They J.O.Y. Experiment :: March Scripture Memory & Christ the Lord

How can it possibly be the last day of February?  

Things seem to be whirling & twirling....

For those of you joining in The J.O.Y. Experiment this is our monthly study on the names of Jesus & our March scripture memory.

CHRIST THE LORD

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

This announcement from the skies identified Jesus not only our savior, but also as Christ the Lord.  The name Christ the Lord declares that He is from God & belongs to God.  The title also addresses His status in similar ways that we address earthly leaders.  And, it tells us that He is not only from God, but He IS God.  

What does it mean to be Lord? 

Lord is defined as someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.

When we declare Christ as Lord, we are saying that He has authority over us.  

Authority over our thoughts, words, and actions.  

WOW!  

 Remember the story of Lazarus?

Word was sent to Jesus about Lazarus illness...begging him to come.

Jesus waited three days.

As Jesus was approaching the town, Martha, Lazarus' sister, met him on the road.

I can see Martha heading Jesus off...broken over her brother's death...

This is how it goes down in John 11 in the King James version

(I get a little giggle of thinking of Martha & Jesus speaking in King James English...it seems fitting for stuffy ol' Martha....bless her heart.)

²⁰ Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

²¹ Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

²² But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

²³ Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

²⁴ Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

²⁷ She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

 It struck me...we don't give Martha enough credit.  We always seem to fixate on the story of her & her sister...where Jesus gently reprimands her.

But, here...in this moment....Martha shows what she's made of.

And, someday, my friends, ALL will proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.

 Philippians 2:10-11

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

 So, this month....let's make Him Lord over ALL.

ALL our thoughts.

ALL our words.

ALL our actions.

 Here is the scripture memory for March.

You can download it HERE.

If you are joining me on this year long journey to JOY, I'd love to hear about it.  Leave a comment or email me at justjilly@rocketmail.com.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

Mardi Gras Wreath : Dollar Tree DIY

I married a Southerner. Like a Deep South kind. And, since we are committed to clean eating & continuing life on the Daniel Plan...there will be NO King's Cake this season.  

So, a Mardi Gras wreath seemed in order.

I purchased the wreath at Hobby Lobby.  It was $4.99, but I used my 40% off coupon.  

The rest of the items came from The Dollar Tree.  My mad obsession continues.

 

 

 Oh, the ribbon was after Christmas clearance at Hobby Lobby too.  

This was also my ONE photo in the step-by-step process.

 I got distracted. (smile)

So, I'll just tell ya how I did it.  You peeps are smart...you'll figure it out!

I left the plastic ON the straw wreath.  So much less mess!  

Wrapped it ribbon & secured with hot glue.  

Then I wrapped the wreath with two strands of the garland.

In between the garland, I wrapped the area with Mardi Gras beads that I snipped apart. 

Then I placed the two masks & crown (I should have bought two...now, I nothing to wear when I clean house or cook dinner) on the wreath & hot glued them in place.

 I then secured the curl ribbon in the party horns & glued 3 on each side in a clump.

I then swagged some more beads across the wreath.  

And, draped some over the wreath to hang from the bottom.

Last, I hot glued the coins on.

 

 And, there you have it....a Dollar Tree Mardi Gras wreath.  

It now resides on the front door...right next to the LSU flag.

Geaux Tigers!

16

 16

My "baby" is 16.

The surprise 10 pound bundle they placed in my arms now towers over my 5'3" frame.

  

And, he doesn't know it...

but, he walks around with my heart.

 

We share the same soul..

artistic

sensitive

dreamers.

 

He is the first to greet me at the door each evening.  

Hugging me....welcoming me....

He is my home. 

And, his last words as he exits the car each morning are...

I love you.

 

My bright & beautiful orange-haired boy, err, young man...

may the talents that have been lavished on you

be used for HIS good & glory.

My your heart stay tender.

And, your soul sensitive to His calling.

I love you, Ry Guy.

Mama

When it all seems bleak

This photo captures how I've been feeling.

Stark.

Dreary.

Barren.

Bleak.

Struggling with feeling a failure as a...

wife

mama

human.

This morning, I spent some time in His Word.

My daily readings had me in Psalm 16.

This is what He promises if we set the LORD before us:

1.  He is at our side.  Not ON our side.  He is AT it.

2.  We will not be shaken.

3.  Our hearts will be glad.

4.  Our lips will praise.

5.  We will rest secure.

6.  We will NOT be abandoned.

7.  He will not let you see decay.  

8.  He will show you the way.

9.  You will have JOY in His presence.

10.  We are GIVEN eternity with Him.

 Oh, my friends....not anywhere....does it say...

ONLY if you are a perfect wife

ONLY if you are a perfect mama

ONLY if you are a perfect friend

ONLY if you are a perfect HUMAN.

Those promises are ours if we simply set HIM before US.

HIM before US.

HIS WAYS not OUR WAYS.

If you're feeling a failure

if you are feeling hopeless

if you are feeling all alone

YOU AREN'T.

He is there.

AT YOUR SIDE.

Let's soak in that JOY that His presence brings.

Let's have happy hearts.

Let's have HIS praises on our lips.

Because we have been GIVEN (not earned, friends)....

GIVEN eternity with HIM!

 

WHATEVER

Philippians 4:8

The Message (MSG)

 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Let's do this today....shall we?

The J.O.Y. Experiment :: Journals to My Children

I love the movie "You've Got Mail".  I make no apologies for it.  It's one chick flick I dig.  A lot.  I like Meg...she's quirky.  I always wanted to be able to pull off her messy "I just rolled outta the rack" 'do.  But, I can't.  I've tried.  It wasn't pretty.

There is a point to all this...remember in the movie when she was lamenting that she never could say what she wanted in a conversation.  That she always thought of her comebacks AFTER the conversation was over.

I can so relate.  

I'm a processor.  I'm not quick on my feet.  I have to digest & stew & mull over before I can relate my thoughts & feelings on things.

And, due to this...I have started journals to my children as part of The J.O.Y. Experiment.  

Each of my three children has a journal.  In it I write scriptures, prayers, quotes, and thoughts.  And, this Christmas...it will be my gift to them.

And, then I plan to do it again & again.  Lord willing.

I'm sure it will be lost on them in their teenage years...even into young adulthood.  But, I pray that those words will become a treasure when they are older.  When I am gone...

When I'm gone...

I've thought about that a lot.

 How will I be remembered?

 I pray that as they hold those journals in their hands years from now...

they'll remember that their mama loved Jesus.

And, that, my friends, is what I want on my tombstone...

SHE LOVED JESUS.

 

 

21

 21

Unreal

Just yesterday they placed you in my arms.

And, you were beautiful.

Everyone says that about their baby, but you were.

A living doll.

And, I loved you fiercely.

We've grown up together...you & me.

And, I have failed more times than not at this mothering thing. 

 I always thought there would be more time.

And, in a blink of an eye...you were woman.
 

And, I celebrate your beauty.
Your independence.
Your creativity.
 

And, I pray...
that you will see just how unique & talented you are.
A one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Loved BEST by your CREATOR.
 

 And, I love you.
More than you will ever know.
Tears stinging my eyes as I type this.
Frustrated at my inability to weave words that would speak to it's depth.

And, I wish you JOY.

Not happiness which is based on the external.

But, JOY
that which is based on the INTERNAL.

May you live up to your name, Corinne Annelise.
Virtuous Maiden Consecrated by God.

May you SHINE.

May you find your worth in HIM!

May you find your JOY in HIM!

And, know that your mama loves you.

Fourteen Days of Valentines

I did something fun this year for my kiddos (& a special friend of my son's)...

A COUNTDOWN TO VALENTINE'S DAY!

Here is a glimpse of all 14 days...

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with HIS love.

John 3:16-17

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁶ For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation be made safe and sound through Him.

I got the BEST. VALENTINE'S. DAY. GIFT. EVER.

The Gunny's flight got canceled & he will be home with me!

 

Thrift Store Thursday

Just a quick glimpse at my latest thrift store finds....

The Gunny was gone last weekend.  

And, I felt that after I cleaned the house on Friday night.

Went to the grocery store early Saturday morning.

A trip to my favorite thrift store was well deserved.

 

A plate for my mama....

 

A plate for me.

I've got a "bird thang" going on in my dining room.  

I'm not exactly sure how it happened.

But, I'm good with it

 

A brand new Hello Kitty rain poncho for a favorite little girl.

 

A huge wood green platter.  Some small dishes in green & white that I'm using for spoon rests in my kitchen.  Peacock blue placemats.  And a couple of red & white dishes for Valentine's Day.

 

Here is the bird plate in its new home in our wet bar.  And, I really promise that beautiful white plate is going to make it to my Mama's house...eventually. (smile)

This weekend, I promise, mama!

(she reads my blog)

 

  And, some pink napkin rings for .69 cents that I hot glued gaudy flowers from the Dollar Tree onto for my Valentine's Day table.  It would work for a fun Spring tablescape too!

 

So, there you have it.  The latest & greatest from the thrift store.  

The Gunny is gone again this weekend.  

Hmmm....