 Radiant Church presents Radiant Stories. A collection of stories that showcase God's faithfulness to take our hopeless situations and craft them into beautiful testimonies of His power, provision, and love. Welcome back to Radiant Stories. Today we have, do you go by Julie Marie sometimes? Like, do people call you Julie Marie? No, no, Marie goes, it means sea of bitterness, so I would rather them not. I have, so I got your contact info from Gretchen, you know, many months ago, and she has you, both, both of the contacts are Julie Marie. Oh, no. So we're back with Radiant Stories. We have Julie Robinson here today. She is going to talk about a couple of different things, but she has a really cool testimony and sort of tribute to God's faithfulness and just the way that God can surprise us in our lives with her story today. So she's going to talk about, we have an internship program and a students program here at Radiant Church, and she's been a part of that. And so she's going to kind of talk about her experience with that, and I'm really excited to hear it. So Julie, go ahead and just take us on this journey. Let's dive right in. I would love to know, you know, right from the beginning, how it all started. Okay, well, it's really interesting because I said that it was very obviously a God thing. And I haven't got to share the story, so I'm excited about it. But in 2017, I was getting restless and I've always had a vision in my heart for more and I have passion for discipleship and I had questions too. I had lots of questions though. And there is a minister that I, it's, he's an author that I listen to a lot and read all of his books, his name's Rick Joyner. His heart is discipleship. He had a whole year that he spoke on discipleship. And I said, God, if I could just be his friend, and what I meant by that was, just be able to talk to him a little bit, not be his BFF or anything like that. But I said, God, and I said the word friend. I said, if I could be his friend, please. So I wrote it out and I said, God, I want to be his friend. I want to ask him these questions. And that day, he started an online live on Facebook. He called it Rick's Rants. And he's like, I'm going to start doing these every day. And I felt like that was the answer. I'm like, yes, you answered me. And I even wrote him something and he wrote back. I'm like, yes, thank you, Jesus. You answered my prayer right today. Well, then like a couple of days later, he said, we're inviting four people to our house and we're going to spend Super Bowl weekend with you guys. But you have to qualify. And immediately I'm like, this is God. But my husband didn't think it was God because we just came back from a vacation and it would have cost money and everything is going to be a trip and I have to find someone to watch the kids. So it did not happen right away, but I just felt like God said, yes, you have it. So I said, okay, I've got this. So my husband's in the kitchen, I'm in the bathroom and I texted it, I go, God said, we're going. And he's like, he didn't want to take it. So I leave, I get dressed, I go out there in my towel on my head and I'm like, Vince, I promise you, he said we're going. Well, as I'm talking to him, my phone rang and I didn't get it and it was in the bathroom and I go back and it was from them. And the voicemail was, we feel like you need to come. So we're going to cut this in half, the price for you to come. What? The moment I'm telling him this. So I knew it was all God. So, and it was one of the best days of my life, just knowing, well, we got there and it was amazing time, but there was one word that they gave me that I took. And it was, you have a glass ceiling. It has to do with who you're around and you need to pray that God would break that and that you will surround yourself with new people. So I took that word and I go home and I was like, God, I don't know who, but I just pray that I started praying every day. God break my glass ceiling. And one day I'm listening to one thing and I hear Laura Hackett and immediately in my spirit, he said, write down Laura Hackett, Corey Asbury. Maybe he means listening to their music, listening to what they have to say, like finding podcasts or things like that. So that's what I literally thought that's what it meant. So I wrote their names down and it was about a month later, I have a friend and he knew that I've always loved Corey Asbury's music. And he said, Julie, did you know he moved an hour away? And so I went to visit and I'm like, okay God, I'm not here for Corey Asbury. I'm not here for anyone, I am here for you. And so I was overcame that and but the thing was Corey led me here, but the church was what kept me here. I was thinking, this is the most amazing church. Oh my goodness, this is where I need to be. So we ended up bringing some couples with us to one of the services on a Saturday night and they were candidates to be part of the internship that I kept on hearing about. And then my husband right then elbows me and says, I think you need to do it. And I remember I was pulled in a parking lot of Aldi's about to go grocery shopping and I got the email that I was accepted and it was one of the best days of my life. It was so, I was so, so happy and I'm really excited still to be a part of this. So, yes. I can hear the excitement and just the joy about it all even as you retell the story. It was just so encouraging and I've talked to you before about different kinds of things and I've kind of seen you teach and stuff like that and disciple, which I feel like is definitely one of your callings and your gifts and the fervor that you carry with all your stories and with just the testimony of the Lord and the testimony of your life is so encouraging. Talk a little bit more about when you got there, when you saw that it was all kind of 18 year olds and all of it up. I wanna know what was the Lord doing in your heart? How did you find the day today? What kind of relationships did you make with the rest of the students and how did you find yourself working through the year? Okay, well, first of all, I know that one of the callings I have is spiritual mom and I've had that prophesied over me more than anything but I didn't wanna go in there acting like a spiritual mom because I'm one of them and so I had to lay that down and I'm like, no, I'm not gonna assume that I am their mom and I don't wanna take that role. So kind of, I had an identity crisis because the person that I am is now, I'm pushing that aside, okay? So now I'm a kid again and I have been on staff or in ministry my whole life but I was laying all that down and I'm gonna like, okay, I'm gonna make this about Jesus but I'm telling you, I had to reassure myself of that every day. It wasn't like I had it all. It was like every day I had to renew my mind, remind myself if this is why I'm here and when I first got in, I actually just got back from Israel that day. So not only was I jet lagged but I didn't know one person, I stuck out like a sore thumb, I mean, I stuck out and I was like, not one person? And so I had to just keep on reminding myself and my husband reminded me, Julie, what are you there for? Okay, I'm like, okay, I'm there for, because God told me and I'm going after my next step and not only that but I also felt like a little kid, because he treated everyone like their age but I was grouped in that and so sometimes I struggled with that. Like, I'm not a kid, you know. I'm in a ministry. Yeah, for example, what? I have to be in, I get in trouble, what? And I had to humble myself a lot of times. I had to humble, like literally say, no, Julie, humble yourself, humble yourself. And so I humbled myself a lot and I journaled and I received so much victory, learning the truth about God and it's not over yet but I still have truths that came through. Like, for instance, okay, God, you're not fair. Well, God, why do you do this to this person and let this person happen? This thing happened for that, but not for me. And the thing, like one of the things he said at the beginning was, he said, I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. And he said, it's not the plans that I have for that person or this person. Everyone's on their own path and all things work together for good and good to them that love him. So you're on the right path and the things that you go through good and bad are of me because you said yes. And so, and you are daily seeking me. And so I have to like believe that everything I go through, good and bad, I'm in the Lord's hands. Yeah, so we had a new year, a new class come in for the Radiant School of Worship and it kind of came full circle for you. I feel like God's promises were fulfilled. That he spoke over you, even before you knew about the internship or anything like that. I love the story, the thread of you telling yourself, it's been spoken over me that I'm a spiritual mother. I know this about myself. But I am going to be a child again. And I'm gonna go in as a child and I am going to continually humble myself every day. I love that, it makes my heart so warm. Cause it's just a further confirmation of such a specific calling that you have on your life. I really do feel like that is such a penetrating quality that you have even when people first meet you. So do you feel like working at the school now that the preparation and sort of the hard days and the transition, do you feel like that was really a good preparation for what you're doing now? Definitely, I tell them every morning, I don't even know my role, what the title of it is. He said, Julie, I trust you. This is your time, do what you do. I'm like, okay. I love that. And so I like, I don't have to like prepare. I already have it in me. I prepare every morning. I mean, I read the Bible and things, but I don't have to be like, okay, God, I'm gonna make this whole plan and I'm gonna do this and this. He's like, no, I want you, I want to be the teacher. And so I'm gonna tell you what to do. And then he'll plant a story, a scripture, some points, usually on the way on the hour trip. And then I get there and it's like I've been preparing for a long time. And I get there and it's like exactly what God wants to say. But I tell them, I said, I feel like the trials that I go through, I said all year last year and even now are things that you guys are going through. And I said, I really feel like he is having me go through that in order to, first of all, pray for you guys. And then secondly, to seek him out for ways we can overcome it. And so almost every time I'll go there and I'll go, guys, did you go through this? And everyone raises their hand. It's like, yes. I'm like, okay, this is what I feel like God wants to say about that. And so last year's trials definitely were preparation for them. So like, not only me, but for them. Yeah, that is, that's incredible. I would love for you to just kind of close by saying, giving a word or giving advice or a charge to someone in your position because you had such a unique experience. And I feel like everything you went through in the school has obviously given you such a specific perspective to help and train up the next students. I mean, for who knows how many classes. So I would love for you to just kind of speak to someone that is in your position with encouragement. That's exactly, I'm glad that you said that because I said, God, what do you wanna share? And what he told me, the scripture he gave me was in the last days, I'm gonna pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and your daughters, young and old. And I felt like the word that God was giving me was for the people that are in my position in my age, not to quit. So the sin of a young person is usually lust. They usually deal with lust in there at that time. But then the sin of the middle-aged person is money and power. So that usually is the time where they're after money, they're wanting to make their empire, they're trying to be strong and get power. But then the sin of the people that have passed that age, so like 40 maybe and up is retire. And so they give up and they quit. And I would like for people my age to get a new vision in their heart to realize that God is not done with them that in the last days, which I feel like is now, he is gonna pour a spirit on all flesh, the young and the old. And there is a scripture and it says, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with the curse. That's the last verse. And I feel called to commission people to stop, to not retire, but to get a burden in their heart for others, to pour into them, to pray for them. And the first thing you can do is make a list of what God's entrusted to you that only you have. And then start praying for them. Even if you don't say anything but call out their name, God hears that. And then when you're with them, you say, God, I want you to open up a door for me to talk about you and talk about the goodness and plant seeds. That's all you have to do. You don't have to have a class or a teaching. All you have to do is be an encourager and sow seeds. And I feel like whenever you do those things, God said, hey, you've been faithful with a little, now I'm gonna make you ruler over much. So we gotta be faithful where God puts us first, but then God's got a vision for the world. He wants to use everyone. It's gonna be a body of Christ, an army of God. It's not gonna be just the three that are in the platform. He said that he called the pastors and the prophets and the five-fold to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. So I feel like it's the body of Christ that needs to do the work alongside the leaders and that we don't need to lay down and give up, but we need to rise up and engage. So that's pretty much what I felt like God wanted me to share. Don't quit. No, don't quit. It's not over yet. I love it. That is a really powerful word, Julie. So thank you. I'm thankful that you came in and that you shared it. And even though I know you have so many stories and so many amazing testimonies, I'm thankful that you were obedient in sharing a word that was maybe not, we were like, this isn't really like a really powerful word. Yeah, I'm like, what? It's just kind of normal. Yes. But I find it very powerful and very encouraging and I feel like a lot of people will find it extremely encouraging. So thank you so much for coming in. Yes, thank you for asking. Yeah, this has been Radiant Stories on a Rittering, signing off. Goodbye. This has been Radiant Stories. Click subscribe to get a brand new story delivered to you every Monday.