Lately things have been so CRAZY , I have not been able to actually sit down and write a blog post in about 2 weeks … since I was on my fast . Between getting sick, catching up on crazy amount of school work, and going to work my schedule definitely got out of whack. This made me think of how life can literally have you so busy you hardly have time to BREATH. Let alone have quiet time with God.
Continue reading “too busy for God?”Fire Walkers
My devotion encouraged me so much today that I had to write something about it!
It focused on Daniel chapter 3 , the most radical story in the bible! Three young men stayed committed to serving God only , and for that were punished to the fiery furnace to burn. Yet God walked with them through the fire.
Let me share with you what I got from this, and 3 things to take away from this story;
Continue reading “Fire Walkers”Where do you find comfort?
Is your comfort in food, words, music, exercise, how many like you get on social media , or people ? I mean the list can go on and on …
The crazy thing about these “things” are most of them continue to fail us over and over. As Christians we are supposed to take all comfort in God. However, as time goes on, life happens, and situations occur what did we do in those situations? What gave us peace, reassurance, calmed the nerves , or encouraged our spirit.
For me I found my comfort in words, and sometimes people. Now looking back that is a SCARY thing. We all know people change, words fail , and inconsistency is a major factor. I was putting my comfort and trust in the WRONG pocket.
In my mind I imagine God waving his hands in front of me like
“JANA I AM HERE …. Come to me, find comfort in me , ill ease the pain, I’ll give you reassurance”.
Though I failed to realize this in the past , I am so glad he is teaching me that now. Lately, especially in these last two weeks I have been hearing God so clear. In my praying , mediating , reading , and even listing to messages he has confirmed that I need to cling to the understanding that through him all things are good. Even more in HIM there is always a YES, and he is my everlasting comforter in all my afflictions.
I was reading 2 Corinthians 1. The whole chapter jumped at me. Let’s look at some of these verses :
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
So not only is this comfort for us , its for others. God instructs us to share how he comforted us with others going through these same situations – always pointing them to the lord.
This next verse one was my favorite!
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so, through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
Ahh I just love that. This year I vowed to be a woman who says YES to God even when I do not understand it . In this verse , I gained my own perspective: when I say yes to God and walk in his obedience then he always says Yes to the promises he has for me.
Some might ask what if God never answers me or he says no to what I ask? How do I find comfort in that? I have been currently reading What happens when woman say yes to God, and I think Lysa Terkeurst described it the perfect way;
“ when he says no it is for my protection, provision , and its part of the process of growing me more like Christ”
That is not just for woman , it’s for everyone . Know that God wants you to trust him! I can be comforted knowing that.
I found pure joy writing this because in him there is consistency , his word is true and everlasting. I will never have to be confused or wonder if he is there – He always is.
Love YALL.
Healthy mind Healthy Life
With the new year taking place I believe it is important to talk and write about mental awareness. We can all paint a picture on social media that life is great, and everything is thriving. However, we all know social media paints a side reel of each other’s life not the full story. Thus, I can honestly say I found it surprising reading some of the new years post and a bunch of people said they were dealing with anxiety , depression , guilt , loneliness ,etc.
Continue reading “Healthy mind Healthy Life”His word, My obedience
Last Sunday my church started a corporate fast for 21 days. It is day 5 and I feel great to be honest. I must admit that first day my stomach, and mind were having war lol . Now I don’t even hunger for food , I just hunger for his word and presence.
Continue reading “His word, My obedience”Book Review : “If you Only knew”- what I now know
WOW , that was my first word as I closed and finished 218 pages of the book If You Only Knew – by Jamie Ivey.
The book shows the attempting pursuit of God through a series of heartbreaking, surprising , and understanding stories. Though my story is not exactly like Jamie’s, if I were to insert my sins/flaw , and story where hers is , I couldn’t help but to feel THIS IS ME. Even more I can’t help but to think how many more of us woman (even men) have some “if only you knew” stories.
I do not want to give any parts of the book away, because I urge everyone to grab a copy. However , something that really grabbed me in this book was her pure authenticity , and how she was open with the whole wide world. I know this wasn’t easy , and we might not ever share all of our stories with everyone , but something powerful I learned is that sharing with somebody opens up the door for Jesus to come in. when I read through all 10 chapters of her book it was as if something was lifted , and I didn’t feel so alone anymore in my walk and in my journey. This story unleashes how we become free, … Jesus is waiting on us . we don’t have to have shame or guilt , as she put “just remember , Jesus is better “.
Not only does she tell us her story , but she shows us how we become free , from whatever is keeping us bound.
“ shame over past sins that have already been forgiving is not from God. No matter how much you go to church , or read you Bible, or give away lots of money, you’re not improving Christ forgiveness for you”.
-Jamie Ivey – Chapter 9
THAT RIGHT THERE! I mean I am guilty of thinking Lord what else can I do or say to right my wrongs in my past , so you can actually forgive me. That thinking is common but its wrong because there is NOTHING we can do. Christ has already done it .
One of my favorite chapters of this book was Vulnerability Breeds Vulnerability , chapter 9 (Cough my BLOG name lol). After reading that chapter It was a reminder why I started by blog , because being vulnerable is not for me it’s for others too. Looking back on those moments in my life , I wish I knew it was okay to talk about my hurt , and the pain I was going through, I wish that knew I was free from guilt and shame. Now I know , and I want others to know.
“Thank God I’d been willing to be vulnerable. Something beautiful happens when were vulnerable”
Jamie Ivey- Chapter 9
Something beautiful , I can’t help but tear -up as I say those words because when I think where God has freed me in some of those areas I am overwhelmed by his presence and power. There are so many quotes and inserts I would love to give from this book , but instead I will let you all pick it up, and allow God to speak to you through every page!
Love yall ❤
Jana
New year? No resolutions
As I read through my journal of 2018 , I noticed it was a constant battle within myself , even with God. It was if I was FIGHTING to even find joy , and remain steadfast to him. I struggled with knowing who I was , and why I loved me. I felt out of place , and I took anything thrown at me because I didn’t know my own worth, and I didn’t understand that God really saw me.
Continue reading “New year? No resolutions”
The meaning of my 24th birthday..
This is my first blog writing as a 24-year-old . My birthday was Saturday , and people would ask me how I felt. Honestly, I was not sure , it was weird lol. I was grateful, but it was not till today that I really comprehended what turning 24 meant to me .
This past month I have been slowly studying the book of Job. As I finished today, I came across this verse
And I actually STOPPED and CONSIDERED all he has done for me for the past 24 years. I could think of the things I wish was going on in my life , but after reading about how God allowed the devil to take everything from job , I was humbled in my spirit. I am blessed, I am loved by the ones the matter, and as long as I am operating in Gods will , I am where I need to be in life.
I believe the culture we live in today continues to ideally tell us that our life is not ENOUGH , and to question why it is the way it is. Once I realized this , I started to invest in what Gods tells me , and less of what the world thinks. Ultimately God knows what he is doing yet we STILL doubt him , and question his ways.
So, I challenge my fellow readers to stop and consider Gods wonderful works that he has done in your life thus far!
Renewed
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Psalms 51:10-12
The process of being renewed happens as soon as you confess , and believe.That seems like the easiest part, but I think the hardest part in living in the renewed mindset , is the process. I honestly think I have asked for a renewal more than I can count , sometimes I wonder if I asked to many times. However, I learned that we will always need a constant renewal , and sometimes that means daily.
We tend ( by “we” I definitely mean I ) to ask God for a renewal of the heart , mind , and soul . I think we know or should know what we need to be renewed from, for me it definitely been centered around relationships , and negative thinking. Every day when I prayed I would as for a renewal but in a couple of hours , or weeks I would act , think , or say the very thing I am asking to be changed from . sounds like common sense right ? its like living in this world seems to test us .. the very thing we struggle with is yelling in our face I’m right here , and its so quick and required no process,right?
The thing is God never said the process would be easy , but he did tell us the prize on the other side is so much better. So how do we not stay on track ?
Well , we must know that we are bigger than the current state we are in ,because our God is BIG. second take responsibility , and runaway from the things that our destroying or distracting you from your process. Lastly, beat those feelings into captivity and bring them to him. I struggled with living a headless live separating how I feel from what I KNOW. And what I know is I am valuable , I am chosen, and God will never forsake his child. So, no more shortcuts! This spiritual renewal is the best journey you can embark on.
God Chased me?
Sometimes it is hard to believe that. Through all I have done, and even when I ran, he chased me down.?
That’s the thing I didn’t truly understand was God’s love for me. I mean we recite john 3:16 in our sleep “ For Gods so loved the world he gave his only begotten son … you know the rest lol ”. unfortunately, I didn’t really grasp what that meant for me individually.
Continue reading “God Chased me?”
Uncomfortably Vulnerable 