Is This It?

One of my favorite bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
How relevant does that passage feel to a still single woman in her 30’s living a dead end life? I’ll admit, I have to stretch my imagination to believe that this is the life God planned. The picture perfect life for me? I would be married, have at least four children, live on a farm not too far from the ocean, and I would be a published novelist. What’s the reality? I haven’t had a date in… well, I won’t tell you how long it’s been b/c that makes me seem even more pathetic! So there goes the husband and kids dream. I have a lot of animals yes, but in a very small house in a dry city no where near an ocean. And as far as the career: I’m stuck in a dead-end job that pays peanuts, and what you see is what you get as far as the writing goes.
Anyone feel the need for some cheese to go with the whine?
My point is that I fear there are no grand plans from God after all. Maybe this is as good as it will ever get for me, and this is the exact life God had in mind. So if it is, I need to sit back and thank God for all I do have: a supportive family that loves me, furry creatures in my home to keep the loneliness away, a house to call my own, and a job that at least sort of pays the bills. And I need to allow myself to be used by Him no matter where I am. Although it may be hard for me to accept that I may never find the happiness I am seeking in this world, this life is temporary. I can still find the hope in Jeremiah 29 that God’s plans are to prosper me. That may or may not refer to earthly successes, but I can hold out hope that as long as I keep my heart open, that I will find prosperity in my spiritual journey.

See You at the Pole

Today is “See You at the Pole” day. This is where students around the country gather before school around a flagpole and pray and some may even sing.
I just read an article saying this began in September of 1990, but I graduated in May of 1990 and I remember it being around when I was still in high school. In fact that’s what I wanted to write about. I was determined not to be one of those Christians that were willing to make a spectacle of what I believed. Needless to say, I was not as spiritual in those days. Although I never gave into peer pressure to do drugs, drink, or smoke, I was ashamed of my faith. I never would have had the guts to stand publicly. I really admire each and one of them that did so not only at the flag pole today, but who also do so every day. My sister was a great example of one of those Christians. She used to carry around her Bible with her. I was always a bit jealous that I didn’t have the guts she had!
The ironic thing is, 16 years later, I took a very bold stand for Christianity at my former job. I never thought I would have had the bravery to do so against so many powerful people, but I did. I will save that long story for another day, but I just wanted to mention it b/c it shows how radically our faith can grow and change.
So if you find yourself feeling timid in your faith today and wish you could be more bold for Christ, please know that when it really counts, God will miraculously give you the strength you never knew you had as long as you are taking a stand for His glory and not your own! So keep on trusting God and growing in your faith and the boldness will come when you least expect it!
Acts 4:29, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”

All in the Family

I just realized that in my first entry that I mentioned that several of my family members also have blogs, which is what inspired me to finally start one. So here’s the list:
My step-dad, Frank: his blog is on this same blog site under “Messianic Trucker”
My Sister & her 5 children are all on the Home School Blogger Web Site and listed as follows: Christina is quietcajun; Kaitlyn is purpleprincess; Noah is nosboy11; Ian is tanker; Noah is wabbah; & Hannah is ballerinaprincess.

Wonderfully Made?

I know that blogs are supposed to be short, so I’ll do my best to keep my entries as such. However, I have a hard time conveying all I want to say in a condensed form (Which is why I write novels and not short stories!).
Today is a good day to write about Psalm 139:13-14, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Although all of Psalm 139 is amazing to read, I will focus on these 2 verses today.
Once a month my job has a birthday dinner to honor all the people who had birthdays that month. Since mine was 2 weeks ago, I went to the one today. We went to a Mexican restaurant where they took photos of the birthday people wearing a sombrero. All was fun & games until I saw my photo. I looked so fat and ugly that I wanted to cry. Considering that I rarely cry, nor am I a girly girl, this is quite a statement from me. It is true that I am only 5’ tall and weigh at least 30 more pounds than I should, but I felt extra hideous by looking at that photo. I allowed my self pity to rob me of the fun luncheon with my co-workers.
That was when Psalm 139 came to my thoughts. God could care less about such vanity. He sees me as “wonderfully” made. Since humans are so ridiculously caught up in how a person looks, I have a major mental block against that belief. God finds me wonderful? He doesn’t care that my hair is too thin, my thighs too thick, and teeth too crooked? No, all he cares about is my daily walk with Him and how I reflect Him to those around me. Now that really brings tears to me eyes.
So I write this with pure humility as being so caught up in my own vanity and thank God for loving me no matter what I look like! Now I need to return the honor by being wonderful and living the best life I can to honor Him!

So It Begins

It seems as if everyone has a blog these days including my sister, her 5 children, and my step-dad. So I figured, hey, I have a lot on my mind I’m sure the world is just waiting to read, so why not start a blog of my own?
Since this is my first entry, I’ll make it simple and start with an introduction. My name is Julie. I had my 34th birthday 2 weeks ago. I am pathetically single, but my house is full of love with 4 dogs, 7 cats, and 2 turtles. I am a staffing specialist at an agency that works with children with disabilities. I have been there for almost 6 months. Before that I worked in law enforcement for 6 years and 9 months. No, I was not a cop, but I know a lot of them. The reason I am no longer there is a ridiculously long story, which I am sure I will tell at least part of soon.
The things one learns about me within the first few hours of knowing me are as follows: #1) I am a Christian, and I offer no apologizes for being radical in my faith. #2) I am a total sci-fi and fantasy fiction geek, but am especially obsessed with “The Lord of the Rings.” #3) My biggest passion (other than my dogs & cats) is my writing. No, not simple blogging, but I am an inspiring novelist. I have been writing novels since I was 13. My current novel I have been working on for 4 ½ years. It is finished except for the final edits (of about 5). And of course, #4) I am a major animal lover. My dogs and cats are not mere pets, but my family. I mourn over the loss of one of them as much as I would any human family member. It is my dream to one day own a small farm with horses and goats and whatever else. (Along with a husband and several children.)
I think this is a good start for now. I don’t know how often I will actually have time to write, maybe several times a week? I will most likely use this blog to voice my thoughts on spiritual matters that I feel are most relevant to real life situations. My main goal is to encourage those who feel lost, alone, and confused about what it truly means to be a Christian in a harsh world. Until next time…