - 2022

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT

It's not every year that we have family pictures taken, but this past year we managed to get it done. We scheduled our family pictures for late October, and our photographer Rachel knocked it out of the park. Again. Rachel Yearick did our twin newborn photography shoot, and we loved having her take our pictures this year.

Oh, and she brought a bubble machine. It doesn't get much better than that for the littles!

Family Pictures

Sibling Pictures

Daddy & Child Photography

Mommy & Me Pictures

Kid Portraits

The bubble machine stole the show at the end, and it gave us an extra 20 minutes of fun and photography. I can't recommend Rachel enough! She's so great with kids and has a way of capturing those extra special moments.

I hope your next photography session goes perfectly, with happy smiles and zero tears.

With Joy, Jessica

Start Small

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 18:42:00 GMT

This word has been bubbling up in my spirit for a few weeks now. I believe that many of us would wish ourselves to be in a different place or position than we currently find ourselves in if we're being completely honest.

If you look at your life, truly look at it, is there something you wish was different? Is there anything that you would change if you could? The Lord says to you, "Start small, start today."

Years ago when I first surrendered to Jesus I stumbled on a book that slowly but surely changed my life. It was "The Power Of The Praying Woman" by Stormie Omartian. That one book had me speaking prayers over my life every day of the month, and I was faithful to pray those for years. Simple prayers changed my life completely.

That one book taught me how to pray, how to be perseverant in prayer even when the enemy comes at me, and how to hear and commune with the Lord. It was life-changing! It's why I am here today, living in my answered prayers with many more yet to be answered. But I know and I believe they will be.

One of my favorite quotes on prayer is by George Mueller. When asked if he had any unanswered prayers, confidently replied, "No. That is except for one. But it will be. How can it be any other way? I am still praying."

But the point is, I started small. I started by reading someone else's book about their prayer life and journey, and I faithfully prayed the prayers every day for years. Now, I pray radical prayers and believe in a radical God who answers those prayers! I believe that when I pray for healing, healing comes. I believe when I pray for miracles, miracles happen. I believe when I pray, God hears me and answers me. All because I started small, by praying simple prayers every day.

What Do You Want To Change?

It could be that you want to hear the voice of the Lord better, or be more disciplined, or to write a book, or start a business, or to have God make a miracle happen in your life today. What is it?

Whatever that big dream is, whatever your vision is, start today by taking small steps toward that goal. I was in the Word one day when the Lord pressed on my heart, "small changes today make big future impacts. Start small. Start today."

Martin Luther made incredible kingdom impacts on earth. He used to say, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” The most effective Christians would spend 2-3 hours daily devoted to prayer. And even today, missionaries, pastors and leaders I admire the most say that they spend at least 2 hours in prayer every morning. But I imagine they didn’t start out immediately able to do that! They started small, they started where they were, and the Lord grew their endurance to pray more.

That's the key, building endurance. And endurance doesn't happen overnight, it happens over multiple days, many weeks, and even persevering through months of devoting time and effort into reaching your dream.

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,"

Colossians 1:11

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

Romans 5:3-5

I pray today that you experience that special kind of perseverance through every temptation and trial that you face. That special kind of perseverance that is given by the Holy Spirit which produces in us patience, hope, peace, joy and strength. Whatever it is that God has placed on your heart to work toward, start small today, and don't give up when you see little improvement. It's the daily choices that grow over time into big impacts later down the road.

So, take 15 minutes today and work toward your goal. Wake up tomorrow and devote another 15 minutes toward your dream. Next month, increase your goal to 20 minutes. And keep increasing your time in prayer, in reading the Word, in writing a book, in working out, in whatever it is that God has placed in your heart to change.

A year from now you'll be amazed at just how much you've grown. A year from now you'll have the endurance and ability to see how a small daily goal changed your future completely.

With joy, Jessica

Why Believers Face Storms

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 19:23:00 GMT

I was sitting at my desk one afternoon and suddenly the Holy Spirit bubbled a word up within me regarding the purpose and plan for the storms in our lives.

Real storms are shown throughout the Old and New Testaments as both opposition from the enemy, and planned and purposed by God.

The Lord can use storms to further His plans in our lives, and there is much fruit that comes from the storms of life. Not only that, but He often turns bad storms around for the good and benefit for us and others.

The devil also uses storms. There are instances in Matthew, Mark, and Luke where a storm was produced suddenly because the devil realized what Jesus was doing. The devil began to fear the movement of the Lord, and tried to prevent it from happening.

Something interesting I want to note: the devil is not all-knowing. He only knows what God is about to do when the Lord makes His next move known. Satan can't foresee what God will do next, so he only reacts and creates chaos when he sees what the Lord's next move is. So take heart! We serve a God who knows all things! And our enemy is unaware of the future.

It can be difficult to recognize during the storm whether the opposition came from the enemy, or because of the correction and teaching of the Lord. However, the closer we draw to Jesus, the more easily we can see where the tempests are coming from and to what purpose they provide in our lives.

When Satan Sends Storms

"Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

Luke 8:22-25

Jesus had a plan before the disciples even set out in a boat to cross the lake. Jesus was after the deliverance, healing and restoration of the demon-possessed man (Matthew's gospel declares that there were two demon-possessed men).

It wasn't until they had gotten in the boat and were headed toward their destination that "suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat." (Matthew 8:24) Satan had no idea what Jesus' next move was until He started moving. It was then that the devil tried to prevent Jesus from delivering a man from his demons.

It's only when the Lord begins to move in a certain area of your life that suddenly the devil will bring storms to prevent you from getting to the other side. Satan can see what was promised to you when the promise is released from heaven. He will send storms at you to try and intercept your promise. In the case of the demon-possessed man, we don't know what this man was praying or if he even was. All we know is that Jesus must have heard his cries and set out to heal him.

The devil doesn't want you healed. He doesn't want you delivered. And he definitely doesn't want you to walk in the fullness of the promise that God gave you. Satan will always do whatever he can to either intercept your blessing or prevent you from walking in your promised land. When the devil sends a storm, just cling to Jesus in the boat. No boat is going down when Jesus is in it. It can't! After all, He is the One who walks on water, how much more will a boat stay afloat when He's inside?

The other thing to note, is the devil can't prevent God's plans from prevailing. No storm of life can keep God's plan and purpose at bay. Satan's storms can cause delays and distractions, but they can't keep God's purpose for your life from happening.

When Satan sends a storm he is trying to get you knocked off course. He is trying to defeat and discourage you so that you don't walk in the full purpose of what God intends for your life. His goal is to prevent us from becoming the next Peter or Paul. Don't let his lies prevent God's promises from coming to fruition!

There are times when the devil succeeds. There are those who jump out of the boat when life gets too hard, and that's not on God. We are all given a choice, walk with Him or walk against Him. Personally, I have seen how faithful God is to get me through every storm when I lean on Him and trust in His plan. No demon and no devil has ever stopped Him from doing what He said He would do for me. But I had to hold on to the promise even in the midst of the raging storm, and even when it meant I was delayed for a season.

Is there a dream or God-given desire in your heart? Have you been attacked or prevented from receiving your promise? Press forward! We're promised hardship in this world, but if we're walking with Jesus than we can say with absolute certainty "that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28)

***Something I want to say, if what you face today is sickness or disease that is a storm always created by Satan. The Word is very clear that it is by His stripes that we are healed. Were there times in the Old Testament when God used sickness as discipline? Yes. (Leviticus 26:14-16, Deuteronomy 28:15-68, Psalms 107:17-20, Isaiah 19:22, Hosea 6:1) It was always because of direct disobedience to the law, and part of the curse of the law was disease, destruction, illness and even death. However, we are now free from the law, (Romans 8:2) so anytime we see someone suffering from illness today we know that it came from the realm of darkness.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

John 10:10

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Romans 8:2

Storms Create Warriors

When the storm raged against the boat and the disciples panicked and ran to Jesus, Jesus commented on their lack of faith before He rebuked the wind and waves. I imagine that the storm was terrifying, after all Matthew says, "the boat was covered with the waves." Mark says, "the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling." Luke says, "a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water."

But Jesus didn't take a second to comment on how incredible the storm was, instead He commented on what the disciples were focused on. They were focused on the storm, and not on Jesus who was in the boat with them.

Jesus knows the will and heart of the Lord, and our God is after great faith. But faith doesn't happen apart of Jesus. It happens because we keep our focus on Him.

How do we become men and women of great faith? We weather storms with Jesus. When the storms of life come, and they will, our faith grows every time we get through them. The disciples didn't have great faith coming into the storm, but they surely were amazed when they realized how much power Jesus had to calm the storm.

Our God is greater than the weather, and even the elements must bow down to our King and Lord. We were given the same Spirit that lives within Jesus, and we learn to respond like Jesus responded when we face the storms of life. (2 Corinthians 4:13)

One day, a storm will come at you and because of the previous storms that the Lord brought you through, you will stand up to it and say, "Peace! Be still!" And the elements of life will obey your voice because it has the same command and authority as Jesus'. We become warriors through rough weather.

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

If we want to become men and women with great faith, then we have to learn to not only weather the storms of life, but to also subdue them.

This past spring our family faced great storms from every angle. It seemed like every area of our life was being attacked. We faced a flooding onslaught from the devil just as Isaiah 59:19 says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood." It felt horrible to have multiple areas of our lives under attack. But guess what? That verse ends with, "The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." Amen!

As I was mediating on this verse in Isaiah the Spirit said to me, "What do floods do?" And then He gave a picture of a raging flood and how debris gets washed away. He showed me in the Spirit that when our lives are flooded to the point that we are engulfed in rushing water from every side, the debris and darkness can't cling to us anymore. It all gets swept away in the flood.

There is a purpose when our lives are flooded. The Lord might allow our lives to get completely flooded so that all that remains is our sure foundation in who God is, that He is our Lord and mighty to save.

Notice that first the enemy comes in, and then the Lord lifts up a standard against him? The standard is a war flag or a national flag for use by military forces when on land. The Lord comes in with His flag of war and declares to Satan, "This one is mine, and I am setting his feet on land. No longer will you flood him."

When we see the Lord's war flag, we start to recognize it and how to use it. We start to see how He wages war: through prayer, praise, declaring His goodness and promises. We fast and spend that time in the Word, and with Him. We learn how to renew our minds so that they are filled with the Truth of God's Word and not with the lies of the enemy. We learn how to wage war as well. The Lord plays offense not defense, and we have to learn how to do the same.

If you're in a storm today, keep getting up and put one foot in front of the other. There is a purpose in it. David didn't become a hero until he slayed Goliath. Daniel wasn't known for being Daniel in the Lion's Den until after he faced the literal mouths of the lions. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a face-to-face encounter with Jesus in the furnace. But they had to get into the fire to see the miracle.

We don't learn to fight for the Lord until we've faced the battle head on. Learn to fight, learn to weather the storm. And then watch as a warrior in you is born through riding out rough weather.

Storms Come When We Decide To Take Enemy Territory

Many years ago I watched Behind Enemy Lines. I don't remember liking it. I don't have a taste for violence or war. But that title often comes to my mind when I start coming for enemy territory.

There are times when we face storms or attacks because we start playing offense in battle with the Lord, and the devil comes at us head-on as we press into enemy territory. The more we press into the land that Satan occupies, the angrier he will get. We might find ourselves completely behind enemy lines simply without realizing how we got there.

One way we end up behind enemy lines is by praying something specific. It could be a brand new prayer, or dream, or idea that the Holy Spirit brings to your heart. You start praying for this dream or blessing to happen in your life and suddenly, out of nowhere, it's like you're under attack. You find yourself running for cover under the shadow of the Lord. But what caused the attack? You came behind enemy lines.

This blessing or dream is territory not currently occupied by you, and so the devil is trying to prevent you from living in this land. The enemy is in the land and attacks you when you get near it.

In order for the Israelites to occupy their country they had to contend with every single enemy in the land God promised them. The first enemy they fought was the people of Jericho. Jericho means Place Of Fragrance or City Of The Moon, but what I find fascinating are the roots that go into the word Jericho.

One root in Jericho is the verb (rawah), which means to be wide or spacious, unrestrained and unconfined. Now, isn't it interesting that the very first city that the Israelite children occupied was a spacious, unconfined place? Their mothers and fathers had been bound by chains in slavery, and their children took back the enemy territory of freedom. This is why the Lord had them come for Jericho first, He was completely freeing them from their confined shackles and restraints. Amen!

Abirim Publications says, "the Bible considers freedom the most precious commodity and ultimate objective of all humans. In fact, "it's for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1)."

God had the Israelites battle first for their freedom, teaching them to let go of their slave mentality and to walk into enemy territory with the purpose and knowledge that this land belonged to them. Freedom belonged to them.

Another root of Jericho is the noun (rewah) and it means space, or respite, or relief. The Israelites occupying Jericho was a sign of relief from the desert heat. It became their city of respite and space. The Natufian people occupied Jericho (general Canaanites) and they were giants in comparison with God's people. When the Israelites settled into these homes they would have been bigger and grander than anything they would have built themselves. What opulence Jericho's homes would have felt like after living in tents for 40 years!

The other roots are the noun (ruah), it means both wind and spirit, the noun (reah) means scent or fragrance, and the verb (riah) means to detect or produce a scent or fragrance. When we come for enemy territory because we have been moved by the Holy Spirit to do so, we emit the fragrance of Jesus. Eventually our enemies will have to fall when we go in to occupy our promised land, because the very scent of Jesus is on us, and it's His Spirit that gave us the dream and desire to go behind enemy lines in the first place.

But what is the scent that we emit? It's the saving sacrifice and blood of Jesus! In fact, 2 Corinthians 2:15 says it this way, "For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God, [discernible both] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." (Amplified Bible)

We are a sweet fragrance to the Lord and to other believers. But to the devil and to those who hate us, we smell offensive. I once asked the Lord to show me what we smell like to Him. A few weeks after I prayed that prayer I was reading a book and I moved my head, and when I did I smelled something sweet. It was like fresh dew and honey, mixed with spices. I couldn't quite discern what the spices were, but the smell was very sweet and lovely. A little while later, I was moving around in the kitchen and I smelled it again. Later that night in bed, I rolled over and the scent wafted up yet again. I literally said to my husband, "Do you smell that?" And then suddenly the Lord brought my prayer back to my mind and He said to me, "I smell that."

We smell wonderful to our God, because we smell like His Son.

So, choose not to be discouraged when Satan tries to hang out for awhile and keep you from your promised land. Pray and contend for what God promised you, and eventually the devil will flee because of the very scent that clings to you.

Satan can't hang around men and women of faith who pray bold prayers, who praise the Name of Jesus in the storm, who wage war with God's Word. He can't stand that we smell like the blood of Jesus. The scent of Truth repulses the father of lies. The devil will flee, and in his wake he will leave our freedom, our Jericho, our land flowing with milk and honey.

If the Lord has given you a prayer, or the Spirit moved you to pray something specific and you find yourself behind enemy lines, don't stop praying just because the devil attacks. He's playing defense, we're playing offense. I can feel him shaking at the very presence of you there. Move forward, contend for your promise, fight for the land God promised to you. We are promised one thing when we resist the devil, that he will flee from our presence. (James 4:7) Move forward blessed soul! God's got your back.

The Storm Creates Discipline, Teaching & Training

There are also times when the Lord allows a storm in our life to discipline, teach, and train us. He might allow certain pieces to align so that the storm hits us head on and creates a teachable moment for us. I don't believe He ever causes destruction in our lives, but He might lift a finger off our lives if we have become obstinate or disobedient.

There are also times when His hand of grace will be completely removed. I believe this only happens when we choose to walk away from Him. When we do that, we forfeit His covering, goodness and protection over our lives.

But there are other times when it seems as though He lifts a finger, and suddenly a storm, or multiple, are allowed in. When that happens, the first question isn't "Why me?" But should be, "What do I need to learn Holy Spirit? Reveal it to me and quickly, that I may learn the lesson and walk in freedom."

There are also wilderness seasons that the Lord might bring us into that feels like a storm, but is in fact a desert. As I was in the middle of typing that out, the Holy Spirit dropped a word of knowledge to me about the desert. He said to me, "the desert makes you thirsty." Oh! How I love to hear His voice.

The Lord might bring us into a wilderness season for a time so that we learn to drink only from Him. It could be that our source is something not of the Lord, and He needs to reset our minds and our hearts to depend on Him for all things.

If we are clinging to a title for our worth (hard-worker, mother, father, friend, wealthy, independent, victim, poor, illness-stricken, advisor or counselor, health, success(ful), smart or knowledgeable, fill in the blank) than the Lord will remove that idol in our desert season so that we see just how worthless that title was. The desert will cause us to thirst only for Him, and it teaches us how to drink only from Him as our living water.

Not every storm that Satan sends at us gets through to us. I think there are far more attacks that the Lord prevents from ever getting to us than we can ever comprehend. The Lord is careful about what we face in this life, because His ultimate desire is for our freedom. If we are bound in chains, then it's likely the storm we face is the very thing that reveals where we are in bondage. Allow God to teach and train you, discipline you and set you free from the chains of slavery. At the end of this storm is your freedom!

When The People Around Us Face Storms

Something that is tough but also common, is when we are in close contact with someone who faces a storm that impacts us. When someone we love faces an illness, or our spouse loses their job, we will be directly or indirectly impacted by that storm.

Paul experienced this firsthand in Acts 27-28. Paul was a prisoner on a ship headed to Rome to be tried for his crimes (spreading the gospel), and he warned the captain and crew that they would face a storm if they set sail.

There are times when the Holy Spirit will warn us of something up ahead, and we can share that with others who will be impacted. In the case of Paul, no one heeded his warning and they all ended up ship-wrecked on the island of Malta. Paul had to go through the storm because others were hard-hearted.

But the Lord used this opportunity for His good. Not only did God protect Paul and keep him safe, but He gave Paul the opportunity to preach and minister to the people on Malta. The crew and captain were also affected and heard him preach. Many people were saved because of this one storm that affected their ship. While the devil meant to harm Paul and the entire crew, God used it to save many men and women and bring them into the heavenly realms.

Something else happens when we watch someone we know weather a storm - we gain confidence in our own ability to get through it too. When I was 12 my mom had a nervous breakdown. It caused her to go on a year-long journey with the Lord, believing and praying and praising Him through her storm. We were all impacted by her experience.

It was during this process that the Lord taught her how to praise Him while the waters raged, and I began to see the impact of praising and worshipping the Lord during our trials. At the end of this year she experienced a supernatural healing in her brain. It was tremendous.

It was not only tremendous for her, it taught me that when we stick with Jesus, when we ride out the storm with Him, we will experience a miracle. Not only will it be miraculous, but it will forever change and shape our walk with Him.

Keep Going

No matter what storm you face, the only way to end it is to get through it. Don't get out of the boat, and don't quit fighting. If you abandon ship you will never receive a supernatural experience that your soul longs to experience. There are miracles on the other side of your hurricane. I know, for I have tasted glorious moments before, and I trust that every storm I face now has me one step closer to more glory.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

2 Corinthians 3:18

With Joy, Jessica

What Occupies Your Time With Jesus?

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 12:01:00 GMT

Life is busy. We are so busy and getting busier every year. I have found that the more stretched we are, the harder it is to slow down and be still and silent.

It's actually a chemical addiction in the brain that causes us to be addicted to busyness, and it takes significant discipline and intention to learn how to slow down.

Several years ago, the Lord began plucking certain things from my life. It started subtly. A hobby I used to enjoy became boring and lifeless. After a few weeks or months I realized it no longer gave me joy, and I gave up that hobby.

Then a little while later, the Lord lifted His grace and ease from a friendship that use to bring me enjoyment. But it seemed like every time we got together it was harder to speak easily and becoming more strained between us.

I went to the Lord and prayed about it. I asked Him, "What should I do? This is a relationship you gave me. Why is it becoming strained?" He gently showed me that the friendship gave me comfort and joy when I needed it, but that because of a series of events in both of our lives we were now in different places.

He asked me to let the friendship drift apart. There was no big conversation or crazy experience between us, just a lifting of the grace that had once been there. I asked the Lord if He was going to replace the friendship, and He said to me, "Spend that time with me instead. The time that would have been spent with her, spend it with me in the Word and in prayer."

It was lonely for a little while, but I listened to the prompting of the Lord. Slowly He removed other things that took time out of my life. As He did, I drew closer and closer to Him. I learned to hear His voice in greater measure and capacity. I became less busy, and I learned to be still and to enjoy being still!

What Occupies Your Place of Prayer?

One day while I was unloading the dishwasher, I felt my mind slip into making a list and thinking about what needed to be done for the day. Part way through my list the Holy Spirit stopped my thoughts and gently pressed these words on my heart, "Use this time to pray."

An hour or so later, while I was folding laundry, I backed into a shelf on accident. I began to daydream of my future laundry room and how I would design it. The Holy Spirit again stopped me mid-thought and pressed harder, "Use this time to pray instead."

I began praying in the Spirit, praying in tongues while I finished folding laundry.

The next day I began to slip into the same pattern, daydreaming about the future, making lists, grocery shopping in my head, and the Holy Spirit again stopped me in my thoughts and said to me, "Use this time to pray instead."

This pattern continued over the next few days. At first, it was hard to change my way of thinking, my daydreaming, my planning, my future ideas. But after a few weeks, I found that I more easily slipped into praying while I was cleaning or doing laundry.

When the conviction first came I wasn't sure why God was asking me to give this up. Yet what I noticed over time, is that my heart became more peaceful and at rest. My mind became more fixed on things above, because I was slipping into prayer several times throughout the day. Now, there are days I spend up to an hour or two praying in the Spirit and I have noticed that I hear the voice of the Holy Spirit so much more clearly. He doesn't need to speak loudly for me to hear it. My heart is more sensitive to hear, to be attuned, to be ready to move where the Spirit moves!

It took some time, it took a few months of praying in the Spirit for 10-15 minutes at a time before I started to notice a significant difference. But because I obeyed, and continue to obey, He answers.

Do you hear God's voice? Do you know when the Holy Spirit is leading you? Do you know when He's pressing on your heart, or giving you guidance? If not, if you want to hear Him in greater measure, then what is the Lord asking you to give up? It might be a relationship that feels strained. Perhaps it's a hobby that occupies a lot of your time, or your phone or certain TV shows that aren't beneficial.

There is a picture floating around on the internet and social media, you've probably seen it. It's a little child holding onto a teddy bear, and Jesus is in front of her asking for the teddy bear. Behind Jesus' back is a bigger teddy bear, but He can't give it to her until she lets go of the little bear.

There is a wonderful principle in God's Word regarding blessings. The Lord won't give her the bigger bear until she has learned to give up the little bear. It's not that the Father doesn't want to bless her, in fact He wants to bless her in a bigger way than she even knows! She can't see the bigger bear, so she feels like God doesn't care about her. But in fact, Jesus cares so much that He wants to give her more than she currently has. The problem is, her arms are full, and she can't carry the bigger bear without giving up the smaller bear because the bigger bear is too big to be carried at the same time as the small bear.

The same is true for us. The Lord wants to bless us immeasurably, and sometimes that means letting go of relationships that no longer bear fruit, or hobbies that were once joyful but have lost their luster. Jesus wants to give us bigger and better things, but we can't receive it until we have learned to let go of our current armful and trust Him to carry that armful for us.

He might have us walk with empty arms for a little while, as we learn to depend and trust in Him completely. The Lord might keep our arms empty for some time as He grows our faith, because we need stronger arms and greater faith to carry what He desires us to carry. And one day, when the time is right, He will fill our arms with a bigger blessing than we could have ever have imagined.

Today, if you sense (or have sensed for some time), that you're carrying a bear in your arms that the Holy Spirit has been pressing on you to let go of, hand that bear over to Jesus. Use that time to pray instead.

Use that time to be in the Word and in communion with the Lord. I promise you, a bigger blessing is in store than the one you were carrying around.

Learn to Get Quiet

About a week ago I was vacuuming our living room and praying in the Spirit. I was quietly praying aloud while I vacuumed, and just enjoying the flow and outpouring that the Holy Spirit was giving me while I prayed.

While I was vacuuming my daughter Skylar was bopping around saying, "You didn't got me! You didn't got me!" I looked over at her and corrected her saying, "You didn't get me!" She loudly said, "What?" And I corrected her again, even louder. Again, she said, "What???"

I just shook my head and thought in my heart, 'I'll correct her when I turn off the noise so she can hear me.'

Immediately the Holy Spirit said to me, "The same is true for my people. Martha was worried and troubled about many things. But Mary was at rest because she shut off the noise and sat Jesus' feet. You can't hear from the Lord unless you turn off the noise."

I could feel the charged atmosphere around me from this word of wisdom the Holy Spirit had given me, and I took a few minutes to let it soak in and enjoy it.

The thing is, while it was loud all around me because I was vacuuming, it was quiet in my spirit because I was at rest praying. My heart was ready to hear, and my mind was open to what God had to say.

Life is loud and life is busy. Despite that, we can learn to be at rest in our hearts even when our homes are noisy and the world is crazy. We can learn to rise above the storms of life by living in the Word, in prayer, in communion with Jesus every single day. The storm may rage around us, but like an eagle we will soar above it as we tune in to what God has to say.

We can be in the storm for some time, feeling like a lone boat out on the water. But when Jesus is in the boat we don't have to worry about the waves or water sinking our ship. We don't have to worry about where we're headed or how we'll get through the storm to the other side. We don't have to worry about the timing of when we'll arrive.

All we have to do is keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is with us in the storm, and because He is we know that on the other side of the storm is deliverance, healing, blessing, promise and salvation.

What's your teddy bear? What is preventing you from being with the One who loves you and desires the absolute best for you? What needs to go in order for you to hear Him and what He's saying?

Let it go, spend that time with Him instead. As you do, you will find that He's speaking more often than you realized. He will fill your heart with peace and joy as you pray and commune with Him. He will bring you safely to the other side of whatever storm you face, and He will give you rest in the midst of it.

Only Jesus saves, so let go of the busy and be with the Savior.

With Joy, Jessica

Change Your Mindset

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 21:03:00 GMT

Something within our flesh is always reminding us of the fall of Adam, always reminding us that we are fallen creatures. Yet, when we received Christ Jesus, we were born-again. The scriptures tell us that our lives are now redeemed from the fall! (Galatians 3:14, Hebrews 9:12, Romans 3:23-26)

But why is it that our minds always fall back on our deficiencies? Why are we constantly aware of our lack and our neediness? I believe it's because of what we think. It's because of what we focus on.

Instead of being focused on our new status and identity in Christ, as sons and daughters of the Father, joint heirs with Jesus, our minds think about what what we still lack. We think about our guilt, our sins, our faults, thereby condemning ourselves. We live in the flesh, and walk in the flesh, instead of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and walking in the Spirit. That's what I believe is wrong with our thinking!

When we fix our minds on Christ and what He's done, we change our thinking from that of poverty and lack to that of abundance and ease. Our lives begin to reflect our change in thinking simply because we are remembering who we are in Christ. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul's Conflict

In Romans 7 we have an opportunity to see Paul wrestle with his own thoughts. It's as though the Lord knew we would all have this same occupation with our flesh, this same suffering and wonder, "how can I fix this? Why do I keep doing what I don't want to do?"

Romans 7:14-17 says, "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me."

Have you ever felt like that? I have many times. What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do. Maybe it's giving into anger or emotional outbursts. Maybe it's overreacting to situations that later, with a cool head, you have the ability to discern what should have been said instead of what was actually said. Maybe it's self-reliance or pride, overeating or drinking in excess. The flesh is all of these things and more.

A month ago or so I was struggling to come up with anything to write about on my Instagram account. I have been only allowing the Spirit to lead me when I come up with Instagram posts, but on this particular day I wasn't feeling the Holy Spirit lead. Instead of being mindful of that and going to the Lord in prayer, waiting for Him to move, I rushed ahead and tried to create something based on my knowledge of the Word. The result was that everything I came up with fell flat, and it had an element of self-effort. There was nothing Spirit-filled about what I created. It lacked the Grace of God!

I spent a few weeks in turmoil about this, spinning everything in my head until I finally came to the end of myself and surrendered my "knowledge" to Jesus. I submitted my heart to Him and relinquished my pride, my ego, and "my wisdom." The truth is, there is nothing good in me. The only part that's good is the part that Jesus occupies. My spirit is filled with His Spirit!

And that's the part that's completely redeemed and is always at work redeeming my body, soul, heart and mind. But the minute I take my eyes off of Him, is the minute I fall back into depending on myself and my flesh.

I think Paul knew that we would have this same issue, because he wrote it down so that years later we could see there's a struggle with our fleshly thoughts, desires and emotions.

I want to pull out the text in the Amplified version for you, because it brings some great clarity to what Paul is actually referring to within these few verses:

"We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am a creature of the flesh [worldly, self-reliant—carnal and unspiritual], sold into slavery to sin [and serving under its control]. 15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. 16 Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do, [that means] I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good (morally excellent). 17 So now [if that is the case, then] it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me."

( Romans 7:14-17)

I'm going to break this down, because it will help us understand what it is within us that we hate. First off, it says the Law is spiritual. What does he mean? Well, the law was given through Moses by God. The Law is perfect, there is nothing wrong with the Law. It's absolute perfection! The problem is, we're not perfect. If we were able to keep every commandment within the Law (not just the 10 commandments, the entirety of the Law which is 613 commandments), then we would be perfect. We would have no need for Jesus to save us.

The Law is spiritual because it's God-given. So this is what Paul is saying, "I know the Law is spiritual (perfect, given by God), but I am a creature (an animal) of the flesh and I don't have the ability within me to adhere to it."

Paul is all of us, we can't keep the Law. We can't earn our place or our right into heaven. We can't work hard enough or be good enough in and of ourselves. We're simply not smart enough, wise enough, or knowledgeable enough! Whenever we try to be good enough in some area of our lives, we become animals to our flesh. Look at Hollywood, they are literal slaves to whatever whim comes along. They are sold in slavery to sin.

Now it's easy for those of us who are born-again to scoff at how other people live in sin until we also start to depend on our flesh and fall into sin too.

If we at all depend on ourselves, we will become worldly and unspiritual just as Paul did. How many pastors have you heard of that fell off the pulpit into the arms of another woman? I can think of a few famous ones, and a few not so famous ones. How did that happen? It's because they took their eyes of Jesus and thought they could depend on themselves. We can't afford to take our eyes of Jesus. If we do, the cost will be great.

I love that the Amplified uses the word habitually in verse 16. Whatever we give habit to will become second nature to us. The way this version says, "Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do", then what happens is that "it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me." Essentially what Paul is saying is that if he keeps giving into sin, then he forfeits who he is and gives into the sin nature. He lets sin have dominion and control over him and his life.

When we receive Christ Jesus we are born-again. We have died to sin and death, and we are born into the spiritual realm, born into God's family. When Paul says, "it is no longer I who do it", he's referring to who he is, as a born again son of God.

It's like the prodigal son who left his father's home and decided to live in sin, squandering away his inheritance, title and sonship. He leaves what he knows and he habitually chooses a sinful lifestyle. He's still a son of a wealthy landowner, but he's not living like one. He's still a son with a father who loves him and wants him to come home, but he has forfeited that life for one of debauchery and immorality. Even when he lives with pigs in the mud, he's still a son of wealth! The prodigal son choosing to live like a sinful orphan doesn't make him a fatherless child.

At some point, the prodigal son probably started to feel like his sins, feel like a pig in the mud. He was so lost in his senses he was willing to hang out and eat with them! But how he felt didn't change his identity. Just because he feels like a pig, it doesn't make him an actual pig! His feelings don't have the power to change his identity.

We live in a day and age when our feelings have become our very identity and we forget that our feelings are just that, feelings. They change and they fluctuate. But we focus on them and give them permanence instead of giving Truth its rightful place and a permanent fixture in our lives.

In essence what Paul is saying is that he's still a son of God, but he's given into his sin nature. So he says it's not me, it's my sin nature. Because even when we sin, it doesn't change who we are in Christ. It's no longer us, our redeemed selves that lives in sin, but the sin nature within us, our flesh, that is doing the sinning. See, we have been redeemed from the curse of the law, so when we fall back into old habits from before we were saved, it's not our new identity! It's our old self, our old sin nature that's acting up!

So, How Do We Stop Ourselves From Sinning?

Ahh, good question. Do we tame it? Do we suppress it? Do we get emotional and depressed about it and condemn ourselves? Do we punish ourselves by feeling guilty and then think we're paying penance for our old natures?

I'm so glad Paul answers this question for us so we don't have to figure it out ourselves.

"Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]? 25 Thanks be to God [for my deliverance] through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind serve the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness, my sinful capacity—I serve] the law of sin."

Romans 7:24-25 (AMP)

Jesus Christ is our deliverer! We look to Jesus to save us! Whatever part of us is acting up and corrupted, we surrender it to Jesus and ask His saving grace to take over in that area of our lives.

We can't save ourselves out of our own misery and sinful nature, only Jesus can do that, but we have to actually go to Him.

In the story of the prodigal son, the father didn't go to his son and pull him out of the mud. The son finally came to his senses, realized he couldn't save himself from his poverty, and went home to his father's house. His intent was to be a servant, and his father reestablished him, reminding him he is a son.

The same thing happens today for you and me. When we finally get to the end of ourselves, to the end of our self-sufficiency and self-reliance, when we finally stop trying to save ourselves and we run back to the Father and say, "save me from myself! Save me from my sin!" It's then that Jesus and His grace begins a new work within us. He won't force Himself on us, He waits for us to ask to be saved.

We have to pull ourselves out of the mud and go home. We have to come to our senses and recognize who we are, that we don't belong like pigs in the mud.

We don't belong in a place where we live in our feelings. We don't belong in a place where we surrender to sin. We don't belong in a place where we forfeit grace and try to earn our own righteousness under the Law.

At some point, we have to stop trying to save ourselves and recognize that only Jesus saves. Only Jesus is a Savior.

You Are Royalty

I heard a story once about how Queen Elizabeth acted as a child. Apparently she had a very mischievous nature at times. One person recounted that she climbed on the dining room table as a kid and ran up and down the length of it during dinner.

Elizabeth wasn't supposed to be become queen. She was born to the second son of a king. She wasn't in direct line for the throne. When her uncle abdicated his position as king in 1936 Elizabeth was suddenly next in line to rule behind her father.

Up until this point, she had acted as a regular child (albeit a princess), playing with her horses and dogs and enjoyed childish things. The day she realized her uncle had abdicated, she started to behave differently. She recognized her destiny had changed and she started acting more grown up, dignified, stately. She had a sudden shift in her mindset, in her thinking.

We are like Queen Elizabeth. Before we receive Christ we are like her as a child. We act like a child, we think like a child, we behave like a child. We have been created by the King of kings, but we aren't in direct line to the throne.

After we accept Christ as our Savior our destiny changes. We are no longer headed for hell, living like worldly paupers. Now we are royalty. We are sons and daughters of the Most High God. He takes us on, and adopts us into His family. We have a new Father, and a new identity. We are princes and princesses, and our Father is King.

Some time ago the Lord gave me a vision. I was in the middle of speaking to my Father when suddenly in the Spirit I was in the throne room of God. I saw myself standing before the Lord while I was praying, and I was dressed like a princess with a crown of gold on my head. I recounted the full vision in my article Make Jesus Your Person , but I say that here because at some point we all forget who we are.

We forget that we are royalty, born-again saints of the MOST HIGH GOD who is our FATHER! And when we forget, we often find ourselves back in our old pigsty, hanging out with the pigs and getting muddy.

When you realize this has happened and come to your senses, the key is to get out of the mud and go home. But we also need to do as Queen Elizabeth did in order to not end up back in the mud with the pigs, we have to change our thoughts, change our mindset, change what we think about. We can't think like the paupers we once we were, we have to start thinking like the royalty we now are.

Paul said the same thing in verse 25 "So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind serve the law of God." (emphasis mine)

The Greek word for repentance is metanoeō, and the definition is "to change one's mind." That's it. Change your mind, change what you think.

Our English word for repent means "feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin." I find it fascinating that our English word doesn't match up to the Greek definition of repentance.

The Holy Spirit inspired text used the word metanoeō, because God doesn't want us to grovel, feel shame, guilt or regret over what we've done. We're not supposed to wallow in self-pity over our actions. The actual definition of Philistine is wallowing in the dust or ashes, self-condemnation. The Philistines were enemies to the Israelites and they are our enemies today. Wallowing in self-pity or living with a guilty conscience is an enemy to the freedom Christ bought for us!

If we feel guilty or condemned over our mistakes, it's like we feel our sins need to be punished twice. Jesus already took our sins and guilt on Himself at the cross. Our sins were already punished in His body! All we're supposed to do is receive His forgiveness when we sin, and then change our mind about how we've been thinking and living.

"Every priest stands [at his altar of service] ministering daily, offering the same sacrifices over and over, which are never able to strip away sins [that envelop and cover us]; whereas Christ, having offered the one sacrifice [the all-sufficient sacrifice of Himself] for sins for all time, sat down [signifying the completion of atonement for sin] at the right hand of God [the position of honor],"

Hebrews 10:11-13 AMP

Elizabeth wasn't born to be queen, but through a series of events she ended up as one. You and I, we were actually born to be royal. We were made to be in communion with the Lord, and because of the blood of Jesus and His death on the cross, He has made a way for us to become sons and daughters of God. (John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 6:18)

Whenever you don't feel like a prince or princess, change what you think. You are one. Stop living in your feelings and start thinking about what is true: you are a daughter and son of the King of kings. You are sanctified. You are holy. You are righteous. You are forgiven. You are worthy. You are.

Forget Not

Who you are in Christ doesn't change, your status doesn't change, but what you think does. If you start to feel depressed, sorry for yourself, anxious, guilty, then look at what you're thinking about. When these emotions and feelings come, take a step back and look at your thoughts, really look at them.

We often let our thoughts become like runaway horses without a bridle, a wild buck untrained. We don't take ownership over what we think, and we don't take our thoughts captive. Then we wonder why we're a slave to sin, to every feeling and emotion that comes our way!

It takes discipline to capture our thoughts. It takes purposeful intention to realize that we can choose what we think about. We can either choose to have a slave mentality or a royal mentality. We can choose!

I was pondering these words when the Holy Spirit brought this scripture to mind:

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalms 103:1-5 (NKJV)

The Hebrew word for mouth here is `adiy, and it means in the sense of trappings; finery; generally an outfit; specifically, a headstall. A few months ago I studied these verses and this one word sat heavily within my spirit. I couldn't get it out of my mind.

I prayed about it over and over, and pondered it and meditated on it, but nothing came to me.

I looked up the word headstall, which means the part of a bridle or halter that fits around a horse's head. Even that didn't help me. I understood that it meant our mouth's need to be bridled like a horse, but something about the phrase was just out of reach to my understanding.

While I was thinking about this topic of changing our mindset, that we allow our thoughts to be like runaway horses without restraining or training them, suddenly the Holy Spirit gave me this word of knowledge: "The Lord satisfies the mouth of those who take ownership of their thoughts and bring them captive to Christ. Your mouth will be satisfied with good things, and your youth renewed when you bridle your thoughts. Train them as you would a wild horse, and capture them with the Truth."

The headstall is the Word of God! If you look up what a headstall is, it will say "it is a part of a bridle or halter that encircles the head." The Word of God, Bible verses, must circle around in our head if we want to be satisfied with good things!

I was sitting in awe of the word of knowledge the Holy Spirit had given me when He breathed this word into my heart: "the key is found in verse 2: "forget not".

We're so good at forgetting aren't we? We do well for a few days or weeks, maybe months, but then we find ourselves wandering. Again. I love the lyrics from the song "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" because it exactly describes what our hearts are like.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let Thy goodness like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, oh take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

We are so good at wandering, so good at leaving our God even though we love Him. The most wonderful thing is though, Jesus is our perfect sacrifice, our perfect lamb. So every time we find ourselves in the pigsty, we don't have to feel shamed that we ended up there. Again.

Instead, all we have to do when we come to our senses is what the prodigal son did. Get up, get out of the mud, and go home. The Father will run to us with open arms, and the blood of Jesus washes away the remaining mud from our pigsty stay.

Beloved, before we sign off for the day, I want you to read this wonderful blessing over yourself. Remind yourself every day. Write it down and hang it up where you know you will see it daily. Bringing our thoughts captive is a daily exercise, a daily practice. This is how we renew our minds about who we are in Christ.

I am royal

I am a son/daughter of the King of kings

I am joint heir with Jesus Christ

I am saved by grace!

The Lord is MY Father

I am fearfully and wonderfully made

I have a purpose on this earth and God has a plan for my life

I was not an accident, I was made for a reason

I am holy, worthy, altogether lovely

I am royalty

Writing to you with joy, Jessica

Receiving The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 15:25:00 GMT

I was around 4 years old when I received the Lord Jesus as my Savior. I really don't remember anything about it, but my mom told me that I said the words to the prayer that she prayed. I assume that to be my salvation moment in life.

However, I floundered in my relationship with Jesus throughout the next 14 years, feeling close to Him at certain times and farther away at other times. My understanding of God when I was young was that of an angry Father, which caused me to lose interest in Him when the tug of the world came calling.

I left for college at 18 and the world left a quick mark on my life. I slipped into the life of a college student pretty easily, and senior year I found myself in a relationship I had no business being in.

The thing about walking with the world is that it will take everything you give it and then some. The more you walk with it, the more you slip down a slope into a valley that you can't get yourself out of...but Jesus can and He does. Once you embrace the world it will wrap roots around your life and imbed them deeply into your heart. When you choose Jesus and walk away from this lifestyle, it will take some painful months or years to dig these roots back up! Today if you haven't chosen Jesus, choose Him. It's far better to walk with Him than to walk with the world. Sin seems fun until you realize that you are making worse and worse decisions and have no ability to get yourself out of the muck.

I graduated college in December 2010 and in February of 2011 I was all alone, in an apartment in a city I didn't know, completely lost and afraid of the future. I knew Jesus was tugging on my heart and had been pursuing me all throughout college, but I hadn't given in to surrendering it all to Him.

One cold evening in February, I cried out to Jesus to take away the pain of the past and the pain I felt from being in a horrible relationship. I heard that still, small voice gently say, "Let go Jessica. Let go and let me. Surrender everything and I will take care of you forever."

And that was it, I let go. I surrendered everything in that moment, and I said yes to walking with the Lord for the rest of my life, no matter what that meant or where we would go. I said yes.

There Is More Than One Glorious Moment With Jesus

Surrendering to Jesus was the most important decision I have ever made. But there will be a lot of Yes's that Jesus asks us to make after that initial one, and greater glory and intimacy follows each one that we submit to.

A few years following my surrender moment I felt a little lost again. In the moment I surrendered, I experienced an incredible love and warmth that I had never felt before. Jesus filled my entire being and healed some places within me that I didn't know needed healing. He helped me walk away from my then-boyfriend. He changed my future!

But I felt like I was missing something, missing the power that Paul and Peter talk about that comes with the Holy Spirit. I was walking with Jesus, yet it felt like that which was in the world was greater than that which was in me. Do you know what I mean? Like you're trying to walk with Jesus, trying to do this life well, but there isn't power within you to keep the enemies at bay? That's how I felt.

My Bible says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) But I didn't feel the truth of this verse, and I realize that feelings are fickle, but it truly felt like the power of the devil was far stronger against me than the Holy Spirit residing inside of me.

If you have felt like this, trust me, there is greater glory available to you. The disciples learned this as well.

After Jesus was crucified and resurrected, He received His glorious new body. And because of the glorified body and Spirit within Him, we are able to receive the same Spirit, anyone who cries out to Jesus receives this SAME Spirit! We have the Spirit of Jesus Christ!

The disciples received this Spirit in John 20:21-22 "So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit."

In that moment the disciples were saved from death unto life. Jesus breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit within their heart of hearts. The same thing happens to us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. He breathes on us and the Holy Spirit fills us completely and we experience this incredible love and saving power of His grace.

But there's another power that the Holy Spirit gives, and it happens during the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is a fire, and the power of heaven fills us!

I said I felt like something was missing, and that something came a few years after my first surrender moment. I was crying out to the Lord during my quiet time one morning and praying, "Jesus help me! Save me from myself! Save me!" Suddenly in that moment, while I was crying out to Jesus, I was filled with the power and glory of the Holy Spirit. I didn't know what I was seeking for and what I needed. I didn't realize that I needed the baptism of the Holy Spirit to fill me with power.

During that moment, it felt like a lightening bolt hit the top of my head, and fire ran from my head into my heart. My entire being was consumed with this heavenly inferno, and power filled me that I didn't have before.

It was after this moment, after the Holy Spirit filled me with strength and with power, that my thinking became clearer and my prayers became bolder. I noticed I no longer felt powerless, crying out to Jesus to save me. Instead, every time I prayed I could feel the Holy Spirit within me working, feel the power of the living triune God going to work on my behalf.

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)

The first sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. Paul spoke about praying and speaking in tongues, often! "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all..." (1 Corinthians 6:11)

About a month following this glorious moment I began praying in tongues. It was slow at first, and I stuttered the words and barely was able to get them out, but I started learning this prayer language that the Bible talks about.

Praying For The Baptism

It's been 10 years since that day and I am so thankful that God answered my prayer when I knew not what I needed. We have this wonderful prayer language, this language of the Holy Spirit, and praying in this way allows us to commune with Him in an intimate way.

Praying often in tongues allows me to hear the Holy Spirit better, to hear His voice and how He wants to guide me. Praying this way has opened up my heart to hear heaven more clearly, and to commune with Jesus more effectively.

There have been moments or days when I am sad or depressed or anxious and I'll ask the Lord for help, and the Holy Spirit will whisper into my heart, "Pray yourself into peace Jessica. Go somewhere quiet, and pray yourself into peace."

As I spend time and pray in tongues, a warmth and peace envelopes my heart. Tears pour down my face as I experience the glory and wonder that only heaven can bring into our lives. Praying in tongues is like experiencing a little bit of heaven on earth. And it only takes 10-20 minutes in prayer before I find myself completely at rest.

If you have never prayed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I want to encourage you to do so. And once you have, begin listening to pastors who pray in tongues. Find Christians and their podcasts or teachings where you can hear them pray out loud, and then open your mouth and pray in this way.

Practice it over and over and over and you will find yourself filled with the glory of the Lord, with your mind stayed on Him, and a peace that fills your whole being. Amen!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving The Promise,

Your Promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, today I ask you to baptize me with the Holy Spirit

and with power from on High!

In Your name Jesus, by Your resurrected power,

baptize me with the Holy Spirit

and fill me to overflowing!

In Your name Jesus, I pray,

Amen!

Feed At The King's Table Continually

Tue, 31 May 2022 22:10:47 GMT

Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

-2 Samuel 9:1

Something happens when we don't skim through the Bible, but truly take hold of what is being said and feed on the words written. Revelations and secrets are revealed within these precious pages when we take time to eat at the King's table.

David is an Old Testament picture of our New Testament Jesus. David's name means 'beloved'. The first time we hear God's voice in the New Testament is right after the baptism of Jesus, and the Father says, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

David asked a servant named Ziba, from the house of Saul, if there was anyone left of Saul's family for David to demonstrate his kindness to. Ziba says there is one child left, but I want you to look at how this is written:

"And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”

So the king said to him, “Where is he?”

And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” (2 Samuel 9:3b-4)

David says, "Who can I show kindness to?" Jesus says the same thing to us today, "Who can I show kindness to? Who will let me be kind to them?"

The etymology of the name Ziba means alliance from the verb (saba') to be a collective, to combine and integrate. Throughout the Old Testament the Holy Spirit is often hidden in the text as a servant or even an unnamed servant. In this instance, Ziba is a picture of how we can be allied with the Father by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit through the acceptance of Jesus. Jesus desires us to say yes to Him, and He shows us His kindness, goodness, and power through the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit within us integrates us into the household of God and we are joint heirs with Jesus because of our alliance!

The Meaning of Machir, Ammiel & Lo Debar

There is a significant reason that the Lord chose to have these names mentioned as well as the place mentioned. All scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), so any time you see a name mentioned, any time you see a place mentioned, it means something.

The name Machir means bartered, and it can also mean sold. Ammiel means one of the people of God, my kinsman is God. The Lord picked a man to be king and sent him to Samuel. Before Saul became king, he was a man of humility. (1 Samuel 9:21) And after he was anointed by Samuel his life was immediately marked by the Lord. In fact, it says that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he prophesied among the prophets! (1 Samuel 10:10-12) Saul knew the presence of the Lord. He knew it within the very chambers of his heart. Our Bible says that the Lord gave him a new heart.

But something happened after he became king. Saul forsook humility and adopted a heart of pride. He forgot to wait upon the Lord and to wait for the Lord to move, and he began to take action himself. How many of us have done that? Instead of being still with the Lord, listening for the Holy Spirit to tell us when to move and when to stay, we forge ahead and try to make our own path? Saul does this.

After Saul decides to move without the Lord the line of kingship is taken away from his house forever. In essence, Saul bartered away his family line from the throne of the people of God by refusing to listen to the Word of God or to wait on the Lord.

Saul's grandson is living in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel because Saul bartered away his children's inheritance by trying to do life his own way. He chose to not be one of the people of God and he sold his children into a place called Lo Debar.

Lo Debar means 'No word, without a place to feed'. Saul literally bartered away the very Word of God by deciding to make his own decisions instead of waiting on God to speak. But we're going to break this word down even further so that you can see the fullness of it.

Lo - (lo'): means prohibition. The word serves as an absolute non-negotiable when it's paired with other words. For example, when we see the word (lo') in context, it would take a simple phrase 'not my people' to 'absolutely totally not my people'. It's a very strong negative non-negotiable word! So, in essence, the Lord is saying here, "there is absolutely no word, absolutely no place to feed on my word in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel."

Because Saul chose to not listen to the words of the Lord at all, he cut off his entire line from feeding on God's Word.

Debar derives from two different words, dabar (noun and verb) and deber. Dabar in the verb form means to deliberately establish and pronounce something. When you deliberately pronounce something, it causes the thing to become "real" in the mind of whoever understands this word, name or definition. It explains how God 'spoke' and then all things came to be.

(Dabar) means: if you see yourself healed in your mind, and you speak it out with your mouth, you will be healed. Before the world came into being, God had a picture of how He wanted it to look in His mind, then He spoke and out of His mouth came the mental picture He had thought. This is why wherever we see Jesus doing a miracle in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all we see Him do is speak. That's it. Sometimes He prays to the Father, and then speaks.

We never see Jesus deliberate in His head regarding someone's healing. We never see that! Why? Because in His head, in the eyes of Jesus, all people everywhere ARE healed! He bought the right for every. single. person. to be healed. So when Jesus spoke healing, He was able to see it clearly in His mind, and then He spoke what He saw.

Today, we have the same right. When you speak, you have the same authority as Jesus. If you see it in your mind, then speak it with your mouth. If you're believing for a baby, then picture yourself pregnant and speak it over yourself. If you need healing, then see yourself healed and speak healing with your mouth. Speak it! (Matthew 16:19 & Matthew 18:18)

The noun form of (dabar) means word. It can also mean "thing" since the naming of a thing (words) causes the actual reality of the "thing". God saw the "thing" in His mind, and deliberately spoke it out of His mouth. That is how the noun and the verb work together.

The second word that comes out of Debar is (deber): and it describes any deadly pestilence, which is a "word" that breaks unstable things apart. Now isn't that interesting?

As I was meditating on these two words, (dabar) and (deber), what God showed me is it's the picture of a righteous man and an unrighteous man. The righteous man speaks good things over himself and his family. Where there is brokenness in his home or life, he pronounces good things over it. He speaks life into his very home. The unrighteous man can't control his tongue, and he speaks curses over his life and his home. The unrighteous man causes more strife and pain because of his words which break down the hearts and minds of those around him.

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)

If you want to speak good things, change the picture you see in your heart. Feed on God's Word, on His treasures, and you will end up speaking good things because you see good things on the inside.

The Meaning of Mephibosheth

"Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?”

And he answered, “Here is your servant!”

So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” (2 Samuel 9:6-7)

Mephibosheth means one who destroys shame, end of shame. It comes from the verb (pa'a): to cleave or break apart (as by a sword), and (bosh): ashamed, (boshet): shame or humility. His name is a coming together of the sword that breaks apart shame.

We see this whenever we invite Jesus into our situation, He breaks apart our shame through the sword of the Spirit. The day that you surrender your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit begins a new work in you to take you out of your place of shame and restore you to a place of honor.

Have you ever looked back at your life and thought, "Wow, I'm ashamed of the things I used to do, or the things I have said or felt?" And you literally can't imagine making those same mistakes again? That's because the Holy Spirit has begun a new work in you, and every time you read the Word of God, the Sword cuts through your bones and marrow and renews what is broken within you.

David is like Jesus, he takes Mephibosheth out of his shame, ends the shame of his family line, and places him at his table. And how does he do that? He says, "and you shall eat bread at my table continually." It's a picture of Jesus saying to us today, "I will take you out of your shame, you will never be ashamed again! Come to my table, and eat my bread, continually." What is the bread? It's Jesus! He says, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

David reveals the secret of never being ashamed again. "You shall eat bread at my table continually." We have to physically grab our Bibles, pull up a chair, and feed continually. Don't stop feeding!

This doesn't mean you have to have your Bible open all day every day. It means when you rise, read the Word for 15-20 minutes. Then meditate on those words throughout the day, chew on them as you would food, eat them up in your mind as you're working or cleaning or running errands. Feed on them literally by turning them over and over in your head.

There have been so many revelations that God has given me when I just turn a passage over and over in my mind throughout the day. I will be doing the dishes, pondering a passage that doesn't make sense to me, when suddenly the Holy Spirit will drop a word of knowledge concerning that particular passage into my heart. That's how you eat at the King's table continually. You don't read it and forget it, you let the Words live with you all day, every day.

The Meaning of Micha

Toward the end of the chapter we read these words: "Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha." (verse 12)

Micha means 'Who is afraid?' But it's not the way we would think of this phrase. Micha is a shorthand name for Michaiah, which means 'Who is like YHWH?' Michaiah means, "who is like God? No one is like God!" And the shortened name, Micha means, "Who is afraid? No one that puts their trust in YHWH is afraid!" It's like his name is saying this: Because I trust in Him, who or what do I have to be afraid of?

As I was meditating on his name, on the meaning of the full name and shortened version of the name, suddenly the Lord gave me this verse: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

The man who has put his trust in the Lord, who sits and eats at His table continually all the days of his life, who does he have to fear? No one! What can mere man do to the one who sits with God?

In putting these names together, Mephibosheth is welcomed into the home of David, who is like Jesus welcoming us into the home of the Father and giving us a place to eat at His table. As we feed on His Word, He ends our shame, and gives us a new future. We will say "who is afraid? Not me! For the Lord God goes before me and defends me, the Lord God is my shield and my strength and my song. The Lord God is MY GOD!" That's what happens when we feed on His Word.

There are so many pictures throughout the Old and New Testaments where people are told to eat or are fed. Food literally gives us strength to go about our day, to keep carrying out the tasks and work at hand. Spiritual food and sustenance are the same, they strengthen us and give us the ability to do the work the Lord has called us and asked us to do. As we are strengthened, He changes the pictures in our hearts so that we see things the way He sees them, and we call those things forth from our mouths the way He does.

And He Was Lame In Both His Feet...

This particular passage shows up twice in this chapter, in verse 3 and in verse 13. There are 10 verses between these two, and 10 is the Hebrew letter Yohd which means divine order, completed cycle, measure, or group (congregation) whether for good or evil, blessing or judgement. In the case of Mephibosheth, the judgement on his family is completed when David acts as his kinsman redeemer and redeems his life. He ends Saul's shame on his family lineage and seats him at his table.

But lameness has a very significant meaning in the Bible. Whenever we see someone who is deaf, blind, lame or mute, it often depicts areas of unbelief, doubt and fear.

Lameness of the feet is a picture of one who is paralyzed and unable to step into the fullness of their blessings. Those who are spiritually blind or deaf can't see or hear the truth even when it's right in front of them. But there are believers who can see and hear, they know the truth and they have read it for themselves, but they are paralyzed to speak on it or act on it. They are afraid of what people will think of them or say about them.

This is the picture of the lame Mephibosheth. He was living in a place where there was no word, no place to eat. He must have heard of how David is a kind king, and perhaps had seen others blessed by David, but he was paralyzed to act on it and see David's kindness for himself. He was too afraid to approach David and ask for a blessing.

I was thinking about Mephibosheth's story, how his nurse was the one who accidentally dropped him in her haste to escape (2 Samuel 4:4). As I thought on this, the Spirit showed me that it's a picture of someone else who has caused Mephibosheth to be crippled, and not something of his own doing. He was a child when this happened to him, there was nothing he could do! He was hurt because of the actions of someone else.

The Holy Spirit showed me that sometimes things happen in our past that has us crippled in some way. It could be a parent, family member, or someone completely unrelated who has harmed us and we were powerless to stop it. Whoever this person is, and however their mistakes have hurt you, you don't have to be paralyzed by it anymore. The King has invited you to His table. He has given you His bread to eat, so eat it continually. Eat it until the past is a forgotten memory and it no longer has the power to keep you paralyzed and gripped with fear.

Today, Jesus' heart for you is that you would be set free from anything that keeps you from walking in the fullness of His plan and purpose for your life. Pull up a chair at the King's table, and while you're feeding on the Word, tell Jesus about the things that have you paralyzed. Tell your kinsman redeemer all about the hurts and pains and ways you have been betrayed, and He will bind your wounds and put an end to your shame.

Sometimes things happen to us that are totally out of our control, but how we deal with the painful circumstances and trauma are completely within our control. So whether you are paralyzed to speak out and act because of fears in your mind, or have doubts and unbelief placed on you from a family member, if you give them to Jesus He will walk that road with you and heal you. I know it, because He's done that for me.

"In the day when I cried out, You answered me,

And made me bold with strength in my soul."

Psalm 138:3

With joy, Jessica

Prayer

Lord Jesus, heavenly Father, I come before you

today and I ask for strength and

boldness to face the future.

Holy Spirit, I come into alliance with you and

allow you to change me and renew

a right heart within me.

I pray that where I am spiritually

blind, deaf, mute or lame

that you would reveal those areas to me,

pluck them up by the root,

and cast them into the depths of the sea!

I pray for a desire to eat always at the King's table,

and for a heart that continually seeks out the

nourishment and bread of Jesus.

Feed me and fill me up with

Your Word and Your revelations.

May I never leave my chair at Your table,

for You are my King forever and ever,

Amen

Make Jesus Your Person

Sat, 14 May 2022 18:36:00 GMT

Who is Jesus to you? When you think of Him, think about Him, do you see Him as something specific?

I was at work one day when my best friend's mom sent me a text asking if we could get together for lunch. I remember thinking, whatever this lunch was about, I was never going to be the same afterward. I was right.

During that lunch I learned that my best friend had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Life changed drastically after that.

Over the course of the next 5 years, I spent time praying, bargaining and pleading that the Lord would cure her illness. One month after her 30th birthday, she went home to be with the Lord. I wasn't sure who I was going to be without my best friend. I felt like I had lost a limb, and I was heading into the future completely handicapped.

The day after she passed, I walked out of work and I said to the Lord, "what do I do now? Who will be my best friend?" The presence of Jesus was so palpable, like He was walking right next to me as I headed to my car. I haven't heard the Lord's voice audibly that often, but on this day, I heard Him audibly whisper to me, "Will you allow me to be your best friend?"

I remember hesitating for a second before responding, because I knew the weight of what He was asking of me. I knew that if I said no, I would regret it for the rest of my life; but if I said yes, I would be moving into a future that would stretch me and test me. I knew if I said yes, that I wouldn't be able to plan my future for myself, and I would be submitting to the Lord whatever His plans are for my life and future. I knew it would be scary, and I knew I didn't have any other choice. I said yes.

That yes has radically changed my life.

A few months ago I was listening to a sermon one morning and the pastor was sharing a story of something that happened with his daughter. She had lost something and they couldn't find it, and the pastor was going to give up on the search when the Lord said to him, "are you willing to let this go?"

In that moment, something that I had been praying about for months bubbled to the surface of my heart, and I said to the Lord, "I'm not willing to let this go!"

As I said those words, I was suddenly transported in the Spirit to heaven. In the vision, I was looking at myself through the eyes of someone else, and I could see myself standing before the throne of God.

I was wearing a crown of gold, dressed in silk finery with slippers of silk on my feet. The floor I was standing on was made of pure gold. As I looked at myself, dressed as a princess in the courts of heaven, standing before the throne of God, I realized that's how God sees me when I pray. He sees me as His daughter, His princess, His child dressed like royalty.

I knew I had a crown of gold on my head, but I didn't feel the weight of it. I looked down at my feet and the slippers were soft, they fit perfectly. I stood on solid gold, and the steps before me were made of pure gold. I looked up at the throne and it was completely shrouded in white light, yet I could discern through the light that the Father had a shape. My natural eyes couldn't see His figure, but my spiritual senses understood He had a form.

I looked up at the throne and I said to my Father, "Lord, I will not give up this dream You have given me. I will stand and I will fight. If I have to fight for years I will do that!"

As I spoke, I discerned in the Spirit that the Lord shifted His weight and leaned forward to hear me better. He cared about what I was saying. He desired to hear me. Obviously the Lord can hear me without me even saying a word! But He wanted me to know, without the shadow of a doubt, that He desires and yearns to hear from His children. He wants us to come into His presence! He wants us to pray, to talk to Him! He cares about what we have to say!

I lifted my hand to the throne, and as I did I noticed my arm was covered in gold bracelets of different thicknesses, and there were many of them. My vision ended with me staring at these bracelets, and I knew it was significant but I didn't know why.

And then I was back in my body, and the sermon was still playing.

When You Make Jesus Your Person...

Your life will never be the same. There will be hard seasons, because God will ask you to go places you've never been before.

When you walk with God and you give Him everything, all of you, there will inevitably be a wilderness season that He brings you through while He's crafting you into the person He wants you to become.

Yes, there will be hard seasons with the Lord. But there are hard seasons without God too, and it's much better to walk those difficult times with God.

When you make Jesus your person, He also gives you an indescribable joy, a peace beyond anything our natural bodies can understand, and moments of incredible glory that far outweigh the hard seasons of life.

Receiving a vision from the Lord is better than any movie man has ever made. Receiving a dream from God is better than any waking moment on earth. Receiving a word of knowledge from the Spirit is better than any novel we could ever read. And these moments of glory are what Paul spoke about when he said "And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

When you make Jesus your person you will have the most glorious moments of your life. He will transform you and cause you to look more like Him, and as He does that you will get to experience incredible things from Him, from heaven. You will have the chance to hear His voice, experience His presence.

You Are Royalty

The Lord allowed me to see myself as He sees me. When we pray, we are standing in the presence of our Father. We are royalty.

Beautiful beloved reading this today, you are a prince! You are a princess! The blood of Jesus bought you the RIGHT to stand in the heavenly places with our Father! When you pray, you are dressed in royalty, crowned in gold and righteousness! (2 Timothy 4:8) You are dressed in silk, standing on floors of gold. And God shifts His weight to hear you better! He yearns to hear from you. He wants you to come into His presence and ask for what you need. He longs to hear your voice!

You don't have to be formal about your prayers, you can pray whenever you have a need. As you wash the dishes, lift your requests to heaven. When you're driving your kids to school, pray for their day and for yours. As you clean the house, talk to Jesus as you would a friend. He loves that! I know for a fact that He does, because He asked me to be His best friend. And I know He wants to be yours too.

And when you pray, pray with the knowledge that the Father yearns to hear from you.

The Gold Bracelets

I mulled these bracelets from the vision over and over in my mind throughout the next day. I asked the Lord over and over, "what does this mean? What is the significance of the bracelets?"

I immediately understood this to mean that every thing we go through has a purpose. Pain has a purpose in the kingdom of heaven. When you experience something extremely challenging, and you invite Jesus into your pain and hardship and walk that journey with Him, He shapes you and molds you and changes you until you are refined like gold. Your character becomes more stately and polished, and you come out of the challenging season with far greater patience and perseverance, strength and determination, beauty and loveliness. You end up walking taller and more assured of who you are, because you are more assured of who Christ is in you. It's a difficult process, with a worthwhile end.

Today, know this: whatever hard things you have experienced are not for nothing. God has a purpose and plan for everything under the sun, including your difficult experiences. When you give Him your pain, give Him your wounds, He binds them up as a physician and heals your hurting places. "He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow]." (Psalm 147:3)

Not only does He heal your broken heart and bind your wounds, but He does it perfectly. In fact, He does it so perfectly that in a year or two or three, you won't have any lasting pain or side effects, but instead you will look back at your painful memories with a fondness when you remember how Jesus was your God in the midst of your suffering.

Perhaps today you aren't in a challenging situation, but maybe you went through something challenging in the past and never really got over it. I want to invite you today to let Jesus into that space with you. Talk to Him about your past and pain, and invite Him into that place in your heart that is holding onto the difficulties. He will fill your hardships with His grace, and you will get to see the goodness of the Lord. He will heal the places that are still broken. It's amazing what He can do when we let Him.

My friend, make Jesus your person. Invite Jesus into every area of your heart, and ask Him to be your best friend. I pray that you will experience the unbelievable life and amazing grace that only those who have fully surrendered to Jesus know and understand. It's so worth it.

With Joy, Jessica

Praying God's Favor, Benefits & Inheritance Over Your Life

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:53:52 GMT

I love using scripture as prayers. What an easy way to pray blessings and favor over our lives!

This morning I was in the Psalms and these verses in Psalms 106 jumped out at me:

"Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people.

Oh, visit me with Your salvation,

That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones,

That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,

That I may glory with Your inheritance.

Psalm 106:4-5 (NKJV)

I want to share with you the wonderful richness that is contained in these few verses written by David.

Favor

The word favor in the first sentence is the Hebrew word râtsôn, which means to delight, be accepted, favor, pleasure. It's derived from the word râtsah, which means to be pleased with, to satisfy a debt, to enjoy or be favorable, take pleasure. When the Lord remembers His people, He favors them. But it's not just that, He remembers us by being pleased with us, by enjoying us and showing His delight over us.

To be favored by the Lord means that He grants our requests out of His kindness. We are given preferential treatment not because we deserve it or because we have done something good, but because He is good. I love that! I love that He favors me not because I deserve it, because if it depends on me then I will never get it right. I still fail even on my best days.

But the Lord never fails. He is good all the time. When we ask Him to favor us, and it depends on His goodness, how can He not show us preferential treatment? I love it.

Salvation

The second line contains the word salvation, but I want you to see how this is written in Hebrew: yeshû‛âh. Does it look familiar to you? It's the Hebrew name of Jesus! Yeshua! Jesus is our salvation! He is salvation.

The name of Jesus is hidden throughout the Old Testament in Bible verses like this one. David received a revelation of the coming Messiah, which is why he penned these words: "Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, favored by God] is he whose transgression is forgiven, And whose sin is covered." (Psalm 32:1 AMP)

David knew that one day Jesus would come to the earth as a man. The Lord told David that through his line the Messiah would come. The Lord allowed David to understand that the death of Jesus would completely cover and forgive the sins of every man on earth. And David, with the full knowledge of what was to come, said blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven.

Today, there is no condemnation for us as believers whatsoever. We are totally and completely covered and forgiven. It doesn't matter what you did this morning, it doesn't matter what you did yesterday or last week, you are covered by the blood of Yeshua. You are saved! Completely!

But let's take a look at what this word, yeshû‛âh, fully means. This word means saved, deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, help, salvation, save, saving health, welfare.

What do you need today? What do you need from Jesus? Do you need health? Then He is your health. Ask Him for health! Do you need help? Then He is your help! Do you need victory in some area of your life? He is your victory! Do you need prosperity or aid? He is both!

Today, Jesus says to you, what do you need from me? Come to me and ask it of me, I am your salvation. Present tense. I am whatever you need.

If you have a need today, Jesus is your answer, your salvation. Go sit at His feet and you will find He takes care of your needs.

Benefit

Let's take a look at the word benefit. In the original Hebrew it's actually the word ţôb, which means good. There's so much packed into this one word that I'm going to give you just a few meanings (check out the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance for the full list): good thing, beautiful, best, better, bountiful, favor, be in favor, glad, goodness, joyful, kindness, liketh best, loving, merry, pleasure, prosperity, wealth, welfare, well-favored. And that's maybe half of what this word encompasses.

David says I want to see the benefits of your chosen ones. He's saying, I want to experience the best of what you want to give to those whom you have chosen.

David was saying this in the context of Israel, because all of Israel is God's chosen nation. When Jesus came and died, He gave anyone the right to be grafted into this family, to become God's chosen ones. It's not that God doesn't want everyone to be chosen, He does. His heart is that ALL would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). The Lord doesn't want anyone to perish. He hates hell. He doesn't want any of His children to end up there.

But for those of us who have chosen the Lord, who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are now chosen ones because of the blood of Christ which covers us. As chosen ones, we get the good things of God! He gives us all of His benefits! We get His kindness, His joy, His goodness, His prosperity, His wealth, His welfare, we are well-favored. Amen!

Inheritance

Finally, let's look at inheritance. Inheritance is the Hebrew word, nachălâh, and it means to inherit an heirloom or estate or portion, heritage, inheritance, possession. We know from the scriptures that the Lord gave His people land, and houses they didn't build, and vineyards they didn't plant (Deuteronomy 6:11). When David became king, God provided him with homes that he didn't have to build. (2 Samuel 5:11)

I don't know what the Lord has for you as an inheritance, but I know this: we can pray the scriptures over our lives and He will answer His Words. Ask the Lord for your inheritance. Ask the Lord for your possession. When the Israelites were on the edge of the promised land, ready to go in, Caleb said this to Moses, "Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it." And Joshua agreed with him.

They were the only two of the twelve spies who understood that the Lord had an inheritance for them. They were the only two who spoke positively about their situation, who looked at the land and thought, "giants built these houses, planted these vineyards, dug these wells; look at how big our homes will be! Look at how grand our gardens are! What big wells we will have!"

The other ten thought, "there are giants here! We are grasshoppers in comparison (Numbers 13:33)." They saw a negative outcome where Caleb saw a positive future.

Can I ask you a serious question? What do you see for yourself? Do you see a Lord that loves you, that has chosen you, that wants to give you an inheritance? Do you see a Jesus who is your salvation, and will provide whatever you need to be saved from? Do you see a God who delights over you and wants to bless you and favor you with His goodness and kindness?

If you don't, then change your vision of God. Change your belief of who He is. Don't be like the ten spies who die in the wilderness because they couldn't believe God wanted good for them, and would take care of their giants. Be like the two, who knew they would have bigger, better homes and gardens, and knew that if God had brought them out of slavery, He surely wouldn't bring them to the promised land only to kill them there. They were the only two who received the promise and didn't die in the wilderness. Be like the two.

Who is God to you? Who is Jesus to you? May you see Him for who He is: your Salvation, your Goodness, your Inheritance, your Prosperity, your EVERYTHING!

Pray this with me:

Oh heavenly Father, my God, my Jesus, my Yeshua!

Lord, I pray Psalm 106:4-5 over myself and my family.

I pray these words over my life.

Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people.

Oh, visit me with Your salvation,

That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones,

That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,

That I may glory with Your inheritance.

In Jesus name, and by His blood which covers me and saves me,

Amen

With joy, Jessica

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Prayer: Receiving The Secrets Of The Bible

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 01:03:35 GMT

"For the Lord gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

-Proverbs 2:6

I'm working my way through the book of Daniel right now, and one of the things that hit me is how many times the word secret is mentioned.

Have you ever had dinner or a coffee date with a friend where you're both so comfortable that you can reveal your hearts and souls to one another in a way that makes you feel connected? You are both so completely free to say the secrets within your souls, and isn't it a wonderous feeling? What trust you have in one another! It's so good to find a friend that when you get together, it's like a meeting of the souls. Secrets are revealed and there is no condemnation or guilt for doing so. We should all be so blessed to find a friend like that on earth!

Maybe you're reading these words and you're thinking: "I used to have that once." Or maybe you're thinking: "I've been burned because of this type of friendship." Perhaps your thought is: "I have never had that. I am jealous of those who do!"

Whether or not you have several friends like this, had one in the past, or have never had a friendship like this, there is a way in which we can ALL have this kind of friendship. Today, when you come to Jesus, you can reveal the secrets that lie within in the chambers of your heart. Jesus is this type of friend.

My Bible says, and your Bible says, "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity..." (Jeremiah 29:12-14a)

Jeremiah prophecies about the people of Israel being captured by Babylon, and their sons and daughters would be integrated into a culture of idolatry and wickedness. But, even in captivity, the Lord says call upon Me, pray to Me, and THEN I will listen to you. Seek Me and find Me, search for Me with all of your heart THEN it says I will be found by you.

The way it works with the Lord, is that He never forces Himself on us. Never! He leaves the choice of a relationship up to us completely, and we must make that choice. So, make that choice. Make that choice every day.

Daniel prayed to the Lord and asked Him to reveal secrets of Nebuchadnezzar's dream to him. Daniel asked! Do you want the Lord to reveal secrets and mysteries to you within His Word? Do you want to hear from Him? Then ask!

One evening I was watching Wheel of Fortune, and I was mulling on this concept of receiving secrets from the Lord. As I was pondering this thought, thinking about how God reveals secrets and mysteries in His Word to those who ask, I said to God in my heart, "Lord, reveal your mysteries to me, Your servant. Reveal secrets to me like you did to Daniel. Reveal the amazing wonders within!"

You know what He said to me? "Your Bible must be open first." I laughed so hard! He didn't say it to me in a condemning way. He said it to me the way a friend with a dry sense of humor would: He was being cheeky toward me but serious at the same time.

The next time you open your Bible, pray for the secrets and mysteries to be revealed. When you open the Word, pray that the Lord would show you Jesus, show you His everlasting love toward you, show you Himself. Do you want Jesus to make you laugh? Ask Him to make you laugh!

Usually when we say God has a sense of humor we are saying it ironically. We'll say something like, "I was never a patient person and then God gave me a difficult job/boss/marriage/child/friendship/etc. Now I'm learning to be patient. God must have a sense of humor!" That's not my God. He doesn't give us difficult circumstances because we need to be taught a lesson. Difficult things happen in this life because we live in a fallen world, and we have an enemy that hates us. That's why we need to have our Bibles open. This world is so fallen, and our enemy hates us with such ferocity, we can't afford to not open our Bibles.

But perhaps you have your Bible open all the time, and you want more. I also want more. I'm hungry for Jesus, hungry for His glory. If this is you, then pray this prayer and watch how the Lord reveals the most amazing things hidden within His Word.

Lord, blessed is Your name, the name of God forever and ever.

Wisdom and might and power are Yours.

You change the times and the seasons, and You give

wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

You reveal deep and secret things.

Lord God, I pray for faith and wisdom and understanding like Daniel.

I pray for understanding in all visions and dreams.

Daniel had tact and counsel when he spoke, I pray for tact and counsel when I speak.

Lord God, give me wisdom, power, might and understanding.

Jesus, I am hungry for more of you.

I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, I hunger for secrets and for deeper understanding

of your Word. I want to know You in a new and living way!

Satisfy my mouth with good things, my mind with Your wisdom and understanding.

I thank You and praise You.

Amen

Verses mentioned: Matthew 5:6, Hebrews 10:20, Psalm 103:5, Daniel 2:14, 20-21, 22, 23

It Is Finished

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 21:58:24 GMT

What does the word 'finished' mean to you? Does it give you a sense of satisfaction? Does it calm your heart and relieve your anxiety? That's what it does for me.

The dictionary definition of finished is ended or completed, perfected in all details, polished to the highest degree of excellence, accomplished. It's a complete word! It's absolute perfection.

When we complete a task, it might not come out as absolutely perfect in every detail, or polished to the highest degree of excellence. When we do a project, it might be perfect, or as perfect as we can get it, but there's always something that could have been done a little bit better.

When Jesus hung on the cross, right before He took His last and final breath, John records "Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19:28-30)

When Jesus says it is finished, He says it with absolute certainty and resolve that His death is, and was, perfect. His death is perfect in every detail, making it possible for every person who believes in Him to be completely redeemed and forgiven!

For me, finished means I have been made complete in Jesus Christ. Finished means that I have been totally and completely forgiven. And so are you.

Finishing The Cup Of Wrath

The gospels mention that Jesus was offered three cups of wine. These are important parts of the finished work!

The first one is mentioned in Matthew 27:34 "they offered Him wine mixed with gall (myrrh, a bitter-tasting narcotic) to drink; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it" and Mark 15:23 "Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it."

In multiple commentaries it is said that Jewish women would mix myrrh with wine and give it to those who were crucified to help ease their pain. Myrrh, when consumed, is a narcotic that helps diminish some of the excruciating pain of the cross, giving those who are crucified a small sense of relief. It would have dulled the senses, helped decrease inflammation and pain, as well as blocked certain receptors from experiencing pain in the brain. In essence, they would experience a high. Most criminals who were crucified would have taken this drink to help relieve their symptoms!

Jesus refused this drink because He knew the cost of the cross. He knew He must endure the entirety of our pain, our suffering, our sicknesses, our diseases, and the full weight of our sin and guilt. If He did not endure all, and had taken a shortcut to dull the pain, we would not be completely and totally forgiven today. When Jesus finished the work of forgiving us, He did it perfectly.

There are times when we go through extremely difficult things in life and it will be tempting to dull the pain. In fact, there may be times that we choose to dull it, to cut out the emotional or physical pain that we are in. We might choose alcohol or drugs. Maybe we even choose prescription drugs instead of doing the hard work of retraining our mind and receiving the finished work of Jesus. It could be food that's the escape, or sugar. Maybe you workout excessively, or feel the need to moderate your food intake. It could be busyness, or seclusion, or actually hurting yourself to feel something different than emotional pain.

Whatever your vice is, whatever your weakness is, I just want you to know this: Jesus died for it. Jesus took every single sin, every single thing you struggle with today, and it burned on the inside of Him so that you can walk in freedom. You are free!

Jesus refused the wine mixed with gall (myrrh), so that today you don't need a vice in order to live your life. You don't need alcohol, drugs, starvation, over-eating, cutting yourself, prescription medications, or anything else that keeps you from coming to Jesus with your pain. Come to Him! Come to Jesus! Put your pain at His feet, and receive His joy, His love, His peace, His provision for your weaknesses.

When you come to the Lord with your cup of wine mixed with your vices and let Him have it, He will exchange it for His perfection. Receive it. Tell Jesus you receive it. Tell yourself you receive it, and do that over and over. Lay down your pain over and over. Jesus took your pain and suffering and guilt and sickness almost 2,000 years ago. It has been paid. He not only took it all, He made sure He was conscious and aware of every single enemy that tries to keep us in defeat today. So, receive it! He paid for it.

The Second & Third Cup

The second time Jesus was offered wine it was because the soldiers cruelly mocked Him. It doesn't say whether or not He consumed this sour wine, just that it was offered to Him. (Luke 23:36)

The third time He is given sour wine it's because He asks for it in fulfillment of the scripture: "They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." (Psalm 69:21)

John 19:28-30 says "Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

The fulfillment of the scripture that is mentioned in John is that of Isaiah 51:17 "You who have drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of His wrath..." Jesus took the cup, He drank it completely. The wrath of the Lord is described as being filled up within a cup, and only when a cup is filled to the top would He destroy a nation. Did you know that?

When Jonah went to Nineveh to prophecy their impending doom, the scripture says, "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." Their cup had filled, their judgement was upon them.

Jonah didn't want to go because these people were known to be ruthless. They were wicked! He was afraid. He lacked courage. But you know what happened? They repented. They turned from their ways and repented of their sins, and they received forgiveness. Their cup emptied out because of their repentance.

Today, there is no cup of wrath. There are consequences to sin, absolutely. There is still a natural law to this earth. When Adam sinned, he gave the keys of this world over to Satan and his angels. God gave Adam dominion over this world (Genesis 1:26), Adam and Eve gave it to the devil when they sinned in the garden. But Jesus, but Jesus, he took back the keys of dominion with His death. (Revelations 1:18, Matthew 16:19) He bought our freedom.

When we receive the forgiveness that Jesus bought for us, when we receive the payment He made, we come under the grace that His death bought for us. His grace encompasses us and we are able to have every blessing in Christ Jesus.

Jesus, on the cross, experienced every single pain, sickness, disease, weakness, vice, everything. The entire cup of God's wrath consumed Him like fire as He became our literal burnt offering to fulfill scripture so that you and I can know this promise to our very core:

This is what the Sovereign Lord,

your God and Defender, says:

“See, I have taken the terrible cup from your hands.

You will drink no more of my fury."

(Isaiah 51:22)

It Is Finished!

John 19:30: "he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

It is done. What do you need today? It is paid for. Completely. Not only is it perfectly paid for, it's overpaid.

In the Greek, the word finished is teleō, which means to bring to a close, to finish or to end. Jesus brought to a close the covenant of the Old Testament, fulfilling the scripture that says, "Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17)N

This means that today, there is nothing you have to do to earn your salvation. There's no sacrifice you have to make to atone for your sins, no guilt offering that must be given for you to not feel condemned. You are forgiven.

There is no wrong you can commit that Jesus didn't already take on the cross! So don't feel condemned today, don't let your feelings get in the way of the finished work. Instead, change your mind. Change your thinking. Your thoughts dictate your feelings, so think right! Think on the finished work, think about the cross, think about what Jesus did for you, then you will feel joy, peace, and contentment.

Teleō also means to discharge a debt, payment, to go over. Not only did Jesus completely pay off our debts, eHe went over the balance.

It's like this: imagine that all of your sins and the ways you have messed up in your entire life accumulate to 1 million dollars. When you get to the throne of God in heaven after you have died (assuming you have accepting the Lord as your Savior), God looks at your name written in His Book of Life, and next to your name it says, "Debt Owed: 1 Million, Debt Paid: 1 Billion. This one is paid up." Then the Lord looks at you and says: "Welcome to heaven, my good and faithful servant."

That's how great the blood of Jesus is for you and me. His blood is so perfect, so sinless, so awesome, that He didn't just cover the weight of all of our sins, diseases, angst, depression, loneliness, and fears, He overpaid the payment! By a lot! We can't possibly know or understand how great He is until we get to heaven, but receiving the overpayment every day, every time you mess up, reminding yourself you have been made righteous because of His blood, puts His sacrifice into right perspective in your mind. We need to do that. We need to have a right perspective to enjoy the full benefits of His death. He died so that we may live. So live!

You Are Free Indeed

If you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, and you put your trust in Him, then know today that you are free. You are totally and completely and utterly free from anything that torments you. You are totally and completely free from any enemy that haunts you. Seize upon this truth!

I used to be someone who lived in my feelings. I remember a day when I was 24-25 years old and I cried out to the Lord saying, "Why can't I control my feelings! I hate having these outbursts!"

It was some time after crying out to Him over and over that He brought me to the verse: "We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP)

Did you know that living in your feelings is a proud thing? It is. It's pride to deny that Jesus has delivered us out of our slavery, out of our bondage to our feelings. It's not that feelings are bad, they help us live a fulfilled life. We cry when we are sad. We laugh when we are happy. We enjoy special moments and we are in awe when God shows up in awesome ways in our lives. But living in your feelings is bondage. When you live chained to how you feel, then you can't ever be rational, self-controlled or grounded despite your circumstances.

And we destroy sophisticated arguments and every exalted thing. Do you know who has "sophisticated arguments"? The devil. And he goes around whispering lies into the lives of anyone he can destroy. Do you know what sounds like a sophisticated argument right now? "Make sure you teach your children that gender is neutral so that they may choose for themselves who they want to be." Or "men can play on women's teams and women can play on men's teams." Or "God is angry with you because of this {insert how you've messed up} sin you committed." These are sophisticated lies and exalted things that are set up against the true knowledge of God.

When Satan comes at you and reminds you of your sin that you've committed, do you let him? Or when he tells you to live in your feelings and keeps you in chains to how you feel instead of to the Truth, do you just accept them for yourself? Don't! Stop letting him control you!

The next time you mess up and feel the condemning guilt of it, take those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. What is the obedience of Christ? It's stopping that thought right where it is in your mind, and telling yourself, "Jesus died for this. Jesus was obedient to my God, and He went to the cross and gave up His life so that I no longer have to be tortured by this. I no longer have to live with the guilt or shame of sinning. I am righteous! Jesus overpaid my debt! It is finished!" And every time that the lies come, remind yourself of the Truth. Every time that you mess up, remind yourself that you are redeemed. Every time that you hurt yourself or believe a lie, remind yourself that IT IS FINISHED!

And stop condemning yourself for your flesh. The flesh is what it is, it's flesh. It's fallen. But you, your life, your soul and spirit are redeemed.

I don't remember how long it took, but one day I woke up and I no longer reacted to things the way I used to. It was a battle to renew my mind, renew my thoughts. I can't lie and say it was easy. When the Lord called the Israelites out of Egypt, out of slavery, He brought them to the wilderness and to the promised land. In order for them to get to their promised land, they had to go in and fight their enemies. In order for us to get to our promised land, our freedom from our addictions and vices, we have to fight our enemies. We have to go in and possess our promise! And today, possessing your promises begins in your mind.

Jesus died, and with His final breath, His final words, He said "it is finished." He said that for us. He said that out loud so that John would record those words that we might read them and say, "my enemies are finished because of the cross." Today, your enemy must kneel to the cross.

Sit down and write out your enemies. Find Bible verses that speak against these things. Hold those verses close to you, write them on your heart. Instead of being like my friend who declares out loud that "she can't help her feelings, can't help her emotions" giving her enemy a voice and power over her life; be the saint you are and declare God's Word over yourself. If you have a disease, find a verse about healing. If you suffer from self-harm, recognize the root of your hurt and find a verse that speaks to how loved you are. If you use drugs or alcohol to numb something, look at what you're trying to numb and invite Jesus into those places with you. Find a word you can hold onto that tells you about how wonderful you are. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:14, Romans 8:1)

Whatever your weakness, whatever your need, whatever you lack, Jesus says IT IS FINISHED! He says to you, I PAID FOR IT! It's done! Go somewhere quiet, go for a drive, read these words aloud, and then shout out to the heavens, "I receive it!"

Whatever your battle is today, receive your finished work. Jesus wants you to honor what He did for you by not trying to earn it, by not trying to add to it, but by just surrendering to it, receiving it, and letting Him wash over you.

He loves you with an everlasting love, a love that is eternal. He loves you so much that He died so that you could be with Him in heaven forever. Forever! He wants to be with you forever! Receive that love my friend, and we will be together forever with Him in eternity.

With joy, Jessica

Prayer: When You Need A Miracle

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 02:17:00 GMT

Every day holds the possibility of a miracle.

-Elizabeth David

Praying when there's no answer, is hard work. It's also heart work. It takes courage and strength to keep praying. It takes perseverance and patience to keep going even when there is no reply. It takes dependence on God, and trusting that He knows what He's doing. It's in this process, in this season of waiting for God to move, that the real work happens. And it happens in us.

I wrote this prayer while in the middle of writing Knock And The Door Will Be Opened. As I was studying the Word of God and writing this article, He gave me a prayer for those who are waiting on the Lord for their miracle. A prayer for those who are in the wilderness and wondering when, when will you see your Promised Land?

Waiting is hard. I think it's harder than receiving a no from the Lord. We struggle to wait on Him, because that means we're giving up control of the situation. It means we're giving up control of the way we perceive our life should go, the way we plan for it to turn out. That's hard. But yet, God's Word says He is faithful, and His Word tells us to ask, seek, and knock.

Beautiful friend, today don't stop asking from the Lord. Don't stop seeking His face, and don't stop knocking until He opens the door.

Lord, today I'm not just asking for my miracle, I'm crying out for it.

I require you to answer me! Answer my prayer!

Lord God in heaven, hear my voice! I won't give up.

I won't stop asking for {name your miracle}.

I so desire for You to give me what I need! No one but You can.

Lord, I seek Your face, Your heart, Your will in this matter.

If You have a different path for me, then change my heart's desire.

If this is the right path, then lead me out of the wilderness.

Bring me to my promised land!

Father, I praise You.

I praise You for Your faithfulness, I praise You because You are mighty to save,

and You are with me.

I praise You because You take great delight in me.

Sing over me Lord!

Hear my cry and sing over me!

Father, I'm knocking on the door and only you can answer it.

I pray the blood of Jesus Christ into my life, into my situation,

and over myself and {name specifically what the blood must cover}.

The blood of Jesus speaks of better things than Abel,

better than any man who's ever lived,

and I call on Your blood to cover me, cover my miracle, and bring it forth.

In Jesus name, hear my prayer! Answer me!

Give to me my miracle! Amen!

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?"

Jeremiah 32:27 (NLT)

With joy, Jessica

Verses mentioned in this prayer: Matthew 7:7, Zephaniah 3:17, Hebrews 10:19, Hebrews 12:24

Knock And The Door Will Be Opened

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 17:37:11 GMT

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

Do you ever feel like you're praying and God's not answering? Maybe you feel even worse than that, like you're praying and God's simply choosing to not listen? I've felt that way. Many times before. But you know what? I've yet to see Him fail in His faithfulness toward me.

I was meditating on Matthew 7 this morning and the Lord prompted me to look into the deeper meaning of this verse to discover the beauties within. This one verse holds the key for receiving answers to our prayers!

I hope it encourages you to keep praying until you see God answer.

Ask, And It Will Be Given To You

There is one little verse in 1 Chronicles 28:4 where David mentions Judah being chosen of all the tribes. He goes on to say, of all the families of Judah, his was chosen, and then he says, "and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel." I love that verse. Do you want to be liked by God? I want to be liked by God. And that one verse has changed my prayer life and walk with Jesus.

When we look at Matthew 7:7 in the Greek, the words for ask, seek and knock are in the present continuous tense. The way these words actually show up are, "ask, and keep asking; seek, and keep seeking; knock, and keep knocking." Doesn't that change your perspective completely?

In fact, the Amplified Bible has it written the way we should understand it.

“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7 AMP)

The word for ask is aiteo, which means to beg, call for, crave, desire, or require. It's a very strong word! When we come to the Lord and ask for something, He's saying beg for it. Crave it or desire it so strongly that you quite literally require that I answer you! That's what He's saying to us and to His disciples. When you ask for something from the Lord, do you come into His presence with meekness, wondering if He wishes to answer your prayer? Or do you fall prostrate before Him and beg Him to answer you?

That is the one reason I believe that God has answered so many of my prayers. I can't leave the throne alone. Most days I live there. I literally refuse to leave God's presence and give up on my prayers!

There are times when I go through seasons of doubt and wondering. I wonder if God hears me or cares about me, but then I remember this verse and it fuels me. Does it fuel you? If you have a need, and the only one who can answer it is God, then ask God to do it! Get to a place of total dependence that you literally require Him to do it! And don't stop asking until He either changes your heart's desire, or moves heaven and earth for your miracle to happen.

The times when the Lord has blown my mind in the ways He has answered my prayers have been when I begged Him, when I literally required Him to answer me because I needed Him to. He loves this type of prayer. He's attracted to this type of prayer. He loves to be needed!

Seek, And You Will Find

The Greek word for seek here is zēteō. It can be meant in either a positive sense or a negative sense. In the positive form, it means to worship God. Seeking His Face, worshipping Him and following after Him is what this means. In a negative sense, it means to plot against. Ne

I find it interesting that there are wolves in sheep's clothing, doing this very thing in churches all over. They plot against God, seeking out places where He is worshipped to poison people against Him and bring down entire church bodies. This is why we need to be alert! Be aware of anything that goes against the Word of God.

Zēteō also means desire, endeavor, enquire, require, and seek after (something). It's another strong word! When we ask for something from God, pray for something, we must also seek His face. Seek after His heart on the matter, and worship Him. Do you want to see God answer your prayers? Worship Him! There's a reason that the worshippers were put on the front lines of battle. There's a reason why worshipping God brings down our enemies! w

The same word for seek in Matthew 7:7 is used in 1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Satan plots against anyone he can eat, trying to make them believe lies, be anxious, and troubled in heart. But those who seek after God, won't have to worry about the devil. When we seek the Lord, He becomes our rear guard. (Isaiah 52:12) God protects our fronts when we seek Him, and our backs because we seek Him!

When you pray and ask God for your miracle, don't forget to seek His face and worship Him for the God He is! Go before the Lord and desire Him, require Him to answer you, seek Him out and pray with all your heart.

Knock, And The Door Will Be Opened To You

The Greek word for knock is krouo, which means to rap, to knock. Pretty simple! So simple in fact, that I had to meditate on the word knock to get anything out of it. As I was pondering the word, thinking on it and mulling it over, the Lord showed me different pictures of people knocking.

When you go to your friend's house, you knock knowing they want to open it to you. You might give a funny knock on the door, or a series of knocks that plays out a melody. There are also times when I feel like that with God! I'm cheeky with Him, I tell jokes and laugh about it, or I'll pray for something kind of silly and then smile at Jesus, feeling Him smile at me.

Then there are knocks for emergencies. We've seen the movies, or maybe you've had an urgent knock on your door before. And sometimes that's how it is with our God. We knock with urgency, we yell out to Him, "answer me! This is an emergency! No one but you can do this!"

And then there are desperate knocks. The knocks where you are crying, on your knees, with what feels like bloody fists and all you can do is put your palm on the door and plead with God to open it to you. The only words you have are tears and desperate sounds. And God asks that you give Him those knocks too.

Don't Stop Asking, Seeking, Knocking

There are days when it's hard to pray. There are season when I've been asking for something for weeks, months, years, and yet there is still no reply. Those are the days when my faith fails, and it feels like every demonic principality has put a target on my back and they're winning. Those are bad days. On those days, I can barely summon a prayer. But my tears are a prayer. My sighs are heard from the throne of heaven. My desperate pleas reach His ears. And so do yours.

When life gets tough and it doesn't seem like anything is happening, all I have to say is keep asking and seeking and knocking. Get to a point where nothing will stop you from coming before the throne.

I want to know my God with everything in me, and I want Him to know me. I want Him to like me like he liked David. And so, I have bad days, but then I wake up the next day and dust myself off, and move forward. I keep praying, worshipping, and mediating on the Word of God. It sustains me. It gives me life. It gives me hope. And it reminds me that He is faithful, and He hasn't failed me yet.

When I hear of miracles happening to other people, I always think it can happen for me too. If God answered their prayer, He can answer mine too. Why? Because He's my God too.

Is He your God too? Then when you hear of miracles happening around you, of God answering other people's prayers, remind yourself that He's your God too. Heaven doesn't have a supply issue, we have a demand issue. He wants to answer you, but you have to require Him to do it.

Today, don't stop asking, don't stop seeking, don't stop knocking. When you ask, it will be given, when you seek, you will find, and when you knock, then the door will be opened and you will walk forward into your future of answered prayers.

With joy, Jessica

You Are Not Guilty!

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 18:59:47 GMT

So don't let Satan deceive you into feeling guilty...

Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]

Romans 8:1

The Amplified Bible has a wonderful way of writing the scriptures and calling out the hidden meanings within the original Greek text. Often the original meaning and phrasing gets “lost in translation.”

This verse is one of those places where our English doesn’t pull out the full meaning of the original Greek text. But if you look at it in the Amplified, then we can see the true richness of what the Holy Spirit meant when he showed this to Paul.

Starting with the first part, there is now no condemnation, no guilty verdict, no punishment for the believer. There is absolutely none! In the Greek, the word no condemnation is like a megaphone to say you will never ever ever be found guilty by the heavenly courts ever again! There is absolutely nothing you can do, no wrong you can commit, that will ever separate you from God’s love.

You are free from any sin you have ever committed, or will ever commit. God doesn't judge you! I think we have a hard time believing those words, that God doesn't judge us today as believers. Our conscience likes to condemn us when we commit a wrong. The devil comes against us and tries to remind us of our wrong-doing, and even pastors are guilty of focusing on people's sin instead of on our sanctification.

1 Corinthians 6:11 says that we have been sanctified and justified. Jesus' blood sanctifies us and justifies us and makes us worthy to come before the Lord. His blood did it! His blood also covers you and gives you the gift of no condemnation forever and ever.

All you have to do today is believe it. When the devil comes to steal this Word from your heart by condemning you for something you did in the past, don't let him. Keep this verse in the forefront of your mind, remind yourself that you are free from condemnation because of Jesus Christ. If he comes to attack you, look to Jesus! This is how you renew your mind and keep yourself free from feeling guilt over something in your past. Christ died to set you free from having a guilty conscious, honor His sacrifice by receiving it.

The second part of this verse is the clause for someone to know they aren’t condemned. The only catch of not being found guilty in the court of heaven is to believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. That’s it! And once you do, you will never ever be condemned, ever again.

If you have put your trust in Jesus, and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, then know that God is not angry with you. We can read about His anger in the Old Testament. However, did you realize that after Jesus died on the cross, God doesn't get angry with His people? Anyone who has believed in Christ, Jew or Gentile, will never receive God's wrath ever again! The only ones who will feel His anger, His justice, are those who do not put their trust in Him. But for the rest of us, He tells us beautiful things like this:

Come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]. (3 John 1:2)
For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)
But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all. (Psalm 34:19)
When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. (Psalm 104:28)

You may not always feel God’s love. You may not always have feel good feelings coursing through you, but this verse says that your feelings on this issue don’t matter. The truth is you are not found guilty for any past sin or wrong. No matter what. So even when you don’t feel loved, even when you feel condemned or guilty, know today it is not God who condemns you. Recognize the true author of those lies (the devil), and renew your mind. His Word says there is now no condemnation for those who believe in Him.

Take Him at His Word. When you feel attacked or condemned for a past wrong, come before the Lord and tell Him that you take Him at His Word. Tell the Father that you know you are not guilty because His Word declares it. And lay whatever guilt or condemnation you feel at His feet.

Sometimes our conscience reminds us of a past wrong we committed. When something comes up over and over again in your mind, learn how to receive God's forgiveness, and also how to forgive yourself. I wrote an article on this very topic because when we know we've done someone wrong, we often have a hard time forgiving ourselves for our past mistakes. (Read Jesus Says You Are Forgiven! )

Today, know in your heart that you are blameless in God's sight. Come to His throne and ask for whatever you need and He will hear you and answer you. Ask, and keep on asking until He answers your request. He hears you, and He will come to your rescue. (Read Knock And The Door Will Be Opened )

Keep these verses in the forefront of your mind and remind yourself over and over that you are not condemned. Shed any guilt you feel over the past at the foot of the cross, and walk forward in complete freedom in Christ Jesus.

With joy, Jessica

The Blood Leaves A Stain

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 22:37:04 GMT

I was cleaning out my refrigerator one morning and in the back of the fridge, I noticed an old wine glass with a little bit of wine leftover in it. I knew it had been in there for a few weeks, completely forgotten. I pulled it out and poured the wine out.

After pouring out the wine, I noticed a stain in the glass. I swished water around a few times to rinse out the stain. It wouldn't budge. The bottom of the glass stayed dark. I put the glass by the edge of the sink and thought, "the wine leaves a stain." Suddenly the Lord spoke loudly to my heart, "The Blood leaves a stain."

I love that the Father speaks to His children during every day moments. He uses insignificant details in our lives to show us just how much He is listening. He cares about our very thoughts!

The Hebrew Word for stain is the verb כתם (katam). This verb is found in Jeremiah 2:22.

"For though you wash yourself with lye

And use much soap,

The stain of your guilt is [still] before Me [and you are soiled and dirty],” says the Lord God." (AMP)

The stain of our sins, of our guilt, of our iniquities (which is the word used in many translations), leaves a mark. Sin leaves a residual trace in our bodies and on our lives. It's hard to remove the stain that sin leaves on us.

But what the Lord said to me in that moment is that His blood also stains. His blood leaves a mark, a stain on our lives! There is nothing we can do to remove it or change it, it's simply there the day we submit our lives to Christ and invite Him to be our Savior.

No longer are we marked by the stain of our sin. Now we can boldly declare that we are redeemed through the staining blood of Christ!

There are many songs that talk about how we are washed with the blood. It's true. We are washed clean from our sinful stains.

1 Corinthians 6:11 (AMP)

"And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior]."

Whenever I would hear previous pastors talk about being washed, it was always in the context of coming to the table for communion. Often they would say something like this, "before you come to the table, confess your sins and let the blood of Jesus wash you clean." It always made me feel not good enough or worthy enough to partake of the blood.

This teaching is not only incorrect, it's straight up dangerous because it makes you believe as though you must partake of the washing of your sins by first confessing. However, 1 John 1:7 says, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." The word here for cleanse is in the Greek tense for present and continuous action. This means that once we receive Christ we are cleansed, and the blood continually cleanses and cleanses us from every sin, every evil thought, every evil practice, forever!

The first part of this verse says "if we walk in the light as He is in the light." The if here means that we have come into alignment with Christ by receiving His perfect sacrifice for ourselves. We recognize that He is our Savior and we receive it. That's how we are in the light! We walk in the light by receiving Jesus as our Savior! And because we are now in the light, His blood continually cleanses us all day every day.

Take a look at 1 Corinthians 6:11 in the WEY translation:

"And all this describes what some of you were. But now you have had every stain washed off: now you have been set apart as holy: now you have been pronounced free from guilt; in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and through the Spirit of our God."

We have had every stain washed off and we are now set apart as holy. It is Jesus and His blood which makes us holy. His blood washes over us and leaves its own stain, the stain of holiness and of righteousness.

When you come before the throne today in prayer, you can come boldly knowing that the blood of Jesus has left you stained with His righteousness and holiness. You belong in the presence of the Lord. Don't come before the Father wondering if He hears you or cares about you, come boldly with confidence because the blood of Jesus, which speaks of better things than that of the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)

Did you see that? The blood of Jesus speaks. The blood of Jesus has a voice. The blood of Jesus declares that you ARE righteous! You ARE sanctified! You ARE holy!

Don't spend today wondering if you are worthy to come before the throne. Know today that you ARE worthy. Jesus made a way and His blood speaks of better things.

The blood leaves a stain and today that stain declares that you are made perfect in the Beloved. (Hebrews 10:14)

Are you saved? Have you accepted Christ as your Savior? If your answer is yes, then know you are stained by the blood of Christ. All of the promises in the Bible are yours because of His sacrifice. Need healing? It is yours. Need faith? It is yours. Just look to the blood, look to Jesus, tell Him of your need and it will be yours. Just as His blood continually cleanses you, continually come to Him with your need and watch as every need is met and every want is answered by the name and power of Jesus.

With joy, Jessica

Put Painful Toil & Trouble To Death

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 13:55:11 GMT

So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’

2 Samuel 1:14-16

I was reading this passage when the Lord opened my eyes to the beautiful truths written in these words. On the surface this chapter looks aggressive and sad. Saul had just died, and the Israelites were scattered from the battle against the Philistines. An Amalekite escaped the battlefield and after killing Saul, brought his crown and bracelet to David because he knew David had been anointed the next king over Israel. David rewards this Amalekite by having him killed.

None of this chapter makes much sense! Unless you dive deeper into the truths of what the Lord is saying. I was hungry for the deeper meaning within these verses, and as I pondered on what was happening, the Holy Spirit revealed the secrets within.

The Meaning of the Amalekite

When the Israelites came into the land to possess it there were giants of many tribes squatting in their inheritance. The Lord promised Abraham the land many years before, but because Abraham didn't go completely into the land of Canaan his descendants had to fight to have their promised land. If Abraham had obeyed the word of the Lord immediately, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and the sons of Jacob, would have been living in their promised land right away!

Instead, we see that Satan has brought squatters into the Israelites inheritance. Does that sound familiar? The Lord's scriptures say that we are promised good health because by Jesus' stripes we are healed. But maybe you have been robbed of good health. Has disease and mental illness, anxiety or depression, robbed you of many good years? Then there are squatters in your land!

Maybe you suffer from poverty, or a lack mentality. You believe that the Lord doesn't want to bless you with a good paycheck from the work of your hands. You believe that He doesn't want you to have wealth. But my Bible says, "You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT)

Are you living in debt with a poverty mindset? Then there are squatters living in your promised land!

Every single tribe that Israel fought against represents an enemy that attacks us. Philistine means wallowing in the dust; it's a picture of self-condemnation. Midianite means strife.

So, what was the purpose of the Amalekites? The etymology of the word Amalekite means people that wring, people that lap. And the meaning of the Hebrew word Amal is to toil, pain, sorrow, weariness, wickedness. Amalek can also mean warlike. Saul's entire kingship was marked with painful war and battles. Not once does it say that while he was king the land rested from war. Not once!

Is this your life? Every day, every month, every year is marked with battles? As hard as you try, it seems as though you're always at war? Your heart and mind are littered with the aftereffects from doing battle against the enemy?

There is a better way! Do not be another believer whose life is a constant struggle! I don't want that for you, and Jesus especially wants to see you set free.

When the Israelites came into the land, the Lord told them to completely destroy their enemies. God's heart for His people is that all their enemies would be gone. How do you do that? You go to war! Get into the battle! Not as Saul did, but as David did. Saul never completed the task of completely eradicating the enemy. David does.

In 1 Samuel 15:2 we find a command that God gave to Saul. "Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”

Remember that Amalek means warlike? Amal means toil, pain, sorrow, weariness, and wickedness? The Lord was saying to Saul, go eradicate this enemy which has caused toil, pain, and sorrow for my people. He was saying, they bring war against you. Kill them all, let none live, so that there may be peace in your land.

Instead of obeying God's voice, Saul saved the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings and lambs (1 Samuel 15:9). Worst of all, Saul spared Amalek's king, Agag. Instead of destroying the people who caused weariness and sorrow to the Israelites, Saul let their king live. The ruler of the enemy, Saul did not put to death.

How this looks in the life of the Christian today:

"I suffer from anxiety and depression. Instead of combatting this enemy which has come against me to rob me of my life, I will take medication to lower the symptoms." The worst of the symptoms might be gone, but the king still lives within your mind.

"I am easily angry, because my father or mother was always angry with me. I blow up at my children or husband, but then I am sorrowful and I apologize. I correct the wrong after the fact." Instead of holding your tongue, stepping out of the room and taking your anger to the Lord, you explode. But you always apologize! The people of Amalek might die when you say you're sorry, but the king is alive in your anger.

"I can't seem to have kids. Maybe God doesn't want that for me." The king is alive and well, making you believe a lie. God says, "No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days." (Exodus 23:26)

Don't let the king of your enemy live! Put it to death! Saul was immediately rejected as king after he disobeyed the command of the Lord. “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.” (1 Samuel 15:28)

Don't let s omeone else take your place because you were unwilling to go after the enemy with everything you got. Pursue it and kill it until it's dead and gone from your life.

Be Like David, Put Your Enemy To Death!

In 2 Samuel 1, an Amalekite came to David with Saul's crown and bracelet. It was a demonstration of the changing of the guard, a changing of the kings.

David asks the Amalekite how he knows that Saul and Jonathan are dead. He answers this way, "As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.” (2 Samuel 1:6-10)

David then has this Amalekite killed, because he touched God's anointed. Earlier in 1 Samuel we see that God tells David not to kill Saul. The Lord says to David, "touch not my anointed!" David lets Saul live.

When you accept Christ and come into the kingdom of God, you are under the Father's protection. You are His anointed. The Lord protects His anointed, but if you allow squatters into your land, eventually they will kill you. Saul let the king of Amalek live, an Amalekite put the final nail in Saul's coffin.

In verse 15 David kills the Amalekite. I was pondering this in my heart, telling the Lord it didn't make sense that David would kill the Amalekite for putting David's enemy to death. How many times did Saul pursue David to kill him and overtake him? How many times did Saul chase David through the desert until he had to literally leave Israel and live in enemy territory?

And the Lord said this to me, "David put painful toil, sorrow, weariness and wickedness to death before taking the throne." In the desert, David learned to trust in the Lord. He started putting together His army. Do you know what his army consisted of? "And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him." (1 Samuel 22:2)

Are you in distress? God can use you. Are you in debt? God can turn you into a warrior with wealth. Are you discontented? God can make you calm, happy, satisfied and patient. But, you must pursue Him. Pursue Jesus and He will turn your situation around. These men came to David because he was anointed to be the next king. They recognized him as the Lord's beloved. Pursue the Lord's beloved! Pursue Jesus today! He will change your mind, change your heart, change your life and bring you from poverty into wealth. He'll bring you from a place of distress into a place of delight. Pursue the Beloved! He will change you!

Before David took the throne he put his enemies to death. While living in Ziklag he raided entire villages of Geshurites, Girzites and Amalekites. He left none alive, but killed them all. In Ziklag, in enemy territory, David learned to kill the enemy.

Are you in enemy territory today? Has Satan come into your home, into your mind, and into your heart to rob you of your peace and joy? Has he robbed you of contentment and satisfaction? Has he robbed your family? Put him to death! Pursue him until he is dead at your feet!

How do we do this? Do as David did. Pursue the Lord with everything you have. Pursue Him in the desert and in the wilderness. Pursue Him when you are in enemy territory and behind enemy lines. When the water dries up because you're under the hot desert sun, drink from the Word of God by opening your Bible. When the food is gone because there is no manna in the wilderness, feed on the Word of God by listening to sermons. When you're behind enemy lines and Satan has you surrounded, fight back by worshipping the Lord. Fight the enemy with the Word. Fight the enemy by listening to inspired sermons that build your faith. Fight the enemy by praising God in the storm. This tactic is how we pursue the enemy, hunt him down, and destroy him.

Pursue the enemy with everything you have and watch as he falls at your feet. The enemy can't remain alive when the Beloved is in your life.

Kill The King!

Saul let the king live, even though he killed everyone else. Satan will try to convince you to let the king live, that it's ok to keep a few enemies alive as long as most of them are dead.

But we can't afford to let the king live! When the enemy comes to steal your worship, to steal your prayer time, to steal your time reading God's Word, take it back! Ignore the enemy and pursue the Lord!

Do you have an issue today? Do you have an enemy that is squatting in your promised land? Pursue the King of Kings and watch as your enemy fades away before your very eyes.

Saul pursued David and tried to kill him. David didn't even end up having to fight Saul. Saul's own enemy took care of him. Saul allowed the king of toil, pain, and sorrow to live. A lowly servant from the tribe of toil, pain, and sorrow ended up killing him. Any time you let an enemy live, it will end up killing you in the end. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not for many years. Eventually though, your enemy will catch up with you and overtake you.

David didn't have to lift a finger against Saul because Saul's own enemy killed him in the end. In fact, Saul begged his enemy to kill him!

But David saw the Amalekite for who he really was. Toil and pain, sorrow and weariness, are enemies of the Lord. David made sure they would have no place in his kingdom. He put them all to death before stepping into kingship.

When you feel like you need to work hard to receive the Lord's blessings, remember that God wants this enemy put to death. Learn to rest in the Lord instead of working for your blessing. When you are filled with sorrow and heaviness because of a situation, bring your sadness to the Lord and ask that He fill you with His joy. When you are weary from walking in the world, come to Jesus and lay down in His presence and just talk with Him about your struggles. He will strengthen you.

David means beloved. Look to Jesus, to the Lord's Beloved, and He will put your enemies to death. You won't even have to lift a finger.

If you have an enemy today, pursue the Lord with all that you have. Pursue the Beloved with everything in you. As hard as the enemy attacks, turn and attach yourself to God just as hard. The more you do, the more you will see the bodies of your enemies littered at your feet. Satan cannot live where the blood of Jesus reigns.

Make sure Jesus reigns in your house. Make sure Jesus reigns in your mind. Make sure Jesus reigns in your heart. Invite Him into your areas of distress, debt, and discontentment. Bring your enemies to the Lord, and He will slay them for you. Amen? Amen!

With joy, Jessica

Entertain Thoughts From Above

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 21:39:21 GMT

Let your thoughts be of the Lord!

To entertain means to provide (someone) with amusement or enjoyment; to give attention or consideration to (an idea, suggestion, or feeling). When we give attention to the Lord, to His Word, by reading it and listening to it, we are entertaining Him! We are keeping Him in the forefront of our mind!

When we do this, and we consistently show up day after day, He actually begins to entertain us. He begins to trust us with His goodness. His entertainment will come in the form of visions, dreams, being filled with joy and peace, and feelings from above. We experience good days (Psalm 34:11-12). We experience rest for our souls (Psalm 62:1). When we come to the Lord, He gives us good sleep! (Psalm 4:8)

When we keep our thoughts on things above, God gives us beautiful adventures with Him. When I am reading the Bible, God has revealed mysteries and secrets of His Word to my heart. I have had the joy and privilege of feeling the Lord smile at me. That only happens when I stay close to Him.

When we choose to lay our heads on His breast, as John did in John 13:23-26, we will be given special revelations as well.

In John 13 all the disciples are eating at the table. They are enjoying dinner and Jesus knows the betrayal of Judas is coming. The disciples were also arguing about who was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Oh! To have your friends arguing to each other about who is the best when Jesus is about to go like a lamb to the slaughter!

But do you know what else we see in this passage? John, with his head on Jesus's chest. He wasn't worried about what was to come, or even concerned about what Jesus was saying about His impending doom. Do you know who was? Peter. Peter was immediately concerned about who would betray Jesus and became worried. He leaned over to John and said, "John! Ask Jesus who it is! Ask Him!"

John leaned forward when Peter gestured to him, and then leaned back on Jesus. He asked the Lord who would betray Him, and you know what? Jesus told John.

John figured out the secret to walking with the Lord. It's right in the verse preceding this one! John 13:23 "Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved." John was leaning on Jesus because he felt loved by Him. He knew Jesus loved him. John figured out the secret. Jesus loves him! Because John felt the Lord's love for him, he spent time with Him, he leaned on Him, and Jesus revealed secrets to him.

Jesus Loves You!

When you know how much Jesus loves you and wants to spend time with you, you begin to hunger to be in His presence. The more you come into His presence, without even realizing it, your behavior and actions will begin to reflect Jesus.

As you kneel before the King, He will open up His Word to you and it will become alive. Suddenly it won't be a book collecting dust on the shelf, it will be the living, breathing Word of God that breathes life into you.

The more you come to Jesus, the more you realize just how much He loves you. John figured this out. You know, the only book that says "John, the disciple whom Jesus loved" was in the book of John. Matthew doesn't say that about John. Luke doesn't say that about John. Only John says that about John! John practiced God's Word. When he wrote down his name, John added "the disciple whom Jesus loved."

Do you do that? Do you look at yourself and say, "(name) the one whom Jesus loves!"? Do you remind yourself that you are the beloved, worth dying for? Do you look in the mirror and say to yourself, "I am so loved. Loved enough that Jesus bled for me. Loved enough that Jesus took on all my sins. Loved enough that because He took my place of judgment, I am able to take on His righteousness!"

Do today what John did then. Practice remembering that the Lord loves you. This is how you entertain thoughts from above.

Be Hungry, Not Condemned

If you ever feel guilty or condemned for not reading the Bible, or spending time with the Lord, recognize where those thoughts came from. There is an erroneous teaching that the Holy Spirit convicts you with guilt if you haven't read your Bible for awhile. It's not true! The Holy Spirit convicts us yes, not with guilt, but with hunger. He convicts us of our sin not so that we feel guilty, but so that we repent and turn away from it. The Holy Spirit convicts of living righteously!

Guilt and condemnation are straight from the pit of hell. Any guilt or condemnation you ever feel for not spending time in the Word comes from Satan, and not from the Lord. Because my Bible says this: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1a)

You are not condemned. The devil condemns you and guilts you with thoughts like, "bad things are happening to you because you haven't opened your Bible....God hates Christians who don't give attention to His Word....you haven't gone to church in awhile, God is angry with you." When this happens, ignore it. They're not your thoughts!

I now see the conviction of the Holy Spirit to read the Bible for what it truly is, hunger. I become hungry for time with Jesus. I become thirsty for the living water that quenches my soul. His Word is my bread! If I haven't opened my Bible for a day or two, I can feel the tug on my heart to open it.

One night, after a long week, I was watching a tv show with my husband. As I was sitting there, I felt a tug on my soul, and my eyes drifted toward my Bible on the shelf next to the tv. I remember saying to the Holy Spirit, "I feel your tug on me to open the Word. I feel it in my soul." And He responded to me, "I am tugging because Jesus is hungry to spend time with you. He misses you. He misses your friendship."

Oh! How beautiful is our Lord's heart for me! For you! He is hungry to spend time with us! He thirsts for us to be in His presence. That is the conviction you feel. It's the Holy Spirit saying to you, "I'm hungry for more of you! Come be with me. I want your friendship. I want your sweet communion. I want to hear from you, to hear your prayers, to hear you heart. Come be with me and listen as I talk to you and fill you up to overflowing. My heart literally beats for you. Will you come listen to it?"

When the conviction comes, say yes to Jesus! He longs to spend time with you and hungers for your presence. Will you give it to Him?

As you spend time in His Word, your thoughts will begin to flow with His thoughts and His ways. You will find that instead of remaining stuck in earthly thoughts, you are lifted from the ground and set in Heavenly Places with our Lord Jesus.

Entertain thoughts from above. Read your Bible. Listen to inspired sermons. Commune with Jesus. He loves you and He hungers to be near you.

With joy, Jessica

Trust The Lord In The Wilderness

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 22:55:31 GMT

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight."

-Proverbs 3:5-6

Trusting the Lord and His ways, how He's leading us, can be really easy when we're going through a promised land or when everything is working out well around us. It's easier to trust God on the mountain-top.

But what happens to our faith when we go through a wilderness season or dark period? That's what God wants to know. He wants to know if we can follow Him in the valley. He wants to know if we'll remain faithful to Him when things get hard. The truth is, our trust tends to wane when we are led into a wilderness season.

Maybe we're faithful at first. Maybe even for some time. But when days lead to weeks, which turn into months, which lead to years, do we give up? Or do we press on?

Often we grow weary in the wilderness, and then we say things like, "how long Oh Lord?" "Have you left me here to die?" Because trusting God when the path before us isn't laid out out with clarity is really, really hard.

God Anoints David

In 1 Samuel we find that David receives the anointing of God to be Israel's future king. In 1 Samuel 16 God says to Samuel, "“How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

The Lord is saying to Samuel, stop holding onto the past! It does no good to stay stuck in what was. See where I am moving now, and move with me.

He says the same thing to us today. Don't live in the past or rush forward to the future. See where I am moving now, and move with me. That's how we learn to flow in the Spirit.

"So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:6-7

The Lord doesn't care what you look like, what you wear, what you do, how much money you make, or how qualified you believe yourself to be. The Lord looks beyond the outside appearance and He searches the heart. He says, "are you teachable? Can I mold you? Do you seek Me and My face? If I put pressure on you and lead you into the wilderness, will you abandon Me there?"

Because God wants people who will follow Him no matter what. He doesn't care about your qualifications, because He changes the unqualified and makes them qualified. He doesn't care about your bad habits, because when we spend time with Him, our bad habits are replaced with His ways.

In the next few verses all of Jesse's sons pass before Samuel, "And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” (v10) Finally they bring in David. What's interesting is that no one in David's family thought David would be anointed as king. They didn't call him along with his brothers to pass before Samuel. They didn't even bother to bring him in from the fields where he was tending the sheep! Even Jesse, David's own father, didn't go get him to line up with his brothers. David is seen as less than his brothers. He's a nobody in their eyes.

Do you ever feel like that? Like your whole family has passed you over? Or maybe you feel as though you were passed over your whole life? Don't discount yourself just because the world has decided something specific about you. God looks deeper than the outside appearance. God looks into men and women, into their hearts and souls, and says this is my chosen one. Often it is the ones who are passed over that God chooses as His leaders.

"And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah."

-1 Samuel 16:11-13

God looked at David and saw a young man who would be willing to follow Him no matter the cost. When David's family looked at him they saw a shepherd boy who talks to sheep. He was skilled with the harp, he likely spent time worshipping the Lord in the fields!

That is what God saw. God saw a young man with a heart of worship. God saw a teenager with courage, who had taken out lions and bears to protect his sheep. (1 Samuel 17:34-36) God saw a boy who made Him his best friend.

While the world looks at the outward appearance, God looks at your heart. When you choose Him, He chooses you. He anoints you, and He appoints you.

God's heart is that all would turn to Him, and that He would be able to use everyone and their gifts for the kingdom. But not everyone is willing to sacrifice their comfort to live for the Lord. Will you be the one who chooses Him so that He can anoint you?

The Choosing Leads To The Wilderness

God anointed David and that caused him to gain favor before God and men. He played the harp in Saul's presence and evil spirits fled. He picked up stones from the stream and planted one straight into Goliath's forehead. He married Saul's daughter and became a son-in-law to the king. He was favored.

Something happens though when you are anointed by God. There is suddenly a target on your back, and you become Satan's #1 enemy. David's name means beloved, and when God calls you His beloved, you can bet the fiery darts will start coming. Satan hates anything that God loves, so you can guarantee he will turn people against you, and send his demons after you.

David felt the heat of Satan's hatred. Our Bible says, "Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Satan prowled around the people near David and found men who were filled with pride and conceit, who were jealous that God had chosen and anointed David. He turned Saul and Saul's army against David, and they chased him to the wilderness.

David fled to the Wilderness of Ziph to escape his oppressors. When God chooses you there will be time spent in the wilderness. God brings His chosen people to the desert to protect them and to teach them.

The preparation, the learning, the strengthening, happens in the desert.

While David was hiding in Ziph, hunted and chased by Saul and his men, the Ziphites betray David and tell Saul where he is. "Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jechimon?" - 1 Samual 26:1

Hachilah means dark, dull, unclear

Jeshimon means wasteland, wilderness, to be desolate

If we are faithful in our walk with the Lord, we are promised that we will end up in a wilderness season. People may betray us, and we might feel hunted down by our enemies. We start walking one way and it's dark and unclear. We start walking in the opposite direction and we find that it's a wasteland, filled with desolation.

Because what we don't realize is that God is preparing us for the beautiful promise on the other side of our wasteland. God gave David the wilderness to prepare him for kingship. He changed his identity from one of a shepherd, to one of a king. He molded his character, molded his heart, and shaped him to be a man not only after His heart, but with the ability and strength to lead His people.

God cares about your ability to trust Him. He cares about who you are. He wants to know, if I call you and I lead you into the wilderness where you start to learn My ways and to hear My voice, will you diligently rise day after day? Will you still put on your worn out shoes and pick up your tired feet to follow the dark path?

Because the characteristics that qualify us are born in the wilderness.

The Wilderness Is The Land Between

If you feel the anointing of God on your life, or that you have been given a dream or a vision to do something but the way is unclear and enemies hunt down your life, take heart! You are not alone in your battles! The Lord Himself goes before you, shelters you and protects you. You can confidently say that,

"A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,"

Psalm 91:7-9

It's unpleasant I know, but the wilderness is an important part of the journey. When God chooses you for an assignment and gives you a dream, He will be faithful to fulfill it. Believe Him. Make Him your refuge and hide yourself in the shadow of His wings.

Trust in the Lord. Trust Him in the wilderness. The wilderness prepares us to be safe stewards of the promise He has anointed us with. He can't give us the promise He has for us if we aren't faithful to Him in the preparation.

The Israelites were led out of slavery to the promised land. They were given a dream, a new place of rest, a new way of life. God told them, no longer will you live in slavery! I am freeing you from your bonds!

Experts say that the crossing from the land of Goshen (Egypt), across the Sinai desert to the promised land can take as little as 11 days. The Israelites could have been in Canaan in less than 2 weeks. Sadly, we find that the entire first generation died in the wilderness except for Joshua and Caleb. Why? Because they could not shed their slave mentality.

Only Joshua and Caleb believed the words of the Lord that He was bringing them from slavery to a land filled with milk and honey. Only two men took God at His Word.

The Wilderness is the land between your former way of life and the new life God has promised you. You can't get to your new promised land, to the dream that God has given you, without first journeying through the wasteland.

The wilderness journey is where God removes your old way of thinking and replaces it with His ways, His thoughts, His truths. Your work, your job in the desert, is to believe God and take Him at His Word. Your job is to remain in His presence and trust Him. It will take effort to keep God's promises at the forefront of your mind, because Satan will come to steal them from you. It will be hard to remember you are anointed with His oil for a specific purpose, because friends and family will attack you.

Keep yourself in the presence of God and the wilderness journey won't last forever. Take God at His Word and you will find that soon you are possessing the promised land. Don't be an unbelieving Israelite with a slave mentality! Don't let yourself die in the desert! You, the Lord's beloved, you were called forth from your mother's womb (Jeremiah 1:5), and God has a purpose and plan for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11)

God's plan for you is not that you would die in the desert, but that you would persevere through the wilderness to take possession of the promised land. When you grow weary don't turn away from God, but tell Him how tired you are. He will strengthen you and uphold you with His mighty right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

God is faithful and He will lead you through the wilderness to the land flowing with milk and honey. Put one foot in front of the other, and keep your eyes fixed on Him.

With joy, Jessica

Jesus Says You Are Forgiven!

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:58:42 GMT

But have you forgiven yourself?

Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She answered, “No one, Lord!” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

-John 8:10-11 (AMP)

One of my favorite stories in the Bible happens between Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. What a look at the real heart of God our Father!

Instead of listening to the priests about her wrong-doing, he stooped down to write on the ground. He tells the crowd, let him without sin be the first one to throw a stone. They all leave, starting with the oldest (because it's the older ones who know their sins best!) to the youngest until none was left.

Then Jesus stands up and says to the woman, "where are they? Did no one condemn you?" Because the fact of the matter is, we have ALL sinned and fallen short of God's glory. None of us has the right to step up to the plate to throw a stone at another human, because none of us is worthy to cast a rock at someone else. And yet, the one person who is worthy, who is without sin, even He doesn't cast the first stone!

Jesus came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17)

He didn't remove the law from its place on this earth, which means it's still around. If you want to try and live by it, go right ahead! Take a look at the commandments and laws written in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy and live by what's written. But if you want to live by them, you'll have to provide your own sacrifices for your sins too.

The beauty of Jesus' coming is that He fulfilled the law for us. He didn't get rid of it, He laid down His life as the PERFECT and ULTIMATE sacrifice for us. So that every year, we don't have to bring a lamb to the temple to atone for our sins. And we don't have to bring the burnt offering ( Leviticus 1 ; 6:8–13 ), the grain offering ( Leviticus 2 ; 6:14–23 ), the peace offering ( Leviticus 3 ; 7:11–34 ), the sin offering ( Leviticus 4 ; 5:1–13 ; 6:24–30 ; 8:14–17 ; 16:3–22 ), and the trespass offering ( Leviticus 5:14–19 ; 6:1–7 ; 7:1–6 ) to the temple anymore.

Jesus is our perfect atoning sacrifice for every single thing we can ever do wrong! But, we have to receive it.

Jesus stood up and asked the woman if anyone condemned her, which I think He did on purpose so that she could say, out loud, "No one, Lord!" He wanted her to realize that she was not condemned by anyone. That no one was able to throw a stone at her because no one was worthy to do it.

And then, the most wonderful words: "I do not condemn you either." (AMP) This, this is why Jesus came to fulfill the law for us. God says, I have seen my people try to live by the commandments for thousands of years, and no one can do it. Even the most dedicated kings and prophets in the Bible couldn't live sinless in and of themselves.

Jesus came to earth as a baby, grew into a man, so that He could truly say to us that He knows what we suffer on this earth. He knows what it feels like to be rejected and broken. He knows what it feels like to be hungry, to be poor, to be happy, to be sad, to have friendships, and then to have those friends turn their back on Him. He knows. And He lived sinless and absolutely perfect.

But Jesus also wants us to see the Father's heart in His response. He says, I don't condemn you. And after His death on the cross, the Father no longer condemns you (Romans 8:1-4). Jesus laid down His life so we can come to the Father and KNOW that He no longer condemns us for any sin we have ever committed or will commit in the future.

When we receive the gift of no condemnation, and allow the truth of Jesus' words to reign in our hearts and in our minds, we will live free from guilt. Satan can come against us with our sin, friends can come against us, family can condemn us, but Jesus says I DO NOT CONDEMN YOU.

Hold fast to this truth! When you do, then what the world has to say about you or what the devil levels against you, won't matter! Because the only thing that will matter is what God says about you. You are forgiven!

It is only when we grasp this truth, and receive our gift of no condemnation, that we can go and sin no more. The days when I keep God's forgiveness in the forefront of my mind, are the days in which I have zero desire to sin for any reason. Why? Because freedom comes when we realize we are set free from the law. There is nothing you have to do. Just receive.

Jesus didn't turn and say to the woman, "Wonderful! I'm so glad they didn't kill you. Now in order to earn my forgiveness I need you to serve me and work for me." No, He said I don't condemn you. And then He said, "From now on sin no more."

In order for the woman to stop committing adultery, she needed to know Jesus didn't condemn her. It's the same for us. We need the revelation of Jesus's forgiveness in our lives for sin to lose its hold. Sin thrives when we feel condemned. Sin thrives when we feel guilty. Sin thrives when we think we can work for our own forgiveness. Sin dies when we say, "I can't do anything but look to Jesus. Thank you Jesus for not condemning me." Sin dies when we let go of our guilty conscious.

Today, God says to you, I do NOT condemn you!

Jesus Forgives You, Do You Forgive Yourself?

Perhaps you're at a place where you've received forgiveness for a wrong-doing and you know without a doubt that you are forgiven, but for some reason that event keeps coming to your mind. Maybe it's that you know you were at fault and you feel the weight of that. You realize you aren't condemned by God, but your own heart is aware that you did something wrong.

I've been there. I remind myself over and over that I am free from guilt and condemnation. Jesus died on the cross for my complete and total forgiveness. Yet, a scenario or circumstance keeps popping up in my in mind.

When this happens, I realize that I need to also forgive myself. Jesus doesn't condemn me, but I can still condemn myself. Because deep down I know that I committed a wrong against someone else or against God, and the result of sin is shame and guilt. It's a natural consequence written into the foundation of the earth. We feel guilty when we do something wrong.

So, when the enemy comes in to accuse me, or my own heart accuses me, I come before the Lord and I forgive myself. It's as simple as this.

Lord, I know I am forgiven by you.

Before I even sinned, you had already forgiven me!

But Father, I know I wronged (person's name), and I admit that.

Today, I forgive myself for hurting (person).

(Your name), I forgive you. I forgive you for messing up.

(Your name), I forgive you for not knowing better, for not recognizing what you were doing was wrong.

I let go of (name your mistake), and I move forward in freedom.

I am free of guilt, free of condemnation.

Jesus doesn't condemn, neither do I condemn myself.

I am forgiven! And I forgive myself.

Amen

Sometimes I do this while I'm in my Bible study, sometimes I go to a quiet place with my heart before God, and sometimes I look in the mirror as I utter the words. It's important that we receive God's forgiveness, but also that we forgive ourselves and let go of our mistakes. It's the only way we can step forward free from guilt and condemnation.

How Often Should We Forgive?

"Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered him, “I say to you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22)

In this verse Peter is asking Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother when he does something against Peter. Brother here can be changed out to family member, friend, stranger, enemy. When someone wrongs us, Jesus says to forgive them 70 x 7 times!

The number 7 is a fascinating Hebrew number. It is the number for completeness, and it also means rest, wholeness, being ripe, order, stability, and holiness. What Jesus is saying here is that the number of times really doesn't matter, but that we need to forgive that person over and over and over until we've completely let it go.

This verse can also be applied when we do something wrong and feel guilty or condemned. Receive the Lord's forgiveness as often as you need to, and forgive yourself in the same way. As often as your sin comes to mind, forgive yourself just as often! This is how we let go of our past mistakes and move forward into our future resting place with God.

The real importance is our heart. When we forgive and let go then we don't allow bitterness to take root in our heart. Bitterness causes our hearts to grow hard, and a hard heart is an unbelieving heart that cannot enter God's rest. (Hebrews 3:7-12)

So forgive until it's complete. Forgive until you find yourself whole and at rest.

You Are Free!

Choose today to let the past go. God doesn't hold it against you, so don't let it define you.

Satan would love to keep you in bondage to your past mistakes. If he can keep you in chains to it, then you will continue to walk in bondage. But if you learn the ways of our Jesus, that He doesn't condemn you, then you will move forward in freedom.

Has someone wronged you? Forgive them. Have you sinned? Receive your forgiveness bought with the blood of Jesus. See your bonds covered by the blood and forgive yourself.

Today, you are free from your past failures. Know it. Believe it. Receive it. Walk forward in freedom, and see how God turns the bad things from your past to work for good in your future.

With joy, Jessica

What's In Your Head?

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 15:38:16 GMT

"You spend most of your life inside your head.

Make it a nice place to be."

-Anonymous

Over the past 10 years God has showed me that what we allow ourselves to believe is crucial to how we live our lives. What we believe is also crucial because it shapes how we see God and our relationship with Him. Our beliefs affect our mental health, which in turn impacts our emotions and behavior.

(Read Believing The Right Thing: Replacing Satan's Lies With God's Truth )

The decisions that we make in our lives are almost always based off of what we think and what we believe. So we need to make sure that what we're believing and thinking is founded in the Truth. If it's not grounded in Truth, then it's either a total lie or a partial lie, but either way, it's a lie.

What's living inside your head?

What Thoughts Do You Focus On?

All day every day we are bombarded by rogue thoughts and situations that threaten our peace. What matters is what we choose to do with our thoughts.

The Bible says that the devil goes about the earth, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) That means that he is literally walking about the earth, looking for someone to destroy. It's why the first part of this verse says be sober-minded and alert!

When an evil thought enters your mind, do you recognize the author of those thoughts, or do you accept them as your own? The reason Peter said to be sober-minded is because Satan is throwing evil thoughts at you all the time, and waiting for one to stick in your head. His desire is for you to be consumed by dark thoughts. If he can take you down with your own mind, making you believe that HIS thoughts and ways are actually YOUR thoughts and ways, he has you defeated! And he didn't have to lift an actual finger against you.

We have to be on guard at all times, and aware of what's being thrown at us.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (AMP)

"For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,"

When the devil throws negative thoughts at you that darken your soul and poison your heart, take that rogue thought captive and bring it to the obedience of Christ. How do we do that? By stopping that thought in its tracks. End it as soon as you realize it came into your head. That's how you ward off depression, negativity, anxiety, apprehension, doubt, dread, misery, a panicked heart, and a troubled mind.

We have enough troubles in this life without allowing the devil to turn our own minds against ourselves. Don't let him do this to you.

When you feel the dark thoughts come against you, recognize them for what they are, thoughts from hell, and turn your back on believing them. Take a scripture verse and hold it fast! Keep Jesus in the forefront of your mind, and He will strengthen you.

Isaiah 26:3 (AMP)

“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character],

Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]."

Keep your mind fixed on Christ, and you will have perfect AND constant peace. Find a verse that strengthens your heart. Turn on praise and worship music and notice that your mood lifts and the atmosphere changes. Worship music is like vitamins for the soul, it keeps you healthy and wards of sickness and disease.

So stay focused on Jesus and your heart will remain full of joy and peace.

Stay Conscious Of Your Righteousness!

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

One of the most important things we can do, is remain conscious of our righteousness that Jesus bought for us. Jesus took on all our sin on the cross. The sins that we committed in the past, are committing currently, and will commit in the future are already nailed to the cross. He became our sin for us. In exchange, we are able to take on His perfect righteousness. It's that simple!

By keeping our mind fixed on the fact that we are righteous because Jesus made us righteous by exchanging our sin for His perfection, we will remain at peace. Nothing and no one can take away our joy when we are conscious of our identity in Christ. NOTHING and NO ONE.

It doesn't matter what anyone has to say about you, what matters is what God says about you. He says you are set apart as holy (Deuteronomy 14:2). God says you are chosen (1 Peter 2:9). God says you belong to Him and are victorious in overcoming the world (1 John 4:4-5). He says you are a royal priesthood! (1 Peter 2:9)

So remember these things when the devil levels lies at you. You have been set apart, a royal priesthood, because of Jesus' blood which makes you righteous.

In God's eyes you are righteous. Confess it until you feel it. It doesn't matter whether or not you feel it, it doesn't change the fact that you are righteous. So declare it until you feel it. Declare it until your mind is convinced, and your heart remains steadfast in the truth. Declare it until you believe it.

What You Believe Matters

All day every day we are bombarded with negativity. It doesn't matter where the negativity comes from, what matters is what we allow ourselves to believe. What we believe about ourselves matters! We need to keep our minds and hearts fixed on the Truth of God's Word. Then we will truly walk in freedom and joy.

(Read Believing The Right Thing: Rewiring Your Brain & Renewing Your Thoughts )

For the last 6 years I have spent nearly every day listening to sermons that remind me of who I am in Christ. By remaining conscious of who I am and where my identity belongs, it keeps me from being devoured by the devil. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit I was already established in what I believe and you know what? I didn't spend a single day worried about our family getting sick! Why? Because I know that my God protects us. I KNOW we are protected. And even if we get sick, we are still protected.

While friends and family members around me were worried and anxious about getting sick, I wasn't worried. I remained in the word. I believe God protects us, and that His hand is always with us. I believe that He takes care of us. What do you believe?

Psalm 91:1-6

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

Where you spend your time will determine what you believe. Do you spend time in the secret place of the Most High? Let God be your refuge and fortress. When you do, His Word says that SURELY He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler AND from the perilous pestilence. Do you believe that for yourself and your family? If you don't then change what you think! It's that simple!

It takes daily discipline to change your thought patterns. You might not notice it at first, and the devil will come to steal God's Word from you. Don't let him.

The parable in Mark 4 is all about the Word of God being scattered like seeds to people around the world. When you receive it, let it take root in your heart. Meditate on the Word over and over. That's how God's Word becomes grounded in your life.

In this parable Jesus says not everyone will receive the Word of God. Some will let Satan come and steal the Word away from their hearts. Or, they will let the voices of family and friends be louder in their lives than the voice of God. Some people will listen to God's Word for a few days, but then when the news tells them something negative they believe the news instead of God's Word. Why? Why choose to listen to the world? Our Bibles say do not be conformed like the people of the world! Instead we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Let God's Word renew you and wash you until you sparkle like the fresh fallen snow. That's how we change what we believe.

Pay attention to what you believe. What you believe will affect your emotions and feelings. Pay attention to how you feel, it will show you what you are believing.

My friend, my desire for you is to be rooted and grounded in God's love. God wants you to KNOW who you are and what He says about you. When you are conscious that the Father calls you perfect and holy as His Son is perfect and holy, it will change how you act, talk, and feel. But it starts in your mind.

So, what's in your head? Make sure your thoughts align with the Truth of God's Word. Keep your mind fixed on Jesus. It will change your life!

With joy, Jessica

13 Baby Beach Essentials

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 22:29:15 GMT

Heading to the beach with a baby and maybe a toddler? Then this list was made just for you!

The first time we took our firstborn to the beach beach (not the lake) she was 11 months old. We brought her to the Bahamas and while it was fun, there were a few things that would have made our trip easier.

When we brought the twins to the ocean for the first time, we definitely felt more prepared! Now that we've done several beach and ocean vacations with the kiddos, there are a few things we recommend to make your vacation the best beach experience ever.

1 - Beach Tents

Depending on what type of beach vacation you want to have, will depend on which tent (or tents) work best for you. We brought our beach tent when we vacationed in Virginia Beach, and I'm so glad we did. The twins took a nap in the shade and we were able to enjoy the ocean without heading back to the hotel room early. Check out these beach tents !

If you're looking for a way for your baby to enjoy the ocean without chasing them in the waves (which we've done, and we hate it), then this is the tent for you! Give them a taste of the water without worrying that they'll dive head first into it. Although I guess I can't promise you that they won't try to drink it...

This tent is one of our favorites for bringing to the beach. It's large, fits all of us when we're having lunch or snacks, and has great air flow so our twins could nap while we hang out.

2 - Baby Life Jackets

We tried a few different life preservers, water wings, and jackets at our neighborhood pool before we took our kids to the beach. As it turns out, we only like one type. Baby water wings and swim vests didn't work for us at all. Honestly, we were more worried about our kiddos in the water when they wore them!

The only thing we like are life jackets . I trust that our kids are safe when they're wearing them, and I'm less anxious around the water when they have them on. I recommend finding something you like that works best for you and your family too!

3 - Baby Floats

We have a few different baby floats that we've used at the pool and beach. For a single baby float, I highly recommend one that has shade to keep them covered while you're in the water. But if you're looking for something a little more portable, then I have you covered there too!

We brought this baby float to the Bahamas with us, and used it in the pool almost every weekend at our apartment before we moved. We loved it for Skylar! And she had a great time playing with the toys while enjoying the water with us. If you want something a little more compact, this pool float is for you! The cover comes off to make it easy to carry around, and it's easy for your baby to enjoy splashing in the water.

Twin Baby Float

This float works perfect if you have twins or multiple kids. We bought this float for our twins to use when we went to Minnesota for the summer, and then we brought it to Florida with us the next month. I wasn't sure how sturdy this float would be but it's actually amazing. All three of our kids were able to use it no problem! Our toddler jumped into the middle when we were hanging out at the pool and it stayed stable the entire time. It's your best bet for multiple kiddos!

4 - Big Beach Blanket

The beach isn't the beach without a blanket to protect you from the sand, lol. I love the ocean, I hate having sand in my swimsuit. Like, hate hate it. So if you're like me even a little bit, then you'll want a sandproof, waterproof beach blanket . Nothing says ocean like less sand and water!

5 - Beach Toys

The beach isn't the beach without toys! Amazon has some great toy options for kiddos headed to the beach. Both options come with bags to keep the toys in, which is ideal for moms who dislike rogue toys.

6 - Mesh Beach Bags

Every time we go to the ocean I come back with a few more shells. Maybe you or your kids also like to collect shells or rocks? I never know how to store them when we're coming home, this bag is the solution!

7 - Baby Hats with UPF Protection

Headed to the water but wary of the sun? I was paranoid about our babies burning before we were able to use sunscreen on them. Keeping their heads protected eased my anxiety. Finding the perfect baby hat with UPF protection is the way to go.

8 - Baby Swimsuits with UPF 50+

Swimsuits for babies are the cutest thing ever! I love me some chunky baby thighs in a little swimsuit. The Ruffle Butts RuggedButts swim store on Amazon has the cutest baby swimsuits. And they all have UPF 50+ to protect your baby's sensitive skin from burning.

9 - Reusable Swim Diapers

Swim diapers are perfect if you don't want to buy disposable ones. Using a swim diaper helps keep stuff in the diaper and not in the pool, while also reducing waste! This one is machine washable and comes in 6 different colors.

10 - Baby Fan

Baby fans are great for hot days, whether you're at the beach or on a walk. They keep baby cool and easily hook to strollers or other objects. Pop one in your baby tent while they're napping at the beach.

11 - Baby Shoes

In the Bahamas Skylar didn't wear baby shoes in the water, and the bottom of the pool cut up her toes when she crawled around. It killed me that she got hurt having fun.

So when we brought the family to Florida , we wised up and got everyone water shoes . I'm so glad we did! They wore them everywhere.

12 - Toddler Sunglasses

Every baby looks cool in sunglasses ...now if only they would keep them on their face. The solution is to get sunglasses with a strap in the back. They can't take them off and it will keep their little eyes protected from the harsh sun.

13 - Natural Sunscreen

Sunscreen is such a personal decision for most moms. It can be hard to find a product that works and is safe for your little one! We didn't use sunscreen for the first 6 months as directed, and we improvised with shaded floats, hats, sunglasses and long-sleeve swimwear.

When our babies were a little older, we slathered their skin to keep them from burning. This one worked well for us.

If you're headed to the water, I hope this list helps you out. We love vacationing to the ocean and lake with our kids. My husband and I grew up in Minnesota where everything is #lakelife . We are so used to living near lakes that we crave to be near the water. We literally can't go 6 months without heading back to the beach.

If you're headed to the water soon, leave me a comment and let me know where!

With joy, Jessica

Curing Colic In Your Newborn Baby

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 16:14:29 GMT

Newborn photo by Rachel Yearick at rachelyearick.com

Becoming a mom is hard, and most of us probably don't feel prepared when it happens. One day, the only person we have to worry about keeping alive is ourselves. The next day we're holding an infant in our arms, suddenly aware that this little baby depends on us for survival. It's terrifying!

I pray for your sake that the journey is an easy one, but if you're like me, you maybe ended up with a baby that cries a lot or has colic.

My firstborn and thirdborn both cried a ton during their first few months of life. This led me to find a cure for their crying, and to figure out a way to soothe my girls.

When my firstborn came along I didn't know what I was doing. I thought maybe I just had a cranky baby. But somewhere deep down I knew that if my baby was crying and seemed uncomfortable, that probably meant that she was uncomfortable and I searched for a way to ease her little body.

All Babies Have Gas

The one thing to remember is that all babies have gas. Their little body is figuring out how to work outside the womb, and it's our job as parents to help their bodies figure it out. If your baby isn't truly colicky, you'll be able to fix most of their gas issues with a few simple tricks!

Bicycle their legs!

This trick is exactly as it sounds, move their legs in a bicycle motion, and then kick them in and out. Doing this for a few minutes will move gas bubbles in their stomach and help their bodies have a bowel movement.

Massage their bellies in a clockwise circle

My physical therapist taught me this one to use on myself. It works great with babies too!

Take your fingers and gently massage their belly in a clockwise circle, moving from just below their sternum all the way around their belly and back up. This pattern follows the motion of food as it moves from the stomach, to the intestines and bowels. By massaging your baby's belly, it will help their body move milk through their system!

Get Gas Relief & Gripe Water

If all else fails, getting gripe water and gas relief will help as well! We used this brand for all three of our kids when they really struggled with bowel movements or were extra fussy. It made a difference for their little bodies.

While all of these methods will help a regular fussy infant, it won't help the infant that is truly suffering from colic like both of my girls did. Whether you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding, these tips will hopefully get you on the right track to a happier baby!

1. Change Your Diet

This will only work if you're breastfeeding or pumping to produce milk for your little one. When I was pregnant with my firstborn, I had to cut out dairy and gluten. Every time I ate either one, I would get so sick that I immediately regretted it.

After Skylar was born, I went back to eating whatever I wanted. Once she was out, my body was no longer affected in the same way by what I ate! But I quickly realized that my daughter would be super fussy and uncomfortable after she ate- and so I cut out dairy and gluten again.

Because I was so sick during pregnancy when I ate gluten and dairy, it was easy to conclude that maybe she was upset with those foods and couldn't digest them well.

If your baby cries a lot after eating, balls their fists and is clearly upset, then consider cutting out dairy first, and then gluten. Both of those are hard for little stomachs to process. Try process of elimination with the foods in your diet until you figure out which foods are unsettling for your baby.

I know some babies have a really hard time when their mama eats garlic or onions. Each baby is unique in how their bodies handle foods. So, pay attention to what you ate on the days they are the fussiest. The more you're paying attention, the more likely it is that you will notice a pattern between the days they cry more often and specific foods you ate! Eliminating those troublesome foods will be a bummer while you're breastfeeding, but worth it to have a happy baby.

2. Take Time To Burp Your Baby

This seems obvious, I know! But the days when I took time, really took time and burped my babies for 15+ minutes after they ate, they were usually happier and slept longer stretches during the day and night! It was as simple for me as laying down at an incline and propping my baby on my chest.

There are a bunch of burping videos on YouTube, and each baby responds to different positions. I found for my twins that inclining their chest across my breast tissue would put enough pressure in the right spot to release gas bubbles.

For our firstborn, I would stand up and burp her as I walked around the house. Each kid prefers a unique method! Find one that works for you and your baby and spend time after every feeding to get those bubbles out. I realize that spending 20 minutes burping can feel like a time-suck, but enjoy the cuddles and remember this too shall pass.

3. Prop Your Baby On An Incline To Sleep

Safe sleep for infants is of the utmost importance here, but we were able to safely incline our babies while they slept. Sleeping at an incline for babies helps their bodies move gas bubbles out of their bellies.

When our twins were in the NICU, their little beds were elevated at an incline to help their bodies move gas more effectively. When they came home, we mimicked the same position for our twins to sleep by inclining one end of their bassinets. It made a big difference for our twins! And I wish I would have known this trick when we had our first baby, because she would have benefited from the inclined sleeping position.

There are a lot of rockers that have built-in incline to give your baby the correct sleeping position. It worked for us! I pray it works for you as well.

4. Let Them Swing During Naptime

Neither my oldest or middle child liked the swing during naptimes, but my youngest took to it like a duck in water. She loved the soothing motion, and it calmed her belly when she was upset during the first few months of life.

Our Evie struggled with gas and colic before she left the hospital. The NICU nurses did an x-ray to see why she was struggling so much, and all it revealed was hundreds of little gas bubbles in her belly. You can imagine how that made me feel!

I did everything I could think of to help solve her little belly aches, including searching for the perfect bottles and formula to give her some relief. I kept a strict diet which made a difference, but letting her take naps in the swing during the day really helped as well.

When baby's not sleeping, nobody is relaxed! So, however you get your baby to nap, whether it's a bouncer or swing, do it! They'll be happier, and you'll be happier.

5. Switch Your Baby's Formula

This only applies if you have a formula-fed baby! Our twins had a combo of breastmilk and formula for their bottles. I pumped to give them breastmilk, but I also had to substitute with formula.

My boy/girl twins both struggled on the formula that the NICU gave them, so we hunted for something easier on their tummies. We tried several different kinds for both of them before finding one they each liked. Our son liked Happy Baby Organics Sensitive and our daughter only liked HIPP Organic Dutch Formula from My Organic Company .

Don't be afraid to try different kinds until you find something your baby likes. I realize it's time-consuming and expensive to do this, so pray that the Lord leads you with wisdom to a formula that will work for your baby right away. Take time to discern what He's telling you about your baby, because in the end, it's well worth it.

6. Find a Good Bottle

Skylar never took a bottle, so I didn't realize the impact that bottles have on feeding. Our twins never took to breastfeeding, so finding bottles that helped with colic and gas was vitally important!

We tried several different bottle types before finding one that helped ease their discomfort. The MAM bottles were by far the choice for our family. I recommend them if you're struggling with colic because they're intentionally designed to relieve colic and gas in newborns.

These bottles come in all different sizes and colors, and I recommend starting off with the 0+ nipple and slowly moving up to 1+ and 2+ as your baby grows.

(Looking for the perfect baby items? My favorite things for newborn twins might have what you need!)

7. Pray For Wisdom

The Lord is near to do those who call on Him for help. I have noticed that God is especially close to women and He cares for our needs when we seek His face. If you're struggling with a fussy baby, call on God and ask for His guidance! And then be alert to the answers He provides.

Sometimes God's answers aren't always obvious like we want it to be. Most often, it comes in a gentle whisper like in the story of Elijah.

It might be that a mom friend in passing shares a tidbit with you that solved her baby's fussiness; or maybe you stumble on an article that provides you with unique ideas you hadn't tried; or maybe your pediatrician suggests a different technique. Whatever it is, those are all God-whispers when we seek His face for answers. So pray for discernment, and then open your eyes to see how He will respond to your need!

And Remember...

We're all trying to figure out this parenting thing. The only magic formula for being the best parent you can be is to put Jesus in the center of your parenting. He's the only one with all the answers and wisdom you need to be the best mom.

We're all taking it one day at a time, trying to raise good children to become stable, healthy adults. If your baby is struggling with colic today, pray for wisdom and search for the right answers. God will lead you and He entrusted this baby to you. You've got this mama!

With joy, Jessica

Which Mountain Do You Worship From?

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 21:26:38 GMT

"And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying, “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin; and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali."

- Deuteronomy 27:11-13

During my study time with the Lord one evening He opened my eyes to see this passage in a deeper way.

While I was reading in Deuteronomy 27 the Holy Spirit nudged me to look deeper into the meaning of the names. Every single verse, every single name, every single number in the Bible is inspired and has a meaning for us to discover. The entire Bible is God-breathed and full of life!

As I was reading through the chapter the Spirit said, "look up the names of those who were on each mountain, what do they mean? Why did the Lord choose their order in such a way?" And I realized, there is something significant here.

In the church today there are two ways of thinking. There are those who really know they are forgiven and are humbled by the grace of God, and there are those who are still trying to earn their own righteousness and forgiveness without even realizing it. Our view of forgiveness will affect our faith!

The Meaning of Mountains

Mountains and hills in the Bible represent the place where the Lord resides. Moses went up the mountain to spend time with the Lord. Elijah fled to Mount Carmel to hear from the Lord. (1 Kings 18:42) Jesus, Peter, James, and John went to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration to pray. (Matthew 17)

Those who take time to go up the mountain to be with the Lord come back changed. Any time we come into the Lord's presence, we leave different than we arrived. Time spent with God is never wasted.

Psalm 121:1 (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

Today we don't have to go up the mountainside to hear from the Lord. All we have to do is open up His Word and read it. When we open our Bibles and pray for a discerning heart, and that the Lord will give us revelation knowledge of Jesus, He will reveal the secrets of His Word to us. So pray for revelation knowledge, wisdom and discernment!

Today we don't have to go up the mountain to hear from God, but there are two different ways we can view the Lord. We can either view Him as angry with us, angry when we make mistakes and that our sins separate us from Him; or we can view God through the lens of the cross, knowing and understanding that because of Jesus' sacrifice God will never ever be angry with us again.

We can come boldly before the throne to obtain mercy in our time of need because we have been made RIGHT before God. Jesus's sacrifice made us right before our Lord!

Choose Mount Gerizim

Deuteronomy 27:11-12

"And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying, “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin"

Mount Gerizim means "cut off ones" and "stripped ones" or "bald." When you come before the Father, and really open up your heart to Him, you will feel naked and stripped. But the more we come to Him and trust Him with our hearts, every part of our heart, the good and the evil, the more He can strip away the bad parts until all we are left with is the glory of His son who covers us.

In Deuteronomy 27 when the Israelites were obedient to the Lord they would receive the blessings of God. They not only had to obey every law that God had set forth, they also had to administer morning and evening sacrifices to atone for their sins.

Today you and I don't have to be obey every law on our own, nor do we have to atone for our sins through animal sacrifices. All we have to do is look to Jesus, because He is our perfect atoning sacrifice that paid for the forgiveness of our sins and for our obedience. Jesus not only took our place, His blood covers us and makes us holy too! (Read The Blood Leaves A Stain )

Hebrews 10:10-12 (NLT)

"For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand."

We have confidence today because Jesus' obedience was perfect, and His sacrifice was once for all time. The blessings quoted on Mount Gerizim are for us today because of Jesus!

While the meaning of Mount Gerizim is significant, God hid meaning in each name as well. Take a look at the meaning of each tribe as well as the order of these names.

Simeon: hearing

Levi: united, joined in harmony

Judah: praise

Issachar: his reward will come

Joseph: he will add, double portion

Benjamin: son of my right hand

As I was pondering each name and why God put them in this particular order, He suddenly showed me in the Spirit what this passage means.

God opened my eyes so that I could see what happens when we choose to remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. When we keep Jesus at the forefront of our lives, remembering that He is our obedience, He obtained our freedom through His blood and death on the cross, then we stand on Mount Gerizim. We aren't trying to earn our placement on the mountain, we already have our right standing on this mountain! Because Jesus paid for our RIGHT to stand on the mountain!

The Lord said to me, "when my people keep Jesus' sacrifice in the forefront of their mind, then they will hear Me and be joined in harmony with the Me. With their lips they will praise Me because their hearts are filled with gratitude for what He has done. Jesus is their reward, He will come near to them and will add a double portion to their lives. They will be seated with Him (the son) at the Father's right hand."

Look back through those names and see that our double portion, our inheritance and blessings, come when we recognize that our right standing before God was bought and paid for by Jesus. There is nothing we have to do to earn our right standing, nothing we have to be to earn our right standing, just looking at Jesus and submitting our hearts to what He has done IS our right standing.

Jesus' once for all time sacrifice made us holy.

Choose to remain on Mount Gerizim! Remember that because Jesus stands in the gap, we are made right and righteous before the Lord! WE CAN KNOW that God isn't angry with us, and we confidently approach the mountain and declare the blessings the Lord promised Israel are ours today. Double portion is ours! We are seated in the heavenly places with Christ, at the Lord's right hand! (Ephesians 2:6)

Believe it! Declare it! Claim it! It is yours today.

Beware Mount Ebal

Deuteronomy 27:12

"...and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali."

Ebal comes from the combination of two verbs: the verb ('awa) which means to bend or twist, and the verb (bala) which means to become old or worn out. What's interesting is that the first part of this word, ('awa) means to bend or twist a bottom line, perversion or ruin. It also means to commit iniquity, to do wrong, guilt.

The Lord showed me two ways in which Christians today can end up on this mountain. There are those who twist the Word of God to suit their purposes. I have personally seen pastors come into alignment with the way the world believes in order to gain followers. Anything less than preaching from God's word exactly as it is written is a perversion of truth, and twisting the Word has consequences.

To bend God's Word because we don't like what it says doesn't make it not true, it only makes us into liars and causes us to commit wrongdoing. It makes us guilty.

The second part of this verb of Ebal, is to become old or worn out. Anytime we try to depend on ourselves, on our own strength and righteousness to serve the Lord, it will cause us to become old and worn out. It always ends in burnout. We simply can't sustain our own goodness.

Now, let's take a look at each of the names of the tribes that shouted out curses:

Reuben: behold, a son

Gad: fortune, luck

Asher: happy, happiness

Zebulun: dwelling of honor

Dan: God is my judge

Naphtali: struggling

As I was pondering the meaning of the order of these names, suddenly the Lord unveiled my Spiritual eyes to see the meaning.

"Behold, a son (a daughter), who has experienced fortune. Because of his luck, he is happy and his place is a dwelling of honor. But because he sees Me, God, as his judge, he is always struggling."

Wow. Do you know Christians like this? They are living a charmed life by outside standards and seem to always be "lucky." Life just happens well for them. But for some reason they never seem truly joyful, they are always struggling.

God showed me in the Spirit that how we view Him as our God makes all the difference in the world. If we view Him through the lens of the cross, knowing Jesus paid our way for Him to become our Father, then we will view Him as our Father who loves us. We will know that He isn't angry with us, that He loves us unconditionally and enjoys spending time with us. It's in this confidence that we can be truly honest with Him and our heart, knowing that He will protect it and take care of it.

But when we view Him as a distant God, angry with us when we sin and mess up, then we forfeit our right standing and end up on Mount Ebal. We hide when we mess up, and then we think He hates us and is disappointed in us.

Beloved child, God loves you so unconditionally and wants to be in loving communion with you. Jesus has paid the way for us to come before the throne with boldness. So come to Him boldly! With all of your prayer, pains, past hurts and present needs, come to the throne and know that the Father longs to hear your voice. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Which Mountain Do You Ascend?

I have learned to see my relationship with God through His son Jesus. When I come to the Lord, I remember that Jesus paid for me to be there, without the sacrifice of a lamb or a priest to make intercession for me; because Jesus is my priest and my sacrifice. I don't have to earn my way to the throne, I have a right to the throne as heir apparent with Christ.

In Romans 8 Paul declares that we are joint heirs with Christ and heirs of God. That means you have a right to stand on Mount Gerizim. You have a right to the blessings that Jesus bought for you! You have a right because He made you righteous!

The next time you're feeling lousy about yourself or you're wondering why God isn't answering your prayers, remember that you are seated with Jesus in heavenly places. You have a blood bought right to be there.

Don't fall for the trap that you are still working to earn your righteousness by obeying the law; just accept that Jesus took your place and fulfilled the law so that you and I can stand before the King of Kings. (Matthew 5:17)

The next time you talk to God, keep Jesus in the forefront of your mind. Remind yourself that because of Jesus, today you stand on Mount Gerizim. The ground you walk on is blessed, and you have received every blessing. You are blessed!

Deuteronomy 28:3-8 NKJV

"Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

“Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

“Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

“Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

“The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

“The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

Go read through Deuteronomy 28 for the full list of blessings that Jesus bought for you to have. Whatever it is that you need today, Jesus bought it for you. Look to Him. He will give you what you need.

With joy, Jessica

Baby & Toddler Christmas Pictures

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 01:45:42 GMT

Who doesn’t love a baby, a Christmas tree, and twinkling lights? I’m all for it. I love taking pictures of our babies in front of the Christmas tree right now – and if you’re looking for ideas, maybe these will inspire you.

One thing to note – I took all of these pictures with my iPhone! And I’m not a professional photographer, just a mom playing around with her kids.

Babies & A Christmas Tree

Babies In A Box

Babies & Ornaments

Babies, Ornaments & Twinkle Lights

Mommy & Me

Matching PJ’s

If you try any of these or have new ideas for me, share them below! I’m always looking for new photography inspiration, especially at Christmas.

With joy, Jessica

Little Kid's Table & Chairs Makeover

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 17:44:13 GMT

A Diy Chalk Paint Project

When we moved into our townhouse last year, one of the things I really wanted was a little kid's table and chairs for our daughter. I spent over a month looking for a cheaper alternative to the PotteryBarn Kids table I found, but I didn’t love anything as much as the PBK version.

A few weeks later I was at Goodwill dropping off boxes and thought, I’ll just stop in and see what they have.

Would you believe it, there was a kid's table and chairs! It was exactly what I was looking for, and everything about it was perfect, except for the color.

So, for $14.99 I was the proud owner of my new find. I figured I would just paint it to get the look I want, and I’m thrilled with the way it turned out. I’m also really glad I didn’t buy the expensive PBK version when this one ended up being perfect. Aren’t thrift stores the best?

What You Will Need

Power sander , or a sanding tool
Rustoleum chalk paint in Linen White
Rustoleum chalked decorative glaze in smoked glaze
Old white T-shirts, cut up into sections
Brushes
Polyvine wax finish varnish

Getting Started

1 – To start, I gave everything a light sanding using my power sander with 220 grit paper to sand each piece. Then I wiped each piece down to remove any sanding dust, grime, and dirt.

2 – After sanding and cleaning each piece, I painted the chairs and table using my chalk paint in linen white. I painted two coats of the white chalk paint, and went over any spots that seemed a little thin with a third coat.

3 – Next I cut up pieces of my husband’s old white T-shirts (or you can use whatever old rags you have on hand). I sprayed a little bit of the smoked glaze on the surface, and using pieces of the rag, I wiped the glaze across the top until I achieved the right textured gray color. I worked in small sections, which made it easier to create the look I wanted to achieve.

I used the linen white chalk paint to tone the color down when it got too dark. And whenever I saw a really light area, I darkened it by putting the glaze onto my rag and wiping it until I achieved the right gray texture I wanted. I’m really happy I chose this route for my daughter’s table! The end result is perfect, and the color does a great job of hiding small imperfections, especially since this table receives some abuse.

4 – Finally, I used the Polyvine wax finish and brushed on 2 coats to seal the paint. The protective top coat works great and it’s easy to keep clean too.

And that’s it!

All in all, this was a quick project for me. It only took me 4 days to complete, and most of that was drying time. The decorative glaze look can be used on any piece of furniture, and I love the way it turned out. Bonus! The table looks fantastic in our living room.

Let me know if you give this technique a try! Or if you’re searching for a similar look, check out my DIY kitchen table post. It just might be what you’re looking for.

With joy, Jessica

Running The Race of Faith

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 20:54:31 GMT

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us"

Hebrews 12:1

A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a friend that left me feeling sad after we got off the phone. After chatting I realized we are no longer in the same place in our friendship that we used to be for so long.

To be perfectly honest, this feeling has been coming on for some time, and the shift in our friendship happened over the course of several years. But after this particular conversation, it became truly evident that we were on different pages.

As I do with everything now, I went to the Lord with it. I shared with Him my feelings of sadness and discouragement.

I shared my grief in feeling like we can't talk the way we used to to, or share in the same way we once had. I laid my heart bare.

But I want to share something with you that God showed me. I pray it encourages your heart the way it did mine.

The Christian Walk Is Like a Marathon

As I was pouring my heart out to the Lord, the Holy Spirit suddenly brought to my mind Hebrews 12:1. I began to meditate on the verse, rolling the words over in my head, wondering why God was speaking that verse to me specifically.

As I was thinking on the words " let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" suddenly God gave me a vision.

He showed me a marathon. He showed me how each person in the Christian walk is running in this marathon together. Some people are running faster than others, some are running slower.

He showed me that there are spectators on the outside of the race who haven't committed their lives to Christ. Some people stand outside the marathon lines and they taunt the Christians as they run by. Some people throw insults, some are indifferent, and some even throw stones.

But then He showed me something else. He showed me myself, running in this race. He showed me how He had ordered my life so that when I first recommitted my life to Christ, I would be running alongside women who would help me in my faith walk as I learned to commune with Him.

He showed me how as we ran together, we laughed and prayed and helped one another along. When one of us fell down, we came alongside and picked up our fellow woman. Sometimes, we carried each other when we were too weak to run by ourselves.

God showed me that when I needed them most, He happened to bring women into my life that I needed. They cried with me, laughed with me, and most importantly, loved me.

And then He brought to my mind a pivotal prayer that I prayed early on in my faith journey. He told me, "You didn't know it my beloved, but that prayer you prayed set you up to run at a different pace."

Prayers Can Change Our Running Pace

I heard a sermon one day that radically changed my faith. I heard a pastor preach about speaking in tongues and the importance of it in our lives as Christians.

At the time, I had quite a bit of unbelief surrounding praying in tongues. Most of it stemmed from lies I had heard as a child in the church and in family settings. But I brought my insecurities and fears to the Lord, and I started asking Him about it. Really, at the time, all I did was talk to God about my fears surrounding the idea of speaking in tongues. One day God asked me to look into His Word and see what it said about the topic. So, I did.

I Corinthians 14:1-5

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification."

I found it interesting that a man or woman who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, and that Paul wished that all Christians spoke in tongues. The dictionary definition of edifies is to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift. I began to realize that this spiritual gift was something to be desired, as Paul said. I wondered how it would edify me in ways that I couldn't comprehend.

Further down in that chapter Paul says "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;" and that one verse caught my attention.

I pondered on Paul's ministry, and that no one can argue he had the biggest impact on the sharing and spreading of the gospel. There is no man that made more of a difference for the growth of the early church than Paul. I also wanted to be effective for the kingdom of God. I chewed on this for a few more weeks, and then one day I made a decision. I decided I wanted this gift, and started I praying for the gift of tongues.

The first part of I Corinthians 14 says to desire spiritual gifts. The actual Greek word here is zeloo, which means to burn with zeal, to desire earnestly, pursue. So I decided to take God at His Word, and I prayed for the gift of tongues earnestly.

Nothing happened for awhile, but during the time I was praying for this gift, God was preparing my heart to handle it. He burned away the fears and lies I had about tongues, and he replaced them with the Truth of what His Word said about the gift.

In the time I prayed, He showed me how the very first believers who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit also received tongues in the very same moment. The mark of the baptism is the gift of tongues.

Acts 2:1-4 NKJV

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (bold mine)

I prayed for a year, and nothing happened. But I didn't realize my doubts surrounding tongues were turning into faith toward possessing the gift. After a year I began to covet the gift and pray earnestly. And God started preparing my heart to receive it. And then one day in the middle of July, I had an unbelievable experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit . A few weeks later He loosened my tongue, and suddenly I was able to speak in the unknown language.

That one gift began to radically change my prayer life and set me up in ways I couldn't see at the time. Because every time I pray in tongues, I am edifying myself. Lies have no place in the presence of Truth. The Holy Spirit works in me in ways I don't understand, but the fruit that comes later is life changing.

Circumstances Can Change Our Running Pace

Not only do certain prayers change the pace at which we run, but sometimes things happens to us that we didn't foresee or predict. Circumstances in our lives change the course and pace in which we run. When we lose people close to us, lose our job, lose our health, those circumstances give us a choice in that moment.

When a devastating situation happens to us, how we choose to respond to it will forever affect our faith. If we invite the presence of Jesus into that place, He will become our Comforter and Healer. We will begin to see Him in a new light, and our trust in God grows. Our faith is strengthened when we act on it, and put our trust in the One who is the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

I think the best thing about that verse is that Jesus is the author of our faith, and the one who finishes it. We don't have to worry about our measure of faith, because it comes from God! The more we come to Him with our measly little faith that we have, the more He grows it under His care.

After I received the gift of praying in tongues I began to be attacked by Satan. I was living at my parents house at the time, and I remember being asleep one night and waking up with a terrible feeling of dread surrounding me.

When I sat up I saw a demon outside my window, staring at me. I shut my eyes as tight as I could and prayed and declared the name of Jesus over myself, my room, and my life. To say I was terrified would be an understatement.

The next day I was telling my mom about this and she freaked out. That night my dad anointed my room with oil and prayed over it. Those attacks never happened again. Something else happened, my faith began to grow.

My faith began to grow because I saw the power of my dad's prayer and the power of the anointed oil. But my faith also started growing because I realized that me praying in tongues was shaking the demonic realm, or they wouldn't have come for me. Those two instances in my life changed the way I saw prayer.

When we pray, hell's gates quake. Never underestimate the power of your prayers.

The attacks continued in different ways. I ended up getting into a car accident and it impacted my health. I started having panic attacks when I would get into the car to drive. I was so afraid to drive and the terror of it would well up in me. I hated that feeling. I knew it wasn't of God, but I didn't know what to do.

So, I did the only thing I knew to do. I began listening to sermons in my car every time I got in. It was the only thing that worked to keep my mind off of my fears and focused on the presence of Jesus.

It wasn't until years later that I heard this preached in a sermon: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17) What I didn't know is that I was building my faith by listening to the Word of God in my car. The Lord used my car rides to replace the lies of my fears with the truth of His Word and slowly my anxiety lessened until one day, it was no longer an issue at all. In fact, now I never think about being fearful in the car. Why? Because My God goes before me, and He protects me. And I know that, in the deepest parts of my soul, I know that to be true.

I didn't build my faith, God did. I just sat and listened and listened and listened to ease my fears. And slowly, my faith grew.

My Running Pace Has Changed

How we respond to difficulties in our lives, or what we pray for in the quiet moments we spend with the Lord, will change the pace at which we run this Christian marathon. God showed me in the vision He gave me that the prayer I prayed 10 years ago changed the pace at which I now run. He showed me that I no longer run at the same pace as I once did.

My prayer language has radically changed my faith and my entire life. I was pondering this vision and He showed me that my new running pace is faster than it was previously, because my faith has grown enough to handle the faster pace. The Lord showed me my heart, and that I have exercised it the way a runner does. He said to me, "you have practiced perseverance, and grown it as a runner grows their heart muscles. The more you practice My ways, the more your spiritual muscles grow."

Jesus comforted my soul by showing me that running at a different pace than I once did, is a blessing. While it does mean that I am mourning the loss of what my friendships once were, I am excited for the runners God will bring into my life who are filled with faith and push my walk to greater heights.

It's absolutely ok to be sad what we are leaving behind when we pick up our pace, but may we push forward in perseverance, knowing that God has something greater in our future for us.

Just like a marathon, we might find ourselves running alone for awhile. We might look around and realize it's just us, pounding pavement during the rain and sleet. Or maybe you feel like you've been through a hail storm at night, and you're just trying to stay upright in your run.

Sometimes God separates us so that the only thing we hear other than our own breath, is the breath of Jesus as He runs next to us. If this is you, rejoice in your season of running alone. It is during my seasons of running solo with the Lord that I gave gained greater distance than I ever thought possible.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." II Timothy 4:7-8

One day we will stand before our King, and He will place a crown of righteousness on our heads. We will know that we fought the good fight, and finished the race.

So, just as Paul said in Hebrews, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. God gives each of us a race to run that is purposed specifically to that which He has called us to do.

My friend, lace up your shoes, put on your armor, and let's run.

With joy, Jessica

My Favorite Things: What I Loved Following My C-Section Birth

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 18:20:20 GMT

Maybe you're planning to have a C-section, or maybe you found out that a C-section is your only option like it was for me with my second pregnancy. Either way, if you want a C-section or have to have one, this list of my favorite things to have postpartum is for you!

When I found out my second pregnancy was twins, my doctor let me know a caesarean birth was pretty likely. It's a lot harder to flip two babies into a head down position when they're lacking the space to do it!

I did quite a bit of research into what I would need postop, and after having gone through it, I can tell you with certainty why you will appreciate having these things too.

1 - The Perfect Postpartum Panties

I'm not kidding when I say these are absolutely going to be your best friend. These undies are so comfortable, the cotton is breathable, and with no elastic or tight edging they won't irritate your swollen belly or stitches.

I wore them every day for almost 8 weeks while I was healing from the C-Section. I wore them again after having abdominal surgery. Plus, they come in several different colors. Trust me, they are perfect. Buy them here .

2 - Nursing Nightgowns

I LOVED these nightgowns from motherhood maternity. I lived in them, especially while my stomach was swollen and sore following the C-section surgery. I had a really hard time wearing sweatpants for a few weeks while everything was tender and healing, and these nightgowns were the best.

They are as soft as they look in the picture, come in different colors, and because they are nursing nightgowns they worked perfectly for unstrapping and nursing or pumping. Seriously, between my favorite underwear and these nightgowns, it was the closest to being comfortable post surgery as you can get. Buy them here .

3 - My Favorite Comfy Pants

One of my close girlfriends sent me these pants before my surgery, and I ended up loving them so much I bought a second pair. The colors are cute, they have a few different patterns, and they are comfy. Like, comfy.

It took me 3-4 weeks before I even felt like putting pants on. But once my belly wasn't as tender, these were the only pants I was able to wear. The drawstring band keeps them up and doesn't squeeze tender skin the way elastic does. Trust me, I think you'll love them too. Find the comfy pants here !

4 - Postpartum Mesh Undies

If your hospital nurses don't load you up with goodies before you leave, or you forget to raid all of the drawers, you might want to order a few of these to get you through the first week or two.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about a C-section was that I was cleaned out pretty well and didn't bleed nearly as much as I did following my vaginal birth. That being said, there is still some bleeding and it's nice to have disposable undies that can be tossed in the trash. I bought a few extras to have around and I'm glad I did. You can find them here .

5 - Scar Cream

A C-section wasn't my first choice for my second birth, but not everyone feels the same way as me! If a C-section birth is in your future, you're probably thinking about that scar and if there's any way to lighten it up or make it less obvious.

I used this for a few months following surgery after everything had healed up, and I think it worked really well for me. A year postop I had a very faint scar line, and honestly I barely noticed it. I recommend trying this product out !

6 - My Favorite Laxatives

Since you're going to be a mom, or you're already a mom, �� is going to become a part of your regular vocabulary. That first postpartum poop for me was awful. Between the pain meds backing me up, and being backed up anyway before even going into labor because the twins blocked my bowels, I was in for a world of hurt. Dulcolax chews helped get things moving.

It doesn't really matter which way you give birth to your baby, these will be a very necessary part of your postpartum journey. Get them here , and I pray you have a better experience than me. Seriously.

7 - Antibacterial Soap

This soap came recommended by several surgery websites and friends of mine that had a C-section before I did. While it may or may not be necessary to wash with antibacterial soap following your caesarean birth, it did make me feel better knowing that I was washing away any bacteria and keeping my incision as clean as possible.

I ended up having zero issues or infections, and my scar healed extremely well. I think this soap helped with that.

8 - Comfy Cardigans

I ended up wearing cardigans a lot during the first few months postpartum. Since I spent an entire month in nightgowns, I tended to get chilly at night, and sometimes during the day. Having comfortable cardigans with pockets to stash cough drops in, my Airpods, phone, chapstick, and any other random items that I wanted to carry around with me was useful. And they kept me warm.

You can find wonderful cardigans here ! But this is one of my favorites .

9 - My Favorite Nursing Bras

I tried several different types of nursing bras and these ones are truly my favorite. They provide wonderful support, are padded to help with leaking and keep you from showing those leaks, and work well whether you're full or depleted.

They come in a few colors, black, nude and purple. After nursing I would tighten the straps up, and before going to bed I would loosen them to accommodate waking up with full breasts. But I have to say, the incredible support was my favorite. I lived in these for over a year. Worth it.

10 - Belly Binder

I used a belly binder following my regular birth with my firstborn to get back to feeling normal again. I think one of the weirdest postpartum feelings is when you bend over to pick something up or put your pants on and it feels like your insides are going to tumble out of your skin. Postpartum all of your organs are in the process of finding their way to back to their normal place in your body, and I really liked having a binder to aid that process.

Following my C-section I felt like I couldn't live without my binder. It helped keep everything in place and gave me comfort. It also helped with the pain that I had from my scar and from feeling sliced open. I highly recommend getting one of these! Belly Binders on Amazon .

I hope you find this list helpful! I honestly couldn't get by without these things, which is why they're my favorite. Trust me when I say those panties WILL be your best friend.

I pray you have a very blessed pregnancy, labor, and birth! I often quoted my favorite verse while I was pregnant, and it was nice to have it in my head when I went into labor. Perhaps it will strengthen your heart the way it did mine. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9

With joy, Jessica

The God Who Saves

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:16:46 GMT

The very title instills peace, gratitude and joy throughout my whole being. When we think about God, about our Savior Jesus Christ, do we think about Him as the God who saves us? The God who saves us in ALL areas of our life?

For a long time, I thought of God just as the saver of my soul. I didn't think of Him as being Lord in every area, and that meant that He saves in all areas.

In order to see Jesus as God truly meant us to see Him, we have to have a perspective shift in our minds. We have to truly read the scriptures and understand them the way that God meant them.

One of the things that completely changed my perspective of Jesus and His ministry, was when I finally realized that the New Testament should begin at the cross, at the point of His death.

Our modern Bible has the New Testament beginning at the birth of Jesus, but the true New Testament begins at the death of our Lord. Because in His death, he fulfilled every single law of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17). It was in the this fulfilling of the Law of the Prophets of Moses that a new era was ushered in, the era of grace.

I know there are a lot of people that preach that we need the law and grace. They preach that law mixed with grace is our salvation. But this is simply not true! The purpose of the law was to show us our need for a Savior. Because when God gave the 10 commandments, He didn't just mean that we shouldn't murder, He meant that any murderous or hateful thoughts within us are a sin. So this one law, encompasses not only us not murdering someone we dislike, but also not having any hateful or unlikeable thoughts toward someone!

Jesus came to show us that we can't keep the law. We are not perfect people, and we are simply unable to keep any of them with any ability in ourselves.
Jesus came to say to us, "I know you can't keep the law. And that's why I'm here. My death will bring life, true life, life more abundant for you."

Because when Jesus died, He gave us the opportunity to accept Him and receive His salvation as the gift that it is. Not something that we can earn through keeping any of God's commandments, because we can't.

The law shows us our shortcomings, so that in our shortcomings, we will admit our need for Jesus.

And when we can finally admit that and believe correctly that we can't save ourselves, but that we also can't earn our way out of lust, anger, depression, anxiety, or whatever our struggle is, then we will see Jesus as Our God Who Saves. And then, we will be saved.

The All Encompassing Word: Saved

Romans 10:9

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved (sozo)."

Sozo is the Greek word for saved, and it is used 110 times in the New Testament. In the Greek, the word Sozo in a nutshell means salvation, deliverance and healing.

If we break that word down even a little bit further, it means to rescue from danger or destruction AND to save one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, and restore to health.

In essence, the word Greek word for sozo is an all encompassing word to save you mind, body and spirit. It's no accident that the Greek language was the language spoken when Jesus was born, and that Jesus "happened" to come during the time when the Romans were in power in Israel.

Greek was the native tongue for Jesus and His disciples. God happened to place His Son in the world during an era when a very precise language was being taught. So when we study the Bible and His Word, we have to look at the original Greek and study the meaning behind the words as God meant them to be used.

Sozo = Healing

Matthew 9:22

"But Jesus turning and seeing her said 'Daughter take courage your faith has made you well (sozo)' and at once the woman was made well (sozo)."

Mark 10:52

"Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well (sozo)." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

James 5:13-15

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save (sozo) the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."

There are so many examples of how salvation is our healing, how the very death of Christ on the cross, is our healing. When Jesus died, he bought the right for us to be healed.

Isaiah 53:5

"But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed."

But how does our healing come? It comes through faith. And if we look at how our faith grows, it doesn't grow when we look at ourselves. When we search our hearts and try to find it, we will always find ourselves lacking.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17). And later in that verse, Paul says how will they hear without a preacher?

So find preachers that increase your faith and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. We can't save ourselves. We can't heal ourselves. But Jesus can, and he does. Not only that, but He is willing! (Matthew 8:3)

The devil wants us focused on ourselves and our circumstances, because in doing that we are defeated. We lose sight of our salvation, and then we lose the sozo, the healing of our Savior.

Keep your eyes and mind focused on Christ. Listen to sermons day in and day out. If you are afflicted and it affects you all day every day, then focus on Jesus all day, every day. That is how our faith grows. And by faith, we are healed.

Something I feel led to say though, is that God also works through modern medicine and doctors as well. So if there is something serious happening, then pray for discernment that God would provide you with the right answers for your healing.

I heard the testimony of a woman who was being called to be a doctor by the Lord. She was wrestling with this conundrum, that if God is the ultimate healer, than what was her role and why did He give her a desire to be a doctor? Why be a doctor, when we have God?

And God spoke to her heart, and said that all good things are from above, and medicine is a good thing. Doctors are saving lives and extending the lives of those who might otherwise die.

So God said to her, I am also in medicine. I am in the advancement of technology. I want to use your hands to heal others. She said after that, she looked at herself not as the healer, but as the physician's assistant, and God as her boss. And the Lord has blessed her work, and she uses it as her ministry.

If God leads you to see a doctor, to heal you with medicine which He has also created, then let's celebrate that this is the way He has chosen to heal us!

Most importantly though, be in the Word, listening to sermons, and let the Holy Spirit lead you to the answer. Rest in the Lord, and He will guide your path.

Sozo = Deliverance

"And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon possessed had been made well (sozo)."

2 Timothy 4:17

"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me (sozo) unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Deliverance, from the word to deliver, means to carry and turn over, to give into another's possession or keeping; surrender. It means to bring to the support of a candidate or a cause, to utter or pronounce, to set free or liberate, to release or save, to disburden oneself of thoughts, opinions...and there's quite a few more definitions.

In Matthew 14 we see Peter walk on the water toward Jesus. As he kept his eyes on the Lord, he was able to walk on the water, in the midst of the storm.

It didn't matter how much the wind howled, or the seas rocked. While Peter's eyes were fixed on Jesus, he was able to walk on the water and not sink below the waves.

The minute Peter looked around him, he started sinking. "But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” The word save here is sozo.

In the next verse Jesus stretches out His hand and caught Peter. Jesus delivered Peter from death, He protected him, He preserved his life.

That's what Jesus does for you and me today. He protects us from the enemy and preserves us. But we have to keep our eyes fixed on Him.

When we take our eyes off of Him, we'll notice how boisterous the wind is, and then we'll become afraid like Peter did. When he acted out in faith, he walked on water. He was above waves, and walked into the storm, unafraid. He did something brave, and something no one else has ever done except for Jesus! Ever!

That's the way I want to live. I want to live knowing my God protects me and preserves me while I walk with Him.

Sozo also means to set free or liberate, to release or save, to disburden oneself of thoughts, opinions. That's where God has mostly shown me His saving power. I have yet to walk on water (here's to hoping ��), but I have seen Him deliver me over and over again.

Shortly after I fully surrendered my life to Christ, He started working in my heart to change me and transform me unto Him. At the time I was so depressed and heartbroken. My depression and sadness was so great that sometimes I wondered if it would be better to not live at all - in fact I was probably borderline suicidal. During my worst days and nights, I would scream at God, tormented by the demons that had haunted me for years.

The problem was, I hadn't realized they were haunting me because in college, I had embraced a sinful life.

But when the light of God flooded my heart, the dark corners didn't appreciate being lit up. I was tormented by the darkness day in and day out for a long, long time.

During this time, I stayed faithful to the Lord. Not always very well, and not without fighting and wrestling with Him, but I came back day after day.

One day I woke up and was no longer bothered by evil spirits, because the battles I had been fighting with God by my side defeated the darkness. We had won this war. Together. My Jesus saves.

I have so many examples of the saving grace of Jesus. The only way I have ever won a battle against anxiety, depression, sickness, defeat, is by looking at Jesus. Pick up the Bible, read God's Word. Pray, scream, yell, but invite Jesus into the place that needs saving.

Watch as His grace sozo's your mind and your heart. It's not without a lot of discipline and hard work on your part, but "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

Be patient, even in affliction, for it will produce perseverance. I used to be afraid of perseverance because I didn't like that it would mean suffering in the meantime. Now however, when the storms of life come, my faith isn't impacted while the world becomes fearful.

Look to Jesus, He will save you.

Sozo = Salvation

The most obvious form of the word is salvation. When we call out to Jesus, confess with our mouth that He is Lord and believe in our hearts that He was raised from the dead, then we will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

God saves our souls. There's a hole in our hearts that only He can fill. We can search for meaning and purpose in every single thing this world has to offer: career, family, friends, health, wealth, chasing dreams and climbing mountains, but nothing will ever replace the love of Jesus when we invite Him in.

It doesn't matter what we chase, it won't fill us, redeem us, or give us fullness.

When we submit our lives to Christ, we die to ourselves. It sounds not fun, I get it. I was pretty happy to live my sin-filled life in college.

I enjoyed the partying and I listened to the lies that Satan told me that a life with Jesus would be boring ( Believing The Right Thing: Replacing Satan's Lies With God's Truth ). Oh how wrong I was! My life has been way more exciting and joyful than one day of partying ever was.

Yes, there is pain in walking with God. But there's no less pain when we're not, it's just that we numb it with vices like drinking, drugs, sex and adventures.

We hop from relationship to relationship, and seek out careers that will bring us fortune and fame.

We chase life experiences that keep our adrenaline going while avoiding the crash by lining up the next adventure before the current one is even finished.

What's hard about receiving Christ is that when we slow down, he opens up the cracks in our heart and shows us the ugliness that's been there all along.

Old traumas are brought to the service, and the pain of our past is brought to the forefront. He opens up the wounds that never healed, and instead festered below the surface. He asks that we give our hurts over to Him for safe keeping, that we surrender them.

When we do that, He does a new work and transforms us into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18) The cracks and wounds are filled with His healing power, and we are made complete and perfect.

It doesn't matter what you chase or what your god is in this life, it won't save you and it won't fill you. Only Jesus can do that.

My Jesus Saves

I am a firsthand witness of the power of Jesus Christ. I have been healed of anxiety, depression, guilt, a painful past, and broken and failed relationships.

Childhood traumas and events that used to keep me in a prison of self-doubt and fear are gone. The chains of bondage have been broken. I have mourned severe loss and come out on the other side stronger than I was before. ( Mourn The Loss )

The only constant through every battle I have faced was and is, Jesus. He has sozo'd every single area of my life and continues to work new life and salvation in my heart.

Turn to Him. Look unto Him. Don't take your eyes off of Him and you will one day wake up and find that the old you has gone, and the new you has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Writing to you with joy, Jessica

Mourn The Loss

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 22:43:58 GMT

I think one of the most human verses in the entire Bible is also the shortest one: "Jesus wept." (John 11:35)

I don't know about you, but I was taught to see vulnerable emotions as a lack of strength. As a result, I grew up viewing crying and sadness as a weakness. Instead of learning how to properly manage and handle sadness, depression or loss, I stuffed those deep down within me. But the problem is emotions have to come out somehow, and they usually end up coming out sideways in our relationships or lives.

Sadness left unhandled ends up being expressed in other ways like anger or depression, anxiety or hopelessness. But it can also affect the body in ways we don't always realize. In fact, the Bible has a lot to say about sadness and how it can affect our bodies, and there's no better way than to allow Jesus to teach us how to mourn.

Why Should We Mourn?

Proverbs 17:22 says "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." I want to take a look at the New Living Translation, because I think it will bring some more clarity to this verse. "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."

To be broken in spirit or to have a crushed spirit literally saps up our strength and dries up our bones. A broken spirit, a broken heart, to be brokenhearted or sad, can actually dry our body up from the inside out. Health issues can arise in our body if we stuff our emotions and if we don't mourn our losses.

Proverbs 15:13 (NKJV)

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,

But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."

Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV)

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

But a good word makes it glad."

Proverbs 18:14 (NKJV)

"The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,

But who can bear a broken spirit?"

When we mourn things that happened to us we work through our sadness and grief. As we mourn, a healing work begins in our hearts and our bodies won't take on our pain.

Let's take a look at the word medicine in Proverbs 17:22. The Hebrew word for medicine is gēhâ, which actually means cure. Gēhâ is derived from the root word gāhâ, which means to remove a bandage from a wound, heal it, cure it. So the cure or medicine for our sorrow is to have a cheerful heart! Seems simple right?

Except we can't just suddenly "be happy" when we're in a fog of sadness. Cheerfulness is far from us when sorrow reigns in our hearts. The Bible says Jesus was a man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3), and yet I only see a handful of Bible verses in which he cried, and in one of those he was so deeply anguished that his body sweat blood in anticipation of the cross.

In all my sorrows there is nothing that has made my body sweat blood because of how deeply affected I was by my circumstances. And do you know what He did while in anguish? He went straight to His Father, our Father, with His agony. He prayed.

I believe that the Man who sweat blood in anticipation of carrying my sins to the cross can also comfort me in my darkest days. The man who was beaten until His form was so marred that He was unrecognizable as a human, as a man, He endured so much agony that I can say by His stripes I am healed. (Isaiah 53:5). It's to that Man that I take my sorrows and share with Him my losses.

Isaiah 52:14 (NLT)

"But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man."

So, why should we mourn? We should mourn because when we do our spirit is healed. We should mourn because on the other side of darkness, pain and sadness is cheerfulness and joy. We should mourn because mourning is the medicine and in it we find our cure. And we should mourn because Jesus showed us that he also grieved, and deeply.

But on the other side of our mourning, perhaps we will find the secret that Sherwood Wirt writes about in his book Jesus Man of Joy. Wirt writes, "Jesus was a man of such gladness of Spirit, such freedom and openness and magnetism in His attitude, that He was irresistible." On the other side of our mourning season we will experience joy and gladness of heart. So then, what does mourning look like?

Cry It Out

Our greatest teacher is Jesus and he showed us exactly how to mourn. When Lazarus died He wept. For the longest time I actually believed that meant he wailed or sobbed aloud but the word used in this verse is actually dakryo, which is to shed tears or cry silently.

How many times do we as women cry silently? We cry silently into our pillows at night, being careful not to wake the person next us. We cry as we stir the food on the stove, or in the shower where no one can see us. We cry when we spent all morning cleaning the house, only to have a toddler spill their juice all over the floor and we find ourselves on our knees again. And the tears silently fall when we feel underappreciated or unseen.

In these moments we can take comfort that Jesus also cried, in the very same way as us. He cried when Lazarus died, and again before the cross. In our moments of crying, invite the Lord into that place. Share those deepest hurts and unfulfilled longings with the one who already knows what's in your heart.

I used to fall into the trap of not sharing it all with Him, thinking what's the point? He knows it all anyway. So why share what I feel? Because our healing comes when we cry out to the Lord. When we share our innermost desires and shattered hearts with God, He hears us. He listens to us, He communes with us and He helps us walk through our pain. I can't tell you how many times I have cried out to God about a disappointing experience and when I do, I wake up the next day feeling better than the day before, and a little more healed.

The reason we have to tell Jesus of our sorrows is not for His benefit, it's for ours. We are the ones who need to be honest about what is in our hearts. We are the ones who need to share.

Healing happens when we cry it out and invite Jesus into that space. The One who carried ALL of our sins, hurts, aches and pains, shame and disease to the cross, is the one who cares about everything you're feeling. Tell Him. Tell Him everything. But don't leave it there, ask Him to heal your hurts and to bind your wounds. (Psalm 147:3) Then step back and watch as the ashes of your brokenness birth new life, filled with His fruits.

Through Our Tears, We Glimpse Heaven

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Matthew 13:44

I was 7 months pregnant when my best friend called to chat with me and catch up. She was battling cancer and had been for awhile, but she sounded upbeat and positive about the new medical trial they had her on. We laughed a lot and it was one of those conversations that felt normal, like before the cancer had taken a lot away from us.

Three days later her mom called and I knew. I knew my best friend had lost her battle, and that she was calling to tell me it was over.

I was walking out of work the next day still in shock, and I vividly remember telling Jesus, "I want to be close to you, I want to share with you everything I'm feeling, but right now I know I need some space. I don't know what will happen if I grieve while I'm pregnant."

Being near Jesus has a way of changing us. We can't help but become more like Him the more we draw near to Him. Part of becoming more like Him is dealing with painful things that might derail us from who He wants us to become. And it wasn't that I didn't want to be near Him, but I wasn't sure how grief would affect my unborn baby girl.

Somehow in my heart I knew the best thing for her was to put grief aside for the time being and to focus on being the healthiest I could be. So I shared this all with Him, that I desired my relationship with Him more than anything, but He had ordained my pregnancy and protecting my baby was my upmost priority.

In that moment walking out of work, I could feel the presence of Jesus. I felt His hand hold mine as He walked me to my car. He whispered into my soul, "I will be here when you are ready. I am always near, just call on me." I have never felt more cared for than I did in that moment. He didn't judge me for saying I needed space. He just loved me as I was.

Do you know what He did for me over the course of the next few months? He gave me a supernatural joy that filled my heart and my soul in a way that went beyond human comprehension. I couldn't have cried if I had wanted to. Jesus heard my heart's desire and then He answered me in a way that I hadn't expected. He filled my whole being with joy, so that my unborn baby would experience a mama filled with gladness. He gave me a hidden treasure, the joy of heaven, and let me experience that for the rest of my pregnancy. That is my Jesus! That is my God!

Is that your God? Call upon Him, tell Him of your worries, cares and desires, and He will draw near to you.

Psalm 145:18-19

"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and save them." (emphasis mine)

Don't Stuff It and Forget It

While I enjoyed the joy God gave me during my pregnancy I knew it had to come to an end at some point. I expected I would start dealing with it after Skylar was born, I didn't expect to be such a wreck immediately after her birth. I experienced postpartum depression and the grief of losing my best friend all at the same time.

There were days when all I did was cry, and I began to wonder if I would be depressed forever. There were nights when my husband held me while I sobbed, for a long time. In my grief he showed me what Paul meant when he wrote: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her..." (Ephesians 5:25). He showed me a glimpse of heaven during those hard nights.

There were definitely times when I wondered if I needed something to help with the sadness. Every time I thought about it though Jesus brought my focus back to Him. He reminded me that He was the same one who held my hand and gave me joy while I was pregnant, and that He would also be my Counselor in my grief. Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus our Wonderful Counselor, that through His birth He will come as one who counsels us if we let Him. I have found in my walk with Him that there is no one who counsels me better, or gives me better advice and wisdom than the person of Jesus.

Let's look at these two words, Wonderful Counselor. The word Wonderful is derived from the Hebrew word pele, which means a miracle. The word Counselor is the word yāʿas, which means to consult together, to deliberate, to resolve, to give counsel, purpose, devise, plan, to guide. There's actually a lot of meaning in this one word!

When we approach Jesus with our hurts and sadness He gives us counsel, but it goes further than that. He consults and deliberates with us through our grief and pain, He helps us resolve it and guides us as we work through it. But it doesn't end there! Through His counsel we find purpose, and He gives us new plans and new life. He makes a miracle out of our pain! He is truly our wonderful counselor!

I'm definitely not saying that counselors and therapists aren't a worthy investment, but make sure that the one who is advising you is above all else leading you to the person of Jesus. God cautions us against ungodly counsel (Psalm 1:1), so be in prayer with Him about finding the right counselor in your time of need.

I knew for myself, that Jesus was all I needed. He walked me through my intense grief. He dealt with me gently during my sad moments and I slowly moved forward day by day. Sometimes, I was only holding on hour by hour. And that's ok. The key is to keep moving forward, keep sharing with Him, and keep walking through the valley of the shadow of death. On the other side you will see the Son.

Give God The Mud

You know what else is ok? It's ok to tell Jesus just how horrible the whole situation is. Some of us go through some really awful things in life, but you know what? He's not afraid of a little muck.

He can handle any mud you sling at Him, and He will love you through it all. He just wants you to keep coming back to Him, keep talking to Him, keep looking at Him and beholding Him. The more we share our mud with Him, the more He can work a miracle in our hearts and remove the mud and replace it with heavenly treasure, heavenly goodness, heavenly gold.

One day you will wake up and the pain won't be quite as intense and you will have learned to love deeper, have greater compassion for your neighbor, and experience a joy that goes beyond anything this earthly happiness can offer. Purpose is born out of the pain, and when we look in the mirror, we find we have changed.

All Loss Is Hard

All of our losses matter to God, whether they are big or small. I mourned the loss of having an ideal pregnancy when I was pregnant with my twins (it was definitely not ideal). I mourned the loss of not having a nursing journey with my twins like I did with my firstborn. I mourned the loss of our dog when she passed, of my children growing out of newborn clothes into bigger ones, and the loss of my friendships when we moved across the country.

There are so many big things we have to mourn in our journey through this life, but there are also little losses along the way too. These little losses, while they might seem silly or insignificant, they matter so much to God. It's important that we mourn our little losses too. Bitterness has no ability to take root and grow in our hearts when we deal with the little things as well as the big things. And Jesus wants to hear about it all.

So bring it to God when you're sad. Mourn when you move from one home to another, even if the new home is bigger and better; it doesn't contain the memories of your old one. Mourn the loss of loved ones when they pass on. Mourn the loss of your favorite boots or jacket when it's time to put it in the trash. Mourn the loss of pets when it's their time. Mourn the loss of divorce, broken friendships, miscarriages and an empty womb. God cares about all of it. (1 Peter 5:7)

I pray that as you read this you are encouraged. I pray that you find comfort in knowing that your brothers and sisters in Christ also go through similar trials and suffering, and they come out on the other end.

There is an end to the the valley, but you have to walk through it to get there. On the other side you will find peace, joy, gladness. And you will be blessed. You will be oh, so blessed. James says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." (James 1:2-3)

Perseverance is the steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. It also means continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation. Perseverance is a state of grace! So know this my friend, during your season of mourning your faith is producing perseverance, and you are in a continual state of grace. And your faith, while it's being tested during your state of sadness, is growing.

It may seem dark now, but the darkest part of the night is right before dawn. Soon you will see the streaks of light in your life as the shadows begin to recede and the sun breaks forth. Press forward, press ever on until the glorious end. And know this: nothing, absolutely nothing, is wasted when we put our trust in Jesus.

Writing to you with joy, Jessica

How We Potty Trained Our Toddler in 4 Days

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 13:34:16 GMT

When our daughter turned 2 I knew we would eventually have to deal with potty training her. Honestly, it terrified me. So much so that I put it off for 8 months. Well, that and my twins were born 6 weeks after she turned 2 so…..

We finally decided to tackle the toilet over Thanksgiving break. My husband and I discussed how we *expected* the weekend to go, and we knew we were in this together. I read in a parenting magazine that some experts believe the best time to potty train is between 27-32 months; and we were quickly arriving at 32 months.

The Method(s) We Used

I researched a few methods before we decided on the no pants method combined with the Montessori method (MM). After reading about all the ways we could go about it, this seemed like the perfect fit for us.

The Montessori Method focuses on a gradual process of toilet training, and for most people that means putting their kids on the toilet often and letting them get used to the idea from a young age. We didn't end up following this part of the process, instead opting to go all out in one weekend with no pants. But we did pull part of the MM by allowing Skylar to use pull-ups and diapers during naps and bedtime.

Our main goal for Skylar was to have her potty trained during the day, and we figured we would worry about naps and bedtime later.

One of the Montessori recommendations is to have toddlers use the regular toilet whenever possible – which means not using a typical toddler potty chair on the floor. When Skylar was 28 months we bought two potty training seats from Amazon that would allow her to use the regular toilet and (when ready), be able to use it herself without assistance from us.

Getting Her Ready

The potty seats arrived and we spent a few months talking to her about using the toilet “like a big girl.” I also started bringing her into the bathroom with me and showed her what I was doing and we talked about the process.

We had her sit on “her” toilet a few times. We showed her a few Cocomelon videos about JJ using the potty “like a big boy” ….you get the idea. Our plan was to have her comfortable with it before making the transition.

Around 30 months she started using one specific corner of our living room to do her business (in the diaper of course), and then telling us “poopy! Mommy change diaper!” It was then that we realized she was exhibiting the final sign of “readiness” and at this point, we were putting off toilet training.

Preparing…

And so, we picked a weekend to make it happen. The bare bottom method suggests having a long weekend or stretch of 4-5 days in which this is the only focus for the family. We decided Thanksgiving during Covid when we wouldn’t be traveling or seeing anyone was the perfect time for us to tackle the beast. The toilet, not our kid .

The weekend before Thanksgiving, Skylar and I went on a mommy/me date to Target and picked out fun underwear. We talked constantly for the next 5 days about how fun it would be to wear Paw Patrol panties.

I made a sticker chart and showed her the book of stickers she would get for using the potty, washing her hands, flushing by herself, asking us to use the potty, etc.

We prepped both bathrooms (one upstairs, one downstairs) with the potty chairs, stickers, a coloring book and crayons, anything that would make the experience fun for her.

Most importantly though, we mentally prepped for the hard days ahead. We knew there would be tears, fights, accidents, and drama, and we were ready for it. Being mentally prepared kept us from overreacting when she threw fits all weekend. We also prepared ourselves for it not working out, just in case.

Day 1

The first thing we did Thanksgiving morning was take the diaper off and put her on the potty (not excited about it). We had explained for days what was going to happen, but she still wanted the diaper.

We left her bare bottomed, knowing accidents would happen but also not wanting to wash undies all day.

Every 30-45 minutes we put her on the potty (kicking and screaming at times), even if she didn’t have to go. The idea was to get her used to using the toilet.

At naptime we put on a pullup and she realized that if she took a nap, she could go in her “diaper”. I’m not going to lie, we weren’t sure if we were doing the right thing on this one…

After her nap we gave her the iPad when she went to the bathroom to help ease her anxiety. She would sit for 10-15 minutes at a time on the toilet, getting used to it, and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It relieved her fears and she started to relax. By the end of the day, she went in the toilet once! Progress!

At night we put on her pullups again.

Day 2

Day 2 was really tough. She woke up and we took off the pullups and she bawled her eyes out. We knew it would be difficult, but man, there were a lot of tears and temper tantrums on day 2. I won’t sugar coat it, it sucked. There were a lot of accidents. Every time we stuck her on the toilet it was a battle. Total war zone in the Hallstrom Home day 2.

When we told her it was naptime, she literally ran up the stairs to her bedroom and asked for a diaper… I was beginning to get anxious about the naptime pullup and wondering if it was a mistake. But I didn’t want to change the routine just yet so on the pullup went, and she happily hopped into bed.

It was a tough day, but like I said, we had prepared for bad days. We just took deep breaths and soldiered on.

Day 3

When I got Skylar up in the morning and we took off the pullup she cried again. I had heard that day 3 is the hardest day, and most parents want to quit the whole thing.

On day 3 we decided to reward her BIG time if she went on the toilet. For the first 2 days, she only peed a handful of times on the toilet. Every other time it was on the carpet , hardwood floor (better!), or on the couch .

So we upped the ante. We told her she would get a spoonful of ice cream for every successful toilet experience. It worked. She only had one accident all day.

On the evening of day 3 she pooped, and we threw her the biggest party, complete with a bowl of ice cream. She was feeling pretty awesome that night. We felt tentatively hopeful.

Day 4

Day 4 she woke up and ran straight for the toilet, declaring on the way, “ice cream!” Ha! I was digging the enthusiasm.

We kept up the 45 minute bathroom trip routine all day, to ensure she didn’t have any accidents. Skylar still wasn’t letting us know when she needed to go, and she hadn’t quite gotten the hang of ‘knowing’ her body. So our routine continued. Ice cream included. Day 4 she consumed a lot of ice cream .

And we stuck with pullups at naptime and bedtime.

2 Weeks Later…

It took two weeks for her to start realizing when she needed to use the toilet. The first week we stuck with putting her on the potty every 45 minutes. We gradually increased the time to 90 minutes as she started to understand the process.

Around day 14 of our training, she woke up with a dry pullup at naptime. Cue my shock. And I was pretty sure it was a fluke. It wasn’t. She never peed again during naptime.

And then the most amazing thing happened…she stopped peeing at night too. That one surprised me the most. Even with the pullup on, she would wait until morning to use the toilet. I felt better about letting her gradually let go of the “diaper”. I was positive I was doing the wrong thing the whole time, but I think she found security in the pullup, and when she was ready, she trained herself.

In Conclusion

I don’t know if everyone would experience the same kind of success we did by combining the Montessori and bare bottom method (she did get her pants back), but we certainly loved the outcome. She was completely trained by Christmas, night and day, with zero accidents.

At the end of the day, you know your kid and their learning style. And if something isn’t working, it’s ok to change it! We’re all learning how to be parents as we go along.

I prayed A LOT before we entered into our potty training weekend. If you’re not sure what method to use or how to go about it, I would suggest praying about it. I prayed for wisdom, courage, patience, and for our kiddo to persevere through the hard days. I attribute any success we had to prayer. God hears us, He answers, and He guides us.

With joy, Jessica

The Power Of Praying Over Our Children

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 17:40:43 GMT

"And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

There are so many important prayers we should be, and can be, praying over our children. I pray for their safety, for their security, for freedom from fear, that they feel loved and accepted, for their friendships and for their relationships with their siblings and us as their parents.

I pray for their emotions and that they have a sound mind grounded in the Truth of Christ. My husband and I have taken oil and prayed over our children's rooms; that nothing would be allowed in that is of the devil. We pray for the breaking of strongholds in our lives, that they wouldn't affect our children, and for strongholds to not spring up in their lives. I mean, the list is endless!

I think the absolute most important job as a parent is praying for our kids. We can read every parenting book on the planet, but unless we are rooted in Christ with the Bible as our guide, praying for them and ourselves, our efforts will be futile.

Praying For Our Children Daily

When I first had Skylar 3 years ago, I bought The Power of a Praying Paren t by Stormie Omartian. It's a fantastic book, and one I recommend that every parent has in their arsenal! There are 32 chapters in the book, and the first chapter is beginning with praying for me as the parent, that I would become a praying parent.

I believe praying that for myself has made a huge difference in being receptive to the words God wants me to pray over my kids. Learning how to pray for our kids first starts in us being malleable and teachable in the ways of the Lord.

I also love that each chapter focuses on a different area in our kids' lives that we can be praying for. It's not an accident that she does her chapters so that we can be praying each day for a new topic, effectively covering them in prayer every single day of the month throughout the year.

But, there is one prayer that I started praying for my kids that stands out above all others. It has not only shown me that they are grasping who Jesus is, and that Jesus is teaching their hearts in ways I don't even realize, but this prayer has also humbled me when my daughter has spoken Truth back to me.

The Number One Prayer

Of all the prayers I pray for my children, the prayer for wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of Christ is my number one prayer. I want them to grow in their faith and knowledge of Jesus.

The most important thing we can do is teach them about Jesus, what His death on the cross did for us and how we are redeemed through His death and resurrection. I want them to know wisdom. To have understanding that is beyond human comprehension.

Wisdom is a gift, but when it's paired with understanding in how and when to use that wisdom, it is life-giving. I want them to have an understanding of the wisdom God has given them, that their spiritual eyes would be opened to Jesus. So I pray Ephesians 1:17-18 over my children every night before bed.

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints"

Ephesians 1:17-18

I pray this verse over myself and Mikael too. In fact, I have it written on a notecard in my Bible, and every time I open my Bible, I pray this over our family.

How God Gives Wisdom To Our Children

I started praying Ephesians 1 over my kids sometime this spring, after listening to a sermon about why this is such an important prayer for us as Christians. Just like most prayers we pray, we almost never see how it's actively working or affecting our lives for many months, or even years. It takes time for prayer to cultivate in our hearts.

When we plant the seeds of a new prayer, and water it by praying that prayer over and over, it takes hold and roots begin to grow. But just like a real plant, it takes awhile for those roots to deepen and for the plant to sprout forth above ground. All that to say, it was probably 5 or so months before I saw the fruit of this prayer taking place.

One particular afternoon, I was having a challenging day with my kids. Both of the twins were going through a developmental leap, and on top of that, they were both teething and working on getting some molars through. So, to say they were whiny for most of the day, would be an understatement. By the time I got them down for a nap and sat down with my daughter, I was spent. I was emotionally and physically spent. I don't say that as an excuse for what happened next with my behavior, but to give context for the day as a whole.

I made my daughter and myself lunch, and we sat down together. Part way through she decided she didn't want her lunch anymore. She started demanding a different lunch. I explained that no, I wasn't making her a different lunch, because I had already given her a choice and she didn't choose that option when she had a choice.

She got angry with me, and flipped her plate up. Peanut butter and jelly flew all over the kitchen, and y'all, I was pissed. It had been a tough morning, and my daughter could feel it.

In that moment, I angrily told her to clean it up, and we were done. I put her in time-out and left the room to take a breather. Before I left the room, I looked back at her one last time, and there was anger in my eyes, and she felt it when I looked at her. Her little face fell and I know she could feel how upset I was. I'm definitely not proud of losing my temper, or the anger that she felt.

I went back to where she was in time-out after I had cooled down and prayed over the situation. I sat down next to her and she looked up at me and said "Mommy has evil anger in her eyes, it makes me sad." Oof.

I felt like I had been sucker-punched in the gut. In my spirit, the Holy Spirit confirmed what she had said. There had been evil in my anger toward her. I hugged her and apologized for my behavior in my anger, and we talked about her behavior and how she had acted. I used that moment to speak to her about how what I did was wrong, and what she did was wrong. It was a definite teaching moment, and I believe I was the one being taught.

I wasn't really sure what to do with that knowledge when she spoke those words to me in that moment. She had spoken wisdom to me, and I realized immediately that the Holy Spirit had given her a special discernment regarding my behavior and my anger.

I think she saw something in the spiritual realm. Am I certain of that? No, but there was something in the way that she said it, and the way the Holy Spirit confirmed her words to me internally. I knew there was evil surrounding my anger that day.

For a few weeks after, that day swirled in my mind and I prayed about it and talked with the Lord about it. I received a visual picture from the Lord while I was in church one Sunday, showing me the stronghold anger has had on my family for many generations.

In the Spirit, I saw my grandmother, and her anger toward my father. I saw my father in turn, choosing not to break that cycle of anger when he accepted Christ, but instead gave in to the spirit of anger over and over. I remember being on the brunt end of angry words many times while I was growing up.

In that moment in church, I realized that this stronghold was a generational one, cursing my family line. I saw what my daughter had seen that day, that a spirit of anger sometimes took over and spewed hatred through me. I saw that there was a line from my grandmother, connecting to my father, which connected to me, and I realized in that moment that if I did nothing, if I sat aside, it would connect from me to my children as well.

I Refuse To Do Nothing

As soon as the Lord gave me that vision while we were worshipping in church, I realized what needed to happen next. I began praying. I prayed that the blood of Jesus would cover this generational chord connecting back to my ancestors, and that it would be broken. I prayed that the stronghold Satan had had on our lives, would be demolished into fine dust.

I saw myself in the Spirit, picking up the Sword, and using the Truth of God's Word to bring down this demonic scheme. Ephesians 6:10-18 came to my mind and realized how I needed to pray.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Anger is nothing more than a demonic ploy; just like alcoholism, or pornography, or pride, or depression, or fear, or bitterness. That is not to say that it isn't damaging or that it isn't powerful. It absolutely is. But when our eyes are opened to the ways of the devil, the tools he is using to bind us, then we can deal with it using the weapons that God has given us.

However, our eyes need to be opened to the lies first. God used my little girl to open my eyes and truly see the generational curse for what it really is; a Satanic tool to keep me bound in a stronghold. The devil is hoping I do nothing to combat his fiery darts, and that I pass that anger on to my children.

So, That Day, I Prayed

I took up the sword of the Spirit, and I recognized, I am a daughter of the King. I have been given all power of heaven and earth to combat the lies of the enemy, and the evil one. I am no longer a slave to my anger!

While the worship surrounded me and God's people sang his praises, I prayed in my heart, that the generational curse of anger that had been in my family line for (I don't know how long) would be broken that day right then and there.

I prayed the blood of Jesus and His finished work at the cross would cover me, my children, and my family, and I told the spirit of anger it was no longer welcome in my home. I would not give it any more energy or attention, for I have been set apart by God, made righteous by the death of His son. I declared myself set free from the bondage of anger.

Friends, we have been given every spiritual blessing that exists in the heavenly realms because of Christ! (Ephesians 1:3) So we must walk worthy of our calling! What does that mean? It means to take up the Sword of the Spirit.

All that means, is that we wage war against darkness using the Word of God. We don't have to come up with fancy or eloquent speech, or worry that don't have the words to say. God has given us every single word we could ever need in His Word.

He has given us the power to stand strong against the evil one, if we will simply use His Word to wage the war. I didn't use my words, I used the Truth of God's Word to declare that this Satanic stronghold no longer had power over me, and I declared the blood of Jesus over myself, my family, my anger, my situation, and over this stronghold.

When we wage war like this, the devil has no choice but to flee. The blood of Jesus and His finished work sets us free!

I don't know if that was the end of the war or not, but I will be using the same tactics if that evil anger comes into my heart again. Before my eyes betray what my heart feels, I will be waging war against the principalities of darkness and against the schemes of the devil.

Anger is not welcome here any more. I don't care how many times I need to pick up the Sword and remind myself of my standing in Christ to pull this stronghold down; it is worth it to break the bondage for future generations.

Let Us Not Be Too Proud To Learn From The Weak

I have never seen myself as "mighty" in the way the world values might. But in the eyes of my daughter, I am mighty, and she is weak. And yet, God used the "weak" things of this world to take down my might. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

He used my little girl to humble me. I pray I never become so proud, that I am beyond being humbled by the "weak". I pray that I remain teachable, no matter who is the one doing the teaching. For when I am weak, then I am made strong.

"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

My weakness, my anger, became the catalyst and reason for me waging war against this stronghold. In that moment, I fully understood this verse in Corinthians. I fully realized that only Christ, his power, his grace, would defeat the schemes of the devil, and I used the Word of God, to confound Satan and his demons.

Anger is nothing more than a demonic spirit, and what power does it have over Christ and His sanctifying blood that washes me clean? Who can come against the power of God and His Might?? Nothing I say! Nothing can stand when God is on our side!

So pick up the Sword of the Spirit! Whatever you are wrestling with today, tell that thing who you are! You are made righteous by the power and blood of Jesus Christ! (Romans 5:17) You are sanctified and made perfect in the beloved!

I promise you, that you will taste and see the goodness of the Lord as your enemies flee and strongholds come crumbling down. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can stand against the Word of God. Whatever you are dealing with today, find your verse, or verses, that you can hold onto.

God has already given you every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms, just for believing in Him and accepting His Son's death as Truth! So grab on to your blessings. Tell yourself over and over, that by His stripes you are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) Whatever you need from Him, talk with Him, and then declare His Word over your life and situation. He tells us over and over in His Word that He is our God. We need to pick up the Sword and act like He is our God.

Oh, How Jesus Loves His Children!

When Jesus walked on this earth He used little children to illustrate over and over how we should be and act as Christians. Little children have no pretenses when they approach Him, they just come! They come just as they are, and they don't pretend to be something they are not. They know God loves them for who they are, not because of what they do, or how they behave, or how they act.

Jesus tells us to be like them. He uses them to teach us that when we are made least, then we will be great. Not that we will be great in and of ourselves, but that in us becoming less, then He can become MORE.

As we die to ourselves, as each part of ourselves becomes burned in the fire, or is put to death by the Sword of Truth, or is laid at the feet of Jesus and left there, more of Him fills our beings making us whole and Holy. So as we become least, he becomes great in us. His greatness fills us and shines from us.

Paul said he takes pleasure in His weaknesses. I don't think I'm at a place yet where I can say I take pleasure in my weaknesses, but I pray some day I will be. What I do know, is that I experienced a true joy in my Spirit in that church service as part of my self died to make way for a new creation in Christ to rise up.

Leading up to that day though, I was very aware of my weakness, and I did not enjoy it. I was humbled by my daughter, but I am thankful that I kept pressing into God and I didn't ignore the teaching He had for me. I know that in my prayers, strongholds are crumbling around me, and Satan no longer has a hold on my anger like he once did. I see anger for what it really is, a demonic tool. But I see myself made righteous through Christ (Romans 3:22), and now I can all the more boldly declare that in my weakness, I am made strong!

The next time an evil spirit with it's angry ideas and words comes at me, (if it even dares to ��), I will wage war by picking up the Word. I know how much damage the fiery darts of the evil one can do to us as humans, I can only imagine what the cleansing water of Jesus' blood and His Word do to those who come against us.

I don't know how much God's Word stings or hurts the devil, but I know this, his fire is put out when we speak the Truth, and Satan doesn't hang around long when we wage war. That which is in us, is greater than that which is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

So pick up God's Word my beloved! And let's wage war and not only act like the daughters and sons we are, but possess the inheritance we have received through Christ.

God declares that we are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). That means, we are a royal priesthood and kings! (Revelation 1:6) When a priest prays, heaven hears and mountains are moved. When a king commands, people jump to do their bidding. God says that we are as His Son is, let's walk in our inheritance and break down those strongholds.

With joy, Jessica

Chalk Paint Trunk Makeover

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 23:02:42 GMT

I was bringing the recycle out to the dumpster one day at our old apartment, and I found a trunk someone was throwing out. I ran back upstairs and told my husband he just had to get it for me. Pretty sure he didn’t think it was a good idea at the time (someone else’s trash and all that)…but I’m glad I made him do it.

I transformed that old trunk into a a darling toy box for my daughter’s room. Bonus, it holds all those old toys we don’t want her to know we have anymore. You know which ones I’m talking about.

And this project required no sanding, which is awesome. All I did was paint it and put a finish on at the end. Super simple!

What You Will Need

Rustoleum chalk paint in Linen White & Country Gray (see picture below!)
Painter’s tape
Brushes
Polyvine wax finish varnish

Let's Get Started!

1 – First off, I wiped the trunk with soap and water to clean it. And since we picked it up from the trash, I gave it an extra wipe down just in case. Can’t be too careful.

2 – After cleaning, I painted my first coat of Country Grey and waited until it completely dried before doing a second coat. I only painted two coats and spot checked for thinner areas, adding paint where needed. (If you want to tape the handles and edges, feel free to do so. I didn’t, because I knew I would be painting those next.)

3 – Next, I taped around the edges and handles with blue painter’s tape. I tried to be as precise as possible with the tape to reduce any touchups needed at the end.

4 – On to the handles! I used two coats of paint on the handles and edges with the Linen White.

5 – Because I wanted my trunk to have a little bit of character I added some white brush strokes. I lightly dipped my brush in the white paint, removing almost all of the excess except for a small bit of paint on the end of the brush, and then ever so slightly grazed over the trunk top, bottom and sides. The white brush strokes gave the trunk an overall antique-y look and feel.

6 – Lastly, I covered the whole trunk in two coats of the Polyvine wax finish to seal the paint and finish my project.

Ta-da! That’s it! Drop me a comment if you try this paint project out. And if you like this one, check out my DIY kitchen table and Kid Table Makeover posts. Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest to stay up-to-date on our latest adventures!

With joy, Jessica

Please note that this blog post includes affiliate links from Amazon. If you do choose to purchase something, I may earn a small commission – at no additional cost to you. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Thank you for your support!

Enjoying Florida's Emerald Coast: Fort Walton Beach & Destin

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 14:25:30 GMT

At the end of August we took a trip to the Emerald Coast for Mikael's grandmother's funeral. We decided to stay a week to really enjoy Florida with our family.

Mikael and I have been to Destin a few times but bringing kids to the beach is an experience I'll never forget! I will admit though, it was a little exhausting trying to keep them from eating sand or running straight into the ocean. It made me slightly nostalgic for the days when all I had to worry about staying hydrated while in the sun...

Other than us being crazy parents trying to keep our kids alive, we did enjoy bringing our kids to the beach and seeing the pure delight on their faces when they experienced the ocean for the first time.

Destin has a few unique sights to offer the every day traveler. If you're thinking of heading to the Emerald Coast, put Fort Walton Beach and Destin on your list!

1. Visit the Beach

In my opinion, the number one reason to visit Florida is the beach! Bring or rent a tent to have an all-day family beach experience (without worrying about littles burning). Both Destin and Fort Walton Beach have great beaches that boasts the white sugar sand and perfect teal waters. I listed out my favorite beaches by location - I hope you find the time to stop by a few of these for the day!

Destin

Henderson Beach & Henderson Beach State Park - listed as one of the best beaches in the country, Henderson Beach is a beautiful place to spend time either by yourself, or with others. You won't be disappointed!
James Lee Beach - an absolutely beautiful beach with white sand and emerald water.
June White Decker Beach - it's a nice beach, but plan to get here early if you want a spot! It's a smaller beach and space fills up quickly.
Norriego Point - located near the boardwalk in Destin, it's perfectly situated between the Choctawhatchee Bay and the gulf.

Fort Walton Beach

John Beasley Park - this one is hands down my favorite beach spot. A small boardwalk nearby has coffee, restaurants, ice cream and public restrooms for changing. There are showers at the boardwalk to rinse the sand off before going to the car.
Okaloosa Island Beach - located near condos and a small boardwalk, this beach also has nearby showers to rinse off after enjoying the beach.
Wayside Park, Okaloosa Island - charming beach with an expansive boardwalk nearby and local restaurants.
Garniers Beach Park - if you're looking for something a little quieter in a neighborhood, this is your beach! Located in the Choctawhatchee Bay, it has a swimming area, play equipment and picnic tables.

You really can't go wrong with any of the beaches in Fort Walton and Destin. They are all picture perfect.

Play in the sand with beach toys or just hang by the water!

2. Catch a Dolphin Tour

There are quite a few private, custom and charter boats that offer dolphin tours in and around Destin and Fort Walton Beach. Destin is a great place to see dolphins regularly, and often times you can spot them off in the distance from the ocean shore line on the beach.

A boat ride or cruise usually runs between $30-50 per person. There are a handful of custom options, like sunset dolphin cruises and those are slightly pricier. A private dolphin cruise and chartered cruise will run you $300-900 depending on the company, and is a good option for parties and families.

There are so many great ways to see dolphins in Florida and taking a cruise is an (almost) guaranteed way of catching a glimpse of these fun-loving creatures.

3. Mini Golf & Amusement Parks

Okaloosa Island and Destin both have popular mini golf courses right near the beach. When you're tired of the sand and sun, head over for a afternoon of play.

Okaloosa National Mini Golf & Ice Cream - destination offering 2 separate 18-hole mini-golf courses along with a selection of 23 ice creams.
Wild Willy's Adventure Zone - amusement park with go-karts, mini-golf, bumper cars & boats, kids' rides & arcade.
Goofy Golf - located north of Fort Walton near Ocean City, Goofy Golf is a small, family-friendly mini-golf course that provides a quirky setting for the game.
The Track, Destin - amusement park with go-karts, mini-golf, bumper cars & boats, kids' rides & arcade.

4. The Boardwalks

I love visiting the boardwalks. Destin and Okaloosa Island have great boardwalks, right near the beach. Grab a drink, shop, or eat dinner and watch the sun set over the golf!

Destin Harbor Boardwalk

The Destin boardwalk is a bustling destination for bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, boating and tourist attractions. It stretches nearly a quarter mile and is the perfect spot to take in the beach and sunset near the pier or enjoy lunch and dinner by the water. There are so many restaurants to choose from! I recommend AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar for some amazing seafood. If you're stopping for brunch or lunch, head over to Marine Cafe or Margaritaville.

The Boardwalk, Okaloosa Island

The boardwalk on Okaloosa Island is far smaller than in Destin, but it's charming and quaint and has everything that you need. Grab dinner at Al's Beach Club and Burger Bar and enjoy a Rum Float. Trust me, it's fantastic.

Have a coffee from Oasis and sit out on the boardwalk or eat gelato near the ocean. Either way, you can't go wrong! And having showers and public restrooms on the boardwalk make it easy to spend an entire day at the beach.

5. Enjoy a Sunset Cruise

Many of the dolphin tours also offer sunset cruises, as well as dolphin sunset tours. Enjoy a group cruise or private trip later in the evening and watch the sun set over the gulf.

There's nothing better than watching the sun set over the ocean.

6. Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park

If you get tired of the ocean, then head to the water park! Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park is located in Destin and features over 40 water attractions. It has everything from water slides, a wave pool, lazy river and multiple pools. The park also features several thrill ride attractions and a miniature golf course. A few special rides for kiddos makes this a great one-stop shop for fun.

There are several different price options for the adventure park, ranging from $14-35. Choose the right package for you and your family!

7. Rent a Boat - Head to Crab Island!

Probably the neatest destination in Destin is located in the middle of Choctawhatchee Bay, Crab Island. Crab Island is a submerged sandbar just off the shore of Destin, you could practically swim there!

But if swimming through the bay isn't your jam, rent a boat or a jet ski and head over to the island. A Crab Island Shuttle Boat sells roundtrip tickets to those who don't want to rent a boat.

On the weekends the entire island is packed with anchored boats and in the middle of the sandbar is a floating bar, serving up drinks all day. The submerged sandbar has an average depth of 1-4 feet and is a great way to spend the day.

I hope you make it to the Emerald Coast! And if you stay in Destin and Fort Walton Beach, let me know what you enjoyed and what we should hit up the next time we're there. It's one of our favorite places to visit, and we definitely look forward to heading back. Happy travels!

With joy, Jessica

Chalk Paint Dresser Makeover

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 02:32:38 GMT

I'm in love with repurposing old furniture. I enjoy the satisfaction of taking something old and turning it into something new. If you’ve seen any of my other DIY chalk paint projects, you know it’s a passion of mine!

My husband inherited this old dresser from his great-aunt, and I’ve been itching to get my hands on it for years. I finally decided how I wanted it to look, and took the plunge into transforming it.

As you can see, this dresser is very well-loved. If you look closely, it has gouges and water damage. I had to sand the water damaged spots to remove them, but I left the minor flaws and scrapes alone. The dresser is over a hundred years old, and I love that it has unique character flaws.

For this project, I used the same technique that I did for my kitchen table makeover , because I ended up loving the final result.

What You Will Need

Power sander , or a sanding tool
Rustoleum chalk paint in Linen White , Country Gray & Charcoal (see picture below!)
Old white T-shirts, cut up into sections
Plastic cups or a paint holder (I used plastic cups and spoons and tossed them when I was done)
Brushes
Polyvine wax finish varnish

Let's Go!

1 – First off, I took everything out of the drawers, removed the hardware, and sanded the drawers and main dresser. I used my power sander with 220 grit paper for sanding each piece. I gave extra love and attention to the water stains, making sure not to over sand those areas. The idea was to remove the stains as much as possible but not make the wood uneven in any area.

2 – Next I used soap and water and wiped the entire dresser to remove any sanding dust. I did this a few times to really clean the entire thing.

3 – I started by painting everything with Rustoleum chalk paint in linen white as my base coat. I ended up doing 3 coats of paint because the old wood needed extra love.

Three coats later…

4 – After applying the linen white, I mixed two cups of paint. In one plastic cup I mixed linen white with the country gray. And in the other cup I mixed country gray with a little bit of linen white and a little bit of charcoal gray. I spent time playing with the colors until I got the exact shades I liked.

5 – Next, I worked in small sections, brushing on both colors from my cups, and then wiped each section with the old T-shirt until I got the look I wanted. I spent time playing with each section of the dresser to create the right overall texture I was looking for.

6 – Before applying the top coat, I sanded every piece again to create a distressed look and smooth out the paint.

7 – To seal my dresser, I used the Polyvine wax finish varnish. I brushed on 3 coats, waiting a half day between applications. This is my favorite finish for chalk paint because it gives furniture a glossy finish without the high maintenance of wax.

8 – Finally, I put the dresser back together and added the hardware. I deliberated between painting the hardware or replacing it altogether. In the end I left it as is. The handles are weathered and worn, and they’re original. I ended up liking the antique brass with the gray paint.

That’s It!

I let the dresser sit in a corner for a few weeks before we used it. I can confidently say that it has held up really well and 1 year later, the paint isn’t chipping at all.

If you try this chalk painting technique for your dresser, let me know! I would love to hear from you and how your project turned out.

With joy, Jessica

Family Photography With Skylar At 6 Months

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 18:20:43 GMT

Family Photography With A 6-Month Old

I love getting family pictures done. I love coordinating our outfits, coming up with a color scheme and thinking through what will look good together. And I love planning where we should be.

For these pictures, the lovely Lindsey Goggin with Lindsey Goggin Photography took our photos and we loved how they turned out. As my sister-in-law so aptly put it, "You look like a frolicking family of wood nymphs!" That's how we felt, too.

If you're wondering about getting pictures done with your baby, this is your sign to do it! They will turn out adorable and it's fun to have photos with your baby that will last a lifetime.

With Joy, Jessica

Believing The Right Thing: Rewiring Your Brain & Renewing Your Thoughts

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 13:49:25 GMT

The human mind has 100 billion neurons in our brain and every day there are hundreds of new neurons that are created and need to assimilate into their assigned roles. These neurons will look to their environment to know what pathways they are to follow. In essence, these brand new neurons can be taught something new to think!

There's also studies that suggest our neurons are re-birthed throughout our lives, and that by the time we are 50 we will have replaced every single neuron we were born with! ( Be Brain Fit, Better Mind Better Life )

Our brains have three different types of neurons: sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons. While all those sound super awesome, we're going to focus on the latter, interneurons.

What Do Interneurons Do?

I'm going to give you a very brief bit of background on what neurons actually do in our brain and why they are so important for renewing our minds.

Scientists believe that neurons are the most diverse type of cell that exists in our body. Neurons are little message-carrying cells, and they each have their own function and abilities. They communicate with each other and make connections in our brain, which in turn, shapes how we think, feel and act.

Each neuron in our brain is given a specific task and place to "hang out." They then communicate with each other through neurotransmitters, or chemicals, and relay information back and forth amongst themselves. The information that is exchanged through neurons back and forth, back and forth, creates a pattern of thought, feeling or action. These patterns are more easily established the next time the same or similar scenario happens.

Scientists call this neural circuits. I like to think of it as a dirt road. The more often you drive the same truck down a dirt road, the more of a track or "rut" will be left behind. Neurons work the same exact way.

From birth our parents or relatives or friends treat us in a certain way and patterns begin to immerge in our brain, good or bad. We begin to believe certain things about ourselves because of how we are treated, and those tire tracks become deeper and more ingrained as time goes on.

Why Is This Important?

I think it's vital to know how God made our brain work in order to truly understand what He meant when He told us to renew our minds in the Bible.

Romans 12:2

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Simply put, renew means to restore or replenish; to make, say or do again; to revive or reestablish; to recover; to restore to a former state; make new or as if new again. So there is a lot that goes into this word! And God calls us to renew our mind, which means, it is something WE can do.

There are often experiences or situations that happen to us in life that are outside of our control. Maybe we end up in a situation in which a parent yells at us or treats us poorly. Perhaps a close family member or friend hurts us and we are powerless to stop it from happening. There are circumstances that can happen to us as children that are beyond our control.

So let's imagine our dirt roads (neuropathways) for a second. When something happens to us as children, it's like a truck drives around making new roads in our mind. If the situation that happens is extremely damaging, such as physical, verbal or sexual abuse, then it can be like a very heavy truck driving around in our minds creating new neuropathways. Depending on the severity of the situation, it can end up causing fear, anxiety and depression in our adult lives.

But we have a Savior. When we bring our childhood trauma to Jesus He heals us. If there was something that happened to you as a child, no matter how large or small the circumstance, it still affects us in the present if we don't release it at the foot of the cross. Patterns are born from the smallest of traumas, and we need to recognize them and learn to renew our minds in those areas.

Renewing Our Mind, Is Just Changing Our Thoughts!

That's literally all there is to it! There's no magic formula to the verse. All it is is taking a negative pattern or thought and testing it against the word of God.

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

Romans 8:5-6

There are things have happened in my past and when the Lord brings them to my attention I surrender them to the foot of the cross. I leave it there in Jesus' care, and then I remind myself of who I really am today in Christ. I am a child loved by my Father. I am healed, I am loved, I am forgiven, I am righteous. Each time I change a negative pattern of thought the flesh is put death and my mind and body are filled with life!

To be spiritually minded just means that we focus on Jesus. And the more I focus on Jesus, the more that peace fills my heart, sou, and mind. Anxiety dissipates and my whole body relaxes.

"You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3

Remember when I said that neurons create a pattern of thought, feeling or action? When things happen to us as children, the neurons in our brain create new pathways. As adults, we end up reacting to circumstances based on what we believe about ourselves because of these neuropathways that have been created and well-established in our mind. Something happens that causes us to feel a certain way or act a certain way. But we can, and should, change every thought that doesn't line up with scripture.

Our neural circuits (as scientists refer to it) can be changed and renewed (as God calls it). I believe God calls it renewing our mind because he knew there would be thoughts or patterns that would need to be restored to a new way of thinking. He knew we would need to revive or reestablish a new pattern of thought. He called it renew because it's a new way of thinking, a new way of believing.

What Do You Need To Rewire & Renew?

Every time we bring our thoughts captive and change our patterns of thought, we shatter the strongholds that Satan has on our lives. Over time we find that we no longer react to certain scenarios the same way we would have in the past. We have more internal peace and external joy that can be felt by others. People will begin to notice the change in you.

As we renew our thoughts we find that we no longer react or act out in anger and frustration. Now we have dignity and grace in our responses. We no longer are led by how we feel, but we are led by what Christ says is true about us.

If you're beginning this process, or in the middle of renewing certain thoughts, I want to encourage you to keep going. When you start out, it's hard.

It can take months of retraining certain patterns of thinking before strongholds are finally pulled down. And if you find that Satan comes to attack you during this process, keep going. Be encouraged when the devil attacks, because that means you are doing something right.

Remaining stuck in our muddy ruts is what he wants us to do. Personally I don't like living in my own filth. If you're tired of the filth too, then don't let him deceive you into quitting before you receive your breakthrough. God always comes through for those whose minds are fixed on Him because He is faithful. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

And just remember, Satan doesn't attack someone who isn't doing something meaningful for the Kingdom of God. Renewing your mind and bringing every thought captive to Christ is meaningful work. You are setting yourself free from the bondage of past circumstances when you change your neuropathways.

So push on! And remember who you are! You are loved! You are holy! You are righteous! You are chosen by God most high! Hold fast to these truths and rewire your brain by renewing your patterns of thinking. Here's to a healthier, happier, more joyful, future you.

With Joy, Jessica

Believing The Right Thing: Turning An Anxious Mind Into A Peaceful Heart

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 15:10:04 GMT

The Bible is filled with verses commanding us to have a peaceful mind and heart, and to not be troubled by this world. But a quick google search will tell you that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness disorders in the United States today. Forty million adults, or 18.1% of the US population, suffer from some form of anxiety and depression. (www.adaa.org)

Anxiety has probably affected almost everyone in their lifetime at one point or another. The most daunting fact that I read when I researched this topic is that there is no cure for anxiety. Scientists and doctors have not found a cure for treating anxiety completely.

There are ways to manage it, but there is no known pill or antidote that will eradicate the symptoms or triggers that anxiety causes. Science can't, but Jesus can. How do I know that? Because I am a living, breathing example and testimony to the saving grace of Jesus. The Word of God and Jesus Christ has calmed my anxious mind, and replaced it with a heart full of peace.

Where Does Anxiety Come From?

The world will tell you that anxiety is caused by an event or activity that makes you feel fearful or worried.

Psychologists and counselors agree that most anxiety or anxious thoughts are caused by past difficult experiences, as adults or from childhood. I don't disagree with any of this. I do believe that childhood traumas and events can trigger anxious thoughts in our current situations.

But, if you look at God's Word, there are many, many examples of how Satan wages war against us. The number one way he attacks Christians is in their mind and their thoughts. In fact, he plants thoughts in our mind and makes us believe that we are the ones thinking dirty things!

Have you ever been walking or driving and suddenly had a horrible thought come to your mind that seemingly came out of nowhere? There was nothing that prompted this thought, it just sort of sprang forth of its own accord?

Maybe you're driving down the road and as you're crossing over a bridge, the awful thought comes to mind, "I could just drive this vehicle into the guardrail and headfirst into that river...." And then you realize what you were thinking and shake your head in disbelief and wonder, "Where did that thought come from?" Hell, that's where that thought literally came from.

"But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ."

2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV)

Let me tell you, you didn't prompt that idea. Yes, that thought ran through your mind, but it was planted there by someone else. It was an evil thought planted by Satan himself.

Not only does he whisper lies into our brains so that we are deceived and led astray, but he also puts them into the first person to make us believe we thought them in the first place. And then, like the backstabbing demon he is, he comes around the behind us and points a finger at us, condemning us for thinking such evil and ugly thoughts.

When we are condemned or when we feel condemned, anxiety springs forth in our heart. When we have negative thoughts or continue in a negative pattern of thinking, anxiety springs forth in our heart. When we have thoughts based in fear, in lies, in darkness, anxiety springs forth in our heart.

Our thoughts, whether they are from a negative experience in our childhood, from a current situation we are going through, or from a lie planted by Satan himself, gives birth to anxiety. Anxiety comes from our thoughts. It comes from the way that we think, either about ourselves or our circumstances.

How Do We Change The Narrative?

We must take captive every thought we have and change the story in our mind. Do not let yourself believe the lies. Do not let yourself succumb to the negative pictures that have taken control of your mind and heart. Do not let the devil deceive you. Do not be someone who is considered easily devoured!

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)

Let's take a look at this verse together. The first part says to be sober-minded and watchful. We all know what it means to be sober. Usually we think of soberness as not being drunk or on drugs. But listen to this: an example of sober is a person who always seems to have self-control of their feelings regardless of the situation. (https://www.yourdictionary.com/sober)

Is that not an interesting take on sobriety? Peter is saying here, be watchful of all situations. Be aware of your feelings, for your feelings betray what you are thinking.

If you suddenly find yourself depressed or anxious, take a look at your thoughts. What were you just thinking? Were you allowing your mind to run like that of a drunken man? Are you letting your thoughts get completely out of control and spinning themselves around like that of someone who is intoxicated?

Have you noticed that if you let one thought run wild, you suddenly find that you're in a downward spiral very quickly, unable to get yourself out of the dark hole you spun yourself into? If we do not take captive our thoughts the minute we notice them heading into a negative pattern, we are letting ourselves spiral out of control until we no longer feel like we can't control anything we think or do.

I don't know about you, but I hate feeling out of control of my emotions, feelings or actions. As soon as I become aware of the negative pattern of thought, I halt it right there. I take that thought, I hold it captive in my mind as if by chains, and I change the narrative by reminding myself of who I am in Christ.

Be sober. Be watchful of your thoughts. Your thoughts have power over your feelings, which affect your emotions, which affect your actions. It's important that we change our narrative.

"Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour..." The devil is stated as our adversary. He is not our friend. He is not apathetic toward us. The devil hates us. Adversary means one's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute. He is against us 100%. He accuses us, lies to us, deceives us, attacks us.

Peter tells us that he prowls around like a roaring lion. The Lord is compared to a Lion in the scriptures, and Satan tries to imitate Him by being like one.

Hosea 11:10 (NIV)

"They will follow the Lord;

he will roar like a lion.

When he roars,

his children will come trembling from the west."

In Hosea our Lord roars like a lion, and when he roars, His children come trembling. We come to Him when he roars. But Satan, in his deception, prowls (move around restlessly and stealthily, especially in search of or as if in search of prey) around acting like he is God, seeking for someone whom he may devour.

The devil looks for people to devour. Peter doesn't specify the someone, which means he looks for Christians as well as non Christians. He's looking for anyone who will succumb to his lies and to his deception. Be watchful, and do not let yourself be devoured.

"Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." How do we resist the devil? We remain in Christ. We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. We stay in the Word, rising every day and making that our focus.

We resist the devil by choosing to remain in faith. We resist the devil and keep ourselves from being numbered among the devoured by reading the Bible and devotionals, by listening to sermons, and by turning on worship music. Then, without even trying to make our faith grow, it grows because we keep our minds fixed on Him. Our job is not to grow our faith, but to spend time with Jesus and He grows it for us.

The last part of that verse says: " knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." One of the ways that Satan deceives us is by making us think that we are the only ones suffering. This is not true! We are all in this world, waging war against the powers of darkness. (Ephesians 6:12)

My parents used to watch this show called The Red Green Show. Maybe you've heard of it? At the end of every episode the main character would say, "Remember, I'm pulling for ya, we're all in this together!" Keep this in mind when you feel like you're alone. We are all in this together my friend. The anxiety you feel is not unique to you. We are, all of us, fighting against the same anxious thoughts, but fixing our eyes ahead. Stay vigilant! Change the narrative of your mind! Fix your eyes on Jesus!

From Anxious Thinking to Peaceful Being

How do we go from being one with anxious thinking to someone who is completely at peace, mind, soul, and body? Well, it happens one day at a time, one thought at a time. As you start to take your thoughts captive you will slowly go from anxiety to peace.

When I started to grab ahold of these truths in God's Word, the devil began to attack me harder than he had before. I replaced the lies with truth, and Satan realized he was losing someone who was easily devoured. He hated it. He hated me and he let me see it.

He began to attack me while I was driving. One day, while I was driving down the freeway in Minnesota a truck tire blew out in front of me, and the tire bits exploded all around me. Despite being behind this truck, my car wasn't struck by anything and I was unscathed. I believe I kept my angels busy that day!

A few weeks later, also while driving, a car in front of me kicked up a big rock and it struck the middle of my windshield, completely cracking it. I was able to replace the windshield, but that day fear began to take hold in my heart.

I began to see myself as someone the devil wanted to destroy. I wasn't wrong, but instead of immediately rejecting those thoughts I let them take hold in my brain and in my heart.

That fear was magnified when about a month following these incidences, someone rear-ended me. Because of these attacks I started experiencing severe anxiety when I was driving. It got to the point that I didn't want to get behind the wheel because I would have panic attacks when I did.

What happened was that because of the circumstances that happened to me, I forgot about who I was in Christ. I forgot that I am a child of God, and that He sends His angels to protect me, to keep charge over me. (Psalm 91:11)

I had even experienced protection when the tuck tire blew, but instead of clinging to that verse and the hope that God is always protecting me, I let Satan write my narrative. I believed he could get access to me, that he could attack me, that he could kill me.

We are promised that we will have trouble in this life. But because we are children of the Father and Jesus has overcome this world, we are overcomers with Him! I forfeited my protection when I let the devil trick me into believing his lies. That's how we become someone who can be devoured. Do not let him deceive you into believing you are less than you are.

One day I cried out to God with an anxious heart and asked Him why I was so fearful when I was driving. He showed me the lies I had believed because of these things that had happened to me.

He showed me that I believed I was no longer safe, that I was no longer protected. I asked Him, what do I do? And God brought to my mind that in order to feel safe, I need to change the story in my head.

I memorized verses and replayed them over and over in my mind while I was driving. It wasn't enough. I asked God why it wasn't enough. He brought me to the verses 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and I realized that these lies had moved beyond simple lies and had turned into strongholds in my mind. Because I didn't capture those thoughts when they happened, over time the negative thoughts became a pattern which turned into a stronghold.

I found sermons that I could listen to in the car while I was driving, that would keep my mind on Christ and remind me of His protection and love for me. As I listened to these sermons, over and over on repeat, slowly those strongholds came tumbling down.

When something has become a stronghold it takes a stronger weapon of God that we need to wield against the attacks. Listening to sermons is a strong weapon. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17 NKJV)

Faith comes when we hear and keep on hearing. The word hearing is used twice. That means we need to hear a sermon, and then hear it again. And what does the word say about hearing? "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14 NKJV) We believe when we hear about Him, and we hear about Him through the voice of a preacher!

Pick a pastor that you love, whose teachings ignite your heart and light up your soul with the truth of God's Word. Get their sermons on podcast, plug your phone in while you're in the car, and listen to the Word of God. Faith will spring forth in your heart and cut through the lies in your mind. Peace will take root and grow. As peace grows, anchored in God's Truth, it will blossom, and fruit will spring forth!

It Will Take Some Time

I want to encourage you to continue this practice until the strongholds crumble like Jericho's wall. It takes time for truth to gain a foothold, just like strongholds also grow over time.

I find that if God hasn't answered my prayers after a few weeks or months, or even years! I want to quit. Satan lies to me that God doesn't hear me or care about me. The devil tells me that I am unworthy having my prayers answered.

I have asked the Lord why the delay? And He tells me that the best does not always mean the quickest. He reminds me that the strongest trees, are those with the deepest roots.

So don't believe a lie that though God tarries, He doesn't care for you. Remember that the best wine is made wonderful over time.

Wine is used as an example over and over in the Bible. We often forget that in order to enjoy good wine, the grapes must be crushed, until the skin breaks and the juice spills forth. Do you feel crushed? Is your skin breaking and juice spilling out?

Or are you in a season of waiting, sitting in an aged barrel wondering when you will receive your breakthrough? I urge you to continue. When you are pressed beyond measure and your insides spill out, share it with Jesus.

When you are stuck in the barrel, wondering when you will be filled with peace instead of anxiety, share it with Jesus. Ask Him how to best use this time, so it is not wasted.

Press On!

The more we use our time wisely, spending it with Jesus, the more we will taste and see He is good. Time that was once lost to us will be redeemed. Anxiety will be replaced with peace. We will say: "Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living." (Psalm 27:13 NLT)

When I first started this process, it took me several years to completely replace my anxiety with peace. Several years.

After several years of hard work I suddenly found myself filled with peace. I experienced breakthroughs and miracles, because I pressed on. It happened slowly and gradually over time, and then one day, I noticed I no longer experienced panic and anxiety when I got in the car. I no longer spun out of control with my thoughts and reacted poorly because of my feelings. I was changed.

Continue in the faith, dear one! Press in and press on! Take captive your thoughts of anxiety and replace them with truth! One day you will find you are no longer filled with anxiety, but filled with a peace and joy only our Lord Jesus Christ can bring.

"And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister."

Colossians 1:21-23 (NKJV)

Don't let your mind become your enemy. Use your mind for the glory of Christ. Your future you thanks you. Oh, and that future you? That person radiates peace, joy, faith, perseverance, Godliness, goodness, hope, and grace. The choices you make today will change the person you are tomorrow.

With Joy, Jessica

Believing The Right Thing: Replacing Satan's Lies With God's Truth

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 14:51:08 GMT

I accepted Christ at the age of 4, and I was always conscious of Jesus in my life. During some really difficult times as a kid, pre-teen, and teenager, I had moments where I felt the presence of God acutely in my life. I felt so loved.

But something happened as I got older. I began to believe that there was something I needed to do to earn my righteousness, to earn my place in heaven.

I didn’t feel good enough for my Father's love. I believed that God was angry with me when I sinned. I believed he was happy with me when I was serving Him well or going to church. Honestly, I was conflicted all the time in my walk with God, never feeling like I quite measured up to what he wanted me to be.

My wrong belief, that God was angry with me when I sinned, or that He was happy with me when I was doing good by my own righteous living, led me to walk away from Him during my college years.

I felt burdened by my relationship with Him, so it was easier to not “deal with it”.

All throughout college I felt the tug on my heart to come home to Him. I ignored it for the most part.

Sometimes I would have weeks or months where I would read my Bible often, but then Satan would whisper a lie in my ear that God wasn’t happy with me for not living for Him, and I believed that lie. Those lies got so bad that I would ask Jesus into my heart over and over, believing that I wasn’t saved.

Let me tell you friend, if Satan whispers this to you, and you’ve accepted Christ already, THEN THIS IS A LIE! Do not fall for it! Once you are saved, you are saved FOREVER! There is nothing you can do to lose your position in Christ.

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

(emphasis mine)

1 John 5:13 (NKJV)

Satan Deceives Believers Into Thinking They Aren't Saved

All throughout college I felt the tug on my heart to come home to Him. I ignored it for the most part.

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

(emphasis mine)

1 John 5:13 (NKJV)

John says, so that you may KNOW!

If we have believed in Jesus, then we are assured of our faith. The second part of that verse says to continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. That means, reject the lie that Satan brings to your mind AND continue to believe in the saving name of Jesus.

When Satan whispers into your ear, repeat this verse to yourself. Repeat it over and over. Then you will KNOW that you have eternal life.

Satan Deceives Believers Into Thinking Following God Is Boring

Following graduation that tug for my heart turned into an earnest pull. The pull became so intense that I couldn’t sleep or eat without being conscious of God desiring my full surrender to Him.

I resisted for about 2 months, and then finally hit my knees around 2am one night and fully surrendered my life. I knew that if I surrendered, there was no looking back. I was going all in and living my life fully for the Lord.

I resisted for so long because Satan came at me with lies, whispering things like: “following Jesus is a boring life, just look at all those boring Christians you know.” Or, “God might ask you to go into missions…we both know that terrifies you…” He came at me with my own fears and used them against me.

Satan knows our trigger points. He knows what things to whisper to us that will prevent us from walking in the fullness of what God has for our lives. The Bible says he’s cunning (Genesis 3:1), and he uses crafty language to deceive us into believing that submitting our life to God’s will won’t be any fun.

He whispers deceptive language in our ears and we believe his lies. The lies compound, and we begin to live a life that slowly kills and destroys us. Not only does Satan lie to us about how boring following God is, he convinces us to live a "fun" life of partying, drugs, alcohol, pornography, living in sexual sin; and then when we are filled with regret over our choices, comes around and knocks us on the head again. He's so fun like that.

Believer or non believer, Satan wants us to feel condemned for every single life choice we make.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10

Satan Deceives Believers About God's True Nature

Do you know what Satan’s job is on earth? His number one priority? To bring as many people with him to hell. But what about if you’re a believer? If you accept Christ and His saving work on the cross, then the devil's job is to deceive you and render you useless for the kingdom of God.

He does this by lying to us about our position in Christ. He wants us to believe that we can lose our salvation. So we spend hours or days, weeks or months, even years! believing that we need to repent of our past sins, make amends, and re-accept Jesus into our hearts.

But maybe you already know that? Instead he will lie to you and make you believe that God is angry with you. He deceives you into believing that every time you sin, God is angry, and that you need to repent immediately.

We start to believe that the veil between us and God, is still there. But God’s word says the veil is torn! (Matthew 27:51) There is NOTHING separating us from the love of God. But if we believe that He is angry with us, then we won’t come near to Him.

We will be ashamed, and our pride will keep us from humbly accepting that Christ’s ONE sacrifice FOREVER forgives us of EVERY SINGLE THING we could ever do in this life.

Let me tell you something, God will never, ever, be angry with you. Jesus stands in the gap of God and His righteous anger, and instead of receiving what we deserve for our sinful nature, we receive the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ.

When He sees you, when He sees me, He sees us clothed in white, with the righteousness of his Son Jesus surrounding us, and seated with Him in the heavenly places.

What Are You Believing?

After I fully surrendered to the Lord it took me awhile to realize that Satan was still lying to me. Just differently. It took me 3 years of really hard work to repair the damage he had done to my mind and begin to believe right about who I am in Christ.

God says I am righteous by the blood of His lamb (Romans 5:9). He says I am His beloved, that I am a saint (Romans 1:7). He says that I am holy and chosen by Him (Colossians 3:12).

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (emphasis mine)

II Corinthians 10:4-5

Satan doesn’t fight fairly, he fights dirty. He twists God’s Word and uses it against you. He argues with you about who you are. Beloved, FIGHT BACK! Satan wages war in your mind, and that’s the place that needs to come into obedience to Christ. How? By taking every thought captive.

Whatever lies the Devil whispers to you, find a verse that counters it and memorize it. Then when he comes to you, remind yourself of who you are in Christ. Remind yourself of what God’s Word says about you. Remind yourself that YOU ARE the beloved son or daughter of the Most High.

You are righteous. You are altogether lovely. You are holy. You are chosen. You are sanctified. Not because of anything you did, but because Jesus took your place, took my place, at the cross and died for you, for me.

Being obedient to Christ doesn’t mean you need to serve Him or earn your righteousness in some way. It means we comply (agree) with the knowledge of what God’s word says about us.

So, pick up the Word of God. Wage it against Satan when he comes near, and tell him, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” When you are compelled to sin, say “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.” Keep on saying it. Even when you feel ashamed, say it.

Use God’s Word to wage war against the arguments that Satan brings to your mind. Satan is a lawyer, he lies to you, then he argues with you or points a finger at what you're believing. Stop those lies in their tracks. Retrain your mind from believing an incorrect thought about yourself to believing what God says about who you are.

It might take awhile, but it will be worth it.

So, what are you believing?

With Joy, Jessica

My Favorite Things For Newborn Twins

Mon, 24 May 2021 11:36:28 GMT

After officially making it through 18 months with twins, I can confidently say that there are a few things that made our journey more successful. Being a new parent is hard, and if you're a twin parent, it's even harder.

Our first year with the twins tested our patience in ways I never thought possible. Every waking minute was filled with caring for our babies and toddler. The exhaustion is real!

Looking back on those first pivotal months, I can say with absolute certainty that these items made our life a whole lot easier. I can't imagine what it would have been like without them, honestly.

If you're pregnant with twins and trying to figure out what you will need, I hope this list helps you out!

1 - Twin Z Twin Nursing Pillow

Absolute must have. There is no doubt in my mind that this pillow saved my sanity, or what sanity I had left. When I was flying solo during the day I could prop both babies in a hole and feed them their bottles simultaneously.

This pillow was an absolute game changer! There is nothing worse than having a screaming baby waiting for food, except if you have two screaming hungry babies. This pillow will help you survive the first few months with your twins.

2 - Double Stroller

There are a lot of great double strollers out there, but my absolute favorite is the Zoe Double/Triple/Quadruple stroller. We have the Zoe triple stroller to accommodate all of our kids at the same time and we absolutely love it.

The best part about the Zoe double, is that you can easily add a seat attachment to have it be a triple, or add another double attachment to make it a quad.

But if you're looking for something with a smaller price tag on it, The Joovy is a close second in terms of quality.

Our main points when we were looking for a stroller was that it could recline to nearly horizontal so that our twins could take a nap while we walked. There were a lot of days when the only thing that would calm our kids down was taking a long walk.

Other things to look for: a large basket below that can hold ALL the baby items, snacks, bottles or whatever you need. I like having snack cup holders to contain goldfish and animal crackers. And a stroller needs a mommy cup holder too. I love bringing my morning coffee or water bottle along while we're walking.

Make sure you take a look at how well it folds up. If you're going to be putting it in the trunk often for day trips, you'll want a good folding stroller!

3 - Umbrella Double Stroller For Traveling

We love this travel stroller by Dream On Me . Whenever we travel we bring this one instead of our Zoe Triple stroller.

For one, our Zoe stroller is so much bigger and doesn't collapse as small as we need it to when we're checking it at the airport or taking a road trip. Second, it's not as expensive as our Zoe and we're less concerned with something happening while we're on the road.

This stroller has treated us really well. We've taken it on road trips and flown with it. It's held up well! And if you're traveling, this bag will help.

4 - My Favorite Bottles

We tried several different types of bottles when our twins were preemies, and nothing worked well to alleviate their gas and calm their bellies. Cue the 3am google search to find a bottle that would work for us!

The MAM bottles are our absolute favorites. I bought two to see if they would work, and praise Jesus! They did. These bottles are annoying to clean, I will admit, because they have 5 parts to them. But once you get used to taking them apart and putting them back together, you'll be so glad you bought them.

The MAM bottles prevent gas and help cure colic in babies. The venting system eliminates bubbles which can cause gas, colic and reflux in littles.

They come in tons of different colors and two different sizes. We used the 5 oz bottle when they were little, and the 9 and 11 oz when they started consuming a lot more milk. Give them a try !

5 - Twin Carriers

There are so many great twin carriers and Baby Bjorn's out there. We got the Weego Twin Carrier as a gift before our twins came.

I used it all the time when they were little and fussy. I would scoop them up and carry them around the house together while I was cleaning or playing with my toddler. But if you're not interested in having both babies in front, then the TwinGo Carrier is for you! I've heard great things about it on my Twin Mommy Facebook groups. This one comes highly recommended by many moms.

Either way, you'll be glad you have a twin carrier to keep them both close to you on the days when nothing else keeps them happy. All babies love being near mommy's body. And daddy's body too.

6 - Twin Nursery Center

A twin nursery center is super helpful to have when you're having two babies. This playpen will come in handy as they get older and you can use it when you're traveling, or to just contain them with toys while you're cleaning a bathroom.

Also, a twin center is awesome because it comes with diaper/wipes storage, and two baby bassinets. This one on Amazon has everything you need and comes in different colors.

7 - Extra Diaper Stations

I bought this diaper caddy to keep extra diapers, wipes, and other essential baby items in another room besides the twins' room. I had this caddy on our main level so that I wouldn't be running upstairs every time the twins needed a diaper change.

Having extra diaper changing stations around the house is a huge help when you're taking care of a baby! I recommend this one, but there are so many great ones on Amazon . Whatever your need and décor, I'm sure you'll find something that works for you.

8 - Bottle Holders For Baby

I saw these on a Twin Mom's Facebook Group and I thought, I need that.

When you're feeding one baby, it's so easy! Just hook that baby up with your open arms and you're good to go. But feeding two babies at one time, while caring for a toddler, is a LOT harder. I highly recommend a bottle holder like this one .

Our preemie babies would eat every 2 hours, and being able to do a few feedings with the bottle holders while supervising them made life so much easier. I was able to play with my daughter and keep an eye on the babies at the same time. She didn't feel left out, and our twins sucked down their bottles with ease. Win win.

9 - Baby Swings

When we had our firstborn, of course we got a baby swing . She wasn't a huge fan of it and we never used it for her. She preferred to be held, so we held her. With our twins, we figured we would wait on buying a second swing until we saw if they both liked being in it. They loved it. They both loved being in the swing.

They loved the movement, the rocking, the music, the mobile. Our twin girl, Evelyn, had horrible gas and acid reflux, but when she was in the swing it was like she was a new baby. Some twin mama's swear by the mamaRoo . I can't comment because I never tried them, but worth noting it works with a lot of babies!

10 - Sound Machine

The best invention for a baby! I don't know how anyone survives without a sound machine or a fan. White noise is key for all of our kids to get a good night's rest and not wake up to any little noises outside their room.

They don't hear any cars outside, they sleep through us watching a movie that suddenly gets loud, and they fall back asleep easily with the background noise. It's an absolute must have.

11 - Baby Brezza

I will admit, we never ended up getting a Baby Brezza , but I know so many twin moms and second time moms that swear by this baby item.

We went to Minnesota for a family trip and our dear friends had a Baby Brezza for their baby. Seeing it in action made me wonder why we never bought one when our babies were drinking formula! It makes the bottle making process a lot easier, and having extra time is crucial when there are two.

12 - Burp Rags

Two things you'll never have enough of: diapers and burp rags . You will go through so, so many burp rags. I only added this one because, well, you'll be buying more after you bring home two. It's inevitable!

Even though we had so many burp rags AND we bought more after they came home, I still felt like I was doing laundry every single day. Trust me, just buy a bunch right away! You'll be so happy you did.

Multiples are hard. Twins are hard. Babies in general, are really hard. But these things make life just a little bit easier. I hope you find something that will help make your first year a little smoother, and a whole light brighter.

As always, drop me a comment or let me know if there is any way I can be praying for you! I hope you have a chance to enjoy the blessing of your new baby. And just know, the newborn phase won't last forever. So, even though it's hard in the beginning, it does get easier.

And the joy of hearing two babies laugh is the best sound in the world.

With joy, Jessica

Nashville: 7 Things To See In Music City

Sun, 16 May 2021 22:52:10 GMT

One of my favorite cities in the United States is Nashville. You know when you travel somewhere new, and you get this feeling of being home? I experienced that when I went to Nashville for the first time, and every time after that.

While walking around the city I thought, "I could live here. This feels like home to me." I love finding a place that speaks to my soul that way. Like somehow, we understand each other.

The first time I went to Nashville was with my husband, then boyfriend. We did a crazy road trip to Disney World from Minnesota, and one of our stops along the way was Music City.

Nashville was supposed to be a pit stop on our way to Florida, but it became so much more than that. We loved the entire trip, but honestly, Nashville was the city that spoke to us and lived with us long after we returned home.

If you're planning a trip and Nashville is on your list, here are the ways this city is amazing.

1- Broadway Street & The Stage

After we checked into our hotel room, we set our sights on Broadway street and Music Row. We walked up and down Broadway and decided to have a late lunch at Margaritaville.

I honestly couldn't tell you a thing about the food, because what I remember the most was the country singer that serenaded us the entire time we ate. I fell in love with the city right then and there.

What I noticed about Nashville was the talent everywhere we went. Every bar and restaurant we walked by or went into, had better singers playing than almost anyone I had seen in concert.

Mikael and I spent that evening closing down The Stage, which is renowned for launching country singers to stardom. Make sure to get there early to claim a good seat! It gets packed as the night wears on.

2- The Grand Ole Opry

I probably should have led with this one! If you have an opportunity to take in a concert at The Opry , I highly recommend it!

During a work trip I had the chance to see Dierks Bentley and it was an experience I'll never forget. The concert was incredible; everything from the acoustics, to the lighting, to the singing. So if you can swing it, get tickets for The Grand Ole Opry!

3- Visit The Many Museums

There are quite a few museums in Nashville to see and spend time at. There is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, The Johnny Cash Museum, Patsy Cline Museum, Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, Andrew Jackson's Hermitage (former President of the US), Nashville Parthenon, Madame Tussauds Nashville, and several more. Plan to spend a little bit of time at a local museum if you can.

We spent a morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame and an afternoon at the Musicians Hall of Fame . Both museums were an enjoyable experience for us. They both have musicians' artifacts, donated clothing and instruments, and other interesting memorabilia.

I would say personally, of the two museums, we enjoyed the Country Music Hall of Fame more. It had fascinating stories and facts about singers we listen to, so that was our favorite!

4- Nashville Centennial Park

Another museum we enjoyed and spent some time at was the Nashville Parthenon. The Parthenon is a full scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece, and it's located in the center of Nashville's Centennial Park . It's well worth a visit!

The park boasts an art center, historical monuments, a beautiful sunken garden, an arts activity center, and so much more. The garden is a one-mile walk around a lake and the monuments.

Mikael and I loved the exercise and seeing architecture in the park. Make sure you set aside some time to enjoy this museum.

5- The Bluebird Café

Have you seen the TV show Nashville? I was a little bit obsessed with it when it came out.

My obsession is why we had to make a pit stop at The Bluebird Café. Tickets go on sale a week in advance of the show date and need to be purchased as early as possible in the day to get a table.

Everything is sold out almost immediately after it's made available, so if you're interested in catching a show here, be ready to make it happen! Take a look at The Bluebird Café for more information.

6- Stay at The Gaylord Opryland

For an awesome hotel to stay at while you're in town, look no further because The Gaylord Opryland Nashville is where it's at. It's absolutely amazing.

The Gaylord has an entire indoor Atrium park complete with waterfalls and fountain shows. Enjoy dinner with the sounds of a waterfall in the background. Or have coffee on your hotel room balcony that overlooks the indoor fountains and park.

Staying at The Gaylord was one of those life experiences that I will never forget.

7- Music City Walk of Fame

Nashville's Walk of Fame is located on Music Mile, and it features all musicians, singers, songwriters and anyone in the music industry who has made a contribution or has a connection to Nashville.

The Walk of Fame is completely free and located on Demonbreun Street. They also have induction ceremonies as well.

If you're headed to Nashville, I hope you find this list helpful! Let me know what places you visited and what you loved about it. I know we'll be back again soon, and I'm always looking for new ideas and places to see. Share your knowledge with me in the comments!

With Joy, Jessica

Vacationing In Paradise at Atlantis Bahamas

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 00:57:44 GMT

A few years ago we started planning a vacation to the Bahamas...and then we got pregnant and put the trip on hold. Fast forward to when our daughter was almost 1, we decided to take that trip. Thanks to Mary-Kate and Ashley, I have been fascinated with Atlantis after watching Holiday in the Sun, and I convinced my husband this is where we should stay. It totally lived up to my MK&A dreams.

Save Money On Upgrades

A few weeks after we booked our room (one of the cheaper ones at Atlantis), we started receiving room upgrade emails. We waited until two weeks before our vacation to take advantage of the upgrade, and I'm so glad we did it! We upgraded to a one bedroom, two bathroom suite with a full kitchen and living room for only a few hundred more than our original room.

The last minute upgrade saved us over $4,000! And the upgrade put us at The Reef, which we heard later is the quietest of all the resort hotels, perfect for families of little littles.

What We Packed

Before we left we checked the weather often to see what to expect. We booked our trip for the last week of February and I have to say, the weather was fantastic. It ranged from 78-85° during the day and didn't dip below 70° at night. With that in mind, this was how we packed:

Swimsuits and summer clothing! Of course ��
A few nice outfits for dinner
Walking shoes because we knew we would be walking a lot
A pair of jeans and sweater (just in case) - although, I didn't end up using either one
Sunscreen
Baby hats and swimsuits with SPF/UPF protective coverage
Umbrella stroller and Baby Bjorn (and if you need a Gate Check bag , this one is perfect)
Baby water floats (we loved this one from Amazon)
Baby pouches in our suitcase. We knew our daughter would want food on the go, and we weren't sure what she would be willing to eat at the resort
Diapers and wipes for the week (we didn't want to shop for these when we got there. Plus I figured we would want the extra space in our suitcase for souvenirs)

Packing is one of those things that's unique to each family, hopefully this gives you a few ideas of what to bring!

Getting Around

When we arrived we took a taxi from the airport to the resort. We could have taken the resort shuttle, but we weren't sure if we would want to with all the "gear" we had. So we opted for a taxi ride instead.

If you're going to take a shuttle, the pickup time has to be scheduled with the resort prior to arriving. Taxi's are available any time of day.

Our taxi ride was just over $40, which seemed reasonable for us since it's a 40 minute drive from the airport to the resort.

There are other ways of getting around the island as well. There's a bus that stops just outside the resort and shuttles back and forth between Nassau (and other locations) and Atlantis. We used that method to go downtown a few days, and it's a much cheaper option than using a taxi.

While at Atlantis, there are shuttles that pick up and drop off between every resort building and attraction. If you're in a hurry to get somewhere, or don't feel like walking a few miles, definitely use the resort shuttles. Added bonus, it won't cost you anything.

Take Advantage of Grocery Shopping

Instead of buying every meal at the resort, we went grocery shopping our first day in town and made meals all week. We ate out as well, but the food is expensive at Atlantis. We bought drinks and food and made our own, it's a much cheaper way to go!

Visiting Nassau

We spent two entire days in Nassau exploring the city. We brought our stroller, which is lightweight and easy to carry, and our baby Bjorn. Our daughter napped in the stroller during the afternoon while we explored. It honestly worked out better than we expected it to!

In downtown Nassau you'll find the Queen's Staircase, one of the more popular destinations.

The Staircase is made from solid limestone rock by slaves between 1793 and 1794 and is said to have provided a direct route from Fort Fincastle and the city of Nassau.

We climbed the 66 steps and at the top is Fort Fincastle. The Fort was built in 1793 by Lord Dunmore to protect Nassau from pirates. I don't know about you, but I find there's something magical about touring historic structures.

I highly recommend stopping by The Queen's Staircase and Fort Fincastle if you're ever in Nassau. And it's free!

We also spent time shopping at the Nassau Straw Market and stopped by Parliament Square to see the pink House of Parliament. The best part of Nassau (for me), is the bright colored buildings, historic areas, and lively culture.

Atlantis Resort

Most of our 8 day vacation we spent at the resort exploring the many attractions. Atlantis boasts the largest open-air marine habitat in the world.

If you end up taking a cruise to the Bahamas, make sure you stop by Atlantis and see it. They also have several underground aquariums that we walked through more than once. And their outdoor pools are filled with marine wildlife as well.

Our resort hotel had its own private pool and beach front that we spent a lot of our time enjoying. But with 11 pools across the entire resort (and one adult only pool), it's not like we were lacking for water! We took Skylar to see the lazy river, water slides, and splash pads. Word of warning, you can, in fact, lose your swim top on the Leap of Faith water slide if you're not careful. Just cinch that sucker up nice and tight. ��

Head Over To Harborside to Shop & Eat

Atlantis takes up residence on its own island, aptly named Paradise Island. One end of the resort is designated to shops and restaurants. Almost every day we walked from our end (The Reef) to the other (Harborside).

It's an easy walk, maybe a mile one-way, and we spent time at the restaurants and shops. I love to collect Christmas ornaments from anywhere we travel and I found the cutest sand dollar with a painted dolphin on it for our tree. And of course, we had to stop for ice cream at Ben & Jerry's.

More than once I commented to my husband that I felt like a goddess walking around Olympus. Everything from the pools to the colonnades to the immense columns and opulence of the buildings are meant to make you feel like you've stepped into heaven. And it was heaven, for 8 blissful days.

With Joy, Jessica

Please note that this blog post includes affiliate links from Amazon . If you do choose to purchase something, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Thank you for your support!

Visiting Mackinac Island

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 17:37:00 GMT

In 2016, my husband and I had a non-traditional wedding in the sense that we were first married in a small ceremony before moving halfway across the country. We followed up our little wedding with a large reception 8 months later.

After our big wedding reception, we decided to meander our way back home on a fun road trip through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. On the way, we stopped by Mackinac Island. If you haven't been, go! It's such a unique experience. The only way to get around on the island is either by foot, bike or horse. No cars are allowed, so plan to walk. A lot.

One neat thing about Lake Michigan is how clear and blue the water is. It almost has a Caribbean aqua/turquoise color to it. I wouldn't recommend swimming though, as the water temp was a frigid 57° while we were visiting.

If you're planning a trip or just genuinely curious about what the island has to offer, I hope you find this list helpful!

Hike To Arch Rock

Probably the most notable and photographed place on the island is Arch Rock. It's a bit of a hike to get to the rock, but so worth it. There are 207 stairs to the top, and it's about 2.2 miles from the city center to the Rock. So put your walking shoes on ��. Our dog was even able to do it...although she was pretty tired by the end of the day.

Visit Fort Mackinac

Fort Mackinac was founded during the American Revolution and moved to Mackinac Island in 1780 by the British to defend themselves against the Americans. The British held onto the fort until 1796, when they finally gave the reigns over to the US.

There's a lot of history and things we learned while we there, like the significance it held during the War of 1812 (the British took it back, there was a lot of blood).

The fort has been restored to look like it did when it was last occupied, and many of the stones and canons are original. I personally enjoyed standing in the same place that so many stood and fought before us.

St. Anne's Catholic Church

I love churches, specifically old churches. There's something majestic about them, similar to castles. St. Anne's definitely has that kind of majesty about it when you see it. Built in the 1800's and renovated in 1990, the church has a museum and hosts many weddings every year. I can see why! It's simply stunning.

As I mentioned earlier, horses are also a means of transportation around the island. A horse-drawn carriage ride is on the top of everyone's bucket list when they visit Mackinac.

Stay, See or Have Afternoon Tea at the Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel first opened its doors in 1887 as a summer retreat for vacationers who traveled to Michigan by train, and came to Mackinac Island via steamer and boat (per their website: grandhotel.com ). It's the world's largest summer hotel, and is a National Historic Landmark.

They boast an amazing dining room where dressing up for dinner is the event, their ice cream parlor will satisfy every sweet tooth, and their Grand Coffee is something to talk about. Stay here, eat here, or just see it! It's a hike to get there from the main town, but worth it whether you're staying here, or eating here.

Visit The Lighthouses

There are a few lighthouses in and around Mackinac Island - Round Island Lighthouse, Round Island Passage Light, and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. We didn't end up visiting any of them, but we did snap a picture of the Passage Light as we were hiking up to Arch Rock.

Most of them were built in the late 1800's, early 1900's and they all have an otherworldly charm about them.

Mackinac Island Mansions

Just walking down the main street you get the feeling that you've stepped back in time and at any moment, a woman with a parasol will walk out of her home. That's the kind of glamour that the Victorian style mansions on Mackinac Island possess, and you can feel it when you walk by them.

Many of the mansions and homes are original from the 1700 and 1800's. Quite a few of them have been restored to Bed & Breakfasts' so not only can you see the world of old, you can experience it overnight too.

Hike Mackinac Island State Park

The hike to Arch Rock is one of the easiest and prettiest hikes I think I've ever done. Maybe not including the stunning hikes I've done around Mount Rainier and the Rocky Mountains. But those weren't exactly easy, this one is! It is a bit of a climb, and there are stairs as I mentioned earlier, but the view is amazing and for a hike, it's really short.

That opinion might depend on what you're used to, but my parents used to take us to Washington State and we would end up on 7+ mile hikes uphill both ways (kidding!). Just uphill one way and sometimes both ways ��.

I definitely recommend taking time to hike around the State Park. It can get crowded, so plan to be around others. But like I said, worth it for the views.

Mackinac Island is one of those destinations that you'll never forget, but it's not exactly easy to get to. It's a summer place, and not much is open or available during the winter. Plan to visit between Memorial weekend and Labor Day weekend, and expect the crowds.

We went over Labor Day weekend, so it was busier than we would have liked. If we end up there again, I would go mid-week in June or late August when the weather isn't too warm for the amount of walking we did. We probably walked 11+ miles our first day there, so put on those comfy shoes. You'll regret it if you don't (and no one likes to live with regrets...)

It might be an out of the way vacation spot, but don't let that detour you. It's an absolutely charming place with a lot to offer. Spend a weekend exploring or a day touring. Either way, you won't regret seeing the island!

With joy, Jessica

Weekend Getaway At The Omni Homestead

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:53:31 GMT

A year or so after college I met a couple that had been married for over 30 years. They had a lot of advice on the reasons they were still happy in marriage, but it was one thing they said that stuck with me. They mentioned that no matter what was going on in their lives, they took a vacation away from the kids every year. Just the two of them. The husband said he had to convince his wife it was a good idea to vacation without their children. She wasn’t too sure about it. But they went away anyway, and she told me it made a difference in their marriage. It kept them connected.

After we had Skylar, I wasn’t sure if I could ever leave her. I mean, come on! She’s my baby! But then the twins arrived. At that point I knew my husband and I would need to find a way to vacation together without our kids someday. Mostly for our mental well-being and sanity.

The opportunity to spend a weekend away came when my in-laws let us know they wanted to visit us for a week. And they wanted to visit us over our anniversary. So we asked them if they wanted all three kids for a weekend. They thought that sounded awesome. We did too.

We booked a weekend at The Omni Homestead for our 5 year anniversary. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous or anxious to be away from my babies. Because, I totally was. But I know time with my husband is important. So, away we went!

Where Is The Omni Homestead?

The Omni Homestead is located in Hot Springs, Virginia, in the middle of a small mountain town. It was a 3 1/2 hour drive away from our home, and part of what we enjoyed the most was just driving through the mountains.

Hot Springs has 738 resi dents, and the town is nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountain Range. The Blue Ridge Mountains get their name from, you guessed it, appearing blue from a distance.

The Omni’s History

When we arrived I realized how much of an impact The Omni has had on US history. The Homestead is a National Historic Landmark and the original building was constructed in 1766.

In 1832 it was purchased by Dr. Thomas Goode, who transformed it into a medical therapy facility. It featured hydrotherapy and homeopathic spa treatments…umm yes please! Sign me up for the spa!

In 1888 J.P. Morgan and other investors took notice of the medical facility and began transforming it to the resort and spa it is today.

When the original building burned down in 1901 thanks to a fire in the bakery, they rebuilt it. The investors constructed the resort wing by wing, until it was completed as it stands today. What I noticed when I was walking through the resort, is that each wing has its own unique architectural style. It’s fascinating to me that as they built each wing, they differed slightly from the previous ones based on what was currently in style.

Since it’s inception, 23 Presidents (and counting) have stayed there, and quite a few prominent figures have visited as well. Billy Graham has hosted events in the ballrooms.

The United Nations has held a conference on the grounds. And William Howard Taft has vacationed at the resort for months. The Homestead is a fixture in Southern Virginia!

Bask In The Warm Pools

The Omni has several pools on site, two outdoor pools and one indoor pool. We spent time at one of the outdoor pools and indoor pool.

All three pools have fresh water pumped in from the nearby hot springs. The outdoor pool is located right next to the ice rink and has an outdoor bar and grill to order food and hang poolside. The hubs and I enjoyed our beverages and then realized it was a little too chilly for us outside. While the water temp was 105, the air temp just wasn’t warm enough for us.

Unfortunately, the hot tub was closed while we were there, otherwise we would have braved the cold in the hot tub.

After giving the outside pool a shot, we headed inside to soak in the indoor pool. It was more manageable for us.

Enjoy Great Food

The Omni Homestead boasts 5 different restaurants to eat from, a coffee shop and a lobby bar. I mean, you literally can’t go a few hundred feet without smelling amazing food.

To cap off our lovely day date in the pools, Mikael and I had drinks at the lobby bar. We followed that up with a wonderful dinner at Jefferson’s Restaurant & Bar.

The next morning we lazily ate brunch at The Dining Room while staring out at the snow covered mountains. I mean, can you say perfection?? The brunch is all you can eat and we made the most of it.

Visit The Spa

We took a trip to the spa to unwind and relax, especially since we have 3 kids. After I found out that the resort used to be a medical facility specializing in massages, I couldn’t say no. And truly, there is nothing better than a massage this side of heaven.

The Omni spa also has its own heated outdoor pool called Serenity Garden that is only accessible for those who book a service. Worth it. I should mention, it is adult-only.

We took it pretty easy while we were away. Honestly, we just needed to breathe a little and enjoy our time as a couple. Oh, and not have kids crying for attention every few minutes.

But there is so much to do in any season at the Homestead! There’s skiing, ice skating, golf, an equestrian center, fly fishing, zip lining, and shopping. We thought about ice skating and then headed to the Lobby Bar. Ha!

While we ate brunch, we noticed quite a few people heading out to the ski resort after breakfast. The ski lifts first opened in 1959 and The Omni is the oldest ski resort in the state of VA. While we didn’t go skiing on this adventure, it is something we will do in the future with our kids.

I highly recommend visiting the resort if you ever find yourself in Southwestern Virginia. We felt like we had transported back in time for a few days, and the hotel gave us an experience we’ll never forget. I hope you get a chance to see The Omni Homestead! And if you do, share your experience with me. I would love to hear about it.

With Joy, Jessica

What We Learned During Our Twin Newborn Photography Session

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 14:19:27 GMT

We had our newborn pictures taken 4 weeks after our twins were born (they spent a few weeks in the NICU), and I had no idea how much work went into photographing a little baby (or two).

It’s hard work making those bundles of joy look so adorable! Props to all newborn photographers, you guys rock.

The lovely Rachel from Rachel Yearick Photography came to our home for the photography session – and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the way they turned out.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your newborn photos, take a look at my Twin Newborn Pictures article. Our photographer was amazing and prepped us with a lot of information, but there were a few things that would have been helpful to know beforehand.

So, thanks to a few bumps that we experienced, here are a few tips and tricks to make your newborn session easier.

8 TIPS FOR YOUR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION

1 – HAVE BOTTLES PREPARED IN ADVANCE – why? Because those little suckers babies get hungry, often. Especially if they’re being swaddled several times, put into different outfits, or moved into positions to get that perfect photo.

We fed and burped our little babes about 20ish minutes before Rachel arrived, but the movement from our session woke them up often and made them hungry. Or maybe we just have hungry kids??

Either way, I wish I had prepared a few bottles in advance.

2 – HAVE SEVERAL OUTFITS READY – just in case there’s a blowout. Our little Evie hadn’t had a single blowout since we brought her home from the hospital.

During our 5 hour photography session, she had 4. We changed her outfit so many times! Not only did she blowout her outfits, she spread the joy into my lap, onto my dress. Which brings me to my next point…

3 – PLAN BACKUP OUTFITS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS – you know, in case someone poops on your lap. Thankfully, her blowout was a similar color to my dress (yuck), but I was able to hide it for the photos.

I did have a backup dress in my closet ready to go, and I would definitely suggest having backup outfits for all family members who will be photographed. Because poop happens.

4 – KEEP BABY SUPPLIES NEARBY – like diapers, wipes, burp rags, swaddles…anything you think you might need for a diaper change or to wipe up a baby in a pinch (and keep them warm during outfit changes).

And don’t underestimate how many diapers you might go through, or just how many burp rags will get used. We took our photos in our bedroom near the changing table, but if we hadn’t had those items handy it would have been annoying to traipse all over the house looking for what we needed.

Be ready with extra items, just in case!

5 – PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT FOR OTHER CHILDREN – such as an iPad, or TV, or activities to keep them occupied.

Our daughter Skylar could only stay focused for so long before she was *over* it. I would suggest having a few items ready to entertain any other littles that might be photographed.

6 – HAVE CLEANING SUPPLIES HANDY – to wipe up any baby poop or spit up from an outfit (or dress). I had shout and Oxi spray in our laundry room down the hall from our bedroom.

I ended up using both of those items on my dress and on an outfit Evie pooped on. If your newborn session is in a studio, bring a few cleaning supplies with you to be prepared for the unexpected mess.

7 – PICK OUTFITS THAT YOU CAN SWEAT IN – because the room will be warmer than is comfortable for any adult, but that’s how we keep those babies warm and sleepy!

So pick outfits that don’t show sweat very well, otherwise you’ll have a nice armpit ring.

8 – AND LASTLY, PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED – like your newborn session taking twice as long as planned. Instead of 3 hours, ours ended up being 5.

Sometimes photo sessions have to be rescheduled because your newborn won’t cooperate that day. Just be ready for anything to happen!

Those are my suggestions for a successful newborn photography session! Do you have any you would add? Drop me a comment with your helpful hints and tricks!

And be sure to take a look at My Favorite Things For Newborn Twins if you're preparing for two babies, or wondering if you might be missing something that would make your life easier.

I pray you have a very successful twin photography session.

With joy, Jessica

Twin Newborn Pictures

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 13:50:21 GMT

A few weeks ago, Rachel from Rachel Yearick Photography came over and photographed our newborn twins. We love the way our pictures turned out and highly recommend her!

If you live in Northern Virginia and you’re looking for a newborn photographer (she also does weddings, engagements, family portraits, you name it!) look no further.

Rachel did an amazing job, and spent a lot of time with us to get the perfect results. She also came to our home, which made it so much easier on us. We had everything we needed in our house to keep our babies *mostly* satisfied during the shoot.

Baby Erik

Baby Evelyn

Siblings

Twin Pictures

Family Pictures with Twins

I love our pictures! If you’re looking for some inspiration for your family photo session or twin photography, hopefully these will inspire you.

And if you want to know what helped us survive our photo shoot, take a look at my What We Learned During Our Twin Newborn Photography Session

Many blessings on your newborn pictures, and on your growing family as well.

With joy, Jessica

Looking Back On Our Engagement Photos

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 12:47:26 GMT

A close girlfriend of mine called today to ask about my wedding dress (she’s currently dress shopping), and if I had any pictures of it that she could use as a reference for what she’s looking to buy. Her question sent me down the rabbit hole of looking at old pictures from my wedding, which then led me to our engagement photos.

I realized while I was reminiscing that we took our engagement pictures exactly 4 years ago this week. I can’t believe how quickly time flies! In 4 years we’ve managed to pop out 3 kids (2 of those were at the same time, but wow), move across the country to Virginia, and live in 2 different apartments and a townhouse. It amazes me how much we can fit into the span of a year!

Our engagement session took place in downtown Minneapolis near the Stone Arch Bridge. Versatile Photography was amazing and we were able to do 2 outfit changes as well as shoot all kinds of poses under the bridge and on top of it to create the perfect shot. Toward the end it started to rain, but we didn’t care. Love will do that to you.

Our first outfit choice was a little more laid back, whites and blues. For our second, we decided to dress it up a bit more with a suit and dress. I loved that we got two completely different looks. The more laid back version we shot under the bridge by the water, and the snazzier outfit choice on top of the bridge with the city in the background. Both looks show off the two sides of our personality – we like to go out, but we also like to stay in.

If you're taking your engagement pictures soon, congratulations! I'm so happy for you and I pray for God's blessings on your wedding and marriage. I hope these inspire you and I look forward to hearing from you.

With joy, Jessica

9 Twin Pregnancy Symptoms

Wed, 27 May 2020 13:04:24 GMT

I imagine if you are reading this, that you are pregnant with twins…congratulations! I’m so happy for you! I’m sure you’re happy too.

But maybe you're also a little overwhelmed and feeling the effects of being pregnant with those two precious bundles. All I have to say is, I am here for you, and cheering you on. You can do this.

Put simply, twin pregnancy is tough. Or at least it was for me. And not just because there are two babies growing inside one body, but also because of the mental, emotional, and physical changes that come with carrying two at once. It’s a lot.

So, if you're here because you're carrying two, or just generally curious about what a twin pregnancy can look like, then read on!

And if you're starting to gather things to get ready for your bundles of joy, take a look at My Favorite Things For Newborn Twins .

1 – Early Pregnancy Confirmation

I found out I was pregnant at 3 weeks, almost a week before I missed my period. The nausea began really early in my twin pregnancy, and I have heard this is common among women carrying twins.

I was in the middle of giving our daughter a bath, and I looked at my husband and said, “I feel so nauseous…do you think I’m getting sick?” To which he immediately said, “You’re pregnant,” and promptly left during our daughter’s bedtime routine to pick up every type of pregnancy test CVS had (not kidding).

Turns out, that yup, I was pregnant. We knew so early that I couldn’t even believe the test showed up positive.

2 – The All Day Sickness

Not every women I know with twins had the “morning” sickness I had during my entire pregnancy. But it’s incredibly common for many women to be as sick or sicker than I was. Double the baby, double the hormones. Because I was carrying fraternal twins, I also had two placentas that my body was trying to manage.

I began throwing everything up, including water, around week 5. That’s when most women find out that they’re pregnant! I was already miserable. After two weeks of holding down next to nothing, I moved up my doctor appointment from 9 weeks to 7 weeks. At this point, I was genuinely concerned there was something wrong with me or the baby, because every time I got up off the couch I was running for the bathroom.

At my appointment the doctor confirmed it, two babies. I started crying, mostly out of relief that there wasn’t something seriously wrong with the pregnancy (or me), but also because I was overwhelmed with the knowledge of twins.

My doctor put me on Zofran for the nausea, and while it did help for a few hours every day, it didn’t keep me from throwing up daily. I ended up in the hospital several times during that first trimester to receive fluids because I was so dehydrated.

Thankfully the extreme morning sickness did pass, but it wasn’t until week 19-20 that I noticed a huge difference in being able to eat and not feel sick. If this is you, and you feel like dying, I get it. It was the hardest part of the pregnancy for me by far – but it will pass. Sort of. I unfortunately experienced nausea up until the very end – I pray this doesn't happen to you!

3 – More Hormones, More Feelings

The first trimester for me was about surviving. But the second one, when most women are enjoying the honeymoon phase, I was experiencing mood swings and raging emotions.

During my first pregnancy, my hormones were balanced and I felt the true “pregnancy glow” and bliss that comes with being pregnant. I was happy, and I never felt depressed or moody. It was fantastic.

This pregnancy I was a hormonal mess. After surviving the first trimester, I went into the second thinking I would feel much better. To my dismay, I was still sick and hormonal. I experienced depression, sadness, and loneliness/feelings of isolation. I cried more easily than I laughed, and every day was a struggle.

4 – Speaking of Loneliness…

Praise the Lord I had a friend who got pregnant with twins the same week as I did, or the feeling of isolation may have done me in. Your experience might not be quite like mine, but the intense symptoms from pregnancy kept me indoors. I felt isolated from family and friends because of the increased sickness and pain.

By the time the nausea had subsided enough to go out in public without hanging out in a bathroom the whole time, I was too big to even want to leave the house.

5 – Weight Gain = Added Pain

It’s really hard on a woman’s body to carry a baby in general, much less to carry two. By the time I was 24 weeks I was already measuring 29 – by 29 weeks I was measuring 37 – by 32 weeks I was measuring 42 weeks…which is overdue.

The exponential growth factor makes for a far more uncomfortable and painful pregnancy. I invested in this belly band to help, and weekly chiropractic sessions to ease the discomfort on my back and hips.

And while it did make a huge difference, it was impossible to completely ease the amount of weight and pressure on my pelvis, back and hip bones. I found myself sitting on ice packs with my heating pad on my back to help relieve some discomfort. It helped.

6 – Stretch Marks

The stretch marks started showing up around week 28, and the amount of pain I experienced from week 28-34 with my belly stretching beyond capacity was unreal. With two babies, sacs, placentas and added fluid, I gained weight and girth faster than I could keep up with it.

Around week 29 the pain increased, and I noticed it was deeper than surface level. Most nights I would lie in bed, in complete agony, while my body tore apart to make room for my little humans.

7 – The Numbness

I didn’t know it was possible for my skin and belly to stretch so far that the nerve endings no longer worked…but somehow that happened.

Around week 33 the pain I had experienced for 4 weeks from the tearing suddenly stopped and I went numb instead. A little nerve-wracking, and a very odd sensation, but I didn’t mind.

8 – Swelling

I got really lucky in this category and didn’t swell up too much. I took regular Epsom salt baths, which helps reduce swelling.

The baths also regulated my back/hip pain and the stretching I experienced in my belly, but I enjoyed the added bonus of very little swelling.

9 – Normal Pregnancy Clothes Might Not "Fit"

As I mentioned above, I gained more weight, which led to more stress on my hips/back, and other joints. But truly, my belly weighed nearly double what it did with my first pregnancy. It was noticeably heavier, by a lot.

My belly was big it peeked out from under my maternity shirts- and most of them didn't even fit by 34 weeks. I started wearing Large and XL men’s shirts…and even those didn’t always cover the bottom of my “bump.”

But in the end it was all worth it. We go through pregnancy, labor and delivery, and then we choose to do it all over again to hold that newborn in our arms. There is nothing like being a mommy and having a baby. Or two.

With joy, Jessica

Kitchen Table Makeover

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 13:29:59 GMT

I finally got around to refinishing our kitchen table, which has been on my to-do list for the last 4 years (no joke!) I’m delighted with the result, and this technique completely transformed our kitchen, giving it a light, airy feel. If you’re in the mood to refresh your table, give this technique a try!

My husband and I bought this table when we first got married for $50 on Craigslist, and I’ve had every intention of painting it ever since. I finally got around to doing it. Mostly, the impending birth of our twins spurred me on. At 20 weeks pregnant, (like a crazy person!) I finally got out the chalk paint and set about refinishing our table. While our table looked nice before, the yellow wood is not exactly my taste.

What You Will Need

Power sander , or a sanding tool
Rustoleum chalk paint in Linen White , Country Gray & Charcoal (see picture below!)
Old white T-shirts, cut up into sections
Plastic cups or a paint holder (I used plastic cups and spoons and tossed them when I was done)
Brushes
Polyvine wax finish varnish
Amazon bench (optional)

PAINT & TOOLS I USED:

Let's Get Started!

1 – First, I gave my table and chairs a light sanding. I chose not to use a chemical stripping agent to strip the wax sealant off the table and chairs – I opted instead for sanding to give my furniture texture for the paint to hold onto. I used my power sander with 220 grit paper for sanding each piece.

2 – After sanding the table and chairs, I decided I wanted a bench to add more seating to our table. Especially since we will have 5 in our family after the twins arrive… So I went online and found this one on Amazon. I ordered it and followed the same technique for the bench that I used for the table.

3 – Next I wiped down the table, chairs, and bench with water and a little bit of soap to remove any sanding dust.

4 – I started by painting everything with Rustoleum chalk paint in linen white as my base coat. And a tip I learned early is to thin the paint out with just a little bit of water (less than a 1/2 tsp). If you mix the water in with the paint before starting– it will help your paint go on smoother without leaving streaks. Each coat will be slightly thinner, but I noticed I had less dripping while each piece was drying.

I ended up doing 3 thinner coats but the coverage turned out great. One thing to note, the bench legs had a slight cream tint to them, so painted those white as well. I also painted a few coats of white on the bench top to have as a base. We want everything to match!

5 – After applying the white coats of paint, I then mixed two cups of paint to come up with the colors I wanted to create texture on the table top. In one plastic cup I mixed linen white with the charcoal gray. And in the other plastic cup I mixed country gray with a little bit of linen white and a little bit of charcoal gray.

I spent time playing with the paint until I got the exact colors I liked.

6 – Next, I worked in small sections, brushing on both colors from my cups, and then I wiped each section with a piece of my husband’s old white T-shirt until I got the look I wanted. If the color was too dark, I used the linen white paint mix to tone the color down. And in the same way, whenever I saw a really light area, I darkened it using my charcoal gray mix.

I used my rag to wipe every area until I had the right gray texture I wanted.

7 – Finally, I gave the top of my table and bench a light sanding with 120 grit sandpaper. Then I wiped everything down to remove any dust or dirt (or dog hair) that might be lurking on my furniture.

8 – Lastly, I used the polyvine wax finish varnish to seal the furniture. I put down 3 coats, waiting a half day between applications. This is my favorite finish for chalk paint because it gives my furniture a glossy finish without the high maintenance of wax.

I also like this finish better than Rustoleum Matte Finish. The polyvine wax is thicker and has a nicer hold when everything is dry.

AND HERE’S THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

And that’s it! We let our kitchen table sit for 7 days before we used it. I can confidently say that it has held up really well and 5 months later, the paint isn’t chipping at all. I also ended up buying foam chair pads from Bed Bath & Beyond for our chairs. It gives a little more cushion for the tush and looks nice too.

If you try this chalk painting technique for your table, let me know! I would love to hear from you and how your project turned out!

With Joy, Jessica

My First Born Birth Story

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 16:59:50 GMT

Before going into labor I had this fantasy of having a perfect birth. It was going to be unmedicated, move along at a wonderful pace, and end with that euphoric feeling of having finished a marathon with the prize being my baby girl.

My mom had 3 unmedicated births, one with a breach baby, and in my head I thought, “If she can do it, I can do it.” When it comes to pain, my mom is not made of tough stuff, so I thought birth must not be that hard. (I mean, I wasn’t that naïve, but I wasn’t living in the reality realm either…) Labor and delivery, here I come!

The Beginning of Labor Pains

6:30pm, Thursday – My first contraction started in the evening, and I thought “Yesssss! Finally! Let’s do this thing!”

To be clear, I was not excited to be in labor and to deliver a baby. But I was excited to be done with pregnancy, which had become an excruciating experience toward the end (read about my pregnancy experience here). I’m convinced God made the last month a horrible experience for women so that when the labor pains arrive, we are in fact, happy about it.

At first my contractions were about 30 minutes apart, so I hung out on the bed, told my husband to order a pizza, and settled in for what I figured would be a long night of waiting until we could go to the hospital. Our pizza arrived and I carb loaded like a fiend. I actually highly recommend eating a big meal when those contractions start, because you’ll need the energy.

10:00pm – my contractions had progressed to 8-12 minutes apart, and I got in the bathtub to soak and relax. At the time I didn’t realize I was having back labor that extended all the way around my front, so my contractions were far more painful than if they had been normal cramps in my lower belly. After soaking for an hour, I got into bed to try to sleep, but by 1:00am I was in so much pain on all fours on our bedroom floor (contractions 4 minutes apart) and my husband was freaked out that he would be delivering a baby, so he insisted we head to the hospital.

2:00am – we checked into triage, and they confirmed I was indeed in labor, but only 3cm dilated. What the what?!? That was a lot of pain for 3cm…and technically it was only 1cm because I was 2cm dilated before going into labor….

I spent the next 7 hours in our L&D room trying to sleep, in and out of the bathtub, and bouncing on an exercise ball to dilate more.

Stalled Labor & Pitocin

9:00am – my doctor came in to check me and said I hadn’t progressed at all, in fact it looked like my labor was stalling and I would probably need to start Pitocin soon. I begged for a little more time because this was not a part of my fantasy birth story.

12:00pm – between 9 and noon my doctor checked me to see my progress, but then she finally called it and said I needed to get started on Pitocin to move things along. A nurse came in and hooked me up and after he left, I burst into tears.

At this point my husband figured he was in hell. Neither of us had slept all night, his wife was crying and in labor, and there was literally nothing he could do to change the circumstances. (My husband is amazing, and he kept me encouraged throughout the whole process, told me I was doing awesome, rubbed my back, and somehow got me through the longest day of our life so far.)

He kept reassuring me that just because I needed Pitocin to get my body to do what it should be doing on its own didn’t mean I wasn’t an amazing woman.

I felt like my body was failing me – and I think many women I know feel this way if our bodies don’t respond to labor well, or we face infertility, or we struggle with miscarriages and carrying a baby. We think our bodies should do this on their own. But we need to realize that there is no should in this life, and we are each so uniquely created that sometimes, modern medicine and science can do for us what our bodies fail to do on their own. And that’s ok.

(I will admit, it took me months to work through my disappointment – but I did work through it, and now can look back on my labor story with fondness, because it’s the day I met my daughter. Even if it wasn’t perfect.)

1:00pm – my doctor came in to break my water and progress labor even quicker. I thought it would hurt but of all the things that happened, that was by far the easiest and most painless. She inserted a long white stick-thing, punctured the sac, and out poured amniotic fluid for the next several hours. Except for the discomfort of all the fluid, I didn’t mind them breaking my water.

Get Me That Epidural!

3:30pm – At this point I was crying from the pain and my doctor came in and checked me. I was only at 4cm. And she called it a tight 4. At that moment I gave up my perfect birth scenario and called for the epidural. I was in so much pain that I didn’t even notice the needle going into my back. Relief from my back contractions came within the next 10 minutes and I felt amazing. I went from hell to heaven in the span of 20 minutes. A nurse helped me to my side and I fell asleep. What bliss.

6:45pm – my doctor came in to check on me and announced I was at 10 and ready to push. I couldn’t believe it, how had I gone from 4 to 10 in the span of 3 hours, when I had barely gotten 1cm in 21 hours. Maybe I should have gotten the epidural sooner…

7:00pm – I started pushing. I pushed until 8:50 when I suddenly spiked a fever and started losing energy. In a few short minutes I suddenly had a room full of NICU nurses, and my doctor began to look tense. She looked up at me and said she needed to perform an episiotomy, because my baby was stuck.

I remember being disappointed again, but wanting the whole thing to be over. I gave my consent and she cut me. A few more pushes and my baby girl was born (with the help of a vacuum) at 9:24pm. I was done.

We did end up with a NICU stay for a few days because our daughter had an elevated white blood cell count, a fun side effect from my fever. But when it was all over, nothing prepared me for the fierce, unconditional love that filled my entire being for this little bundle I held in my arms. Baby’s truly are perfect.

Hallstrom Heart & Home

Understanding The Lord's Will For Your Life

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

-Proverbs 3:5-6

The Beginning Of Understanding His Will For Your Life

The Starting Line: Praying For Wisdom

The Prayer For Wisdom

The Middle Miles: Calling On The Lord

Unlocking The Gifts He's Given You

Give Thanks, For This Is God's Will For Us

Now Walk In It

All my love,

Jessica

Dreams & Visions: The Kitchen Is Like The Heart

"‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams."

Joel 2:28-29

Dreaming About Certain Places In A House

When You Dream About Being In A Kitchen...

Example 1 - Friendships

Example 2 - What's Cooking

Example 2 - Is Someone Baking?

Example 3 - Who Else (Or What Else) Is Present?

The Heart Of The Matter

Writing to you with joy,

Jessica

Dreams & Visions: The Basement Floor of Our Hearts

"‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams."

Joel 2:28-29

Dreaming About Certain Places In A House

When You Dream About A Basement

Basement Details

Going down to the basement

Boxes or bags in the basement

Being in a specific room in the basement

Basements can flood!

Many basements have gyms!

Unfinished Basement?

Is it dark down there?

Why Is Dealing With The Depths Of Us Important?

﻿ Writing to you with joy,

Jessica

Prayer To Hear From God In Your Dreams

Beautiful Cities in the South of France

Èze, France

La Turbie

Menton, France

Nice, France

Happy Traveling, Jessica

Making Memories In Monaco City

Prince's Palace of Monaco

Jardins Saint-Martin

Musée océanographique de Monaco

Chapelle de la Visitation

Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate

Monaco Courthouse

The Monaco Open Air Cinema ﻿

Visit The Chocolaterie de Monaco ﻿

On Your Way Down...

Happy Traveling, Jessica

Passing Through Paris, Our French Family Vacation

"Paris is always a good idea"

-Audrey Hepburn

Day 1 - Exploring The 2nd Arrondissement

Day 2 - The Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral & Île de la Cité

Day 3 - Palace of Versailles & Palais Garnier

Day 4 - The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe & A Seine River Cruise

Final Notes About Paris

Happy traveling,

﻿ Jessica

Diving Into Dreams: The Attic Space of Our Minds

"‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

Writing to you with joy,

The Monaco Open Air Cinema

Visit The Chocolaterie de Monaco

Jessica

Jessica

“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.

And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days."

Jessica

For Further study & reading:

With joy always,