the bible – Jars of Joy LLC

Your Season Has a Purpose

As winter hangs on, I find myself longing for spring. I’m eagerly anticipating warmer weather, tulips, and all things pastel. But I’ve been wondering, am I too eager for the next season? Am I missing the beauty of the here and now, like the way the snow glitters in the sunlight, or the magnificent sunsets God paints in the evening? Yes, sometimes I am.

This can be true in life, too. I’m getting to the age now (can’t believe I’m using that phrase) where I can look back on my life and see definite seasons. There were seasons of hard times that I wished would pass. There were things that I longed for so much so that I didn’t keep my eyes focused on what God had in front of me.

Can you relate?

I wish I could tell you that your life will soon be rainbows and sunshine, but unfortunately that’s not always the case. Life isn’t as predictable as spring, summer, fall, and winter, is it? Here’s one thing I know, though: Your season has a purpose.

Scripture teaches us that the Lord works out everything to its proper end (Proverbs 16:4), and that He works all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Friend, God wastes nothing.

If you’re in a difficult season right now, it will likely pass with time. However, let me be clear that Jesus didn’t die to give us worldly happiness. He doesn’t promise you will get the job promotion or have the baby you’ve been longing for. But, He does call us to cast our anxiety on Him (1 Peter 5:7) and to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Notice Paul tells us to consider it joy. It’s not naturally joyful to face a trial, but we should find joy in knowing we will be strengthened in our faith through it.

So, I encourage you to get on your knees and in your Bible. Your hardship is God’s invitation to a closer relationship with Him. I can think of nothing more beautiful about this season and no greater purpose for it.

5 Ways to Focus on Faith with a Busy Schedule

You hustle hard all day long between your 9-5, helping the kids with homework, and doing the ever-growing heap of laundry. When is there time for your faith with such a crazy schedule?

I’ve wondered the same thing.

Here’s the cold hard truth that I discovered, though: There is no season with more time than another; life is always going to be busy.

You’re probably thinking, “Ashley, I thought you were going to solve my problem. Thanks a lot!”

Hold up, friend. The reality is that we must make time for Bible study. There is no substitute for focused time in His Word regularly. For me, it means getting up earlier and starting with my quiet time. Otherwise, I get sucked into my task list. What’s that time for you? You can find resources to help you in my blog called “Three Resources for Better Bible Study”.

Ok, that’s enough tough love for today. 😉

As promised, here are five tips for staying focused on Jesus throughout your busy day. When implemented, you will feel uplifted and refreshed.

1. Listen to sermons or podcasts. You can do so while you make dinner, on your lunch break, or when you’re showering. If you find yourself distracted, the beauty is you can listen again and again to get the most out of each teaching. I recommend sermons by John MacArthur, as well as messages from Emmanuel Community Church.

2. Trade screen time for Jesus time. If you’re like me, you’re tempted to grab your phone and scroll through social media whenever you have a few minutes. But what would our lives look like if we spent that time in God’s Word? For help staying accountable, try an app like the iPhone’s “Screen Time” to limit your focus on the phone. Don’t know what to read? Find out what passage your pastor will be preaching from on Sunday and read it throughout your week.

3. Start a prayer journal. This might sound like more work, but I want you to focus on writing down and praying for just three things a day. Use your phone, a notebook or whatever is convenient for you. Don’t know what to pray about? Try the JOY method:

JESUS – Thank Him for the blessings in your life and praise Him for who He is.
OTHERS – Lift up a friend or family member in prayer. Chances are someone has requested you pray for them recently. Go with that.
YOURSELF – What’s on your mind/heart? Is there any unconfessed sin weighing you down?

Pray when you’re waiting to pick up your kids from practice, when you’re getting ready in the morning, or when you’re packing lunches. The best part is you will be able to look back at your journal and see the ways God has answered.

4. Listen to Christian music. I do this while I’m working, especially when I am having a particularly bad day. You will be amazed what it does for your mood. Music is also a great companion while you drive or work out. The song lyrics will get stuck in your head and encourage you for days to come. If you don’t have a Christian radio station in your area, try using an app like K-LOVE or Spotify.

5. Memorize Scripture. Again, this may seem like just another task, but it doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Don’t know where to start? Check out Bible Gateway’s verse of the day or follow @bible_verses365_ on Instagram; commit to memorizing just one of those verses a week. Or, check out our sets of 52 Scripture cards, designed to help you memorize verses for a year. Display them on your night stand, desk, fridge, mirror, or anywhere you will frequently see them.

Overall, the key is multi-tasking, time replacement, and short but frequent times with the Lord throughout your day. Let the above ideas act as a springboard for your Bible study time. You’ve got this, sister!

Three Resources for Better Bible Study

I don’t know about you, sister, but I’ve found studying the Bible to be pretty stinkin’ hard on my own. With the pandemic in full swing, finding a community Bible study is about as rare as finding a good haircut back in the 80s. But, that doesn’t mean our faith can take a back seat. Jesus is essential.

So, here are three resources for better Bible study. The best part is you can have them in hand this week without leaving your house.

1. Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin is an excellent starting point. She teaches a practical and easy-to-understand approach for digging deeply into God’s Word. With an emphasis on context, cross-references, and seeing the “bigger picture” of God’s redemptive plan, Jen demystifies Scripture in a whole new way. You can purchase a copy on Amazon.

2. John MacArthur’s Bible studies are the perfect companion to whatever book of the Bible you choose to read. The study guides include background info, the text itself, commentary on nearly every verse, a “going deeper” cross reference section, and questions to help you process what you’re reading. Grab a paperback or eBook copy online.

3. Using Jen Wilkin’s book as a springboard, I developed the “P.R.A.I.S.E. Bible Study Method”: Pray, Research, Absorb, Interpret, Step Out, and Engage. I have a handy-dandy worksheet available for FREE so you can study Scripture with ease. Simply sign up for my email list, and you will get a copy sent straight to your inbox today.

Say goodbye to your Scripture struggle and hello to a heart and mind in-tune with God’s Word.