The "Beautiful to God" Class ~ Session 3 ~ "The Importance of Inner Beauty" ~ Photos and Report

We had such a beautiful time at the Beautiful to God Class this week looking at the importance of inner beauty and keys to developing inner beauty!

Together we saw the Lord's incredible plan for beauty - the life of Jesus filling and radiating from a heart - and looked at ways we can allow the Lord to fill us with His beauty!

We had a meaningful session, powerful discussion, sweet prayer time, good fellowship, and a great time memorizing 1 Peter. 3:3-4.

"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." ~ 1 Peter 3:3-4

We long to grow in this true beauty as Jesus lives in and through our lives for His glory, our joy, and the blessing of others!

God's Word is Truth...

"...your word is truth..." 
~ John 17:17 ~

The Importance of Truth ~ A Video Message from Amy

Please join us for this important message about the transforming power of truth in our lives! 

Summer Devotions Pursuit Testimonies!

Below are some of your powerful Summer Devotions Pursuit testimonies! We were so blessed receiving testimonies of what the Lord did in your hearts as you spent time with Him this summer and wanted to share some.  He is amazing!  (For those of you who mailed in your charts, your reward packages should be arriving soon!)  May Jesus bless you as you continue to seek Him - He truly is the greatest Reward!

"I am really glad I did the Summer Pursuit again this year.  I have grown closer to God and have learned a lot."  ~ Madisen B. of MN

"I feel after doing Summer Pursuit my faith and love for God has strengthened and grown.  This has been a great summer of blessings from the Lord.  I am so glad I was able to do Summer Pursuit this year."  ~ Rebekah R. of NE

"This summer the Lord has brought me close to Himself and taught me so much!  It was truly a blessing to learn about the depth of His love.  The Lord has taught me abundantly this year!  Thank you for this opportunity!"  ~ Gabriella I. of MN

 

"This summer of devotions has been great!  I’ve learned so much and grown.  I feel like God used this summer to help me have a stronger relationship with Him.  At times, I had my doubts about whether or not to continue doing the chart and when God intervened and took hold of my thoughts, everything I read seemed to be so rich.  I love doing this chart during the summer to have that reminder in the midst of the busy summer to spend time with Him."  ~ Miranda B. of MN

"This summer God showed me how much I need Him and what His death truly means to me, that I stand “…to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col. 1:22) holy before Him.  He always goes to the heart of the matter too.  He also knows me better than I know myself, I learned a lot about submitting my will to His, He has the big plan/picture in mind.  Also learning to fear Him, my relationship is always changing/growing with my Father."  ~ Jasmine J. of Alberta

"The Summer Pursuit was amazing!  When I first heard about it from a friend I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do it.  But I thought it might give me some good accountability so I started in.  The first few weeks were fun and easy.  I was so excited and often went past the 15 min.  And then it got a little harder.  There were many days I’d wake up just completely not wanting to do my quiet time.  But because of this I’d persevere, do it, and find joy in His presence.  And then our 3 week trip came and that was some of the hardest days to do it.  There were many days that were busy and full of traveling and seeing family.  But because of this I tried my best to do it and was always thankful when I did.  My heart has definitely drawn closer to God through this summer!  Thank you so much for putting this on!"  ~ Hannah E. of FL

"This entire summer has been enriched by my devoted and consistent Bible reading, thanks to this worthy pursuit.  Being “forced” to spend time with Jesus has helped strengthen my relationship with Him as well as pointing out areas in my life that needed to change.  I was also so much more diligent to memorize God’s Word.  I now have all of Philippians 2, Psalm 23 & 46, and more hidden in my heart forever!  God also worked in my life through my telephone talks with Hannah.  We both were encouraged to find similar areas of struggling which we now work together to fix in a God-honoring way.  Thank you for aiding me in my walk with Christ."  ~ Hosanna K. of KY


"It has helped me a lot I did this last year and it was great.  It motivated me to read every day.  And after it was over I read maybe 1 chapter a day.  This helps me to spend more time because I am being kept accountable.  Keep up the great work.  And remember “the best reward is knowing Jesus”.'  ~ Maria M. of MN

God's call for you...

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." 

~Romans 12:2~

Transformed by Truth ~ by Amy Vest

I want to be transformed, don't you? 

I want to think like Jesus thinks, see like He sees, and love what He loves.

Listen to the amazing call in this verse, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." (Romans 12:2)

Transformed.

God's call for you is to not be conformed to this world, but transformed by His Truth.

What is Truth?  "...your word is truth." (John 17:17)  Truth is found in His Word, the Bible.  By getting into His Word, you discover what is truly Truth - Jesus, the living Truth, and His Word, the written Truth.

As I am in His Truth - His Word - (through reading and study) and have His Word in me (through memorizing and meditating/thinking on Scripture), He renews my mind, works in my heart, and transforms me by His Spirit.

Do I want this?  Yes, please!  I know you do, too.

So, how can this work in real life?

Here is an example:
You wake up feeling down and battling doubts about if God has a plan for your life.  HERE YOU HAVE A CHOICE.  You can listen to your feelings and doubts, and let the enemy, culture, and other voices bring you deeper into that struggle (being "conformed to the world"). Or, you can listen to Jesus and let Him renew your mind and transform your life (being "transformed by the renewing of your mind").  How?  You can open your Bible and find a verse like Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  You can read the verse, fix your mind on its Truth, ask the Lord to apply it to your heart, choose to believe it, and walk in the reality of it.

As you walk in His Truth, you will see His increasing transformation unfold in your thoughts, heart, perspective, actions, and so much more!

Doesn't that sound good?

Yes, Jesus brings such transformation through His Word, by His Spirit, in a way that flows out in your life.

What are practical ways to be renewing your mind?
~ Read the Bible
~ Study the Bible
~ Memorize Bible verses (We will give you some fun practical ideas later this month!)
~ Meditate/Think on Scripture
~ Have Scripture up around your house and places you will see it
~ Listen to sermons from the Bible
~ and more!

Then as we are in it and it is in us, we need to receive His grace to believe it and walk it in a way that impacts your life and how you live it.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6

It is daily having Scripture in your mind and choosing to trust Him over your own thoughts, ideas, and comprehension.

Recently there was an area where I was trusting in my own understanding, thoughts, and emotions, and it was leading to bondage in my life.  As I renewed my mind with His Word, in dependence on His Spirit, I began experiencing freedom.  I experienced for myself the reality of John 8:31-32, "If you abide in my word... you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”   

I need to be in the Word daily.  Daily I have countless thoughts, feelings, and messages thrown at me.  When we are soaking in the Word it becomes a filter for the other things we encounter - to help us discern what is true.

My feelings tell me: "I am condemned." 
Jesus tells me in His Word: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
My thoughts tell me: "I can't do it."
Jesus tells me in His Word: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  (Phil. 4:13)
My culture tells me: "I have to be a certain way to fit in."
Jesus tells me in His Word: "I am in "...His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." (Eph. 1:6)

I need to listen to Jesus in His Word tell me the Truth.  Then I need to receive His grace to walk in it.  As I do, I am transformed. 

How about you?  I would encourage you to think of one area of your life that you are struggling in right now.  Go to the Word for a verse that you can keep in front of you, fix your mind on, ask God to apply to your heart, and live in the reality of today.

Transformation is waiting.

Yes, we all need to be transformed by His Truth every day of our lives.  As we do, we will increasingly experience in our lives the transformation He calls us to in Him.  Then listen to what the rest of the verse promises, "...that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  (Romans 12:2) 

Friend, run to His Word, let His Spirit apply it to your heart, and be transformed by Truth.

I am running with you.

In Him We Live...

“In him we live and move and have our being..." 

~Acts 17:28~

Reminders of Jesus ~ Practical Application ~ by Amy Vest

I love reminders, don't you?

If you are like me, even when you want something so much, it is easy to get distracted and reminders can be so helpful!

When I was growing in my walk with Jesus, I wanted to have something that reminded me of Jesus, His love, and my relationship with Him.  He gave me anything shaped like a heart as a reminder of Him and His love for me. 

It was so amazing to watch as suddenly heart shaped things started appearing everywhere - clouds, a carrot in my salad, a splash of paint on the sidewalk, and so much more!

Often I will see the reminder, smile, and say, "I love You, too, Jesus!"This shifts my whole perspective as my eyes are lifted from my day to the One Who loves me and is my life - and then changes how I live!

Often the Lord will bring it just when I need it - like one time I was cleaning the bathroom and having a harder day.  I looked at the counter as I cleaned and there was a heart shaped puddle of water!  My whole perspective changed as I remembered Jesus and His love for me!

This reminder continues to be so sweet to this day.  (Scattered through this post are a few pictures from the last couple of weeks!)

These reminders can be such a powerful tool in pointing our minds and hearts to Jesus and living more fully with Him as our life!

"For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness."  Psalm 26:3

I have other reminders as well - a ring I wear, things around my room, sunlight sparkling on the water, a loon's call, etc., but the heart-shaped things remain the sweet, practical reminder that Jesus uses again and again to turn my mind to Himself and His love!

Young women I know have chosen all kinds of things - roses, butterflies, stars, the cross, sparkles, etc. - that are special reminders in their walk with the Lord! 

I encourage you to ask the Lord what you can have as a reminder of His love and a tool to point you to living with Him as your life!

It is important to remember that He is always there, He always loves you, and He is always true life whether you are seeing those reminders, or not.  These reminders are just a sweet tool the Lord can use to encourage us in Himself and in living with Him as our life!

I want that, don't you?

May Jesus use these reminders to encourage you in your journey of drawing deeper with Him!

~~~

It's your  turn - we want to hear from you!  What is a reminder you have of Jesus and living with Him as your life? We'd love for you to leave a comment below!

The "Beautiful to God" Class ~ Session 2 ~ "True Friendship" ~ Photos and Report

We just loved our second session today at the Beautiful to God Class on True Friendship - friendship that points us to Jesus!

We talked about the importance of the friends we choose, how to be a friend like Jesus, and what the heart of friendship is - the selfless love of Jesus!

Our theme verse was the second commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt. 22:29) and we talked about how the second commandment is only possible when the first commandment to "...love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind..." (Matt. 22:27) is a reality.  When we know and are satisfied in Jesus' love and He loves through us, then we are able to truly love others and have relationships that glorify Him!

What a gift it is to seek Jesus and look at His Word with others who love Him - our best Friend!

Abundant Life...

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

~John 10:10~

To live is Jesus!

Seeing the One Who is Life in All of Life ~ Bella's Testimony

Can you introduce yourself to us? 

Fully blessed is how I see my life. Fully blessed because I've been given fullness of life in the One who is life, in the One who fully knows me and fully loves me, in the One who offers fullness of joy and full blessings of grace upon grace to me - Jesus Christ.  Because of this gift I've been given in the midst of struggles in life, my heart beats to share this with others, to spread His hope and beauty with hearts that are hurting. He has used my story - a story of taking my brokenness and turning it into something beautiful - to give me hope, and this is now what I aspire to be - a spreader of hope with hearts that are hurting and broken.  

                                                                                            

                                                                                          How did you meet Jesus? 

Growing up in a Christian home allowed me the chance to meet Jesus at the young age of three.  I continued to grow in my knowledge and love for Jesus and deepened in my relationship with Him. It wasn't until I was in a very low and broken time of life, however, that I saw how truly beautiful and real Jesus is.  And when I began to see Him for who He truly is, I began to see myself for who I really am, loved, forgiven, free.  At age 19, at a Summer camp in the beautiful mountains of Colorado, I met Beauty Himself in the most profoundly life-changing way. Since that moment, my life has never been the same.

How has He become your life? 

Wow!  Where to start?!?  He is in the joys and the tears in life.  Each experience, each moment really, has brought me more of Him...more of LIFE Himself.  

"All streams run to the sea." -Eccl. 1:7 In other words, all gifts in life point to the Giver.  Jesus has given beautiful gifts, gifts in life that point us to Him, that allow us to experience and live that FULLNESS of life, because Life Himself has become our life.  For me this journey of truly experiencing Him to be my all, my full joy, my love, my LIFE, has began with simply opening my eyes.  He is who He is regardless if I acknowledge this or not, but it's not until I open my eyes that I can truly know and experience this myself.  

 

"Jesus gave us eyes, eyes to see the beauty around us."  These words popped out at me as I was reading stories to a little boy one sunny afternoon.  I have eyes, eyes to see the beauty around me, all of which points to Beauty Himself, the source of all life, my life!  But, how often am I awake, looking, seeing, letting His love rush in?  How often am I too rushed and not looking, missing little joys which echo Him that are all around me?  

When people speak of Jesus being their life, we get this sense that they are satisfied, deeply and fully satisfied because they have found that fullness of life!  I realized that I cannot make up satisfaction and contentment.  I cannot just decide I'm content and Jesus is my life.  I must open my eyes and let His love rush in so I can be truly filled - for I can only be satisfied if I'm filled. And it wasn't until I decided to fight every single day to live this fullness of life in the One who is life, that He has truly become my life!  It's been a fight, to receive grace, to simply look and SEE, to live wide eyed and awake to the gifts...the GIVER.  

My hearts cry is with the man who Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"  to which the man answered, "Open my eyes so I can see."  Because when we can see the gifts, we see the GIVER. This is when that fullness of joy rushes in, the joy that cannot be taken away or added to, because it is so full, it is that full life, the life that cries, JESUS is my LIFE, because we've seen Him more in life, by simply looking, seeing and thanking.  

This, this is what has changed my life.  Opening my eyes, by thanking the Giver of Life for the gifts in my life.  In this He has opened my eyes to the fact that He is the source of all life, the giver of all life, and the sustainer of all life.  The maker of the stars, the glory in a sunrise, the comfort in my pain, the peace in the storm, the joy in a smile... the gifts that point to the Giver.  And in seeing Him, Life Himself, I have seen He truly is everything, He truly is MY LIFE.  

What are ways that help you embrace Jesus as your life more and more? 

Simply embracing Jesus, opening my eyes to Him in life, all of it from His salvation of my soul, to soft breezes blowing the pages of my journal, to His comfort in painful nights, to sun beaming through the windows, to the sea crashing into the shores, He is LIFE... the Giver and Sustainer of life, and this has caused me to realize He is my life.  

Someone has shared the challenge to write down the gifts in life, and this has been a very practical way for me to live this out.  

Is there any specific encouragement you would like to share with our readers?

We must receive what God offers as grace...it is what we were  created for... To trust Him for salvation, to enjoy Him, to worship Him, to experience Him, to experience fullness of life in the One who is Life!  Only then can He become our life, when we see life is nothing without the source of all life.

The Way, the Truth, and the Life...

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life..."

~John 14:6~

The "Beautiful to God" Class ~ Session 1 ~ "Jesus is Your Best Friend" ~ Photos and Report

This week was the first session of the "Beautiful to God" Class! 

The Lord met us and we had a beautiful time looking at the reality that "Jesus is Your Best Friend".  We had a wonderful time getting to know one another, sharing about Jesus, looking into His Word, and talking about how we can grow in our walk with Jesus!  Our theme verse for this week is "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." (Psalm 107:9) 

It is so sweet to seek Jesus with precious young women who love Him!   (You can see more photos HERE.)

 

Christ Alone ~ Video Message with Amy

Christ Alone ~ Commencement Address (2007 edition) from Loving the Lord Ministries on Vimeo.

We invite you to join us for this powerful video filled with encouragement in the joy of living for, in, and to Christ alone!

To Live is Christ...

"For me, to live is Christ..."

     ~Philippians 1:21~

The Best Life...

Jesus is Your Life ~ by Amy Vest

Jesus was meant to be your life.

Yes, friend, read that incredible reality again.  Jesus was meant to be your life.  Not a part of your life.  Not a very important part of your life.  He was meant to BE your life.

In Jesus alone you will find the life you are longing for - the life He created and redeemed to give you - Himself.  When we look to other things for the life only He can give, we always come up empty.  Hear Jesus calling you, "I am the...life."  (John 14:6)

When I was younger there were popular t-shirts and bumper stickers that said, "Soccer is life, the rest are just details."  or a lot of other things that people loved (ballet, fishing, etc).  I hope that by the end of this post, we will all want to live with the motto, "JESUS is life, the rest are just details." - and even better - "To live is Christ." (Phil. 1:21)

Let's look at 4 amazing ways Jesus is your life - and let's do it in the acrostic: L-I-F-E:

L - Life-source - He is the source of your whole life: salvation, spiritual life, and physical life.  "Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." (John 6:34)

I - Individual purpose - He is your only reason for living, your motivation for what you do, and the One your life points to and proclaims.  "To live is Christ..." (Phil. 1:21)

F - Fellowship - He is the One you can share every moment of life with. “‘In him we live and move and have our being..."' (Acts 17:28)

E - Everything - He is your entire life (not just a little part), your satisfaction, the One you are consumed with and live and breathe - not just part of your life, but your whole life.  "...Christ who is your life..." (Col. 3:4)

Jesus is meant to be who you live from, with, and for - and so much more!
 
How living with Jesus as your life changes your life:
As you live with Jesus as your life, the more life explodes with meaning, power, joy, and purpose! 

He becomes the joy in your heart, the breath in your lungs, the light in your eyes, the story of your life, the reason you get out of bed, your motivation for all you do...

Every moment becomes an exciting opportunity to know, live more deeply in, and point to Jesus. 

When you open your eyes, HE is your first thought; as you walk through the day, you walk with Him; and He is the last one you say goodnight to before you drift off to sleep.

The outflow of Jesus as your life will impact every aspect of all you are and do - and others will see and experience Him through your life, seeing His goodness.

No matter what you face, life is good, because your life is not ultimately dependent on your circumstances, feelings, relationships, health, etc., but on Jesus.

I cannot even express how seeing and embracing the reality of Jesus being my life changed - and continues to change - my every moment!  Jesus became no longer just a part of my day when I did my devotions and maybe prayed with a friend on the phone - Jesus became my life, the source of my life, the reason I live, and my companion every moment.  Every moment was an opportunity to walk with Him, know Him, depend on Him, live for Him, and share Him.  I found when He is your life, life is filled with fullness and purpose, no matter what I face, because life is Him!  It is a lifelong journey of learning, growing, repenting (of looking to other things for life) and reviving, and rejoicing in living with Jesus as my life - and there is no life I would rather live! 

So what are some practical ways you can live with Jesus as your life?

~ Look to Him as your source of life every moment - first through salvation, and then looking to and depending on Him for all you need for spiritual and physical life.

~ Share each moment with Him - inviting Him into your day and talking with Him about what you're facing. (Having reminders that turn your heart to Him are so helpful - We will have a post on this later in the month!)

~ Let your life be about Him - doing what you do with Him as the focus and motivation (conversations, social media, serving, etc.), and seeking to point everyone around you to the One who is your life.

You can pray a simple prayer like, "Jesus, please be my life today." and ask Him to help you increasingly live with Him as your life.  He will.

It is a lifelong growing into living with Jesus as your life - and He is there with you to help you every step, the more you grow in Him as your life you find the more beautiful life becomes, and you see this physical life is just a stepping stone into eternal life with the one who is your life - Jesus!

"Jesus said... come to me that you may have life..." (John 5:40)  Come to Jesus for salvation and keep coming to Him for life every moment of your life.

Jesus is the life you are looking for, friend.  Will you embrace Jesus as your life today, friend?

When Jesus is your life, life is good, because life is Jesus.
Yes, "Jesus is life, the rest are just details."

"To live is Christ."