Dear friends and family,
I begin making my way back to Honduras in a few hours with a
short stop off at a dear friend’s wedding in North Carolina on the way. J
I arrived home in Colorado on June 23rd after a
week long mission venture with K-life in which I accompanied my sister Michelle
and a group of twenty something high school kids. It was a sweet and full week of adventure which then
led to unexpected discipleship opportunities throughout the summer.
My writing/blogging up until now was put on hold as I hit
some rough waters at the end of the school year. It was too much to pull
together while in the middle of the storm, but now its time to get back to sharing what the Lord has clearly laid out since gaining perspective.
It was from a place of pretty much utter despair and
hopelessness that I had been abiding in and crying out to the Lord where He
rescued me…. First with a new job opportunity, and then with complete
restoration of body, soul, and mind. (I've been meditating on Psalm 103 all summer long as I watch His promises fulfilled from these words)
This coming school year I have the opportunity to teach 6th
grade Social Studies and Bible classes, which means I will have some of my same
students from this past year and I will teach those 2 classes to 3 different
sections of kids, totaling 65! The awesome part of this is not only 2 prep
periods, but the focus of Bible and of teaching world history from a Christian
perspective. The Lord has awakened such a new and joyous passion for teaching.
I honestly can’t wait to go back and jump in!
After coming off of an INTENSE time of growing, shaping, and
sanctifying through testing and trials I could not have been more thankful to
scuff my bare feet through the carpet of home and snuggle up next to my sisters
in my own bed. Oh how delicious home has been.
My prayer on the bus ride to Nicaragua after not sleeping
for over 50 hours as I rode away from
the storm clouds was for God to carry me to a place of restoration -- just as He had lovingly and faithfully
carried me through the past months of struggle. I knew it was time to enter a
place of victory and green pasture.
It was exactly one month later that I found myself feeling
completely whole, rejuvenated, fresh, and free. ONLY God could have pulled off
such a miracle in every respect. It was astounding to watch Him weave and patch
and orchestrate such beautiful healing as I placed myself at His feet.
I must add a thank you to many of you for your humble,
loving, and gracious care for me in this time. The Lord appointed you and
anointed you to minister to me and it was your words and arms and prayers that
poured new life into me. You have been faithful ministers of Christ to me and I
am thankful.
I’ve been reading a book called: “The Circle Maker” by Mark
Batterson that has stimulated prayer back into a beating rhythm in my life, as
well as the key to unlock vision and dreams that had been boxed up in the attic
for too long. Breathing in the Spirit as I read and pleaded gave a perspective
much different than any I could have dreamt up myself.
Change of place + Change of pace = change in perspective
I’m thankful for this tool which God used to scrub away at some
rough skin over my heart and mind. I’m excited for the murmurings in my Spirit,
the grumbling which words cannot describe, the groaning for new birth,
redemption and abundant life…. They’re surfacing and I’m getting restless to
see what God has in store.
A verse that just BLOWN my mind was discussed with my
incredible friend Gina during a week in Seattle – Romans 4: 17-21
He is our father in
the sight of God, in whom he believed—the
God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against
all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,
just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without
weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as
dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also
dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise
of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being
fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
I’m entering a new season of HOPE in a God who gives life to
the dead and calls into being things that were not. I’m also learning to praise Him in advance
for the things He has promised, even though if I faced the facts those things
might seem quite dead…. Facing the facts
as Abraham did is simply realizing that those dry bones are the perfect canvas
for a God sized miracle… and we serve a God who makes beautiful things out of
dust and breathes life into dry bones. We serve a God who makes the world out
of NOTHING and who glorifies the ugliest, deadest, most desert things our minds
can imagine. I just pray that I may not waver through unbelief regarding the
promise, but may be strengthened in my faith and giving glory to God be fully
persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised.
Will you join me in that form of faith? Will you run with me
in belief and praise of a God who gives life to the dead and calls into being
things that are not?
I’m ready to run again and there’s wind in my sails … or
should I say there’s ‘breath in my dry bones’ J
(Ez. 37).
Thank you for your believing prayers for the following:
-
the 65 lives I get to influence over the 180
school days of this coming year
-
the orphans at New Life Children’s Home that God
has called me to be devoted to
-
the new church that God will prepare for me as I
seek a new place of worship
-
the commitment to rest as God accomplishes all
things for me
-
the ministry to the staff and community at
Academia Los Pinares that God has given new vision for
-
the 6th grade team of teachers who
God will unify to minister to our students
-
my roommate who the Lord will give a blessed
relationship with this year
-
the joy God will pour out as I seek and serve
Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength
With much love and anticipation,
~Julie~
And that about sums it all up :) Love my Gina girl
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