BEYOND to BETTER THINGS

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

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!

Friday, March 22, 2013

FACEBOOK UPDATE + GRACE & The 99?

POSTED A FEW WEEKS AGO - ACCIDENTLY DELETED!

I thought that taking a break from Facebook would be so hard and I was so wrong. All though extremely beneficial at times, I did come to know that I was spending too much time on Facebook. I just couldn’t seem to pull myself away. So, I prayed! I have been off of Facebook for just a day shy of a week and it’s so much easier than I ever thought. I feel free! I believe that God showed me that I needed to get off of Facebook completely and give it to Him. I can also say that I’m not yet 100% sure about how long I will be off; taking it one day at a time. Prior to leaving I had a friend suggest taking a day’s break every week which I do believe that I will do when I come back. I have so much more time for other things that I enjoy doing that I’m sure it will be no problem when I finally do get through this habit-breaking time. Thank you, Lord!

I am also being so inspired to write almost daily. This morning something came to mind to share with you. Facebook can be quite distracting. Surrendering to Jesus means surrendering everything, even though I do believe I was sharing God’s love with many, many others on Facebook. It’s up to Him to decide.

An interesting explanation regarding Proverbs 3:5,6 is about a time I was headed out to go do some writing on the beach but I was leaving too late so it came to mind to just go down by the river and write but I wouldn’t be going by my normal places to pick up coffee, etc… so I prayed about where to go and I believe I was led to put all of my earrings on; that was 9 altogether. I had no idea why I was doing it but I just knew I was supposed to.

I left to write and the only convenience store between home and the river going through town to the best writing place, I stopped at. When I came up to the register with my purchase the young man behind the counter had piercings and he smiled real big and was very polite when I checked out. As I left I asked God why this was necessary and I heard Him say because when I wear my earrings it helped him to feel better about himself and I don’t want him to feel bad about himself because I love him.

**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 Corinthians 9:19-23 - Serving All Men – “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”

Many members from my church along with my pastor have been volunteering for an extremely beneficial outreach to youth that started just last weekend and is continuing for the next 3 weekends. I would truly recommend you taking part in this yourself as a volunteer along with taking and/or sending any teenagers or young adults to view this outreach if The 99 comes to your town.

"WHAT IS THE 99?
On average, 99 young people between the ages of 12 and 24 die every day in the United States.
"THE 99" is a symbol based on statistics from the National Center for Disease Control.

THE 99
is a walkthrough theater that graphically reenacts the five leading causes of death in teenagers and young adults. Many of these deaths are influenced by drugs or alcohol and a vast majority of them can be avoided.

The production is state-of-the-art production designed to portray the very real consequences of poor decisions that claim almost 37,000 young lives every year. The production is not based on fear or scare tactics, but rather is based solely on reality with each room designed from real life situations."

(taken from www.whatisthe99.com )

I just recently got a new album by Colton Dixon who made it down to one of the final few contestants on American Idol in 2012. I was unhappy when he was voted off because he truly shared his love for God in this contest. You can imagine my delight when I found out he did an album. I love the album in it's entirety but I especially took notice to one particular song that I knew right off was quite anointed by the Holy Spirit. I believe it could be the theme song for The 99. What do you think?

Do You Play?

I’ve not been a good one for that for much of my adult life and it is so very therapeutic. I’ve learned this since I decided to finally announce to the world that I’m an artist. I’ve also found other artists who consider at least some of their art to be “playing” as I do.

Do any of you feel the need to spend more quality time with God? “Playing” can help you to do this!

I believe I shared in another blog post about the rare illness that I had, CNS Vasculitis. This illness was only found in autopsy prior to 1999 so it was quite rare. I once knew a site administrator for information on this illness and she had done a poll of the people registered to the site. The ONLY thing that ALL participants had in common is that we were ALL work-a-holics. Is that you?

I don’t believe that God wants us to just work all the time. And, if you’re anything like I was, my mind didn’t slow down enough to hear from Him very often at all until I learned to “play”. You need to find a hobby, something that you enjoy, something that helps you to slow down and get your mind off of the list of a million and one things that you have pending!

What do I do? Well, I put on worship music a bit more quietly and tune all else out while “playing” with my art. In doing so I get so quiet that I am able to also easily commune with God. I’m able to have quality time with Him. I’m still doing something but I’m quieted. More things have come to me while doing this. I’ve gotten out of more funky moods while doing this, too!

My “playing” in the art piece above was even more “playful” since it was an old piece that I’d saved with Encaustic wax on it so I “played” with my heat gun melting the old wax (what fun) and letting it run all over! I think I’ve discovered a different kind of art for me and I’m still working on it (will post a photo when finished). ONLY God knows what you might discover!