Christmas Drama

You are invited:

Lighthouse Baptist Church will be presenting their Christmas Drama, "The Midnight Cry" on Saturday, December 18, 2004 at 7:00pm and again on Sunday, December 19, 2004 at 6:00pm in the church sanctuary.

We would love to see you there!!

If you need directions or more information, please call the church at 336-570-3560 or email me at stef326@hotmail.com

Sorry.....

It has definitely been a long time since I have posted, and I do apologize.  With Christmas right around the corner things are so busy.  We are performing the drama "The Midnight Cry" at our church on December 18 and 19, so between my normal obligations and play practices and everything I have been extremely busy!  I hope you all are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas.  Let us not forget that this holiday is not about gifts or Santa or Jingle Bells.  This is the birthday of our Lord and Savior.  The One who died so that you and I could have life.  As Brother Ricky says:  "The Winner of Every Battle".  That's our Jesus!  While you are giving gifts, please make sure you give your gift to the Lord.  After all, it is HIS birthday....He should be the one getting presents!!  You might say "But what can I give Jesus?  How can I give Him a gift?".  The answer is simple:  give of yourself.  Your time, your talents, or your money.  Help someone less fortunate than you.  If you will stop and look around you it won't take you very long to find someone that could benefit from your help.  Visit a nursing home and share the Christmas Spirit with some elderly people who may not have family that visits them.  Volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter to help provide a meal for someone who doesn't have the option of a big family Christmas dinner.  If you can spare the money, you could buy some small gifts or groceries for a family in need.  There are many ways you can give to the Lord, but most of them take a little bit more effort than going to the local Wal-Mart.  Sometimes we get so caught up with our own hectic life that we fail to notice the circumstances of others around us.  But Jesus plainly said in Matthew 25:45 (NASB)  "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me."  So when we have a chance to help someone else and we neglect to do so, it is the same as neglecting Jesus.  This Christmas, give a gift to the Lord....by doing something for someone else.  Just think of the wonderful gift God has already given you!!

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season and a blessed and happy New Year.  I will post again as soon as time permits, but until next time.....be blessed!

 

Love,

Stephanie

What Are You Thankful For?

Since today is Thanksgiving, I thought I would list some things that I am most thankful for.  I have so many things that I am thankful for, I hardly know where to start!  God has been so good to me!  But here are a few, and I hope you take the time to reflect on what you are thankful for, and give thanks to the One who makes it all possible:  God!!!

 

I am thankful that God loved me enough to send His Son, Jesus, to die for my sins.  He knew I couldn't reach Heaven on my own, so He sent a sacrifice to die in my place for all my sins.  Thank you, God.

 

I am thankful for my two beautiful children, Whitney and Dylan.  I don't know what I would do without them.  I couldn't ask for two better children and I love them more than life itself.

 

I am thankful for the rest of my family.  I have a wonderful mom and dad whom I love dearly.  I also have two brothers that mean the world to me, as well as a sister-in-law and nephew that I love so much.  God blessed me this year with a stepfather whom I love and who means so much to me.  I also have an adopted sister and niece that are as much family to me as if we were born into the same family.  My grandmother and step-grandfather on my dad's side are still living and I am thankful for them.  I love them very much too.  I also have aunts and uncles and cousins that I thank God for blessing me with.  Another blessing for me this year has been that my dad's stepsister and her family started coming to our church so I have gotten to know an aunt and uncle and cousins that I missed out on knowing as I was growing up.

 

I am thankful for my friends and my church.  I thought I should group these two together because for the most part, they are one in the same.  Most of my closest friends go to church with me and are such a blessing to me.  I am not even going to attempt to call them all by name, because I wouldn't want to leave anyone out.  I am thankful for my church and my pastor and his family.  I thank God that I attend a church where we are free to worship God and give thanks to Him.  I am also thankful for a church that makes me feel so loved and wanted.  My friends are so precious to me and I love them all.  Most of them are like family to me.  I also have friends that I have known from work or school or previous jobs, etc.  They are all as precious to me as jewels and I am so thankful for them.

 

I am thankful for my job, my home, my car.  The things I need to make my life better.

 

I am thankful for my health and for my family's health. 

 

I am thankful for the fact that although we may not always have what we want, we always have what we need.

 

I am thankful to live in a free country and a country where it's citizens are willing to fight to keep us free.

 

I am thankful for where I am in my life right now.  I am thankful that I am not what I used to be.  God has brought me a long, long way!

 

I am thankful for all the hard times, all the pain, all the tears that I have come through.  Without them I would not be where I am now.

 

I am thankful for the talents God has given to me.

 

I am thankful for everything in my life.  God has been so much better to me than I have ever been to Him.  Sometimes when I pray, I find myself praying for the needs of others, but then when I get to myself I hardly know what to ask for.  I have so much.  I am not rich by any means, as far as money and material things.  But what I have been blessed with is worth so much more!  God has given me such a wonderful life and wonderful people to share it with.  So, today and every day, I want to always remind myself of how blessed I am, so that I can remain thankful.  Thanks be to God, from whom all good things come. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

 

Until next time, be blessed....

 

Love,

Stephanie

Just a little note...

Just a quick note to tell all of you who don't already know...

 

Lighthouse Baptist Church will be having a 3-day revival starting Monday, November 22, 2004.  Service starts at 7:00pm each night.  The lineup is as follows:

 

Preaching Monday and Tuesday nights will be by Rev. Don Collins from Friendly Chapel in Pilot Mountain, NC.

Preaching Wednesday Night will be by Bishop Clay from Morgantown First Baptist in Burlington, NC.

 

There will be lots of good singing from the church singers as well as visiting singers each night.

 

Please come visit with us......we are expecting a GREAT time!

 

If you need more information or directions, please email me or call the church at 570-3560.

 

Hope to see you all there!!!!!

 

Love,

Stephanie

He's Never Failed...

"And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof."  -Joshua 23:14 (KJV)

 

I wasn't planning on writing anything tonight, but I was sitting here thinking about how so many things fail us.  I woke up this morning and went out to go to work and found that I had a flat tire.  That one little incident threw me off the whole day.  I just naturally assumed that when I walked out my door this morning, I would be able to jump in my car and drive off.  But because of that flat tire, my car failed me this morning.  It didn't fulfill it's purpose in my life, because I couldn't get it to do what it was supposed to do.

 

When I got to work, I took a service call that required me using the 2-way radio to contact one of our drivers.  The 2-way radio would not work properly.  When I pressed the button on the 2-way radio, it should have alerted the driver's radio.  That didn't happen.  Again, something that I needed had failed me. 

 

I went to the rest home this evening for Brother Ricky's bi-weekly ministry and he asked me to sing "Four Days Late".  I had failed to bring my soundtracks, so I didn't have the tape I needed to provide the background music.  Fortunately, GW was there to play the piano for me.  But I had failed to be prepared like I should have been.

 

Sometimes, we all have things to fail us.  Sometimes we fail others.  But isn't it good to know that God NEVER FAILS??  He's always there - He always comes through - He never leaves you hanging. 

 

A lot of times, when we pray, we think God has failed us because He doesn't answer our prayers the way WE think they should be answered.  But God always knows best.  He always answers our prayers, even if He has to answer it with a "no".  We foolishly think that we know what's best for us, but God knows our past, present, and future.  He sees things we cannot see.  So He alone knows how to best meet our needs and grant our requests.  Sometimes we want so many things.  But what we want isn't always what we need.  Often times, what we want is not the best thing for us.  Country singer Garth Brooks had a song a few years ago that said "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers".  The wording on that is a little off.  It would have been better to have said "some of God's greatest gifts are when he says no to your prayers".  But the words to the song still have a good meaning.  Here's an exerpt:

 

Just the other night at a hometown football game
My wife and I ran into my old high school flame
And as I introduced them the past came back to me
And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be

She was the one that I'd wanted for all times
And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine
And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again

 

She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me
In her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn't much we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he's doin' after all

And as she walked away and I looked at my wife
And then and there I thanked the good Lord
For the gifts in my life

 

Even though that's just a song, I want you to think about it for a moment as if it were real life.  God didn't really "not answer" the man's prayers.  Instead, God had answered his prayers with a "no".  He wouldn't grant the man's request to make the high school girlfriend stay with him for all time, because God knew that later on there was someone better that the man should be with. 

 

Stop and think for a moment about all the things you have prayed for in your life.  I guarantee you there are at least a few that you can look back on and say "God, I'm glad you didn't do that for me!"  If God granted all of our requests the way WE ask Him to, our lives would be a mess.  Because we just don't know what we really need. 

 

But speaking of things we really need.....God always comes through with just that!!  He meets our needs and gives us so much above and beyond what we even ask for.  From little things, to mighty big things.  God is always right on time with whatever we are needing in our lives.  He has never failed! 

 

So whatever you stand in need of in your life tonight, just trust in God to do what's best.  He said He would never leave you, never forsake you.  In Psalm 37:25 (NIV) the Bible says:  "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."

 

Our God is a God of victories, not failures.  He can do whatever you stand in need of, if you will just trust in Him.  Have faith and take comfort in the fact that "...of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof."  -Joshua 23:14 (KJV) (paraphrase)

 

Until next time, be blessed....

 

Love,

Stephanie

Prayer Warriors Needed

Please pray for Malcom ("Johnny") Strauss's 3 year old daughter.  She is in CCU at Alamance Regional after having a heart attack.  (Yes, she is three years old and had a heart attack.)  And her brother, Scott Strouth, age 23, was visiting her in the hospital and collapsed with a heart attack himself and is now a patient in CCU also.  Please pray for this family. 

 

When the prayer request was given to me there was some question as to the spelling of the last names for these people, but I have posted it the way it was written and given to me.  The good news is, GOD knows them!!  So all we need to do is ask Him to touch them!  Thank you in advance for your prayers!

 

Love,

Stephanie

Please continue to pray....

Please continue to pray for Rev. James McKinney.  The doctors have diagnosed him with leukemia (the fast-spreading kind) and have given him 3 months to live.  Pray that God would heal his body and give comfort and strength to him and his family.  Thank you.

 

Love,

Stephanie

Beauty For Ashes....

Isaiah 61 (NIV)

 

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, ^[1]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
³ and 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 a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
⁵ Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
⁶ And you will be called priests of the LORD ,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

⁷ Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.

⁸ "For I, the LORD , love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."

¹⁰ I delight greatly in the LORD ;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.

 

I was reading an email from a dear friend tonight who is going through a very emotionally painful time in her life.  She said "if this is the right thing to do, then why does it hurt so bad?"  The devil tricks us into thinking that because we may feel pain or sorrow, then we are not in God's will.  But that is a lie!  God is there to help us through our times of grief, as the above scripture plainly says.  Don't let the devil deceive you!  Follow God's plan for your life and he will give you beauty for your ashes, and the oil of joy for your mourning.  Be content with your life the way it is.  Don't worry about the things that you don't have or the things you have to let go of.  "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  -Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

 

Remember, if God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it!!  And when it seems like you have lost everything, remember that God is always there with us, and if we have Him then we have everything.  And if you are having a hard time right now, look up!!  This too shall pass!  "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."  -Psalm 30:5 (KJV)   (That is one of my very favorite scriptures!!!)

 

Whatever you are going through, keep praying.  With God on your side, you can't go wrong.  If He leads you to do something you can rest assured it is the RIGHT thing to do!  And take comfort in the fact that JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING!!

 

Until next time, be blessed......

 

Love,

Stephanie

Gonna Reach Heaven

I wanted to share with you all the words to one of my favorite songs.  The words have such a deep meaning to them.  Stand strong for Jesus, and no matter what satan throws at you, you just keep saying that you're GONNA REACH HEAVEN!  Until next time, be blessed....

 

Love,

Stephanie

 

GONNA REACH HEAVEN

 

I've read in the Bible

About saints in the past

Who held on to God's promise

Put their faith to the test

But I know they had a hold of

His powerful hand

For in the midst of the storm

They should have gone down

They found strength to stand

 

So let the flood waters roll

Let the storm winds blow

Let everything hell has tear at my soul

It may hinder me

Bring me down on my knees

But that's as far as I'll go

Not a battle's been lost on that old rugged cross

I'm going to reach Heaven no matter the cost

Next mountain I climb

I just might find

Sweet Heaven in view

 

These dark stormy days

That we're living in

They're bound to shake us

Time and time again

But the very same power

He has given to me

And the same mighty hand

That caused them to stand

Still brings victory

 

So let the flood waters roll

Let the storm winds blow

Let everything hell has tear at my soul

It may hinder me

Bring me down on my knees

But that's as far as I'll go

Not a battle's been lost on that old rugged cross

I'm going to reach Heaven no matter the cost

Next mountain I climb

I just might find

Sweet Heaven in view

The Easy Way Or The Hard Way...

We had 2 wonderful services at church today! We had 3 people saved and 1 that rededicated her life to God. Please pray for these people that they would stay in God's Will. Thinking of that, I had just a couple of thoughts I wanted to share before going to bed....

My friend, Debbie, and I were talking tonight about how we go through so many things "the hard way". Have you ever heard someone say, "OK, we can do this the easy way or the hard way....it's up to you."? Well, a lot of times that is exactly what God is telling us. If we serve Him, we can reap His blessings and go about life "the easy way". Granted, "the easy way" isn't always so easy, but it sure beats the alternative!! And so many of us choose the alternative: "the hard way".

We sometimes have situations in our lives where we know God is wanting us to do one thing, but we stubbornly choose to do another. Thus, taking the hard way. God is going to get you where He wants you in the end, regardless. So why do we make things so rough on ourselves?

I have two younger brothers that I love dearly. And back when I was out of church and had turned my back on God, if either of them had come to me and said they wanted to live like I was living I would have done everything in my power to try to get them to live better than that. So, in essence, the life that I was living wasn't good enough, in my opinion, for either of my brothers, but it was perfectly acceptable for me! I realize now how insane that sounds. But it just goes to show that deep down I knew that the life I was living wasn't right. I wasn't pleasing to God, and I wasn't even pleasing to myself.

I was 23 years old and I had just left my husband, whom I had been married to for 6 years. I wanted to live the life I had never known. So I started going to bars and drinking. I totally turned my back on the 9 years I had lived for God. I know I brought my family much embarrassment and pain. My mother even told me later that she came to my house one day while I was gone and annointed everything in my house and prayed over it that I would return to God. Deep down I wasn't happy. I was always searching for something to make me feel good. If it wasn't alcohol, it was a man; if it wasn't a man, it was my good-time partying friends. I always felt alone, even when I was in a room full of people. I constantly wondered who I really was. And I often thought, there has got to be more to life than this. There were several times when, if it hadn't been for my 2 children, I would have taken my own life. There are other times when I put myself in such stupid and dangerous situations that it is a wonder that someone else didn't take my life. I had chosen to go about things "the hard way".

But God knew where I would end up. And it took me losing almost everything I had to make me turn back to Him and say "OK, God.....I give up....I'll give it all to you if you will just let me come back to you." And you know what? He did. Just like that. And little by little I learned how to go about things "the easy way".

The "easy way" is to let God have complete and total control of your life. He really has all the control over your life anyway, so it's just a matter of you giving in to it. It's kind of like if you had a rope tied to your car and someone pushed it over a cliff. If you pulled and pulled you might could slow it down, but eventually the car is going to go over anyway. Because the pull of the car is stronger than we are. It's the same way with God: When we go against the plan He has for our lives, it slows down the eventual outcome, but the result is always what God wanted in the beginning. And just like with the car, if you pulled and pulled, the car is still going to go over the cliff, but you will have strained your muscles, calloused your hands, maybe seriously hurt yourself in the process. Again, it's like that with God: When we pull away, we hurt ourselves. Many times the scars that we receive while running from the Lord, are present for the rest of our lives.

Now that I am in God's Will, I can honestly say that it IS easier. I don't worry like I used to. I trust God. I know He will take care of me. He always meets my needs. There hasn't been a time when God didn't come through for me. Even though there are many times I haven't come through for Him.

Many of us choose the hard way because we want to be in control of our lives. We want to make our own decisions, and we foolishly think that we know what's best for us. But wouldn't it be so much better (and yes....EASIER!) to be able to hand all that over to someone who really DOES know what's best for us. God knows what you stand in need of even before you ask! "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." -Matthew 6:7-8 (NASB) And not only does He know what we need, He said He would give it to us! "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." -Psalm 37:4 (KJV)

God has a perfect will and plan for each and every one of us. All we have to do is trust in Him, instead of pulling away from Him.

So....WE CAN DO THIS THE EASY WAY OR THE HARD WAY, IT'S UP TO YOU!

I want to leave you with the chorus of a song that my friend, Angela, sings at church. It's called "He'll Do It Again". No matter what you are going through, God has brought you through situations that seemed hopeless before, and He'll do it again!! It just makes it so much easier when you decide to go about it "the easy way". Until next time, be blessed....

Love,
Stephanie

He'll do it again

He'll do it again

If you'll just take a look

At where you are now

And where you've been

Well hasn't He always come through (for you)

He's the same now as then

You may not know how

You may not know when

But He'll do it again!

Debbie's Website

I don't think I mentioned that my friend, Debbie, now has her website up and running. She has a wonderful, touching testimony that you definitely need to read. Just go to http://www.geocities.com/debbiesstory

I hope you are all blessed by it as I was. And don't forget to sign her guestbook!!!

Much love to you all. Until next time, be blessed.....

Love,
Stephanie

Update (and more...)

Thank you all for your prayers for Donna, Jordan and Logan Lee. They are at home recovering and doing well. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

Also, please pray for my former pastor, Rev. James McKinney. James has been diagnosed with leukemia and is in need of all of our prayers.

With so much sickness around us, it is plain to see that satan is fighting us all big time! We need to pray him out of our homes, jobs, schools, relationships.....anywhere where he can get a foothold. God's Word tells us we have the power to rebuke the devil: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." -James 4:7 (NIV)

We also have the power to claim healing for ourselves and for others: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." -Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)

Sometimes we forget the power which God has instilled in us. It is time to call upon that power and take back the things that satan has taken from us!! We must refuse to let satan have dominion over our lives, robbing us of our health, our peace and our joy. I ask that each of you just take a few moments and pray with me:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to call upon you once again. Lord, I ask that you forgive me of all my sins and shortcomings that I might have a clear prayer line to you. God, I ask that you turn loose your power in my life and in the lives of those around me. There are so many that are sick and afflicted. I know many who are lost and hurting. God, I ask that you just make yourself real in their lives and do what needs to be done, according to your will. Lord, heal those that are sick. Touch their bodies and make them whole. Father, we know and believe that with you, all things are possible. Lord, please just work miracles all around us and continue to amaze us with your wonderous works. Lord, I call upon you to rule my life and lead me in the ways in which you want me to go. Strengthen and encourage me that I might be a shining light for you, God. Lord, drive the devil out of our homes and our surroundings and bless us with your mercy and grace. Take those that are lost or backslidden and touch their hearts and minds that they might come to you and give their hearts and lives to you. Lord, help me and the others reading this and praying along with me to proudly proclaim the gospel and be your servents. Help us to pray until our world is shaken up and many come to know you and confess you as Lord. God, I just want to thank you for all that you have already done and all that you are about to do. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. We will give you all the glory and the honor, for it is in Jesus' precious name that we pray. Amen.

Now, please continue to pray. Let's all P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens). Our generation is in need of a major wake up call. And we have within us the power to defeat satan and really do a work for the Lord. I challenge each of you to continually pray and take note of the things happening around you. Jesus said in Matthew 18:19 (NASB): "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven."

So, if we will come together in prayer we will see miracles happen!!

Until next time, be blessed.....

PLEASE PRAY

Please pray for Donna Lee and her two daughters, Jordan and Logan. They were in a very bad automobile accident this morning in Moore County. Please pray for their health and recovery.

Things that make you go "hmmmmmm..."

"Don't let your worries get the best of you. Remember, Moses started out as a basket case"

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited - until you try to sit in their pews.

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes and sand gnats come close.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.

We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges

Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your Copilot - swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don't change the message, the message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

And my personal favorite:

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong!

Faith and the Mustard Seed

I just had a few thoughts I wanted to share with you tonight.....


"And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." -Matthew 17:20 NASB

"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." -Luke 17:6 KJV


How big is a mustard seed? Jesus is telling us in these two verses, how little faith we actually have to have to accomplish great things, yet even that much faith is unattained by most people. So it helps to get a visualization of exactly how big a mustard seed is. The seed that Jesus was referring to was probably the black mustard seed, which was the smallest seed ever sown by a first-century farmer in that part of the world. ("Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." -Matthew 13:31-32 KJV)

So think for a moment about the seeds that you know. Take for instance a sunflower seed. A sunflower seed is very tiny. And to think that a mustard seed is even smaller than that. Now put that in perspective with Jesus saying that is all the faith that we need to move a mountain!

Why am I explaining all this, you might ask? To show that we, as Christians, generally do not have the faith that we should. We trust God to take care of us and supply our needs, but then the first time a bill comes due and we don't have the money to pay it, we start moaning "Oh, whoa is me....what am I going to do????". It's like we trust God for the little things, but we don't have the faith to believe that He can take care of bigger things.

Now keep in mind, that this is the same God, who made the blind man to see. He is the same God who raised Lazarus from the dead. He is the same God that healed the woman with the issue of blood (who, by the way, doctors could do nothing for!). He is also the same God that made everything that we know come into existence. He made the dark night and the light day. He formed the earth and the stars. He created every living creature. He even formed man from the dust of the earth. So why can't we trust God to take care of the things in our lives?

Mostly, I think it is because God is so awesome, that His work is so far beyond our comprehension. We believe that He can do all these things, yet we can't fully understand HOW He can do all these things. After all, His ways are not our ways. And since our mind cannot totally comprehend the magnitude of God's ability, it is sometimes hard to allow ourselves to depend on Him for everything that we need in our lives.

That is why we need to push that unbelief from our minds, and trust with our hearts. The Bible defines faith as this: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1 NIV.

Our God can do all things. There is no problem too big or too small for Him. But we have to find the faith within ourselves to call God's plan into action. God is a loving God and will not force Himself on anyone. He wants us to believe in Him and what He can do. Otherwise, He cannot get glory from the result. Think about it like this: if you pray and pray for a new home, but you are not really sure that God will send you one, and then you get a new home, you may not be so willing to say it was God who gave it to you. But if you pray, believing, and having faith that God will send you a new home, then when He does, you are going to give God the credit for that new home. Because you are going to want to tell others "I KNEW HE WOULD DO IT!!"

Faith is a hard thing to hold onto sometimes. Just because of pure human nature, it is sometimes hard for us to have even faith the size of a mustard seed. But God loves to work through faith. To show the believer that He WILL do what He said He would do.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about GETTING faith. Faith is something that you have to acquire. You don't just wake up one morning and say, "I believe, and I have faith that God will do everything I need Him to." and live the rest of your days with that conviction. There are things that happen that test our faith. These are called trials. Sometimes you may be going through a hard time in your life and you don't know why. It could be that sickness has come upon you or you are having financial difficulties. Whatever the situation, you can be sure that God will get the glory from it. A lot of times it is also to increase your faith. Think about a body-builder. You see these men (and women) that lift large objects like buses and you wonder how in the world can they do that! Well you can be certain that they didn't just go out one day and lift up an 18-wheeler! They had to work up to it. They started by lifting small weights. Maybe as small as 10 or 15 pounds. Then gradually, they work up to lifting larger weights: 50 and 75 pounds. Then they move on to lift even larger weights: 100 and 200 pounds. And so on and so forth. As they build up their muscles, they are able to lift larger and larger amounts.

We need to build up our spiritual muscles. And sometimes trials are the "weights" we use for doing that. I can often go through a trial and start to think "how am I going to make it through this?", but then I can look back at another situation God has brought me out of and I think "well, if God brought me through that, then He can bring me through this." That is exercising my spiritual muscles, which is FAITH. Every time we go through something, it helps to better prepare us for the next time we have a problem. And as long as we can stay in tune and in step with God, we can build up our faith and become stronger Christians.

I hope that one day I can build up my faith to where it is the size of a mustard seed. I hope you strive for that too!

Until next time, be blessed.......

Love,
Stephanie

In Memory of Helen

Thank you all for your prayers. Helen Ballard passed away late yesterday evening and now resides in Heaven with our Lord and Savior. Please remember her family in your prayers. This poem is in honor and rememberance of Helen.


"Life"

by Charlotte Bronte

Life, believe, is not a dream
So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day.
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
But these are trasient all;

If the shower will make the roses bloom,
O why lament its fall?
Rapidly, merrily,
Life's sunny hours flit by,
Gratefully, cheerily,
Enjoy them as they fly!
What though Death at times steps in
And calls our Best away?
What though sorrow seems to win,
O'er hope, a heavy sway?
Yet hope again elastic springs,
Unconquered, though she fell;
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
Still strong to bear us well.
Manfully, fearlessly,
The day of trial bear,
For gloriously, victoriously,
Can courage quell despair!
.

Charlotte Bronte

"He thanked God, and took courage." (Acts 28:15)

Words to remember....

Just thought I would share this...it invokes some thinking....

 

Written on Benjamin Franklin's tombstone in Christ Church Burial Grounds, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

 

The Body of
B. Franklin, Printer
Like the Cover of an old Book
Its Contents turn out
And Stript of its Lettering & Guilding
Lies here.  Food for Worms
For, it will as he believed
appear once more
In a new and more elegant Edition
corrected and improved
By the Author

Update on Helen

Thank you all so much for your prayers for my friend and former bosslady, Helen Ballard.  The last I heard tonight, she is still not doing well and the doctors have found more bleeding in her brain, as well as a blood clot.  So please continue to remember her and her family.  By lifting her up to Jesus, I know that we can do more than even the doctors can do!!

 

"And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live."    - Ezekiel 16:6

 

 

Stephanie

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

There is a lady I know that needs your prayers.  I used to work for her a few years back and she is a wonderful woman.  Her name is Helen Ballard, and I just found out tonight that she had a massive aneurism Saturday evening and is in a coma.  The doctors don't expect her to pull through.  We all know that there is a "doctor" above all doctors, and that is the Great Physician, God Himself.  I ask that you all please pray for Helen and her family.  God bless each of you.

 

Thank you,

Stephanie

Don't forget....

Don't forget to check out the new Testimonies blog!  There are three on there so far and I am sure you will be blessed by them.  http://ourtestimonies.blogspot.com

 

Stephanie

We are blessed....

I just wanted to take a few minutes to talk about how blessed we all are.  According to the world's standards and specifications, you cannot be a succesful, happy person without a high-profile career, big house, luxury car, and lots of money in the bank.  Funny.....I don't have ANY of those things, and yet I consider myself to be very happy and successful!  I have two beautiful children, a wonderful family, a terrific church, lots of beautiful friends, a job I love, a place to live, a car to drive.......I have good health, I have food to eat, I have clothes to wear, shoes on my feet......but most of all, I have a Father in Heaven who loves me enough to send His Son to die for my sins so that I can spend eternity in Heaven with Him. 

 

I just think sometimes we overlook how much we have to be thankful for.  We grumble and complain so much about what we DON'T have, that we fail to take the time to properly give thanks to God for what we DO have.

• Do you hate to go to work?  Be thankful...there are many unemployed people who would love to have a job.
• Don't have anything in your kitchen that you really want to eat?  Be thankful....there are people all over the world who go to bed hungry every night because they don't have ANYTHING to eat (they would be thankful to get any of those things that you "really just aren't in the mood for")
• Think your electric bill is way too expensive?  Be thankful....there are a lot of people who don't even have the comforts of electricity and running water and such.  Think about that the next time you grudgingly start to wash clothes in your electric washer.....some woman somewhere is having to walk to the village creek to wash what few clothes her family has!
• At the end of the day does your back/feet/head hurt?  Be thankful.....the hospitals are full of people who would love to be in your situation.  Some have terminal illnesses and would gladly trade that for your little headache!
• Do your children get on your nerves?  Be thankful....there are lots of people who can't have children, and the waiting list for adoptions is so long they may never get to know the joy of being parents.
• Is your car a few (or several) years old?  Be thankful.....you don't have to walk to work or school or the grocery store.
• You don't live in a mansion?  Be thankful......there are so many people who sleep in alleys and under bridges at night....they don't have a roof over their head and would give anything to have a soft bed to sleep in!
• You can't afford expensive clothes?  Be thankful.....at least you have something to cover you....there are still many third-world countries where they can't afford clothes at all....and even right here in America there are many poverty-stricken people who depend on clothes given to them (that are too big, too small, and/or very worn) or they wouldn't have anything to wear at all
• Are you tired of hearing all of the campaign talk?  Be thankful.....we live in a country where we actually have the right and the power to CHOOSE our leaders.....many people all over the world do not even have the right to vote.
• Do you get tired of listening to your parents?  Be thankful....when they are gone, you will miss them terribly.
• Feel like you just don't ever have enough TIME to do everything you need to do?  Be thankful......you are alive!
• Have you had your heart broken?  Be thankful......no one likes to get hurt, but you will learn things that will help you the next time around.  Besides, I would rather have my heart broken a thousand times, than to never know love at all.
• Bored?  Be thankful.....there are so many people afflicted with different mental diseases and conditions, that they don't even know where they are.  If you are bored it means you are alert and mentally capable of doing and enjoying many things.
• Never have enough money?  Be thankful....God always provides, doesn't He?  Many times, if we had as much money as we want, it would only get us into trouble.

 

Stop and think about the celebrities that everyone admires so much.  Sure, they are rich and powerful, and at first glance their lives seem perfect compared to ours.  But think about this:  If all that money and fame really made them happy, then why do so many of them kill themselves?  Many are in and out of rehab clinics for drug and alcohol problems.  The majority of them marry and divorce then marry again so many times you can't even keep track.  Tons of them have major legal problems (and I'm not talking about traffic tickets, either!  Think Michael Jackson and R. Kelly just to name a few).  But yet we see them interviewed on TV or in the magazines and they tell how HAPPY they are.  Hmmmmm....I don't know about you, but to me that doesn't seem possible.

 

Now go to the other extreme:  think about the people all over the world who don't have a home, a car, food to eat, or any of the comforts we take for granted.  In the United States alone, approximately 3.5 million people (1.35 million of them being children) are homeless (information obtained from the National Coalition for the Homeless website).  The U.S. Census report states that, in America, there are 35.9 million people living in poverty. 

 

And I would like to share just a few more statistics with you to give you something to think about:

• The US Office of Applied Statistics shows that 19.5 million Americans over the age of 12 currently use at least one illegal drug
• The CDC states that, in 2001, there were 30,622 people in the United States who committed suicide.  And another 509,000 people visited the emergency room for self-inflicted injuries (attempted suicide)
•  In 2004, roughly 1,368,030 Americans were diagnosed with cancer.  (This reflects NEW cancer cases, not including people who have already been living with cancer)
• The National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention states that there are approximately 877,275 people diagnosed with AIDS in the United States as of December, 2002.  Of those, approximately 9,300 are children under the age of 13.
• Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, according to a 1998 Commonwealth Fund survey.
• According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there were 1,400 children who died in 2002 due to child abuse or neglect.
• In a study conducted by B. Grant as published in Alcohol Health and Research World Magazine, nearly 14 million Americans meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders. (this means that they are possibly alcoholics)
• In any given year, between 13 million and 14 million people will experience a depressive disorder as reported in statistics from the CDC.

The world we live in is a sad, sad place.  But when you take time to look at all the things going on around you, it helps you to realize just how blessed we really are.  Think about the information you just read.  Your life doesn't seem so bad now, does it?  God is still on the throne and still in the miracle-making business.  Whatever you are going through, God will work it out according to His will, if you will just trust in Him.  All the money in the world couldn't buy that kind of protection!

 

Until next time, be blessed....

 

Stephanie

God has been so good to me...

I am always telling you guys how good the Lord has been to me. Not that I get tired of saying it!!!! But I thought it would be nice for you to hear from some other people, too. I emailed people and asked them to write down their testimony and email it to me so that I could start a "Testimonies" blog that would be linked to my website just like this one is. I wanted to share with you the stories of other people.....their lives, their faith.....I wanted you to read about where they are now and where God has brought them from. We all have a story. Sometimes it helps to hear someone else's. I have already received two such emails and so the new blog is up and under way! I have already been blessed by reading them, and I hope you are too. You can visit the new Testimonies blog by clicking the link on the main page of my website http://www.godwillmakeaway.cjb.net or by going to http://ourtestimonies.blogspot.com

I would love to include your testimony as well!!! If you feel led to share, please email it to me at stef326@hotmail.com and I will post it to the new blog ASAP. Please include your name and where you are from. If you wish to use only your initials or a nickname, please let me know this in your email. But just remember.....we as Christians should not be ashamed! The Bible tells us in Mark 8:38 "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

So let your light shine!! Share with others just how good God has been to you. And enjoy reading the testimonies of others. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me.

Until next time, be blessed....

Stephanie

A little help here.....

I am seriously thinking of adding a "testimony blog" to my website. It would be just like my journal except that it would contain the testimonies of different people. The only way I can do this is if I get enough responses from you guys. All you have to do is this:

Whenever you have some free time (or when you can MAKE some time) just sit down and write out your testimony. It doesn't have to be long. Just however much you feel led to tell. When you are through with it, email it to me at stef326@hotmail.com and I will post it on the testimony blog. Please include at least your first name and where you are from (city OR state), and if you wish, you can include your email address. Just be aware that whatever information you provide, I will post along with your testimony unless you request otherwise.

I would love to have several testimonies before I even start this up. So, please feel free to forward this email to others and let them know that I welcome their testimony as well.

I think this would be another way to reach people who are lost or backslidden. You never know who might be inspired or touched by your testimony. You could be the only one that someone out there can relate to. Just think of the possibilities!! Please prayerfully consider doing this, and if the Lord leads you to submit your testimony, just email it to me. Thanks in advance for your help. God bless!!

Love,
Stephanie
http://www.godwillmakeaway.cjb.net
stef326@hotmail.com

"I have learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so
that no one will believe it."

Why Pray?

Have you ever asked the question:

"What good does it do to pray? Things just seem to be getting worse, not better."


Read Billy Graham's answer:

If all I had to read were the daily headlines, then yes -- it would be very easy to become discouraged and wonder if there was any hope.

But I also read something else every day -- and that is the Bible. And because of that, I know there is hope for the future. Yes, we live in a world that is filled with evil and violence, and the Bible is realistic about that. Jesus even warned that evil will grow worse before He comes again, and "Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world" (Luke 21:26).

Why is there hope? Why should we pray? First, because God is still on the throne. In spite of all the evil in the world, the forces of Satan cannot overcome God, and some day His kingdom will come. Although we may be unaware of it, God is at work behind the scenes, and He often works in response to our prayers. How much worse off would our world be if people weren't praying?

Second, we should pray because God is still at work in the hearts of men and women, calling them to Christ and changing them by His Spirit. Pray for God to guide the leaders of the world (even those who seem opposed to Him). And pray also that God will bring spiritual revival to His people -- beginning in your own heart and life.

THE CLIFFHANGER

THE CLIFF HANGER

A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day when he
accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way down he
grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He looked down
and, to his horror, saw that the canyon fell straight down for more than
a thousand feet. He couldn't hang onto the branch forever, and there was
no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff.

So Jack began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would
hear him and lower a rope or something.  "HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there?"
  "HELP!" He yelled for a long time, but no one heard him. He was about
to give up when he heard a voice.

"Jack, Jack. Can you hear me?"

"Yes, yes! I can hear you. I'm down here!"

"I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?"

"Yes, but who are you, and where are you?

"I am the Lord, Jack. I'm everywhere."

"The Lord? You mean, GOD?"

"That's Me."

"God, please help me! I promise if, you'll get me down from here, I'll
stop sinning.  I'll be a really good person.  I'll serve You for the
rest of my life."

"Easy on the promises, Jack. Let's get you off from there; then we can
talk." "Now, here's what I want you to do. Listen carefully."

"I'll do anything, Lord. Just tell me what to do."

"Okay. Let go of the branch."

"What?"

"I said, let go of the branch." Just trust  Me.  Let go."

There was a long silence.  Finally Jack yelled, "HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE
ELSE UP THERE?"

Have you ever felt like Jack? We say that we want to know the will of
God, but when we find out what it is, we can't handle it.  Sounds too
scary--too difficult. We decide to look elsewhere. When He says, "Let go
of the things that stand between you and Me, and trust Me with your
life," it sounds pretty scary.  But when we let go, we find freedom and
safety in His hands."

author unknown

 

 

Call upon Me, and I will answer....I will be with (you) in trouble: I will deliver (you)
Psalm 91:15

And one more definitely worth reading....

A letter written to a man on death row by the Father of the man whom the man
on death row had killed:

You are probably surprised that I, of all people, am writing a letter to you,
but I ask you to read it in its entirety and consider its request seriously.
As the Father of the man whom you took part in murdering, I have something
very important to say to you.

I forgive you. With all my heart, I forgive you. I realize it may be hard for
you to believe, but I really do. At your trial, when you confessed to your
part in the events that cost my Son his life and asked for my forgiveness, I
immediately granted you that forgiving love from my heart. I can only hope you
believe me and will accept my forgiveness.

But this is not all I have to say to you. I want to make you an offer -- I
want you to become my adopted child. You see, my Son who died was my only child,
and I now want to share my life with you and leave my riches to you. This may
not make sense to you or anyone else, but I believe you are worth the offer.
I have arranged matters so that if you will receive my offer of forgiveness,
not only will you be pardoned for your crime, but you also will be set free
from your imprisonment, and your sentence of death will be dismissed. At that
point, you will become my adopted child and heir to all my riches.
I realize this is a risky offer for me to make to you -- you might be tempted
to reject my offer completely -- but I make it to you without reservation.

Also, I realize it may seem foolish to make such an offer to one who cost my
Son his life, but I now have a great love and an unchangeable forgiveness in
my heart for you.
Finally, you may be concerned that once you accept my offer you may do
something to cause you to be denied your rights as an heir to my wealth. Nothing
could be further from the truth. If I can forgive you for your part in my Son's
death, I can forgive you for anything. I know you never will be perfect, but
you do not have to be perfect to receive my offer. Besides, I believe that once
you have accepted my offer and begin to experience the riches that will come
to you from me, that your primary (though not always) response will be
gratitude and loyalty.

Some would call me foolish for my offer to you, but I wish for you to call me
your Father.

Sincerely,

The Father of Jesus

Under His wings....

Another little tidbit from one of my email groups!  Enjoy!!

 

Stef

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little something to put things in perspective...

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided an
interesting picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in
Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a
mountain to assess the inferno's damage.

One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched
statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat
sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.

When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under
their dead mother's wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried
her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under
her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.
She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her
babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her
small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been
willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will
find refuge." (Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life
Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it.
My instructions were to send this to people that I wanted God to
bless and I picked you. Please pass this on to people you want to
be blessed.

To realize the value of a sister
Ask someone who doesn't have one.

To realize the value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize the value of one year:
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.


To realize the value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one minute:
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one-second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.
.
To realize the value of a friend:
Lose one.

"Checking In"

 A minister passing through his church 
in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar 
and see who had come to pray. 
Just then the back door opened, 
a man came down the aisle, 

The minister frowned as he saw 
the man hadn't shaved in a while. 
His shirt was kinda shabby 
and his coat was worn and frayed, 
the man knelt, he bowed his head, 
Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed, 
each noon time came this chap, 
each time he knelt just for a moment, 
 
A lunch pail in his lap. 
 
Well, the minister's suspicions grew, 
with robbery a main fear, 
He decided to stop the man and ask him 
"What are you doing here?" 

The old man said, he worked down the road. 
Lunch was half an hour. 
Lunchtime was his prayer time, 
For finding strength and power. 
"I stay only moments, see, 
because the factory is so far away; 
as I kneel here talking to the Lord, 
This is kinda what I say:

"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, 
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, 
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP 
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. 
DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, 
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. 
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY." 

The minister feeling foolish, told Jim, that was fine.  He told the man he was welcome 
To come and pray just anytime. 
 
Time to go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks." 
He hurried to the door. 
 
The minister knelt at the altar, 
he'd never done it before. 
His cold heart melted, warmed with love, 
and met with Jesus there.

As the tears flowed, in his heart, 
he repeated old Jim's prayer: 
 
"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, 
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, 
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP 
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. 
I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, 
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. 
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY." 

Past noon one day, the minister noticed 
that old Jim hadn't come. 
As more days passed without Jim, 
he began to worry some. 
At the factory, he asked about him, 
learning he was ill. 

The hospital staff was worried, 
But he'd given them a thrill. 
The week that Jim was with them, 
Brought changes in the ward. 
His smiles, a joy contagious. 
Changed people, were his reward. 
The head nurse couldn't understand 
why Jim was so glad, 
when no flowers, calls or cards came, 
Not a visitor he had. 
 
The minister stayed by his bed, 
He voiced the nurse's concern: 
No friends came to show they cared. 
He had nowhere to turn. 

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke 
up and with a winsome smile;  
"the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, 
that in here all the while 
everyday at noon He's here, 
a dear friend of mine, you see, 
He sits right down, takes my hand, 
Leans over and says to me: 
 
"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, 
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, 
SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, 
AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. 
ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, 
I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, 
AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS 
CHECKING IN TODAY." 

 
May God hold you in the palm of His hand 
and Angels watch over you. 
He not  only holds us in the palm of His hand, but has engraved our names there,

and we are continually in His sight

 

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

(Isaiah 49:16)

My friend Terra's little miracle: Corey Shane Southard 

When the world says we can't, God says we CAN!!

I wanted to say thank you all again for praying for my friend Terra and her newborn son. I don't think I ever told the complete story about Terra. Terra has had a blood disease since she was a young child. Doctors told her parents that she would never live to be 13 years old. When she passed 13 they told her she would never live to be 21. They also told her she would never be able to have any children because her body just couldn't handle it. Well, that may be what the doctors said.....but GOD SAID DIFFERENT!!!!! Terra is now 21 years old (almost 22) and has a week-and-a-half-old baby boy! Isn't it good to know that God is the final authority on all things?!?!? It doesn't matter what anyone else says. If God says you can, then you CAN! I thank God for being a miracle worker....a God that can truly make a way out of no way. There was no doctor or any other human being that could have done for Terra what God did. And not only Terra, but all of us. Think about all the things He has brought you through. Times when people said you wouldn't make it, you wouldn't be able to handle that job, or raise that family, or stay in God's will. People are always saying what we can't do but God tells us we CAN! Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." and Isaiah 26:4-5 says "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust." That tells me that my God can bring our problems ("the lofty city") down even to the ground, and even to the dust. So no matter what a doctor, a lawyer, a friend, or anyone tells you, just remember that God has the final authority and makes the ultimate decision. Nothing happens by chance or by "luck". I serve a God that spoke the entire world into existence. He made man from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. He brought the dead back to life. Why would I think there would be anything that I could go through that would be impossible for Him. My God can do ANYTHING! Until next time, be blessed.....

Love,
Stephanie

Michelle

My friend, Michelle, came through her surgery just fine.  Thank you for remembering her in your prayers.  They removed her uterus and one of her ovaries.  She still needs prayer because they found a huge growth on the ovary they removed (it had attached to her bladder) and they sent it off to test it for cancer.  I am praying for total healing, but also that she would see that it is the hand of God that has made her body whole.  Once again, thanks to all of you.  Please keep praying!!  Until next time, be blessed.....

 

Love,

Stephanie

A few things to shout about....

I realize I have already posted once today, but I felt led to just give a few updates....

 

Thank you all for praying for my friend, Terra, and her newborn son, Corey.  Both are out of the hospital and doing well.  The doctors think the stroke may have affected the part of Terra's brain that controls her memory.  But I have claimed The Blood for COMPLETE and TOTAL healing for her.  God doesn't do anything half-way!!!

 

I want to thank God again, for being an On-Time God in my life.  He sent me a job just when I needed it the most and is constantly working out ways for me to get my bills paid.  God is good! 

 

A friend of mine who had backslidden on God has gotten back and church and given his heart back to the Lord.  He is still going through a hard time right now though, because his wife left him.  So please pray with me that God would strengthen and encourage him and that He would heal his family and marriage.  God always knows just how to get you to look up to Him, doesn't he?  But I praise the Lord that my friend is now back in church where he belongs and is headed the right way.  The road isn't easy, but it sure can be joyful if you will hold fast to our great and mighty Savior!

 

I am just always in awe of the miracles God continues to work in our lives.  We are so unworthy, so undeserving; yet He continues to bless us in extraordinary ways.  (And usually just when we least expect it!)

 

I have a few more things that I would like you all to agree with me in prayer for.  I am going to make a short list and you can pray and do as God leads you.  Thank you all for everything you do.  Prayer Warriors are the best friends to have!!!

 

**Pray for my friend, Jeremy, that he would get back in church and serve God

**Pray for my friend, Michelle, who will be having a hysterectomy 10/5/04 (today) and pray that she and her family would get in church and put God first in their lives.

**Pray that my job would continue to work out well and that it would become permanent.

**Pray for my friend, Debbie, that God would heal her body.

**Pray for my friend, April, that God would bring her back to Him.

**Pray for our singing group "Lighthouse" as we are scheduled to go into the recording studio in 2 weeks to make a CD.

**Pray for my brother, Brian's grlfriend, Alyse, that God would touch her and speak to her.  Pray that He would give her strength and encouragement.

**Pray for my friend Teresa who is scheduled for surgery the week of Halloween.

 

Prayer is a mighty, powerful thing.  Thank you for taking the time to agree with me in prayer.  And if there is something you need help praying for, please email me.  That is something we should all be doing for one another:  PRAYING!  I want to leave you with the words of a favorite song of mine.  Thank you and until next time, be blessed.....

 

The crowd was great

But she knew she had to reach Him

For this was her last hope

Of ever being healed

So she pressed through

Until she touched His garment

Oh, and right then and there

Her miracle was fulfilled

 

Have you prayed and prayed

But still you've heard no answer

Has your faith grown weak

And you feel you're all alone

Don't give up

For the God you serve won't leave you

There's a miracle for you

Just keep holding on

 

There's a miracle in the making

One just for you

The Father is working even now

Your prayers have been heard

And the answer's on the way

There's a miracle in the making for you today