FLORIDA SUN!

I'll be spending time with family this week so enjoy this photo that I took in May while I was away in FL. This was taken during the Georgia fires that sent their smoke billowing all the way down the West Coast of FL. God showed me His glory this day too! Enjoy and praise Him!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

PS: Check back in a week for new postings! Until then - stay in the Word.

Serve Others with God's Grace

• I Peter 4:1-2, 7-11
  
  Living for God
  
  1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
  
  7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. [emphasis mine]

This is the 'how and why' of the way we are to live in Christ. Our actions, our speech, and our abilities are all to be used in a manner that reflects the One we represent - Jesus Christ. Above all... LOVE!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

Love Does & Doesn't

I do not often refer to a paraphrase version of the Bible as they are many times so far removed from the original text in the Greek or Hebrew. However, with that being said, I have chosen to share one from The Message Bible today that speaks in today's language so strongly that it cannot be ignored.

I Corinthians 13:1-10

The Way of Love

1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2 If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie......PS: Happy 9th Anniversary to Becky & Rob

86 Year Old Miracle

Today at the end of our church service an 86 year old man came forward to receive Christ. What a true miracle of God's grace! God's plan for that man was fulfilled on earth as it was in heaven!

Just yesterday afternoon a group of us began to pray for this very man to come to know Christ. In less than 24 hours - GOD DID THE WORK of the most awesome MIRACLE in all of life - that of SALVATION!

Only God can take a life filled with sin unto death and raise it to the newness of life in Christ! A brand new baby - 86 years old! How cool is that??? Happy Birthday Bill!

• 1 Corinthians 15:10

"By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain…"

There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship with your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting go of everything else, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God's purposes, and yours may be that life. ~Oswald Chambers

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

Commissioned!

• Isaiah 6:1-8 KJV
  1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
  2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
  3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.
  4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
  5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
  6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
  7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
  8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. [emphasis mine]

May this awesome passage from God's Holy Word speak a fresh word from the warm breath of God over your heart today.

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

The Power of the Spoken WORD

• 2 Corinthians 4:7-16a

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore... we do not lose heart. [emphasis mine]

The enemy would have us believe that we are crushed, in despair, abandoned, struck down and destroyed. But that is a lie straight from the mouth of satan. God's Word says of all these - WE ARE NOT!! ..........Praise Him!

I BELIEVE – THEREFORE I SPEAK… with that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak!

As Beth Moore shares in her Believing God video series - the power of the spoken Word of God is beyond imagination. She says, "we must inhale the Word - and exhale it by our spoken Word. The enemy hears it as the voice of God - even if it sounds like us."

It should come as naturally as breathing. Is the Word of God that powerful in your life? It can be! It's only a breath away! Inhale [believe] it so you can exhale [speak] it with power!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

A GLORY Moment!

I am always asking God, "Show me Your Glory?" It is a thing that I have with the Lord that He loves to do when I least expect it. Since over a year ago - He has done this on several occasions - and I when He does - it takes my breath away!

• Exodus 33:17-18, 21-23 NASB

17 The LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name."
18 Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!"

21 Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;
22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
23 "Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen." [emphasis mine]

Ever since I read this passage about a year ago in Exodus (33) it has become my favorite chapter in the entire Old Testament. Moses was so thrilled that God finally agreed to have His Presence go with him (and the Israelites) that he begs God (here) to show him His glory. God explains that no one can see the (full) glory of God and live - BUT - he grants Moses' request with certain stipulations (allowing him to see His back).

When God shows His glory (to me, or you, or Moses) it is for one purpose only - to give HIM praise, worship and GLORY!

Tonight as I drove home from my church after my MSP class (Ministerial Studies Program) - I saw the most breathtaking sunset - hanging like a ball of fire in the sky as big as you could imagine. It was one of those "glory moments" that only God does for me because it was backed up with the words of this song (Jeremy Camp's : Give You Glory) blaring in my ears as I caught the first glimpse at the chorus line:

We have raised a thousand voices, just to lift Your holy Name.

And we will raise thousands more to sing, of Your beauty in this place.

When none can even fathom, no not one define Your worth.

As we marvel in Your Presence, to the ends of the earth.

chorus (first glimpse - hearing these words)

We give You GLORY - lifting up our hands singing HOLY!

You alone are WORTHY, we just want to touch Your heart, LORD, touch Your heart!

As we fall down before You, with our willing hearts we seek.

In the greatness of Your GLORY, it's so hard to even speak.

There is nothing we can offer, no nothing can repay,

So we give You all our praises, and lift our voice to say,

"We give You GLORY - lifting up our hands singing HOLY!

You alone are WORTHY, we just want to touch Your heart, LORD, touch Your heart!

Our hope is drenched in You, our faith has been renewed!

WE trust in Your every Word. Nothing else can even measure up to YOU.

We give You GLORY! Lifting up our voices singing HOLY. You alone are WORTHY! We want to touch Your heart, LORD! GLORY!!

I had to pull the car over because the tears rolled down - as my praise went up. It is one of those moments that cannot possibly be written about well enough to give the impact of the moment. I did not worship the "creation" - but rather the CREATOR, GOD - Who alone deserved the GLORY He had so faithfully shown forth in that moment!! The sun represented (to me) God's heart - He allowed me (for just a moment) to touch His heart in praise!

GLORY!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

PS: No, I did not have my camera with me this time! It was a "memory moment"!

Pick a Number

• Numbers 15:37-41 Tassels on Garments

37 The LORD said to Moses, 38 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. 41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.' " [emphasis mine]

I love God's Word so much. Especially the "whole counsel of His Word" (both OT & NT)! Sometimes people ask me why I'm still wearing a three-cord string bracelet and anklet of blue cord. Quite simply, it is to remind me of these things:

• to remember the Lord's commands
• to obey the Lord's commands
• to consecrate myself to God
• to know WHO my God IS - the Eternal God of the Universe

This passage says "throughout the generations to come" - that would include me since I am an adopted seed of Abraham! It is a symbol for me - to wear these cords of blue - to remember my God and what He expects of me.

• 
  Numbers 6:22-27

The Priestly Blessing

22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 " ' "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace." ' 27 "So they will put My Name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."

The book of Numbers is filled with instruction, promises and blessings from the Lord! Pick a Number - any Number - and get blessed!!!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

Claiming Your Promises

• Joshua 1:1-9

The LORD Commands Joshua

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." [emphasis mine]

I love this passage of scripture. It is filled with promises from God for each of us about our earthly "Promised Land". God gives instruction on how to succeed in finding it and claiming it! He promises to be with us - and to never leave us. So what river of fear (the Jordan) are you terrified to cross?

If Joshua were not already afraid to step in the shoes of Moses - and proceed to the Promised Land - God would not have told him 3 times - to "be strong and very courageous". God not only told him that - He commanded it!

Let God speak those words as His fresh breath on your life today - in whatever circumstances or rivers you need to cross (and Trust Him)!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

Let Freedom Reign

Usually we hear the phrase, "Let freedom ring"... but as I typed the title of today's Blog I typed the word "reign" - not by mistake but because of what the LORD showed me today.

As I began my day - I was putting in an exercise tape into the VCR (pretty soon you won't know what that is) and on the television was the beginning of the Philadelphia Parade on Independence Hall. I stopped to listen to the black Pastor who was from Christ Church in the city. As he prayed I thanked God for the boldness of this man to stand before men and women and say things like: "Let us never forget the God who created us and brought us the freedoms we enjoy. The God who called all nations... to a purpose that was His original plan. May we remember the founding fathers who depended on God to institute the truths we now take for granted." [I am paraphrasing what I recall]

There was so much more that he prayed. As I looked at the crowd being scanned by the cameras I could not help but ask myself... How much longer will we enjoy this freedom of speech to talk about God, the Creator of the Universe? That same Pastor mentioned God (several times) - as "the Creator of all mankind". The crowd appeared very respectful of hearing the words that were being uttered allowed to God. How much longer will there be tolerance for those who identify themselves as Christians?

About an hour later there was another man who prayed with the same boldness... and I could not help but thank our God - that He is still Sovereign - He is still in control - and He still knows the beginning from the end. I could not help but be reminded of Daniel...

• Daniel 2:19b-21

Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said:"Praise be to the Name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His.
21 He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

• Daniel 6: 25-26

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly!
26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. [emphasis mine]

LET FREEDOM REIGN - as we allow the God of heaven to rule and reign in our hearts!

Happy Independence Day, America (231 years)!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

Know TRUTH

• God's Word (the Bible) is the basis for all truth.

Read that again and take it in. Truth has to come from somewhere or we can't know right from wrong. That statement is a fact that cannot be denied by those who trust God.

Those who don't know God - trust in themselves - or another person's thoughts - or their own mind - to present 'truth' but it only backfires against the word of God.

This passage of scripture has to be one of my favorites. I memorized it last year (though I'm a bit rusty now) as it's a tongue twister in the middle. It's no wonder that God says in these verses that His Word will not return empty (or void). No matter how we give it out - from our mouth, in a letter, on a photo, in a card, as a teacher, as a parent... no matter how it goes out - it has a purpose from GOD Himself - to perform in the lives of those who receive it!

• Isaiah 55:8-11

8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,"declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. [emphasis mine]

• KNOW THE WORD - share the TRUTH!
• KNOW THE TRUTH - share the WORD!!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie