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Welcome!
I am so glad you are here!
I have been teaching a Ladies Bible Study and leading Women’s Ministries at my church for several years.
I would love to speak at your Ladies Event or Small Group.
Below are some of my favorite speaking topics, but I am open to what fits your needs.
Book Me as Your Speaker
Please contact me by filling out the form below.
Or by email at juliefillinger.com@gmail.com
Some Favorite Speaking Topics
Seeing God Bigger – Reflections from Psalms
God has been using His Psalter (book of Psalms used for singing praise) to not only transform my prayer life, but also teach me His character. And the number one thing I am learning is seeing God bigger! I am becoming convinced my view of God is the key to living the good life He promised.
As I read the Psalms, words like deliverance, faithfulness, steadfast love as well as worthy of praise, to be feared, holy, and King jumped out at me over and over. These words emphasize God’s love and His truth in a marriage of perfect unity. In a time that emphasizes one or the other, God remains consistent to who He has always been. I struggle with understanding how truth and love or justice and mercy or holy wrath and grace can coexist until I see them perfectly married in the character of God. This is what the Psalter has done for me. God has used His Word to open my eyes to see Him as He truly is. Who God is, His character, is more than I can understand. The pursuit of the discovery is rewardingly challenging and comforting at the same time. And my response is to breakout into praise as I see God Bigger.
As I read the Psalms, words like deliverance, faithfulness, steadfast love as well as worthy of praise, to be feared, holy, and King jumped out at me over and over. These words emphasize God’s love and His truth in a marriage of perfect unity. In a time that emphasizes one or the other, God remains consistent to who He has always been. I struggle with understanding how truth and love or justice and mercy or holy wrath and grace can coexist until I see them perfectly married in the character of God. This is what the Psalter has done for me. God has used His Word to open my eyes to see Him as He truly is. Who God is, His character, is more than I can understand. The pursuit of the discovery is rewardingly challenging and comforting at the same time. And my response is to breakout into praise as I see God Bigger.
Living Hope is Born – Reflections from 1 and 2 Peter
A few weeks before the ninth anniversary of Nicholas’s death, when I would normally be reliving the days leading up to the horrific event, expecting a different outcome that never came, God performed a miracle. As I was crying out for the umpteenth time, God heard me. He had been hearing me before, but this time was different. This time when God heard me, He set my feet on solid ground and put a new song in my heart. The heavy grief cloud was lifted. The sun was shining and I didn’t have to pull the blinds. I could wear bright colors again. I could laugh and not feel completely guilty. But mostly, I could take a deep breath and let it out without feeling pain. I hadn’t realized how long I had been holding my breath until that moment. It felt so good to just release it. It was if God was saying, I kept you under the weight of suffering for a purpose and now that purpose is complete and you are released.
I still grieve and I feel certain I will until Christ returns, but it is not nearly as heavy. The choice I made was to cry out to God and keep crying day after day. I was not hanging on to Him. I had no strength to do so. But as I look back, even when I thought He had forsaken me, God had me firmly in His grip, and He didn’t let go. In the process, He taught me what Living Hope really means. And now I live with the certain expectation that what awaits far outweighs any suffering He asked me to endure here. Yes, I will be reunited with Nicholas, and that is a blessed encouragement. But because Jesus Christ conquered the grave, my glory and victory already reside with His. Focusing on there changes my perspective for how I live here. I gladly trade what this world has to offer for the better life to come.
I still grieve and I feel certain I will until Christ returns, but it is not nearly as heavy. The choice I made was to cry out to God and keep crying day after day. I was not hanging on to Him. I had no strength to do so. But as I look back, even when I thought He had forsaken me, God had me firmly in His grip, and He didn’t let go. In the process, He taught me what Living Hope really means. And now I live with the certain expectation that what awaits far outweighs any suffering He asked me to endure here. Yes, I will be reunited with Nicholas, and that is a blessed encouragement. But because Jesus Christ conquered the grave, my glory and victory already reside with His. Focusing on there changes my perspective for how I live here. I gladly trade what this world has to offer for the better life to come.
Enduring Hardship to Follow Jesus – Reflections from Hebrews
Have you ever been even a little tempted to walk away from your faith? What was going on in your life when that discouragement came on so strongly? Even seemingly strong Christians struggle with doubts and discouragement during difficult times in life. The weight and darkness of the suffering can make it feel as if God is so far away. This is when you need someone to come along side you to instill courage to persevere in hardship and caution against leaving the faith.
With an invitation to boldly come to Jesus, your Priest-King, you can expect words of encouragement to endure the hardships that are a part of a Christian’s daily living. Those who have gone before are cheering you on to the finish, where you will find rest.
Please join me as we go on a journey to be renewed in our faith and conviction that Jesus Christ is worth following and nothing else will satisfy.
With an invitation to boldly come to Jesus, your Priest-King, you can expect words of encouragement to endure the hardships that are a part of a Christian’s daily living. Those who have gone before are cheering you on to the finish, where you will find rest.
Please join me as we go on a journey to be renewed in our faith and conviction that Jesus Christ is worth following and nothing else will satisfy.
Peace with God – Reflections from Romans
Do you remember when your mother would light the birthday candles and tell you to make a wish? And then you would tear into your presents to see if what you wished for magically appeared? Sometimes your wish came true but sometimes it didn’t. Our wishes change over time and usually become less materialistic to include beautiful sunsets, waterfalls, exploration and adventure, and quality time with loved ones. We want those moments to go on forever. What if they could?
If we have been justified, we have peace with God. This is harmony and tranquility arising from reconciliation with God and a sense of divine favor and blessing. With all that is going on in the world that seems less than peaceful, who doesn’t want harmony and tranquility? We have access into this grace that is readily available to us by faith. Our Savior stands in the gap mediating for us so we can bring any request before God’s Throne of Grace. God shows His love as the motivation for His redemptive plan to save us from His wrath that we deserve and replaced it with friendship and the hope of glory.
If we have been justified, we have peace with God. This is harmony and tranquility arising from reconciliation with God and a sense of divine favor and blessing. With all that is going on in the world that seems less than peaceful, who doesn’t want harmony and tranquility? We have access into this grace that is readily available to us by faith. Our Savior stands in the gap mediating for us so we can bring any request before God’s Throne of Grace. God shows His love as the motivation for His redemptive plan to save us from His wrath that we deserve and replaced it with friendship and the hope of glory.
Courage to Live: Learning to Live Again After Loss – my grief journey
As long as there is pain and suffering in the world, there is a need for us to tell our stories. And this is mine. Courage to Live: Learning to Live Again After Loss was originally written to share the life of my beautiful son, but God showed me He wanted to use my faith story more than Nicholas’s. This realization was unwelcomed. I had grown accustomed to telling Nicholas’s story and wanted him to be remembered. As time went on, it’s not as though people forgot him, but the world dared to move on without him. However, I was still here as a living, breathing testimony of someone who had survived a terrible loss. Telling Nicholas’s story was important, but over time, what seemed to have more significance was how God has been faithful to me and would continue to carry me along the journey.