In Christ Alone! | |
Psalm 37 ~ my wishWho needs me, O Lord, When there is Thee? "If I could wish one thing upon the world, what would it be?" Have you ever been asked that before? "If you could have one wish, what would it be?" I've pondered on that a long time without ever coming up with a definite answer, until now. If I could wish one thing upon the world, it would be this. That every person, man, woman, boy, girl, child, adult, republican, democrat, American, or some other nationality..... I wish that every person on the face of the earth could be and would learn to be happy and content in the Lord. Happy in Christ. Filled with the peace, love, joy, and happiness that one gets only after entrusting their life and every aspect of it into the Hands of the One True God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Children, could sleep peacefully at night knowing their God is watching over them. Adults, could be satisfied with life knowing that their God loves them unconditionally and is bigger than all of their problems. Single young people (like myself), could be content with their state of singleness because the only One who can truly satisfy their heart, does. I have never thought of this, like this before. We are supposed to lead the world to Christ, right? Well, I was raised Baptist and taught that "winning souls" was getting someone to pray the sinners' prayer and then hope they learned the rest of the Christian walk naturally (or something.) After observing how "Christians" shoved "Christianity" down unsaved people's throats then bragged about their numbers of "souls led to the Lord" time and time again, I nearly rebeled, completely refusing to "witness to the lost." How sad. But after over five years of simply being a Christian, a follower of Christ, and getting to know my God for myself, tonight my eyes have been opened to a new refreshing excitement for sharing my God with others. I want everyone to need nothing, nothing but a personal intimate loving relationship with Jesus. My Jesus. The Jesus that was born of a virgin, lived without sin, was crucified, buried, and rose the third day so that WE, any and all who call upon His name, might be saved and come to know the peace that passeth all understanding!!!! *moment of silence to ponder* The Lord placed Psalm 37 upon my heart many months ago, and upon my heart it remains. I feel obligated to share it with you. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Oh such sweet words they are. Although my scripture reading has been less than desirable of late, you can be sure this girl will be meditating on this chapter often throughout the next few weeks at least. Tonight, the Lord has spoken to my heart, and tonight I will hearken unto His words. Til next time, may you find contentment and fulfillment in the Love of our Savior! "Lonely In a Crowd?"Hello my fellow Homeschool Bloggers!
It has been sooo long since I've been on here, it's shameful! However, I have been extremely busy and my dear Heavenly Father has been teaching me more than I could have ever imagined. I could go on and on about what I've been up to, but I don't have time tonight. I did however update my other blog (www.xanga.com/krowned1) so if you really want to know what I've been busy with, and see some neat pictures, go there!
The following is an article I found in the Ladies Home Journal written by Rick Warren author of The Purpose Driven Life books. I was extremely impressed with it, and wanted to share it with you all. If any of you still visit, let me know what you think!
God Bless, Stephanie
LONELY IN A CROWD? If I were to ask you what you considered to be the most common pain people suffer, what would you say: Depression? Stress? Resentment? How about loneliness? After all my conversations as a pastor over the past 30 years, I'm certain loneliness is not only common, it's epidemic. I started noticing this when people would admit to me they were lonely -- extremely lonely. Ironically the holidays only heightened it. Perhaps you and your husband are not talking to each other much, or you're dealing with the death of a loved one. Perhaps in the busyness of raising kids you've lost meaningful adult connections. A recent study found that, compared with 1985, Americans report that they have fewer people with whom they can discuss important matters. Nearly 25 percent of the people said they had no one with whom they could discuss such issues. That means roughly a quarter of Americans don't have anyone with whom they can share their deepest fears and greatest joys. Isn't it ironic that as we've become more "connected" by cell phones and the Internet, we've really found more anonymity and isolation? God doesn't want us to be lonely, and that's why he offers us several ways to reduce the pain of loneliness:
He Gives Us a Plan for Life It's likely that you're surrounded all day long by people who need you -- a spouse who needs your companionship, coworkers who need your expertise, children who need your protection, friends who need your laughter and parents who need your care. But you may still feel that no one really knows you or understands what really matters to you. Frankly, you may be lonely. Yet God says this to you: "I made you. I put you on this earth for a purpose. I care about you. I love you and I have a plan for your life." When you're focusing on living God's plan for your life, it gives new meaning to all your relationships.
He Gives Us Other People Most of us think we're to busy to have these kinds of relationships -- and the truth is we are! So many things cut into our time and energy and distract us from building relationships. God's plan to overcome loneliness is for us to get the focus off ourselves and onto the lives of other people. One of the purposes of the church is to provide you with opportunities to develop deep, close relationships. You may be involved in many groups, like scrapbooking clubs, an exercise class or the school board. But I encourage you to take the initiative and get involved with a small group of people who are interested in building deep relationships -- even if that means giving up some other groups. For example, instead of taking an anonymous exercise class, invite a coworker or neighbor to join you for a jog or walk a few times a week; as you exercise, you'll likely see a real friendship blossom.
He Gives Us His Presence We were made to have an intimate, personal and close relationship with God, and no person, pill possession, experience, success, fortune or fame is going to fill that aching hole in your heart. Regardless of the source of your loneliness, God is right there with you. He knows your deepest hopes and concerns, and you can call on His help to conquer the loneliness in your life. He will help you out and see you through. Unexpected Answers ~Matthew 7:7-8 says, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Those verses have been so familiar to me all my growing up years. Many a time have I held to those promises and claimed them as my own while asking, seeking, and knocking in various areas. However, there are and have been times when I believe them without applying Faith. I know the words are true, yet I don't really have faith that what I'm asking, seeking out, or knocking on will come about. But God is faithful through it all. And more times than I can count he has answered my prayers unexpectedly, but answered none the less. Recently, especially over the past week, I have been wondering, thinking, pondering, praying, and thinking some more (half of my thoughts become prayers, I believe) about my future. I am a 20 year old single girl.... young lady.... woman.... Please tell me you all have had questions and doubts and similar confusing thoughts!!! My main prayer for my life is that I would be a blessing to people and minister unto others no matter what I'm doing. I always envisioned myself in the youth ministry, or as a Christian children's writer in my spare time while being a stay-at-home Mom. But since none of those things have been coming about recently I start second guessing myself. Is what I'm doing really God's Will for my life? As my pastor has said a million and one times, "Grow where you are planted." I thought that would be easy. I'm constantly being proven different. Growing includes stretching in ways that are uncomfortable, being scorched with the blazing sun, nearly drowning in floods of rain, being tossed around by the winds of every which way. And although we don't notice the good in all those things, we're growing stronger, taller, and healthier every day into the people God wants us to be. Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." But what that verse doesn't say, is that a good name will keep the town talking about you and loving favor will keep you forever busy. I couldn't possibly list how many times people call us up and ask us if we could help them out somehow. And as tiresome, frustrating, and time consuming as it all gets, it is amazing! Just this past weekend God opened my eyes and showed me that in the little things of my life, in the midst of my growing, I am being a blessing to people and ministering to others. A few days ago my sister and I got asked to care for a lady we knew of (her name is Faith, imagine that) who has the beginning stages of alzheimer's. Her husband, and care giver, is currently in the hospital with serious pneumonia and has slim chances of making it. My sister has had experience with watching an older woman with alzheimer's before, but for me, it's an all new world. Her children wanted someone with her at all times, so we'll be switching off days, nights, whatever fits our schedule. I am trying to look at this opportunity as great training. Training for what, I haven't yet figured out, but I know I want to do my best in all that I do, because our Lord most likely won't train me for something that I won't need later on. This could last a week, two, three, who knows. I'm hoping the sooner it's over, the better. Because it slightly (ok more than slightly) messes up some family routines. It all depends on what happens to the husband, and if the children think Faith should go to a nursing home or not. Everything is new ground to all of us right now, so we just don't know. SO!! I guess this is a multipurpose post. I'm letting you know how God had been answering my prayers in unexpected ways. I'm letting you know that my schedule will be chaotic throughout the next few weeks. And I'm asking for prayer that I would be patient in this time of training and growing and that everything would run smoothly. Thank you all! The Crust or a Slice; what is God to you?Are you satisfied with your walk with the Lord? I wasn't. But over the past week it seems that every event, conversation, Bible study, and even in Sunday school, God has been working in my heart and helping me realize some very important things of which I feel led to share with you. Each lesson is different, yet similar, oh how God works. Amazing! Recently I have been feeling overwhelmed with … stuff; places to go, people to see, and my goodness so much to remember to get done. I have not been applying myself to spending time with the Lord each day. It has really been leaving me with a large emptiness, a hunger that can’t be filled with physical food. A week or more ago the Sunday sermon was a knife into my heart. In my own words, here is what it meant to me. The crust or a slice; what is God to you? Life is a pie. We slice it up and try to eat every slice every day. One slice is work. Another may be school. A smaller slice is physical exercise, while a slightly larger one may be family time. Many people also create a slice for “God Time.” And I am the first to admit to guiltiness. I have tried to “schedule” a Bible reading time. I have tried to make myself write something in my Bible journal everyday. I have tried to memorize chapters of scripture, verses at a time. I have set high goals with high expectations, but always I find myself a failure, leaving me to be frustrated, depressed, unfulfilled, and completely saddened that I let God down again. God never proposed himself to be a slice in our life, but the crust of our life; the substance that holds us all together. He wants to be involved in every slice of our life, every slice of my life He wants to be active in us when we’re at work, school, with family, at church, ect. But how? Eat when you’re hungry; don’t wait until you’re dying. I have always loved verses such as Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Yet I always tend to ignore my spiritual hungerness until I’m nearly too weak to fill my soul with the Word. Matthew 4:4 says “But he answered and said, It is written, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.” How true that is. May I remember that continually when ever I get hungry spiritually. “Dear Lord, please keep these verses in my constant memory, that I may apply their truth to my life. Teach me to fill my soul with Your Word daily, and focus less on physical food. Thank you, O God! I ask this in your Most Holy Name, In Jesus’ Name, Amen!” “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:4-6 (Read 1-11 or so for the full context.) ‘Abide in me,’ says Christ, ‘as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself.’ I can’t bear fruit unless I’m abiding in Christ. If He isn’t my pie crust, I will bear no fruit. Without Him ‘I can do nothing,’ and all my petty “God Time” efforts may as well be gathered and burned. When I abide, the fruit will come naturally. I will no longer have to schedule God in my life, for I will be living each moment in His presence. Something Pastor made clear in Sunday school this past week is that the fruit comes NATURALLY! And if you continue reading vs. 9-14 you’ll see that we abide by continuing in His love, by keeping His commandments, which is that we love one another. Oh there must be must more to that commandment than we understand, for how often it is mentioned, and how important it always is. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why has thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalms 42 God is the health of my countenance. What an obvious revelation. And although my soul may be temporarily cast down, I will hope in God, and shall yet praise Him! May you allow God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ become the crust of your pie. Hunger and thirst after righteousness, and you will be filled. Abide in Him and He will abide in you. Love one another. And even when you’re soul is cast down, hope thou in God, and praise Him, who is the health of your countenance. Amen! in humbleness, Stephanie Delight thyself also in the Lord.....Hello Friendly Readers, Sorry I haven't updated in sooooo long! I feel terrible for not commenting on all y'all's sites, but after this next week life will settle down and hopefully I will get better at doing such. There is a verse in Psalms that says "How sweet, are thy words unto my taste, yeah sweeter than honey to my mouth." That verse has truly been evident in my life this past week. But oh how my time is limited. I wish I had nothing more to do than to sit in a quiet room doing nothing but meditating in the Scriptures. I must realize however that my yardstick life is only getting fuller and going by faster and unless I sacrifice my time for Christ, my end will come and I will have far to many regrets. Sacrifices. I must make sacrifices in order to live. Live Eternally that is. Sacrifice what? Physical food? Yes! That would help my body and my soul, but that doesn't free up enough time on it's own. Fun? Yes! Although it seems I never have enough fun with friends and family, I am afraid that things such as TV late at night w/ family, up late emailing, txting, or chatting w/ friends . . . scarcely as I do them, they must be limited even more. And since work and school are unfortunately necessary, I can't really cut back on those. That leaves one last main and what I consider vital area of my life left. Sleep. Yes, I said it. Ever since I was young / old enough to take naps I have enjoyed sleeping. But the time has come where my personal relationship with Christ is at stake, and without some very hard to swallow sacrifices I will become but drift wood on the River of Jordan. How sad. Isn't it terrifying how we can feel ourselves suffocating spiritually sometimes? Last Sunday was my wake-up call. Pastor let the Holy Spirit prompt the hearts of the congregation and one by one, as various members shared a verse, passage, or testimony my heart was convicted, again. I was nearly in tears on several occasions that morning. But not only was the Lord speaking to me concerning Our Relationship and my time, he also showed me how, for the past three weeks, I have been craving, longing after, wanting, hoping for, and desiring strongly a man that I could call my own. That is not healthy, let me tell you right now. Waiting for him/her is hard. But waiting on God is worth it. I have the Peace that passeth all Understanding once again. I don't understand God's timing, I don't understand God's will for me. But it is OK. And I have peace. PTL! I'm so greatful for the Comforter! Some verses that have really jumped out at me this past week, thus I've been meditating on, are Psalms 37:4-5, and Colossians 3:1-4. They read as follows. Psalms 37:4-5 "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." Colossians 3:1-4 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." With all joy, with all seriousness, and with all Love, please pray that not I, but Christ in me, would sacrifice the things on this earth and delight myself also in the Lord. ~ For His Glory ~ A Scene of SalvationHello my friends, Thank you to those who read and commented on my last entry. I know it was long. I feel like saying something profound and thought provoking, but I'm seriously to tired to come up with anything. So I'm just going to say what is in my mind and heart this very moment. I wish I could explain how I feel right now. I am in physical pain, I'm exhausted, I'm stressed, I'm tired, I'm behind financially, I'm a tad gloomy thanks to the last week of cloudy days . . . . . . but inside I couldn't be happier. It's like I have a true calm & satisfied spirit about me that is unexplainable. Almost as if I'm in love and all else doesn't matter. But who could satisfy ME? There is only One who can. And He is! Standing all alone, in an open field, my toes dig roughly into the barren hard ground. Dry dirt catches the wind and stings my sleepless eyes, causing cold tears to stream my pale cheeks. All alone, yet surrounded by stress I gasp for a breath of fresh air. I cough. The air is dry and dusty. The wind begins to pull at the clothes on my sore body, whisking my hair past the depressed expression on my dirty face. As I gaze helplessly towards the sky I realize I'm in the center of an ever-growing fierce tornado of Life. Everything around me makes me frustrated. The bills, lack of time, and procrastinated assignments swirl closer and closer to my conscience. I fall to my knees, exhausted from standing in the same spot for weeks. As the wind and dust pick up I close my mouth and close my eyes. The smell is bitter with hypocrisy. I raise my chapped hands to the swirling skies and cry out with all that is left in me. Begging for someone to hear me, find me, help me. Suddenly, I am pelted with hard cold drops of rain. To sore to move and having no where to run for shelter I remain still. Slowly, the dust starts to settle. The sound of rain falling in sheets to the hard ground is loud yet soothing. The smell sweetens with hope. Dripping wet the rain finally lets up. The wind ceases and the clouds part, revealing blinding rays of sun. My heart fills with peace. I am still surrounded with Life, but now the Comforter fulfills my deepest longing. A smile sneaks onto my flushed cheeks and my sore body stands in Praise of the One who heard my cry. Yup, that pretty much sums it up. Surrounded with tribulations of Life, I am satisfied and full of hope, but only because of Christ! God Bless~ ~!~ DREAMS ~!~Hey Guys, Got a question for you. Do you guys have dreams? Not like "what do you want for your future" dreams (although I COULD talk about that), but like dreams that you have when you're sleeping. I seem to have been having a lot of weird dreams lately. It's kind of surprising me. Yesterday morning I woke up then fell back asleep. And it was during that second sleep that I had a dream. The odd part of it was that I'd dreamt the exact same thing another time. I don't remember when but it was a while ago. Now, I've had repetitious dreams before, but they were always just the same thing and nothing changed. But in THIS dream I could remember what was going to happen next just before it happened, and I was able to change things. I stopped bad things from happening. I acted differently around certain characters to produce different results. And so on. Is that strange or what? Then this morning I had another weird dream. But this time the dream is what woke me up. It was interesting. I can't remember the details but after a long scene of events someone was after me. I ended up running into this one room to hide What do dreams mean? Are they simply ideas that you've had over the last week mixed with your many emotions and a load of imagination, displayed like a realistic piece of life? Or are they signs, warnings, promptings, that you are intended to incorporate into your real life? Once I had a dream, Dreams are talked about a lot in the Bible. And are dreams and visions the same thing? Can we create our own dreams and visions or must they come on their own? If it is without us, then do they all have significant meanings? Do Christians and non-Christians have different dreams? Should a Christian take more serious action concerning his/her dream verses a non-Christian? I'm sorry, I'm asking way to many questions than you'll probably want to comment on and answer. But, they are going through my head so I decided to type them. hehe Ok. I'm stopping. That is plenty to think about for now. And if anyone at all has any helpful advice, suggestions, Bible verses, or even opinions, please comment. Email works too! HAPPINESS IS THE WAY - / - CONTENTMENTHello Friends (or whoever reads this),
I haven't posted for a very long time. I have been busy, and my computer still isn't back up and running. *not going there* I am surprised at how unusually stressed and almost depressed I have been recently. There is no REAL reason to be, so today, I'm happy. And for good reason. Look at all the things I have to be happy about. No more bad attitudes and stressfulness for this girl, oh no!
I am learning to instead of "make time for God, and bring Him into my life" to actually, "live life for God, and thank Him for letting me be a part of His Kingdom!" What a paradiem (sp?) shift. But it's true isn't it? I told that to our Pastor in Sunday School last Sunday, and he incoorperated that statement into his sermon. That was neat, but it's so true.
This past Sunday's sermon was about Contentment. I just wanted to share the notes that I took so you (if you allow yourself to be a part of his Kingdom long enough to read them) can have more contentment in your life too. (And just to clarify, I'm preaching to myself on that one!)
CONTENTMENT Philippians 4:11 Luke 3:14 Proverbs 15:16 "Better is little with the fear of the Lord..." Hebrews 13:5-6 1 Timothy 6:6-8 "But godliness with contentment is great gain..." Proverbs 14:14 Proverbs 16:8 "Better is little with righteousness..." Ecclesiastes 5:10
CONTENTMENT IS: Kingdom Based Destroyer #1 Believing that "xyz" will make your life complete Destroyer #2 Frustrated when others get blessed
~ Kingdom Based, Lordship of Christ, Brought to Pavement of every day life. ~ Long Term View, not Short Term (think about how your actions will impact tomorrow and the rest of your life, good and bad) ~ We don't decide on our feelings. I do decide upon my actions towards them. (this was huge for me) ~ Own the feelings and realize "I am OK" ... I am not my feelings. I am, who I am in Christ. (owning the feelings, *sigh* I have several areas that I need to own my feelings and move on... Pray for me!) ~ YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU FEEL (read that about five more times) ~ You are Kingdom Based--> Goal is Servanthood, to be where he utilizes you.
I hope that helps and encourages you in some way. I think I'll be rereading that all throughout this week.
Dance Like No One’s Watching
Neat huh? Ok, I hope I'm not making this too long. Sometimes it's better to post a little each day, and not a lot all at once. But it's whenever ya have time time in my case. *hugs* for everyone.
God Bless~ Stephanie |
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hahahaha
with a whole future ahead of me. I don't want to waste my life; my one, God-given, Jesus-died-for, blessed with such an awesome upbringing, life. I want to live my signature life, a life that I'll proudly sign my name to when it is accomplished, now. But how? What am I doing now, that is big and grand and God's Will? What am I doing now, that is leading me to a prosperous future of glorifying God? Which of my talents and passions am I supposed to pursue and polish and put to practice most? So many questions....
And thank you to those who have been praying for me. It has been needed and is extremely appreciated.
and it was then my dream shifted. As I entered the room I entered a whole different century. That last part of my dream was very pleasant, and that is when I woke up. LOL I tried to go back to sleep to see where the pleasant dream would end up but I just ended up wasting another two hours of my day. (oops) 
After I wake up, should I dwell on the dreams, good or bad, or should I disregard them and take no more thought about any of it?
this man who was sitting next to me in church tried to kill me by poisoning me through something he had touched. It was one of the most real dreams I've ever had. And after running from him wildly I woke up in a panic. Not three hours later Mom read on the news via the Internet that a guy had poisoned three people somehow by touching them. He had made a point to shake their hands after his court case and later that day all three were very sick. That kind of freaked me out. 
Good day and God bless you all!
Anyway, this last thing that I am going to post is something my friend has posted in his house as a daily motivater for himself. I'm glad he shared it, because it seems to fit so appropriately for me this week.