In the Quiet

+ J.M.J. 1. Sometimes, people don't want to hear the truth. I said it anyway. 2. True, deep love really is possible. 3. Sometimes, God asks you to let go of something or someone very dear to you, often for reasons that you can't see at the time. I let go of those things/people anyway. 4. I may cry many tears, but it's true that peace comes in the morning. 5. Part of growing up is growing apart, and that's healthy. 6. Making your own decisions is important, just don't do anything stupid. 7. People thought I was still in high school this year and it annoyed me but then I realized that when I'm 40 I'll look like I'm 30, so it's fine. 8. Avoiding an activity that brings me joy for petty reasons is wrong. 9. Friends are invaluable. I'd be in an awful dark place without them. 10. God is number one in my life. I'd always thought that before, and hoped it was true, but I found out this year that it was really true. 11

+ J.M.J. Like a small boat, on the ocean. Sending big waves, into motion. Like how a single word, can make a heart open. I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion. What's like a small boat? Oh, words I guess? It's true that a single word can open a heart. Like a genuine "hello." :) Also, I totally get the one match thing. You don't need much to make a huge impact. All those things I didn't say wrecking balls inside my brain. I will scream them loud tonight, can you hear my voice tonight? It's good to not always say everything that's on your mind. Trust me. Some things are better left unsaid. I think journaling would be a better idea than screaming, but whatever. This is my fight song. Take back my life song. Prove i'm alright song. My power's turned on, starting right now i'll be strong. I'll play my fight song. And I don't really care if no one else believes... Because I've still got a

+ J.M.J. Good morning, dear readers, and happy Sunday to you! How are you doing? How are you feeling? What's been going on in your life lately? For me, I'm just trying to find some joy in my life again. As some of you know, I've been going through a rough patch. This last month has been awful for me. I try not to complain too much, but I'm just being real with you here.  I just went through a lot of really big changes. My work switched locations. I broke up with my boyfriend whom I was fairly serious with. Things that I thought would happen aren't going to work out, at least not how I envisioned them. What's new? Yeah, I guess you could say I'm becoming a little bitter.  I really don't want to be this way. Dear Jesus, please pull me out of my self-pity. My doubts. My fears. My uncertainties. Amen. I said I was being real with you. So in following that trend, I will share with you that this past month has truly been my vale of

+ J.M.J. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. Darkness comes quickly. The Lord is a Comfort. The time will come when you are alone in the sense that human relationships are absent, however temporarily, and you will be without those things which have in the past brought you consolations. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me. Everything in this life is passing. None of it is permanent. All that will remain for eternity are our souls and glorified bodies in Heaven. God does not change, but we do. In our youth, we are beautiful and full of life. As we age, our youthful beauty fades and our hair turns to gray.  I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is

+ J.M.J. The Nicene Creed I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who

+ J.M.J. May I just say, this is not a pleasant post for me to write. Sometimes I am inspired to write something in reaction to an article. This time, I'm motivated by anger. I was in the library recently and spotted the April 2016 issue of Cosmopolitan. Now, sometimes I'll check these out if the cover is decent. There were lots of hair tips promised on the cover of this one, and my hair is very long and thick, so I decided to check it out. There may be hair tips in here, but as I flipped through it last night, my eye settled on an article that made my skin crawl. Featured on page 206 is a piece titled "How to Have a Safe Abortion."  On the photo spread before the article, these words open: "It's not that legal abortion isn't safe. It's really safe."  Excuse me, but I heard Abby Johnson, someone who used to work at an abortion clinic , pronounce that abortions are anything but safe! This was a previous insider sayin

+ J.M.J. Sometimes, life just hits you in the face like a tidal wave and a ton of bricks. Simultaneously.  Sometimes, life hands you lemons. Instead of making lemonade, you can only stare at the lemons, wondering where they came from. Sometimes, life stinks. Like, really really really really stinks. Everything hurts. Loss is real. Holes in your heart seem irreparable.  Then... Jesus steps in. He never left. He was there the whole time, in the background. Waiting for you to rise up out of your grief and pain into His strong loving embrace.  God is always there. Sometimes, I can't feel His presence. Sometimes, I feel like He has left me in the dust to wallow in disgrace and shame. The suffering becomes so heavy that I almost can't breathe. Yes, I'm going through a Good Friday kind of time. It may have been Easter week, but spiritually and in every other way, I'm going through a rough period. Please pray for me. God bless you, Ste