From an early age, we learn to attune ourselves to what is outside of us. We become experts at reading the room, looking for what is expected and then meeting that expectation so we will be loved by others and protected from pain. Even the Christian life can be focused on learning and doing the right thing, the expected thing, leaving us hoping our hearts will catch up with our behavior. 

But behavior doesn’t change a heart. It reveals it. Scripture calls us to a more congruent life – one lived from the inside out, where our heart is connected to God’s heart, and we respond to others – not out of duty or self-protection – but out of an overflow of what we have received from Him. 

Julie Sparkman co-founded Restore Counseling Ministries with Jennifer Ervin in 2012. Julie received her B.S. degree from University of Florida and her Masters degree in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University. She has been in private practice as a pastoral counselor since 1999.

Julie is a frequent speaker and author of three other video teaching series: “Idol Addiction,” “Unhitching From the Crazy Train,” and “Six Weeks to Sane Thinking.” In addition, Julie co-hosts the podcast, Head to Heart – Connecting What You Know to How You Live, with Anna Nash.

Julie works with adult individuals facing a variety of issues such as codependence, infidelity, disillusionment with God, depression, spiritual, emotional, physical and verbal abuse, and parenting through the various seasons of life.

It’s her desire that the teaching and counseling of Restore Ministries would be used to help men, women and children come to understand the radical and restorative impact of the Gospel in their every day lives and relationships.