Journal Jots – Blog

 “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary,

 use words.”

 —St. Francis of Assisi, paraphrased

Okay, is it just me, or is anybody else freaked out that it’s December 2^nd already?? I mean come on, it seems like just yesterday I took the Christmas stuff down in February (okay, okay, not one single word, please—January is my key month for cranking on the book, so I ignore everything else, okay? It’s a rule in our household, seriously, like gravity).

Anyway, this year I’ve cut WAY back on decorations and shopping because I’m getting close to the home stretch of book one of The Cousins McClare and am hoping to wrap it up by end of December (yeah, I have my pajamas on because I’m definitely dreaming), but it will probably be more like end of January instead. Consequently, I only put up one tree instead of my customary two and I paid my daughter’s girlfriend to shop for my daughter because she is very picky and hates whatever I buy. And the days of baking 60 dozen cookies (eight different kind that were literally works of art) for 30 cookie/rum cake plates for the neighbors (pink cellophane wrapped with sparkly bows and real holly from my bush) are long, LONG gone, thank you, God!!

So between less to do for Christmas and turning in the final FINAL draft of Steven’s story, A Love Surrendered THIS WEEK, I am breathing a lot easier and actually ready to enjoy the holidays, which is good because I’d rather not be a CDQ on espresso roaming the malls, if you know what I mean. Oh, no, I’d much rather reflect what the season is truly all about—celebrating a Savior who has dramatically changed my life for the better in every possible way and emulating Him so He can do the same for others.

What really brought this home to me this week was one night when my daughter came in and plops down on the couch across from the lounger where I write in my hearth room. “Want to hear a great story that happened to me today?” she asks with a spark of excitement in her eyes. “Sure, I say,” and I close my laptop as I always try to do when I know she wants to talk. She proceeds to tell me how she was studying in Panera when this guy sits at the table next to her with a woman who was apparently counseling him, and although my daughter had her i-Pod in, she could still hear the conversation. This young man was distraught and broken, recovering from drugs and a bad relationship with a girlfriend who’d introduced him to Buddhism.

Now let me interject right here that my daughter is a volunteer facilitator at our church for a Bible study that attracts people from every religion including Buddhists and Atheists. Consequently, she has had to learn how to discuss every religion out there and show why Christianity makes the most sense. This exposure to people hungry for the truth has literally invigorated her own faith, prompting her to pray for God to help her witness more, something she has never been comfortable doing. Uh … till Panera.

Suddenly out of the blue, she feels “compelled” to talk to this guy, which she actually did—a miracle in itself for my somewhat shy daughter—and they ended up talking for over two hours without any “official” witnessing. She simply talked to him, listened, asked questions and carefully used her learned knowledge about Buddhism to lead him to the truth of Jesus Christ. The amazing thing is that by the end of the conversation, not only did she discover she and this guy knew a number of friends in common who’d actually witnessed to him in the past, but she realized he was the same person her friends had witnessed to six months prior while coming out of an I-Hop. “He’s going to come to our church, Mom,” she said with tears in her eyes, and the fact that God had used her as one of the final steps in introducing a broken man to Christ had us both bawling like babies.

Now, let me just go on record to say I’m one of those Christians who has never been fond of the word “witnessing,” I guess because as a young agnostic myself at the age 23, I would have spit in the eye of anybody who tried it with me. Until, that is, my friend Joy “witnessed” to me at work one life-altering day. BUT … not with words, mind you, but with the peace and joy she radiated every single moment. Just like Amy witnessed to that broken guy with kindness and concern. It’s classic Francis of Assisi in action: “Preaching the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.”

I have to admit, my daughter’s excitement this week stirred my faith as well … to do more this Christmas season and beyond to show people just how much Jesus Christ can change a person—a life—for the better. Yes, I suppose I have my own way of “witnessing” with writing books that I hope and pray will show people it IS possible to have a personal, intimate relationship with an absolutely AMAZING God that can truly be “touch-and-feel” (i.e. we touch His heart through obedience, He feels joyous and so do we). But … suddenly, through my daughter’s tears, I felt compelled to do more. To “witness” with a smile in my eyes, a nod of my head, a prayer on my lips for every person I pass. It’s holding a door open for someone and not getting mad when there are no “thank yous,” but praying for them instead. Or simple things like letting someone else go before you or even telling a complete stranger that you like their purse. “Witnessing” at all times … with our actions of love … not words.

Years ago as a brand-new Christian, God said to me in a very supernatural way, “Julie, unless you love others, you cannot call yourself Mine.” Why? Because God IS “Love” incarnate, and if we claim to belong to Him, we must “love” (i.e. witness) at all times, but never more so than during the season of Christmas when the world’s eyes are not only fixed on Jesus … but on the “Jesus” they see in each of us.

And so, today on this 2^nd day of December, I throw out a challenge to each of us. To make this holiday season what it was meant to me—a celebration and an extension of God’s love to a world that so desperately needs it … just like we did … and do. I guarantee you, even one tiny incident of “witnessing” will not only put a smile on your face and that of the person to whom you witness … but on the very face of God Himself. And I don’t know about you, but that sure says “Merry Christmas” to me.

GIVEAWAYS THIS WEEK—GREAT FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS!!!

DECEMBER 2-5, 2011

WANNA SEE THE BEST AND MOST UNIQUE PRESENT MY HUBBY EVER GAVE ME??? Then join me at Southern Sassy Things blog for a HUGE Birthday Bash featuring TONS of giveaways including books by Vickie McDonough, Ginger Garrett and Lori Copeland AND a chance to win a signed copy of any of my books including my new release, A Heart Revealed  OR a writer’s critique. As an extra writer’s bonus, you will also receive the official detailed handout from the ACFW Workshop Ruth Axtell Morren and I taught entitled “A Kiss is NOT Just a Kiss.” Here’s the link, and I hope to see you there:

http://southernsassythings.blogspot.com/2011/12/birthday-bash-day-5-with-special-guest.html

DECEMBER 5-11, 2011

Join me at Amanda Barratt’s blog for a interview giveaway to win a signed copy of one of my books including my new release, A Heart Revealed at:

http://amandabarratt.blogspot.com/ 

DECEMBER 8-25, 2011

Join me at Project Journal blog  for a interview giveaway to win a signed copy of one of my books including my new release, A Heart Revealed at:

http://hcprojectjournal.blogspot.com/

Happy Weekend, Happy Shopping and Happy “Witnessing”!!

Hugs,

Julie

 We grew up believing in Cinderella,

yet some of us feel our palace turned out to be a duplex, 

our prince turned out to be a frog, and the wicked stepmother

turned out to be our mother-in-law.

 —Beth Moore, Breaking Free

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK!! Right off the proverbial bat, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have one of the best mothers-in-law on the planet, so today’s quote is no reflection on her, trust me. I actually just liked the quote when I read it again on my second pass through Beth Moore’s amazing workbook, Breaking Free, and thought it would make a good jot. Why? Well, because it reminds me how our own expectations in life can booby-trap our happiness … and our gratitude!

Thanksgiving. Such a simple word and yet within lies a wealth of joy to be had for those who heed its message. Last week I introduced you to my dear friend and spiritual mentor, Joy Bollinger, who taught me a very basic truth way back when I was new Christian at the age of 23, a lesson I have applied in my life since then and reaped boundless blessings as a result. It was the vital lesson of Psalm 100:3-6 — “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

What does that mean? Well, for me, it says that “thanksgiving” invites us into the throne room of God and “praise” ushers us into the courts of the King of Kings—keys, if you will, that unlock the doors to God’s bountiful blessings. Back then, I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but being a black-and-white bottom liner, I simply applied that Scripture diligently to everything that happened in my life, good or bad. And OH. MY. GOODNESS!! I learned very quickly that when we thank and praise God in the face of negative situations, not only do we stomp on the devil’s toes by giving glory to God rather than getting angry at Him like the devil WANTS us to, BUT … I believe we activate that insurance policy each of has if we belong to God: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.

For instance, when I was 27-year-old single woman supporting myself as a secretary for a meeting producer, I had managed to work my way up from secretary to bottom rung of the corporate ladder as a “Associate Writer Producer,” something very difficult to do without a degree. Never mind that I didn’t have the title, salary or business cards to go along with it and still had to do secretarial duties as well—it was a career breakthrough, and I was elated! Until, that is, the economy hit a snag, and the company scheduled a massive lay-off. As a fairly new Christian trusting in God, I was STUNNED when the V.P. of our division called me in his office to tell me that although I had done an incredible job working my way out of secretarial work into the “Associate Writer Producer” realm, the hard facts were that since I was low man on the totem pole, I had to go.

I remember sitting there in his office, tears welling and shock reverberating throughout my body. Dear God, what was I going to do? I was my sole support and lived in my own apartment with nowhere to go if I couldn’t make the payments. Both of my parents were deceased, so it wasn’t like I could go “back home.” “I’ll give you a few moments alone,” the V.P. said, vacating his office so I could “pull myself together.” The moment the door clicked behind him, the tears began to fall, fear crawling through my belly like the serpent had crawled through Eden. “You trusted God,” the serpent said, “and yet what good has it done? God allowed you to be fired.”

I will never forget that still, small voice that drifted in my brain that day. “Praise me, thank me,” the thought came and so I did, right then and there in that office, loud and clear with tears trailing my cheeks, praising and thanking God in the midst of losing my job. Because deep down I knew that somehow, someway, God would work this out for my good. A calm came over me that defied the circumstances, and lifting my head high, I walked out of that office not having a clue what I was going to do, but knowing one thing for dead sure: I wasn’t alone. Want to take a guess what happened next? Within two hours a manager from another department heard that I had been let go and offered me a job that very day. A job, I might add, that within two weeks led to a bona fide “Associate Writer Producer” job in yet another department where I not only received the title, business cards and salary, but had a secretary working for me as well. Go ahead, tell me that isn’t a God thing, and I will tell you a hundred more stories from my life just like it because when we praise and thank God in the midst of our trials, He is “good, His love endures forever and His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

So in this month of Thanksgiving, I encourage you not only to give thanks for all the good that God has done for you, but give thanks for all He has yet to do—both in the trials and tribulations of your life right this moment, and in the years ahead. Because we serve a God Who is just aching to show us that His love not only endures forever, but it will carry us through every storm of our life with peace, hope and joy.

I wish you and yours the most BLESSED of holiday seasons, and may we enter it with thanksgiving and praise for a God who is truly worth it.

Hugs,

Julie

Do not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” 

—Galations 6:9

First of all, Let me start off today by saying, THANK YOU, GOD, that this is ONE Scripture diligently applied by the woman who brought me to Christ. Her name is Joy Bollinger, and trust me—I gave her PLENTY to “faint” about 38 years ago when she set out to witness to a 23-year-old hardnosed agnostic named Julie Winterer. Raised in a devout but dysfunctional Catholic family of 13 kids, I was so angry at God that I actually used to say I wanted to burn Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms. As a wild child of the 60s and 70s, I tried everything to be happy—from astrology and tarot cards … to transcendental meditation and witchcraft—you name it. My vocabulary would have made a sailor blush. According to the world’s standards, I had everything going for me—a hunky boyfriend with a Corvette and a boat, a great job, my own apartment (at a time when other friends still lived at home), and I was acing an advanced writing course at Washington U., a prestigious college in St. Louis. But I wasn’t happy. I felt a lot like Peggy Lee singing, “Is that all there is?”

Then one day, this annoying gal at work approached me. She was divorced with a kid and no boyfriend in sight. I hated her because she came in humming every day, happy as a lark while I was utterly miserable. And then it happened—one life-altering moment when she and I were alone—I looked up from my typewriter and said, “Just what in the heck (except my language was a bit saltier back then) makes you so happy all the time?” She said, “I’ve been praying you would ask.”

Oh, no, a Jesus freak, I thought to myself, but I found myself going to lunch with her, badgering her with questions and accusations. I don’t remember now if it was weeks or months, but either way, I met Jesus Christ through the remarkable patience of a God-sent angel by the name of Joy—pretty appropriate name, eh? Today, Joy is still in my life as a dear friend and mentor, a woman I go to when I need a touch from God, have a back-breaking prayer request or just need to tap in to the wisdom of one of the most anointed people I have ever met. Joy lives in another state now, so believe it or not, one of the only pictures I have of us together was taken at my wedding—she’s the bridesmaid in the middle.

Joy is an author, speaker, teacher and prayer warrior extraordinaire and recently she sent me an excellent article she taught on weariness that I thought I’d share with you today. If you get a chance, hop on over to Joy’s website at http://www.sayitwithjoy.com/sayitwithjoy.com/Welcome.html to say “hi,” browse and soak up her wisdom because, trust me—she is a true blessing from God!

THIS WEEK’S MEGA GIVEAWAYS GOING ON RIGHT NOW!!!

Before I turn you over to Joy, be sure to check out this week’s giveaways at my dear friend, Casey Herringshaw’s blog “Writing for Christ,” where she’s celebrating her Blogaversary with tons of giveaways from the following authors: Erica Vetsch, Ruth Logan Herne, Candace Calvert, Ronie Kendig, Jessica Nelson, Audra Harders, Lisa Jordan, Melanie Dickerson, Cara Putman, Anne Mateer, Meg Moseley and MaryLu Tyndall, to mention a few.

THEN … the blogaversry week wraps up with a grand finale of authors, including me (my interview posts at 3:00 PM) on Monday, November 21, where TWO commenters will have a chance to win their choice of one of my signed books OR a writer’s critique PLUS a copy of the “A Kiss is NOT Just a Kiss” handout from the ACFW workshop Ruth Axtell Morren and I taught this year. Hope to see you there—here’s the link:

http://enjoyingthewritingcraft.blogspot.com/

Without further ado—my dear friend and mentor, Joy Bollinger, speaking on “Weariness: A Faith Destroyer”:

           Weariness affects all of us, but Galations 6:9 tells us “do not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Webster’s Dictionary defines “weary” as being exhausted in strength, endurance, tolerance, and patience.

            Probably the most difficult attribute for humans to possess is patience.  We live in a world that offers instant text messaging, microwavable meals, drive-up restaurants and churches, and even drive-up wedding chapels. We turn our computer on and we’re instantly connected to the world. Technology has trained us to expect quick results and fast service. Because of that, we have grown impatient. We stand in line and we’re irritated. We wait in traffic and get red-faced, because it isn’t moving fast enough.  However, one of the attributes of a Christ follower is patience, and to achieve patience, we must learn to “wait upon the Lord,” for in His time we will have an answer. It may not be the answer that we are looking for, but it will be an answer.

            Victory only comes when we understand the tactics of the enemy. His plan is to erode our resolve so that we become mentally and physically weary and question God’s willingness to answer our prayers. That battle fatigue is a red flag alerting us that we need to press in and fight weariness with God’s Word.

            Weariness births discouragement, and discouragement breeds doubt, and doubt generates unbelief that stops us from believing that God will deliver what He has promised and answer our prayers. The road to victory is never an easy road. It takes persistence and an uncomplaining, grateful heart. For God tells us to praise Him in all things. Praise is mentioned 259 times in the Bible. Psalm 50:23 tells us whoever offers praise glorifies me.

            The Israelites were unthankful, and weariness set in, diminishing their faith in God. As their faith faltered, they began to complain bitterly, even though God had provided for them in every way during their journey.  Their ingratitude, unbelief, and disobedience fueled God’s wrath against them. 

            As we go through our own journey, we can lose the battle with our adversary, if we base our faith on what we feel and not on God’s Word and His promises. We cannot become discouraged or give up because of what we see or experience with our five senses. We must operate in the Spirit and not in the flesh. The flesh will deceive and mislead, but the Holy Spirit will always guide us into truth.

            God has armed us with strength for whatever we must face.  We need to put on the whole armor of God so that when the enemy sends his fiery darts, they are deflected.

            How do we do that? We speak the Word over our life EVERY DAY! We give thanks to God in all things. The more we talk about our problems, the more discouraged we will become.  We are to speak those things that are not as though they are. Speaking the Word renews our strength so that we can wait upon the Lord with expectancy. It is then that we gain victory over the enemy. We are to thank God for His purpose and plan for our life and then we rest in the knowledge that He has a hope and a future for each one of us.

            If we look beyond today, trying to figure things out, weariness will set in. God tells us not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself. Worry, fear, and doubt will drain our energy, our strength, our faith, our passion, our hope, and our peace.

            The war between faith and doubt is in the mind. James 1:8 tells us that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways. Unstable means “prone to change, failure, or to give way under pressure.” We cannot straddle the fence with a mind that waivers between doubt and faith. It must be one or another.

            My husband was diagnosed, two years ago, just before Thanksgiving, with stage four thyroid cancer that had metastasized into his lymph nodes and larynx. The prognosis was grim. They talked about removal of his voice box, radiation, and chemo. My husband chose not to give into fear but to walk in faith and believe God’s word. He dismissed the bleak predictions and astounded the doctors at MD Anderson’s Cancer Center in Houston, TX with his remarkable recovery and great attitude. He still has his voice box and a repaired larynx. Though his recent blood work revealed he is not cancer free, his cancer markers are within acceptable limits. His attitude is so uplifting that his coworkers have told me that he is an inspiration to everyone around him. They are amazed at his joyful outlook that he brings to work every day. How does he do it? My husband has a spirit of praise and gratitude that sustains his faith, daily.

            Psalm 119:164 says, Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. As you know, seven in the Bible means completion. Isn’t that what God tells us…that He will do a complete work in us? Our praise and thanksgiving is our “yes” to God and gives us the ability to say, “Lord, I trust you.”

             If we want victory in our lives, we must first trust God with our lives and believe that God’s Word is true. We then speak His Word over the problem, for His Words are Spirit and life. My husband began speaking healing, living scriptures over his body two weeks before his 14 ½   hour surgery and has continued every day since then.

            We cannot believe lies that tell us we will never be healed; will never reach our goals; will never see our loved ones saved; will never have a mate; will never have that child we’ve longed for, or will never succeed; the lies go on and on. By accepting a lie, weariness consumes us, and defeat overtakes us as we see faith slipping away.

            Christians are called to be victors and not victims.  We are to be armed with strength for every battle, and that strength comes from God’s Word. Our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers of the air. God will answer our prayers in His time. He is never late. Our job is to continue to pray and believe.  We must let go of fear, doubt, and worry.  God rewards the faithful and the faith-filled.

            The Israelites, after 40 years of wandering through the desert, gave up because of weariness, unbelief, and fear. All they had to do was go up and possess the land that God had promised to them. They refused and only their children were allowed to enter. We need to ask ourselves, “Am I like the ungrateful, unbelieving, and complaining Israelites who relinquished God’s Promise because of unbelief?” As believers in Christ, we must daily confess God’s Word and believe that His Word is true and that it applies to us.

            When we are met with resistance, we should rejoice, because God’s answer is just around the corner. We must press past the obstacles and those things that discourage us. Every struggle and adversity prepares us for even greater blessings.  It’s the difficulties that stretch us and increase our endurance and our faith.

            When we get closest to our miracle, that is when the enemy attacks the most. That is when negative thoughts urge us to give up. We must not become discouraged and weary by the length of the battle. Instead, we should be placing our hope and our trust in the Lord, for He is always victorious. Therefore, as joint heirs with Christ, be encouraged today and give thanks to God who gives us the victory.

Happy Weekend, All!

Hugs,

Julie