Women of Faith: Julie from Savvy Homemaking

Welcome to the Women of Faith Series!

These women contributing have poured their heart and souls into these posts wanting to share their beliefs with you. I welcome them with open arms and I pray that you will as well.

A little about the series, I asked them all the same 12 questions to shed light on the beliefs of their faith and their personal journey. 

This is meant to be educational to expand your view of what others believe. I ask you to be respectful in any comments you leave and really start a conversation into exploring each of these faiths. Though you may not agree with their faith or beliefs, let's respect them by making this a safe place for them to share. 

Let's welcome Julie from Savvy Homemaking!!

1. Please give an overview of your faith and what it believes.
For me, there is something tricky about defining my beliefs in the box of some denomination. I don't believe in sectarianism, but rather simply abide by scriptures total picture, from Genesis to Revelation. According to this understanding, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, I can say I am a whole Bible believer who loves Yahweh, our Elohim, Yeshua (Jesus) His Son, and freely receives the joy of salvation as offered by His Son! What a joy! To reverence Yahweh and welcome the change from the old creation to the new, I live and breathe the joy found in the Law, His Torah, that guides mankind in the Ways of righteousness.



2. Was there a specific time of reason why you believe what you do?
I have been walking with the Lord intentionally since I left home at 18 to join the Navy. It has been a step-by-step walk over these last 13 years of gradual change, sanctification, and growth, and only recently connecting the dots of the importance of knowingly and intentionally looking to Torah for guidance, because of the clarification of the Feast Days, pagan ways that still abound, and clear guidelines for interpersonal relationships in the face of offenses.



3. Does your faith have religious books? Please name them all if more than one and give a brief description of its purpose/origins.
I follow the Bible, in its entirety, reading both many translations. I will often read various thoughts and beliefs regarding it and it's compilations, but always pitting them against Torah and Deuteronomy 13 to determine if there is any lasting value. But, the Bible is the only book to which I turn for Truth.



4. How do you put your faith into practice everyday?
I live out my faith with Yahweh in every moment of every day, sometimes stumbling, sometimes falling, but always getting back up, dusting off, and continuing on. I know that my "failures" are tools for growth that permit me to realize my own inherently fallible nature. My flesh wars with the Spirit, but day-by-day it dies off piece by piece, changing me to a new Creation in Christ. I make food choices according to Levitican dietary laws, not to be confused with Kosher Rabbinical Laws. Overall, we enjoy Yahweh, honor and recognize Him in our words and actions, give praise to Him when times are good AND bad, and trust Him with all that we cannot see or do. He is our good Provider and Sovereign Lord. We are so very honored to love, and be loved by, Him.



5. Do you believe in Heaven? How do you get there? If you don't, what do you believe happens after you die?
We receive salvation through the simplicity of the peace offered to us through the sacrifice and victory claimed on the Cross by Yeshua. The process of sanctification happens after that gift is accepted as we walk according to the leading of the Spirit, which is in accordance to the Law (Torah). This applies the words of James so very clearly, bringing solid footing to the "works" that prove our faith, revealing the life that it gives in our actions from our thoughts. The journey of sanctification and commitment of the saints reveals a true and living faith that is not shallow or founded in falsehood. Only God truly knows who are His and who follow Him in Truth, not by some attempt to earn salvation.



6. What do you/faith believe about the human condition? Is being a good person enough according to your religion?
There is never any "good enough." "Good enough" to do or be what? Before God, who is perfect and just, we all fall short. But, praise be to Him that He provided the path to redemption and recompense through His Son, who became the sacrificial Passover lamb and First Fruits of all the Saints, revealing once more the importance of Torah as He fulfilled the Spring Feast Days perfectly. There is still a Fall grouping to be fulfilled in days to come, as yet unfinished and unfulfilled.



7. Who do you/your faith believe Jesus is? What do you know about him?
Yeshua was the perfect Passover lamb, whose coming was predicted and practiced for millenia through the Spring Feast Days mentioned in Deuteronomy 16. He was God's chosen Son, who was sinless and fully obedient to Torah, righteous and complete, the perfect sacrifice to cover the sins of the elect. He humbled Himself to come to earth and become man, even dying on the cross for mankind. It is through His blood and salvithic work that we can all give praise to Yahweh for His grace and mercy and continue to obediently follow His Ways as explained in Torah out of love for Him.



8. Who do you believe God is? If you believe in God, what is he like? (Base this on your religious beliefs) If you don't believe in God, why not?
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, foundation for all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is both loving and just, merciful and righteous, long-suffering and holy, gracious and forgiving. He protects and provides for His chosen people for ever, but is a gentleman and does not force those who call on Him to obey His Word. Disobedience to Him brings about consequences, but prayer and repentance brings about forgiveness. It is to Him all glory and praise must go for all mankind.



9. Have you had to defend your beliefs? What happened?
Often. Some people ask questions to seek understanding and contemplation. Some people ask questions to find arguments and fight in contention. What happens depends fully on the heart of the listener. They are the determination of what happens with seeds of faith.



10. How has your faith/beliefs changed you?
I have been so mightily changed over time. I have moved from a scared person, strongly intimidated by the approval of man, to a learning-to-be-bold woman of God, holding out the Truth of the Word to those who are looking for the Light. I have grown in the importance of selflessness, humility, dying to self daily, although I still stumble often. I have been challenged and grown in my character, like patience, kindness, mercy, gentility, etc. My faith has only made me stronger and more in love with Yahweh. His Word guides my thoughts and words in each moment.



11. Have you ever questioned your faith? How did you question it? And did you get the answers you were searching for to keep believing?
I have questioned my faith and various beliefs as the Lord reveals them many times over the years. But, these questions motivate me to dig in deeper to study and learn scriptures to understand why I believe and think what I do. My faith and questions have only stirred me deeper into the strength of my faith.



12. What is something that you want to tell people about your faith?
Scripture lays out a simple path for living at peace with Yahweh. It reveals the Ways of God found in the Law, which is perfect and beautiful and honoring of all creation. The sacrificial system of the Law was fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Yeshua, but the moral aspects of the Law, which most focus on as the Ten Commandments, remain in effect today. We are called to love the Lord above all else and to Love our neighbors as ourselves.  These two concepts are the foundation of all the Law and Prophets. Torah simply explained what Yahweh meant by these proclamations and the commands of the ten commandments as given to Moses.

 However, man continues to this day to add to the Law and apply more and greater laws upon each other, placing nooses and millstones around the necks of those who try to follow it. Torah was meant to provide a free system of interaction between individuals and entire systems of community, but abandoning its simplicity has brought about trouble time and time again. Neither Rabbinical Laws or other religious laws, can add anything of value to God's Law.

 It is perfect as it is. Removing the "Law" removes the path of Holy living, and brings about confusion more than peace and order. Although there is much to understand in its regard, the beauty is that the process of sanctification permits us the time and process to grow in understanding according to Isaiah 28:10, "a little here, a little there."

This is what Yeshua's sacrifice created for us: the peace to walk obediently through faith without fear of judgement from God for not understanding and stumbling in sin and ignorance. God is loving, and He provided His Spirit to guide us and counsel us step-by-step as we walk with Him in obedience. So, now we can be free to love Him back the way He likes to be loved (by walking according to Torah, which is revealed over and over in the Word; Psalm 119 declares this sentiment repeatedly).

 We need not expect ourselves or others to be perfect in obedience, for if that were doable, we would not have needed Yeshua. Now, we can offer grace and mercy to ourselves and others while we persevere onward towards righteousness and eternity. The Bible brings true peace when we can shake off the confusion of man. Shalom!

Julie Ann Filter, of Savvyhomemaking.com, has been a lover of Yahweh since her late teens.  She has been married for nearly 12 years and been blessed with six children so far.  She is passionate about Biblical living, love for God, and learning the blessings of faith and mercy.  She enjoys learning about God's creation more and more as she studies natural health, living, and eating methods.  She has a BS in Health and Wellness and is currently pursuing an MA in Counseling with a focus in Life Coaching, a certification in Strategic Communications, as well as Certification as a Childbirth Educator.  She hopes to one day also bless women as a birth and post-partum doula, but will likely pursue that in years to come.

If you want to follow the series be sure to subscribe to our email updates so you get them in your inbox every Tuesday!!

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Women of Faith: Maddy from Chatty Maddy Helps

Welcome to the Women of Faith Series!

These women contributing have poured their heart and souls into these posts wanting to share their beliefs with you. I welcome them with open arms and I pray that you will as well.

A little about the series, I asked them all the same 12 questions to shed light on the beliefs of their faith and their personal journey. 

This is meant to be educational to expand your view of what others believe. I ask you to be respectful in any comments you leave and really start a conversation into exploring each of these faiths. Though you may not agree with their faith or beliefs, let's respect them by making this a safe place for them to share. 

Let's welcome Maddy from Chatty Maddy Helps!!

I’m a Mormon! I Know It, I Live It, I Love It!

By Maddy Stutz 

Hello, my name is Maddy Stutz! I love cats, blogging…and I’m a Mormon! If you don’t know what the heck that even is, then let me tell you!



First off, “Mormon” isn’t even our name. On our church buildings, it doesn’t say, “Mormon Church.” The official name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! As stated in the name, we believe in Jesus Christ, and identify ourselves as Christians!



Our church has a living prophet today, named President Thomas S. Monson. He’s just like the prophets of old, and we also have 12 apostles! This is set up the exact same way Christ himself established leadership in the church 2,000 years ago during his time on good ol’ earth. We also have bishops, stake presidents, mission presidents, young women presidents, relief society presidents, and about a zillion other positions that are held by both men and women.


When Christ was crucified, and then rose again on the third day, He told his servants that he must visit “sheep not of this fold” (John 10:16). 2,000 years ago, people lived all over the world, not just in the Middle East where the Bible takes place. So doesn’t it make sense that Christ would visit more of his children elsewhere? Well…that’s exactly what happened!


The Bible is a record of the Christ’s teachings and gospel on the Eastern Hemisphere, but the people of the America’s on the Western Hemisphere were scribbling away as well. They created a book, another Testament of Jesus Christ, which teachings are the exact same teachings in the Bible, and further verifies the Holy Book, and in 1827, we received it.


Joseph Smith Junior began to wonder the age-old question, what is the true religion? He traveled to many churches and listened to hundreds of sermons, but all seemed to contradict, or not make sense. In 1820 at the age of 14, his passion for knowing the truth became increasingly strong, and he looked to the Bible. He read James 1:5, which states, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”


Hit with a powerful desire to ask for himself, he walked into a grove near his home in Palmyra, New York. No one better described what happened next besides Joseph Smith himself:

“After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.

But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

One of them ... said, pointing to the other—“This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—“This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home.”

Then, late one night, an angel named Moroni appeared to Joseph, and told him of a book that was written. A book that further testified of the truth of Christ’s gospel. A book written of the accounts of the saints living in the America’s in ancient times, and in 1827, Joseph Smith received these plates from a hill, and was translated and published into the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Now, onto my personal experiences as a Mormon. This gospel has brought me the most peace anything in life could possibly bring. It gives me strength not to fear death when the time comes, for we all will be resurrected like Christ, and we will live again with him…in flesh and blood. I know my sins can be forgiven through forgiveness because of His infinite atonement…every last sin. But believing isn’t enough, for “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). People often say all you have to do to earn God’s forgiveness is to love him, but is that really logical? After all, do you only have to love your parents to gain their forgiveness? Or do you have to work at it, show that you love them, listen to their counsel, follow their commandments and show them you are a faithful child? The same goes for our Heavenly Father. When we follow His commandments, we prove that we love Him, we have faith in Him, and with that we can be forgiven and become good people.

I love that Heavenly Father doesn’t ask us to primarily call him “master” or “king.” Yes, we call Him that sometimes, but he primarily refers to himself as the “Father.” How sweet is that? Often when I pray, I like to picture us on a daddy-daughter date, sitting on a bench in a beautiful park, maybe even drinking lemonade. We talk about everything that’s on my mind, all my fears and dreams. And I try to imagine what a loving and merciful father would say back…what He would say back. Because of this, we’re pretty tight. Two peas in a pod! He has helped me through my darkest times, and rejoiced with me through the happiest moments of my life.

Of course, I’ve questioned things at first. I mean, God and the Son coming to a 14 year-old boy in 1820? Modern day prophets and apostles like Moses of old? Another testament of Jesus Christ? You might be able to talk yourself out of it pretty fast, but it’s not so far-fetched as you might originally think. After all, why would God stop talking to us now? If He wanted us to return to Him, isn’t it logical that He would provide a prophet today to help us get there, just like before? Isn’t it logical that He would visit all his children, and they would write a book about it? Nothing about the origin of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doesn’t include things that happened in the Bible, but what happened is in the latter-days, modern days. It’s for us, it’s for me and it’s for you. He lives, He will come again, and He will wrap you in His arms and whisper in your ear, “Hello, my child. I missed you.”

For more information, check out www.mormon.org

To watch a short video about a Book of Mormon Story, check out http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/a-book-of-mormon-story-1

God isn’t dead.

Maddy Stutz is a Mormon blogger living in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is passionate about dissolving the stigma that surrounds mental illness, and desires to educate everyone on their divine worth, ability to love themselves, and the potential God sees inside within them. To check out more of Maddy's writings, you can visit her blog at www.chattymaddyhelps.blogspot.com.

If you want to follow the series be sure to subscribe to our email updates so you get them in your inbox every Tuesday!!

Email Address

Women of Faith: Amy from All Spice and Acrylics

Welcome to the Women of Faith Series!

These women contributing have poured their heart and souls into these posts wanting to share their beliefs with you. I welcome them with open arms and I pray that you will as well.

A little about the series, I asked them all the same 12 questions to shed light on the beliefs of their faith and their personal journey. 

This is meant to be educational to expand your view of what others believe. I ask you to be respectful in any comments you leave and really start a conversation into exploring each of these faiths. Though you may not agree with their faith or beliefs, let's respect them by making this a safe place for them to share. 

Let's welcome Amy from All Spice and Acrylics!!

1. Please give an overview of your faith and what it believes.
I am Jewish and generally spiritual. I love Judaism for its rich history, culture, connection to nature and connection to myself. When I think of me in relation to my faith, I think of the backbone of my childhood – rich family memories around the kitchen table over Shabbat dinner or celebrating Passover, the smell of my mother’s perfume sitting next to her in temple, and brushing my fingers against the cover of the Torah scroll when it was paraded down the aisles on holidays. Judaism to me, is a joyful celebration of life – a true culmination of ritual, music, culture, nature, and spirit. When I pray to God, I am really looking deep within myself and seeing my ancestors, and a history I can only sense – it’s a beautiful feeling.



2. Was there a specific time of reason why you believe what you do?

My story is quite unique. I was your typical Jewish girl – I loved to eat, we celebrated huge Passovers every year, warm family and Jewish community, had the typical over-produced bat mitzvah, etc. On April 25th 2005, we had our usual Passover seder (the second night) – 40 people joyously singing in our basement, food and laughter galore. Suddenly, I found myself in intense pain. To condense a VERY long and intricate story, I went into cardiac arrest – in this emergency, I was operated on, and apparently, once I was cut open, my stomach literally burst to the top of the OR. I needed 122 units of blood and after both lungs collapsed, I almost died. Again, fast-forwarding through a bunch: I was in a coma for 6 months. When I awoke, I was told that I had no stomach anymore. I could not eat or drink. It was not known when or if I would ever be able to again. 27 surgeries later and over 3 years without food or drink, I’m fine now and truly appreciating life and my faith, more than ever before.

My Jewish identity really does overlap with my creative practice and my life as an artist. My grandmother was a holocaust survivor at 18. She was an amazing seamstress, and survived when Nazis recruited her to sew uniforms. My Grandma was never bitter – she sang, found blessings/gratitude, savored life - Her art and spirit enabled her to survive. I first read The Diary of Anne Frank in middle school, and was struck by her spirit, and how closely her mindset and vivacity resembled mine. I too would journal like crazy about the beauty of nature and the hidden blessings in life – I shared her infectious childlike wonder and a burgeoning curiosity. I’d read her journal repeatedly be awed by her appreciation of life, faith, hope, belief. I played Anne in two regional productions, and they were the most rewarding theatrical experiences of my life. I truly felt alive in this role, and grounded in my heritage and my endless love for life.

Having survived a coma and other medical traumas, it was my artistic fighting spirit and my love of life – like Anne’s – that inspired me to persevere – my writing, art and music got me through. I am also passionate about Jewish music – I’ve learned cantorial chants, and played violin in a Klezmer band. I live life joyously, and my art reflects the grateful, exuberant reverence of God.



2. Does your faith have religious books? Please name them all if more than one and give a brief description of its purpose/origins.
Too many to name! I adore Abraham Heschel – a scholar, rabbi, philanthropist, and inspirational thinker. His writings on nature and spirit are so universal you don’t need to be Jewish to appreciate them.

Also, anything by Martin Buber, specifically I and Thou.

These books are wonderful overviews on Jewish Philosophy:

Finding God: Selected Responses Paperback
by Rifat Sonsino

Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar
by Alan Morinis

Jewish Spirituality: From the Sixteenth-Century Revival to the Present (World Spirituality)
by Arthur Green

Jewish Mystical Autobiographies: The Book of Visions and Megillat Setarim (Classics of Western Spirituality)
by Hayyim Ben Joseph Vital and Isaac Judah Jehiel Safrin

Legends of the Baal Shem Tov

Anything by Larry Kushner

“Why Bad Things Happen to Good People”

Wise Words: Jewish Thoughts and Stories Through the Ages
by Jessica Gribetz

Shalom Aleihem Short Stories

Why we Pray

Rabbi Nachman’s Stories

The Zohar

The Jewish Bible: Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures -- The New JPS Translation According to the Traditional Hebrew Text...
by The Jewish Publication Society


And so much more!



4. How do you put your faith into practice everyday?
My love and appreciation of life shines bright through my strong belief and unwavering faith in God. My love of Jewish traditions, history and culture are interweaved in how I live my life and my perspective on the ways of the natural world. I’m a true survivor, with a powerful story to tell and a strong message to deliver to the world. My show Gutless & Grateful is a musical tale of facing death, and surviving to find blessings inherent in my life and world. Joy and gratitude enabled me to survive and thrive.
 My creative practice would impact the Jewish community by reinvigorating people’s sense of faith in God and belief in miracles, even in dark times. This message is imperative to Judaism, and also universally relevant. I hope that sharing my story and will inspire the greater arts community as well. I have used my art to heal myself and found that it has been the best inspiration and therapy in order not just to survive, but thrive. My detours have shown me that I can still be the performer I’ve always aspired to, but now with an even greater gift – a story to tell. Jewish culture is so much based on storytelling, with lessons and morals interwoven, and my story has a place among them.




5. Do you believe in Heaven? How do you get there? If you don't, what do you believe happens after you die?
I believe that you can’t destroy spirit. I don't think very literally in terms of religion – I feel we all share the same spirit, and when we start getting literal and scientific, we miss the point and the beauty and the reason for it. I do believe the spirit lives on. I don’t know if there is a specific heaven or hell, but I believe that the soul’s energy is still very much with us, and all around.



6. What do you/faith believe about the human condition? Is being a good person enough according to your religion?
There are many Jewish schools of thought, but definitely not that the human being is inherently evil, good, or needs to be saved. I believe very much in free will. We have the power to decide for ourselves. Judaism advocates for good deeds and help mend the world. As long as a person has other people in mind and compassion for the universe, I believe this is enough.



7. Who do you/your faith believe Jesus is? What do you know about him?
I don't know a large amount about Jesus, but I am accepting of anyone’s view of how they view spirituality.



8. Who do you believe God is? If you believe in God, what is he like? (Base this on your religious beliefs) If you don't believe in God, why not?
God is spirit, God is in us, God is everywhere. When I was in third grade, every night I would my fingertips together before I drifted off to sleep – it was my little language I had with God. Somehow, I told myself, if I pressed my fingers together as tightly as I could, and felt that warmth in between each tip, whatever I said, God could hear me. And so every night, I would do this ritual, like a grasshopper rubbing its legs together, and chant the same words: Dear God, thank you for a beautiful day today. Please let me live a long, happy and healthy life. Please visit me in my dreams. Amen. And then I’d slowly feel my eyelids fall, and I would be transported into the world of dreams.


I remember dreaming about heaven, my favorite popstars coming over to play, being chased by vampires, and other embodiments of childhood fears and fantasies, but I never did see God. When I woke up in the morning, I would run through my dream from start to finish, trying to remember every last detail and see if God was there, like a Where’s Waldo storybook. But I never did spot God. I often imagined him in an oak tree, right in front of my window, and told myself he never came to my dreams because he was too busy watching over me as I slept, keeping our home safe.


I rubbed my fingers together more firmly and fervently as I grew older – all the way until I was 18 years old. I never gave up my search for God. I saw Him in all of nature, but I wanted my own message in my dreams. Outside my window, there were so many different trees – different shapes, colors, positions, – every tree unique and unashamed to be so. They stood tall, and each outstretched its branches to God in its own heartfelt way – some reached wide, tall, around, and some reached deep down, the earth which is what their roots are for. And they reach out towards each other too. They all knew that God was everywhere – including in themselves. This was the lesson I was to learn myself.



9. Have you had to defend your beliefs? What happened?
After my coma, my childhood dreams of one day finding God shattered. Now, it seemed as though there was no God or anyone to protect me anymore. I felt betrayed, as though the promises made to me as a child were all lies – that fervently rubbing my fingers together day after day for 18 years was all for nothing.

Losing your faith is a scary thing – especially in the midst of danger and uncertainty – because you don’t have anything substantial to stand on. There is nothing to tell yourself when you fall, and there is nothing to push you forward, even when the future feels daunting. But here I was, a teenager, completely displaced out of the life I felt belonged to me, suddenly a medical marionette with a new body, vitality, literally woken up to a different reality that I could never anticipate or even comprehend as a happy-go-lucky high school senior.



10. How has your faith/beliefs changed you?
They have helped me anchor to my past, remember who I was, keep me present now, and give me the strength to move forward into the unknown.



11. Have you ever questioned your faith? How did you question it? And did you get the answers you were searching for to keep believing?
After feeling betrayed by God, I allowed myself to believe in miracles again and feel that overwhelming sense of gratitude for the miracles that do happen every day. Most miraculously, the realization that God was in my dreams all along, and even better – with me day, night, everywhere and anywhere. Our dreams are the seeds that God plans for us, where our intuition whispers to us, and where we can find an anchor to our place in the world – even if we are “displaced” from it suddenly at 18.



12. What is something that you want to tell people about your faith?
I also just got engaged, and am in the process of interviewing rabbis for our wedding, which is inspiring an entire spiritual rebirth in me, as I educate myself on Jewish wedding customs old and new. Judaism has always been part and parcel of my life. I've been a religious school teacher, a bar mitzvah tutor, played in a klezmer band, played Anne Frank twice, and read Abraham Heschel for my own enjoyment. I feel as though my life would be lacking in color without Judaism.


When you undergo a near-death experience, then you are suddenly told my doctors that you may never recover and go back to the life you were leading the day before your coma, it is very hard to keep faith. As a child, I was told to give all of my troubles to God. So, every night in the hospital, I would pray to God - I would pray that he still existed for me. I would prayer that he would let me at least drink a sip of water "next week." And I prayed for "next week" every day for three years. If I did not keep God and my Jewish faith alive throughout all of the uncertainty, I felt like a part of me would be lost forever. Especially since both of my grandparents died while I was in a coma - they were my main lifeline to Judaism. Like a museum, I feel like it is my job, mission, and honor to keep Judaism alive for my family, my future children, and myself. Everything I do, I do wholeheartedly.

Amy Oestreicher is a 27 year old actress, musician, teacher, composer, dancer, writer, artist, yogi, foodie, and general lover of life.

At the age of 18, Amy fell into a coma for months, and once she came to, she resolved that she would never become the “patient” or “victim” that her medical circumstances wanted her to be. She simply allowed the unexpected detour to force her to investigate new productions and hobbies – she started a chocolate business, learned to cook and authored a food blog. She taught herself to paint and created mixed media acrylics, and put up three art shows within one year.
For her triumph over her medical ordeal, Amy was honored in the Northeast region by the Great Comebacks organization, for 2014. 
Throughout the ups and downs of 27 surgeries, Amy has managed to live a fulfilling life and has kept her spirit alive, always hungry for more knowledge, joy, and experience. She prides herself of ending every night with a list of what she’s grateful for. Amy is currently studying performance, visual arts and playwriting at Hampshire College. Having taught, inspired, and healed through her own learning, Amy plans to pursue a masters in Expressive Arts Therapies to help others find their passion as a form of discovery and healing.

Find her at www.amyoes.com

allspiceandacrylics.blogspot.com

If you want to follow the series be sure to subscribe to our email updates so you get them in your inbox every Tuesday!!

Email Address

Women of Faith: JoDee from A to Z for Moms Like Me

Welcome to the Women of Faith Series!

These women contributing have poured their heart and souls into these posts wanting to share their beliefs with you. I welcome them with open arms and I pray that you will as well.

A little about the series, I asked them all the same 12 questions to shed light on the beliefs of their faith and their personal journey. 

This is meant to be educational to expand your view of what others believe. I ask you to be respectful in any comments you leave and really start a conversation into exploring each of these faiths. Though you may not agree with their faith or beliefs, let's respect them by making this a safe place for them to share. 

Let's welcome JoDee from A to Z for Mom's Like Me!!

1. Please give an overview of your faith and what it believes.
The best overview I can give is what is called the 13 Articles of Faith, it was written by Joseph Smith to answer this question when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka Mormon or LDS) was founded- they can be found on lds.org

13 Articles of Faith

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.



2. Was there a specific time of reason why you believe what you do?
Each person has the ability to pray and have their prayers answered, this is the answer to my prayers. I love how we have a living prophet just as in Bible times, we have Temples where sacred ordinances can be done and families can be sealed together forever- not until death do you part.



3. Does your faith have religious books? Please name them all if more than one and give a brief description of its purpose/origins.
As mentioned in the 13 articles of faith above- we believe the Bible to be the word of God, as long as it is translated correctly. We use the King James version. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God. We have other books such as Doctrine & Covenants, The Pear of Great Price, and monthly magazines with talks from our Prophet and Apostles called the Ensign, and 2 magazines for teens and youth called the New Era and the Friend.



4. How do you put your faith into practice everyday?
Prayer, Scripture study, but most of all it's about living the standards and teachings we believe in. Showing love, serving others, etc..



5. Do you believe in Heaven? How do you get there? If you don't, what do you believe happens after you die?
Yes. We believe there are 2 places called Spirit Paradise and Spirit Prison that a person goes to after they die. The determining factor of which they will go to depends on if they have had specific works done either while they were on earth or done for them through Temple work after they have died. Those works begin with Baptism.



6. What do you/faith believe about the human condition? Is being a good person enough according to your religion?
Being a good person is important, since we are all judged by our own actions and not others. But it is necessary to have made certain covenants- just like Jesus was baptized, we must be also.



7. Who do you/your faith believe Jesus is? What do you know about him?
Jesus is the Savior of the World, the Redeemer, and so many other titles. He is our elder spiritual brother who came to earth to atone for our sins and was crucified then resurrected. He did everything for our sake that through Him we can return to our Heavenly Father.



8. Who do you believe God is? If you believe in God, what is he like? (Base this on your religious beliefs) If you don't believe in God, why not?
God is our Heavenly Father. The creator of our spirits. He loves us so much that he gave us the opportunity to get a physical body and come to earth that we might gain experience to learn and progress and some day be like Him.



9. Have you had to defend your beliefs? What happened?
When you believe in something good there are bound to be antagonistic people who are eager to prove you wrong, or prove themselves right. Some people ask questions honestly, while others are just looking for ways to belittle or attack beliefs. As far as defending my beliefs, there is no need. I have nothing to prove, if they don't believe what I do that's fine and their choice, but I know what I know and that's all that matters in the end.



10. How has your faith/beliefs changed you?
It keeps me focused on a bigger picture. That there is an eternal perspective in life and some problems are insignificant- yet we allow them to affect us with stress, worry, anger, depression, hatred, or any other unproductive energy that only leads to distract from living a happy successful life.



11. Have you ever questioned your faith? How did you question it? And did you get the answers you were searching for to keep believing?
I think everyone has doubts throughout their life, for me when I was a teen and wanted to know if what I believed was true I turned to scripture study and prayer and found my own answer. That's the great thing about prayer- it's available to everyone, and anyone can pray and receive their own answer!



12. What is something that you want to tell people about your faith?
Love matters most. Feel and understand to the best of your ability the love our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ have for us, and share that love with others.






JoDee Mason, Blogger at A to Z for Moms Like Me

Mom of 6 kids that keeps busy as a mom, blogger, book author, public speaker, Rapid Eye Technician, and learning/doing new things all the time! I live in a very rural area of Arizona and love spending my time doing new projects around the house and creating new programs to help others. My latest project is a program for teachers, parents and students called "Raising Superheroes" that I'm excited to share. It has consumed my free minutes lately. Life is all about learning and growing- but most of all for me it's about FUN and should be filled with passion, laughter, and joy.

If you want to follow the series be sure to subscribe to our email updates so you get them in your inbox every Tuesday!!

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God Never Leaves Your Side, Even When All is Silent.

**This post may contain sponsor, affiliate, and/or referral links. I have been given Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café by Max Lucado  free of charge in exchange for this review. However, the opinions in this post are my own. For more information please read my full disclosure statement here. **

When we last moved to a new state, I was full of energy and hope. I was looking forward to the possibilities of friendship and God's plan for our life here. I had just became a Christian and I has a great group of Christian friends I was leaving behind, hoping that I could find the same connections in our new city.

My expectations and God's plans didn't quite match up though. We moved and with only one car, it made it hard to find good connections in a small rural town. I searched for friends and a good church home but moving in the middle of winter made things difficult. 

"No wonder Chelsea's memory had become her greatest weapon, a sword she wielded wounding others, to protect herself. For decades she had waged this war, but at what cost? Now she stood alone on the battle field, bleeding and bruised. There were no victors in this war, and Chelsea counted herself among the casualties." 

-Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café, Max Lucado

I went six months without either. No matter how much I searched I didn't find anyone I could connect with. I felt alone - alone in my struggle of discovering what being a new christian meant, alone as a mother to a young son in regards to friends.  That new belief passion was beginning to fade and I was left with the test and thoughts of whether or not God was actually there with me. 

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Have you ever gone through a period of what seems like silence from God? Especially when things seem unbearable? 

This is the feeling Chelsea Chambers from the book, Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café by Max Lucado, had when she took a daring step taking over her mothers cozy coffee shop. As a newly single mom of two she had to navigate the new situation all alone. When Chelsea hit financial trouble with the café she had no choice but to close shop. That was until a stranger, Manny, comes down like an angel from heaven to help. He updates the Wifi, which ends up attracting customers for their chance at connecting with the divine. 

This heavenly novel is the newest from Max Lucado. Another Max Lucado book review?!-- you are probably thinking. Do you just love his writing that much? While I do enjoy Max Lucado's books very much- I really don't think I have found one I haven't loved- the reason I have reviewed one a month for the past few months is because I was selected as a Family Christian Max Lucado blogger! It is an exciting opportunity that I feel honored to be apart of. 

Of all of the Max Lucado books I have read, this one is by far one of my favorites. Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café is not the typical Max Lucado book, it is a fictional story that opens your mind to the wonders of God and the things around us that we cannot see. 

"Personally? I think there's more going on around us than we realize. I think God uses even the bad and ugly things to lead us to a good place." 

-Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café, Max Lucado  

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café is a story of friendship, redemption, the power of prayer and trusting that God really is there when you feel alone. It is a quick and easy read that wil make you want to find a cozy coffee shop to grab a fancy cappuccino, sit and read the book all over again. I know I will!! 

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Though I felt alone this past year, I knew I wasn't. A few years ago I was given my very first prayer journal and ever since I have been writing in it almost daily. It has been a tool to allow me to look back and see that though I may feel alone at times, I never actually am. 

God is always by my side, every step of the way, with his hand in everything that happens. 

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