A Morning Lift

Welcome! I'm thrilled you dropped in at the Journey.

Today I'm sharing the Journey's top post of 2021. It's already 22 days into 2022; so if you are running behind, take heart. You are not alone!

As you may know, I've been concentrating my efforts at Jerralea.com but love to highlight previous posts here as well. My blogposts mean a lot to me and I can't help but continue to send them out into the world.

Today I'm re-sharing one of my top posts from 2021. Enjoy!

Have you ever felt heavy and burdened-down?

Contrast those feelings for times when you are light and care-free. The world is your oyster and you are so excited to open it up to see what "pearls" it might have for you.

I like feeling light way more than experiencing heaviness. I bet you do, too.

The best way I've found to feel the shackles of burdens dropping off is when I've spent time with God. I give all the frustrations, frowns and fretting to Him; and in exchange, I'm lighter. I've been lifted up. I've got direction now.

I'm more confident now that I feel I'm under God's watchcare.

I've also discovered the best time to make this exchange.

Yup, in the morning!

I know ... I love to sleep in. It's sometimes hard to get awake; but, oh my goodness, the day goes so much better when I lift up, or offer up, my soul at the start of the day.

There's a reason the Psalms tells us more than once to lift up our souls to Him. If we offer up whatever is bothering us, the Holy Spirit can lift us to a higher level of trust in Him.

Because we will experience His kindness and care.

Make me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,

for in You I trust.

Show me the way I should go,

    for to You I lift up my soul.

Psalm 143:8 Tree of Live Version

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Top post from Jerralea.com in 2021: Do You Want to Be Perfect and Complete?

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I just want you to know how highly I value those of you that make your way to the Journey to read my words! I believe encouraging others with the written word is a worthy calling. Thank you especially to those who respond. You make it worthwhile.

If this post resonates with you, please consider sharing by clicking one of the social media buttons at the bottom of this post.

I'm sharing this post at InstaEncouragments Link-Up

Because He Came 2021- Fulfilled

On this lovely morning when we celebrate when God put on flesh and moved into our neighborhood, I just wanted to take a moment to stop and thank my readers for being on the journey with me. 

I'm on a journey with my Forever Home being my destination, and becoming more Christlike along the way, thanks to His molding and shaping. (It's certainly not me!)

I'm praying all of you are on that same journey, and that perhaps God can use me to encourage you. Just as what God said all those thousands of years ago came true, so will His promise of coming again and taking His church to be with Him forever. 

Maranatha! (Come, our Lord!)

Merry Christmas!

BECAUSE HE CAME ... THE WORDS OF ISAIAH CAME TRUE.

Isaiah 61:1-2 Version (NKJV)

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who arebound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,

Isaiah spoke this approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ.

Luke 4:16-21 (NKJV)

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

There are many stories in the New Testament that prove Jesus did what He came to do.  How could Isaiah have known 700 years before that Jesus would heal the blind and set free those that Satan had oppressed? He knew because the Holy Spirit revealed it.

On this Christmas morning, over two thousand years after He came, my prayer is that you have the faith to accept what a wonderful gift we received ... Because He Came!

(adapted from earlier post)

Because He Came 2021-Defender

If He had never come; who would say this for you: 

BECAUSE HE CAME ... I HAVE AN ADVOCATE.

1 John 2:1 New Living Translation (NLT)  My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

Easton's Bible Dictionary defines the Greek word translated advocate like this:

(Gr. parakletos), one who pleads another's cause, who helps another by defending or comforting him.

One of the perks of being a child of God is you can have a defender, not a public defender; but the finest legal talent ever,  the One who wrote the law. And the one whose mercy paid all the penalties.

Think about it - the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is on YOUR side!

He can approach Father God and say, "She's one of mine; so I already paid for her crimes."

Case closed.

During the month of December, I'm adapting a few of my 2012 series, "Because He Came" posts for your Advent reflections. These are short and sweet, but give food for thought for the whole day.

You can go here to see a list of the original posts in the series.

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You're invited to check out my other blog, Jerralea.com and read my latest post, Announcement: Your Rescuer is Here.

I'm linking this post to the community at InstaEncouragements Link-up

*All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy.

Because He Came 2021 - I Can Follow

What direction would your life have taken had He never came?

BECAUSE HE CAME ... I HAVE A SHEPHERD WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ME.

 

John 10:11 (NKJV)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 10:26-28 (NKJV)

But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand

The bible often compares us to sheep and our relation to Jesus as a shepherd.  The truth is we are lost and don't know where to go without being led. We're notorious for making bad decisions and following just anybody.  But we can know His voice and rest in the fact that He will never lead us astray.  He will never allow the enemy to take us.

John 10:28 VOICE

I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word. Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand.

During the month of December, I'm adapting a few of my 2012 series, "Because He Came" posts for your Advent reflections. These are short and sweet, but give food for thought for the whole day.

You can go here to see a list of the original posts in the series.

~~

You're invited to check out my other blog, Jerralea.com and read my latest post, There's Someone Knocking at the Door.

*All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy.

Because He Came 2021 - Abundance

Have you ever considered how might things have been different if He'd never came?

 

BECAUSE HE CAME ... I HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE.

In 2012, I focused on this version of John 10:10 -

John 10:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

But now in 2021, I want to share The Passion Translation of the same verse:

John 10:10 The Passion Translation (TPT)

A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow! 

An abundance until you overflow!

This does not necessarily mean physical abundance,although sometimes God sees fit to bless in this manner. It means you have abundant life in the things that matter: love, peace, joy and the calm assurance of knowing that you are never alone.  He walks with you in good times and bad.

Why would you want to live any other way?

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During the month of December, I'm adapting a few of my 2012 series, "Because He Came" posts for your Advent reflections. These are short and sweet, but give food for thought for the whole day.

You can go here to see a list of the original posts in the series.

~~

I'm linking this post to Tell His Story and InstaEncouragements Link-Up, Recharge Wednesday, and Let's Have Coffee

You're invited to check out my new blog, Jerralea.com and read my latest post, There's Someone Knocking at the Door.

Because He Came 2021 - I'm New

How might things have been different if He'd never came?

Because He Came ... 

       I'm not the "old" me

When I accept Christ as my Savior, He makes me all new. My focus and my desires in life have all changed. Sure, I might still look like me, but if I still act the same way, I need to go back to the cross and make sure I've really repented.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

~~~

During the month of December, I'm adapting a few of  my 2012 series, "Because He Came" posts for your Advent reflections. These are short and sweet, but are food for thought for the whole day!

You can go here to see a list of the original posts in the series.

~~

I'm linking this post to Let's Have Coffee, Tune In Thursday

You're invited to check out my new blog, Jerralea.com and read my latest post, There's Someone Knocking at the Door.

*All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy.

Seed-Sower

 

NOVEMBER 24

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15 NKJV

“But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest. Luke 8:15 MSG

The seed that fell into good, fertile soil represents those lovers of truth who hear it deep within their hearts. They respond by clinging to the word, keeping it dear as they endure all things in faith. This is the seed that will one day bear much fruit in their lives.” Luke 8:15 TPT

Today, I'm praising God for the Parable of the Sower.

In recent months, I decided my life's work was to be a blessing hunter; sharing encouragement and the good news of a Shepherd who is interesting in all the details of our lives, both big and small.

Now, I want to add seed-sower to blessing hunter. I want to cling to the Word yet share it as well. I know wherever the Word goes, it will not come back void; but accomplish what the Lord wants.

My first order of business is know the Word; because how can I share it, if I don't know it? Then I must seize it, or take hold of it, and begin sowing it whenever possible. Fruitfulness is promised if I don't give up.

What can I do with my life that would be anymore worthwhile than being a seed-sower?

I used to dream of accomplishing great things; but now what fills me with passion is to be counted as a faithful servant of Christ. His "well done," will mean more than any earthly prize.

Praise Posts 2021 are all about praising God for scriptures that are meaningful to me. Currently throughout November,  I'm sharing a scripture that sparks gratitude.

I'm linking this post to Let's Have Coffee and Grace & Truth and Inspire Me Monday