Dating Jesus?

In the past, I've struggled to know when should I take time out in my day to read my Bible. It had also been a struggle to me to let go of my pride to ask fellow Christians questions. I finally asked my Sisters some questions about their own time to read and pray. I got various responses and it made me curious. Some would read very early in the day, some later, and some later yet.

Then this past year, I heard some people talking about "dating Jesus". I was baffled. Dating Jesus? That's odd. That's not biblical. That's dangerous to the soul. Dating Jesus? What a strange and perverted idea that was to me.

I can't date the God of the universe. I can't date and dump the Saviour of the world. I can't love and leave the One who came to make me new.

I didn't want to believe what I'd heard of, people "trying-out" Jesus. Maybe they thought that Jesus is someone they could try-out. But Christ is not someone they could just date and toss out. That whole thought process is wrong, because with Jesus it's all or nothing. He doesn't do things half way, and those He has ransomed should imitate that.

Now, I am not perfect, and I make mistakes, this isn't me saying that I get it all right, or that this is exactly how you should live. I am only saying what I do and what I understand.

Jesus Christ is the lover of my soul. Christ is the Bridegroom of the Church.

Jesus loves me so much He died for me, He took my sin away, and purchased me. He washed me clean and makes me new. I am redeemed. He has love for me bigger than the world, and deeper than the oceans.

I love Jesus too. I want to know Him and be with Him. So, I have a time and place that I go to, so that I can meet Him.

I meet with Him, just us, alone and private, so quiet that the  birds still sleep and the moon shines gently. I meet the lover of my soul there, same place, same time each morning.

It's quiet and dark outside, and inside everyone is sleeping, except me and Jesus.

I don't date Jesus. I'm already His, and He is already mine!

To just "date" Jesus would not be honoring His sacrifice as it should be honored, I'm not to just "try-out" Christ, but I'm to be absolutely committed to Him. There is no "what-if" clause in our relationship, because our relationship is sealed by God.

I am fully committed to Him, and our time together is far more than a date.

I come to worship Him, study Him, and learn from Him.

He is my Morning Song!

Psalm 108:1-2

"My heart is steadfast, O God!

I will sing and make melody with all my being!

Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!"

Simplicity

The sky is a hue of blue, a radiant rich blue that fades into the distance to a creamy soft blue, like sea foam. No hint of clouds to interrupt the blue ceiling above me, so the brilliant sun seems close. It's much too bright to even attempt looking directly into the fiery intensity. I slowly close my eyes, and take in the heat that bakes the earth as an oven. The feeling from the intense light warms my skin as I grin up at the enormous sky.

With a gentle sigh, my eyes are brought to rest on the surrounding landscape.

The evergreen trees are a dark blue green. Their presence makes me think of Christmas and of Winter's white snow. The vast forest of leafy trees has started to look like an open crayon box left in the sun too long. The greens, browns, yellows, reds, all mixing together into a beautiful miriad of color. The beauty before me was enough to fill the soul with awe.

Each breath of the air brought in new fragrances of the panoramic beauty about me. The crisp smell of cedar's, and the smooth smell of the beginnings of autumn, mixed in was a touch of the smell of a stream's bubbling waters, over all was the presence of the freshness of the breeze from the plain's grasses.

The leaves on the ground leap about like acrobats in the gentle breeze. Doing flips they hurl themselves from their branches and gracefully land upon the grassy knoll. Some travel from their lowly place by doing cartwheels, others leap and bound to a new destination. Each taking care to be tender upon the blades of grass that they touch.

Flying so gracefully free high above was a small sparrow, she dove down and snatched several long blades of grass, as she came up she landed in a tree. Her nest was well under construction. The care and patience she put into it was obvious as she wove the grass with all sensitivity to it's design.

Just below her, on the ground, was a red ground squirrel. He moved with small quick motions as he gathered his acorns together. His ability to climb the bark of the tree with such ease stuck me with curiosity.

Gentle clouds began to drift across the sky's blue canvas. My soul filled with wonder as I watched the Master paint yet one more sunset. The silver lining on the clouds gave way to gold as vibrant pinks and oranges lit up the world about me. So bright was the sun's final glow, from purest white till a bloody red and finally the purple sky began to dim as stars conquered the night sky.

The ordered constellations dancing through the clouds and brightening the night's darkness.

Psalm 19:1-2

"The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge."

Who am I?

As this is the first post on my blog, I thought I might introduce who I am somewhat as well as explain the purpose and focus of this blog.

Who am I?

I am redeemed.

I was an enemy of God, sinful and evil before Him. (Eph. 2:1-3) Yet He came to this world (John 1:14) and died on the cross, where the full measure of God's Holy Wrath was poured upon Him. (Isaiah 53) Then Jesus arose from the dead (Romans 14:9), and asended to Heaven (John 3:13), where He now sits at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12).

I am given a new life (Colossians 3:10) and a new hope (I Peter 1:3). A life in Him, to be lived for Him. I am free in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1), sin no longer has a grip on me (Romans 6:14).

I am being made like my Saviour (I Peter 1:14-16), to shine for Him (Matthew 5:16).

I am an overcomer of all the sin, evil, wrongdoing, lying, and every malice there is that exists against God. No matter the trials in life, nor my own pride and stumblings, no matter what happens, I am in Christ, and nothing can separate me from His beautiful, perfect, and glorious love!

Romans 8:35-39

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I enjoy theology, politics, geology, farm animals, and writing. I am also into riflemanship, music, fellowshiping with believers, and having a good time playing sports or games with friends and family.

Parts of this blog will be devoted to my pursuits in midwifery. I'm sure this will be explained in much better detail in following posts. ;-)


So, why am I blogging here?

I'd like to write out the things that God is working in my life, maybe just to write them out for a record, maybe something might encourage you on your walk with the Lord, maybe this is to be a record of my life so that the world might see just one more example of a sinner who lay's her life in the Hands of her Maker and they might see that He is God.

My purpose here is not to convince you of anything, that's God's job and He doesn't need my help, my purpose is to make you think...because what you believe is from what you think. ;-)


Soli Deo Gloria,

Jessie Bear