The Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How Of Life: A lesson in Love Part 3

Happy Sunday!

Baby Layla.

Today, we start into a new week. An exciting week for many as we are traveling to and fro and get to gather together with family and friends towards the end of the week to eat turkey! If you haven't figured it out, I am talking about Thanksgiving! :)

I love Thanksgiving, and not only because of all of the great dishes that the family whips up! I love it because its a time that all of my family can get together and just spend time being a family together. Its a time where I can truly count my blessings and this year I am going to do something I have never done on Thanksgiving. I am going to make it a point to start the day off by thanking Jesus for what He is and what He has done for me this year. 

My family.

I have so much to be thankful for, and so does each and everyone of you. Even through the good and bad times, you are still alive! You have been able to see another beautiful day in a land that God has given us authority and dominion over :) It is our choice to choose happiness, and I choose happiness and thankfulness today and everyday! No matter what life throws at you, you can declare to think positive and be happy through it all. I am thankful for that refreshed outlook on life. 

There was a time when I was depressed, 

and did not want to continue my life. I felt like if I left this earth it wouldn't matter. 

My problems and thoughts were drowning me. 

I felt anxiety, hurt, pain and self loathing. I felt that no matter if I took a step ahead, I was always taking so many steps backwards. I felt that nothing would ever change, so what was the point. I didn't know what to do or where to turn. I was so focused on myself and my problems that I did not see what Jesus had in store for me. 

He had a better life for me, a plan to take me from the lowest of lows and put me right on top. A plan to show me that he could be the 

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, and HOW in my life. 

That if I ever had a question or wanted to know the direction to go - that He could show me. 

Oh how I am thankful that He chose me. 

I now understand that I have the choice to take control of my life and situations. I do not have to dwell in negative situations or continue in darkness. 

I can do great things with Jesus. He has shown me that by showing His true and divine love to others, I can be the light in this dark world. 

By taking the focus off of me and my struggles, and lending a hand to a friend, family member, or stranger I can prosper. By allowing this life I live to not be about Jena and her plans and about Jesus and His plans - I can see everlasting life. I can show truth to others, and even when things look hard I can still continue to be a bright shining light to others. 

How many of you enjoy when someone tells you that they love you? 

Or someone does something nice and special for you, just because? 

Or in a time of need someone can have the right words to say to you, to make you feel uplifted and hopeful? 

That is what Jesus is to me. And He is showing me how to take the focus off of me and be that to others! 

Your challenge: 

I challenge each and everyone of you readers to take this challenge. 

Every time when you are feeling negative, and anxious about your problems and struggles. Every time when you find yourself getting angry or upset, or dwelling on the bad things. 

Take the focus off of you for a moment and do something nice or special for someone else. Help out that friend in need, or give of yourself or time to someone. Lend a shoulder to lean on or an ear to listen. 

I promise you, it will make you realize that there is more to this life than what you see in front of you. There is a bigger picture and it all starts with love. 

Hope this is inspiring you and preparing you for a great week!

Have a good day!

-Jena

November Wish List + Lesson in Love Part 3

H a p p y   W e d n e s d a y !

Totally hit up H&M the other day and fell in love with quite a few goodies. Decided to put a little wishlist together. This is something the hubby can access just in case he wants to grab me a just because present! ;) Ha!

uno. leather gloves. Must have a pair of these, perfect for driving during cold winter months in MN.
dos. Over-the-knee socks. Love these with a cute skirt. I think I could pull these off with a baby bump, if not I'll still try :)
tres. Cardi. A preggo girl's best friend this time of year. Cardigans are great because you don't have to close them, and let's face it I have a hard time closing it if I wanted to. Buy them in any print or color, throw them over long tank and skinnies or tights with booties and go.
quatro. Nightgown with slippers of course. Need to stock up on these as they are the best comfort I can find when lounging at the house. I've been opting to use A's large t-shirts as a stand in until I up my collection.
cinco. Knit bon bon hat. Just makes me feel all warm in side when I shop for hats and gloves.
seis. Bought this tube scarf, so far in love and will be going back to get more colors. When I like something, I buy in every color.

A Lesson in Love 

Part 3

A couple weeks ago my dad taught a sermon about knowing who we are in Jesus. It was a great sermon because it discussed knowing that we have favor, having the right attitude regardless of the situation, and understanding that if we love and live for Jesus, He can withhold no good thing from us. 

Romans 8:28-29

"28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, for them that are the called according to His purpose. 29 - For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be firstborn among many brethren."

It is so important to understand that our love for Jesus brings us great benefits. No matter what the situation or what things look like, this scripture confirms that ALL things (good/bad/ugly) work together for our good because we follow and love the lord. This means don't look at the situation! When bad things happen, we are so often so overwhelmed and enthralled in the negativity of it all that we change our focus, lose our positive attitude, and start trying to put our hands on things that Jesus ultimately has the control over. Take your hands off of the situation! Do you love Jesus? Do you trust Him? Do you serve and follow Him? 

Then let Him handle it. 

This was one of the most difficult habits for me to break, because I had always been a control freak. I basically felt that if I didn't somewhat help to influence the outcome of things in my life they would not work out. It gave me comfort to worry about things, even though it was never stress free or comfortable. I don't really know how that worked for me, but I was convinced every good thing happened because I influenced it. With Jesus I have learned that good things don't happen to me because I am perfect, or wear the right clothes, or go to church on Sundays. Good things happen for me because I serve a mighty God who loves me and its because of His goodness that all things work out for my good. To Him, I am His daughter and just like my parents do for me, He does for me because of His divine love for me.

That's pretty amazing! :)

Well, that's it for now!

Don't forget to enter the November giveaway below...

Grace - A Southern Drawl / Meredith - Create That Outfit / Aynsley - Aynsley Ovard / Jody - Jody Beth

Barbie - The Parlor Girl / Angela - Selfless Ambition / Ainslee - A Beautiful Heart / Tori Camille- Thirty Seven Four

Nikki - Fashion On The Fly / Jena - I'm Perfectly Human / Sierra - Life As A Waterlef / Jewel - Style Optimist 

Amelia - The Desert Muse / Nicole - A Dash of Gold

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a good day! 

***Giveaway Winners Have Been Chosen!**

Thank you to everyone who entered! Our winners are:

Olivia K.

Melaney A.

Alise C.

-J

WIWW + Lesson in Love 2

Happy Hump Day!

Lately I have been reminiscing on my post about having true divine love (read here). 

 At 25 weeks pregnant, I often catch myself being moody. 

I am learning that although the hormones are raging, true love doesn't have moods. It works off of principals. It suffers long - which I can say this 9 month journey to motherhood has been quite the change. However, through the journey - true divine love is still kind. 

I was shown an example of how I need to show divine love, from my hubs, A. I came home at night after hanging with my girlfriends. He woke up as I got into bed, and I started to talk to him about my fears of childbirth. He was sleeping, but at that point my pregnancy hormones were taking over and I felt as if even though he said 'everything will be okay,' that he was not being as sincere as I needed him to be.

I immediately blew up at him. Calling him rude and insincere to my feelings. Finally we talked it out, and he apologized for not truly being able to relate or understand what I am going through. The next morning, I had completely forgot about my freak out - as most women can relate! 

I'll admit sometimes we just get worked up, and the next moment we are fine :)

A called me from work as I was getting ready to leave the house to start my day. He said he just wanted to check up on me, because he felt really bad that I had felt that way and wanted to ensure me that he is always here for me no matter what. I felt horrible for the way I treated him, and apologized but he insisted he was wrong and would work on trying to understand the way I feel - even if he was dead asleep in the middle of the night...

grey/black dress. burlington. necklace. heartbreaker. studded arm band. F21.tights. TJ Maxx. Boots. Gifted.

Wow, what a great example Jesus had shown me of how true divine love works. I have often gotten angry with people over a miscommunication and held a grudge or said I will definitely not be the first one to apologize. I have wished bad things to people to hope they would feel just as crummy as I felt. I have showed my love through my emotions, versus showing an unconditional divine love built on principals like God's love. 

I am reminded again of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

What I learned and am working on is: 

Love suffers long, and is still kind - Even when things are not pretty and not going my way, still showing kindness and enduring it with a smile.  It is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. - Being slow to react to situations that I do not like. Controlling my emotions, and not wishing bad feelings towards others.

I challenge you to do the same this week and let me know the results you get with it!

Like the look above? 

Click to Enter my Fall Must Haves Giveaway for a chance to win $25 to H&M, Fall Scarf & Candle :) 

Have a good day!

-J

A Lesson on Love: Pt 1

Hey, Lovelies! 

Today I wanted to start a series on love, in it I will dive into definitions, experiences, and my journey in showing true love in this time. This world has definitely gotten away from true love and it is filled with so much hate and ugliness. 

Jesus came to change it all, and it is up to each one of us to apply His teachings to our lives to bring His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. 

In 26 years, I believed I had become an expert on relationships and love. 
Well, not technically an expert but I have been through my share of good, bad, and the in between. Recently at church our pastor has been teaching about human love vs. divine love. God's is love and He is the truth - so only God could show us what true divine love is. 

See there are a lot of differences between human love and divine love. Many of us have never been taught about divine love. We are only used to using human love - which was birthed in disobedience through Adam in the beginning. God had to send His love to the earth, Jesus, who was the truth to show us what true love is.

Before true love was sent we couldn't have known what true love was.
Sure we know the word love, but our version of love vs. God's is very different. We must be willing to turn in our human love for divine love.

Human Love:

It can be good and evil. It is sensitive, and dependent on emotion. Human love has its own opinions and ideas about things. It is unpredictable. It is selfish. It can be jealous, it can be angry, it gives up when its time to endure. It is bitter sweet. 

Human love is revengeful, its a "as long as you do me right" type of love, it's a "as long as I feel good today". There are many examples of human love in the bible - one example is Cain and Abel. Cain loved his brother Abel and murdered him through anger and jealousy. Today we see many stories of relationships gone awry. Every night when we turn on the news we hear of a death, war, destruction, jealousy, hatred, betrayal, all stemming from a concept of love. 

My college years were filled with a lot of dating, after being betrayed by someone who I thought I loved. My heart longed for revenge and my way of getting through it was not taking anyone seriously. In fact, I hoped that bad things would happen to all the men that had ever done wrong to me. Even in some friendships, I did not show true love - I talked about their faults, instead of just doing them right. With my family, I said I loved them but I only went to them when I needed something, I used them when it was convenient to me - I showed selfish love. 

To me Love, was an emotion. It was something that could be turned on or turned off. If someone crossed you, you turned it off and acted out of feelings. Even with strangers I did not show love, when I saw someone needed help I continued on my way - never looking back.   

Divine Love:

God's divine love is built on his principals and truth. It is unconditional, it does not waver. It is always true and does not fail.  Paul breaks it down in 1 Corinthians 13:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

He explains that love is above all, even for a believer of Jesus, if you don't have love you have nothing. This is because God is love, but not our concept of love He is truth and therefore our true example of divine love. 1 John 4:7-10 explains:

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

You see, God is love and was true love first. He sent His only son that we might live, not because we loved Him but because He loved us first. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 teaches us how true love acts:

4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Love is one of God's principals. It is His law. In fact God is love. And since God is love and truth, he is the only way you can have true love. Love can go through trying times and still be kind, it does not envy others or envy things, it doesn't show pride in itself. It doesn't snap off or go crazy when someone does you wrong or doesn't agree with you, it is not easily provoked, it does not even think of evil. It doesn't rejoice in other people falling or failing, but it rejoiceth in the truth, which is Jesus.

It bears all things, believes all things, hopeth all things, and endureth all things. It never fails. Jesus is our perfect example of what true love is and He never fails. Through Him and only Him can we have true love, because He is love. If you don't have Jesus you can't have true love.

I hope that was a good foundation for what true love is. I will continue to write on this topic and about my own experiences with human love, and how God is teaching me to show and have his true divine love. 

Hope you enjoyed and can use this to really think and apply it to your life!

Happy Wednesday!