God Honors and Loves Us!

For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba as a ransom for your freedom. Others died that you might live. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. (Isaiah 43:3-4)

It’s real easy to get selfish and forget all about Israel when reading some of the passages regarding how God took care of them, fought for them, provided for them and proved over and over His sovereignty and love.

I cannot say that whole nations have died so that I might live, although that is true for Israel. But I can say that all the saints of old paved the way that I may live in freedom knowing Jesus! They looked forward to His coming! Think of all they endured to pave the way so that we could speak freely about our Savior. But most of all, Jesus died that you and I might live.

Why did He do it? The answer is the same s it was for Israel: Because we are precious to God, He has already honored us and He loves us!

Thank you Lord for valuing our lives! We are eternally grateful

Simply Jessica

Good Reasons to Not Worry!

Image By Syda Productions via Adobe Stock Images (free)

There is not ever a time that my connection to God is lost. There have been no “dropped calls” on His watch. My prayers always get through and trust me when I tell you He answers. I am securely in His presence – ALWAYS!

Knowing how intimately He is involved in my life is a good reason for me to not worry!

Simply Jessica

WE WILL NOT BE CONSUMED!

image by by Phil_Bird – freedigitalphotos.net

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God… Isaiah 43:1-2

Some of us go through things that are very deep and we at times experience great trouble. Rivers of difficulty. Dare I say oceans of difficulty with big, crashing waves? Or those times when you have circumstances equal to a three-alarm fire? However, we can take comfort in knowing no matter how big the waves are or how hot things get, we will not drown and we won’t be burned up. Jesus is our lifeguard and our personal firefighter. We have His word. We are His! NEVER FEAR!

Simply Jessica

OUR LIVES IN GOD’S HAND!

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16 NKJ)

Lord, thank you so much for your love and faithfulness towards us! You compare our relationship to you with that of a mother and her child. Even IF some people had a mother who did forget them, You make it very clear that YOU ARE VERY DIFFERENT.. YOU WILL NOT FORGET US. We are of constant concern to You! Praise your holy name!

Simply Jessica

Lessons From Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman

Steve

I watched the 2017 version (I think) of Wonder Woman for the first time recently. Some thoughts ran through my mind as I observed Diana (Wonder Woman) and Steve’s relationship.

The first and foremost thing that occurred to me was that sometimes people really don’t know the power and strength we have.

Steve had no clue that he was in the presence of a woman who was like none other. He just saw a “woman”. She was a woman but not just any woman. It was noble of him to try to shield her from the war that was occurring. What he didn’t know was that she was extraordinarily equipped with supernatural armor. She was born a warrior. But even more important, Diana KNEW her strengths, but she also knew her weaknesses. Below are a few lessons I took away from watching the movie:

For women: (1) Know your worth; (2) own your intelligence; (3) don’t be afraid to let him help you when needed because, in the words of a poem one of my close friends wrote, “you’re not that strong alone”; (4) when life knocks you down, know you’re GONNA GET BACK UP; (5) open your heart to love.

For men: (1) Don’t be intimidated by her intelligence or her strength; (2) let her know the world needs her and the gifts she has to offer; (3) open your heart to love; (4) encourage her by letting her know the depth and joy she has added to your life (5) DON’T BE AFRAID TO LET GO AND TRUST A BIGGER PLAN!

Not as an aside or less important, but I wanted to share the Scripture that kept running through my mind: Ephesians 6:10-18. LET’S STAY ARMORED UP MY FRIENDS!

Simply Jessica

Semi-Precious Stone Bracelets – Clearance Sale!

I took a detour from crafting to deal with life and learn some more lessons from God. I found this inventory when I moved.

These are on sale for $15-$20, OBO

Drop me a message of you have any questions or are interested in purchasing. Thanks for your time! – Simply Jessica

Hematite/Hot Pink and Blue Black Tiger’s Eye – Sales Price —-“

Rose Quartz Natural Mix

Hematite and Yellow Tiger’s Eye

Blue Black Tiger’s Eye

Faceted Yellow Tiger’s Eye

Hematite and Moonstone

Red Tiger’s Eye (Potato-Shaped)

White Howlite

Hot Pink Tiger’s Eye and Hematite

Previously Posted – But I Needed it Today!

My Father – My Provider

HE’S GOT US!

When I mediate on this Scripture I feel at ease … soothed … relaxed… relieved … peaceful …because I KNOW God stands by His word to perform it.

It doesn’t matter what enemy or enemies we have, God still parts red seas! Our job is to believe His word with all our hearts. Those walls of “water” on either side of us represent those things God is holding back so that they won’t overtake us. We may “feel” like we are drowning, and it’s human to feel that way.

Likewise, the pressures of life and the anxieties that come with them can be analogous to walking through fire. Pressures on our jobs … sick loved ones … caring for sick loved ones … kid problems … financial problems … and so much more … it’s just too much sometimes, and if we get too overwhelmed, we can “feel” consumed.

But because of the Blood of Christ, we have His Holy Spirit living inside of us. His truth outweighs what we may “feel.” We will not drown from nor be consumed by our problems because God doesn’t lie:

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19

Believe Him above all else!

Simply Jessica

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT!

Simply Jessica

The photos are my grandkids!

YOU GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY

Music by Bob Dylan – You Gotta Serve Somebody

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

WHO YOU GONNA SERVE?

Simply Jessica