Temptation

On my four-hour drive home today, I was listening to sermons like I usually do, when PC said something that struck a chord with me. 

It was a really boring sermon about how Jesus knows what were going through (all good stuff, but only the bajillionth time I've heard it) and I was just about to switch to a "more appropriate" message when pastor Chris began to talk about Jesus' temptations. 

This also wasn't a new topic to me. But the thought that sprang into my head was. 

I so often view my temptations as failures. That I've let those thoughts creep into my head. I basically view any temptation I have as a sin. 

But Jesus never sinned. 

What makes my temptations any worse than his? What makes mine sin and his not?

Nothing. My temptation doesn't mean something is wrong with me. Should I act on them, yes. That would be a sin. Be it a desire to lie or cuss or mope around, those all would become sin if I gave in. But the temptation itself is not a mode of defeat. 

In fact, it's a victory that it's just a thought not an action. 

Take every thought captive. Dispel the lies. Stand firm in Gods truth. 

***

That was super long and rambly, but I just had to share. That's a revelation for me. Food for thought. 

<3jen

clarity or deafness?

Lately it seems that everyone I have talked to about their experiences during this 21 days of prayer was that they have received this amazing clarity in their life.

I haven't.

But then again, I haven't fasted from anything as intense as no meat or no food at all.

Everyone it seems can hear God directly speaking to them. I don't know if it's that I can't hear Him or if that He just isn't speaking right now to me. Or has ever. Maybe I just need to learn to distinguish between His and my own voice.

I feel like He speaks to me through other people... but surely He can speak to me directly too, right? I don't understand how any of that works, but maybe one day His voice will become clear as day.

***
This will be the year of miracles.
<3jen

breather of life

Apparently, my newest acquired talent is hurting the people I care about.

I truly need to work on guarding my tongue and only saying what is helpful for building one another up instead of tearing down or burdening with my problems.

Prayers would be appreciated as I try to overcome this and be a life-breather instead of a hurt-bringer.

<3jen

I need a breakthrough

These past 9 days of fasting have been insanely difficult yet extremely rewarding. I've grown in my relationship with God and have broken free (at least temporarily) from the addiction of social media without much difficulty.

But yet, Satan is still attacking.

Counseling will help with some aspects. And maybe medication will help with others. And my amazing, Godly friends will help with the rest... But God is ultimately the one who can heal this.

And to be honest, I am fighting not to get frustrated with His timing. Yes, I know that His ways are higher than my ways, but I just wish His way would be healing right now.

So here's to the next 12 days and may God use them to work in me and in the lives of those around me so I can fully glorify Him in all that I do.

<3jen

whoa. hold on a second.

I can't believe I'm doing this, but maybe this is the push I need to get back on the right track again.

http://jennascribbles.blogspot.com/2014/01/farewell-to-social-media-and-all-other.html

Freedom

Last year I found what I called my "life verse." 

2 Corinthians 3:17 -- 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

And when thinking about my one word of the year for 2014, I knew that was what I wanted to live by. 

FREEDOM. 

I generally have a list of things to work on for the year... Like eat less crap, stretch every night, complain less, do more nice things, be less selfish, etc etc. 

But this year is different. 

While I know all those things are good and I should work on them (and knowing me, I will), this year I'm going to focus more on my relationship with God and less on the works I need to do to (stupidly try to) "earn His love."

My goals this year are...

To learn how to live in the freedom of God's grace. To not be tied down by my past but fully accept forgiveness. 

To live without regrets and freely love everyone. (I may have made a butt-load of stupid mistakes, but I've learned from them all. While I'm not going to go around purposefully making bad choices,) I need to learn to not live in the past but freely accept share Gods love with no fear. 

 To direct my life so I can become in tune with the spirit. to live by his movement not my stupid plans. 

The message version of verses 17 and 18 exemplify what I want from this year...

And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. 

May this year be the one where I "gradually become brighter and more beautiful as God enters my life."

<3jen