Jessica S. Preston

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, 3 but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2   Soooo! What a great way to turn a somewhat dreary morning around. When my alarm clock went off at 4:10am to get up for boot camp I hit the snooze button; not once but twice. The second time, alarms in me went off, knowing that if I didn’t get up I would either have to rush, I would be late, or the worst, I wasn’t going… It’s the first of January and I can’t already not show up. I already missed Monday just to get my hair done!!! After actually pulling back the covers, sitting on the side of the bed twice, I finally jumped up, deciding I was going and proceeded to put my workout clothes on, until I looked at the cl...

Last night I went out with a friend I met at my gym. We’d been planning a movie date for about 2-3 weeks now and finally took time to actually go. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We were supposed to view Star Wars; a movie I know nothing about, but failed to get the tickets early & of course it was sold out. We opted to see the new movie Sisters instead. Very good movie with a story line that I’m sure many could relate to this time in day. One sister was the outgoing one with great gifts and talents, but her lifestyle and attitude was her biggest challenge. The other sister was the responsible and successful one who had her life together but always lived life with much caution. One scene the sisters was at their childhood home, in the room they shared taking turns reading their diaries. During this time, the cautious sister realized how she’d always lived life on the sideline, doing all the right things but missing out on actually living and enjoying life. Well if ...

This morning on the way to drop Jordan off at school, she was like can you turn on some music... So I was like yea, but we need to start listening to some better tunes, like gospel or something more uplifting. So she said, well put on that Happy song, and I was like good choice. I played Wanna Be Happy by Kirk Franklin all the way to work and allowed it to minister to my spirit. What a perfect song it was for me this morning after what I would call a small devotion .   What a freeing feeling I had this morning. So over the past few days I’ve gotten determined that I must make a change, like foreal. I began reading the book Attitudinize and I also chose another book from my shelf called So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore. I’ve had this book for about a year now… well I just looked at the receipt and it’s been over a year. Anywho, when I bought the book I bought it with about 4 other books. Some women buy shoes and purses, I buy food, journals and books; lots of them. So after I ...

I was just thinking about something... I've noticed that I've been settling for scraps… I want to say that it’s all because I am afraid of expecting something from someone that I may not receive. Then too it may be that I’m not sure of my worth or if I deserve what it is that I desire. Over time, I've learned to accept people for who they are, where they are, excusing what would normally be inexcusable behavior; thinking I’m not perfect so don’t expect perfection from someone else... that’s the perfect excuse right? I mean, I’m not knocking any of the things I tell myself or hear other women saying, because I know that everyone has something going on. But when it comes down to relationships I just noticed that there are some things that I've been exposed to & have become used to that I don’t require when it comes to being in a relationship. I didn't grow up in the same house as my dad, but I was always with him as a young girl well into my adult years. Ther...

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:19   Last night I went to bed with a few things on my mind. A few things that I knew I had to come to grips with. I desire change in my life... One thing I noticed though, was that I was praying for change but I continued to do things that went against the change I desired; anndddd I knew I was doing it... When I find myself in those situations I have to sit  and have an honest talk with the Lord, and express to Him my sincere thoughts... we all know that God is gracious and compassionate but we also know not to frustrate his Grace. I love the way He allows us time to see the error in our ways and then allows us time to correct some things before He steps in. So this cold, wet morning after peeling myself out of my bed at 4am to show up for my 5am bootcamp many issues continued to press...

Wow. Although I say that I desire a mate, I can’t imagine the difficulties a marriage must face those first few years… or maybe those first few months. I’ve often heard that the reality is much different than the expectation of something. It’s funny how we ask God to bless us with things, that we have no clue of the reality of what we are asking for. Ever been in the audience where someone introduces their spouse and proceed to spek on the 35 years they’ve   been married, then notice how the crowd produces a massive applause… Although I was part of the ones who would applaud, I never really understood the depth of why I was clapping, outside of the fact that 35 years is a VERY long time to be with one person… Although I am not married, for the past month I have grown to respect anyone who dares to enter into the institution of marriage. I see now that marriage is not for punks or for better words, the faint of heart. It’s not for those who so easily throw in the towel when ...

I was thinking about my fears and how in touch with them I am, and didn’t even notice until it was time to break out. I say that I want my child to spread her wings and do great things, but didn't know how afraid I was of letting go. I say that I want a man, but didn’t know how afraid I was of one leaving. I say that I want success, but didn’t know how afraid I was of failing. Or better yet, I want success, but didn’t know how afraid I was of losing myself and Christ in the midst of climbing to the top. I say that I want to do better in all areas in my life; family, love, relationships, character, career etc… Yet all I say is that it’s too late to change… things will always be the same… I didn’t know how afraid I was of just taking the first step to change… then continuing on. The question that remains, is what am I really afraid of? If I want all these great things, what is stopping me from getting to those great places? I have the tendency to blame things on oth...