Prayer Request

Hey all!

I have to go to work....we had a half day at dance....which was a REALLY good thing. I crunched my lower back in my first class (for those of you that know dancer talk, we were doing medium allegro, and at the end I accidentally hit the back of my head in sissone arabesque, which bent my spine too far, and must have pinched something....the blessing/curse of having such a flexible spine). Anyway because I am SUPER stubborn, I took the rest of that class and the second class....instead of sitting out...which I should have. Anyway, it KILLS....and I have to work now (I already went in this morning....but they need me again, so I'm going back until 9ish). Not to mention, after not taking pointe for 3 months, my feet are really soft, and are bleeding like crazy. Ugh.

Other then that though, the day has been wonderful. I really enjoyed both classes (despite the pain), and work this morning was wonderful. I got up early enough to spend a few minutes with Jesus before work, and then I just chatted with him during my shift. It was so wonderful. My thoughts today have been so focused on Jesus. Thank you all for your prayers....I feel their effects.

Today at B. Mag devotions we talked about John 13. That's where Jesus washes his disciples feet. Of all people, dancers know how DISGUSTING feet can be....and the fact that our precious Lord Jesus....our savior and king would do that is awe inspiring. If someone perfect and righteous in every way, with every reason to boast, would, in complete humility, wash twelve pairs of disgusting feet....then shouldn't I as well? Maybe literally, maybe figuratively. What have I done today to "wash the feet" of those I love? What have I done to "wash the feet" of those I pass at work and at dance? How can I show love, humility and leadership all at the same time to those around me? That is my goal. I'm going to start looking for ways to "wash the feet" of others.

An inside look at *girls night*

Hey all!

Sorry...it's been a few days....and it's been REALLY busy. I love writing to you guys, but for the last few days, it's been a choice between devos and blog....so of course devotions take preference.

Let's see, what's happened. Hmm...well, I pretty much partied all weekend (and by party I totally mean the kind with a bunch of 18-25 year old girls in pajamas eating pizza and ice cream....) I've been making lots and lots of new friends this week! With the "official" first week of ballet over, I've met a lot of girls, and gotten to know a hand full of them fairly well. I've also been getting to know the girls that go to my church. I LOVE THEM! These girls are SO awesome! We had a girls night last night (as referenced earlier)....it was phenomenal. I really enjoyed it. We watched one of my all time favorite movies....can you guess? Pride and Prejudice. It's so weird watching girly movies here. At home we NEVER watch chick flicks or romance films.....I'm not exaggerating. My family is much more into Star Trek, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. While there's nothing wrong with those movies (and I really do enjoy them occasionally)....it's been fun to watch some other movies.

One thing I've noticed about girls at this post highschool (or college) age, is that they are VERY interested in marriage. Don't hear me wrong, I'm not talking about being boy crazy...I'm talking about commitment. Unlike the Hollywood version of love, these girls are all starting to get to an age where they want to find "the one"....be swept off their feet, and start their own families. They're done with having little crushes, first dates and flings. They want the real deal. It's a neat thing to watch. Most of the girls that I know are very godly women, and they are all about waiting for God to bring about the right man....which is good. They know that they want to be pursued, loved and cared for for the rest of their lives. They know what their standards are, and are willing to wait for that "Mr. Right".


HOWEVER


There still seems to be something wrong with this approach. Don't get me wrong, the ideas about love and marriage that they have are all right...they just go about them in the wrong way. In my opinion, they concentrate on waiting way too much. Let me explain. Their focus is on "surviving in the single years" instead of "thriving in the single years." They spend lots of time thinking about marriage, praying about marriage, talking about marriage, reading about marriage ect...when all that energy should be focused on the Lord. In essence, they focus too much on the waiting itself, rather then on what they can be doing while they wait. I don't blame these girls for wanting to be in a godly marriage....that's God's design for men and women. From the beginning of time, the Lord has brought amazing christian men and women together in the bonds of holy matrimony. It is a beautiful, righteous, amazing thing to have (those of you that are married should consider yourselves VERY blessed.) However, the single years of your life should not be looked at as the "pre-marriage" years. Being single and serving the Lord in that capacity should be the focus of the unmarried. Then, when the Lord brings that special person into your life, you won't have wasted years of your life pining away. Sometimes I think that the unmarried worry that they'll miss "the one" if they're "too focused" on God. It's not a competition. A godly relationship and a focus on the Lord go hand in hand.

So, in essence, don't just stand around waiting for God to give you a marriage....see what adventures God wants to take you on...before it's time to add a third to the party.

Prayer in action!

Okay, so if any of you doubt that prayer works....let me tell you, it does.

(For background, read yesterday's blog)

So yesterday, I was feeling kind of under the weather. You know the feeling....sore throat, headache, runny nose....the usual cold symptoms. Well, I went to bed last night, and was hoping that I'd wake up feeling beter. I didn't. I woke up at around 3 a.m. with an INCREDIBLY sore throat, and a terrible headache...not good. I knew that I couldn't make it through today being sick. The days here are just too long and too tiring for me to be able to handle them with anything less then being 100% healthy. Not to mention that we had to learn a couple of new pieces...which require a clear head to learn. Anyway, I just sat on my bed, and begged the Lord to heal me. Most of the time, I pray like that, but I don't REALLY believe that he'll do it. Well, this time was different. I knew God would heal me if I asked him. So, I went back to bed, and woke up at 5 pain free....I mean really people, PAIN FREE. No sore throat, no headache...nothing. It was amazing. As soon as I awoke I had to praise the Lord for his mercy and kindess toward me. Now, I don't want to say that it was my prayers that made this happen....because that would be totally wrong. It was all of you as well. I know that many of you pray for me daily, and I know that it was your prayers that brought this about. So thank you! I feel kind of funny sharing this....because it sounds overly dramatic....but it's real. The reason I share is because I want to share the victory with you!

One quick side note: This is for those of you that care about ballet. The rest of you can stop reading now. I got cast in a demi-soloist role for our new ballet, "Unveiled Hope". The ballet is done to music by Michael Card, and it details the story of Revelation. I absolutely LOVE it! I love the roles I'm cast in....I love the style (it's classical steps, with very emotion filled arms and heads....which is totally my thing). Not that parts mean a WHOLE lot...but it's fun to be cast in a role you like!

-Julie

First few days!

Well, we officially started!

I'm back at it. It's been really, really good. I've been reminded these last few days WHY I love to dance so much. Even more then that, I'm reminded of why I love Jesus. I love him, because no matter what I do, he's still with me. That's not to say that I should trod on his goodness and grace...to the contrary, I should do everything I can to please him! But at the end of the day, I am still a sinner. Like today, I tried to go a whole day without sinning.....didn't work. I didn't do anything terrible, just little things. Yet, it was still sin. How is it that Jesus loves me despite all that?!?! He loves my wandering heart that so often strays from him....to be distracted by other things. That is the biggest thing I'm afraid of this year. I DO NOT want ballet to take away from Jesus. I want to be good at ballet, I want to do well, I want to improve...but it cannot, and will not be my idol. It hasn't happened yet, but I see it on the horizon, and so I'm preparing my ship for the storm.

Please pray for me. I'm getting sick. Those of you that know me probably aren't suprised! It's nothing terrible, just a sore throat/headache/ect. but it makes my already difficult days almost unbearable. I don't want my miserable body to cause me to have a bad or even apathetic attitude toward God. No good.

Love you all! I'll write more later.

-Julie

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!

I had a nice morning....I celebrated Labor day with....labor! I worked from 6-2:30...and now I'm just relaxing before the evening festivities. My roomates and some people from my church are having a cook out/picnic....which should be fun! It's raining right now though....hmmmm....oh well....as my darling mother loves to say, "I'm not made of sugar...I won't melt!"

In response to those who are worried about the weather. Don't worry! The newest tropical storm (it may be a hurricane by now) is not looking like it's going to reach us. Even if a hurricane does come my way....I have a friend who controls the weather! Nothing can hurt me unless he allows it.

Ballet starts tomorrow! I am SO excited! Just to be dancing again....it's been a while! I've gone to class sporadically over the past three months....but it's no substitute for every day ballet class.


I'm so excited about our Christmas show! For those that haven't heard, B. Mag is doing it's second annual production of "A Christmas Dream"....it's the music of the Nutcracker with a new storyline:

Kathy, a young girl in the old south, recieves a Bible at her parents annual Christmas party from her beloved grandfather. As the party winds down, Kathy begins to read, and falls into a deep sleep. In her dream, she sees the book of Revelation acted out.

Beelzebub and his legion of demons/flies battle with Michael, the arch angel, and his army of angels...the battle ends with Beelzebub being defeated, and Michael and the angels welcome Kathy into the Kingdom of Heaven. In heaven, Kathy finally gets to meet Jesus.

The second act is a beautiful display of cultures, as the nations of the earth gather to dance before the throne of Jesus. The very end of the ballet reveals that Kathy is a symbol of the church, and finishes with the marriage of Christ and the Church...a perfect picture of true love.

Anyway, my little description of "A Christmas Dream" doesn't nearly do the ballet justice....I guess you'll just have to come watch! I'm really excited, because several of my regulars at the bagel shop are planning to come watch! I don't think they're Christians...but they've seen the Nutcracker and are curious about the new take that B. Mag has on it. I can't wait!

I'm in love

Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Psalm 84:10-12

As wonderful as my life is....as much as I love the people on this earth...I have to be honest with you guys....my soul yearns for heaven. Just to be with Jesus, to sit at his feet, to bow before him in total awe of his holiness. It overwhelms me! How amazing will it be when our only concern is praising Jesus? No tears, no pain, no war, no sin. Only Jesus, sweet, sweet Jesus. I am so in love with him. As each day passes, my desire for him grows. One day my beloved will come and call me home, I cannot wait for that day. He is my first love, my precious savior, my best friend. The more I love him, the more I desire to be like him. It's funny, as my desire to know Jesus becomes stronger, my desire for sin lessens. I'm certainly not perfect, but the more time I spend with the Lord, the less time I have for sin. As I get to know Jesus more and more, he's constantly on my mind. I want his opinion on everything....I ask him so many things, from the silly to the serious. When I think of how this incredible love is changing me, I am reminded of these words "turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."

I am so jealous of those that are going to see Jesus right now! As I write, many saints across the globe are finishing the journey of this life....and moving onto the next. How I wish that I was one of them! Yet I know that my work here on earth is not finished yet....and because of that I am content to stay. But as soon as Jesus is done with me, I want to go home. I don't want to tarry.

Come Lord Jesus, come. I am ready to go as soon as you're ready to have me.

Love,
Julie

Long day...

Well, today was a VERY long day....but a really good day too. I worked 10 hours...which was long....but it was very good. I've really been getting to know the girls I work with, and I'm hoping that some good friendships will blossom there. None of them are Christians....which really excites me! I've gotten the chance to share about how the Lord is working in my life...and that Jesus is the reason that I am the way I am. A couple of people are especially impressed....my boss, and a girl named Tosha. Miss Anne (the boss) is just amazed at the fact that I never slack off at work. I guess I've never thought of slacking off as an option...yah know? I'm working for the Lord, not for men. I feel like I need to give my all to the restaurant while I'm working, instead of standing in the back smoking and drinking coffee (which is what many of the employees do). The other day I ran out of 'standard' jobs to do (it was a REALLY slow morning), so I decided to organize all the kitchen cabinets. My boss was amazed. She simply couldn't understand why I would do so much extra without expecting anything in return. I told her that I was working to honor the Lord by being a good employee to her, and she thought that was the coolest thing. Isn't that wonderful? Praise the Lord! I didn't do that in my own strength...it was all because of the Lord, and he is using my example to show my boss the kind of integrity that is found in those that love Christ. Tosha and I have had some good conversations too. She is the sweetest girl! She's 25 and has four kids....her first was born when she was 15....yet she still made it through high school and college...with three other kids that came during that time! Now, I don't agree AT ALL with her life choices...but I have to give her props for finishing school. Anyway, she's been trying to convince me that I should have kids (don't worry Dad, Mom....everyone else, I'm not about to take that advice). She thinks I'd be a great mom (which is a compliment, but I have a lot that I want to do before I even think about motherhood). It's funny how the girls at work view my life...they think I'm some anomaly that's too good to be true. Tosha said to me the other day, "girl, I wouldn't believe anyone else if they told me all that stuff...but something about you is different, you're for real." Can I get an amen??!?! At last! This is what Christianity is all about! Living a life that's SO dramatically different that people can't help but marvel. Please pray that I will continue to be a witness to Tosha, and Miss Anne, and everyone else. I would love to plant a seed for Jesus in their hearts! Maybe the Lord would even bless me with the opportunity to see them come to him....let's pray for that.


Thanks again for your prayers, phone calls, letters and loving support. You all are amazing.

-Julie