"The Glory Shall Be all Your Own, the Blessing Shall Be Ours"

These are some of the words to a song that my choir here at home sings. Today for some reason these words came to my mind. Is everything I do done for the glory of God? Wow. What a confronting question. I immediately thought "no. Of course not. No one is perfect, so not everything is done for His glory." Then I was struck by the thought that maybe it should be! Just because I am not perfect being a simple human being, does not mean that I should not strive to be like Christ - PERFECT. Christ was perfect in every aspect of life. He respected His parents and obeyed them, He did what was right in EVERY situation, He loved other people even when they hated Him. I am very far from that. I do not always respond correctly in every situation, I do not always respect and obey my mom perfectly, and I certainly find it hard to love other people when they do not like me or are mean to me. This was a challenging thought. "Whether therefore ye eat or drink or WHATSOEVER ye do, do all to the glory of God." No matter what I am doing, and no matter who I am doing something for, my ultimate goal should be the glory of God. I should not be doing things to make myself look good. I should not do things so that other people will praise me. I should do everything so that people will look at what I do and say "God did that. There is no way she did that on her own." I know that I cannot do anything on my own, but am I living like that is true? May God get all the glory in my life!

"You are worthy to be praised with my every thought and deed! Oh great God of highest Heaven, glorify Your name through me!"

~ Stephanie ~

   *Phil. 3:13-14*

"Trust in the Lord, and do good..."

Ok. So I haven't posted anything in a while. I guess it's just because I have had so much going on that I haven't felt like posting. The past couple of weeks God has really been pounding me with the struggle of trusting Him and being satisfied with Him. This is such a hard concept for me to grasp. Many people say that the image that your father has in your eyes affects the way you view God. That is so true! When I was little my dad left. He doesn't live with us, and he many times does not really care. There are so many times when this is the way I view God. I view Him as a God who is there, but doesn't care. He doesn't really love me. I know down in my heart that this is not true, but sometimes I get my focus off of the truth and I start focusing on my circumstances and on myself and I lose sight of who God really is. He is a good and loving God. He is in control, and He knows what He is doing. This week has really taught me this, and there is a song that has really been helping me keep my focus:

O God, my Joy, You reign above
In glorious splendor and beauty.
Your Word has drawn my heart to love
The awesome sight of Your glory.
Your blazing light and gospel grace
Shine brightly from my Savior's face.
No other wonder would I see
Than Christ enthroned in His glory.


Sustained by joy in trial and pain,
I trust Your wisdom and mercy.
Through suffering that Your love ordains,
More like Your Son You will make me.
For Christ embraced the cross of shame
Beholding glorious joys to come.
Oh, give me faith like His to see
That suffering lifts me to glory.

Compelled by joy I fight the sin
That turns my gaze from Your glory.
Your Holy Spirit dwells within.
His presence arms me for vic'try.
Let death and hell against me rise.
Through death I'll gain eternal joys.
All powers of hell will bend the knee
Before my great King of Glory!

This song has been such an encouragement to me through the past weeks. Just knowing and coming to grips with the fact that God is working everything out for my good and for His glory; knowing that this is happening in my life to grow me and to change me; knowing that God is making me more like His Son. That has been a great help. I hope this is an encouragement to you guys. I know it has been for me.


"And we know that ALL things work together for GOOD to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

~ Stephanie ~

   *Phil. 3:13-14*

Calvary Came Through

This is just a song that my choir here at home sings. It is basically the story of my life(well, part of it, anyway).

Through days of hurt and pain
My heart cried out, "All is vain!"
I lost all my will to live.
Too many times I tried;
Too many times I failed;
And it only brought tears and shame.
Then I saw that old Cross
Where I won through His loss;
And I knew one more time--
There His strength became mine!

That's when Calvary came through once again:
When I lost all my courage to win.
Just when I thought I'd been defeated
The Cross was all I needed.
That's when Calvary came through once again.

From the stable to the grave
My Savior gave and He gave
His life as a final price.
Now I cherish that old tree
Where I found victory:
Conquering hell and our foes,
Praise His name He arose!

That's when Calvary came through once again:
When I lost all my courage to win.
Just when I thought I'd been defeated
The Cross was all I needed.
That's when Calvary came through once again.
Calvary came through once again!

I have been to the point in my life where this song means so much to me. There have been times in my life where I have just wanted to give up: I was done. I was tired of struggling with my sin; I was tired of trying to do right with no success; I was tired of living. But that is when God showed me that, indeed, I can't do this on my own. I can't stop sinning; I can't do right; I can't live for Him; I can't do any of these things without Him. But through Him I can do all things. But it has to be in His strength. Not my strength. My strength is weak. I am a weak Christian. I am a weak person in general. But I have learned that when I am weak, then He can be strong. When I am in charge and I can do things on my own, I have no reason to trust Him or to rely on His strength. But when I am to the point where I realize that I can do nothing in myself, that is the place where He can use me and He can mold me and make me into His image.

"Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul! Thank You, Lord, for making me whole. Thank You, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free."

~ Stephanie ~

   *Phil. 3:13-14*