JESSICA [Marie]’s Neighborhood

Truth

It seems as if the following realities (truths) of God have become unpopular even avoided altogether or even changed among many younger evangelicals. I will list a few realities I do not hear about much in these circles and will not mention what I think the reasons for this are in this post. Where are these on your grid? If not, why not? Jesus spoke of and conducted these throughout his ministry.

Reality 1: Hell (really Heaven also)

Reality 2: Sin (Sinful Living?) Worldliness (Call to Repentance)

Reality 3: Supernatural / Miracles

Reality 4: Holiness (related to Reality 2) Consecration

Reality 5: Judgment (the Judgment Seat of Christ) Read the parables of Jesus?

Reality 6: Gifts, specifically prophecy etc...

Reality 7: End Times, particularly the return of Christ.

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Consistent Christian life

[54]

THE BRONZE SNAKE

Read Numbers 21:4–9; 2 Kings 18:1–8

             They spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"  Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.      Numbers 21:5–6 NIV

* * *

            During the Exodus from Egypt, God sent a plague of snakes because the people grumbled against God and Moses.  The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."  (21:7-8) 

             Hundreds of years later, the people of Judah were worshiping the bronze snake, instead of honoring God who had brought them out of Egypt. When Hezekiah became king, He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.  (2 Kings 18:4) The bronze snake was a gift from God for healing and they focused on the gift instead of the One who gave it–making it into an idol.

* * *

            Father, the bronze snake could not heal in itself, but it represented the One who could–Jesus Christ who was lifted up on the cross for our sin. Lord, keep my focus on You, the giver of every good and perfect gift.

* * *

            "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."   John 3:14-15 NIV

I have decided that I am going to start blogging on my diet updates. i also wanted to give you guys a heads up on the diet and let you know what I am eating. Here is a copy of the diet that I am trying to follow. Strict.

Label Free is for Me
If it has an ingredient label do not eat it.

The only exception is yogurt or kefir (they must be plain though), just make sure it is plain and fat 
free.  I think Nancy's brand is the best.

Guidelines: 
Breakfast:
1/2 cup dry oatmeal (preferably steal cut oats and definitely not quick oats)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup blueberries
1/4 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed

#1
1 cup fat free plain Yogurt
1/2 cup blueberries or blackberries  
1/4 cup walnuts  
1/2 tsp. cinnamon  
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
 
#2
2 eggs scrambled with 1 cup of spinach
1/2 cup brown rice  
1 apple
 
#3
Quinoa cereal with fresh fruit
 
#4
Apple, plum, peach, nectarine, watermelon, cherries , grapefruit, pineapple, pear,  
Snack: If hungry during the day have one of the following above.
 
Lunch:
1/2 cup Guacamole  
1/4 cup hummus
Dip carrot, broccoli, celery or any other of your favorite vegetables 

#1
Spinach salad (2 cups spinach plus 1 medium tomato, 1/2 cup kidney beans, 1/2 cup zucchini, 1/2 
cup shiitake mushrooms, olive oil and vinegar dressing)

Guidelines: 
 #2
Romaine & avocado salad (1 large head romaine lettuce, 1 large tomato chopped, 1 small red bell 
pepper cut in thin slices, 1/2 an avocado cut into chunks, 2 Tablespoons chopped walnuts; 
dressing = 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 2 Teaspoons balsamic vinegar, cracked black pepper and 
olive oil to taste)

#3
Dinner:
Chicken stir fry (card deck size of chicken and as many vegetables as you can handle, try to make it 
very colorful:  red, orange and green bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, zucchini, red onions)  
 
    
That is a sampling of what I will be eating.
Today for exercise I went on a 45 minute jog- covering about 2 miles of ground.

If you feel up to it- leave an encouraging comment... Can't wait to hear from you!

-

The past few days I have been dealing with a lot of problems with my family, and being VERY homesick! I am being a nanny for a family in the Army in Augusta, Georgia till Sept. I finally found a church this past Wed. The presence of God was so strong I haven't felt that since masters just a few weeks prior. The pastor went on to say that we need to REST in him. I just started crying. When school ended I ended, I quick my prayer times my quiet times, anything I was stupid! At church Wed I got slapped in the face with LOVE!

This song speak volumes to me that in itself can move mountains!

Running by: Christ For The Nations

I am running, running after you
You become my souls delight
I am running, running after you
Here with you I find my life

This is just part of the chorus. This is my hearts cry! I love God! He's so amazing! I love you all, God Bless

Sorry I haven't been updating my vox. If I were still in master's, I'd have a TON of late time. But anyways, nothing much has been happening here in boring Emporia, KS. I've been looking for a job, but nothing's come up yet. I've been reading nonstop lately for I discovered a book in my bookshelf by Tedd Dekker called When Heaven Weeps. I cannot put it down! I'll be finishing it today. I've mostly been at home, taking care of my family in such ways as: cooking and cleaning since my mom is now working all throughout the day. I'm thorougly enjoying these tasks. I feel it really compliments P. Lawrence's prophecy over me as a Proverbs 31 woman.  

These past few weeks, I've been going to church and have not been spiritually encouraged. I'm better off on my own, but even that's been hard. But this past Tuesday, something happened at youth. Service started at six, so we opened up with prayer time, so I went off to the other end of the sanctuary and began to pray and all. Everyone else just stayed in their spots and began to pray or just stare off into space. I had a hard time praying. I had hurt my best friend Erik in a way no one should be hurt, and now he was ignoring me, wanting nothing to do with me. So my best friend wasn't talking to me. And it hurt so much. I was so broken inside because I hurt someone I cared about so much, and the only way he knew how to respond was to hurt me back. And he did. But he later apologized to me that night, and now our relationship is better than it was before.

But about the service. Worship was amazing! At least to a couple of us. Unless you paid attention the the substitute drummer who wasn't that great, or the lead singer who is also not that great. Or that the music wasn't prepared well. But worship is not about how great the band or the music is. It's about giving back to God all the praise and worship that He deserves. So worship was amazing! P. Israel talked about dating. It couldn't of been a more perfect time to talk about it than now. There's an 'unofficial couple' that shouldn't be dating because it's illegal, and there's people that are looking for a relationship. It was really great. In the end, what I received the most was to focus on God. Which is the word that Michael gave me right before graduation. Which is what I've been trying to do these past few weeks. It hasn't been easy. I've been wanting a relationship and I thought I found one, but I realized that I liked the idea of dating more than the guy. And I ended up hurting him.

But anyway, at the end of the service, we did an altar call and P. Israel had the worship team play some more songs. What happened next was amazing. You could feel God in that place. His presence was moving through us. People were praying aloud and for each other. I had the opportunity to pray for two girls and my sister. It was really weird because we've never prayed together, much less prayed for one another. It was also funny cause we couldn't stop laughing. And what I received the most out of the service was seeing my best friend Erik worship God. It was the most amazing sight ever. He had his eyes closed, his hands raised up and was singing and shouting aloud. He was stirring up the youth and praying for others. A true worship leader. I can't tell you how proud I was of him. He's always been a christian, but spiritually still a baby. I've been pushing him spiritually for over five years but to no avail. But then, that night I saw him as he was meant to be. He was at the spiritual level he should of been years ago. After five long, hard years of encouraging and pushing/getting in his face, God finally answered my prayers. Erik still has a long ways to go, but he is finally taking spiritual responsibility for himself. I'm so excited for what God is going to do in his life.  

Joker_wizardfull copy

Well im sitting in the theater and ive been here for about an hour now...inside. now waiting outside ive been here  an hour and a half longer. im so impressed with everything i see around me. all the people around me dressed up. I feel a little left out. Tonight our generation watches the Dark Knight. I look at this as how people back in the 70s or 80s watched and waited for star wars to come out.
    Im excited about this movie just because of how much electricity has been coming from this film for such a ling time now. Alot of people around me are here because they wanted to see the last film that Heath Ledger did. It is electrifying. the movie isnt going to show for another hour but yet the theater is already jam packed.
    My friend and I will have had been in this theater for roughly 4 and a half hours by the time the movie starts. I have NEVER done this for a movie before!
    A little observation that Ive made about the electricity that surrounds this epic movie (call me naive) but its about the joker. Ive hardly heard anybody talk about Christian Bale in his role as Batman. All I know is that The Dark Knight will make an impact on this summer. Mamma Mia doesnt stand a chance. I see the Joker looking at the box office with this look, like. "tonight...........you"
    I AM THE DARK KNIGHT!!!!!!!!!

   Thank you so much mom and dad! I cant express
enough how much the both of you mean to me! I came to
Masters this year with one goal in mind. I wanted to
know what God's will for my life was. Not knowing that
I would gain so many relationships in the process. I
have to thank Pastor Nathan and Pastor Lawrence, and
my 3rd year leaders Scott and Michael. I want to thank
Chantel, Sonya and Angie! Ya'll have aggervated me to
no end and I would not be the woman I am today without
ya'll.

This year God has pushed me and slapped in the face a
few times 100x. I have grown in so many ways I cant
say them all. I personally think God has taken my
faith and strength to a whole new level in the past 6
months, with hurting my back and having to rely on him
and others around me. Don't get me wrong I'm still
very stubborn. But I have to remind myself that I'm a
process!

I plan on coming back to Masters for a 2nd year and
then joining the United States Air Force in the late
spring of 2009! After Joining the USAF I plan on going
to Med School and becoming a Cardiothroasics Surgeon,
Heart Surgeon. I couldn't have done it with coming
here.

My Life Verses:

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be
removed, Yet my unfailing love for you will not be
shaken, Nor my covenant of peace be removed from
you, Says the LORD who has compassion on you!
Isaiah 54:10

 
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if
only I may finish the race and complete the task the
Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the
gospel of God's grace.
Acts 20:24

Thank you, Destiny Masters Commission
I love you all!