A couple of years ago while in church, we had had some guests in our service. They had been praying for anyone who would like to receive prayer. I was sitting in my seat when one of my dear friends came and began sharing something God has asked her to share. Among the things spoken was this promise, “God wants you to know that the answer to your question is, ‘yes.’”
To provide some background, I had been feeling worn and weary from the selflessness of motherhood and marriage. I had asked God the question, “Do You have anything special, just for me?” Friends, it’s ok to ask God for this…He knows our hearts, our humanity, and our frailty.
Now fast forward three years I entered into the one of the ways God answered that “yes”! The timing is such a God thing and way more than I could’ve asked for.
In October I attended a women’s retreat in Colorado called, Captivating. A three day event with teaching, prayer, journaling, worship, and outdoor activities in the midst of the Rockies. I thought I’d just like a night or a weekend away. But friends…be prepared for God’s answer, it may be much bigger than you expect.
Leading up to the retreat, I repeatedly heard God inviting me to “come.” He has said on numerous occasions, “This is your time Juliana. The angel of the Lord is stirring the waters for healing. Come away with Me, My Beloved. This is your time. I know you want to encounter Me and I am eagerly awaiting your presence. I long for intimacy with you. You will find Me and you will not be disappointed. Come away with Me, just Me and you.”
Oh the heart of My Father! As a believer in Jesus Christ, do you know that you can have the expectation to expect GOOD from your Father? His Word declares, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13) The world is a mess, it’s chaotic, it is a dark place, and in a disastrous state but despite all this…God is still full of goodness to you. Yes, YOU!!
God wants to dream with us and even when we think a dream is BIG, God says to us, “Just you wait until you see the dreams I have for you!” His dreams are always BIGGER than we could dream for ourselves.
I also know what it’s like to give up on dreaming. I can remember very vividly after moving from New Jersey to Ontario saying to a friend of mine while out for a walk that I had given up on dreaming. Life had been hard and we had just been through a series of tough circumstances. I thought it would be easier to just live life with the motto “whatever comes, comes.” I thought it would save the heartache. I thought I could live in what was, not what I hoped could be.
If you’re reading this and you are in the same situation, oh my friend, I wish I was there to put a hand on your shoulder and give you a hug! It hurts when life doesn’t go according to our plans, or when the unexpected happens and it leaves you grappling…afraid to believe for anything good again. I want to reassure you as someone who was where you may be, there is a God who is full of HOPE. There is hope in Jesus because He says I want to come and heal your disappointed heart. He wants to breathe dreams into your heart that you had perhaps forgotten about or that you never would have dreamed possible.
Being able to write was a dream I have had for many years. I have loved to write and wanted to write, but I just thought very small and wondered how I would ever be able to write and share again. In those many years of being tucked away with God, He has healed my heart, He has restored my hope, and He has caused me to dream again far bigger dreams. This website is just one of those BIGGER dreams that God had for my life. It has not just been a blog but an open door to minister, a way to speak, to sing and to share of this great and awesome God who is crazy about us! He is not afar off! He has astounded me with His dreams for me and continues to do so!
Our God is a God of adventure and spontaneity. So if you’re willing to go where He wants to take you…be prepared for a wild ride. Expect Ephesians 3:20 to become your new reality. “For our God is able to do abundantly, beyond all that we could think or imagine possible; according to His power that is at work within you.” If you have received Jesus and want more of His adventure and spontaneity in your life…take the risk and ask. It may happen immediately or you may need to wait until He says yes. However and whenever it happens, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. There is more to life for you. More life in Jesus that He wants to unravel for you!
