"Jesus plus"

Jesus + _______ = Everything.

Fill in that blank. What would go in that space for you? For me, I know there are a few different answers. I could list a few things that could fill the spot... "I've got Jesus, now if I only had __(this)___ then I would have everything!" At church on Thursday, Matt (our preacher) told us to fill in that blank, in our minds, with what we are wanting or waiting for or expecting before we're happy with having "everything". I will tell you, my number one thing was adoption. If only some way I could adopt my little Asian baby that I've so had the desire to have someday, THEN, everything would be perfect. I'd have it all. haha [yes, I want to adopt and its something I've blogged about before and a desire that God laid on my heart back in 2007 and I have NO idea how that will EVER happen lol] but its my main "Jesus plus" item. Other "Jesus plus" items include things such as resolved issues, restored relationships, health issues, marriage, finances, etc. Well Matt then said....whatever is in that space is the ENEMY OF YOUR JOY. And at first I wanted to say "what?! no way..." but ya know these last few weeks I've been talking about this "Joy Switch" series (on facebook and IG) and when I sit back and think of the things that flip my joy switch the most...it most definitely includes the above mentioned people and issues. I would have never thought that these things (although some God given...like restored relationships or the desire God placed in my heart to adopt) were actually taking a spot that they didn't have any right taking. They are sitting on my switch and they can't possibly hold it up, they will always weigh it down. ONLY CHRIST can keep that switch flipped on the "on" position! :) The right answer to that question is 

Jesus + nothing = Everything.

Philippians 3:7 says "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ"

We are to consider all these things as NON ESSENTIAL!

Entering church we were all given a little cross. Matt said to take that cross and put it on your "Jesus plus" item and listen as Christ says "what is that, compared to Me?" wow!!! That message has helped me TREMENDOUSLY!!!! This whole "Joy Switch" series has helped me more than any other series I've ever heard, bc its helped me to think of it in terms of NO ONE DESERVES CONTROL OF THAT SWITCH OTHER THAN CHRIST. And I have been SO filled with Joy since learning all that I have in this series!!!! I still let people, things, and situations have access to my switch....however, I'm quick to realize that I did and it gets flipped back ON the second I give control back to HIM!!! :) Now with this equation, I am aware of just what exactly was fighting for control of that switch and now am getting those things out of the way. I'm setting my focus and anchor on Christ and continuously giving over control of my joy switch to HIM!! It's my prayer that each of you will ask the questions that I did and earnestly seek out the things that kill your joy. Again, not all of them will be bad, some may even be God given desires...but NOTHING deserves that spot! ;) And ONLY Christ can sit on that switch without weighing it down!!!

"If Jesus and His cross are not 
your primary consideration, 

joy will not be your 
ultimate destination"

-Matt Evans

♥

Ahhhhhhh!!!!!

Spent the day with Mom and Lucky shopping for WEDDING DRESSES!!!!!! I can not believe my baby sister is getting married!!! I'm so stinkin excited!!! We had a blast today! She handled it much better than I would have...ha! I told mom not to expect that with me! She said she doesn't. LOL!! There were some watery eyes today!!! She looked absolutely BEAUTIFUL in every one she tried on! Gahhh, I'm gonna be a big blubbering baby the day she actually gets married! And probably lots of days in between! haha Love love LOVE my family!!! Overflowing with happiness today! God. Is. Good!!! ♥

The truth..

‎"The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians. The truth is that if only 8% of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left. This is the truth. I have the freedom to believe it. The freedom, the opportunity to do something about it. The truth is that He loves these children just as much as He loves me and now that I know, I am responsible." -Katie Davis. 

Just WOW!!!!!

This book and Katie's testimony is life changing!!!! 

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." -James1:27

♥

If you aren't thankful for what you got 

you probably won't be thankful for what you get! :-)

repost quote from A.C ;)

It's not about us!

You know what its about?? It's not about us. It's not about me. And its not about you. It's about giving up. Giving up a 'control' that isn't really ours. Giving up fears. Giving up relationships (that, though we may be entrusted to, are not really ours). Giving up our finances. Giving it ALL up. Letting go. Taking a deep breath. And GIVING it to God. HE is what its about............In an attempt to send someone some encouragement, I in return was encouraged. I was overwhelmed with this statement. IT'S NOT ABOUT US!!! We run through life holding on to all these "things" and life just passes us by!! Just flies on past us! Why is it SO darn difficult to LET GO and LET GOD! I can say it all day and know it in my heart, but tomorrow, I know full and well I will face this again. This is when the 'dying to self' DAILY comes into play. You don't just do it/learn it once and then automatically you're this awesome person who never gets down, who always does right and who never falls short. Nooooooo. Did you catch that last part of dying to self...DAILY. Its a growth process and it won't be complete until He returns (Philippians1:6). That is so comforting. Thank you Father for teaching me. And even, reteaching me. Daily.

I am not skilled to understand..

"I am not skilled to understand What God has willed, what God has planned. 

I only know at His right hand, Stands one who is my Savior" 

♥ 

This song was a song God used about 6yrs ago to speak to me in a way that no other song had before. I was struggling with something that I hadn't yet had to deal with and was constantly crying out "I don't understand!" with my oh so little faith...turns out, not much has changed. Every time I've heard that song over the past 6yrs I've rejoiced in the way God used it to move me. Its not played a whole lot anymore so its a pleasant surprise when I hear it &leaves me all warm inside. Well, as I sit here at my computer working on pictures I've got Air1 playing in my ear as to not get distracted (so easy for me to do! haha) but just as I'm editing away, this song came on. It hit me like a smack PUNCH  in the face just how much I'd been crying out lately (still in my oh so little faith) "I don't understand!!!!!" and ya know what?! WE'RE NOT SKILLED TO UNDERSTAND!!!!! As I've stated on here a million times, my favorite Bible verse is Proverbs3:5-6 that says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths"....and He TELLS me not to lean on my own understanding! Bc I DON'T understand it all!! But I'm called to trust Him! The one who died to be my savior! That is so easy to forget in today's world!!! With SO much going on, its easy to focus on ANYTHING but that verse and God and His promises!!! But tonight, I'm grateful beyond words for that song. Those lyrics. And most importantly, the God who loves me enough to give me those little 'punches in the face' to help me realize He is still God and He is still in control!!!! 

A Place Only You Can Go♥

I've been trying to upload this video for MONTHS! haha I finally got it uploaded on Saturday! It's one of my favorite NTB songs and they busted out the acoustic version of it and it was quite possibly the most amazing thing I've heard. HA! These guys are so gifted!! Anyway, I've shared a video of this song before but I'm sharing this one bc its MINE! :) I was there and got to hear it in person...which is something I HIGHLY recommend! They will pretty much blow your mind! :)

[btw, if you listen closely you can here the girls beside me singing..haha!!
 And at the end you can see her flailing arms! HAHAHA!
Love the ppl you meet at concerts!]

I'm officially a big girl. haha!

Had my first iv on Friday and conquered one of my BIGGEST fears!!!

THAT is 'picture-on-my-blog' worthy!! HAHA! The test came back

normal so its not my gallbladder...kind of exciting, but kind of not. haha 

I was so hoping that would be the end of my health problems! BUT, 

instead...we keep going! I'm taking some new meds (probably the 

sixth or seventh different one they've had me on! haha) but I have

faith that we'll figure it out and all will be well in time! God is so good!

I know that He will get me through this...and in the mean time, He's

doing some MAJOR renovations in my heart! :) Thank you all for 

the prayers!!! Praying you all have a wonderful and 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! 

♥AW

btw, chew on this for some January 1st goodness! :)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: 

The old has gone, the new is here!"

2 Corinthians 5:17