Cleansed from all sin, walking in the light

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10

Not one of us is innocent. We all are sinners. And, we must confess our sins to God. Repent. Then, we are cleansed and we find freedom. 

Jen

Tags: 1 John, Christianity, Confession, Faith, Freedom, god, Jesus Christ, Religion. Truth, Sin

Beautiful plan, beautiful place

As bad as it was, as bad as it hurt
I thank God I didn’t get what I thought that I deserved

- Carrie Underwood, “Good in Goodbye”

I am in a beautiful place.

It’s not a place that I ever imagined myself in. Actually, it’s kind of the opposite of what I thought I wanted. What I thought I deserved. What I thought would make me happy.

Happiness of this world will fade away. Joy in Christ remains.

God has given me pure joy in a season of trial. He has brought me from a place of destruction to a place of utter beauty. Because I delight in him and trust in him, and I want nothing to do with self.

And to be honest, if never getting my way means I stay in this beautiful place, then I say, “Yes, please.”

He has a beautiful plan. He is so faithful.

Jen

Tags: beauty, Car, Christianity, Faith, Trials

Unstained from the world (a James 1-from-memory victory)

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. {James 1:26-27}

Jen

Tags: bible memory, Christianity, Faith, god, James, James 1:26-27, Jesus Christ, religion

James 1:12-25 (from memory)

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God.” For God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin. And sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Know this, my brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Jen

Tags: bible memory, Christianity, Faith, god, James, James 1:12-25, Jesus Christ, Trials

Whatever is TRUE

Have you ever had a bad dream? One that wakes you up in the middle of the night and disrupts your peace? Maybe it was a nightmare, or maybe it was something from your past that creeped into your dream world and awoke you abruptly after it finished.

When I have dreams such as these, I find it difficult to start the day off on the right foot. Often I find myself trying to figure out why I had the dream. Did it result from a thought or worry I had the previous day? Was it because of something I overheard that my subconscious picked up? Long story short, I begin to evaluate the dream and my mind can wander off into a somewhat depressing place.

And I can’t stand it. Thankfully, I have learned that when a bad dream leaves me feeling down, I must remember that it shouldn’t control or direct my thought life for the rest of the day. It should have no power over me.

Why is that?

It’s because Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. A bad dream does not fall under any of those categories. In fact, it’s the opposite of “true.” Dreams are not real. I encourage you not to spend your entire day dwelling on something that is not a part of reality. Instead, remember what is real: God is good, Jesus died for my sins, He rescued me, He is with me and He loves me. Those are all things that are true. And honorable, pure, lovely, commendable, etc…

I just have to leave you with a cool little story. Last week, I woke up in the morning from a rough dream. Shortly after I awoke, I read the following tweet by Christian recording artist Dara MacLean:

“Had a dream about the past & realized its because the enemy is scared of my future. Today u have everything u need through him 2 succeed.”

Girl knows what she is talkin’ about. And God knew I needed that! I instantly began to see my dream as an opportunity to trust God instead of a reason to doubt myself and my situation in life. I’m not going to let the enemy become a stumbling block to my growth and maturity in Christ. Are you?

Jen

Tags: Christianity, Dreams, Faith, god, Jesus Christ, Nightmares, philippians 4:8, Reality, religion, whatever is true

Yes means yes, no means no

Anyone out there remember the song “Follow Through” by Gavin DeGraw? I always have and always will love that song. And even though it’s not a Christian song, it has a great message. The chorus includes the following phrase:

You have to follow through with every word you say.

I was reminded of this song recently in a session of Beth Moore’s James: Mercy Triumphs study when she mentioned James 5:12:

Above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

This was a major challenge to me because, just like anyone reading this probably has, I have experienced broken promises in my lifetime. I’ve had people tell me “I promise to never _____,” and then they go and do that very thing. Even I have made statements such as, “I promise I will ____,” and then I go away and forget to do that very thing.

You see, we really shouldn’t have to use the word “promise” at all (James is telling us not to!). When I say, “I will do this,” I should just do it. I should be a woman of my word. I want to be someone people can trust and have faith in.

It’s challenging. It’s biblical. It’s hard work. But I’m going to try harder. Anyone with me?

Jen

Tags: Beth Moore, Christianity, Faith, Follow Through, Gavin DeGraw, god, James, Mercy Triumphs, religion

A victor, not a victim

Today I was talking with a dear friend about how, no matter what we’re going through, we are not to view ourselves as victims. She said to me something along the lines of, “We are not victims. We are victors because of Christ. It is about him, not about our suffering.”

Yes!

And, after our conversation, I began to wonder and almost worry: Have I conveyed that completely in each blog I post about difficult times and the things I’m going through?

Just incase…let me be clear:

I am not a victim. I am a VICTOR. And only through Christ and what he did for me on the Cross.

Life’s gonna knock me down.
It’s not gonna keep me down.
I’m gonna trust You now, in every season.
I know You’re here.
I know You’re for me.
I know that joy comes in the morning.
God, I believe it now.
God, I believe You now.

{Britt Nicole – Who You Say You Are}

Jen

Tags: Britt Nicole, Christianity, Faith, god, Jesus Christ, Joy, religion, Trials, Victim, Victor, Who You Say You Are