It's New Years time! 

That means its time for reflecting on 2013 and possibly drawing up hopes for the coming year. Been there! Faith & I attempted to do so with you all here on the blog (lessons learned & all). So what is my goal for 2014? 

To trust God moment by moment.

Okay that may sound a little cliche as some may say :). But telling a planner, goal-oriented, do-er like me to walk besides God and not ahead of Him is quite the task. 

But planners of America or Senegal (if you're reading Faith =]) we have two choices:

Walk on our own and miss out on the growth that allows us to trust God greater in the future or the opposite.

You see I could try to micromanage my future; what kind of physician I'll be and where I'll work, who I'll marry, what I'll do to serve God three years from now, etc. But most of my current thoughts on these matters are in vain. Not because they are not important to me or to God, but because God has already written these things for my life. NOT to say God does not want us to plan and make goals (if they align with His Will and we are not stepping before Him).

So what exactly does God want us to do? I love how Galatians puts it, He wants us to keep in step with His Spirit. ("If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25). The Greek verb used in this verse translates to walk in a line behind a leader. I can picture a young child following their parent who is always slightly ahead of them; sometimes a couple steps further then the child would like; but when they look up they know that they are never alone. 

Not only will living life by the Spirit help me to know and trust God more today, but it will produce in me daily the fruits of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

If you want to weigh benefits and cost here: walking in love and patience will far more benefit said future husband than me pondering our possible meeting.... & faithfulness and kindness produced through God's Spirit will serve my future patients far greater than a well thought out 5 year career plan could.

My point is we often don't think about how our daily chose to love and trust God will have an impact on our future. Francis Chan said it best."The decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which we submit to the Spirit right now, in today's decisions."

So here's to daily learning to submit to God's Spirit in 2014 and until I'm perfected in Christ. 
                              Happy New Year, Love Steph

I am 5 weeks into med school! Agh I know when and how did that happen. The Lord knew exactly where to place me, even as I struggled with the insecurity of not knowing, and I am loving it. I love learning daily and being challenged even when that means receiving an overwhelming amount of material daily (which we do!). I love the people; the faculty, staff, my classmates, patients in the community. (side note: I'm in love with the geriatric population in my city,  watch out peds). I love knowing that I'm ankle deep (if even) into starting the career that I have desired to pursue since I was a child. This is an important thing to remind myself during the sleepless night & long days. It has been a long journey getting to this point and I should never run out of things to be grateful for.

As challenging and exciting that these weeks of change have been, I have to ask/remind myself: how does the gospel interplay in my new role as a med student? 

We often feel comfortable living out the gospel  in well defined ministry roles, but fail to contemplate how its truths penetrate every area of our lives as a believer. How I speak, act, and show love towards others. My ambitions and daily motivations. How I respond to criticism, and more. 

I scroll through my friends pictures who are embarking on months of overseas missions or planting churches in unreached cities across the U.S. and as much as I am excited for them my heart can often become envious. 

I know that I am not alone, in this world of figuring out how to live as Christ's disciple outside of a commonly defined ministry role.

I don't have all the answers, or even many at that, but I do know one thing. Whether in med school, working at an office, teaching children, or working as a missionary in a third world country. As believers we are called to preach, convey, savor, and live out the gospel. As I learn what that looks like in my life as a first year medical student, I echo Paul's request for prayer:

"and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:19-20

-Steph

On the rare occasion that I remember my dream, it is almost certain that my dream will contain some sort of normality to it. Going out to eat with some friends or studying for a test, my dreams are often so realistic that I have a hard time remembering what was a dream and what may have been a distant memory. 

When I think about the dreams and hopes I have for my life, I wonder if I often keep my dreams simple and so close to reality to avoid disappointment of them not being fulfilled. But that is not how God want me to live my life. 

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

First, my hopes and expectations should be in The Lord, not anything else. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20. Secondly, as His child my life is perfectly orchestrated within His sovereign will. So even though I'm granted the opportunity to dream up things in my heart and plan (whether big or small), it is God who carries out the perfect plan for me.

This is so exciting to me as God has given me many HUGE dreams for my life, most of which at the moment I cannot even imagine how they will come to reality. But what's sweeter than a great unforeseen dream coming to life?

-Stephanie

I thought it only fair to follow up such a wordy post with an update on my life these past 3 months, and there's no better way to catch up then to show some pictures, so let the good times roll....

Between my normal day to day (you know cooking, teaching English to Spanish families, doing Diabetes data analysis research, and hanging out with crazy friends). I have been,

Experiencing the indecisive, oscillating weather of Nashville, Tennessee. That's right sunny and warm, tornado warnings, and 30 degree icy snowfall all within one week. Not complaining about this beautiful white sight though.

Working on my only official New Years Resolution for the year (how is everybody doing on those btw?): Becoming a SALSERA, or in more practical terms working on improving my Latin dancing skills. Not such a bad goal when I have beautiful, fun, and incredible dancing Erin by my side.

Interviewing at med schools across the country. (Thankful to God for the opportunities and provisions to do so). I have visited and learned about different schools that I would love to attend, and I look forward to seeing where the Lord will place me in the year to come. Greatest of all, I got to see some of my favorite faces in these different cities including all my NY family, my brother and sis in South Florida, in the week to come I will see my Tazzy boo, other brother, and mom, and pictured above is my best friend, Caro, and adorable nephew, Essie (who is growing up way too fast!)

I've also been enjoying life here in Nashville. Learning new things about the city and people that I meet here daily! I have such an amazing community at my church that I am honestly taken aback by daily, but I'm so grateful to God! We are all so different, and I love that! At this one beautiful day in the park celebrating Jenny's birthday, I tried Bocce ball, Wiffle ball, and Slacklining all for the first time!

Lastly, but definitely not least! My favorite season is approaching us. SPRING officially begins tomorrow. I am so excited for warmer weather and tons of beautiful flowers, who are apparently very ready to spring out as well!

That is all for now! May the peace of Christ be with you,

Love Steph

Do you suffer well?

In a world where we are constantly avoiding any hardships in our lives it is absolutely counter-culture to embrace suffering. But what exactly does the Bible say on this?

First in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' time on this Earth it is clear that He suffered for our sake.


"And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again." Mark 8:31

As followers of Christ we are also called to pick up our cross and emulate our savior.


"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

This is reiterated throughout the New Testament where the apostles challenges us to suffer for Christ's sake.





"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake," Philippians 1:29


"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled," 1 Peter 3:13-14

Now why do we suffer? Like previously stated we suffer for Christ's sake and God's glory. (Romans 9:36)

But the often encouraging thing for me is that we, believers in Christ, are ensured that our suffering is never done in vain. Suffering stirs up and develops fruits of the spirit within us like many other things cannot. So much so that we are told to rejoice in our suffering:





"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5


"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4 

And lastly nothing on this Earth, neither trial nor finite tastes of joy can ever amount to the exceeding pleasure and glory that we will discover for eternity in heaven (Romans 8:18)

Has the idea that we should not only avoid running from suffering, but embrace it been convinced to you yet? If your anything like me you still have a hard time grasping this, and I am in continual prayer for God to help me understand how to suffer well.

Lately, I feel like I have not suffered well, I have taken refuge in complaining and have been lacking in my ability to love others. Specifically, finding little joy in the process of waiting to hear an answer about medical school. However I am so grateful that where sin abounds, grace abounds even greater.

I am thankful that as I learn how to suffer as Jesus' has called me to, His very Spirit will never leave my side.
I may not be flying through trials, but I can take one step at a time.

"A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting"- Oswald Chambers

-Steph

This is a part of the sermon my pastor preached last Sunday ....

"She said to the people back in her village: “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did” (John 4:29).  She didn't say, “Well, I admitted a few sins, some little ones, to see how he’d react.”  No, he told her everything she’d ever done, and he still loved her.  So she wasn't afraid of those people any more.  She felt loved and confident and free.  That was the living water flowing out of her heart." 

Isn't that what we all want out of love, whether professing to believe in Christ or not, I believe as humans we all wish to be known. The very thought of that reality sparks a fire of curiosity, longing, and fear in my heart. If you are anything like me or the Samaritan woman in John 4, you spend most of your days concealing who you are at the deepest level. At the end of the day what does that get me? Approval? Success? I don't want those things, I want to love and be loved with a great authenticity, and whether within family, friendships, a relationship, I have recognized that this love can only be sprung from Christ. Though Jesus knows all I have ever done, He still invites me to forsake my known ways of sin and receive the gift that will produce a spring of life within me. Through Christ's death, I share in the holiness of God, our perfect creator who knows no sin. In my sin; He loved me, and because of that no matter how bashful my human heart may be; I am transformed to become confident and free; first in Christ and then with others on this Earth. What a gift. 

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.” - Tim Keller

Ephesians 3:19 "and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

-Steph

First for some incredibly, adorable baby nephew time. The picture below was captured within the very few minutes when I met him, and as stated the wait was more than worth it. He is the best and I adore him.

Let me allow his cuteness to speak for itself...

Yes, practically a little man, right? I can't wait to kiss him again in a few weeks!

Whoa only a few weeks! Fall is winding down, December has quickly arrived and it's officially the holiday season. In part, I am sad because Fall in Tennessee is beautiful (ask Faith she witnessed it for herself). I enjoyed seeing the hundreds of leaves change colors on warm, breezy afternoons and sitting around the campfire collecting the smell of firewood on chilly nights. Now most trees are bare of their beauty and though the weather is strangely reminiscent of Florida's non-decisive climate, warm afternoons have long departed.

Something that is exciting for this time of year is that I have been able to celebrate the Christmas season with my roommates. Our house though not decked out with lighting from top to bottom (lets be real we are 20 something women in a big house). Our beautiful Christmas tree (my first ever) proudly stands before our front window for all the neighborhood to see.

Most people show sympathy for me when I tell them that I did not grow up celebrating the "traditional" Christmas. We did not decorate, exchange gifts, or cook a large dinner. For the past couple of years we have been attending a church service on Christmas Eve and going out to watch a movie on Christmas day. This is the most "traditional" we have been since I can remember. 

Not being wrapped up in gift giving and jingle bell ringing, has afforded me two great gifts. When I do share this season's traditions with others, I appreciate the smallest of things. Putting up a tree has not lost its excitement nor has sitting down to grand dinner or watching Christmas pageants  It has also given me a truer perspective on why we celebrate this holiday. 

Not to say that Christmas songs and sales are wrong, but as my roommate and I were discussing, knowing Christ drastically changes the feelings and truth that surround singing songs about His birth. Do you ever stop and really think about the implication that Christ's birth had? Whether the date was December 25, January 6, or during the middle of the summer, Christ birth meant the arrival of a King, a fulfillment of a prophecy that would change the world and bring hope to all nations. 

I was so in awe of God when hearing one line in the song "Joy to the World," 'He rules the world with truth and grace.' A king, not one that has come from this Earth, but God Himself made man came as a baby confined to the flesh and helplessness that comes with being so. And when his kingdom is established, how does he decide to rule? With TRUTH & GRACE! When have you ever heard of a high authority in our world ruling with truth? Barely ever, in America our political system is known to be riddled with deceit  And grace? Our world functions on the notion of people getting what they deserve (unless it is ourselves, of course). We have warped the idea of justice to fit into our own limited mental capacity, completely destroying true justice, God's.

"Let Earth Receive Her King." That is my prayer this holiday season. Not that those who long for gifts or a physical companion would receive those things, but that those who are lost, and do not know Christ, our true king, will come to know him.

Luke 2:10-11 "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"

-Love, Steph