THIS is The Church in the valley

April 1, 2013 by Jules 4 Comments

Vilonia, formerly Vilsonia, is the city of two valleys.

1 Kings 20:28 (NIV)

²⁸The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Having already canvassed the neighborhoods, telling of the good news that another move of God was about to sweep through their town, the church in the valley opened the doors of their building to the community on Easter 2013.

The church in the valley has poured sweat, blood, and tears over the redemption of the old dollar general building they’ve chosen to use for a gathering space. In two short months, a family has formed; ties have been knotted; The Church has gathered. With much anticipation of life change, this group of believers is now has a space ready to invite friends, families and other captives to join them on Sundays to celebrate the living God.

As they met early Easter morning, giddiness spilled over the entire place. Bright-eyed after only a few hours of sleep, these people gazed at the parking lot as it filled with cars. Cars full of those in need of Christ and His church. They began to pour in and suddenly men had to wheel in more chairs to accommodate those attending the first official gathering of this new extension of The Church. Prayers went up before the worship service began. Not of fear but of thanksgiving. God had already answered so many God-sized dreams. The fickle prayers had been blown out of the water. These people now sit with their arms open wide. Waiting. Waiting to see how God will show up next. Beyond expectation.

People. Not a space. Are God's Church.

THIS is The Church in the valley:

Filed Under: Cool Ministries, Testimony, The DeChurched, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The Ones about The Valley Church

To Redeem

March 29, 2013 by Jules 2 Comments

One of my new favorite concepts to {almost} grasp about God...to redeem something.

Redeem:

To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.
To pay off.
To turn in and receive something in exchange.
To fulfill.
To convert into cash.
To set free; rescue or ransom.
To save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences.
To make up for.
To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of.

One of my favorite ways to SEE this is currently in our "old dollar general" building we have been allowed to "redeem". This well-worn, grungy, passed down, forgotten, abandoned, in-need-of-much-love building is now being redeemed, not just because it is becoming a space for the church to meet but because it is being recovered, converted, restored into a useable, worth-while, place of value.

Watching the simple lease being signed gave me hope. Hope that there will be one less vacant building in a community we are praying flourishes. Seeing a group of people see this space as something other than its past with excitement about its potential is intoxicating. Being a part of this group who now feels this place is worth investing in, working on, and helping transform, shows me a glimpse of what Christ has done for me.

I was {and still am} a worn, grungy, passed down, forgotten, abandoned, in-need-of-love person. I have been redeemed, not just for a ticket into heaven one day but for now, because I am recovered from the grime; converted and restored into someone usable, worth-while and given value; not because of my decision to become a bond-servant of Jesus but because He chose to redeem me.

Know Jesus came because He loves us in our brokenness, not because we are "worth dying for" but because we are a creation of THE Creator to whom we owe all praise. We can now be intoxicated by His desire to give God the glory through giving us new potential. Covered by His robe of righteousness, I am now being invested in, worked on, and transformed!

Do you know the life change that can only be found in being redeemed by the only One who can redeem, pay in full, recover God's ownership of us by paying a specified sum- DEATH of a sinless person who has power OVER Death. That is Easter. THAT is the ultimate Redemption.

UPDATE: Totally just bought these giant letter from DaySpring that spell out REDEEMED for the valley's entry.

COUPON CODE: WATF30 = $14 {expire Tuesday, April 9^th at midnight CST}

#winning Thanks WeareTHATfamily #weareredeemed

 contains affiliate links

Filed Under: Holidays, Testimony, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The ones about the Rothacher Home, The Ones about The Valley Church

Team Jesus or Team Me?

March 27, 2013 by Jules 2 Comments

My children sit in the backseat squabbling. With months of travel under their belts they've run out of games, drawing pads, and have flat worn out the portable DVD players, and me! Now...they pick fights. That's entertaining, right?

Izzie, middle child {wamp wamp wamp} apparently has nothing better to do than to find interesting ways to become noticed. Drama Queen. Her new favorite? State falsehoods. What is that you say? Being a doober! Izzie will, mid-conversation, suddenly state that the grass outside the window is blue. Yep. That's right. Complete and utter lie. Who cares, you may be thinking? Why would she do that? Because MAGGIE cares!

Maggie, first child {wamp wamp wamp} will melt at the first inkling of something false. She thrives on truth, memorization, and basically being right. She will freak out!!! You know the kicking, screaming, thrashing, mom-Izzie-is-saying-things-that-aren't-true kind of freaking out. She will not cease until all is right with the world again...in defense of that poor GREEN, not blue, grass.

Izzie, she could care less what the correct name is for the color of the grass. She is enjoying life, cruising along on her road trip, laughing to herself over the free entertainment she has created for herself.

Jamin, youngest child {wamp wamp wamp} doesn't have a care in the world and, in between laughing at the girls squabble, is making sure his own juice cup is topped off.

Our Godly-parenting solution? "Maggie, who cares?!? Is Izzie right? No. Does it matter? Not really. She knows she's wrong, you know she's wrong, we know she's wrong, she knows we know she's wrong. Your screaming at her doesn't change any of that. Hush."

Hmmmm, interesting. God always teaches me intriguing things when my kids are being annoying boogers.

Same Sex Marriage...or any controversial topic for that matter,
some of you may already see where I'm going with this...maybe I don't need to explain...

Drama filled trips with my littles is almost as fun-filled as watching adults create drama out of literal thin air on Facebook...not!

"But they're wrong & its a sin!"

Christians, who cares?!?

Are they right? No. {based on scripture alone not your stinky opinion}

Does it matter? Not really. {God's opinion & record of wrong is the only thing that matters}

They know we believe its wrong and a sin.
You know we believe its wrong and a sin.
They knows we know we believe its wrong and a sin.

Is your screaming, ranting, protesting, changing profile pictures AT them really gonna change any of that? <Tweet This>

Setting up "battle lines" is pure silliness and is accomplishing nothing but making sure everyone in the "car" knows we know we're "right". Battle lines imply we're in a war and we are, but not against the people picking fights with. {We wage war not against flesh and blood 2 Corinthians 10:3-4} We are not soldiers defending God either. I mean, really...He doesn't need defending and by who...us? bwahahaha.

We are actually messengers of his grace and goodness. {2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."}

We have escaped the prison of sin and death, and now are assigned the rescue mission of aiding the POW's still captive.
The problem comes when the POW fires at us. They don't realize they're a prisoner, and they view us as a threat coming to do them harm. When we "fire back" at them, we've drawn up battle lines that we shouldn't. We are to continue to plead with them to come to Christ (to escape the prison that is sin).

It would just be mean of us to stand outside the prison taunting them with picket signs announcing their captivity.

Attempt rescue missions. That's all we can do. Debating never changes a point of view. Debates just keep points: a record of rights and wrongs. If we love, viewing everyone as a friend to be rescued, the mission will change our tactics.

This week, of what should be reflection, lets reevaluate which team are we are standing with. Team Jesus: meekness, humility, love, truth. OR Team Me: aggressiveness, defense, pride and boasting in the name of "truth" which comes out, not as love, but hate? The chose is yours. And no, you don't have to wear the t-shirt.

If this post resonated with you and/or know someone who needs to hear, not all who call themselves Christians are tools, please share.

Filed Under: Current Events/News, Testimony, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The ones about the Rothacher Home

I got my FIX

March 25, 2013 by Jules Leave a Comment

Guess What Came Last Thursday!?!

In the midst of all the craziness going on in our lives, who has time to shop? Especially if you loath the idea of squeezing your chubby body into cute-in-the-picture clothes while in a tiny box where you will inevitably cry in dissatisfaction. Not me! I would prefer do this at home. At least with my daughter watching and attempting to snap pics with my camera phone in the comfort of my own {borrowed} home, I can be easier to identify the laughable moments when my get stuck inside the cute shirt that doesn't quite fit right.

Any how...That's neither here nor there. I want to tell you about a cool thing I found online via another blogger friend. {not getting paid for the review...unless someone wants to chip in. bahahaha}

Stitch Fix

Before you get the shabby chic box shown above you need to go to stitchfix.com and "Get Started".
They will have you create an account, fill out a "style profile". This is an in depth way for you to tell them what you usually wear, what you would like to wear, fashion you like/don't like {detailed!}, sizes and so on. So cool!
Then you will choose a "fix date". That means, the date you'd like them to deliver you "fix"- a box of 5 handpicked items that "your stylist" chooses for you to try. Fun, no??
When your adorable packaging comes, Here's How It Works:

Discover what's in your fix
Try on all goodies in your "Fix". Mix and match with items you already have to see if you like them, if they fit, if they go with what you already own. They even give you cute little "reference cards" with each items for how to where them different ways. Nice for those {like me} who don't care about fashion.
Decide what you're keping and what's going back
Take 3 days to decide which items you'll keep and which you'll return. They give you a package with shipping already paid so you can load the bag with items you're sending back and slip it directly into any mailbox. If you're keeping it all then no shipping is required.

Just so you understand I'm not crazy & so you can see my 4-year-olds mad camera skills, here are the items I recieved...on: These are the items "my stylist" chose and sent to me.
Check Out online
Go right back to stitchfix.com and "complete your return survey". This is another cool way they find out how better to choose items for you. Tell them pros & cons about each item, if your keeping/returning, and then pay for what you are gonna add to your closet. You can even schedule "monthly fixes". Even for a girl who doesn't linke shopping, this was pretty fun!
They were all so cute...but just not me. They're adorable in the pic, like the colors {okay} but I look like a goof and just can't pay the pretty price tag.

For me, there were only a few things I didn't like about my "Fix". I was excessively {if not finatical} about telling them I'm a modest and comfy girl. I know those two things mean completely different things to Everyone but I personally just didn't like that the only pants I got were leggings, both button downs were nearly see through, and one of them had very low cut button line. My other issue was, even among the section where they ask, "How much would you ideally spend on items in each of the following categories? We'll do our very best!" the lowest numerical option is "$50-100" then it just says, "the cheaper the better"...of Course I chose "the cheaper the better" but 2 of my items where $59.99 and 3 where 69.99. WAY out of my price range. I am heart pressed to spend $25 on jeans and rarely spend $20 on a shirt. I know, I know. That's crazy. But even had these items been $30, I might have considered them.

All in all, Stitch Fix was a really cool experience! I would possibly consider doing it again if I needed a special outfit for a VERY special occasion. Which you can specify, by the way!

Have you tried it? Tell me about your experience!!!!

NOTE: I do get $25.00 in credit when my 
friends get their first Fix using my links.

Filed Under: Products I've Tried, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Adopt a Baby – Only $10

March 1, 2013 by Jules Leave a Comment

Today I have a guest post from a sweet friend Christie, of Satisfaction Through Christ. We both run in the same circles among bloggers, both contribute to the Homemaker's Challenge and both have hearts for adoption. Many of you may think I'm crazy for always talking about how much I support adoption, seeing as how I've only birthed all 3 of my children, but don't you worry! When God gives the "GO!" we're on it!!! In the mean time, I wanna do all I can for the families who are already in that phase of life. I ask Christie to share part of their story with you all because I know you would love an opportunity to support others until its your turn as well!

A month ago we received a phone call saying that we'd been chosen by a young birth mother in Florida. Chosen for what? To adopt her baby! A story that started on January 10 from a simple Facebook message has turned our world upside down, for the greater! For the full story and our adoption announcement, please visit here.

A few weeks ago our adoption agency gave us 15 days to come up with the first $10,000 needed for our precious baby girl's adoption. To say that we were not prepared for this is an understatement! As you read in our adoption announcement, we were waiting on fertility results the day that my friend contacted me. So, to need $10,000 in such a short amount of time was a bit overwhelming. But, the Lord soon laid an idea on my heart -- Operation 10:10:1 {10 Days: $10: 1 Baby Girl}!

I knew that friends and family were just as overwhelmed with the cost of adoption as I was and I figured, let's just chip away $10 at a time!

In 10 days we raised $10,019....what an awesome God we serve!In addition to fundraising we've sold our own things and cut down on our spending. We are committed to doing all that we can to bring our baby girl home. We've almost met our next goal of $6,100 but we're fervently in prayer for the final $17,000 we will need when our little girl is born around April 6.Currently, we are doing online auctions to help raise funds and we continue to believe that the Lord will provide every bit of what we need to accomplish His will for our lives.

So, will you join us today as we seek to be obedient to the call that the Lord has on our lives? We knew when we said, "Yes", that this was so much bigger than ourselves. But, we knew that the body of Christ was big enough to accomplish it! We are so thankful for any size donation that you'd like to give and we assure you that every bit of it will go towards loving a little baby girl for life!

Christie is a Pastor’s wife, adoptive mom to a beautiful little girl, and an aspiring homemaker! She daily strives to keep her home tidy, but fails miserably! God’s grace continually proves enough. She and her husband, Quintell, live in North Carolina where they have been serving at a local church for 3 years! In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family, blogging, and Clemson football! After five years of marriage, she’s still getting the hang of homemaking! Follow along as she seeks to please Him in all that she does!