In order for change, reconciliation, and revival to happen, it has to start with us humbling ourselves before our All Powerful Abba Father, who is sovereign, merciful, loving, and grace filled. It is as we humble ourselves, repenting for our sin and others, that He will heal our country. That’s a promise and God keeps His promises when we do our part. So even though things look dark and as if evil is prevailing, we need to keep our focus on God & His Word, who He is and who we are in Christ, and be in prayer like never before in order to keep our hearts soft, that we be protected from temptation, and that we not get distracted by the worries of the world right now.
Matter of fact, none of what’s happening is taking Him by surprise and it’s a part of His perfect plan to bring people to Him, to open their eyes and ears, and soften hearts to receive what He has to say, who He is and who we are in Christ. We are His children, spiritual descendants of Abraham, Jacob, and Moses, and all the promises to them are ours when we choose to trust and obey Him. He’s calling us to go deeper with Him so that He can equip and prepare us to be His ambassadors and representatives in a country that appears to be taken over by darkness. He’s reminding us that we are the light of the world and that the world is watching us and how we respond and behave towards those who hate us, our enemies, our neighbors, to see if we are really loving them or whether the pressure is causing dross to come to the surface of our lives in the form of behavior and reactions that aren’t biblical.
Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One! Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near.Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things. (Phillippians 4:4-9 TPT, emphasis added)
Now, more than ever we need to be spending more time in the presence of God, putting down and silencing our phones, turning off our televisions, putting up boundaries to protect our hearts and peace, and increased discernment to the spirits behind what we are allowing to enter our hearts through our ears and eyes. We need a heightened awareness of the conviction of the Holy Spirit and softened hearts versus pride rooted in not trusting God evidenced by hate, unkindness, rudeness, division, arguing, slandering, breaking of laws and guidelines, violence, blame shifting, victim mentality, and taking matters into our hands, sinning against God.
Father, help us to use our time wisely and to stay focused on You, to be thankful for Your blessings, protection, provision, healing, being a shield and refuge, unconditional love, mercy and grace. We acknowledge that we can’t do this on our own and that we are desperate for You in every area of our lives.
If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing.And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value.Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance.Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.Perfect LoveLove never stops loving. It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away. It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent. Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten. 9Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial, but when love’s perfection arrives, the partial will fade away. When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways.For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run. (1 Corinthians 13, AMPC, emphasis added)
I love You, Lord, and I love and appreciate you, who is reading this. I am praying for you and are thankful that you’ve taken the time to read this, agree with these prayers as they align with the Word of God, and declare and decree the Word. Know that you matter, are loved, valued, cherished and are a very important part of God’s plan to be a light in the darkness. I pray that you receive logos and rhema revelation of Who He is and who you are in Him and thank Him for setting us free spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. I thank Him that He’s using everything meant for evil for our good and His glory. I thank Him that He’s removing dross, refining us, crushing and pressing us making new wine, new power and new freedom, for such a time as this. In the name above all names, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Under His Wing and grateful for His presence and Word.
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Please note that I’m intentionally not spending much time online, for my mental health. I only check my emails maybe once a week and my blog. Remember I’m a recovering perfectionist who is embracing a faith-REST lifestyle, finally. I’m most often on Instagram, so messaging me there is the quickest line of direct communication. Please no hate or negativity. We need to respect, love and honor one another and if necessary, simply agree to disagree. If you want to be part of the solution to racism, it has to start with US and how we look at, see, perceive and treat one another, especially when we don’t agree with one another. God bless you all and hope you have faith strengthening weekend.
Love you,
~ Julie ~
If interested in artwork, definitely contact me via Instagram or JulietheArtist Facebook Fanpage. All proceeds go to fight modern day slavery by supporting organizations that are preventing, reaching and restoring victims of sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.
Truth is that I’m pretty resistant to the idea of maintaining a blog and being authentic to countless people, however obedience to my Lord is of highest priority to my life.
Reflecting back on the past 15-40+ years and seeing where I am, what I have and what I’m doing, I’m absolutely ASTONISHED. God has been incredibly good to me.
My life now is a little girl’s dream come true. When I was in third grade I remember drawing pictures of a horse ranch where my friends could visit and go riding. The dream included an art studio, which I have now, along with 8 horses, 3 dogs, 10 chickens, with a desire to have rabbits & goats.
It was 15 years ago on 10/4/02 that I rededicated my life to Christ’s lordship. He made a way where there seems to be no way. He has blessed me beyond what I could have ever dreamed, asked for or imagined. 14+ years I’ve been married to a man who has literally been Jesus in the flesh to me. He’s been vital to my healing journey and because all good gifts come from God, he the horses, dogs, chickens, cow, the five acres we live on are all gifts from Him.
On 11/1/17 my in laws will be moving in. Steve, my husband, picked up a load of boxes today from their place. I’ll be unpacking it this week, in addition to maintaining the ranch, and doing the marketing, development, program services, counseling, mentoring, and developing artwork for fund raising.
This is my world. My prayer and hope that it might inspire you in more ways than one. 🙂
Julie
For day to day images of my world, the ranch, animals, art, butterflies, etc., follow me on instagram. Photography is another expression of my creativity. Again, welcome to my world. I hope you are inspired in more ways than just a few!
