a letter to the blogging world

Dear Blogging World,

I know I've been distant, but I think about you often. I want to tell you about how busy I've been and all the exciting things going on in my life but I haven't found the time! Even now I'm rushed as I write...

Work has been really busy... the days and weeks are flying by. After work hours are just as busy! The husband and I fill our time together adventuring in our city, coming up with grand ideas, cooking delicious meals and sometimes just being cozy on the couch. And while he's working I fill my time with laundry, cleaning, enjoying our home and seeing friends & family.

My hair is short, barely touching my neck and when I try to tuck it behind my ears it just falls out. But I am getting used to it and I really love it!

There's so much much more to tell, but this is all I have for now. I'm hoping in the weeks to come I'll have more to share. But for now I will leave you with this lovely picture of the city in which I live and love:

Sincerely,
Stefanie

not where I belong

the struggles of a satisfied yet unsatisfied corporate employee...

For 5 1/2 years I've held the same job. some days I hate it. some days I like it. After all, I have great coworkers, I just don't often have enough work to keep me busy. That makes for LONG days. I like to be challenged, I like to learn, I want to grow.

This week I saw a job posting for something that would be a big move up. I thought maybe it was for me, I spoke with my boss and told her I was going to apply. But you see, the application, resume, portfolio and references were due in less than 2 days. After a day of fighting within myself, saying... I can do this, I don't want to do this, I would be busier than where I am now... but what if I hated the job... and so on and so forth. 2 nights of restless sleep. 2 days of prayer... of screaming "oh God, what is Your will?"

Now, I know applying for a position does not equate to ACCEPTING the position. I get that. But my heart felt more and more it wasn't for me. So I came into work today with a new attitude... maybe it's the glorious sun shinning, but maybe it's the peace and joy of being in God's will.

And I know in my heart once again, that this world is not my home.

Take this world and give me Jesus

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Psalm 34:1-3, 8-10

LOVE :: from the archives

These past 4 months of being married to my best friend have been incredible.

Each day has been a gift. There's so much I could write here... even about how my understanding of God's love for me has grown by seeing my husbands love for me.

But today I'm going to the past, pulling a post from the archives... here you go:


Thoughts on LOVE
February 14th, 2010

Love. Romance, butterflies, perfect dates, great conversation, etc. All the things I thought love was growing up, watching fairy tales and dreaming of being "in love"... I didn't know what love really was or was intended to be.

God commands us to love. And since you can't command feelings (anger, sadness, happiness, etc) what is love then? If you command someone who's sad to be happy, does that make them feel happy? No. So we're commanded to love. Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Luke 10:27). Love your neighbor... and even to love your enemies. I don't know about you, but I can't muster up feelings of love toward certain people. But we're told to love them nonetheless.

So here's what I'm seeing and learning: if God calls us to love, then our love toward others should come from a heart of wanting to please God. Love isn't getting, it's giving.

After all, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16). Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25).  He gave His life for sinners (Galatians 1:4).

I want my actions and words to be rooted in love, a love toward others, and especially a love toward God.

Happy Love Day!

no longer "me"

I'm no longer an I or a me but now it's always an us or a we!

 

It all happened so wonderfully, so quickly.

July 2011 we met

August/September 2011 we started dating

June 2012 we were engaged

October 2012 we were married

And now I no longer refer to myself as a singular individual.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

 

 

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17 

a scent that soothes my soul

I have a favorite body lotion that was "discontinued" and then brought it back for a limited time.

Well, after having been out of this for quite some time I had to stock up. For the last few days every time I put it on my hands I breathed in and felt comfort. I know I know, sounds a bit strange... but thats what happens.

A few nights ago, I put the lotion on my hands and then sat down with my hubby to read the Word. That's when it hit me. There was a point in my life when every night I would use that lotion on my dry hands and sit down to let God's word fill my dry soul. And now... that scent alone is a comfort. it uplifts. it gives me joy.

It makes me wonder about the things that please God and bring Him joy...
  - our worship
  - obedience
  - trust
  - prayer
  - when we study His words
  - reaching the lost, the poor and widows...

But I know a life of perfection is impossible, only Christ lived that life. I also know that I cannot complete a certain number of "works" to please God. So I have faith (Hebrews 11:6) and be grateful that Jesus lived that perfect life and died for my sins (for the sins of everyone) so that I [we] could come before God as righteous.
 

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

rivers of water

I feel like I've been on a sabbatical from writing.... is that the right word? maybe, maybe not. I guess it wasn't completely intentional. I've just been busy living life! Also, if I don't know what to write about... I just don't write! (suggestions for topics are welcome!).

 

December was busy. Birthdays (grandmother, 2 nieces, mine.....), Christmas festivities, shopping, enjoying family in from out of town, and many other things. Did I mention I caught that nasty virus that is going around two weeks ago? I'm still recovering, but definitely a lot better than I was!

 

The holidays are done. And I'm ok with that. After getting married in October, moving in with my hubby, going on a honeymoon, getting used to life together, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years..... I'm looking forward to "normal" everyday life. establishing routines. digging into the Word. and learning and growing with my husband.

 

But I also know life isn't necessarily going to slow down at all.... So we pray for God's guidance in ALL we do. The paths we walk, decisions we make, and the work we invest ourselves into. May we be like trees planted by rivers of water...

 

Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
    Nor stands in the path of sinners,
    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 1

 

only God can move mountains

If I want to see what God has done in my life, often I'll just have to read blog posts from years past.

It's good to read through the archives.

On May 4th, 2011, I wrote of struggles & wonders, and asking God to move in my life. I want to share it with you... and show how only God can move mountains.

when I tell mountains to move

God is always working. Often I know it's happening in my life, but I don't see it. So I'm thankful for a friend who will write to me and tell me what she see's God doing in my life, so thankful. I don't want to miss what He's saying.

Many days lately have ended with the following heart cry "Lord, what can I do, what should I do? I really don't know what to do here." The things I question and wonder about turn into worries, I search for a place to make a change and come up empty.

But it's not until I quiet my soul and my worries that I hear "I know... you're right, you can't do anything here. But I can, and I will, and I will get the glory. Not in your ways, but Mine and not in your timing either. I know when you'll be ready."

 

So I keep hoping, praying, and eagerly waiting for Him to move.
"Just keep looking to Me"

 

So I seek contentment, but a godly discontentment lies deep within to keep me from becoming complacent. A godly discontentment to push me deeper into Him.

 

Lord, you know what I'm trying to do, take over, guide me and move mountains.

 

 

2 short months after posting this... God had already started to work mightily in my life. Dreams were growing, my heart was changing. I didn't know it at the time, but God was softening my heart and preparing it for what was to come.

 

2 short months after posting this... I met my now husband. In the past year my dreams have grown, changed, and deepened. My trust in God has strengthened. God has moved mountains, He has brought incredible things into my life.

 

Sometimes it just takes a few minutes of looking back at where we were to see where we are now. I can't do anything but praise the One who has promised to finish the work He has begun.

 

"He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ"

Philippians 1:6

 

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,And let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:1-3