The Negative "-ion" Series

We continue to scratch our heads when we look and see the readers that visit here and where they come from. We're not here as often as we like but we are so grateful for you. We truly just our three moms who are navigating deeper waters of Christian faith...by faith. We're willing to let God use us in spite of us.

This is the case with today's post. I have no idea why He's downloading to my heart, but I am so grateful and wanting to be a good steward with what He gives. A month or so ago a series of events hit around me and I was in prayer tying to piece them all together.

God let me know there is a common denominator: deception. As a whole we're believing a lie and the lie is that we are the defeated one. The Lord is loving on His kids letting them know it's not so. Deception is just a word, a negative word that has -ion on the end. The thing is, He's ready to exchange those negative -ions for positive ones.

So the first download He gave me was getting rid of deception. Embrace the truth that the real defeated one is not you. It's the true defeated one, satan. He's desperate and talk about a recession, now there is an organization on a failing budget. The defeated one has to use cheap tricks because it's all he can afford. So the negative -ion words I will share are ones the defeated one has been using on us because they used to work. In Jesus' name, we're done with those words, choices, and beliefs. We're instead embracing the + -ion words.

So if you fell for something or someone in 2009 or earlier that left you thinking how on Earth did I fall for that deception? You're not alone. You're not alone if you've spent a season or more thinking you are the defeated one. You aren't. You are a celebration. A Child of Christ. A miracle, a wonder. His delight.

I hope this touches your heart. I'll be sharing more of these thoughts here. If you want a sneak peek, I invite you to find me on Facebook. I have a group called Julie Arduini: The Surrendered Scribe where I send the -ion messages once a week to them first. I'm also sharing those messages at The Cypress Times.

Have a wonderful week living it out in celebration!


Julie Arduini is a writer and speaker residing in NE Ohio with her husband and two children.  Her first published fiction work is included in Delivered by the Peculiar People Postcard Project.  To see her complete writing and speaking resume, please visit her at her website.

Checking In...

Remember me? I don't know where the summer went but I can't believe it's been this long since a Narrow Gate post. I know a bit is going on with Kim and Maria, but today I'll give you my update. God is downloading a lot, and I hope in the coming days and weeks I can share it here.

This summer is "watch Julie spin her tires trying to know it all by fall" season. With both kids in school full time this fall, I want to know His plan yesterday. If you follow me on Facebook (Julie Arduini from Ohio) you know I recently wrote how I relate to Noah. I have specific blueprints, limited vision, no rain before, and people most likely think I'm nuts. The praise is I've read the rest of the ark story and things go well for Noah. I serve that same God.

I know I'm meant to write and public speak. I know encouraging women is at the heart of what I do, and that surrender seems to be the brand most people identify my name with. My husband and I are taking baby steps in creating a website. The little vision He's given me is big. Pretty big for someone who doesn't have a finished manuscript. Talk about faith walking!

I plan to offer a newsletter with the website. If folks subscribe, I want to offer them a free short story via PDF file. The story is called Discovering Nancy Struthers. What sets this apart is that this story will continue on Twitter and through the newsletter. I will create a separate Twitter account where readers can learn more about Nancy Struthers and her escaping ways. My hope is to add a chapter with each newsletter.

That's as far as I see it, and that's ok. I've worried, fretted, ate, whined, vented and cried my way through the summer wanting more answers and I am at peace. The vision is coming and He's just asking me to be prepared and obey.

Please join me as I leap off that proverbial faith cliff!

To read my work on a more regular basis, please find me at The Surrendered Scribe.


Julie Arduini is a writer and public speaker living in NE Ohio. Her latest work is included in Kathy Vick's Run Like a Girl, available now. She also moderates the Love Dare over at Christian Women Take Root and thinks she is going to make her superficial goal of watching Smallville Seasons 1-7 on Netflix.

Agent of Truth

I confess, I enjoy Facebook. Not the changes so much, but the opportunity it gives to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. From a writing ministry aspect, it's opened many friendship doors.

One of my Facebook friends is someone I haven't met in person but she is a sister in Christ who is kind enough every once in awhile to respond to my updates. My updates can range anywhere from my espresso addiction to deep thoughts. After such a deep thought she gave a nice response in return. With it, she said something that caught my attention.

I sound like an agent of truth.

You know, this isn't a bad thing. The way she worded it is a whole lot better than how it's said in the Freaky Friday remake: "Fun sucker." Seems like when I just utter something that makes total sense, I'm most likely killing someone's fun.

But I'd also like to think more than not I'm sharing His love and encouragement. That kind of truth needs to spread a whole lot more, but we're so politically correct, we hope we smile and our message spreads through our pained expressions on our faces.

I want you to know you are loved. You need to know unless you completely turn around and grieve the Holy Spirit, you most likely don't need to worry about your place in Christ if you've already asked Him to be your Savior. The fact that you ask tells me you most likely didn't take your name off the books, so to speak.

Are you going to get the same reward as Mother Theresa? Probably not, but her faith and service were for eternity, just like mine. But our rewards are going to be different. Is this a license to sin---not even. Our goal on Earth should be not just a relationship with Christ, but a resemblance to Him that others recognize. Hard to accomplish that drunk off your rocker, don't you think?

I don't want to be an agent of conflict or an agent of dissension, but I don't want to hold back, either. This agent of truth upholds life, the Bible, and marriage between one man and one woman. I don't have a monkey for an uncle even though I'm sure some of my family may accuse me of being bananas.

So I've been called a lot of things, but agent of truth sounds like a keeper.

How about you?

By the way, you can find me on Facebook under Julie Arduini. There are two of us, I'm the older one who lives in NE Ohio. I am not the (Julia)track star in college nor am I the young lady (Julie)living in France.

I'm also on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JulieArduini