Spiritually Sleepy

Hello my lovelies, I'm sorry that I haven't posted any blogs recently.

I would like to quickly say I that I am going through a really tough time at the moment, I am struggling with depression and anxiety and horrible thoughts. But on the bright side I have God. Unfortunately I don't always think of the bright side.

Recently I have thought to myself;

-Do I really have to go to church?

-Do I really have to get out of bed?

-Why are these people being horrible to me?

-Why is God is putting me through this? 

-Is there any point? 

-Why am I so alone? 

And last night I attended a connect group (study group with some of the church) I really did not feel like going, I had horrible thoughts in my head which I could not stop. People always tell you to smile, it can't be that bad... well the truth is... it's worse. People who haven't been through your circumstances can never understand but the one person who can understand and listen you is Jesus. 

Last night I finally decided to attend the group but I was not even on the same planet as everyone there. I was in my own bubble of pain. I just wanted to break down, cry and lock myself away. I didn't want to attend but when deciding to go I packed my bag which consists of a journal, bible and 2 pens and a highlighter. Which is very organised for me.

During the night I was asked if I had 2 pens to lend to someone for an activity, so I said yes and willingly gave them to people. But when the message was being shared later that night I didn't have the confidence or words to ask for them back. So by me being prepared and bring 2 pens I still ended up with nothing. I couldn't write any notes during the message. I sat in my chair and just stared at my empty paged journal. 

And asked God how am I supposed to equip myself and be prepared by bringing several pens when you knew that I still would not be able to write anything. And I felt God saying, Jessica you were prepared in body but you are not prepared in spirit. You are being unfaithful by not trusting me and letting me provide you with the correct tools in which you need to study the message. I felt God saying talk to me when planning because I am the senior planner and your plans go through me. This made me quite frustrated but I turned my voice recorder on my iPhone and today I listened to the message a friend had shared and I felt little better because I prayed and prepared myself to absorb the word and just open myself up bit more.

My goal now to focus on daily is to be spiritually awake and to be faithful by trusting in what god has promised me and trust that he will prepare me for the journey ahead which I know is going to be worse than this. 

I urge to today to read the following scriptures and meditate them in your own bibles. Be awake. Don't be fast asleep in your own judgement. 

1 Peter 1:13  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:14 For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 

Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Have a blessed week 

Be Well

Jessica Louise 

Founder & Head Writer of BFW

A Message to Kenya

Hello my lovelies! 
Recently I've had a lot of views from Kenya and now a lot of messages from Kenya! I am replying to all your supportive messages right now and also your advice seeking messages. Remember to stay strong in your faith and don't let your situations determine your faith. Your faith is a rock and your situations are the weather. Sometimes the weather may rain on your rock but your rock still remains. Love you all speak soon. Be Blessed.

Jessica Louise Xoxo 
Founder and Head Writer 
bibleforwomen.co.uk

Run.

Hello my lovelies, today's message is all about running to God when we feel lost. Sometimes you may feel lost but God has placed you on a journey which he only knows the way it's heading. 

But that's okay. Sometimes we need to just stop and take it all in, 

We need to take a deep breath in and out. And then sprint to him. Run as fast as you can to him. When your in need, when you feel lost, when your self worth is questioned. When you feel useless and pathetic. That's when you run to him, and that's when you bow your head and kneel before the Lord and pour your heart out. 

Do not bottle your emotions inside! Do not hide how you feel from God because he can give you wonderful gifts of peace and healing. He can provide greatness for you if you just let him. How straightforward can it get? 

Recently I was reading Psalm 31 and I just love it! I love how pure and passionate that scripture is. 

I'll include it below if you haven't read it before. 

Psalm 31 : 

1In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. 

6I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord. 7I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. 8You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. 

9Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. 10My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction,and my bones grow weak. 11Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me. 12I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. 13For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life. 

14But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. 16Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. 17Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the realm of the dead. 18Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous. 

19How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. 20In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues. 

21Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege. 22In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. 

23Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lordpreserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. 24Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Recently I have had to run to God, I've ran from bad decisions which were nearly made. I've had to run away from the past and the people in my past as I know they are not on the journey God has planned for me. I have had run to him and show my faithfulness to him by dedicating time for his word and his message. Sometimes we get caught up in then busyness and our day to day routines and forget to include him at all.
But God is right there with you and he always has and always will be. So include him and be grateful for everlasting love and wisdom he has gave you by giving you his word. I urge you all to run to the Lord and read the Bible. Read his words, its the truth and the entire truth. Live by his message. Thank you for reading todays blog! Have a blessed day! Be Well.Jessica Louise Xoxo 

Bag Baggage

Hello my lovelies, todays message will be on baggage, and not just any baggage but bad baggage. Today I will not be sharing a blog about baggage on a trip on this world, but on our spiritual world. 

I may not make sense at times but just stay with me, recently I took a trip and long story short compared to other people in the airport, I travelled light and didn’t have a lot of bags and when walking through the airport I felt free and happy. I felt a joy and peace about how I could enjoy the trip because I wasn’t being weighed down by anything. 

And this is the same in our spirit, we need to let go of the baggage holding and weighing us down, we need to pack lightly and enjoy the journey.

So as we travel through the new year, let go of the bad baggage which you don’t need which is getting in the way of your relationship with the Lord, leave the anxiety, leave the depression, the grief, the loss, the jealousy, the greed, the illness, don’t accept your baggage, your baggage isn’t permanent, the only thing permanent on this planet is Jesus and he is not baggage, he is love, life, and liberation. 

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.

Today I urge you all to write a list of your baggage, whether it be emotional, physical, or mental, just write it down, and then meditate on them, and give them to God. Give your baggage to God he’s waiting, he waiting to carry all your bags willingly. Hand them to him and let him heal you. Our God is a God who heals and doesn’t want you to be inflicted with negativity and things which bring you down. 

• Write a list of baggage
• Meditate on them
• Give them to God
• Leave them with God
• Be liberated, be free, be well.

Have a blessed day! 

Love Jessica Louise Xoxo 

Situations and Resolutions

Hello my lovelies today is like to share with you some nuggets of wisdom. Relating to my current situation. 

Recently it seems like every bodies moving forward in life and I'm just staying where I am. 

All my friends are either engaged married or have babies. And I'm standing in the corner like huh? What's wrong with me? And to be honest it's made me question my self worth and confidence and I know this is not a good thing. It's the devil using my situation to get to me. 

I trust in Gods plan, theirs no doubt about that. But do you sometimes feel like your life is not as exciting as others around you? 

I write this knowing I'm acting irrational but venting and writing this is a healing tool. And that's the same for many bloggers we use words to vent our feelings and thoughts. Then mull over them before publishing. But I know that this one is going to be published because it's the most truthful blog I've wrote. 

Before I noticed everyone's situations around me I was perfectly content and happy with my life. But seeing what others have makes you think about what you don't have. And from this day I will not look at the lack in my life, I will focus on what I have. For example a loving other half who cherishes me and wants nothing in return. Someone who I know will be my future husband. But sometimes Gods plan and his timing takes his time. 

I've left it with the Lord. I have so many wonderful things in my life, Paradox Crèche the day care facility in my church which I launched. Being a freelance photographer well that's just amazing! Getting to visit amazing and beautiful places and capturing those moments. Not forgetting my new job! My perfect new job! Working in a school has always been my dream and I'm living it now! God works in strange ways but I trust him. I trust his plan. I trust in his perfect timing. I trust in my relationship with the Lord. 

So from this day forward and in the new year my realistic resolution is to look at the amazing things and people I have in my life and not other people's situations and people. I will not look at what I don't have. I will not envy others situations. I will be grateful to God for all he has given me and all he will give me in the future. 

I also aim to write everyday part of the #write365 I was asked by a blogger friend of mine if I'd like to join and I obliged of course! It will be challenged but I will not be writing polished and proper blogs every day but even if it is a photo on Instagram with a short message I intent to write every day for the next year! How cool is that! I'm so excited! 

So everyone be safe tonight as I know it's New Year's Eve! Don't get caught up in the crazy! Have a blessed and extraordinary new year! You all deserve it! Be well! 

Love Jessica Louise Xoxo 

Scandinavian Christmas

Hey Guys, as many of you already know I've recently taken a trip to Sweden, Stockholm for Christmas with my other half Kieran. We had such an amazing time. And it was so lovely just spending time with him and planning our future together in our cosy little cottage (cabin).

We plan to spend every Christmas together from now on which is amazing. 
Next year we plan to visit Sweden again or maybe even Austria... which would be amazing. 

When we were in Sweden we did a bit of sightseeing for example we went into Stockholm and Skansen, the outdoor museum which had reindeers and quirky little cabin shops where we bough a beautiful red throw blanket for the future for our own home. We also walked around the lake at the farm we stayed on. 
Ive shared some photos from the trip on this blog so I hope you enjoy them. 
Roll on next year for the Swedish Christmas Markets! It was just truly beautiful and so scenic. 
Have a blessed new year! Love Jessica Louise Xoxo 

Words are Weapons

Recently I have been through a roller coaster of events from changing my job to my health changes. If you have followed the blog and website from the beginning you will know that I have suffered from depression and anxiety for many years but for the past year and a half I have been free of this illness, until now.

Depression is like the devil it can strike you at any time especially when you let your defences down. Your faith is your defence from evil but sometimes it can tiring and you can feel exhausted from being a ‘good Christian’ I try every day to be a ‘good Christian’ and I know that I can’t be perfect but I am a perfectionist which makes it harder to understand that I can’t be perfect at something which will make me feel down and when I say down I mean rock bottom.

In my life I have been a butterfly when it comes to friends and the reason being is that I would take offence to a lot of things spoke to me and sometimes I ‘overreact’ so I have moved on from friends because of this but I think that this is a great thing as it has gotten me to where I am today. With a strong bunch of friends are fellow Christians who surround me and support me.

Recently I've decided to try not to focus on people’s words as words are really powerful and can tear you down.

In the news this week, I've heard a lot about 'Hate Preachers' and Donald Trump to be exact, and my one question is this, why do we listen. He has no power over any of us. The one who has power and almighty love for us is God. Why do we keep listening to other people who we know are going to poison us with their hate words and hate opinions and evil plans? When we could listen to a higher being who is the definition of love.

That is exactly what they want. When I was as a primary school I was bullied and sadly many of you will be reading this and can agree with me in saying that you were bullied also. And when I was bullied I would be called hurtful names and I would get upset and ask for help from others to solve the problems. And that to me is a lesson. It was prepping us for adult life. We need to ask for help from the one who can help, the one and only Lord Almighty. We need to ask him to help us, and pray for guidance. 

When we grow up we tell ourselves that we can’t be bullied but were wrong. We can be bullied, with social media causing most of the problems in today’s society. Sadly many people try to cope with cyber bullying and people using words as weapons towards them alone, just remember you are never alone, God walks alongside you, and he is always there. So next time you put a photo on twitter or Instagram with a cup of coffee and your bible and the caption states ‘I loves Jesus’. Do not be ashamed, do not feel like you are going to hurt anyone. 

Sometimes you may be ridiculed for taking a stand for Jesus. Sometimes you suffer. Sometimes we will suffer but mainly from other people’s sins, take Adam and Eve for example. Eve took the fruit initially and they both were banished. - Genesis 3:6, 23. 

James 1:3 - When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 

Also take challenges as opportunities.

Be Christ like and do not follow the crowd. Be the leader. Lead people to the cross. Lead them to salvation. When people are writing mean and hurtful words to you or aiming them at you. Just speak to God. He already knows what’s going on but speak to him for clarity and wisdom. 

Don't listen to hate words, they just poison your mind, when you listen to people speaking hate, or gossip, pray to the lord for redemption and forgiveness. He will purify your mind and give you peace. Instead of listening or speaking hate words, speak words of thanks and praise to God, it is much more productive.

When you listen to words which aren't good for soul, they stir your thoughts and the people around you use your tears as instruments in their band of hate and suffering.

Sometimes we will suffer but mainly from other people’s sins, take Adam and Eve for example. Eve took the fruit initially and they both were banished. - Genesis 3:6, 23. 

I urge you all not to listen to hate preachers and words used as weapons on the news, social media and even from people who surround you. Be Christ like and speak words of truth and love from the heart and the gospel. 

Thank you for reading this blog, I pray this blog helps you in your daily life.

Jessica Louise xoxo 

Founder and Head Writer of the Bible for Women