Excerpt from October Newsletter - F.I.T. (www.100hour.org) UPDATE

After writing this I realize that I should give some explanation. F.I.T. meets in a room at my church on Thursday nights at 7 pm. This meeting is attended by people who have been recently released from jail or prison and others who love them. The same classes are taught in these meetings that are taught in the jails/prisons. I attended these meetings for several years, taking classes over and over again. I also took the training, twice, to be able to facilitate these classes. I and one of my closest girlfriends, Bonnie Tapley, facilitated Parenting to the women in the Sarasota County Jail for more than a year. Even though I am now in the background, keeping them in prayer, this ministry is constantly on my heart. 20% of the full purchase price of all of my artwork is donated to this ministry. To purchase something and make a donation, please see my shops at:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/julianap

Groove Press: http://somethingbyjuliana.groovepress.com/

And/Or at the Muse Galleria in Sarasota (Boutique/Gallery website: http://www.musegalleria.org/default.html)

If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, please see:

http://www.100hour.org and http://journeyassembly.org/2011/03/100-hour-program/


FEATURE ARTICLE By N. Elizabeth Holland, M.D.


At 13 lessons, Godly Parenting is the longest

course in the FIT Curriculum. This series

emphasizes parenting and disciplining based

on the stages of development. There are

separate lessons on each stage of

development from prebirth to adult children.

This book was written by an MD and is

appropriate where extensive, age-appropriate

materials are needed. Thirteen lessons.


Author of Godly Parenting

Published by Living Free

Unit 13 of the FIT Curriculum

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DR. HOLLAND’S CREDENTIALS

Medical School- University of Tennessee

Medical School; Internship, Residency - St.

Jude Children's Hospital, Medical College of

Virginia, Hospital for Sick Children,

Edinburgh, Scotland; Practice - Pediatric Associates, P.C., Memphis, TN. 1975 to present; Board Member - Teen

Challenge Memphis; Living Free, Chattanooga, TN

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The young mother stumbled into my office. Frustration, anger and general misery were etched into her face. She was accompanied by a 5 year old who was ignoring her as he played with a miniature car, a toddler who wailed as he pulled at her hand, and a 6 month old baby perched on her hip. Her question both astounded and rattled me. "We are a Christian family, we attend Church, we try to honor God, but I have no idea how to make my Christianity work while I deal with a husband who works all the time, and is so distant when he is at home, and I have to constantly deal with these three." Her gesture included her children, who now were all crying, and were pulling her in different directions. "How does God want me to deal with all of this? Can you help me?"

The reason I was rattled was that I had no idea how to answer her question. I didn't know God, and had never considered that He might have an opinion on the subject of raising children. I was in my late 30's, a pediatrician working
in a busy urban pediatric practice, a confirmed alcoholic, a "dabbler" into several different types of drugs and promiscuity. Actually, I was more than ignorant concerning God's opinions. I actively avoided anything that even
bordered on the question, because I was sure that He would have a less-than-favorable opinion about my lifestyle.

My life changed dramatically in 1981, when I was 41 years old. I had reached the end of my rope, and had even considered ending my life, when I finally made the decision to surrender my life to Jesus Christ and began a long-term,
vibrant relationship with Him. I plunged into a study of His Word, and made many trips into the Third World to deliver medical care to those in refugee camps, slums, and garbage dumps. These trips lasted anywhere from 1 year to 1-2 weeks. Obviously the physical circumstances were different than those to which I was accustomed, but the amazing truth I discovered is that people had the same basic questions and desires the world over. "How can I make a better life for my children and my family? How can I deal with the difficult circumstances that I face day to day?"

Back at home in America, in my pediatric practice, I continued to find great confusion concerning how to deal with children. Medical science was making great strides in dealing with issues such as types of feeding, methods of discipline, safety precautions in cars and other places, and other similar questions. But even with the advances in medicine, I found greater principles outlined in the Word of God. As I studied His written Word to us, I was astounded as I came to see that the way God deals with His children was an exact description of the way He wants us to deal with ill children. As we come to understand how He has parented us, we can grasp more and more how He wants us to deal with our children and our families. His principles are unchanging, and His methods cannot be successfully challenged.

Even though there are a multitude of parenting books available today, I had seen none that approached the subject from this perspective. As God parents us, so we can learn to deal with our children. This was the inspiration and vision for the book/workbook that I have written called Godly Parenting. I looked at each stage of a child's life, from infancy through adulthood, and drew parallels with how God dealt with us at that stage of our spiritual growth. In addition to Biblical references and study points throughout the book, I also included practical pointers from a pediatrician's perspective - especially from a pediatrician who had noted a real need for many practical bits of information in her practice. Growth and Development information, as well as Safety Considerations are presented in each chapter, and correspond to that particular stage of the child's growth.

I hope that this simple book and workbook will meet a need in today's busy society. First, for those who were raised in happy, stable homes and have an excellent sense of their own value and self worth, this book should offer
encouragement, advice, and practical tips on raising children in our modern world. But, for those whose childhood did not fit this pattern, who perhaps were neglected or abused, or who simply never grasped the fact that they were loved and secure, this book can give a sense of value to each person that God has created and loved. Many of those who are using this parenting course have never understood that simple fact - that they have value, and that they are loved. Many were abused and are now trying to break that pattern with their children. Many are incarcerated in our jails and prisons
and desperately need an understanding of God's forgiveness and love, as well as an understanding of how to pass something to their children that they have never received.

In the first chapters of this book, we come to understand how God deals with us in our helplessness, how He cares for us and protects us. In the same way, we learn about the rigors, as well as the joy, of dealing with helpless infants. As we grow, we start to understand God's methods of discipline, and to realize that God's always disciplines His children because He loves them. His discipline is never harsh or unloving, but is given in love to teach and train in right living. Knowing how to discipline our children in love, never in anger, is an extremely important thing every parent needs to learn.

Later we see God's pattern of instruction, and how we can pattern this in our children's "learning" years. Finally we learn how God allows His children to move into adulthood, to begin to make mature decisions, and to take responsibility for their own actions. As we come to understand His parenting in our own lives, we can better know how to pass this knowledge onto our children.

It is my hope and prayer that everyone using this material will be better able to guide their own children in our modern, difficult world, as well as be better able to see and understand God's involvement, guidance and love in their own lives.

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DON’T FORGET THE FUNDRAISER DINNER NOV 12th

“Dressy” Attire

RECEPTION, SILENT AUCTION AT 6 pm

. Fresh Fruit, Iced Tea




DINNER BUFFET, PROGRAM AT 7:00 PM

. Caesar Salad (served)

. Oven-Roasted Potatoes, Fresh Vegetables

. Butter Crumb Tilapia

. Sugar-Cured Hawaiian Ham

. Roast Top Round of Bee w/Mushroom Gravy

. Rolls/Butter/Coffee




SEND SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS TO FIT, PO BOX 21411,

BRADENTON, FL. ORDER TICKETS OR TABLE DONATIONS ONLINE

AT www.100hour.org Shopping Cart

He’s Blessing Me, Healing Me, Helping Me, and on and on...

     I told you all that I’d be updating you and I know that it’s been some time since I last wrote. So much good going on that I’ve just had so little time but here I am and I’ve finally slowed down a bit (although I’m truly itching to get started on a painting.
    
     You all know that I believe in being transparent, if you’ve read my previous entries. I just know how my pastor’s transparency truly helps me to feel not so alone in this struggle that we call life. It’s always good to find out that others aren’t perfect either, huh? So, this entry has an extra bit of oomph from the Holy Spirit so please pray to have an open mind if this is something that you struggle with…I assure you that I would not intentionally lead you astray but I know that I am also not perfect either so you all must check with the Holy Spirit yourselves to know within your hearts what is true as I do with anyone’s writings that I read.

     Not long after the start of my teeth being prepared for the partial plate, I was asked to place some of my artwork into a gallery/boutique in Sarasota, Florida. Sarasota, for those of you who don’t know, is said to be the art hub of Florida. So, this was very exciting. But along with it came more prayer and questioning due to the fact that the gallery wanted to sell my mosaics but most of all my mosaic crosses. I’ve not avidly done mosaics for several years mostly due to the fact that grouting is perplexing with the Florida humidity and if done inside in the AC, the mess is more than I’d like to deal with. But, I moved forward in faith believing that if God was in this that He would open the doors to whatever I was supposed to do or close the doors to something that may become a potential hazard in my life.  

     First of all was tackling my husband’s acceptance of this, which I knew could just slam a door shut in a hurry. It took a couple of fret-filled days on my part for him to agree to this. These days were certainly filled with much prayer and leaving it in God’s hands over and over and over again. My hubby and I have had an amazing, Godly organization for nearly our entire marriage. When I come upon certain decisions (but not enough of them) I ask for God to bring my husband and I into agreement of His will. So, I know if I’m supposed to do something and he agrees that God’s will is in it. I believe this is the main reason why he and I have been married for nearly 21 years after only dating for 9 weeks. God has proven this to me time and again, but that’s another blog entry entirely! He did finally go for me putting my things in this gallery which I shared with the owner and went on to prepare a display of my artwork (if you’d like to see the art that I have down there, I have an album with photos of all the items on my fan page at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/set=a.271812482840125.68891.112759922078716 I will soon be adding some photos of the Muse Galleria to share with others, also).

     In the midst of all of this I received an e-mail with a disabled artist opportunity (don’t like being called disabled since I believe that God enabled me, but I will use this to promote my art if given the opportunity). I could submit 1-2 pieces of art, to be on in an exhibit and on sale at the Governor’s Convention on Volunteerism. Which I ended up planning on after this, even though I only had one week to choose/prepare, etc… the artwork that I would submit. So, I actually called on prayer warriors from my church to make sure that I had God’s wisdom & knowledge on all of this and His will be done.

     To make a long story just a little bit shorter, I submitted 2 paintings (one old and one new). The really cool thing is that I’d only started playing with watercolor two weeks prior to this point and I had the inspiration for a painting that is watercolor and acrylic. I submitted them and they were chosen for the exhibit.  Praise the Lord! 

 

"Sonshine" 18X24 Watercolor/Acrylic

"Where My Heart Belongs" 11X14 Acrylic

     (I think something should be said here. My husband once asked why there are crosses in all of my paintings. Well, to start out with God does not ONLY give me the inspiration for artwork with crosses in it so they do not ALL have crosses in them. But, many do because that it who I am. I have received this talent from God and I use it to glorify Him, however He shows me to do it.)

     So, as I said, many awesome things have been happening in my life. Last Sunday in church I was elated. God reminded me of a promise He showed me in His word way back not long after I rededicated my life to Him. I was so done with the world and I certainly thought that the world was done with me. Then, He showed me: *Proverbs 3:3,4 “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.” And, I’d prayed for many years but actually forgotten for the most part about this promise that He was now bringing to fruition. I’m so far from that person that I was when I rededicated my life to Him that it even seems like a different person.

     I was elated! Then Monday came and I was depressed, lacked motivation, uninspired, agitated and on and on. Why? I questioned God all week. No clue as to why all this good was happening in my life but I was feeling so sad. On Friday morning I left the dentist office, finding out that it would be less than 2 weeks before getting my smile back. And, I was so very upset. Why? As I drove to a restaurant for lunch, I contemplated. I ate lunch and headed for Sarasota to set up the display of my art and it hit me, I wanted to call and share it all with my mom. I’d never had so much going on in my life before at one time without having her there to talk to (for those of you who don’t know, my mother was promoted to glory on 1/12/11), and I cried most of the way to Sarasota. But, that dark cloud started to lift as soon as I realized why it was happening which seems to always happen. It is my belief that this is according to *2 Corinthians 1:4 “who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” It is more for others than for even me. I believe I am blessed that it seems that God believes that I can handle it…Hallelujah!

     On Sunday in church we were experiencing a tremendous time of worship during which I held my hands to my heart in the midst of a special Papa moment when I feel a deep sense of closeness to our Father. I was telling Him all about these old habits to do with my folks and how I didn’t want them anymore. After a minute or so my mind told me that I should have my hands in the air in worship, but I tried and I could not get my arms to move. Then I saw in my mind’s eye that He had His arms tightly around me and He told me that He was healing me. He was healing my heart of these habits. And I bawled! It has been quite hard learning to live as the top of the totem pole here on earth with both of my folks gone to be with Him. My mother in law was also promoted to glory in August of this year. But, I now know that I’m just walking into a different season of life and I also know that there is no one vying for my attention (except for my husband, of course but he knows that it’s also our heavenly Father that has helped us to maintain this relationship for more than 20 years). He is the Rock in which I lay my foundation.

     And, I just love sharing a video with all of you that has blessed me recently.  I've heard this song time and again on the radio but had not yet purchased the MP3 until recently.  Just love it!  This is by Todd Agnew and Rebecca St. James.  I saw her in concert twice in the 90's and even took my step-son.  We were majorly blessed!  Enjoy!

May God bless you through my writing. If He has especially touched you in any way, please leave a comment below. Your comments are so very encouraging to me to help me to keep writing. Also, click on the “Uptweet” button on the above right and share! I pray you will keep coming back. I fully believe that my writing is by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so if I am writing, there is someone that needs to read it! Maybe it’s you? Please be sure to share any questions you might have with me and if you would like to keep them personal (just between you and me) please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at juliana.pace@gmail.com. If I don’t know how to answer you, I will may every attempt to refer you to someone for more information. Please feel free to share this writing with others! Thanks and may God bless all your days!