New mercies...

With each new breath, You remind me of Your faithfulness...and with each new day, You mercies shine brighter than the day before. Indeed, rejoicing comes in the morning!
The Lord has continually proven to me the steadfast and unconditional love that He has for me. I pray that He does the same for you.
"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Be blessed today,
Jezz

Power, love and a sound mind...

So, I've been ranting and raving all night...blah blah blah...I need to quit talking and actually do something about it. And, when I tell myself that, is when I quit talking because it's a scary thought to actually do something...to actually open my mouth and let words out that could reveal alot of stuff from the inward parts (stuff that could potentially be quite obvious to some). It reminds me of part of a Bethany Dillon song:
I want to hide/what's deep in my eyes/I'm scared to be known by you/But when I turn my head/and see you there/I wanna be pursued//Gaze into my eyes/and let me know you'd fight/Thousands, for my love/slip your hand in mine/ask me to dance with you tonight/just ask me for my love//
Ya, that's about where I am right now...
It's hard, and, frankly, it's a bit scary to me.

Then, I am reminded:
"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind." ~2 Tim. 1:7
Power, love and a sound mind...so if I live by the word of God and grab a hold of that truth, then there's nothing to be afraid of. There are 366 instances of "Do not fear" in the Bible...I really need one of those right now. Because even though I see the words of 2 Timothy 1:7 in front of me, I'm still not completely grasping the fact that I have that power, love and the sound mind to do all things through Christ who gives me strength. It's that embarrassment/fear of rejection that keeps creeping up into my thought processes. I fail to grab a hold of that and catch on to the blessings of what He has in store for me. But I'm not sure how to get there...maybe it's just taking that leap of faith, stepping out on nothing...to land on something...

Be blessed in the Lord and find power, love and a sound mind in Him,
Jezz

In need...

sometimes I just need to be still and breathe...to take my mind off the clutter, the pain, the stresses, all of it, and just stop...realign everything...then begin walking again...a deep breath...the Lord will see me through...
He is my refuge in time of need.

A final word about the paper...

The paper is FINISHED!!! woo hoo! As I walked out of the lab last night after electronically submitting my paper, a huge burden was lifted off my shoulders. It was incredible. Thanks be to God for this freedom! Apparently, the burden of that paper combined with the lack of sleep from bid night and whatnot had really impacted my composure (physically and spiritually). The first thing my youth pastor asked me on Sunday night was if I was really stressed out with school work because He could see it on me that morning. I am so glad that is burden is gone; I can honestly say that I feel so much better.
Bid Night was great...so much fun. The girls pledging this year are amazing, and I look forward to getting to know each and every one of them! Yay for alpha kai omega!
I've been listening to the Shaun Groves "Twilight" cd lately. You should invest in it; it's really good.
The Lord has been doing some incredible things in and around my life. He is so good and so faithful. Don't miss out on experiencing the blessing of Heaven today!
Be blessed,
Jezz

blah...

The Comm Law paper still isn't complete...but I have no more energy to continue working on it...I guess I'll have to put it off even more. que feo.
I figured out that I can't work on my paper at home when there are other people here. It just doesn't work. I wish I was still in the lab at don morris, or that I didn't leave the lab at 5:30. Maybe then I would've been done...but I'm not...

Comm law break...

*Break time from Comm Law paper* (I'm excited...I have almost one page. The intro usually takes me the longest to do, so I think I'm fairing pretty well.)
Man...it's been a rough week. (I know...it's only Tuesday) It seems like so many things have just tried to invade my peace and joy already. And, sadly enough, I let it do that for quite sometime. Let's just say I was moping around quite a bit this morning...especially during psychology (sorry you guys had to put up with that) But, the Lord really got a hold of me after that and reminded me that He is good and in control. My days can seem like everything's crashing down, but He's right there...right next to me...holding my hand and reminding me that I am a child of God, an heir to the most high King. Is that not incredible? I think it is...the Lord is so amazing! And, I figure this was my challenge; it was my giant that I had to face for right now. I had an incredible weekend in the Lord...so when the week started up (starting on Sunday night), the darts and attacks just started flying straight for me. And, I fell into that self-pity crud of "everything's going bad...oh woe is me." I hate it when I do that! But, the Lord picked me up again and set me back on the path. He's good at doing that :)
Anyway...I'd better get back to work...I hope you have a blessed day!
Jezz

When I think about the Lord...

when i think about the Lord/how He saved, how He raised me/how He filled me with the Holy Ghost/how He healed me to the uttermost/when i think about the Lord/how He picked me up/turned me around/how He set my feet/on solid ground//it makes me want to shout/hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!/Lord, you're worthy/of all the glory, and all the honor/and all the praise!/Hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!/Lord, you're worthy/of all the glory, and all the honor/and all the praise! - James Huey (ephesians 2:4-7, 2 corinthians 5:17)

The Lord is awesome! Amazing...ya He is.

Think on Him today...be blessed!

Jezz

Comm Law...

In an hour at 7:30-ish, I will be sitting in Don Morris 200 of Abilene Christian University taking my first Communication Law test. I'm ready for this to be over...I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
When 11:00 rolls around (or after I'm through with my Psychology test...which I probably ought to study more for), I think I'll feel a bit better...Free Telecast concert tonight: that's my reward!
Be blessed today,
Jezz

When I am weak...

Oh man...what would I do without the hope of heaven in my heart? Without the knowledge that the Lord takes care of all that I need...that He is in control? Right now, I know that I wouldn't be able to hold it all together. But He is good and faithful to help me through, to give me strength when there seems to be none and hope when it seems to be dim. Most of all, especially right now, He gives me peace...even when the stress seems to overwhelm me. He is my peace. And, that is an amazing thought right now. It's an amazing truth.

It's been a rough week so far...just stressful and tiresome. And, I've gotten to the point, at least I'm there right now, where I'm just mean...and I don't like to be mean. I don't like to complain, but I find myself doing it even now... Irritable and grouchy are not two words that I want used to describe me, yet right now, it seems that I'm falling into that. I blame it mostly on a lack of sleep and an overabundance of schoolwork...but, I find myself trying to claw my way out of this mire. To make it back to the solid ground - the luscious green grass sprinkled with vibrant wildflowers under the Windows XP-blue sky - that's where I want to be again...in what I like to call: hunkie dorie land (spelled with an -ie because it makes it that much more happy). And, then I remember, that I can be there again: the joy of the Lord is my strength. What's better than that? I surely can't think of any stronger, more effective source of power than that of the Lord. That's what I want to strive on...to plug into the awesome power of the grace, wonder, majesty and pure joy that is found in Christ Jesus. There is no joy, no peace and no hope quite like His.

So there's where I stand right now...at the decision to not let the stress affect the condition of my heart, but to press on through Him. "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You." ~ Isaiah 26:3

"But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him." ~ Psalm 37:39-40

May you be richly blessed in the Lord today in all that you do!

Jezz

Wow...

Last night I went to bed trying to comprehend the awesomeness of God...and it just doesn't work. I can't figure it out. I can't articulate it with even the most eloquent of words. I can only experience the wonder and awe that comes with the revelation that God truly is astounding. And for me to try to relay that feeling and that experience to you with only the words that can be uttered out of my mouth and backed by human understanding is impossible. I can only urge you to search for that which is amazing in Him, that which leaves you speechless...for He is truly awesome.

"Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast." ~Psalm 33:8-9

Sudden change in subjects...It's Monday: One test down, three to go and a paper (the paper to end all papers) to write...this week will be tough, but by the grace of God I can make it through. I took a break from reading today...my eyes glazed over after two hours of non-stop Communication Law bliss...and went to the fair...woo hoo! Yay for cajun boil and fudge...I think I ate too much; my stomach is screaming profanities at me...but it was good!

Happy Birthday to my Mommy tomorrow!

Be blessed in the Lord today,
Jezz

The beginning...

So, here I am...at the new "pad" or whatever. Diaryland was good for a season, I guess.

Anyway...this week is full of tests! And, it's rough...but, I think I'll make it through. By the grace of God, I know I'll make it through.

The first game of the season (for YBP purposes) was Saturday...the day drained all the life-giving energy out of me. After my seventh appearance in the West Texas Fair and Rodeo parade, some studying and the football game, my Happy Meal at McDonald's just couldn't give me that extra boost that I needed to do some more studying...instead I fell asleep like a little child in my warm (too warm) bed. Nevertheless, it was a good day...it was great day, in fact. I thoroughly enjoyed it...void of stress, heartache and the sense of failure (that's not cool...ever).