ONE SPECIAL CELEBRATE RECOVERY MEETING

I left home at 9am and now it was 3pm and I was just getting home to eat lunch. I’d believed all day that I was going to Celebrate Recovery at 7pm that night despite the fact that I had not run a day like this in literally years. I usually went with my BFF but she had told me that she wasn’t going to go to top things off. God’s strength was with me, Hallelujah! I relaxed for a little bit before heading to the kitchen to pack my hubby’s lunch. Still running, I got him on his way, changed my clothes, and started to head off to Celebrate Recovery but I heard 3 times to pick up my “His Strength – Strength” art journal without knowing why. 

My "His Strength" Journal

(I got a blue chip for this act. The first of the year I believe God showed me to give Him my strength and devote extra time to making this journal from scratch. I am now filling it with artwork, scripture, quotes, song lyrics, etc… that either speak of His strength or direct me to His strength. Not every single day but some days even more than once I am giving Him my strength in exchange for His strength.)

I got to Bayside Community Church where Celebrate Recovery is held just a few miles from our home where worship was ready to start. It seemed like a Friday night like any other and I went down to the front row and took a seat (just love to worship). In just a moment the leader came up on stage and announced that as soon as we recited the serenity prayer that Sheila Raye Charles was going to lead the rest of the meeting. My mouth dropped. The last time she addressed the CR that I attended locally I was unable to attend and quite disappointed. Here was God making a way for me!

I had my His Strength journal lying on my chair and quite shortly I heard Sheila quite exuberantly holler “Power”, talking about God’s Power above all other. This was the reason that I brought my Journal. She gave a powerful, life altering message regarding God’s word for her to share with others, forgiveness, redemption, and on and on for a good 1 ½ hours.
                         

As I looked around it certainly seemed that not a one person was untouched. God’s power had fallen through the presence of the Holy Spirit. I would be surprised if any ever forgot this night. As we all made it to the back I was definitely looking to speak to Sheila and tell her the story of why I was toting along my Journal. A lady stopped to ask me my thoughts on the night and to my surprise within about a minute, Sheila runs over to her, wraps her arms around her neck shouting “Mom”. To my surprise I had been talking with her mother. We naturally started talking so I showed her my journal and shared how I came about bringing it, her mouth fell open. I asked her to sign it, of course. (I will put this post with it in the my journal which is rough but it is not finished and is really only for me – my only attempt at making my own journal so still kind of fun, huh?)
 

Her Signature

I spoke with her for a few minutes after, which is again a true God thing. (Not long after our move to Florida in 2005 I was prayed for and delivered from a spirit of fear. I was horribly shy even to the point of only praying out loud in front of people enough times to count on one hand since I was a toddler. – God has now been teaching me how to walk without that fear. I do count it all gain since I do know so much of the time when it is truly not me and it is for sure, GOD!) I also shared with her my word from God that I know I am to share with others, James 4:8a “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Sheila Raye Charles is quite down to earth and so comfortable to talk to. I felt like she and I could be girlfriends, sisters in Christ! It was all so very welcoming!

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

I “floated” out of the venue not coming down from the presence of His Holy Spirit until around 1 am (nearly 4 hours later). Also, having a confirmation in my heart that God had given me a glimpse into my future, knowing that prison ministry is where I belong at least part time in the future. Those lost souls are my heart. I truly know no other way to explain it! “I once was lost but now I’m found!” ONLY GOD knows what’s next and how all of this will fit into my future yet I thank Him for His glimpses that truly help to keep my spirit seeking!

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!

GOTTA GIVE A SHOUT!

I have learned to see this not only as a testimony of major miracles in my life but also as a testimony to His immense mercy.  I’ve learned more recently how He has been there for me even when I was not surrendered to Him.  He loved me even when I did not even show any regard for Him!  He showed me mercy yet I was puzzled by who He was, even though I did believe in Him.

In 1980 I had been saved for 7 years but I was not living a life in the church.  I was 20 years old and involved with a wayward, unsaved young man, and definitely walking in the ways of the world.  At a party I was given 151 Rum and Coke mixed with Valium and I took it knowing that I had had neither before.  Within a few hours I’d fallen off the roof at my boyfriend’s folk’s house.  I crushed a vertebra in my back and remained in the hospital for several days not even remembering the first couple of days most likely due to my severe intolerance of the drug and alcohol combination.

I went on to having another 15 years with an exceptional back until I finally could hide the intermittent problems no more.  I was working in the Emergency room, now a devoted Christian, and having such problems showing up in my feet, yet they were spine related.  By the time I got to an orthopedic doctor I was told to lift my legs one at a time but the left one would only raise a slight bit.  I was eventually told that I would more than likely be in a wheelchair in diapers within a few months since this old break had calcified and was pressing into my spinal cord.  I needed surgery yet no surgeries of this type had been done in Ohio in 1995.

By the recommendation of a family friend I ended up seeing an orthopedic doctor in Chapel Hill, NC who had then performed surgery on people in 27 states and 5 countries.  Surgery had to be done quickly so arrangements were made by my folks to rent an efficiency apartment in Durham, NC where the surgery would be performed in Durham Regional Hospital.  Joe would be driving back and forth from Ohio to NC as he was able during the month that I needed to be there.  I was told that no surgery of this exact type had been done before so there was no prognosis or even an absolute of other than a 50/50 chance of survival.

During this month I had such amazing peace from the Lord.  That peace that passes understanding.  My family was much less than peaceful yet holding on to their own faith in God. 

I was put off work a good 6 weeks prior to surgery and my work was told that I would not be back to work until 6-9 months after surgery.  The surgery was performed in June 8, 1995 and took 10+ hours.  Undoubtedly due to the grace of God, I was back to work in just a little more than 4 months.  A U shaped steel rod and 4 screws are now holding my spine together and have been for just over 20 years now.  My most recent MRI was just a little over a year ago and showed that the hardware is still stable and I am believing that with God’s help that it will be for some time to come.

And I just love this song & I want to shout daily from the Rooftops about my Heavenly Papa so this song has been quite timely in my life:

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!