Editor’s Journal Notes – The Beauty of the Butterfly

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

We may look longingly at what may appear beautiful (or successful and esteemed) in our world but many times don’t consider the story behind the person or entity we admire. It’s said that an “overnight success” is never really made over night; it often takes years of toil and trials behind the scenes for every success story we see.

In the life of a believer, the beauty that God intends for us is often molded through a long period of trial, darkness, growth and a period of solitude with God in which our hearts are molded and drawn more intimately to Him. After we surrender our lives to the Potter’s hand the process of becoming more like Him and living His purpose for our lives isn’t always what we expect.

Often before God bestows the blessing He has in store for us, and before He brings dreams into fruition He takes us on a journey that shapes us, a metamorphosis of mind and character. It’s a process that we may not understand and though painful, it graces us to achieve true beauty – a beauty that does not receive its essence from outward appearance but from the heart within that is filled with His presence. Let’s set our eyes on a greater beauty today…



He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11


Click here for more from my personal journal and blog. – Julene

More Journal Posts

To Boldly Go Where You've Always Imagined…

To Boldly Go Where You’ve Always Imagined…

There are those dreams you are responsible for bringing to fruition in a sense; things you want to create, experience and learn how to do. “I want to (insert activity here)… someday.” Why not now, why not today?

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Dreamfleur Diary - Stretch & Grow

Dreamfleur Diary – Stretch & Grow

No matter what creative field you’re in I think it is always a good idea to stretch and grow yourself in what you do…

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The Buzz – Music Notes & Inspiration from NEEDTOBREATHE, Laura Story & More


Here’s the latest music Buzz from artists including Steven Curtis Chapman, V. Rose, Beckah Shae and more




NeedtoBreathe – “Drive All Night” and “Slumber” from Upcoming Album “The Reckoning”

“Days; they force you back under those covers, lazy mornings; they multiply, glory’s waiting outside your windows. Wake on up from your slumber, baby open up your eyes…” -NeedToBreathe from the song Slumber

NeedToBreathe’s new album “The Reckoning” will be out on September 20th. Check out two of the songs from the upcoming album, “Drive All Night” and “Slumber” below…

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Video Pick: Not So Average from V. Rose Video Pick: Not So Average from V. Rose

“So what if my nail polish always chips? So what if I prefer to where my kicks? You know, models aren’t really models when they’re not modeling…” – V.Rose from the song “Not So Average”

‘Not So Average’ from V. Rose talks about how we don’t have to measure up to society’s standards of worth, but God’s. I love the freshness and upbeat-ness of the song and video…

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In Rotation: Put Your Love Glasses On Music Video from Beckah Shae In Rotation: Put Your Love Glasses On Music Video from Beckah Shae

“I believe the most necessary thing in order to share God’s love, is to first truly receive God’s love… to spend time in His presence where He can remind us of who we are and how He sees us. That’s where I find my strength to share. We can’t pour out anything unless we’ve first been poured in to.” – Beckah Shae

Check out Beckah Shae’s video for her song #putyourloveglasseson from her album Destiny, which debuted in August…

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Steven Curtis Chapman's New Album re:creation and Video for Steven Curtis Chapman’s New Album re:creation and Video for “Do Everything”

“As Christians we have this tendency to want to draw that line down the middle of life and go, ‘okay there’s my spiritual life and then there’s just life– a job, work and that kind of thing,’ but God is in the details. He’s interested in all of it. Every moment matters and everything we do really should be done as an act of worship.” – Steven Curtis Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman recently released a new album entitled re:creation. Check out the story behind the album and the music video “Do Everything” below…

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Inspiration: Blessings from Laura Story and the Story Behind the Song Inspiration: Blessings from Laura Story and the Story Behind the Song

“There is a blessedness that comes through waiting on the Lord. There’s an intimacy that comes in our walk with the Lord through walking through that valley. There’s a reliance on His word that we only know when everything else fades away…”
- Laura Story

This is the kind of song that can makes you think, and relate to how the trials in life may be blessings that grow us closer to God, from Laura Story’s album Blessings…

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We Remember…

We cannot forget that day; where we were, who we were with, how we felt, wondering why it was happening. Today we remember the lives lost, the families affected and the strength and light God gives in the darkest places – we remember to pray, to hope, to love…

“What We Learned,” from Igniter Media.




“Ten Years Ago,” from The Skit Guys.


Soul Dreamer Resource: Discovering Your Passion – An E-Book About Realizing Your Kingdom Dream





Need motivation and support in finding and pursuing your God-given dreams? Kingdom Dreams is a ministry of Adventures in Missions, created to “see God’s dreams realized through the passions of His people.” They offer support and resources that help connect you with other dreamers, coaches and if you are not sure what your dream is they also help you find direction to spark your journey. Watch the video below to find out more about the movement:






About Kingdom Dreams

God is a dreamer – and so are you.

We believe God created everyone with a dream. A dream to bring heaven to earth. We believe discovering this dream is part of the journey, and that most people stop short of realizing theirs. We believe that no one should miss their dream. We believe this world needs you to dream God’s dreams. We want your heart to break over something broken in the world. We want what is unacceptable in this world to ignite a dream in you that would inspire you to make a difference. We want to help make your dream come true.



You can connect with Kingdom Dreams by sharing your dream on their website at http://www.kingdom-dreams.org and checking out their blog and great resources they offer. One resource is the free ebook Discovering Your Passion – An E-Book About Realizing Your Kingdom Dream, click here to get your copy.


There is a dream inside of you that is waiting to be released for the Kingdom. Discovering Your Passion sheds light on the dreaming process, teaching dreamers how to move from discovering your passion, to exploring a solution, to building a dream, to finally launching a dream…

Below are some of my favorite blog posts from the Kingdom Dreams team:

- The Hardest Part of Realizing Your Dream

- Evolution of a Dream

- What Would You Do If You Couldn’t Fail?


Morning Worship: You Have Me – Gungor



Another one of the beautifully woven songs we sing during morning worship at my church; Gungor (here at Lakewood Church) singing “You Have Me” from the album Beautiful Things.

You Have Me Lyrics
Out on the farthest edge
there in the silence
You were there

My faith was torn to shreds
heart in the balance
but you were there

Always faithful
always good
You have still have my
You still have my heart…
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