Forgiveness and Peace

Food for thought:

Both were part of my morning devotional and both found me right where I am.  Don't you love how God does that?  Finds you right where are:  all alone in something and then leads you right to where only He intends for you to find Him!  I love that!  It's humbling, yes, but it confirms all the more for me that I am not alone, that I am loved and that He is always with me in every single circumstance...even in my pain and fears.

Colossians 3:12-17 hits both of these:  Forgiveness and Peace.  How can you have peace without total forgiveness?  You can't according to the Bible.  You must clothe yourself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Wow!  Clothe yourself...to me that brings up an image of a wool blanket draped over my head like when I was playing hide and seek as a little girl. It covered every part of me so as not to be seen, no matter how much I was sweating under that blanket...I wouldn't move an inch until the game was over. Have I draped myself in tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience?  Nope.  I haven't draped myself in much of anything other than self-pity and bitterness lately, yet I've been wondering why noone is showing me any kindness in my circumstances.  Well, I've been too busy pointing out the ones that I think should be by my side and not considering the ones that have been glorious, God-sent friends!  Shame on me!  I have been loved through my pain by some patient and beautiful friends...I am so blessed and thankful.  You know who you are!

Humility is one lesson that I believe God is really great at teaching us.  Yes, our sins are forgiven as we confess them, but it still remains that consequences will follow.  Even loneliness I believe can be a result of an unforgiving spirit.  Yet, we aren't truly alone...we've just simply lost our focus.   Sometimes you have to experience hurt and anxious thoughts to get to that point where you lay it all out for God alone.  That place where you only have him to lean on and focus on.  Only then can you truly begin to forgive, love and be thankful for each blessing in your life.  Only then can you truly have peace.  It's only now that I am beginning to thank him for this time of humbling.  I consider this journey of jagged rocks and thorns a blessing and if this is what I have to go through to be closer to my God, then I say thank you Lord for never leaving me.

Be thankful in all your circumstances for God is in the midst of it all, always.

Love & Hugs,
JJ



The Great Outdoors

It's only mid-week and already, I'm needing the weekend to be here.  Good thing we are taking a family vacation starting tomorrow.  Taking the kiddos camping (a first for my husband) and then we'll finish up visiting with our families in Georgia.  I've been looking forward to this little trip for weeks now.  Just getting outdoors does something for me...especially this time of year.  It does something for all of us actually.  It's like resetting our clocks - getting our priorities straight.  Taking away all electronics on this trip too!  I know it'll seem like such a drag at first, especially to two tween boys, but I'm positive we all will end up enjoying talking versus texting!

As I mentioned, it's the hubs first time camping.  Can you believe that?  He's 40 years old and never been camping!  I'm excited just to see how he reacts to sleeping under the stars and cooking an entire meal over a fire.  He may start grunting!  He'll either hate it or love it, right?  I took my boys camping a few years ago and literally fell in love with the whole thing.  Setting up the tent, sleeping outside, hiking and cooking like cowboys...it was a blast!  And as much as I hate (read: terrified) of spiders, I actually didn't think much about the critters that might be crawling around on the tent or even on me.  Well, that is until I left the showers the next morning and noticed a huge black widow in the corner of my stall...yeah, I scared a few wild animals as I ran out screaming!  Whatever, I am a girl!! :o)  (note to self: take insect repellent)

I hope to take lots of pictures of our little adventure and I'll be sure to share a few here too.  My prayer for the rest of the week is just to re-set my focus on what blessings I do have in my life.  I have allowed my circumstances to rob me of joy and I have forgotten what is truly important to me.  I have so much to be thankful for.

Love & Hugs,

JJ

Giveaways!

Everybody loves free stuff, right?
Here's some of my favorite giveaways this week...

Lisa Leonard
Simple Mom - Project Simplify
Susan Heim on Parenting

Enjoy and good luck!

Beauty for Ashes...

 What a glorious, 80' Spring day today was!  I felt blessed that a dear friend asked to visit with me. Months can go by that we aren't able to set aside time in-person, but when we do, life has a way of catching up right where you left off.  I am blessed for friendships like this, most especially in this difficult season my family is going through.  Laughing felt good.  Someone that wouldn't allow me to dwell on the hard stuff, or replace her burdens on top of mine, but helped me look at all the good.  I felt like she was able to help me brush off some of the cobwebs today and it was the most precious thing I could have asked for.  The most important thing, I told her how much it meant to me that she was here today.  I'm trying not to take for granted the few in my life that simply want to encourage and appreciate me.

After her visit, several things seems less chaotic and more peaceful today.  I'm sure the weather had much to do with my overall spirit about things.  I had prayed last night, almost until the dawn this morning, for a peace like I haven't felt in a long time.  God sent it to me this afternoon.  Some of the changes we are facing don't seem so overwhelming tonight and for that I am so very thankful. 

I haven't heard this song in a long time, but as I sat down to write my entry, it came to mind.  The lyrics find me where I am today.  I hope as you read them, they find you right where you are as well.

Love & Hugs,

JJ

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs heavy over your head
Know that tomorrow brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear

Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When what you've done keeps you from moving on
When fear wants to make itself at home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear

Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound Ive been set free
Ive been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear

Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

God is preparing the way

Today has been a buzz of activity in our household.  Many changes are coming down our path...some we really would rather not encounter because change of this size is never easy.  Sounds ominous, right?  Change is never easy, simple and true.  However, change is always inevitable in life.  I wish I did not have to embrace that statement.  It would be much more comfortable to just be content with where I am -  watch my boys grown into wonderful young men, enjoy my marriage and take care of my home and all the things that come with everyday life...church, grocery shopping, lunch with friends, vacations.  You get the idea.  Life just doesn't hand anyone that pretty bouquet of flowers though!  At least not if they are being real and they are growing in their walk with Christ. 

I'm 40 years old and each year of my life has brought about many changes.  This year will be no different.  I will embrace a new area of my career, I will once again pack up my 20+ years of accumulated items and move my family into another home and I will find a new way to love people, forgive and let go of hurts that Satan would rather I hold onto.

The Bible would call this growing in my faith.  Yes, tests are going to come and I have had my share of them - I realize this.  Looking back, I honestly can say that I would not have had it any other way -- on most everything I have experienced - to get to where I am now.  Just a few seasons I really would have rather skipped over, but most everything...I'm certain it took that amount of painful growing/seasoning me to handle what God would have in store for my today.

For the last couple of years I have found myself asking God to please stop sending me these seasons and trials...please stop these painful emotional struggles, stop the tears and just let me enjoy what I have been given.  However, God is choosing to allow this season and it may take a while for me to fully understand why...if ever.  My prayer today is that I will be grateful for the potter not removing his hands.  I want to be thankful that He is never done with me.  That each day He can shape me into what He alone intends for me, that is a blessing!  Nothing is harder to accept.  By His Grace alone am I given another chance.  I may have to endure hardships to fully be restored.  This is my prayer today.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

 Love & Hugs,

JJ

Back to the basics

After about a 2 year hiatus, I'm back to blogging...not sure how long I'll stay, but for now, it feels right.  Facebook made me a tad too insecure and just a little too narcissistic for my own good!  I'll probably get back to FB at some point because it's a wonderful way to  keep up with my school mates and family in GA and others that I do not have the opportunity to see in person that often.  I have missed the days of putting my thoughts into a journal and since I type faster and there's spellcheck here, well, it's where I've landed for now.

I heard a song on the radio tonight in my truck on the way home by Point of Grace.  I had to pull over for weeping so hard I couldn't see to drive.  Boy, I've missed hearing them on the radio!  Anyway, it was called "Nothing is Greater Than Grace".  Wow!  That hit home for me in so many ways...especially on the journey I am currently on.  Thus, my blog title.  Even though nothing may be greater than grace, I am better by grace!!  Amen?!!  I thought I would post the lyrics because it finds me right where I am today.  Maybe it will find you right where you are too.

Love & Hugs,
JJ

What do you say to someone who feels like they've lost it all
over the edge with no one there to break their fall
and what do you say to someone who feels so unloved
giving themselves away a little bit everyday just to be good enough
and what do you say to a hopeless soul who can't remember their way home
and everything is out of their control

CHORUS
There is no valley, there is no darkness
there is no sorrow greater than the grace of Jesus.
There is no moment, there is no distance,
there is no heartbreak He can't see you through.
So before you think that you're too lost to save,
Remember there is nothing greater than grace.

What do you say to someone whose life is on the line
and their unsure what happens after their last breath in time
what do you say to someone whose built a wall you can't break through

and it's so hard for them to hear the truth

So don't lose hope, don't let go
don't give up, you are not alone

There is no valley, there is no darkness
there is no sorrow greater than the grace of Jesus.
There is no moment, there is no distance
there is no heartbreak He can't see you through.
So before you think that you're too lost to save
so before you think that you're too lost to save
Remember there is nothing greater than grace