Ohio for Jesus: Bethel for Jesus

God, send workers. Where there are no funds to hire. Where there are no attractions to draw. Where the population is stubborn and growing older. God, Send workers.

Quiet towns full of hurting and loss. Drug ridden downtowns that were once quaint and charming. No hip coffee houses or eateries. God, send workers. To the McDonalds and Dollar Tree fueled parts of our world. To the teenagers who have more step parents than siblings. To the Grandparents raising their grandbabies to save them from their addicted parents. God, send workers.

Provide a way. Provide funds. Provide passion. Provide a call. Provide. God, send workers.

To the brain-drained towns with desperate needs. Towns watching establishments leave. Towns where no quality business can survive. Towns full of dedicated loving desperate people. God, Send workers.

This may not be a foreign land. There may have no fame or recognition. There will be countless hours of sweat, toil, prayer, and sharing. There may be rejection. God, send workers.

My heart is so heavy today for our rural areas. Here within 30 minutes either direction we have two counties with no Assemblies of God churches. The one county has 75% of people who are unchurched. Oh how great the need. We see even in our own town, people so enslaved to the things that have held their family and their community down for so long, and yet no desire or way to be free. We see such a desperate need in our teenagers for a real knowledge of and relationship with Christ. Teenagers so lost, they think sharing encouraging things on FB or IG make them a Christian. The need is so great. We need God to send workers.

When we prayed, “here I am God, send me,” he sent us here, to Bethel, OH. A town that is 98% Caucasian. A town with drug issues. A town with the Appalachian way of life deeply engrained in it. A town FULL of shattered relationships. SO many born out of wedlock. A town enslaved to addictions.

Oh, God, give us Bethel. We want to see Bethel come to you. We want to see lives radically changed because of you. We want to hear testimonies and have baptisms. We want to be known in our community as a church that is truly living out what the Bible teaches and living as Jesus lived. A church willing to repent when wrong. A church desperate to help fill the needs and shine light in the darkest areas. We desperately need God to breakthrough for Bethel today. He can, and he will. I believe the time is coming. I believe the time has come.

God, send workers. The harvest is plentiful. The crops are ready.

Halloween Avoider

I really don’t like Halloween. Please hear me out, it has nothing to do with being a pastor, although that adds to my dislike. No, my issue is because I am thinking of more than just myself. As a young girl I was very sensitive, and easily scared, so this time of year was horrible for me. Commercials and store displays were fuel for my nightmares, and overactive imagination when I was left alone even for a few minutes. Ironically, when I was younger, it was nowhere near as intense as it seems to get now. I was grateful to attend a church that had an alternative to trick or treating, so I could avoid seeing kids dressed up and the things that fed my fears.
The sting of the teasing for not being willing to go on haunted hay rides, or to a haunted corn maze, the hurt of being left out when friends got together to watch horror movies are all feelings that will never fully leave me. No, I’m not hurt still, I’ve learned to stand firm behind my reasons, but I remember the feelings so well. I have my reasons for avoiding things.
I can vividly remember a conversation I had with my best friend’s dad when we were in middle school. We were talking about horror movies, and if it was worth it to watch them, and being the age where kids will do just about anything to fit in, I was arguing why it wouldn’t be horrible. I will never forget him saying “Julie, with the way you struggle, why would you ever give the devil a foothold into your life in that way?” And even now, almost two decades later, I still think about that conversation. Why give the enemy a foothold when I already struggle with anxiety and fear?
Ok Julie, you seem to be off on a tangent, bring it back to Halloween. Well, now as a 31 year old mother, I have a son who is extremely sensitive. He remembers things he sees and hears for far longer than any adult would give him credit for. I cannot justify celebrating a “fun”, “harmless” holiday that will cause him to have months, if not years of bad dreams and fuel for his own anxiety. He attended a Christian preschool and they celebrated Halloween for a solid month and a half, and I can truly say the poor boy was a mess. We talked every day about how God is with him and he doesn’t have to be afraid, and quoted scriptures before bed every night. I prayed and prayed that God would protect his impressionable sensitive mind each day of school.
SO, as a mother of a child who struggles with anxiety, fear, nightmares, and the like, it is my job to protect him and equip him to best face and deal with his life. So forgive me if I don’t do witches, spider webs, spooky pictures, scary movies, or if I’m not on board to go to a haunted hay ride or a haunted corn maze. Instead, we will be the house decked out in harvest and fall decorations, and celebrating thanksgiving for months. This year we will probably search pinterest for some fun ideas, like a thankfulness tree, and leaf art projects. We will make pumpkin everything, and go pick pumpkins. If you want to join me, feel free, but please take no offense when my family politely declines to take part in celebrating Halloween, it isn’t meant to be judgemental or out of a sense of superiority, I’m just vigilantly fighting for the impressionable young minds God has put in our care.
Philippians 4:8- 8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Life Goals

Mom life is gritty and messy.

Sometimes it’s 3 outfits in one day. Sometimes it’s keeping a barfed on shirt on because you mentally can’t handle the thought of changing just to get messy again.

Some days it’s a spotless house with well behaved kids. Others, its a phone call away from needing both hoarders and super nanny to intervene.

Sometimes it’s snuggles and sweetness. Sometimes it’s timeouts and tough lessons.

Some days it’s nonstop finding food for your bottomless pits.

Sometimes it’s begging them to eat and trying everything to make food more appealing.

Sometimes it’s homemade meals and outside imaginative play.

Sometimes it’s TV and take out.

No matter what it looks like for you today, keep it in perspective. Keep your family focused on God and his promises. Never lose sight of the goal- raising little people who grow to know, love, and serve God. Sure it would be awesome if they became doctors, world leaders, athletes, or well respected in their field of work, but that isn’t what matters most. I don’t care if they can get into a prestigious school or win awards. I only care that one day I see them serving God with their whole heart.

This passage was recently recommended to me as one to pray over my children and oh how it reflects my heart!

For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,

and my blessing on your descendants.

They shall spring up among the grass

like willows by flowing streams.

This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’s,’

another will call on the name of Jacob,

and another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’

and name himself by the name of Israel.

Isaiah 44:3-5 (English Standard Version)

No matter what life looks like, may we raise Christ followers. May our children be lighthouses in our world, pointing people to Christ!

My Boys Are Not My Whole World

Originally posted on All Boy Life http://allboy.life/648/my-boys-are-not-my-whole-world/

My Boys are NOT “my whole world” or “my everything.”  I see many moms posting about their kids being their “main man” or “my whole world.”  Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE my boys more than I ever thought I could. My problem with being consumed by my boys is that I am a follower of Christ, and as such, my main priority is to lay my life down and serve Him. As much as I fight it, I am to die to my selfish and sinful desires and serve Him, wholeheartedly. I’ve struggled a lot with this lately. What does it mean to be the one nurturing and raising my kids, hand in hand with my husband, and to put my relationship with Christ first? It is so easy in a Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook world to be obsessed with my kids and my role as mom. Who doesn’t want to look good? Who doesn’t feel great when our kids are cute, have honorable accomplishments, etc.? But know your main priority. I’ve seen so many women who are struggling with their marriage, their identity and their purpose in life because their priorities are skewed.

Ladies, let’s address our role as Christians. Please, understand I am imperfect. I have my off days, and I am, like everyone, a sinner in need of my Savior. In Matthew 10 Jesus is sending out His disciples to spread the gospel to other towns, and He is giving them a few guidelines to follow. He warns them they will have hard times because they are his followers, so He gives them instructions. First He tells them to proceed without fear. (Another one of my favorite parenting topics I will elaborate on another day). Then in Verse 37 He shakes up many assumptions and says, “Whoever loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”  This passage struck me today.  Do I love my family more than Jesus?  If you asked me this question a few months ago, looking at the way I was living my life would have exposed that Jesus was not my priority. But God, in His loving mercy, recently refocused my heart and called me to place Him first again.  Apparently, this is an important message because Scripture concerning loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind appears multiple times. I’ve seen people who have been in ministry for decades start to love something more than Jesus and it LITERALLY wrecked their life.
The sad truth is this- someday these adorable little monsters whose world revolves around me, won’t depend on me anymore, and the realization of that, if my priorities are not in order, will likely crush me. But it does not have to crush me.

I have one main priority in every season of lie – To serve the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind.

Then, as I keep Christ in the center, He will give me different callings to love and serve according to my season in life and according to His will.- My marriage- My children- My extended family- My church- My neighbor- Etc.

So, how do we refocus to the correct priority so that we love God more than our kids? The following is my journey to placing Christ first in my life:

GET INTO HIS WORD. I just finished reading through a One Year Bible plan in about 18 months. I know it isn’t possible for everyone to read through the entire Bible every year because every season of life is different. I am so thankful we serve a God who doesn’t judge us comparing us to other people’s accomplishments. If that were the case, I would fall short 100 times over. Maybe for you, it looks more like reading for 10 minutes a day, whatever you can get done in that time, or read a psalm and a proverb a day. But please, in whatever amount you can, get into the Word of God, and watch your focus and your priorities shift to the things of God.

PRAY.  I don’t have a prayer closet, nor do I consider myself to be a “prayer warrior,” but I understand the importance of prayer.  I pray for my kids all the time. Sometimes it’s more of a plea to God to help me in the midst of toddler struggles, but a lot of times it is a genuine heartfelt prayer that God would guide and protect them, and that they would come to know Him at a young age and follow Him. I do a ton of praying that God would guide us as parents and give me the confidence I need in Him to be the best mom I can be. I pray for my marriage, and for my husband.

TAKE A BREAK. Sometimes we all just need to step back from the internet, our phones, and the insanity we have come to accept as normal and focus on God’s creation and how blessed we truly are. One of the disciplines that help me keep my life in perspective is to regularly walk away from facebook, Pinterest, news articles, and friends who are constantly comparing where our kids are at in life. Even when being careful, sometimes a “media fast” is what I need to refocus.

The bottom line is this, as Christ-following mommas, our kids should not be our whole world. They may be our main job, and our responsibility, but please for the sake of your family, your marriage, and your sanity put Christ first in every way.  Love your kids, parent them well, but don’t neglect your other callings. Remember your call to your church, your marriage, etc. and above all, don’t neglect your principle mission, your relationship with Christ. I pray that I am a well rounded, healthy, Christ serving example for my kids.

 

 

Wait

 

WAIT.

Oh how that word has come to resonate in my soul these past few months. I am incredibly grateful for a God who works in the waiting.

A brief background for you- this summer we transitioned out of being youth pastors to Jonathan being associate pastor because we felt God tugging on us to be done in youth ministry. We bought a home, moved in in July and I truly felt we were settling in for the long run. Proverbs 20:19 NLT says “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” By October I was feeling settled in, I enjoyed all of the time spent with my good friends in my home, and having fires in our gorgeous fenced in back yard. I was involved in leadership in several areas of ministry, and Lima truly felt like home.

Jonathan started sensing God was going to call us to be lead pastors somewhere, and I was really not feeling it. Partially because I was afraid of the great responsibility that comes with that, and because I LOVED my life. I had dear friends who live close to me, I was starting to flourish in my calling, and I was comfortable. Things weren’t perfect, but they were good. So I fought with him. I told him that if God was going to call us he would tell me, and I’m certain God isn’t going to call us away as things are finally looking really great. BUT God got a hold of me one night in October after I had fought with Jonathan for bringing up the idea of leaving again. Who am I to tell God when he will call us, and what right do I have to tell my husband he is wrong about God’s timing, when it is GOD who calls us, and not Jonathan?

In his perfect timing, the next day God made it abundantly clear we were to leave Lima, and become lead pastors somewhere. Jonathan went to work, and I had some friends coming over for a Bible study at lunchtime. At church it was staff meeting day and they had prayer and worship before hand, and someone gave a word about how God is making a way and he is about to do something new. Then at the meeting Pastor talked about how God changes your passions sometimes, and you have to follow your passions. Then on their way to lunch another pastor told Jonathan he had been praying for him that if it was time for him to leave God would make it clear, but if it was time for us to buckle down and stay, that we would.

MEANWHILE ,at home, I swore I saw a bush burning outside my front window. It stopped me in my tracks and I literally got goose bumps. Please note- I am not a person to spiritualize everything I see in nature, but considering I had told Jonathan on numerous occasions, that if we were called to be lead pastors and leave Lima, God would have to slap me in the face… I guess a burning bush counts. It took me several minutes before I realized it was two leaves stuck in a spider web above the bush both spinning in opposite directions. I knew then God was doing something big.

So, Jonathan talked with his boss, rather unwillingly as we had no idea what the next step was or how long this process was going to be. We talked with mentors, friends, parents and had so many people praying for us.

Then came the waiting.

And waiting.

We had Jonathan’s resume put together, sent out, and then we waited some more.

I worked on getting Licensed in the Assemblies of God. We dreamed of all the places we could go. We carefully looked into every church our resume was sent to. We phone interviewed, we visited and got a feel for some places, we Facebook stalked, we Google mapped our trip from any potential place to our parents’ homes. We made a wish list for what we wanted to go to, and then we waited. And prayed, and cried, and waited.

We felt led to say no to a position, and we got a no from another opportunity. We were discouraged, frustrated, and ready to start the next stage of ministry. And yet we continued to wait.

Then, from the fringes of the opportunities, came one that I had blown over when I first saw it. Bethel, Ohio. I was NOT going to let us move somewhere that close to Kentucky. Hello… I’m not a country girl folks. But God. He had another plan. We went and visited and fell in love. God put dreams and plans in our hearts. The people instantly took us in and treated our boys like their own. In a place I scoffed at, I was feeling at home in a matter of a few hours.

So, here we are now… Jonathan was voted in as the lead pastor, and the wonderful people of Bethel Assembly of God hugged us, shook our hands, and welcomed us home.

Now we are packing, selling our first home, and preparing to leave some of the best friends we have ever known. My heart is so torn. I am excited for all God has prepared for us, but I will miss my friends here in Lima. All my momma friends, my staff friends, my church friends… I will miss you all. I’ve cried a lot over leaving, and it all happened so slow, then so fast that I can’t even process it fully yet.

I am excited for the future. God has amazing things in store, and he has led us so amazingly well thus far. I believe he will continue to lead and guide us and provide for our every need.

Bethel Assembly of God- we are looking forward to being a part of your family and growing with you. I am beyond excited for this next step, and so grateful for all God has taught me in the midst of all our waiting.

If you are in the middle of the “Wait” I feel for you. It is one of the hardest phases of life. But know that God is going before you and preparing you and something for you. Stay faithful to him. Lean in to his presence and soak up his Word.

Looking forward…

My sanity in this insane world.

I don’t care who you voted for, I don’t care what cause you are waving a banner for, I don’t care what it is that is freaking you out. What I care about is that the God of peace transforms your heart and your mind today and that you let Him rule your heart and your mind, and not any human, law, article, or opinion.

Today Philippians 4 has bean heavy on my mind as I scroll through Facebook and the news and I am appalled and stressed by everything going on.

Philippians 4:4-9

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”.

– Ok, I LOVE this verse (Friends with anxiety unite!) This week we have been struggling with this in our home. Being anxious is so easy to fall in to when life is busy, and we have just about 20 things on our plates right now. Last night we hit a point where Jonathan and I were so on edge we were fighting, and it hit me, we are both anxious about things and it’s coming out in an ugly way. We talked for a bit, and then I got out paper and we listed EVERYTHING we were anxious about, frustrated about, worried about, stressed about and that was hindering our life. Next, we prayed together over every single item, and in all honesty- person, on our list. It wasn’t an instant fix, but I felt the peace of knowing that God can handle even my biggest issues.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

-I am desperate for the peace of God in my life, and am so grateful that he brings it. And in today’s world, goodness knows I need my heart and mind to be guarded in Christ!

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

So, today let’s focus on these things, and not your OPINION of what these things are. I can’t change the world by posting my opinions online, but I can change my life and influence those around me by letting Christ’s light shine through me.

• Whatever is true.
• Whatever is honorable.
• Whatever is just.
• Whatever is pure.
• Whatever is lovely.
• Whatever is commendable.
• Any excellence.
• Anything worthy of praise.

 

Things I am focusing on today-

My adorable 3 year old son scribbling for me as I write this post. Can’t be sweeter.

My husband preaching at church today. Couldn’t be more proud.

My rescue dog snuggling against my legs.

My friends at the hospital waiting for the arrival of their sweet baby.

My one year old trying to make me laugh this morning by being a ham.

God’s guidance in our lives as we bravely trust him.

Mugs upon mugs of coffee.

 

So friends, today I challenge you to bring your anxiousness before the Lord. Whether it be about the state of our country and world, your personal life, your health, or your family and friends write it down, and pray about those things! Allow the peace of God to saturate your life today. And finally, focus on life giving things today.

Love to you all. Be at peace my dear friends.

 

What are choosing to focus on today?

All Boy Life

Friends-I will be blogging on a new site- Allboy.life

Posting about raising boys and ministering to the mommas’ hearts. Love you all! ❤

Hot Mess

Over the past few years I have been learning a lot about being a friend. I love being able to be myself and live life with people who are genuine and real with me. God uses friendship in such a powerful way and I believe the enemy wants to make us feel isolated and alone and afraid to seek companionship of other women because of our struggles and imperfections.

Perfect people can’t have close friends because someone may expose them for who they really are- a hot mess just like the people they may be judging and looking down on or comparing themselves to without realizing the reality behind the veil we call social media.

In Ecclesiastes 4 it reads, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie down together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him- a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

I love these verses and for me, it makes me so thankful for those I do get to call my friends. I have people in my life that rejoice with me, mourn with me, get completely angry with me, and talk reason to me when I am being crazy.

When I have friends who love God with me, I am encouraged and I am strengthened in my faith. Times may be tough, I may be weak, but God will use those people he has placed in my life to help me, lift me up, and surround me in tough times.

So, how can we be better friends?

Embrace your mess. For me, that means allowing people in my home even when it isn’t completely spotless and allowing people into my life when relationships are messy. Just ask my husband, I horrify him by my “real life” posts on Facebook because he is way more neat than I am, and well… I’m a mess. For me it isn’t about showing the world how much I don’t care (I actually do…) but it’s about letting other people know “Hey!!! You aren’t the only one!”

1 Corinthians 12: 9-10 But he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I may be weak, but I may be going through something someone else is in the middle of too. I may be struggling, but I may have already been through a part of this mess that someone else needs help navigating. God is our strength and he will lead us and guide us and gives us all that we need.

Embrace your journey. God is constantly changing me and showing me areas of my life I need to improve, but if I wait until I feel like my life is perfect I am going to be alone for a VERY LONG TIME.

I am NOT perfect, and I’m pretty sure you guys aren’t either! Ephesians 4:23- “Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”

When you screw up, apologize, be real, and ask for forgiveness.

When you have been wronged, forgive as Christ has forgiven you.

We all make mistakes, and we are all continually being changed to become more like Christ.

Embrace the golden rule! Jesus commands his followers in Matthew 7:12 Do to others, as you would have them do to you.

Have a friend who is struggling? Drop them a note or a gift to encourage them. Know someone who has had a really rough week? Invite them over for dinner, or offer to drop food off for them.

Have a friend who just got some really great news? Do something to celebrate with them!

What would you want someone to do for you if you were in her place? DO IT!

I hit a point recently where I was a little annoyed at God because you know, if I reap what I sow why hasn’t anyone done for me what I have been doing? (Total selfish moment and honestly it was just where I was at) And my friends let me tell you, two different people in two days brought my little family dinner that week because my boys have been sick and then I got really sick as well. I will tell you, I was so blessed by that selfless act. They didn’t do it so I would talk about how awesome they are on Facebook, they did it to bless me because it is what they would want someone to do for them.

May you be encouraged and inspired to open up, look around you, be the friend you want someone to be to you, and find those life- giving, friendships that draw you closer to God.

May you find yourself surrounded by true loving friends

May the this new year be a time to create friendships, push you to serve God with all your heart, to help you realize you are not alone, and to know that Jesus truly loves you and your hot mess!

Life

Tiny Taylor boys fill my days. Potty training, diaper changing, toddler babble interpreting, grocery shopping, meal prepping, clean up, and loads of snuggles. I know these days are precious and fleeting and I am trying to soak up every moment I can.  A one year old and a three year old make my days long and my nights far too short. My days start of with a ton of coffee and end with a sigh of victory when my boys are finally asleep. I am beyond grateful for my husband who is always doing this with me, side by side. (Bragging moment: He washed AND folded all of our laundry today… and changed a dirty diaper I discovered first…I found a winner!)

So, why on earth am I blogging? Why not, honestly. It gives me something to focus on outside of this toddler world I find myself immersed in. I am a very inconsistent person and trying to stick to something rarely happens for me, because something shiny or interesting or new pops up and I wander away.  In all honesty, I have started this blog post about a dozen times and walked away from it because I got distracted. Here’s hoping I stick to it, folks.

New Years is almost here and for the first time ever, I have resolutions.

Get in shape and lose weight (I weigh what I did at 35 wks preggo with #1).

Stick to a cash only budget and leave my cards at home so we can cut down on student loan debt.

Make healthy homemade every night and only eat out or “easy” on occasion. (And figure out my InstantPot)

Have an amazing 30th birthday party.

Anyone have any resolutions they want to share with me? (I’m looking to add more…)