Just A Jordan.

Doing My Creative Best With My Own Life

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:53:08 -0400

April 18, 2013

Today I read some really encouraging words that spoke to my heart in Galatians 6:4-5 “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”

The devotion that goes along with this verse, written by Rick Warren, says, “You have just enough time to do God’s will while you’re here on earth. You’ve been given just enough time to fulfill your purpose. When you try to do more that God planned for you, it’s only natural that you’ll find yourself constantly out of time or stressed over your schedule. My prayer for you is that you will find relief from stress and a new sense of satisfaction as you do only the things God created you to do.”

This is so powerful to me. As a girl, I compare myself to others, especially other girls. I compare my appearance as well as countless other silly things which is ridiculous. I know it saddens God to see this. He created me for a purpose that only I can fulfill. I have a certain amount of days here, that only He knows, to do what I am called to do. When I get distracted and focus on what someone else’s purpose is I am losing sight and wasting time for what my purpose is that God has called only me to. He wants to watch me run full speed towards His calling on my life, not to someone else’s. I want to focus on God’s purpose for my life while, “taking responsibility for doing the creative best I can with my own life.” I’ve also seen that God calls us to do things we are good at. If not, He equips us to do them and do them well. He uses our creativity, passions, and talents to further His Kingdom. And it’s all for His glory! What a joy it is to do what I am created to do and what I am best at to bring more glory to God! That excites me even more to do His work!

I also know I spend a lot of the time worrying. Especially about things like this, my calling and my future. I’ve found that there is always something to worry about which is depressing, but there’s a reason for that. It proves that we can’t do it on our own and we constantly need a Savior. I recently heard someone say this about being worried… When we worry it is really a pride issue because we think it is up to us. We think that it is our job to get whatever it is that we worry about accomplished. But it’s not our job, we are not in control. God is. We can do nothing without God. Suddenly, when I realize that I am not in control and God is, I no longer worry or stress about the matter. He gives me that peace that passes all understanding, because He is God. He is bigger than me and my problems. He is the one in control.

I just love Him. I love discovering new things about Him in my life. I love how personal and intimate His love is. I love how He whispers things directly to my heart in a way that no one else ever could. I love that He knows I am not perfect and even in my ugly sin every single day He still loves me just the same.

I have so much to learn. So much more to grow. I am thankful that He is teaching me so much and slow enough for me to understand it all and put it into practice.

Oh how He loves us.

Jordan.

Love

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:54:54 -0400

I was reading in Luke 14 where Jesus says in verse 26, “if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

At first, after reading this I didn’t really understand what Jesus meant by it, “if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother…” I was confused to why Jesus would say to hate our family and friends, because His biggest command for us is to love those people. Then I read this verse in the message which says, “anyone who refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters- yes even one’s own self! - can’t be my disciple…”

After reading this version it began to make a little more sense to me and I remembered something my friend Anna said to me one time. She said that our love for God should be so vast and so great that it looks like we hate our family and friends in comparison. Not that we truly hate them, but when we look at our love for them beside our love for God, our earthly love looks almost like hate. If we put others before God, even just by loving them, we create an idol out of them, putting them above God. He wants to be our biggest love. If He is our first and greatest love then it becomes easier to love others in the way God has called. Our love for our families and friends can be big, but that means our love for God should just be that much more.

I think that is beautiful. And I wanna love Him like that.

Hope In Death

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:14:22 -0400

March 30, 2013

Lately, there have been a lot of deaths close to me. Young and old. People I know and people I know who have lost family. Its so sad, especially when young people die, because that just isn’t normal. It breaks my heart. And it’s a difficult thing to understand, but there is hope in death.

The whole reason we celebrate this holiday is because Jesus defeated death. We don’t celebrate it because He died, yes, He died for our sins so that we may live forever, but if He didn’t resurrect from the dead we couldn’t have life. It wouldn’t be such a beautiful story if He didn’t come back. Jesus conquered death.

There’s a Flyleaf lyric that says, “don’t be shocked that people die, be surprised you’re still alive.” I love that. It’s a beautiful thing to think about. It’s something I don’t think I’ve ever really realized or put into words. I know we all will die. I know one day I will die, that’s expected, but I think hearing it makes me so grateful for life. Life is a gift, its precious and short. I should be thankful for every day. It’s a miracle I’m alive today. That being said, God’s not done with me. Something that I hear at the church Newspring that I’ve been going to is, “if you’re not dead, God’s not done.”

It is tragic and heartbreaking to hear of people who have lost family members or close friends, but I know that those who died and went to be with Jesus don’t miss life here a bit. They wouldn’t come back for anything. They’re living eternally doing what they were created to do. Every creative bone in their (new) body is being used to bring glory and worship to God. They have entered into eternal joy. And I have that to look forward to after my days here. But we grieve for us. Death is sad and heartbreaking, it’s hard to understand especially when we loose someone we love, but as believers, we still have hope because of what Jesus did three days after He was crucified.

There’s a lot of things I want to do before I die, but I don’t know how many days I have left, and really it’s probably much less than I think I have. So I need to do everything I can to bring Glory to God in my days here on earth. That’s what I’m here for. The older I’ve become and the more I’ve grown spiritually I’ve realized that more. My life isn’t about me. And if I die tomorrow I want to be remembered for that, living for Jesus, not for myself. I’m thankful I’m alive today, so God, what do you want to do with me today?

This the song Anna & I wrote. I’m no pro at recording,...

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:31:12 -0500

This the song Anna & I wrote. I’m no pro at recording, but here it is!

Photo

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:00:30 -0500

bienenkiste: Paul & Joe Spring/Summer 2002

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 23:04:53 -0400

bienenkiste:

Paul & Joe Spring/Summer 2002

i wrote a song the other day. here it is if you want to listen!

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:21:04 -0400

i wrote a song the other day. here it is if you want to listen!

Photo

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:16:03 -0400

Photo

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:47:13 -0400

sdupreebemis: favorite.

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:27:07 -0400

sdupreebemis:

favorite.

live4m0ments: soft grunge & vintage wonderland.

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 09:06:53 -0400

live4m0ments:

soft grunge & vintage wonderland.

Photo

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 09:06:41 -0400

Photo

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 09:06:32 -0400

Photo

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 09:06:12 -0400

Video

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:28:31 -0400

insidedannyrobertshead: Beautiful highlikefashion: Skye...

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:55:47 -0400

insidedannyrobertshead:

Beautiful

highlikefashion:

Skye Stracke backstage at Nina Ricci Spring 2009

anthropologie: Hooray for short dresses with big ruffles! Via:...

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:55:25 -0400

anthropologie:

Hooray for short dresses with big ruffles!

Via: Quince With Sugar

technologicme: An illustration in progress! I’m sure you can...

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:57:22 -0400

technologicme:

An illustration in progress! I’m sure you can guess who this is…this’ll be finished Thursday. Because I’m posting this at 4 am and I really need to sleep.

insertpennamehere: gaksdesigns: Painting by Esao...

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:39:22 -0400

insertpennamehere:

gaksdesigns:

Painting by Esao Andrew

Favorite Artist<3

live there, can i please?

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:51:40 -0400

live there, can i please?