Jessica's Journey: October 2007

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Life's contrasting colors...

Sunday night I attended a beautiful wedding shower and Monday I attended a funeral. What a contrast! Life begining and life ending. The funeral I attended, with my family, was for my Mamaw. She and her husband were close friends of the family from when my brothers and I were really little so we adopted them as our Mamaw and Papaw. She and her husband were instrumental in my parent's becoming Christians so our family owes so much to them! They would come over to our house when my brothers and I were little and bring us song books and Christian books. In fact, when my youngest brother was born Mamaw was in the delivery room (ben is 18 now)! This past year her health had been declining rapidly. Even though it's so hard knowing that she is gone it is good to know that she is sleeping peacefully, waiting for the Lord to wake her up. It's hard knowing that she isn't there anymore, she won't be there when my brothers and I get married, or to hold her great grandchildren and she would have loved it all. She loved life and her friends and family. She never had any biological children of her own but she was every one's Mother.
This year so much has happened. I've never had a year so full of all kinds of things happening in my life. To be honest too much has happened this year but through it all God has been there. In fact I'm going to be honest with all that has happened. Earlier in the year we had to put our family dog to sleep. We had her for 16-17 years. She and Ben were babies together! Then a few months later a serious relationship I had been involved in suddenly dissolved right from under my feet with no prior notice in just one day, then not too long after that I attended the funeral of my 30 year old handsome cousin Jeremy who was killed in a motor bike accident, my grandpa has been sick and in and out of the hospital in Florida, Papaw had open heart surery, we then had the Shane and Beb's accident. Yesterday, I attended the funeral of my Mamaw. Yet in the midst of all this there has been joys as well. My close friend Mary got engaged, another friend Linda got engaged, and a guy I work with got engaged as well. Two of the three that are engaged have weddings coming up in November and December and the one in December I'm a bridesmaid for. In the midst of all this God has been teaching me about Himself, and drawing me closer to Him. I don't know how anyone can make it through life without God. I really don't know how and to be very honest I wouldn't want to know how because the love and comfort that God brings is so awesome and so real! We can let pain make us or break us. It's all up to us. We can let it bring us closer to God or we can let it accuse Him of wrongly treating us. Some might say how can a just God let bad things happen. But it says in Romans 8:28 that: " And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Jeremiah 29:11 also says: "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." He knows what we need to shape our characters. He also knows that there are things that we cannot learn if everything is always going wonderful and happy. I can say for me personally the most painful thing was loosing my relationship that I had been in but I am greatful for the pain. I would never want to go through that kind of pain again but it brought me closer to God, it matured me, it helped me to grow. I want to encourage anyone that is in the midst of trials and pain to not give up and blame God but to make God your best friend, your closest companion, your most trusted advisor and confidant.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we are admonished that : "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." He knows why things happen the way they do, He doesn't make them happen but He allows life to happen. I'm grateful for His guidance and His leading in my life, His love and comfort in pain.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Praise God for Life!!!

Wow, has life ever been crazy...Last week I almost lost my brother and his girlfriend to a four wheeler accident. It was a total miracle that they didn't loose their life or break any bones. My brother was shocked that he lived through it and when they were air born the second time on the way down he thought that, that was the end for him. We have all been just praising God for another chance at life for these two very special people, Shane and Rebecca. I'm just so glad that they are alive, even though they are may have scratches and bruises they are ALIVE!!!!!! Praise God!!!!! It's so sad to think that at funerals some of the nicest things are said, the most beautiful flowers purchased, meaningful songs sang in their honor...let's do that today and not have any regrets. When they are dead they won't know what they meant to us. Live in the moment for this moment is all we are promised....

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Camp meeting

I went on a nice vacation last week! My friends were going down to a family camp meeting put on by Restoration International and they invited me to go with them. I prayed about it and everything worked out for me to get the time off of work so I decided to go. I actually had 2 sets of friends invite me to go, so I rode down with one set and stayed in the cabin of the other set!! It was a nice time of spiritual refreshment and christian fellowship. I would encourage anyone who is interested in thought provoking messages, a closer walk with God and a deeper love and appreciation for family to attend. I have Restoration International's web site in my links section so check it out for sure!

Monday, October 08, 2007

"Praise You In This Storm"

"Praise You In This Storm" (by Casting Crowns)

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Have you ever been in a situation that seemed so dark and gut wrenching that you didn't know how you were going to even make it past that hour, let alone that day? I love the message of this song that in the midst of rain, the rain of life, the sorrow, the pain, that God is there. In the last paragraph of the song it says "I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth." God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth is the God I can go to, sometimes He's the only one I can turn to, sometimes He may be the only one you can turn to, but He is there and He knows the problem we're going through, He knows the answer to the question, Why, and He knows that if we rely on Him that He will get us through. Awhile back I experienced pain like this and I chose to rely on God. I could have grown bitter towards Him but Praise the Lord I relied on Him and He got me through those dark minutes, hours, days, weeks! I can look back and say, that I could not have done it without Him. I couldn't have gotten myself past that situation but He did and He still is.
2 Corinthians 12:9,10 says:
"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
His grace is sufficient, He knows what your going through, He knows what I went through and if He is the Maker of Heaven and Earth, He knows how to help you because He has helped me...