New App

I am so excited about this new app my cousin told me about, "Lose It!".  I have it on my iPad.  I am able to add my weight loss goal and they tell me how many pounds I will need to lose a week to reach my goal.  You also add all your food and exercise activity.  You can use this bar code scan as well and it reads labels.  Anyway, it is a new toy for me and I am enjoying it.

This year my journey has been up and down. As well as highs and lows, excitement and frustration.  Just a few days ago I was even in a funk.  Strange as it sounds, this new app has helped me get out of my funk.  I think because I feel like I have some sort of control back in my life.  I want to live my life (the way God is leading me) and not just have life happen to me.  I don't do well with crisis after crisis and just sitting back and having life happen.

I guess it is like surfing, I want to ride the wave in the direction that the Lord is leading me and not crash and be under the wave, drowning in what life is coming at me.

What I have learned so far about my journey is this:  God reveals Himself in many ways.  He is so amazing, so gentle, makes me laugh and cry.  At this time I feel more lead to speak with women and men who are in crisis and might not know Him.  As a matter of fact, I have 6 people that I am counseling with right now in the area of parenting, they are a captive audience because they are at the Center due to CPS.  I truly enjoy watching them grow in the areas of parenting and the Lord.

Although it is a bit overwhelming at this time because I am also in the middle of planning a huge fundraiser banquet, but He is allowing me to watch Him work and bring the banquet details together.  So that is good!

The fact that it is September reminds me that 3/4's of my "Journey Year" has almost come to an end.  I am still not exactly sure what He is going to do next and how everything fits together, but I am confident that He has His plan for my life!

Anyway, I just wanted to share what was going on now and I so appreciate all your help and support!

Thanks for joining me in the journey, Stacy

Books - hmmmmm fun to read or not???

I started reading more often and I am really enjoying it.  I am learning a lot about the Lord and myself with the books that I have chosen or basically that God has led me too.  Although I must confess, sometimes I don't enjoy the books because I have to do work and change - lol.  Strange how I still have to change at age 48!

Take for example the new book I am reading, "Empty Promises, The Truth About You, Your Desires and the Lies You're Believing".  This book is by Pete Wilson, a Pastor out of  Nashville.

I am taking this book a little slow because it is stepping on my toes.  I am having to look and analyze why I do certain things.  For example, why is it so important that I need the approval from others?  What drives that inside of me?  Why isn't God's Word enough?  His promises and love should be more than enough!

So now I have been challenged by Pete to be aware of:  what I am saying, what I am doing, what I am thinking, how I am acting, where I am coming from and what my motives are!

Yikes!  My head hurts already!

He goes on to say that if I don't try to do these things I will spend my life trying to find my identity and worth in empty promises of attractiveness, acceptance, wealth and power.

He says that these things will just leave us empty and wanting more.  His point being that only God can fill our empty spaces.  He also states that idolatry is when I look to something that does not have God's power to give me what only God has the power and authority to give me.  So don't look to others for my approval, that is idolatry, I can only get that space filled by God.

So, I will be trying to do this over the next month or so, oh, and I am only on chapter 3!!  Wonder what else is going to hurt my head - lol!

As I am on my journey, I have found out some amazing things!  I am reading the Bible daily in a broken up manner that will allow me to have read the entire Bible in one year - I am loving this!  God has shown me His Word in a new way and it is really cool - like I am being transported back in time and seeing how the people in the Old Testament lived - it is really more real and alive this year!

I know that He wants me to be a minister of reconciliation and I am finding this through working with clients at the Center.

Also from a book I read earlier, "The Shack", I found out just how much God loves us and wants to spend time with us.  That He is a true gentleman and so very loving!  He has reconciled the world through Jesus and now He just waits for us to realize that and to come running to Him.

So, as my journey continues, please keep me in your prayers, as I think this new book is going to be a growing experience for me!  I do know one thing for certain, I don't want to believe any lies!

Thank you once again for joining me on my journey!  Stacy

The Flood of 2012

Just wanted to show you some of the pictures that Albert and I took around the property and neighborhood.  It was really crazy last week with a LOT of rain!

 One would think we lived by a lake, but nope, that is horse pasture.

 Thought Albert's bike would protected from all sorts of weather in the shed - didn't realize flooding could be like this.

 This is our neighbor's house.  He has at least a foot of water inside and the tractor and 3 cars had water in them as well.

 I opened the gate so I could close another gate to protect the horses, I took my first step and sunk to my knees.  Now we have a hole to fill.

 Thought the horses water bucket might float away, but it has sand in it, so it stayed put.

 Water front property, well, for a day anyway.

 Albert is pointing to a pile of ants floating in the water.

Here they are, it was crazy to see just a pile of ants floating like that.  Would be horrible to have them on you, guess that is one reason to stay out of flood waters.

Things are all back to normal, well, sort of.  The burn piles floated against the fences, so have to regroup all that wood, parts are still soaked, so waiting for it to dry out.  Still have rain off and on this week as well.  At least our well has more water in it - yeah!

Just wanted to share our Thursday! 

Thoughts Rolling Around in my Mind

It is so very interesting the way the Lord works.  We have started a study at church about the "Unseen".  What is underneath - picture an iceberg - you only see 30% of it, 70% is under the water.  So what are we built upon?  What is our foundation?  Why do we some times make poor choices?  How do we picture ourselves?

All of this can be answered by looking into who/what our foundation is.  Do we build upon Christ?  the world?  our past?  Do we know why we struggle in certain areas of our lives?  Do we believe the lies that others have told us about ourselves?

What I have come to realize is that I need to look into my past to see where my future is going.  Why am I insecure in certain areas of my life?  Why do I always have to make sure others are happy or not upset with me?  How can I follow the Lord and still do all the things in my life?  Where is my balance?

These are just a few things rolling around in my mind and I am working them out with God so that I can be ready for the ministry that He is going to give me.

Also, this year on my journey, I have found out many new and exciting things about God.  I know that I want my path to be His and I can trust that He will show me and let me know when I am NOT walking on that path.

God is so amazing, such a gentleman!  He loves with an everlasting love and truly only wants the best for our lives.

Instead of worrying that I am not on the right path, I am looking for doors that He is opening and going through them.  Instead of worrying that I am not doing what He wants, I am listening to the Holy Spirit and moving in His direction.

I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me and I choose to move forward and not allow the enemy to cause me to be still and not productive.

I feel His gentle leading towards a ministry in restoration.  So I am going to move forward in that direction.

Ok, so now what??  Well, June is almost over and so that means I am half way through my journey.  I am excitedly expecting what the next 6 months will reveal!  More puzzle pieces falling into place - why?  Because I am seeking His face and digging in deep into His Word.

Ever watch bull riding or bareback riding?  How the guys hold on to make the clock, well that is what I am going to do!  Hold on to Him and watch what He is going to do over the next 6 months!

Truly this has been an amazing journey and I am so very thankful that you are sharing it with me!  Stacy

Live Like You Were Dying

This is one of my favorite songs that Tim McGraw sings.  There was a time in my life when I had to play that song over and over again.  I needed to remember that each day is a gift from the Lord and we are not guaranteed tomorrows.

Funny thing is that the guest pastor spoke to this last Sunday.  Not the song, but the reality of each day being a gift and not knowing if we will be here tomorrow or if the Lord will take us home.

He also mentioned about us having a ministry, a journey, a path.  Well, he didn't say all those words, but that is what I heard as I listened.  Isn't it just like God to bring messages and verses to you while you are searching for Him?! 

After listening to the sermon and praying throughout the week, I heard something from God that I hadn't really heard before.  The word Restoration.  That is it - well, the beginning of it - the beginning of my journey!!  I want to be able to offer Restoration to others.  Being restored to God, to someone else,or  from something.  Helping others to see how great God is and how much He loves us.  That we are created with a purpose and He is just waiting to use us for that purpose.

So knowing that I might not have a tomorrow and I need to act in the "now", I have put that into action at the Center.  Like, talking with my CPS clients or even yesterday when I ran a pregnancy test for a client.  I was bolder in how I spoke about God and Jesus.  The CPS client is a believer and wants to be restored and hurts healed from her past; we were able to talk about God and His grace and mercies which are new every morning.  Having the client that needed a pregnancy test, I was able to ask her if she had ever received Christ as her Savior.  She thought about that and said that she thought that she had, but she wasn't ready to rededicate her life just quite yet.  Which was fine with me, I am not going to push God on anyone. She did allow me to give her a Bible and I know that the Word of God does not return void, so I was excited that she allowed me to share what I did with her.

Not knowing where God is going to take me on this journey has been interesting, frustrating and long, BUT knowing now that He wants to use me to bring restoration into others lives - well, that has become a new breathe of fresh air for me - or something like that - lol!  Let's just say - I am excited!

I do want to live every day to the fullest and be able to tell others about God and how He can change hearts and lives.

It is so easy to become frustrated with what we see going on in the world.  How people act towards one another, what moms and dads do to their children, or just how selfish people truly are.  It is hard to see that and yet I know if they would just realize how much God truly loves them, how He created them for His glory and His purpose and how special they are - their lives would change in a moment and generational cruses would be broken and hearts restored!

I have to look at life that way - that the glass is half full!  That people can change and lives can be restored!  That is me and that is my heart!

So today I choose to live my life as if I were dying - moment by moment - making a difference for His kingdom.  The only thing we can take with us to heaven is another person that we introduced to God!

What an amazing 6 months it has been, curious to know what the next 6 will bring about!  I just know that it will involve horses!!!  :)

Thank you for joining me on my journey!!!!  Stacy













  

Back Stage Living

This was the title of our sermon last Sunday by our guest Pastor.  Basically we all have a front stage and a back stage - the front stage is what the public sees, the back stage is private, the soul.

The front stage is always doing, going, performing (not meaning that in a bad or false way).  The back stage is a state of being, resting, and restoring ones self in the Lord (or should be).

We are to live our lives inside out, meaning, whatever we put into us will come out of us.  So am I putting good things into my life so that good things will come out?  Am I clinging to the branch so that I can be a vine that produces good fruit?  Am I creating time to sit at the feet of Jesus?  Can I hear His voice?

As I am having my year of "journey", I wonder if I am the one doing all the talking to God or if I actually have any time to hear Him, listen to that still small voice, slow down enough to breath?

I got together with a group of women that I know for a challenge to read the entire Bible over the course of this year.  While I am not good at doing this every day, I must say that it is something that I look forward to every day and when I miss a day, I truly miss being in the Word.  BUT it is strange to me how much I am retaining it, I mean like, how many verses can I say by memory?  I have my verse of the day and I do cut some out and tape them to my bathroom mirror, but how many have I memorized - ah - not one of them yet.

I drive to work for about an hour each day, on the way into work I take time to pray.  I truly enjoy that time with the Lord, lifting up prayer requests and such.  BUT how much during the day do I take to listen to Him?  I can see Him working at the Center and am truly blessed by watching Him at work - BUT how much of the work that I do at the Center is through His power or my own?  Would I really know the difference?

A beautiful point the Pastor brought out was how Jesus got up early to be with His Father, spending time with Him before ministry.  He was being filled up so He could pour out.  This is what I want to do.  Spend my time with Him being filled up so that I can pour out.

I am starting to feel bold in Christ, feeling the freedom to speak the words that He wants me to speak.  Although I do need to slow down and hear Him more.

This past week I have seen CPS (Child Protective Services) Clients (I have 2 couples right now).  I truly enjoy this, meeting with them, talking about parenting skills, hearing their stories, all of it.  I am starting to use the principle of being filled up so that I can pour out, speaking truth in love to them.  Trying to slow down, listen to them so that I can hear from the Lord and speak back to them.

You see over the past couple of years I have filled my life with going and doing, not being.  So after this past Sunday's service, I have felt that conviction of slowing down.

So this is what I feel I need to start doing:  create space (don't always just be on the go), slow down, hurry less, being in the Word more, by doing this I will be able to hear His voice.

If I can begin to manage my back stage well, then my front stage can keep going.  I will be able to perform the ministry that He wants me to do, be on the path that He wants me to be on.  Clinging to the branch so that this vine can produce good fruit.  After all God is my anchor!

Funny how life is, still not sure where my journey will take me, but being in the back seat, taking care of my back stage sure makes a lot of sense.  What an interesting journey so far and just think, June is here, in 6 more months I might just know where my path is leading me!!  :)  Thank you for joining me, Stacy

Daily Devotional

A volunteer at the Center shared this with me the other day.  She doesn't read my blog or even know that this is my year for my journey - a journey to see what God wants me to be when I grow up - lol.

Just thought I would share this with you, it was the May 1st daily devotional in a book called "Jesus Calling":

You are on the path of My choosing.  There is no randomness about your life.  Here and Now comprise the coordinates of your daily life.  Most people let their moments slip through their fingers, half-lived.  They avoid the present by worrying about the future or longing for a better time and place.  They forget that they are creatures who are subject to the limitations of time and space.  They forget their Creator, who walks with them only in the present.

Every moment is alive with My glorious Presence, to those whose hearts are intimately connected with Mine.  As you give yourself more and more to a life of constant communion with Me, you will find that you simply have no time for worry.  Thus, you are freed to let My Spirit direct your steps, enabling you to walk along the path of Peace.

The recommended reading is Luke 12:25-26 and Luke 1:79

It is amazing to me how much the Lord loves us.  He places people in our lives, gives us multiply blessings and loves us unconditionally.

As I continue to seek my path, I can rest in this;  I am on the path of His choosing.  I also want to communion with Him not only daily, but deeper.  Seek Him more and hear from the Holy Spirit.

It is so comforting to know that He is not limited by time or space, even though I am.  Which is a good thing for me - lol.

As I continue this journey, walking with Him, He will show me what my life is and how my life should be.  Praise be to our God!

Thank you for joining me on my journey - Stacy