with Jesie Browning
There is something about a sister.
They know you.
They know how to help without you having to ask.
They get the struggle.
They want to see you succeed.
They aren’t afraid to be honest with you.
They love your kids like their own.
They celebrate you.
They pray for you.
They share with you.
They challenge you.
They won’t let you give up.
I know not everyone has a sister BUT everyone can BE a sister.
How can you BE a sister today?
We need each other.
Hey Sister,
Three years ago I shared this little blurb in explanation of why I was going to take a break from social media. I remember exactly how I felt during that time. I was completely overwhelmed by the cultures ideas and my heart was so heavy for people I loved and people I didn’t even know. When the memory of it popped up yesterday I began to think about how much I have learned in the past three years (because of this particular break) and the peace I have come to know.
For years I had been reading parts and verses of the bible. That isn’t terrible but it sure isn’t how I was going to get to a place where I felt confident that I knew the character of God. I can confidently say that I now know the character of God after reading and studying the whole bible. To be clear, by no means do I believe I have “arrived” at some perfect knowing or relationship with Him, I just know what the entire word of God says and knowing that has changed my perspective. I still get overwhelmed with our cultures ideas but it does not consume me because I know God already won the war between truth and lies. My heart still gets heavy for those I love and those I don’t even know but it doesn’t paralyze me because I know God loves them more than I do, I know He is working all things together for the ones who love Him, I know He is good, I know He gets the last word, I know Jesus died and rose again, I know there is no grave where His body lays because I know He is alive. I know He is coming back and I know if there is not a victory on this side of heaven for someone there will be in eternity.
The eternal peace that the Lord has so kindly placed
in my spirit is what overwhelms me now.
jesie browning
I say all of this because I want this peace for every woman, I want this peace for my children, and for everyone I love and for everyone I don’t even know and that is why I try to be faithful in sharing the truth and freedom we have in Christ. To do that well though, I need a break. I need to finish my classes, play with my sweet kiddoes and sit by the pool with a fruity drink (not a must but certainly sounds amazing).
I hope you might take a break too. Shut everything off, sink into the word of God, sit with one of your kiddoes and ask them their thoughts on stuff, splash in the pool with your littles, write letters to ones you love, bake some cookies, refill your tank this summer. Set your eyes on where you are in this exact season. Until September!….
Sincerely,
Jesie Browning
and remember Love God your most so you can love others your best.
Sister,
Have you ever wondered what God wanted you do? Have you ever believed you’d be fulfilled, content, successful, validated when…(fill in the blank)…happens?
Have you ever tried to explain to your kids what’s really important in life? Have you ever prayed for peace for your children who are trying to figure out what their role in this world is?
I know I have.
I just finished the book “Lord, where’s my calling” and I can not stress to you how greatly every Christian would benefit from reading this book. This book has lifted the weight of these questions off my heart. It’s a book packed full of FREEDOM.
As I read it, the Lord highlighted so many ways that I am missing Him because of my own agenda, and feelings , and most of all my ego. The simplicity of what life can be like when we keep the main thing the main thing is such freedom. Teasi Cannon (the author) does such a great job talking this out in her book. After reading it, I felt like her and I had just been out for coffee and she answered questions about how to follow Jesus that I didn’t even know I had. This book truly is one that will “get your mind right”.
It reminds me of ballet. Your core is one of the most important parts of the body while doing ballet. If your alignment is off you will not be able to execute the steps properly and even if you manage the steps they will be wobbly and messy. In ballet terms this book corrects your alignment and sets you up for a successful performance.
This book is so much more than it’s title. These days we may not hear people ask about their “calling” very much. It’s more likely we will hear people say , “How do I live my best life?” or “What is my truth?”…. This book answers those questions too and it answers them well, with purpose, truth, intelligence and clarity.
Here’s one of my favorite excerpts…
“If we could somehow put our longing for a special calling under a microscope, I wonder what we’d find at it’s molecular level. What would we see underneath all the layers? Could it be that what’s actually there is a need for joy? Or maybe a need for peace and patience or self-control? I wonder if we’d see that it’s not a big plan we are aching for but simply more of Him – the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. And maybe we’d start asking for what – or whom – we really need.”
I pray that you will take the time to read this book and share it with your kiddoes and friends. It will leave you with peace and contentment and a hope in Jesus alone.
Sincerely,
Jesie Browning
Sister,
These were the words written on a little plaque my mom bought from (I think) the dollar store when I was about eight years old. It was the classic 80’s style home decore. It was a peace oak stained wood, painted with a maroon colored sky, white fluffy clouds, a golden cross off in the distance and Jesus in a white and pale pink rob with his back facing out and His arms stretched out wide in the clouds as if he was falling forward. I can still remember the emotion that came over me when I read those words. Some how my little eight year old heart understood completely what God, the God of all creation, did for me on the cross. Some how, in that moment, I knew the depth of God’s love for me was real and true. I begged my mom to let me put it in my room. I recall a sort of confused look on her face but of course she said yes. I shared a room with my little sister at the time and I slept on the top bunk. I hung that plaque on the wall right next to where I laid my head to sleep. From then on I can remember a deep understanding that God died for me. I didn’t have much of a concept, though of sin, redemption, restoration, and never took the time to see what the bible said about anything. This, naturally, left me with no real direction on how to have an actual relationship with God. When I got to college and started asking questions about who Jesus actually was and how He came into the world (through a virgin birth, yeah right?, was my thought then) I was exposed to a ton of ideas about the specifics.
I have noticed lately, a lot of Christians these days don’t see the importance of understanding who Jesus actually is. They are of the understanding that we can’t really know exactly who He was and if we try, we are only fooling ourselves. There is also an idea that somehow we are or can be equal to Jesus. That we have exactly the same qualities as He and all we have to do is believe it.
If there is one thing I have learned about Christianity through the years, it is this one thing. Jesus is God. It doesn’t work any other way. There is no other way to see Jesus through scripture. It is very clear who he is and who he said He was.
I believe one of the reasons this is hard for people to comprehend is because we so easily forget the Holiness of God. If we could only comprehend the weight of His HOLINESS. I mean, the word says we can’t even be in His presence or we would literally die because of His holiness.
And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. (Exodus 20:19)
Moses’ sandal’s couldn’t even touch the ground he was walking on next to the burning bush. Because it was Holy ground(Exodus 3:5-6)
“The bible says that God is Holy, Holy, Holy. (Isaiah 6)
Moses’ face glowed (it GLOWED!) after being in the presence of God. (Exodus 34:29-30)
From the very beginning, before God created the earth He knew He would have to save us.
Proverbs 3:19-20 - By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the clouds poured down rain.
The plan was always redemption and God knew the only one who could redeem us was HIMSELF and the only way He could get to us (without us literally falling over dead upon His arrival) was through His Holy Spirit and Mary of Bethlehem giving birth to Him, who we call Jesus, the son. It always was and always will be THE FATHER THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
When Moses asked , who do I say sent me? God said, Tell them I AM sent you. (Exodus 3:14)
When Jesus was asked, who are you? He said, I AM. (John 1:1-2, John 8:58)
It is clear who Jesus said he was.
Sister, Our God died for us! If that is not true, we do not have Freedom.
Hallelujah!! IT IS TRUE! Happy Freedom Friday !!
Sincerely,
Jesie Browning
I have wondered what I might share with you on this Freedom Friday, all week. My heart is in a stirring season. I have found myself taking huge deep breaths all week to calm the racing in my heart. My brain is on overload and well, its overwhelmed.
My family loves baseball. My big brother played baseball all the way through college. Much of my growing up was spent at the baseball field. So, when I saw this meme this morning it brought a calm over me.
“You lose, you smile and you come back the next day. You win, you smile and you come back the next day.” ~ Ken Griffey Jr. (one of the best baseball players of all time)
Sister,
Some days are a win and some days are a lose. This is true in our walk with Jesus also. Some days are a win and most days are a lose BUT everyday we come back to the lover of our soul. Everyday we come back to Jesus Christ who won the battle between death and Life.
The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" Lamentations 3:22-23
It’s ok to lose the battle today. Jesus already won the war.
Sincerely,
Jesie Browning
Sister,
Can I just assure you that you don’t have to have the perfect answer when your kids ask a tough question about God. My son asked a doozy last night and I was left his room feeling like I was an idiot and a failure to him and God.
But as I prayed, I felt the Holy Spirit say, You don’t have to have all the answers. My heart was instantly filled with hope in realizing we have a God who answers questions and on top of that my kid is asking questions, he is seeking.
When it comes to a relationship with God, the bond comes when He personally answers our questions through our seeking Him. It is the time it takes for us to get that answer in which our relationship grows deeper with Him.
What else can we ask for our children than for
them to be in process of answering questions with God.
~Dearsister.blog
When our kids are asking Who, What, Where is God, we can bet God is ready and willing to answer.
This does not mean we don’t also seek to help our kids answer those questions but in their seeking we can have peace that the time it will take for our kids to understand the answer will be time well directed, by our Father in heaven, in order to draw our kids closer to Himself.
Praise God!! When we don’t have it, God does!
Be encouraged today. Happy Freedom Friday!!
Sincerely,
Jesie Browning
Dear Sister,
True freedom comes from Obedience to God. There is a notion these days that because of the cross we are no longer obligated to actually obey anything. We are free to do whatever we want to. The theme among popular woman’s books is, “We’ve been conditioned to (fill in the blank), indoctrinated, let your “wild run free” , ….. Deceit looks and feels so pretty doesn’t it (maybe even liberating)?
Freewill and Freedom are two different things. Quite often we choose freewill over actual freedom and it always gets messy for us, eventually.
The thing is, we think we know what’s good for us. We’re stubborn and hard hearted.
Choose obedience, sister. Choose the yoke of Jesus. There is where we find true Freedom!
If you aren’t sure how, start with the word of God and email me anytime at:
jesiebrowning@dearsister.blog
Happy Freedom Friday!!
Sincerely,
Jesie Browning
Sister,
Whatever you are bound up by, Whatever you are going through, it is finished. Jesus, the King of the world has covered it all.
It is finished.
Happy Good Freedom Friday!
Sincerly,
Jesie Browning
Sister,
Do you know what the definition of peace is?! You know I always look for the freedom we have in Christ as I read God’s word and PEACE has been a result of my growing in Christ though the past several years. I have found myself “realizing” the peace that I have. I haven’t always felt this peace. A while back I decided to look up the definition of peace just for fun and I was pleasantly surprised when Webster told me it is: FREEDOM from disruption.
Peace is FREEDOM! Of course it is. After reading the definition I just smiled thinking of Jesus waiting for the day I would find out what it meant. I mean I knew what peace was in reference to a feeling but to get some details on it was refreshing.
So, disruption is the key word here. Disruption is a break or interruption in the normal course of some activity or process.
Years ago I heard someone say, Nothing comes to us unless God approves of it first. Think about that, Nothing can get to us until first God allows it to. No matter what it is, if we are following Jesus and seeking Him, EVERYTHING we go through or experience is first filtered through God’s sovereignty. Whatever he allows or does not allow, we trust that He is good, merciful, working all things according for our good, forgiving, faithful, and so there is no disruption but only eternal purpose. When we look at this through the sovereignty of God we see that there is no way for His will to be “disrupted”.
When visiting the disciples after Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus said over and over, “Peace be with you” . Clearly at that time they were terrified because they were looking at a (who they thought was) a dead guy but Jesus’ words were more than calming their fear. They were also calming their doubts. They had just seen him crucified, they were grieving and wondering if they had been following a fool for all that time and then they see him and wonder if they are going completely mad. They are questioning everything on top of their grief. All that they had known they believed to be completely disrupted. He said simply, “Peace be with you”. In other words, Nothing has been disprupted. All is going according to my plan. Do not let the events of the last three days disrupt the work we have started.
In the past several years the difference in my walk with Jesus has been that I have been swimming in scripture. Everyday I have been studying and learning and praying and reading and reading and reading. I don’t say that to boast but to encourage you that knowing who God is gives peace beyond understanding.
Knowing what God has done and what He’s going to do opens the door for us to obey what Jesus said, which is to Love the Lord with all of our heart, and all of our mind and all of our soul. That leaves no room in our hearts for life’s disruptions.
~Dearsister.blog
Sister, do not let the circumstances in your life disrupt the peace you have in Christ. There is nothing that you are going through, your children are going through, your body, your job, your anything is going through that God does not have full authority over. Through Christ, you have freedom from disruption. PEACE. BE. WITH. YOU.
Sincerely,
Jesie Browning
Hey Sister,
In the last couple of weeks I have accidentally found myself on a road to what we aren’t free from. I’m not really sure how that’s happened but it has actually given me much more clarity on freedom itself. Understanding the “requirements” of following Jesus is freedom!
That very word, “requirements” can instantly give our belly’s a twist. In our culture today, if we put an requirement on anything; that is instant oppression. Following Christ though, requires EVERYTHING. Literally, your life.
In saying this, so often people call themselves Christian’s and follow the belief that all they need to do is believe and be nice to people. If Christianity is defined as following Jesus Christ’s teachings and you don’t even know what he taught than why would you call yourself a Christian?
When we decide to believe what Jesus says to be true we should change. Not immediately but there should be a steady “changing of our minds” which results in the changing of our hearts. We should be able to see a difference. What is this “changing of the mind” it is literally REPENTANCE.
Our walk with Jesus requires a constant posture of repentance. There is no relationship with Jesus without repentance.
The best news about repentance is that when we get tired. When our endurance to follow Jesus feels like its on empty, repentance is our fill up. It’s our gas pump that refills out tank with the truth of who God is and who we are NOT.
We do not have freedom from repentance
and that is because it is REPENTANCE THAT FREES US!!
~dearsister.blog
Let’s draw close to Lord today, Sister. Let’s Repent and be humbled by the holiness of the Lord God.
Happy Friday!
Sincerely,
Jesie Browning
Dear Sister,