Posts in Faith
What We've Been Waiting For

With the early sunsets this time of year, there’s a quiet that sets in over my neighborhood much earlier each night. A silence that feels unfamiliar. During other times of the year, we typically hear families strolling the neighborhood, babes and pups in tow. 

But this season is quiet and still.

I can’t help but think of the 400 years of silence among the Jewish people and their God before Jesus broke the silence. He was silent for 14 generations. Can you imagine? No one’s great-great-great-great grandma to tell stories of the miraculous - of seas parted or kingdoms conquered.

On the blog this week, I'm sharing a few thoughts on advent - that season of preparing our hearts in great expectation of opening His sweetest, kindest gift on Christmas morning. Grab a cup of coffee and come join me!

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FaithJulie HillsFaithComment
Blog Series: Prayers for Dead Seasons Part 2

As I shared in the first post in this series, I’ve been convicted recently to take God at His word. Do I really believe that all things are possible for God, or is it just something people say because it sounds pretty? What would my life look like if I took Him at His word? If I truly believed His promises? Would I live or speak differently?

If you’ve ever watched someone die, you know what it looks like the moment they take their last breath. They’re still “them” until their last breath is gone. 

I stood in the room as a family member struggled to breathe his last breath and as I’ve read through this passage, I’ve thought about how rude it would have been to command him to breathe after he was gone. Family members would’ve been offended, or at minimum, looked at me like a crazy person. But this is exactly what God did in one of Ezekiel’s recorded visions.

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10 Instagram Accounts that Bring me JOY!

I just have to let you know that this post follows none of the rules. I get exactly $0 for posting about these accounts. There are no collaborations in the works. None of the people listed below know I’m posting about this. I honestly just wanted to share some of the accounts that remind me of my source of JOY every single day. The ones who continually point me back to Jesus and set my eyes back on Him.

The word “JOY” can be found hundreds of times in the Bible. The Father longs for us to experience joy...and not just a little bit. He wants us to experience it in abundance! 

The Word says that we can usher in joy by shouting, jumping, and praising God. This means that even in the midst of the hardest season and even through tears, if we smile and jump around, JOY will enter the room. We can offer Him a sacrifice of praise even when life gets hard and we don’t understand why our prayers are left unanswered.

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2019 Moms in the Making Conference

I've finally had time to process the 2019 MITM Conference and I'm so excited to share some of the things I learned with you all today! If you've been around here for more than a hot second, you know how near and dear to my heart this ministry is.

Flipping back through my notes and the photos from the conference reignited a fire in my soul to share this message: You are loved. There is a place for you. You are enough. If you've walked through a season of waiting or disappointment, or if you've struggled with infertility, there is a place for you here.

Please reach out if you or someone you know could use a little more hope today. There is an army of women waiting with open arms to receive you and give you the biggest hug!

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The Other 4-Letter-F-Word Christians aren’t Supposed to Say

What do we do when fear sets in? I’m not talking about the reverent, awesome fear of the Lord we read about in the Bible. That is a healthy type of fear that leads to wisdom, faith, and surrender.

I am talking about the fear that was born in the pit of hell. The fear that is not holy, not from God, and must be cast out by perfect love. I am talking about the fear that keeps us frozen, seized, and immobilized in its tight grip.

It’s normal to feel fearful or worried. It’s natural to deal with anxiety. But “natural” and “normal” are not Kingdom standard. It’s what we do with those feelings that matters most. Our first move after the wave of fear washes over us.

On the blog tonight, I'm engaging in a case study on two men. Both of their stories started the same, but they ended very differently.

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FaithJulie HillsFaithComment
42 Pounds

Getting a little raw and vulnerable on the blog tonight. Looking back on the last 13 years, I wonder what else I've gained besides just a bunch of weight. 

I’ve never actually learned how to restrict myself. I never had to learn the discipline of self control when it came to food. I could eat whatever I wanted and the weight would just kind of work itself off. I could just eat a little lighter for a day or two and then I’d be back to my normal weight. But then 35 hit!

Working out is hard. Restriction is hard. Discipline is hard. And what does God think about all of this? Are we free to pack on the pounds or does He have anything to say about this matter?

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Girls Trip: Waco, TX

Last month, a group of girls and I decided to extend an already packed girls' weekend and we made it a girls' WEEK!

We did all of the Waco things - including Whizz-Piggs and mammoth sightings. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you have to check it out! There's so much more to see than some old silos in Waco, TX!

Girls' weekends are so good for the soul and these girls were just the best. Can't wait for our next trip!

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New Blog Series: Prayers for Dead Seasons

Lately I’ve had two questions floating in my head that I just can’t shake - Do I really believe that all things are possible for God, or is it just something that sounds pretty? and What would my life look like if I took Him at His word? If I truly believed His promises? Would I live or speak differently? Do I just sing about the goodness of God or do I really believe it? Do I really believe that He is greater than sickness, cancer, divorce, or any other impossible situation we see in the natural? Do I really believe that He will fulfill all of His promises and that His Word will not return void?

And if the answer is yes to these questions, is there evidence in my life that would back it up? Do my words reflect the core beliefs in my heart? Ok, so I guess there are more than two questions. It’s just big stuff, guys.

I honestly didn't even plan it this way, but I'm beginning a new series on prayers for DEAD seasons on Halloween night. When I started writing this post, I’d already hit over 5,000 words, so that was a pretty clear sign that it needed to be a series. This post is for me just as much, if not more, than it is for anyone else. Holy Spirit is leading me through these things and teaching me how to trust Him in every season.

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When the “I AM” says, “I Will”

This post was birthed out of a phrase the Holy Spirit has said to me hundreds of times over the last six months. As I read His Word, He continually whispers, "When the I AM says, 'I WILL,' you need to listen closely. You need to lean in." 

I've heard a lot about the promises of God, but I long to understand them even better. I want to claim His promises as my own. I want to declare His promises over my life and do life with people who will do the same. Check out the post for a (fairly) exhaustive list of the I AM's "I will" statements. I've also included a FREE Promises of God printable in the post!

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One Year #Blogiversary!

3,668 VISITORS. 8,183 PAGE VIEWS. 31 COUNTRIES.

One year ago, I began a new journey with Jesus. A word journey. And I can't believe I made it one whole year posting weekly blogs. I honestly wasn't sure if I'd make it to this point! Check out some of my favorite posts from this year as well as two prophetic words I received recently when I asked the Father if I should continue blogging for another year.

It feels vulnerable to put these out there and share how He spoke to me, but if it demystifies the prophetic for at least one person, it's worth sharing. He's a good Father and He loves speaking to His children!

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Blog Series: Our Testimonies - Jessica Colwell

I'm so excited to finish out my testimony series with this fire cracker today! Jessica is one of those girls that makes you feel like the only person in the room. She genuinely cares about her friends and takes intentional time to pour into them.

There is so much power in the words she shared in this post and I know everyone who reads it will be blessed. You'll have to read the post to truly understand the beauty of this girl's heart.

"As I looked back on the not-so-good moments of my life, the ones that I thought defined me, I saw Jesus’ loving arms holding me in each one and I was no longer a victim, but instead a child of God who stood in an unshakable place of victory from the moment Jesus died on the cross!"

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Come Away With Me: Arizona

A little over a year ago, Holy Spirit put a huge desire on my heart to go away with Him. To rest. To just be quiet and still.

In a world where nothing stops, He was calling me to press pause. With this second "Jesus retreat," I didn’t want to put too many expectations on the trip, or on Him. I just wanted to follow His lead and see where it took us. This trip was so different than the first one in all the best ways.

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Blog Series: Our Testimonies - Donna Miller

Everyone needs a Donna Miller in their life, particularly this one. She is a LIGHT to every person she meets. She is OVERFLOWING with joy and gratitude. She is just one of the BEST, you guys.

She embodies the book of Proverbs AND the heart of Jesus. I wish I was kidding, but I’m not. Solomon wrote so much on wisdom, but more than anything, Proverbs 13:20 reminds me of my friend Donna. "If you want to grow in wisdom, spend time with the wise. Walk with the wicked and you’ll eventually become just like them."

I would follow her anywhere. I can’t wait for you to read her testimony. If you don’t have someone you’re walking next to in life that is leading you towards wisdom, holiness, and godliness, then I pray that our Father would bring someone along your path. Enjoy reading, friend!

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If Jesus Had Met Me

It's taken me over a year to write this post. It wasn't an easy one to write and it isn't easy to share. But, Holy Spirit finally gave me the words I needed, so my fingers just kept typing. 

This is what it comes down to for me, friends…

I’ve noticed that Jesus was amazed by two things during His ministry: an abundance of faith and a lack of faith. He was amazed at the amount of faith of a captain of the Roman army (Matthew 8:10) and he was shocked at the lack of faith from the people in His own hometown (Mark 6:6.)

On the blog today, I'm covering a controversial topic that most people want to avoid (as I did for a long time) - the healing power of Jesus and the role of our faith. Also...don't miss out on the FREE downloadable print at the end of the post!

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Blog Series: Our Testimonies - Terre Workman

Have you ever met someone and just instantly knew that you needed to know them? Like really know them? Like you wanted to dig in and know every single thing about their story? Terre is that person for me. And when I heard just a fraction of her beautiful testimony at church one morning, I knew I needed to hear more.

So, when Holy Spirit put this series on my heart, hers was the first face I saw after I asked Him who I should interview. It was so obvious, so clear. I just had to know more.

Friends, I know this post is long. I know it might take you a few sessions of reading a few minutes at a time to get through it, but I promise you…it will be  W O R T H  I T! Terre has one of the most beautiful testimonies I’ve ever heard of how our Father reclaims every part of our lives when we surrender to Him. How He completely covers our past, forgives and forgets our sin, walks with us in our present, and anoints every step of our future.

Her stories of building friendship and intimacy with the Father, of participating with Jesus and healing her mother on hospice, and so many others built my faith time and time again as I read her beautiful testimony.

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What I Learned After Reading My Angsty High School Poetry

Before I get into everything, it must be said:

If your high schooler is enrolled in creative writing, stop everything and go give that teacher a hug. And flowers. And send them Tiff's Treats. They're the real heroes.

There are so many other pieces I found that were so awful I couldn’t even post them here. BUT, there were notes - sweet, sweet notes - written by my creative writing teacher that showed genuine interest and concern. Reading the pieces I submitted 20 years later, I left with sore eyes and a headache because I couldn’t stop rolling my eyes while reading this junk!

I couldn’t believe there was a sweet soul out there who took the time to invest in us, a room full of smelly misfits with our absurd 15-year-old emotions. ALL the emotions and not enough deodorant. Goodness!

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Blog Series: Our Testimonies - Melissa Forster

I’m so excited to “introduce” my readers to this incredible woman tonight. If you don’t know her already, you’re guaranteed to feel like she’s your best friend by the end of this post!

When I was brainstorming with Holy Spirit who I should interview for this series, I just smiled when He brought her to mind. She's an incredibly hilarious, passionate writer, the most loyal friend you'll ever meet, and is just drenched in love, hope, and grace. I can't say enough about how thankful I am to know her and how her blog posts (and sweet friendship) have encouraged me in my own journey.

Her post covers all the things, y'all. I know everyone who reads it will relate to at least one part of her story of learning what it means to have friendship with the Father, dealing with worry and anxiety, learning how to wait well, and so much more. Thank you for your words, my friend. We're all better off because of them.

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Puffed up or Built up?

While driving to work a few weeks ago, I came across a passage that literally stopped me in my tracks. Has that ever happened to you?

I was listening to the Bible app in my car and heard a verse that took my breath away. I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s true! I ended up listening to the same chapter over and over again, probably five or six times.

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