We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
My heart hung like the humidity on my walk with God this morning.
Our conversation went something like this:
How come You didn’t tell me?
From His holy sanctuary, He let me know make every thought obedient to Me.
God, for the past two years people have asked me if I was a pastor or going to become a pastor, my answer was always I didn’t hear that from You.
Obey over sacrifice.
I never thought You wanted me to be a pastor. I thought speaker, author …
There is always a cost in obedience.
Lord, show me the way. Order my steps. I commit my life to You.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans (Proverbs 16:3).
Surprised?
So am I.
Have you recently considered the costs of following Jesus? There should be many. Not because He is counting, but because He is counter-cultural.
Thus far in my walk with Christ, I have lost friends and money (travel and expenses for conferences). Both of which Jesus says take a backseat to Him.
Now the cost is higher.
No matter who you are, your faith is on the hot seat. The world is an unexposed nerve. The devil is lurking, ready to pounce, drooling as he hunts his prey.
If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first (John 15:18).
So the world and its values do not make a good excuse why NOT to obey Christ. The world in all of its own glory is a dangerous place.
I can hear the naysayers about me becoming a pastor … who does she think she is, how long has she been a believer?
What did the naysayers say about Christ?
~He/His disciples shouldn’t work on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:2).
~He should condemn sinners, particularly women sinners (John 8:3-11).
~He should die even though He sinned not (Matthew 27:19-23).
None of the naysayers made sense then, and they won’t today either. Not when God says make every thought obedient to Me.
So if you have ever heard me speak, have you also wondered whether I was a pastor or going to become a pastor?
If you pray, would you be willing to lift me up to God Our Father and ask Him to make clear His will for my next step(s).
I would not have written this post if I didn’t hear my son Jackson say last night after hearing me teach/preach to my online class, “Mom, you should be a preacher not a computer teacher. You can still write books and stuff.”
Jackson’s matter-of-factness resembled God’s crystal clear make every thought obedient to Me.
See, I am a doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:19).
~~~
Welcome to all readers here today. It is a morning full of new mercies. Where would be without Christ?
How would we know our purpose? How would we know how to love, truly and sincerely love?
This post marks the beginning of a new climb, a new thing, a new adventure with Him. As with anything new, I have a million questions and welcome your prayers to double-Dibble check I am in His direct will with this.
How has God worked in your heart? Has He revealed anything new to you in the midst of the raging U.S. turmoil?
Feel free to share in the comments or email me at juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com.
All photos in this post are mine, taken on neighborhood walks.
May Our God of Angel Armies bless you today.
Love in Christ,
Julie
Julie Dibble, Speaker and Author 
Hi Julie !
I read this post after I had spent the morning contemplating the meaning of ‘heart’ in the Bible. It is mentioned 826 times, and the word ‘brain’ is not mentioned at all.
The heart represents our true inner selves, the home of our emotions, desires and longings.
I am praying for you as you make this decision in your life.
I pray that our Lord will guide you and give you discernment.
🤗🌷
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Thank you so much Sally. Yes, those prayers for discernment in this situation are like precious gold to me. May God bless you this next hour dear sister.
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Julie
Out of the mouths of babes, right? I, too, have wondered if becoming a pastor would be a calling for you. It seems as if that path could become a possibility. I will be praying for clarity for you as to your next step Christ. Love you my friend.
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Love you too my sister! Your wondering and others have thought before I asked for prayer. So many ways He is speaking. I will update you as I am able. Thank you so much for these prayers. They are 🎁.
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I am praying for you Julie. Asking God to make it clear, speak to you, and write his message on your heart.
I know without a doubt that this is not a problem for our God, just our human selves not always recognizing Him.
I love you, support you, and will lift you every time you come into my thoughts.
God’s Got This!
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Thank you sister for the outpour of love and prayers. Need that as I go forth and pray like there is no tomorrow for God to show me the open door soon.
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How exciting! Well, I can tell you dear Julie, that when God opens a door, we best walk through it. Over a year ago, He called me in a whole new direction. I was counseling and mentoring women, when He opened up ministry to children. I said yes, and He has made the way for me. While there are moments especially in the beginning when I said, “what was I thinking?” But following those moments was joy over what I saw Him doing in children’s lives. I will pray for you as God leads. I pray now that His peace will guide you, that there will be wise counsel around you, and that you will recognize the door He is opening that no man can shut. Be in peace just knowing that your desire to please Him, is precious. Blessings to you and your sweet family! ♥
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Letting this sink in. Thank you, Jacquie. Thank you so much for sharing with me AND for prayers. Yes, Lord, wise counsel and ability to recognize the door as it opens that no man can shut. May God bless you on your book journey, sister. Love in Christ, Julie
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So happy for you and praying for your every step. I already know what an amazing leader you are and I can’t wait to see where God is taking you next. Love you!
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Thank you so much Jen for this encouragement and for these prayers. Thank you, God, for bringing us together as each other’s people.
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YES, GOD!! Our God is so good. I wish that we were better at hearing and listening. I’m lifting you up, my sister.
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Yes, Lord, as You will. Speak, Lord, so that I may hear You. Thank you, my sister. Keep praying I hear Him. I will let you know when He lets me know 🙂
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Hi Julie
I will be praying God’s will for you, I have been in journey to be License Local Pastor, and you are correct it is not an easy journey to say the last. When I answer the call from God these words “Here am I, send me” little did I know that the difficult road is still in front of me. The closer we get to our Lord, the darts from the devil come flying. I have had family members disown me because of my calling. What through a time of marriage problem (we went through counseling for quite sometime). My oldest daughter health became even worst and last week we found out that she has a tumor inside of her adrenal gland, we will found out when surgery will be. However, through all of this and more I have seen the hands of God at work through me as I have preach His word. My battle belongs to the Lord, victory is His Now and Forever.
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Eileen, thank you so much for sharing the way He led you and the way the devil wants to thwart what He has done. Yes, victorious in every battle because of Him. I will fast from social media this weekend to hear Him, prayerfully clearly. I am so very sorry to hear about your daughter. If you are able let me know when her surgery is so that I may join in prayer. Love in Christ, Julie
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We should know soon she has to see a specialist to have it removed
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Ok. my email is juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com
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mine is eguyadeen3@gmail.com
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I am praying for you. I thought you were a preacher, also, the first time I heard you.
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Oh thank you so much for prayers sister. I will update everyone as I am able.
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Julie, I love Jackson’s frankness, “Mom, you should be a preacher not a computer teacher. You can still write books and stuff.”. He is a poet and doesn’t know it! And, he is spot on. You can still write books & stuff. Being an author & speaker? You do that now, just not w/ clerical credentials. Will be praying for you to hear God’s directive clearly. The Rose Knows that you will be inspiring and successful at anything God leads you to.
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Oh the Rose Knows! Love you sister. Thank you for praying along with me to hear and be in His perfect will.
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This is exciting! I am honored to join you in prayer as you set before God this next step. I love how you said “the world is an exposed nerve.” God is on the move and is ready to do a new a new thing. Blessings to you!
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Thank you so much Mary. Thank you for joining me in excitement. I have waves of that crash over me 🙂 Your prayers are a gift as I seek my Father to confirm this new call on my life. Love in Christ, Julie
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So cool! I will be praying!
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Thank you so much brother. Lord, hear our prayers that I seek Your will be done, that I need a clear sign from You. I will fast from social media this weekend and listen to heaven. I will update you as I am able.
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Julie, we as Christ-followers definitely live on the “edge” when we say, “God use me!” Isaiah didn’t ask for details when God requested. He said, “Here am I!” So many times I request so much of my Heavenly Papa and forget that all I should sometimes pray is, “use me”. He’s using YOU. Some of my own family (even after being raised in a minister’s family ~Grandpa) would call me too “zealot” or perhaps even weird because I talk with Jesus, walk with Jesus, ….he’s with me everywhere! Not in a box! And you are hearing him clearly. Perhaps it’s the world that is getting on OUR last nerve and Christ is calling loudly for those, like you, to boldly step out on a new platform of faith. I would love to hear you speak and wish to delve into your writing more. You ooze of his love. You share it so naturally. You are a gifted communicator. And I join you and all your supporters in a prayer of solidarity on your next step. What exciting times as God MOVES in the hearts of his creations. Love, peace, and hugs 💚❤️ 🙏🏻
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Oh Karla, I am taking all of this outpouring of love and Godly encouragement to the throne. I thank you sweet sister. Your way with Jesus is so natural, like breathing. You don’t hold your breath, and you don’t withhold from Him. I too need to dig further into your writing. (Insert deep breath here). I am excited, overwhelmed and feel needy like the young child asking Dad are we there yet? And yet, I thank you for joining me in prayers for discernment. For He will speak into me as He spoke the stars into existence. Sending you soggy blessings from a thunder-rainy PA. Love in Christ, Julie
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I feel your every word. And I’m taking deep breaths with you. HE will indeed speak. And he knows you’re listening. Our thunder-rainy days in MO has resulted in some summer-like pleasant few days so I’m sending you sunshine ☀️ and love!
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Julie,
I am excited for you. I think that you would make a good pastor. If the Lord is calling you, then he will prepare a way for it to come to be.
Would you need to go to Seminary, if so, how long?
I will be praying for wisdom for you.
Love, Lori
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Oh dear Lori your prayers are part of an entire circle of God’s power and wisdom surrounding me. I have questions to ask our pastor. But first, I will stand with the praying army and seek Him this weekend. Love, Julie
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Oh, Julie, sending prayers your way! When He calls, best we listen and hold on tight. Proverbs 16:3 is a significant verse in our family, by the way. Six years ago, my husband Joe felt led to start his dream handyman business. We both decided the cards and van decals must have a verse. I landed on Proverbs 16:3. It summed up so well what we wanted to convey and has proven itself again and again. May it do the same for you! And PS How awesome is it that I didn’t get a chance to read this till today? God used this post to remind me of His promise just when I most needed to hear it! Thank you and blessings! ❤
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Oh wow! God is good and ALWAYS working for our good if we love Him, which you do. Thank you sister. what is amazing is I gave that Proverb to someone else last week before it applied to me this week. I love that you are praying for me. God is confirming in so many ways. I will be with God and my husband this weekend to seek His direction. I will keep you posted Marisa 🙂
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Oh, that’s so cool! Ok. Good. I look forward to it!
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Julie, whether you preach from a pulpit or not, God has certainly gifted you to be an enthusiastic and compelling communicator of His truth, a bold woman of faith, a person full of zeal and love for the Lord, and a prayer warrior with a real heart for others. These are commendable qualities alone but also little guide stones that could be marking the path into ministry. Either way, you already have a mission and vision, both God-given gifts that will stand you in good stead. I’m excited at the thought of you following this potential calling, and know you will continue to be a huge inspiration and blessing to many. God is with you, you will not fail. And I’m also joining the protective prayer circle as you seek for wisdom to discern the way ahead. Blessings and love. xo 💜
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Oh Lord thank you for Joy, a woman of God You placed in my life. And Joy, I am tucking your words of Godly encouragement in my heart, no matter if I preach from the pulpit or not. And wow! God is growing that protective circle of praying sisters and brothers. Thank you so much for coming around me to pray. I will keep you posted. Love, Julie
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Catching up to you Julie. Our life journey manages to take us to a door from time-to-time. With God’s invitation, we will find another life opportunity to experience. It may be short-term or long-term. God’s peace and prayers.
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Thank you so much for prayers Richard. I will have more to share shortly about this🙏
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