Praying For My Well Knowns

Praying is an everyday occurrence for me. I usually pray the moment my eyes are open....it can be something as minuscule as "Lord, get me to the coffee!" I pray throughout the day. I will look at a picture of one of my grown children and ask God's protection over them. I think of my grandchildren, each at different times and I pray blessings over them. I find it so easy to pray for the people that I love. I find it a no brainer to lift those up in prayer that I know so well.

What about those that I do not know? I see people I have never laid eyes on each and every time I enter the doors of Walmart. What are their stories? I have NO idea. Should I pray for them? I have found myself doing that more often these days.

In 2013, I decided that I was going to make GOALS for myself.....no resolutions. On my list, I have 7 goals so far (if I think of a few more, it's okay to add, after all, it is MY list!) and #4 is praying for my "Well Knowns."  I am sure everyone is asking "What is a well known?"  Ahhh, I am so glad you asked.

A "well known" is a person that the world may know. I do not know them personally, but they mean something to me! Oh, a celebrity?  Ok. You are allowed to use that word if you will....but, I do not wish to call them that because to ME....they mean more than that. I have never been in awe of celebrities. I have never secretly wished to live their lives. I have never thought I'd stand in line for hours and hours just to get close to a celebrity.

This year, I have taken 5 o my well knowns and made a goal to pray over every area of their lives. The people I chose are close to my heart through their music and the books that they write. We all have our favorite musicians and authors, actors and actresses. To some, it may seem a little odd to pray for people that are obviously doing very well.....they may not seem to need your prayers! WRONG! Without making you wait any longer....here are my 5 Well Knowns and how I pray for them!

1. Mandisa.....Mandisa is an amazing talent...she sings so beautifully and her songs are so inspiring. She is REAL. I love to listen to her in the car with my 9 year old as we drive. To hear your little girl singing the song "True Beauty" at the top of her lungs and then be able to explain it to me after....priceless. I admire her honesty with us all about her weight issues and how she has worked so hard and succeeded in her weight loss attempts all while being in the spotlight. I pray for God to send her the right man! I pray for her vocal cords! I pray for her friendships! She's my girl!

2. Mercy Me.....They have been bringing it for years. They can rock a song with so much feeling! I pray for each by name.....learned all of their names, if they are married. I pray for them as they travel. I pray for their kids. I pray for their wives when they have to keep the home fires burning....I pray that they will top "The Hurt and The Healer" because it is the BEST song they have ever done!

3. Wanda Brunstetter,,,,My favorite author! She writes the most amazing Amish fiction. She is a Christian writer and she NEVER disappoints. I cannot even begin to tell you which of her books are my favorite because as I read each one, it is better than the last. She has the gift of words and she very quietly uses them to glorify God. She is doing what I have a deep desire to do.....write! She is also a Pastor's wife. Her books are my pleasures in life. When I get a quiet moment, I steal away and read one of her books. I pray for her continued creativity. I pray that God continuously overflows her mind with great story ideas!

4. Casting Crowns.....they are up there with Mercy Me in my book! Their songs are always so thought provoking. Through music, I am forced to look at ME!  "If We Are The Body" was the first song that hit me right between the eyes...not to mention the heart. "Can Anybody Hear Her?" another favorite of mine! Recently, I have fallen in love with "Praise You In This Storm."  I pray for the exact same things for them as I do Mercy Me. Keep making the music and touching hearts is always in the prayer!

5. Karen Kingsbury.....she is another favorite author. I love her stories. I fall in love with her characters. The Baxter Family became MY family. She has THE GIFT of words. I pray over her health. I pray for her husband and children. She is another I pray for creativity. I pray she ALWAYS writes.

So, these are my well knowns! They do not know me. I may never meet them in person and that is okay! My prayers for each of them are flooding heaven's gates daily. They are special to me. They have touched me deeply in one way or another.....the very least I can do for them is PRAY!

For my well knowns....thanks for years of entertaining me. Thanks for reaching my heart in ways you may never be able to comprehend until we meet in heaven!

Who are your "well knowns?" 

Healing The Boo Boos

It seems that I have been spending a lot of time in the offices of doctors and hospitals lately!

 Recently, a dear family friend had her six year old son taken by ambulance to a Children's Hospital in Nashville with a pretty serious illness. Little Jacob has faced a number of health challenges since he was born. His mommy, Becky, who just happenes to be my best friend ever's daughter, has taken it all in stride with a strength that I admire greatly.

I got up on Wednesday morning, and like most other mornings, I read my Bible and prayed and then got on Facebook. Becky had posted that they had gone on an ambulance trip to Nashville and she was "one scared mommy."  My husband and I immediately started figuring out how to work our day so that I could leave to go there and be with Becky and Jacob. Needless to say, it all came together and I was there and able to spend the day, sit through the surgery with Becky and see a very happy little boy after the surgery.

Yesterday, it was my turn to go and have a simple surgical procedure done. I woke up with nerves, and NOT of steel. I drank my coffee, read my Bible and found so much peace and comfort there. I had the luxury of having my husband there with me.....just a few days earlier, my sweet friend Becky wasn't able to have her husband with her, he HAD to work as so many do, to provide for their family. I silently thanked God that Ken could be with me.

Once I was back in the surgical area and alone, well, without Ken.....I felt such a beautiful reassuring presence of Christ with me. The doctor told me he wanted me to close my eye while he was giving me shots around my eye,,NO PROBLEM! I could feel my body shaking....and as I closed my eyes, I imagined my Father God, like any Father that dearly loves His little girl, standing at the head of me, softly stroking my hair and saying "It's okay honey, I am here." As the doctor worked away, my heart kept whispering "Don't leave me Father....stay right here."  Again....assurance, "I'm right here sweetie."

After my little procedure, I thought of Jacob and I remember him saying several times tearfully, "I miss my daddy." I can totally relate. When I am feeling distant from God, I miss my Daddy too.  But yesterday, as I lay on that little stretcher and had a doctor shaving away layer after layer of my skin, I was so comforted to have my Daddy so close at hand....soothing my fears, calming the inner storm. I called on Him, and as always, He was there!

Just as God is healing my little Jacob's "boo boos," He never stops working to heal mine!

Movies For Christians?

Yesterday I took my mom to the movies. My mom is in her late 70's and very seldom goes to movies. She has loved Tyler Perry's Madea movies since they came out. So we found ourselves braving the 109 degree temperature yesterday to see the newest Madea movie. I thought we would not be waiting in long lines since we were attending the matinee, but boy was I mistaken! There were a lot of children that were there to see a couple of new kiddie movies that were out....but they were not in line ahead of me.

What absolutely floored me was the fact that there were a lot of women ranging in age from early twenties to much older, acting downright giddy over the fact that a movie called "Magic Mike" had come out. Apparently, this is a movie about male strippers and it is Rated R. The thing that shocked me the most was the fact that these women were talking, rather loudly, about the fact that they were so excited to be seeing this movie. Some were talking ACROSS the room to each other and laughing.

I have seen so many things on my Facebook page referring to this movie and I have to say...it has triggered an overwhelming feeling in me that I pray resonates with other Christian Women. First, I can already anticipate that most will shrug this off as a "prude pastor's wife's" reaction. Not so! This is a Woman of God's strong reaction to the wishy washy Christian mentality that this world has become all too comfortable with these days.

I am by no means the perfect Christian. There is no such creature! But I am a Woman of God. That sets me apart from the worldly women that do not yet know Christ. I am recognized by the fruit I bear, or at least I am suppose to be. If I stand beside my husband serving communion every month of the year at church or teach a Sunday School class or am director of VBS each year....and then rant on and on about a movie I cannot wait to see, or make comments on the men that are portraying strippers in a movie....what example am I setting for the young girls of today? Like it or not, we are the role models for the younger generation coming up. The future leaders of the church. What are we saying to our young Christians when we teach them scripture on Sunday and try to instill in them a sense of values and to be more Christlike on Sundays and then leave them at home one night to go have a "girls night out" to go see a movie about men stripping?

Would the women that are so gung ho for this particular movie be as giddy and excited if their husbands were all getting together to hit a strip club or a movie about strippers? What message would that send to their sons?

I, as a woman that loves God and wants to serve Him in every area of my life....am sickened by this movie and the reaction I am witnessing by other women....especially Christian women.  I always ask myself when it is time for me to go see a movie....."If God were sitting in the theater seat right next to me, would I be viewing this movie?"  The fact is, He is there. He is in the theater with each and every one of us. Will He be pleased with the women that are so excited to get to see "Magic Mike"?

I am taking a stand.....this movie sickens me. No desire to see it! I pray that all Christian women that read this blog will stand together with me and let your witness stand. I am sure I am not going to win any popularity contests with this one....but that's okay! My true rewards are not here on earth....but heaven!

This Is My Story

This morning as I have been doing little jobs around the house, I have been humming nonstop an old gospel song I sang many times growing up in church. I wasn't aware I was doing it until I sat down and allowed my heart and mind to be still. I am NOT a singer....my other siblings have been blessed with that talent. I have never felt cheated that I can't sing. There is just something about singing a song out loud that you have known since you were 5 or 6 years old that makes one feel that they are on key. "Blessed Assurance" was that song for me today. Just read the words or sing them out loud:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

There are two other beautiful verses that go with this song, but this is what I kept humming and singing all morning. Finally, I stopped and asked God..."What is it You want me to get from this?" I sang the words out loud several times and it became crystal clear.

Every happening in my life, from birth to this very moment, have become my story! Every single thing that has happened in this life, good or bad, is not a basis for shame or pride. It is what it is. My life. Every single rejection, heartbreak, joy, or achievement is what has written my story. I do not want to hide any part of my past or future in shame nor do I wish to walk in pride. So many things have happened in my life. People have come and gone. I have had devastating lows and incredible highs and the one constant has always been the same....my God. He has never rejected me! He is always there to rescue me. He knows my heart in ways that noone else ever will.

My Blessed Assurance in this life is the God that lives inside of me. I want and need only Him to write my story. Only then can I truly make it my song!

God Didn't Post A Help Wanted Ad

I have had several people ask me, "How do you come up with the things you write about in your blog?" and "Why do you wait so long between blogs?" The answer is always the same for both questions.


I write when the Lord lays something on my heart. Before I am asked the follow up question, let me assure you....I have no problem distinguishing His voice from my own ego's. When it is of God, it is placed gently on my heart and grows steadily over time. I find myself not able to relax or put it out of my mind for any significant amount of time. This has been my experience over the last few days.

Several days ago, I came across some scripture that stayed with me and at the time, I had NO idea why. I kept going back to it time and time again. That little nagging thought of "God, You are trying to tell me something" remained in my spirit, yet I never asked what it was He wanted to tell me. Now, it has become crystal clear.

I have a brother that has truly been "out of God's will" for quite awhile. Drugs, drinking and heaven knows what else, became his idols of worship. Sadly, he lost much. No one knows that better than my brother. There were times I was so angry with him that I just severed all contact. Surely my ignoring him, denying him access to MY life and my child, a niece he loves dearly....would be the great wake up call he needed. Not only did I envision his "reawakening" but I could someday pat myself on the back for my small part in it.


Who in the heck did I think I was? As I kneel before the Throne of God now, I humbly beg His forgiveness for taking out a "Help Wanted" ad in His name and hiring myself to replace the Holy Spirit and God so that I could not only become Judge and Conscience....but, I also ask that He forgive me (and give me a swift kick in the pants) for having the audacity to think I, Julia, a sinner, could possibly think for one moment that I know more than HE, almighty, all knowing God!

I hear it now...."But Julia, you are a pastor's wife. You attend church. You read and study your Bible daily. You pray for others. You don't do drugs and drink and lie to others. You were just doing what you had to do." Don't be ridiculous! (You do realize I am speaking to myself!) I not only hired myself, I immediately gave myself a promotion to TRY and elevate myself to the position of my Father. I cringe as I write this.

As I said before, I love my brother, but I have come to the heartbreaking realization, I have not loved him unconditionally, as God has loved me. Don't get me wrong, at times in our lives, we must distance ourselves if those we love maintain a life style that goes against God and our beliefs. It is scary when someone you love is on drugs. My brother became someone I did not even recognize when he was on a binge. Recently, he has rediscovered the joy of his salvation....just as David did so long ago. There are things that are being reawakened in him, that have NOTHING to do with me, and EVERYTHING to do with God. Have we gone down this road before with my brother? Absolutely. I found myself allowing him back in, only to lose him to the world. I refuse to be "guardedly optimistic." I will rejoice with him. I will be his biggest cheerleader (well, actually, our mother is captain of that squad!) I'm claiming all of the promises that God made to our mother regarding her children long ago as she and our dad raised us in God's House and taught us to love Him. My parents know that they merely planted the seeds in us...God did all the hard work.

As I lay in my bed wide awake last night.....the same Scripture played over and over in my head and heart from Proverbs. ""For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin." (Prov 5:21-22)

What do I take away from that? I hear God speaking to me, ever so lovingly, "Julia, I love you and you are my child. However, I see ALL. I do not need for you to do MY job. I will let you know what I need for you to do. Work on being less judgemental and critical.....and I will help YOU with that."

Thank you Lord for loving me the most when I deserve it the least. Most of all, I thank You for forgiving me the many, many times I've been less than perfect in others eyes....yet, when You saw me through Christ, I was perfect to you! (Oh, and THANK YOU Michael, for always loving your big sister, despite my many flaws! I love you!)

Bullying....It's Not Just For Kids

Recently we seem to be bombarded by stories of bullying across not only our country but others. Only a couple of weeks ago, we learned of a young middle schooler, Casey Heynes from Australia that had been bullied by a boy for weeks on end and finally snapped and body slammed the tormentor. While it is no surprise that he did indeed snap, what followed was shocking to me. Young Casey was hailed a "hero." The video went viral and exploded onto the media circuit and everyone was cheering this kid. More than likely, young Casey's parents had contacted the school to speak with the principal and teachers....to no avail. The young man that is labeled the tormentor, was slammed to the ground and had trouble getting up to walk. This kid was half the size of the kid he bullied, which should have been a no brainer to the bully. Yet, he seemed to have picked an easy target. Now, I do not know either young man, but I am guessing that Casey had endured the bullying for an extended amount of time. While we have come to expect bullying in school, sad as that is to say, we do not so much expect it from adults. But, is it alive and well and thriving in the world of adults? As Sarah Palin would say, "You betcha!" We see examples of it in the work place, in recreational type activities and sadly, in our churches. Churches? Yes, you read it correctly...even in our churches. I am incredibly blessed to have NOT witnessed this in my own church, but as a pastor's wife, I am often the EAR that so many come to with problems in their own churches. One such case lately has left me greatly disturbed. A single mom who has been out of church for years, loses a husband of 30 years and is struggling to raise her son who has special needs....finally, grasps the opportunity to visit a church. It becomes a place where the joy of her salvation is restored, like David so long ago. Just as she is getting into the groove and feeling like she has found not only a church home, but a resting place surrounded by the body of Christ.....she is confronted with bullies. These are not children. When I say children...I refer to where they are in their walk of faith. They are not still babes that need only milk. They are meat eating adults. Leaders in the church. Esteemed members of the church. I readily admit that it is not the entire church, however, one bad apple spoils the who bunch, right? I do not fear that this young woman is in danger of "snapping" and body slamming the bullies right there in the church. Worse than that, the church is in danger of losing this talented and gifted woman. They will have missed a golden opportunity to stand up against the bullies BEFORE the "snapping" occurs. We teach our kids that we cannot fight violence with violence. Why aren't we as vigilant with our adults? Pastors, do not be afraid to confront bullies. If we expect the principals and teachers of our schools to handle it and put a stop to it....(who are adults, I might add) we should expect no less from our pastors and other leaders of our churches. As the body of Christ....let's use our mouths, our arms, our eyes.... reach out to others. A bully is simply someone who preys on the weak and the vulnerable. Know anyone like that? I do. Satan comes to mind. Christ, who lives inside of each and every christian brother and sister....never bullies!

Jesus Loves The Little Children....ALL The Children

"Jesus loves the little children, ALL the children of the world, red and yellow back and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world." This particular song is a favorite of our 7 year old daughter's. She sings it in the car. She sings it while playing with her toys. It is a song we hear a lot around the Wallace house. It is a very heartwarming sound to hear your little child singing, with such confidence, that her Jesus loves ALL the children of the world. Sadly, as an adult, I have witnessed firsthand, that adults do not seem to believe this is true. The innocence of childhood left them long ago as they grew into their rather jaded existence known as adulthood. I do realize that as we get older that there are things that we learn are not real...tooth fairy, Easter bunny, sand man, Santa Clause. These are all things that our parents made magical for their children and we in turn, carried on the tradition. I never felt it was a betrayal or that my parents lied to me...it was just a very sweet magical time. The beauty of childhood is that young ones have not seen enough of the world yet to be prejudiced against others. They only see color as shades of crayons. They do not look at others less fortunate as "poor," they merely see a new playmate. One of my favorite memories of my oldest daughter as a child was when we were shopping one day and Ryan came into contact with a special needs child in a wheelchair and she walked directly up to her and kissed her hand and said hi. The mother of the child broke into this ear to ear smile and said "Most little kids are afraid and just stare." It was at that very moment that God said to me "Julia, you are doing your job and doing it well." Recently, someone I love very dearly, was crushed when her special needs son, was targeted by other parents...someone they felt their daughter should have "limited exposure to." Any parent I know that has a child and loves that child, would find this to be a crushing blow. Christian parents that feel that their child should not be around a child that has special needs? Why? Because their child may mimic that special needs child? What a missed opportunity for those parents! By their child mimicking that special needs child, couldn't they see that their own child was embracing his differences? Their child was breaking into the often sealed world of this beautifully autistic child. The autistic child was given a chance to see that he would not be shunned. He could become part of the same world that other children were accepted into without question. After consoling this mother of the special needs child, I began to pray in earnest: "Lord, please do not allow this sweet child, that loves and accepts this little boy without hesitation...to grow up and mimic her parents that so readily pick and choose who is good enough or normal enough for their child to befriend. Help her to keep that childlike innocence that loves ALL the little children...just as YOU did." Jesus said "Let the little children come unto me." He did not distinguish between normal or special needs....He just wanted them to come to Him. ALL of them!