A Simple Hug

As long as I can remember I have always had a great desire to share with others God's love.  Even though at times I have struggled with understanding or even seeing his love for me, that desire is still there.  It has always been important to me to share with others how special they truly are not only to me, but to our Heavenly Father.  One experience in particular that I have had in the past, has been coming to my mind over and over again for quite sometime and I would like to share this experience with you. 

I was on Trax one day riding home from school at the U of U to Daybreak.  About a half hour into the ride I noticed a girl in the seat across from me crying. I paid close attention to her and as I sat there I got the impression that I needed to give her a hug.  I didn't know why, but that feeling didn't go away for the last half hour of the ride.  I was so nervous, but that nervousness told me that this was no ordinary thought, this was something from the spirit. 

At the last stop she stayed in her seat waiting for everyone else to get off, but I walked over and said "Excuse me, could I give you a hug?" She nodded and I gave her a big hug that lasted a few minutes.  Afterwards she said "Thank You" and we went our separate ways. 

 

I don't know what difference that hug made to this girl, but I do know what a difference it made to me. I've thought about that day many times since. I know I have had moments in my life where I was struggling and all I've wanted is a big hug. So, in thinking from this girls point of view, if a stranger came up to me and asked if I needed a hug on one of those rough days, I probably would accept without hesitation. 

I learned that it is important to follow those simple promptings or good thoughts that you may have.  Even though I don't know how it effected her, I do know that God loves all of his children and that we are here to help each other.  I know God loves me. He showed me that he loves this daughter, that I gave this hug to, so much that he wanted me to share his love for her through that hug. He wanted me to show her how much she is loved even by a complete stranger.

That experience happened about a year and a half ago, but has been on my mind almost every day.  I too have needed that reminder that God loves me many times. I thought I was giving this hug just for this beautiful daughter of God, but over time that experience has affected me in ways I can hardly describe. I gained reassurance, peace and I have been able to see how much my Heavenly Father loves and trusts me.

We are here to help each other, to help each other come to know him and through simple acts of kindness we are sharing God's light.  What an incredible gift it is to be able to share God's love.  We are all here to learn and grow and we are here to support and lift each other. 

If With A Single Loaf

"Has anyone ever told you that you are extraordinary? That you are destined for remarkable things?  That there is a spark of greatness in you?

They should have."

 

Recently I read a book called "The Peter Potential." In this book it goes through the life of Peter and the things that Christ had taught him. Christ taught Peter through invitations. By inviting him to do things that may have been difficult for him or challenged him. Through those invitations, Peter grew and did things that brought him closer to Christ, as well as helped him to come closer to reaching his true potential. 

 

 When Christ calmed the storm and came walking on water Peter asked "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.". (Matthew 12:28)

 

Then the Lord invited Peter by saying "Come" (Matthew 14:29)

Sometimes Accepting invitations from the lord requires action, actions that are focused on Him.  Peter walked on the water. 
 

 It's not hard for a little mustard seed to be blown away by a powerful gust of wind.  The same applies to a little faith. Peter began to sink when he began to doubt. 

 

"In the sinking moments of life, when you have wondered if you might drown, have you ever cried out, "Lord, Save Me"?"

 

In those moments where you have felt like you were sinking, where was the Lord? 

Within Reach.

 

When Peter started to sink "Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him.".

 (Matthew 14:31)

 

 

Recently, I have gone through something that has left me wondering "If I might drown." I felt like I was caught up in a whirlwind of chaos and I couldn't get out, but then the Lord "stretched forth his hand and caught me."
 

 Sometimes things happen and you don't understand why.  Sometimes the Lord needs to send you a firm reminder that he is there and extends that invitation to you to "come."

 

He knows everything about you.  He knows what keeps you up at night. He knows what weighs on your heart. He knows your longing to become something more. 

 

If the Lord can do something like walk on water or share 5 loaves of bread with a multitude of five thousand, imagine what he can do for you.

 

I know in my life I have seen it so many times.  The Lord has been there and has strengthened me.  Through the invitations that the lord gives to me, I have found myself grow.  I have seen the lord's hand in my life.  As I do those things that are most important, the things that may seem to be falling out of place and in utter chaos, come together and work for your good. Everything works out when you come to him and have faith and trust that God can do great things. 

 

Sometimes when we head down one road and road blocks arise, we need to be redirected.  It doesn't mean we chose wrong, but rather that the path we took just needs a little refining. 

 

He knows what you can do.  He knows what you can be.  Nothing is impossible with God.  He can make the impossible, possible as long as you put your faith and trust in him.  He can take a grain of mustard seed and make it blossom. 

 

"If the Lord can do great things with a single loaf, Imagine what he can do with a single life."

-The Peter Potential

 

 

 

Seeing Beauty

I've been looking back through pictures of myself 2 years ago and comparing them with pictures now.  I have come a long way from where I was then. I feel like a totally different person.

After I had Emree, I went through trial after trail, some, nobody even knew existed and it was a struggle. Two years ago I not only went through physical trials, but emotional and spiritual ones as well.  One of those challenges had to do with my self-esteem.

I was feeling so low and so bad about myself more so then I ever have in my whole life.  I hurt myself with words, telling myself I was fat, not beautiful and undeserving of love. I felt like I was stuck in a bubble of negativity for myself.  But over the course of these past two years, I have become a completely different person.  To some I may still be the same old Jessica, but to myself I am beginning to understand me.

I'm still learning and working to overcome those evil voices in my head, but one thing that has gotten me through those tough times and has lifted me up, is a program I got into called, "Dressing Your Truth."

"Dressing Your Truth" is a program that has helped me to understand myself and has helped me to feel good about myself through the way I dress.  I absolutely LOVE it!!  It is a process in coming to understand who you are and learning to dress accordingly and has been an amazing process that has made me feel so good about myself. Anyone who has joined in on their own journey through DYT will tell you that it is so worth it and has changed the way they feel about themselves. 

When I first started dressing your truth it was all about the clothing, the hair, the make-up and the accessories, but as I got farther into it and started watching videos from Carol Tuttle, the creator of DYT, and reading blog posts I have come to realize that although the way I dress is important, it goes so much deeper.  I have come to see how unique I am and what supports me in the type of person I am.  I try to do things that support me rather than tear me apart.  I feel beautiful and in combining that with daily exercise, I feel that no matter what weight I am, that I can be satisfied with who I am as long as I am feeling good. 

Not only has Dressing Your Truth helped me learn more about myself, it has also helped me come to understand other people.  I have learned to be more patient with others, because I understand the kind of person they are and have learned to really love people on a deeper level. It's amazing the things that I've learned and I feel so blessed to have found this amazing program. 

I feel like this is a program that helps us to really come to understand each other and helps us to come closer to our Heavenly Father, because we are learning to love ourselves. It has helped me to come to understand my beauty and what Heavenly Father sees in me. What a great blessing!!

I'm still learning like I said, but I'm learning while feeling good. Thank goodness for people like Carol Tuttle for being inspired in creating something that truly changes lives. It seems like such a simple thing, but it makes a big difference. :)

 

Before DYT - Dressing more like a Type 1

 

After DYT - Dressing more like me, Type 2

If you want to learn more about Dressing Your Truth you can go to:

http://dressingyourtruth.com/

If anything, it's something fun and new to learn about. ;)