What do you say when someone pops the question, “Are you a believer?” I recently had this happen to me. Thank God I am confident in my relationship with Jesus today and it didn’t bother me. But if you would have asked me this a few years ago, I would have probably been thrown off or very upset.

This past week I was sharing my story at a speaking engagement. I talked a lot about my self-destructive behaviors that I struggled with for many years, even as a believer.

In the audience was someone whom I call a friend and has known me for years. After I finished speaking, she walked up to me and said, “Wow, Paula! I didn’t know you struggled with all that. I thought when I met you that you were a believer.” With a smile on my face, I kindly looked at her and said, “I am a believer, and I have been ever since I accepted Jesus into my heart at the age 21.” I followed that up with the idea that accepting Jesus in your heart it does not make all of your bad habits and problems simply go away.

You see, friends, I share this with you today because I want you to know it is a process. When we accept Jesus, it means He is there to help and guide us through all our junk and help us break free of the habits that once had us bound. The change won’t happen overnight. It’s like losing weight: you didn’t gain it overnight so you definitely aren’t going to lose it overnight.

But what we are promised as a BELEIVER is:

• Is that if WE stay connected to the true vine, Jesus, then God our Father will cut off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit. (John 15:1)

• If we remain in Jesus, He will remain in us no matter what we are going through. (John 15: 2)

• Apart from Jesus we can do nothing on our own. (John 15:3)

• Jesus promises us that His gracious favor is all we need. His power works best in our weaknesses. (2 Corinthians 12:8)

So if you accept Jesus, then you are no longer bound to the law of trying to follow rules and be good in your own strength. You are now a believer, Jesus came to set you free, and He died for your sins. So every time you feel you’ve failed, or you are bound to an addiction or self-destructive behavior, stay connected to the vine, who is Jesus, the only source that can set you free!

Are you a believer?

A Story of redemption, healing, and hope

“I’m stupid, fat, and ugly.”

Negative voices torment us. Our pasts cause us to feel shame and guilt. We hesitate to tell our stories because of what people might think if they knew what we’d really done. This guilt and shame can even cause a vicious cycle of self-destructive behaviors that leave us feeling isolated.

Paula Jauch can deeply identify with this pain and frustration. She grew up in a home surrounded by violence, alcohol, and drugs, until her father was convicted of attempted murder and sent to prison. When she became pregnant at 15 years old, Paula’s identity was shattered. She spent a lifetime searching for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. Feeling powerless, Paula spent the next decade of her life engaging in self-destructive behaviors, including abusive relationships, cutting, and a long-term eating disorder, and even gang initiation.

Paula was motivated to write her first book because an encounter with Jesus in Las Vegas changed the course of her life. She shares her personal story of healing, recovery, and how she overcame adversity. Paula’s hope is to be an inspiration to those who are still struggling, and the stories and Biblical truths in this book will inspire readers to change their own lives by getting the help they need to overcome the past, addictions, or any kind of abuse and fulfill the purpose God has for their life. She is forever thankful for the love, forgiveness and healing power of Jesus Christ that restored her life and set her free.

Paula Jauch is a bible teacher, motivational speaker, and survivor. She loves motivating her audience to walk in freedom by helping them increase their faith and know the truth that will set them free. She is using her life experience to offer hope to the hurting. Previously, Paula has worked with troubled teens, abused and neglected children, and teen boy sex offenders. Paula is a happily married mother of four and a passionate lover of Jesus. She enjoys spending time with her husband and family

Hi Friends!

I hope my “TITLE” doesn’t offend you…….

Have you ever not felt qualified for something that you felt God was calling you to do? This year I attended my first Speak Up Conference 2015 and boy, was I sure filled with feelings of not feeling good enough. The “en-in-me” sure knows how to attack myself! But let me just remind YOU and ME that OUR GOD is so much BIGGER than our insecurities!

Not to mention that those lying voices couldn’t stick around long with ALL the love and warmth that came from the women at this conference!! By day two I was feeling empowered!! By day 3 I didn’t want to go home after the conference was over. I knew that the reality of dirty laundry, sink full of dishes and children who constantly remind me every minute that they’re bored would be waiting for me.

Okay, that’s beside the point and in case you are wondering I made it home safely. All the way to Grand Rapids, Michigan! I think the drive took me 20 minutes. 🙂

Did you know we ALL have a story inside of us? Some have a desire to share their story, some are unsure about their story and some God is prompting them to share their story.

In my case, God put on my heart to share my story last year. Then I met a new friend who mentioned it might be a good idea to go to Speak Up Conference 2015. But I had to ask myself, “How am I going to go to a writing conference when I’m not a good writer, and I didn’t even learn how to read until I was 21 years old?” I can remember my very first job application where the person interviewed me and said, “We are concerned about your spelling on the application. I mean, come on, God, what are you doing to me? Just let me be…….Please allow me to stay where I am comfortable.” But that was not His plan.

So here I am. I attended my first Speak Up Conference this year and let me tell you how faithful God is! (He really showed up at this conference!) In my early twenties which was 17 years ago I bought myself a spell checker and dictionary and I began to teach myself how to read. Over the past decade of my life I have been like a sponge, ready to learn anything I can get my hands on. My favorite book to read is the bible because it BLOWS me away how ALL the answers to life are in this one book!

Some of you are probably wondering why I was not able to read. It’s because I grew up in a home surrounded by violence, alcohol, and drug abuse and I learned to shut down at a very young age to protect myself. I was placed in special classes all through my school years, which caused me to wear the label of “dumb girl” my whole life.   WHY am I sharing this with you? Because if MY GOD can get me to a writing conference and use my messed up life that was full of anger, pain, and trauma, then He can absolutely use YOU and YOUR STORY!

What has GOD placed in your heart to do? What STORY do you have to share? Does it scare you to take the step of FAITH and to walk into that calling? I would like to encourage you to NOT miss out on your DESTINY! Did you know we can do ALL THINGS through Christ Jesus who strengthens us? (Phil 4:13)