Motivation Monday

Bold prayers honor God and God honors bold prayers

He is not offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers,

He is offended by anything less

If your prayers are not impossible to you, they are insulting to God

Why? 

Because they don't require divine intervention.

- The Circle Maker

(HIGHLY recommend this book!)

What would you dream if you knew you could not fail?

Dream big and pray boldly my friend! 

Happy Monday! 

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Where Is Your Power Source?

This past weekend I was asked this question in a couple different forms

Let me explain

I was at an AdvoCare Success School down in Portland

There are so many reasons why I LOVE this company

The world class products literally transform people's lives from the inside out

The business opportunity allows ordinary people to live an extraordinary lives

This company goes above and beyond to give their distributors the best leadership training

Not only on the products but how to be a leader with your family, friends and community

Leadership is one of the most fulfilling jobs but it can also be quite draining

People can be difficult 

Business may be slow

You lack direction in your business 

We may be quick to give up

So, what do we do in the world of AdvoCare?

We plug into our "source of power"

We have a chat with our leader

We listen to a team phone call

We attend an event

We get filled up with encouragement, inspiration and wisdom 

Then we head back on our way and continue to lead

It is easy how refilled I get just by calling my leader

Its like an instant shot of power! 

But where do we go when we get drained in life?

When we feel lost?

When our future seems so foggy we can take another step?

When anxiety and worry take over our hearts and minds?

Where do we plug in to give us our shot of power?

This past weekend I drove to Portland and back, flew to LA and back all with in 48 hours

To say I was exhausted was an understatement 

I was quickly reminded that my power definitely doesn't come from myself

This past weekend was an amazing weekend 

AdvoCare training, seeing my best friend get engaged and watching the Seahawks game 

Yet, I was exhausted, feeling no energy, feeling sorry for myself 

Something was just "off"

I had literally no energy, no power left

 I tried everything from a couple too many cups of Spark to thinking I could take a nap during the Seahawks game- MISTAKE!

I finally got home Monday and asked myself what was going on

Why do I feel so "off"?

Where do I usually find my strength?

 I find my strength in sleep, eating healthy, exercise and SPARK!

That gives me my physical energy

But what about when I mentally cant go on?

I find my strength in Him

From prayer

Daily devotions

Prayer

Communicating daily with the Lord

Prayer

Encouraging others

Prayer is so powerful you guys!

 

 

 

Yup, I didnt do any of those things this past weekend

I opened my mind to receive information on leadership training

But didnt fill my mind with the Word 

I opened my heart to feel emotion for my friend

But didnt ask God to fill it with His love 

I filled my mind with thoughts of jealousy and bitterness

Instead of asking the Lord to take those away I decided to dwell in my own thoughts

I was using my own strength to try and power myself

Think of trying to turn on your hair dryer without plugging it in

How would that work for you?

Not very good and probably pretty exhausting and frustrating

This was me this past weekend

I realized I only work well when I am plugged into The Mighty Power

Plugged into the Power Source who promises to protect and provide

The Power Source that speaks with wisdom and knowledge 

The Power Source that ignites purpose, hope and passion

He gives me energy

Plugging in for me includes finding time for morning and nightly prayers

Morning devotions

Staying in communication with the Lord

Asking Him to fill my heart with His power

Purposeful prayer

Intentional prayer

Reading His Word

Being filled with Him instead of looking for the worlds source of power

Where do you plug-in?

My prayer is you chose Him as your Power Source

I promise He will always give you the energy you need 

 

Your thoughts become attitudes

You attitudes become your words

 If you will renew your mind it will change your life

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Learning To Trust

2014 will be the year I will walk in His POWER

 

I know I should trust God

I know I should trust His ultimate plan

I should trust the plan, this journey I am on
I know this intellectually



But actually living out that trust...

IT IS HARD

How DO I live out trusting Him?

I am learning constantly

We live in a world that is rigged to distract us

Every day there will be circumstances that do not go our way

There will be trials and temptations

I am weak

I stumble

I doubt

I cry out in frustration

And you know what He says...that is ok

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.

Matt. 11:28

So I will

In my weakness and self doubt

I will fully surrender to Him

I will come to Him

Fully commit my heart and life TRUST Him

 

Because it doesnt even matter if I stumble

or when I get lost sometimes

or doubt where I am going

or when I think I know the better route

Because His plan will ultimately previal

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21

So why fight Him?

Just let Go Jessie and Let God lead your life

TRUST HIM

Just like a game of basketball, the fundmentals are what get you through to victory
Ok, kinda very cheesy but so true! :)

 

 

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Your Beautiful Purpose

Precious Lord,

I am ready to follow where You lead! 

I want to live out the beautiful purpose You ordained for me before I was even born. 

Help me remember that an un- appointed work is an unanointed work. 

Give me the passion to do only that which You have given me grace to accomplish. 

By faith I repent of and reject selfish ambition, envy, pride, insecurity and self absorption. 

Instead I embrace Holy Confidence and Humble Dependence, Kingdom Passion and Calvary Love. Fill me up to overflowing so that my life becomes a wellspring of life to everyone I meet. 

Pour out Your Spirit on me in increasing measures so I will last long and finish strong. 

I am ready to do exceedingly above and beyond all that my mind can conceive, according to Your work in and through me. I am all in Lord! 

Lead me on and glorify Your name in me. 

Amen 

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Just Jesus in 2014

 

Yes – Just that One Word: Jesus.
 

Just –
Jesus.
No Additives.
Pure Grace.
All you need.
 

When I long for nothing else, desire nothing else, hope for nothing else, but Jesus
— I have everything I ever hoped for.

 

For everyone, the call is to be Jesus. And to respond to Jesus in everyone.

 

All there is to mirror Jesus. Mirror to everyone the face of Jesus

… And see everyone as mirroring the face of Jesus.

“Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus…” Col. 3:17

“Whatever you do, work willingly, as though you were working for the Lord Jesus…” Col. 3:24

Whatever you do, do it as Jesus.
Whatever you do, do it as to Jesus.

 

The New Year just got ultra-simplified:

Do everything as Jesus.
Do everything to Jesus.

 

- Ann Voskamp

A Holy Experience

 

 

 

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In Perfect Weakness

-------------

 

A new year

A new start

A new chapter

Full of possibilities and endless horizons

I can honestly say that I have never been more excited for a new year

I know the Lord has place dreams and goals I see coming into fruition this year 

I will share more on those later! 

In any case, a new year means new years resolutions

I always like the "idea" of them but never have really made them
Probably because I was scared I would fail and my weakness would show

If New Years resolutions are to make us better people, isn't that what God is trying to do everyday?

I don't know about you, but God sure has His way of showing me where I am weak

Almost every single day

 

As a new year begins

I think I need less goals and resolutions

and more God and His solutions.

- Pastor Judah Smith

The City Church

 

 

It is not an easy fight

But remember this...

Jesus is a friend of sinners

His Grace surounds us

EVERY single day

 

"My Grace is sufficient for you, for my Power is made in perfect weakness."Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ' power may rest on me"

2 Corinthians 12:9 

This doesn't mean that we should go around and boast about our weak ways

I mean who ever wants to admit they have any weakness?

Definitely not me!

The world may make us believe that we are weak

The world may say that we need to work harder and make a better attempt

The world may say our resolutions are a way of telling us we failed this past year

But you know what God says?

He says that through our weakness, we are made perfect 

That through our weakness, He will shine

Through our weakness, He will use us 

Yes, it is always good to have a self check on areas we need to work on

Yes, we are called to set goals and set a plan to reach them 

There is nothing wrong with reminding ourselves to love more

To read more

To forgive more

To travel more

To workout more

To take bigger risks

However, come mid-january and you realized you skipped your morning workout, slipped up and swore...again... or ate a cheeseburger

Remember you are not weak...

...YOU never fail in the eyes of the Lord 

"When we have done a face plant in the dirt because of our own selfishness or personl weakness, 

He picks us up off the ground, dust us off, and wraps His arms around us. 

He strengthens and sanctifies us as we go. 

He loves us more than He hates our sins. 

He will not forsake us on this journey."

- Susie Larson Your Beautiful Purpose 

 

------------------ 

May 2014 be full of faith, strength, boldness and adventure

May we never lose the wonder of our Lord and what He is doing in our lives 

"O' Lord, you are my God, I will exalt you and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, 

things planned long ago."

Isaiah 25:3

Lord, I thank you for showing me where I am weak, not just for the new year but daily. 

 I am more thankful that you use my weaknesses for Your glory and that I am made perfect.

 I am stronger because of them. 

I know your light shines through me when my weakness are exposed. 

Thank you for showing me that I do not need to be perfect and that I will fail according to the worlds standards but with you I will not fail. 

Thank you for the many blessings that are coming my way in 2014 and thank you for having them already planned. 

In Jesus' name. Amen

-----------------  

Lisa and I 

I rang in the New Year with some of the best friends a gal could have

My friend Lisa and her boyfriend Rob were up from Cali for the holidays

Our friend Sarah and Chris came to dinner with us as well

Sarah, Lisa and I all went to high school together

And you know how girls can get when they haven't seen each other for awhile!

We started the evening at a reasonable expensive dinner

Funny story, we always go to this place for Happy Hour so you could say we were shocked at the actual dinner prices!

However, we got a good laugh out of it as we shared and reminisced over our Europe trip in 2008 and dreamed about many more to come! 

 

Our friend Lacy, also high school friend, came after dinner

Lacy, Sarah and I

 

We then went to a local park watch the fireworks from the Space Needle

A Seattle landmark

The park was crowded 

An unpleasant smell was everywhere 

( I am sure you can guess what it was being in WA State) 

We could not even see the needle because of the crowd or fog 

Not the romantic park, firework fantasy I was thinking

But, when the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1st, 2014 

None of that mattered

We were together

Ringing in the new year hopeful that truly the best is yet to come!

We had photo overload- you know how girls get! :)

 

 

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His Plans Prevailed in 2013

A New Year is upon us!

It is hard to say goodbye to something so sweet but it is also exciting knowing what is to come

I am so hopeful that the Lord will provide so many new adventures for me this coming year

2013 was unexpected for me

Unexpected but so much better than I imagined

Last year at this time I knew the Lord was changing me

He was helping me see His dreams for my life

For His Glory 

But even then I had this plan of how this year was going to go

"You can make many plans, but the Lord's Purpose will prevail."

Proverbs 19:21 

No matter how much I tried to control my steps, ultimately His plans prevailed and they were FAR better than mine!

Before I share about my visions and resolutions for 2014, here are just a few memories and blessings from 2013! 

Verse of 2013

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, 

according to his power that is at work within us,"

Ephesians 3:20

Word of 2013

HOPE 

January

Looking at the year 2013 
God is LOVE
God wants Followers 
Dream it. See it. Write- Africa!

February  
Do you need rest? 
The day of LOVE
You are worth more
Dream without fear

March

A Dream fulfilled 
We are made for great adventure 
Dear 18 year old Jessie

April 
He is Risen 
When you forget your cell phone 
Heaven on Earth- Chris Tomlin concert 

May 
St. Jude Half Marathon
The Jessie Rees Foundation
He Knows 

June 
Climbing the Mountains of Montana

July

Ignite Gods passion in your life 

 

August  

AdvoCare Success School at Cowboy Stadium!

I am so passionate about this company and where it is going!

It has been amazing to learn about the importance of nutrition and supplements

But mostly, it has been so fun to teach others how to be healthy and see them reach their goals

I am so excited to see where this takes me in 2014!

September

This little guy turned one!

Where did the time go?!

Being his aunt has been one of the biggest blessings of 2013

And to think, I will have another one coming April!

 

My first time as a "wedding planner"

God always provides 

October 

Sharing my AdvoCare story- Transforming for His Glory 

November

Discovered 3 Beautiful Gifts

December 

Prepared for a Christmas that whispers Jesus

The Everyday Gift 

I have big visions, dreams and changes coming soon

Though I thought some might have come about this past year , the Lord has made my path better than I could ever imagined

I look back and am truly thankful the path the Lord led me on

His timing is perfect

His plans are perfect

It was a year of growth, stretching, finding hope and most if all preparation

 

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The Everyday Gift

 

I am laying in my bed at my parents 

Christmas tree put away 

Slowly seeing less and less Christmas lights as I drive through Enumclaw 

It is bittersweet as my radio is playing the sweet worship songs that I love

No more Christmas carols 

My heart is truly overwhelmed as I write this 

Overwhelmed with excitement and hope 

My heart yearns to live for Jesus daily 

My heart is truly overflowing with joy and thankfulness for Him 

My mind also wonders from memories of the past two months of the holiday season

Sometimes my heart longs to stay there forever... Christmas season everyday 

The gathering of family and friends 

The beauty of the glitter and lights

The days of no stress from work 

The sounds of Carols everywhere 

The words Joy, hope and love are apart of the everyday conversation 

The excitement of Christmas morning

...The magic of Christmas

So many emotions wrapped into one season 

It truly is a magical season 

A season of memories and nostalgia 

A season of hope and joy

A season of transition and change into the new year

The world will be still tonight

We will long for this wonder to go on

One Christmas candle will flame in the quiet

This cannot fade-none of this can ever fade

God stays with us

The Christmas candle burns hot, gives its Light

And the world lights up, and Christmas goes on forever now

Christ, the always Gift for all our days

- Ann Voskamp 

The gift of Jesus 

The gift of salvation 

The gift of His grace 

The gift of His love 

The gift of His blessings 

The Gift of His Peace 

We receive them every.single.day of the year 

Gifts

That means we don't have to buy them or work for them 

We just simply receive 

Receive His gifts today 

As you take down your last bit of christmas decorations

As you begin to reschedule your work and school schedule 

As you begin to write your resolutions and To Do lists.. 

Remember...

Peace is not ultimately a place

Peace is the ultimate Person

Jesus

"Listen carefullyto what God the Lord is saying, for He speaks peace to His faithful people" 

Psalm 85:8 NLT 

For the Lord of peace Himself gives us "His peace at ALL times in every situation" 

2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT

The gift of JESUS

...Remember you don't have to wait until next christmas to receive 

Receive it today and everyday 

The magic of Christmas truly lives in our hearts 

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Preparing For Christmas

With just days until Christmas, I sit here not done with my Christmas shopping

I haven't even started wrapping or packing to be home for a couple days

The days before Christmas always seem to be the most busy

Why do I wait for the last minute to do everything?

Why am I feeling anxious that I don't have it all together?

"There is no need to produce or perform or perfect- simply become a place for God

That is all"

That is all?

That seems so easy

Yes, Jessie, that is all 

Make a space for Him this Christmas

Make a space to receive His Grace and Peace

His Love

"You most take hold of God when you simply receive Him in this moment taking hold of you"

 I always seem to feel better when I stop trying to perform my Christmas duties

When I stop trying to produce the perfect gift, card or project

When I stop trying to give everything I have to others

This Christmas I am going to take a moment (or two!) to receive

Yes, receive

No not material gifts

Receive Him

Before we are called to give, we are called to receive

I struggle to receive

Grace? For me?

Blessings? For me?

Only one thing is necessary this Christmas

Be a space for Love to come

Be still just for a moment

Find quietness in the business of the season

Simply receive LOVE

Let yourself be loved this Christmas

"Will you let Me fill all your emptiness with Love? 

Receive My love

Conceive My Grace"

It is for you

"Your greatest gift is not your gifts, 

but your surrendered yes to be a space for God"

- Ann Voskamp 

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