Author: Justine

Lies of the Devil

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Fear fills my soul.

“I did it again! I lost another friend! I call but no one picks up.”

I’m trying to believe it is a lie! The fight is difficult!

I tell myself, “She is busy or her phone is out of battery.”

All I did was leave her side to say hi to a new friend.

Dread is all consuming.

Breakthrough arrives:

Pastor Steven Furtick says, “There is NO CONDEMNATION!”

THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST JESUS!

Finally it hit. I was feeling condemned. This is not a God thought. God did not plant the thought in my mind! LORD, Help me catch on more quickly.

The devil is real! He plants thoughts to shut me down.

Of course an unanswered phone call is a set up to make me suffer. Evil forces we cannot see enjoy messing with God’s people to derail God’s plans.

Isn’t it wonderful to have friends that don’t leave at a drop of a hat.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

Running in the Cold

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Many churches call a fast in January to start the year connecting with Holy Spirit.

I have fasted food 24 hours, but the thought of a whole week is beyond me at this time.

Would I have the strength to run without food for more than one day? Running two miles every day is priority.

Fasting usually deals with leaving something out so giving up my comfort works as I continue to run daily in negative temperatures.

It is amazing how creative a person can be to stay warm in these frigid temperatures.

The coldest night was -9 and a few days of running were with the windchill at -20,  too cold to run the dogs the whole two miles.

Sam ran one mile and said, “Home please!”

Charlie said, “One block please, only one block!”

I continued running with God discussing this craziness, but I finish!

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

New Year 2024

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Making a New Year resolution has never worked for me.

But, Remembering God’s new grace each morning brings Hope.

Today, I am on day 67 of 10,000 steps. Running has been a hit or miss, but things changed December 21.

I now have 23 days of running consecutively.

How did it switch?

In December God reminded me:

  • When I run consecutive days in a row I stand taller, feeling strength in my core.
  • If I run weight comes off but, if I don’t run weight grows.
  • In 2012, God prompts me daily to run 2 miles for 30 days. Even if I walk some, run 2 miles.

Running two miles daily becomes my new goal.

A few days after starting, my body struggles. Exhaustion rules and my run consists of run 5-10 steps, walk 4-5 steps, repeat. Determination prevails and I make my two mile run.

Success comes with perseverance, at the end of a two mile walk I notice I am looking straight ahead!

Most of my life I have looked down.

It dawns on me that my back muscles have gained enough strength to hold my head up with ease.

The reason I need to run has to do with scoliosis and the foot long rod attached to my spine. My core muscles don’t gain strength in daily movement. I need to lift my legs higher than walking to engage the core muscles.

To keep this strength I know I need to run daily!

GOD IS SO GOOD!

Hello Body

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We would like to introduce ourselves;

Body, we are the nerves that have recently made contact with your spinal cord.

Being cut off from the spine in 1976, was cruel. Life has been boring just hanging around dormant for the last 40 years. We have been carried around not able to help out, wondering if we would ever be usefull again.

What a surprise to find ourselves awake in 2011. It was slow at first. The beginning was just a knowledge that we exist as body stood to her feet and walked. She felt us!

The feeling started to grow and the muscles became involved enough to alert the body’s doctor.

Doctor said, “I’m glad you started to exercise.”

Body said, “I didn’t do anything different.”

Alarm sounds, Doctor wants to know about the  muscle growth. She ponders this for a year and decides to do the intake, next year.

Doctor asked, “What makes the difference in your muscles if your exercise is the same?”

Body says, “Jesus answered the request for nerves to be connected.”

We nerves have been working and growing and sometimes breeding complaint.

A funny period we nerves all itch.

 

Today growth seems to cause pain.

Body we want to know, “Are we nerves worth the constant pain?”

Nerves provide the ability to run, lift arms, sit up, type, and lift head?

“Does the ability to move make pain acceptable?”

Body says, “Yes! Body is Thankful for pain.”

God is Good!

Listening to God

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Learning how to respond to thoughts and act on them.

Today, I have the thought of going for a two mile walk after waking, before eating. Bart is pleased to join me in the daylight.

It becomes the most pleasant walk in a long time. We have no need to change directions to bypass dogs or people. An unusual December day blesses us with a warm 40 degrees and sunshine!

Later in the evening Bart suggests, “We should walk to get our 10,000 steps before we relax for the evening.”

As we walk Bart says, “Don’t worry, that’s just my watch saying 10,000 steps!”

I laugh, “My Fitbit is also alerting me to my 10,000 steps this exact moment!”

Five minutes later we both happen to look the same direction as a meteor flashes through the sky.

So tell me, is this how God sets things up?

Things fall into place and Peace fills the space?

Feeling Blessed on December 14, 2023.

The Joy of Christmas

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Fear thoughts shut down my day!

Headache grows.

Hiding on the couch with my eyes shut, I hold my head!

All of a sudden, POUNDING fills the house.

Bart rises to see about the noise.

“Justine, come and see!”

“What reason could possibly be good enough to move?”

Standing back, Bart gives me a full view.

thirty children overfill my doorway!

Dressed in flashing Christmas lights they

Proudly Sing,

“Jingle Bells” and “Merry Christmas!”

A SMILE GROWS as JOY FILLS MY SPIRIT! 

Bonus the headache fades away!

THANK YOU JESUS for returning  JOY to my day!

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

Joy

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Tonight 11/10/23:

Dinner with a group of friends!

After dinner we talk with no agenda for hours.

Sitting at the table with the conversation including me feels strange but good! LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE replace judgement.

Today, I speak many God stories. They question and receive my stories.

I have been included into their lives.

Forty years ago in College, I found  Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and acceptance. Before that I was eight years old at my gramma’s house on the farm, watching aunts and uncles discussing life with grandparents.

What differs between these examples and the rest of my life?

The yearly visit with parents includes the relaxing family time playing cards. But the words coming at me are not peaceful.

Changing the subject I say, “Do you know what God did today?”

I hear, “Don’t talk politics!”

On 5/16/10, God directs us to a beautiful church where I find acceptance and safety.

Life collects battle wounds until God brings people who know LOVE! In this safe place,  open wounds become healed scars.

God is using this church to transform me:

PEACE and JOY replace anxiety.

God Is Good! He will heal anyone who asks and follows His directions! So Ask for Healing It is Good! Amen!

Walking by Faith

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This week,my husband took a job he is unsure about.

Bart, “I’ve been hired to work in a warehouse! Not sure I’m physically able. HR called to calm my fears. Orientation starts Tuesday.”

Justine, “Trust God! He will give you strength and ability beyond what you are able. Watch and be amazed!”

Bart, “Do you know where my social security card is? I have searched in wallets, drawers, pockets, and the safe with no success.  We will see if they take what I have.”

After Orientation

Bart announces, “God must want me to work there! When I opened up my birth certificate the Social Security card popped out! I looked there more than once! But God put it there when I needed it!”

Justine, “BUT GOD! My favorite words!”

GOD WILL PROVIDE! I AM EXCITED TO SEE HOW HE PROVIDES!

Protection

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I go for a run just after 8:00 P.M.. It is dark but not late.

First I run to the cemetery and have a thought, “Stay away from the back.”

I tell myself, “Don’t let fear rule.”

Sam stops short and will not move.

Maybe I should listen to the thought and take the short rout.

Sam agrees and runs with me.

Approaching the park from the North, I notice a vehicle driving very slowly towards the park from the East. Slowing down, I watch and check if it is a police vehicle. It is white.

IT is  NOT police.

Running past the vehicle, I stop for Sam and clean up.

I loose track of the white vehicle and take off running my normal route to the gas station.

Approaching the turn in the road, I realize that I have heard a vehicle coming up behind for a while.

I pull Sam to the sidewalk and watch a white vehicle drive past me very slowly. They drive toward the gas station.

Foolishly, I start to run behind them until. . . .

Wisdom speaks up and says, “Turn around and go home.”

Running towards home I think, “Maybe I should call my husband.”

Instead I ask, “God, Send Your Angels to keep me safe and anyone out tonight!”

Later at home I hear,

“SAY THANK YOU!”

“I DID KEEP YOU SAFE” 

Wisdom suggests I run earlier.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

Fear Uncovered

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In this season of our lives we are looking for ways to pay the bills.

One day recently I tried on the thought of Uber driving.

FEAR!

NOT SAFE!

Tears fall.

TERROR FILLS MY SOUL.

Where did that come from?

I put off healing.

It will be painful.

Quickly I change my thoughts to save the day.

I mention it to a couple of people.

Fear is close to the surface.

Tears escape my eyes.

Healing is needed.

It takes time and energy.

God is Good!

He will take me through this at the appropriate time.

Thank You Jesus! Amen!