Thursday, January 19, 2012
Not giving up Just putting things on hold
Just realized I have some old post on here about how I desperately wanted to start a family and some of my struggle but I never explained how that just went away. Well it didnt just go away I have dreamed about being a mother all my life and I cannot wait for the day when I hold my own baby. But I was being selfish See all the while I was getting upset with God for not giving me a child God was trying to give me 70 but I wasnt listening. I know your saying 70 huh are you crazy. What I mean is all that time God was trying to tell me He wanted me in montana. On wednesday nights we have a childrens ministry called Beyond Borders for Christ ( check out my post to get all the details about it) A couple weeks ago We had 95 and 70 of those were children!! Thats the 70 God was trying to give me No there not mine and I dont get to bring them home or see them everyday but every wednesday I get to love them and feed them a meal and watch them smile and hear them laugh. My former pastor Derek (McCosh) once told me to pour myself into the children God has placed around me. I do that every wednesday. Some of these kids arent loved or took care of but on wednesday nights even if only for a little while I try to make each one feel special even if its just be placing a cup of water in front of them and talking to them for a few minutes. God has never asked me to give up my dream of becoming a mom he has just showed me that right now he has other plans for my life and I am honored that He is using me and feel so blessed for my 70 children.
Well I said I wasnt getting a facebook but in 2009 I did and of course loved it!!!! But today I sit here with the huge question is it really a good thing for me to have?!!? Here are a list of my pros and cons rolling around in my head.
pros
- Two days ago I had a prayer request and within 5 minutes had 8 people (who didnt even know the person they were praying for) praying.
- Helps me to get prayer request and keep up with how the person is recovering
- Helps you keep in touch with family back home
Cons
- has been known to send out dirty videos and pictures from your name without your knowledge
- People often pick fights and post hurtful things about others
- It often seems like just a bunch of people gossiping and just a bunch of nosy people
- Alot of miss communication and incorrect information
- Alot of pictures and things get posted that should never ever be posted
I feel like if im doing the right things and trying to share Jesus and my testimony as much as possible im doing good, But I often wonder if God even wants us on a site like that with so much bad going on all around us. I once saw a picture posted of someone who had gotten arrested (in handcuffs and everything) and the picture had many comments about how justice was served and so happy hes off the streets. Hope hes in for along time. I did not know this person and I have no idea what they did but I do know We all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God -Romans 3:23 And I also know thats someones son and im sure that momma is broken hearted enough and doesnt need more threw up in her face. Just today I saw a picture of a car crash (a bad one) someone had seen as they were driving home from work and felt the need to take a picture and post on facebook. They had lots of comments and said they heard someone died in the wreck. My heart broke because there is a family somewhere whose hearts are breaking too and I hope and pray they never have to see the picture floating around facebook. Life is full of things that can be used for good and can be used for bad As Christians we must use everything we can to share the gospel and facebook is no different. My concern and prayer is that while we are on there trying to do good We are not sucked into the bad because so many times thats the way it happens instead of the other way around.
pros
- Two days ago I had a prayer request and within 5 minutes had 8 people (who didnt even know the person they were praying for) praying.
- Helps me to get prayer request and keep up with how the person is recovering
- Helps you keep in touch with family back home
Cons
- has been known to send out dirty videos and pictures from your name without your knowledge
- People often pick fights and post hurtful things about others
- It often seems like just a bunch of people gossiping and just a bunch of nosy people
- Alot of miss communication and incorrect information
- Alot of pictures and things get posted that should never ever be posted
I feel like if im doing the right things and trying to share Jesus and my testimony as much as possible im doing good, But I often wonder if God even wants us on a site like that with so much bad going on all around us. I once saw a picture posted of someone who had gotten arrested (in handcuffs and everything) and the picture had many comments about how justice was served and so happy hes off the streets. Hope hes in for along time. I did not know this person and I have no idea what they did but I do know We all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God -Romans 3:23 And I also know thats someones son and im sure that momma is broken hearted enough and doesnt need more threw up in her face. Just today I saw a picture of a car crash (a bad one) someone had seen as they were driving home from work and felt the need to take a picture and post on facebook. They had lots of comments and said they heard someone died in the wreck. My heart broke because there is a family somewhere whose hearts are breaking too and I hope and pray they never have to see the picture floating around facebook. Life is full of things that can be used for good and can be used for bad As Christians we must use everything we can to share the gospel and facebook is no different. My concern and prayer is that while we are on there trying to do good We are not sucked into the bad because so many times thats the way it happens instead of the other way around.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Mission Of Joy
What is Mission Of Joy??
Mission of Joy :The Mission of Jesus, for Others, and Yourself.
Mission of Joy is a 501-C3 nonprofit mission agency.
The mission is to tell the world about Jesus Christ through teaching God's word, his love, and acts of service.
Jeremy and I are proud to be working under Mission of Joy.
Mission of Joy :The Mission of Jesus, for Others, and Yourself.
Mission of Joy is a 501-C3 nonprofit mission agency.
The mission is to tell the world about Jesus Christ through teaching God's word, his love, and acts of service.
Jeremy and I are proud to be working under Mission of Joy.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
My Testimony
I was born and raised in Athens, Tn. The bible belt. I was very fortunate to be born there and to have 2 loving christian parents. I was raised in Clear Springs Baptist Church. A place where I felt I could be me. Where everyone was family (quite a few really are my family). On March 25, 1999 when I was 10 I accepted Christ as my Savior. We were having revival that week and it was Thursday night. The man preaching that particular night was Earl Graves. Before he started he asked someone to lead page 14 in the baptist hymnal "I'll Meet you in the Morning" and He said turn to the person sitting next to you and let them know if you'll be meeting them in Heaven someday. I was sitting with my Mamaw Harmon as the music started and everyone began to sing She turned to me and said Stephanie have you thought about being saved? My heart started pounding as I shook my head yes and then she said do you wanna be saved today? I shook my head yes again. She went up to the alter with me and Ralph Swafford prayed with us. My mom and Dad came up to the alter too and my momma cried and cried. My Daddy normally sat in the back but when We got up from the alter him and momma hugged me and we all sat together on the row momma and me always sat on. That night as I lay in bed I felt relief and peace like I had never known, and I thought to myself if I die im going to Heaven something I couldnt say even the night before.
My preacher Dink Harris explained to me that the next step was baptism. I understood but I wasnt ready. I am terribly afraid of water especially the thought of going under. Everytime I turned around someone was asking when you gonna get baptised thats the next step you know. I put it off and off until i was 14 I made my way up to that alter one sunday morning I was presented as a canadiate for baptism and of course I was accepted. I remember crying the hardest I had ever cried in my life not because I was scared but because after 4 years of telling God not now someday I was finally surrendering and again I felt that same peace. I was baptized on January 26, 2003.
Like many I strayed from God alot through out my teen years and I did many things that im very ashamed of. I was not a good person and I can never take that back. When I was 19 I hit rock bottom and fell to my knees one night in mine and Jeremys apartment I was a newlywed this should have been the happiest time of my life but i was struggling with depression and too ashamed to tell anyone that night in our apartment God had finally got a hold of me and He was wearing me out. That night on my knees I got my happiness back and from that point on no more depression. I also got forgiven because My God is faithful and just to forgive my slat was wiped clean that night.
When I was 21 Jeremy and I went to Oak Grove Baptist Church. A church in my hometown just down the road from Clear Springs Baptist Church. Jeremy had went there as a teen with his friends and wanted me to go with him. So one sunday in December there we sat. We loved it and joined in January. Jeremy started running the computer for the projector. I started helping one sunday a month in the nursery. Everything was great. Then Jeremy started playing guitar with the praise team. Then one Sunday night in July a group from the church who had went on a mission trip to Hungry Horse, Montana spoke. They showed pictures and talked about there trip and as I sat and watched I got this strange feeling that I should be there and I thought ok Jeremy and I will go next year on the mission trip Who could have predicted that the next July when Oak Grove came to Hungry Horse, Montana We would be living there.
Now im 22 and a Missionary I would have never dreamed that this was Gods plan for my life. Jeremy and I are worship leaders here at Canyon Baptist. We help cook for tuesday night bible study, and for the kids on wednesdays. We also volunteer 2 tuesdays a month at our local food bank. We are currently looking for more ways to do outreach. We are trusting God and doing what he called us to do and Our future has never looked brighter.
My preacher Dink Harris explained to me that the next step was baptism. I understood but I wasnt ready. I am terribly afraid of water especially the thought of going under. Everytime I turned around someone was asking when you gonna get baptised thats the next step you know. I put it off and off until i was 14 I made my way up to that alter one sunday morning I was presented as a canadiate for baptism and of course I was accepted. I remember crying the hardest I had ever cried in my life not because I was scared but because after 4 years of telling God not now someday I was finally surrendering and again I felt that same peace. I was baptized on January 26, 2003.
Like many I strayed from God alot through out my teen years and I did many things that im very ashamed of. I was not a good person and I can never take that back. When I was 19 I hit rock bottom and fell to my knees one night in mine and Jeremys apartment I was a newlywed this should have been the happiest time of my life but i was struggling with depression and too ashamed to tell anyone that night in our apartment God had finally got a hold of me and He was wearing me out. That night on my knees I got my happiness back and from that point on no more depression. I also got forgiven because My God is faithful and just to forgive my slat was wiped clean that night.
When I was 21 Jeremy and I went to Oak Grove Baptist Church. A church in my hometown just down the road from Clear Springs Baptist Church. Jeremy had went there as a teen with his friends and wanted me to go with him. So one sunday in December there we sat. We loved it and joined in January. Jeremy started running the computer for the projector. I started helping one sunday a month in the nursery. Everything was great. Then Jeremy started playing guitar with the praise team. Then one Sunday night in July a group from the church who had went on a mission trip to Hungry Horse, Montana spoke. They showed pictures and talked about there trip and as I sat and watched I got this strange feeling that I should be there and I thought ok Jeremy and I will go next year on the mission trip Who could have predicted that the next July when Oak Grove came to Hungry Horse, Montana We would be living there.
Now im 22 and a Missionary I would have never dreamed that this was Gods plan for my life. Jeremy and I are worship leaders here at Canyon Baptist. We help cook for tuesday night bible study, and for the kids on wednesdays. We also volunteer 2 tuesdays a month at our local food bank. We are currently looking for more ways to do outreach. We are trusting God and doing what he called us to do and Our future has never looked brighter.
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