I really appreciate those who have chosen to follow my blog. I really enjoy blogging and exchanging thoughts and information with you all. I’ve been thinking for some time of combining my two blogs, Loc’d & Loving It and Ivy League Reflections for easier maintenance. My hesitation was because I wanted a better platform for doing so. Well, I think I found it. Over the next month or so I will be combining my blogs and posting them to my new blog page http://fearfullynwonderfullymade.tumblr.com/. I pray that you enjoy my posts enough to join me there. Thanks again for following! Pray and lock on!
Peace & Blessings!
IJ
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Wrestling with God
For about 4 weeks, I have been having lower back pain. I’ve had back pain before that went away so naturally I thought that would happen in this case. Well over the last 2 weeks the pain has been worsening. The last 2 days, the pain has been unbearable. I was going to try to wait it out the weekend and go see my doctor this week. This morning (Resurrection Sunday) I was eager to be in church, when I got out of bed with much effort, I could hardly take 3 steps without thinking I would collapse in pain. So I made the decision to go to urgent care. At urgent care I found out that my sciatic nerve was inflamed. I’d heard of sciatica before but I had no idea what it meant. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve that comes from the spine, across the lower back, buttocks, and leg. When it’s irritated or inflamed it can be debilitating. I was on my way to debilitating today if I had not gone to urgent care.
When I got home my curiosity had me looking up more information on the sciatic nerve. I did a search and a few results included some very interesting references to the sciatic nerve. A couple of search results referenced the account in the Bible where Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32). Jacob wrestled with God and refused to let HIM go until HE blessed him. During the wrestling match, the MAN touched Jacob in the hip/thigh area. Some refer to this area as the sciatic nerve. That information caused me to apply Jacob’s experience to my own.
The Life Application Study Bible (New Living Translation) states:
“Jacob continued this wrestling match all night just to be blessed. He was persistent. God encourages persistence in all areas of our lives, including the spiritual. Where in your spiritual life do you need more persistence? Strong character develops as you struggle through tough conditions.”
Jacob states in Genesis 32:26 “I will not let YOU go unless YOU bless me.”
I’m following Jacob’s lead! I’m going to be persistent! I am struggling through some tough conditions and I refuse to let GOD go! He has ordered my steps and I trust Him in every area of my life!
God, you know the things that I am wrestling with mentally, physically, financially and spiritually! I won’t let YOU go until YOU bless me. Just like Jacob, I know YOU have a calling on my life and an assignment for me to complete. YOU changed Jacob’s name to Israel and made him the father of a great nation. YOU changed my name and I know you have birthed and are birthing some things in me! I won’t let YOU go until YOU bless me! Amen!!!!
What are you wrestling with?
Peace & Blessings!
IJ
When I got home my curiosity had me looking up more information on the sciatic nerve. I did a search and a few results included some very interesting references to the sciatic nerve. A couple of search results referenced the account in the Bible where Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32). Jacob wrestled with God and refused to let HIM go until HE blessed him. During the wrestling match, the MAN touched Jacob in the hip/thigh area. Some refer to this area as the sciatic nerve. That information caused me to apply Jacob’s experience to my own.
The Life Application Study Bible (New Living Translation) states:
“Jacob continued this wrestling match all night just to be blessed. He was persistent. God encourages persistence in all areas of our lives, including the spiritual. Where in your spiritual life do you need more persistence? Strong character develops as you struggle through tough conditions.”
Jacob states in Genesis 32:26 “I will not let YOU go unless YOU bless me.”
I’m following Jacob’s lead! I’m going to be persistent! I am struggling through some tough conditions and I refuse to let GOD go! He has ordered my steps and I trust Him in every area of my life!
God, you know the things that I am wrestling with mentally, physically, financially and spiritually! I won’t let YOU go until YOU bless me. Just like Jacob, I know YOU have a calling on my life and an assignment for me to complete. YOU changed Jacob’s name to Israel and made him the father of a great nation. YOU changed my name and I know you have birthed and are birthing some things in me! I won’t let YOU go until YOU bless me! Amen!!!!
What are you wrestling with?
Peace & Blessings!
IJ
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Stained but Still Useable
For the last week or so I have been listening to the song named Even Me by Crystal Aikin (lyrics to be included at the end of the posting). If you haven’t heard the song and you are a true believer, you MUST find it and listen.
The song has ministered to my spirit in a manner that I can hardly put into words. But do we really realized how much God loves us? He sent His Son to die for our sins! Sins that we had not even committed yet at the time of Jesus' death. God knew we would need a redeemer. But God is so loving that when He looks at us as believers He doesn't see our sin. God is not like us, when someone wrongs us, we see what they did to us even when we say we forgive them. But God does not. Psalm 103:10 says "He does not punish us for all our sins;he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve." Many of us deserve death and even hell for some of the dirt we have done. But God is faithful. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Johns 1:9).
And even when we try to be "right" we still are wrong! Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 64:6 that "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." That means even when we are treating one another right, going to church, tithing, praying, fasting and reading our Bible that we are still as "filthy rags." But THANK GOD that He sees us as righteous (Romans 3:21-24).
Psalm 51:7 says "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
AND He still wants to use you!!!!! Yes, even you! Even me!!!! There is something for each and every one of us to do in the Kingdom of God.
In Matthew 9:37 Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few."
What are you doing? Don't let your scars and brokeness keep you from being used by God! Don't let your guilty stains go unwashed by a Merciful and Loving God!
Even Me (Crystal Aikin)
I don’t deserve, the love You’ve shown
The blood You’ve shed, covers my wrong
Beyond my faults, Oh, Lord You see,
And said You’d still use, use even me
Oh, Lord I’ve tried, to do my best
Although sometimes, I do much less
You’ve called my name and, and I ran away
But still You called me another day
Yes, even me Lord, even me
Though scarred and broken, and unworthy
My guilty stains, You washed them clean
And said You’d still use, use even me
Sometimes I fall, and make mistakes
But brand new mercies, You show everyday
You are my strength, when I get weak
And out of the darkness, You lifted me
Yes, even me Lord, even me
Though scarred and broken, and unworthy
My guilty stains, You washed them clean
And said You’d still use, use even me
Oh, even me, even me, Lord use even me
Though I’m scarred and broken, scarred and broken, and unworthy
My guilty stains, You washed them clean
But You coulda used anybody else, anybody else, but Lord, You still used me
The song has ministered to my spirit in a manner that I can hardly put into words. But do we really realized how much God loves us? He sent His Son to die for our sins! Sins that we had not even committed yet at the time of Jesus' death. God knew we would need a redeemer. But God is so loving that when He looks at us as believers He doesn't see our sin. God is not like us, when someone wrongs us, we see what they did to us even when we say we forgive them. But God does not. Psalm 103:10 says "He does not punish us for all our sins;he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve." Many of us deserve death and even hell for some of the dirt we have done. But God is faithful. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Johns 1:9).
And even when we try to be "right" we still are wrong! Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 64:6 that "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." That means even when we are treating one another right, going to church, tithing, praying, fasting and reading our Bible that we are still as "filthy rags." But THANK GOD that He sees us as righteous (Romans 3:21-24).
Psalm 51:7 says "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
AND He still wants to use you!!!!! Yes, even you! Even me!!!! There is something for each and every one of us to do in the Kingdom of God.
In Matthew 9:37 Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few."
What are you doing? Don't let your scars and brokeness keep you from being used by God! Don't let your guilty stains go unwashed by a Merciful and Loving God!
Even Me (Crystal Aikin)
I don’t deserve, the love You’ve shown
The blood You’ve shed, covers my wrong
Beyond my faults, Oh, Lord You see,
And said You’d still use, use even me
Oh, Lord I’ve tried, to do my best
Although sometimes, I do much less
You’ve called my name and, and I ran away
But still You called me another day
Yes, even me Lord, even me
Though scarred and broken, and unworthy
My guilty stains, You washed them clean
And said You’d still use, use even me
Sometimes I fall, and make mistakes
But brand new mercies, You show everyday
You are my strength, when I get weak
And out of the darkness, You lifted me
Yes, even me Lord, even me
Though scarred and broken, and unworthy
My guilty stains, You washed them clean
And said You’d still use, use even me
Oh, even me, even me, Lord use even me
Though I’m scarred and broken, scarred and broken, and unworthy
My guilty stains, You washed them clean
But You coulda used anybody else, anybody else, but Lord, You still used me
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Word!!!!!
I have hidden your WORD in my heart that I might not sin against YOU. (Psalm 119:11-NLT)
Back in the day when someone would say something that resonated in your spirit, the correct response would be “Word!”
That typically meant….“You are absolutely right!” or “I agree!” or “Good point!”
Today, I have a new appreciation for the word “WORD”.
I am not ashamed to admit that I am in love with the WORD of GOD. I get excited when I open my bible because I am excited about what GOD wants me to know. I share with women all the time that the WORD of GOD is how GOD speaks to us. As far as I’m concerned I need GOD to speak to me erry (every) day!
We learn how to do so many cool things. We learn the latest line dance. We learn to cook our favorite meals. We learn new languages. We learn lyrics to songs. We learn how to use the latest technology. So why can’t we learn the WORD?
How do you learn that other stuff? Practice! By doing it over and over until you have it committed to memory. The same thing should be done with GOD’s WORD!
Open your bible more than just on Sunday. Read it out loud. Listen to it audibly. Share it with someone else. Read it over and over until it sinks into your heart. You never know when you may need that WORD.
What does the WORD do for me?????
1. The WORD is my way! The WORD shows me where to go and how to get there!
YOUR WORD is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)
2. The WORD is my weapon! I use the WORD to fight!
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of GOD. (Ephesians 6:17)
3. The WORD makes me whole! The WORD shows me to myself and points to areas that need to be strengthened!
For the WORD of GOD is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. (Hebrews 4:12)
GOD’s WORD is full of the love and the promises and the plans that HE has for us all!!! Get in your WORD……Word???
Peace & Blessings!
Back in the day when someone would say something that resonated in your spirit, the correct response would be “Word!”
That typically meant….“You are absolutely right!” or “I agree!” or “Good point!”
Today, I have a new appreciation for the word “WORD”.
I am not ashamed to admit that I am in love with the WORD of GOD. I get excited when I open my bible because I am excited about what GOD wants me to know. I share with women all the time that the WORD of GOD is how GOD speaks to us. As far as I’m concerned I need GOD to speak to me erry (every) day!
We learn how to do so many cool things. We learn the latest line dance. We learn to cook our favorite meals. We learn new languages. We learn lyrics to songs. We learn how to use the latest technology. So why can’t we learn the WORD?
How do you learn that other stuff? Practice! By doing it over and over until you have it committed to memory. The same thing should be done with GOD’s WORD!
Open your bible more than just on Sunday. Read it out loud. Listen to it audibly. Share it with someone else. Read it over and over until it sinks into your heart. You never know when you may need that WORD.
What does the WORD do for me?????
1. The WORD is my way! The WORD shows me where to go and how to get there!
YOUR WORD is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)
2. The WORD is my weapon! I use the WORD to fight!
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of GOD. (Ephesians 6:17)
3. The WORD makes me whole! The WORD shows me to myself and points to areas that need to be strengthened!
For the WORD of GOD is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. (Hebrews 4:12)
GOD’s WORD is full of the love and the promises and the plans that HE has for us all!!! Get in your WORD……Word???
Peace & Blessings!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Bless the LORD!
I will bless the LORD at all times. HIS praises shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD, the humble will hear there of and be glad! Oh magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt HIS name together!!!!!!!! (Psalm 34:1-3)
GOD is so good! GOD is so kind! GOD loves you so much, more than you can even imagine!
GOD is so good! GOD is so kind! GOD loves you so much, more than you can even imagine!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
34 Reasons to Thank GOD!!!!
I have far more than 34 reasons to praise the name of the LORD. Since I'm celebrating turning 34 I will share 34 things I am ever so grateful for.
Thank YOU for……(in no special order)
1. Saving me from a life of sin.
2. Calling me into YOUR family as one of YOUR children.
3. Blessing me with two parents who love me and did the best they could to make me the woman I am today. I love them more than I can ever show or tell!
4. Blessing me with 2 sisters and a brother who love me and are genuinely my friends. I love them more than words can express!
5. Blessing me with 7 handsome nephews of whom I am peacock proud. I love them like I birthed them myself!
6. Sending a man in my life who knows YOU, seeks YOU and loves me and treats me like the queen I am. Thank YOU for allowing me to see the GOD in him.
7. Blessing me with real friends who have been by my side through it all. My aces! My queens!
8. Providing me with a family that loves all the way!
9. Giving me direction and purpose to live this life with meaning!
10. A discerning spirit.
11. Wisdom!
12. Giving me the strength to overcome some tough life challenges.
13. Giving me the desire to live in YOUR will.
14. Allowing me to elevate my mind through education.
15. Providing me with the opportunity to touch other people’s lives.
16. Always providing for me.
17. Being faithful to me even when I was not faithful to YOU.
18. Allowing me to see the Motherland!
19. My health.
20. Loving me enough to allow YOUR SON to die for me!!!!
21. My home.
22. Removing worry and doubt from my mind.
23. Removing toxic people from my life.
24. Giving me a thirst for YOUR WORD!
25. Grace, YOUR unmerited favor over my life!
26. Mercy, not doing to me what I truly deserve.
27. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness, self-control) and continuing to cultivate it in me.
28. Ordering my steps.
29. Making me comfortable in the skin I’m in.
30. Making all things work together for my good! The good the bad and the ugly!
31. My life!!!!!!
32. Being GOD!!
33. JESUS!
34. YOUR HOLY SPIRIT!!!
One to grow on……
35. Thank YOU for the best that is still yet to come!
I LOVE YOU LORD AND I AM EVER SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BLESSED ME TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE!
Peace & Blessings!
IJ
Sunday, March 28, 2010
You ain't seen nothing yet!!!
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)”No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”This scripture was dropped into my spirit today and I have been letting it marinate all day! In so many words, it seems that God is saying, “Baby you ain’t seen nothing yet!” He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
We have no idea what God has in store for us! Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God can do even more than we can ever ask or think. As Oprah says, God’s dream for you is bigger than any dream you can ever dream for yourself. That’s good news!
In our limited minds we only see what’s in front of us. Bills, burdens and barriers. But keep pressing on. God has something prepared for you! Something with only your name on it! And it’s not just in this life, but also in eternity. Don't get it twisted, the world as we know it is not all there is to this life. But God is so good that we don’t have to wait until this life is over to see God’s blessings. He wants us to be blessed here and in eternity. Jesus told us that he came to give us a "rich and satisfying life" (John 10:10 NLT). So when things are not looking as good as you would like them to, think about what God is working out for you. Think about what we have no idea about. Dream and see God go above and beyond that dream.
There’s reason to hope! The best is yet to come!
Peace & Blessings!!! IJ
We have no idea what God has in store for us! Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God can do even more than we can ever ask or think. As Oprah says, God’s dream for you is bigger than any dream you can ever dream for yourself. That’s good news!
In our limited minds we only see what’s in front of us. Bills, burdens and barriers. But keep pressing on. God has something prepared for you! Something with only your name on it! And it’s not just in this life, but also in eternity. Don't get it twisted, the world as we know it is not all there is to this life. But God is so good that we don’t have to wait until this life is over to see God’s blessings. He wants us to be blessed here and in eternity. Jesus told us that he came to give us a "rich and satisfying life" (John 10:10 NLT). So when things are not looking as good as you would like them to, think about what God is working out for you. Think about what we have no idea about. Dream and see God go above and beyond that dream.
There’s reason to hope! The best is yet to come!
Peace & Blessings!!! IJ
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