I AM BLESSED

A few days ago I had a similar idea to this writing but I just kind of ended up blowing it off due to time constraints without even writing it down or sending the writing idea to myself. Yet, I just saw someone share on Facebook all the “perfect” things about their life that made them feel blessed and it called that writing idea to my mind again. Praying I do Him justice when sharing it!

CURSES:

• I was given up for adoption at 18 days old.
• I drank alcohol and did drugs for 18 years of my life.
• I went through much abuse; physical, verbal, mental, emotional.
• Along with all of the above, I attempted suicide 5 times, I totaled 4 cars, I went through 7 suicides of friends along with seeing other attempts, I was arrested several times along with spending 16 months in prison and on and on and on.

BLESSINGS:

• I was adopted not only once, but twice. The first time by my adoptive parents who could not have any more kids but were given me. They thanked God for me. The second into the family of God. *Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.””
• I learned the power of a loving God to not only remove the longing for drugs away but to also remove all of the guilt and shame from that life that I lived that cause me to run for the alcohol, drugs, and so many more things that I’m happy to run from now! *Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
• I was just 13 when I accepted my need for Jesus and He then became my savior. Even though I ran for another 15 years until finally slowing down enough to let Him have me, I learned so very much to share with others about why many “people” not just me, do this so that we may help them. 

Even though I felt like I was crumbling, I found a God who is so powerful that he can heal any heart, never leave me no matter how nasty I get and Who will meet my every need; not just the needs that I know I have but He goes before me.

*Matthew 6:8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

*Isaiah 58:8 “Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

*Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

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

AND, I am blessed because I know beyond a doubt that He exists! Let me tell ya, even though I thought that I knew that He existed all of my life, when I sat on my bed in my prison cell in 1989 and I heard Him, audibly, tell me “You are a blessing to Me, My child”, even sitting in a prison cell, I was blessed!

I AM BLESSED!

*2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

If you would love to know of how to live a life full of blessings today, then read, consider, and pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I want to know more of You. I want to turn away from this life that is just hurting and confusing me and come into a life with You. I believe that You died for my sins and want to live in a relationship with me forever! Show me Who You are and how I may live with You at the helm of my life!

In Jesus’ name, AMEN


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!

BLOG UPDATE + Explanation

I believe that God has revealed to me that my purpose is a two-part one.

1. The mixed media artwork that comprises the background was inspired by a dream that I had. It is symbolic of a life lived not un-similar to my own where I kept running into dark, dingy walls but found beauty in Jesus beyond those walls.

2. The scripture added “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8a was given to me by God as the 2nd part of my mission. It is by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that I have found the only way to achieve 1. Is by Drawing near to God.

*2 Corinthians 1:3-4"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 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."

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!

REWARDS FOR BEING DILIGENT?

*Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

I rededicated my life to the Lord in 1988, nearly 27 years ago. I am not telling you this because I think it is a short or a long time. For you or anyone else it might be 2 years or 37 but for me it has been nearly 27 years. I know I have never been perfect nor will I be until I am in heaven with my new, heavenly body within the presence of Jesus but I do know that that I have diligently sought Him. I was so done with that past life that I would not be here if it were not for Him. I did not want to look anywhere else. I prayed for Him to help to keep me from slipping; to help me keep from back sliding. Yes, there were many pleasures but there were far more detriments, painful events, heartbreaks, abuses, and I could make a list of the many negatives that remained a part of my life for 28 years but I do not long to go there. I did long to run to Him! I did not do as Lot did, I did not look back!

Even though my life has been a whole lot of work since, He has been with me helping me, guiding me all along! His way is perfect…far better than my way!

*Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

This year we have felt notably blessed! We felt like we were living in a life of trials and hardships for literally years! And, I am not saying that to be ungrateful, just honest! Sickness has been my friend (not the best friend to have). And I have learned greatly. In those first few years after I rededicated my life to the Lord it was a huge dark cloud that I felt like I walked out from under, no, I usually reference it to Jesus pulling me out of the bottomless pit and watching so many of my friends keep falling (thankfully now, many of them know Jesus, too. Sadly it wasn’t long before 2 were claimed by suicide (including my closest girlfriend) along with others losing their lives and yet others are still falling yet now have brain damage and other maladies). I have so much to be thankful for that I LET JESUS pull me out when I did!

*James 1:2-8 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

So we are still counting it all joy that it’s been nearly 27 years since I was “falling”. Oh, the lessons we’ve learned, OH MY! BUT I NEVER EXPECTED THIS! (Remember? ‘He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’) 2015 has been my best year for my mental state since I was at least in grade school, maybe earlier, and I’m 55. I have had no depression this year at all! I praise and thank Him with really no words to fully express how joyful this makes me! I live a life feeling like I’m walking in a dream most days! I believe He has promised me to have more peace. I started working on the journal mentioned in my last post the beginning of this year on HIS Strength and He has certainly given it over and over!

I was sharing with a friend who I hadn’t seen in some time about what God was doing in my life this year and I know His anointing just came over me because I started talking about something that was not even on my mind. I went back to memories from 1995 when I had a 10 hour spine surgery. When I was fully awake from it in my room (several days later) I looked down and saw finger shaped bruises all down my arms. I started crying, wondering what had happened to me (still under morphine). Then I vaguely remembered waking up in pain in the recovery room. I was told that I’d woken up before they had the morphine pump hooked up to me. I vaguely remembered waking up in pain, getting mad and raising up off the bed. I was always told that I was a fighter. Not mean yet a survivor! And while I was telling the lady this whole story I heard in that still small voice that it would be NO MORE. God said that it was over! No more fighting because of someone else putting me in pain!

It is finally over. And His peace is with me 24 X 7. Even to the point lately that I’ve woken up several times with a sweet presence of His Holy Spirit filling my bedroom to the point of it feeling even tangible as if I had been sleeping in clouds…with this sweet song playing in my head.

Now, I don’t think this means that I will never have any trials, pain, etc… ever again. I actually believe that this is a precursor to Him using me in the future yet He is now showing me where to find refuge!

*Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,”

*Psalm 91:4 “He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler”

*Psalm 61:4”I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah”

*Psalm 63:7”Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.”

*Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.”

AND, MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURE SINCE NOT LONG AFTER I REDEDICATED MY LIFE TO THE LORD, BECAUSE I KNEW NO PEACE UNTIL I FOUND HIM!

*John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

AND, EVEN BETTER IN THE MESSAGE VERSION:

*John 14:26-27 The Message (MSG) “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.”

Now, this does not mean that all of this will happen the same to you.  But, it does mean that He gives you whatever you need!

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

I continue to get stronger. I have given away most of my art supplies and will be specializing in Mixed Media Encaustics (I did keep a bit back for gifts, household repairs, etc...) With God’s help I am getting out more and getting more exercise. I’ve gone from almost always having to use an electric cart to actually walking a little on the blacktop, which I’ve only been able to do very little of for 14 years. Many new-to-me things are happening lately. I am spending hours upon hours alone with Him in study, relaxation, strengthening, and worship! I have enough faith for ‘one day at a time’! And I am watching and waiting for what He has next for 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!