Ropes and a Thief

Isn't it cool how the Lord can take a simple analogy and speak volumes?

Yesterday at church, the pastor taught from Judges and spoke on Samson. The people bound Samson with 2 NEW ropes in order to overtake him. They knew that he had strength and that it wouldn't give them an upper hand if the ropes were old; or if it was only 1. They knew the ropes had to be new and there had to be more than one of them.

So I'm reading this morning and the Lord puts Matthew 12:29 in my path.
"Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house."
I thought, alright what is the Lord wanting me to see here... then it hit me. How many times has satan tied me up and stole from me? Stole my joy, my peace, etc.

Satan knows the strength the Lord gives His children... he knows that he cannot overtake the Lord... he knows our weaknesses.
It's the little things that entangle us. He doesn't hogtie us up in order to overtake us. It's a little at a time. He takes the ropes... the new ropes... and wraps us up little by little.

We have to be aware of his lies, his schemes, his craftiness.

However, take heart. The Lord has overcome!!!!! Because of Christ, we are able to have that relationship with Him. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" ~ Romans 5:1

So the simply thought/word for the day.... Don't let satan steal anything from you!!!!
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" ~ Romans 8:31-35

Happiness is......

"Bless the Lord, o my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life fro the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle." ~ Psalm 103: 1-5

My friend Bryan and I were talking the other night about jobs, relationships, life, etc. We've been friends since high school and so we've seen each other's lives change over the years. He jokingly gave me this "homework assignment" since he's back in the school mode, but I decided to turn it into a post. He asked me to define happiness on my terms. It's funny, because I think my ideas of happiness are so different than a lot of the world's ideas of happiness. Plus, I'm not sure I answered his question in the way he wanted, but we'll see. So these are my definitions.

Happiness is:

* being submitted to the Lord knowing that He is able to use you fully because you aren't in His way.
* not having everything that you want or that the world tells you to have, but knowing that you have everything you'll ever need.
* knowing that the person you have promised to share the rest of your life with loves the Lord above you because that's the only way he can learn how to love you as his spouse.
* resting in the fact that the same person you have promised yourself to is human just as you are.
* being told that the little things you did made huge impacts on a person's life... even when most of the time you didn't realize you did such things.
* having dreams that you believe the Lord will fulfill one day that involves many children.
* having friends who don't leave when you screw up royally... even daily.
* loving on students and children who may never have someone hug them at home.
* being asked to and being able to pray for and over someone.

These are just a few thoughts... but it makes me stop and think about where I find my happiness.

What is happiness to you?

writer's block

I don't know what to write about. There is so much I could start on, but to put pen to paper and actually write is a little intimidating right now.

hopefully more later...

How well do you know me?

It's sinking in for me that I'm 25 years old. I'll turn 26 in June and to me that seems like a big deal. So I started thinking.... what's something fun about being 25? I decided it's time to get to know me a little better. Therefore, I present to you

25 Things You May Not Know About Me

1. I have 3 common nicknames... i think there are only 3... my family calls me "dar-dar", my close friends call me Jess and only 2-3 others call me Skeeter. We don't honestly know where the 3rd came from, but those who call me that are the only ones with the permission to use that name. :)

2. I have a dream of traveling to a foreign country and leading a group of believers in worship through song in some remote location. Just us, a guitar and the Lord with His creation.

3. I am not a morning person at all. Most of the time I don't think my brain can form words much less sentences until I've been up for at least 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

4. I loved high school. I wasn't popular or anything, but I just loved high school. I loved the events, the groups I was a part of, the random trips to the Chinese restaurant in town with friends after early senior release, the fact that my senior class started a lot of the "traditions" that are still going on today.

5. At this time in my life, the idea of having a mortgage payment scares me to death. Probably why i'm such a big fan of renting right now.

6. When I surrendered to the ministry in high school, I "bargained" with the Lord that I would greatly serve Him in ministry as long as He never called me to work on staff at a church.... the first job I had out of college (first big girl job) was working as the youth pastor at a church. Don't bargain with the Lord. :)

7. I'm not a girly girl, but I do hope the man the Lord has for me is a MAN and not a little boy. catch my drift?

8. I take things to heart a lot when I shouldn't.

9. I bottle up emotions whether they are anger, happiness, sadness, etc.

10. I love vintage prints and colors.

11. I have a big pet peeve when people call me "baby, sweetheart or honey". It's alright if you're my family or if we're in a relationship, but if you don't fit into that category then call me by my name. There are only a handful of people who I brush it off when they refer to me by one of those names and those individuals aren't family.

12. I love to travel.

13. I hate to unpack my suitcase.

14. I doodle when I study or take notes on subjects. You should have seen my notebooks in college and high school.

15. I want to adopt one day.

16. I want to have a house full of children. However, I don't want to have a big house.

17. In the last year, I have learned a lot about myself and who I am in the Lord.

18. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

19. That last statement/thought sometimes makes me feel inadequate and like I've failed.

20. I love black and white photography.

21. I like to make things.

22. I like to cook for people. Not for myself, but for others to enjoy.

23. I love Christmas year round!!

24. I can't be in a room when onions are cut up or cooked in a pan. I have a reaction. However, I can eat them.

25. I am a people watcher. With that being said, I am a very good reader of people. I believe that one of my spiritual gifts is discernment.

that's all. :)

10 in 2010

The Top 10 Things I learned in 2010 from working at the Mission:


1. Toothbrush holders are more valuable than gold.

2. Bookbags/cloth bags are more valuable than toothbrush holders.

3. Men gossip just as much as women.

4. The more you have to call 911, the less anxious you get while doing it.

5. Firemen are really nice.

6. The saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover” is the most profound statement you can ever hold onto.

7. When you’re the only unmarried female on staff, the men on staff tend to adopt you as a little sister or daughter…. Lord, please prepare and be with the man who decides to accept the challenge of marriage with me.

8. Just because someone claims they are from a church, don’t automatically assume they will portray the attitude and characteristics of Jesus.

9. There really is no traffic when you drive to work at 4am on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Of course, there is nothing on the radio at that time either.

10. A simple smile and look in the eyes can change a person’s whole day.

Yummy Treats and Cool Weather

Recognition night was last night at work. Such a wonderful time to hear the Word, worship in song and fellowship with our men who will be moving on to the next phrase in their recovery program.

My mom and I baked and decorated treats the night before for the reception we host after the service. Below are some pictures of the treats we had. I made creepy crawly bugs, pumpkins, spiders and ghosts. Had to go along with the fall/halloween theme this month.

I apologize for the poor picture quality. Our conference room lighting is horrible. at least the treats were good though.

I was informed to make a turkey cake for the month of November's recognition night. hmmm.... got to figure out how to do that one. Christmas cookies were last year for the month of December. I've already purchased a special "surprise" for my office for employees during the month of December. I'm really excited!!! :)

Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week. I'm excited for Friday to be here... cold front is moving through. High of 72!!! Woo-Hoo!!!

It's here!!!!

Fall is officially here I do believe!!! Fall flowers, pumpkins, crunchy leaves on the ground, crisp morning and evening air, cool breezes.... o i could just scream!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year. I get excited about it more and more each year. I've already walked down the aisles of Hobby Lobby grinning from ear to ear as I looked at all the Christmas decorations.

It will be here before we know it.... Hooray!!! I do believe I need to warm up my "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" DVD so come middle of October I can watch it. :)