Embracing the Silence

This week, I learned something that I found quite interesting! As a musician, I am so preoccupied with listening to and analyzing sounds, that it is hard for me to just sit and appreciate silence. Even in our modern day world, it's so easy to get caught up in our cell phones, our computers, our music, our errands, our responsibilities, our thoughts, the people around us, that we never learn to just stop and embrace silence for a while. A perfect Biblical example of this is Mary and Martha. Luke 10:38-42 says "As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, 'Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.' But the Lord said to her, 'My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her" (NLT). You see, as noble as Martha's efforts were, she was missing the big picture! Jesus, the Lord and Savior of all mankind, the Son of the Living God, the one who raised people from the dead and cured diseases with just a simple touch, was staying in her home! She was so caught up in her tasks, she did not stop to appreciate Jesus' presence! 

 My musicology professor actually made a great point to my class. She said, "If you don't get your necessary amount of silence, your mind can be overwhelmed! Silence can make you a better person and even a better musician!" She then challenged us to stay away from technology and social media for 24 hours or to sit in silence for an extended period of time. The results for those who stayed away from social media were they realized they spent more time having thoughtful conversations with people and were more productive! For those who sat in silence for an extended period of time, they heard sounds that they would have normally overlooked and they felt so relaxed and refreshed afterwards! Friends, I don't know about you, but I don't want to be so caught up in the things I have to do that I forget to give my Lord and Savior the time and appreciation he deserves. One way I like to sit in the Lord's presence for long periods of time is through meditation. It helps me tune out the world around me and just focus on the Lord! I challenge you to just take some time to unplug from the world and sit in God's presence for a while! Take refuge in the fact that He is Lord of ALL and He is greater than anything you could possibly be dealing with! It's in this moment of silence that he will speak to you, comfort you, and give you the rest you need to keep going! Stay Strong! 

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. (Psalm 46:10 NLT)

The Kind Words of a Stranger

As my friends and I were walking through the school parking lot one afternoon, a young man stopped us and told us, “Hey, I don’t mean to bother you guys, but The Holy Spirit was convicting my heart to speak to you all and tell you that Jesus loves you”. Me, of course with my “stranger-danger” mentality, I thanked him and told him that he just so happened to be talking to Christ followers. Almost as if to say, “You are wasting your time my friend! Tell that to someone who doesn’t know Jesus and really needs to hear it”. Then he said something that made my day! “Well, the Spirit confirmed with me that He wanted me to speak to you guys. He wanted me to tell you that understanding is on the way”. With just a few simple words, this young man almost floored me! As cliché as that may seem, The Lord knew I needed to hear those words. As we got to talking some more, I felt the anointing and the presence of the Holy Spirit on this young man. He then proceeded to pray for us, even as cars were passing us by (probably thinking we were nuts). I remember leaving that conversation on such a spiritual high and feeling like I was on cloud nine! That was one of the most spiritual encounters I have had in a long time! It’s important to note that the conversation with this young man did not take away all my problems (trust me, the struggle is still very real), but it reminded me that no matter what I may be going through, no matter how difficult or frustrating my situation may be, God is always there! He sees my frustrations, and He cares enough to send me people like that who are going to remind me to keep pressing forward! 

With that being said, I wanted to encourage some of you who may be feeling physically, mentally, emotionally, or even spiritually frustrated, low, and/or stressed. I know it may not seem like it and this may not be what you want to hear right now, but I believe that through our trials, we discover our strength and develop the most as a person. James writes, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT). It may seem ridiculous to read the words “troubles” and “great joy” in the same sentence, but the key word here is “endurance”. Sometimes, the healing process could be just as painful as the wound because you are taking something that was once broken, and making it whole again. As hard as it may seem, God just wants you to TRUST HIM! I know for a fact this is a lot easier said than done! As stubborn and impatient as I can be, I have struggled with perseverance myself. However, it is because I have experienced the results of perseverance in my own life that I am able to sit here today and tell you that it will be worth it, you just may not see the big picture at this very moment. There is a saying that says, “God gives the hardest battles to His strongest soldiers”. So if your situation seems impossible, I encourage you to think of it this way: God thought you were so STRONG, He gave you the hardest battle because He knew you could get through it with Him! The CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE believes in you that much! I promise you, with faith, you WILL see your situation come to pass! Stay Strong! 

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12 NLT).

Season of Growth

Life happens in what the Bible refers to as seasons. Rather than just looking at life as merely seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years passing by, life is looked at as periods of love, laughter, pain, anger, learning, experiences, etc. These past few months, I've realized that I am personally in a season of growth. By this, I simply mean as I read the Word, serve in the house of the Lord regularly, and grow in my faith, God has been teaching me, molding me, stretching me, and opening my eyes to things I didn't see before. He is making me into a new person! He is removing the things in me that are keeping me from reaching my full potential and destiny. While I was talking about this to a good friend of mine, she directed me to Psalm 25 (which is quite long for purposes of this blog so I will not post the whole thing, therefore I encourage you to look it up if you wish) which is basically a poem of David about the Lord guiding you in the right direction and teaching you the way of truth. When I heard this Psalm, I related to it immediately because I felt that this is exactly what I am going through right now. 

With that being said, I wanted to encourage some of those who maybe going through this same season or maybe a similar situation. Whether you are experiencing it in your relationships, in your job or school, or even in your faith, know that God would not be molding you or stretching you if He was not preparing you for something great! I know this season is not the easiest season to be in because, well to be honest, being stretched HURTS sometimes! I know it’s not fun to be pushed beyond your normal limits, to step out of your comfort zone, or to be disciplined in something, but know that God is doing it to benefit you, not to harm you and He is going to bless you because of it! There is no growth without change! “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11 ESV). I want to challenge you to stay consistent in your faith and prayer. Know that the hurt will not last forever! Even when it is confusing and you don't understand why you are being tested, rest assured that there is a reason for it! "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing" (James 1:3-4 NLT). You will be able to use what you are learning and experiencing now in the future, you just can't see it now because you can't see the big picture. Pretty soon, God is going to reveal Himself to you and you will understand why you are going through what you are going through! Remember, God would not but you in the race if He knew you could not make it to the finish line! Stay Strong! 

For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. (Hebrews 12:6 NLT)

God's Army

If you will allow me to, let's have a moment of honesty! Anyone who knows me knows I HAD to write an entry on this! I just recently saw some amazing movies this week. One of these movies of course was God's Not Dead. This movie got me fired up about defending God's glory and power, even in our modern day society! The funny thing is defending the Christian lifestyle has been a heavy subject in my life lately. It seems that as I draw closer and closer to God, the people around me understand me less and less. Not that these people became horrible people or I became better than them, we just don't seem to see eye to eye on certain things anymore. I am talking about people who have known me for many years, even my whole life! I believe what they fail to understand is that I am no longer who I use to be, but I am a newly transformed person in Christ. "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). At first glance, this may seem like a bad thing, but I chose to take a positive perspective on the situation. After all, I kinda saw this coming. Jesus himself said, “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household! If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it" (Matthew 10:34-39 NLT). This is not to say that I should view or treat these people differently because we don't see eye to eye, but that we simply agree to disagree and continue to love each other no matter what. Sometimes, the best argument is not to argue at all, but to lead by example, pray for them, and let God do the rest! 

Friends, it's important to understand that through your walk as a Christ-follower, you are going to have people in your life who are going to question why you do the things you do, say the things you say, or think the way you think. Just look at Jesus! Pharisees and scholars questioned Jesus all the time and He was even scorned by the ones He came to save! Personally, I enjoy interacting with these particular people because they help me grow in my faith by teaching me what I need to know to defend it! However, if you don't know the word or are not strong in your faith, the enemy can use these people to bring you down and make you doubt yourself and even God! If the movie taught me anything, it's that God deserves followers who are going to defend His honor, proclaim His power in their lives, and not be afraid to be a representation of His love to others, even in the most unlikely circumstances! Not that God needs us, but He chooses us and uses us to go out into the world and be bold about our faith because He was bold enough to sacrifice His only son for US, even when we didn't deserve it! Do not place anyone above God in your life! Let us dare to be bold enough to display the love Jesus displayed for us EVERYWHERE we go and in EVERYTHING we do! Let us join God's Army and do our part to make sure future generations still know who God is! Stay Strong! 

Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33 NLT)

The Enemy

This week has been quite a challenging week for me. The enemy was attacking me with full force and truly testing my patience! Therefore, I wanted to briefly talk about the enemy and who he really is, that way someone reading this won't fall into his trap and can handle anything he may try to throw their way. I feel that most people have a huge misinterpretation on who the enemy is. They hear the word "devil" or "Satan" and they think of a burning red-suited demon with a pitchfork and horns coming out of his head. The truth is Satan was one of God's trusted angels that was cast out of heaven for his pride! Satan despised God so much that he figured, the best way to get back at God is to hurt the one thing God loves the most, His children! The devil is a master of disguise and knows how to use the word, your situation, and even the people around you to bring you down and away from God. "These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve" (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NLT). 

The enemy tries to convince us to believe lies like, "You are not good enough", "You can't do that", "So-and-so is so much better than you", "You will never have those things", "You should just quit now while you're still ahead", "God is not really there and even if He was, He certainly doesn't care". The enemy doesn't want you to be happy and he certainly doesn't want you to have what God plans for you! He wants you to doubt God and yourself! The enemy has been using the same tricks of temptation and doubt since the beginning of mankind because he knows what works! Unfortunately for the enemy, him using the same tricks means that we are able to recognize his tricks and know how to resist them! "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Fortunately for us, Jesus came down and defeated the enemy on our behalf! When Jesus died on the cross for us, the enemy no longer had the power to take God's children away from Him! That's why the enemy tries to get into your head because he knows he can not take you away from God, so he tries to make YOU walk away yourself! You have the power and the resources to resist the enemy through Christ! You have the power to look the enemy in the face and declare, "You have no authority to take my joy, my strength, or my life!" My friends, rest assured and rejoice in the fact that the battle has already been fought and WON by our Savior , Jesus Christ! Don't let the enemy rob you of fulfilling your destiny. Know the Word so that the enemy can't use it against you! The most important thing I have learned about the enemy is when he attacks someone with full force, it's because he is afraid of what they are capable of and what God has in store for them! Stay Strong! 

Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18 NLT)

Hands and Feet

This week, I have had the opportunity to witness God do some amazing things! Just so you understand where I am coming from, I spend a lot of my free time serving at my church (shocker, I know!). I serve in several ministries so that I may learn what it takes to be a leader of the church, I can connect with others, and I can help expand God's kingdom. Just this past weekend, while I was serving at my church store, I witnessed one of my pastors speak life back into a woman who was going through very difficult times with her family! I was also able to talk to and connect with other Christian leaders who were able to provide me with so much wisdom. I felt truly blessed! The main thing I want to talk about however is something that happened to me one night on my way home from church. I was driving late Thursday night and having all sorts of revelations go through my mind to the point of tears. Then, I saw a girl walking down the street who looked exactly like my sister. I thought about asking her if she could use a ride but instead, I text my sister to see if she was ok. Suddenly, something inside me told me, "What are you doing wasting your time texting your sister when you could be helping that girl?!" I tried to reason with the voice at first by saying something like "Well, I don't know that girl. what if she is crazy or something?" When I got home, I could not shake the image of the girl from my mind. She was all I could think about. I prayed that God would take care of her and forgive my disobedience to act. Today, my father and I were driving home in the pouring rain and we saw two teenaged girls walking down the street carrying boxes. No umbrellas, no rain coats, no rain boots, nothing! Instantly, the image of the girl from the other night popped into my head. Again, I tried to reason with myself, but I decided I was not going to miss the opportunity to serve a second time! I looked at my father and said, "I feel bad for those girls walking in the rain". He turned to me and replied, "Well, what do you want me to do, pick them up?" "Well, yeah". Naturally, my dad looked confused. Many years of being a police officer told him that it was a bad idea! We didn't even make it down the street before my dad said, "You know what, I feel bad too. Let's turn around and ask them if they want a ride". Words cannot even express how happy I was! The girls of course were naturally hesitant getting into a stranger's car, but they were in shock that we even asked! Even though it was raining, I knew we brightened their day! It just so happens that one of my scriptures to read for the night was Matthew 25:35-40, which states, "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me" (ESV). This scripture always touches my heart because Jesus knew the world was (and still is) filled with people who are hungry, thirsty, poor, sick, hurting, lost, and broken. This is why its so important to get involved in helping your community and be the "hands and feet" of Jesus! It's our job to help as many people as we can while we still can! We are walking representations of Christ's love that lives inside us for all the world to see! Through Him, we can help change lives and show people the hope and love they have been looking for! Whether it is a simple gesture or speaking light into someone's darkness, always remember that you can be a solution to someone else's problem! You may not be able to change the world overnight, but it has to start somewhere, so let it start with you! Stay Strong! "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12 NIV)

Fireproof Part 4: Marriage

For the final week of this "Fireproof" series, I have decided to talk about marriage. After all, marriage is what the movie is concentrated on. Now I know what some of you may be thinking. "Steph, how can you be discussing marriage when you are not married yourself!?" I understand this concern completely. My response to you is that I study what the Word of God has to say about marriage and the marriages I observe around me because I know one day in the future, I plan on being married. Therefore, I prepare my heart, mind, and soul now, that way when Mr. Right comes along, I will be ready! Remember, we date with the intent of marriage in mind.

Marriage is quite a tricky subject because there are so many aspects of marriage that can be discussed. In this entry, I am going to speak of marriage in a more general sense; what the Word of God says marriage is and what God intended marriage to be. The Word states that Jesus told the Pharisees, “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ ” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:4-6 NLT). Ever since Adam and Eve, God intended marriage to be a lifelong, satisfying companionship; a union between a man and a woman that should never be broken. Unfortunately, people have developed a warped perspective on marriage and the word "union". People in our day and age think that marriage is just a piece of paper that signifies taking your relationship to the "next level" and can be easily discarded when times get too tough. It's easier to just get divorced than to stay with your partner and work things out. Jesus even went as far as to say, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery” (Mark 10:11-12 NLT). My friends, I challenge you to think differently! Don't let the lies of the enemy overwhelm your relationship! If it is anything the movie taught me, it's that with God, all things broken can be mended! Know that being in a marriage is hard work! You are going to fight, disagree, have good days and bad days. Always remember to keep God first!! Talk to each other (try not to yell), pray with each other, make time for each other, show each other that you care, put each other's needs ahead of your own, and if necessary, know when you guys need space! My uncle taught me something I will never forget. He told me, "If both you and your partner are deaf, blind, and mute, how would you let each other know you love each other? By your actions!" Don't just tell them that you love them, SHOW them! If you and your spouse are going through a rough patch, no matter how bad it may seem, I challenge you to take the 40 Day Challenge and see how God can transform your marriage. (Of course if you are in an emotionally, mentally, or physically abusive relationship, GET OUT AND SEEK HELP!!!) 

Scripture also says that marriage is a representation of the union between Christ and his bride, the Church. "And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body" (Ephesians 5:21-30 NLT). Men, be the head of the household! Be firm and decisive, yet humble and unselfish! Love your wife just as Jesus loved the Church. So much in fact, He died for the Church! Women, don't be afraid of the term "submissive". You can be submissive to your husbands leadership, yet still be strong in how you are as an individual. Be nurturing, understanding, wise and secure. If you both believe in and want the same things, submitting to his leadership shouldn't be a problem anyways because he will want what you want as well! God wants the best for you! The good news is it's not to late for you to achieve it if you make God the center of your lives! Stay Strong! 

"This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together." (Mark 10:7-9 NLT)

Fireproof Part 3: Break Ups

For this week, I wanted to talk about something I know many of us have gone through or may be in the mist of facing: break ups. I feel that this topic is important because how you handle a break up can make a huge impact on your life. 

Let me start off by saying I can personally relate to how terrible break ups can be. I know what it feels like to invest so much time and effort into one person and then have it fall apart right before your eyes. I know first hand the pain and anger that comes from the separation of two hearts. You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel just yet, but I promise you it's there! You have to discipline yourself to keep moving forward through the hurt, which I know may be a lot easier said than done. At the end of every storm, you come out stronger and a little wiser than you were before the storm. Rest assured that God feels your hurt and He will comfort you and get you through anything! One of my favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 3:5-6 which says "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take" (NLT). This verse is so important because we have to understand that even though we may not understand why certain things are happening in our lives, God knows what He is doing! You have to consider the possibility that God has something better planned for you! 

Do NOT handle a break up by doing things like constant partying, breaking their things, staking them, trying to make them jealous, isolating yourself from the rest of the world, falling for the next person who is remotely nice to you, or flirting with every other person that walks by. These things are just simply unwise and are not going to help you. Instead, try surrounding yourself with Godly people who have your best interest at heart and are going to help you through your tough time! You could also partner with someone else who may be going through what you're going through so you two can help lift each other up! But of course, seek comfort in The Lord first and foremost, for He will always provide. Be mature about it and stay classy my friends! 

If you and your partner are considering breaking up, I advise you to seek Gods counsel! Maybe you guys are just going through a rough patch in your relationship that doesn't necessarily have to lead to breaking up. Remember that God is capable of getting you through anything and can fix all things! "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand" (Isaiah 41:10 NLT). Talk it out and think things through before you potentially enter into a world of hurt. Always remember, GOD IS GOOD AND HE LOVES YOU!!! Stay Strong! 

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (Psalms 34:18 NLT)

Fireproof Part 2: Dating

For this week, I will be talking about dating from the Christian point of view. The key concept I am going to focus on is patience! Friends, do not rush into things! Do not give people you are only dating benefits intended for marriage. Trust me when I say this. I am speaking from personal experience! If you allow God to take control of the relationship and where it's going to go, you are going to be much better off than if you take the relationship into your own hands. Proverbs 19:2 says "Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way" (ESV). Rushing into things driven by desire is going to lead you to missing out on everything God wants for you, which is the absolute best! This person may be telling you everything you want to hear and you may like them with every fiber of your being, but at the end of the day, if they are not the one, THEY ARE NOT THE ONE! Don't waist your time, love, and energy on someone who doesn't deserve it. God will lead you to the right person! Just Trust Him! Boys, more times than not, a good girl is not going to come up to you first (this rule of course not being set in stone). So it's ok to plant a seed of interest. Once you do, step back and allow God to decide whether He permits the relationship to grow any further. The important thing about dating is that this time is to be used to get to know each other better, see whether you guys are truly compatible, see how you guys would react in certain situations, see if you guys want the same things out of life, what your common interests are, etc. Remember, run off God's confirmation, NOT your feelings. 

I understand how this concept of being patient can be hard considering the fast paced, "I want what I want and I want it when I want it" kinda world we live in. We are not a fan of waiting for things. But I believe good things truly do come to people who wait. God will reward your patience in his perfect timing.

Now when you two go out, do your best to not place yourself in situations that could lead to potential temptation. If that means going out in a group of friends rather than just the two of you, DO IT! I'm not saying you can't have some alone time, but be wise about it! Don't place yourself in situations you may regret later. Your relationship will be much stronger in the end. Stay Strong! 

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22 ESV)

Fireproof Part 1: Singleness

If you're wondering why this blog entry is called Fireproof, it's because one of the most inspiring movies I have ever seen in my lifetime is Fireproof staring Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea. It was so moving and really encouraged me that with God in our relationships, anything is possible! This movie has inspired me to write a 4 part series about relationships based what the Bible has to say about them and some of my personal experiences. The goal is to build "fireproof" relationships! By that I mean relationships that can withstand fires (or the difficult times) with God's strength and love! That's not to say that the fires won't come, but you will overcome them and they will make your relationship stronger in Jesus name! Let's start with the first stage of relationships, singleness. 

You may be wondering "What does being single have to do with being in a relationship"? Well, I'm glad you asked! Being single is probably one of the most important periods of your life because how you spend your time being single can have a huge impact on your future relationships! If you spend your time pursuing unconfirmed relationships and worldly things, you may wind up with many scars and into situations you may regret later which could carry into your future relationships; this is commonly known as "baggage". If you keep giving people who are not meant for you pieces of your heart, you are only going to have scraps left to give your future spouse! If you spend your time pursuing God and trusting that he truly does desire the best for you, He can bless you with a love that will stand the test of time!  For those of you who are single, I encourage you to spend some time studying 1 Corinthians 7. Paul gives great advice on pre-marriage relationships and marriage throughout the entire chapter. One passage in particular I am refering to is verses 17-24 where Paul mentions being content in your current situation. You see, it is so easy to get frustrated at the "single" label, but remember no matter what situation you are in, you have an opportunity to serve God and your community! “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free" (Luke 4:18 NLT). Don't forget we Christians have a very important job to do (evangelize AKA save lives!). Don't be upset that you are single! Use this time to grow as a person and in your beliefs! Find out things about yourself such as what your interests are, who your real friends are, what makes you unique, what you believe with all your heart, things you are not willing to give up once you do enter into a relationship, what you want out of life, etc.

One thing that I can't help but find comical is when people say things like "there is no such thing as a perfect person for you because no one is perfect!" Well, they may be right about "no one is perfect", but I believe that is the equivalence of saying "God, you are able to create the universe, move any mountain, calm any storm, heal any disease, but make the perfect spouse... geee... I don't know God... that's just impossible". What!?!? Jesus even said “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Mark 9:23 NLT) This is the same God that we proclaim "For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 ESV) NOTHING!!!! Not even a perfect spouse!!! I believe that when God created you, He saw YOU, His son/daughter and thought, "I love this child, MY child, so much, not only will I sacrifice my one and only son for them, I am going to go before them and plan the BEST life possible for them, so that they may know who I am and have a relationship with me!" That perfect someone is out there for you, but you have to choose God's will and be patient enough to wait for them to come at the right time! Don't let the enemy use doubt to rob you of what is rightfully yours!!! Personally, being single has kept me from the distractions of being in a relationship so that I may discover more about myself and my God. Even though you may feel lonely or like no one likes you, trust in God's perfect timing and know He does have great things planned for you! Stay Strong! 

Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you. (1 Corinthians 7:24 NLT)

Trust and Faith

As a person in general, one thing I have struggled with over the years and still struggle with from time to time is trust. If you have read my other posts, you would know that I have been hurt quite a few times in the past. Therefore, I have become very selective with who I allow into my heart. I am also a planner. If I'm going to fall, I want to know when I'm going to fall, how I'm going to fall, and what exactly I'm going to fall on. Then I read a few verses in Hebrews that brought me back down to earth. Hebrews 11:7-12 says "It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them" (Hebrews 11:7-12 NLT).

You see, all of the people mentioned in these verses (and many others throughout the Bible) had to simply trust God. The natural thing to do (at least for me) is to doubt. How could I go somewhere without knowing where I am going? Why would I plan to accomplish something without knowing if it's even going to happen? In this life it is so easy to get discouraged by circumstances or the people around you, but Hebrews also says "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see" (Hebrews 11:1 NLT). God knows how stubborn I can be, yet He tells me I need to trust him. I have to trust that He knows what He is doing. I have to trust that His plans for me are much better than the plans I have for myself. I have to trust that He is going to do exactly what He says He is going to do. It worked put in the end for Noah and Abraham, didn't it?

I know many of you reading this are telling yourself, "Steph, what you are saing is a lot easier said than done". Trust me when I say I understand! I have been where you are. Friends, God has great things in store for you. If your lungs are taking in air, there is a purpose God still needs you to fulfill. You may not see where your future is headed, but God already knows where you have been, where you are, and where you are going. Just obey His word and have faith, and He will show you just how powerful He is. So my question for you is, what is holding you back from trusting Him? Your finances? A relationship? Your health? Whatever it is, my challenge to you would be to look whatever "it" is in the eyes and say, "My God is GREATER than anything I could possibly be going through". Stay Strong!

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NLT)

Unexpected Opprotunites

When I was invited to attended the Teen Wolf EyeCon 2014, I became extremely nervous. I did not know what to expect! It was my first convention ever with actors I have loved for years! What was I going to say to them? How was I going to make connections with people I didn't know over a weekend? I became so anxious about it, I considered not going at all. Since not going at all was clearly not an option, I swallowed my fears and braced myself for what I thought was going to be a long weekend. I also remember going to the convention only caring about meeting one specific actor. Little did I know how things were going to change. 

When I got to the hotel room, something told me to remember God. There was nothing stopping me from using this opportunity, despite how unlikely, to spread God's light somehow. By the end of the convention, the actors that I really didn't care to meet turned out to be the best part of the convention. They were so insightful, inspiring, and actually really fun to be around! To one autograph signing, I wore my "Keep Clam and Pray On" shirt and one of the actors complimented me on it! I was also able to connect with someone who really needed to release hurt from the past and slowly but surely make her way back to God.

A perfect example of this is Paul. In Philippians 1:12-14, Paul writes, "And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear." (Philippians 1:12-14 NLT). Even when he was in prison, he took the opportunity to preach the gospel to others! What excuse do we have? 

This weekend turned out to be the complete opposite of what I thought it was going to be. God was able to take a very unlikely situation and use it to spread his light through me! Use your testimony to help someone else who may be going through what you are going through. Never underestimate what God can do and never be too afraid to miss an amazing opportunity to spread God's love!

Two White Towels

Quite personally, I know first hand that one of the hardest things to struggle with as a Christian is purity. Many of us, including myself, have once thought, "How could God accept me after I've already blown it?" "It's too late for me. I can't erase what I have done". Well, the last statement is true. You can't erase what you've done or said, but you have to recognize that the first statements are lies the enemy wants you to believe to keep you from moving on and away from God's love. Now as you read this entry, you can apply this to sexual purity or purity of the body, but I am referring to purity in life in general. The interpretation is up to you. 

I am currently reading a fantastic book called Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally and she explains purity using an analogy of two white towels. At first glance, there is no difference between the two. They are both white and clean. However, the first towel is clean because no one has touched it while the second towel is clean because someone took the time and effort to wash it. If you have never done anything wrong in your life, congratulations! You would obviously be represented by the first towel. Keep up the great work my friend! For the other 99.9% of humanity, your towel could have been so dirty, it was black! The good news is, Jesus is able to wash our towel so clean, one could not tell that there was ever a stain. 

This analogy changed my perspective on purity. You see, Jesus places high importance on purity that comes from the heart. Jesus explains purity by saying "First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too" (Matthew 23:26 NLT). Every new relationship or situation is a new opportunity to follow God's word, regardless of how many times you have messed up before. Don't believe the lies of the enemy! Take time to cleanse your heart and mind with the God's word and let go of the past. The rest will fall right into place in due time. Stay Strong!

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8 NLT)

Forgiveness

I had an amazing revelation about a lesson I have heard a million times before but never seemed to grasp: forgiveness. You see, I realized I was walking around with a weight on my shoulders of the past. I wouldn't allow myself to let people come into my heart without a fight because of scars left by previous people. I would go around doubting myself and my abilities because of my past failures. On top of that, I would wonder why I wasn't receiving certain blessings and why I felt like my life was stuck in a rut. Then I listened to a teaching my pastor gave on forgiveness and I decided that I was no longer going to allow my bitterness and doubt to run my life. I decided to let go of the hurt and the pain people have caused me. How could I move on with my life if I am still stuck on the past? After all, Jesus suffered the most out of all of us by the hands of ones he came to save and he still asked the Father to forgive us. Then after I listened to that teaching, it just so happened that part of my Bible Reading of the day was Genisis 50:19-21 which is when Joseph forgives his brothers for all the wrong they have done to him. Joseph said that what they did to harm him, God used for his good and that he would continue to care for them. When I read that, my first thought was how could Joseph so easily forgive his brothers for beating him and selling him to slavery? Then I thought, well if Joseph could forgive his brothers after everything they did to him, there is no reason why I can't forgive the people that have hurt me. Now let's just be honest for a moment, I'm not saying forgiveness is easy. It is not that simple to just say, "I'm going to forgive everyone who has ever hurt me". However, I had to make the choice for myself that I am no longer going to allow those people to have any power over me. I am choosing to forgive them and myself for my past mistakes because God has already forgiven me! I'm deciding to empower myself rather than beat myself up because beating myself up gets me no where. Healing may not happen overnight, but it has to start somewhere. Choose to forgive and feel the weight lifted off your shoulders. It is one of the most important and most rewarding decisions you will ever make. Guaranteed.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15 NLT)