A Note of Good Random-ness

Dear family and friends,

I realize, now that life has paused for a few minutes, that I have so much to be thankful for. I don't want this to be a typical cheesy note of "I'm thankful for this or that," but rather an expression of the heart. God truly has done SO much and I want to write it down -- to remember Him, as He admonished His children to do so many times in His Word....

"My son (daughter), do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for the length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man." (Proverbs 3:1-4, italics mine)

"It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord's law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt." (Exodus 13:9)

"You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:8-9)

"Keep my commands and live....Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister.'" (Proverbs 7:2-4)

The word "Truth" the Bible is a Hebrew word for "God's standard." Truth is important because it shows us how to live, it IS the way in which we should walk. "Mercy," however, is "an act of graciousness to someone in need, from a person of superior rank or circumstance" (NKJV Study Bible). God tells us to bind both (equally) around our necks and write them on the tablet of our hearts. Isn't God good? He gives us a standard (Truth) and then His grace (Mercy) for when we mess up that standard. Even in the Old Testament, God cared about His people not only walking righteously, but also relying on Him for continual outpourings of mercy. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Amen.

Brothers and sisters, there IS a way that we should walk. We are not an aimless people. God tells us to guard our tongues in a world that often speaks curses over others, to love Life in a world that values death over sweet Jesus (Life itself), to name a couple....

And I want to pray a prayer over you, my family. It is vital that we live according to His standard, that we should NOT settle for less than His righteousness. I know He is adamant that we live this way because if we don't -- it's like being a blind man. So, for the glory of God and His kingdom, live life blamelessly before Jesus. Don't settle. Never let the enemy steal from you what is rightfully yours -- "favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man."

Yoked with a right relationship is dependence on the great mercy of God. We mess up. We do. We fall all the time. But then we get back up again. Always. Because Christ gives us the strength to do so no matter the circumstance or the size of the attack. King David knew all about the mercy of God. The man after God's own heart... fell, fell AND fell again! But he ALWAYS repented, and got back up again. A good player is never out of the game for long. He or she presses forward regardless. And when we need a rescue, just ask the Lord. He will rescue us.

This is what I'm getting at, guys. It's all about Jesus! It's about what HE can do, about what HE can do in your heart and in the world around you. He loves you so much! It's about Him. Never ever about you or what you can do. Even righteousness is a work of God. He sets the standard and also fulfills it for us. So even when we mess up, we are still in right-standing with Him because He has already fulfilled the law. There is so much freedom in Christ! Hallelujah!

Don't you see? Proverbs 3 is fulfilled in Christ! Wow!

Bless you, my dear family, and may you desire Christ more and more every day. I'm sure I'll write more later, but for now... Live for Him who is both Truth and Mercy! And who loves you dearly....

-Stephanie

Joy in the Water

I've been back since Monday evening from the Oregon coast and I'm just gonna say it: I have been forever changed by this trip. Funny thing is, I'm not sure of everything that has happened to me since being down there. If I had to sum it up into one word: FREEDOM!

When asked, my words are few, I can't seem to explain everything that G-d did for me, but I know it's deep and I know it's everlasting. The one word I do seem to be able to come up with, just a scratching the surface kind of description, is the fact that strife has fled from my life.

It began with a song about water. Sharing the car with a bunch of psalmist can do this, but they and I later joined in, sang a song about Joy in the water. When we got to our destination, I ran down to the beach and jumped into the sand. This was my first experience ever with the ocean. We're I live we have plenty of Bay's and Lakes, but this was the ocean and I was ready! I got down to the beach lifted my hands high and thanked G-d for His creation and then it hit me. The water came in swirled around my ankles and went back out again. I almost fell over, not b/c of the water, but by the Holy Spirit washing over me. His love for me, greater than my thankfulness on the beach. I'm not even describing it right, here, but I was overtaken. I stumbled back up to the house, I could barely breathe from that one experience. Even in that brief moment, that small encounter, I knew something had been taken from me.

As I fell, literally, into the house, my friends turned and looked at me. "You, You have to get down there." I blurted out. One look at me and they ran to get ready. Each of us putting on our beach wear to be better comfortable on the beach. I ran back down.

This time I refused to just be ankle-deep. I was going to submerge myself in the water. As I got down there, Scarlet and I began walking in. Kicking water up every once in a while, then I began to run. Back and forth along the water, Running out to the deep parts then back in. I couldn't stop laughing. Scarlet looked at me and her phrase was simple. "Oh my gosh, you are so alive right now." I couldn't explain where it was all coming from other than in the first hour of my vacation, I was so free and I had no idea from what, but it didn't matter, I tasted freedom and I wasn't about to let it go. Laughing I kept running. "More Lord, Complete your good work in me" I kept urging Him on. Running back and forth on the beach, laughing, my hair down, I felt amazingly beautiful, something I haven't felt in I don't know how long. I realize now typing this, that I was playing with my Abba, My Daddy in Heaven. We were chasing each other on the beach that day and He loves me. I'm crying right now, I'm trying to breathe in the midst of typing. I hope this is blessing anyone who reads this.

Through out the entire vacation I was in a position of release, constantly letting go w/o out realizing it. There was only one time in the vacation that I consciously laid stuff down that was on my heart. Our Ministry night where we prayed for one another. Abba handled the rest of my heart, the many rooms that I didn't know about. I'm so light. I'm so loved.

Through out the entire vacation the Joy in the water song kept coming up. Realizing near the end of our vacation how prophetically powerful that song was. I found Joy in the water, His living water and it overtook me like the waves of the ocean.

That's all I can bare to type up right now. More to come in the near future.

Jesus is all about healing!

Hey gals,

It's been a while since I last posted something on our blog. That's okay. For everything there is a season.

Something very significant happened today. I had a MAJOR breakthrough by the grace of God! I prayed my first anti-spirit of rejection prayer ;) For most of my life, I've struggled with the dread of rejection from God and man, and as I prayed this morning, God pointed out to me that I prayed against the spirit of rejection. It may sound kind of silly to you all, but it was a first for me. A few hours later, I was on Skype with Lauren and Scarlet and another major breakthrough happened. God re-pointed out a relationship that was both detrimental to the person and myself. God gave me the courage to put boundaries down and finally witness a big change in both our lives. I feel so free!! I know the other person will too one day!! Praise Jesus! He is LORD and all about the healing of His people!!

That is my praise for the day. Thank Him for everything. He knows best, so don't be afraid to stand your ground and do the loving (not always easy) thing. He will give you the strength if it is His will. And then thank Him. He will always be there for you. Remember that, sisters.

So lets be about "not-easy" things, sisters. Let God take you out of your comfort zone and show you what blessing is in store for those who trust Him. Amen?

Love you, ladies.

So Good!!

Jesus is so Good!!!

Incase anyone needed a reminder.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Wow! Here we go again!! Another year over, another one beginning. You know how they say New Year, New You? Well I don't want a new me, I want the real me. Everything that G-d has made me to be, the women I'm destined to be, that's what I want.
This last year I heard a wonderful saying that just stopped and made me think.
"You become, by beholding."
If that's the case, what am I beholding? A great little reminder to keep my focus on the Lord if you ask me.
Ps 27:4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to BEHOLD the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. NKJV
even the psalms direct us to behold Him, all the days of my life, *sigh* and this next year I'm making a commitment to do that double fold!
At the end of each year I ask the Lord for a scripture, something that I can spend the next year meditating on and seeking after and you know what He gave me?
Ps 63:8 My soul follows HARD after thee, your right hand upholds me. KJV
Truly and new hunger for Him has risin up in me. My soul will not be satisfied with what I have with Him now, when I wish to get to know Him more. It's about relationship and like all relationships, you get to know that person more and more, falling in love with them more and more. My intimacy with G-d must grow and with it, my love and devotion. Here's a few commitments I have for 2011 that will help nurture this.
Spend more quiet time with Abba: including more prayer and reading of the Word.
be more aware of what I watch on tv, at the movies and the internet
lessen the amount of time I spend with my I-Pod. (it's not me it's you)
Cultivate the friendships that G-d has brought into my life and make more of an effort to stay connected.
It's not a completed plan, but it's a beginning. Just like my relationship with G-d, it's just the beginning, always growing and changing.
I'm expecting so much more for 2011, Adventures, surprises and lots of laughs. Most of all I'm expecting Jesus, Yeshua, the lover of my soul to show up and show off in my life.
G-d Bless everyone and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Lonely Places

Jesus often ventured off into lonely places to pray. Shouldn’t we expect to do the same? Being alone is lonely. But we must not be afraid to go to those places. It is in lonely places that we meet the father.

What would I do tonight

If I were not afraid to be alone

If I did not cannibalize my time

With activities to numb the fear?

Tonight

I will pretend

I am not afraid

To be by myself

That I am not afraid

To do the will of God

To do exactly what I know I ought

Nothing more

Nothing less

I will write some more reflections and study your word

I will eat an apple with cinnamon and sip some water

I will feel lonely, but I will not be afraid to feel that way.

I trust that I am walking in your will

You promised that you would with hold no good thing

From he whose walk is blameless

I lack no good thing

You give me everything I need in season

And you sustain me.

Such freedom! Such overwhelming, abounding JOY and FREEDOM

To do your will and do your word!

I am not tied to ugly hate and fear and impulse

I am intent on fulfilling my destiny, my purpose

To be in relationship with you.

My vineyard of praise will yield a harvest so abundant,

That I will wash my clothes in wine

I want to venture in the lonely place

I want to venture there and pray

I know that you will meet me there

I know that you will make me strong.

Every purpose you have for me will be achieved.

My Declaration for a New Season

Because the LORD has declared that this IS a NEW season! I am NOT who I was.... I am a new creation! Here is the declaration of newness from the God of Angel Armies!

I will no longer hide.
I will no longer hide.
Though thousands, tens of thousands rise up against me!
I will not be among those who shrink back!
The LORD is my stronghold.
He is my strength.
Though my courage give way,
He will be strong.
I will not sell my confidence in Him
For He has promised me only good things.
I will no longer hide.
I cannot hide.
The glory of God is within me;
And nothing, Satan, demons, nor man
Can take that from me!
I am a new creation.
I trust the LORD.

I don't even have to try to hide my thoughts.
I can let them flow and they will not effect me.
Because the LORD is the keeper of my mind,
I will not be shaken.
I trust in the LORD.
He will direct my steps.
I will survive.
I will live a full life -- an abundant life!
This is my declaration
For a NEW season.
Amen.