Another September 1st marks another new beginning, another birthday, another year to plan, pray, and dream. But the most amazing part is that I’m exactly where I did not pray to be. That’s the exciting part of surrendering everything { I Mean Everything } to The One who knows what you need better than you know yourself. Even with so many blessings over the years, I truly was shocked to see God was not finished with me yet. I was sure he’d used me for his Glory in the past but He’s still calling me, directing me, beyond my own dreams and aspirations. Almost a year ago I started praying for God to put me where He wanted me and my family. I was praying (singing) If you lead me I will follow…. and here I am celebrating another years of God’s goodness and grace yet in a new town, new state, with a new mission. I could not be more excited to see this new chapter I never saw coming. But of course God did….

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 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. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139

Today we were in church and the pastor prayed over a four-year old boy and his family recently diagnosed with cancer. Without realizing it my eyes filled with tears having heard a similar diagnosis with our then three year old. I knew exactly how that momma felt. I began praying and crying just like I did almost five years ago. I remember vividly, I begged God to heal her, bless her with children, and even grandchildren for His Glory. We went to three different “second opinions” before being transferred to St. Jude’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. I knew God would heal her and I knew St. Jude’s was the best place for us. I’d raised money my whole life for St. Jude’s but never imagined I walk through those doors carrying my sick baby. Because of our experiences at St. Jude’s I will raise money for them as long as I live. Because that fourth opinion was the least invasive and had the best results. Yes I’m still the overly cautious mother but I’m living on the side of grace and healing that every mother hopes to get too.

If you had a life giving -life saving -opportunity who would you tell? Your best friends or anyone who would listen? Do you have a life changing story someone- somewhere needs to hear? The sermon today was about the paraplegic with friends that got him to The Healer, Jesus Christ as told in Mark 2:1-5.

In fact those four friends carried him on a blanket, tore a hole in the roof in Faith for Jesus to heal their friend. So writing on a blog is certainly not the physical trip those friends endured in Faith to help their friend but it’s a story worth repeating. So friends who do you need to get to The Healer? I could tell you about all the Labor Day sales and you’d be happy. But what if I didn’t jump out in Faith to get you to the Life Changing Relationship found only in Jesus Christ?

My healthy happy almost eight year old. We are truly blessed.

Please let me know how I can help you.

💗,

Julie

Please let me know how I can pray for you.