The Maria He So Desperately Wants Me To See

Hello everyone!
I hope you all are having a peaceful summer….
I haven’t had much time to enter the gate, and I am happy to be back!

The summer has been busy here…
My daughter had her tonsils and adenoids removed, along with some injections to help relax her muscles. And now she has casts on both legs to stretch her muscles for awhile…sooo… I have been kind-of in stress mode since June.

In the midst of all of the craziness, I have learned that God uses stress to bring up all the things inside of me that I am still holding on to (even though I have claimed to give them to Him). So, once again, He is molding all of me—my thoughts, my words, my actions---into the Maria He sees, the Maria He so desperately wants me to see.

Thankfully, my daughter’s casts will be off next week, and we are headed to a real beach.
My kids have never seen the ocean, so I am looking forward to seeing the looks on their faces when they feel the sand on their feet, and feel the ocean waves splash their faces.

And I am looking forward to sitting still—something I don’t do very often.

Sitting, basking in the beauty of God’s creations, and enjoying the amazing family He has given me.

I will close the gate door for now, and I will return soon.
Maria

Maria and her family reside in NE Ohio. She and her husband are the parents of two. Their daughter is a person with hemipelegic cerebral palsy.Because of her experiences, Maria provides parent-to-parent support for families involved in her local early intervention program. Her gift for writing has come directly from the Lord since her daughter’s diagnosis. She writes a monthly column entitled, “Special Parents, Special Kids” for the Mahoning Valley Parent magazine in Ohio; and has expanded into Parent magazines in parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
She is also a contributing author at http://www.mommiesmagazine.com/.Maria's first published work is in Jan Ross and Jeanice McDade's Women of Passion's anthology, "Ordinary Women Serving an Extraordinary God". Both Kim and Maria have been selected to have their work tentatively included in Lori Wagner's upcoming book, Quilting Patches of Life, Volume 2.

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.

Taken With You

I shared this over at Christian Women Take Root and will tomorrow at the Surrendered Scribe. Yet, it's a message resonating so deep in my spirit, I wanted to share here as well. As you can see, it's a very busy season for each of us. We're so grateful you stopped by and we will post as God leads us. Thanks!

Recently I watched the Liam Neeson movie, Taken. It's an action adventure thriller rated PG-13 for violence, language and theme. I'm not saying it is a Christian movie at all. I'm sharing what God showed me about His intense Love for us in relation to the movie. If this kind of movie is something you typically watch, does any of this resonate with you?


Taken is about a dad who after losing his marriage gave his successful career as a government "preventer" up to be closer to his teenaged daughter. They have a good relationship, but he wants it to be better. The ex wife is very bitter and not helpful, the new husband is the epitome of wealth, nice guy, but possible secrets.

The daughter has an opportunity to go across the world and spend time in another country, so her dad is led to believe. He learns it's more than that and feels betrayed, but allows her to go with restrictions.

She ends up taken almost immediately in the country for human trafficking.

And you can bet, daddy is going to do His all to get her back.

Here is what God Showed Me:

---Our Havenly Dad/Father is taken with us, even when we betray and/or let Him down.

---His arms are open and He will pursue you with unconditional love to the ends of the Earth.

---He is not a stern, miserable father, but a warrior dad who will protect and cover you with His undying love for you.

---Even if you can't see it, He is violently fighting the forces against you.

---No matter what you've done, said, thought about, He WILL come back for you. You just have to ask Him.

---The world offers so much and mocks boundaries, but in the end, things are just things and the One setting boundaries is the One who offers the most freedom in the world. The world will end up bowing down to the Dad who everyone made fun of at first.

If nothing else, KNOW He is TAKEN with YOU!

I'm not on my computer today so you're spared my picture! You can learn more about me, Julie Arduini, at The Surrendered Scribe. My next published work will be a story in Kathy Vick's giftbook, Run Like A Girl, by Howard/Simon and Schuster. It releases July 7.

I Just Can't Keep Quiet On This One: Especially for Memorial Day

I need to warn you---you are either going to totally understand, or roll your eyes and think, here she goes again.

I am the girl that cries when Neil Diamond's America plays. I devour history books and although I've never served in the military, for years I've had this burden to write to soldiers if nothing else, just to say thank you. I've never left North America and yet there is something in me that understands we are a blessed nation.

And I get pretty agitated when contemporary "intellectuals" try to re write history. I hate that my schooling never once mentioned creationism. I'm peeved that children today are to think that the Bible really has no place or memorial as a cornerstone of history.

What?

That is why the American Patriot's Bible needs to be in your hands.

I'm not kidding, I got choked up picking up the book. Just looking at the cover, it just is a gorgeous book for subject matter and artistic mastery. It made me think even further back in history when people died trying to print Bibles, and how carelessly society today treats the Bible in recognition and touch.

This will be our family Bible for a lot of reasons.

I enjoy the translation, New King James Version. I thought the font was easy on the reads for all ages, I even tried to imagine a senior citizen veteran perhaps, picking this book up. I think it would be very special to them.

There are also amazing features:

Full color presentation page and family record section

48 full-color insert pages, presented in 12 four-page sections

1,632 pages including illustrations, two-color Bible pages, 254, articles, and 66 book introductions.

I wanted to review this book right away for Memorial Day and because I was so excited. This book exceeded my high expectations. There are even text boxes that highlight Scripture that US Presidents used for their inaugurations. I loved that.

The profiles on founding Fathers, people throughout American history who used the Bible and believed in it, amazing profiles I did not know about. It is obvious a ton of research and editing went into this endeavor. From Patrick Henry to the crew of Apollo 8, it gives great information that stirs a patriotic feeling from head to toe.

I can't say I always tell readers to read the foreward, introduction and anything precluding a beginning chapter, but in this case, I'm begging you to. In a day where God is trying to be removed from everything, I relished reading the Seven Principles of Judeo-Christian ethic. The Call to Action page is impressive as well.

There is also a map of the United States, a list of each state and when it joined the union. There is a map at the back regarding the journeys of our patriarchs and a comprehensive concordance and subject index.

Are you sold yet? Summer is so much more than baseball and picnics--to me it's a season above all to really celebrate our country and all she means. If you are looking for a family Bible, a gift for a soldier, a veteran, a history lover or even a gift for yourself---look no further.

Book Description:
THE ONE BIBLE THAT SHOWS HOW ‘A LIGHT FROM ABOVE’ SHAPED OUR NATION. Never has a version of the Bible targeted the spiritual needs of those who love our country more than The American Patriot’s Bible. This extremely unique Bible shows how the history of the United States connects the people and events of the Bible to our lives in a modern world. The story of the United States is wonderfully woven into the teachings of the Bible and includes a beautiful full-color family record section, memorable images from our nation’s history and hundreds of enlightening articles which complement the New King James Version Bible text.

A You Tube video featuring The American Patriot's Bible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjHaNCre6do

You can buy here!






Julie Arduini knows the call on her life is to write and encourage others. She maintains a personal blog, The Surrendered Scribe, which reveals her writing resume. Her next published work will be a quote in Kathy Vick's Howard/Simon and Schuster gift book, Run Like a Girl. This will release July 7. She's also working with an awesome group of ladies at Christian Women Take Root who are journeying through The Love Dare. This is ongoing, so there is no wrong time to join!

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

Inviting you to the Christian Women Take Root Love Dare Challenge

This originally posted at my personal blog, The Surrendered Scribe.


It's Character Confession Time!



(This is a long one, but sometimes that just are how confessions are! If you want to pass any of this information on, especially about The Love Dare Challenge at Christian Women Take Root, please, please feel free. We don't want any women left out!)

To give my confession, I'll share a story. Years ago when I was a new mom I was at a church where once a year a guest preacher came to play his guitar and pray. I know folks squirm at the thought of someone praying over them and I get that, because I've seen the "thus saith the Lord" prophetic moment abused. But I'm also living proof God still uses donkeys to talk. Not that the preacher was a donkey, but I get I'm dust. I also get how fine the line is when someone prays over someone. So to be responsible with you, I will not say "thus saith the Lord" and if I feel like I'm supposed to share something, it's something I want you to go to God with, don't take the generalization I have in Him as gospel. I can assure you none of my prayer moments in this vein have encouraged anyone to drop everything and run to Africa---or Vegas--or leave their husband, etc...Simply put, people have asked me to pray for lost things and I have and returned with a thought that is not mine because I'm not that smart. I've said pray about it, and look there, that location kept coming back to me. And they did, and it was there, even though they looked there before. It's not a Julie thing, it's a God thing, and if you disagree, I understand, but it's central to my confession, this background. By the way, I'll jump on the soapbox for a second and say I'm not afraid of authentic prophetic moments due to the new age movement, counterfeit, psychic stuff the enemy has out there. Any tricks evil has is a counterfeit of what God already had going for His glory. We just saw it abused and got afraid. There, I'm off my soapbox.

I say all that to say at the end of that service, there was an altar call and this man prayed over people. Again, it wasn't thus saith the Lord, and it wasn't quit your job or marry that person. It was direction I believe at least for me, was Holy Spirit directed. This is what was imparted:

"You are frustrated because you look around and see all the people dealing with the little things, stressed because of the little things, and you get the big things. You wonder why doesn't that person over there have to deal with that? Why me? You know you are dust in My hands, that's why I use you. And as your faith grows you will continue to have those hard times, but you will have faith to speak to those big issues and say in His name, mountain move, and you will see it, in Jesus' name, move."

That's the gist of it. But no one, not even my husband, knew my heart then, and it was exactly where I was. Where peers were wondering about clothes and whether they would get a raise or not, I was nearly bedridden and infertile. I was so scared, but I prayed. Each day my prayer got stronger. That mountain disappeared.

The same for so many other issues. God uses our family to go through injustice or crisis for lessons in grace, forgiveness and trust. I am not a perfect example in any of these times, but I am learning to be a willing one.

And here I am.

On May 4, the social network Christian Women Take Root is kicking off The Love Dare Challenge At our own pace we each have a copy of the book The Love Dare, by Stephen Kendrick. This is a book from the movie Fireproof. Character Caleb Holt faces the end of his marriage when his dad hands him the book and dares him to give it a real try before divorce.

We're offering this as a group at Christian Women Take Root because I guess the cliche goes, "there's safety in numbers." The group is private, Christian, and for women only. Although we encourage women to take the challenge with their spouse, this is a place you can go with daily discussions that can encourage and show you are not alone. It's called dare because it isn't easy. No matter where your marriage is, God is asking you to take it to the next level. That can be scary.

That's why I'm a fraidy cat!

I'll be overseeing the group but trust me, it by no way means I have marriage perfected. It means God gave me a burden for marriages to live in a consistent state of oneness, or strive for it. There are times I fall flat on my face through my own selfishness, or I give what I think is my all and that oneness is not returned, again, because my spouse is human. I know the defeated one hates marriage, and I know anyone daring is going to have a target on their back.

That's where I'm done being a fraidy cat.

I am personally inviting you (unless you are a guy, then I ask you to pass this info on to your wife, mom, sister) to join Christian Women Take Root (if not already a member, membership is free) and then join the group, the Love Dare. There are so many other groups for women available, please check them all out. If you want to find me, I also facilitate Finding Freedom Through Surrender and Marriage: Striving for Oneness.

Discussions are going on at Love Dare group right now, and you are welcome to start your own. Your information will stay within the group and we absolutely will not tolerate someone having the courage to share in the group find that their information be passed on at a place like Facebook or Twitter. The Love Dare is a safe place where we can hold cyber hands together and trust God to change our hearts and our marriages.

One thing I want to really emphasize is just because it kicks off May 4, it doesn't mean we end in exactly 4o days. I'd rather we do this as we can, and from what I've heard and read, there are days where applying the challenge that day is going to take some "wrasslin'" with the Lord, yourself, and that takes time, been there, done that. Each lady is to take this at her pace as He directs. There will be a discussion for each day, but approach it as you feel led, and please don't feel obligated to participate in discussions, although we'd love it. Just come and feel encouraged, share your wisdom or experience.

But let's not be fraidy cats. We have mountains to move.

In Jesus' name.

Alter Call

photo from Flickr

Last night I was at a concert where our home church was the message and entertainment. One of our pastors was giving his testimony. I turned around to see the sound booth above and a projector giving the order of service.

The projection read thank you and alter call.

I turned again. Alter call? Isn't it altar call?

Or is it alter call?

Listening to the testimony I realized perhaps the correct spelling is altar, but the application is alter. I know when I step forward with that "burn in my belly" it's because I know God has something for me. It's going to transform me into a closer image of Him. It might not be that moment or that week, but it will happen.

And it will be altering.

Think about the next altar call you experience. Do you go forward? Do you respond in your seat? Do you respond at all? If you do, do you go forward in faith your life will change?

Do you ever respond to an alter call?



Julie Arduini is a wife, mom and surrendering writer. Her personal blog, The Surrendered Scribe, shows her writing resume. A graduate of the Christian Writers Guild, she is also a columnist with Take Root and Write. She has a tentative story to contribute to the Jeanette Littleton book, GodSightings. Her verse for 2009 is Deuteronomy 11:11-12. She's a new columnist with the daily online newspaper, The Cypress Times.

Risen Indeed!