Category: Random Personal Thoughts

Get EXCITED About Jesus

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Okay, Easter is coming. Working at a church, we are going through the process of branding, preparing, messages, projects, ministry opportunities, etc…

That does NOT negate the excitement we feel over why we celebrate Easter. We wouldn’t have a job if it weren’t for Easter.

Jesus rose from the dead after three days!!!!!

I leave myself little reminders each day that point to Jesus and all He did for ME. It is mind boggling.

As you walk into making plans for your Easter, where you will celebrate, where you will go to a church service, who is bring what food, what you’ll put in Easter baskets, if you’ll take a Spring Break, etc… Let Jesus settle in to your soul.

Remember, HE is the reason you have an opportunity to make all those plans.

He came and faced even more than you will ever face. Because He chose to. He chose to because He loves you that much.

He was ridiculed, beaten, deserted, mocked, etc…for Y O U.

Make sure you say a pray of thanks, then GET EXCITED ABOUT JESUS. So excited that people ask you about it.

Today I learned…To try and be the best reminder I can, helping people see Jesus in me and remind them what Easter is about.

READ THE STORY OF EASTER HERE!

 

Chad vs Julie

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Okay, so my husband and I are both very competitive. What helps? HUMOR.

Back when I was doing everything I could to work on our relationship, I read a book called The Five Love Languages.

It basically talks about how we all have a different view of what love looks like. Some feel loved by affirmation, some by receiving gifts, physical touch, time spent, and acts of service.

I talked about it with Chad, way back when, and realized, his love language is absolutely physical touch. That mixed with time spent. UGH. Mine are the opposite. I’m more of an affirmation and gifts type of person.

When I realized how different we are, and how I was doing to him what I like, I realized I needed to make a change. I started touching him more. Yes, I did hope that meant he’d start working on showing me he loved me the way I feel it, but that isn’t how it works.

I started touching his back more. Grabbing his hand. Holding his arm. Sitting close. It wasn’t something I was used to doing, it was something I was made aware he needed.

As I started to purposefully touch him more when I was around him…and be around him more, I noticed, he became happier! Isn’t that funny how it works.

He wasn’t even aware I was purposefully doing it, until a funny interaction happened today.

The conversation went like this…

I walked by while he was shaving and I started scratching his back lightly.

He said, “Thank you. I love when you do that.”

I said, “I know. I do it purposefully.  You told me you liked it so I do it.”

He said, “That is so nice!”

I said, “I had to learn to do it…kinda like I was hoping you’d learn to affirm me and give me gifts. Ha Ha”.

He responded with, “Wow. That must mean I’m a much better teacher”.

BWHAHAHAHAH

I couldn’t stuck on what I wasn’t getting, but look at that humor. I love the man. It could’ve gone south, but his response was perfect!

What is something you do for your roommate, sibling, parent, spouse, etc… that you do because you know they like it, not because you get something out of it?

What I learned today…Remember what makes my people happy and do it. The joy I can find in their happiness is priceless. AND continue to remind them what makes me happy. Especially if they aren’t natural inclined to do it.

 

Why I am Misreable on Video

Published on by juliesathoff1 Comment

Okay…if I am truly keeping it real, I will now vent on how miserable it is when I am invited to be on video.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to point people to Jesus and remind them to do their best to live Biblically. The problem is being on video or recorded…

If you look at the pictures above, you will see I don’t hide my feelings very well. As I study, grow and learn from others, I recognize that I am not a polished speaker. I am authentic, but I have to practice looking in the mirror with my faces.

For example…all of the pictures above. Let me tell you what is going through my mind in a lot of them…(disclaimer, if you were an attendee for any of them, I apologize for the look in to my noggin. I am broken, but working on it).

20 Things I Think About When I Teach

  1. I hope I am not boring.
  2. I just pointed that person out…I hope they don’t get angry.
  3. Did he/she REALLY just say that?
  4. Man, that is Biblical. Now my brain is drifting to a whole teaching that could come off of that statement!
  5. Oh, Wait. I was supposed to be listening.
  6. Man, they are so put together. Should I change the way I’m sitting? Hold my hands different?
  7. Why does one eye keep blinking slower than the other. I can feel it.
  8. Holy Spirit PLEASE help them hear that it’s about Jesus.
  9. Oh, NO! I just saw the monitor! When did I get that FAT!
  10. Should I throw my shoe at the guy on the phone? Would that be rude?
  11. Jesus, bless that person. I know they are truly practicing what they preach.
  12. God, thank you for stopping that last comment from coming out of my brain in an inappropriate way.
  13. Why does it always look like I have “resting ‘wench'” face? I don’t want to have a lame smile and bobble head, but it looks like I smell something foul?
  14. WOW. I talk with my hands a LOT.
  15. I turn beet red when I want to respond with something and know I can’t.
  16. I am going to mention a sore subject I am sick of people whining about.
  17. Lord, let me not be fired for saying this.
  18. I ABSOLUTELY love these people!
  19. Lord, I am so out of my element.
  20. God, I hope someone got something from this. I am so thankful you bless me more than I deserve.

What I learned today…practice, practice, practice.

Instagram & a Peak Into My Thoughts

Published on by juliesathoffLeave a comment

I love it. I do. So this morning I’ll walk you through some of my thoughts as I scrolled through it. Now this is unfiltered, coming from me…and I’m broken, so don’t judge. AND, for the comments sent to me regarding appropriateness… I am not promoting or recommending or agreeing with any of the Instagram profiles. I follow them cause, well, I do. If you don’t want to, don’t. 🙂

Insta 16

WOW! What an amazing picture! It must be cool to be in space for a year…and confining…and lonely…and cramped. Never mind.

Isaiah 66.9 5

I NEED to remember this one. And remember it. And remember it again.

 

Insta 13

I absolutely love this post-er! These shots are so fun to watch. I sure love soccer.

 

Insta 3

EEEEWWWWWWWW!!! Brussel sprouts. UGH. I can almost smell their nastiness.

Insta 1.1

This is so cool. I need to look in to it more. I wish everyone had a mentor to go to when they are young.

Insta 2

BOOM! No it is not! Reminder: don’t get in a rut believing this is it. God wants the best for us.

Insta 1.3

This, is creepy. I’m sure he is saying something brilliant…but it is creepy. It looks like he is speaking truth to the darkness. Still creepy.

Insta 1

TRUTH! I love it! I wish more people would just do what they are built to do! They’d find the success they crave by enjoying a good day’s work.

Insta 5

UGH. I do. I know. UGH.

 

Insta 7

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

 

Insta 1.2

Man I love the water. I wish I looked that “fierce” playing in it. HA! I crack myself up!

Insta 10

Wow. I have seen quite a few people post this lately. What if everyone posting it, really truly changed their life so they put it in to action. They started loving their enemies. What a difference that would make! I am so glad God worked on this with me. I can’t imagine life without the people He has softened my heart for.

Insta 12

BOOM! That is right!!! I wish more believed this!!! (God, help more of your people to see that they are the true movers and shakers in faith. They just need to answer your call!) – I had to stop and pray there. Then

Ooooo, look how cute those girls are! I miss being cute.

Insta 9

That is RIGHT!!!! Learn it, Live it, THEN share it. Otherwise shhhhhhh.

Insta 8

That is so me! I’ll have to show Chad. I love that he (my hubby) is so funny. Can I count laughing at his jokes on my fitness pal? Is that cheating? Could I eat more calories? Hmmm.

Insta 4

WAAAAAAAAAA. I want to travel!!!! Oh, well. Heaven will be pretty remarkable so I won’t have missed anything.

Insta 11

And then I posted this.

This is the way I want to start each day. Not walking in to it, but praying and running in ready to do whatever God asks me to do with all the strengthen I have!!!!

There was a scary walk in to my mind as I journey through Instagram.

What I learned today…I am encouraged, discouraged and challenged by social media. And it’s okay.

 

Are You Tired?

Published on by juliesathoffLeave a comment

Time to review things I don’t like about myself, and if their valid flaws (valid, meaning my accountablitiy partners agree) it’s time to clean them out of my life.

Flaw I’m concentrating on?

I am TIRED. Sure I could lay out all the reasons why, but you don’t want to hear it, do you? Why? Because I bet you are tired, too.

Tired Physically
Tired Emotionally
Tired Mentally.
Sick kids.
Medical issues.
Busy schedule.
Tough relationships.
Rough work day.

We stretch and bend then stretch and bend again. With our busy lives, busy schedules and worry about EVERYTHING…

How do you behave when you are tired?

I am short tempered, easy to get angry at little things, only want “me” time, feel like the whole world is against me, etc…etc….

Don’t get me wrong, I know how to “behave in public” when I’m tired, but not when those doors close at home. Am I alone?

When I’m tired, I tend do things like…. I yell at my kids over little things and shove my husband away PLUS push all his “buttons” so he feels as crappy as I do.

My kids have gotten used to the ever on-going prayer request on our morning trip to school of, “God, you know I’m tired. Help me get through the day. Please help me control my temper in the morning”.

Yes, it’s good that I’m acknowledging it to God and my children. There IS a great lesson in those prayers coupled with asking my kids for forgiveness for my bad attitude.

HOWEVER, I heard the whispers of – that’s not enought – during my prayers yesterday morning. My kids do not need to listen to me give excuses of “I’m tired. Tough day at work. I was up with YOU all night.” or ___________ enter whatever reason I have here.  They need to know Mom loves them and can over-come the tiredness to be a bigger person and CHANGE my attitude.

So my prayers have become, “God, you know I am tired. I ask you to help me to change my attitude and enjoy the blessings YOU put around me. Help me show more joy than exhaustion today. In YOU I can find rest. Through YOU I can find strength.”

Starting today, my goal is embrace the tired. It’s part of my life in this season. It’s not going to go away. So I will be changing my attitude in it. I’m going to start the process of teaching my children being tired is NOT an excuse to be mean, short tempured or quick to condemn.

That through resting In God’s Word. I can find the strength and peace I need. If I take a couple minutes a day to talk with God, read a verse or two and enjoy time with HIM, even if it’s 5 minutes, HE can give me anything I need to become that better mom that I long to be. That mom that doesn’t use the excuse of I’m Tired, for bad behaviour.

What will you be looking at to Clean out of your life today?
Today I’m praying for my fellow tired people. May you overcome the excuse and find time to REST in HIM today.

Today I learned…again…I need to take time to rest in Him.