Places & Things

I decided to have a little fun and let you all know a little more about me and a few desires that I have:


Destinations I would like to go to one day (listed in order of importance):

 Maldives

 Ireland

 NYC

 St. Lucia

Maine

 Bahamas

 Destin FL

 Venice Italy

Top 10 things I love:

1. A nice comfy bed
2. COFFEE
3. Purses
4. Makeup!
5. Laughing
6. Babies
7. Good devotionals
8. Chocolate & Peanut butter!
9. Going to a spa
10. Perfume

What are some of your favorite things?

One of those days....

Please tell me I am not the only one who has these days....the day that anyone and anyone gets under your skin.  Even I myself am getting under my own skin today.  Is it the weather?  Is it my hormones?  Is it just me?  It's one of those days I really need to be encouraged and loved on and yet I can't seem to get a hold of anyone...surprise, surprise.  Pretty sure that is the Lord saying, "Jill, come to me, I will give you rest, I will hold you, I will give you all that you need."

I am such a human of touch that sometimes hearing a voice or a hug or just anything AUDIBLE helps me.  I think that is why I feel so disconnected sometimes.  I can't hear the Lord and I can't physically feel His touch...but I HAVE TO BELIEVE HE is really there and holding me. 

Just breathe.....

Do Not Fear....

I read a great devotional this morning by Joyce Meyer, it the Battlefield of the Mind devotional.  I HIGHLY recommend it.  "Life is a struggle, and teh devil is determined to defeat and destroy us.  We don't ever reach the place where we never have to fight.  But it's not just our fight.  Jesus in not only with us, but He is for us.  He's at our side to strengthen us and to urge us onward."  The verse that popped out to me was Isaiah 43:1b-2  "Fear not, for I have redeemed you...; I have called you by name; you are Mine.  When you pass through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you."  It blows my mind when I actually stop and think about God calling me by name, I can just hear it in my head now, Jill, you are MINE!  WOW!  It almost brings tears to my eyes. 

One thing I am learning as an adult is there is always some kind of trial burning in our lives.  Whether we are single or married have children or don't, there is always something.  The devil tries his hardest to attack us from all angles.  Praise Jesus that He walks with us in our trials and storms.  I know that I personally feel so defeated by the stupid devil so many times....but it is so great to have such a wonderful reminder that I am truly never alone.

Being single sometimes the feeling of being alone can be so overwhelming.  But, I love that scripture where He reminds me that I am never alone!  There are moments where I feel like I just can't do it any more, but God never lets me go and He has put a few wonderful people in my life that pray for me and uplift me, and for them, I am so grateful!

Learning...

I am in a stage of learning many many new things...about people, about myself and most importantly about our Savior Jesus.  Some of the things I am learning are not always easy to swallow.  I have been being shown that some relationships I have with friends are very toxic to me.  So, learning how to step away from those friends is very difficult for me.  The other day I actually had an ah ha moment!  I was so concerned with what a person was going to say to me or think that I almost had a panic attack...now, that is just stupid!  So, I realized...hey Jill, you have ZERO ZIP NO control over what happens in your life so, why do you keep trying to handle your own problems or issues...then I finally realized, ALL I have to do is ask our precious Jesus to take over the situation and the stresses and fears I have regarding that person or situation and He will take care of it, ALL!  I am telling you, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my back.  I know this is not something that will just be gone and that it will definitely be a process but, what a glorious day it is to have ah ha moments with our Jesus!

I am also in a new bible study called "The Significant Woman" and I believe it is going to open my eyes big time!  I have only had 1 session but it was amazing!

Thank you, Jesus for your love.grace.mercy.unconditional love.acceptance

Acceptance...

Accepted: generally approved; usually regarded as normal, right, etc.  This is the definition according to http://www.dictionary.com/.  Why do we long to be accepted so badly by the things and people of this world?  I have really been thinking and pondering on this a lot lately, especially since I have had so many people make comments about my body and suggesting different things I can do to lose weight.  I feel like I want to be accepted because if I am not, then there is obviously something wrong with me.  I mean I am 31 and single...these are the kind of thoughts that the enemy puts in to my mind!  I feel so unaccepted by so many "friends" sometimes.  That is why I have to find my true identity and self in Christ Jesus.  No person, not a friend or a man will ever make me or anyone else feel complete and accepted EVER!  The only person who will accept us for who we are is Jesus!  This has also made me more aware of how I look at other people around me too and it is quite the eye opener.

I could go on for a long time trying to explain myself and why it is harder for me to lose weight but, I am not going to do that any more.  I feel like maybe the Lord keeps me in a place of "discontentment" so to speak to make me desire more and more to be with Him in heaven one day.  :)  Brings me back to the wonderful song by Bethany Dillon: 

"Beautiful"

I was so unique

Now I feel skin deep

I count on the make-up to cover it all

Crying myself to sleep cause I cannot keep their attention

I thought I could be strong

But it's killing me



Does someone hear my cry?

I'm dying for new life



[Chorus]

I want to be beautiful

Make you stand in awe

Look inside my heart,

and be amazed

I want to hear you say

Who I am is quite enough

Just want to be worthy of love

And beautiful



Sometimes I wish I was someone other than me

Fighting to make the mirror happy

Trying to find whatever is missing

Won't you help me back to glory



[Chorus]



You make me beautiful

You make me stand in awe

You step inside my heart, and I am amazed

I love to hear You say

Who I am is quite enough

You make me worthy of love and beautiful
 
Lord, I truly want to be beautiful in Your eyes.  Help me to keep my focus steadfast on you! 
 
 
I hope whoever reads this, feels beautiful today!

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You are Here and Then You are Not...

It still blows my mind anytime someone passes away suddenly.  I will be honest, it obviously affects me more when it is my own family or someone that I am close to.  I lost my Uncle Jack on Monday, August 2nd, unexpectedly.  Though I am sad that he is gone, I am praising our Holy Father for redeeming my Uncle.  My uncle had a very rough life but, thankfully he found Jesus and His salvation a few years ago!  I have always had a soft spot in my heart for him.  I remember each time I would tell him that I loved him and he would always say, "I love you too kid".  I know I will see him again!  Please pray for his children, they are not believer's and I know that he was in prayer for them to find Jesus.

Today's devotion that was sent to me is so appropriate for all of us but, especially for me.  I always feel like I have to look a certain way or be a certain way for a man to like me.  Well, that is just a lie from satan and I am trying fervently to break that lie.  Here is the verse and the note along with it...I hope it touches you and fills your mind with God's truth.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." -- 1 Samuel 16:7

THOUGHT:

Have you ever wondered how many potentially good friends you may
have lost simply by judging them on your first impression of them?
I'm amazed at how the first impression very seldom tells us much of
substance about another person. We're not really going to be able
to evaluate people properly until the Lord reveals at judgment what
is really in their hearts. Don't you think that we should give them
time to reveal what is in their hearts before we make a decision
about them?! Let's don't just look on the outward appearance!

I have sadly done this too many times!  Though I know that the world is full of people who only look at the outward appearance (me included sometimes), ultimately we should only care about what the Lord sees.  Don't get me wrong, I know that the Lord wants us to take care of ourselves but, He loves us no matter what!  HOW AMAZING!

Here is another person who loves me unconditionally....