Only if I let you =)

  No one can steal your joy unless you give it to them. True. However, a horribly negative attitude can be a hard thing to overcome. I spent today listening to how everything I had to say was lame and my opinions stupid. And I was enlightened of these facts in front of my clients and other staff. Everytime I began a conversation it was quickly turned back to and taken over by this person. The problem was not mine but his,but man, an eye roll just says a million times over how absolutely irritating and insignificant they think you are. Well, about 3 this afternoon I took my break and prayed, and prayed, because this person was stealing my joy and making me look foolish. God clearly said to my heart, "He's making himself look foolish and he isn't stealing your joy you're giving it up." So out loud I asked God to bind the hands of Satan, and asked God that where there was pain, hurt, easily offended, easily angered, instead there would be the Holy Spirit. Love, peace, joy, slow to be offended or angered, and confident in my role as a princess to the one true king. I prayed for joy and laughter bubbling over. I immediately felt peaceful and lighthearted. I guess you could say I took back my joy! So much can be learned about others by the way they treat you. And, likewise, so much can be learned about ourselves in how we handle it!
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill 

Date night!

   After almost 22 years I still get excited for date night! I feel like a little kid going to the carnival! I cannot wait. All day I think about it. What will I wear? Where will we go? I am so excited to have my beloved all to myself. He is Rick, Jill's hubby and best friend and fellow weirdo. He is not Daddy, not Rick the programmer, not deacon Rick. Nope he is just mine... for the night anyway. We talk and laugh, we go have a nice dinner and conversation. We don't worry, but we do dream together. Tonight we talked about how we could turn our house into a dream home. All the amazing things we would do if money was no issue. We dream about where we would go if money was no issue. We dream about what our boys will be one day. And we talk about where God will take us. And we are refreshed and renewed. We fall back in love and we need it!
   I invest in my marriage during these times. I respect that man! Wives don't talk about him as though he were a failure. He can't do anything right! He's so selfish! And the worst for me, He's such an idiot! Well he chose you sister, so he can't be too stupid. Right? Remember the good things about him. What did you fall in love with? Was it his smile? Was it his deep voice? Was it the way he held the door for you? For me one of the first things I fell in love with about my husband may seem really small to you, but to me, a girl who had been raised on negative speak and was fluently speaking it myself, it was his reprimand saying, dang Jill don't be so negative. Yep that's no biggie, I get it. But for me, that was huge! Think the best of people and yourself. Hmm, simple enough right. But, if you've never been given an example of hope and positivity, it can be life changing. But that's not all, if you ask my husband what some of his favorite things about me are,  he will tell you,that I am bigger than life, that I feel big and I put myself out there, my laugh and my sense of humor, that I'm smart and kind. Wow, when you've seldom heard these things about yourself... well scripture says it best, the power of our words holds life and death, and he spoke life into me. Before I ever knew the love of a savior, he showed me a glimpse of unconditional love. And led me to the cross, to meet the lover of my soul. And I love him for it!
   Husbands be to your wives what Christ was to the church. He gave her all! He did not say I have work to do. He did not say I'm just so busy with life. Get the door for her. Do not let her carry a heavy load when you can help her. Do not put your needs ahead of hers, because Christ never did! Love her and hold her in high esteem. Lift her up when in her company, and when you are with others. Always be in her corner, and she will do the same for you! Love one another! It's that simple.
  God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill
  

However you get there...

   I have never been one to argue scripture for scripture with anyone. I know the beautiful stories and truths contained within it's pages. I struggle with the addresses =). I have been a lover of the word for years now. It was an introduction to a most amazing Lord and savior. If you don't know Him, get in the word. It is a comfort to me. It is a bolstering and a strength to me. It is a recollection of all the times we have failed Him and He has looked upon us with love and favor. We his "stiff necked people." Don't think you are stiff necked? Look back on your history. Or at least look back on mine! I have tried time and again to take custody of my anointing, my calling. I have told my precious redeemer "no seriously, they don't want me there, I think I'll do this instead." I have packed the dreams he laid in my heart away in a box, time and again, and left Him the work of unpacking them and placing them back where they belong. I have taken over all the decision making for my children, forgetting they were His first and He has bigger and better dreams than I could ever imagine. I have been the angry self righteous Christian, Who's main focus was to prove to you that you are wrong and I am right. I've seen Christians trying to prove to others that their religions are pipe dreams and long held traditions trash to be thrown out. Here is my take on it, my sweet brothers and sisters. If holding on to traditions helps you to worship and grow more in love with Him do it! He doesn't care how you get there He just wants you close!  We will all dance with the lover of our souls but no two dances will look alike. As long as you know the cornerstone of Christianity is a profession of faith that he gave up divinity to come to Earth and live a perfect life to take on our sins, and have them die with Him on the cross, and that on the third day He rose again! And if you ask Him to enter your heart and be the Lord of your life you have been reborn. Then it's all good! In fact it's all amazing, the grace and love he has shown to us! That while we were yet sinners, He loved us!   
   One of the things I will say is if your beliefs are different from mine it does not make me angry, at times it might make me sad, but never angry. See God's truths are written on my heart and in my soul. I know them and you thinking differently does not change my assurance in Him. I will not argue theology nor religion, I simply want you to know your fathers love and redemption. I do love all of you and pray God is leading you and guiding your steps.
   God bless and keep you Ms. Jill

LOL...No really do it!

   How funny! What a hoot! That's hilarious! Laughter truly is the best medicine! Through it our souls are strengthened, did you know a smile can add years to your life! It is almost impossible to remain angry when you are smiling. Try it. Plaster a smile on your grill and see how long you can truly be angry. I dare you. You can't! And even though you may not feel like smiling, do it anyway. Fake it till you make it! And before you know it, you will genuinely be happy. I want you to daily remember three things that just make you joyful! Psalm 126:2 says Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them!" Does your affect', your demeanor say about you the Lord has done great things for them? I'm not just talking to you brothers and sisters, I'm talking to me.
   So three things that make me joyful: 1. I am forgiven! I am redeemed and I am beloved! If you don't know the Love of Christ, you will never know true joy. 2. I live with my best friend! Rick and I get to have a slumber party every night, and I get to laugh and be completely nuts with him all the time. I really do think he's the funniest person I know, most of the time. Rick and our boys and I have a very weird sense of humor and I am thankful for their weirdness! 3. I have a set of girlfriends who are HILARIOUS. They make me laugh and sometimes snort! They are fabulously funny! And I am grinning just telling you about these wonderful blessings!
   So try not to take yourself or your circumstance too seriously. You know the end of your story just like I know the end of mine. WE WIN! And don't tell me God doesn't have a sense of humor, he made me and you ;)

Loving Delivery

   Friends, please when sharing your message of Christianity do so in gentleness and love. 1Corinthians13:13 and now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is Love. Not the greatest of these is passion or power. Not the greatest of these is fire and brimstone. Nope! You will never scare someone into a true love relationship with Christ. You can only come to love some one by way of love. I've heard people say I'm so frustrated don't they know they'll go to Hell. Sorry if they don't like my delivery. Doesn't sound sorry to me brothers and sisters. Sorry comes from sorrow and regret for what was done. Sorry usually trys to change its ways.
   I have no doubt that these people want others to come to Christ, and know an overwhelming love relationship with Him. However, I doubt that anger or frustration will ever be a catalyst to a true heart change. I have always been of the belief that you can love on someone and give them a glimpse of God. I do not believe in reminding them of what they've done and shaming them for not getting there soon enough. Friends remember THEY ARE LOST!
    My loves I tell y'all this not to chastise you. I love you and want your testimony to bring more and more lost souls to the kingdom. It's a hard thing to tell people of God's unconditional overwhelming love and redemption with a harsh tongue or spirit. It's kinda like a screamo love song its hard to hear the words for the delivery. Blessings to all of you and thank you for your willingness to tell others about Him. I pray empathy and Love will guide all our conversations.
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

Unashamed to call me your own!

   I'm your beloved! Your creation! And you love me as I am. You've called me chosen for your kingdom, unashamed to call me your own. I'm Your beloved! Man I love this song! I adore the message. Unashamed to call me your own! Do you get that guys? He is a proud poppa! Telling people do you know my baby girl or boy? They are my beloved. I created them in just this way.
   Friends, thank you Jesus for the amazing gift of a fathers love! I had never known this kind of love till Jesus found me. I LOVE TO BE LOVED! It makes me a better person. It makes me desire to be obedient, and when I fall, to rise again. And now that I know the love a mother feels for her children, I know the overwhelming pride and wanting the very best and expecting the best from these precious little people. And God's love is ten fold more than ours will ever be. When you find yourself fallen in your sin and you think well he'll never forgive me for this one. Just think what could your children ever do that would make you say that's it I'm done? I know the answer for me is nothing. There is nothing they could do to lose my love. And daughter or son there is NOTHING you can do to forfeit the love of your father!! NOTHING!! Will he be hurt or disappointed? Yes. But He will be so much more disappointed if you distance yourself from Him or fall into self destructive behavior. He ALWAYS desires relationship with you. And like any parent he is still carrying around your picture in His wallet and your artwork is on His fridge! He loves you as you are! And He is unashamed to call you His own!! His love is extravagant and overwhelming Bask in it!

Do you see what I see?!

   Isn't it amazing how another's opinion can help to move us forward or bring us to a full stop. I know it's happened for me in my own life. And I've seen it in the lives of others. I love when a kid who has been labeled as rebellious or "bad", is given new life in the eyes of an important (to them) adult. I have been working with kids since my firstborn was little and we began teaching mission friends. We found that a lot of times when good meaning adults want to help you out they will tell you the history of these "problem kids". I found I wanted to raise the opinions of these kiddos not only in the eyes of others, but in the way they saw themselves. I have often talked about the bar. About meeting it where it stands. About not lowering it to meet where we are. I have found that time and time again, these precious little people will rise to the occasion. They want to be everything they can. See I believe we are born with an opinion of who we are and what we can accomplish. I believe it is God given. See God does not create us to "get by", to be "enough" or "OK". He creates us to shine! He has fabulous plans for us, for our lives! Yet, we allow ourselves to be talked out of it. What?! We allow ourselves to believe the words of others as more important than the words of God.
   So I simply choose to remind these sweet kiddos of the amazing plans their father has for them. God will quickly bring to light their strengths! This kid who can quickly turn a room into a chaotic circus, is actually a very gifted leader! This kid who cries easily and is so easily offended, is a perfect candidate to become a big sister or brother in your ministry family. They are often the ones who because of their soft hearts and Kind ways can mentor smaller ones and help with conflict resolution in their peer group. And the one who is quiet and shy actually wants to be loved and recognized as a special child of God and important for their role.
   Recognize everyone has a special role to play. And it is not the role we create for them! See them as their heavenly Father does!
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

And He talks with me =)

     I wake up and pray every morning before I ever step out of bed. I have to, see, we are planning mine and my families day. He is reminding me of promises he's made to me time and again. Speaking into my soul that he loves me, he forgives me, and we will start brand new this morning. I speak His truths aloud because I am a strong believer that our spoken words hold power. Almost every morning I thank Him for His favor and for making my pathways straight and opening hearts and supernatural doors to me that should be closed. I proclaim the same over my husband and my kids and I encourage them to do the same. I am always reminding them and all those I love not to speak their own defeat. "I am so fat." "I'll always be broke." "Things will never change for me" Instead say, "I have all the tools I'll ever need to lose this weight." "God is turning things in my favor even as we speak." "God has good plans for me. Plans not to harm me but to prosper me." I pray over my two boys every morning before school, and I hope that they will carry this same practice into the lives of their own children. I want them to have a legacy of love and relationship and power in being a part of a royal priesthood. I  mean can you imagine having a father who is a kind and loving King. Ruling over His people with Mercy and grace, equipping them for any and every battle and then not taking advantage of that. He has told us throughout scripture the power of our prayers and spoken words. So talk to Him often and through out your day. Let your Father be the first one you speak to in the morning and the last conversation at night. Till it's so second nature you find yourself doing it without even realizing it! This is a true prayer life.
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

How did we get here?!

   I am a bit of a chameleon. I can conform to any situation and I have a very eclectic group of friends. From the upper echelons of society to my trailer park true blues ;-) I have very little difficulty maneuvering between these groups and think they are so much more alike than they even realize. I love hearing peoples histories and knowing their backgrounds. Isn't it funny the picture of someone can be so two dimensional to us until we begin to dig a little deeper. I will always remember one night arguing with a woman about the correct way to discipline some kids we were working with. I told her I don't want to lower the bar because they will meet this lowered expectation. She promptly said to me "You don't know anything about these kids. I come from where they come from, we weren't born with a silver spoon in our mouths like you!" She had plenty more to say to me that evening, but I don't remember it all. I remember standing there thinking who is she talking about and who does she think I am. I realized she had a very skewed opinion of me, and I began to wonder, how many times have I set up a background story for someone in my path never caring to "verify the facts". And I have to admit it happens more often than I realized. I know it's easier to decide that the one who has hurt you in some way is the bad guy in a Disney movie. But it brings me back to a study I did that spoke to this. It said meanness has a history. Amen! I know mine always has. Oh yes, I've told you on several occasions, my mean girl is tough, and I am constantly having to subdue her. See in her day she served a very necessary purpose. She protected me and defended me when no one else did or would. However, in my life today I have very few "real" threats but she continues to look for them at every turn, and I continue to rewrite peoples stories so that I am the good guy and they are the bad guys. I hate admitting this! I am changing, thank you Lord! I have begun to say to myself "See them how God sees them. Remember, they have a background just like you." Meanness has a history, and it is often a hard one. Remind yourself what it took for them to survive this "history". And remind yourself of times you have acted out as a mean girl might and forgive. Also maybe take a little time to get to know the background story for these amazing woman warriors of God!
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill

Beloved!!

   Beloved: greatly loved and dear to the heart. A term of endearment. Beloved! I love this word! We are His beloved! This is what the King of kings has to say regarding you His Beloved! Song of Solomon 4:7 You are altogether beautiful my darling, there is no flaw in you! He is the lover of your soul! Wow! Have you ever desired an amazing love story. Your love story was written before you were ever born! He knew and loved you before you were formed in your mothers womb! He thought to himself, I cannot wait to create her. I am going to give her the softest heart and the quickest mind. She will be quick to laugh. I'm gonna give her a quirky side smile and dimples. He knew all he wanted in you and for you! He is head over heels in love with YOU! And no one will ever love you more! Have a marvelous Monday!
   God Bless and Keep you, Ms. Jill