Jennifer N. Buczynski's Blog, page 2

When I am Afraid

To us, this world is an uncertain place. We try to hang onto our lives as tightly as we can, keeping all the pieces exactly where we want them, afraid that something might come unglued. And when it threatens to (or actually does) we can get lost in fear.

To God, His plan is certain. Nothing can alter His Will and if we just maintain our faith in Jesus, we are completely safe in God’s hands (Romans 8:38-39, John 10:28-30). There are no circumstances God didn’t see coming and nothing He forgot to include in His plan. This allows us to change our viewpoint from anxious uncertainty to the certain knowledge that God has it all in control. That’s why we can say with David:

 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. 4 In God, whose word I praise – in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)

Changing Perspectives

Giving in to fear is often a perspective error. When we look at our life through a fearful lens, we tend to act on only what our human eyes see. When we look at our life through a godly lens, we choose to look at God and what He promises us. 

When we trusted in Jesus, we died to our old, worldly perspectives and took on a perspective of faith in God. We changed directions and are now walking towards God. The challenge is that we have to keep walking daily. Our struggle with sin in these corrupted bodies will not end until we cross into eternity, but we are called to constantly renew our minds through God’s truth (Romans 12:2). Whenever fear threatens the peace we are called to have in Jesus, we have to counter that with a conscious choice to have the right perspective (Colossians 3:2-3, 15). 

Fear is a powerful emotion. Getting it to obey is often a struggle – especially if a particular fear has taken root in our hearts. Sometimes we even feel powerless, like we’re stuck in an endless loop, with no way to correct our course. 

Here’s the good news: we choose how to respond to our emotions. 

This might sound like a huge task. Especially if we feel stuck in that loop. We hardly have the strength to go on, much less make war against the enemy. Yet when our emotions overwhelm us, God is there, wanting to help us. 

Choosing our response (although it requires will-power and lots of it) is actually an amazing gift. When fear seizes us, we know it does not have any ultimate power over us. It can’t conquer us (unless we let it), since we are God’s children and have every right to trust Him (Psalm 42:11).

That’s not to say that we can totally eliminate all of our negative emotions. We still live in a war-zone. Emotions are often pesky and unpredictable, arising at the worst times. Still, the more we train ourselves to listen to God’s voice, the more we can rest in Him, will go a long way to aid our struggle.

Jesus – Our Role Model

When Jesus lived on earth, He sometimes traveled in boats with His disciples. On one occasion, a storm arose with violent wind and waves, and the disciples were afraid for their lives. They thought they were going to drown. What was Jesus doing? He was sleeping. When the disciples woke Him, Jesus asked them why they had so little faith, why they were afraid – and then He calmed the storm. 

Our hearts often have violent waves of fear washing over them, too. And we act just like the disciples. We worry and wonder if God knows what’s going on – even though Jesus is right here with us. We can’t see Him, as they could, but it makes no difference to His presence. When we rest in Jesus, He can calm our fearful storm.

Fear vs Respect

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. – Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)

God is just, holy, righteous, and worthy of our utmost respect. We should not take lightly His authority in our lives or spurn His discipline. God is also abundantly gracious, compassionate, forgiving and kind. We should not quake in terror at the thought of Him or forget His life-giving character. 

Fearing God means respecting and trusting God – that is the start of everything good. Fools don’t respect God, so they miss out (Psalm 14:1a). When we walk with Jesus, striving to live our lives as He would have us, we are not afraid of God. We know that God is with us, helping us, strengthening and upholding us, and loving us. Even if we must suffer God’s discipline, the proper response is not fear, but a humble return to God through confession, understanding that He is correcting us out of love. 

When we draw close to God we experience more of His goodness. He works with us tenderly as a good Father, helping us lay aside the things we are afraid of and see that we can trust in Him. And if we are in the middle of fear and remember that we should run to Him, God is always there to receive us.

The post When I am Afraid appeared first on Growing in Jesus.

Through Our Pain

When We Hurt

Walking through this world is hard, especially when our world seems to shatter. Sometimes we are left wishing we could pick up all the pieces and glue them together. Long trials, health diagnoses, a broken relationship or a death. We wonder how to go on or even if we can. 

When we’re hurting, it’s important to remember that we’re not here long (James 4:14, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18). It’s important to love other believers (Hebrews 13:1). We’re looking onward and upward, assured that this world isn’t our ultimate home (Hebrews 13:14).

Jesus – Our Role Model

Sorrow, pain, and grief are part of life in this world. Our Lord walked in this world of sorrow. Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35) and the Bible tells us that Jesus loved these siblings (John 11:5). Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, with the power and authority over death that He had as the Son of God. Yet our Lord Jesus is also human and He cried with the others who were mourning (John 11:33-35).

When Lazarus was sick, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus. When Jesus received their message, He purposely stayed away until Lazarus died, knowing that He would use the situation to bring glory to God. Eventually Jesus went to his friends’ town and Martha met him outside the village. As their conversation progressed, Jesus asked her a question.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26

Martha had a choice. Even when she was hurting, she chose to rest on God’s promises. She proved her trust in Jesus when she replied:

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” – John 11:27

In all our pain, this should be the cry of our heart. Our faith can remain strong through our struggles, even if it is a matter of life and death.

In the Valley

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4

Our ultimate enemy is death. We grieve over loved ones we have lost. Sometimes we ourselves walk through a dark valley and we aren’t sure what it holds. We are assured that whatever we walk through, we never walk alone. Jesus is there with us. 

And we must not despair (John 14:1-4). In Jesus, the victory over death is won! We who live for the Lord can rejoice that death, however painful,  has no hold over us. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:56-57, Isaiah 57:1, Psalm 116:15, Hebrews 2:14-15).

The Struggle

As emotional creatures, we often have to struggle with our circumstances. Sometimes we are left with regrets and sometimes there is nothing we could have done to change the situation. Other times, we are so lost in the middle of our pain that we don’t quite understand what happened. The enemy will use these situations against us, often in our weakest hour. The enemy may try to wrack us with guilt, convincing us we are worthless or unforgivable, trying to undermine the sacrifice of Jesus (which we must cling to with our entire hope). Or he may try to throw our powerlessness in our faces, tempting us to blame God and doubt the loving character of the Lord.  

Often our emotions fight against the truth. We are tempted to give up, worry, get depressed, get angry, or look to emotional relief. Much like Peter, when we take our eyes off the Lord we start to sink (Matthew 14:28-30).

When we are aware of sinking, we ought to go to our Lord and pour out our hearts to Him. He is able to use our pain in something we can’t see in the moment. Then we should remind ourselves that God loves us, sees our pain, and will use it to make us more like Him if we are willing. Our pain is not wasted in the Lord’s Hands. He can accomplish all His good purposes through the worst of circumstances. 

Through our living hope and faith in Jesus, we can choose to leave our pain in the past. We don’t have to carry our sadness or mistakes with us. And whatever pain we do carry with us into the present, we trust that Jesus is able to comfort us and we press on (Philippians 3:12-15).

As Christians, the ultimate purpose of our lives is to glorify God. Jesus perfectly fulfilled His mission on this earth by obeying the Father’s Will. When we act in faith, even in the midst of our trials, we glorify our Lord. And we ourselves will share in Christ’s glory that He won on the cross, through our resurrection into eternal life.  

Our Father’s Love

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

God is well qualified to comfort us, as He alone knows every throb of our hurting heart. He is close to us and hears our cries (Psalm 34:17-18). When we are in pain, we can look to our Savior for compassion and tender care. And as we trust our Savior in our hour of pain, our faith grows and we can use His gracious love to help others in their own needs. 

God comforts us through His Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit can remind us of the truth we have learned from the Bible. Since the Word is living and active, God can use it specifically for our needs at the right time (Hebrews 4:12). God also uses our brothers and sisters in the Lord to give us encouragement, prayer, and support (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 6:18, Romans 13:8, Romans 1:12). 

Although this life is one of trials and tears, we can rest in our Lord. We can look forward to all the glories to come in our eternity with Jesus. And we can continue to walk in the light, offering that light to those around us, to glorify our Savior through it all. 

The post Through Our Pain appeared first on Growing in Jesus.

Sugar Free Icecream

Curabitur coldimen ipsum ante, sed tempus lorem.

Aenean fermentum vulputate eros, efficitur vehicula nunc accumsan tincidunt. Maecenas a nulla id sapien dignissim tincidunt. Suspendisse efficitur ipsum sit amet purus sodales pulvinar. Suspendisse eu venenatis eros.

Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna. Curabitur vel urna id tortor ullamcorper molestie. Donec accumsan, sapien nec consectetur varius, nisl nibh maximus diam, non vulputate diam dolor at nunc. Suspendisse pulvinar, ante a tempor volutpat, ligula tellus pharetra libero, ac porttitor tortor turpis at magna.
Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna.

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup (see below)
1/4 tsp. Grenadine
3 dashes bitters 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup (see below)
1/4 tsp. Grenadine
3 dashes bitters

Consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nunc, aliquam et sollicitudin a, mollis sit amet odio.

Proin gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit.

The post Sugar Free Icecream appeared first on Growing in Jesus.

Chocolate Cake

Nullam imperdiet lobortis maximus cras ante neque.

Aenean fermentum vulputate eros, efficitur vehicula nunc accumsan tincidunt. Maecenas a nulla id sapien dignissim tincidunt. Suspendisse efficitur ipsum sit amet purus sodales pulvinar. Suspendisse eu venenatis eros.

Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna. Curabitur vel urna id tortor ullamcorper molestie. Donec accumsan, sapien nec consectetur varius, nisl nibh maximus diam, non vulputate diam dolor at nunc. Suspendisse pulvinar, ante a tempor volutpat, ligula tellus pharetra libero, ac porttitor tortor turpis at magna.
Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna.

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup (see below)
1/4 tsp. Grenadine
3 dashes bitters

Proin gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsm dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nu.

The post Chocolate Cake appeared first on Growing in Jesus.

Healthy Oats

Nullam imperdiet lobortis maximus cras ante neque.

Aenean fermentum vulputate eros, efficitur vehicula nunc accumsan tincidunt. Maecenas a nulla id sapien dignissim tincidunt. Suspendisse efficitur ipsum sit amet purus sodales pulvinar. Suspendisse eu venenatis eros.

Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna. Curabitur vel urna id tortor ullamcorper molestie. Donec accumsan, sapien nec consectetur varius, nisl nibh maximus diam, non vulputate diam dolor at nunc. Suspendisse pulvinar, ante a tempor volutpat, ligula tellus pharetra libero, ac porttitor tortor turpis at magna.
Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna.

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur.

Proin gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nunc, aliquam et sollicitudin a, mollis sit amet odio.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup (see below)
1/4 tsp. Grenadine
3 dashes bitters

Consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nunc, aliquam et sollicitudin a, mollis sit amet odio.

Proin gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nunc, aliquam et sollicitudin a, mollis sit amet odio.

The post Healthy Oats appeared first on Growing in Jesus.

Sprouts Salad

Nullam imperdiet lobortis maximus cras ante neque.

Aenean fermentum vulputate eros, efficitur vehicula nunc accumsan tincidunt. Maecenas a nulla id sapien dignissim tincidunt. Suspendisse efficitur ipsum sit amet purus sodales pulvinar. Suspendisse eu venenatis eros.

Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna. Curabitur vel urna id tortor ullamcorper molestie. Donec accumsan, sapien nec consectetur varius, nisl nibh maximus diam, non vulputate diam dolor at nunc. Suspendisse pulvinar, ante a tempor volutpat, ligula tellus pharetra libero, ac porttitor tortor turpis at magna.
Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna.

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup (see below)
1/4 tsp. Grenadine
3 dashes bitters 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup (see below)

Consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nunc, aliquam et sollicitudin a, mollis sit amet odio.

Proin gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nunc, aliquam et sollicitudin a, mollis sit amet odio.

The post Sprouts Salad appeared first on Growing in Jesus.

Through Our Pain

When We Hurt

Walking through this world is hard, especially when our world seems to shatter. Sometimes we are left wishing we could pick up all the pieces and glue them together. Long trials, health diagnoses, a broken relationship or a death. We wonder how to go on or even if we can. 

When we’re hurting, it’s important to remember that we’re not here long (James 4:14, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18). It’s important to love other believers (Hebrews 13:1). We’re looking onward and upward, assured that this world isn’t our ultimate home (Hebrews 13:14).

Sorrow, pain, and grief are part of life in this world. Our Lord walked in this world of sorrow. Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35) and the Bible tells us that Jesus loved these siblings (John 11:5). Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, with the power and authority over death that He had as the Son of God. Yet our Lord Jesus is also human and He cried with the others who were mourning (John 11:33-35).

When Lazarus was sick, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus. When Jesus received their message, He purposely stayed away until Lazarus died, knowing that He would use the situation to bring glory to God. Eventually Jesus went to his friends’ town and Martha met him outside the village. As their conversation progressed, Jesus asked her a question.

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur.

Proin gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nunc, aliquam et sollicitudin a, mollis sit amet odio.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup (see below)
1/4 tsp. Grenadine
3 dashes bitters

Consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nunc, aliquam et sollicitudin a, mollis sit amet odio.

Proin gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean sapien nunc, aliquam et sollicitudin a, mollis sit amet odio.

The post Through Our Pain appeared first on Growing in Jesus.

Banana Salad

Tortor mi voluptas occaecat. In ipsa facilisis nihil augue pulvinar, earum corporis quisquam mollis explicabo? Soluta explicabo! Semper! Metus, primis asperiores, consequatur, ex senectus nisl pariatur inventore ligula praesentium vehicula! Fames cupiditate sociosqu suspendisse litora tempora pretium laboriosam integer laboris euismod hic convallis arcu convallis, taciti tortor quasi, voluptates quisque curabitur est, accusantium per cursus.

Habitant cumque vivamus ad atque vel penatibus, lobortis nunc, quas massa, expedita quas, voluptatem omnis repudiandae debitis pretium, incidunt voluptates? Conubia molestie, vivamus ex voluptate? Fermentum. Vulputate id exercitationem mattis, aliquip minim elit. Ipsa rerum quo! Nobis parturient, litora dolorem, pede platea commodi pulvinar potenti diam quisquam pellentesque aliquam ullamco, mollis, volutpat molestie porttitor, hic.

Porttitor vulputate consectetuer commodi aliquip dolorem? Curabitur? Diamlorem, reiciendis imperdiet, nascetur nobis elit laoreet pede perspiciatis facilisis nisl, eu tempora sunt tenetur ullamco delectus, nibh soluta cupidatat tempore, tristique! Laoreet nemo fringilla voluptatem laudantium ridiculus architecto mauris asperiores debitis magnam, molestiae maecenas rem! Molestiae sunt? Commodo? Porttitor auctor. Ultrices nibh, tempore platea vero curabitur provident.

The post Banana Salad appeared first on Growing in Jesus.

Hello world!

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The post Hello world! appeared first on Growing in Jesus.

Blessed in Return

I have been doing a lot of praying lately, mostly praying for others. The grief of my world feels heavy right now. But it is so life-giving to lift our prayers and our cares to the Lord. It is a gift to others and a gift to ourselves to pray for those we love.


 


I just read this in my devotional Growing in Prayer by Mike Bickle:


 


“Intercession for others causes multiplied blessings to return back on the life and family of the intercessor. Every prayer of blessing for another is a prayer that God returns back on you and your loved ones. Jesus promised: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down…will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).”


 


This is so encouraging. All the words and sighs that we utter to our Lord are accomplishing His works for those we love, and ALSO the blessings are returned upon our heads.


 


Blessed be the name of the Lord.