She Stands

Whew!! What a ride 2013 has been!! It doesn't seem real that the time once again has come to ring in another new year.... But here it is and 2014 is just days away. This year my one word the Lord spoke to me is "purpose" Two years ago it was "endure"..... This past year is was "apply"..... And now for 2014..... "PURPOSE" I endured many changes and lessons in 2012.... I applied many of my lessons in 2013..... So why the word purpose? I ask. This new year I am to purpose in my heart many things.... To continue to love un  conditionally.... To forgive the way my daddy God forgives me daily..... To walk my road without wavier...... To see  beauty through the ashes...... To reach for those who seem to be unreachable.... To extend grace at all times.... Show mercy without a price...... To be a witness and a testimony to those hurting..... To show comfort in the worst of times and joy in the best.....

Another new year is fast approaching and with that thought in my mind, my heart holds the emotions of many that have weathered many a storm this past year. Myself included...... I have learned through my own storms what it means to truly apply God's words..... There have been some storms it took a little longer than what most would have liked, but in the end I pressed in and pushed through.... I "applied" No matter the storms we face in life, the sun is always behind the clouds. No matter the battles we fight, our daddy God is always behind us taking charge for the victory ahead.   Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Isaiah 41:10  Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousne ss. Philippians 4:13  I can do al

I have experienced days when my feet skip across the stepping stones in life. I hop, leap and jump through them all.......  All the while I am singing a tune with a smile on my face.  I am making progress...... Two steps forward. Out of no where my steps stop..... I can not move forward.  There is an obstacle in my way. I will admit I have had times that I became discouraged..... Frustrated that my flow of stone stepping has been interrupted. Irritated I can no longer leap to my next destination.  Three steps back.  Here comes my frustration..... Irritation..... Pouting.... And disbelief that I am now going backwards..... Or it seems that way.  BUT...... There are times when we do need to take "three steps" back. Change our direction..... Adjust our steps.... Plot a new course. This new course may have high waters to go through.... It may have fire with intense flames..... But no matter..... We are never alone. Isaiah 43:2

" One day at a time, sweet Jesus... That's all I'm asking of you. Just give me the strength to do every day, What I have to do......." This old hymn has been playing in my mind for the few days.... Over and over the melody and tune softly playing in my head and singing in my heart.  Two weeks ago on my way to work I began having symptoms of a heart attack.  Relentless pain.... Radiating to my arm, back and jaw. Cold sweat...... Hard to breathe.  Every classic textbook symptom for a heart attack.... A stress induced heart attack. I have had many UN-expected changes in the last few months.  ~ Sweet Jesus~ From working in the medical field for years, I recognized these symptoms and began to pray that I could make it to my office,  knowing there I could get help.  I made it and emergency medical help was called..... Off to the hospital I go.  Not exactly how I had planned my day..... ~Sheesh~ My diagnosis was not a heart

More of you and less of me Lord. .... How many times in life have I said those words? Wanting and needing to be more like him and less like me...... Refusing to allow my flesh to have its way. Dying to Self. It's hard..... It's uncomfortable at times..... It's a fight..... It's painful...... When we believe what we are doing is "right" and can not see we are walking according to our flesh and it's emotions.  I recently watched  Joyce Myer preach a sermon on dying to self and I wanted to share a few things I learned.  Things that opened my eyes larger to "More of you and less of me" ....... (Joyce Myer) * " Anytime you get your way by acting ungodly,you did not win, you lost" ( Pitching a fit, bad attitude and defensive body language) * " Getting our way is not dying to self" (Selfishness, Jealously, Pride, Self Pity, Greed and Control) * Complaining about our circumstances i

James 5:6 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  There comes a time in each's life we need to confess an offense...... Our offense.  Maybe it's something that was said..... An action..... A thought..... Or it could be all of the above.  When our thoughts become our words which in turn become an action.  We can justify our sin by our anger, hurt feelings,protectiveness and fear.  We can claim that because of another's actions we have the right to spew ugliness into that person's life.  We can make ourselves believe that we are in the "right" because of the "wrong" by another.  We shout from the roof tops it is because we love the other person what we speak into their lives is on target.  Love is not ugly...... Love is not controlling..... It is not an eye for an eye..... It is not cold.....

It has been several weeks since my last blog. I have had so many words swirling through my mind...... Many emotions running through my heart.... But every time I sat to write, all I could do was stare at a blank page. I couldn't figure out where to start.... My words seemed to just ramble on and on, without any sense or connection.  I haven't been able to understand nor grasp all my emotions..... There have been just too many. When I look back over the last few years of my life, I see growth. I see change. But....... I feel like I am on the side lines, standing and  watching so many move forward ;happily I cheer them on. I ask my daddy God if He would just tell when is it my time? Just like a small child, I tell him I don't understand this process of change.  I sit..... I stand..... I wait.... I wonder. I hold on to His promises. I cling to His word..... I remind myself daily of all He has told me. "When is it my

Questions upon questions....... It seems my new name has become Stacey "Question" The last few weeks my mind has been in over drive.  Wondering..... Searching..... Pondering..... And seeking. I want to forever stay in the will of my daddy God.... Never to walk off the path He has set for me.  In other words, I do not want to go backwards( decisions that are flesh based), but continue to press forward ( decisions that are spirit based) After many sleepless nights..... Am I doing this right Lord? Much reasoning..... Am I where you want me? Weighing in on all the pros and cons..... Is there something else I am to do? Making myself sick.... I need a yes or no please!! My brain dizzy..... Spinning in circles Trying to figure it all out on my own through the flesh.... S TOP IT!! He speaks!!! This morning before my eyes opened with the alarm clock..... My daddy God spoke to my heart.  Proverbs 16:4 New International Version (NIV)

The last few weeks I have felt as though I was standing on a cliff and ready to fall at any moment.  I had no clue as to why.... I couldn't put my finger on it...... I had no revelation knowledge...... No great understanding...... Just a "blah" feeling. I felt so far away from my daddy God and could not hear his voice.   I pondered..... I prayed...... I listened..... I thought....... And still nothing. I became physically,emotionally, and spiritually drained...... I became weary...... I became fearful. Even though I have been blessed in some areas of my life over the last few months, the feeling of failure had taken over me. The sad part is ,I didn't realize the battle that had shown up on my door step.  Until today......... Photo Credit When I read this,  my spirit was quickened...... My lack of understanding increased.  I now see the battle in front of me. The enemy knows our weakness and he preys upon them with ve

It's been several weeks since my last blog. However I am at a place of rest and refreshing time. I will be back soon. Just going to enjoy a little summer time....... See you all soon!!!! Be Blessed!!!! Xoxoxo Stacey Matthew 11:28-30 28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I spent three years in grad school learning multiple theories on personality, development, and how do conduct talk therapy. Thousands of hours from work experience has taught me   sometimes the best answer for life's problems is a four-letter word . Bob Newhart puts it humorously in his Mad TV episode: [youtube=http://youtu.be/Ow0lr63y4Mw] Stop. It. In case you think I'm a heartless counselor, I should preface that my comments are personal lessons I've learned also as a teacher, parent, and   recovered bulimic/anorexic.    There are some situations where the best answer in   changing behavior it to simply STOP.   The other word for it is one that's missing from today's vernacular:   self-control. Are there areas in your life that need self-control?  Are there areas where the   first step in change lies in "stopping the behavior,"   even just once? I know of which I speak. There have been more areas than just eating that have been out of

I can speak of my past....... I feel safe in my present.......... But I am nervous for my future...... Excited and nervous wrapped into one. Am I ready Lord?? God's word tells us, He did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love and sound mind. So why am I so nervous?  Maybe I am scared of myself..... ~Sheesh~ Scared I will maybe make the same choices again..... ~Yuck~ Scared the "old" me will resurface and the emotional baggage of my past will consume the me of today..... ~Lord No~ Fearful if I truly allow someone in, I will be rejected.... ~tears~ Or the choices I make will be just that, MY choices and not God's will for my life. ~Sweet Jesus~  My door of isolation has opened, I take my first few steps breathing in the new season that is upon me...... It is a sweet excitement..... Very sweet!  But as refreshing as it is, part of me wants to run back to the sheltered place I have lived..... My comfort zone.

There were so many times in my life I would tell the Lord, " I will surrender my life completely to you after I fix this one issue"........ That one issue became many issues...... And my surrendering became a rat race. I was convinced I had too many "issues" to come to God. I believed I needed to fix them all before approaching my daddy God. The world had me believing I was too unworthy for God and for me to surrender to Him I had to get rid of my baggage. The lies of the enemy can and will paralyze and over take ones emotions if allowed. I became paralyzed with fear and guilt from all my mistakes in life. I had fallen off the path God had for me and ran my rat race with shame. It was a long never ending circle of shame, all because I had believed I could not come as I  was to the Lord. The voice of the enemy told me...... You are not worthy to approach the throne of God..... You are too far gone...... Why would he want you???