Changing it up and getting ready...

Hey all (4 of you haha)!

So, as you can see I'm changing up the blog's looks a bit. I'm gearing it more towards my soon-to-be time in Sudan. (yeaaaah!!!)

Stay tuned. There will (hopefully) be more posts soon!!

Love.

Jess

..and again.

Time stopped for me today. Rather, the Lord stopped me in the midst of time continuing.

I have been unpacking the last bit of things today since moving into the new home 2 weeks ago and trying to find a place for everything to go. I finally got to the place where I was going to organize my desk and ALL of the things that are related to office/desk stuff. Since I don't have a work office anymore I have what seems like a never ending amount of stuff between what I already had at home and what I brought home from work!! (On a side note, I was so very happy to find a place to hang my diplomas in the house. :) I think it would have depressed me to have had to put them in the attic or storage)

Anyways, so I was moving stuff around and walked to one side of my room and then turned around and just stopped and looked down on the mess and was flooded with life again. All in that instant I missed work and the people at work. I missed the organization of "doing work". I was looking at things that had it's place for almost 4 years at work and now I'm trying to find a new place for it in my home. My home that is new to me, also. Family stuff is going on and I was overcome by the emotions of that. Things are coming together with the plans of Africa in January and I was overcome with the goodness and faithfulness and sweetness of the Lord. All of that at once.

I just fell to my knees. I couldn't help it, I was there before I knew what was going on. That's where I found my self crying out the Lord. All I could say was His name...Jesus...oh, Jesus over and over again.

Familiarity is so deceiving. Every part of my earthly body cries out for it. While it is not bad in and of itself, it is when it is desired more than Christ Himself. What a sanctifying reminder.

In that moment I was reminded that in Christ I am ALWAYS home...in His Love and His Favor and His perfect, self sacrificing blanket of Peace. If I am where He wants me than there is no other place I want to be. Today, that was on my knees crying out to Him in the middle of my mess in my room.

As I opened my eyes and looked up this is what I saw:

Little miss Ruthie (ok, maybe not so little anymore) sprawled out and perfectly content in that same mess. What a simple and sweet reminder that it's all a matter of perspective. Maybe I should try to sprawl out and enjoy myself a litttttle bit more in the midst of what seems like a mess sometimes! :)

Jess

AMEN

I came across this today and it made every part of me respond with a resounding Amen.

http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/talking-to-your-tears

Love,

Jessica

Me VS Conference Table

So, as I’m sure you can imagine there have been (and I assume will continue to be) struggles in this journey the Lord has chosen for me here recently. Man, at times that is the understatement of the century.

I battle feelings (oh, do I battle feelings), and thoughts, and assumptions, and expectations, and other people’s feelings, thoughts, assumptions, and expectations (amazing how that is). Those are just a few broad things to name a few.

Today, my battle was with a conference table. Yes, you read correctly.

I know. I’m crazy, right? Let me explain. I am sitting at my desk typing some things up and my boss walks in and asks if I think the large conference table will fit in my office. So, I think for a minute and tell her my thoughts, etc., and she explains that she is thinking of making my office a conference room because it would be perfect since it could be private, etc.

So, to give you a mental picture: I am sitting at my desk; she and a co-worker are measuring my office with a tape measure and discussing whether or not the table and chairs will all fit in here.

(Disclaimer: What I am about to say has NOTHING to do with the people I mention, and EVERYTHING to do with what the Lord is teaching me.)

They left my office and I just started crying. I find myself in this position more frequently these days. I am crying and I have to purposely make the effort to ask my self, “Why am I crying? What is this really about?”

I felt invisible.
I felt disposable.
I felt insignificant.
I felt forgotten.
I felt like I didn’t belong.

I know for a fact that the Truth is:

I have never been invisible to God.
[“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.” Psalm 139: 13-15]

I am precious and of use for His glory.
[“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10]

I am chosen.
[“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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30]

I am written on the palms of His hands.
[“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:16]

Now, in that moment, that is how I felt. I know my Almighty Father tells me different. Actually, He tells me quite the opposite as you can see. Isn’t it amazing how that can be? If I were to be completely honest, it aggravates me so much. I HATE how non-truths can slip into my life and the lives of others. God has really been speaking to me about that here recently. I have to purposely live a life of Truth and NOT a life believing lies—I have to be ACTIVE in not only seeking Truth which will then help in KNOWING when something is a non-truth. The enemy would have loved for me to buy into each and every one of those lies up there.

I refuse. I refuse. I REFUSE!

I digress. Okay, back to my point. As time closes in and I have less and less time (a week and a half) left here at work I can’t help but be faced with the reality that I have indeed willingly chosen to walk away from this place that I love, the people that I love, and all of the memories of the past almost 4 years. It was a lot easier to swallow that a month ago. Right now, I would be lying if I told you I don’t tear up or actually cry when I think about it.

This is hard, y’all. This is really hard. (Not less worth it, or exciting, or beautiful, but still hard)

All of this is why I had a hard time with the conference table. It brought with it the harsh reality that this season is soon to be over. What a bitter sweet reminder. I love this office. It is decorated in a way that represents me. I have my African theme going on with fabrics and pictures. I have Joshua 1:9 on the wall. I see my diplomas and am reminded of all the work that went into receiving those 2 sheets of paper. I see the wall of pictures of all my babies I’ve seen adopted and their proud parents. This office has been my safe haven in the midst of what felt like utter chaos the past few months. I remember telling myself that even if things were difficult and frustrating, I would at least know I could sit in my chair, look around in my office, and know that this physical bit of space was where God wanted me because He told me so.

It puts a smile to my face to think that here in a few months I will have a different type of space where God wants me. Oh, it will be Africa themed alright! Haha. :)

Who knew a conference table could have such an impact?

He will Lead the Way

I find myself wanting to be able to express and share with others just how awesome my time in adoption was. Each time I drastically fail at putting it into words because I truly believe living it was so much greater than words could explain. I will let some one else's words speak for themselves this time...

After sending out an email to the adoptive couples I have worked with informing them about all of the change and where God is leading me I received this one in response(I have been given permission to share):

Jessica,

I have been keeping up with your journey through your
Facebook (and your blog). It is amazing to see what God has done through
your life and the road he is leading you down. You will be forever in our
hearts. You were the one who called us to give us the news we were chosen
to be the parents of our children, you were there the day we met them, and the
day we signed the paperwork to make them ours "officially" even though they had
been ours in our hearts for a long time. You always told us God would lead
us to our children and He did, and I cannot imagine being a Mom to anyone else
other then the three God gave me. I know in the very beginning we had some
doubts, but you told us to pray about it and we did, we listened to God and
immediately after we put our full trust in Him he spoke to us loudly that these
were our children. You were there every step of the way in the
beginning to support us and we are so grateful for you!!!!

You will be in our prayers as you set out to Uganda and I know you will touch so many lives there, and show them all God's light because He definitely shines through you!!!!!

Take care!

Do I have to tell you how humbling this is? Not only did this family adopt, but they adopted 3 beautiful siblings!! What an example of submitting to the Lord and persevering through the doubts, fears, and tough times. Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be a part of this family's life and sweet journey. Look at these beautiful children!! :)

Changed.

So, Monday begins the last full month I will be employed by the Texas Baptist Home. That hit me today as I was walking from my building to the next to get some more printer ink. That’s been happening a lot lately. I’ll be doing my “every day things” and Bam.—I’m hit with a dose of reality. I know it’s all a part of the Lord preparing my heart for what He has next, and I find it comforting, but it’s made me oh, so nostalgic. Goodness, Lord knows I don’t ever need help being nostalgic; it comes quite natural to me. :)

Not that these past 3 year and 8 months will ever, EVER be able to be whittled down to simple numbers, but I figured something out today:

When they day comes (Sept. 3rd) for me to move on from TBH to uncharted waters, I will have had the enormous, overwhelmingly beautiful, eye opening privilege to have personally been a part of (if I counted correctly) 56 children being adopted. I will have personally served alongside 38 adoptive couples who had their lives radically transformed by the gift of adoption. This doesn’t include the couples that are still waiting to adopt that I worked with or those that decided adoption through TBH wasn’t for them, or those that adopted prior to me stepping into the adoption case manager position that I was able to work with in a number of different ways, or even those couples that decided that strictly fostering was where they were called.

I can't help but become extremely emotional just typing that out because I am sitting here and see all of the faces, hear all of the conversations, and feel the pangs of fear and grief and sacrifice and joy and elation and provision that come with adoption. (Is this the time to point out and correlate all of this to the life of my Lord Jesus Christ and what He accomplished on the Cross?? Good. Thought so.) My mind is just flooded and I pray I don’t ever lose any of what I just mentioned. It is all so woven into who I have become, that I honestly don’t see how it could leave me. Thank you, Jesus.

You know what? I don’t get it. I just don’t get why I would be allowed to experience and be a part of something so wonderful and sanctifying and challenging and wholeheartedly life changing. I am changed. I will never be the same because of the past 3 plus years. I don’t know that I’ll ever fully understand the Lord’s grace in allowing me to serve here at TBH and work with all of the people I have, but I do know that whatever the reason, I am grateful. Words will never do justice to how eternally grateful I am.

My soul has been moved. Adoption is so much more than the means of receiving a child. I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve expressed that to people—both those that want to adopt and those that say they have no desire whatsoever. It is one way the Lord has allowed me to see His Gospel lived out today. It is of God, created by God, and God glorifying. I think i'll go ahead and save all of this for another post.

So, my heart is heavy today. It is heavy with all of the wonderful memories of the lives and Love I have been a part of the past 3 years and 8 months.

Thank you, Father for this eternal gift.

...but the Lord determines his steps.

So, I'm sitting here in my wonderful hammock in my back yard, the sun went down about 30 minutes ago and I'm positioned just right to where I can see the bright (full?) moon perfectly through the trees as the clouds go back and forth from covering up it's night light. The crickets are going full force with their symphony and I've got 4 tikki torches lit around me in attempts to keep from getting eaten alive by the most annoying and gross blood suckers, also known as the mosquito. Truly, how beautiful is my life at this moment?

Okay, I wasn't going to mention it because it would ruin the beautiful image and atmosphere of what I'm doing and where I'm at right now, but I just have to share. I think there is something dead back here-here being my backyard. I've been trying SO hard to ignore it but I've been getting whiffs of something NASTY. It really is so gross and smells like the odor of something that should not be alive. Lord knows I'm not going to investigate since it's pitch black out here (other than my lovely tikki torch light) and I don't actually WANT to find something decomposing in my back yard. So, the gentle breeze comes my way and I try and hold my breath because Lord knows I'm too stubborn to let a rather disgusting smell run me away from my little backyard haven.

Now then, I should probably apologize. I just read through the past few posts and more than once I said 'to be continued', and yet I never did. My bad. Obviously, I get motivated to update this thing and it doesn't last very long. It's just so hard because I wait so long to update and I have a million and a half things I want to share and then I get overwhelmed and well, it goes down hill from there as you well know. We'll see how this one goes. :) There's some pretty significant things to update on...

Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

I find myself going back to this scripture again and again. It rings true today just as it did back in March (and always has). As I briefly mentioned in a previous post, I was offered a promotion back in March. If I'm going to be completely honest, I didn't want it. In stripping my thoughts, fears, and desires, why I didn't want it wasn't because I was too afraid of the added responsibility, feeling uncomfortable with the type of clients, etc., but because of what I knew I would be leaving. If you know me at all, you know that the Lord has given me a passion, love, and insight into adoption that made my job so much more than simply that. I loved being an adoption case manager. I loved my supervisor. I loved my adoption co-workers. I loved my adoptive couples. I loved my birth mothers. I loved my babies. The thought of willingly leaving all that I loved literally made my heart feel like it was breaking. I kept asking myself, "Could I really choose to walk away from something the Lord obviously placed in my life and that I feel so strongly about?"

Luke 22:42 " Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done."

Well, I did. It's amazing how quickly things can be put into perspective when looking at the life of Jesus. He willingly chose to walk this filthy, sin filled earth. He willingly chose to die on that cross for me. He willingly chose to suffer and leave all that He knew and Loved.

Philippians 2:8 "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!"

I wish I could tell you that it didn't take the Lord practically screaming at me at 11 p.m. the night before they needed to know if I was going to take it or pass it up. I had made a final decision. I was going to say, "Thank you, but no thank you." and leave it at that. Yeah, needless to say, that's not exactly what the Lord had in mind and as hard as it is at times, I chose to obey. Upon feeling the heavy burden placed upon me to step out in faith, a huge cry session ensued. I was grief stricken. I was mourning the loss of so many things that I had been a part of and loved for the past 3 and a half years. Oh, my heart was broken yet it was a peaceful brokenness knowing I was in Jesus' will.

Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

So, April began my half days in adoption and half days in Family Based Safety Services so I could be trained as the Director of Family Services before officially starting on May 1st. I prayed many things during this transition. I prayed that with time the joy would come. I prayed that I would glorify the Lord in the midst of my emotions being everywhere. I prayed that I would see at least a glimpse of His purpose in leading me in this direction and that the glimpse would be enough. I prayed the He alone would satisfy me, because I knew that during this time there wasn't anything else that could (or should!) I prayed that I could be an example of what obedience looks like even when it's hard--especially when it's hard.

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

This is a specific verse the Lord has given me for this season. He daily (OK, like 100 times a day) reminded me of this command. So, I did my best to be strong and courageous and fought not to be discouraged and fought for joy. Some days were better than others. I would be so worn out some weeks I just didn't even know what to do with myself and realized that it's one thing to fight for joy and it's another to allow Christ to fight for me.

Well, I was 2 weeks into my new position (mid May) and still learning my position, what to expect of my case managers position, getting use to being a director and all that comes with that, fighting for joy, and having bouts here and there of grief of my old position as I watched someone new walking in what use to be my shoes and my only case manager for this program turns in her 2 week notice. Amazingly enough, I had, had a dream of this exact thing happening, and knew instantaneously that the Lord had prepared my heart for a time such as this. It's as if everything in me wanted to freak out, but knew I had no reason to even consider it. I hadn't even fully learned what I was supposed to be doing yet much less a whole other position.

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

So, talks about beginning the hiring process began. Well, a little over a week later I headed to LA for the American Idol Finale with some friends (I was so blessed!). I got back and walked into my office and even before I could put my purse down my boss tells me she needs to talk to me. I was informed that the state had decided not to renew the contract for my program. Come August 31st, my program--the one I had just leaped out in faith to take--would be no longer. My response: Laughter.

Proverbs 31:25b "she can laugh at the days to come."

Of course, my boss looked at me like I was crazy . But, honestly there was nothing more appropriate to me other than to laugh. It was all so crazy. My employers are so amazingly gracious and informed me I would have a position still post Aug. 31, but figuring out exactly what that would be was in the works. Oh, and since the program was closing it would make no sense to hire a new case manager so I would now be the sole person running this program. Confession: THAT did not make me laugh. That made me want to run....to Africa.

Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Thus, began my opportunity to wait and trust in the Lord's timing and provision for my life next. Many ideas were tossed around back and forth as far as what exactly I would be doing once this program came to an end. I continued to pray, wait, and pray some more. I would go through a week of sheer joy and unwavering faith and then I'd hit a week where it was all I could do to make myself remember that the Lord had it all taken care of. It's amazing how the enemy pursues and attacks at the most insecure places in my life. It's ridiculous is what it is.

All during this time, I would say to people that I just wanted to pack up and head to Uganda. You see, I'm different than most in this area. Most say they just want to get out of dodge and head to the beach, or the mountains, or their lake house. Uganda is that for me. Part of my heart is there, so at times it makes more sense for me to be there than here. But, I knew each and every time that I said that it was because I just wanted to run away from what seemed to all be chaos to my comfort.

Well, during this whole process I noticed that I was beginning to feel separated from all that was around me. I started to not feel as much of a part of my job as I had been and I simply put it to the fact that I had been going through a ton. I was on overload quite honestly and there weren't many people that truly knew to what extent. A little over 2 weeks ago I felt the need to pray about it more seriously.

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Well, 2 weeks ago yesterday I had a conversation with the Lord that amazingly resembled the one I had back in March. It's amazing how I ask Him to speak to me and when He does I have to remind myself that I asked!! :) I immediately began to weep. I couldn't figure out why I was weeping and then it hit me. I was grieving yet again. This time, I was grieving the loss of every last one of my plans. I felt as if I was grieving the loss of my family, my friends, my church, my home group, etc. But why was I grieving that? I had all of that plus so much more! Well, it didn't take long for the Lord to reveal to me how He was leading. There had been a number of things that the Lord had opened my eyes to. Well, actually they were more of a burning bush than anything. Here's one example. I get a random message from a gal that I was in Grad School with that I talked to on facebook a few months ago for the first time in over a year. What does she say? "I think you should go to Uganda and do counseling." She then goes on to explain that I came to her mind, specifically in relation to doing counseling with former child soldiers in Uganda. Coincidence? Never. Did it almost make me fall out of my chair? Most definitely.

Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Without knowing still what exactly my option was going to be as far as a job position (possibly international adoption), I turned in my resignation at the Texas Baptist Home this past Thursday. My last day will be September 3rd. In the midst off all of this I have been also trying to work on my internship hours for my counseling licence. So, my hope is to be able to counsel full time and well as do foster care and adoptive home studies in efforts to have an income for a few months. Then, the first week of December I am going to Israel with a group from my church. This has been planned for a number of months now. Then, Lord willing, I am leaving for Uganda (or possibly Southern Sudan) for 3 months.

I do not know exactly when I'm leaving. I do not know what exactly I will be doing. I do not know exactly where I will be serving. I do not know exactly for how long I'll be gone.

2 Cor. 5:7 "We live by faith, not by sight."

I'm trusting and I'm doing my best to choose faith over fear because Lord knows that none of this makes any kind of sense to this world we live in. I find comfort in that. :)

1 Cor. 1:25 "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."

So, here goes this wonderfully crazy, whirlwind of a journey. My goal: reckless abandonment regardless of the cost.

1 Cor. 2:9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."

Love.

Jess

Yes, please

Where I'm at right now...

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2466_give_me_that_kind_of_courage/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DGBlog+%28DG+Blog%29

Here’s your fair warning: random rambling is about to happen….

Am I going through a quarter life crisis? Maybe. Okay, so I don’t really think I am, but I could see how maybe it could be perceived that way. I dye my hair (if you know me this is HUGE considering I’ve done it ONCE ever) on a Sunday and that following Friday I’m finding myself in a chair with a tattoo artist going to town on my foot. That’s right, I got a tattoo. Who would have ever guessed? Not me, that’s for sure. (and as I’ve found out this past week—no one else either!!) Just over a week later I still find myself looking down and thinking, “Man, I actually did it.” Ha. I LOVE it, too. I am SO glad I got it, and it has already been serving its purpose. Thank you, Lord.

So here goes a few confessions:
· Of the many, many things the Lord has taught me, revealed to me, and pressed up on me, I never stopped to think that wanting to adopt would be a relationship deal breaker. I don’t know why not, honestly. It makes sense, but just never occurred to me.
· I pray just about daily for a grace covered sinner, God fearing, Jesus loving, people serving, missions minded, Gospel proclaiming, prayer warrior type of husband.
· I have been so burdened for the companionship of a life ministry partner (see above) at times it’s just crazy.
· I constantly fight the battle of feeling lazy and irresponsible with my time regardless if I know it’s just not true.
· I drink milk out of the carton sometimes.
· I miss Uganda so bad sometimes it hurts.
· I love sleep a lot but would go without it (and often do) for the sake of a good conversation or fellowship.
· Sarcasm is not your friend when coming out of my mouth sometimes.

New Year in April, Part 2

With solid friends, co-workers, family, etc., I can’t help but to realize that sometimes I just simply need to be told like it is. I had a melt down not too long ago and didn’t want to allow myself to even stop to realize why. That’s where loving people come into the picture to point out the things going on in my life. Insert, my boss. Man, it’s hard to hear that, “You’ve been extremely short the past couple of weeks” or, “ Are you annoyed with me, did I do something wrong?”, or ,”Are you okay, you don’t look so good”. I didn’t want to hear any of it, but God was shouting it loud and clear to my heart. I had to stop, evaluate, and conclude. I had a lot on my plate—yet nothing to do with me per say. Let me catch you up on just a few of the things from the past few months:


· January
o I get a call at 2 in the morning that my sister’s apartment complex was on fire and she made it out with her dog, the clothes on her back, and her purse. That’s it. Her dog woke her up barking and that’s the only reason she woke up.
o I was involved in a very weird (or as a friend of mine reminded me, just unfamiliar) situation that looking back was a total blessing to me as a mere vessel.
o My older brother got in a pretty bad car wreck, as a result had tests done and an unrelated mass was found on his kidney
· February
o It was confirmed that my older brother had kidney cancer.
o My roommate began an extremely difficult process unexpectedly
· March
o Boy stuff--I’ll just leave it at that :)
o Finally approved to counsel as an LPC-Intern
o Really really really really really taxing situation with someone very close to me
o My oldest nephew, Grayson gave his life to Jesus!!
o My older brother has surgery to remove the cancerous mass and a ¼ of his kidney (couldn’t have gone better!)
o Offered a director’s position at work-told I had until end of may to decide and with circumstances changing, was told two weeks later told they needed to know by Monday if I was going to take the position (it was Thursday)
o great uncle dies
o Accepted director’s position
o March 30th—my dad and I had a conversation that led to me being made aware that he truly grasps the saving power and grace of Jesus in his life and what the looks like for him now in a relationship with Christ. (10 years of prayer and Jesus saw it pleasing to allow me to see this beauty)
o April 4th- It was a very special Easter -dad came to church with me!
· APRIL
o Transition with work…finishing up current job while training for the new position
· May 1st.
o HAPPY NEW YEAR! New position officially

So, as you can see there has been a lot. As before, this will have to be continued...

New Year in April, Part 1

It’s a bit overwhelming, looking at the blank screen knowing you have more to type than the page could hold, yet not exactly being able to put it all into words. I wonder and often conclude, that some things just aren’t meant to be written out. I do believe so.

However, right now is a time for typing.

I have found myself it this place many times before—wrapped up in the whirlwind of the life the Lord has given me. It takes effort, sometimes painstakingly so, to stop, sit, be. I’ve had to chew on this for a while and no doubt, will continue to.

I feel like a new year started this month. It’s my new year. I read something today and it talked about a spiritual awakening. It just sat with me. There’s something fresh coming and I think the Lord has been preparing me for quite a while now. Happy New Year to me!
Change—it’s a comin’. (Actually, it’s already come)Will it ever lose its scariness? I mean, it’s different for different people, but overall that 6 letter word just does something to me. It’s like I want to conquer it and never fight it again. Not in the, “I don’t want it to ever come my way again” sense, but the “I want to conquer the desire to run from it” sense. Maybe one day. I’m getting better (way better), by God’s grace alone.

This may seem off topic, but can I just say that I literally have the best friends in the world. I’m not exaggerating, either. God has made me abundantly clear on this. It was a year ago this Month (yet again, New Year—not so off topic) that I began going to a Bible Study that a friend of mine invited me to. I didn’t want to go that night. I really didn’t want to go. I remember being so tired and worn out and not expecting much, yet felt the need to make myself go, knowing how desperately I needed the fellowship with people my age. There are not words to express how genuinely glad I am that I dragged myself there. These people aren’t just my friends, they are my family. Truly. God has fed me in ways I didn’t know I needed and has allowed me to in return feed others. God’s blessing is on this group. I’ve never seen anything like it.

More to come...

Without the Gospel

What difference does the Gospel make in your life?

Here's a quote from John Calvin:

Without the gospel everything is useless and vain; without the gospel we are not Christians; without the gospel all riches is poverty, all wisdom folly before God; strength is weakness, and all the justice of man is under the condemnation of God. But by the knowledge of the gospel we are made children of God, brothers of Jesus Christ, fellow townsmen with the saints, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, heirs of God with Jesus Christ, by whom the poor are made rich, the weak strong, the fools wise, the sinner justified, the desolate comforted, the doubting sure, and slaves free. It is the power of God for the salvation of all those who believe.

It follows that every good thing we could think or desire is to be found in this same Jesus Christ alone. For, he was sold, to buy us back; captive, to deliver us; condemned, to absolve us; he was made a curse for our blessing, sin offering for our righteousness; marred that we may be made fair; he died for our life; so that by him fury is made gentle, wrath appeased, darkness turned into light, fear reassured, despisal despised, debt canceled, labor lightened, sadness made merry, misfortune made fortunate, difficulty easy, disorder ordered, division united, ignominy ennobled, rebellion subjected, intimidation intimidated, ambush uncovered, assaults assailed, force forced back, combat combated, war warred against, vengeance avenged, torment tormented, damnation damned, the abyss sunk into the abyss, hell transfixed, death dead, mortality made immortal. In short, mercy has swallowed up all misery, and goodness all misfortune.

For all these things which were to be the weapons of the devil in his battle against us, and the sting of death to pierce us, are turned for us into exercises which we can turn to our profit. If we are able to boast with the apostle, saying, O hell, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? it is because by the Spirit of Christ promised to the elect, we live no longer, but Christ lives in us; and we are by the same Spirit seated among those who are in heaven, so that for us the world is no more, even while our conversation [life] is in it; but we are content in all things, whether country, place, condition, clothing, meat, and all such things. And we are comforted in tribulation, joyful in sorrow, glorying under vituperation [verbal abuse], abounding in poverty, warmed in our nakedness, patient amongst evils, living in death.

This is what we should in short seek in the whole of Scripture: truly to know Jesus Christ, and the infinite riches that are comprised in him and are offered to us by him from God the Father.