guest post from Casey!

Hey ya'll! Jessi here. The following is a guest post from the talented and beautiful blog, The Wiegands. You might remember just last week I told you to read her blog and in case you haven't taken my suggestion, here is a sneak peek for you of what would be in store for you. Thank you Casey! 
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I thought so much today about what I should write about! So I decided to take bits of a few of my favorite past posts and create a mini gift to you! Who doesn't love a gift after all :)?

God tends to speak the most to me while I am driving...or maybe it is just that is when I am listening best....I had a crazy summer and everything that went on in my personal life resulted in me turning to Jesus like never before, it was a whole new Jesus to me. He is real to me in a way I never imagined. It's crazy but suffering really is beautiful, it makes us lovely. 

It creates a closeness with Jesus (if you allow it to) that is like nothing else.

Ever since this summer I find myself thinking of heaven often. Have you ever heard that as believers we should preach the gospel to ourselves every morning? We know these truths but to say them out loud and to truly live them, really let them become who we are. Today I was driving thinking "It's okay that we let people down & everyone let's us down...because our hope should be elsewhere...in Jesus". Then, Carrie Underwood's song came on (I know, I am getting cheesy on you guys)...but it was exactly where my thoughts were at that moment.

This is our temporary home

It's not where we belong

Windows and rooms that we're passin' through

This is just a stop, on the way to where we're going

I'm not afraid because I know this is our

Temporary Home.

How refreshing is that to think about? We were not made for this place, but for the next. What a great hope we have. It doesn't have to be perfect here, because it will be in heaven. 

My theme word for this year is peace.

"When you decide to live out what you believe. When you decide you want peace in your possession, then you will find out what that looks like & feels like. You begin to pray for God to give you peace. You incorporate peace in your relationships. You decide to respond differently. You speak in love. Act in tenderness. You imitate what you know about peace until it becomes a reality for your character & your life."

It is so convicting. Dying to your desire. Dying to your flesh. "How can I return Your love with my life?'

"He restores what has been broken & heals what has been wounded. I don't have peace because I figured it all out. I have peace because I believe in Christ."

I will leave you all with this..

Love well, give grace & mercy well. Forgive well. Life is hard.

We don't need all the answers because we have kingdom hearts.