Prayers - Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior

I've been thinking of all the people who accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior over the past few weeks!  I am so excited and happy for you all!  There's joy in my heart.  I am not only happy that you have eternal life, but I am also excited about the possibilities.  The truth is the possibilities are endless with God!  Your life has changed for the better and I cannot say enough about the awesome God we serve!  Praise God!  Your life will change in ways you've never imagined!  Trust in the LORD!

I pray that you may know Him and not only know Him, but also believe Him.  I pray that you'll find a friend in Christ, relying on Him and Him alone.  I pray that you'll have patience as you learn who you are in Christ and as the plans He has for you unfold. I pray that you'll spend time daily with God. 

Praying and believing in the God we serve!  Praying for you all!
         

                                                                                                   **JourneywithJennifer**

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

Prayers - Worship

The first time I heard Rochelle Frazier speak, she spoke about a time on retreat where she let go and worshipped God!  I heard shawl, dance, praise - I was fascinated, wondering what that looks like. 

Several years ago I was looking for a church home and asked my friends, the Sanders, why they chose their church.  And they answered that worship was a big part of their choice.

Last year our church had a great service - Awestruck.  Leading up to that night, I wondered how that would be for me... It was a time of worship like never before!  I experienced pure JOY!!

My cousin Courtney is the Worship Leader at her church.  She can sang! All her life she's been singing for the Lord.

My heart is full today as I think of what freedom in worship would be like for us all.  I can just see us praising and worshipping our God with love!  If every church in every nation praised Him in worship with an abundance of love - what would it look like?  I tell you it would be PURE JOY!!!

Dear God!  I praise your name!  I am so excited just thinking of YOU!! God my prayer today is that we worship you in spirit and in truth.  Lord, I pray that we call out your name, that we raise our hands, and that we humble our hearts!  Lord, I pray that we bring all that we are!

In Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                                                                   ***JourneywithJennifer***



Lift up your hands in the holy place and praise the LORD! Psalms 134:2 HCSB

Prayers - Love and Loss

For the past several years, we've seen loss in our families.  We've seen enough to last us a lifetime, and there's more to come.  I know that our loved ones have gone on to Heaven, which gives us peace in the pain.  I know that God has a plan and a purpose for us all and we should seek Him with all that we are. 

Praise God for all that we are in Him.  I am thankful for the time that we had and the times to come.  Lord I ask that you be with us as we go through these tough days.  I ask that you wipe every tear from our eyes, Lord.  Remind us that you will destroy death forever.  We know that you will make all things new.  Lord, please remind us that we will neither suffer or fear.  For you are with us through the end of the age.  Lord continue to comfort us through our tears.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                                                             ***JourneywithJennifer***

Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy Psalms. 126:5

Prayers

I've been thinking of my prayer life....I talk to God through my prayers.  I share my thoughts, although I am sure He already knows every single one.  I let it all out.. my fears, my wants, my needs, everything I hold close to my heart, I share with God.  I used to pray for it all to go my way.  Don't get me wrong, I still do pray for it all to go my way.  I am just not as concerned about me as I am about Him.  I don't know that my way is always the best way for myself or others.  I am learning to pray that His will be done.  I must admit it's tough.  I don't know sometimes if it's what I may choose, but I do know that in the end, it all works out for my good because I love Him. I  trust Him.

I love my prayer journal.  I love filling those precious pages with prayers for my loved ones and friends.  I also include requests I receive.  I love to pray immediately when I receive a request, but I also love to write your names in my journal.  I can go back and read the prayers again and also offer another prayer.  It feels good to go back and see where He's brought us. 

There's a closeness to Him that I cannot explain when I pray.  I've had it on my heart this past week to pray through social media.  I've seen Him move more than a few times through our prayers, many through social media.  If it is His will, we'll see answered prayers and the will of God in our lives like we've never seen before in our lives!!!

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ, keep me in your prayers and I'll keep you in mine.

My prayer is that I will be used by God for His glory!

                                                                               ***JourneywithJennifer***

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.  (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)

Happy New Year!

I cannot believe it will be 2014 in less than an hour!  LOL!

I look back on this past year with a grateful heart.  God gave me such peace.  He truly showed me a new way to live and I thank Him..  I asked Him for something big and I believed He would give me something big and He did.   

I realized what's going to always work for me - love.  I feel so much better about myself when I love God and love others.  I spent time focused on scriptures about love and found peace each day when I centered my life on love (God). 

I renewed my focus on my blog and God turned it around.  He showed me where He wants me to be so He can grow me.  He has plans for me.

I really dived into social media this year.  I started off strong with YouTube and Blogs.  I was super big into blogs and vlogs focused on organizing!  I learned a lot about organizing my home, but didn't put much into practice.  I realized that I am organized to a certain extent, just not consistent.  There are some items in my home that have a place and there are others that are just out of place.

One of my biggest lessons  - if something doesn't' t work, try something else.  It didn't occur to me that I needed to make changes as needed or that it was okay to try something out first and then decide on a totally different solution.  I believed everything would stay in it's place.  It didn't.

I have plans for my organizing challenges in 2014...one project at a time.  I will schedule weekly projects with a breakout of each task.  This will ensure I am not overwhelmed and allow me to see progress with small steps!

I will slowly work my way back into an exercise routine.  I'm stuck in a rut and need to move out of it, I need a plan.  My first step is my diet.  I developed some good habits in 2011 and need to start again...

I love that about a new year, a new day, even a new hour, a chance to start again!

I am excited about the start of a new year.  There are endless possibilities for me...  I am looking ahead. 

I don't know what the next year will bring, but I am ready.   

I am ready to read the Verse of the Day from my YouVersion Bible App each morning.

I am ready to receive God's Word as my church goes through the Book of John.

I am ready to start a new Bible Study.

I am ready to wake up to the most beautiful sunrise.  I'll even take clouds.

I am ready to listen to Him and follow where He leads.

I am ready! 

                                                                                ****JourneywithJennifer****

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

Today

I must say, today has been great!  I spent the day washing my hair, semi-cleaning the garage, pulling out the Christmas Tree, and decorating the tree.  I also had a late lunch with friends.  It was great because we were able to catch up!  I went to church for "A Royal Christmas" and had a late dinner with friends!  Dinner was good and the company, even better.  There's nothing like spending time with people who genuinely care for you!

I am writing this all down to say, I really did have a great day.

 But Today - Saturday, December 14, 2013.....

It's been a long time coming, but I had another good cry today.  I am so trying not to be sad.  I am just over it and want to get away from it all, but cannot.  I have to feel what I feel and then when I am ready, let it all go.  But this new life, new way of living, doesn't really let you "let go".  You sort of have to figure it out, but it's not truly letting go.

I miss my Granddaddy!  I miss our life, the life WE ALL shared for so many years.  It's not that I am not thankful for my days, it's just tougher.  I thought he'd be here forever.  He was the one we all knew would outlive each and every one of us.

The last few weeks have been tough.  I ended up with bronchitis.  Again.  I spent hours waiting to be seen by a doctor.  I complained about everything I had to do and all that I didn't get to do...I ran from a little dog.  I was genuinely terrified for 2 minutes.  I embarrassed myself and my family.  To sum it all up, I was tired so I spent my days whining because I just didn't have the strength for it all.  It's the time of year when it all runs together.

But you know, God.  He knows me and gives me His all.  I wouldn't have made it without Him.

Again, I am writing this all down to say, I really did have a great day.  I had a great week.

I was able to get a lot accomplished, both at work and at home.  I learned that I need to spend time encouraging and building up others in the faith (Romans 14).  We really do need one another.  My kid laughed at me because I ran from a dog.  I laughed too!  I slept in today.  My hair looks great.  I learned that I must practice speaking intelligently because I'll have more opportunities to speak out loud to other people on specific topics.  I listened to some of the most beautiful music about my God.  I finished my antibiotics.

I lived!  I am still here!

The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.  Romans 15:33 (HCSB)

JourneywithJennifer's PrayList - Part II

loss

This is a hard one...  I decided the title should be small. I don't know that I can make it any smaller or bigger than what it really is..

In my life, the past few months have been filled with loss and sad news.  Correction:  The last several years.  I should say years and not months.  It's been years and it's not letting up. 

Some days I want to just curl up and for it all to just stop so I can just breathe.  Friends say, it'll take at least a year for life to be normal.  This is true.  But, it's a new normal.

A new normal says, all it takes is a car to drive by or the scent of your favorite cologne, or even a smile or hello to feel that gut wrenching pain that brings it all back.  I saw your favorite suit in Pennys or tools at Home Depot.  I smelled your favorite perfume in Macys or found your favorite shoes in Dillard's.  I wore your best pearls for a special occasion.  I read Matt 7:12 out of your old bible to my daughter last night. 

A matter of seconds is all it takes to bring it all back again...Another loss and you are reliving the pain all over AGAIN!

People say it gets better with time, but does it?  The holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries.  All the firsts without ____.  All the days without _______.  I cannot count the days, the hours, the minutes, or the seconds that you've been missed.  I cannot even count the tears. 

So if I appear to be happier than I should be or laugh at jokes that aren't really all that funny, it's because I love laughter.  I love the sounds it brings, the giddy feelings, the tears, and the relief.  I especially love the light that shines in the eyes of the one who truly laughs. 

But...

If I appear distant when you see me, it's not you.  It's me.  I am remembering and it's taken my thoughts away.

If I appear sad, it's okay.  I am having a moment.

If I stare at your family.  I am in awe and really miss so much of mine. 

Although my heart will break again, I am reminded of my God and how BIG HE IS!  There is peace in Him.  We are able to go on in this life because we know there is life to come.  We know our loved one is okay and that one day..one day, we shall meet again.

My eyes are blinded by my tears.  Each day I beg for your help, O LORD; I lift my hands to you for mercy (Psalms 88:9 NLT)

                                                                            **JourneywithJennifer