I’VE GOTTA GIVE A TESTIMONY – PLUS PRAYER AGREEMENT PLEASE!

For a few weeks now, I have started having pains in the main top joint of my thumbs. It actually started with the right hand first. Making me have trouble with doing most movement, lifting, turning, etc.

I have done much work in my life, from transcription (Radiological), to other kinds of typing, to unloading semis, working in freezers, and well, you name it! I've been told that I have arthritis all over, back, shoulders, wrists, feet, and on and on. June, 2012 I went off of all wheat according to the Wheat Belly Diet. Within a few months 17 years of chronic back pain (10-hour spine surgery in 1995 with metal put in) was a good 90% gone and it continued until I have to have an x-Ray to even know there is metal in there. I am now not perfect with this diet (to be honest) but I do go for days without any wheat at all due to trial and error and still moving forward. I have had numerous accidents, bone breaks, surgeries, and on and on BUT I can take little medication for pain. Well, I have one mild one that I can take once in a great while (1, 30 pill prescription has lasted me as long as 1 1/2 years). Otherwise I only take ibuprophen. This could turn into a long, long story so I will skip onto more recently...

...recently I am able to get up on a slow moving morning, get my breakfast in me and then take my meds. Making it take me an hour or two to get any ibuprophen in my system. BUT, when I've had to get up and run, the pain has been so bad in my thumbs that you would not want to be around me. I can't take meds on an empty stomach at all and due to other deficits from the disability it takes me nearly 2 hours to get ready to just go to church. Sunday morning and then yesterday I had to be up for an appointment. Yesterday I talked to the Lord the entire time when I was getting ready. It hurt so bad that I didn't know what to do, call the doctor? I mean, to bend my thumbs at that joint felt closer to breaking them than them being useful. As the day went on the pain did get more tolerable yet this was with the ibuprophen.

Today? I got out of bed and did not even notice for the first few minutes that I had not noticed if the pain was there or not and when I did, I'd had no ibuprophen yet. There was little pain left and still is. Praise the Lord! Now I am believing yet praying about how to proceed? I am a writer (yet I take it in stride, normally writing, thinking, praying, researching, searching scriptures, etc. So it is quite different than the Radiological Transcription that I was trained for prior to becoming disabled in January, 2001). Please agree with me in prayer for His wisdom regarding how to proceed with this. Thanks and God bless you all!

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!

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!

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!

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
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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!

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!



My First Day Writing A Blog - 2009

So, this is the first time I'm attempting to write a blog and I truly do not have a clue as to what I'm doing but I guess one of the best things is that I'm attempting something new. I also know that I am not alone and I believe that God is right here inspiring me to do this and with Him all things are possible and *Phil. 4:13 "I CAN DO ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me!" So, here goes!

I entitled this blog "Something by Juliana" because I am a mixed-media artist so you just never will know what I might come up with. I value myself as being a uniquely designed child of God and I seem to not be satisfied with the "norm", always having to be uniquely me, who He created! So, I will have writing (all kinds to also include poetry), photos, other devotionals, quotes and whatever else might come to mind in the midst of blogging!

I decided in the past to share my writing in accordance with God's inspiration. I truly, without doubt, love our dear sweet Jesus and I wanted to make it known to all! He speaks to me and guides me through my life. I want to honestly share how He does this. I want to share my life on a regular basis with those of you who want to read. I have, in the past, written some devotionals or shared others devotionals, including how God spoke to me when I read them and so on and so forth. I hope to continue to share this with people who chose to read this, too.

Recently God has been impressing upon me, His love for me in many different ways. A friend shared with several of my women friends and I a song that I ran home and found on video yesterday. I've listened to it numerous times even purchasing the album. I believe that through her sharing of this that God has spoken to me, once again, that I am to *Matt. 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.", that He is in control and that I am to learn to rest in Him and His love, first and foremost! I hope that this song blesses you as much as it has blessed me:


 I want to share another excerpt from the book "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. Through this book, God speaks to me over and over again; much of the time, by impressing upon me things that I know over and over again to make an exclamation of importance upon my brain. "Seek My Face, and you will find all that you have longed for. The deepest yearnings of your heart are for intimacy with Me. I know, because I designed you to desire Me. Do not feel guilty about taking time to be still in My Presence. You are simply responding to the tugs of divinity within you. I made you in My image, and I hid heaven in your heart. Your yearning for Me is a form of homesickness: longing for your true home in heaven.

Do not be afraid to be different from other people. The path I have called you to travel is exquisitely right for you. The more closely you follow My leading, the more fully I can develop your gifts. To follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your desire to please other people. However, your closeness to Me will bless others by enabling you to shine brightly in this dark world."