Faith > Failure

                                               
                                  Faith > Failure 

                        Jessica Sunday 

If there is one thing that I have learned in life it is that people try to define us by our failures, imperfections, and setbacks. Not only do people do this but Satan also desires for us to stay in bondage to our critics, insecurities, and short comings. In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, " Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:." Satan is seeking to devour us. To say the least, he does not have our best interest in mind. 

This is where our faith kicks in. There is no doubt that the time will come when you will face an unseemly difficult circumstance, failure, or setback. Or perhaps it has already arrived. Placing your faith in Christ rather than the circumstance will overcome your failure. In essence, your faith will become bigger than your failure. 

To the world it would not seem logical for one's faith to be increased during failure but rather decreased. Do not be afraid of your weakness because this is when Christ can be glorified. This is when people will look to you to see if your faith has wavered, more specifically, your critics or those who do not know Christ. 

When you know God is for you, you will not be focused on who is against you, and you certainly will not be focused on your failure knowing that God desires to prosper you. He is bigger than any failure in your life and desires to use it for His glory. 

Recently, I have faced a failure in my life and quite honestly a setback. I failed out of my second semester of nursing school. After a long semester of continuous studying, early morning clinicals, exhausting days, and not to mention perfect attendance for all of labs, lectures, and clinicals, I ended up failing by two points. Two points! 

However, instead of being devastated by this setback, I refused to be defined by it. I have learned that nursing does not define who I am as a person. I am still intelligent, encouraging, understanding, giving, funny, and positive. All of these are traits that the Lord has blessed me with, and failing out of nursing school did not change that. I used what many would call a setback to fuel new opportunities for this summer and fall. 

If I did not have my faith in God, I may not be able to say that I took it well. Of course there were times I broke down, questioned if I am smart enough, and doubted myself, but placing my faith in God overcame my sorrow, questions, and doubts. This is when people saw that my faith was and still is greater than my failures.

Are you facing a difficult crossroad in your life right now? Let me encourage you to increase your faith and to have victory over your failures. Remember, you do not have to be defined by them. 

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am WEAK, then am I STRONG." - II Cor. 12:9-10 

Whose Cup Are You Filling Up?

  Whose Cup Are You Filling Up? 

                          Jessica Sunday 

It's as simple as that. Whose cup are you filling up? Let's be honest. Life is tough. Life can be draining. The physical,social, and spiritual "tanks" we have set aside in our lives empty quickly if we are not careful. Day-by-day we need to be sure to fill up on positive and energizing things. Our relationships, careers, education, friendships, and "to-do lists" can drain our tanks if we let them consume our lives without taking time for ourselves and others. That almost sounds contradictory, but it is quite the opposite. While friendships, relationships, and careers can become draining, they do not have to be. As long as you take time to invest in yourself - filling up your own cup - it is then when you can begin to fill up in someone else's cup. When your life becomes full of positivity, opportunities, service, and joy, the only thing left for your cup to do is overflow into other people's cups. Your life is a direct reflection of the investment you have made in someone else's life.

John 10:10 says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." See, Satan wants our lives to drain completely so that we have nothing else to offer not only ourselves but also others. Jesus tells us here that He made a way for our lives to be abundant through Him. Did you catch that? Jesus wants us to live abundant lives! We do not need to stay captive by Satan's strongholds of self-doubt, insecurity, failure, setbacks, or disappointments. We are called to live abundantly in God's grace, favor, love, joy, and strength.

I have seen in my own life that when my cup is emptying, I am more miserable because I am tired, agitated, moody, and insecure. However, I have also found that when my cup is full, the more I am serving others, walking through opportunities God opens up for me, loving on people who cannot give back, and being secure in Jesus, my cup begins to overflow into someone else's life. It is evident when my cup is full and when it is not.

Here are some ways to fill up your cup:

1. Be still - Set aside a time where you can sit down and meditate on Scripture, come before God's throne with praise and prayer, and reflect on your life. 
2.  Serve - Find a local outreach, summer camp, church ministry, or organization that you can serve in. The more you serve others, the less you have time to worry about your own problems thus filling up someone else's cup and your cup. More often than naught when you go venture to serve others to fill up their cups, you return with so much more in yours. 
3. Something new - Do something new, something adventurous, something you never thought you could do - something totally out of your comfort zone! 
4. Travel - Go explore some place new with your friends! Experience a different culture, language, diet, climate, and more! 
5. Journal, read, and sip some coffee 
6. Visit a local coffee shop 
7. Take part in some shopping therapy with a group of friends 
8. Set goals & follow through 
9. Go for a walk, jog, or run. Just go! 
10. Write letters or cards to a friend or family member. 

So, what do you say? Whose cup are you filling up? Let me encourage you to make your own list of things you can do to fill up your cup. Once you focus on filling up your cup, you will be amazed of how other people's cups will be full from living such an abundant overflowing life!

Worth Dying For

Jessica Sunday

If you are on my blog right now, you did not come across it by accident. You are here because of a divine appointment by God. The One who loves you so much with an indescribable love that no man can comprehend. I am not sure what you are struggling with or if you are struggling at all. You may be at a mountain top in your life right now, but there may be someone who is in the valley - someone who is struggling. Wherever you are right now, if I can encourage you with one thing, let it be the message that you were worth dying for!

The One who people so quickly mock, take His holy name in vain, the One who is no longer allowed in schools or quite practically the White House, died for you. Jesus willingly died for you. He did not argue with the officials of that day. (I mean, He did not even have to argue, He could have just left them). He did not. He stayed and was beaten for both you and me. It went beyond that grueling beating  though.  He then carried His cross to a place called Calvary to be crucified - to take on the sins of the world. He was spat upon, ridiculed, scourged, mocked, and "worshiped." They beat a crown of thorns into His skull and gambled for His clothes. He hung naked upon that beautiful, terrible cross.

The cross was beautiful because it now symbolized the sacrifice that was enough for Jesus - His son. It was also beautiful because He was the only One who could be the atonement for our sins. We could do nothing. Not even the good works we do can take us even so close as the pearly gates when we pass on. He had to do it all, and He did. Jesus paid it all! The cross was terrible. It was terrible because it symbolized the cruelest death sentence of that day. Thousands were put to death by being crucified in front of people scoffing at  them. Jesus was the only One who could turn this terrible cross into something beautiful because of the sacrifice that was made on that day. Jesus died a horrific death for you and for me. The Bible tells us that He no longer looked like a man. He was unrecognizable.

You were worth dying for. Every blood-stained drop from the Savior was worth it to gain a relationship with you, but you must accept His sacrifice. So, what can we take away from the best love story ever demonstrated? Here are a few things that are important to remember that we often forget when reading the crucifixion passage.

1.  He was born to die. Have we forgotten that God is omniscient?  That term means that He knows everything! Can you imagine knowing you were born to die?  Of course, we know we are going to die someday, but to know you were born to die for a specific purpose? That is something that is hard to comprehend. I praise God that in spite of knowing His Son Jesus was born to die, that Jesus still came to take our place on the cross. The place we could never go. 
2.  He is all powerful, yet bore our sins.Do you remember the old hymn that says Jesus could have called ten thousand angels? My friend,as precious as that song is, Jesus did not have to call one angel! He could have freed Himself, but He chose to bear this suffering for us. The Bible says in John 15:16, "Ye have not chosen  me, but I have chosen you, ..."  He is all powerful! He chose us and bore our sins for us! What an amazing love! 
3. He died not only for the ones who loved Him but also for His enemies. In Luke 23:34 the Bible says, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." Although the soldiers continued to scoff at Him and gamble for His clothes, Jesus was concerned about their spiritual needs. There is nothing you can do that can separate you from the love of God. He is always ready to save you! 
4. He thought about others while on the cross. There were two thieves dying on each side of Him. One of them understood salvation and asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus told the man that he would be with Him in paradise today. Even on the cross, Jesus was concerned about the lost. 
5. He felt forsaken by His Father. In Matthew's account of the crucifixion, the Bible tells us in chapter 27 verse 46 that Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, "... My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Even Jesus felt forsaken by His Father going through this. Could you imagine hearing your son say this to you? This is when the sky became dark, and Jesus was taking on all the sins of the world. His Father could not look on the sin. 
6. He had you in mind. There is no doubt that God had YOU in mind when He was dying for you! He was scourged, crucified, and mocked for you so that you might accept His free gift of salvation. He wants more than anything for you to have a genuine relationship with you. He wants you in eternity with Him! He did not go through all of this for you for nothing! He desires you! 

YOU WERE WORTH DYING FOR!