Find Joy

Yesterday kinda sucked.


It was just one of those days where everything seemed to pile up. If you were around me, I sincerely apologize for my crabby attitude.

Anyway, I feel like lately God has been trying (emphasis on trying) to teach me to be joyful. I recently started a Book of Joy, daily writing down a short entry about one thing that brought me joy that day.

Yesterday it was especially hard to find something happy. But I found it anyway. It's so important to remember that just because you're having a bad day doesn't necessarily mean you have a bad life. Bad days come, but God still provides little escapes. This Book of Joy has been such a blessing in helping me remember to thank my Father for the joys he gives me.

I encourage you to record the things that make you happy.
Talk about them.
Focus on your joys instead of your complaints.

{Psalm 47:1}

Changes

Ever since I started this blog, my title has been "Beauty Unfading." The first post was written around the same idea: society and its whacked up view of beauty versus the Bible's view. But recently I've been thinking about how it doesn't really fit with the theme of my blog. "Beauty Unfading" really sounds girly if you think about it. And while I'm most definitely a girl, not all my posts are directed towards girls only. I made this blog with the intentions of simply sharing my life, my experiences, things I enjoy, things God is teaching me, and so on and so forth. So I decided to change the name to "Just Jessie", because that's what this is! Just the same messed-up-undeserving-yet-forgiven me.

I pray that God uses this little vessel to shine His radiant light.

Note: I kept the same URL for two reasons: 1-though I changed my title, I think "unfading beautiful" still fits, and 2-it wont be hard to find as opposed to some crazy new URL that no one can remember. You're welcome! ;)

Blessings!
xo

This Is Love

Some choose flowers,

Some a song to sing.

Others, a romantic note,

Or a promise with a ring.

But One chose thorns,

One chose nails,

One chose gashes

From a cat-o-nine-tails.

Dear ignorant heart,

Won't you ever see?

This is how my Savior

Chose to love me.

And this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. -1 John 4:10

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

-Romans 5:8

Jesus Wins

F E A R

It drives my inner being

Permeating my soul

It's aroma captivating

Pulling me closer

Voices screaming "Let it in"

The door opens

The fear drawing nearer

Setting foot inside

Then a Hand intercedes

"Be gone" It speaks

With the authority of thunder

And the intimacy of a whisper

It tells me


"Jesus wins."

He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you; 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's...'" -2 Chronicles 20:15

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. -John 16:33

Stretch

If you know me, you know that I love volleyball. It's my favorite sport to play and watch. 

Well, before this fall's season started, I made up my mind that this year was the year I was going to work my tail off to finally get my overhand serve down. I was going to practice and practice until I was good enough. I wanted to increase my skill level and be better than ever.

So I worked. Hard. But finally, I did it. I achieved what I set out to do. Getting there was hard. I was always sore, and tired. My body felt stretched because, well, it was! It wasn't used to all of the exercise. But because of the sweat and soreness, I became a better volleyball player. 

Now you're probably like "seriously? A post about volleyball? I hate sports!" but just hold on. I'm getting there. 

About a month after the volleyball season started, I was in my room reading my Bible. I always feel at peace when I read it, but this time I just felt kind of empty. 

My heart cried out, "God, I feel like I'm not getting anywhere in my relationship with You."  And I was right. Even though I had attended two incredible Christian camps that summer that gave me tools to grow in my walk with God, I wasn't growing. It bothered me for a few days. I just couldn't figure out why I wasn't where I wanted to be spiritually. Then, after volleyball practice, it occured to me. 

I wanted so badly to grow in my volleyball skills, so I set my mind on it and worked for it. Like I said, it hurt, it was hard, it stretched me physically. I could have given up (and wanted to frequently), but I didn't. And because I didn't, I obtained my goal.

I realized right then that to grow spiritually, I had to do the same thing. I would need to stretch myself, work hard, pour over the Word and study it earnestly if I ever wanted to grow. I can't just sit there and read a couple of verses that make me feel good inside and expect to instantly become this strong Christian. 

Just like I had to work hard to achieve my volleyball goals, I have to work hard to acheive my spiritual goals. 

So no more sitting there, wondering why I'm not growing and then not doing anything about it. 

It's time to stretch.  

[For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come -1 Timothy 4:8]

Trusting the Plan

This was a huge source of encouragement this morning.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

Romans 8:28 

Before you were born, God set out specific plans for your life. He knew that you would have passions and desires. He thoughtfully placed each one of them on your heart for a reason. Some things He knew just wouldn't work out. But that's okay, because the other plans He had in mind you wouldn't even be able to imagine. Plans that if revealed all at once would blow our tiny little minds. Plans that would frighten us, because we weren't prepared yet.

And that's just it. 

Each plan, each little detail in our personal novel requires just the right amount of strength and preparation. God knows that we're too weak to accomplish everything He has laid out for us all at once. That's why he gives us small bits here and there. He supplies the means to do the things He has laid out for us in this moment.

So don't get discouraged when it seems like nothing is going the way you expected.

There is a perfect plan that your Creator designed specifically for you to fulfill.

Trust Him, O child of God, for He cares for you.

"For I know the plans I have for you" says the Lord, "plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11 

50 Smiles

Ungratefulness and complaints seem to be etched in everything.

The waitress didn't bring the food fast enough,

The sermon went too long,

The AC in the car isn't working, 

The list goes on..

The fact is, we as humans can always find something to be griping about. And if anyone is most guilty of this, it's probably me. So I decided to make a list of things I'm thankful for. Everyone remembers the big things: shelter, food, family, etc. So here are 50 of the little things that I never want to take for granted. 

1. Clouds
2. Music
3. Fuzzy socks
4. Coffee 
5. The smell of books
6. Bobby pins [without them the world would be falling apart]
7. Paper to write on
8. Fingers [can you imagine life without them?!]
9. Radios 
10. Disney 
11. Baby kisses 
12. Stars
13. Pictures [what an awesome thing to have- preserved moments]
14. Bath and Body Works 
15. Old TV shows
16. Freckles
17. Fishing
18. Cute shoes
19. Laughter
20. Adorable old couples 
21. Dancing
22. Foggy mornings
23. Blueberries
24. Umbrellas 
25. Bracelets
26. Bonfires
27. Cookie batter
28. Makeup 
29. Swimming pools 
30. Yard sales
31. The smell of newspapers
32. Quilts
33. Long talks
34. Animals 
35. Hammocks [the windier the better] 
36. Laundry
37. Fresh cut grass
38. Swings [barefoot is the best way to go]
39. Turtles 
40. Electricity
41. Birthdays
42. Memory
43. Sports
44. Calculators [they're my bff]
45. Stuffed animals
46. Chocolate [that's a duh]
47. Card games
48. Dishes 
49. Singing 
50. Road trips 

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18