My life recently has felt overwhelming. So many health issues to address, not only for me but also for my husband. I'm certain that all of us go through similar feelings especially in their older years. My faith is not lacking that Jesus is taking care of it all I'm just really feeling "buried beneath", which is a song that I love by the band Red. The world can so easily bury us, if we let it.
And so I've kept seeking and in my mind was this song and another, They were playing on top of each other in my head. They would not go away. And as so many other times, when a song plays over and over for days that means that God is attempting to tell me something through the lyrics in that song. Although sometimes I'm a bit dense about it and only reading the lyrics doesn't work. After all of my appointments were over for the week I was able to relax. On Saturday morning I got online to look up something for a collage in my new ESV Interleaved Journaling Bible. It just came to mind to look for Jesus walking on the water. Jesus Walking on Water and the tears started to come. The image that impressed me the most was:
And by this time I was bawling. I've continued working in my interleaved Bible yet I wasn't sure where this was going. I knew I could use this image as long as it was just for me, for teaching, etc... and I will always give an artist credit. I started working on this page today and immediately as soon as I started this Bible Journaling page, these words from a favorite song came to mind that the Lord has used in my life several times before "When Faith and Fear Collide". And I finally got it. Why does God take me on such a journey to figure something out like this? Because I will remember it. This is the first song by Skillet that ever meant anything much to me. My Bible Journaling - It didn't take me long to figure out what Jesus wanted to reveal to me. I was having fear about moving forward mostly due to the unknown...and I just needed to take His hand!
I'm so excited to have my new and very economical ESV Interleaved Journaling Bible. It gives me so much more space to spread out and do my own artwork, etc...
I made some of my own tabs with a punch or note paper and found various pre-made tabs in my journaling supplies.
I added a pretty colorful book cover that I already had. The black strap is a headband (I purchased a pack of 3 for my head but they did not fit and to my surprise I've used them all, already to hold various things closed). I made the page markers for a fourth time from instructions on a YouTube video:
Although I wrapped mine with Washi tape instead of scrapbook paper.
Time for the Bible Garden to start!
ay 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 “Up-tweet” 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 apologize for not writing for some time. It seems that my life is mid-transition right
now. God is moving me into a new
season. I have the inspiration to write
but then no time for writing. It is 4:30
am and I am having trouble sleeping right now so I guess writing may help me to
get back to sleep? I hope it doesn’t
make me have trouble writing as a Benadryl starts to kick in. I am learning to use a CPAP due to trouble
breathing in my sleep. Something that
you see as bad can be good instead. I
can be bullheaded and I simply call it, “stuck in stupid”. It’s when I get an idea that I won’t let go
of, even if it is not of God. BUT, I
keep praying. God ALWAYS helps me with
this at some point. There’s a song that
I love called Break Me Down by the band Red.
I believe it also helped me to quit smoking. It’s how I’ve learned to “give up”. It’s telling God that I don’t understand why
I won’t let it go but I do still want to.
“Lord, break me down, then”.
Teach me how to do it. “Do what
you have to, Lord.” And, that is most of
the time not pleasant but it works!
I started doing the work that I planned for “Branding” my
different inspirations. You see the
difference here, although I’m not yet sure about the colors it’s coming along. Please check for my new page on Facebook for
this blog (https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtoBetterThings/).I may use it to keep
followers updated regarding it, instead of always doing it in a post.It has the save Cover photo as the background
of this blog.My art page also has the
same cover photo.And, so do my business
cards.Everything is under the same
heading of Something by Juliana with a different sub-title (at least that is
what I’m aiming for).
I wrote that about a month ago and since then I feel nearly
like a new person. I’ve learned to use
the CPAP religiously…even when I nap!
And I am feeling so much better.
Not long after that I started on a new medication for Fibromyalgia. Yes, I finally gave in 16 years after being
told that I was a prime candidate for it.
And, I started Cardiac Rehab. All
three of these things PLUS many prayers have nearly totally changed my life
from just a month ago. Honestly! Until you do have your own relationship with
Jesus, don’t put it past Him. He knows
what we need before we even ask.
I also prayed to be in His Word more since I knew that He
was speaking to me in different ways that I needed to fill myself up with Him
in every way that I could find. I had
felt quite lousy for some time now…since the whole heart attack thing. Actually, I’d feel awesome, heavenly bound,
Spirit-filled to overflowing for a day or two, then be right back down where I
was. I sought prayers from everywhere I
could think of. I was so tired of the
roller coaster and I knew that something had to give. This was not the way that I was supposed to
live! That is when He showed me that I
needed to fill myself up with all of Him that I could so that Satan had no room
to get in! Hallelujah! So, how did I go about that? So, I kept praying! Being an ex-work-a-holic I wondered how to do
so much without overdoing? Prayer!!! Always prayer! Always leaning on that relationship with
Jesus. There is no other way!
(By the way, I have had so many years in the past where even
breakfast was non-existent and today I’m having Keurig coffee with flavored
creamer, fresh homemade 1% yogurt with fresh pineapple, Truvia Nectar, and
granola along with a Mandarin orange, Black plum, and Rambutans. Along with sitting at my dining room table on
an iPad Pro amongst not only 1 but 2 bouquets of fresh flowers and I could go
on and on about the differences in my life! – I am truly blessed.)
Back to my answered prayers!
OH MY! I was asked to be the
moderator of several LARGE Christian groups/pages where I read so many posts;
devotionals, scripture, photos, etc… on and off most days all day long.
I had been interested in Bible Journaling for some
time. Got myself a Journaling Bible a
good year ago yet never did much with it at all. Cardiac Rehabilitation (prayers answered to
do it, too) is done at a hospital in Clearwater so I have about a 25 minute
drive through much retail, etc… and I’ve almost always used coupons when
passing by places to pick up art supplies.
Just seemed practical. So, I have
been collecting Bible Journaling supplies.
Then I joined Bible Journaling groups on Facebook and WOW. I have never had group conversations about
Bibles before in my life. My heart
leaped! And here I am writing! God is moving! And, I do not remember my last “down”
day. I’m improving so quickly that I
know it is nothing less than a miracle! And
it seems that I will share more about Bible Journaling in a later post, maybe
even get some new friends to participate?
That might be fun! I’m working on
this page to share with you today, though!
I will be posting as I improve in leaps and bounds. I believe I’ve shared in the past about my
spine and how I had 10 hours of spine surgery in 1995. I was not supposed to be down sick in bed for
2+ years and since I started the rehab my back and left hip are in need of more
specialized attention so I am having X-rays this week to be referred to a spine
specialist. This is actually what I’ve
prayed about for about a year yet the heart thing jumped out there and took precedence. So, waiting to see what happens here. I’m sure that more miracles are in store for
me. HALLELUJAH!
Have a blessed week.
And I will leave you with a new favorite of mine:
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!
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 AloneRed HolyMatt Gilman Our Great GodTodd Agnew Baptize My HeartMisty 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!
Just have a little bit to share with you all this morning as these thoughts roll through my mind. This song has been going through my mind over and over again for about a week now and I was searching to know why. It’s called “Watch You Crawl” by Red. Red’s new album “Until We Have Faces” just came out in February and it’s already number 2 in the country. On Youtube there are videos of them on The Tonight Show and Conan, too. I loved their music right from the start. I not only love the use of strings and piano along with the electric instruments which reaches the artist part in me but I also love the deepness, profoundness of their lyrics. When I looked up the lyrics of this song “Watch You Crawl” I found out even more of why I liked it and seemingly so many others love this album, too. It speaks to who I was before I found Jesus. Two of the band members have pasts in addiction. And, although I was not addicted to any one substance, I was mentally and emotionally addicted to being intoxicated on anything possible for a good 18 years of my life. I guess I am to share this with you so you might also understand how Satan works with addiction. These lyrics are powerful and even gruesome, but so very true! And why are they such a hit? So those who are fighting the addictions can know there is someone else out there that gets how they feel and they've made it out. It gives them hope! Even though this music is looked down upon by many it is loved by many who are finally learning that they are not alone! And, as with me, it meant more than many could ever know! It gave me hope! Watch You Crawl by Red
You put my back against the wall Watching, waiting You never thought I’d get this far Beneath your skin
I watched you swim with all your lies They pulled you under And as you wait for my demise I’m just getting stronger I’m learning who you really are And nothing can save you
I will fight until the end Get ready to collide And I will watch you fall again I’ll bury you alive You tried to bring me to my knees You tried to take it all Now I will stand and watch you crawl
I’ll put you back where you belong Hopeless, fading And I will rise while you Become the monster you have fed I’ll let you drown in your despair Now nothing can save you
I’m still here Now I’m gonna watch you beg
If you don't get it, this is supposed to be addiction itself talking to the person that it is devouring! Red shares much about this very thing! “Once a person is lost in the grips of Satan's disguise in addiction, Jesus has to be a light to show them the true way out!”
And, others are attracted to this music and given a way out through faith in Jesus Christ! I am learning to pay more attention to all Christian music as there is some that I do not care for but I’ve also learned as an artist that art is subjective. Meaning, “to each his own”. By judging music I’m also judging the listeners and I always have room to learn!
*2 Corinthians 1:3-5 "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. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." Another scripture that has spoken to me for so long and may help some of you to understand why Christian rock?
*1 Corinthians 9:19-23
The Message (MSG)
19-23 “Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!”
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!
Yesterday morning, I went out to run a few errands. I was listening to the CD by Red, "End of Silence" and just totally involved in enjoying the beautiful day. I've had this album for three years, but it remains to be my favorite album because so many of the words are so deep into my exact feelings about the Lord and the ethereal music helps me to transcend this worldly place. Red has a second album but it does not reach into me like this first one has. I heard my favorite, my very favorite song once again, Lost. And, I realized that it's like a painting in words to me. It portrays how I see my life now. It shares how I am only able to belong in this lunatic of a world - because I stay lost in Him so much of my time. Without Him, I believe I'd be no longer useful in this world. Only through Him can I live, and move, and have my being! And, it's not a bad way to be! I may have been disabled by the world, but He has enabled me to dream, to create, to love and to live!
This video I'm sharing includes the lyrics. The style of this song is rock with hints of classical music. It does have some heavier moments which you may want to lower your speakers for. But, it's my hopes that you will listen and read the lyrics and know how I find peace, in Him!
If you want a different life, you need to pursue God with all that is within you! I don't even recognize my life as compared to the 80's.
2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
