Still Processing

I just finished my Bible study. Im working on a Beth Moore study called "Believing God" and it is really making me think. She encourages you to calculate the risk of truly believing God is who He says He is. She prompts the questions "What do you have to lose, or gain?" And the truth is, well... Everything. But if He is who He says He is, He can be trusted.
I'm trying to wrap my head and heart around the idea of losing everything. Not to be a pessimist and assume God asks us to lose everything we love in order to follow Him, but I can't rule out that possibility either. Take for instance the rich young ruler in Matthew who wants to follow Jesus, but just cant give everything up. Sometimes it costs everything to follow Jesus. But if He is who He says He is, its worth it. We have a lot to lose in America. Our comfort, our status or reputations, our dreams etc. I sense a new importance to hold loosely to such things. I'm not necessarily suggesting anything drastic externally, but internally, we need to be abandoning the attachments of the heart...
As I blogged previously, I spent the first part of last week in El Salvador with Compassion International. Our last night in the country, we had dinner with 2 graduating sponsor children: David, age 17 and Wendy, age 17. They had never met each other before because they had attended different projects for the past 10 or 12 years, but both students had discovered a passion for music throughout their enrollment in the Compassion program. Immediately I felt connected to these strangers as they shared their testimonies of growing up in an impoverished country with little hope and undiscovered dreams until Compassion stepped in and helped them recognize their potential. It was beautiful to hear how they had discovered their God given talents and dreams as they learned about their Creator in this long term program. But because they were graduating, and their finances are extremely limited, their next steps in this journey were big fat question marks. They knew what they were good at, they knew what their dreams were, but they didn't know how they were going to accomplish them. Yet, instead of a defeated, downcast attitude, I was beyond inspired by their trust, hope and dependency on Jesus Christ. I kid you not, there was a sparkle in each young persons eyes. David stood up and boldly announces his plans for the future consisted of A.) Trusting Jesus, B.) Trusting Jesus and C.) Trusting Jesus. It was so easy for them to live in the freedom of faith. The adventure of knowing nothing except that the God of the universe adored them and was going to take care of them. They lived in the peace that He has it under control. They were at His beckon call, all they wanted was to use their gift in advancing His kingdom on earth, and whatever He asked of them- He would supply their need to do it.
I used to be like that. Oh, the simplicity of believing God like a little child. I believe He is calling me back to that place. Praise Him because there is hope for our calloused, comfortable, critical, and competitive hearts.
His word is true, His promises are good, and He is tickled silly pink in love with us.

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

Home With Presents...

Well, I am home from El Salvador now. It was a quick trip, and I've traveled abroad before.... But I've never come home with this before.... a paracite friend! My stomach is so upset. It's not pretty, but I have the weekend to recover before I have to go back to work at starbucks. I have more pictures I will be posting as I continue to digest the trip. We visted 3 different projects, and each project gave us a warm but different welcome. Im working on some video clips to post so you can experience it as well. These people love so well! Also, Check out a whole bunch of pictures I posted on my myspace at www.stephanieisagirl.com
Kepp it real peeps...
S

El Salvador

I met Mariela today in El Salvador. She is the little girl I sponsor through compassion international. I traveled from Nashville, TN at 6am to Miami, FL and from there flew to San Salvador. We met up with the rest of our team and headed to our first project visit. At that visit, we were warmly welcomed with signs and songs and balloons. They had the whole afternoon planned for us. I kept looking around to see if I might be able to pick out Mariela, but it was so overwhelming with nearly 200 kids reaching for hugs and hand shakes- I couldn't find her. It was long though until I was standing in front of the children and we called Mariela up. Before I could realize what was happening, she nearly to me already and she threw tiny self around my legs. I won't ever forget that moment. My documentation cannot do it justice, I will have pictures and hopefully video of the moment soon. It blessed me so much to have her run to me and throw her arms around me. She hardly let go for the rest of the afternoon. This little girl was wearing her best dress and she had such a quite, gentle spirit. Oh she was such a delight! I always knew Compassion was a wonderful organization, but it took experiencing the other side of this to completely get it. I met with her mother and brother and had the opportunity to ask lots of questions. It was such a joy to exchange presents with her. She and I had so many things in common! I'm still on a high from it. What a blessing this trip has been!
I want to encourage you to sponsor. Your money is handled with integrity and it has such a huge pay off. There is such a need here! Please, if I can afford it- you can. I live off a near minimum wage salary at Starbucks. May the Lord bless you and keep you!
Stephanie

Hoooome

Hello Everybody,
I am home for the next 2 months- except a quick trip to El Salvador in Dec. I've been busy busy busy, but I appologize for the lack of updates. No excuses.... I stink. I have tons of pictures to upload on myspace and share from the past few months- but I posted a few for you on here. Some of these are from back in Oct when we went to California for the YS event (Annnd we may have flown out a day early to go see Brian Regan). Also, the guys and I made our way to Grundy, VA for a week long outreach with OneLife Virginia. Everyday I went into the pulbic schools and shared a "positive message" because I wasn't allowed to talk about Jesus obviously, and then in the evening, we invited the community out to see a rock show etc. It was a long week, and I had a cold allllll week- boo hissss. We had no cell phone coverage for miles, but the guys were troopers and we had a great but tiring week.
Anyway- More to come!!!
S

Exciting Day...

I filmed my first clip for HearitFirst.com today! I am the official WinterJam 2009 correspondent and I have the privilege of interviewing the other artists on tour before, and throughout the entire tour! So make sure you're staying updated! The dates will be released on monday on Hearitfirst.com/winterjam so check it out and see if we are coming anywhere near you!
I also got my new t-shirts in today, as well as some spiffy new business cards.... annnnnd I got some great news- Emily gets to come with me on WinterJam!!!!! So far, its a positive day ;) I'm about to cut my guitar players (Loren) hair.
Stay outta trouble kids....
Stephanie

PA is awesome

Howdy! I am in a van with 3 beautiful ladies driving through PA on a magnificent fall day! I forgot how amazing Pennsylvania is in the fall! I love Tennessee but it's just not the same! There was a low fog hovering just below the mountain tops and we were in the valley between two mountains where the sun was waking up and illuminating the haze. Right now we are headed to a Secret Keeper Girl event in OH and we just finished a Pure Freedom event in PA that went great!
I'm learning some covers for an upcoming halftime show at a Preditors game in Nashville... If your local, come check it out! I will post some pictures of good ol PA when I get on my computer later!

growing up

I am trying to be more responsible. I have covered this before in my blogs, but I am not a huge fan of responsibility- but I am slowly encourperating more of it into my life. Recently, I went to the Dr for the first time in about 3 years, I have an eye appointment tomorrow morning because my mom said I was looking crosseyed, and I just got an oil change in my car. I still tend to get intimidated easily... for example. I went into AT&T today to get an iphone, but they were really busy and I didn't really know what I was doing... so I asked one question, and left! I needed moral support! Can someone go with me please?
I'm growing.
S