tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14828298545876435142024-03-13T12:32:29.515-07:00Uncovering HopeLearning to uncover the hope that gives me a reason to live.
[Romans 15:4-- through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we have hope]Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-62936835710334487242017-06-19T13:44:00.001-07:002017-06-19T14:08:08.538-07:00Asher's Birth Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally (only 10 months later), here is the story of Asher Evan's arrival! I want to remember this story forever.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">August 6, 2016</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contractions wake me up from sleeping and after a few unsuccessful hours of trying to sleep, I told Peter. I'm pretty sure I said "we're gonna have a baby today!"
8:30am</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I asked Peter to make me breakfast so we got up and he made eggs and toast for us; stayed at home laboring all mid-day for about 10 hours *gasp*. We attempted to watch a Harry Potter movie in between contractions while I bounced on a birthing ball, we went on a really hot walk around the neighborhood, I took a hot bath (which I had to get out of because it slowed my contractions wayyyyy down), and we did laps around the kitchen to try to progress labor. Peter even went to our favorite Thai place and got some food to-go for lunch (pork pad woon-sen for me and sushi for him; I'm all about remembering the details!)</span></div>
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3pm</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The contractions got really intense so I asked my doula Cassie to head over. All the while I am trying to keep track of them on my phone and I keep forgetting to log them. It was about 1.5min contractions every 4 min.
4pm</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cassie arrives and I am ready to leave for the birth center right then and there so we take the most uncomfortable 20min car ride ever to the birth center! We arrive and the midwife checks me-- 5cm dilated! Woop woop! This momma was so thankful. But-- had to progress lots more. There was only one room open because, surprisingly, another baby was just born in the other room (only 2 rooms are at the center)! So Peter and I walked laps around the darkened, quiet birth center with our doula. I just remember how peaceful it was... and how safe I felt. At some point shortly thereafter, I headed into the shower with just Peter and sat on a birthing ball and let the warm water hit my back for about 20-30 minutes. After that, I tried some different laboring positions. This is where patience came in hand. I was so thankful I had watched all of those YouTube birth videos and read a ton about natural childbirth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Patience. Is. Key.</span></div>
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I was first at the edge of the bed and then got on the bed hunched over the pillows with Peter next to my face, holding and rubbing my arms (I didn't like him to talk, but just to be fully present with me). He encouraged me so much and I am incredibly thankful for that! It was all such a mind game... it's amazing how much of the battle was inside of my head to keep it together. I also had scripture on notecards that I used at some point. I just had to take one contraction at a time. That's it. One wave at a time. Nothing else.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I can make it through *this* wave."</span></div>
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After this point, I lose track of time. I remember being nauseas a lot and Cassie would have me inhale peppermint essential oil that she brought and it helped. My sweet midwife Mary checked me at some point (for the second and last time!) and said there was a little lip of my cervix that wasn't moving to the side so I needed to keep progressing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So we walked.</span></div>
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More laps around the center. During these walks, I would have contractions, lean on Peter, and Cassie would talk me through each one. I don't know of a time in my life that I have ever been this focused in this much pain. I knew I could do it, but this was HARD. My self-control was definitely getting a workout.
I kept asking when I could get in the birthing tub (they wanted me to wait a while before I got in because it can slow labor). Finally, when I felt "pushy", and was in the transition phase of labor, I got into the tub. My body literally was pushing *ALL ON ITS OWN*... a feeling I can't describe except to say that I literally had no control over it. So amazing.</span></div>
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At this point, it was dark and far into the evening. Since I was in transition, I had lost all sense of modesty and threw my dress off and got into that tub! I immediately had a huge sense of relief as I sat into the water. I leaned over the side and breathed deep. Peter rubbing my arms and being my comfort. The room was quiet and everyone was waiting with anticipation for baby boy's arrival. Things seemed to get clearer for me. I remember thinking that they must have been so bored waiting for me to birth my baby (HA! Right!)
Mary, my midwife, had her hand actually in me trying to pull over the lip of the cervix (sorry if that's TMI!) It was being really stubborn. As I was in the water, my contractions slowed. Mary asked me to get out of the tub and continue walking and to *try* to not push (which is basically impossible) because she wanted me to save my energy for when my pushes would actually be useful after the cervix moved over. You should have seen the disbelief/horror/fear on my face!!! I did NOT want to do that! But I did. I did everything single thing they asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Yes, whatever you say. Let's get this baby out."
So we walked. Big, wide steps. Come on sweet boy, please come out. I felt really really pushy at this point and my contractions were FIERCE and the urge to push was literally uncontrollable. I leaned onto Peter and dug down deep, moaning, squatting, and leaning into my heels with each breath and made sure to relax as much as I could. Cassie rubbed my back and reminded me how to relax (breath, relax, low and open). Time stood still.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would never forget these moments. Ever. </span></div>
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We came back into the room and I tried to sit on the toilet and then the birthing chair, anything to get that cervix to move out of the way! Finally, I laid on the bed and my midwife asked me to lean to one side and then the other so that the pressure would be somewhat relieved from baby boy (he was sitting really low for a while at this point). My body kept pushing on its own and with each contraction I really got behind them and gave it everything I had. This was incredibly hard!!! Mary just calmly encouraged me to keep going, almost in a whisper. She was so amazing and I thanked God that I was here at this birth center with those I trusted most and doing what I knew my body was designed to do. My doula was right by my shoulder recording it as well (ask me if you want to see the video, it's decent I promise!!)
I kept feeling him come out a bit and then in between contractions he would go right back up. I was getting a little anxious at this point and felt fear creep into my mind and I started to have visions of going to the ER needing a c-section. But I knew that was a ridiculous lie motivated by fear so I got angry and pushed even harder. Peter was on the bed with me encouraging me how close he was to coming out but with each push I got more and more exhausted.
I remember feeling like it was ages in between contractions and I was wishing that each one would hurry up and be quicker so I could push my baby out. But apparently, after watching the video and talking to Cassie, they definitely were right on top of each other. Not much resting... I couldn't believe it. I truly feel like the Lord slowed down time for me in those moments. It was wild. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time literally stood still for me. A moment seemed like eternity. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
After pushing on and off for about 4 hours and maybe 1 hour of HARD pushing, Mary said she had to do a little cut if he didn't come out during the next contraction... I gave it everything I had during that next push but I was just so tired and his head was so big. So a quick, little, painless cut and that's all he needed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There he was!! Screaming and absolutely perfect.</span></div>
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August 7, 2016</span></div>
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2:13am
I can clearly remember thinking how strong and sweet of a cry he had and I was so relieved to finally meet my baby. My first reaction was surprise and delight at how well he was screaming and that he looked so "clean"... no blood or white vernix on him hardly at all. He was perfect. He was immediately placed onto my chest and I couldn't believe that I had just given birth to a new human being. 21 hours of labor. Numerous hours of pushing on and off. What an amazing miracle. The fact that I was on no drugs helped me and him bond immediately and my love for him in that moment that much greater.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peter was right by my side on the bed with me the whole time just watching me and baby boy in awe. I am so thankful for that memory. I honestly was just shocked at all that had just happened. Mary had to put in a few stitches but I hardly noticed because I was too focused on my brand new babe. It was such a joyful, peaceful time in the room just with my new babe, midwife, doula, husband, nurse, and midwife assistant. Smiles all around and a huge sense of relief!! I felt amazing... and that I could do anything in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Did I actually just birth this baby?"
Mary my midwife weighed Asher (8 lbs 0 oz) and did some other measurements. Cassie my doula went out and bought me and Peter breakfast and then we slept a few hours with Asher in bed with us. It was so surreal. After we rested for three hours, Asher nursed for the first time (was so awkward and hurt like crap... my breastfeeding journey is another story to be told in a different blog post!), I got up, tried to pee, got dressed and we headed home after stopping for some lunch. We were in our own home just 9 hours after Asher was born and I was so thankful to be in the comfort of our bed with our new baby boy so shortly after his birth! It was an incredibly beautiful experience and yet the hardest thing I have ever done... and I would do it all over again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">NOTE:
I honestly could not have done it without the support of my husband, doula, and the birth center staff. We were an awesome team and they helped keep me calm the whole time. Having a birth at the birth center was also the best decision I could have ever made. It was so peaceful. A natural birth definitely is something that I advocate for but also know that not everyone is able to have a natural birth for one reason or another. I experienced something SO BEAUTIFUL that I wish every woman could experience for herself as well (and the husband too!! it was amazing for Peter to do this WITH me and also be prepped), but more importantly is just to make a TRULY INFORMED DECISION about what you are going to do as you birth your own baby. Get advice from both sides (doctors & midwives). I literally pushed through the FEARI had by leaning on Jesus and asking God to fully prepare me. It's all in your mind. Don't let society/culture/others tell you what is best. EDUCATE yourself. Research everything. Watch videos (this was SO helpful for me to kick the fear aside!!) THEN decide. My first choice was a hospital birth until I actually started to educate myself. So ladies, I encourage you to do the same and do whatever you KNOW is best for your sweet baby.</span></div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-1001014583314908672016-06-22T08:35:00.001-07:002016-06-22T08:35:28.213-07:00The Homestretch // 8 months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Hello to week 34; only 6 (or so) more to go!</i></h3>
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As I write this, Asher is moving around like crazy on my right side underneath my ribs. Sometimes it isn't painful but this morning it definitely is! Even though it hurts, I am so excited that he is growing and getting strong.</div>
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<b>This week:</b><br />
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He is the size of a cantaloupe, weighs approx. 5 lbs. and is about 18 in. long.<br />
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<b>Recap of the past 2 months:</b><br />
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-he has started hiccuping, it's so sweet!<br />
-his movements have started to hurt<br />
-unable to sleep on my sides anymore (literally have gotten stuck twice, it was horrible)<br />
-aching back (due to sleeping propped up oddly on my back all night)<br />
-hello braxton hicks<br />
-stretching has become imperative every day<br />
-going to the chiropractor once a week<br />
-not able to eat as much, I guess my stomach doesn't have that much room anymore!<br />
-getting more comfortable with the birth center, our bags are packed!!<br />
-it's been difficult trying to balance work, studying for the GRE test, working out, and nesting<br />
-we have everything we need, thanks to our amazing communities in MD and in FL<br />
-my FL community threw me a baby brunch at First Watch, I felt so incredibly loved<br />
-about to start book #4 (or 5?) about labor/delivery. I LOVE learning about all of this and preparing<br />
-just started learning about recovery (I need to do lots more research)<br />
-WE GOT A HOUSE! Praise God. Still searching for that 2nd vehicle though<br />
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So since we have a home we can actually make a nursery for our sweet babe! But... it's so close to his due date and I am honestly so exhausted so much that I don't know if I can manage it. We have all of his things set up in our room and we might just leave it all that way ;) besides... we have an entire house to furnish first (GASP!)<br />
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Hopefully next time I blog, it will be welcoming our sweet baby into this world <3<br />
<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-29017191799710966472016-04-07T11:47:00.001-07:002016-04-07T11:54:34.682-07:00Introducing Asher // 6 months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVUW1V8_AFt1wi2OsmdE7zkCjnzclKgcD1zQJ147G-oCRyEcGzT2bTb5Oa29EF3QIUFcVPv5Cme3XoXwYr84WZW0w75tCMlb6DpP6aqopkxOD0c5zfrnWO_DPZx4BJHciv6oTUVdyVqmw/s1600/Asher4Dthumb.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVUW1V8_AFt1wi2OsmdE7zkCjnzclKgcD1zQJ147G-oCRyEcGzT2bTb5Oa29EF3QIUFcVPv5Cme3XoXwYr84WZW0w75tCMlb6DpP6aqopkxOD0c5zfrnWO_DPZx4BJHciv6oTUVdyVqmw/s400/Asher4Dthumb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>So this is our lil guy Asher Evan <3</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Asher Evan is a name we finally chose because of the deep meaning and from the peace it brought us as we prayed about it. Asher means "blessed/fortunate/happy" and Evan means "God has been gracious" and it's also Peter's middle name as well. We really felt like this fit who our little man is. He is the blessed one to whom God has shown favor. We love it!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here in the sonogram he is seen sucking his thumb, shoulder touching his chin, and snuggled up against the placenta ;) what an amazing morning it has been seeing him move around inside of me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He is 23 weeks this week (or, 6 months along) and is moving around like crazy. He loves to be super low which also puts a ton of pain on my round ligaments (gah!) But, he looks to be growing really well and is even sucking his thumb which we got to see him do on the sonogram! This will most likely be the last ultrasound we get until we meet him :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since my last posting at 19 weeks, this past month has been full of new pregnancy-related things for me! I finished up reading this awesome book called 'Ina May's Guide to Childbirth' by Ina May Gaskin. It is such a good read and has a ton of research put into it, which I absolutely crave right now. It seems like I can't get enough information about pregnancy, labor, and childbirth right now. So, ask away! I most likely have read about it. And if I haven't, I'd love to know about it! =) Here are a few things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>Did you know?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hospitals have a 30-80% c-section rate depending on which one you go to. That reaaaaaally threw me off and made me dig deeper into the why's of the statistic. I found that by having a home birth or birthing at a birth center the rates go down dramatically, even to 3% in some cases (not to mention the stats on how bad the drugs are for you and baby, the trauma that cesareans put on your body, all of the risks that doctors fail to mention, etc.) The birth center we decided on only has a 8% transfer to hospital rate, and c-section rates out of that are even lower (and then even LOWER because I am hiring a doula to help me alongside of the midwife). YES PLEASE! I also feel like this definitely isn't for everyone because not everyone is low risk. But, we decided that this is what is best for me and baby. I also honestly just feel like God is calling me to do this personally. I can't live in fear of what the world says. I am standing on what God says I can do and how He has designed my body... perfectly!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>Snippets from this past month:</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-feeling and seeing him move</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-Peter feeling him move</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-chose a birth center</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-hired a doula</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-major round ligament pain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-starting to work out again</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-craving tea, ice cream, eggs, and sauerkraut</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-starting to receive gifts from our Amazon registry</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-his drawers are filling up with clothes already</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-emotions going a little wild at times</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-fighting off tiredness and backaches</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also have received so many maternity clothes and baby clothes from our community and I am feeling the love tremendously. I've been seeing how much God has truly taken care of me through the whole process... from giving me other mommas to talk with, to borrowed cars for the past 3 months, to every single hand-me-down. I am so grateful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some things that I still question are like... when will we have a car? Where are we going to live when we need more space? But, I know He has a plan that I can trust, even if I can't see it. Will you pray with us? To trust in His timing, to be content and full of joy, and for Him to open up doors of provision for us? Thanks guys!</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-26953136687826395482016-03-09T09:31:00.003-08:002016-04-06T09:19:23.252-07:0019 weeks // Boy or Girl?!<h2 style="height: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">19 weeks // Boy or Girl?!</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
It's a BOY!!!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today is the day. I get an ultrasound to determine the sex of our baby!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Backtrack to last weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I felt Baby O. move! I was laying on my stomach on the beach and felt one little "pop" like a little bubble was bursting right below/to the side of my belly button. That definitely wasn't gas ;) it was so neat to finally feel baby move! Then, the next day, I felt baby move once again. God, this is so amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ultrasound this morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a quick visit but I wasn't upset because we got to see our baby moving around and heard their heartbeat. Everything looked great. Then the doctor pointed to a little spot on the sonogram and said "what do you think that is?" and Peter immediately responded "IT'S A PENIS!" I about died. Not sure from the hilarity of the moment or because we were totally shocked that it was a boy... we were for SURE that it was going to be a girl! Totally wrong ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-He's the size of a mango this week (I love being able to say "he"!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-I am feeling a bit more tired than I was a few weeks ago and my stress levels are a bit higher than normal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-The crib and dresser are freshly painted and we just need a few more things for the room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-Now we know he is a boy, we can start registering. I am super excited about this!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-I am looking into birthing centers instead of a hospital *gasp!!* ;) I am pretty confident this is the route I am going to take. Plus, my doctor is leaving his practice anyway, boo.</span></div>
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(good documentary on Netflix to watch if you're interested: "The Business of Being Born")</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, baby boy, we are so excited to meet you! You are already such a little prince. We love you and can't wait to meet you. Our family & our ywam community is also SUPER excited to meet you as well. But, please, stay in there for as long as necessary ;) grow grow grow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh, and we need a name. So let the process begin. Yay!</span></div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-77113419822272541822016-01-24T12:52:00.001-08:002016-04-06T09:19:16.719-07:00Hello Baby O. // 12 Weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal;">Hello Baby O. // 12 Weeks</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yep, we are having a baby! To my amazement, at our ultrasound last week we found out that I was already 11 and a half weeks which was a big surprise :) I estimated incorrectly that I was only about 8 weeks. Whoops! Peter came with me and we saw baby O. for the first time. He/she was asleep and then woke up and moved their little arms and legs for us! We could even see the little fingers and toes... it was SO crazy!! We also got to hear their heartbeat. It wasn't real to me before, but now it is definitely VERY real to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When we were first married we decided to put ourselves on the "5 year plan" and wait to have a baby... but we couldn't wait and changed that to just 4 years ;) we are so excited and overjoyed that this little baby is healthy and growing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Apparently, baby is the size of a clementine this week and I can definitely tell-- I've already gained 5 pounds, I'm very bloated, constantly have to go to the bathroom, have insanely vivid dreams at night, and I am tired all the time. I had a bought of morning/all day sickness a few weeks ago for just a week and it has already subsided (thank God). I have also noticed a teeny tiny bump which is exciting to see my belly grow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Peter has been really supportive too, I am so thankful for him. He is going to be an amazing Dad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, that's it for now. Next ultrasound is in 2 weeks. Grow baby, grow!</span></div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-86861084269546726222014-10-21T20:44:00.000-07:002014-10-21T20:44:09.828-07:00Rehab<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello world, I am still here. Still writing. Still learning.<br />
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Over the past year I've come to realize how my heart has been in desperate need of healing. Since leaving my job, going to YWAM, and learning more and more about the Lover of my soul, I can truly say that my heart has been through rehab.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have been set free.</span><br />
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I never realized how broken I was until I found a newfound joy in truly being set free; set free from past thinking patterns, resentments, and unhealthy relationships; set free from placing the desires of this world before God's dreams and longings for it and His people. I am so grateful for my Father who sees me and who loves me enough to take me from my past and place me in a place of healing and growth.<br />
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I have missed blogging... and tonight as I sit wide-eyed in a quiet house with only the sound of a clock ticking and pandora playing classical music to my heart in the background, I feel a sort of nostalgia in my heart. I've missed writing. It's my heart... and I want to share what God has been doing in my life with this little community that has built around my blog. So here's to more blogs in the near future.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
StephStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-15015440089726098282014-04-18T12:25:00.002-07:002014-04-18T12:25:30.606-07:00Lessons Learned<span style="background-color: white; color: #8a8a8a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Blog Series: Middle East</span><br style="background-color: #d9c9b2; color: #8a8a8a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: #d9c9b2; color: #8a8a8a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9c9b2; color: #8a8a8a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span><span style="background-color: #d9c9b2; color: #8a8a8a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="background-color: white;">A look back at the journey God took me on and urged me to write about while I was there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9c9b2; line-height: 19px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I look back on my journey through my Discipleship Training School & our Outreach to the Middle East, my heart fills. I contemplated at how much I wanted to put out for the internet world to read and decided I won't explain, but wanted to at least share the deep things... even just at a glance. Here is a little peak at what God did for me through it all:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9c9b2; line-height: 19px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">-Finding JOY in each & every single moment.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">-Fighting against depression... & winning. Finally.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">-Realizing that I AM worthy of deep friendships.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">-Being vulnerable to others brings healing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">-Letting go of my past and becoming FREE.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">-Forgiveness that brings breakthrough in my life & relationships.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">-A much clearer picture of Gods character, goodness, and sovereignty.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">-Trusting Him one step at a time. With everything.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">-Letting go of my own agenda and trusting Him through it all.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">That's it to my Middle East series. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I hope y'all enjoyed!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><3</span></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-49341957516121998042014-04-05T16:20:00.002-07:002014-04-05T16:20:23.594-07:00Dust<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Blog Series: Middle East</span><br style="background-color: #d9c9b2; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: #d9c9b2; line-height: 19px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: #d9c9b2; line-height: 19px;"></span><span style="background-color: #d9c9b2; line-height: 19px;"><span style="background-color: white;">A look back at the journey God took me on and urged me to write about while I was there.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Feb 20</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Looking out the bus window at miles and miles of desert. As far as the eye can see-- dust.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">We are all made of dust. We all return to dust. People all over the world are so similar; so much more alike than what we would like to think.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">The first taxi we rode in in Ammon was driven by an older man. A devout man. A sick man. We asked if we could pray for him in Isa's (Jesus') name. He started telling us about Islam and how when you pray you have to wash and be clean on the outside. We thought differently, but we listened intently.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">We heard his heart. He said we all have one God. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Again and again-- One God. We agreed. He said it again. Na'am (yes), Allah, One God. We smiled and nodded in full-hearted agreement.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I saw a side to a Muslim that I had never seen before. I saw God in this man; a devotion and commitment that so many people lack. A layer was peeled back from my eyes of scales and the sun shined a little bit brighter. We said goodbye to the man ("Masalama")-- peace be with him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I look through the bus window out over the sun-scorched desert. Miles and miles of dust, rocks, and hills. The sun's rays blind my eyes. Miles of reminders that we all come from dust and we all will return. A reminder that we can all be blinded to the reality that we are all here trying to make sense of it all; that maybe we don't have it all together... and that we are all so alike in so many different ways yet so different at the same time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">We are blinded by our skewed perceptions, stereotypes, and fears. Blind to the common ground between us; a mirage between 'us' and 'them'.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Let us open our eyes. See the dust.</span></span><br />
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-58072184296194539512014-03-19T12:10:00.001-07:002014-03-19T12:10:26.125-07:00Pressing On<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blog Series: Middle East</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">A look back at the journey God took me on and urged me to write about while I was there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Feb 1</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">My day off. A lazy Saturday. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Steam rising slowly off tea, looking out the window at skies so blue. Finding comfort in a propane heater and warm socks.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These are the little things I cherish here in the Middle East winter cold. I reminisce about the past week in the Syrian refugee area. I take it all in and I think of how Jesus walked here. How he saw with his eyes the pain; how He heard the stories of the deserted homes, the broken families, and saw past every facade; how He knew the answer to every question and yet people did not receive His solution.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At this moment I have more insight on what losing my life for His sake means. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Taking on the life of Christ, living out the task of reconciliation. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This mission is vital, urgent, and worth so much more than my own life.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ripping my eyes open to the truth and leaving my comfort and plans in the past; letting my heart get crushed by the weight of this world and yet still pressing on; living solely moment by moment because I know if I step too far ahead the worries of this world will overcome me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Living in the wild of this world is where we are called-- in the middle of the dirt, shame, and hurt. To let Christ exchange our spotlights for His lantern. To give him each step, trusting He knows where He is leading us. Crushing the head of our enemy by pressing on into the darkness with God's light of truth. Pushing back enemy lines. Living a life worthy of the call; a life that 'makes no sense'; 'wasting' our lives on the unseen; walking into places no one dares to go; taking on the armor to face the battle; trusting in our Father who sees the whole picture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pressing on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">*Picture taken in Petra.</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-36139648873403791282014-03-06T11:40:00.003-08:002014-03-06T11:52:24.109-08:00Middle East: Hamdulillah<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blog Series: Middle East</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A look back at the journey God took me on and urged me to write about while I was there.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jan 17</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">As I sit here in the cold living room listening to the call to prayer go off at noon, yet again, I can't help but be reminded of the hurt and pain this religion has stemmed from. From the time Muhammad started seeking for his identity, for a way to change the world, for a way to run from the pain of being orphaned in a culture that considers you as dirt without a family name... I can't help but be saddened by the reality of this religion-- the hopelessness that it holds inside; the holes it leaves in followers' hearts as they seek to fit into a culture where identity is everything. Yet, what is a Muslims' identity? Identity in being a Muslim, and that is that? What does that mean to them? I've seen the eyes of those who are still seeking for something more. Seeking for a place of their own in this world. I see the pain and hurt of their lives in between the fabric of the burka that lays over their face. Hiding. Hiding their pain and their beauty, all in one... yet having so much life at the same time. A life hidden. A life suppressed. Oppressed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The call to prayer continues. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">It gives me a deep sense of darkness, and yet hope as well. The sun shines in the room. Hope because it lives in me. The hope I hold in Christ is all I can hold onto in a land that is not my own. A place where people stare, whistle and wonder... wondering why I am immersed in their culture and why I have come. Little do they know, nor do I know, how much hope is hidden within me. Yet, it isn't me at all. I guess you don't realize how much joy you truly have inside until you come to a place where you see it being completely ripped from those who have no identity in Christ. A place full of lies, fear, and misunderstanding. A place rejected and torn.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Torn hearts. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Torn families.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yet, as the call to prayer continues, the sun still stands and shines on this land. A glimmer of hope. A lightness in the midst of heaviness. I breathe again. I hope again. I pray for this land and I see light over it and in it and through the eyes of those who have found hope; who've found refuge in a man. A man they call Isa. Who I've also come to know as Isa; Jesus. Our Messiah. Our savior. Our God who came to unite us all no matter what we call ourselves or how we translate His name.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I see unity and reconciliation, and He is glorious. Hamdulillah.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Humdulillah- Arabic for "Praise God".</span></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-41439757269859534042013-12-04T13:38:00.000-08:002013-12-04T13:45:14.590-08:00Letting Go of Fear & Perfection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello friends! I have been absent here for quite a while. Fall has seem to snuck up on me and it has come and gone... although here in Florida doesn't seem much like "Fall" at all, let alone Winter now.<br />
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I haven't written much lately because I never know what to write about and I feel like it will never be "perfect" to share with everyone. Yet, I'm realizing that that is not what this blog is about. This blog is just about me sharing my imperfect life with you-- grammatical errors and all.<br />
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I also haven't written anything because I can never decide on a topic. That's something I struggle with- indecisiveness- and I need to work on this! I couldn't decide whether to write about the Holy Spirit, the huge problem of Nominal Christianity, how God has revealed Himself to me as a Father who actually FEELS, or Forgiveness. All of these are too hard to choose between! I'll just touch on some things...<br />
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I have been learning so much this past month. God has been working on my heart and He is teaching me to trust Him and let go of so much I have been holding on to.<br />
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On that note-- Peter and I have decided to come back to YWAM after we are finished with our outreach to the Middle East. I don't know what that will look like exactly, we are still praying for direction. Yet, we know we are supposed to be here. I have no idea how this will work financially... but God spoke to me and told me to just keep going back to the last thing He has told me, and the last thing He told me was to come here, so here I will stay until He calls me elsewhere! He has been telling me to face my fears, and that is what I will do.<br />
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I want to live a courageous life for Christ.<br />
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I've also learned that God has a Father's heart. Not like fathers here who have come so short of being perfect, but a Heavenly father who truly understands us. He's a father who is always here for us, He cares, and He feels our pain and He experiences our joy alongside of us. He is a Father who has the biggest heart towards His children and He always protects, provides, and loves on us (sometimes in ways we don't quite understand, or in ways we never notice). I feel so blessed to have this perfect Father in my life. I've yearned for this aspect of Him my whole life, and He has revealed to me that He has always been a Father to me and He will never disappoint or leave me.<br />
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My eyes have also been opening more and more each day I am here. I explained to Peter just this morning that it feels like I have had scales on my eyes and God has had to gently peel each layer back in His timing and in a way that I can handle it. I am outraged at some of the ways I have been viewing this world and it angers me how I have done nothing about so many injustices.<br />
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God has told His people to GO; to GO to a hurting world and to stop thinking our comfortable lives are more important than HIS calling. The church is not meant to COME, we are meant to GO. We come to church, come to bible studies, come to so many events... but when are we GOING?<br />
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Go to the lost<br />
to the sick<br />
to those who are poor in spirit<br />
to those who have never heard of Jesus<br />
to those who are different than you<br />
to your enemies<br />
Love them.<br />
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These are just a few things that have been on my heart, but it doesn't even touch the tip of the iceberg.<br />
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God is working on so many aspects of my heart and I am so grateful for that. I have a lot of learning to do, but I know that I don't ever want to look back. I want to keep running this race and going to those that are hurting. I want to learn how to love more deeply than I've ever have and to actually experience the heart of Christ. This is what I want for my life, and I hope that it is reflected in these words, no matter how grammatically incorrect they might be.<br />
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Love you all!<br />
StephStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-49077446198136025432013-10-13T12:41:00.002-07:002013-10-13T12:41:33.641-07:00Outreach to the Middle East<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Middle East-- here we come!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bringing the light of the gospel to the hardest and darkest of places... this is what we were born for.</span></div>
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We are so excited to be going to the Middle East in January for two whole months! Peter and I prayed for a long time for the location of our outreach and what the Lord would have us to do, and He has clearly called us to go to these people. I know that while we are there we will learn SO much about the people, the culture, and we will see the GREATNESS of our God.</div>
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Why the Middle East? Not sure, but I know that if we don't go, we would be in disobedience to God. And I fear that over fearing anything and anyone else in my life. I want to follow Jesus wherever He leads me, and to not sway away from that, even if that means going to a place where so many people fear because it is "unsafe" or "corrupt". This is WHY I am a Christian-- to shine Christ's LIGHT into DARK places! This is what we were made for. Oh, and yes we are being wise about what we are doing and where we are going there. We have some amazing leaders taking us!<br />
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Also-- the people here are so receptive to the Gospel, and they <i>want</i> to know who Jesus is. Reminds me of the verse where Jesus says to His disciples, <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"<span class="text Matt-9-37" id="en-NIV-23417" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj">The harvest<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23417D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> is plentiful but the workers are few.</span></span><span class="text Matt-9-38" id="en-NIV-23418" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field". -Matthew 9:34-35. </span></span></i></span>This is why we are going. We will also be teaching them English while we are there, so we are helping them in a tangible way that will be useful for them in their everyday lives. I can't wait for this! I never imagined I would have this opportunity.</div>
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Why go on missions in general? Because seeing God in these other nations, makes my view of Him GREATER, not smaller. He gets the MAXIMUM GLORY.</div>
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It makes me more aware that God is working in the hearts of those in other nations, and not just my own. It makes my view of myself and my home country so much less inflated. It reminds me that God has called every one of us Christ-followers to GO and proclaim the Gospel to every nation, tribe, and tongue. We are all a family in Christ. And if we don't do this, if we are not obedient to the calling He has on our lives, then how can we say that we truly love Him? Just something that I've been thinking about.</div>
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I have great conviction of this in my heart, and I am praying diligently that others would too. Missions isn't just for some of us, it is for ALL of us. And usually, when you reach other nations, you not only "bless" them... you get so much more blessing in return. It's incredible. God wants us to serve Him in every aspect of life; to get out of our comfortable houses and our comfort zones; to let go of our insecurities and to let down our walls, and FOLLOW HIM. Won't you listen?</div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-39724124328747598502013-10-06T09:14:00.002-07:002013-10-06T09:19:10.784-07:00Set My Heart on Fire - YWAM Week One!<div>
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Long over-due post! So we are finally at YWAM Orlando!!! This picture is of the lake that is on campus, it is beautiful here. God has truly been so faithful to me and my husband through this whole thing. Fundraising the money, making new friendships, building upon old ones, and reaching out to our community... it's blessed us SO much.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God has set our hearts on fire for Him.</span><br />
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I've never hungered for God this much in my life. This week in DTS we've learned about 'Hearing the Voice of God' and it's blessed us both so so much. We have been hearing from Him in ways that I never realized were possible and I wish I had learned this so much earlier in my walk with Him.<br />
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The other morning during my quiet time, I really heard from God personally. After I was done praying and reading, I just sat still with Him. I asked Him what He thought about me, and then I listened. I truly listened and didn't dismiss it as "my own voice". I had faith it was His. He longs to speak to us, we just need to be willing to listen! And you know what? He answered me! He said I am loved, cherished, and beautiful. Just the words I needed to hear.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, how He loves us.</span><br />
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I am so humbled at how much I have realized that I DON'T know about God. There is SO much for us to learn! It's crazy how much we have been learning this first week of school and we are so excited to learn more and more. We've been meeting really awesome people in class, on street corners, and in coffee shops.<br />
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This time has also been hard for me. I am realizing how I have a very skewed view of myself and who I am.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A misconception of self.</span><br />
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God is working on me. He is working on how I relate to people; learning how to trust others again. I am learning who I am IN HIM-- not in my definition of myself, nor the worlds'; I am who GOD says I am. No one else. I am loved. Redeemed. Precious in His eyes. His daughter, who is greatly loved. He has truly set my heart on fire and I am so ready for more of Him!</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHAyVfaVeu4" target="_blank">Derek Johnson - I Belong to You</a></i></span></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-68415030953650308272013-08-15T09:00:00.002-07:002013-08-15T09:00:40.847-07:00What Do I Do with My Life?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What Do I Do with My Life?</span></h2>
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That used to be THE question.<br />
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All through high school and college I would constantly question myself as to what job I was going to have. This inevitably led to stress and anxiety about my future. It made my life one big headache.<br />
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I just didn't know what I wanted to DO with my life. I was consumed with this question and some of my family would frequently ask about it as well (out of love of course, but it didn't make it any easier for me). But who says a JOB is the meaning of life? Who says a job is the most important thing to figure out, and if you don't, you're a failure? And the big one-- who says a career defines your worth? I don't understand! What about BECOMING the person you were made to be? Not just having a good career...<br />
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It all boils down to money and security, especially living in America. Why do we yearn for security so much? Why is that what life is all about? If I had to choose between a solid, stable, well-paying career or a not-that-great-paying job with a life filled with wanderlust, joy, and contentment without all the STUFF, you better believe I'd choose the latter.<br />
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After intently searching for my dream job, changing my major three times, applying to numerous different programs at many different schools, I came to the conclusion that life is so much more than just yearning for those things that do not have any eternal worth.<br />
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Recently I quit my well-paying job and sought what God has for my life. And yes, I am grateful that I worked there because it enabled me to pay off my student debt I accrued while I was searching for that perfect degree and career. Ironic, huh?<br />
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But as for my life now, I am BECOMING more of the person that God has made me to be. I don't worry about what I am going to DO with my life, God's got that. He has a plan. Recently, I've had more time to seek Him more diligently and give my heart rest in the mere fact that I don't have to have all of it figured out. Surprisingly, I'm at peace about it. I am filled with joy!<br />
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He's revealed to me what my life purpose is! I guess you're wondering what that is?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To follow Him. To trust that He has me every step of the way.</span><br />
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That's it.<br />
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And day by day, He gives me a new little glimpse into my destiny. I think I can 'kind of' see what my future looks like from a distance... but that's like trying to look at a train close up (thank you Pastor Brian for this analogy!) All I see are the box cars flying by me and it takes my breath away. I can't understand my life from this close up; only God can. God can see the whole train from above and He sees my life, your life, from beginning to end. And THAT is what I am trusting in.<br />
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Coming back to destiny... quite honestly, my destiny is heaven. I rest assured in that. While here on this earth, my role is to proclaim the gospel that brings salvation through Jesus Christ to every single nation, tribe, and tongue. This is the work that Jesus has started and I'm here to continue it. What an amazing destiny God has planned out for those who love Him! So I encourage all who are reading this to cling to the hope that God has given us and to stop worrying about 'what am I going to do with my life?' and 'I need to have a solid career to be successful'... just trust that God has a bigger plan for you. Pursue Him and everything else that you need to do in this life will follow suit.<br />
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Uncovering Hope one piece at a time, and I am SO enjoying it :)<br />
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Love, StephStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-85032705459783361652013-08-01T09:49:00.001-07:002013-08-01T09:55:32.119-07:00Stepping Stones- update #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Update part 2!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we move closer and closer to our departure date to YWAM, I am excited to announce that we have hit our goal of $7,400 for our tuition fees!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Only $5,600 left to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That means, we are now solely raising funds for our Outreach in January. We can now pay for our tuition!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We still need your help and we still need your prayers. We will be fundraising up until December. Please pray that people's hearts would be moved to help us. I haven't got any action from my PayPal account either, so please be aware that that is always an option to give as well :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">FUNDRAISING EVENTS-- Photo shoots!! Having mini-sessions all day with Becky on Saturday! Can't wait to see everyone there! Check out her blog, <a href="http://rebekahbeasleyphotographs.blogspot.com/">here.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And also, a YARD SALE! Be there or be square on August 10th from 7-1 at 6228 Seal Place, Waldorf, MD 20603 in the Hampshire neighborhood (we will be directly on Hampshire Circle across from the townhomes). We are collecting donations for this event, if you all have anything you would like to get rid of!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">**If you have received a letter in the mail, please get those back to me by August 8th so I can have a feel for what we are looking at in the next couple of months.**</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ALSO!! We really do need monthly sponsors for our trip. We honestly have drained a huge chunk of our savings for this, knowing God will provide for us. Please pray about sponsoring us while we are at school. We still need the funds for personal care, laundry, snacks (cause we all know Peter and I both are bottomless pits), and weekend gas money.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for keeping up with us :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love, Steph</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-35376038602799606502013-07-23T05:50:00.002-07:002013-07-23T05:53:20.217-07:00Stepping Stones - PayPal account link & an update on YWAM funds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTrDIgSMCdnYDgrXaLjirGK_woAaoxFv6SGct0ZAnWZmU8iOdHJj5wrhKwZoTA9zNpbtehoUuKhVgB7CKDehKBxSRmKNbNSxjcgAIzDCURx1cZSkja-Yar5m7y5LlkYqHqj5U-oagP5zs/s1600/stepping_stones_of_memory_by_nwwes-d3krg59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTrDIgSMCdnYDgrXaLjirGK_woAaoxFv6SGct0ZAnWZmU8iOdHJj5wrhKwZoTA9zNpbtehoUuKhVgB7CKDehKBxSRmKNbNSxjcgAIzDCURx1cZSkja-Yar5m7y5LlkYqHqj5U-oagP5zs/s640/stepping_stones_of_memory_by_nwwes-d3krg59.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">$5,500</span><br />
<br />
That's how much we have raised for YWAM!! Thank you to all who have helped :) Either by donations, helping with fundraising events, and/or your prayers. Y'all are so awesome!<br />
<br />
That means, approximately only <span style="font-size: large;">$7,500 left to go</span>! I know God will provide for us, in HIS timing.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pay-Pal Account:</span><br />
<br />
I finally set this up! Find the "Donate" button on the top right side of this page if you'd like to contribute. You do NOT have to have a PayPal account to donate; PayPal's fees are 2.9% + $0.30 for each transaction (taken out of the donation). You will not pay any fees for using this service. This PayPal account is solely for YWAM funds; it is not tax-deductible, but a quick, easy way to give nonetheless!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tax-deductible donations:</span><br />
<br />
For tax deductions, you can give to us through our church:<br />
<br />
Potomac Heights Baptist Church<br />
37 Glymont Road<br />
Indian Head, MD 20640<br />
<br />
(check to church; our names on the memo line).<br />
<br />
<br />
These are just our stepping stones, taking one day at a time... trusting God in each and every step. There is so much freedom living life like this. Sometimes I get caught up in trying to have the whole picture figured out, but in this, I just can't. I can't even pretend to be in control of this situation (or of my life for that matter) anymore. It's out of my hands, and whatever God wants to do with me, He can! I feel safe in this place :)<br />
<br />
I will continue to give updates on our journey; thank you for keeping up with us! Please continue to pray for our faith, trust, hope, and funds.<br />
<br />
Thank you guys!! <3Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-83953157715895724342013-07-12T13:13:00.000-07:002013-07-14T18:46:49.243-07:00Change of Direction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF49wu7d5YFbh4R_tNIg29cLH_gHVz7dQqMjCL00pdLJ4i-xcshYg7MDF_fIJYmfKIHYAEntJr8J-zyHQ7cmt2wNtD9PTjAoj09Mq5yWrEOsiXZqASa9vApfXVSvMxTlOv1uGu6TR0JzY/s1600/freedom-sense-of-up-net-134612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF49wu7d5YFbh4R_tNIg29cLH_gHVz7dQqMjCL00pdLJ4i-xcshYg7MDF_fIJYmfKIHYAEntJr8J-zyHQ7cmt2wNtD9PTjAoj09Mq5yWrEOsiXZqASa9vApfXVSvMxTlOv1uGu6TR0JzY/s640/freedom-sense-of-up-net-134612.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometimes God changes our course slowly, or rather abruptly. For me, He did both, all at the same time. He has given me a change of direction.<br />
<br />
If you've been keeping up with me, you know that Peter and I were planning on going to a missionary training school in Australia. And if you know me, you know that I have at a pretty good, secure, decently-paying job. Yet-- all of this has changed in the past couple weeks. I've prayed, sought advice, and have cried over these two things in my life. One that has brought much joy and the other that has brought a lot of pain. Then, I heard God quietly whispering to me...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>'You can quit your job now.'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>'You won't be going to Australia.'</i></div>
<br />
<i>.....What?! God, why now?! Why didn't you tell me this BEFORE I applied to YWAM in Australia? Why didn't I quit my job six months ago?!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
The job prayer was answered slowly, and the Australia prayer was answered pretty quickly. Still, I wrestled with these thoughts and with God. Deep down inside though, I was relieved. This was God answering my prayers of bringing me joy, peace, and provision. After looking back on these decisions, I know that I had God's approval and His blessings on both of them. And quite frankly-- that's all that matters.<br />
<br />
Concerning Australia, maybe this just isn't God's timing. We've decided that we are going (God-willing) to YWAM in Orlando, Florida instead. I am truly excited to go to Florida, especially since we can come home for Christmas! After all, Australia would have been insanely expensive-- God's answers to our prayers (financially in this case) are quite simple sometimes, if only we would listen.<br />
<br />
As for my job? I thank God that I had it, and I thank Him that I am no longer there as well; it provided a way for me to pay off my school loans and to meet some pretty awesome people. For a long time, I loved my job and I didn't mind the commute that much. But then my heart started changing, and I started having an uneasy feeling in my soul, deep down that I just couldn't shake. So, I had to make a change.<br />
<br />
I hope I made an impact on each person there, I really do miss them already. I hope they saw the light of Christ through me; I hope that I brought Jesus into their lives; I hope they turn their lives over to Him (and in some cases, to continue to fight the good faith and endure until the end, and I will see them all again)... but that's in God's hands, not mine.. and I'm at peace with that (to all the ladies there reading this-- I love you!)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
My decisions caused concern for some people (especially since I was quitting my job and have no other job in sight lined up), but I have to remind myself of 1 Thessalonians 2:4 that says,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>'But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak [and live our lives], not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.</i></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I always seem to try to plan out my life, but God always comes along side of me and wrecks my life for the better. </span><br />
<br />
His answers caused a wrestling within my heart that caused both fear and undeniable joy. I choose to fight for the joy and to abolish the fear in my heart-- and I encourage everyone reading this to do the same. Don't live your life in fear, it is from the enemy who wages war against our souls. God wants what is best for us, and He brings an all-consuming joy and rest for our souls.<br />
<br />
Looking back on this past month, God has been nothing short of amazing. I can't express everything I'd like to that is on my heart in this post-- it would never end. I just hope that God is being honored and glorified by my life and that people would see that I am not trusting in the comforts and security of this world. It does not last. The only things that last are those things that cannot be seen; the eternal. This is why I live my life the way I do.<br />
<br />
God bless you guys, and live your life to the fullest, in honor of the one true living God; we only have one chance to do so.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-47053626276662631762013-06-04T10:11:00.000-07:002013-08-14T16:03:21.109-07:00Here Am I<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXKjkkuFC9ON_zG-LHNP37idekpkknUDWN-GLAynMn6-JIYZhPoOBux5pBHOLKkaWnb5qkb_uwTUhCZsaji-xdyFC-69tGDFaCqo40Utm9KUJLfkAMiLPiKkWamGvZXHQqxPalPjd4F40/s1600/missions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXKjkkuFC9ON_zG-LHNP37idekpkknUDWN-GLAynMn6-JIYZhPoOBux5pBHOLKkaWnb5qkb_uwTUhCZsaji-xdyFC-69tGDFaCqo40Utm9KUJLfkAMiLPiKkWamGvZXHQqxPalPjd4F40/s640/missions.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>Here Am I, send
me!<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Alright
everyone, this blog post is long overdue but I am urgently writing this in hopes
that God would move in the hearts of those that read this to give to our
mission of spreading the Gospel to those in Australia and in Asia! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are praying for a support team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to raise $19,700.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><u>Yes. You read right!</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>$19,700</u> <span style="color: red;"><<< This is no longer the price, since we decided to go to Florida instead of Australia! Florida DTS is only $13k :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">impossible</i> for us alone, but with our
GOD, nothing is impossible!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need YOU
to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our lives right now, with support in the
form of prayer (and LOTS of it!), spreading the word, encouraging us, and with
your funds if God moves in your heart to do so! Only with our friends, family
and community surrounding us in those areas of need, will we be able to make
this possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We will be
hosting a slew of fundraisers this month (and for the months to come) including
a yard sale, bake sale, parties, car washes, and maybe even a concert! ;) Peter
will be doing drum lessons as well. Please let me know if any of these things
interest you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Total length we will be gone= 6
months.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Yep! 6 months! October
21 - April 4. That means quitting our jobs, selling our stuff, packing up,
saying goodbye to everything and everyone we know (including our precious
kitty!) and heading halfway around the world to learn more about Jesus and make
Him known!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Peter and I have
felt strongly called to go into missions at this point in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With YWAM (Youth With A Mission), we will be doing
a DTS (discipleship training school) for 3 months in Whitsunday, Australia and
our missionary outreach will be in Asia for another 3 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We know from the
bottom of our hearts that this is God’s will for our lives; we can’t deny His
call about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our prayer is that God
would move in the hearts of those that read this to give to God’s call that He
has placed in our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will you be a
part of this with us?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We have been
leaning on God’s truth that He WILL provide for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I KNOW He will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Truth #1</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">: I serve a God who provides beyond my
faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And my God will
meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 4:19 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Truth #2</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">: I can't do this without you. Yes, you
there reading this blog. I need you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“The body is a
unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many,
they form one body. So it is with Christ.” -1 Corinthians 12:12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">God has given us
YOU to partner with us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants you to
share in the adventures of living out of faith (and not by sight) with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you feel a tug on your heart to help us,
please don’t ignore that call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
only received a few promises from a couple people that will be supporting us
(and THANK YOU guys!!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far, we only
tangibly have what sits in our savings... and that’s not that much!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Let me introduce
you to some truths that God has laid on my heart from His Word:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Then I heard
the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And
I said, ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Here am I. Send me!</b>’”
-Isaiah 6:8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He is sending us
to share Him throughout the nations!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">WHY are we
going? Here is a little fact that really got to me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There are over 2,700,000,000
people who have never heard the Gospel at all, and there are only 5,000 to 7,000
missionaries worldwide who work directly with these totally unreached groups of
people. That means <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">there is
approximately only ONE missionary for every 450,000 of these people!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Jesus was not
exaggerating when He said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest
field.” –Matthew 9:37-38<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Will you help send us?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Here is how you can specifically
help:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Prayer:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Pray for us as we make this leap of
faith, raising funds, trusting in God, and being filled with all joy and peace
as we faithfully follow in the footsteps of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray Ephesians 6:19-20 over us: “Pray also
for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly
make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.
Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Encouragement:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Peter and I both need encouragement as we
stand boldly in truth that God will provide for us-- anything from text
messages of bible verses, a short call with words of wisdom, blog comments, and
even Facebook posts that lift us up and encourage us as we walk daily with God
and have our faith tested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Financial Support:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Please pray about this! If
you want to make a donation, please let me know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are currently setting up a final meeting
with the leadership board of our church to see if we can have an account with
them so that any donations we receive would be tax-deductible (looks promising,
just need to work out a few formalities).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As of right now, if you were to give, it would be straight to me and
Peter and we have an account for our YWAM funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please either comment on here, or email me at
<a href="mailto:stephotis@yahoo.com"><span style="color: blue;">stephotis@yahoo.com</span></a> for mailing information.<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">One-time
donations and monthly donations would both be wonderful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Any amount AT ALL would be a HUGE blessing
to us!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Breakdown of due dates (for both of us, total):<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">DTS (Australia): <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"><<<
This installment is a DIRE NEED right now, these due dates are getting close!</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Sept </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">23- $<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1,400</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Oct 1- $<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">,300</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Outreach (Asia):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Nov 11- $<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4,000</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Dec 25- $<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4,000<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Other Expenses:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">-Airfare to and from Australia: approx. $<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2,000</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">-International Health Insurance: up to $<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1,000</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">-Monthly expenses while in Australia & Asia:
approx. $<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">100-200</b>/month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Thank you for taking the time to read all of
this, it means SO much to us that you are taking an interest in what God is
doing in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been so
amazing to us, and I can only hope that you continue to stay throughout this
journey with us and see God move in some amazing ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hope to make God known throughout the
nations with our lives, and this is just the beginning! Please pray about
becoming part of our support team—we need you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Love you guys!!</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.ywam.org/">http://www.ywam.org/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ywammedia.com/ywamwhitsunday.com/dts.html">http://www.ywammedia.com/ywamwhitsunday.com/dts.html</a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-59324030645301855802013-05-28T12:22:00.004-07:002013-05-28T12:23:43.406-07:00Walking by Faith, Not by Sight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8By1YUsw46T6DAH3TQWDZ_VbLTJVcs0wmhrUcAcuyLW_1ADIf_F37B4A333QSpFwFszox2U3t3ryFJIHtnStwNALOqWRljxYovZMfQnTYxXN-NMuHlBdvg-kxnldRH-0eg4Hjvb0qLaQW/s1600/faith.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8By1YUsw46T6DAH3TQWDZ_VbLTJVcs0wmhrUcAcuyLW_1ADIf_F37B4A333QSpFwFszox2U3t3ryFJIHtnStwNALOqWRljxYovZMfQnTYxXN-NMuHlBdvg-kxnldRH-0eg4Hjvb0qLaQW/s640/faith.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you know that </span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God has AMAZING plans
for your life? Plans you could NEVER dream of?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the best part? He gives us all we need to accomplish these plans in
our lives, along with grace, hope, and peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He gives us the strength to carry out His will for our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gives us REST when we need it the most...
He is our greatest comforter.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="text"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="text">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My
thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 115%;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">“And
my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.</span><br />
<span class="text"><sup>9 </sup>For just as the heavens are higher than the
earth,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">so
my ways are higher than your ways</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and
my thoughts higher than your thoughts. –Isaiah 55:8-9</span></span></div>
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I
am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a
gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. –John 14:27</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Faith is the confidence that what we hope
for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. –Hebrews
11:1</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For we
walk by faith, not by <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">sight.</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> -2 Corinthians 5:7</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What’s the catch?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can only live out this amazing life God has planned for us, if we
live it out by faith.</span></span></span></div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Berylium; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Faith is ‘the confidence that what we hope for will
actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see’.</span></span></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let’s look at Hebrews chapter 11...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed
at God’s command, that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">what we now see
did not come from anything that can be seen.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone
who wants to come to him <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">must believe
that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7 It was by faith that Noah <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">built a large boat</b> to save his family from the flood. He <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">obeyed God</b>...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">8 It was by faith that Abraham <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">obeyed</b> when God called him to leave home and go to another land
that God would give him as his inheritance<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.
He went without knowing</b> where he was going... Abraham was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">confidently looking forward</b> to a city
with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This chapter goes on to show the immense faith of those who
believed in God’s promises: Sarah believed that God would keep His promise and
bring her a child, Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son because of the
immense faith he had in God, Jacob blessed his children because of his faith, Joseph
proclaimed that the people of Israel would leave Egypt, Moses left Egypt not
fearing the king’s anger, and finally, Rahab protected the disciples and in
doing so, was not destroyed with the rest of her people in her city who refused
to obey God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These people showed great
faith in God, without being able to SEE how everything was going to work out
for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They believed; they trusted.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Berylium; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God, let us trust you with this kind of
faith.</span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love verse 27! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘It
was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger.
He kept right on going because he <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">kept
his eyes on the one who is invisible</b>.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What faith Moses had to not even care what the king would do
to him, but to just continue to trust in the one true GOD.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It then goes on to explain what feats people made by having
faith in God, and also what consequences they had to endure for doing so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though God has set before us an amazing
journey doing His will, it WILL cost us... and sometimes, the cost is our lives
(whether that be giving up your own plans for your life, or giving up your
physical life).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it worth it to you?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All of these people did these things BY
FAITH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was by faith that they lived
fully for God and were blessed beyond measure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The following were the characteristics of these people of great faith:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">followed God’s call solely by faith not knowing where they were going</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">sacrificed for God and gave him acceptable offerings</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">lived righteous lives</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">pleased God</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">believed God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">their actions showed they served Him</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">confidently looked forward</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">believed God would keep His promise</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">agreed they were foreigners and nomads here on this earth</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">always were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">they were not afraid</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">suffered for the sake of Christ</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">kept their eyes on God</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">obeyed in the midst of terrifying circumstances</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">obeyed and followed God even when no one else could understand</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do any of these things portray the type of
faith that you have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why or why
not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can you do to become more like
these great pillars of faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
remember—all of these people had struggles, made mistakes, and had major
weaknesses to overcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, their
weaknesses turned to strength through their faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us who claim to have faith live out our
lives like this! Don’t miss out on God’s blessings and plans for your life
because of disobedience or fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">God has amazing plans for your life (and
mine, too!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be scared to take that
step, to listen to that still, small voice, or to respond to that little tug on
your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Just because you can't "see" something happening or it doesn't make much sense, doesn't mean it isn't God's will for your life.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Don’t delay; respond to God
in faith today.</span></span></span></div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-63140064259248127902013-04-04T09:23:00.001-07:002013-04-04T09:23:11.520-07:00What Next?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3nojAZANRveZTEYa_oZKh5Uhwy6HLSteWBpUGJYc9yP0N8jYgM0iv3cajEIsl-gkHDmbkp0hAjbrixJCQdP4VD8Gfo_n_gJGs40BhIZy8Hn1rMfW3t_JepY4LHp-UMxn5FIJncZAZjvA/s1600/fork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3nojAZANRveZTEYa_oZKh5Uhwy6HLSteWBpUGJYc9yP0N8jYgM0iv3cajEIsl-gkHDmbkp0hAjbrixJCQdP4VD8Gfo_n_gJGs40BhIZy8Hn1rMfW3t_JepY4LHp-UMxn5FIJncZAZjvA/s640/fork.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As my heart gets heavier and heavier, I feel compelled to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lately, I have been contemplating my current situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be in the center of God’s will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want that more than anything because I know that when I am focused on God; when He is #1 in my life; when I truly am seeking Him... then that is when I am in the center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am in the center of my God’s perfect will and that is where I can find all the fullness of joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what I want in my life: joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want peace and a passion for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I desire to give myself to the work that God has planned out for my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God says that He knows all of our days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This gives me hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope that God is in control and He KNOWS my entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And right now... I feel like it’s come to a fork in the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether that means that I need to completely change my course, or if that means I need to stop and wait for direction, I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess that’s what God means when He says to trust Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust that He will guide us in the right direction in His perfect timing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is the question of my life—what is God’s timing? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When do we know when God says... “Okay, this is next”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it some secret point in our lives that when God says “go” you better get your butt moving and go?! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think so... I’m slowly realizing that God WANTS us to know his timing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He WANTS us to know His will and to seek Him and to KNOW that we are pleasing Him with our lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the epitome of His love for us—that He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That He will guide us, protect us, stick by our side, and have our backs even when no one else does.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I guess this is just my struggle right now. I want to know so badly that what I am doing in my life is pleasing to Him... and maybe that’s right where I need to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maybe standing in the midst of not knowing my future and not knowing what’s next is where God’s perfect will resides.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maybe not having everything figured out and living the perfect, cookie-cutter, American-standard way of life is how God wants me to live my life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maybe, JUST MAYBE... this is what He would want from all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do you have joy and passion in your life? What you spend the majority of your time doing... is it using the gifts that God has given you to glorify Him with? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you being all He created you to be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in return, are you finding peace and joy in those things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or is your life just a constant cat and mouse chase of making more money, getting a higher degree, or buying the nicest house or fanciest car and hoping that ONE DAY you’ll be able to say that you are “set” for life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does that even mean?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Is your life spent constantly worrying about your future, trying to figure out every single step of the way, and not trusting that God has it all in His hands?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These are the things that have been on my heart. These are the things I know are my struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what if I don’t know my future? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what if I don’t have the best job in the world or make the most money or drive the nicest car or even own a home? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is home anyway? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aren’t we supposed to make heaven our destination and this world just a temporary place where we can spread His name while honoring and glorifying Him in the midst of our circumstances? Isn’t this world just a constant coming and going of life events that either make us or break us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> What is our purpose? </span>What is this life for anyway?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Having a nice house?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Having a college degree?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Having a perfect family?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Being the healthiest, most active person?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Being perfectly in style and up-to-date with fashion?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Owning the newest smart phone and having all the apps humanly possible?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Looking like you have it all together?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And if these things are the reason for living... what fulfillment is found in them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My heart has been so heavy lately because I see myself being pulled toward this world and frankly—this is NOT my home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am yearning for God to teach me to just TRUST.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust He has me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust He will work things out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust He has something absolutely amazing in store for my life... so much more than it is right now; so much more than I can think of or even imagine; a life that radically shows that He is God of all; a life that honors Him and fills me to the core of my being... and not forgetting to be thankful during this time of waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has my life and my heart and He will guide me and won’t let me mess everything up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And He promises to do this in the lives of those who love Him... so that means you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will help you just like He is helping me through this journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am just looking for His direction and waiting on His timing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-28961216238867352202013-03-30T11:58:00.002-07:002013-03-30T20:36:35.316-07:00Clean Eating<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0px;">On my journey to taking care of myself, I dedicated a large portion of my time to reading more about how to live a healthy lifestyle. This led me to understand more than I ever have about food. </span><span style="font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;">I started learning about how terrible processed foods are for your body, and I have actually realized how horrible they make me feel. Also, my lack of exercise had been contributing to some intense mood swings and a general feeling of being "down". So... here are the things that I have learned and that I am trying to following and incorporate into my eating habits:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Eat 5-6 small meals every day (breakfast is the most important)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Eat every 3 hours</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Always combine a lean protein with a complex carb at each meal</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Drink. More. Water.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Plan & prep your meals; not planning = failed meals</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Always avoid over-processed, refined foods</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Avoid sugar-saturated juice, alcohol, and especially sodas</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Depend on more fresh fruits and veggies for your nutrition:)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Portion control!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You obviously can’t eat 6 meals a day unless they are “smaller” than the huge, standard American three meals a day looks like. SO. This means smaller, more controlled meals every 3 hours that include a lean protein with a complex carb.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Lean Protein? –<a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/276808-examples-of-lean-protein-foods/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">http://www.livestrong.com/article/276808-examples-of-lean-protein-foods/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Complex Carb? –<a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/27398-list-complex-carbohydrates-foods/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">http://www.livestrong.com/article/27398-list-complex-carbohydrates-foods/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Plan your meals for the week. This helps when you have JUST gone grocery shopping and can prepare (prep) for the week. Always, always wash and cut all your fruits and veggies right when you get home from grocery shopping and bake anything you need to (like amazing, healthy sweet (or purple) potatoes that should be a huge staple in your diet). This helps you to not have to prepare each small meal during a busy work week.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Portion Control</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">5-6 small meals a day. YES, eat more often! This is basically how our bodies ‘should’ be telling us how to eat... but society and a huge lack of portion control has made us all unaware of how terrible we are treating our bodies! Here is the correct portion sizes you should be eating at each meal:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Yea… society def. isn’t following this… but should be!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Healthy Staples</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Always try to get your food closest to it’s natural state as possible. This means less processing and less loss of nutrients. Try to avoid white flours, sugars, etc.</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">honey (my #1 go-to sweetener)</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">agave nectar (found near peanut butter or in baking aisle)</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">100% pure maple syrup (not “pancake syrup”)</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">truvia/stevia packets (natural sweeteners found in baking aisle)</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">stevia drops (found in health food stores)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #666666;">brown rice</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #666666;">quinoa</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #666666;">chia seeds</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #666666;">flax</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">oats (quick or old fashioned)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">coconut oil (instead of butter or canola/vegetable/olive oils)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">almond milk</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">bananas</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">greek yogurt</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">egg whites (usually use a whole egg and then extra egg whites to bump up protein in recipes)</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Helpful Sites</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.picklee.com/2012/08/01/recipe-substitutions/"><span style="color: #666666;">http://www.picklee.com/2012/08/01/recipe-substitutions/</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/our-free-meal-plans/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/our-free-meal-plans/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.heandsheeatclean.com/2012/07/weekly-food-prep.html">http://www.heandsheeatclean.com/2012/07/weekly-food-prep.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.heandsheeatclean.com/p/the-lifestyle.html">http://www.heandsheeatclean.com/p/the-lifestyle.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Examples of food prep</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">hard boiled eggs</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">sautéed zucchini and squash (I add tons of herbs to mine)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">steamed broccoli/grilled asparagus (or any veggies)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">baked sweet potatoes (super good for you!)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">a crock pot recipe/casserole recipe that will last you a while </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">whole coconut for the antioxidant water and grated flesh for recipes</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">chicken breasts (plain or in a recipe)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">greek yogurt and frozen fruit in baggies for quick smoothies (add in fresh baby spinach leaves, honey, ground flax seeds/chia seeds, and almond milk)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">brown rice/quinoa/whole grain pasta</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">baked spaghetti squash, ground turkey, and red sauce (for a super healthy spaghetti meal)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">cut up all of your fruits and veggies to snack on throughout the week</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Me and my husband usually prep every two weeks (since we are on a budget and just have to make it last a while right now) and make a trip to the grocery store in between for fresh produce.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Typical day of eating in my life</span></div>
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<b>Breakfast</b>- Oats with whole milk, honey, 1/2 banana, chia seeds, and flax; OJ; coffee with homemade creamer</span></div>
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<b>Mid-morning snack</b>- greek yogurt, mandarin orange, green tea</span></div>
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<b>Lunch</b>- lean protein and complex carb. For example-- sweet potato, chicken, and zucchini. Or maybe just PB&J and hard boiled egg... and water every day at lunch.</span></div>
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<b>Afternoon snack</b>- whole wheat muffin and a banana</span></div>
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<b>Post-workout</b>—protein shake and maybe another muffin (sometimes I usually just eat dinner if we are going directly home from gym)</span></div>
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<b>Dinner</b>- Turkey meatloaf, asparagus, zucchini, and milk.</span></div>
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<b>Dessert</b>- greek yogurt, cottage cheese, almond/peanut butter, & granola on top (maybe.. I usually don’t want a meal after dinner unless we had a really tiring gym day) **note—do not eat this if you are not working out regularly. This is high calorie and high fat, which I need because I sometimes have trouble eating enough throughout the day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And that’s my day! I don’t eat perfectly each day and I know my downfall is not planning/prepping enough so I am working on that! I know planning a week’s worth of meals seems like a lot but if you just have a couple hours one day a week or so to do it, it’ll save time in the long run. But if not... just try planning one or two days at a time!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This way of eating has definitely made a difference in my energy and how I feel in general. A book that has helped me tremendously is The Eating Clean Diet (it says diet and fat loss, but it has good tips in general for just a healthy lifestyle): <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Eat-Clean-Diet-Recharged-Lasting/dp/1552100677/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360605805&sr=8-1&keywords=eat+clean">http://www.amazon.com/The-Eat-Clean-Diet-Recharged-Lasting/dp/1552100677/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360605805&sr=8-1&keywords=eat+clean</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Also-- I can’t stress enough how imperative exercise is. Exercise strengthens your immune system and positively effects your emotional responses to everyday life. Strength training is specifically important because it boosts your metabolism and continues to burn energy while you are resting (while your body is repairing itself, building muscle). Don’t leave this part of healthy living out of your lifestyle!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I hope this information helps! For more recipes and tips, visit my Meal Plan board on Pinterest for inspiration: <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/stephotis/food-tips-meal-plans/">http://pinterest.com/stephotis/food-tips-meal-plans/</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My Instagram feed also has a lot of my recipes I've personally made too: </span>http://instagram.com/stephanieotis/<br />
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-84346565914669752722013-03-27T06:43:00.002-07:002013-04-04T09:44:27.552-07:00Take Captive Every Thought<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;">Thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can encourage us or tear us down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They give life and death to our situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thoughts are the fuel to the actions we make and can direct our lives in either a positive or negative way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;">Thought, as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the action or process of thinking... a serious consideration... reasoning POWER... a developed INTENTION or PLAN... the intellectual product or the organized VIEWS and PRINCIPLES of a period, place, group, or individual.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems to me that thoughts are pretty important in our lives and weigh heavily on our actions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;">Numerous studies have shown that thoughts have a direct impact on our attitude, understanding, and our dealings with other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why it is so important to make sure we are aware of our thoughts and what we let run through our minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the very reason that Paul heads to the church of Corinth to demolish LIES and false things that they might be led to believe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul tells us to imprison our thoughts and to make them obedient to Christ, the light and TRUTH of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you choose—whether to believe lies or to believe the truth that sets us free.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Calibri;">We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"> –2 Corinthians 10:5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Copperplate Gothic Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #666666;">To “take captive” implies that we make our thoughts prisoners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are not free to just roam our minds uncontrolled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are kept within the bounds of the truth of Christ... they need to be controlled and directed by His truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">true</b>, whatever is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">noble</b>, whatever is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">right</b>, whatever is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pure</b>, whatever is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">lovely</b>, whatever is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">admirable</b>—if anything is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">excellent</b> or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">praiseworthy</b>—think about such things. –</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Philippians 4:8<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">true</b>? (What is true about you and your situation?) <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">noble</b>? (How can you handle this situation in a noble way?) <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">right</b>? (Is there a righteous response to this fear?) <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pure</b>? (How can you respond in a way to keep your heart devoted to God?) <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">lovely</b>? (How can this fear be worked for good?) <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">admirable</b>? (Who has overcome a similar fear: how did they do it?) <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">excellent</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">praiseworthy</b>? (How can you respond in a way that keeps you from sin and brings praise and glory to God?) </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">“God often uses pain as a means of drawing our attention off ourselves and on to Him. It is a beautiful process for us to see this pain as a means of helping us refocus our attention on our Savior, who is our provider and source of strength... this is all a part of the sanctifying process. Jesus promises the peace that surpasses all understanding. This does not mean a perfect, pain-free [life], but rather the calmness to embrace God as your strength.” -</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/05/embracing-the-pain-letting-go-of-fear-in-childbirth.html">Passionate Homemaking</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Copperplate Gothic Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #666666;">And you know what God promises to those who fix their thoughts on Him? Perfect peace. That is what I want for me and for you; peace is what I yearn for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Calibri;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. --Isaiah 26:3</i></span></span></div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-91238077128639452082013-03-21T13:02:00.000-07:002013-04-04T09:44:59.738-07:00Cloudy Days<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Euphorigenic S'; font-size: 28pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-alt: 18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today started out like my work days usually do—woke up way too late, threw my hair up in a bun, off to work in the dark. I am not a morning person whatsoever, yet this morning in particular I felt more energized than usual. Going to the gym and eating clean has helped me feel so good. I originally was going to write a blog post on the fact that I feel so much better, my moods have improved, etc... and then something happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure what time it was, but my day just went all downhill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why I felt down or sad or annoyed, but I just did. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wanted to go home and sleep the day away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not normal for me, at least not lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so discouraging to feel this way, especially when I have been feeling so good lately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess it’s just one of those days—one where it feels like everything is just hitting you in the face and no one else in the world understands. One of those days where it seems like a dark cloud is surrounding you and won’t leave you alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s just my attitude, or maybe it’s just the fact that I feel like my life isn’t really moving into a new direction as fast as I had hoped it would.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe God is trying to teach me something in my pain and in my waiting. I hope so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know He has bigger plans for my life than I have for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that what I am going through right now is only preparing me for something in my life that I cannot yet see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life sometimes can be hard; it can be full of disappointments and days that never end; full of heartache and frustrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is when I just have to trust and know that the God of the universe has everything under control even when I feel like giving up on everything and everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-40181850618220550832013-02-05T06:31:00.002-08:002013-04-04T09:45:07.559-07:00Nothing Left<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkld5kcwS9_r68wxfn9ySILYe-4Fh81wQAU5wyFUC8G3IBjIFpAHPNZvovBXc4maVs6dAL6vjoaq0ACeoxCQYlJn9dhYdD5pUuGy76TfLm5EVsvCm_zIYAzbgmhlhdn8dh0cn9yrZMQzh/s1600/elvie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkld5kcwS9_r68wxfn9ySILYe-4Fh81wQAU5wyFUC8G3IBjIFpAHPNZvovBXc4maVs6dAL6vjoaq0ACeoxCQYlJn9dhYdD5pUuGy76TfLm5EVsvCm_zIYAzbgmhlhdn8dh0cn9yrZMQzh/s640/elvie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you ever wonder if you have life figured out right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you know if you think of life, it’s circumstances, and the people in it, in the way that you should? I am looking through some blogs tonight and seeing others spending their life wandering around this beautiful world and writing about how amazing it is. They write about how inspiring it is to see how other people live. And my heart longs to do the same. My hearts pulls towards leaving America, the land of the privileged and self-centered; the land that I call home; the beautiful land where I have come to love... and the land that has shaped who I am and how I think of this world. Yet-- I am left wondering if I have it all wrong. And I know at times that I do.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want a life full of true joy and fulfillment. Not in things, but in people and in relationships.</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to be used up completely before I leave this beautiful world. I want to stand (or kneel) in front of my God and know that He is proud of me-- that He is proud that I took life’s opportunities and ran with them, spreading His love and truth to each and every corner of this earth.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to see the joy on children’s faces when they see that this little, blonde, American girl who can’t speak their language came so far to see them specifically. I want to hold their hands and walk with them, all the while wondering why they trust me so easily and quickly. I just want to sit next to them, and as they slowly scoot closer and closer to me, smile to myself as I feel, once in my life, right where I need to be.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to hug the women who have such joy and peace in their life even if they don’t have shoes on their feet. I want to see their smiles-- their wrinkled, tired, faces that reflect the grace of God. I don’t want to miss out on this wonderful life. It’s too short, too beautiful, and too full of amazing people and opportunities to see God work in and through others.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For now, I will keep hoping for these things and that I can also be used right where I am.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">**this picture is of a little boy, Elvie, I just fell completely in love with on my first mission trip to Guatemala. I went back to his town on my last trip and was heartbroken to find out that he had moved to Guatemala city... I can only pray that God would keep him safe there and grow up to be a wonderful man of integrity.</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1482829854587643514.post-57240595368518682282013-02-02T21:13:00.001-08:002013-04-04T09:45:13.753-07:00Lingering<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1hYAHybkKWIwVmIgmYmRRKQkftqaIswuGkSB9cDvY9Ay-jEkC9vZ-xPVlTX1szLot9IMI12CXObiW4QLCQcFOPEKqR0KUU5gMYFIFO8KAFg79fkrQRKygHubvjaX3L3XFUwbUMfJqtSC/s1600/itl6k6mj64mt0kast6p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1hYAHybkKWIwVmIgmYmRRKQkftqaIswuGkSB9cDvY9Ay-jEkC9vZ-xPVlTX1szLot9IMI12CXObiW4QLCQcFOPEKqR0KUU5gMYFIFO8KAFg79fkrQRKygHubvjaX3L3XFUwbUMfJqtSC/s640/itl6k6mj64mt0kast6p1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sitting here in my living room and my mind won’t stop going over the past year and how I have hurt a lot of people. I think of the ways I could have handled these certain situations differently over and over again in my mind-- but I can’t change anything. I can’t take back what I’ve done to others-- things I’ve said, things I’ve neglected to say. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The hurt I’ve been through is used as a victimization excuse to extend that coldness to others.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I try not to mimic the people in my life that have let me down... I try to not be like those who have turned their backs on me... yet I have. I have been those people and I have shown this coldness to some very dear people in my life. If you are one of those people-- I am dearly sorry. I am sorry that I let my hurt hurt you in return. I wish I could wind back time and do it all over again. I wish I could put myself in your shoes in that moment that I broke your heart to pieces and remind myself that I have felt that too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that brokenness lingers still. But I can’t take back what’s been done. I am deeply sorry and I don’t expect anything to change or anything in return.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each time I have hurt someone else, it’s usually been because of my arrogance, pride, or just because I’m honestly hurt. I have learned, and am still learning, to look at this life through the eyes of others. To show others grace, kindness and a love that is indescribable and pierces through every relational circumstance. I am still learning and still failing horribly at times. My only hope is that God (and people) will have patience with me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And here I am in my living room, sitting on my comfy couch with my sweet kitty at my feet and my mind is racing.</span></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317813416919447554noreply@blogger.com0