Seasons Change. Jesus Doesn't.

I LOVE FALL!

In fact, I love fall so much, I could shout it to the world!

I LOVE FALL!

There's something so magical about that crisp feeling in the air. It's a feeling I can't quite find the words to describe but there are moments when the sun is shining, the leaves are changing colors, the air is crisp and it just tugs at my heart strings.
To me, fall is another piece of evidence of how much our Creator truly loves us! :)

Entering into this years season of Fall, God has placed a few things on my heart that I'd love to share.

The simple minded part of me, loves fall for these reasons:
* Changing leaves 
* Pumpkin EVERYTHING
* Thanksgiving!
* Change of weather. Which brings me to..
* Cute, cozy sweaters to wear
* Bonfires and SMORES (gluten free of course!) 
* The promise that Christmas is coming!

But this year I thought to try and tap into the spiritual reasons there are to love Fall and came up with this:
Fall is a beautiful reminder that all things change; nothing ever stays the same. Seasons or trials will come and go. Things will grow and things will die. I am in a season of my life now where I feel things are forever changing. A lesson that God was teaching me last week is nothing even remotely relatable to what He's teaching me this week! Our church is forever growing and changing, along with, our Worship Team. (PRAISE JESUS!) My family just went through a rather tough little season. Our country is about to go though some major change as well. Change is everywhere!

Like I just said, nothing stays the same. Things are constantly revolving. Life is so unpredictable; so unstable Except ONE thing.

JESUS.

A couple of verses that I discovered that fit this topic are some I'd love to share with you.

"The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it; 
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever."
-Isaiah 40: 7-8

"Jesus is the same yesterday and today and today and forever."
-Hebrews 13:8

"For I the Lord do not change."
-Malachi 3:6

So while the trees are changing colors and the leaves are dying and falling off the trees..while the temperature outside changes from hot into cooler weather, our God DOESN'T CHANGE.

His love, His mercy, His grace, His power, His patience, His strength, and His holiness remains the absolute same.
What promise and hope we can get from this truth in an ever-changing and evolving world!
What promise and hope we can get from turning to His Word and knowing that it will never be different. That everything He said and meant 1,000's of years ago, He still means them today!

His victory on the cross? Remains the same.

His promises for us? Remains the same.

His plans for us? Remains the same. We were born with God already knowing every move we would make and every thought we would have. And in this moment, even as you're reading this, He is WORKING things for our good. (Romans 8:28) WHAT A GOOD FATHER! 

So I promise that even though much can change in our lives and outside our windows, God will never ever change. His Being and His nature will remain true and the same for forever.

So with all that said, Happy Fall! Hope you are all able to drink some apple cider and enjoy a snuggly fire :)
Much love sweet friends! 

Called to be BOLD

We ALL have fears about something.
Whether it be spiders (seriously!), clowns, heights, animals, etc.
Sometimes it's more serious things like dying, cancer, divorce, love. (Yes I said love)
Over the past few years I could describe myself as coming a bit more "wimpy." I know that sounds a little harsh but it's nothing but truth. I have allowed the hurt of my past completely take over how bold and courageous I used to be with everything; music, new adventures but most importantly, people.
I have almost been scared to make friends; to allow people in or go out and be that social butterfly I once was. I have a fear of rejection and of others not liking me. A fear of letting someone too close, they take what they need from me and then leave. I was that way when I met Eric and I'm still struggling with it with other people.
This once outgoing and friendly girl is now shy and meek.
I absolutely love being a follower of Jesus. I love how I have a forever best friend. Someone that finds a way to hold me accountable, to guide me and, well, having somebody die for you is a pretty big deal so questioning His loyalty just isn't something I do anymore. I just love how He reaches me right where I am, without missing a beat.
Where am I going with this?
Last month, I was reading a devotion and it was focused around this verse:

Such a GREAT verse.

I started to think hard about MY boldness; if my fears were getting in the way of what I wanted to do with my life. If my fears were keeping me from friendships, dreams, or just going out and reaching the lost like He asks me to do. I was getting frustrated because I knew I wasn't being strong and courageous like I wanted to. 

Just then, on Pandora, Courageous by Casting Crowns came on. 

We were made to be courageous

We were made to lead the way

We could be the generation

That finally breaks the chains

We were made to be courageous

We were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines

Standing, unafraid

But now we're watchers on the sidelines

While our families slip away

I love this song. I've heard it before and knew what the meaning of the song was but never directly applied it to my life. Jesus knew exactly what I needed to hear and when I needed to hear it. It put a spark in my heart. A spark that only He could've ignited. 

I know that I don't need to be afraid of anything. I can do anything with His strength and courage that He gives me.

Since that moment, it has been made clear that I'm being called into ministry. I have applied and been accepted into a college to keep furthering my education. I ran a 5K, started to volunteer in a few different areas at church and I even made some new mommy friends :)

We are given only a short amount of borrowed time here on this earth. I want to make the most out of it and the gifts that Jesus has given me. I can't do that while hiding in my house, away from the world because of a fear of rejection or getting hurt.

Look at what Jesus went through while trying to teach a message. He was hated on, ridiculed, beaten and then faced death. All so that I can continue his teachings and love on as many people as I can.

Do you have any fears? Anything you feel is holding you back from living your life? 

He calls us to be bold for a reason, and we NEED to know that He has our back! 

So go and be bold. Go out for that job you were thinking about. or go for hike up a mountain you've been wanting to check out or even go to a circus and take a picture with a clown. Haha!

Whatever it may be, I know you can do it and He knows too! He'll let you know if you're not going down the right path.

Thoughts, comments, questions?

gfmamaj@gmail.com

Much love to you!

P.S. Check out Courageous by Casting Crowns:

Down with Facebook

"I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"--but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 6:12 

So silly me forgot to mention that my Facebook is no longer, which means the GFMama page is no longer as well. I am on an official Facebook hiatus and so very happy.

I mean honestly, it's like a sweet freedom. There are many reasons why I (and Eric!) decided to forever delete the number one social media cite out there and here they are a few:

1) Facebook is a HUGE distraction

This (^) means more to me than anything in this world. I am so honored and willing to follow Jesus where ever He wants or needs me to go. I was really having a problem with waking up in the morning and immediately turning to His word; to go to sleep skimming through my newsfeed instead of digging into His word. I was getting quite frustrated at myself due to the lack of time I had for anything else in my life because I was so busy on Facebook! I vowed that 2015 would be the year that I really throw myself into my faith. Jesus' love is worth more to me then just a one minute devotional..which was on my cell phone. Since deleting our Facebooks, Eric and I have happily started reading in the New Testament together and that alone makes my heart happy.

2) It's an unnecessary stressor

I have been wanting to delete my Facebook for quite some time, even before I had Makenna. In fact, when I was pregnant I tried to delete it only to log in a day or so later. It was really starting to bother me how Facebook users were using the cite to just be, well, mean! Commenting on a controversial topic that somebody posts is just a HUGE no-no! Politics, religion, motherhood, vaccinations..those are just a few topics that I saw circulating throughout my friends list right before I deleted my account. Most of those who wish to engage in a "friendly" conversation about a particular topic, really only want you to agree with them and not respond with your opinion. The whole concept is just so silly right?! To get into an argument on Facebook seemed as ridiculous as one child sticking their tongue out at another child on the playground. I didn't want to partake in it anymore. I spent too much of my time worrying and biting my nails over the opinion others had about me. (SO SILLY!) There are real things to be concerned about that are going on in my life, in this country and in the world and Facebook is just not one of them anymore.

3) It took away my time as a mommy

I don't want to be the type of mom who has a Facebook just to show off their childs every move and that's exactly what I was becoming. While I do have friends and family that are more then 10 hours away that loved keeping up with Makenna's little life, keeping Facebook up to date took away time I could've been spending with my little family. I love making memories with my daughter and not worrying about scrolling through my newsfeed or letting everyone know what we were doing all the time.

4) I'm done with being nosy

Let's all be honest eh? Facebook is about 99.9% better then any celeb, gossip magazine you could find. It's because the gossip takes place in the lives of people we actually know. I wasn't looking at peoples pages for any other reason then I was just nosy and wanted to see what was going on in their life. Awful huh? I'm being honest! I cannot genuinely love people the way God loves us all, if I am too busy scrolling through and nit-picking through peoples lives. 

I realize this post makes me look like I was super addicted to Facebook but that's because I was. It's been almost a week since deleting it and I feel a lot of pressure lifted from my spirit. I feel like I can now allow myself to really keep in touch with people besides through a comment. I'm actually able to go and hang out/make friends without hiding behind a phone. My life is worth more then spending that much time on a social network cite. I no longer will allow social media to have its hold on me :)

With that being said I DO still have my instagram account: amandaljanson

I like seeing what my church is doing and I like being able to still promote my blog! While it's still social media, it doesn't make me lose focus on my day to day life. 

A huge thank you to those who are still keeping up with this little, ol' blog :) 

Much love to you all <3