Friday, September 21, 2007

I Choose To Stand

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. Psalm 18:33

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5

Just recently, I heard about a young man by the name of Nick Vujicic, he is 24 and lives in Australia. Because of my broken foot, I've been laid up and just a few days ago a friend of mine dropped by to visit me and in our conversation she mentioned a young man with an amazing ministry and ground shaking faith! I went to youtube and searched. A video came up of him ministering to a congregation. Nick has no arms and no legs, but inside him burns a heart that is on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke forth with genuine passion and with unashamed boldness. As my eyes fell upon this life changing video I was left sitting on the couch in awe. I couldn't say anything. My deep thoughts were drowning out any opportunity for words to escape my lips. Nick's parents had no warnings, nothing to prepare them for what lay ahead of them. The day when Nick was born, nurses wept and hid him from his mom, their entire church mourned, minds were being swarmed with questions, doubts and fears. Nick has gone through times of depression, even to the point of being suicidal at the age of eight. He's gone through the cruelties of kids behaviors and the critical looks of complete strangers. This mighty giant of a man has endured through many tough deserts of fear, has crossed through many empty valleys of loneliness and has climbed triumphantly over steep mountains with the drive of seeing his Lord glorified!

Nick states, "I have complete peace knowing that God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all. I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of fifteen after reading John 9. Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was "so that the works of God may be revealed through Him." I truly believed that God would heal me so I could be a great testimony of His Awesome Power. Later on, I was given the wisdom to understand that if we pray for something, if it's God's will, it'll happen in His time. If it's not God's will for it to happen, then I know that He has something better. I now see that Glory revealed as He is using me just the way I am and in ways others can't be used." Praise the Lord! Nick travels and speaks worldwide with the sole purpose of spreading the Gospel to all people! For more information about Nick go to: http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

Nick's story has inspired me to live my life to impact others for the Kingdom! To live with an eternal perspective. To be driven by eternity! As this quote states,“Only one life - ’twil soon be past! Only what’s done for Christ will last!” May we all join hands in unity to spread the Good News to all people. Planting seeds that will soon result in a massive harvest. Let's take the torch and pass it's fire, let's catch hold of the baton that the Lord longs for us to pass on to others! We can start a chain reaction...it all starts with us being obedient to call of the Lord! Friends, heed His voice. Let it begin right here, right now. Let's choose to stand with arms high and heart abandoned!

The Stand
By: Hillsongs United

You stood before creation
Forever within Your hand
You spoke all life into motion
My soul now to stand
You stood before my failure
And carried the cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand
So what can I say
And what could I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You
So I’ll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand
So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Call of Courage made it into the San Antonio Christian Film Festival


I have some exciting news! I'm apart of an organization called, The Dallas Christian Filmmakers (DCFM)! I'm actually one of the officers! Anyway, we made a film this past Summer in Ardmore, Oklahoma and it made it into the San Antonio Christian Film Festival!!!! And I actually got to have three lines in our movie! There are apx. 150-200 short films that are sent to SACFF but only 30 make it to the Semi's! Well, ours did! We are so excited! God is so good! We are all so thrilled about the Film Festival! I'll keep ya'll updated...
For more info about our movie: http://www.dallaschristianfilmmakers.org/
*Steph

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Laid Low...But Spirit Is Up

I broke my foot! Well, I was in the emergency room last Wednesday night. I got some x-rays done and the doctor came to me and told me that I had a broken foot. So, I'm now on crutches for 4-6 weeks. The most embarrassing part is how it happened. I was running in high heels! Yep! Wrong idea! I'll never do that again!!!!

Everyone has been so wonderful. A sweet friend of mine dropped by the house and brought me flowers and a bucket of Unconditional Chocolate ice-cream made by Dove. And a friend of my mom's brought me a small portable cd player to put beside my temporary bed (the couch). I feel so loved! It truly does feel so nice to rest. If you really know me I'm an energetic, go getter, ball of fire, trying to be everywhere all at once....kind of girl. It is also going to be very hard for me because I sometimes have a hard time staying put. So, in a way this is going to be a test.

Today, is my fifth day in a cast, so there's not much I can do. But even though I'm laid low, I have to say that my spirit sure is up! :) God is so faithful! So.....I have exciting news! I've started writing a book! Yes! Me! I know it's random but God is birthing something in my spirit! I have this overwhelming passion to see my Sisters in Christ preparing themselves for their True Bridegroom! Anyway, I'll keep you updated on my new project...

I'm listening to Aaron Shust's new cd called Whispered and Shouted. My favorite song right now is called, Create Again. Here are the lyrics,


Create Again
By: Aaron Shust

Separated from night
You spoke and then there was light
They point to You
Divided water from land
Bowing to Your command
They point to You


The sun that’s blazing at noon
And every phase of the moon
They point to You.
A baby’s cry and the way
A sunset closes the day
They point to You.

For You’re the only One worth praising
More radiant than earth and sky
And everyday that I survey Your creation
I see why I see why


God of everything I see,
Come create again in me
You were yesterday
You will always be
So take each breath that I breathe
And be the life that I bleed
Create again in me

The storm that’s raging at sea
The little child on her knees
They point to You
Your grace that’s poured out on me
The sacrifice on a tree
They point to You


Your Word vaults across the sky
From sunrise to sunset
Melting the ice, scorching the desert
Warm our hearts to faith
Create again in me