Sharing Jesus

Someone on here just told me that people complained about me sharing about the Bible.  A couple of years back I wore this really cool tie-dyed t-shirt with a cross in the middle of it (purples, too…quite cool).  A friend I saw loved it but remarked about me wearing it out in public (as have others about other Christian t-shirts that I wear).  I was actually surprised by the comment so as I ran errands I thought about it!  Then,  these words came to my mind “What have they done for you?”.  Jesus died for me why shouldn’t I be willing to do anything for Him?  And a song came to mind from a few years ago:

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

Are You "IN CHRIST?" - Devotional share

Good Morning! I truly didn’t intend on creating a posting in this blog today until I read this devotional that I get daily from David Wilkerson’s ministry. Although he has left this world to be with our Lord, there are many things that he writes about where I certainly couldn’t say it any better, so I want to share this one with you:

HOW CAN WE KNOW WE ARE TRULY “IN CHRIST”?
by David Wilkerson

(Please note: These evidences are contingent upon your first repenting of sin, forsaking all wickedness, trusting in Christ for eternal salvation, and allowing Him to translate you out of darkness and into His kingdom of light.)

1. You are in Christ if you are continually being renewed. Those who are "in Christ" do not rest on a one-time conversion experience. Rather, they constantly cry out to be changed and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Their daily prayer is, "Lord, take out of me everything that is unlike You.”

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:5-6).

2. You are in Christ if you govern your life by the Scriptures. Do you revere and fear God's Word?

"Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him" (1 John 2:5). The Bible makes it clear: We know we are in Christ if we love and obey His Word.

3. You are in Christ if your faith is mixed with charity. Scripture says if you do not have charity, or unconditional love, you cannot be in Christ.

"Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:2). Nothing in Greek here means, "I am nothing now nor will I ever be anything." In other words, "Without unconditional love for all, I am a nobody and I will always be a nobody."

You can be a gifted preacher, a powerful evangelist, or an anointed teacher of God’s Word who walks in great faith, but if you do not have love for others, you are nothing.

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!



 

MERRY CHRISTMAS and then some

Good Morning...Many Blessings...and a Great Big Merry Christmas to you all!  Christmas time is my very favorite time of year.  Even though I am reminded of all my loved ones lost I am reminded that I will see most of them in the future when I go to heaven because our amazingly merciful Savior was born!

I must share that although I am much better physically that I have been going through a spell of writer's block that the Lord and I are still working on.  I believe I have my answer and I'm moving forward.  My husband and I had our 22nd anniversary on Saturday and we're celebrating it tomorrow on His day off with a day out in Tampa, after I see my orthopedic doctor about my left shoulder.  I am expecting a good report. 

I am in the midst of getting our house back to a more normal state than 6 months of one armed cleaning.  I am leaving you with a list of my favorite Christmas songs & videos and I have several writings started that I plan on sharing with you all after the new year!

Mercy Me - What Child is This

Mercy Me - Oh Holy Night

Mercy Me - Gloria - with Christmas house lights, too!





Mercy Me - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - with Christmas house lights, too.

Kutless - Mary Did You Know

Relient K - I Celebrate the Day - Amazing perspective!

Sanctus Real - Silent Night

And, now for a few louder ones, you know, my heavier type of music (if you dare)!!

August Burns Red - Carol of the Bells (especially if you like drums)

Thousand Foot Krutch - Jingle Bell Rock

Little Drummer Boy - White Heart - One of my favorites for years



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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

"Stand up for Sanctity" - plus update

Good Morning to you all! First I’ll share that I’ve been given some strong muscle relaxers that I cannot even take as often as prescribed because they knock me out. But, I do still have to take them as much as possible since I’ve had some trouble with cramping probably due to the sling being on for almost 5 months. Well, thankfully the sling came off as of last Tuesday. I am also enduring some quite painful therapy right now but it, along with many prayers, are causing my arm to improve with great leaps and bounds. So I am well on my way to full healing. Thank the Lord!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Facebook I used to only share the postings of others and the occasional blog post of mine. I never opened my mouth much at all, to most people anyway. Even though I’d heard encouragement numerous times on conservative talk radio to share especially with the politically undecided or misinformed along with those choosing not to vote at all, I still kept my mouth shut. Then I ran into a few posts that truly sparked “righteous” anger to rise up in me. It felt like I could hold my mouth closed no longer and I fought with this truly not knowing if it was right to speak up or should I ALWAYS keep my mouth closed? But then I truly believed that I was right in sharing what I did. What to do? And, in that way that I love ("coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous" -- unknown), I received a devotional that spoke right to what I was struggling with that was written by a minister who I truly respect:

“Stand Up for Sanctity
by Rick Warren
“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” (Acts 18:9b NIV)
As you are forming your worldview and searching Scripture for God’s truth on all kinds of matters, it’s important to understand God’s stance on the three most controversial parts of a Christian worldview today. I mention these three because they are the ones you need the most courage to speak up about. Why? Because not only will most people disagree with you about these topics; they will passionately argue with you. It takes an uncommon courage to stand up against that kind of pressure. There are a lot of parts of the Bible that people don’t have a problem with, like “You must help the poor.” Nobody disagrees with that. But there are three aspects of a Christian worldview that are hated by the world, and about which most Christians clam up. They are the areas of sanctity:
1. The sanctity of life: God has a purpose for every unborn child. God planned your life before you were born, before your parents were born, even before he created the universe! Psalm 139:16 says, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (NLT). We are to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves: the unborn, the 70 million Americans who would be here if they hadn’t been aborted. If I claim to be a Christian, then I must believe that every life is sacred.
2. The sanctity of sex: Sex is only for marriage. Sex was God’s idea. It isn’t dirty or wrong; sex is holy. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4 NIV). God’s instructions never change: Premarital sex is unacceptable to God. Living together without being married is unacceptable to God. Adultery is unacceptable to God. Pornography and the objectification of women are unacceptable to God.
3. The sanctity of marriage: One man and one woman for life. That is God’s intended, original design. A lot of people ask, “Well, what about all the polygamy in the Bible?” Not everything the Bible reports the Bible approves. It’s hard to think of a book that has more violence, greed, incest, and murder in it than the Bible. So why do we call it a “holy” Bible? Because it tells the truth. The humans in the Bible blew it as much as we do. The Bible is just reporting the brokenness of humanity. But God is very clear on the issue of marriage: “At the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh . . . So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate”” (Matthew 19:4-6 NIV).
There are many issues of life where people of good will can disagree. For example, there’s no economic recovery plan in the Bible, and Christians can disagree on that. But if you call yourself a Christian, you need to line yourself up with what God says about the sanctity of these three things. And you need to have the courage to stand up for them, even and especially when it’s not the popular or politically correct thing to do.”



And, especially when this election has so much between the selection of the person that you will vote for riding on these three things, I knew what God was telling me what I should do.

As I was working on this writing another instance came to my mind. I had a Facebook friend comment back to something I shared from someone else. It was about there only being One God. They asked me if I didn’t think that it was being un-neighborly to contest other beliefs? Well, I realized that at that moment God showed me truth. That it is more loving to help someone out of their belief in lies and share truth.

*Proverbs 3:3-6 “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. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

*Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Along with this, I must share that I have posted a few short things which I’ve later felt wrong about and I went straight to the Father for forgiveness. Just last week I noticed anger to the point of feeling like my eyes were bulging. I was reminded that I am the type of person who is very passionately emotional about things. My son teases me that I have weeping with those who weep down well. So, over the years I have learned to not spend too much time watching and listening to the news. My husband has shared most important information with me and/or I have watched some things but I really have had to watch the time spent. For instance, my husband has actually turned off the TV when he found me crying with Katrina survivors even to a couple of weeks after the Hurricane hit. And, when I first noticed this I’d sat in front of the TV watching the reports of 9-11 for three solid weeks with tears in my eyes. A psychiatrist spoke up on TV about spending too much time paying attention to this disaster. Ever since I’ve known that I had to not get so involved with these things. My heart just literally breaks for people and it seems that I end up no good for anyone. As with all things, moderation is the key! I have also learned to pray, pray, pray as this truly helps me to stop feeling so helpless to help all these people. So when I saw myself getting unruly with my posting I realized I needed to break away from it all and have not been spending so much time since. I hadn’t even been taking my medication as often as I should. Thankfully it only took me a few days to slow down! Thanking and praising His name the whole way! God is in charge and ONLY by keeping Him at the center and the pilot of my life, can I be truly the person that He wants me to be.

Video share:  I love this song -- so profound -- so thought provoking!  See if you know what it's about, then after the video you'll be able to read what it is about.

"McNevan explained the song's meaning to NewReleaseToday: "This song is about someone speaking to their addictions and written from the point of view of me describing it in a dream. When I picture us singing this chorus together, speaking to our addictions, mountains and vices, it gives me chills. It's the scene in the movie when someone walks out of the darkness into the light." 
 Still, one of the main reasons that I mostly love the music that these Christian hard rock or Christian heavy metal bands play -- They all mostly testify to the truth and positivity of the Lord Jesus Christ as with other Christian bands, but they are a reminder to me of what God brought me out of. Even though it was 24+ years ago, this music keeps it fresh within my mind and I’m best at testifying of Him if I always have a fresh remembrance of Him and how I owe Him ALL OF ME!


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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

His Love is Shared on Facebook

If you are on Facebook, there is no excuse for you not getting many daily doses of God's word, prayer, etc... There are many, many Christians on here sharing along with many Christian pages that post several times daily.  This was pointed out to me even more this past Summer when I had an awful fall, dislocating my shoulder and breaking my left arm.  I couldn't do much more than hit 'like', 'share', and refresh my page through many weeks.  At first I chose wallowing in self pity for a time but I truly believe God drew me to my desk chair even when I didn't feel like it and I found a plethora of good, sound Christian posts.  Don't let anyone tell you that Facebook is a bunch of garbage because I've heard many negative comments about Facebook and with anything that is man made, of course it is imperfect and can be used unwisely!  Do searches on such things as prayer, God, Jesus, and on and on so you can like these pages and have the info in your feed.  Try subscribing to the people's public posts that you see posting on these pages!  I, myself, have watched people go from never saying a word about God to publicly thanking Him and joining in on the sharing!  Facebook is truly a great big mission field!  We love you and even more importantly, God loves you!  "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ"!  Happy Friday and may you have a blessed weekend!

***In addition, I just stopped back in this writing to share and I took notice of something that I needed to share, too!  One of the ways that God puts an emphasis (like an extra exclamation point) on the fact that He is speaking to me is that a word will come to mind within the inspiration that I rarely or even never use and I'll even also know the meaning of it.  Today I noticed right off the word "plethora" that I can't say I ever used before!  So, this is a writing with extra emphasis!!  Enjoy! (added 12/15/12)

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

His help through Psalm 27

Good Morning! "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ"!

I'm slowly but surely coming back and able to type more again but too much to do in a day and not enough hours since I have only partial use as a helper in my left hand and being slowed down for 4+ months has slowed me down even more. Will surely be working to get my strength back as the weather cools down for us down here in Florida. Only 68 degrees this morning, Hallelujah! 

I do have something to share with you this morning as someone on Facebook sparked my memory. My favorite Psalm is the one that firstly, God helped me to face prison by reading it numerous times and then every time it comes to mind since. As I've read it over and over again I realized that it used the be the first couple of verses that got to me the most but it changed to the 8th verse (large print) which just makes my heart leap and brings tears to my eyes! That was my turning point! Hallelujah!

*Psalm 27
New King James Version (NKJV)
An Exuberant Declaration of Faith

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Please keep praying! I'm on my way back!

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

Health Update - Please keep praying

Good Morning everyone!  Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

Just thought I might share with you a little health update.  I am improving and able to write a little but still in the sling.   The Rotator Cuff surgery was on August 27th.  I had a follow-up visit with my doctor on September 11th.  He made my next appointment for 3 months later but I'm believing God for healing me up before that.  My doctor ordered 6 weeks of occupational therapy and told me that I have to wear the sling for that amount of time, too, unless I am home and down on the couch.  Then I can sit with the sling off.

So, I am typing with the sling which makes it a little harder to do and my arm still gets tired a bit more easily.

I have several ideas in my mind to write but I need to ask you all to grant me a little patience in getting them out since some is a little longer and harder for me to take the typing time.  Still finding if I don't get some downtime that I end up quite sore the following day so I'm rather stuck right now!

Thank you for your loyalty and patience!

May God bless you all abundantly!

When I am weak, He is strong

So then after my hubby was off to work I sat down to read my daily Bible reading that I get from www.Biblegateway.com (they come in my e-mail so not easy at all to miss reading along with getting through the new testament in a year). 

To share a bit from the past, not long after we moved here the Lord spoke to me and told me that He was going to lift me up (no clue what all that entails and certainly up to God and His will).  I told Him that I would be so concerned about being big-headed about it.  Repeatedly "when I am weak, then I am strong"  has come to my mind over the years about so many things.  Then when I was prayed for at a Billy Burke meeting as a prayer warrior I talked with God after getting home and part of the conversation was telling Him that I felt so weak in the area of prayer and He told me that's why He is strong.  Then this morning a part of my reading was:  2 Cor. 12: 7b-10:  "Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NIV Translation)

I have read this many times but never in this translation and only this chapter set aside.  God’s word is so very alive and important in our lives.  Confirmed even more to me about why things have happened in my life in the way they have.  He is forever working His good in our lives when we trust in Him! 

Just thought I'd share the song that just came on while listening to my computer playlist:

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

Devotional from Rick Warren with my commentary

For more than 28 years I went by the nickname ‘Julie’.  Not long after rededicating my life to the Lord, I was sentenced and spent 16 months in prison.  It was there that God showed me I would be called by ‘Juliana’…and it truly helped my heart to see ‘Julie’ as the old me!  Loved getting this today!

Let God Tell You Who You Are by Rick Warren

“Your name will no longer be Jacob .... From now on you will be called Israel.” (Genesis 32:28a NLT) You don’t have to stay the same! In conversion, we’re given a new identity. Look at Jacob in the book of Genesis. Once Jacob confesses his manipulative behavior, God gives him a new identity. Notice that three things happen: God gives Jacob a brand new identity (Genesis 32:28). Essentially, God says, “I know you’ve blown it. I know you’re conniving, but I see in you a prince. Beneath all your emotional hang-ups, all your insecurities, all the stuff you don’t want anybody else to know, I see a prince.” God is saying that today to many of us: “Beneath all of your sins and hang-ups, I see a princess/prince. You can be something great. You can be what I made you to be.” God blesses Jacob/Israel (Genesis 32:29). Deep down, we desperately want God’s blessing. If we want God’s blessing, we have to take the steps God requires of us. God gave Jacob/Israel a limp (Genesis 32:31). Remember, when they wrestled, God dislocated Jacob’s hip. Jacob walked away with a limp, and it served as a daily reminder to depend upon God. God does his deepest work in your life when he deals with your identity — who you are and the way you see yourself. You will always tend to act according to the way you think about yourself. So God does his deepest changes in your life by changing the way you see yourself.  He says, “Let me show you how I see you.” When you see yourself the way God sees you, it’s going to change your life.  Talk About It Have you been asking God to bless you? If so, how have you made yourself available to hear his instructions so that you can take the steps he requires of you? How do you look different when you see yourself through God’s point of view?

May God bless you always,

Juliana (Jewels) Pace                 E-mail me at
My Links:                    Facebook Profile      Fan Page          Book
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"I am not afraid, of the storm that comes my way,
When it hits, it shakes me to the core,
And makes me stronger than before" -- Thousand Foot Krutch

(My e-mail signature)

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

APOLOGIES for not posting

Good Morning!  Just realized that I left no explanation for my faithful followers as to why I'm not posting right now.  Not for long!  I had rotator cuff repair surgery on Monday 8/27!  Already doing therapy again so quickly on the mend!

God bless you all!

I'll leave you with a newer song that I truly love.  It is full of lyrics that speak to me, especially: 

“I am not afraid, of the storm that comes my way, When it hits, it shakes me to the core, And makes me stronger than before”  ---Thousand Foot Krutch

 

 

 

 

SOAKING

No matter what I do this morning I just can’t seem to get rid of the idea of writing about this subject that came to me a couple of hours ago.  So, here I am sharing my views on this and the fact that I do soak now and then for a few minutes up to even 30 minutes or longer.  What’s the reason(s) that I do it?  To spend quality time with God, to surrender to the Holy Spirit, to stop and focus on the right things, to stop and “smell the roses”, to just say “woe”, etc… I started to list them and then realized there are numerous reasons and why not?  I mean, He is God and spending quality time with Him can definitely be no less than beneficial.

How do I do this?  Well, I’m normally in my desk chair in my computer room/studio so I sit back and relax, arms on the rests, palms facing upward and I listen to some good Christian music such as, to suggest just a few:

          Not Alone              Red
          Holy                      Matt Gilman
          Our Great God       Todd Agnew
          Baptize My Heart   Misty Edwards

And there are many, many other awesome songs to soak to, or you might even do a search at www.google.com for the word “soaking” and do some of your own research.  This has been very beneficial to me in my growth as a Christian.

One of my favorites that I have found quite beneficial to my own health and well being is Light of Your Face by Misty Edwards.  :

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

Video Share - Must See - This may change your life!

This video is something that everyone must see/listen to!  Several years ago my pastor gave everyone in the church a CD (with permission) and told us all if they would listen to it at least once per day for 21 days (takes 21 days to form a habit) that it could be life changing.  I listened to it 2-3 times a day.  Once you truly start to get the contents of this video, it will be life changing.  I've been walking with the Lord for 24 years now (since rededication) and this morning while listening to it to share it with a friend, it still made me cry!  If you are thinking about accepting Jesus as your personal savior, this is just a part of what you'll receive and He wants you to have it!  If you are wondering what this life is truly about, then you must check it out!

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

Devotional Share and Comment - Four Benefits of Understanding Your Uniqueness

Good morning! “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!” Romans 1:7b

I receive several devotional e-mails in the mornings and this one was so enlightening that I had to share. I’ve shared several times that I truly believe that walking with our Lord, submitting myself to Him, has made my life so very much easier than before (and much more interesting, too). While many fight (as I did for years) keeping what they think is their own identity and self worth refusing to give it up to Jesus, we were all making life so much harder. The following devotional explains why life is so much easier with Him! When I found Him, I found “ME”!
“Four Benefits of Understanding Your Uniqueness
by Rick Warren 
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” (Psalm 139:14 NLT)

Once you understand your shape, it explains how you respond to authority, how you handle criticism, how you deal with confrontation, how you make friends, how you deal with guilt, why you get close to people or why you don't get close to people. Your shape explains what makes you mad, sad, worried, happy — because it's you!

There are four benefits of discovering and building your life around your “S.H.A.P.E.” (your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences):

1. It reduces stress. When you are confident in how you are shaped, you stop comparing yourself to other people. Instead, you build on your strengths, recognize your limitations, maximize what you're good at, and don't worry about the rest. It's a guaranteed stress reducer!

2. It increases success. Success is not making a lot of money; it’s knowing God's will and being right in the center of it. It’s being what God meant you to be. It's figuring out who you are and then being you!

3. It deepens satisfaction. A satisfying life is when you are doing what you're shaped to do. Freedom comes from doing what you're gifted to do and enjoying what God made you to be. When you build your life on God’s shape for you, you feel the love of God a whole lot more because you're in harmony with his plan.

4. It builds self-esteem. There's an epidemic of low self-esteem in our society today. Studies say that over 50 percent of people are in the wrong jobs. I believe that genuine self-esteem is not built on positive thinking but on two biblical truths: First, you matter to God and, second, you were shaped by God for a purpose.

Talk About It
Once you know your shape, spend some time evaluating how your time is spent. Are you pursuing activities or goals that God specifically shaped you to do?
Would you say that you have a satisfying life? What is your satisfaction or contentment based on?”

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

COMMITTED - Answered Prayer and Praise Report

Our pastor tells us time and again that try=failure and commitment=success.  I’ve proved it time and again but today was a truly memorable one.

To back up a bit, on Sunday morning before communion our pastor prayed over the congregation then he asked us to ask the Lord to show us any personal sin that remained in our lives.  I’ve had such a rough 2+ months that I’m always looking for wisdom so I prayed.  And I saw in my mind’s eye that the sin didn’t lie in something that I was doing but in something that I wasn’t doing.  I saw myself writing and spending time in His word in the mornings as I’d been doing prior to the fall of June 2nd.  My mornings had been so rough since the fall that I hadn’t slept through a night since – still on the couch, taking Benadryl or ½ of an Excedrin pm (yes, I need that little) to even get a restless few hours, always in pain, many nights spent playing solitaire in the middle – so mornings were normally spent in a groggy stupor in and out of sleep in front of the TV and surely not in a state for absorbing God’s word.  Yesterday went the same way but as those prayers laid heavily on my mind from Sunday morning I became more and more determined/committed to get up and get in God’s word and writing so I prayed on and off throughout the day.

Well, you can probably guess what I’m going to tell you next, can’t ya?  I stayed up playing solitaire to make myself sleepy instead of taking a substance to help me sleep so I was up until nearly 2 am.  But, I woke up before the alarm (set to make sure that my husband is up for work or 7 am).  And, PRAISE THE LORD and HALLELUJAH, I’d slept through that whole 5 hours and awoke in NO PAIN!  And, I’ve been in God’s word and writing since not long after my husband left for work!  Please join me in Praising Him!

I also learned another lesson.  I’ve had such a high tolerance to pain over the years that I’d had a lack of tolerance or understanding for my mother’s pain the last years of her life.  Never underestimate the power of pain to truly boggle a person’s mind.  I’m also asking God for forgiveness for this.  Shoulder pain is just awful and the pain from non-use of muscles (which my mother had much of) is even worse.  Even when the pain wasn’t severe it was still there, aching, gnawing at me.  The worst pain I’d had since the 10 hour spine surgery in 1995.  Honestly!!  I am so thankful to the Lord for this morning that I awoke with no pain!  And, I am COMMITTED to the same thing every morning that He enables me!

And with that, an appropriate video share:

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

Prayers Answered and on the mend!

Good morning, all!  I just had to write a short post to share what has happened recently since I now seem to be improving in leaps and bounds.  Some people, even Christians, don't understand the relevance of the heavier Christian music.  Let's see if I can explain a bit better?  I had been feeling defeated.  This fall hit me so very hard and then I got some awful flu just a week later that wouldn't let go.  Until last week I wasn't able to type at all.  There were days that holding my small sketch book was a real feat.  I mostly watched TV by the hour and slept for more than a month.  Then I went out to a movie with my husband and son and when I came out I became so fearful of falling that I had to sit on a bench and let my husband come and pick me up with the car.  I shook in tears as I explained to my step-son how badly I felt.  When I got home I shared a post on Facebook about how I felt and asked for prayers.  The following morning at church I asked a friend (an amazing prayer warrior) to pray for me.  She prayed a powerful prayer of warfare against satan and the spirit of fear.  I literally felt a cloud lift and my countenance changed significantly! 

After church we had a picnic planned with the congregation and I went even though I had to use a cane at this little park to make sure I didn't fall.  My step-son shared an album with me that sounded so intriguing that I had to listen more when I got home.... Here I am more than 3 weeks later and I've been improving all along.  Occupational therapy got to my house and I started typing again with 2 hands last week. 

This music empowered me.  There is a great difference between secular, loud music.  Secular, heavy music can be enraging while Christian heavy music can be empowering!  The world spews so much negativity in today's music while Christian music is positive and uplifting!  I am a person who has heard so much garbage in my past that I need the heavy, loud, positive music to BLAST it out of my head and replace all that negativity with positivity!  Words from my favorite song on this new album by the band Thousand Foot Krutch are:  "I am not afraid of the storm that comes my way
When it hits it shakes me to the core and makes me stronger than before" and the music?  It's just inspiring!  Please see the video:

I'M TRULY ON MY WAY BACK NOW!

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!

MY APOLOGIES - EXPLANATION - UPDATE

I thought I should share with you the reason that I hadn't written anything new for some time.   I had shared with you all that I have been working on a second book but now it seems that even that has been put on hold for several weeks.  I am typing this one handed since I had a bad fall on June 2nd (my 52nd birthday) resulting in not only scrapes and bruises but also a broken left arm.  Only a delay, I am sure!  I should be starting physical therapy in the not too distant future and back writing more unrestrictedly in no time. 

Thanks for your understanding! 

I will leave you with my present favorite tune:

So, I'm now 6 1/2 weeks past the fall.  Turned out after having a CT that I was found to have dislocated my left shoulder and fractured it in the process yet thank the Lord it popped back into place.  I'm typing a little bit again and just started occupational therapy to work on the soft tissues this week.  Praying to be back and around doing more soon!  Please say some extra prayers for me!



DAILY WORSHIP - 2012

I had a friend comment recently about how much music I listen to. I shared with her regarding the fact that I listen to a whole lot of music, mostly worship music. I would advise anyone who is a true believer to have plenty of worship music to access daily.

 This morning I’m just sitting here in my office chair half on the computer, half nearly asleep. It came to mind to play my worship music and listening to these words, I came alive! Worship, along with prayer are major parts of my life. It’s necessity! This is my most recent favorite. I love the way it helps put my heart in tune with my true feelings:

Alive In You
by 7eventh Time Down

Your loves inside of me
Spinning my soul from my head to my feet
I feel it in my bones grabbing my soul
I'm losing control

I live for you
There's nothing I won't do
I'll run to you
There's nothing I won't do

Your loves a mystery
Your love it makes me breathe

I am alive in you
You are the truth
Your the air that keeps me breathing
Wonderful so beautiful
I am alive in you

I'm wearing no disguise
A Jesus freak till the day that I die
I will not compromise
You can throw every stone
But you can't take my life

This is my declaration
Nothing can separate us
You are my salvation
Nothing can separate us

Behind the Song:
“Alive in You “ --(Cliff) “We grew up on worship music, so we do that too, but we are ministers who are in a rock band. This first single is coming out of the gate swinging and punching saying ‘Hey we’re a rock band!’ This song is a celebration in what God has done in our lives. It’s like a soapbox to be honest. It’s us getting up there and instead of shouting out to the people, it’s like us looking up at God and saying, ‘I’m not afraid to proclaim that you’re the reason I’m breathing!’ We recognize you are the reason we are where we are.”

As I read this, I realized that I really felt the same way singing it along with them as this band shares that they did creating it.

A Weekend to Talk About – Part 2 – 2012

Even though it is now Tuesday I had some revelations from the Holy Spirit while baking No Sugar Added Oatmeal Cranberry cookies (partially my own recipe). I knew this had to be connected to that writing somehow since it is still on the subject of afflictions. How do we know what God’s definition of healing is? Are these definitions of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge any different than what we might say?

*Proverbs 3: 19, 20 “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.”

I believe that I’m learning more and more that He gives us what we need as His uniquely made individuals:

*Philippians 4:19 “ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

And, we all know:

*Proverbs 3:5, 6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”

I was listening to Kutless’ new album “Believer” which is totally wonderful and I find more and more to love about it all the time. There is a song on there that particularly started speaking to me a couple of weeks ago called “Even If” and the lyrics are:
Even If
Believer
by Kutless

Sometimes all we have to hold on to
Is what we know is true of who You are
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are
And we trust in who You are

Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come

Lord we know Your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are

You’re still the Great and Mighty One
We trust You always
You’re working all things for our good
We’ll sing your praise

You are God and we will bless You
As the Good and Faithful One
You are God and we will bless You
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Even if the healing doesn’t come

Written by S. Krippayne and Tony Wood | Produced by Dave Lubben Pirk Music (BMI) | Songs From Exit 71 (ASCAP) admin by Krippayne, Inc. and The Harry Fox Agency 

Will you love Him even if?

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? Also, 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. Thanks and may God bless all your days!