DAY 28: HAPPY THANKSGIVING...

         

So, this whole month, along with several others I have been sharing my thankfulness for something each day. Today is Thanksgiving Day and I awake especially thankful and reminiscent!

"I am thankful for My God, Who is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to whom I am thankful for ALL THINGS great and small! He is the means from where ALL of my thankfulness and trust begins."

      *Hebrews 12:2  "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I woke up yesterday morning with this song going through my head but had to run due to a doctor’s appointment so never did get to pay a whole lot of attention to it. 

Last night I had a health scare and it started me doing even more praying than I normally do. My hubby and I were up late working on food for today so I have now had very little sleep which in all honestly, ONLY causes me to trust in Him even more. He is my ROCK! I’ve shared that I lean on Him so much that I should look like I’m walking sideways!

This morning I woke up with the same song going through my head. The health scare had been resolved (PRAISE THE LORD) and I found the song lyrics to read and share while listening to the song. So profound that tears came! I just wish all of you could know from where your thankfulness begins! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HILLSONG UNITED - OCEANS (WHERE FEET MAY FAIL) LYRICS

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are 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!

He Just Keeps it Coming – Romans 8:28

*Romans 8:28 (NKJV) “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.”

And, I want to see that in a different Bible version!

*Romans 8:28 (The Message) “That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”

 

We had an Evangelist at our church last week and I was able to be there the first evening of it.  For the first time in literally years I felt more comfortable in my skin.  I even felt thinner!  I was just having an awesome time during worship!  I felt ecstatic…”Yay God”! 

 

And the next day I awoke, knowing that God was showing me that it was time.  After 2.5 years in bed, numerous healings, and 10 years of recovery, He was showing me that it’s time.  It’s time to get back out in the world again.  Hallelujah!  I’ve been ecstatic!  I don’t think anyone could know how that feels unless they’d been there!  And, I’m out there with so very much more freedom in my heart! 

 

Thank and Praise the Lord!  I just shared with someone most of what I've been doing lately in black & white and I shocked myself!  Ya think?  The world disabled me but God enabled me!  Praises and prayers for His ever ongoing strength and provision!  And, I shared:  "I play Scrabble & Draw Something and nothing else (with Facebook friends) no time! Did you know I am an artist and a writer? I'm writing my 2nd book. I have 2 pages on Facebook and I write 2 blogs, too? I'm now a Youth Leader and in 2 groups of Celebrate Recovery per week!"  Didn't even add in the housework and all the selling I'm doing on E-Bay right now on top of caring for myself!  OH MY!

I'm ADD, this is how I roll - an hour here, 2 hours there.  Much more productive for me than an 8 hour day doing one thing.  This is what He made me for!  Romans 8:28 Sometimes it's darkest before the dawn, ya know?

I haven't shared much lately but I just thought of a good one to share.  I love it cause it's what I've felt since I rededicated my life to the Lord in 1988 and I've shared this sentiment numerous times...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? 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!

Showing My Thankfulness

And yet I feel like I’m fully inadequate in this…I just can’t thank Him enough! I got up this morning and headed for the sofa and my Bible app. on my iPhone and I read:


Psalm 28:7 NKJV "The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him." (See it at YouVersion.com http://bible.us/Ps28.7.NKJV)


I shared this in groups on Facebook, in comments, in my status on Facebook, and by e-mail to several people and I still felt lacking. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops.


God is good. His mercy is everlasting. So much has happened to show His goodness toward us in the last few months that I do not know how to say enough. We have waited, travailed, prayed without ceasing, and on and on. There are those of you who know of the many, many trials of my life and for the most part since the 10 hour spine surgery that I had in 1995. Many trials and tribulations have marked my marriage but we have kept trusting Him, ever moving forward. I can honestly tell you that there has not been even one day that I have not praised and thanked Him for His presence in my life since my re-dedication to Him in 1988. (In this is a lesson to be learned in that I know that even if I don’t feel like praising Him that in the act of doing so, I start feeling like it).


I just simply must share my biggest news lately. I don’t know how many of you will find this to be an almost as joyous occasion as me, but I do know that some of you will share in my elation. Reading back over some of the archives of this blog may be helpful for you all to know more of my background. But, to put things briefly, in 2001 I seemingly had a stroke at 40 years old due to the onset of CNS Vasculitis. This started a tremendous amount of slurred speech along with other symptoms/side effects that impeded my speech. Then, due to an over-abundance of medication (26 prescriptions in 2001 alone) and their side effects, fillings started popping out of my teeth, my bite changed rapidly, teeth started breaking and crumbling, and on and on. A frightening display that I could not run from but God kept me so strongly within His arms (tears) which IS the only way I withstood it.


Good teeth was something I took for granted. I did not have a cavity until I was 18 and then I saw a dentist regularly with no apparent problems at all when I fell ill in 2001. I couldn’t get away from it, my tongue forever moving to the associated areas daily, hourly, minutely! And, I’ve fought every time I’ve opened my mouth to speak to anyone! And, I cannot adequately describe the amount of prayer this has invoked!


And, as if this all wasn’t enough, the loss of my full, open lipped smile has been the worst. I’m a happy, God loving, positive person who is so full of the joy of the Lord and I’ve felt that I’ve had to fight to show that (more tears)! The worse of my teeth have been right in the front so I cover my mouth, jerk, retract my face, and do whatever I can to not have them seen feeling like running in horror if I feel I’ve not hid them adequately. Yet, God has brought me into being even more extroverted and less self-conscious than prior to the illness that brought this on. He has always been there encouraging me, urging me on, comforting me!


Yesterday I was finally able to go to the dentist knowing that He had adequately provided the necessary funds to have my teeth repaired. I spent an hour long evaluation with full mouth x-rays and explanation of the possibilities. I was told that by the holidays I’ll have my smile back. I’m elated, ecstatic, so joyous beyond words! And, I’m looking forward to learning to talk right again! And, once again:


Psalm 28:7 NKJV "The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him." (See it at YouVersion.com http://bible.us/Ps28.7.NKJV)


His goodness has been so amazing this spring and summer that I don’t fully know how to explain it all. You’ll just have to keep watching and reading my blog. I can only explain further at this point in time by sharing scripture that the Lord gave me not long after my re-dedication to Him in 1988:


*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, He’s given it to all of you who trust in Him, too!

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’m Being Transformed…

     I’ve had such trouble writing for so long and now that I’m emerging from a prescription medication induced fog I feel the need to explain both the good and the bad. I’ve been talking to the Lord about my seeming inability to write for some time now. Yesterday in church (I have been having this happen for some time now) I knew I was supposed to write about some aspects of this time in my life so I prayed for the Lord to wake me up to write early if this was His intention. I awoke around 5 am this morning, lying in a half awake stupor for about ½ hour until I crawled out of bed knowing that falling back asleep wasn’t an option. There were so many words bouncing around in my brain that I knew that getting up and writing was my only option.

     First of all I’ve been so unsure about how to explain to myself about the anti-depressant medication after my mother passed away. I still believe in God’s miraculous healing power over the depressions of my past so how was I to explain about being on this type of medication again? Something that has bothered me the entire time I’ve been on it but I just put it in God’s hands and moved on: *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 knew that he led me to the doctor and I’d prayed for His will to be done. I’ll refer you to a previous blog entry “My Momma’s Home” http://somethingbyjuliana.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-lost-my-mom.html - wow I’ve written more than I thought I did this year! Awesome!) I’ve known so well that my mom has been in heaven but my life was at a pivotal point with my body unsure of it all so I had some life induced stress reactions going on. I’ve believed for some time that God puts all medications here for our intended use and I’ve prayed for me not to be over prescribed medication, believing that He may use medication as a bridge to Him when finding Him in the fog of life is difficult. My car broke down on February 2nd of this year (another story entirely) so I have been nearly forced to remain at home, alone with Him for the most part of these past six months. At first I did it, almost kicking and screaming. I’ve not been on the go much but it seemed that having the car out there, knowing that I could go if I wanted to made life look much more appealing. Now that I look back at this time I see that this could have been a big reason for medication in itself.

     At this time, I am being weaned off of the medication. I’ve also learned a great deal about this in the past month or so. I had gotten to the point of the medication making me feel numb. Its intended use was to keep me from experiencing all the manifestations of the stress I was going through at this point in time of being lowly in mind (how else do I explain it?) but I hadn’t been experiencing so many highly joyous times with the Lord that I’d grown accustomed to. I knew something was wrong so I went to the doctor who told me that I would experience depression if taken off of the medication. But, I’ve learned that I’d rather experience all of my emotions than be numb. He also told me that the medication had stunted my creativity, which came over me so slowly that I truly didn’t know it was there until the resurgence of creative inspiration when starting to cut back on the medication. I have a real empathy for those who do not recognize the need to learn to rely on God versus medication when going through the trials of life.

     To share a tiny bit: On Father’s day were my first thoughts of confusion regarding the medication so my I started talking to the Lord about it. I wanted to wear my contacts to church, along with more casual attire, to go on an outing requested by my husband. In just adjusting to the contacts, I’d heard that I may lose them if I cry while wearing them. So, I prayed to not cry…BIG MISTAKE. My church experience was quite “DRY” also. Not only did I not cry but I also didn’t experience the normally heightened emotions. “YIKES”, I surely didn’t like that. I’d much rather cry and I’m back to my routine of no contacts while wearing waterproof mascara and toting along tissues. No, I do not experience many tears of sadness but the fact that I am a highly emotional person it seems that all of my emotions tend to overflow in tears. This did not happen this time! (I’ve cried many more tears while in deepened states of thanksgiving and joy than actual sadness in my last 23 years while walking with Him! Hallelujah!).

     This highly emotional state I’ve learned is a part of who I am and that I do not want to give it away. I love that I feel for others, too. I also “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15) quite easily.

     So, last week was a week of confusion, headaches, nausea and on and on as I know I was experiencing some withdrawals from this medication. I’d had some side effects when I first started taking it, so I’m not devoid similar while being weaned off of it. I’m now taking just half the dose and already so joyous to have my emotions running back. I am also very thankful that the Lord has brought me through this heightened educational time in my life. (If you’ve never read Joyce Meyer’s “The Battlefield of the Mind”, I must truly recommend it.) When I get into “stinkin’ thinkin’” I am now learning to stop and count my blessings, sit and read my Bible, go into my studio to paint and commune with the Lord, and/or turn on my worship music and make this my top priority. It’s better for my house to be a mess than for me to be one, which I’ve exclaimed even to my husband!

     Which brings me to an explanation of the learning process I’m going through as I am emerging from the fog. With the promotion to glory of both of my parents (Dad 10/16/01) I’m coming into a different time in my life. I am devoid of my earthly parents. At 51, God is becoming even more to me. Many ideas I’d had in my head since my youth have now been passing away with them. My folks didn’t pass away as so many say, I like what our pastor says that they were promoted to glory, but some of the things that I’d learned and taken to heart are passing away. I’m into a time in my life where God is that only still small voice that I pay attention to. I’m learning to remember the good things from my past while forgetting the bad, finally getting the idea behind this verse: *Philippians 3:13a: “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,”. I didn’t understand this before because I’d prayed and prayed to forget but it didn’t start happening until more recently. It seemed that the things from my past were serving as an educational tool. Those things no longer contain the sting to my heart that they once possessed. God has healed my memories!

     While in church yesterday I was reminded of a scene from my past. It was more than a year ago when I was talking to my mother on the phone. As she complained, I told her that I could be sitting in a pile of dung, praising the Lord. (I knew that thought was from Him since “dung” is a word that I don’t know that I’ve ever used. This is the way that His anointing works in me many times.) Yesterday the sermon was the final in a series on the coming of the end. We’ve been instructed on how we are to act as Christians while living in this world as it is today. I believe that much of the world today is this “dung” that the Lord has been instructing me about. This is how I am to act…sitting in a pile of dung praising Him! *Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of 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? 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!

Thanksgiving – a lesson well learned!

I awoke this morning thinking that I should share some kind of thanksgiving writing with my blog followers. I know that many of you are from countries other than the USA and are not celebrating Thanksgiving today, but I do believe that all of us, no matter what our life is like, have something to be thankful for today so I believe that every day can be a Thanksgiving day.

I do, truly, love you all with the love of Christ as He has so given me the grace to do so. I, by no means, wish to discount what you each may be going through. *1 Thess. 5:18 (NKJV) “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.“

As I awoke and thought about this, this true story from my life that I’ve wanted to share came to mind. Between 1992 and 2001, I worked at a hospital in Ohio. For the first four years, my main job was in the emergency room. I officially worked through the admitting office but on third shift there were two of us on duty and we worked in the emergency room, registering the emergency room patients, while admitting mostly emergency room patients. I also picked up hours on other shifts through the emergency room. That was sure some job that I will never forget.

We had just horrendous nights. There were nights that we’d go the entire shift without even getting a bathroom break. And, amidst this mayhem, my co-workers would many times be tired to the point of tears. That is why I’ve been so anxious to share my experiences there because through them God surely kept me from tears. For one, please check out my blog post about prayer (http://somethingbyjuliana.blogspot.com/2010/06/power-of-prayer-two-miraculous-accounts.html) and, the way I learned to handle all that I saw I’ll reflect upon in couple of ways. At first I so thought that I just couldn’t handle seeing all the pain but it came to mind for me to start praying for the people that came into be treated. This ALWAYS helped me in return.

Then, I learned to think of this: that no matter how bad of a night I was having, that most of them were probably having a worse night.

I can honestly share that in the more than 22 years since I rededicated my life to the Lord, I do not know of even one day where I have ceased to thank and praise Him. I just always have known in my heart that even if I don’t feel like praising Him or giving Him thanks that He rewards this surrender. The act of doing it makes me feel more like doing it. I’ve always heard that God inhabits the praises of His people but I didn’t know the exact reference so I did a search for it at Google.com which I have shared the link below if you would like to know more in regards to this.

So, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Reference:
*Phil. 4:6
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”
http://www.google.com/search?q=the+Lord+inhabits+the+praises+of+his+people&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8&rlz=1I7ADRA_en