Stephanie Ministries

Yesterday I received a call out of the blue from someone whom I've never met. I knew it had to be a wrong number cause the area code was unfamiliar. As the conversation progressed & unfolded, I realized the holy spirit was at work. This woman shared a vision the Lord had given her and she was just following through. I believe it to be an answer to a prayer I had longed for. I spoke with my husband about it and he as well was in agreement with me. As my husband and I embraced with tears in our eyes we realized the Lord had made a way in which surprised both of us. It overwhelmed us. We surely would have never in all our days figured out the creative way the Lord was answering this specific prayer. He's working while we are unaware and it just amazes me. The Lord surprises us in the most unexpected ways. He is so good! I believe this woman has been put into our lives for this purpose & in my heart I think there's more to come. I just don't know yet. When it does, you better believe I'll be posting about it!

Comfort in Touch

I love my work. I love what I do. It's more than making a living. It is a blessing to my heart each day. Yesterday (friday) I was blessed by a client I hadn't seen in a while. She's been coming to me for massage for almost 2 years now. She let's me in on her life and when life gets rough, she comes in for a healing touch. When you touch someone in love, it takes away the person's fear and they let love in their heart. I beleive that is why Jesus told his disciples not only to look at his nail scarred hands, but to touch them too. They could really see because their hearts where wide open. That's what touch does....it opens the heart to receive love. She shared that her mother had passed away & then while at her mother's funeral, her aunt had a heart attack . A few days later, she moved her uncle into her home for about 2 weeks when he stood up one day and fell and died of a heart attack. She shared how blessed she was that the Lord had made it possible for her mother to live with her & to take care of her the last 5 months of her life. He reassured her that she did all she could do to help her mother especially being there with her to comfort her in her very last breath.

Today (Saturday) I also had a client I hadn't seen in awhile. She's a real nice lady. She had her first real full body massage today. Normally, she has reflexology to the hands and feet. I guess she's been coming since February. Something about her smile reminds me of my own mother.

Anyways, she also came in for some healing touch. She also had experienced 2 deaths last week of 2 people close to her. The Lord really showed off with her massage. He allowed me to give her just what she needed. I felt like hugging her, but I didn't!

I was reminded of what Jesus said. I felt inside their loss. I felt inside the longing of one more day. But, I also felt a peace. I asked the Lord to comfort them and give them His peace...that only He could give. I prayed that they would feel his touch in their hearts the lonely hours right before sleep. I prayed that the fear of death would subside being replaced by all the wonderful memories of time well spent with them. I prayed they could still rejoice within their mourning.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn." Romans 12:15

"Look at my hands and feet. It is I myself! Touch and See" Luke 24:39

Connection

You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household. Ephesians 2:19

I've been asked to lead the prayer ministry for the worship team at Grace. What an honor it is to pray for others. I'm looking forward to this fall season and to try some new ideas in regards to a more prayerful focus. I've been with the worship team for about 10 years now and it has blessed my life so much to sing on the team to glorify the Lord & to pray for those on the team. I realized a few months ago that it is the one ministry that has been a staple for me. It's like I gotta have it. I've been involved in other ministries but this one is the one that has been continuous for me. When I'm up there in the choir singing with everyone it feels so good and so natural. I know the Lord is pleased and something so pleasurable becomes apart of who you are. There always seems to be a song in my heart as I go about my day. I can sing anytime I want to the Lord and I do ALL THE TIME! Prayer is another thing that touches my heart about the same way...but in another way. Prayer is talking to Him. Plain and simple. Prayer is listening to Him. Prayer and worship are two links to connection that are so powerful. Both become a response to His presence. The worship team choir has been off all summer long and it seems so long. I'm looking forward to our reunion and for it to reestablish our family connection. Isn't that what connecting is really all about- being like family? We have a strong link connecting us!

spiritual act of worship

This week I have been doing a nutritive cleanse. I wanted to do this because I thought it would be a good start to better health. I haven't been feeling physically well due to some weight gain and poor eating habits. The first two days were pretty rough. The shake I've been drinking has 11 grams of fiber. I noticed I wasn't hungry but I was having food cravings for the junk I normally eat. By the fourth day, I was feeling really good and noticed an increase in my energy level & I had better mental clarity. I tell you what, I'm so glad I finally did this. It took me 3 weeks to take this plunge. It's hard to give up eating all that stuff you know is not good for you.

I realize now that food is a temptation for me to sin. I let it get the better of me. By giving up and putting good things in my body, I have gained much more than the loss of 6 lbs. I'm releasing this to Jesus to help me through. I don't want to live a double life. I want what I know to match up on the outside of me. I'm all about health and wellness. I'm all about wanting what the Lord wants for me. I want my body to be a living sacrifice means how I take care of the physical body he has given me.

It's time for me to sacrifice the food that stands in the way of total commitment to God.

The picture here is the place called Skull Hill. They call it that because of the indentation of the skull face within the rock....This is also Golgotha & a stones throw from the garden tomb where they put Christ's body. Abraham was here with Isaac. I want to be like Abraham who sacrificed his own son Isaac. He was whole heartedly committed to God knowing full well that it is God who will provide for all of his needs. God provides all my needs. Could God be testing me? I think he is. Lay it down . Lay it down at the altar.

To Truly Worship God

THE BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS

I heard a preacher on the radio and his message has stuck with me all day. He was preaching about worship. He had 5 points he was going to talk about but he only had enough time to share 3 of them. Here they are:

In order to truly worship God :

1. WE ENGAGE WITH OUR FULL BLOODED EMOTIONS

He mentioned Thomas. This disciple had some doubts about Jesus's resurrection. He couldn't fully engage because of his mistrust. If we have any doubts or mistrust in who or what Jesus is or what he can do, we can not fully worship him with our full blooded emotions. Jesus asks us to trust him. Delighting in Him is conforming our lives in commmitment to His will and His way.

Delight yourself in the Lord & he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to him and he will do it. Psalm 37:4-5

2. WE ENGAGE WITH OUR INTELLECT OR MIND

He mentioned Paul talking to the roman citizens about their faith & how he wished to impart to them mutual encouragement to keep one another strong in the faith. Not like some who had supressed the truth by their wickedness. The bible says in (Romans 1: 21) that although they knew God, they neither glorifed him as God, nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. They stopped using their mind to worship the Lord and it became useless. Our efforts at any attempt to worship the Lord without our mind, will be wasted. Our bodies follow suite to what comes out of our minds.

Romans 12:1 says it best:

"Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good and pleasing perfect will.

3. WE ENGAGE IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

He talked about Matthew 5: 23-24. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift." We can't fully worship the Lord in full surrender and with a humble heart when our relationships are cluttered with unforgiveness, anger, resentment, jealousy, and the like. Jesus said "Love one another as I have loved you." When we take the bread and wine in communion our earthly relationships must be restored so we can fully engage in worship to the Lord. If not, our ability to engage is not pure.
Worship is all about Him and seeking His heart. Devoted, simple, & obedient

How is your time with the Lord these days?