Jesus is the reason for the season!!!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! J

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the upcoming holiday? The majority of the people today would say shopping, presents, decorating, cookies, santa, the annoying song that everyone can’t stand “The Twelve days of Christmas”, NO SCHOOL for a couple of weeks and so on. Shouldn’t our first thought be of Jesus?

 

As I was driving my daughter to school the other morning, the Holy Spirit reminded me of something. People sometimes spend months in advance prepping for someone’s birthday. I know with my own children, I start ordering things and planning their party’s months before so that they can have an awesome birthday. It’s the one day that it can be ALL about them. I want them to feel special and LOVED. I heard, “How much MORE should we celebrate the day our Savior was born?”

 

My favorite Christmas song EVER is “O, Holy Night”

This song is so anointed; I get teary eyed every time I hear it. I especially like the Celine Dion version…that women has some serious vocal cords! J

FUN FACT: O Holy Night' was written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847. Cappeau was asked by the parish priest to write a poem for Christmas.

 

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

O night divine, the night when Christ was born;

O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother.

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

With all our hearts we praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord!

 

It’s one of those songs that people just sing because they know it, but they don’t really LISTEN to the actual words. When I hear this song I imagine what it would have been like if I was actually there that night Jesus was born. Wouldn’t that have been awesome!!!!! I would have LOVED to be one of the shepherds that night…..

Luke 2:8-14 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the angels of heaven—praising God and saying 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

To hear the angels sing and rejoicing that Jesus was born…WOW!!!! I can imagine a rockin’ birthday party that night!

As we start this Christmas season let’s not forget the TRUE meaning of why we celebrate it. What a great time to talk about Jesus with your friends these next couple of weeks before you get out for the break. Let’s bring Jesus back in CHRISTmas!

He came to this earth so that we could be redeemed. He came to give us hope, peace and love. The awesome part is that He isn’t that little baby in the manger anymore, He is coming back for us soon! Let us celebrate Jesus this season and help others around us so that they can know Him too.

I will leave with this cool little story about the Candy Cane. Maybe while you and your friends are hanging out and eating some, you can tell them about this story you heard.......

 A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would remind people of the true meaning of Christmas; so he made the candy cane to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of the promises of God.

The candy maker then shaped his cane into the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to the earth as Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down to reclaim the fallen lambs that, like sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Be Blessed!

 

My God, My Friend!!!

When you hear the word "friend" what do you think of? I think of a person who has a close relationship with you. They know your likes and dislikes. Your hopes and dreams. Your serious side and your silly side. They listen to you and give advice, they are someone you love and can always count on.

 "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the FRIEND of God. -James 2:23

Now if you don't know a whole lot about Abraham, you need to do some reading. This guy was awesome. Not only was he called the "Father of Faith" but the bible said he was a FRIEND to God. I love reading about Abraham because he was the ULTIMATE friend.

Abraham's life was full of faith...
* he left his country and family to never return
*he believed the promise of a son, when it was naturally impossible
*he was even willing to sacrifice his son Isaac when God commanded him to

He did absolutely everything that God told him to do. No question, no hesitation..just action. He trusted and he loved the Father so much that no matter what He told him to do, he did it. ( Everyday you should declare that "I have the faith as Abraham did")

Because Abraham did those things...God was able to bless him so abundantly!!! Guess what? He wants to bless us like that too!! YES!

Do you know that you can have that kind of relationship with God? He created us for that purpose, so that we can have fellowship with Him! He wants so badly for us to be intimate with Him, to have a close relationship with Him.

Everyday we should seek His face! Just like chatting with your friends at school or sending a facebook message to them. We should be sitting down, reading and just talking with Him on a DAILY basis. God has a sent you a FRIENDS REQUEST, you just need to accept Him and get to know Him. You already know that HE knows all your thoughts, worries, fears, hopes and dreams. He loves you so much that He gave His Son for you. He goes before you in battles. He charges His angels to protect you. He gives you health. He gives you peace. No matter what you do, He will never leave you or forsake you. Friendship takes two people for it to work.One person cant do all the work by themselves. Friendship is two sided. You now need to do your part and choose to obey and honor Him. That means being righteous, being set apart from this world. The bible tells us that even though we are in the world, we don't have to be of it. Meaning we can be out and about but not have to act and do the things that hurts Gods heart. Just because its the cool thing to do, doesn't mean you should watch that show or listen to that music. You want to be pure so that you can have a good relationship with the Lord. If He tells you to do something, even though you may not want to or believe you can do it....have faith and trust Him. Our job is to seek His face and to have fellowship with Him. Not to just get blessings, though He wants to give it to us, but because we truly have a heart to KNOW Him. Not just pray about how we want Him to do this and that, but just to read the Word and talk to Him like you would your best friend.

You will probably laugh at me but sometimes, when I am ALONE, I will just wink up at the sky or give a high-five in the air to God. LOL....!!! I love Him. He is my best friend. I can be silly around Him sometimes..:)

Lets strive to be more like Abraham, lets be more then just an acquaintance with the Father. Lets be His Friend.

Be BLESSED!!


 

Are You Ready?

The Lord showed me something the other day that I posted on my Facebook page and I felt like I should share it on my blog.  

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2 Peter 3:3, 4:8-14

Are you ready?

There are many out there that THINK they are living godly, but are not. Remember those bracelets.... WWJD.. What Would Jesus Do?? Do they still even make those?? I used to have like 50 of them.

What would Jesus do? Would he act a certain way one day and the next go out partying, cursing, and treating others badly? I think everyone should wear those around to keep them accountable..:) Would Jesus watch that movie, say those things, lie, etc.....!

The Lord has really been teaching me to live HOLY. It's not easy. It’s a choice that everyone has to make, all day, every day. It's a choice to bust out those bibles and read daily. He wants to get with us one on one and have a relationship with Him. I can honestly say He is my BEST FRIEND. I can tell Him anything, and I know He listens and hears me. That He always has my back.

You know what is one of the most bestselling books out there right now? It’s those “How to books”…….

Here are some ACTUAL books that I looked up that people ACTUALLY buy….

How to Fossilize your Hamster*How to survive a Robot Uprising* How to survive a Garden Gnome Attack* How to Knit with Dog Hair….these seriously made me LOL! These are FOR REAL!!!!!!  People are buying these!

How to become a Schizophrenic*How to become a Wicked Witch* How to say Goodbye to Depression…

Isn’t that sad that people are so lost they need these books. You know what? God made a “How to Book” long before man ever did. It’s a book of HOPE and PEACE.  A book that can set you free in every aspect of your life. The Bible is the best “How to Book” you can ever get your hands on. It teaches you how to have a life of joy, free from depression, temptations, and to have an EVERLASTING LIFE! How to treat others and love them.

Personally, I am working on loving others more like Christ did. Honestly, some people just get ON MY NERVES! LOL! FOR REAL! So, I ask the Holy Spirit to help me treat others well, EVEN when they are being rude, annoying, and mean, etc... (I could go on and on...) :)

Don't be luke warm people. The bible says...

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that to happen to me.

Don’t act one way at church and turn around the next day at school and have a potty mouth and treat others unkindly. Be an example to your peers. They shouldn’t have to ask if you’re a “Christian” they should see Christ ALL over you. By how you walk, talk and live your life!

The Lord wants us to live Holy. There WILL be a day when He comes back for us. Live everyday like it's your last. I want you to be ready when He comes so that we can have one BIG party in HEAVEN. I can't wait!! :)

Be BLESSED

Jessica

CAN I GET A WITNESS!!

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound. Isaiah 61:1 AMP

The other morning I was sitting in my living room listening to my praise and worship music. All of a sudden I just started crying! The Lord was showing me all the lost souls out there. It was as if my heart was broken for them.

My Pastor is teaching a series right now on, “Taking Ownership of the Gospel.” I am telling you, it has really put a fire under me. I am going to share a couple of things that has helped me out. I wish I could share ALL he has talked about, but my blog would be to FULL....:) I highly recommend you get on youtube or download the podcasts to this series. It will help you understand the proper way to sharing the Gospel.

 Everyone, young and old, has a purpose. Your purpose is to go out and do what Jesus did. What did Jesus do?? The bible says He went about preaching, teaching, and healing all kinds of sickness and diseases. This is our purpose, to go out and do these things!!!!

Okay, so I LOVE music as you can tell from past blogs. Here is another favorite of mine…

 “Where You Go I Go”…by Kim Walker!

 Where you go I go
What you say I say
What you pray I pray

Jesus only did, What he saw you do
He would only say, What he heard you speak
He would only move, When he felt you lead
Following your heart, Following your spirit

How could I expect to walk without you
When every move that Jesus made was in surrender
I would not begin to live without you
For you alone are worthy you are always good

I mean, if you listen to that song and don’t get PUMPED up, you crae, crae!!!

John 14:12 says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”

WAIT a minute, hold the phone!!! Did you read that??  We will do even GREATER works then Jesus did? That is some, GET EXCITED, JUMP UP AND DOWN, cool stuff right there. WOW!!!

We need to do what Jesus did.  We need to go out there and preach, teach and heal the sick. This should be the norm for us. Every day, walking in the supernatural, and telling people about Jesus.  Now some of you may be intimidated about telling people about Jesus and winning souls. ere Heh

Here is something my pastor pointed out that really helped me out….

 2 Timothy 1:6 says ,”For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and of a sound mind.”

This scripture is talking about the fear, the timidity of sharing the Gospel. Not having the boldness to go out and reach the lost. Not feeling qualified enough, or thinking you might say the wrong things. Sometimes I feel like this. I don’t have a problem with caring what people think of me, as much as caring if I might say or do the wrong things. I see so many “christians” out there that have really made the believers of today look BAD! They don’t know that proper way to share and help people to know Chirst. I was worried that I might say something not biblically correct and REALLY mess them up..:)

God did not give us a spirit of timidity. This has really set me free.

God sent us a Helper and that is the Holy Spirit.

Don’t be fearful of telling your family, your peers about Jesus. Guess what?? We don’t have the ability to do it ourselves, that is where the Holy Spirit comes in to help us. We rely on what the Holy Spirit tells us  to say and not on our words. That right there is so amazing. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and you will see some amazing things happen.

School is almost out for the summer. I encourage you to use the rest of your time and start telling your peeps @ school about Jesus. Go up to those kids who are lost and have no friends. The kids that everyone picks on because they don’t wear the “right” clothes, or they aren’t in the “cool” crowd! Good grief, kids can me so mean sometimes. Even going up and saying a kind word can lift their spirits up. Do you know that I told more people about Jesus in High School then I have in my adulthood. Maybe because I am a stay at home mom and don’t get out much, but that is still NO excuse. The Lord has really been dealing with me on this. As I preach to you, I’m preaching to myself..:) I have a lot of friends from High School on my facebook, and although I block what they post because I don’t want their language and pictures in my mind, I ask the Lord to give me scriptures and I pray that they will read it and get something from it. Facebook is a fun way to play games and talk to your friends, but let it be a tool you can use to reach out to others.

I pray that the Lord will give you a heart for the lost. That He will light a fire under you, so that you can go out and fulfill your purpose. Your generation is crying out for help. Your generation needs Jesus. Get excited, this is the coolest thing you will EVER do. Start now, so when you are my age you will be a SOUL WINNING EXPERT..:)

Be BLESSED

Jessica

His amazing LOVE 4-25-12

Okay, here are some bible animal facts for you:

The sheep is the most frequently mentioned animal in the bible, and the only domesticated animal not mentioned in the bible is the cat. Which in my personal opinion is AWESOME, cats creep me out. Sorry all you cat lovers out there…they do.

 If I were to ask someone on the street to quote me a scripture, the most popular verse that everyone seems to know is John 3:16….

“For God so loved the world, they He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I think many people memorize this scripture, but not many people KNOW what this scripture means.                                                                                                                                             

One of my FAVORITE songs to listen to is…”How He Loves Us”. I love listening to Kim Walkers version. SOO GOOD. ( if you have never heard this song, find it, download it, and listen to it)

We are his portion and he is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes
If grace is an ocean we’re all sinking
So, heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

He loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves

Yeah, he loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves

Say this to yourself, “God sent His only Son into this world, who LOVED me and GAVE Himself for ME!”

Do you know what Jesus went through for us?

He was mocked, beaten and bruised.
Isaiah 52:14 says ,”Just as there were many who were appalled at Him-His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness.”
 Marred in the dictionary means to disfigure, deface, or scar.

Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open His mouth.”

-Oppression means to weigh down, to lie heavily upon( the mind), and Afflicted means to distress with mental pain, trouble greatly or grievously.

Can you imagine going through not only the physical pain, but the mental anguish that He had…and He kept silent, he didn’t open His mouth. Wow, thank you Jesus.

As a mother of two, I can’t even think for one second how I would feel watching my babies get hurt. Just watching them fall on the ground and scrape their little knees hurts my heart.

Can you imagine what the Father was going through, looking down and seeing his Son being crucified. Yet the bible says that, “It was the Lords will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer.” Isaiah 53:10

God Loved ME so much that He gave His only Son….WOW…

Don’t you know that you are HIS FAVORITE??!!

Galatians 2 :19 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

This is a good verse to write down and put it somewhere where you can always see it.

My heart gets so sad when I think of all the young people out there that don’t fully understand the knowledge of God’s love. If they could only see just how much He does, their entire world would change. You need to grasp this. You need to know the love of God, you need to know what He did for you, so that you can go out and tell your friends, family, class mates. Let His love shine through you so you can be a witness!

Here is my last scripture for you that happens to be one of my favorites:
"I am convinced that nothing can EVER serparate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries for tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love." Romans 8:38

Be BLESSED!

-Jessica

"OVERCOMING" 4-16-12

Here is your random fact for the day:

Did you know the longest word in the Bible is Mahershalalhashbaz found in Is 8:1?   I would like to hear you say THAT 3 times! Wowza!

This week as I was planning my next blog, the Holy Spirit (who is so COOL by the way) reminded me of my High School days. Oh, how I miss you DRAMA days…NOT!

High School memories bring mixed emotions for me. It was a FUN time filled with good memories and then there was a time that wasn’t so fun. In the beginning of my Sophomore year, I came upon a horrible wreck after school. I saw some things that no 15 year old should see. Something happened that day that changed me. As I looked upon the scene before me, FEAR like no other came upon me and from then on I started having MAJOR panic attacks.  

To keep a looonng story short my panic attacks were the worst throughout the end of my Junior year. I was very involved in Cheerleading and the Drill team. I was a good student and was friends with everyone, but not many people knew what I was going through. I felt embarrassed and ashamed and didn’t want anybody to find out. It was like I was 2 very different people. They didn’t see me in the mornings when my mom dropped me off at school, crying and weeping in the floor board begging her not to let me go. They didn’t know that during practices it was all I could do, not to just scream and run out the door, because the pressure in my mind was so severe. They couldn’t hear me cry from the time I got home to the early mornings. They didn’t know that I had to take medication for anxiety and depression. (which DID NOT help) 

I was very involved in my Youth Group. My grandparents were pastoring at the time and I had the best youth pastor. I had my family supporting me and trying to pull me through my horrible nightmare. I remember at the football games, the only way I could get through my performances was knowing at the very top of the bleachers my mom and grandma were up there interceding and praying for me. I watched them the entire time.

Although, all the support and prayers did help a little, I still was miserable. I knew that to overcome this attack in my mind, I had to be the one to speak over MY BODY, MY MIND. My best friend in the whole world was my prayer journal, it was my very own prayer closet. It was here that I started really having a deeper knowledge and relationship with the Lord. To this day, I still keep a prayer journal. I love to look back at all my entries and see the work of the Lord and what He has brought me through.

As I started to write I grew bolder in the Lord and the Word. I would find scriptures and speak them over myself. I would write them on my notebooks, have them inside my locker…

JESSICA-

You can do ALL things through Christ who gives you strength.  Phil 4:13

You have the MIND of Christ

For God has not given YOU a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a SOUND MIND. 2 Timothy 1:7

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and Life are in the power of the tongue”….

YIKES, that’s some pretty serious stuff. When I would wake up and say, “ I just dread going to school”… “I can’t do this anymore”…..”I feel like I am losing my mind”…..

I had to change up my vocabulary and speak what Jesus says about me. “ I AM GOING TO HAVE A GREAT DAY AT SCHOOL”  and so on and so on.

Watch what you speak over yourself. Speak life to yourself. SPEAK.THE WORD.

I could start seeing a difference. When that panic started to rise up I would excuse myself, go to the bathroom, look into that mirror and start talking to myself (and not in a CrAzY way..;) )

Ephesians 6:11 says, " Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil"....

I remember one time while I was LITERALLY putting on my armor in the bathroom. A girl walked in and I was pretending to put my shield of Faith and boots of Peace on…HAHAHA, she looked at me and then walked right out. She probably thought that I WAS cRaZy..:0)

Even to this day sometimes that little panicky feeling tries to creep up on me. That’s when I say,” OH NO, I don’t think so. You get away from me Devil, I KNOW who I am in Christ!”  GO.AWAY!

Find some scriptures that will help you with whatever you are dealing with. Write them and put them where you can read it and speak it over yourself. Put it in your notebooks and in your lockers at school. Maybe it will be a witness to your peers. Tell them about if they read it!

Be BLESSED!

-Jessica

“AWAKENING”   

When my Pastor asked me to start a blog for Youth, my first thought was,  "EEEKKKK, it’s intimidating for people to read my stuff ". Then I thought about it and was like, "AWESOME, what a great way to dig a little deeper in the Word and not only help others, but myself as well".

 I have been listening to this song that Chris Tomlin sings called “Awakening”. Some of the lyrics go like this…

In our hearts, Lord, in this nation
Awakening
Holy Spirit, we desire
Awakening

For You and You alone
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
For the world You love
Your will be done, let Your will be done in me

In Your presence, in Your power
Awakening
For this moment, for this hour
Awakening

I believe now more than ever that this generation needs an AWAKENING of the Holy Spirit. There is so much JUNK in the world, and it makes being "young" hard work if you are not established in your walk with Jesus. Everywhere you turn, from movies to music, to school and the internet, there are so many temptations. We need the Youth of today to make a stand, to say “We will not compromise our Christianity for anything or anybody”.

Your goal in life should be to KNOW the Lord, above everything and anyone else. Ask the Lord to “awaken” in you the desire to do this. Get yourself stirred up and on fire for the Lord. In order to do this you need open up those bibles and READ, READ, READ!  It has to be a daily thing. You have to be the one to make the decision and just do it. It might mean that you have to skip hanging with your friends, texting, or wait, here it comes…. FACEBOOKING! Ouch, I said it. Some people might say, “but reading the bible is soooooo BORING”. I can promise you that if you ask the Holy Spirit to give you a revelation (an understanding) of what you are reading, then He will. You will actually feel your soul being awakend. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world.

I love how Colossians 3:16 talks about letting the Word of Christ dwell in you, to influence you. You need to read what Jesus says about you so it comes ALIVE inside of you. The Word is life to you, and the bible even talks about it being medicine to your body. I don’t know about you but I would rather take a dose of bible then cough medicine ANY day!!! J

My prayer is that this generation of young people will experience the greatest “Spiritual Awakening” this world has ever seen. That it breaks out in your schools, in your homes and your families. That your cry will be Oh God, Awake My Soul!!!!!!!

BE BLESSED!

-Jessica