Restore > Equip > Empower Blog

Family Reflections...

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 22:37:50 GMT

Family Reflections...

Looking Forward & Looking Back Together

Hello, 2023!

The new year is a natural time to reflect on the last year and look toward the coming days of the new year. I am not normally super strategic about this, but felt Holy Spirit's prompting throughout December to create time and space for this with my family. So, I came up with 10 questions to help us look back and look forward. Our kids are 11, 14 & 16 so it seemed like a great time to start this now-annual tradition!

You know those family moments that feel so RICH and like TRULY MEANINGFUL TOGETHERNESS?

This was that.

We were honest. We shared our hearts. We encouraged and supported each other.

Imperfectly. But, it was great.

Everyone had a piece of paper and writing utensil. As I read each question, we quietly wrote down our answers. Once we had all 10 questions answered, we came together and all shared our answers to #1...then all shared our answers to #2 etc. Finally, we prayed. We each chose something to thank God for from the last year and something to pray about in the coming year.

Here are my 10 questions...

Give them a whirl! Or come up with your own versions based on your kids' ages!

What was 1 highlight from 2022?
What is 1 thing you are looking forward to in 2023?
What is 1 thing you hope for in 2023 (non-material)?
What do you want to do more of in 2023?
What do you want to do less of in 2023 (school and chores are not valid answers...ha!)?
What was something God did in 2022 that you get to celebrate?
What is something God might be calling you to in 2023?
When did you have the chance to be brave in 2022?
What 'rhythm' did you have in 2022 that served you well to grow in your faith?
What 'rhythm' might help for 2023?

Drop a comment if you intend to try this exercise! I would LOVE to hear how it goes for you!

Restoration

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:29:26 GMT

to RESTORE...

“to bring back; to return something to its former condition; to recover”

Let's talk about restoration. It’s a beautiful process with furniture and homes, but not always quick and easy! Restoration is even more beautiful when it’s in our hearts, minds and souls...but rarely a quick or easy process. First, we have to strip away lies we believe, then catch a vision for what could be! I’ve had the privilege of getting a front row seat to watch restoration of the soul take place in my own life and in others'…and what a sight!

We're all made to live in alignment with God's view of who we are...but life happens. It is so easy to believe human criticism as truth. I bet most of us could recall something critical someone said to or about us from years ago. Those stick with you! But, that's not the end…

God created each of us with specific giftings, influence, and core values on purpose. My heart is to restore your belief about who you are to its original condition through coaching and partnering with the Holy Spirit. To bring it back into alignment with God and what He says is true about you.

There is so much HOPE & FREEDOM in the restoration of our souls...it may take some time & investment, but the end result is always worth the journey.

Over and over I’ve met with people who see their giftings as boring or not ones they would choose. BUT GUESS WHAT? Every single gift or talent, personality trait, enneagram number or strength is important in this world. Every one of them…whether you like yours or not! So, why not choose to restore your hope in what God wants to do in, through and for you and step into the freedom of loving who God made you to be and what God has created you to do throughout this life?

“He will fill you with refreshment even when you are in a dry, difficult place. He will continually RESTORE strength to you, so you will flourish like a well-watered garden and like an ever-flowing, trustworthy spring of blessing.” (Isaiah 58:11 TPT)

“And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully RESTORE you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.” (1 Peter 5:10 TPT)

A prayer for your day…

Lord, I am asking today that you would personally & powerfully RESTORE our passion for life! RESTORE our strength! Build us up and empower us to flourish like well-watered gardens in this life. I want to RESTORE my trust in You and who You say I am. May Your voice be the loudest one I hear today…speak Truth and life. Amen.

We’re all on our own journey, but we don’t have to navigate it alone. I would love to come alongside you as He restores your soul to align with what He says is true! Contact me via my website form ( https://www.definedministries.com/contact ) or email me to start meeting!

I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below! What resonated?

Welcome to Defined Ministries

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 19 May 2021 05:24:50 GMT

Restore >> Equip >> Empower. Jesus is in the business of restoring, equipping & empowering. He does these 3 things and calls us to partner with Him to do them too!

Welcome to Defined Ministries!

I am so thankful you are here! I am Julie and I’d love to tell you about who I am and what brought me to this place.

Over the last 4+ years, God has been speaking to me about my journey with Him. A couple people from our church had dreams about me with a common thread - ‘emergence’ and ‘beginning to dream again’. I quickly realized the ‘dreamer’ in me had shut down at some point.

Then God literally healed me from pain in my back due to curvature of the spine. The curve was still there, but the pain wasn’t. What a gift! More importantly, God healed me from life-long issues with my reflection in the mirror. He began the work of restoring my soul: to be genuinely able to agree with Him about how He feels about me, who He created me to be and what purposes He has specifically for me.

At the time, I didn’t know what to do with other people’s dreams...or any of the other prophetic words people had spoken over me about writing and continuing to speak and teach. Honestly? I’m still struggling with the idea of writing or being a writer...even as I write this. Ha! God is doing a work in me and I trust He will continue to equip me for what He is calling me into.

Fast forward a couple years and I started actually dreaming again...of ministry with a friend that quickly became a rough draft of Defined Ministries. COVID hit and the world stood still for a while. As I grieved the end of that ministry partnership due to a different job direction for my friend as well as a move, I also grieved Defined.

Then I heard Holy Spirit say, “I want you to take it and run.” He has empowered and sent me. With my friend’s blessing, a few tweaks and new dreams added into the mix, here we are!

I’ve been leaning into the 3 words God gave me as a tagline for Defined Ministries. Restore >> Equip >> Empower

We will explore the meaning and what Jesus says about each of these 3 words over the next several weeks!

We’re all on our own journey, but we don’t have to navigate it alone. I just shared where God has brought me and how I got here. I would love to help you see how God can restore, equip and empower you, too! He is so able!

I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below about who you are, what brought you here & what resonates with you from this post.