HEARTS AFLAME

Psalm 104:1-4
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul.

O LORD my God, You are very great;

You are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 He wraps Himself in light as with a garment;

He stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of His upper chambers on their waters.

He makes the clouds His chariot

and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds His messengers,

flames of fire His servants.

The LORD our God never ceases to amaze me or surprise me!

HE IS GOD!

I've been away this weekend on a retreat with another church. Last year I had the privilege of being their speaker for their 1st annual ladies retreat held in PA. This year my friend, Dianne, was the speaker. The theme topic of the weekend was:

A Weekend Under the Stars

In keeping with the topic the committee arranged for us to be able to have a bonfire in one of the outside pavilions at Blackrock Retreat Center in the Lancaster area of Pennsylvania. Our host, Leon, stoked a blazing fire for us in a huge stone fireplace while Dianne shared the word of God from behind us. We were to remain focused on the warmth and beauty of the fire. When it was all over we sang one last song and the next thing I knew my friend Lynn [the pastor's wife from CCC] whisked me off to a corner to pray with someone.

First, I must remind you of one year ago - at the same retreat when a young woman came to receive Christ. Her name was Lisa. Click here: TRUTHSHARER: HANDS TO BEHOLD . A week later Lisa's husband, Bill, also came to receive Christ as Savior.

As Lynn and I sat down last night on rickety benches, I knelt down in front of Diane, Lisa's own mother! She was smiling from ear to ear and after I shared a few words and asked her some specific questions, she was ready and willing to surrender her life to Christ as Savior AND Lord of her life! I explained to her that it was not enough to receive Him as Savior alone - that she must make Christ Lord of her life from that day forward and allow Him to rule and reign on the throne of her life. She took that simple step of faith and invited Jesus into her heart!

Lynn helped us up and we all sang "Happy Birthday" to her. Lynn shared with her that the angels in heaven were rejoicing with her along with us because of the gift of eternal life that she had just received! What a powerful moment.

Today as we all said our goodbye's I pulled Diane aside and told her that Jesus would never let her go... but that she had to hold on tightly to Him and never let go of Him. She agreed!

God did His work this weekend! There were amazing testimonies given from Kim, Pat and Sandra as well that stirred our hearts to follow hard after Christ. Our speaker, Dianne, brought great messages to challenge us to Shine like Stars for Jesus!

Philippians 2:14-16

Shining as Stars

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Here are some pictures of the weekend I wanted to share with you because I know all of you reading this who know Christ as your Lord and Savior - will also rejoice with Diane.

Here are a handful of God's shining stars!!

Stephanie ********* Diane *************Lynn

Lisa is seated just behind me [in the red sweater] and her mom, Diane is behind her two rows back in the blue shirt. Our speaker, Dianne, is in the bright pink/purple front and center!

Kim was one of the winners of the book giveaway. She began reading it the moment I put it in her hands!

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[In Flight]