Some photos from the Rebelution Conference in Dallas

The Rebelution Conference was amazing! I had the opportunity to be the Registration Captain for the Dallas Conference! God's presence, favor and constant supply of His supernatural strength made each of us smile and so grateful! We serve an awesome God! Mr. Harris, Brett and Alex did an outstanding job in all of their sessions! Their passion, love, dedication and genuine faithfulness to the Lord truly radiates! Joel's heart of worship shines as he lift's his eyes and his voice to his Maker. They are men who are real about their faith! If you haven't gone to any of the Rebelution Conferences then I highly recommend each of you to get on board next year! It's time for our generation to start falling desperately in love with our Lord and living lives of faith, obedience and risk...especially when it comes to doing hard things for God.

The Heart of The Warrior's Bride

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him! The Lord is my warrior; Yahweh is his name! Exodus 15:2-3 (Personalized)

I was curled up in a small corner of the couch snacking on chicken strips and ranch. I was watching one of my all-time favorite movies, The Last Samurai. I sat alone in a quiet room; everything seemed to be holding it's breath as the ending scenes flashed before my eyes. The thick harsh drum beats resounded off the walls and bounced in every direction. I began to cry, tears were streaming down my face...my heart was aching. I wanted Katsumoto to live! He was Samurai! He was a brave warrior! A man known for his honor! His life had left a major impact on the heart of Nathan Algren, an American soldier sent to Japan to train an infantry of Japanese soldiers to fight against the Samurai. Nathan had no idea that he would soon become one of them. At the very end, the Emperor asks Nathan to tell him how Katsumoto died and Nathan in turn replies, "No, your Majesty, I will tell you how he lived." I began to weep...I broke. My mom walked into our living room and sat down beside me and asked me why I was crying. The tears started flowing again as I tried to explain... I guess you could say the movie impacted me in a way that it hadn't before. What was it about a warrior's brave death? What made a life of loyalty and honor so touching?

Well, as I ponder, I am reminded of the Lord's gruesome death. He was an innocent lamb led to the slaughter. He was mocked. Abused. Tortured. Rejected. Friends, he did it for us. We were in His thoughts. Tom Malone states, "When Christ died on the cross of Calvary, He died with you and me in mind." We were on His heart. We were the reason. Our one true Warrior laid down His life for His Bride. It was all for us. He was the greatest example of a life of honor. We all are going to leave some type of legacy or impact on our world whether we like it or not… every word, every look, every motive…our lives are songs, their melodies. What is your life singing loudly to those around you?

The Lord left a legacy of love. Katsumoto left a legacy of honor. What about us? What will we do with what we have received from the Lord? Leo Buscaglia states, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Let’s follow our Warrior’s footprints…let’s choose to live and leave a legacy of love. Let’s live purposeful lives. Lives that bring honor and glory to our Maker!

~Stephanie

God's dreamers are always unpractical, but in the end...their dreams come true. -Amy Carmichael

Recently, I started reading this amazing book by Eric and Leslie Ludy titled, When God Writes Your Life Story. It is soooooo good! I highly recommend reading it! Here are a few quotes taken from the book that left me in awe!

What happened to our little-kid passion for achieving the impossible? When did we stop shooting for impossible goals and start aiming for realistic targets instead? As little kids, we dream of a bigger-than-life existence. But eventually we grow up. We lose our "oomph" to keep aiming high. We settle for everyday mediocrity. We stop trying to be heroic and finally accept being average.

When our little kid passion for the impossible dies, everything worth living for slowly suffocates as well. We give up our hopes of finding a sense of victorious fulfillment and purpose in each day; of making a dynamic difference in this world; of discovering a love that lasts a lifetime; or of enjoying enduring friendships. And most of us give up hope of ever being on intimate terms with God. We scoff at the idea of experiencing a passionate love affair with the King of the Universe that transforms our existence.

But what is a movie without a conflict? Where's the drama without a mountain of impossibility to climb? The very thing that makes for an exciting story is the same thing that makes for a wonderful and amazing life: overcoming the impossible. For life to be fully lived, it must wrestle the impossible and win. For life to be fully lived, the God of the Impossible must be fully trusted with the writing of the script.

Wow! Isn't that wonderful?!!! I definitely want the Lord writing my life story! He is truly the expert! Let's let Him be the author of our lives! Let's submit our lives to Him!

Breathe On Me Breath Of God

This morning, I was listening to this song that Sandy Patti sings called, Breathe On Me. I was so moved by the words. I long and desire for the Lord's breath just to blow over me like violent winds during a thunderstorm. I want God just to overwhelm me with His presence and breath. I want to hear from Him! I want be so close to Him that my heart beats in rhythm with His.

Breathe On Me
By Sandy Patti

Breathe on me breath of God
Bring my life close to your spirit
Beat in me heart of God
My soul's in prayer to be near it
Focus my eyes
To only see what's you
And breathe on me
Breathe on me breath of God

Breathe on my breathe of God
I am a vessel to be filled
Comfort me peace of God
Lord, I am restless for your will
Silence my fears
So that I may hear from you
And breathe on me
Breathe on me breath of God

Surround me in your glory
Make your presence known
Set the path of grace before me
Let your breath become my own

Breathe on breath of God
Cover my sin with your mercy
Speak to me word of God
Give me a light for my journey
Show me your way
And draw me close to you
And breathe on me
Breathe on me
Breathe on me breath of God

"And so I am joyful all the day...."

"It is very pleasant to live here in our beautiful world. My eyes cannot see the beautiful things, but my mind can see them all, and so I am joyful all the day."
~So said blind and deaf Helen Keller

Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Wow! When my mom read that quote during one of our morning devotions together, I was left speechless. How could this women be so joyful?! What was there to be so joyful about when one couldn't see or hear? I can't imagine not ever being able to see the majestic snow covered mountain tops, or see all the sunrises and sunsets that our Creator paints for each of us to enjoy, or see a cool and refreshing waterfall or see the crisp fall leaves of red, orange and yellow. I can't imagine not ever being able to hear someone say, "I love you," or hear the birds when the sun breaks forth from the sleeping expanse, or hear the crunching of snow beneath my feet, I can't imagine not hearing the beautiful melodies of music. I was amazed! And I was upset to see how easily I could become selfish with the cares and distractions of my everyday life. We are all so blessed! And Helen Keller said she was so blessed...because her hope and joy was not found in her present circumstances or in her condition. She made it a point to find things that she was thankful for. Wow! Let's continue to strive to place our hope in the Lord! For it's only in Him that we will ever truly experience a joy that will transform the very corners of our lives forever!

Hear From Heaven

I just started reading this wonderful book! It is so good! Here is what the back of the book states,

"If you desire to be used by the Lord, you need to grow sensitive to His voice.
God looks for those who surrender to Him, who will not be ashamed of Him, who will speak what they have heard. God's presence follows His believers. Sitting at the office, typing at the computer, resting on a mattress, or driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic-He is there.

But in the pace of hectic lives, how can we hear his voice? In an increasingly divergent global culture, thousands of distractions surround us every day. To be in tune with God, we need to remove the hindrances, put on "spiritual hearing aids" and get intimate with Him.

Dale Carver believes people can hear from God today. He insists that the "thumb-twiddling" Christian life must stop-so a life of obedience, fulfillment, and reward can begin.

Hear From Heaven and Change Your World is a handbook on how to hear God in the midst of daily life. It will open new doors of opportunity in your relationship with Christ."

It is definitely a must read!!! :)

Blessings,
Steph

Update From Stephanie

Hello All! :) Sorry it's been so long since I last posted! A lot has happened!

First of all, I was in a film recently, it is actually for the San Antonio Christian Film Festival. The movie I was in is called, Call of Courage. Here is the description:
"The Call of Courage is a gripping story of two young men fighting in the Civil War. Eddie Lee is a twelve-year old drummer boy who is befriended by James McClay – an officer in the Union army. As the days pass, they become as close as brothers. As the army begins its march to Wilson’s Creek, both Eddie and James are faced with decisions that will require all the courage they can muster. As things get tougher, the Battle of Wilson’s Creek erupts – throwing the two into the most intense moments of their lives."
I was actually the mother of the little drummer boy! It was so neat being around so many cameras, seeing all the sound equipment stuff and hanging out with such wonderful godly friends! It was such a blessing to be apart of this amazing project!

2. I'm in a play, Little Women! Our last performance is tonight and this will be our fifth performance! It was a long haul...we met three times a week and each practice was two hours long! I think we started somewhere around May 8...overall I had so much fun! I played the older Jo narrating my whole entire life story! I got to share about the March family and what each member of my family meant to me, my adventures with Laurie, how Beth's death affected me and my friendship and then marriage of Friedrich. It has been such a wonderful experience!

3. Lately, I've been walking through a desert you could say. I've been living in a rut. Spiritually dehydrated. I confess to you that I have been worrying about other things and have not been giving the Lord my desires, dreams and passions. Last night, I was at a worship/prayer gathering and the Lord truly met me where I was. A friend of mine gave a word to the group of people that were there and he shared with us that God has been really working on his heart and he told us that while he was reading the Psalms, yesterday morning, God spoke to heart and told him that he needed to stop trying to attain his dreams and desires in his own strength...but to truly stop and start running after the one who can truly give him the desires of his heart. To seek the Lord FIRST above anything or anyone! Those words went straight to my heart and I began to cry and just worship the Lord! It felt amazing! It has been so long since I have truly worshiped the Lord in that way. Utter abandonment! I'm so hungry for God! I want so much to be a tree rooted and grounded in Christ that when storms and times of testing come...I will use those situations to allow my roots to grow deep. Jesus is so amazing! God is pulling me out of my rut! I am so grateful!

Blessings,
Stephanie

I will be better about my posting!!! :)

Preparing for the Wedding Feast...

Let us rejoice and be glad

and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
Then the angel said to me, "Write:
'Blessed are those who
are invited to the
wedding supper of the Lamb!' "
And he added, "These are the true words of God."
Revelation 10:7-9

How can we be making ourselves ready for that special day?! What are some things we can do to live out our lives with an eternal perspective?

Reflection of Christ

I want my life to be an fragrant offering to the Lord. I want my life to be a reflection of His love and joy. I want my life to impact lives for the Kingdom. I want my life to be a song of praise to my Lord. I want my life to be a tapestry of many beautiful colors representing every fond memory, trial, smile, tear and miracle! I want every day to be a snapshot that completes a much grander life photo! I want my life to be a life that above all...pleases Him!

Yesterday night, I met a friend for dinner, and she and I talked about the deserts that the Lord has been leading and carrying us through...God is so faithful! A.W. Tozer says, "For God to use someone greatly He must first wound them deeply." When I look at David's life, I am amazed at how many giants were put in his path. He had to face a bear, lion, Goliath and even his own King tried to kill him on several occasions. When David was given the promise that he would one day be King...he actually went back to the field. God will use those fields, valleys or deserts in life to get us ready for the mission that He is laying out before us! In just the right timing, God can move any child of His from his or her field to a throne!

Here is one of my favorite songs:

Alabaster Jar
By Zach Neese/Walker Beach

This alabaster jar
is all I have of worth
I break it at Your feet, Lord
It's less than You deserve
You're far more beautiful
More precious than the oil
The sum of my desires
and the fullness of my joy!

Like You spilled Your blood,
I spill my heart as an offering
to my King

Here I am, take me
As an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat
For Your glory take me

The time that I have left
is all I have of worth
I lay it at Your feet, Lord
It's less than You deserve
And though I've little strength
And though my days are few,
You gave Your life for me
So, I will live my life for You

Worthy, Worthy
You are worthy
Worthy is the Lord

Psalm 25

I read this beautiful Psalm, this morning, during my quiet time! God is truly teaching me to be completely dependent on Him for all my needs! He is asking me to trust Him! To put my hope in Him! He is beckoning me to take His hand so He can take me through new fields and over new mountaintops! What has God been teaching you lately?

Psalm 25

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

You have to go through the Fridays and Saturdays of life before you get to the Sunday...

Wow! This morning I listened to an incredible message by Jimmy Evans titled, The Two Faces of Faith. Here are some of my notes taken from the sermon... :)

Personally, I have been living through some Fridays and Saturdays of life and ready to get to the Sunday! Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we all are going to have to go through trials and times of testing. James 1:2-4 states, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Our calling involves pain. One of our missions is to put on the face of a fool before we can put on a face of champion. Think about Jesus. He was mocked, persecuted, spit on, laughed at and was crucified between two fools....Jesus became the ultimate fool. Likewise, we are called by God to do the same. We are called by the Father to join hands with our forefather’s of faith and become fools for Christ. I am amazed when I think of the unshakable unwavering faith of Noah, Abraham, David, Joseph, Mary, Daniel, Peter...the list goes on. They were all willing to be reviled, persecuted, mistreated and mocked because they were determined to believe in the promises of God. They were going to stand on His word!

We are called to fix our gaze before us! We are beckoned to look in front of us...to keep looking for the finish line. I know from personal experience, that the pain only increases when we get closer to the finish line. I also love the quote that states, “It’s darkest before the dawn.”

Guys and Girls, we have to constantly look to Jesus. Don’t allow the Fridays and Saturdays of life to swallow you up. Yes, Saturdays are death days...grave days....but keep remembering that Sunday is on its way! We are going to reach our promised land! Don’t give up! Endure! Run vigorously! Keep walking by faith! Let’s become fools for Christ so that we can become champions for Christ!

Blessings,

Stephanie

If you have any prayer requests about a "pit experience" that your going through right now...I would love to pray for you! Please be praying for me that I would remember that there is a Sunday just around the corner of every tough circumstance! God is so faithful!

Mighty Worshippers of Jesus

Tonight, my dad and I watched some of, Hillsong United's, worship DVD! It is so powerful! They have become one of my favorite worship bands! Oh, I want so much to see my generation taking a stand in being mighty worshippers of God! I want to see young people radically sold out for Jesus! I'm tired of seeing people living in defeat...tired of seeing people going through the same cycles over and over again.... I want the world to be able to look at us and see Christ! I want them to see lives consecrated to Him! I want us to take the torch and run this race of life victoriously! I want to see my generation spurring on and encouraging the next generation to take a stand for their Savior!

What are your thoughts?

A Touching Airport Story

For those of you who don’t know Beth Moore, she is an outstanding Bible teacher, writer of Bible Studies, and a married mother of 2 daughters.

April 20, 2005

At the airport in Knoxville

Waiting to board the plane: I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I’d had a marvelous morning with the Lord.

I say that because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you.

You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousands reasons, not the least of which is your ego.

I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long. Clean, but strangely out of place on an old man.

I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I’d just had a Howard Hughes sighting.

Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport, …an impersonator maybe?

Was a camera on us somewhere?

There I sat trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let’s admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.

I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I’ve learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing. I immediately
began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind.

“Oh no, God please no.” I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, “Don’t make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I’ll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don’t make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!”…

There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, “Please don’t make me witness to this man. Not now. I’ll do it on the plane.”

Then I heard it…”I don’t want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair.”

The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No brainer. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, “God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I’m on this Lord. I’m your girl! You’ve never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am on him. I am going to witness to this man.”

Again as clearly as I’ve ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. “That is not what I said, Beth. I don’t want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair.”

I looked up at God and quipped, “I don’t have a hairbrush. It’s in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?”…

God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God’s Word: “I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:17) I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies.

I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, “Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?”

He looked back at me and said, “What did you say?”

“May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?” To which he responded in volume ten, “Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you’re going to have to talk louder than that.” At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, “SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?”

At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Longlocks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face and say, “If you really want to.”

Are you kidding? Of course I didn’t want to. But God didn’t seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, “Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don’t have hairbrush.”

“I have one in my bag, “ he responded. I went around to the back of that wheelchair and got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger’s old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man’s hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don’t do many things well, but I must admit I’ve had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls.

Like I’d done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man’s hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me.

I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair.

I know this sounds so strange, but I’ve never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, that I – for that few minutes – felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God’s.

His hair was finally as soft as an infant’s. I slipped the brush back in the bag, went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees, and said, “Sir, do you know my Jesus?”

He said, “Yes, I do.” Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, “I’ve known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn’t marry me until I got to know the Savior.” He said, “You see, the problem is, I haven’t seen my bride in months. I’ve had open-heart surgery and she’s been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride.”

Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we’re completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment and I’ll never forget it. Our time came to board and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I’d acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft.

I still had a few minutes and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, “That old man’s sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?”

I said, “Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!” And we got to share. I learned something about God that day. He knows if you’re exhausted because you’re hungry, you’re serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on, but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you’re hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you’re sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!

I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one I had missed along the way…all because I didn’t want people to think I was strange. God didn’t send me to that old man, He sent that old man to me.

John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

By: Beth Moore

“Life shouldn’t be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting…”Wow! What a ride! Thanks You Lord!” - Author unknown

The Stand

The Stand

By: Hillsong United

You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can 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 what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours

Show me Your heart
Show me Your way
Show me Your glory

Throw away the classy heels and fuzzy slippers and PUT ON your hiking boots...

Tonight, I got to watch the first video session to, Believing God, by Beth Moore. My friend and I started a Mother/Daughter Prayer and Bible-Study group last year, and we just decided to start working through this particular Bible-Study! I am so excited! As I sat and watched, I couldn't help but be in awe of the awesome truths that seemed to explode inside of me. The theme of this course is learning what it means to truly believe in God and living lives full of radical faith in the wonderful promises that are given to us in His Word! I came to a greater realization that my journey in taking ownership of my "promised land" (my calling) is going to be messy work. The enemy is defiantly standing on what belongs to me (through Christ)... and he certainly doesn't want to see me working on the land that is rightfully mine. Beth Moore was encouraging the Body of Christ to throw away our classy heels and fuzzy slippers and just make a decision to put on our hiking boots! The Body of Christ needs to wake-up and stop allowing itself to be paralyzed by unbelief. I need to stop whining and wishing and start believing and receiving! I now have a greater sense of hope knowing that my Almighty Father has a calling for my life! He loves me and He loves you and desires us to live lives where our theology merges with our reality. He longs to see us living authentic, genuine lives that will impact lives for the Kingdom! In Romans, it talks about God's children being more than conquerors through Christ! Titus 2:11-14 states, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." John Bevere states in his book, A Heart Ablaze, "The grace of God is God's empowering presence which gives us the ability to do what truth demands of us." We have the power to live set apart lives for the Lord...let's choose to walk in victory! Let's choose to believe in God no matter what situation you may find yourself in! He is faithful! Have faith my friend!

In His Service,
Stephanie

P.S. Guys, sorry about the shoe analogy! :)

Family Vacation

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to let ya'll know that my family and I are going to be out of town. We are traveling to Corpus Christi to go spend some quality time with friends on the beach and in the water! :)

Your Sister in Christ,

Stephanie

Meet my family... :)

From Top Left to Right: My Dad (?) and Me (18), My Mom (Never), Alan (17), Michelle (14), Philip (18), Sarah (16), Samuel (14)... I love my family! :)

We actually adopted Philip, Sarah, and Samuel from Russia three years ago! God has been so amazing and faithful! It cost $32,000 dollars to adopt them and every penny of it was given to us! None of it came from our pocket! When God starts something...He finishes that something! I love the quote that says, "When God orders something, He pays!"

Beauty From Ashes

"Provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."-Isaiah 61:3

She was young and ordinary - a poor Jewish girl. But dwelling in the innermost parts of her being there burned a heart that reverently feared God, sacrificially obeyed Him, and willingly let go. She was entrusted with a sacred secret: a promise from Yahweh. It was a promise that she treasured and tucked away most dearly. She would carry the One who tells the oceans how far they can go, the One who’s words can catch a falling star, the One who would conquer death to give us victory, the One who holds us when we’re broken. Mary would carry THE One. She would bear this child for nine months and then experience hard labor, feed Him, change His diapers, teach Him to read, comfort Him when He was hurt, tuck Him in bed at night (maybe with a few bedtime stories), but, in the end, she would let Him go.

As I ponder this amazing story, I am overwhelmed. How could anything beautiful come out of letting her Son go? Mary had to watch her promise, her Son, be tortured, battered, bruised, and then crucified on a cross.

We, as Christians, experience trials and we ask, “Why?” But our finite minds cannot grasp the big picture. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul states, “We only know in part...” We don’t know the finished artwork yet! Mary saw what (in the natural) looked like a complete failure, when in reality, it was a battle won! What Satan meant for evil, God meant for good!

There have been numerous times when I’ve had to undergo a “sackcloth and ashes” experience. But ultimately, Christ was the Lifter of my head! He has been the one who has dried my tears when I have cried out to Him! He truly has taken my sackcloth and ashes and has given me His robe of beauty and joy!I know many have (or even at present) are going through difficult times. But please understand me when I say that it is possible to have peace in the midst of a storm.

Think of it this way: Even in a great tempest with violent winds and torrents of rain, a bird is able to sleep peacefully and remain on a swaying branch because its claws were designed to lock themselves for stability, regardless of the circumstances. In the same way, in our personal storms, we as Christian girls have to cling to Jesus! We need to run desperately after Him!

Young men and women, I encourage you that even in the most treacherous hurricane there is calmness found in the eye (the center) of the storm. Why was Jesus able to sleep soundly during the storm? Because inside He was at peace with the Father! He trusted and knew that His Abba Father was faithful and would see Him through! The same with us, even when the situation looks like it is all but ashes, God by His grace, can make something that looks so bleak and ugly so very beautiful – in His perfect timing!

Romans 8:28 – “For God works all things together for good, to them that love God and who are called according to His purpose.”

As I close, I want to encourage you with the lyrics to this powerful song called Still, by Reuben Morgan from Hillsongs Australia. Ponder these words as you exchange your ashes for His beauty: Hide me now under Your wings / Cover me within Your mighty hand // When the oceans rise and thunders roar / I will soar with You above the storm / Father, You are King over the flood / I will be still and know You are God // Find rest my soul in Christ alone / Know His power in quietness and trust

I'm at another tournament... :)

Hello Folks! I'm so sorry that I haven't posted a well-written post in a while.:) My schedule has been crazy!

I'll be back on Sunday, so I'll be sure to start writing a post...

Steph

P.S. I know the picture is pretty random, but I love coffee drinks!

Congrats Alan and Samantha!

I just wanted to do a special post dedicating it to my precious brother and his wonderful debate partner! They have been doing so well! But, the thing that blesses me the most... is that they give the Lord all the glory! They have been shining bright lights! Their humility is beautiful! I love you Alan and Samantha! Your love for the Lord is amazing!

Life's Seasons

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

The beauty in the way God designed the four seasons is that, though each one is distinct, they all work together to bring life and growth. Spring is a period of freshness and new life. Summer sees growth and productivity. Autumn is a time for harvesting the rewards of past labors. Winter is the season of dormancy and closure. Each season has its own unique beauty and makes a significant contribution to life.

Just as God planned seasons in nature, He planned seasons in life as well. Life has its springtime, when we begin new things and look excitedly toward the future. Summer comes and we work diligently in the heat of the day at all that God has assigned to us. With autumn comes the fruition of things begun at an earlier time in our lives. Winter brings an end to a particular period in our lives. Sometimes winter brings hardship, but we remain hopeful, for another spring is just around the corner!

In God's perfect design for our lives, He has planned for times of fruitfulness and activity. He will also build in times of quiet and rest. There will be times when He asks us to remain faithful doing the same work day after day. But there will also be periods of excitement and new beginnings. By God's grace, we will enjoy seasons of harvesting the fruit of our faithfulness. By God's grace we will also overcome the cold winters of heartache and grief, for without winter there would be no spring. Just as it is with the seasons of nature, these seasons in our lives work together to bring about God's perfect will for each one of us.

Devotion taken from, Experiencing God, by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby

Are You A Dreamer?

The stone floor was hard and cold against his head, and it relentlessly whispered to him of no possible chance of undisturbed sleep. A thick film of waste and scum seemed to crawl in every direction. The stench was unbearable. The young man ran his hands through his lice infested hair as he stared up through the opening in the ceiling. The sparkling stars radiated their light as if they were billions of fire flies. The unlimited stormy blue expanse blanketed across the horizon. All of it proclaimed the finger work of the greatest Artist, A Creator that created so many something’s out of nothing. He suddenly sat up and heaved a confusing sigh, in front of him lay a puddle of rain water; he got to his knees and peered into it. His reflection seemed to yell its doubtful questions. Thoughts began to paint themselves on the canvas of his weary mind. Do you still believe that God will carry out your dreams? Look at you! You're in a prison! You were sold by your very own brothers? Your flesh and blood! Dreamer, what makes you think that they will come true? It’s impossible! Your situation is hopeless!

God's promises are like the stars: the darker the night, the brighter they shine.
–Author Unknown

In Joseph’s circumstance, everything around him only seemed to scream that his dreams were impossibilities. What I find to be so amazing is that the Bible never mentions that he became bitter or angry with God. I’m sure he was confused at times...maybe even wondered what he could have done to have all these storms rocking his ship of faith. In the book, Come Away My Beloved, it states, “My Child, I direct every motion of your life, as the ocean bears a ship. Your will and intelligence may be at the helm, but divine providence and sovereignty are stronger forces. You can trust Me, knowing that any pressure I bring to bear upon your life is initiated by My love, and I will not do even this except as you are willing and desire. Many a ship has sailed from port to port with no interference from Me, because Strong Will has been at the wheel. Multitudes of pleasure cruises go merrily on their ways, untouched by the power of My hand. But you have put your life into My keeping, and because you are depending on Me for guidance and direction. I shall give it!” Joseph’s heart was a heart willing to go through anything that would prepare him for the call. May our hearts have that same cry! A soul willing and yielding to the Lord’s direction and guidance...

God has given me a dream, a promise... I am learning daily what it means to have faith that doesn’t quit believing just because of what the clock is telling me. If your dream isn’t fulfilled at a certain time or season that doesn’t mean that it is over. Think of all the incredible men and women in the Bible, ordinary men and women like you and me, who had to walk their lives by faith! We are called to do the same! Hebrews 10:36 states, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised!” Habakkuk 2:2-3, 4c Then the Lord replied, “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it, it will certainly come and will not delay....the righteous live by faith.”

Brothers and Sisters, we are called to persevere, to believe, and to patiently wait for the promises that he has planted in our hearts, for the dreams that he has caused to blossom in each of our minds. I have to keep telling myself that God’s promises are true and that His plans can’t be thwarted. Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” Praise the Lord! He is faithful, and even though we have to go through life’s storms we can still make it through because we have held tightly to our Savior! Bless you!

Here's a song that I hope encourages you,

My Savior My God
Aaron Shust
I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

The Need For Greater Faith

I hope this devotion from the book, Come Away My Beloved, blesses you...


If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5


O child, do not expect the trials to be lighter than in the past. Why should you think the tests would be less severe? I test all things, and there are areas of your life that as yet I have not touched. Do not look for respite. The days ahead may call for greater endurance and more robust faith than you ever needed before. Welcome this, for you must surely know how precious are the lessons learned through such experiences. Even if you are unable to fully anticipate them with joy, you can certainly gain an appropriate appreciation of them in retrospect.


Apply your heart to learn wisdom. This goal transcends every other aim, and any other good that comes out of a pressure period is an added blessing in excess.


Seek Me above all else.

Your Beloved,
Jesus


Wow! I love this devotion! Right now, I'm going through a pressure season. It's difficult and painful at times. But, it gives me great joy to remember that it is through these valley experiences that I will grow more intimately in love with Lord! I know that when I can't take another step...Jesus promises that HE will carry me! What about ya'll? What lessons have you learned when you've gone through a difficult season?

More Than Watchmen Wait For The Morning...

During my quiet time this morning, I read this Psalm...

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Psalm 130

Isn't that beautiful? I love the part that says, "My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchman wait for the morning." I want that passion! I love David's heart for the Lord, he just couldn't get enough of His Creator! I want that zeal! What are your thoughts?

Happy Valentine's!

I have a praise to share...and I'm so excited about it! My Grandma and Grandpa are getting married! PRAISE THE LORD! They have been divorced for 12 years due to difficult circumstances. My Grandpa use to be heavy alcoholic and chain smoker when they were married, but since he had his stroke several years ago...he has been delivered from both his addictions! God is so very faithful! My Grandpa's one desire has been to marry my Grandma again! He recently proposed with the actual wedding ring about a year ago and she turned him down. But, God had been softening and working on my Grandma's heart for the past couple of months and just, last Sunday, she called him up crying and proposed to him! :) My Mom, Aunt, Sister and I were in the room when this took place. She started sobbing as she shared what the Lord had been revealing to her. My Grandpa was flabbergasted! His response was, "What!" He then started laughing and crying at the same time! It was so precious! This is truly a testimony of God's faithfulness! How sweet that it happened so close to Valentine's Day! God truly works all things together for good for those who love Him! I encourage you to trust Him in every situation!

I'll be sure to let you know when they set a date for their Wedding! But, I'm pretty sure my Grandma wants it to happen on their TRUE Wedding day that took place many years ago! I'm so thrilled!

~Stephanie

Keep Your Candle Burning

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
~Matthew 5:13-16

How can we be salt and light this week? In what ways can we share Jesus' love to those around us who are lost?

God's Revelation Is His Invitation

Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals HIs secret to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

Christians spend much time talking about "seeking God's will," as though it were hidden and difficult to find. God does not hide His will. His will is not difficult to discover. We do not have to plead with God to reveal His will to us. He is more eager to reveal His will than we are willing to recieve it. We sometimes ask God to do things He has already done!

The people in Amos' day became disoriented to God and to His desires. God had revealed His will; the problem was that they had not recognized it or obeyed it. Amos declared that God does nothing in the affairs of humanity without seeking one of His servants to whom He will reveal His activity. Tragically, there are times when no one is walking closely enough with Him to be receptive to His word. (Isa. 59:16; 63:5; Ezek. 22:30-31).

Jesus walked so intimately with His Father that He was always aware of what the Father was doing around Him (John 5:19-20). Jesus said that if our eyes are pure, they will see God and recognize His activity (Matt. 6:22). If we are not seeing God's activity, the problem is not a lack of revelation. The problem is that our sin prevents us from noticing it.

When God is working in your friend's life or when His convicting your coworker, He may reveal His activity to you. His revelation is His invitation for you to join Him in His redemptive work. Be ALERT to God's activity around you. He will reveal His activity to His servants. If your spiritual eyes are pure, you will be overwhelmed by all that you see God doing around you!

Devotion from the book, Experiencing God, written by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby

Praise You In This Storm

I was sure by now

That You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

Every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry

You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

By Casting Crowns

Driven By Eternity

Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. ~ Sean O'Casey

We are but vapors in the wind. We are all flowers quickly fading. We are only pilgrims passing through earth’s time into another realm. Time here is zero compared to all of eternity. What is our goal? What is our mission?

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Most of you have probably seen the movie, Beauty and the Beast, which depicts a story of a handsome prince who becomes a ferocious beast because of a lack of love despite outward appearances. The beast’s time clock is an enchanted rose, for which he has to pay great heed. His mission is to fall in love before the last petal falls. If he fails, the curse will never be broken.

Now, think of our lives as a beautiful elegant rose. Job 14:2 We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. Each soft petal that wilts and falls to the ground is every year that slips through our fingers. And our assignment, unlike the beast, is to seek to please the Lord in everything we do, say, and think. 2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. We are challenged in the scriptures to embrace an eternal mindset. What we do on this earth will be revealed in full at the judgment seat. We have to make every moment count. We have to live our lives in perspective of time without end. Even my finite mind cannot seek to wrap itself around such a mind-blowing concept.

We, as Christians, can either leave an impact on someone that will either drive them to the cross or from the cross. Whether it is the result of an arrogant attitude or from an act of unconditional love for someone, we have the capacity to leave a lasting impression. Whatever the case may be, we have the power to bring life or death to any situation. Deuteronomy 30:19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

Thus, I encourage you to allow yourself to be driven by eternity, to look at your life through rose colored glasses, to remember that your life is but a flower quickly fading. I urge you, dear ones, to consent to being propelled by the love and fear of the Lord. Our journey is a straight and narrow path. Love protecting you from the pit of legalism and fear protecting you from the pit of lawlessness. Make it your mission to run with endurance, to pace yourself with patience, and to complete your race with perseverance. Make it your goal to run and not give up!

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12