Ah Jesus. When I have literally nothing will I praise you? This has been my prayer this week since Leadership Pipeline in my church. There I was shown a video where the pastor basically said "Man with many things and God is the same as a man who just had God". I personally was speechless to that statement. Because I thought to myself, doesn't God want me to be happy. So why would he not give me my heart desire in the world then to just take it all away.

Yet, I look at this video and below and my heart is just broken. The whole country of Haiti declares three days of fasting and prayer. Hearts are renewed as the Holy spirit literally gives them a heart to cry out to the Lord and be comforted. If he takes it all from me am I going to be mad and hurt or cry out to my father for his comfort and rescue? Watching this video gave me the answer. They stilled cried out no matter what!

~Faith

Haiti - "A Call To Fasting & Prayer" from anthony gehin on Vimeo.

OK so If you know me, I mean know me know me you know I have an absolute love for birthdays. I don't know why?? A whole new year of life & blessings always excites me. I did it all, counted down starting 2 months ahead, claimed the month/week/ and day as mine. Every time it was someone else's birthday I was completely thrilled for them (sometimes even more than them). Growing up I never really had big birthday parties, I could probably count 3 from my memory. Even though I would jump to tell everyone when my birthday was I never expected anything big. All that would ever put a smile on my face was a "happy birthday!"(and my mami usually got me an ice cream cake and cooked my favorite dinner, which was SO American compared to our every day dinners) But this year things feels different. And I don't feel as if I've outgrown these "silly" traditions (clearly they make perfect sense =]). I just feel complete! I know that I can look to every day with the same excitement and joy as I do on January 10 every year, and I know this is only due to the love of Christ. I am so satisfied, and unsatisfied at the same time it hardly makes sense. Satisfied because little by little I am understanding that He is enough. He fulfills my every desire, calms my every fear, knows all my hearts longings. What else can a girl ask for?! He truly is the lover of my soul. At the same time I'm unsatisfied because I want more! More of Jesus, of God's word. I want to become the women that is reflected from God's eyes. A women who finds all I need in a God, I'm completely in Love with.

-Stephanie

It is such a beautiful day today, I mean so nice that I’m sitting outside in the same sun I’m usually running away from! I feel breeze and I’m taking advantage because it is so scarce in Gainesville. One thing (of the million kajillion) things that the Lord has been revealing to me lately it to be grateful about all things, no matter how great or small. And to abstain from complaining … [pauses]... YES complaining, the thing I’m so used to indulging in. I think complaining became such a habit and characteristic of myself, that I hardly saw the wrong in it.

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.” Phillipians 2:14-15.

Now some verses I have to ponder over and ask God to reveal what he really wants me to take from them, but this one is simply stated. STOP complaining. Not sometimes when your blessings are visibly smacking you in the face, but also in those times when your wondering, why should you be struggling or is this worth it!
When we complain we’re stealing God of his glory. I think it’s so much easier to point out all the wrong in people, on situations, and in our lives rather than give God the glory he deserves. But who said anything about the walk with Christ being easy! But it is sooo worth it.

An hour during the week I speak to a man from Baghdad, Iraq to help him practice English. He was reading me an oral speech in which he told a story of how his parents lived in harder times and how he and his family are blessed to live an easier life now. In the midst of living in a war stricken city, something that's not even imaginable to many of us, he is quick to count his blessings! That’s what I’m talking ‘bout. So when my flesh is crying out, “Stephanie you’re crazy, it’s hot, you’re tired, go home.” (In an animated voice and all). I just simply enjoy His sun, His nature, His people, His beauty!
-Stephanie