Made Me Glad

My MOST favorite praise and worship song is hands down, "Made Me Glad," performed by Hillsong.

No matter when this song comes on, I stop what I am doing, and belt out a tune worthy of a Grammy....I'm talking hands raised, mouth wide open, and eyes closed....lol!  I've caught other drivers looking from time to time, and I don't care how ridiculous I look....this song is my heart's cry!

For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. Psalm 92:4 (NIV)

Can't you just shout at the magnitude of this scripture?  Think of all the things you know that only God did, and only He brought you out of....are you shouting now?!

I'm reading a new devotional, God is Able,  by Priscilla Shirer.  Have you ever read any of her books?  I've read I believe all of them, and if I could dream up one of my favorite Saturdays, it would be Darlene Zschech leading praise and worship, Priscilla Shirer sharing the good news, and Beth Moore closing us out in the benediction...lol! 

The book is based off of Ephesians 3:20-21;
²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

I'm sure if you're anything like me, you've read this scripture hundreds of times, but you may not ever think about the magnitude of it all.  How the God of the universe, in all His power and might, can DO anything that we could even imagine.  Mind blowing isn't it?  I love how Priscilla says that it is human nature for us to toil and fret over a problem, even a tiny one, before we hand it over to the all powerful, all knowing Father.....anyway, I don't want to give away too much of the book, just know that it is a must read if you're dealing with an "it."  (The "it" is whatever worries you, bothers you, or whatever it is that you think God can't fix).

And in the off chance that you have not heard "Made Me Glad" in real life, or just want to hear it again, here's the video!  Enjoy!!!

~J

P.S.  I am finished with the script for the HC post, but the pics are acting up, so it's still not published...I'll get it up soon!

I'm coming HOME!

I'm so excited!  I can't wait to leave work today!!!  It's been so long since I've been to a BU Homecoming....2008 to be exact!  I'll have plenty of pics to share!  And stories!  And revelations from my drives...you know how God speaks to me when I'm traveling.

I dropped the little one (Coco) off this morning...I struggled with bringing her.  I don't want to be that far for two nights, but she LOVES her groomer, and literally took off out of my arms when they opened the door...lol!  I have a feeling she won't miss me at all..

Get ready Waco, I'm coming home!

Just Enough...

One day, I happened across this blog, and immediately fell in love with the writer's words.  I remember going all the way to the beginning of her blog, and reading each post, one by one.  The author's love for Christ was evident.  She epitomized the scripture, "delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." 

I remember reading her posts, which often times were prayers, and her thoughts straight to Jesus, and thinking would I ever be like that.  Would I ever be completely content with where I was, and you know, be delightful...lol?!  I remember asking myself that question, and I remember hearing an answer that at the time, I wasn't pepared to hear.  It was as if I had read that blog so that I could get a glimpse of where God wanted to take me, but you see...I didn't want to go.  I have alwasy struggled with releasing control, being totally dependent on Him, and just relishing in His glory...And so, I cooled my feet on the corner of Defiance Blvd., and I've Got a Better Plan Way and here I've been ever since...HA!

At the time, I felt that my walk was ok, that I didn't really need to be so engulfed with Him (I'm so embarrassed to type that), that I would move to the next level (whatever that is...) doing just enough.  I wanted God to take stock of my life, see that I went through the motions, be pleased with what He saw, and bless me indeed.  I'm just being honest here.  I wanted all of that, but I wasn't willing to pay the cost.

I distinctly remember hearing God tell me that He wanted it all, and I distinctly remember acting like I didn't hear it.....isn't that the CRAZIEST thing ever?!  I'm laughing at myself....silly J!

So, here I am...probably two years later, and God still wants what He wants!  He's not letting me off of the hook, and I am ridiculous for thinking I could get around it.  BUT, in my defense, as weak as it is, I am ready, and until you're ready, you're not!  LOL!

"You chose this "situation", you thought it was what I wanted child, but you chose this, now choose to return to me fully and I will retrain your every thought and action so that YOU LIVE IN FREEDOM!"

I'm sure you guys are much smarter for reading this...and if you're still with me, bless your heart!  Thanks for letting me share!

In other news, this weekend, I am headed to WACO for Baylor's Homecoming this weekend, and I am SO PUMPED!!!!  Like really, really, really, really excited!  I neeeeeeed to get away!  I need to spend some time with friends that I haven't seen in a really long time!  I'm even looking forward to the drive...lol!  I'll be sure to post pics since my last few posts have been so wordy! 

Have a great rest of the week!

J

P.S.  If you want to read the post that I'm referring to.... click here!  Caroline's story is beautiful....like only God can do!

Something is coming...

This has to be a record.  I am blogging in the same month and year as my previous post!  Alert the masses people, this is a miracle!

I wanted to blog about the crazy set of events that has happened within the last week or so of my life.  Last Sunday, I was visiting the BFF and her family, and I felt myself getting sick.  When sickness is about to descend upon me, I can just feel it.  I started to get really cold, and just felt bad.  But when I awoke Monday, it was horrible.  I sounded like a man, and my body physically ached.  I couldn't move.  I literally had to pray that I would have strength to get out of the bed.  It was horrible.  Chills, fever, night sweats, a horrible sore throat, THE worst.

Anyway, I ended up missing two days of work, and was literally EXCITED when I returned because that meant that I would be in the land of the living. 

Fast forward to the weekend.  I was getting my eyebrows arched, and even though I asked the lady NOT to put the mineral oil on my face to clean the wax off, (it breaks me out), she did it anyway.  She proceeded to massage my temples, which I hated, THEN, she massaged my tear ducts.  Every internal alarm was going off within me, and I told her NO!  Don't do that, you shouldn't touch people's eyes.

When I left the salon, I called my Mom and told her what happened.  She chuckled at my annoyance, because I immediately thought the worst, and just said maybe I shouldn't return. 

Well, that Sunday when I awoke early morning for a trip to the potty, I noticed that my eyes were glued shut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I immediately knew that I had pink eye.........in BOTH eyes!  I was so angry.  This woman had violated my personal space, and given me her nasty, funky, germs.  My spirit was/is so grieved.  Heck, it's still grieved.  Isn't that Rule 101, to never touch your eyes, or someone else's for that matter? 

So now, while nursing a horrible night cough, I also have double pink eye.  I seriously look like I've been crying for about a year, my eyes are so so red.  Did I mention how angry I am at this lady?  Woosah....pray for me in this area....for my flesh is ready to pounce.

I finally declared healing and wholeness over my body today.  I'm tired of being sick, not feeling myself, and having itchy eyes.  I'm ready to be back on top of life....whole, healthy!

Moving forward!  I can't go into details right now, because quite frankly, I don't know, but I can feel something on the horizon, and it makes me happy....you know why?!  Because I've been right here, in this place for far too long!  I'll keep you posted, but something is coming, and it's not another illness!

Blog Much?...

It's been a while since I have actually posted a blog post.  With Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, it almost feels cumbersome to whip out a blog post.  However, I must admit that there is something missing amongst the hashtags, flippant statuses, and quirky remarks social media can bring about.

Sometimes, you just need to blog it out.  I won't attempt to 'catch you up,' so to speak.  That would take a lifetime.  I feel as though so much has happened.  I left the classroom, followed my dream, learned more about myself in a year and a half that I thought humanly possible, fallen in love, experienced true heartache, I've been humbled, pruned, I've become an Aunt, landed a job opportunity that is proving to rock my world (seriously), gone back into the educational world (for a season), and as I type this today, I am writing from a place of true gratefulness.  My heart is so full.  I have such rich relationships with friends, and my family is blessed.  I am blessed.

More importantly, I've learned that God is still God.  He is so good, and no matter what kind of temper tantrum I throw, He's not rushing. 

I was talking to my best friend a couple of days ago, and we were talking about how people always say you get better with time.  You look better, feel better, (I've certainly become more health conscious), and you just settle into who YOU are.  I'm not trying to please anyone but God.  I live for an audience of ONE.

I'm entering a season of second-time things.  I don't know if this makes sense, but things that I used to love, that I may have put down for a while are catching my attention again.  Not to mention, I can't get enough of the Word.  Seriously, have you read the page book of Philemon?  I hadn't given it a second thought, but it will bless you....read it!

I hope that I make time to blog more.  It really is therapeutic.  I'm welcoming myself back.  Until next time....

Peace!

Hard...

I have not blogged in a very long time.  This has been a very hard year and a half.  I have learned some major lessons.  I want to put a big ole period on this season and turn the page!

Psalm 138:8

Have you ever had a scripture that was your scripture? You know what I mean?  It points directly to the situation you are dealing with.  It immediately quiets your fears, and stirs your heart.  It is God's little post-it note just for you...What about attending the church service and feeling like the pastor read your journal while preparing the message?  I must admit, I love when that happens.  It's like God knows the concerns of my heart, wants me to know that He hears me, and He cares about what I care about.

Psalm 138:8 has been that for me lately.

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, 

O Lord, endureth forever: 

forsake not the works of thine on hands.

When I start to panic because I feel that I am not where I should be, I quote Psalm 138:8, when I have despair because a situation looks totally unfixable, I quote Psalm 138:8.  And do you know what happens?  I instantly feel at peace, because I know that God's got it.

But I must tell you a secret.  I have been so wishy-washy with God's plans for my life lately.  I'm not proud of it, but it's the truth.  It seems like in the same minute, I can be so resolved, so hell bent (I'm not cussing..lol), on staying the course, and seeing this thing through to the end, and poof, just like that...I'm over it...full blown temper tantrum; kicking and screaming...I don't want to do it!

Yep!  Wish I were lying to you, but I'm not...here's the story...

A couple of months ago, I was approached by my church to work on a couple of projects; namely a Youth Discipleship Program, and a Purity Program.  Now, as I sat in this meeting, my hands wrote the notes to capture the moment, but my heart and thoughts were racing...I had a smile on my face, but on the inside all of the sirens were blaring!  (Gotta love the English teacher in me..lol)

I mean on one hand, I was super excited...and by the time I had made it to my car, I was totally unconvinced.

The original deadline to have a timeline and plan of action in place was October 10th...a couple of days before SPARK, and I'll just be honest, even though something came up and my deadline was extended; I wasn't ready to do it, because I didn't want to do it...even though I know I was supposed to do it.

And I know exactly why.  I know exactly the plan I want for my life, and this little excursion, isn't in my blueprint.  Now, some of you as you read this are rolling your eyes and judging me, because you know that I will not win this battle.  I may delay the blessings that await me, I may even travel off course, but I won't win.  I know this....trust me I know, but it doesn't make it any easier.

I'd much rather be married, having my own kids, and prepping my own babies with hearts for Jesus.  I mean really Jesus, when can we move on?!  I don't want to be that girl that turns into a grown woman (even though technically I am grown, but sometimes even I question it), and never gets married because she's so wrapped up in the Kingdom business.  Does that sound just as horrible as it reads?

But seriously peeps... God love David, and his heart for Jesus, his total life committment to the things of God, but I am NO DAVID!!!

And then those words creep in...'the Lord will perfect that which concerns me...'  Even though it's not my ideal perfection...even if we take a plane instead of the nice train ride I had planned...He will take care of it.  And that is good enough...even when I don't feel it all the way to the soles of my feet, it is good enough.  It is. Yes Lord...