BEYOND to BETTER THINGS

Monday, June 22, 2015

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:

Friday, May 15, 2015

HIS FAITHFULNESS

I awoke this morning in the middle of having dreamed that I was in the movie A.D. The Bible Continues. Jesus had already ascended to heaven and I was being enthralled by Peter preaching about Jesus.

I heard the words “get up” and I did. Soon I was inspired to write. I was so very inspired by the way He so often speaks to me in my dreams in one way, shape or form. I’ve shared with friends that almost daily I see Him in my mind’s eye either directly waking me up or sitting by my bed watching for me to open my eyes. You might think I’m nuts, but you’ll know you’re not if it happens to you. I believe this is a direct answer to my prayers way back when I was in prison in the late 80’s. I was so scared of falling back into that awful life where I lived in the dark, ignoring Him!

(Long interruption)

I’d found LOVE as it ONLY exists in Him and I never wanted to lose that again. So, I prayed and asked Him to bring me reminders by His Holy Spirit so that I would not slip away. And, I awake remembering He was there more nights than I awake feeling like I didn’t even dream or just nonsense dreams. AND…

I have been dreaming similarly since I was saved in 1973 at 13 years old. I wandered for another 15 years with no clue where I was supposed to go or what I was supposed to do, living in deep, dark places. He showed me in recent years that is was how He helped to keep me alive. I lived in Dejavue moments due to dreaming all the many apartments I moved to (30 some in just 11 years).

I learned in so many ways how the 70’s, my teen years, were basically a major nightmare of physical, verbal, mental, and emotional abuse; suicide attempts; severe accidents where I broke my back along with numerous others but He sent me an angel in my psychologist who I saw from 1979-1988 (plus a few times with my step son in the 2000’s). I stayed intoxicated due to self-medicating yet this did help to keep me alive even though those years were very unproductive in so many ways! I internalized everything. I’d get upset with someone, stuff the feelings, and go get high. Did I ever think of the consequences? Of course not, people put me down for so many years that I thought I deserved any negatively that I ever got.

By the time that I was arrested in 1988 for selling LSD, I thought I was the scum of the earth. I thought ‘well, the world is letting me know one final time that I’m worthless and they’ll throw me away in prison.’ And until just a few years ago I had no idea how valuable I was to God and how He’d been there with me all along! I had pushed aside much of my past, pushed it back into my memory to where I thought it was all my fault that I acted the way that I did and I remembered very little good that I ever did.

*Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

When I was arrested in 1988 I fell into a deep, deep depression. There wasn’t a day that I didn’t cry at my desk at work (I was fully functioning in a white collar world so no one really knew.) I was scared to death of prison, it was my bottom, so I figured I’d just put myself away. I figured I could not even commit suicide right since I’d attempted 4 times but never made it fully. I was actually headed out the door from work to my psychologist’s office to be put away when my co-conspirator and his mother showed up at my work to stop me. I now know how God worked through them. After all, it was she that had read the Bible to me over the phone when I sat at my kitchen table in my underwear unable to shower. She started the ball rolling and if you want to read more, then you’ll have to get a copy of my book (Beyond to Better Things by Tricia Marie) that is only available through August, 2015 when my contract runs out. (I am looking into possibly e-publishing or putting it on Kindle, etc…).

And, He has been FAITHFUL to keep me reminded of Him always being here for this full 26+ years. Daily I live in His presence!

*1 John 5:14-15 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

AND

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

If you or someone you knows is currently in the condition that I was previous to finding Jesus as my Lord and Savior and Constant Companion then please reach out to Him, yourself and/or share this with that friend. He is there anxiously awaiting for you to let Him be there for you and you will find what I did those 26+ years ago:

*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, not long ago I looked up this passage in The Message Bible and I just loved it. No wonder this verse has been my favorite since I rededicated my life to the Lord!

*John 14:25-27 “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.”

God may not give everyone such dreams as He gave to me, but He will provide for all of your needs as an individual, which means if you need it, He will provide it.

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

If you’d like to turn to Him now, please say the following prayer, truly meaning it in your heart:

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

My newest video find:

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!