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Musing on Psalm 31:24

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Sometimes God will
ask you do something so far out there you have to ask, “God, was that you
or that extra chili dog I ate last night messing with my brain?” Those are
the times we have to lean on this verse. Be strong, take courage to obey and while
He works behind the scenes, wait, hope and expect!
I have a such a
great story to share with you about wild commands, crazy actions and a long,
long wait full of hope and expectation and yes even questioning, doubt, and
angst. So come back on Wednesday!
Musing/Meditation Prompts: What promise has God
given you? Are you waiting with hope and expectation or are you full of anxiety
and doubt? How can you actively take courage today to revive that hope and
expectation? Strengthen yourself by musing on past victories, past promises fulfilled.
What
is one thing you can do today to take
courage?

Guess Where I Am?

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Hey everyone, I’m in sunny Florida today! Relaxing on the beach and reading fabulous books. 

April Fool’s! I’m not. I’m at home in an oversized sweatshirt and flannel pajama pants sipping coffee and about to get started on my WIP.

But seriously, I am somewhere else too.

I’m at Jennifer Hale’s blog today talking about winter seasons. I feel you should come over and chat with me. Not via Skype (refer to previous statement of what I’m wearing.)

See you Wednesday!

Happy April Fool’s Day!

Understanding the Impact of Passover

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch



The Old Testament isn’t a dry piece of bread. It’s moist and delicious, full of juicy details that consistently point the way to Jesus.

What does the Passover story mean for us today? I wish I had time to touch on all the details, but I don’t so here is the big picture!  Some of you already know. Keep reading, maybe you can offer extra insight or you’ll learn something new. Maybe it’s going to be a reminder of Love that made His way into our hearts and lives. 

The Lamb

Exodus 12: 3 “On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb…”

Exodus 12:5 “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year.”

God’s people are about to be delivered from Egypt–from bondage–into freedom. This is the last plague God institutes before that freedom comes.

Look at what the prophet Isaiah says, as he prophesied of another Lamb. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter…” Isaiah 53:7. 

John 1:29, “…Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”

1 Peter 1:19, “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Revelation 5:12, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Removal of Leaven
Exodus 12:8, “Then they shall eat the flesh on that night…with unleavened bread…”
Leaven represents sin and corruption in the Bible.

“…Do you not know that a little leaven spoils the whole lump. Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump…For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 6-8

Blood on the doorposts and lintels
Exodus 12:7, “And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.”

The blood applied on the door saved all who chose to enter into it. 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in  Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness…”  Romans 3:23-26

Not only is Jesus’ blood what covers and saves us, He is also the door. He says so Himself in John 10:7-10.

Notice the blood wasn’t applied to the threshold, where people would walk upon. Why? Because the blood of Christ will not be trampled.

“How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29

God executes judgment. We are exempt.

Exodus 12:12, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt…and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt…and against the gods of Eygpt I will execute judgment; I am the LORD.”

Exodus 12:13, “Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses, where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to to destroy you…”

“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans 5:9

Whoever eats leaven, dies.
Exodus 12:15, “…For whoever eats leavened bread…that person shall be cut off…”
“Cut off” meaning death. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.”

Jesus entered Jerusalem at Passover time. He became the spotless sacrifice needed to save us, to give us eternal life. One sacrifice for all. No more sacrifices under the law. A new Covenant established in blood. It was His joy to endure the cross. For me. For you.
**this was a revised repost


What are your Easter plans?

photocreditfreedigitalphotos

Straighten Up

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

 

 
Monday I shared
Isaiah 42:16. I like it best in the NJKV.
 
“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will
lead them in paths they have not known.
I will
make darkness light before them,
And
crooked places straight.
These
things I will do for them,
And not
forsake them.”
 
This
verse gives me hope for myself and also for those who are struggling in
darkness, who do not know Jesus yet. Now is the time of salvation!
 
I love
it when hands raise to receive salvation in church. I’m thrilled beyond
measure. They’re saved. But even more so, I get an amazing opportunity to sow into their lives. To help build a foundation for them through the New &
Growing Believers class at my church.
 
As God
opens their eyes, as light dawns, and crooked paths straighten, my eyes fill with
wonder at the miracle I witness. Knowledge and wisdom take residence in their
hearts, minds, lives. It’s amazing.
 
My
favorite conversion experience in the Bible is Saul (who became Paul). He held the coats of those
who stoned Stephen, a godly man. Jesus Himself stood up. He did not stay
seated.
 
He
persecuted the Christians. Stripping families apart as he imprisoned mothers,
fathers. And he says he was zealous about it. The worst of sinners.
 
And yet,
in  Acts chapter 9, “Then Saul still
breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the
high priest and asked letters from him for the synagogues of Damascus, so that
if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem.” (verse 1-2)
 
Saul was
on his crooked way to imprison those were of the Way (the Truth the life and
the Way–the Way =Jesus, those who had entered through the way of the narrow
gate.)
 
But on
the road to Damascus, Jesus had other plans for Saul. Plans for hope and
future. Regardless of his past. In spite of his past.
 
“Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
 
“Who are You, Lord?” So blind. Yet
not physically blinded at this point, but spiritually.
 
“I
am Jesus…”
 
“Lord,
what do You want me to do?” A genuine encounter with Christ demands a
submissive response.
 
Jesus
sent him to the city for further instruction. Right here in this moment, Jesus
begins the lesson of faith. Not giving him but one instruction. Will you trust
Me?
 
Saul
arose and opened his eyes.
 
And he
was blind. A physical picture to remind him of how blind spiritually he’d been.
He had a good while to think about it.
 
And here
is one of my favorite parts. Ananias. A man of faith. God appeared to him in a
vision.
 
“Arise
and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one
called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying..
 
How
absolutely fitting. How absolutely on purpose
did God send Ananias to Straight
street.
 
Ananias
had a moment of melt down. Everyone knew how murderous Saul was against
Christians.
 
“Go,
for his is a chosen vessel of Mine…” Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God’s chosen.
 
 
It was
on Straight Street that Saul’s crooked path, his crooked ways were revised,
straightened out. It was on Straight Street, God removed the blinders from
Saul’s eyes and he saw.
 
For the first time in his life, he actually saw.
 
And he
spent a few days there to be discipled. 
 
How
important it is to invest in new believers. In growing believers. How important
it is to know that when we’re on a crooked path, when we feel blind. God has a
Straight Street waiting for us.
 
What can you do to invest in lives of those who are just starting
out? Who had invested time in your spiritual journey?
 

Musing on Isaiah 42:16

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

One of my favorite
hope-filled verses. I can’t wait to unpack this on Wednesday!
Musing/Meditation prompts: Recount the times
God has led you as though you were blind, down ways you never knew before,
sometimes scary, sometimes thrilling. Think on the times God has brought you
out of darkness into glorious light, straightening out the places that seemed
crooked in your life. Praise Him for never leaving you to travel alone. Never
leaving you blind. Always doing these things for you.
If
you could name a street based on your life or personality, what would you name
the street?
I think my street
would be lovers’ lane. Because truly, Jesus has shown me how much a lover of my
soul he is.

The Love Triangle

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I admit it, I’m a huge fan of the love triangle. I looked back on my manuscripts–most have a triangle of some sort, which is odd since I’m all about balance. I like things even. 

But triangles have snagged me since Jessica Wakefield and Lila Fowler fought over Bruce Patman. What?! No really. It’s true. In fact, that entire series had one triangle after another. It’s why I adored the Vampire Diaries books (though odd at times) and the show–which is actually better. Thank you, Kevin Williamson. Like seriously. Thank you.

Fairly Legal really picked up when they brought on the oh so wonderful, Ryan Johnson, as Ben Grogan–but then it didn’t get picked up. I’m still ticked over that.

I’m drawn to books, shows, and movies that have a triangle. 

I thought I’d share some of my favorite movie love triangles today.

An Affair to Remember 
 Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, and Richard Denning. There have been several remakes of this movie, which I’ve seen, but I always come back to this one. She falls in love with the playboy (and who doesn’t love Carey Grant), he knows he isn’t good enough for her, and in the wings, a good man loves her and takes care of her after her accident, but her heart has always stayed with the playboy. My favorite story line, I think.

 

Sweet Home Alabama
Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey, and Josh Lucas. Torn between a really  nice, rich guy and her ex who’s still in love with her. You root for the husband but you also root for the character, Andrew Hennings. It’s only at the end that he realizes, he’s not in love with her. Up until then, it could go either way. 

 

My Best Friend’s Wedding
Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, and Cameron Diaz. I rooted for Julia Robert’s character, Julianne, to be with her best bud (played by Dermot Mulroney), Michael but in the end it didn’t happen and I kinda wished Rupert Everett’s character, George, hadn’t been gay because I also liked him and Julianne together. 

 

I have several other favorites: The Princess Bride, It Happened One Night, Casablanca, Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, The Notebook…but I can’t list every single one.

What about you? Do you enjoy a good love triangle, why or why not? If so, what is one of your favorites?
 
photo credit: freedigitalphotos

How to Find Your Song

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Monday we meditated
and mused on verse 6, the last verse in Psalm 13. Today, we’re going to look at
the entire Psalm written by David. It came from a dark time in his life.
I think in the dark
times, we write some of the most brilliant lyrics and compose the most
thrilling melodies.
Here is the Psalm in
the NKJV:
“How
long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long
will You hide Your face from me?
 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long
will my enemy be exalted over me?
 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten
my eyes,
Lest I
sleep the sleep of death;
 Lest my enemy say,
“I have
prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I
am moved.
 But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart
shall rejoice in Your salvation.
 I will sing to the Lord,
Because
He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Someone
very dear to me said almost verbatim the words expressed in verse 1: “I
ask God to show me He’s real. But I get nothing. It’s like He’s hiding…or maybe
He doesn’t care at all.”
Have you ever felt that way? Wondering where God is, as if He’s
hiding from you, as if you’ve been forgotten.
David
says, “How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart
daily?”
I know
from personal experience that when my heart is failing, giving myself solid
counsel–trying to find something based on scripture is difficult.
Emotions
become a tangled mess. Much like my loved one, who knows deep down that God is
near. He never leaves nor forsakes us. Nothing separates us from His love. His
thoughts toward us are so many–more than the sands of the sea. All good.
But when our hearts fail, when our soul feels alone and
drowning, our thoughts stray. What we believe can become clouded if we
let it.
The
enemy dogs us, like David’s enemy. Surrounding us. Taunting us. Vicious.
Merciless. He uses anything and everything to tear us apart. Health,
relationships, loved ones, finances…you name it.
David
cries out and is in essence saying, How long? I don’t know how much more I can
take of this. Please hear me. Answer me. I need a word from you…I’m going to
die if I don’t. How much more can I handle? My heart says none.
But we can’t give up.
David
knew this. He needed to hear from God. The silence was enough to drive him to
his grave. He didn’t want his enemies to get the victory, but he was wearing
thin.
And then
we make it to the last verse. David remembers times past.
He has
trusted in God’s love, his mercy. He has been saved before, rescued, loved,
taken care of, blessed. And he knows that God, even though He seems hidden and
quiet, even though his enemy is all around, even though his emotions are messed
up and his soul tortured…
God will
come through.
God will
rescue.
God will
protect.
God will
never leave.
God will
never give up.
God is….
NEAR.
And that
is reason to sing. 
Even in
the dark times.
Especially
in the dark times.
What
will you sing today? Favorite hymn/chorus?
I
will be singing this today: 

Musing on Psalm 13:6

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

It’s great to be
back after a refreshing spring break! I think that’s why I chose this
particular picture with spring blossoms. This week I’ve had the chance to
really feel this verse. But it’s the last verse in a rather somber Psalm by
David. And I felt that this week as well.
Wednesday, we’ll
unpack the entire Psalm. It’s short, stop hyperventilating.
Meditation/Musings: Think on all the things
that seem small or trivial in your life, but are good things. Waking up. Kids
that are healthy. Breathing without machines. A chocolate bar. Coffee. Warm
weather. Oh how good God is! Remember the big things that have happened in your
life: safety from a car wreck, a good report from the medical lab, a
disappointment that became a blessing after all. A hurt that turned into a
ministry.
God is so good to
us. Truly, in all circumstances, He deals bountifully with us. He is good to
us.
Name
one good thing whether large or small that has happened already today–and it
might be very early for you right now! 

Spring Break! Already?

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
 

I can’t believe it’s already spring break time around here. Seems nuts that March has finally made its way to us. 

I love spring. Daffodils. Easter. Warm winds. Hammocks when they don’t break on you. Sunshine. Parks. Picnics. Bike rides. Long walks without frost bite. Rain. Tulips. 

I love it all. 

And next week, my husband and I have taken the entire week off to spend it with our kids. So I’ll be on a blogging break. 

But I’ll be back.

Yes, I said that Terminator style. Really I didn’t, but when I proofed this, I did. 

What do you love about spring?