Table of Contents

Dreams

Drawing Near For Grace

Faith Not Sight-Part 2

Faith Not Sight

The Humility of Christ

Fire

A New Year's Resolution

To everything there is a season…

Uncompromisingly Faithful

A Night I'll Remember...True Story

The Secret of Strength

Nothing to Hide

Virginia Tech

Project Update

Understanding the Reward of Obedience

God Sees

Building the House of God

A Heart of Integrity

The Moon

Pine Needles and Promises

What I Learned Today

Some things I learned in Costa Rica

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Dreams

Journal

August 4, 2008

Table of Contents

Many of us are familiar with the saying, “God’s ways are not our ways” (it comes from Isaiah 55:8-9). The longer I walk on my journey of faith the more I realize how true this is!

When we first become awake to God’s leading–that is, when we first become aware of His plan for our lives, we usually think we have a pretty good idea of how things will happen. It’s like we have tunnel vision–seeing only the “end” without considering everything we will experience during the process of getting there.

Consider the story of Joseph:

As a young teenager, he received a vision from God about his future. How exciting, right? To know exactly what God had planned! Or so he thought...

Joseph probably felt that since God had spoken to him so clearly, it would not be long before his vision would come to pass. He probably even thought he knew how everything would come about. I doubt Joseph had any idea of the difficulties and heartache he would have to face before God fulfilled his dream.

Before Joseph even had time to fully process what God had been speaking to him, he found himself facing incredible trial: he was rejected by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery. If that weren’t devastating enough, a few years later, after he was finally adjusting to his new life, he found himself sitting in a prison cell after being accused of doing something he did not do.

Joseph probably felt he had gotten his “wires crossed” in his communication with God. His dream probably seemed to him not only impossible, but laughable. “What was I thinking?” he must have said to himself. “How could I have been so foolish?”

Like Joseph, we have all been given “dreams.” Whether they stem from our own desires or from our communion with God, we all feel we have at least a small “vision” of what our future holds. We, too, often see only the “end.” We usually don’t consider that there is a process we must go through before receiving or experiencing whatever it is that has been spoken to our hearts.

The process is our preparation. When someone wants to be a teacher, a nurse, a lawyer, a doctor, etc. they must first be prepared for their field. No one expects to graduate from high school and suddenly begin practicing medicine! The process of “getting there,” of becoming who we are meant to be is just as important as the “end.” The things we learn in our “training” are priceless lessons that prepare us to not only walk in our “calling” but to overcome the obstacles we can and will face even when we reach the “end.”

Right now I am in the process of recording a new CD. Each decision is important: how we lay the foundation (arrangements, etc.), each individual track . . . If I skip over or am careless about even one detail of the process, it will affect the outcome. In order to create a beautiful sound, the “layers” must come together properly. It is the same with life.

God has His own way of getting us to our desired “end.” His ways are not our ways, they are wiser. He sees the whole picture. He knows who we need to become in order to be solid and prepared for the “end.” And the process of “becoming” who we need to be takes time.

There will be times that we will feel like Joseph: trapped in our own type of prison cell, far from where we thought we were meant to be. It’s then that we need to look up and remember that the One who gave us our dreams is also the only One who can fulfill them. When we lift our eyes to Him we will discover that our lives are complete already–even in their seemingly “unfinished” state–because we are in His hand.

Wait for His time. He will be with you and will show Himself faithful–all the way to the “end.”

Stephanie

"Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." ~Joshua 21:45

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Drawing Near For Grace

Journal

May 19, 2008

Table of Contents

"They . . . were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses." (Psalm 107:27-28)

Why do we so often wait until we are at our “wit’s end” before running to Jesus with our troubles? Some of us send up quick prayers when we are in crisis but never make the effort to really get before Him, pour out our hearts, and ask Him to intervene in our situation. There are many reasons for this but the one I have been thinking about lately is this: we really don’t believe that God will answer us the way we desire Him to answer.

In a sense, we are right. God doesn’t always give us what we want or think we need. But He will ALWAYS give us what we truly need when we ask. Whether our request is for the miraculous, or simply for wisdom, understanding, direction, guidance, or clarity, He has promised He will not only answer but will be our Answer..

". . . let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

To be completely honest, I must say this: While I have always known that God will show Himself faithful to me if I trusted Him with every area of my life, there have been times where I have had difficulty “drawing near to the throne of Grace.” Times, where instead of pouring out my heart to God I have just tried to “move on” and ignore certain things because I didn’t feel my prayers would make a bit of difference.

When we have experienced trials or heartache and the end result was that all of our prayers were answered in ways we did not expect, it’s easy to become disappointed and disillusioned with God. And, if we aren’t careful, those disappointments can rob us of our confidence in Him. My father has always reminded me that my ideas about God should not completely depend on my experiences--in other words, I should never judge God’s faithfulness strictly on what I have seen, heard, or felt (experienced). My ideas must be grounded in Truth and my confidence must be in the character of God: that He is good, righteous, and faithful. If I truly believe those things my faith will not be shaken, no matter what difficulties may come my way.

Here’s the main issue: Our hearts need to be completely united with God’s. We need to want what He wants in order to be completely satisfied with His answers to our prayers. If we lift our hearts to Him, trust Him with our lives (no matter what we may be facing), and cling to the promise that He is faithful, we will never be disappointed in the end. Of course we may FEEL disappointed initially, if things don’t turn out the way we expect. But ultimately, if our hope is truly in God, we will rejoice when His answers come.

“. . . And He who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” (1 Peter 2:6)

Remember: God sees the whole picture, what we may consider “unanswered” prayer may be exactly what we need.

Are you at your “wit’s end”? Do you need God to work a miracle, to give you wisdom, understanding, direction, guidance, or clarity? Run to Jesus, pour out your heart to Him, and surrender your life to Him. He WILL hear you and answer faithfully. . . in His perfect time.

"He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, so He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!" (Psalm 107:29-31)

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Faith Not Sight-Part 2

Journal

March 31, 2008

Table of Contents

(For Part One see previous post)

Walking the path God chooses for us is not always easy. Sometimes when we look back it seems like things were “easier” before we made the choice to do what He had us do, say what He had us say, go the way He had us go. But if we truly believe that “God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose” (Ro 8:28) we must embrace the fact that God had and has our best interests in mind, even when our circumstances are perplexing.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

The apostle Paul experienced more afflictions, persecutions, and difficulties than most of us can imagine. But he refused to allow his circumstances to undermine his faith. He knew the words of Jesus, “in the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33) and lived by them. When Paul’s feelings of uncertainty, doubt, or fear would rise up, he found strength in the Lord. He knew he was not alone. God had promised never to leave him or forsake him (De 31:6, Heb 13:5).

Joseph is another example of someone who faced incredible obstacles not because of disobedience, but because of his choice to walk with God. Imagine the discouragement, pain, and frustration he must have felt when he was thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown in prison, and forgotten. On more than one occasion Joseph’s circumstances appeared hopeless. When we read the story we don’t always consider how deeply he suffered because we know what happens at the end. But Joseph didn’t have the ability to see the whole picture. He had no idea why God was allowing him to experience such intense suffering. He didn’t know that God had something wonderful planned—something that would affect not only himself, but entire nations! Joseph had to live by faith, trusting that no matter what he was experiencing God was faithful and would see him through.

Being a Christian does not mean that we won’t face difficulty. It doesn’t mean that we won’t ever feel perplexed, unsettled, or even shaken (2Co 7:5). But it does mean that we have a God who is able to give us the strength to keep walking, even when we don’t understand what He is doing and why He is allowing us to experience hardship.

God did not spare His own son from suffering because He had a purpose. He wanted people to be brought from death to life (in the spiritual sense). The only way that could happen was for Jesus to experience the weaknesses of humanity and suffer a cruel death. The outcome of that suffering brought life and light to the world. Sometimes we have the idea that because we are His children, God will spare us from pain; that He won’t allow anything “bad” to happen to us, because He loves us. But that is not reality. God loves us, yes, and He hates to see us suffering (there is no pain that we experience that He does not experience with us) but we must remember that if God did not spare His own son from difficulty, He will not spare us either (Heb 12:4-13). He has a divine plan for our lives and for the lives of those around us. (Sometimes He leads us down a difficult path because there are people walking on it that need to see more of His goodness.)

While it is tempting to want to just “lay down” spiritually and refuse to face what God has allowed into our lives, we need to remember that God sees the whole picture. We think, “Lord, I’m tired of this. I’m tired from all of these battles and don’t want to experience the pain anymore.” But when we take a few moments to consider all that He has already done for us, and everything He has promised to do and to be for us, we begin to realize how short-sighted those thoughts are.

How often do we say, “God, I want everything You have for me” but when He starts to give it to us we cower (or sulk) and say, “I don’t like this”? The question we need to ask ourselves is: are we willing to continue walking the path God has laid out for us even when it gets difficult? Are we willing to listen to His voice and keep walking, even if it gets hot, cold, foggy, exhausting, and maybe even frightening? Are we willing to be “poured out” for His sake and for the sake of others?

I want everything God has for me. He has a plan and I want to be a part of it. I know that even though the path may sometimes be perplexing and I may experience pain, if God has chosen it, it is the best one for me. He has promised it will be worth it in the end. I just need to keep walking and trusting and believing that He will be with me and will give me the strength to keep going.

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36)

But just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1Co 2:9)

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Faith Not Sight

Journal

March 17, 2008

Table of Contents

Sometimes God sends us on a journey that doesn’t make sense to us or to anyone around us. He tells us to follow where He is leading and to trust Him, regardless of how things appear. I have been on several of these “journeys” throughout my short lifetime and can already say that God has been faithful to keep me every step of the way and to guide me to each destination. I can also say that even the most agonizing trials that He has allowed into my life have served such great purposes that I wouldn’t trade them for anything. The lessons learned were worth the pain, and the revelations of Christ received as a result of each challenging situation could not have been gained any other way. Again and again I have learned to trust Him with ALL of my heart, to understand that His ways are not my ways (they’re higher and better), and now I whole heartedly believe that everything He does, and every way He directs, is good and right and true.

About two years ago, I wrote a journal entry called, “Some things I Learned in Costa Rica.” I read through it a few weeks ago and realized I was in the middle of learning the exact same things all over again. (See Some things I Learned in Costa Rica in this “Journal” section)

When we begin a journey of faith, we don’t always know the outcome. We don’t know what’s waiting for us “at the top” of the “mountain” we are climbing. But one thing is certain: if we don’t keep going, we will miss out. God doesn’t promise us an easy ride; Jesus Himself didn’t have an easy way to go. But He does promise He will be with us, giving us wisdom, grace, and strength to continue following, no matter how much our “flesh and heart” may try to fail us along the way (see Ps 73:26).

I think the key to continuing on a “journey” is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, never looking at our circumstances, or trusting in our feelings. Our minds and hearts are deceitful and unstable. We can’t trust in them. We must only listen to the Voice of our Father in heaven, Who is constantly calling us to look to Him for every ounce of wisdom and strength we need to keep walking. He will not fail us or forsake us. He’ll carry us when we’re tired and speak to us when we need assurance that we are moving in the right direction. All He asks of us is that we whole heartedly trust Him.

Are you on a journey of faith? Has God called you to walk a path you’ve never been on before? If so, don’t worry. He’ll be faithful to keep you along the way. Don’t listen to the doubts and fears plaguing your mind. Don’t allow yourself to give up just because it gets difficult sometimes (and it will). Keep walking and keep trusting, through the cold, the fog, the rain, the blazing sun… He may not tell you what’s “up there” but He has promised it will be worth it in the end.

"And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11

The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. Exodus 13:21-22

"The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8

Peace,

Stephanie

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The Humility of Christ

Journal

March 23, 2008

Table of Contents

Every year at Easter millions of Christians gather to celebrate Jesus coming to earth to atone for sin and bring the whole world back into unity with their Creator. Yesterday when I was taking a long run outside I began thinking about how incredibly humble our Savior is to give us the opportunity to embrace Him. None of us deserve to be shown the forgiveness, kindness, and love that He extends to us daily.

Most of us spend our lives pursuing what we want and think we need, rarely giving thought to what God wants for us. Jesus demonstrated His love for us when, knowing our stubborn and selfish desires for independence, He laid down His life to offer us another way. What’s amazing is that He knows His way is better, more secure, more fulfilling, full of life and light; yet He is humble enough to sit alongside us and wait patiently for us to decide whether or not we want to embrace it.

Christ comes to us in humility, laying out the terms: our life for His, and waits for us to choose. He gives us a choice. Incredible! The God of the universe gives us a choice.

So what will we choose? His way or ours? It seems like such an easy decision, but it usually doesn’t seem like one when we are faced with it. We know that if we accept His terms we will lose ourselves¬—we’ll lose control, we’ll lose what we view to be our “freedom.” But Jesus told us that it is only by losing our lives that we will find them. It is only by receiving Him that can we know true freedom, life, and peace.

God’s gift of salvation is available to us always; but it is not only salvation that we need. We need “newness of life” (Romans 6:4); in other words, we need God to completely take over and fill us with Himself. He has so much to offer! He is holding all we need in His hands, sitting next to us, just waiting for us to say, “Yes, Lord, I’ll embrace ALL you have for me. I’m tired of living with a partial revelation of who You are. I want all of You and want to walk in the fullness of life that You purchased for me on the cross.”

This Easter I beg of you to ask the Lord to give You a fuller revelation of who He is. There is no way any of us could have already grasped everything He has for us. He says to come to Him if we are weary and He will give us rest (Mt 11:28). He says He will give us abundant life (John 10:10). Let’s take Him at His word and pursue His humble offering of Himself.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

Peace, Stephanie

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Fire

Journal

February 4, 2008

Table of Contents

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12)

As I have been reading through the scriptures I have been noticing a common theme: every time God allows fire (a trial, a test, a difficult circumstance) into one of His children’s lives, it, more often than not, brings about positive change (I say “more often than not” because the end result of fire depends on the response of person(s) experiencing the difficulty). This is not to say that every trial or difficulty is sent by God. Some things just can’t be explained that way. But if we truly believe that our God loves us and is concerned about every detail of our lives, we must also believe that when He allows us to face trouble, pain, or anxiety, He will be with us and reveal more of His love to us through it.

The story of Shadrach, Meshac and Abed-nego is amazing. Three men were thrown into a blazing furnace (death sentence) because of their refusal to “bow down” to a god the people around them were worshipping. They were not being punished because of their wickedness, but because of their righteousness… and God allowed it. He allowed them to stand, completely powerless, and face the wrath of a ruthless, worldly, king. For a little while it looked as though God had abandoned these men. But they said (paraphrased), “We believe our God is able to deliver us from this fire. But even if He doesn’t, we will not bow before your god.” They didn’t cry out in fear, panic, or unbelief, or beg to be delivered from the flames. They simply trusted that their God, who had been with them through so many other fires, would be with them through this one. They didn’t know what the end result would be, but they knew that regardless of what happened, their lives were safe in God.

That’s what we need to remember when we are facing difficulty: no matter what happens, we are safe in God. Our lives are “hidden in Christ” (Colossians 3:3). When we are abiding in Him there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from His love and power. Even if it doesn’t “seem” like there is any hope we can be assured that there is.

“God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46).

I don’t believe that the point of the story is that the three of them walked out of the fire completely unharmed, although that is part of it. I think there is a message to be taken from what happened in the moments they spent in the flames:

But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed–nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!" (Daniel 3:23-25)

Everyone thought that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego would be killed instantly because of the incredible heat. Imagine their shock when they saw them walking around, released from whatever was binding them, and talking with someone Who was so radiant He looked like God (it was God!). This is what the world sees when it observes one of God’s children facing their fire(s) with faith: freedom and life. When we allow God’s Spirit to completely fill us, it becomes evident to those observing our lives that Jesus is with us. What a testimony!

Some fires are not circumstantial but are in the mind. The enemy plants doubts, fears, and anxieties into our spirit and before we know it we feel consumed with a sense of absolute powerlessness. Believe it or not, this is a very good place to be because it shows us our true state: powerless to overcome anything apart from the grace of God. Lately the Lord has been allowing me to experience that sort of fire. But the beautiful thing is that I am learning to more than ever put my entire confidence in Christ and not myself.

There is peace, rest, and even beauty that can be found in the midst of the “fiery trials” we will encounter in this life. We only need to recognize that there is One standing with us, strengthening our minds, hearts, and spirits, who is able to glorify Himself through us and keep us from being “burned.” He has promised never to leave or forsake us. Let’s take Him at His word and trust Him to bring us through. If/when we are finally released from our “furnace of affliction” we will find that our faith, rather than being weakened, will be stronger than ever. Why? Because fire purifies… it strips away all that is not solid or precious. When gold passes through fire it comes out completely cleansed from all impurities. In the same way, each trial or difficult situation we face in life can be used of God to bring a purity and beauty. It depends on our response.

If you are facing a fire, or have been in one for quite some time, or even if you are just having “one of those days,” take heart: He has overcome the world! He desires to fill you with His peace and give you the assurance that He is with you, no matter what you are facing. He will give you the wisdom, understanding, strength, peace, and rest you need as you trust Him to enable you to “pass through” your situation. He WILL bring you through. It may not happen overnight, and for some, it might not happen until eternity. But God has promised to “deliver us” from the things that are stronger than we are (even doubts, fears, and unbelief) and to give us the ability to abide in Him until He comes (Psalm 35:9-10). He is faithful! Look to Him and let Him be your confidence tonight.

The LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. (Exodus 3:7)

But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . . Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you . . . Do not fear, for I am with you . . . " (Isaiah 43:1-5)

"Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands . . . ” (Isaiah 49:15-16)

"For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

"The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8)

"Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

“. . . In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

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A New Year's Resolution

Journal

January 1, 2008

Table of Contents

Happy New Year, everyone!

Well, this is the time where many of us are, depending on our experiences and current circumstances, looking back with fondness/regret and looking forward with hope/dread. When I reflect upon the past year (the past several years, actually) I am amazed at how the Lord has changed and shaped my life and perspective. I’m sure it’s part of the aging process (I’m almost ancient, you know), but it truly amazes me how much a person can change in such a short period of time.

Like all of you, I have both good memories and bad ones. I remember times of incredible pain and times of incredible joy; times where I was stupid and (less vividly) times when I was wise. Of course, the “stupid” memories are the ones that are most prevalent. I wish there was some way to know everything I need to know about life so that I would never make any mistakes, but I’m told time and experience are the best teachers…

I’ve never been one for “new year’s resolutions” but this year I think I have a few. Without going into them all, I will say that my core desire is for Christ to continue creating in me a clean and loving heart. It’s encouraging to know that the God of the universe is able to mold me into whatever He desires me to be if I will just continue looking to Him, the Author and Finisher of faith.

In the last book of the New Testament the “city of God” is described in detail. It’s a beautiful picture, not only of what is to come, but of what God is doing, even now, in the midst of His people. Jesus said that “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is’ or, ‘There it is’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." (Luke 17:20-21). In other words, God is already moving in and through us. His “kingdom” is so real that it’s already beginning to affect our lives, even though we don’t physically see it yet.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.” ~Revelation 21:1-6

While we live on this earth we will still face sorrows and even death… but when you look at the above verses in a spiritual context it is incredible! When God comes into our lives, He takes away our misery, our filthiness, and makes us beautifully adorned with His life. He takes away our earthly sorrows and gives us joy, in spite of our circumstances. He gives us His life. My favorite part of this verse is that He makes “all things new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Even though I have already embraced this truth, I am clinging to this promise more than ever for this new year.

Whatever mistakes or sorrows you may be carrying from the past year (or several years), I pray that you, too, will ask Jesus to come into your life—or continue working your life—and make “all things new.” That you will allow Him to clothe you with His salvation (Isa 61:10), turn your mourning into dancing (Ps 30:11), your sorrow into joy; that you will, no matter what you may have faced in the past, cling to God’s promise of “newness of life” (Ro 6:4). I pray that God will give you a fresh picture of Himself so that you will come to know and trust Him even more deeply than you do already.

His words are “faithful and true.” He is abiding in us! Let’s rejoice in that, shake off our doubts and fears and press on.

And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true" . . . ~Revelation 22:5-6

For You light my lamp; the LORD my God illumines my darkness. ~Psalm 18:28

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 3:12-14

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To everything there is a season…

Journal

December 7, 2007

Table of Contents

A few nights ago I was sitting in my living room, staring at my Christmas tree and feeling a little bit… alone. (Ever had one of those moments? If so, congratulations, you are officially human.) As I was staring at the pretty lights and ornaments the thoughts running through my head were, “I shouldn’t feel this way. The Lord is with me. He is enough. He doesn’t want me to need anyone. He wants me to be completely satisfied in Him.” I guess this way of thinking stems from all of the messages and books I have heard and read over the years about being fully satisfied in God. But while I was sitting there, in the quiet, I began to see things in a different light.

Many of us assume that to be completely “spiritual” we must be willing to stand alone; to go on the “mountain top” with God, leaving the world and every human attachment behind without a thought or care. We often feel guilty or selfish if we find ourselves longing for human interaction; as if these longings prove we are not “spiritual” enough or that our minds are not set on heavenly things. But, while it is true that God alone can satisfy certain longings of our heart, it is not true that He created us to be fully content and satisfied without any interaction or relationships with others. After all, it was God who said at the beginning, “It is not good for a man to be alone” (Ge 2:18).

There are seasons for being “alone with God”. I think it would be true to say that anyone who has made a lasting impact for God has found himself/herself completely alone with Him at one time or another. But seasons of “aloneness” are appointed, not to lesson our desire for communion with others, but to make us less independent, less self-centered, and more in tune with God’s desire to bring not only us, but all of humanity into His life.

Consider: When Moses came down from his mountain experience with God, he didn’t show up empty handed: he had a message to deliver. When Jesus spent entire nights in prayer, it was not to demonstrate His incredible spirituality. His intimate communion with His Father was what gave Him the strength, boldness, and wisdom to demonstrate God’s divine love for people. It infused Him with the life of God, and filled Him with the compassion and desire to teach and to heal the masses of people He would encounter on a daily basis. Jesus was so in tune with His Father’s heart and therefore was constantly looking out for the needs of others. And Jesus is the supreme example of how to live a life of devotion to God. Was it only the nights spent in prayer that brought honor to God? Was it when He went away by Himself that God was most glorified? No. It was the days He spent with the people—healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, forgiving those who were lost in their sins. It was when He spent hours explaining the good news of the Kingdom of God to people who had never understood it before; it was when He took children in His arms and blessed them. . . . it was His interaction with the people He came to save that honored God the most.

The purpose of “being alone with God” is not to make us “super-spiritual.” Like Jesus, we too need to be infused with the life of God. We need our minds and hearts to be transformed so that we can think and speak as one “speaking the utterances of God.” We cannot do this without spending quality time with our Maker. But if God wanted spiritual hermits—people who spoke only with Him and had no interaction with others—He would take us to be with Him now.

God designed us for community, for fellowship, for intimacy with one another. We were not made to be alone, we were made to love, to serve, and to enjoy one another. This is what brings God joy. We were born to be loved and to love. In that order. “We love because He first loved us” (1Jo 4:19).

During this Christmas season, if you are feeling alone, first reach out to Christ. Allow Him to minister His peace and hope to you and to fill you with His Spirit of life. Then, do your best to reach out to the people you encounter on a daily basis. You will be amazed how much joy will fill your heart as you live your life the way God intended: in fellowship with Him and with others.

There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches {and he never asked,}"And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity and it is a grievous task. Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecclesiastes 4:8-12)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing–life forever. (Psalm 133)

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, "‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40)

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

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Uncompromisingly Faithful

Journal

November 9, 2007

Table of Contents

Many of us are careful to hide or disguise our personal convictions when we are in public. At work, school, and in our every day encounters with culture, we choose to “lay low” and not be too noisy about our beliefs. We think that by doing this we will be able to maintain our “position” in society—that we’ll succeed in the business world or keep relationships with others who may not understand or appreciate our faith. We do this because we don’t want to lose what we have worked so hard to obtain.

The story of Daniel is an interesting one because, instead of being demoted, he was actually promoted as a result of his not-so-private faith.

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials. (Daniel 1:8-9 NASB)

Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. (Daniel 6:3 NASB)

We are not guaranteed that by remaining faithful to God in the midst of a non-faith-friendly culture we will be promoted to places of honor. (There are many accounts of people who have lost their position because they chose to stand by their convictions.) But we need to realize that “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Pr 21:1). In other words, God is ultimately the One controls our destiny. Daniel knew this, which is why he was able to stay faithful, even when faced with death (see Daniel 6).

We should never “lay low” in order to maintain our place in this world. We should live our lives in public the same way we live them in private: uncompromisingly faithful.

Lord, make my heart like Daniel’s and give me faith like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego who, when faced with the choice to bow to another god (compromise) or be thrown into a fiery furnace, said: “If we must perish, so be it. Our God is able to deliver us from this death, but even if He doesn’t we will not bow…” (Daniel 3:16-18, paraphrased)

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A Night I'll Remember...True Story

Journal

October 12, 2007

Table of Contents

Last night I had a little adventure I’d like to share with you. It’s not exactly the most “spiritual” of stories, but I think you might enjoy reading about it.

A local musician was giving a concert at a Starbucks in the Augusta area. Since I was in town and had a few hours to spare, I decided to go. After all, I appreciate it when people make the effort to come out to one of my concerts, so I figured he would probably appreciate having another listener in the audience.

I was thoroughly enjoying my ten¬-to-fifteen minute drive in the darkness with my neat purple and red interior lights shining brightly in my face and good music blaring through the tape adapter connected to my iPod Nano (I really need to get out more). I think an old “John Elefante” song was playing as I made the first turn toward Starbucks and began driving through the shopping center’s parking lot. That’s when I noticed the big (GIANT) red suv trailing behind my car. I thought to myself “Hmmm… I wonder if they’re following me?”

My mother taught me to always be aware of my surroundings (her father was a police officer). It was because of this that I realized I should probably not drive straight to my destination (Starbucks) and get out of my car… what if this car (GIANT RED SUV) was really following me? Whoever was inside would know where I was and what I was doing and might wait for me to leave and then follow me home!

Smart little lady that I am, I chose, instead, to drive in front of Shoe Carnival and pretend like I was parking. I turned quickly into a little spot and watched in my rear view mirror to see how the Giant Red Suv driver would respond.

Stalkers know that they shouldn’t make their stalking obvious, so instead of pulling into a spot close by, the driver drove a little farther (it’s a big parking lot) and then turned and parked facing my car… its lights still on… engine still running… I turned around to try catch a glimpse of whoever it was. To my horror I saw a Big Burly Man in the driver’s seat! A man who was not getting out of his car but who was apparently watching and waiting for ME!!!

I dialed my mother’s cell phone and said, “Mom, I think someone is following me.” I stayed on the phone, pulled out of the spot, and rounded a corner in order to see if Mr. Big Burly Man would follow…. He did. My heart was pounding; I was shaking and actually starting to cry. What could this person possibly want??? He looked like a drug pusher or something. “Mom, what should I do?” I said, panicking. She said, “We’ll start driving over there, you call 911.” Obediently, I hung up, dialed 911, and said to the dispatcher, “Please help, someone is following me” (or something like that). She went through the whole, “Where are you…” thing and I told her but kept driving... the suv kept following. I rounded another corner and pulled into the Starbucks parking lot where the young man I was supposed to be watching perform was standing on the patio playing for a quiet group of onlookers. I started to park but the dispatcher told me to keep driving. So I started to drive around the parking lot again. That’s when I saw two police cars circling the lot, apparently looking for me. I told the dispatcher I saw them, started around Starbucks again and came face to face with one of the cars (stopping directly in front of the singer/guitarist person on the patio, by the way). Relieved, I hung up with the dispatcher and said to the officer as he approached, “It’s THAT car, sir! That’s him! Go get him!” (Or something to that effect.) “Ma’am,” he said. “That’s an undercover cop.”

No way. I just called the cops on an undercover cop. I am shaking in terror because an undercover cop was following me around a giant parking lot. This could not be happening to me.

He reached gingerly into the car and pulled out a bottle. I was so confused. “It’s Steaz (Sparkling Green Tea)” I said. “Diet Steaz!” He nodded and said, “It’s ok, ma’am. He saw the bottle and thought you were drunk driving.”

(Stop laughing. It’s NOT funny!)

Still shaking, I said to him, “I’m sorry! I guess I should have poured it into a cup.” He smiled and said, “No, it’s ok.” The other officer (apparently they had me surrounded) approached and officer #1 lifted the bottle, grinned and said, “It’s green tea.” Smiling, the other officer retreated to his car. Their job was over.

The first officer explained that they had received a call about a drunk driver in a silver Jetta before they received the call about a silver Jetta being followed. The Big Burly Man in the Giant Red Suv was following me around the parking lot, trying to let the other officers know where I was… but I kept moving so they were getting frustrated. I was moving to get away from the Big Burly Man (and the dispatcher had advised me to keep moving), so it was a pretty comical situation.

Anyway, the officer knew I was really shaken up so he kept asking if I was alright. I said yes, of course, even though I was still shaking a little and felt sick to my stomach.

My parents pulled in and that’s when I realized that the people on the porch had witnessed the whole thing… only they didn’t realize what was going on. Some noticed the Big Red Suv following me and were concerned. Others didn’t notice the chase but heard the bleeping of police sirens (yes, sirens) and looked over to see my car surrounded (yes, directly in front of the outdoor concert) by two police cars and thought, “Whoever that is, she’s in trouble.” The singer/guitar player had recognized my car and thought (while playing and singing), “That looks like Stephanie. I hope that’s not Stephanie!”

Fortunately, I was able to explain the situation to most of the people around (who asked). Yes, they were HIGHLY amused as some of you probably are who are reading this now.

That said, I’ve thought of a few spiritual applications for this story…

1 Peter 5:8 says, Be of sober {note the unintentional pun} spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1. We need to be aware of our surroundings, both in the natural and spiritual realms. There are so many problems in the world today . . . people who need our help, issues that need our attention. Yet we sit in our nice cars, listening to our iPods, drinking our Starbucks, ignoring the fact that the world as we know it is in danger of being destroyed (one look at the news confirms this). We need to be aware of what’s going on and take steps to ensure our welfare and the welfare of others. It’s not being paranoid to recognize possible danger; it’s being smart.
2. No matter how frightening our circumstance, we do not need to fear. We have a loving Father keeping a watchful eye on us. He will be with us through everything we face in life.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:2-3)

Of course, the #1 lesson learned is: Don’t drink Steaz Sparkling Green Tea and drive!!! *GRIN*

Hope you enjoyed the adventure.

Keep the faith!

P.S...Speaking of police officers…. Have you ordered a CD yet? If not, please consider doing so in order to keep me out of jail. *wink* You can visit the website (www.StephanieStaples.com) and order a copy (or two, three, four… ten).” I appreciate the support!

If you don’t like ordering online you can order through the mail by sending a check or money order to: P.O. Box 379 – Evans, GA 30809.

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The Secret of Strength

Journal

July 3, 2007

Table of Contents

There is a story in the Bible about a man named Samson who had incredible strength. (See Judges 14-16)

So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.” (Judges 16:6 ESV)

Samson’s strength was God-given, but it was also conditional. In order to remain strong he had to keep what was known as the “Nazirite vow.” He could not eat certain things, expose himself to certain things, or allow his hair to be cut. While the specific “dos and don’ts” may seem trivial to us, the outward sacrifices he made were a testament of his consecration to God. Anyone who spent time with him could tell that he was a Nazirite, not only because of how he looked, but because of how he lived. If he chose to disregard his call to live differently, his strength would be no greater than anyone else’s. (See Judges 16:17)

In a way, God has called all of us to keep this “Nazirite vow” in that He wants us to be wholly given to him. We are called to look, to act, and to live our lives “differently” than the rest of the world. Not so that we will appear special (Samson probably looked unkempt) or so that others will view us as “holier” but so that we can know our Savior intimately and, as a result, draw super-natural love, joy, peace, and strength from Him. Like Samson, if we choose to ignore God’s call to be “Christ-like,” we too will lose our God-given strength.

The Gospel is not just about forgiveness from sin; it’s about newness of life. Jesus Christ shed His blood so that we could “die to sin and live to righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24) But in order to partake of this “new life” we must first surrender ourselves to Christ, allow Him to begin changing us (from the inside out) and to empower us live differently. We can’t do what Samson did and forsake our calling. If we do, we will find ourselves surrounded by “enemies” (temptations, sins) without the strength to overcome them.

While for us it is not about keeping a list of “dos and don’ts,” the principle message of Samson’s life is still the same: “Separation”—in body, mind, and spirit—to God is essential in order to live out the Christian life. Without it we are no different than anyone else—regardless of what we say we “believe.” A willingness to obey God’s call (no matter what it is) is the only way to obtain the fullness of life Christ purchased for us.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light . . . Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (1 Peter 2:9 and 11)

Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1)

God will give us the grace to live this way—all we have to do is trust Him for it. He’s already committed to give us the power; the question is whether we will commit to Him.

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Nothing to Hide

Journal

May 2, 2007

Table of Contents

I have been contemplating the importance of honesty for several months now. My thoughts about this were stimulated by a few not-so-fun run-ins with some people who claimed to be “honest” but their actions showed they lacked the integrity to back up their claims. Reading several George MacDonald books has only made me more aware of the importance of good character. And good character is impossible apart from integrity/honesty.

What is honesty? Most of us would say, “Telling the truth.” But it is more than that. Telling a lie is dishonest, yes, but a lie is like a tiny piece of fruit on a big tree . . . with a deep root system.

Think of two trees: "Integrity" and "Deceit." Integrity is a beautiful, strong, healthy tree, which produces fruit that is nourishing (beneficial) to those who grab a piece as they pass by. With Integrity, what you see is what you get.

Deceit’s outward appearance is the same as Integrity’s, but the fruit it produces is rotten and bitter. When most people walk past Deceit they do not realize the fruit is bad unless or until they’ve tried it. Imagine their surprise when they realize how different their perception was vs. the reality. In the case of Deceit, what you see is NOT what you get.

That analogy provides a pretty good definition of honesty: What you see is what you get. If someone is honest, they are the same person on the outside as they are on the inside. They do not have to put up a front to keep people from seeing the “ugly stuff” inside of them. They are not afraid of exposure; they are who they are.

But who can possibly live up to this? Which one of us can honestly say (pun intended) that they are not a little uncomfortable with certain people knowing their "dirt"? Ah, dirt! That’s the heart of the issue, isn’t it?

The problem of dishonesty stems from the problem of sin. If we constantly walked in the light and purity of Jesus, we would have nothing to be ashamed of, and therefore, never find ourselves in a situation where a not-so-honest response seemed necessary. Jesus said, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46). (One might as well give Integrity and Deceit the surnames “Light” and “Darkness,” because that is the difference between honesty and dishonesty.)

Jesus said He came into the world to save us from darkness; that is to say, He came into the world to save us from our prideful habit of lurking in the shadows to cover up who we really are. And that’s the point: Who we are is the issue; not what we say, or even what we do.

It is sad that most of us care more about how people perceive us than whether or not their perception is reality. We don’t mind having flaws (rotten fruit) because they are displeasing to God; we mind having them because we don’t want people to think less of us because of them.

None of us have “arrived” to a point of perfection. But the fact that most of us do not care about being like Jesus as much we care about how others view us is disheartening. When will we realize that it’s not what’s on the outside that matters but what’s going on inside of us that counts?

Jesus sees everything—every teeny, tiny, bit of darkness inside of us. His perception of us does not change because He sees our weakness. He loves us anyway. But He does not just over-look our issues. He forgives and cleanses them, yes. But blinding Himself to things that need to change (i.e. things that will ultimately lead us away from Him), He does not do. This is not because He does not love us, but because He loves us. And for that very reason we must recognize the importance of being open and honest with God first, ourselves second, and others . . . well, one will follow the other.

God wants to shine His light in our dark places—yes, expose what’s not-so-lovely—in order to make us new. Only after He has done this will any of us be “comfortable” with others seeing who we really are.

Is there anything in my life—past or present—that I would be ashamed, embarrassed, or even just uncomfortable for anyone to know? If so, I need to evaluate my spiritual walk. Of course, it is not necessary for me to advertise my past sins or present flaws to the world. But if I am afraid of exposure, or am uncomfortable with people “finding out” something (no matter how small or seemingly insignificant) I need to examine my heart.

If there is something in my past that I have not repented of, I must immediately bring it into the light and allow Christ to cleanse me from that sin. (On the other hand, if there is something in my past that I have already repented of, I need only to allow Christ to cleanse my conscious and make me new so that I do not feel bound to my former lifestyle.) If there is something I am doing now that I know to be wrong—or at least, not in line with what the Holy Spirit is teaching me, then I must allow Jesus to deal with that issue as well.

There are countless “reasons” for dishonest behavior, one of which is fear. Sometimes our desire to “hide” something (even very small) is unnecessary—just a problem of paranoia or imagination. Other times it’s because we subconsciously or consciously know ourselves to be “off” in some way. Any desire to “hide” anything is a sign of a deeper issue.

The point is, a Christian should never be afraid of light. If we are walking with Jesus we are light (For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8) When Christ comes into our lives, His light illumines our darkness (Ps 18:28). His presence radiates inside of us with a purity we could never obtain on our own. Because of this, we are enabled to live in such a way that we have no fear of any sort of light that may shine in our direction. Any scrutiny or criticism by anyone other than Jesus will not make us want to run and hide. After all, anyone who has been cleansed by Jesus and is walking in the light of His truth has no reason to lurk in the shadows.

Why, then, do so many Christians struggle with honesty? Perhaps we have forgotten that we have been cleansed, or perhaps we have slowly moved away from the light we were once given. Whatever the case, let us remember that we all stand (daily) before a God who sees and knows all. If we are living in God's light we have no reason to fear; because then we are not acting like Christians, we are being Christians.

All trees produce fruit after their kind. An apple tree does not produce oranges and a person walking in the shadows will not be able to produce light, “for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:9).

“Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-18)

So Jesus said to them, “. . . Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.” (John 12:35)

God wants us to walk in the light. He wants to make us like Himself: people who have nothing to hide.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:5-9)

We cannot and must not profess to be honest if we are not walking in Truth (Light). The very idea is an oxymoron.

Lord, shine Your light into our darkness. Take away the desire for anything that is not beautiful and true. Help us to walk in Your truth so that our lives can be lives of integrity.

What motivates a man or woman to be honest? Having nothing to hide. What motivates a man or woman to be dishonest? …

No lurking in the shadows No hiding from the Light Open and illumined His truth is my delight

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Virgina Tech

Journal

April 19, 2007

Table of Contents

It’s hard to know how to address something as devastating as what just transpired at Virginia Tech. There are no words that can take away the pain so many are feeling.

When bad things happen, the question that usually weighs heavily on the mind is “why?” But for something as senseless and tragic as this there is no answer. The fact that over thirty precious lives were brought to an abrupt end is beyond our understanding. At this time all we can do is rest in the knowledge that, no matter how things may seem right now, God is, and He is love. He saw what happened. He was there when it took place. No, He didn’t stop it, just like He doesn’t stop every other bad thing that takes place on this earth. But He was there, and is there and will continue to be there for anyone who cries out to Him during this time of mourning.

The beauty of life is not limited to this one; it is eternal. This world is a temporary place, a preparation for what lies ahead. Just a glimpse at the wonderful life that so many are experiencing right now would cause us to say, “I’m glad you made it first!” While this knowledge does not in any way numb the ache in our hearts, it does bring the hope that one day we will be reunited with our loved ones.

Although not everyone on this list has been personally affected by this tragedy, I know that each of you feel a sense of loss. It is so important for all of us to stand together now and remember that life on earth is a precious gift. It should never be taken for granted, or lived as thought it will never end—for it will end. Our earthly lives should be lived for eternity—not just for whatever feels right at the moment. The things we do, say, and the relationships we form have an ever-lasting impact.

To the families and friends of those who passed away: Please know that the whole nation mourns with you; I mourn with you; but more than that, God mourns with you. There is not a tear that you shed that He does not shed with you. Your Creator loves you and will be an ever present source of strength and comfort as you reach for Him.

In Christ’s love,

Stephanie

“God is a refuge and strength; a very present help in time of trouble.” ~Psalm 46:1

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Update

Journal

March 12, 2007

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Hello everyone!

It has been a while since I last updated but don’t think I have forgotten you! I have been anxious to keep you informed about “what’s new”, but every time I sit down to type something, something else always comes up. *shaking head in shame*

Thank you all for your prayers concerning the new album. I am happy to report that we are making progress (*cheering*), albeit slowly. I am hoping to spend a considerable amount of time in the studio when I return from Pennsylvania.

The last few concerts have gone well; it is always lovely to meet and connect with new people. There are only a few more concerts on the agenda for this Spring. I would have loved to have been able to do more but it is impossible to record and travel at the same time. ;o) Scheduling for Summer/Fall is in the works so if you would like to obtain information about booking, you can contact info@stephaniestaples.com.

The next concert is a private event at Valley Forge Christian College. Please keep this in your prayers. It is scheduled for Thursday, March 25th at 10:00AM.

In other news, I have been reading a few books by George MacDonald (one of C.S. Lewis’ favorite authors). He was a Scotsman who wrote during the late 1800’s. His writings have encouraged, challenged, and motivated me in so many ways! I have quoted him a couple of times in the journal entry below, and I’m sure I will continue to do so in coming blogs.

I must tell you what a blessing it has been to receive all of your emails, messages, letters, etc.! Your encouragement is greatly appreciated.

Thank you, also, for your patience in waiting for the new release. I am very excited for it to be available. In the meantime, don’t forget that you can order Face to Face online!! (One for you, ten for your friends! ;o) )

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Peace,

Stephanie

www.StephanieStaples.com

www.MySpace.com/StephanieStaples

www.ShoutLife.com/StephanieStaples

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Understanding is the reward of obedience

Journal

March 12, 2007

Table of Contents

Obedience is the key to every door. I am perplexed at the stupidity of the ordinary religious being. In the most practical of all matters he will talk and speculate and try to feel, but he will not set himself to do.” ~George MacDonald

When God created the universe He did not intend to be considered a “far off” deity. His creation bears witness to the fact that He is a loving and faithful Father who is speaking every moment. The problem is that, while so many of us know about Him, talk about Him and even experience Him to some extent, we fail to do even the smallest things in order to have a deeper relationship with Him.

God’s instructions on how to “get to know Him” are not complicated. He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Instead of following even the simplest part of these instructions however (“Come to Me”), many stand around waiting to understand every aspect of “life in Christ” before fully embracing God’s truth. But Jesus never said, “Try to understand and then come” He said, “Come.” It is only when we choose to “come” that we will begin to understand.

I was talking to a friend about this very subject yesterday. During our conversation a picture flashed in my mind of someone standing at the bottom of a huge mountain, completely equipped with everything needed to climb it, but refusing to move forward in hopes that “something” would come to assure them they could a) reach the top, b) be comfortable doing so, and c) like what they saw once they got there. As I learned in Costa Rica while climbing a literal mountain (for more on this read the journal entitled, “What I Learned in Costa Rica” on the website), one cannot appreciate what lies ahead until they get there. They can hear all about it and even look at pictures, but until they experience the journey and see the end result for themselves they will never understand the point of making such a long (and sometimes grueling) climb.

In the same way, while we may begin with a faint idea of what lies ahead when we choose to walk with God, we will never fully understand the beauty and rest found in Jesus until we choose to begin moving toward Him.

Even the strongest believer can find themselves at the bottom of a mountain, hearing a call to do this or that but choosing to stand still rather than take even a few steps in the right direction. It is as if we expect to be magically lifted to the top without ever making the effort to climb!

The point is, if we want to understand God we must first begin doing what we already know to be right. Until we do, we will constantly question everything we “hear” or read. If you feel like you’re standing at the edge of a “mountain” and are frustrated that you don’t fully understand what God wants for your life, perhaps you simply need to do what God has already told you to do. Have you been hearing, “Come to Me?” Then go to Him! Have you been hearing, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me?” Then give up your fight for control and let Him lead and teach you. If you’ve been hearing “rest,” trust Him. Whether the tug in your heart has been about the importance of patience, unconditional love, and honesty or about the evils of gossip, jealousy, anger, fear, pride, sexual immorality, greed, etc., if you want to go deeper with God, just do what you already know to do and your path will become much clearer. Has He told you to move toward that mountain? Then at least begin moving your feet! He will lead you moment by moment and will provide strength, help, and encouragement as you trust Him along the way.

Faith is the only “equipment” necessary to begin the climb. Put your hope in God and start walking.

“What, then, is the way that lies before me for my own door? Help me to see it.”

“It is just the old way—that of obedience. If you have ever seen the Lord, if only from afar—if you have any vaguest suspicion that the Jew-Jesus, who professed to have come from God, was a better man, a different man, than other men—one of your first duties must be to open your ears to His words and see whether they seem to you to be true. Then, if they do, to obey them with your whole strength and might. This is the way of life, which will lead a man out of his miseries into life indeed.”~George MacDonald

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

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God Sees

Journal

January 16, 2007

Table of Contents

Lately I have been overwhelmed at the enormity and complexity of the problems in this world; from world wars to wars at home to the ones raging inside of us, sometimes it seems like “peace on earth” is an impossible idea.

But yesterday I was reminded of God’s incredible mercy. I was reading a story about God looking out for a woman who was harshly treated, oppressed, and without hope for a future. God came to her when she was in great distress and said, “I will bless you” (Genesis 16). A simple encounter with God changed her entire outlook on life. It gave her a purpose and a desire to continue on. This is what God desires to do in each of our lives. In that lonely, desert place she was able to lift her eyes and say, “You are a God of seeing . . . Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” (Genesis 16:13 ESV)

When we look around at the many needs of society and even our own needs, we must never lose sight of the fact that God sees, too. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” This is often difficult to believe, especially when we do not understand the horrors that take place every moment. But when we lift our eyes in child-like trust to our Father we will hear Him saying: “I see . . . “

Psalm 139:3 says that God is “acquainted” with all of our ways. When our heart is grieved, His heart grieves too. When we are frustrated and anxious, He understands why. Isaiah 53:4 says “Surely he has borne our grief’s and carried our sorrows.” And Hebrews 2:18 says, “For in what He has suffered, being tried, He is able to help those having been tried.” (LIT) God sees the oppression of humanity. He hears our cries and knows our needs. To doubt His ability to break through and heal our lives, our families, and even whole nations is to doubt His existence. His very Name declares the greatness of His power. It is His Name that holds this whole mess together. Without Him we are hopeless.

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:8-19 ESV

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 ESV

In times of uncertainty it is important for us to remember that life on earth is only temporary—that the suffering caused by hatred, selfishness, vanity, and fear will dissipate in the “twinkling of an eye.” 1Co 15:52

This knowledge and the knowledge that we have a Father in heaven Who “sees” is our hope in times of distress, our confidence in times of trouble, and our joy in times of grief.

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Building the House of God

Journal

December 24, 2006

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Last night I was checking email and saw a spam message with the subject line: “Ezra.” For some crazy reason I decided to pick up my Bible, turn to Ezra, and read the first chapter. I’m so glad I did.

Ezra is a story about restoration and healing. The temple of the Lord had been demolished by intruders and was in complete disorder. In Ezra we read of a people who were moved by God to rebuild and restore what was dear to His heart.

“Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.” . . . Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:3, 5)

This caused me to think: If God cared so much about the condition of a building, how much more does He care about the condition of people? Also, if His people were so heart-broken over the earthly temple’s desolated condition, how much more should God’s people be broken over those whose lives have been desolated?

Often we do not realize the hurt and pain others are going through because we are so wrapped up in our own grief. But as ambassadors for Christ we are called to lay aside our own pain and set our hearts to build up the people around us who are even more desperate for a touch from Him.

Before Jesus went to the cross he sat with his friends and had dinner. Although he knew that every single one of them would, in a matter of hours, abandon Him out of fear He chose to spend time with them anyway. More than this, He demonstrated an act of servant-hearted love by washing their feet. Most of us cannot imagine serving a person that we knew would soon betray us to a cruel death. Nor can we imagine looking into the eyes of a friend and graciously saying, “You are clean” to someone who was about to deny they were ever in our company. But Jesus did. He not only suffered for the sake of the twelve but went to a cross to plead God’s forgiveness on behalf of those who maliciously plotted to put him there—and for us. His attitude of “Father, forgive them for the do not know what they are doing” demonstrates a love and a compassion that is beyond anything we could ever comprehend.

If we are to be like Jesus we may find ourselves, more than once, looking into the face of a betrayer; or praying for and loving a friend who is running away from God. But when we are obedient to the call of God to “Do nothing from selfishness . . . but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4), the result is healing—on both sides.

The passage continues:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant . . . He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

The verse that keeps coming back to me is Colossians 3:12-17:

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

God will give us the grace to “build up” the “temples” around us (“we are the temple of the living God” 2 Cor 6:16). The question is: will we allow ourselves to be stirred?

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:11-12)

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

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A Heart of Integrity

Journal

December 8, 2006

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I’ve been thinking a lot about what pleases God.

With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings…? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:6-8

But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.Isaiah 66:2

Those verses come to mind often. But lately I have been struck by the importance of integrity in the life of a believer.

A few months ago I was sitting in a bible study at my brother’s house in Florida. The topic that night was 1 and 2 Samuel and of course, the life of David became a focal point. My brother emphasized that it was not David’s actions, but rather his integrity that distinguished him from the previous King (Saul). (He said in Psalm 101:2 “I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.”) David’s heart of integrity resulted in right actions and won him favor with God (and with men).

Most of us have read or at least heard about David’s fight with Goliath; we know that it was his faith in God that enabled him to defeat such a powerful and terrifying enemy. We have also heard about the many other victories that were granted to him because of his devotion to God. However, it is interesting that one of the most well-known stories of David’s life was his decision to commit adultery and murder; in other words, the man who was known for his integrity ended up living a life of deception.

Wow. That’s hard to swallow. How could a man who loved God so much find himself in such a situation? How could someone who had seen God move in such miraculous ways reject everything he had ever been commanded? I suppose those questions are easy to answer because most of us have stories of our own. We remember times where we yielded to temptation. Oh, we knew it was wrong. But we did it anyway.

There are many things to be gleaned from David’s story. Warnings of the consequences of our actions (read 1 and 2 Samuel to find out what happened later in David’s life) and promises of forgiveness, mercy, and the power of God to redeem and change a repentant heart.

I think the most important thing to be understood from the life of David is that a man or woman with a heart of integrity will never be shaken. Even if they fall a hundred times, they will always find their way back to the cross. This does not, of course, give anyone a license to sin! But it is worth considering: No matter how far or how long we have drifted away from God He will always forgive, cleanse, and change us if we honestly desire Him to be God of our lives.

Another important lesson is that God is not as interested in what we do or do not do but in who we are on the inside. Luke 11:39-42 says, And the Lord said to him:

Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

Who we are on the inside will eventually show forth on the outside. There's no way to avoid this. But even if (for a time) we find ourselves successful in doing everything "right" outwardly, if we have not allowed God to cleanse us of our independence, selfishness, greed, anger, resentment, pride, and everything else that is against His nature our "good works" will count for nothing.

My point is that while God knows our actions, He also knows our hearts. We are not fooling Him by putting on a “good front.” He knows everything. But what is so amazing is that even though He knows everything—the bad and the good—He still loves us. He loves us so much that He sends His Holy Spirit to say, “Hey, I’m here to change you. Just open up and be honest with Me. Stop lurking in the shadows, hoping no one will find out about your secret sin. Come to me and ask me to give you a new heart. An honest one. I will do it because I’m faithful.”

True love is not blind. It sees clearly, yet loves anyway. What an awesome God we serve!!

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.”Psalm 15 ESV

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.”

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.” Psalm 51 ESV

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The Moon

Journal

December 4, 2006

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Tonight I took a jog around the neighborhood to clear my head (the weather here in Georgia is perfect for running) and to spend some time with the Lord. After pouring out my heart for a while (silently, of course!), I looked up to see a beautiful white moon staring brightly at me. I had to smile at my Saviors ability to speak to me without using words. His creation truly is a testimony of His faithfulness and power.

If God is powerful enough to create such an incredible world certainly He must be powerful enough to keep me in any and every circumstance. His word says that all of nature bears witness that He is love; and that His faithfulness will endure forever (Psalms 19:1, Psalms 50:6, Romans 1:20).

Why is it that I doubt His ability to keep and protect me? Why do I insist on being fearful that He will not do for me and be to me everything He says He will do and be?

In this world of darkness and chaos it is easy to allow our minds and hearts to be led astray into believing that we must work out our own salvation, instead of trusting in the God of the universe. But God says that He will keep us in perfect peace if we will simply trust Him (The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3). I am embracing that promise tonight. Are you?

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 NASB)

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Pine Needles and Promises

Journal

November 28, 2006

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A few nights ago I was talking with a friend about some not-so-pleasant issues that someone close to her was dealing with. I was decorating the Christmas tree as we were chatting. When we decided to pray I sat down and absent mindedly began gathering handfuls of pine needles into a neat little pile (I didn’t want the vacuum cleaner to clog). Then I started thinking to myself, “I wonder if God knows the exact number of pine needles that were/are on this tree.” Hmm. Interesting thought. Jesus did say that our heavenly Father has numbered every hair on our head, so I guess it’s possible that He also knows how many pine needles are on each tree. Wow. What an awesome, amazing, and powerful God.

He created the world. He created us. He longs to spend time with us and bring us into union with Himself so He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to redeem us from the weight of sin that has kept mankind frustrated, anxious, sorrowful, and oppressed. If we could only grasp this truth we wouldn’t wallow in self-pity or unbelief. We wouldn’t doubt His power to save us; we would never question His desire to be with us in good times and in bad.

Psalm 103:13-14 says, “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”

Our Heavenly Father longs to be with us in our time of need. He reminds us continually through His word to draw near to Him:

"Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, "And not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD. Jeremiah 23:24

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble; And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:9-10

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

Staring at those pine needles reminded me of my Creator and of His love for me. They reminded me that He came, He died, He rose, and He is coming again to take me to a place where no sorrow exists. Sounds silly, I know. But I thank God for moments such as that; moments of “divine revelation” that He is ("I AM WHO I AM" Exodus 3:14) and that He rewards those who seek Him.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Psalms 55:22

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

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What I Learned Today

Journal

August 29, 2006

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Today as my traveling companion and I (aka my mother) were driving south we faced an annoying obstacle. To be perfectly frank, the same obstacle has been raising its ugly head for the last several months and we’re getting pretty tired of it. Want to know what the “obstacle” is? OUR VEHICLE.

Each ministry trip requires a whole bunch of “stuff”: equipment, boxes of CD’s, suitcases, and other things. Because of this we must take a van. This would be fine if this van was running properly. But it has been pretty stubborn lately and no matter how much we pump into it, it doesn’t seem to want to work.

Well, today, about an hour and a half from our destination we stopped for gas. I had this sinking feeling inside that we were going to get bad gas but, of course, I squished the thought and we filled up anyway.

A few moments later, we found ourselves nearly breaking down on the side of the road (lurch, chug, lurch, chug...etc..). Fortunately, we were still close to the little town so we turned around (praying we would make it to a car repair place) and searched frantically for a mechanic. First stop (4:45PM): “We’re closing soon. You can bring it back tomorrow, if you want.” Great. Nice man.

Next stop: The mechanic came out (who was much more accommodating, by the way) and at first agreed with my suspicion that we probably had filled up with bad gas. But after hooking the van up to his gadget thingy (for what seemed like forever) he said that we had a bad sensor (we’ve already had a few of those replaced in the past several weeks). After about an hour of messing with his gadget thingy he finally got around to going inside and calling a place to see if they had the part. A little while later, he came out and informed us that the part wouldn’t be available until the next morning. Not good for us, considering my first concert tomorrow begins at 12:00PM.

Needing the van to be repaired was bad enough, but having to rent a van (and unload our van into another van) would be even more difficult (for obvious reasons).

As we headed for the car rental place I turned to my mother and said, “You know, I really think we filled up the tank with bad gas. While we may still have a bad sensor, I think we should just head to Tallahassee. God will get us there.”

We decided to drive to a gas station for some gas treatment. A friendly gentleman told me that we might also want to use some “dry” gas treatment. After pouring a red bottle of “wet” (?) gas treatment into our fuel tank, we drove to an auto parts store and purchased some “dry” gas treatment (you can see how much I know about cars…ha…). Someone at the store hooked the van up to another mechanical thingy and told us that the machine was also saying something bad about the transmission. Greeeeaaat. However, it was possible that the transmission thingy was acting up because of the bad gas. Hmm. Should we still risk it? I was still feeling the “yes.”

My mother and I had to make a decision tonight: to do what made sense (and what would cost quite a bit) or to go on and risk breaking down again. Both of us felt the Lord telling us that if we went ahead with our trip, we would make it. And you know what? We did.

The moral of this story: We can’t always depend on what others tell us to do or even what we think may be the “wise” thing to do. While it is very important to use wisdom when we make decisions, we must remember that sometimes God’s instructions completely contradict what our “head” (or other people) tells us.

(Moral number two: When you have a “sinking feeling” about something, even if it’s a silly thing like gas: don’t ignore it! *smile*)

I learned something about faith tonight. It really is “the conviction of things not seen.” It is doing what God says, regardless of the risk. It is trusting that God will be faithful to cause everything to work out for His glory, as long as we put our hope in Him.

Now, don’t go out and do something presumptuous or foolish. But if you are facing a crisis, pray; and don’t be afraid if God gives you instructions that don’t seem to make sense. You’ll know if it’s His voice. Just trust Him and no matter what happens, things will turn out OK. (Even if we broke down on the way to Tallahassee it would have been OK.)

Please pray for this ministry. There are so many things that go into each one of these concerts and we desperately need the favor of God to shine through. Pray also for our vehicle. Pray that God either heals it, or provides another one. I know He is able.

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. . . . Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 10:35-11:1

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Some things I learned in Costa Rica

Journal

May 4, 2006

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The first full day I spent in Costa Rica was an adventure to say the least. My concert at the youth service wasn’t until Friday so my friend and I thought we should check out some of the sights around Turrialba. I had already researched a lot about Costa Rica and thought I was decently prepared for what lay ahead… This is lesson #1: No matter how much you read about a place you must experience it for yourself to understand what it is really like. In the same way, simply knowing a lot about God is not enough. We must experience His life working in ours in order to even begin to understand His vastness.

Lesson #2 began around 10:00am. We were staying a little outside of Turrialba so we decided to hop on a bus, head into town, and catch a cab to the nearest volcano (Volcán Turrialba). Our stomachs were quivering with excitement (well, not really, but phrases like that make stories sound more interesting!) as we arrived a few minutes later at the Turrialba bus stop.

First step was to catch a cab. If you know anything about me you know that I have been studying Spanish for years and am fluent in the language—NOT!!! Truthfully, I haven’t studied Spanish since my sophomore year of High School. I’m ok with singing in Spanish, but I haven’t exactly mastered communicating with taxi drivers in Spanish speaking countries. Nevertheless, we somehow managed to explain to Mr. Taxi driver where we wanted to go. He set a price which we hastily agreed to and a few moments later, we were off.

Here began the most hilarious adventure of my life. After driving for about 20 minutes I began to wonder how far outside of town this volcano really was (I don’t know why I was expecting to be dropped off at the bottom of a volcano . . . nor do I know why I thought volcanoes were close to the ground.). I would have been nervous had I not seen a couple of signs informing us that we were driving in the right direction. In spite of the drive being a little bit longer than either one of us expected we were enjoying ourselves immensely. The views were spectacular and the sun was shining brightly . . . at least, at first. As we began to drive further and further up some random mountain (I discovered later that we were actually driving up the volcano) the temperature dropped and there was a strange fog (CLOUDS, Stephanie, CLOUDS!!). I had read all about dressing for temperature changes but somehow this information had not sunk in (again, we usually need to see, touch, smell or taste something before we really understand it). As the road became narrower and the concrete turned to gravel I started to get a little nervous. This trip was taking far longer than I expected and we were getting further away from any sign of life apart from horses and cows. I asked my friend if she thought we should head back to town (it had been about 45 minutes). She didn’t know and neither did I.

I started muttering random Spanish phrases but Mr. Taxi driver did not quite understand. “Oh well,” I thought and laughed nervously to myself. Soon the treacherous road which was covered in gravel began to be an even more treacherous dirt/rock road. This wouldn’t have been so bad had there been no precipitation, but the moisture from the clouds was definitely causing the dirty, rocky road to be slippery. The next thing I know Mr. Taxi driver’s car was stuck. Hmm…

I grabbed my Costa Rica travel book which had a few phrases in the back. One was “Take me to the bus station.” That would have to do. I said it. The taxi driver laughed, thinking I was joking. I wasn’t. My friend and I exchanged anxious glances as he tried with no avail to get the car unstuck. I (again) started saying random things in Spanish, using hand gestures to try and get my point across. He, in turn, spoke slowly and clearly (in Spanish) also using hand gestures to tell me what he thought we should do. (My friend was watching all of this in amusement.) After a while I understood that he thought we should get out and “caminar” (walk) the rest of the way. This sounded like a great plan and possibly our only option at this point.

Before we left, I made Mr. Taxi driver PROMISE he would wait for us (at least I think I was asking him that . . .). He shook his head “yes” emphatically. Cool! I told him we would be back in five minutes. He smiled and nodded.

Before I go any further with this story I must tell you how incredibly beautiful and quiet this mountain was. I couldn’t have asked for a more remote and lovely place to get my thoughts together . . . if my friend and I hadn't been laughing so hard we probably would have been stunned at the deafening silence and beauty surrounding us. As it was, we were having a wonderful time.

After walking (first down, then up) for about 10 minutes, we heard the sound of a motor behind us. It was Mr. Taxi driver! He had obviously gotten his car “un-stuck.” I have to say I was a little sad. I had hoped for a hike.

We climbed in the car and drove for a few minutes before stopping one last time. We had reached a point where if the car went down it would not come back up. He smiled and we understood it was time to get out and “caminar.” I yelled in the car “five minutes.” I figured we MUST be close now.

We walked, and walked, and walked . . . the down and up now became up and up. Our climb was getting steeper and we were wondering if we had worn the proper clothes. The temperature was changing from hot to cold, then back to hot. The view went from foggy to clear, back to foggy again.

We passed the “national park” entrance, a tiny house with a padlock with clothes hanging outside and a few trucks parked out front. On and on and on this went. Every time we thought we were “almost there” we rounded the corner to see an even steeper hill.

We began to wonder how long Mr. Taxi driver would wait for us (or if he would wait at all). This put kind of a panicked-sick feeling in the pit of my stomach but on we went.

We kept seeing signs that encouraged us to keep going (2km, 1km) . . . finally, with 800 meters to go we decided to turn around. We were hungry and extremely tired and were confident that our taxi driver friend was no more. I still remember our conversation: “I’m sorry, I just don’t think it’s worth going any further. It’s been so long and I’m sure our taxi driver has left us. Besides, we really don’t know what’s up there. . . .We’re kind of out in the boonies and it doesn’t seem to be a popular place. . . It’s probably not worth seeing. . . .I’ve heard there are only a few picnic tables up there anyway . . . either way, it’s been a fun hike and we got our adventure!” We both agreed that we wouldn’t be disappointed in not seeing the volcano.

Our trip down the mountain lasted less than 60 seconds. We took a few steps, stopped, looked at each other and I said, “You know . . . I’ve never seen a volcano before.” My friend laughed and said, “That’s EXACTLY what I was thinking.”

Up we went!

When we finally reached the top we were amazed. It was far more breathtaking than either one of us could have imagined. As soon as we reached the top the fog, which had been coming and going all throughout our hike, parted as if God desired to show us one of the many beautiful sights of His creation. It was quiet, with only the sound of birds chirping in the background. The plants and flowers were beautiful and the view was spectacular. It was (not to sound cliché) heavenly.

There are many things I took away from my volcano adventure. I would like to share a few of them with you :

When we left for Volcán Turrialba we had no idea how far it was (or how high it was) or anything for that matter. There is very little written about this volcano in the tour books (probably because it is the smallest volcano in Costa Rica). All I knew was that there is a volcano in Turrialba and that I wanted to see it.

Sometimes this happens to us: Someone or something brings our attention to God and gives us a small idea of what He has in store for those who love Him. When this happens our hearts are stirred and we embark on a journey in order to experience what we have heard/read about. We start out excited not knowing how far, how high, or how difficult the “climb” may be.

As days, months, and years go by we begin to realize that the journey of faith is a lot more than we bargained for. We go through extreme temperature changes (heat and cold), and often find ourselves driving through “fog” that limits our visibility. These things make us a bit uneasy about the decision we have made to “see” and experience this “place.” Sometimes we find ourselves completely unsure of where we are or if we are even on the right path. The “fog” and uncertainty scares us and cause us to want to go back to where we were (our comfort zone) and forget about the whole “ridiculous” thing. We think to ourselves, “I don’t even know what’s at the top anyway. I’ve heard mixed messages. Some people say it’s beautiful, other’s say there’s really nothing up there but a couple of picnic tables.”

In addition to the increasing doubt in our minds and heart, we run into obstacles that only serve to compound our fears and once in a while we get “stuck in the mud.”

The hardest part for me and for my friend is that we did not really know what would be waiting for us at the top (or around the corner for that matter!). We started out knowing only a little about it, and to be honest, we weren’t sure if the trip would be worth the time, money, and energy we were putting into it. There were no guarantees about the future. We were not promised a “spectacular” view or a great time. But we knew in order to truly know we must keep going no matter how difficult and frustrating the path became or looked like. This reminds me of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Had we turned back because of uncertainty, fear, or exhaustion, my friend and I never would have known what we had missed. The beauty of that volcano is impossible to describe with words. But even more importantly, the lessons we learned on the way up (and even on the way down) were priceless.

That Friday night I had the privilege to speak to a group of young people in Turrialba. Because of the experience I had had two days prior, I was able to share something I could not otherwise share:

Then Moses went up {the mountain} with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. . . . and they saw God, and they ate and drank. Now the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction." So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. (Exodus 24:9-12)

Moses heard God’s call to know and experience His goodness. He was not satisfied with simply “eating and drinking” in the Presence of God. He knew there was so much more to discover about his Lord and he chose to continue climbing that steep mountain in order to spend more time with His Maker. Unlike Moses, Aaron and the rest of the elders did not go any further than halfway. They weren’t invited. Why? Because God knew that even though they were eating and drinking in His Presence, their hearts were not fully committed to Him (this is clearly seen when a short time later they made an idol and caused the rest of Israel to worship it). The sad thing is I don’t think Aaron (or the rest of the people of Israel) ever knew what they missed by not setting their hearts to seek their Savior. They were fully satisfied with what they had seen so far (some of them even longed to go back to their former bondage to the Egyptians!).

Throughout our lives we are faced with choices: To follow Christ or to turn away; to hold on or to let go. God’s invitation has been extended to all of us through the blood of Christ. It is our choice as to whether or not we will go “all the way.” We can be like Aaron and the rest, satisfied to “eat in drink” in the Presence of God (enjoy a good church service, praise, and occasionally read our bibles) only to engage in idolatry the rest of the time, or we can follow Moses’ example and set our hearts to seek the One Who is able to meet every one of our emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.

Some of us hear God’s call and ignore it. Others start following for a while but turn away the moment things get tough. Others go halfway, obtaining just enough to feel satisfied, but not pushing ourselves to discover what that “still, small voice” inside caused us to desire. I think most of us are in the “halfway” category. We’ve heard the call and we’ve made it halfway. But the journey has been hard at times and we feel too tired to keep going. We’ve seen some beautiful things along the way and have enjoyed fellowship with our Maker. “Isn’t that enough?” we think. “Must I really wear myself out when I don’t know if it’s even worth it?”

Hebrews 11:1 says that “...faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” It doesn’t matter how long we have been walking, it doesn’t matter how tired we are, we must keep going. We must not ignore His gentle whisper inside that says, “you’re almost there!” God has promised to give us all the strength we need to continue on.

He has wonderful things in store for those who love Him:

But just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Oh, just so you know, when we finally came back to where we'd been dropped off (2 and a half hours later) our taxi driver friend was sitting in his car (the windows up because of the cold) waiting for us. God is good!

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