Free From Fear!

I haven't written on here in a while, I do want to more often. I hope I can carve out more time to.  This post is a discussion post from an online course I took this summer. I really enjoyed writing this one and I wanted to share it on here. The book quotes/references are from the text book, Zondervan Handbook to the Bible. Enjoy!

                      Psalm 27 and Psalm 112 have always been some of my favorite Psalms. Upon reading them they reminded me of a trial that I went through in December 2013. Close to that Christmas time, I was dealing with some stress. It was pretty good stress, for an exciting turn of events recently came in to my life. Without going into detail, the stress lasted about 2 weeks. During that time, fear got a hold of me.
                   From this new stress, I was very excited and my heart had a hard time staying calm. So, because of this excitement, I was in a very vulnerable position to be attacked by the enemy, partially because my focus was elsewhere, on me and the present circumstances. So, one night, the enemy made me think about something out of fear, and that very night I had a hard time sleeping. The next day, I started noticing strange symptoms in my body. They got progressively worse each day. One example, was that, I could not feel my face. Christmas night was when it peaked and I couldn't sleep so I had to have my parents read Scripture to calm me down so I could sleep.
                 I went to the ER, but they could not find anything wrong, despite what I was feeling. Through that time God was faithful. The fear left because of my parent's prayers. After that two weeks ended, I was feeling better. I was still recovering from residual fear and would listen to sermons about God's love casting out fear. He also gave me many verses.
                Psalm 112 was the one that God used powerfully in my life to totally dispel fear and gave me truth that I did not have to fear. Psalm 112 is a description of who we are as believers. It talks about the righteous and the blessings they receive. Thankfully Christ has made me righteous. The verse that God used to speak to me was, "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." Which is verse 7. That verse comforted me and let me know that I did not have to fear anything. Evil tidings could be any form of fear that tries to get a hold of you. Whether it be storms, chemicals, or terrorists. Whatever it may be, God says we do not have to fear. I love how are text states, "They can withstand life's knocks, secure and unafraid." (Alexander 385)
              What I learned from this trial, and my take away is, do not let fear get a hold of you. By all means, do not dwell on fearful thoughts. Living in fear as I experienced, can mess you up, in your mind, and even your body. I realize today that many of the symptoms were psychological. I share this to let you know what fear can do and I pray for you all to remain in peace. I will close with Psalm 27 verse 1, "The Lord is the light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" I am glad I know where I can turn to in trouble (Alexander 369). Praise the Lord for freeing me from fear. I am happy to be alive.


 (I do want to leave you all with another verse dealing with this subject.)  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nether let it be afraid." John 14:27 KJV

Joy to The World Part 3

             "... And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His Love..."


                    God's love is so deep and wide that we can't even fully fathom it! The line "wonders of His love" truly expresses that there is so much to that love! A love so deep and unconditional that God was willing to send His only begotten Son to die for us and purchase His perfect salvation for us and give us eternal life! He loves us with an everlasting love! Nothing we can do when we are His children can ever stop or separate us from that perfect love. I love how He loves us so perfectly and accepts us for who we are and truly cares about our every need. I am so thankful that God is our Daddy and that He cares for us far beyond any one of us can. He knows everything. We can rest in His love knowing that He has got whatever we are concerned about and is taking care of it. He has our best interest at heart!
              His love is so personal and individual for each person on this earth.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16   He so loved you and me!

When you behold Jesus and see all that He purchased for you at the cross and how He perfectly threw out all our sins past, present, and future. The divine exchange took place in that we get Christ's righteousness and everything Jesus deserves. What Jesus did on the cross is so powerful, we can't help but love Him when we behold that perfect love. There is no greater love!   "We love Him because HE first loved us! 1 John 4:9

            One could go on talking and rejoicing in His love. (This blog is called Rejoicing in His love) His love and grace is like an endless deep ocean. So much of His love and grace to discover.  I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at that for now. I just love those lines, wonders of His love! Think... "wonders"  Jesus is so wonderful! God is love!  People will fail us in life, but I know that my Jesus will never fail me and loves and knows me like nobody else can.

Joy to the World Part 2

  "And makes the nations prove...  "The glories of His righteousness..."


                       This line of the song truly makes me truly happy! I am so grateful for Jesus and His righteousness! I am so happy that as I go through life I don't have to strive. I also don't have to wonder  if I am pleasing God. When you know His truth and love and who we are in Christ and the power of what He did for us, you can't help but follow Him and live for Him and love Him! You produce the fruits effortlessly! I am so thankful for His righteousness that He clothed me with it when I received Him! Divine exchange!  I love it that when we as believers make mistakes I can rest knowing that I am still the righteousness of God in Christ! I love how when God looks at me He sees Jesus!  I am overjoyed that God brought in everlasting righteousness!  Another amazing this is the robe that the Father gave his son in the prodigal son story is a picture of the robe of righteousness.

                 I am ever grateful that God has completely forgiven me and purged all my sins away and gave me His righteousness! He did it so justly and righteously!  I can see why "Joy to the World" really does bring joy!

                          "For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ."  Romans 5:17

Joy to the World: Reflection of Song Lyrics! Part 1

    I haven't written on here in awhile, and it would be great if I could post more often. So I want to because blogs are a great place to put your thoughts down! December is such a wonderful reflective time for me so here I go again with resuming writing for "about" everyday of December!

         
     This series will have different song lyrics from various Christmas songs that I want to reflect about and encourage others with!

            "He rules the world with truth and grace..."

       This statement leaped out at me in this song tonight. We have heard "Joy to the World" so many times before over many years basically through most of our lives since we've been brought into this world. When you really think about the lyrics you realize how this song truly rings out the gospel in such a clear way, especially aspects of Christ in it that are such powerful truths! So, "He rules the world with truth and grace..." Think about it! Grace and truth! Those two are so compelling! Jesus is Grace!   "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14    Grace is not just a doctrine or topic, Grace is Jesus! He lived to die and rose again victoriously to pour His grace on everyone who would receive Him! Because it is not what we have done. Nothing we do can ever earn His grace! It is unmerited and undeserved!  I am so thankful for living under His grace!  We as believers no longer have to be bound to the law!  Another great verse, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:7   His truth that He came with can set us completely free from self and the lies that have entangled us! For He is the truth! And His Word is truth!  So let's focus on Jesus in our celebrations this season in all His loveliness!  Thank you Jesus! Amazing at what thoughts can come out of a song you've heard all your life!      Since being captured by the gospel and God's love afresh in 2011, this song rings out strong in my heart!

Things I am Thankful For in 2011

1. God's super abounding Grace!!! Hearing the Gospel and not being the same! I have a fresh revelation of His love for me and am completely set free from many things taught before that put me in bondage.

2. God's favour in every area of life! and blessings

3. All these healing miracles that I have witnessed this year that glorify Jesus!  Jaw, Joy getting healed after a baseball hit her head, Wesley wisdom teeth not a lot of swelling, mommy's foot, urinary tract infection healed! Even more to come! And my *V*   etc…. Tommy got healed in his wrist at night in NYC, Richie healed from cancer!!!

4. God's amazing work with my baby jaw, the surgery only 4 hours. The doctor said my faith was amazing(really not mine) Jesus!  Miraculous recovery! Hardly any swelling, extremely fast! He is still working in her! With His stripes I am healed!

5. Not being nervous about the surgery at all. experienced peace and joy the night before!! and healing starting.

6. God showed His super perfect love for me and grace! That totally threw out fear and worry and a peace came that doesn't leave! The true Gospel truly does give peace!!!  Month of love!

7. Finding a good doctor just for the physical before the surgery. And He took care of everything. I guard my heart and He takes care of everything else!!!

8. Many beautiful trips to New York City!!! Fun and Sun every trip!!! :)

9.God's perfect love for me all the time!! Knowing and believing that all my sins are truly forgiven (past, present, and future!)

10. Giving really nice nurses in the hospital! Really good hospital experience!  A Christian nurse prayed and escorted me. Mary Ellen was the first nurse let me sleep. Phil, and S ? in a yellow shirt saw that jaw hardly has swelling and was expecting to see worse, but didn't.

11. Mema went to heaven she is alive and well with Jesus!!

12. Being able to have the opportunity to go be a chaperone on the PA mission trip and having a great time. and impact kids.

13. Getting the new house God provided a way to get the bigger house and He gave it to me! I wanted it! restful increase! also gift from Mema.

14. Vicki and Greg getting 418!!!! Supernatural favor and restful increase!

15. Gong to see Joseph with Mommy and Annie in Lancaster! Fun shopping and being at the hotel!

16. Getting Baby Bo Bo! He truly is ordained to be in this family! Bo Bo blessing!

17. God gave me a song I have been waiting for "My Beloved" during Feb the month of love! such tangible love!

18. Opportunity to witness to the lady next to me in the hospital!

19. At the end of December  10 and Jan. God gave a recording of Christmas from Scratch musical that I asked Him for!

20. A stress free move to the new house! (long, but stress free!)  thank you for the new house!

21. My family

22. Also getting Jet's daughter Charis(a) she is so cute and fun!

23.Helping out with the Spelling Bee and it went smooth and helped out with the Veterans Day Assembly. NJUCA

24. My new room!

25. Fellowship with new friends (Laura Simon)

26. Bo Bo did well in his first obedience class.

27. Aunt Janet and Jill got to come see the new house! went to NYC with them.

28. opportunity to feed cats and take care of neighbors cats. (Diane and Nancy)

29. That the law was nailed to the cross!

30. JESUS!!!!!!!!!!          That I am bold in Christ and complete in Christ

31. Being in the Living Nativity

32. God protected my house from hurricane Irene, no damage and no loss of power





Extreme amount of more! God is so amazing! This has been one of the best years of my life! God loves me!

Christmas Observation! -Christmas Cards

As I was looking at cards in Target one day, (I love looking at cards!) I couldn't help but notice that so many cards I looked at stated "Happy Holiday's!" It sort of annoyed me. This year it seems like I've been seeing this every where and hearing it every where. From Christmas cards to holiday cards. to holiday decorations. Also every salesperson saying Happy Holidays or have a nice Holiday! There were some and plenty of cards with Merry Christmas, but a surplus of Happy Holidays. I am not a big fan of that saying because I think it takes celebrating Jesus out of the day for many people. Even though not many in this world celebrate Him. It also is very inclusive. This season is all about Jesus! Christmas celebrate and remember that God gave His only begotten Son to save the world from sin. He humbly came as a baby. The King! He was born in a manger and had shepherds come. It shows the character of Him even from the very beginning. Throughout His life he was very humble and we should be humble as He taught us to be. HE truly is the reason for the season and deserves to be worshipped this season, on Christmas day, and every day!! for believers everywhere!
      A line in a song from a Christmas kids musical: "Christmas begins/when Christ comes in/ that's where the real season starts/And Christmas will stay everyday if you'll keep Him in your heart!"

So as we shop for cards and send cards let us embrace and be happy with the cards that say Merry Christmas or say Christmas anywhere and even give them to others. Even saying it! Let's keep Christ in Christmas! The cards are much better with Merry Christmas! written inside!

Things I am Thankful For in 2010

1.God being my best friend!

2.God saving me and always full of mercy and is always patient with me.

3.My family

4.My house

5.God's provision in so many areas and faithfulness

6. That I was able to go on another cruise with my family

7. That God had everything run really smooth with the cruise from getting to FL to the ship

8. Reunited with some family members after a pretty long time

9. That God knows what He is doing in my life and is taking care of everything.

10. Him taking care of my jaw.

11. Madison Angeliese Gilman got adopted! Praise the Lord!

12. That God let Mommy and me go to a great homeschool conference and getting blessed in a neat way and learned a lot. 

13. That I got to go to Texas to see my family in July

14. On the cruise God helping me to ice skate better than years before.

15. Letting me find out really great things! :)

16. That Jesus' blood washed away my sin and the Father's wrath completely satisfied.

17. My pets

18. Having the opportunity to go to the small group Don't Waste Your Life in January through April.

19. Estate being wrapped up.

20. The basement getting cleaned up (and still getting clean)

21. Got to know Annie better

22. Going to all the fun lia sophia jewelry parties and having one!

23. Got the new closet in my room finally!!

24. Got to go to Ellen's Stardust Diner again in NYC with my family.

25. That Thomas had the opportunity to go to Camp Melody.

26. Got a new bike after many years.

27. Went to Dave and Buster's after having not been in a awhile.

28. That I got to help out with the spelling bee at NJUCA.

29. That my family got the new puppy Jet!!!

30. For who God is and how He always cares for me despite me getting upset or worried at times.

31. For the Maxwell's that Nathan and Melanie had a healthy baby girl full term!

There is so much more! A lot of these are about what God has blessed me with in 2010. I know they are just fun stuff and other things that won't last forever, but God does and I will always thank Him for the things He did for His glory from past years. Some are so amazing that I cannot forget them. Like God changing my life back in 10th grade. From then on I am no longer the same! He has just been showing me so much all the way from 10th through now. I love to just look back at how He did protect me before I was totally changed (when i was in public school).  I just say Thank you Jesus!!!!!