70 x 7

Forgive: 

transitive verb

1

a :  to give up resentment of or claim to requital for<forgive an insult>

b :  to grant relief from payment of <forgive a debt>

2

:  to cease to feel resentment against (an offender) : pardon <forgive one's enemies>

Wow.

I can honestly say that I've never read the actual definition of 'forgive'. To all of those people that I've "forgiven", I've never once thought "I am no longer holding a grudge." If I were more honest, I would really be saying "I'm a Christian and this is what Christians are supposed to do." And because of that I feel so selfish.

When Christ says "forgive others as I have forgiven you," he uses the word  in the most literal way. He wipes away all resentment and forgets about it. 

The slate is clean. We're given a new beginning. A second chance. 

Is that what we do to the people that hurt us? I know I certainly don't. Most of the time it's a quick "I forgive you" proceeded by my venting to another friend the next day about how I had been hurt. 

The truth is, that is so wrong. It's sick. When I forgive someone, it needs to be from the heart. 

A clean slate. A new beginning. A second chance. 

And to anyone who I have verbally "forgiven" and still feels resentment from me, I want to honestly, wholeheartedly apologize to you and forgive you. I want to forgive you the way my Lord Jesus has forgiven me. 

Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. -Matthew 18:21, 22

xo

Monday Morning Lessons from Jesus

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with on another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

- Romans 12:9-18


This is another thing that God has been trying to teach me. Even on yucky Monday mornings love is possible.

Love is messy.
Love isn't always fun.
Do it anyway.

Lets make an effort to sincerely love without boundaries, just like Christ loves us.


xo

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]