predestined for adoption: i'm a daughter, not a slave

A few thoughts from our sermon on Sunday...

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
Ephesians 1:4-8

Knowing and acting as true sons/daughters of God will experience a depth
of relationship with Christ and one another that mere “slaves” will not.

If you know and act as an adopted child of God you will:
1. Be fearless and have powerful Freedom in your life, work and play.
Rom. 8:15
2.You will know you have Full Access to God and pray about everything.
Rom. 8:15
3.You will live out of the abundant wealth of your Future inheritance in Christ.
Rom. 8:19-23
4.You will have a graceful handling of trouble in your life. Heb. 3:11,12
5.You will have the confidence and assurance of Christ’s acceptance.

Have you ever been sitting in church listening to the sermon and feeling like the Pastor is speaking directly to you? Its as if the Pastor got in your mind/heart, and learned what you have been struggling with and decided to preach on that very thing just for you....? Well, that was my experience this week.

I have some very serious false ideas/views of God's character. A.W. Tozer says, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” I agree with that statement. I think that our view of God effects the way we think about everything else in life... it effects how we live life. So now that I realize that I have been believing lies about God... and I realize how its effected me.... now what? I've lived in these lies for so long... how do I change my way of thinking to the truth? I know its only by the working of the Holy Spirit. John Piper says, " We are utterly dependent on the Spirit to make the promises of God more desirable to us than the promises of sin. And for that vital eye-opening, heart-changing work we pray every day." When those lies are ruling my head and heart, I'm pleading with the Holy Spirit to remind me of who he really is, and begging him to prove my false ideas of him to be wrong. I need him to remind me that he chose me before the foundation of the world... that in love he predestined me for adoption so that I could be his daughter.... and to remind me of the forgiveness and grace that he lavished on me. Most of all, I want to know that no matter how good/amazing/beautiful God's gifts are, that the best gift is the gift of himself.

weary but hopeful...
jess

vanderpool wedding favs

These are a few of my fav pics from my first wedding shoot. Man, I worked my tail off and was exhausted afterward! So glad that I had a friend there to help me, as well as my husband. I did the best that I could considering some of the photo spots were not ideal... so overall I'm pleased with the pics. Hope you enjoyed looking at them! :-)

hello world

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:32

Hello there world! It has been a while since we have chatted! I have missed this place. Life has in a way seemed really crazy and hard and in the same instance rather mellow. On September 12th I came down with sudden onset Pneumonia... what I mean by that is this: I was sitting in church and all the sudden my chest started hurting (no stuffy nose, coughing or anything like that) and just like that I have pneumonia. The next day I go to the Dr. and she gives me an official diagnosis and sends me home with medication. I wake up Tuesday morning in excruciating pain and so we head to the ER where I spend the next 17 hours. The Doctors start wondering if my pneumonia diagnosis is accurate and so they begin to do some tests. At first they are thinking I might have a kidney stone, kidney infection, hole in my lung... after ruling all of those out they really think that I might have a blood clot in my lung or a rare case of atypical pneumonia. After all of the tests they give me a final diagnosis of atypical pneumonia. Here we are almost a month later and I am STILL recovering. In fact this is really the first week in which I have been able to stay out of bed and go places. So when I say things have been crazy and hard- they have been. And when I say things have been mellow- they have been because in all the crazy hard parts all I've been able to do is lay around.


So in the midst of all this hard, crazy, mellowness God has been doing some construction in my heart. While in the ER I was so disappointed in myself because I felt like I was failing at trusting in God. When I got home, I was disappointed in my lack of trust, in pain, scared that I wasn't healing properly, depressed, lonely, and instead of talking to God about all the thoughts and feelings that were going on in my mind, I tried to distract myself with TV and movies. God wasn't going to let me keep on doing that though so he used my husband to kindly urge me to seek God and listen to God. Thats what I have been trying to do..

Some things that I'm trying to focus on with the help from the Holy Spirit;

-the gospel; Christ's beautiful scandalous death that He died for me
-feeling/experiencing Christ's love
-God delights in doing good to me
- God is a happy God
- I abide in Christ's love by loving others with the same sacrificial love that He loves me with
- how can I love others through hospitality and generous giving?

If you think of me, I'd appreciate prayer for continuing healing of my physical health as well as my spiritual health. God is really doing some serious work in my heart, and I feel like He is preparing me for something great... I dunno what it is yet, but I know its big! Even with all my doubts and questions I know that Jesus is the Christ... He is the Lord of all and the King of my heart and I want Him to be my most valued treasure. Amen!



Saturday I will be shooting my first wedding. I'm a little nervous but mostly excited! I'll be sure to post some of my favorite photos once I'm done editing. As my body is still weak from being sick, please pray that God will give me His strength and energy to get through the day. I'm a little fearful that my body is going to relapse if I push it too hard, so please pray that God will show up in me in a BIG way. I'd appreciate it.

Well, I know this wasn't the most exciting post, but thanks for reading! Thanks for letting me share my heart and a little bit of my life.

grace & peace.

The Rose

Amen!

My Great Grandfather...

Charles William Bowman
Born February 13, 1915
Died August 27, 2010

The only son of George Otto and Mary Olive Bowman grew up on the farm on Bluegum Avenue, with three sisters: Evelyn, Annabelle and Edna. Along with many cousins, Charles attended Ransom School and graduated Modesto High School, where he received high marks for academic achievement.

As a young man, Charles answered God’s call and surrendered in obedience with that true faith by which lost souls are given eternal life in Christ Jesus. On July 27, 1940, Charles took as his bride and helpmeet Ruby Root. To them were born three sons: Edison, Eugene and Charles Vernon, and they raised their family on a dairy farm that was co-owned by Charles and Ruby and Charles’ parents. His children and grandchildren alike were brought up in the fertile climate of the Holy Scriptures that commanded Charles’ life and pointed to them the way of salvation.

During his lifetime, Charles enjoyed sweet fellowship with the family of God in the body of Christ. He often acknowledged that by God’s grace alone had he been planted there, to partake in precious communion with all true believers across the expanse of Creation.

In the life of this man, there was a fond romance with the High Sierra. Dad enjoyed camping trips with family and friends. The grandeur and beauty of the ‘high country’ beckoned to him in a special way as he hiked the crisp mountain trails – always with certain urgency…always anticipating the next breathtaking view. We know that today, Dad sees with perfect vision and rests fulfilled, in the glorious reality of Eternity; and so which of us would keep him here? Better we say with King David, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (II Sam 12:23)

Grandpa Charles was the all-time champion baseball trainer for seven eager grandsons. He spent countless Sunday afternoons hitting fly balls to them and refereeing their practices. Certainly he understood boys, but he reserved a very tender and special love for his “only-est” granddaughter.

Charles and Ruby recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. We were blessed as they shared with friends and loved ones a continuing faith in the life giving and keeping power of our God. We believe they remembered words that Uncle Joe spoke years ago: “The family that prays together, stays together.” Praise the Lord!

Final years for Dad were peaceful, with portions of each day spent sitting on the patio and meditating. He would often break into songs of praise; “Oh, How I Love Jesus” was so dear to him. Before his vision was entirely gone, he enjoyed the warmth of the first morning sunlight as he slowly walked – mostly by feel – along the pathway beside their home. As his eyesight and hearing gave way to darkness and silence, Dad was in the constant loving care of his son and daughter-in-‘love’, Charles Vernon and Judy. Ruby, the love of his life, never left his side.

Charles is survived by his wife, Ruby, two sons, eight grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, son Eugene, granddaughter Celia, and great-granddaughter Abbigail.

The Bowman family extends our warmest thanks for the kind, loving words and prayers of wonderful friends.

Written By: Edison Bowman

date night

dave and I went to Dewz last night for a dessert date. Here is our beautiful, yummy desserts... I couldn't resist taking a few photos with my iphone :-)

I love me some Eilee...

here are a few of my favorite shots from my photo shoot with Eilee today :-)