scars of life

 

 Scars of Life

 

 

 Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy

 decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.

 In a  hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving

 behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.

 

 He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the

 middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

 His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and

 closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to

 his son as loudly as he could.

 

 Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn

 to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his

 father, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed

 his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs.

 That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator

 was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too

passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his

screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

 Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy

 survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of

 the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's

 fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son

 he loved.

 

 The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma,

 asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs.

 And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at

 my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my

 Dad wouldn't let go."

 

 You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No,

 not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of

 those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some

 wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your

 struggle, He's been there holding on to you.

 

 The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He

 wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes

 we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead.

 The  swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the

 enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and

if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very

grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

 Pass this on to those you love. God has blessed you, so that

 you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person

 is in his/her life and what they are going through.

 

 Never judge another persons scars, because you don't know how they

 got them. Also, it is soooo important that we are not selfish, to

 receive the blessings of these messages, without forwarding them to

 someone else.

 

 Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love

 them,  too- enough to not let them go.

Prayer Request

One of my best friends, Jennifer just found out she is pregnant.  But she is having some problems and really needs your prayers.  Please pray that God would keep His hand on her and help her to carry this baby to term.  She has been trying to get pregnant for a long time and has been on fertility drugs for about 6 months.  Please pray for her, the baby, and her husband Landon.  Thanks for your prayers.  God bless!

A Beautiful Story

The Pastor's Son

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his eleven-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts.

This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his
son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, "OK dad, I'm ready."


His Pastor dad asked, "Ready for what?"

"Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out."

Dad responded, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain."


The boy gave his dad a surprised look asking, "But, Dad, aren't people
still going to Hell, even though it's raining?"


Dad answered, "Son, I am not going out in this weather."

Despondently, the boy asked, "Dad, can I go? Please?"


His father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go.  Here are the tracts; be careful, son."


"Thanks, Dad!" And with that, he was off and out into the rain.


This eleven-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract.

After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted.


Then he turned toward the first home he saw - and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the doorbell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again, but still no one answered.


He waited but still no answer.


Finally, this eleven-year-old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist.

He waited, something holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this time the door slowly opened.


Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, "What can I do for you, son?"


With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU, and I came to give you my very last
Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE."


With that, he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave.

She called to him as he departed. "Thank you, son! And God Bless You!"


Well, the following Sunday morning in church Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony or want to say anything?"


Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face as she said, "No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world.


Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.


So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope
around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell down stairs startled me.


I thought, "I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away." I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly. I thought to myself again, "Who on earth could this be?!


Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me." I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.


When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life.


His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words that came from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.'


Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand. As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went
up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.


You see, I am now a Happy Child of the KING and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say 'THANK YOU' to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and, by so doing, spared my soul from eternity in hell."


There was not a dry eye in the church.


And as shouts of praise and honor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated. He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.


Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor for his son...


Except for One:  This Father also allowed His Son to go out into a cold and dark world. He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of heaven shouted praises and honor to The King, The Father
sat His beloved Son on a throne far above all principality and power and every name that is named.

Yet another request.

This was forwarded to me from a friend of mine.  Please pray for this lady that she works with.  It sounds like she is really in a battle right now. 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: treefrog10@aol.com

To: stef326@hotmail.com

Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 12:55 PM

Subject: Yet another request.

This is an email that was forwarded to me from a woman I work with.  Please put her on your prayer request list she needs all the help she can get at this time. 

 

 

Greetings,

 

I write to clear up the mystery of where I am. I write quickly before this thing takes over again and I can't communicate.

I am in a battle. The enemy is 4th stage cancer, which means it spread from the original site. My weapons are daily radiation (they zap me me in 9 different places) and weekly IV's of cisplatin, one of the nastiest chemotherapy drugs out there. My anti-nausea drugs costs $100 per pill. I take them 2x daily because the radiation includes my abdomen, which is in addition to the 3 days of nausea the chemo brings on. I am sick every day. This treatment will last weekly through Oct. and into the first or second week of Nov.

Narcotics are my friend, for they allow me to smile at my family and helpful friends. Sleeping pills are a must. Appetite inducers were just added to the list so I can re-nourish and re-grow the normal cells that are getting killed aloongside the cancer. Otherwise food is disgusting. Even water tastes poisonous. I was losing weight and getting weak. I've already had 4 pints of blood transfusions.

I want everyone to know how much I appreciate the extra work you may have to do to while I am gone. I am not sure when I will be back. But as soon as I am able, most likely before Christmas.

How does a health-food, natural healer reconcile herself with getting cancer? I am working on the answer to that. I've even been asked to write an article for a local health magazine when I have some answers.

Meanwhile carry-on, and remember its not easy being on this planet right now, but, here we are, nonetheless.

 

in love and light,

Deborah Hedgecock

5 Ways God Uses Problems

Five Ways God Uses Problems

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you - depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring. Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

1. God uses problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attent! ion? "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

2. God uses problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags... if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? "When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience." James 1:2-3

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something by losing it. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Psalm 119:72

4. God uses problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me, but God
intended it for good" Genesis 50:20

5. God uses problems to PERFECT you. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your cha! racter than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into problems... they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4

X Here's the point: God is at work in your life - even when you don't recognize it or understand it. But it's so much easier when you surrender to his plan for your life.

AMEN!!

THE LAW IS THE LAW

So if the US government determines that it is against the law for the
words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.

And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not
to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.

And since they already have prohibited any prayer in the schools, on
which they deem their authority, then so be it.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people
than I are in positions to make good decisions.

I would like to think that those people have the American Publics' best
interests at heart.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot Post His
Commandments in Government buildings,

I don't believe the Government and it's employees should participate in
the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor
the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American
life.

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving &
Easter.
After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good
Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays.
After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to
worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break."
After all it's just another day.

I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all
government offices & services would work on
Christmas, Good Friday & Easter.

It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other
day of the week to a government
that is trying to be "politically correct."

In fact.... I think that our government should work on Sundays
(initially set aside for worshipping God...)
because, after all, our government says that it should be just another
day....

What do you all think????

If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will
stop giving in to the
minority opinions and begin, once again, to represent the 'majority' of
ALL of the American people.

SO BE IT...........

Please Dear Lord,

Give us the help needed to keep you in our country!

'Amen' and 'Amen'

These are definitely things I never thought about but from now on, I
will be sure to questions those,
in government, who support these changes.

Prayer for a toddler

Please help me pray for 2 year old Taffanni Brown.  She is the great-niece of a friend of mine and she is going to have to have open heart surgery to repair a hole in her heart.  Your prayers are greatly needed.  God bless you!

OUR FIRST SERVICE IN OUR NEW BUILDING

I just wanted to take a few minutes to share with you how blessed I am!!  Our church had our first service in our new building tonight.  We had such a wonderful service.  Our pastor, D.L., told everyone this morning that we need to bring Jesus with us when we go into our new building, and that is exactly what we all did!!  People were crying and shouting, laughing and clapping.  It was just wonderful!!  And I continually stand in awe of all the wonderful things that God does.  We are all so unworthy.  Sometimes I feel like Paul when he said he was the "chief of sinners".  I lived such a wicked life during the 3 years I had walked away from the Lord.  But by God's mercy and grace, He welcomed me back to Him and I have grown so much since then.  When I say "grown", I don't mean physically, I mean spiritually.  And my family is so blessed to have been led to Lighthouse Baptist Church.  I know that God put me there for a reason, and it just lifts me up to see all the ways God has blessed our church.  Things just keep getting better and better!!  Don't get me wrong....I know there will be hard times and bad times, but God is always right there with us, and I know He will continue to use us to do a work for Him.  I am just blown away at how God has opened so many doors for our church.  We just continue to grow and I know God is not through with us yet!!!  I can't wait to see what He has in store for us next!! 

 

Please continue to keep me, my family, and my church in your prayers.  I want to be all that God would have me to be!  Until next time, be blessed....

Are You Jesus?

A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.

In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.

Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.

All but one. He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal
where the apples were all-over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one
stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"

She nodded through her tears.

 

He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

 

As the salesman started to walk away, the
bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...."

 

He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.

 

She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way
to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul:

"Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.

Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church.

It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.


Remember to Remember

Author Unknown

Our New Church Building

I am so excited!  Our church (Lighthouse Baptist Church) is moving to a new building.  We are leaving our Hazel Drive location and moving to 64 Browns Road in Gibsonville, NC.  I am just thrilled about our new building and a chance to reach many new people in our new community.  God has just blessed and blessed, above and beyond what we could have even asked!  For more information, you can go to the church website at http://www.geocities.com/lighthousebaptistchrch   If any of you live near there and would like to come visit with us, please feel free to pop in and worship with us!  I love my church very much.  It has helped me to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, and I would like nothing better than to have other people experience that.  So if you are reading this and live in the Alamance or Caswell County area, stop by and see us.  Make sure you let me know that you read about the church on my website!!  Much love to all of you.  Until next time, be blessed....

Fw: [E-Mail Ministry] The Resume of Jesus Christ - E-Mail Ministry

> <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
>
> THE RESUME OF JESUS CHRIST
>
> Address: Ephesians 1:20
> Phone: Romans 10:13
>
> Website: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus
>
> Hello. My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my
> resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart.
> Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.
>
> Qualifications
>
> * I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
> * I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
> * I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
> * I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
> * The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through
> me, (See Galatians 3:14)
>
> Occupational Background
> * I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).
> * I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
> * My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)
>
> Skills Work Experiences
> * Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to
> be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free,
> healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty
> them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).
> * I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me
> shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33).
> * Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse
> you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)
>
> Educational Background
> * I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and
> understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).
> * In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See
> Colossians 2:3).
> * My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto
> your feet and a lamp unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).
> * I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms
> 44:21).
>
> Major Accomplishments
> * I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all
> times, (See Genesis 1:26).
> * I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15).
> * I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them
> openly, (See Colossians 2:15).
> * I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
> * There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here.
> You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the
> BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my
> website.
>
> References
> * Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings,
> salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance
>
> In Summation
> Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only
> candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart.
> In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6),
> and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start?
> Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).
>
> Send this resume to everyone you know,! you never know who may have an
> opening! Thanks for your help and may God bless you!
>
> -- Author Unknown
>
> <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so glad to be able to tell you that baby Selena came home from the hospital Tuesday evening!!  She does have a small hole in her heart but the doctors are not going to do surgery.  They want to check her out in a couple of months to see if the hole is closing up and then go from there.  Thank you all for your prayers!  I just KNEW that God would work a miracle in this situation!!  Please continue to remember Selena, her mom Annie, and her dad Allidio in your prayers.  THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOUR HEALING POWER AND FOR ANSWERING PRAYERS!

Update on Selena

I just wanted to give you all an update on Annie's baby, Selena: 

 

They found out Selena has a hole in her heart and that is what is causing the problems.  They are running more tests to determine the size of the hole so they will know whether they can treat it with medicine or if they will have to do open heart surgery.  So please keep praying!  Thank you and God bless!

God Still Answers Prayer

I am very pleased to let you all know that my friend Judy was able to get in touch with her mom and sister this morning and they are doing fine!!!  She called today to let us know.  Thank you all so much for your prayers.  Please remember to keep all the other victims of Hurricane Katrina in your prayers.  And please continue to pray for baby Selena.  They finally got her transferred to Chapel Hill and they are running all kinds of tests.  There is a possibility that she could have spinal meningitis so it is not looking good.  But God has the FINAL word!  So please keep praying!  Thanks again to all of you!

 

Love,

Stephanie

Prayers Answered

Thank you for praying for my friend, Judy.  She got a call from her mother and sister this morning and they are FINE!!  Isn't it amazing what prayer can do??  Please continue to pray for Baby Selena.  I haven't heard anything about her since last night.  Thanks and God bless.

Your prayers are desperately needed!!

I am urging you to read this, pray, and then send it on to everyone you know.  My friend Annie Hernandez has a 7 DAY old newborn daughter named Selena.  Selena has been in the hospital since Sunday night (five days now) because she keeps stopping breathing.  The doctors can't figure out what's wrong with her and it keeps getting worse.  Tonight she had another bad spell (the worst yet) and quit breathing and they had to pound on her little chest to get her to start breathing again.  She is at Alamance Regional right now and they are trying to get her moved to Chapel Hill, but they are having to wait for Chapel Hill to release a bed due to the victims of Hurricane Katrina that are being brought up here.  Literally, this is a life and death situation.  I am asking each and every one of you to please pray for little Selena.  Only God can heal her and make her better.  Please pray.  Thank you.

 

Love,
Stephanie

Prayer for my friend

My friend Judy Myers called me today and asked me to tell everyone to pray.  Her mom and her sister live in Mississippi and she has not been able to get in contact with them since Sunday due to the awful destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.  Please pray that she will find them alive and unharmed.

Fw: Prayer Request

This was sent to me by my friend Trinity.  Please help us pray.

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Treefrog10@aol.com

To: stef326@hotmail.com

Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 10:10 PM

Subject: Prayer Request

My cousin Brad and his wife Jenny need our prayers.  yesterday Jenny was in the kitchen fixing lunch for their 3 year old and had a substantial stroke.  She is stableized now but at 26 the big question is why.  This family has already had their faith tested once because their 3 year old was 5 months premature and she spent 3 months in the hospital to save the baby and herself.  Now this has fallen on the family.  Please remember Brad Jenny and Cooper in your prayers.

 

Trinity

RE: Urgent Prayer Request

Debbie…you always have my prayers…please take care of yourself…remember the body is also a church body.  teresa

 

---

From: Stephanie Freeze [mailto:stef326@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 9:40 PM
To: Trinity Taylor; Terra Southard; Teresa Perry; Susan Adams; Sonya Christian (yahoo); Sonya Christian (RR); Sherri Adams (hotmail); Sherri Adams; Shamas Pervaiz; Sharon Hause; Rose Bryant; Robin Bunting; Robert Shields; Nancy Daughtrey; Kathy Knighten; Johnsie Wiley; Jen & Landon Matherly; J W; its_da_robin@yahoo.com; George Atha; Dusty Perry; Donna Loyer; DL, Kim, & Dusty Perry; Dessa Houston; David Loyer; Dave; Crys Stutts; Christy Hardy; Cheryl Martin; Carol; Brenda Cagle; Annette Kimrey; Angela Lee; Alyse; Allison, Richard; Allison Russell
Cc: Stephanie's Thoughts Blog
Subject: Urgent Prayer Request

 

CALLING ALL PRAYER WARRIORS:

 

Please pray for my good friend, Debbie.  She has breathing problems and she is very sick right now.  She can't quit coughing and she is really scared.  She has made several trips to the doctor and hospital over the last few weeks but they just give her more medicine (that doesn't help!) and send her back home.  She is in need of prayer.  Please help me pray that God would heal her.  And please pass this on to anyone you know that can get a prayer through!!!  I am expecting a miracle!  Thanks and God bless!

 

Love,

Stephanie

Great joke

My friend, Annette sent this too me.  I thought it was pretty funny!  Hope you enjoy it!

Two Women Arriving In Heaven


Two women are new arrivals at the pearly gates and are comparing
stories on how they died:

1st woman: I froze to death.

2nd woman: How horrible.

1st woman: It wasn't so bad. After I quit shaking from the cold, I
began to get warm and sleepy, and finally died a peaceful death. What
about you?

2nd woman: I died of a massive heart attack. I suspected that my
husband was cheating, so I came home early to catch him in the act.
But instead, I found him all by himself in the den watching TV.

1st woman: So what happened?

2nd woman: I was so sure there was another woman there somewhere
that I started running all over the house looking. I ran up into the
attic and searched, and down into the basement. Then I went through
every closet and checked under all the beds. I kept this up until I
had looked every where, and finally I became so exhausted that I just
keeled over with a heart attack and died.

1st woman: Too bad you didn't look in the freezer -- we'd both
still be alive.

Urgent Prayer Request

CALLING ALL PRAYER WARRIORS:

 

Please pray for my good friend, Debbie.  She has breathing problems and she is very sick right now.  She can't quit coughing and she is really scared.  She has made several trips to the doctor and hospital over the last few weeks but they just give her more medicine (that doesn't help!) and send her back home.  She is in need of prayer.  Please help me pray that God would heal her.  And please pass this on to anyone you know that can get a prayer through!!!  I am expecting a miracle!  Thanks and God bless!

 

Love,

Stephanie

CHANGE IN PLANS!!

The benefit singing will be held this Saturday from 4:00pm to whenever at HAW RIVER PARK.  Not Fairchild as I had said in the previous email.  Sorry for any inconvenience.  I hope you all can make it.  Ray Barnes will be singing as well as the group Chapter 4.  Singers from Lighthouse Baptist Church will be singing also and our mime team will be performing as well. It will be a lot of great singing, so come on out!  I hope to see you all there!  If you have any questions or need directions, please email me at stef326@hotmail.com

Benefit Singing

There will be a benefit singing this Saturday, August 20 at Fairchild Park in Burlington.  All proceeds go toward the building fund for Lighthouse Baptist Church.  Several Christian groups will be there so come on out for some great singing and great fellowship.  Hope to see you all there!

What a wonderful thing!

Click on the link to "adopt" a member of our armed services to pray for.  It's easy and they need your prayers.  Go here to sign up:

 

http://wwwpresidentialprayerteam.org/troopsadopt.php

 

Love,

Stephanie

Recall Notice

My brother's girlfriend, Alyse, sent this to me. I thought it was too good
not to share it!! Hope you enjoy!

Important Recall Notice

Regardless of make or year, all units known as "human beings" are being
recalled by the Manufacturer. This is due to a malfunction in the original
prototype units code named "Adam" and "Eve", resulting in the reproduction
of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect is technically
termed, "Serious Internal Non-morality," but more commonly known as "SIN."

Some of the symptoms of the SIN defect: [a] Loss of direction [b] Lack of
peace and joy [c] Depression [d] Foul vocal emissions [e] Selfishness [f]
Ingratitude [g] Fearfulness [h] Rebellion [i] Jealousy

The Manufacturer is providing factory authorized repair service free of
charge to correct the SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus Christ,
has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering
cost
of these repairs.

To repeat, there is no fee required. The number to call for repair in all
areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.

Once connected, please upload the burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE
procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Christ,
into
the heart component of the human unit.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Christ will replace it with:

[a] Love [b] Joy [c] Peace [d] Kindness [e] Goodness [f] Faithfulness [g]
Gentleness [h] Patience [i] Self-control

Please see the operating manual, HOLY BIBLE, for further details on the use
of these fixes.

As an added upgrade, the Manufacturer has made available to all repaired
units a facility enabling direct monitoring and assistance from the
resident
Maintenance Technician, the Holy Ghost. Repaired units need only make Him
welcome and He will take up residence on the premises.

WARNING: Continuing to operate a human being unit without corrections voids
the Manufacturer's warranty, exposing the unit to dangers and
problems too numerous to list, and will ultimately result in the human unit
being incinerated.

Thank you for your immediate attention.

Niece drowning

I received this email from a good friend of mine.  Please remember this in prayer.

 

Stephanie

 

----- Original Message -----

From: CPOOHTAIL@aol.com

To: Sassydolly@wmconnect.com ; Grams384@aol.com ; debdascas@yahoo.com ; tigersden@swko.net ; Gods73@aol.com ; Mdmmam1@aol.com ; OnlyByGraceOfGod@aol.com ; SMskinn2001@aol.com ; stef326@hotmail.com

Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 11:37 PM

Subject: niece drowning

PLEASE PRAY FOR MY SISTER IN LAW AND BROTHER IN LAW THEIR 26 YR OLD DAUGHTER FELL IN TO A POOL ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND DROWNED, THIS GIRL HAS 2 CHILDREN TO RAISE AND SHE IS IN UNC HOSPITALS ON LIFE SUPPOR, SHE HAS NOT MADE NO TURNS FOR GOOD OR BAD SINCE SHE HAS BEEN THERE, SHE HAS GOT PHEWMONIA AND HER LUNGS ARE VERY DAMAGED, WE DONOT KNOW WHAT THE RESULTS ARE GOING TO BE FROM THIS, BUT LET"S JUST PRAY FOR THE FAMILY AND FOR A GOOD RECOVERY FOR CHERYL, GOD HAS TOLD US TO ASK AND WE'D RECIEVE, SO LET"S ALL PRAY THAT HE"LL TOUCH HER BADY AND MAKE HER WHOLE AGAIN, ALSO PRAY FOR HER 2 SMALL CHILDREN THEY NEED THEIR MOM AND WE AREN'T READY TO LOSE HER EITHER, PLEASE PRAY FOR THAT FAMILY GOD BLESS ALL..                                                                               Brenda

Prayer Request

 I just got an email from a very close friend of mine.  He has diabetes and his blood sugar is very high.  It has caused damage to the backs of his eyes and on his left eye there is a leak in the retina.  He has to go to a specialist tomorrow and he said he had to admit he was a little scared.  He is a good Christian man.  Please remember him in prayer that God would touch him and heal him.  Thanks.

a very special prayer request

I have a dear close friend that desperately needs your prayers.  She is going through a situation in her life and she is so confused that she just doesn't know what to do.  The Bible plainly tells us that the devil is the author of all confusion.  But sometimes it is so hard to see the right answer when satan is throwing so many things at you.  I'm sorry for being so vague but the situation is extremely touchy.  I am praying very hard about this matter and I ask that you agree with me in prayer.  God knows the situation and He will have to be the one to work it out.  My friend is seriously depressed and really needs a miracle.  Please help me pray that God will send that miracle.  He is always right on time, so I am claiming it as done right now, in Jesus' name!  Thank you in advance for your prayers.

 

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

 

Love,

Stephanie

Another cool website

I have GOT to get in bed, because it is late and I have to work tomorrow, but.....

 

My brother's girlfriend, Alyse, sent me the link to this website and I looked at it and thought it was really cool.  My heart is burdened for young people (especially pre-teens, and teens) and I hope that someday, through something I say or do, I might help at least one young person to not travel the same roads I traveled (away from God).  I want young people to know that serving God is not easy at any age, but it has so many rewards.  Most teenagers think that being a Christian isn't "cool" or that they can't have any "fun".  I hope to change those misconceptions - one person at a time.  Anyway, this site is directed toward young people with a "goth" image that also serve the Lord.  I think young people (of all ages - 8 to 80!!) will find this site interesting and you might even be able to use something on the site to minister to someone else, which should be the desire of each and every one of us.  So here's the link:  http://www.christiangoth.com/

 

I hope you enjoy and find it enjoyable and enlightening.  Until next time, be blessed........

 

Love,

Stephanie

 

Cool Website

A couple of my friends introduced me to a website called www.christianforums.com and it looks really cool.  I will have to get in there and play around with it but it looks like it has so many different things you can do on there.  My username is sanctified1 if you want to look for me on there.  I think this is a website I will be spending a lot of time on!!!  Hope you all enjoy it!

Dealing with loss

One of my very best friends lost a close family member recently.  They are a very private person so I don't want to put their name on here, but please say a prayer for that family.  God knows who they are.  It is always hard when we lose a loved one to death.  We have joy and can take comfort in the fact that they are better off if they have been saved.  Because a person who knows Jesus as their Saviour is with Him as soon as they leave this world.  But we are only human and we miss that person being in our lives.  Praise God that if our loved one has been saved and we have been saved, we will meet them again one day in Paradise.  If you have loved ones that have gone Home to be with the Lord, but you yourself have not accepted Jesus as your personal Saviour, I encourage you to read How To Be Saved by going to http://www.geocities.com/lighthousebaptistchrch/howtobesaved

 

Don't let that family circle be broken!  For those of us that have been redeemed, death is only the beginning!  A better (perfect) world awaits us!  I thank God for His mercy and grace by which I was saved.  I have a grandmother, a grandfather, a great grandmother, several aunts, uncles, and cousins, and many friends that I know are waiting for me in Heaven!  What a great reunion day that will be.  But we must remember to pray for the family and friends left behind where death has entered in.  So please remember my friend's family in prayer.  Thank you, and until next time, be blessed.............

 

Love,
Stephanie

A Song For Mary Magdalene

I just had to make one more post tonight. I was doing some research on Mary Magdalene and came across this poem written by Irish poet Padraic Pearse called "A Song For Mary Magdalene". I hope it blesses you as it did me. I think it is absolutely beautiful. ENJOY!

O woman of the gleaming hair,

(Wild hair that won men's gaze to thee)

Weary thou turnest from the common stare,

For the shuiler Christ is calling thee.

O woman of the snowy side,

Many a lover hath lain with thee,

Yet left thee sad at the morning tide,

But thy lover Christ shall comfort thee.

O woman with the wild thing's heart,

Old sin hath set a snare for thee:

In the forest ways forspent thou art

But the hunter Christ shall pity thee.

O woman spendthrift of thyself,

Spendthrift of all the love in thee,

Sold unto sin for little pelf,

The captain Christ shall ransom thee.

O woman that no lover's kiss
(Tho' many a kiss was given thee)

Could slake thy love, is it not for this

The hero Christ shall die for thee?

Something to share

I received an email tonight from a lady I had never met. She had ran across the church website and emailed me because she said she was encouraged by what she had read. She is in a bad position and has no family or friends around her. It always breaks my heart to hear of someone going through such a bad time. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own lives that we fail to look around and see others that are hurting. It is our job, as servants of Christ, to help those that are lonely and hurting. We must show love to those around us. More often times than not, we are quick to judge and talk about those around us who are in a bad position. I know when I had walked away from God and was living in the world I was miserable. And I know that there were some people who proclaim themselves as Christians who were readily putting me down and judging me instead of praying for me and trying to help me back up. Now, don't get me wrong...there were many that tried to talk to me and encourage me to turn back to the Lord. But I wonder sometimes, just which category do we fall in? Are we like the scribes and Pharisees that were ready to stone the woman that was caught committing adultery. How many of us would have stood, stones in hand, ready to judge and condemn her? And how many of us would have been like Jesus, running to her rescue, ready to help her? All of us at some time or another have been in the position where we were not exactly where God wanted us to be. None of us are perfect. But I think sometimes we get so full of our own selves that we forget that and tend to think that we are better than others. I don't want to ever get to that point. I know there is nothing that I have done that could ever make me deserving or worthy of God's grace and mercy. We need to show that same love and mercy to others to help them along their way. After all, shouldn't we all be working to help each other make it Home? I'm not just talking about ministering to the lost, either. There are many of God's children that are sick and hurting and have fallen back on their journey. Those of us that are standing firm have an obligation to reach out that helping hand. I don't really even know how I got on this subject tonight, but obviously it was meant for me to say it! I would like to leave you with John 8:3-12 and I want you to ask yourself which side you would have been on? Until next time, be blessed (and be a blessing to others!)....

3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Angels

I just found these anime pictures of angels and thought I would share them. I think they are beautiful. You know the Bible speaks of "entertaining angels unaware". I honestly believe that sometimes God sends angels to earth to live among us and help us and we never know that they are angels. I also think that is one reason we need to be careful how we treat other people. You never know when you may be entertaining angels unaware! Until next time, be blessed...

Love,
Stephanie

Closed Doors

This was sent to me in an email from my friend (and cousin) Angela.  I couldn't have written it better myself.  I thank God for all the doors He has closed in my life.  It all goes to show that it's about PERSPECTIVE.  Sometimes we don't always see things as they really are.  As I have said so many times, God sees "the big picture".  Here is the email.  I hope it blesses you as it has me.

 

Praise Him for Closed Doors

I've learned to praise the Lord as much for a closed door as I do an
open door. The reason God closes doors is because He has not
prepared anything over there for us. If he didn't close the wrong
door we would never find the right door. God directs our paths
through the closing and opening of doors.

One door closes; it forces you to change your course. Another door
closes; it forces you to change your course again. Then finally you
find the open door and you walk into your blessing. The Lord
directs our paths through the opening and closing of doors, but
instead of praising Him for the closed door (which keeps us out of
trouble) we get upset because we "judge by appearances."

You have an ever-present help in the time of need who is always
standing guard. Because He walks ahead of you, He can spot trouble
down the road and set up a roadblock or detour accordingly! But
through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down the roadblocks or
push aside the detour sign. Then the minute we get into trouble we
start crying "Lord how could You have done this to me?" We have got
to realize that the closed door can be a blessing. Didn't He say
that No good thing will He withhold from them that love Him?

If you get terminated from your job - praise God for the new
opportunities that will manifest themselves - it might be another
job, it might be school. If that man or woman won't return your
call - it might not be them, it might be the Lord setting up a
roadblock (just let it go).

We can sometimes trap ourselves in doubt and discouragement through
judging by appearances. I'm so grateful, my friends, for the many
times Our Father has closed doors to me just to open them in the
most unexpected places. The Lord won't always say in spoken words:
"Go to the left, now to the right" - sometimes! He will just close
the wrong doors.

My past few days...

I am glad to be able to tell you that David's mom, Joanne is doing really well. Please continue to remember that family in prayer. I went to my doctor's visit yesterday and I really feel like we got a lot accomplished. She put me on a fluid pill because of the swelling in my legs and feet. She said it comes from me sitting with my legs bent at the knee all day (like when you sit at a COMPUTER!!!). The pills seem to be helping and I just started them yesterday. She also put me on Paxil to help with my anxiety. So far I can't see any effects of that yet, but she said it takes up to two weeks to really get in your system before you can see any difference. Of course, the pills are a very minor part of that. I happen to be a patient of the Great Physician as well! I know that God has His hand on me. Without that, there aren't any pills or treatments or anything that would do me any good.

Today my kids and I went with my friends Debbie, Robin, Annie Ruth (and her boyfriend, Don), and Terra to Asheboro to sing for the mother of a friend of Debbie's. Her name is Betty and she is dying of cancer. Please pray for her and her family. Betty is saved and on her way Home, but she has many loved ones that are lost and are in need of your prayers. I pray that something that was said or done today will make a difference in someone's life. If just one soul is saved because of our endeavors, then it is worth it all!! We got lost going up there and a trip that should have taken around 45 minutes ended up taking us almost 2 & 1/2 hours!! But that was ok, because we had a lot of fun talking and singing and praising the Lord.

I always get uplifted when I am around them. They have been so good to me and are just like family to me. Debbie is such an inspiration to me. She has been through so much and is such a wonderful witness for the Lord. If you haven't seen her website, http://www.geocities.com/debbiesstory , then you really need to go check it out and read her testimony. I am going to try to talk her into starting a blog like this one so that she can update it more often. A blog is just so much easier to manage than an entire website. Anyway, Debbie is continually a blessing to me and when I feel weak or tested, I usually think of her and it encourages me to go on and try harder.

Robin has been my friend for a long time and she has always been a blessing to me. She loves the Lord so much and I firmly believe she really tries to put Him first in her life. I know that she has been an inspiration to so many people. She has a couple of websites too, that if you haven't seen them you need to! Her websites are http://www.geocities.com/mrsrobinbunting and http://www.iwantustobetogeatherinheaven.com . She also has some of her songs on there that you really need to hear. Robin and I used to sing in a gospel group called Redeemed and those are some wonderful memories I will cherish always.

Annie Ruth has been such a good friend to me and she is like a grandmother to me. She is always there to listen if I need someone to talk to and she has the most positive outlook of anyone I have ever known. You never hear her say anything bad about anyone. She is always loving and kind and I know she has blessed so many people. She and Don just recently started dating. I am so happy for them. I pray that things work out wonderfully for them. I have prayed for a long time that God would send her a companion. She lost her husband 3 years ago and he is waiting for her on the other side. But I am glad to see her have some happiness while she is still here on earth. Annie Ruth if you are reading this...I love you, and YOU GO GIRL!!! ;-)

Terra always makes me smile. She is always one to cut up and laugh. You just can't feel bad when you are around her. She has such a wonderful voice too. And she has been a blessing to me even though I don't always tell her. She has been through a lot recently but she didn't let the devil hold her down. She got back up on her feet and kept pressing forward. I respect her for that. And I know God will honor it as long as she keeps going on for Him.

I hope that between all of us someone got a blessing today. But even if no one else there got a blessing, I did. And the funny thing is that these are the same people that never fail to tell me what a blessing I am to them. I hope they know that THEY are the blessing. They are just a few of the wonderful people God has put in my life. You know, He always knows what we stand in need of. So He knows I need encouraging and uplifting (and funny!) people in my life to help keep me strong. That's why I have friends like Debbie, Robin, Annie Ruth, and Terra.

Please continue to pray for all the prayer requests and until next time, be blessed........

Love,
Stephanie

Hang On

My friend Robin, sent me this link.  I needed this right now.  (Thank you, Robin!!)  Maybe it will be a blessing to you too!

 

http://inspirations.crossdaily.com/hangon/

 

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

 

Love,

Stephanie

Satan's Meeting

My friend, Annette sent this to me and I thought it was worth sharing (very true, too!):

 

 

SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)


Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.



In his opening address he said,

"We can't keep Christians from going to church."

"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their saviour."

"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children."

"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."

"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards."

"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."

"Give them headaches too! "

"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."

"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!"

"It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.


I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?


You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

Joanne

I just wanted to let you all know that I just talked to David and he said that Joanne is doing much better.  She had her surgery Monday and she is home now and doing well.  The only problem with her heart was a small artery was clogged but there was nothing they could do with it.  So thank you all for your prayers for Joanne.  Continue to pray that she would recover fast and fully!!  Thanks again!  Isn't God AWESOME?????

Another prayer request

Sometimes it seems there is so much sickness going around and so many people in need of healing.  But we can never pray too much!  Even if someone is about to go out to meet the Lord, we still need to pray for their families.  And God can work through sickness and death just like He can through anything.  So with that being said, please remember my friend JW and his family.  His grandmother is not doing well at all.  She has a lot of medical problems and is in the hospital right now.  Also continue to remember my friend David and his mother Joanne as well as the rest of their family.  I haven't heard from David in a few days so I am not sure how Joanne is doing, but I will let you all know as soon as I know.  And if you don't have anything else to pray for, pray for me.  I will be going to the doctor this Friday to find out why my feet and legs are swelling so badly and also to find out why I keep having panic attacks.  Sometimes they are so bad I feel like I am having a heart attack.  Of course, I know it is really a SATAN attack!!  Satan is the perpetrator of sickness and sorrow.  Therefore I rebuke him in the name of the Lord.  Jesus said that by HIS stripes, we are healed and I truly believe that.  So with your prayers and God's intervention I feel confident that I will get a good report from the doctor Friday. 

 

You know sickness comes in all forms, though.  Satan attacks not just our physical health, but our mental health as well.  And there are many people I know that are suffering from depression and other mental illnesses.  Pray for these people too.  There is this song that my friend, Robin sings called "We've Got The Power".  It says "though satan rages, we cannot be defeated".  I love that.  We have already won through the power of Jesus.  He gives us victory over sickness, sadness, poverty, loneliness, fear, addiction, and so many other plagues of satan.  If we will just stay prayed up and in God's will, we can overcome!!  God loves it when we pray for one another and He listens and answers our prayers according to His will.

 

One more thing before I go:  My friend Annette belongs to a motorcycle club that is very active in various community activities.  This past Saturday they had a hot dog supper to feed the homeless and needy.  She was telling me about a 21 year old woman that came to eat.  The woman was homeless....she had nothing....didn't even have shoes on her feet.  She said she had 2 children that were taken away from her when she became homeless and that the homeless shelter wouldn't even take her in because she didn't have any form of ID.  She had been living in the woods.  The girls gave her some shoes and clothes and fixed her a bag with snacks and drinks.  That will get her through for a little while.  But that woman (and so many like her) are in desperate need of your prayers.  Because although people can offer short-term help, God is The Problem Solver.  He can fix any situation.  And He can turn her whole life around.  A lot of people think that everyone that is homeless is an alcoholic or drug addict or that they "choose" to live that way.  That may be true of a percentage of people.  But there are a lot that are just like you and me.  They have run into hard times and ended up without a home or anywhere to go.  Without a permanent address it is hard for them to get a job and pull themselves out of their situation.  Don't ever think you are above being in that situation yourself!  Most Americans are only 2-3 paychecks away from being homeless!  I know myself that there were times that if it weren't for God's mercy and grace and the help of my family and friends, I could have very easily ended up homeless myself.  With the economy the way it is and jobs being lost right and left, there will be more and more people ending up on the streets.  We need to agree together in prayer for God to help these people and their situations.  And that He would get glory from whatever happens.  The Bible says that you know you are saved because you love the brethren.  Well, these people are our brothers and sisters too.  And they need our prayers. 

 

Well, I guess that is all for now, because it is already 11:30 and I have to get in bed (YAWN!!!).  Until next time, be blessed......

 

Love,

Stephanie

Today

We went to eat at a local restaurant tonight after church and as we were leaving there was a lot of smoke in the air and you could smell something was burning.  We looked across the road and noticed a lot of light coming from behind the shopping plaza that is across from the restaurant.  Wanting to know if anyone was aware of the fire, we rode over to see where it was coming from.  There were firetrucks and EMT vehicles everywhere.  Someone's house was completely ablaze.  We didn't want to be in the way of the emergency vehicles so we turned around and left.  Please remember this family, whoever they are.  I pray that no one was hurt or killed.  But even if everyone escaped alive and unharmed, that is still a terrible tragedy for anyone to lose their home.  Please pray for them.  We may not know who they are, but God does.

 

Also, I haven't heard anything new about David's mom, Joanne.  Please keep praying.  I will let you all know anything I find out as soon as I hear.  Thanks for praying!

 

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

 

Love,

Stephanie

Prayer request

Please join me in prayer for my friend David's mother, Joanne. She is in the hospital right now and they think she may have had a heart attack. Please pray for God's healing of her body and strength and encouragement for her and her family.

Love,
Stephanie

More Memories...

It has been a couple of days so I thought I better put some more of my memories on here. There will still be more to come......

My friend, Michelle - My best memory of my friend Michelle is when she planned a surprise birthday party for my 24th birthday at Pizza Corner where we would go sing karaoke every weekend. She had balloons, cake and she had got most of my friends and family to be there and I was totally surprised! The marquise out front even said "Happy Birthday Stephanie" and I was so touched that she went to all that trouble for my birthday.

My friend, Crystal - Wow, this memory comes from way back. I remember when I was about 19 we used to go to a different church than where we go now. And the women's group drew names one year for "secret sisters" where you give little gifts to the person whose name you drew for the whole year and then at Christmas you reveal whose name you had. Crystal had my name and she had stumped me the whole year. I had no idea she was my secret sister. I still have a plaque that she gave me with the "Footprints" poem on it.

My ex-boyfriend, JW - He used to work for this company which required him to take business trips out of town. One time he took me with him to Rocky Mount, Virginia. We were in this hotel that was right smack in the middle of a valley. You could look around you and see mountains on all sides. He had to work most of the time we were down there but just being able to get away with him like that was a great treat and we had such a good time. I think I enjoyed the ride down there and back the best because we talked and sang and cut up the whole time.

My friend, Jennifer - My best memory of my friend Jennifer was when we went to White Lake last year with the other women from the church. Everyone else left Wednesday night after church but Jenn and I waited until Thursday morning and drove down together. She spent the night at my house and we left about 7:30 that morning. We had such a great time and talked so much. (Of course if you know me, then you know TALK is the key word there!!)

My sister-in-law, Kristi - One night Kristi and I went to Target in Greensboro and just spent the whole evening shopping and talking and then we went to Steak and Shake and had supper. It was one of the first times I had ever got to spend time with Kristi without my brother (her husband). I don't even remember why we went now, but we had such a good time.

My "sister", Sandi - I call Sandi my sister even though she isn't (at least by blood), because she has just always seemed like a sister to me. I remember one night when I was about 21 and she was 18 and we just drove around for a few hours talking. We were on our way to a lock-in at the church we used to go to and we were late getting there because we had been driving around. It was nice to be able to just have that kind of "bonding time", I guess you would say.

Well that's all for now. Like I said, I still have other memories to come. Until next time, be blessed....

Love,
Stephanie

I'm still here ;-)

I haven't written in a long time. I know it seems like every time I say that, I follow it with "there has been so much going on", but it is really the truth. We have been doing various fundraisers for the church and having a ball doing them. I absolutely loved the auction and cakewalk. I just love doing something for the Lord, and I love being around my church family. So between that and my family and my job, sometimes I don't have time to get on the computer anymore. My friend Crystal is learning alot about websites so I will probably enlist her to help me with the church website some if she wants to. Just so it will always be up to date. She has a blog at http://crystalstutts28.blogspot.com/ that I enjoy reading so much. And she had a post on there tonight about some of her favorite memories. So it gave me the idea to do something like that on my blog. God has been so good to me and blessed me with so many people that I love dearly. So of course I will not be able to list everything all at once, but maybe I can put a few on here at a time. So if you read this and don't see your name, don't be upset!!!! Because these are in no particular order LOL. So here are some of MY favorite memories...

My Mom, Geraldine - I remember one time when I was about 14 we lived on South Main St. in Graham and Mama had went out to feed the dog and she dipped the scoop in this huge bag of dog food we kept on the back steps. She pulled out a scoop of dog food and the bag started MOVING!!! All of a sudden a huge wharf rat came running out of the bag. Mama screamed so loud I bet people blocks away heard it!! It is funny now, looking back on it, but at the time it kind of surprised me because my Mama has always seemed so strong, I believe that is the first time I had ever seen her really scared of anything.

My brother, Brian - Brian is my baby brother and although he is only 18, he is so very talented. And everyone is always in awe of his musical talent because he can play any instrument he puts his hands on. But one of my favorite memories of Brian is a pretty recent one. It was the first night I did the show at the Majestic Theater and afterward all the cast had to stand outside and shake hands with the people as they came out. And Brian came up to me and he just had this big smile on his face because he was so proud of me. You could just see it all over him. He hugged me, and then he stepped back and shook his head and then he grabbed me and hugged me again! LOL! He couldn't even say anything! It was funny. But you know, that meant more to me than all the applause and cheers because you could just see that he was so proud of me. And I am used to it being the other way around, because I am so very proud of him!

My brother, Matt - My brother Matt is the middle child and he has always been such a cut up and a clown. He always keeps everyone laughing. I remember he went to New York with his class when he was about 14 or 15 and we were videoing him at the house that morning and then at the airport before he got on the plane. Well, Matt starts doing impressions and he is imitating the Klump family from The Nutty Professor. It was just hilarious. Then we were kind of filming the airport and honest to goodness, this man walks by that looks exactly like Sherman Klump. It was just so funny. Matt hasn't changed any either. He is 24 now and a police officer with UNC and I am very proud of all he has accomplished too. But he will always be our family comedian!!

My Dad, William - When I was in high school my Dad used to take us to school in the mornings. One morning we were going to school and somebody had put some stuff out at the road for a yard sale or something and Daddy saw it and was looking at it. Well he evidently got so interested in it that he had turned his head all the way around and the car just ran right off the side of the road. I was yelling "Daddy!!" and he turned back around and jerked the wheel and got the car back on the road and he just said "I've got it!" and kept on driving. He was just as calm even though he had scared the sense out of me and my brother Matt!! It's funny now though!

My Stepdad, Matt - My mom just got remarried on September 24, 2004 (yes she has a son named Matt, and now a husband named Matt too!! LOL). My stepdad is very quiet and doesn't say much even to us. He is just a quiet shy person. So he doesn't show a lot of emotion. But on my birthday this year he and my mom went to WalMart to pick up my birthday cake and the lady at the register said "Oh, someone is having a birthday!" and my stepdad said "Yes, it's my daughter's birthday." That just meant so much to me because he didn't have to say that. He could have said his stepdaughter, but obviously he feels like I am his real daughter. He doesn't even know that my mom told me. But that meant the world to me.

Well, that is my immediate family except for my kids and I would have to write a page a piece for them because they have given me so many wonderful memories. They are my life. But I also have grandparents, a sister-in-law, a nephew, and my many, many wonderful friends, so there will be more to come. But until next time, be blessed.......

Love,
Stephanie

WOW!!!

Lighthouse Baptist Church's hamburger steak dinner, cake walk, and auction were a huge success!! Thanks to all of you who helped out! We raised $2,179 last night!! God is definitely making a way towards our new church building. I am anxious to see how God blesses us next! Thanks again to all of you who helped us to achieve this goal. We still have a way to go, but we have a wonderful start and there are lots more activities to come. For a list of upcoming events, make sure you check out the calendar page of our church website at http://www.geocities.com/lighthousebaptistchrch

God bless you all!!

Love,
Stephanie

JOIN US!!

PLEASE COME JOIN US!!

Lighthouse Baptist Church will be having a Hamburger Steak Dinner this Saturday, June 4, 2005 from 5:00pm until 8:00pm. Plates come with a hamburger steak and two side items and are $6.00 per plate. Drinks and desserts will be available for 50 cents each. You can eat there or take your plates "to-go".

Then, starting around 6:00pm, we will be having an auction. Several items and services have been donated by area businesses and will be auctioned off including oil changes, gym memberships, tanning packages, hair cuts, car washes, golf course greens fees, restaurant gift certificates, and much, much more. Ear Candy has even donated a remote automobile starter valued at $300 that will be auctioned off. In addition to these great items, we also have furniture, antiques and more that will auctioned off as well.

If the auction doesn't interest you, we will also be having a cake walk where you can win homemade cakes, pies, brownies, or cookies. That will start around 6:00pm also.

And finally we will be having a 50/50 raffle and the winner will be announced at the end of the night. Tickets are $1 and you do not have to be present to win.

All proceeds from this event will go toward our building fund at Lighthouse Baptist and will be used to help build our new church building.

Please come join us for great food and a great time. All of this will take place at the church at 120 Hazel Drive in Burlington (off of Hwy 62 North past Triton Water Company). If you have questions or need directions, please email us at lighthousebaptistchrch@yahoo.com, or visit our website at http://www.geocities.com/lighthousebaptistchrch. You can also call the church at 336-570-3560. I hope to see you all there!

God Bless!

Love,
Stephanie

P.S.....Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested. The more the merrier!!