devout joyfulness

I've been reading "The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life" by Charles Spurgeon, compiled by Robert Hall. I highly recommend it! The following quote it from the book, and I just loved it!

We come to a throne to be approached with devout joyfulness. If I find myself favored by divine grace to stand among those favored ones who frequent His courts, shall I not feel glad? I might have been in His prison, but now I am before His throne. I might have been driven from His presence forever, but I am permitted to come even into His royal palace, into His secret chamber of gracious audience. Shall I not then be thankful? Shall not my thankfulness ascend into joy, and shall I not feel that I am made recipient of great favors when I am permitted to pray? Why, then, is your countenance sad when you stand before the throne of grace? If you were before the throne of justice to be condemned for your sins, your hands might well be at your sides. But now that you are favored to come before the King in His silken robes of love, let your face shine with sacred delight. If your sorrows are heavy, tell them to Him, for He can comfort you. If your sins are multiplied, confess them, for He can forgive them. O you courtiers in the halls of such a monarch, be exceedingly glad and mingle praises with your prayers.
-Charles Spurgeon-

Happy Monday my friends!

fight fire with fire

My husband showed me this article from John Pipers web site desiringgod.org
You can view the actual article here: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/beware-the-bible-is-about-to-threaten-your-smartphone-focus

Beware: The Bible Is About to Threaten Your Smartphone Focus
February 21, 2011 | by: John Piper | Category: Commentary

Are apps a threat to God-focus? Yes. But it works both ways. Fight fire with fire.

If you are reading your Bible on your computer or your smartphone or your iPad, the presence of the email app and the news apps and the Facebook app threaten every moment to drag your attention away from the word of God.

True. Fight that. If your finger offends you, cut it off. Or use any other virtuous violence (Matthew 11:12) that sets you free to rivet your soul on God.

But don’t take mainly a defensive posture. Fight fire with fire.

Why should we think of the Facebook app threatening the Bible app? Why not the Bible app threatening the Facebook app, and the email app, and the RSS feeder, and the news?

Resolve that today you will press the Bible app three times during the day. No five times. Ten times! Maybe you will lose control and become addicted to Bible! Again and again get a two-minute dose of life-giving Food. Man shall not live by Facebook alone.

I’m serious. Never has God’s voice been so easily accessible. The ESV app is free. The OliveTree BibleReader app is free. And so are lots of others. Let the Bible threaten your focus. Or better: Let the Bible bring you back to reality over and over during the day.

ode to the neti pot

love. this. thing.

happy valentines to me

perfect roast beef

photo © David Loftus

I tried this beauty last night for dinner. The recipe is from the amazing Jamie Oliver... if you don't know who he is you really need to google him, his style of fresh real food cooking, and try one of his tasty recipes. I have never once been disappointed by any recipe of his that I have tried.
Here is the link to the recipe if you'd like to try it;
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/perfect-roast-beef#

love,
j

p.s.
with the leftovers I'm gonna make beef stew!

Consider...

While spending time with the Lord this morning. I read the following passage from Luke. I hope you'll take a moment... a long quiet moment and really consider the birds and lilies like Jesus is asking his disciples to. If you do, I know that you will get a glimpse of His love for you. I did.


*top photo from National Geographic

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(Luke 12:22-34 ESV)

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
(Luke 12:6-7 ESV)

After reading the Luke passage, it made me think of this song from Jon Foreman. I especially love the first 2 verses.


Your Love is Strong
by Jon Foreman

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Chorus (3x):
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

(Chorus 3x)

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons


Thanks for reading this long post. Hope your weekend is lovely and amazing, and full of lots of special moments with those that you love.

-jess

quick message to ya...

hi friends,

So I didn't realize that I had the settings to where only google/gmail account users could leave comments. I'm so sorry! I think I have fixed that so now you can comment even if you dont have a google account :-)

Have an awesome Friday!

-jess

happy flowers = a happy face

I woke up grumpy this morning. My husband headed to teach at the fire academy and when he came home he brought these happy flowers home to me. Dave is a good man, and I am so in love with him. I thank the Lord for him and the blessing he is to me. Im so undeserving!

<3

Happy Tuesday!