It's Too Easy

We live in a culture where everything is easy. And the "easier" it gets, the more complicated it seems also. 

Most people in our culture cringe at "Jesus Freaks." They've been taught in higher education classrooms across the country that Christians are small-minded bigots. They've learned how "cultured" the world is and how rainbows and roses it is to promote "peace" and "multiculturalism."

But you don't have to look far to see the truth: brokenness. Broken marriages, split-up families, custody battles, lay-offs, unfair promotions, gangs, rapes, sex trafficking, drug addicts, depression, anxiety, suicide... It doesn't take long to figure-out that the rose-colored glasses our Professors tried to make us wear to see the world with more "political correctedness" are clearly the wrong prescription.

I've never seen multiculturalism or peace heal brokenness. Have you?

But I have seen a Healer... 

The world and American society has put Jesus in a box and shoved Him away on a shelf with "folk lore." But, I'm telling you what this world needs more of... Jesus. He is the only way to wholeness. 

Oh, but Jesus is old school. And God is a hateful disciplinarian. Too harsh for my standards...

But you see, back in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve sinned, God gave humanity clear-cut consequences:

1. First God CURSED Satan... He punished The Snake and put enmity between him and humanity. (Genesis 3:14-15)

Then God turned to humanity:

2. Woman, you will have to endure painful childbirth. You'll desire to rule over your husband, but there'll be tension in that relationship (Genesis 3:16)

2. Man, you will have to toil the ground that I cursed and have a sweaty brow hunting and finding food for your family. You will die and return to dust. (Genesis 3:17-19)

*Let me just point this out: God did not CURSE Woman and Man. He only gave a CURSE to the Serpent & to the ground. *

God loves us, and any good parent gives a consequence to their child for wrong behavior. Our consequence? God gave us hard work and labor to remember Him...to remember the perfect love He had for us before we went and messed it all up by believing a stinking Snake. Parents give consequences to rectify relationship and justify poor behavior. God's no different.

But, here's the thing... That sneaky Snake is still operating his trickery. He wants nothing more than to hide to Truth...to shove Jesus in that neat little box up on a shelf to be forgotten and deemed "outdated." He enjoys brokenness. (John 10:10, I Peter 5:8) 


In fact, the Snake has perverted the very consequences God gave humanity in the Garden to restore relationship and rectify their wrong. That Snake has crept into our society, into the Church, into Christian homes in the form of "ease" and "deception."

You want some proof?

• Remember the first consequence of the Fall of Man? God cursed the Snake and said there'd be enmity between snakes and humanity. 
• PROOF: Go to ANY animal/science museum and enjoy the elaborate snake displays complete with a snake for you to hold, touch, etc. There's always a Curator talking about how snakes are friendly and they have a bad reputation but only harm insects. The rant goes on and on. And we've bought into it as a society. You can buy PET snakes, for crying out loud! We've become desensitized to the Snake.

• Remember the second consequence? God gave Woman pain in child birth and the desire to want to rule over her husband.
• PROOF: Child birthing has become much easier in modern ages, and the pain is virtually gone now with the use of medical technologies- drugs, epidurals, etc. Secondly, the Post Feminist culture we live in has told women that we are BETTER than men and can not only rule over them but excel in doing so. 

• The last consequence... Man's toil and death. 
• PROOF: The Industrial Revolution modernized farming and hunting. We don't have to grow our food anymore or hunt it. We simply go to the grocery store & buy manufactured food (full of chemicals and junk our bodies ought not ingest... but that's a separate blog entry). Oh and if you need it even easier than that then just spend money in the bajillion dollar restaurant industry: fast food, gourmet, All-American cuisine and everything in between.
• And DEATH? Pssshhhhh. Death is for dumb religious people. Who cares if we turn to dust? We're all just evolved pond scum anyway. There's no point or purpose for life... Live it up! Do what makes you happy. There's no eternity. There's NO GOD!

*sigh* 

You see? You see how that Snake is still deceiving? How that Snake has become the Ally to our modern culture? How that Snake is succeeding in holding back the FREEDOM... the DELIVERANCE... the PEACE of a real, true Savior!? 

Oh, Lord, I don't want easy anymore. Do you?

XO
Jessica

Prayer Board

Giana's latest development has been prayer. She prays so sweetly and sincerely. Her meal time prayers go something like this: "Dear Jesus and God, Thank you for my food. Bless Daddy's food, Mommy's food, Duncan's food and GiGi's food. And Daddy's water, and Mommy's water and GiGi's water. Amen."

So, I want to teach her now at a young age the importance of prayer for others. I've been "pinning" some different ideas regarding a Prayer Board or Prayer Sticks to incorporate praying for others into our meal-time prayers. But nothing I found fit the bill quite right.

As any creative person would do, I blended several ideas into one and also upcycled all those Christmas Photo Cards we receive each Christmas season.

Here's my prayer board:

I don't have tutorial photos for each step, but I can give you the verbal break down:

SUPPLIES:

1-18" x 24" Canvas

Paint (I used leftover accent wall color- Behr Premium Satin Finish in "Smokey Slate")

Paint Brush

1 sheet of Scrapbook Paper

1- 1/2" Bulldog Clip

1- 8x10 Frame

Hot Glue Gun

Transfer Paper

Computer Graphic printed on paper (I used James 5:16)

Pen

Permanent Marker (your choice of color)

Acrylic Paint (your choice of color)

Eraser

DIRECTIONS:

1. Paint your canvas the desired color and allow to dry. (I let mine dry for 24 hours.)

2. Create your graphic for words if desired. I made mine in Microsoft Word. Print it on regular computer paper. (This is literally the most time-consuming part... especially if you're a font junkie like me!)

3. Place scrapbook paper inside frame. Remove glass front from the frame and replace backing. If the backing has a stand for table display, remove it. Then, Hot glue Bulldog Clip within frame. Hot glue entire frame onto canvas. Use hot glue liberally! :)

4. Cut out word graphics and arrange on canvas in desired pattern. (I obviously just split it up between two lines- top and bottom).

5. Place transfer paper underneath graphics and trace firmly using a pen. (I taped my graphics and transfer paper down to ensure they didn't move around while tracing.)

6. Fill in tracing with Permanent Marker &/or Paint.

7. Once paint/marker is dry, use an eraser to eliminate any of the marks the transfer paper may have left behind.

8. You can Mod Podge or seal the entire thing if desired, but I didn't

9. Hang and place a photo in the Bulldog Clip (the photo is our lovely cousin, Desarae!). We are using the photos our family/friends sent us at Christmas time. We pray for that particular person/family for a few days, then switch out for a new person/family. 

I'm pretty happy with the end product. Although, I may choose to frame out the entire canvas also! That'll be down the road, though.... mainly because I'm SO picky about what I like! 

Hope you make time in your family routine to pray for others! After all, we see the Apostle Paul reiterates 10 times in 6 verses (Colossians 1:9-15) how often he prayed for his fellow saints. Let's love our brothers and sisters in Christ through prayer!

XO

Jessica

Ikea Updo

I can't believe I'm JUST getting around to this blog tutorial... If this is any indication of the busy-ness of my life, then I guess it's time to breathe for a moment!

Anyway... For my 29th birthday in October, I got to "get away" for a night with a few friends. We headed to Northern Virginia and decided to spend a day at Ikea!

I spent less than $50 and got a huge bag full of things! I love that store... And one of my finds were these $4 spice racks:


I've seen lots of "Pins" on Pinterest using these spice racks as book holders in a child's room. But, I wanted to add something special to them. Plus, light colored wood is not my thing!

I decided to decoupage the shelves with a wrapping paper in a black and white damask pattern (I found it at Michael's craft store) to match my daughter's bedroom.

First, I covered the long shelf. I left the back uncovered where the hanging hardware is located.

Then I used a pen and punctured holes where they were factory pre-drilled for assembly:

I did the same thing with the sides and front bar.

Then, I covered everything with a thick coat of Mod Podge to seal and protect the paper from tearing.

After they dried, my hubby hung them for our daughter to enjoy in her "big girl" toddler room!

I love the way they look and I also love the way they are hung at a height where my daughter can enjoy her books. :)

Hope this inspires YOU to do something more personalized with your inexpensive Ikea finds.

XO
Jessica

Today

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

I've loved this verse for years. I've said it to myself a million times. I've used it as a handy "advice verse"- you know, the verse you rattle off to someone who's being a "worry wart" when you want to sound churchy.


I've always focused this verse on the message of "worrying"... I am not a worrier by nature. Strange, since I am a woman... Now before you go thinking I'm some super-spiritual person or some freak of nature let me say: I believe it's a gift the Lord has given me. I don't ponder long upon possibilities. I have a hard time envisioning the future- what my precious daughter will look like as a woman, or even as a 5 year old! I have a hard time dreaming of retirement with my dear Husband. Whatever it is, I've actually been kind of mad I can't be so futuristic minded. I rest assured knowing Who is the Author of my Future. And I simply leave it at that.


In the same regard, I've not been one to hold on to the past as a crutch, either. Sure, I've felt the long-term effects of trials, tribulations and emotional wounds. But I know in my heart God is healing those areas. I know my past brought me exactly where I am today. I am grateful I do not live a life where I'm engulfed in "should haves" or "what ifs." I'm truly appreciative of where I've been and how it's taught me valuable life lessons.


But, today-- that's the only other place to be. If I cannot focus on tomorrow or yesterday, all that's left is today. 

Live for today: a popular slogan. I even have a sign in my kitchen that boasts "One Day at a Time!" But, when I really dig deep and think, I do not live for today. 

• Do you know that today is the only time ever that your husband will say those sweet words that particular way with that particular glimmer in his eye or that particular smirk on his face?
• Do you know that today is the only time ever that your child will hug you that tight and say that particular silly little thing or want that ridiculous stuffed animal with her (or him) at all times?
• Do you know that the most wasted of all days isn't the one without laughter, but the one where you take every single moment for granted?

I'm a planner. A type "A." The "To Do List" person. But when I focus on checking off the boxes- focusing on getting from point A to point B in the agenda- I am totally, completely, entirely missing point A! 


So, then the question has to be asked: If I'm not living in the past or the future nor am I living for today, then where am I? The answer is not what I wanted to hear. But The Still, Small Voice clued me in: Selfishness. I'm living in selfishness. Do you know how incredibly selfish I've been to think MY agenda is the only agenda? Do you know how incredibly selfish I've been putting off to tomorrow affection for my family... or fun... because I have "something to do." I get so caught up in being a "Martha" I forget entirely about "Mary." I get so caught up in doing and being who I think God wants me to be that I miss GOD'S AGENDA for TODAY.


So, TODAY... right now... this very moment... I resign from my selfishness. I desire selflessness. I desire GOD'S WAY for now. Right now. I will smell my daughter's hair when she gives me a quick hug. I'll squeeze her tighter knowing this moment is the only moment guaranteed. I will laugh at my husband's joke, even if it's the 1258th time I've heard it. I will stop being so caught-up in my "To Do's" of the day that I don't miss the "Who's." I will enjoy each moment, not because I fear that there may not be another, but because it's a gift. That is, after all, why we call today the PRESENT.

to·day

 [tuh-dey]

noun: this present day

XO

Jessica

Valentine's Day

I have recently been obsessed with photos with Scripture on it. So, I messed around on Picnik and made a few of my own. Shout out to my friend Wendy at Wendy Moffit Photography who took these beautiful pictures of my beautiful daughter!

Happy Valentine's Day Weekend! :)

XO Jessica

Pin-spiration!

The first step to recovery is to admit there's a problem... Ok, so... ummmmmmm. I'm addicted to Pinterest. I waste time that I should be playing with my toddler, doing dishes, mopping the floors, and whatnot by "pinning" thousands (yeah, I'm that bad now) of Pins to my Boards. [Fellow addicts, check out my Pinterest boards!]

But, I actually can justify this addiction. I have actually used many, many ideas, tips and suggestions off Pinterest. And the recipes! Wow- so many tasty things I've gotten from Pins. And lastly, I've rediscovered my creativity: crafting, DIY and everything in between.

My dear friend Jennifer is pregnant with her first babe, a girl. And she picked out some adorable bedding called "Migi Blossom" (Google it!) and picked Pink and Brown for her theme.

So, we spent the afternoon together crafting additions to her Nursery... She found this on Pinterest for sale through Etsy:


But I knew we could easily make our own version! So, using canvas, paint, permanent markers, Mod Podge and Scrapbook paper this is what we did:


I think it came out just darling! We also crafted personalized letters for baby "Nora." I'm still working on the finishing touches, but I'll have to share that, too!

XO Jessica

Super Bowl... GO GIANTS

Though we live in Redskin country, we transplanted NYers are thrilled the Giants are in the Super Bowl this year! Hubby is enthralled... and even got a new 55" TV for the big game day. And of course, we're having a HUGE bash.

We are going to have a traditional New York Street Vendor Food menu... all the things you'd find on the streets of THE City. <3 {I really miss being closer to the City...)

So, here's the Game Day Menu:
*Sausage, Peppers and Onions on Rolls
*Nathan's Hot Dogs with Coney Sauce
*Pizza Fondue with Tortilla Chips
*Dill Pickle Dip with Potato Chips
*Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
*Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites with Mustard
*Honey Roasted Peanuts
*Miniature NY-Style Chessecakes

And since I spent time on these, hopefully someone else in Cyber Space can use these as Place Cards or Food Tags:

Just right click and save!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GIANTS!!

WHO are you?

I find that most struggling Believers have one thing in common: they do not know WHO they are.

We taught a 6 month series on "Your Identity in Christ." A lot of our material came from an excellent book called Victory Over the Darkness (Neil T. Anderson). And this past weekend our youth Pastor ministered to the congregation with the same message: Identity. If we begin understanding who we are in Christ, it allows us to understand that intimacy we have with Father God. I just wanted to share the Scriptures for YOU.

This is who YOU are:

I am God's child (John 1:12)
I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20)
I am a member of Christ's Body (1 Corinthians 12:27)
I am assured all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)
I have confidence that God will perfect the work He’s begun in me (Philippians 1:6)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
I have been given a spirit of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)
I am holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4)
I am adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5)
I am in Him (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30)
I have redemption (Ephesians 1:8)
I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14)
I have hope and purpose (Ephesians 1:9, 12)
I am the salt and the light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14)
I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5)
I am raised up and seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
I have been brought near to God through Christ's blood (Ephesians 2:13)
I have peace (Ephesians 2:14)
I am a dwelling for the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22)
I can approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
I can bring glory to God (Ephesians 3:21)
I can be humble, gentle, patient and lovingly tolerant of others (Ephesians 4:2)
I can forgive others (Ephesians 4:32)
I can understand what God's will is (Ephesians 5:17)
I can give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:20)
I can honor God through marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33)
I can parent my children with composure (Ephesians 6:4)
I am not alone (Hebrews 13:5)
I am not in want (Philippians 4:19)
I possess the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16)
I am promised a full life (John 10:10)
I am victorious (I John 5:4)
I am chosen and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12)
I am blameless (I Corinthians 1:8)
I am set free (Romans 8:2; John 8:32)
I am crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)
I am a light in the world (Matthew 5:14)
I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)
I am the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)
I am healed from sin (I Peter 2:24)
I am no longer condemned (Romans 8:1, 2)
I am not helpless (Philippians 4:13)
I am an overcomer (I John 4:4)
I am protected (John 10:28)
I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Want to take your relationship with Jesus Christ to the next level? Read these to yourself every day. Affirm WHO you are in Jesus. It'll change your life.