Guard your {heart}

Growing up I was always told to "guard my heart." I had no idea what that meant. Was I not supposed to say "I love you" to my boyfriend?
Or maybe keep my dreams to myself? Well I tried all that but I still got hurt. Last year I finally understood what it meant. To me, it meant that all of my secrets, dreams and desires should go to God first.

He longs to hear from you and He'll protect your heart when you go to Him.

My pains and frustrations, should go to Him.
My joys and excitement, should go to Him.

He is the author of my life and He promises to care for His children. While men or women might ridicule you or call you crazy (been there, done that), God won't.

God doesn't think your dreams are crazy because He put them there.

Going to Him protects not only our feelings but our dreams that were inspired by God. I once told a guy I was dating a dream of mine. he laughed and it crushed me. It took me many years to believe in it again. He wasn't trying to be mean. It was just a really BIG dream and it did sound ridiculous! But If I had *guarded my heart and just talked to God about it, I probably wouldn't have been discouraged.

A God-given dream isn't possible through human eyes. And if your dream is still a seed,(aka in the beginning stage) I would encourage you to keep it between you and God. Keep it between the Lover of your soul until you're so confident in it that you won't be discouraged with negativity.

Guarding your heart is also about protecting that place that you want to share with your FSH (future studhubs). How beautiful must it be to share your dreams and passions with your forever love and not be afraid of him discouraging you?!

I love the quote above from Princess Bride. In a world where people are so quick to share what's on their mind/heart with the world (thanks a lot FB and twitter), I believe it's healthy and even wise to

keep some things close to your heart.

Let the seed {beginning stage} of your dream grow... Let the Author of Heavens take care of your heart. So that as it grows, it'll be healthy.

When your walls are up, it'll keep away the insects that live to destroy you from the inside out. The walls aren't there to keep love out. They're there to keep the right guy in. They're there to keep your heart and mind pure. Let God guard your heart. Let him be the gatekeeper of your garden, keeping away the pests who want to crush your dreams and desires.

Girls (and guys), God loves YOU and has what's best for you in mind. Trust HIM. He hasn't failed you yet, and he won't start now.

“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries." Matthew 10:29-31 LOVE, jess

Written in 2012

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands." {The Message isaiah 43:18&19} It's been awhile since I've blogged, and honestly, I've been avoiding it. It's not that I don't have anything to say (i ALWAYS have to something to say haha) but when I look at my older posts I'm a little jealous of the younger me. The one who had faith that could move mountains and the joy of a five year old. Full of life and endless possibilites waiting to happen. I feel as if the last few years I've been in a boxing ring. Throwing jab after jab and not getting anywhere. Thinking I would be getting out of the ring a winner but instead, defeated. Bruised, broken, and defeated. There were moments when life seemed to become a little sweeter, but i knew i was fighting a losing battle. Somewhere in the middle of life, i forgot who was fighting for me. I forgot that the battle had already been won and that my God has my back. Jesus was in the boxing ring, fighting for my life. and the awesome part is that he's already won. he's at God's right hand, dwelling in glory. preparing for the day when we will join him where tears and sadness will be no more. until then, i will be loving the One who has done it all.

Your Great Name

We forget how p o w e r f u l the name of Jesus is.
His Name is so Sacred.
so Powerful.
so Anointed. and yet we D O N ' T use it the way we should, we don't use it with *authority. we don't believe it can bring healing and restoration <3 But oh it can and it does. It's the name above all names. It brings healing, peace and unity. It rescues and redeems. There is no Name as powerful as the name of Jesus. He is the Anointed One, He is the King of all Days, He is the Holy One.

Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture
[psalm 100:3]

“Hear my cry oh God, and let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

Lord, you know when I rise and when I rest. You know my innermost thoughts and fears- and You still love me. You chose me and saved me from the shadows of death and I am eternally grateful. I praise You for I know that I am wonderfully and fearfully made and Your ways are far beyond mines. Whom shall I fear with you by my side? I know that in You, I am more than a conqueror. I trust you for you know all things and your love endures forever. Thank you for creating me and loving me- Your love never fails. I believe in your plans to keep me from harm and to never forsake me. You are my Deliverer and my Provider. Give me Your Spirit’s strength to endure all things. Let Your Spirit abide in me and let me be holy and pleasing to You.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

When my world was in ruins {Job}

awesome message tonight by PR. He was referring to the story of Job, and his main theme was that even good people go through struggles. Job was the most noble and blessed man at the time and God still allowed his life to become a "mess."

I got the following quote from my study bible and it spoke to me so profoundly...

When suffering and troubles come you have a choice. You can curse God and end up living in bitterness and anger. Or you can see your situation a a test of faith and opportunity, albeit a painful one, to grow closer to God.

wow.

that's just so unreal. in the midst of all the battles we still have a choice to honor God and even become closer to Him. I'm glad that God gives us a choice in any and EVERY situation to do the right thing. As much as it's easier to blame God than looking past the situation, in the end it'll be worth it.
<3

Wow I can't believe it's already a new year. twenty ten. I can honestly say that 2009 has been one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. It was a year filled with ups and downs and a roller coaster of emotions. But despite everything one thing remained,
God prevailed.

On December 31, 2004, I wrote a New Years resolution and my cell group leader at the time kept it and gave it back to us this year. I've never laughed so hard as I did when I read it. The following is what I wrote :

In 2005, I Jessica Almeida would desire:
*God to make me more patient, have peace in my heart, have faith in God, wisdom, and grow more with God spiritually.
*That God can bless me more with guy friends who are mature, good listeners, friendly, wise, patient, and Godly.
*That God can show me if it's the right guy that I should go out. I do not want to be blind.
*That I can have more girl friends that respect themselves and don't take advantage of me.
I don't know why in the world at 14 I was so worried about dating.
things were so much easier when you were younger sigh

Well, now that I am 19 (almost) I do realize how important it is to have good friends with strong morals. I guess if bad company leads to bad corruption, good company must lead to good behavior? I don't really know much, but I do know that friends are essential in life. especially good friends.
This year, I'd like to be more of a friend to those around me. I want to love more and not just by saying "i love you" but by the way I put it into action. Because love isn't a feeling or an emotion, it's an act.

So that's it for now, my goal for this year is to be so in love with God that love will just pour out of my life into those around me.