*Naughty or Nice

This time of the year you hear a whole lot about being “naughty or nice” and if your going to make it on the good list. It is all fun and games with Santa and it gives us a good laugh. Thankfully though that no matter who you are or what your past looks like...WE ALL are on Jesus’ “WORTHY” list!

Jesus was sent to this Earth and born as a baby, and this shows us that God determined your value already! He saw you as someone who was worth paying the ultimate price for. He gave His Son for YOU and for ME!

So if you don’t find the right gift under the Christmas tree today, just remember that the best gift you could ever ever get... you already have and that is in Jesus. He wrapped himself in human form because you are worthy and you are valuable. All you have to do is unwrap it and receive the gift of salvation. It is the greatest and most wonderful gift of all.

Happy birthday Jesus!


Graciously Adorned
❤Jonna

*Double Crossed

Have you ever felt like you had been double crossed by a friend? I think it happens to the best of us.

Wounds like that cut deep and can take years to overcome. It leaves you shocked and in awe of what even happened and it makes you leary of anyone else close to you. I have been there several times and it never gets easy.

Jesus was double-crossed. He was at the Last Supper with his beloved disciples, shortly after He had washed all of their feet and He quoted these words; "He who shared my bread has turned against me." (John 13:18) Jesus knew that Judas would betray him yet he loved them anyway. Jesus could have pointed at Judas and called him out...he could have made quite the scene but he didn't. His love for people far exceeded his need to be right and justified. WE are called to love people....even the ones who hurt us.

Love is a verb...an action verb...not just a saying. It requires action from us to truly love people and in times of hurt that is really hard to do. Yet Jesus reminds us of our greater purpose, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13:34-35.

People are watching you and that isn't the only reason to live right...but it is one to think about. Living the way that Jesus taught us will bring joy and perfect peace into your life. If you react emotionally and lash out at others it only makes you feel worse later. It is normal to be upset and to feel crummy when a friend does you wrong but we need to look to the example that Jesus set before us.

Jesus loves with an unconditional love and we can too. My prayer is that you start blessing your enemies and in time forgive them and declare great things over their life. Before you know it you will have released the hold that the hurt had over you and you will be free. Free to love again and free to trust again. Because in life you will be double-crossed not once but multiple times and we have to get out there and be vulnerable again and again in order to live the way that God intended us to live.

My friend you were made for this.

Graciously Adorned
❤ Jonna

*The Underdog

I have always been a sucker for the "under dog". The one that no one expected to make it, the one that no one seems to pay attention to. Even as a child I would forfeit my friends to go after the one that I felt was alone. I would feel guilty to be enjoying myself and to look out and see someone suffering. Why is that? I have thought about that a lot. Parts of it is that I am a middle child and I have this "lets make everyone happy" syndrome and another part of it is that I see people and their potential. I want to help people rise up even if they do not want to. This my friends have gotten me into some trouble in my life.

Present day issue. Let me introduce rescue dog Roxie into the picture. Two years ago I thought it would be a grand idea to add another very difficult and rowdy dog into our household. He was abused and crated most of his life and didn't get food for long stretches of time so she had this orphan mentality that I just knew I could get out of her system. Well...two years later all havoc has been wrecked in our yard, home, family and to my sanity. I cannot control this animal but I feel so sorry for her. I want to love her and I want her to learn to behave and to be a good dog like my Harley. Why can she NOT just learn by example??? I cannot take her anywhere, I cannot let her out of her kennel in front of company and I most certainly cannot let ANYONE go out into the backyard if she is there. So in essence I am a prisoner in my own home because of this dog. She dictates what we do and how we do it. I am humiliated every time I have to bring her to the vet or the groomers BUT still I do not want to give up on her.

I see the potential in this beautiful dog. I see what she can be and I want her to get there. The only thing is that I am finally at a point where I have to step back and say that it just isn't healthy for me or for this dog anymore. This relationship has to take a turn in order for her to grow as well as me not to hate her.

In your life you will have compassion for people and for situations that you just know that you can help. This is what we are supposed to do. The problem is we don't always know the time when it is okay to move on or to refer someone elsewhere. Maybe a problem someone has you just don't have the power to fix it so you need to release them to find help. Maybe you need to let someone go because it isn't healthy for you or your family anymore. That is okay. You tried your best and you have to be honest and admit that it isn't failure...it is progress. We are not going to be able to FIX everyone that we encounter and sometimes we will just be a small part of what people experience in their lives. That is okay...just make that experience the BEST you can.

So saying all of this I am trying to let everyone know that I am going to move on with Roxie. I found new place for her. I am sad to say but yet being real to let everyone that she went to a Airedale Rescue Group. I like to think that I didn't "give up" on her but I realized that what Roxie really needed was professional help and that is what I found for her. I think about her and of course I miss her but I also rest in the fact that she is living with someone that loves her breed and most importantly understands and can help her with her issues.

Loving the underdog can be painful and you will not always see the transformation before your eyes. But let me encourage each of you to continue to search for people who need help and never underestimate what a kind word or a little help will do for someone. Your little bit just might be just what someone needs to get back on the right track to a happy and healthy life.

"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"  Acts 20:35 ESV

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed."    Proverbs 19:17 

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’"  Matthew 25:35-40

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."  Galatians 6:2

You are Graciously Adorned
❤ Jonna