Experience will always trump knowledge

"Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion." ~ Psalm 134~

"You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace." ~Song of Songs 4:9~

"Place me me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyeilding as the grave. It burns like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned." ~Song of Songs 8:6-7~

~ Give him your darkest hours, look him in the eye, put your frozen heart in the flame of God's love. ~ Queen

Trying to keep it simple when in over my head

Feeling like i've been put in a pressure cooker with no release valve. So much is being dug up and brought to the surface, like my heart, mind and soul are a big stretch of highway under construction. Speed limit reduced but have the urge to speed through to get to the end, or conclusion of understanding. Road is narrowed and bumpy and curving unexpectantly. See people speed ahead of me and want to catch up and then got someone on my tail saying I'm taking too long and being too careful. In a hurry to get somewhere, and got all kinds of detours, stop signs, red and yellow lights and slow moving vehicles in my path. .... Hi. just feeling a little overwhelmed, that's all. Nothing to do with anything but me and my needing to grow. Becoming more of who God wants me to be is a process for sure. Not a smooth, easy ride sometimes :) God disciplines the ones he loves like a father does for his children. I am loved, .... :) If you are discouraged in your pursuit of the infinite wealth of knowledge, revelation, understanding, application, coal touching your lips, seal imprinting your heart with the stamp of God's ownership of your soul, be encouraged. God is love. Love is your inheritance. Count the cost... to what extent is the price too much in order to recieve the fullness of God's love in your life? ... He gave it all for us. ...Remember ..the cross. My heart's desire is to be unreservedly abandoned and emptied of myself.. at all cost. Only through his grace. God is so amazing.
Blessings,
Stephanie Q.

cold feet... wet head...

So i don't know if anyone actually reads this, but here you go. Grew up in Christian home, heard of Jesus in the womb, and in church from day one. Born on the mission field, quiet, and never really got in trouble. My parents and brothers were the ones that i got in trouble with. To the outside church world, which was the only world i knew, Stephanie Q. was the quiet, goody 2 shoes, sweeter than sweet, had it all together with God, christian missionary kid. I never asked questions, i was afraid they would be dumb because i felt like i should already know everything. Asked Jesus into my heart in the kitchen of a house rented by missionary dpt. right beside the old Mount of Praise camp grounds in Circleville, Ohio when i was 5 years old. Matter-O-fact and to the point, prayed a simple prayer with my mom. then walked out the door and played in the yard. God has gotten a lot more complex and alot more simple since then. not that he has changed, it is the good little girl coming to a realization that i am not good at all on my own. i sooooo need God's grace and love to create anything pure in my heart. That said, i was never approached about being baptized and it was one of those questions i never asked. long story short, now 27 years old still dealing with an mk complex... enough is enough.. so when i heard of the opportunity to get baptized here at ihop, i said to myself/God.., i'll do it another time.. God kindly elbowed me and whispered, "haven't you said that before?" so after saying no to one girl beside me when they offered to go with me to sign up, i asked someone else beside me a few min later and we went together to sign me up!! so this sunday i took the plunge, with friends beside me and an audience that cheered up a storm! God is so patient with me.. i feel relieved and free just because i was obedient even if i don't fully understand so much that there is to understand about God. i will work on getting some pictures for you all to see my wet smiley face. :)_
Face your fears, the truth will set you free. Perfect love drives out all fear, and a man that fears has not yet been perfected in love. (working on that myself) (reference comes from 1 John)
Steph Q

God is funny...he knows how to make me laugh and still make a serious point

So have you ever come to the point of finally letting go of something, given it to God and stopped trying to figure it out? Then have you just opened yourself up to ask him to help you understand and gone about buisness as usual? THEN.. a few minutes later when you are innocently minding my own and WHAM#!%*. Then your like, what in the world!! and NO WAY. Then you ask someone else and they confirm the WHAM#!%* and you're like, yeah ok God that isn't funny. Then you laugh for the rest of the day. .... so yeah, God does have a sense of humor, and I love that..
Steph

Soakin' it all in.....

I really am speechless, so this will be short. ... The more i hear, the more i read,.... .. the more i grow silent.. words seem to ruin and disrupt. so i am just trying to soak in God and his word.... i am leaning back and letting go slowly, beginning to try to just rest.... so... let my words be few.... ......... ..... soak it up.. :)
Steph Q.