Heavy Heart - God knows

Today has been a difficult day for me. I really don't have to give the details, just trust me when I say I have struggled all day long. It seems that whenever I have a conference schedule that the week of I have something major to happen. I think it is God's way of showing me that I have to have complete and total dependency on him. Which I believe I am aware of that, but God continues to show me over and over that I can't do what He has called of me without him. And I would not even try!!

So, today I have been at home most of the day by myself. I did go to the soup kitchen for a little while, but I had to leave. I was of no use to myself let alone anyone else. I knew in my heart if I came home I could at least find comfort. And after a good cry, and feeling sorry for myself I stood up and shook myself and realized that GOD is LARGE and in CHARGE!! Actually, someone called and my answering machine message played out loud and that's when I heard my voice saying those words too me! At first, I wanted to throw a pillow at the machine, but then I thought to myself..it doesn't matter what I am facing...GOD is LARGE and in CHARGE!! and Sista Staci you do not have to be!! Praise the LORD ~ I am not in charge!

I do not have to "fix" this....I do not have to "control" the outcome....I do not have to "understand it"!! I just have to obey what GOD calls of me!! If I do my best; GOD will do the rest!

I love JESUS with all my heart and I'm so glad that he is my friend...and while I love the Sista-hood...JESUS is a friend that sticks closer than a Sista.....and that makes me feel mo-better!!

Loving and Living To Serve,

Sista Staci :)

Journey to JESUS

That is the title I like to write on my journals. Life is a journey, with many bumps, turns and twist along the way. One minute you can be traveling as you keep a steady pace, then all of a sudden you find yourself hitting the brakes! I love my life - I love it when everything is working together, yes, for MY good! But, on this journey to JESUS; He is teaching me that it is not the mountain top that I should desire in my life. It is the valley. You may ask "Why in the world would you want to be in the valley?" I have to admit I've ask myself and God that same question.

For years, I've struggled through the valley - noticed I said "through" - getting on the other side of a valley is victorious! That means you have climbed the mountain and made progress. I have learned so many things through the valley of life. One thing is I will not die there - Jesus walks with me and tells me things in the valley that I will never hear on the mountain top. Secondly, growth is a sure thing in the valley. Have you ever noticed that gardens are planted in the "bottoms" (termed used by my grandfather for his garden). Good things are grown and produced in the valley. Philippians 1:6 (NLT) ⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Traveling through on this Journey to JESUS - let's sum it up. One day you may run with leaps and bounds, while other days maybe a crawl. Just always keep pressing through the mess - keep a forward moving motion.

I believe with all my heart that God wants to show us that HE is in control. Praise the LORD if you find yourself in a position of total dependency on GOD. That is what HE wants - if we could handle "it" all, we would not need him to be GOD, King of Kings over our lives. Let Go and Let GOD be GOD!! There is Victory in your Valley!! Hallelujah~

Don't set the cruise control - set the Christ control!!

I want to encourage you to journal about your journey to JESUS. Write it all down,,,the good, bad, ugly, happy or sad - then you can reflect on how God was faithful through it all - you learned to trust God - through it all!

GOD will show himself faithful~

Living to Serve,
Sista Staci :)

5 reasons for Blog Bust!!

Good Morning!
As I looked through my past post, I realize that I have missed so many opporunities to share what God has been doing in my life and the lives of those around me. My thought today is to play catch up with my blog. It appears that I started falling off the Blog Bandwagon right around the month of August, which is probably a true assessment of my life.

In July, I started a ministry program through my church called CAMS (Calling and Ministry Seminars) this program is for all people who have a call to the ministry. Which I failed to mention happened to me in February of this year. With CAMS I've had to STUDY! It's be a l o n g time since my brain had to do this with any structure. So reason # 1 for Blog Bust!

August, 2009 Me and the ministry Team from LAMBS (Love And Ministry Between Sistas) held our first Divine Design Conference in Winder, Georgia. It was GOD all the way! I stayed on my knees almost as much as I walked upright. (Well, maybe that's a bit exaggerated, but I did pray and not play a lot during that time). God redirected my son's life and Andrew started college at Lee University - he enrolled, got accepted and started classes in three weeks. My head was spinning- Reason #2 for Blog Bust!

Septemeber rolled around and I'm still studying and taking TEST - now that is a four letter dirty word!! My CAMS classes are every other month, however I have self directed study at home - I am not easily self directed - nuff said! Bible study at The Torch and Life Church up an going. Reason #3 for Blog bust!

October, 2009 The Divine Design minisry Team traveled to Hobe Sound, Florida. It was an 11 hour trip one way! We went to the Tommie Zito 10th anniversary Camp Meeting. Bishop Steve Brown prayed over our ministry team and set us forth to do God's work. Yes, I turned 43 during this month. Took my 3rd CAMS test - still not real thrilled with being self directed. Reason #4 for Blog Bust!

Novemeber,2009 COMPLETED CAMS!! I've already finished 135 Christmas Cards - about 100 more to go. This past weekend I was at The Desperate for God Women's Conference (with a cold). God spoke a word into me - I cannot balance it all on my pedestal - Oh yes...and it's HOLIDAY TIME - Reason #5 for Blog Bust!

I can truly say that I am BUSTED!! Through the past months I have learned to say "no" to people and things. Just because it may be a good idea doesn't mean it's a GOD idea! I have been learning the difference between good and GOD and let me just say "O" me......that little o can mean o so much....o my goodness...o I just can't....o my aching back - get the picture???

The word says that the earth is his foot stool, we are truly at his feet. The way UP is down. Place yourself on God's pedestal and allow him to direct you with his GOD ideas and opportunities.

I have missed you, Sista-Hood!! Thanks for loving me in the lean times! Sometimes we Glean and sometimes we Lean, through it all GOD is still LARGE and in CHARGE!!

I Love You!! Wow I typed all this without having a cup of coffee :)......

Living To Serve,
Sista Staci

43rd Birthday

For my 43rd Birthday I thought I'd make a proclamation of 43 blessings! Here goes - 1) Relationship with Jesus 2)Todd 3)Ansley 4)Andrew 5)Extended family 6)Pets: Mickey, Tripp, Tuffie, All-Tail and Tigger 7)Home 8)Church 9)HEMC 10)Friends 11) Sista-Hood 12)Bubble Baths 13) Beauty Treatments 14)Krispy Kremes 15)Computer 16)Sunrise / Sunsets 17) Color 18) laughter 19)good health 20)weight loss 21) Beth Moore Bible studies 22) Hair Color 23) Fall Leaves 24) Feather Pillow 25) Fan 26) My man's humming 27) Smiling 28) Holy Ghost Bumps 29) cracklin' fire log 30) Front porch 31) Honesty 32) Praise/Worship music 33) writing for God 34) Grace/mercy 35) Protection 36)Freedom 37) Sight 38) Peace 39) Ocean 40) Daisies 41) Kisses from Todd 42) Hugs 43) You!!
This was very insightful and took a little time. I want to encourage you to take the time to count your blessings. Like myself, you will realize that Blessings far out number the burdens!! Blessings from the Birthday Girl, Sista Staci :)

Godliness with Contentment

When I was younger I never felt like I belonged anywhere. I'm not 100% sure why or how this feeling developed in me. All I know is, that's how I felt the majority of the time. As I sit here, and reflect on those younger years, I realize that with the sense of not belonging in this world, it developed a heart of contentment inside of me.

The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

What does it mean to be content?

Let's check with Webster's.

Content:

1 : to appease the desires of

2 : to limit (oneself) in requirements, desires, or actions

To appease is to bring a state of peace and quiet. I guess that means I can't go around yelling "What about MEEEEE?" And to limit oneself.....ok, well, that doesn't work in today society. As I look around I see more and more people searching and seeking for more stuff to satisfy them. Only to be caught in a web of debt and disappointment.

Godliness with contentment is great gain! YES!

Walk in the ways of our Lord, seek him to bring that contentment to your life - that place of peace and quiet. I often say you cannot bottle peace, but when you have peace flowing through you there is no reason to contain it. Let go and let peace flow.

Look to Jesus for He is the Peacemaker. He can fill you with contentment! Wherever or whatever state you're in, you can be content.

Do I still have that sense of not belonging? Sure, I do. But, it has turned into a sense of longing to be in the presence of the Lord. For I know this world is not my home - I'm merely passing through. Until that day I will actively....

Pursue PEACE!

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Thanks, Sista Kathy

I had a wonderful time being on the radio....yes, this little country "Bumkin" that is totally in love with JESUS was on WRAF - 90.9 with Kathy Nicholson. If you are here checking out the Sista-Hood, I hope you have a nice visit. Read through my crazy life and if you will be so kind leave me a little comment.

If you are interested in being a host church for Divine Design just leave your name and e-mail address or call me at 706-499-3824.

Bible study at The Torch starts Monday Evening at 6:30 pm and Tuesday Morning at 10:00 am (Breakfast at 9:30) - Anointed - Transformed - Redeemed (Free Childcare ~ $15.00 workbook)

For HIS Glory - I share my story!!

Living to Serve~~
Sista Staci :)
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Self Promoting....I don't think so

^{I have a routine each morning when I wake up. First thing I always say "Good Morning, sweet Jesus...How are you today?" On Tuesday morning, I plainly heard go read Luke 2:20. I immediately got up and went to my New Living Bible and read.... Luke 2:20} The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Ok...I thought what does this have to do with me???? Then as I read verse nineteen the Lord revealed to my heart what He was speaking to me. This passage is out of the Message Bible:

Luke 2: 19-20 - Message

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

I have never thought about this aspect of the birth of Jesus. Mary did not go out in the streets proclaiming herself as the chosen one!! She did not self promote. She pondered all these things in her heart. I love that. The NIV says "she thought of them often." When God shows up in your life, people will noticed it. There will be no need for a tweet on tweeter or a post on Facebook. Your Life, speaks louder than your words.

Recently, I had an encounter where someone said to me "you don't want to self promote" Well, to be honest I had never even thought about self promoting. When you choose to die to yourself and you put all your wants and desires under God's plan there is no "Self Promoting." God does promote his children. He see the willing heart and teachable Spirit within you. He is looking for someone that will allow him access so He can do great and mighty things to show the world that HE IS!!

I appreciate that person who spoke those words to me. It has caused me to examine my heart and motivates. As a minister, I must believe in the product I'm selling 100%. In God's business, it is a good thing to be completely "souled out!"

She pondered these things often......