God of all Comfort!

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (Amplified Bible)
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement),
4Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.

When our hearts are hurting, we can run into our Fathers arms and He will give us the strength to get through the pain and the all the comfort we need ( sometimes He may comfort you by sending a special friend to you, who can speak a word of encouragement into your life, who may cry with you or pray with you.) When I am hurting I go to the book of Psalms and read, you can always find comfort in Gods Word!! Have you ever felt these words from Psalms were true for you Psalm 6:6 I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. (unfortunately I have!!) I love this Psalm 73:25-26 (Amplified Bible)25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You.
26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever. I love to read through the Psalms, they really can make you feel better!!

And God is just so awesome that He can take the pain that we have suffered (no matter who caused it) and use our story-our pain to encourage and comfort and strengthen the people he places in our lives who are needing comfort. (He will send you to be an angel to someone else who is hurting.)

Have Mercy!!

Have you ever had one of those days were everything is going wrong-and you feel like your about to have a total melt down! That's when I say this very special little prayer. Jesus!!Have mercy on me!!! Help me!!! I'm so thankful that God's mercy is inexhaustible!! (I'm sort of an authority on that !!lol) I love this verse!! Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified Bible) 16Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. No matter what you have done, no matter what your circumstances or needs(big or small) are, when you need Him just cry out to him and He will help you!! Just do it!!and and see what happens! With God we don't receive what we deserve, my life is a trophy of His mercy!! He loves me and He has given me what I didn't deserve, (forgiveness of my sins(past, present and future!) and eternal life, a relationship with Him (God creator of heaven and earth, my Master and Maker desires a relationship with me and you! (Wow!!) it is awesome to be His!!!!, my crazy, beautiful, wonderful life with precious family and friends!!)

May you feel His mercy in your life today!! Jolena

Choose Joy!!

Gods given us the gift of this life! Living it with joy is our responsibility!! Joy is not a feeling its a choice!! Sometimes we can find too many excuses to feel worried and depressed. We can think about all that is depressing in our lives or we can do what Philippians 4:8 says and think on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things!Celebrate your successes, progress and little victories instead of focusing on your failures and problems. Say and believe! Romans 8:28 - Situation you are going to work out for good, because I love God!! Jesus said that I came that you may have and enjoy your life! The joy of the Lord is your strength! If you want joy the Bible tells you some ways to get it. Psalm 5:11 says you can sing for it, , Psalm 35:27 says you can shout for it, Psalm 16:11 says that fullness of joy is found in His presence! Spend time with Him-just you and Him!! Find a special place to sneak away and talk to Him! He's always waiting for you!! Choose to spend time with Him, choose joy!!
Blessing to you!! Jolena

December words to study!!

I apologize for my horrible blog neglect!! Moving has been really crazy!! I have thankfully found most of my scrapbooking supplies, I'm not certain that I will ever get all of our things out of all those boxes though!!lol! How in the world do we ever get so much stuff!!And being without the Internet for almost 3 weeks was challenging! Everyone battling yucky colds in my house on top of all of that. So now I'm trying to get caught up....but I wanted to quickly post the December words to study. And in the next couple of days I'll catch up on my November posts. December words are comfort and joy.
Be Blessed in all that you do!!
Jolena

God is Faithful!

So lets get started on the word Faithful!!

Lamentations 3:23 Great is Your Faithfulness!!He is so faithful!! We hear people say it-and sing it-but what does that really mean to me and you??!! Lets define the word Faithful, and make it more personal than a dictionary. God is my stay, I can always trust Him and rely on Him, I can safely lean on Him-He will prop me up. My God is always truthful, constant and loyal to me. I can always depend on Him! He will always be on my side!

Whether we choose to live for God or not in this life we will face challenges and obstacles that are much too big for us. We all have tough days and seasons! Some times doubts will try to swallow us up! Especially when it looks like everything is going to pot! I love what King David did in 1 Samuel 30:6 he strengthened himself in the Lord his God! (you've really got to read that whole story!!!) K. Dave was having one of the worst days of his life, he had cried until there was no strength left in him, people were talking about stoning him, things were looking as bad as they could get!! (I really like happy endings! I just wont even watch a movie or read a book if I already know it's going to end bad. I don't care about how predictable a happy end to a movie is-give me a good ending!!) This story ended great for David-God spoke to him-God was with David and was so faithful to him-David recovered all!! God can get you through the worst day ever! He wont ever leave your side!! He's a faithful God! He will hold you together!! You can trust Him and lean on Him-even when things look impossible!-With Him all things are possible! He can even take what the devil means to hurt us and destroy us and turn it around and weave it for good in our lives!! He is that AWESOME!! And He is so FAITHFUL to you and me!!! No matter what happens, don't you ever give up and stop believing that-instead strengthen yourself in the Lord !! David was a worshipper-read through the Psalm's of David and I think you get a peak into exactly what He did to strengthen himself! Psalms 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee!!

David praised God and cried out for help! Psalm 60:11-12 Give us help! For deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we shall do valiantly, and it is He who will tread down our adversaries!!

Psalm 62: 5-8 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us!!

Psalm 63:7-8 For Though hast been my help, and in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to Thee; Thy right hand upholds me. (that Psalm is so good you really have to go read the whole thing!!lol! )

Look for God's faithfulness in your life- expect it every day!! You'll find it!

Oh and guess what? I think God likes happy endings too, because we are His, we get a happy ending too!!

Blessings to you!!! Jolena

November Words to study!

Hi!! Well, Ive been packing to move after 10 years in our home!!! What a job!!!-right now it doesn't feel like I'm ever going to pull it off!! But I'm choosing to believe that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!! And let me tell you I need loads of it!! lol!!
I almost forgot to post the November words!!
they are: faithful and mercy
Blessings to you as you study Gods Word in the midst of whatever craziness you have going on in your life!!
Jolena

Faith

This word Faith, such an important word, something I must have in my life, because the Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God. What is faith? According to Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Faith is believing and trusting in God, His promises, His Word-we must live it! We cannot be saved except by faith! How do I get more faith? Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing the word of God.

In the book of Matthew 9:27-30 there were 2 blind men following Jesus around, crying out for mercy and healing, Jesus asked them if they believed He was able to do this-and they said "Yes", He touched there eyes and said "be it done to you according to your faith," And their eyes were opened. Wow! I love those stories. All throughout the gospels you can read about miracles Jesus did! People have always had needs. But Jesus didn't go door to door taking care of every ones needs. People came seeking Jesus, desperate, bringing their need with faith believing He could take care of it. And He always did!!!In some of the verses it says that He saw their faith-I want that kind of faith!! Some people think that those stories only belong in the Bible of old. But Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!! So I'm sorry- but I just don't believe that! I believe He wants us using our faith today-for what?-for life! What mountains are you facing!! Go to God's word and start building faith in that area-if you need a miracle with your children, health, marriage, finances, whatever-He cares about our every detail!!(He has our hair numbered!) Luke 18:8 says when the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth! Yes! Lord! The plan of God for each of us, is so marvelous!!-that if we only believe-all things are possible!!(Mark 9;23) By faith, do what you were meant to do-be all that God has called you to be-dont let anything hold you back!

I love this verse:
Hebrews 12:1-2 Let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith

Today I'm fixing my eyes on my Jesus! He is the perfecter of my faith!!

Word Study-Believe and testimony

I became a believer on December 17, 1993. A day that truly changed my life even though I couldn't have begun to understand just how much then. What is it that I believe? With all of my heart I believe in God that He is the Maker of heaven and earth, that He gave His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that I could be forgiven of my sins! On the 3rd day Jesus rose from the dead! And I know that I will spend eternity with Him!

How did that change my life-well its a really long story-but Ill try to give you a very short version. My Mom was a drug addict. My Dad-just not a part of my life. (they divorced when I was a baby.) My childhood was pretty awful, I was verbally, physically and sexually abused and neglected. My Mom died when I was 10 years old she was only 29 leaving me and my little sister who was 3 years younger behind-we were placed in different homes! I despise drugs and how they ruin lives to this day! I was left to a depressed, alcoholic Grandmother who at least knew how to give me hugs and kisses. When I was 18-I was a mess, looking for love in all the wrong places-working in a bar-partying my life away after graduating high school. I felt like my life had no meaning or purpose. I had no peace. I got into a car accident and I got sent to a Christian(I didn't know what that was) Chiropractor, his wife was his secretary and they were so wonderful to me. After about 3 months of going to them for care-the Dr. asked me some questions. He started with "Do you go to church anywhere? I told him "no, maybe some day I'll go" Then he asked "Have you ever asked Jesus into your heart?" those words didn't make any sense to me-I said "I don't know what your talking about." He said then "If you died today, do you know where you would spend eternity?" I really thought if you died your life was just over-that was it! He and his wife got there Bible out and explained what I needed to do to change my eternal destination from hell to heaven using John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-10. I prayed a prayer making Jesus my Lord and Savior right there in the Dr.'s office. They gave me a Bible and I began reading it and talking to God. I decided to go to church and I liked it so I kept going back hungry for more of God in my life, I also started going to a college Bible study that the Dr. and his wife taught. The more I fell in love with God the more I began to change-I realized God had created me with a special purpose and plan for my life. Because of my new found zeal for God I was kicked out of the home I was staying in. I really had no place to go. So the Dr. and his wife invited me to come and stay with them-until I found a place of my own. It was so much fun being a part of a family. Home cooked meals-family movie night-Bible studies, prayer, just lots of family fun that I had never been a part of before. Weeks turned into months and somewhere along the way I started calling them mom and dad. The next Christmas with a home packed full of family. I had a very special gift under the tree. In my box was a letter from there attorney telling me that they believed God had placed our lives together and they had grown to love me as there daughter and even though I would marry someday and change my name for Christmas they wanted to adopt me and make me theirs forever!!! What a special gift from God to get a Daddy and Mommy when your 19 years old!! It was so hard to leave them (I did go home just about every weekend) and go off to a Bible college for a year-but I loved my time growing in Gods Word! I met my husband in my parents college Bible study when I was 23. Smiling shyly across the room for months before either of us had the nerve to speak to each other. He was in the Air force coming to Bible study with his cousin. We became friends then we dated and got married! That was almost 12 years ago. I have an amazing husband (with an amazing family-and they are mine too-now!!)who loves God and serves his country- he is my truly my hero! He is the best Dad, he makes our life together so much fun! He dances and plays Barbie’s with our daughter and he fishes, hunts, and wrestles with our sons (and daughter too!) We have 3 of the most adorable children in the whole world, I’m so grateful beyond words that God picked me to be there Mom- they will never know a minute of what I went through as a child. They will know every day that I love and treasure them! My family is my greatest treasure from God! We have been stationed here in Montana for 9 years now-and we love it here-God has surrounded us with His beauty! We attend Victory Church and we love our Pastors!! They are the best!! They both teach Gods word with such passion and love and that's the way it should be. I started a Bible study at the Juvenile Detention Center 8 years ago, I love these kids and believe that God loves them, and has a great plan for their life if they'll just choose it and most importantly choose Him!! And well- God is not finished with me yet!! But I love and serve an awesome God who heals broken hearts and lives!!I am a work in progress! But I love Him with all of my heart and it is my ambition to please Him in all that I do. When I finish my race and stand before Him I want Him to be proud!!

Sorry for such a long post I promise the rest will be shorter and more to the point! I just wanted you to get to know me and my journey with God just a little bit. You can see some of my family photos on my other blog http://www.jolenaadams.blogspot.com/

Blessing to you!!

Jolena Adams

Word Study

This is a word study to encourage myself to grow deeper in Gods word! Feel free to join me-and let me know if you do! One thing I know in my life is that I need more of Him and less of me. As this year passes I want to love Him more-know Him more-trust Him more!
So here's how the Word study works-I will post 2 words every month
**My post will also share some thoughts, the scripture or scriptures that I chose, and a picture of my card or scrapbook page.
Before you begin each study ask God to give you wisdom, knowledge and understanding!(He gives it liberally to those who ask!!)
**Then you will study your Bible and find scriptures that are meaningful to you based on that word.
**I love using Biblegateway.com to look up single keywords in the Bible. It is a great resource for your study. Or just use a Bible concordance.
** Keep a journal for your word studies. So that you can write down personal thoughts about the verses you are studying and expect God to speak to you through His word.
(with every study write down at least 1 truth or principle you can put into practice, then memorize your favorite verse from the study.)
**Then you will create a card or scrapbook page based on the word and the scripture or scriptures you have chosen(if your not feeling very creative decorate an index card with scripture and doodles.)

You can take a picture of your creation and send it
to me if you’d like (by the last Friday of every month)
and Ill post a gallery of everyone’s
work on my blog.
www.jolenaadams.yahoo.com
Please leave a comment and share what God has shown you through your study!!
Enjoy your time growing in Gods word!
And drawing closer to Him!
Lord bless you! Jolena

October words to study are: Believe and Faith