I first heard this song while watching “Fireproof” and fell in love with it. It has come to mean even more to me as I wait on the Lord during this season of pain. It has been painful to wait (both physically and emotionally) but I’ve taken every step in obedience, knowing that He is worthy to be worshiped! He is my King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and I will worship Him!! Listen to this song and let it minister to your heart!
God bless you – Julie
I took the weekend off from the internet and focused on writing, reading, and just relaxing. I’ve been having more pain again and really needed to just sit quietly. We actually had snow over the weekend (goodbye little fruit buds that were on my trees) and so it really made it conducive to sitting with my heating pad and working on things. I did some writing, some reading, and watched some TV. In fact, all day yesterday, I watched a show that evidently has been on for a long time, but somehow I missed it. It’s “Deadliest Catch” and while you wouldn’t think it was something a girly-girl would like, I do! It’s amazing what these men do for a living – the risks involved – and just the whole drama of it all. Now the new season is returning on Tuesday and I intend to watch it!
Today I intend to get back to doing some things that need to get done on the internet and doing some letter writing and working on my article. I’m also calling my pain management doctor as I’m really hoping I can get in this week and get a back shot because the pain has become so bad again, it brings me to tears at times. I need some relief and I’m praying that the shot will help me.
Now on to Part Three of Taking Stock: I knew the Lord was calling me to write, in fact, He was telling (commanding) me to write. The amazing thing about this is that I have wanted to be a writer since I was in elementary school. However, for some reason, when I felt the calling from the Lord, I basically froze. It actually scared me to pursue my dream and instead of trusting the Lord to guide me and give me what He wanted me to write, I just did the minimum. I started a couple projects, but set them aside. In other words, I didn’t do much.
Instead of relying on Him, I was relying on myself and that’s never a good thing to do. I believe now that this pain issue is something God is allowing in my life to bring me into obedience to Him. I haven’t been able to do anything I would normally do through this whole episode. I have been forced to have this quiet time, I have been spending a lot of time with the Lord, studying my Bible, praying and journaling. I’ve been forced, basically, to be introspective and have also chosen to spend my time growing closer with the Lord. Through all this, the Lord has been really (for lack of a better word) thumping on my heart and Spirit about this writing thing. I’ve also had encouragement from my family about it and my sister said it best when she said, “You are being disobedient to the Lord by not doing what He’s told you to do. Think Jonah.”
Now that really got my attention! I never thought of myself as Jonah, who refused to do what the Lord had called him to do! I hadn’t thought that by just disregarding what the Lord was telling me, because of fear, was really blatant disobedience. It is. My sister was right and I knew He was giving her these words to speak a little deeper to my heart and really get my attention!
So… I’m writing!! I have so many ideas (isn’t that just like God?) and I’m just enjoying so much sharing all these things on paper. I’m working on a project right now for homeschooling parents that I intend to put into an e-book. It’s something I’ve wanted to put together for quite a while and it’s so wonderful to be working on it and really getting it done! I’m also working on my website and hoping that it can be a place of encouragement and also where my things will be available. I feel like such a burden has been lifted now that I’m being obedient and doing what the Lord wants me to do and not what I think he wants me to do. Sometimes the work we are doing for the Lord isn’t at all what He wants us to do. In fact, we may be taking something away from someone that the Lord has that job in mind for! Makes you stop and think! We need to be in prayer and mindful of what the Lord calls us to do…and then do it! 
God bless you – Julie
I took the weekend off from the internet and focused on writing, reading, and just relaxing. I’ve been having more pain again and really needed to just sit quietly. We actually had snow over the weekend (goodbye little fruit buds that were on my trees) and so it really made it conducive to sitting with my heating pad and working on things. I did some writing, some reading, and watched some TV. In fact, all day yesterday, I watched a show that evidently has been on for a long time, but somehow I missed it. It’s “Deadliest Catch” and while you wouldn’t think it was something a girly-girl would like, I do! It’s amazing what these men do for a living – the risks involved – and just the whole drama of it all. Now the new season is returning on Tuesday and I intend to watch it!
Today I intend to get back to doing some things that need to get done on the internet and doing some letter writing and working on my article. I’m also calling my pain management doctor as I’m really hoping I can get in this week and get a back shot because the pain has become so bad again, it brings me to tears at times. I need some relief and I’m praying that the shot will help me.
Now on to Part Three of Taking Stock: I knew the Lord was calling me to write, in fact, He was telling (commanding) me to write. The amazing thing about this is that I have wanted to be a writer since I was in elementary school. However, for some reason, when I felt the calling from the Lord, I basically froze. It actually scared me to pursue my dream and instead of trusting the Lord to guide me and give me what He wanted me to write, I just did the minimum. I started a couple projects, but set them aside. In other words, I didn’t do much.
Instead of relying on Him, I was relying on myself and that’s never a good thing to do. I believe now that this pain issue is something God is allowing in my life to bring me into obedience to Him. I haven’t been able to do anything I would normally do through this whole episode. I have been forced to have this quiet time, I have been spending a lot of time with the Lord, studying my Bible, praying and journaling. I’ve been forced, basically, to be introspective and have also chosen to spend my time growing closer with the Lord. Through all this, the Lord has been really (for lack of a better word) thumping on my heart and Spirit about this writing thing. I’ve also had encouragement from my family about it and my sister said it best when she said, “You are being disobedient to the Lord by not doing what He’s told you to do. Think Jonah.”
Now that really got my attention! I never thought of myself as Jonah, who refused to do what the Lord had called him to do! I hadn’t thought that by just disregarding what the Lord was telling me, because of fear, was really blatant disobedience. It is. My sister was right and I knew He was giving her these words to speak a little deeper to my heart and really get my attention!
So… I’m writing!! I have so many ideas (isn’t that just like God?) and I’m just enjoying so much sharing all these things on paper. I’m working on a project right now for homeschooling parents that I intend to put into an e-book. It’s something I’ve wanted to put together for quite a while and it’s so wonderful to be working on it and really getting it done! I’m also working on my website and hoping that it can be a place of encouragement and also where my things will be available. I feel like such a burden has been lifted now that I’m being obedient and doing what the Lord wants me to do and not what I think he wants me to do. Sometimes the work we are doing for the Lord isn’t at all what He wants us to do. In fact, we may be taking something away from someone that the Lord has that job in mind for! Makes you stop and think! We need to be in prayer and mindful of what the Lord calls us to do…and then do it!
God bless you – Julie
Yesterday, I talked about how the last 6 months have forced me to be quiet and really take stock of what the Lord wants me to learn through this. After all, the Lord does want us to learn through all situations in our life and He will get our attention any way He has to! He loves us that much!
So, rewind 5 years to a time when I am recovering from my thyroid cancer. I was having my prayer time and I was asking the Lord what He wanted me to do. What what his plan for my life? Suddenly, as clear as day, I heard the Lord tell me, “I want you to write”. Oh, my. To hear the Lord call me to this was amazing because it was the desire of my heart to do that very thing. I told my husband what the Lord had said and that it would totally bless me to have a lap-top computer that I could use anywhere and begin my writing journey. He, of course, was totally sweet and I still have that very lap-top today and am writing on it this very minute.
I contacted the leader of my homeschooling group and asked about writing an article for our monthly newsletter. I have such a heart for the homeschooling Mother and I wanted to encourage her in the wonderful yet daunting journey of homeschooling her children. I still feel this calling and I continue to write that monthly article. After that, I wrote an article about my experience of homeschooling my children through my illness as well as my husband’s illnesses. This article was published in “The Old Schoolhouse Magazine”. Then I stopped. Yes, just like that I stopped. This was not what the Lord had told me to do – He had told me to write. I knew what He meant, but I told myself that I was writing through my blog and through the homeschooling newsletter and that was good enough, but it isn’t. I know what the Lord means. After all, He is NOT a God of confusion or even suggestion. He puts in our hearts and minds exactly what He wants us to do. Unfortunately, I have chosen to basically ignore his clear instruction and so He had to get my attention.
Stay tuned for part three of this story.
God bless you – Julie
I can just imagine how much fun my sons would have with this! There would be one water balloon launched after another! Fun, fun, fun!!
They would set up their hay bales and pretend that they were the enemy. They might even set up smaller targets on top of the hay bales, like pumpkins or even large rocks. How much fun to perfect their accuracy! 
I have come to know one thing for sure: My hope is in Jesus, my faith is solid and my hope is strong. I’m quite certain that this is what the Lord has been teaching me all these years through the struggles and the joyous time. Regardless of what is happening in my life, only Jesus is solid, only Jesus gives me what I need, only Jesus saves me now and only Jesus gives me peace that surpasses all understanding!
When I injured my back, my first question was why. I had just started leading a Bible study at church, I was involved in the prayer ministry, the jail ministry and was working in the church office one afternoon a week. I was starting to paint on canvas, a long held dream of mine. I was back with my painting group after taking a four year break because of my illnesses and my hubby’s illnesses. In other words, I was doing all kinds of wonderful things that I enjoyed and also that I felt the Lord calling me to do. Why in the world would He allow my world to just stop?! I wasn’t sure, but now I think I know.
During the last six months, I have been forced to be quiet. I have been forced to spend a lot of time with me. It hasn’t always been easy spending time with me, but I haven’t had much choice. I have been really looking at what I do, who I am and what the Lord wants me to do with my time and with my (for lack of a better word) talents. I’ve realized one thing. I have not been faithful to what the Lord has truly called me to do. I’ve known it, but I’ve ignored it, even though I know that the Lord wants me to do, and further more, told me to do. I believe now that the Lord stopped me in my tracks and forced me to take a look at what I was not doing for Him.
I will elaborate further on this next time… until then,
God bless you – Julie
Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering & Paul McCusker
This book was just a pleasure to read! As a homeschooling Mom, it is definitely something I would love for my child to read. It had everything that a good book should have. A good story, a bit of mystery, a good, moral lesson, and pointing to God as the most important thing of all. The fact that it even had a bit of history to it, was a great bonus!
This story is part of the Adventures in Odyssey and The Imagination Station stories that are put out by Focus on the Family. Personally, I love anything put out by Focus on the Family because I know I can trust them to produce a wholesome program or book that I wouldn’t be afraid to let my child read. This book does not disappoint!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It really held my attention and if it held my attention, I know it would definitely hold the attention of a child 7 years and up, which is who this book is recommended to. It’s not a difficult book, but would be a great reader for your child when they are stepping up from the easier picture-type books. The great thing about this book, too, is that is has wonderful illustrations, so it’s great for that reader who is working their way up from more of a picture book. However, because the story is so good, it would definitely be good for any child of any age or grade level. I highly recommend this book!
This book was provided to me for review by Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review.
God bless you – Julie
I have been wanting this DVD for a long time and today, it’s available at 50% off from Vision Forum!!
My husband and I have worked together through the years and are now thinking we would like to do something together again. We enjoy working together and think family businesses are so wonderful.
We have bought many DVD’s from Vision Forum and are quite sure that this DVD will be just as inspiring and helpful as the other programs we have watched. We are always so pleased with the quality of the programs from Vision Forum.
I’m so happy that we can buy this at 50% off!! Things are pretty tight for a lot of people (including us) and being able to get this at such a reduced price is such a blessing. You can click on the picture above and it will take you to the page where you can purchase this. I’m definitely going to get one!!
God bless you – Julie
The Blog Guidebook is allowing you one ad free! Go HERE to sign up. There is a drop-down list so you can categorize your blog. This is a great opportunity so be sure and check it out!
God bless you – Julie
I heard Karen Peck for the first time tonight on the music station of my TV. Her sweet voice and beautiful songs with the message of hope in Jesus just touch my heart. I wanted to share this especially beautiful song with you all. I hope it touches your heart as much as it does mine.
God bless you – Julie
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