Dance as though no one is watching

This quote by Mark Twain just excites me,"Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you." Wow! I want to live my life here on this earth out of passion and not just out of discipline. Reading my Bible and checking it off for the day isn't going to cut it. A revolutionary passion and zeal for the Lord and for His Holy Word is the drive that will keep me running hard after Him! I want to swim in deep waters! I want to remove the umbrella and allow the rain of His presence to saturate my soul and heart!

Let It Rain
By: Michael W. Smith

Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad
Let the distance shores rejoice
Clouds and thick darkness surround him
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne
A fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side
His lightning lights up the world
The earth sees and trembles
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord
Before the Lord of all the earth
The Heavens proclaim His righteousness
And all peoples will see His Glory

We want to see Your Glory, God!
Do you want to see His Glory?
Lift your voices, lift your hands!

Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven

~Stephanie

New Beginnings!

Wow! Where do I start?! Well, right now I'm just experiencing the fullness of joy that the Lord promises to give His children when we choose to delight ourselves in Him! :) I was at church, a few weeks ago, and a dear elderly man came up to me and started sharing what the Lord had laid on his heart concerning me. He said, "Stephanie, I don't know what you have been through, but I do know you have been through a lot of pain. Pain that has taken place in your soul. Times when you have been angry at God and have wondered why you had to go through some heart wrenching trials. But, the Lord wants you to know that he sees your pain and this year will be a year of new beginnings for you. Your hope will be renewed." Okay, right there my eyes were starting to tear up. Well, it's so very true! After that sweet conversation, the desires of my heart are beginning to be fulfilled! I got a car for $1,200! I recieved a phone call from George, (Nick Vujicic's Vice President for the Life Without Limbs Outreach!), I got asked to be a bride's maid by my dear sweet friend (I prayed a few days before she called and asked the Lord that if it was His will for me to be in her wedding, that He would put my name on her heart! And she called just the other day!!!:) and I've been hoping that there would be a position in the maternity section at the hospital that I've volunteered at before, (was actually in the endoscopy department), and the position that I had been wanting... opened up and the director of the volunteer services called me this morning and gave me the position! I'm going to be holding newborn babies for 4 hours every Wed. afternoon!!! :) Woohoooo!!! The Lord is soooo faithful! I have this smile that I can't get rid of! LOL! It is totally the Lord's joy that is causing my heart to overflow right now! A sweet friend of mine looked at me last night and said, "Stephanie, you are the happiest person I know!" I looked at him and said, "You know what, it is ALL FROM THE LORD!"

"The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him."
Psalm 145:14-20

You Have Made Me Glad
By: Darlene Zschech

I will bless the Lord forever
And I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all fear
And he has set my feet upon a rock

And I will not be moved
And I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield
My strength
My portion
Deliverer
My shelter
Strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Whom have I in Heaven but you?
There's none I desire beside you
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord....

You are my shield
My strength
My portion
Deliverer
My shelter
Strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Blessings,
Stephanie

Tears in Heaven

I absolutely love the Choirboys! Their voices are so angelic! So precious! :)

Steph

Years are flying by....

Well, this morning was a peaceful morning, had my quiet time, picked up my room, got on the computer, did some stuff to prepare for my classes and then went to Starbuck's to meet some girls for a surprise birthday for a sweet precious friend. She was soooo surprised! :) We all ordered our drinks and just chatted. I enjoyed my regular soy chai with hazelnut and even grabbed a piece of pumpkin bread to go along with my hot concoction! Oh goodness, I love chilly windy weather and a nice cup of hot tea! :) It's funny, every birthday is just a reminder to me of how life will keep moving on...days go by...time ticks away...sun rises....sun sets.....years chug on by...

A quote I've been pondering is this, "If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans..." That quote is so simple, but yet so profound. The other day, I was talking to a friend of mine and we were sharing how the years are literally flying by...I told her I felt old...she looked at me and laughed, "Girl, you're just a baby!" Okay, yeh, I'm 19...but still...life's trials and difficult seasons can sure take its toll...they grow you if you let them... :) It's interesting, all those tear filled nights and prayer times when all you could say to God was, "Why?", those are the times that make me love life even more. It makes life seem so much more sweet. Rich. And exciting. Because I know His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness! All things work together for those who love Him! This year is definitely a year of new beginnings! There must always be a winter before there can be a spring! :) Here are some snapshots from this afternoon!














~Stephie Girl

At Rosa's Cafe

After church, everyone normally goes to Rosa's Cafe to eat and hang out! It was a fun time! Here are some pics from the evening... :)

A beautiful sunset. It just takes my breath away. Just the thought that God takes the time to paint a beautiful sunset for His children to enjoy! He is astounds me!

Smiles! :) Audrey (in the middle) and her two siblings!
Taylor, Stephen, Sterling and Hudson (Hudson was in a major car accident recently, we are so thankful that he is alive. It really shook him up and made him realize how quick life can be taken from us. We really have no idea when our time is up on this earth. I told Hudson that the Lord has an amazing mission for him to accomplish. He said that the wreck really woke him up to what really matters in life, especially relating to eternity.)

The kid table...it's soooo funny....the parents make a LONG table on the other side of the restaurant and all the kidos make one on the opposite side. :) It's cute!

Serious moment!
Uh, I was caught taking photos!!! :)

Steph