Simple Joy

Decisions

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:17:00 +0000

I'm second guessing myself to death.
As if I will regret this decision as long as I live.
As if my happiness hinges on this choice.
As if I'm the author and director of my life.

But the truth is most of the time when I'm looking back all I remember are the good times.

Laughter,
perfect children,
perfect dogs,
perfect life.

In the search for the right decision, I live in the myth that there is a guaranteed right choice and if I screw this up my life is ruined. But If I make the right choice my path will be smooth.

I must stop looking so hard for the certain path and give God the wheel of today to direct my tomorrows.
Do you live as though it all depends on you?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:20:00 +0000

Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God

[Jesus speaking] "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace..."

Luke 19:41

Just a thought

Where are you looking for your peace today?

Perfect Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:38:00 +0000

I've shared how I'm viewing the life around me; time management, the ever burdening accumulation of stuff, and how you and I can live simply and reflect Christ's joy in our enviroment.

Now the lense of my camara is focused to the heart of the matter;
soul and spirit.
Achieving simple joy from within.

My husband and I are standing on a small piece of land, just an acre or so. It sits at the highest elevation in our small town and from where we stand we can see for miles. The wind is blowing and there is nothing to block it for there are no trees on this land. No trees. On the backside you see a couple of farms with a windmill and a pond. It's quiet and there is a sense of peace as I gaze out.

And I'm looking for a feeling.
How does one look with the eyes and feel?
This is where the spirit and the soul move.

I look up and see nothing but expansive sky
and I breathe.

My soul; that part of me that engages in emotions. Emotions that can fill..... or empty me. They run high as I look about this treeless acre. And I pray for my Spirit to be full, completely engaging with my soul.
"Give me your wisdom, oh God."
My Spirit; the place where the third half of the Trinity resides.
God within me.
"Holy Spirit, be my vision."

My husband looks at me, "It feels right."
But how can it feel right without any trees?

Looking for perfect peace. Our soul cries out for it.
This Holy week we remember Jesus telling us He is the perfect peace, why look any further? Yet we still fall in line with those whose flesh cried, "crucify him!"
Their idea of the King of Peace didn't match up with Jesus.

What does your peace look like?

New Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's Saturday.

A new week is coming. Resurrection week means new life and new beginnings.

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:36:00 +0000

Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God

Do nothing from selfish or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Just a thought

Have you ever been struck by the small miracle it is that Christ makes you strong enough to be humble? Love well.

Endurance or Perseverance?

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:00 +0000

Discovering Simple Joy: Concerning Our Days
A Continuation of How we view the life around us.

Do you find yourself "enduring" you day? If I could just get through this day, this work week. Or in my case, If I could just stay awake one more hour I won't be embarrassed about going to sleep at 9:00 o'clock.
Enduring, not enjoying.
Most of our time on this earth is made up of a series of daily mundane experiences. So how do we go from day to day existing to pushing on for the cause? How do we complete the task the Lord has given us (Acts 20:24) for His glory and His purpose? Can you and I find contentment in the daily faithfulness to the One who put this task before us?
Enduring or persevering, it's a choice every day we face when our feet hit the floor in the morning.
This is the day the Lord has made and I'm going to rejoice in it! [My version of Psalm 118:24]

Simple joy #5 - I will choose to persevere with joy today;
while folding socks,
while sitting in a cubicle,
while standing in line...

... let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
Hebrews 12:1

Discovering Simple Joy: Concering Our Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:20:00 +0000

A Continuation of How we react to the Life Around Us.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Matthew 6:19

As I get older, I don't long for "stuff" like I used to. It can be suffocating as you can see to the extreme in reality shows on hoarders. When I'm considering buying something, I can sometimes visualize it sitting in my next garage sale in three years because it will be considered junk. Or I may look at it and think "it's just one more thing I have to dust."
In reducing the stuff in my life, my ultimate goal is to reflect the image of Christ. In the pursuit to possess more, it can actually block my view of Christ and dull my witness.

Simple joy #3 - Letting go of the desire for more things. They're really just dust collectors anyway.
Simple joy #4 - Look around your home for things that you don't need or want anymore and give them away. Find joy in thinking of the person who finds your junk in a resale shop and considers it a treasure. Remember that singing fish plaque you once thought was hilarious and now it's just annoying? Pitch it!

You have shown me the way of life, and you will give me wonderful joy in your presence. Acts 2:28

Discovering Simple Joy

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:01:00 +0000

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 15:11

When the alarm doesn't go off; you wake in a panic, you hear the dog heaving and you race to the back door to let him out only it's too late and he hurls all over the floor; you're late for work and forgot to make coffee last night so you turn it on and reach for the Cheerios, you pour your cereal only to find there's no milk in the refrigerator; suddenly the coffee maker smells like it's burning because you forgot to put water in it; the dog who threw up is now hungry so he discovers the litter box you forgot to clean out; the phone rings, you know it's your mother but you don't have time to talk, but you don't have time to feel guilty about thinking of an excuse not to answer the phone; you glance at your devotional book on quiet time and decide you don't have time for that, again.

We long for simplicity in our lives, maybe that's why I love to watch The Waltons. But we are so far removed from simple joy on a daily basis. The Lord said he came to bring abundant joy so why are we inclined to save joy for the big occasions in our lives? Why do we not have joy in the little moments?

Join me as I go through a personal journey of discovering simple joy in the life around us and the life within us.

HOW WE REACT TO THE LIFE AROUND US

The "to-do" list
I confess to having no organizational skills, so I look around my home and see what I haven't done, not what I have completed. Then my head starts to spin with where to begin first. Should I clean the tipped over jar of dried up molasses out of the refrigerator or fold the three baskets of clothes lying on the floor? I still need to exercise but I haven't gone to Walmart yet for groceries. I look on the floor and see dust/hair balls from my dog that likes the litter box and I think I should vacuum first.
But I'm not sure...

My sister, Cindy, who inherited the organizational gene says with aggravation in her voice, "It's so simple, Deb, take fifteen minutes and do ONE thing."

Simple joy #1 Take fifteen minutes and organize one thing.
#2 Instead of making a "to- do" list, make a "did-it" list. Wow, look at all I have accomplished!

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:33:00 +0000

Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind... Luke 4:18-19

If Jesus really came to set you free, how are you honoring Him by choosing to be held captive to something in your past?

Prayer Retreat

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:36:00 +0000

I've been out of commission for a while.
It's good to be writing in my blog again. I spent much of December and January preparing for a retreat I led on prayer. These intelligent and amazing women are viewed above.

My favorite part of the retreat is when we get alone with God and have personal quiet time.

When you feel the need to pray, do you recognize that it is not you seeking God but God Himself seeking you through your prayer life?

I love to pray the scriptures. Here are some of my favorite. When praying God's Word back to Him you can make it personal with I, me, mine, etc.

Try it!

Praise the Lord, I tell myself; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.
Praise the Lord, I tell myself,
and never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's!
The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. He revealed His character to Moses and His deeds to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious; he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
He has not punishes for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve. For His unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the eight of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west.
Psalm 103:1-12

Praying scripture for those you love. Insert the name of someone you want to pray for in these scriptures.

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you might inner strength through His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God
s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand for all God's people should how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of love and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
Ephesians 3:14-20

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:44:00 +0000

Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God

[God speaking] "Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?

You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?" Job 40:2

Just a thought

Does your prayer life consist of a battle of the wills, yours

against His? Do you think you need to convince God your plan

is better?

The Virus

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:56:00 +0000

Christmastime joy can be suffocated by the pressure to have ...
Christmastime joy.

I like listening to Christmas music more during the year than I do in December. Why is that?

Nagging expectations that the season requires instead of awaiting with expectancy the birth of our Savior. My calendar is full of "holiday happenings", I bet yours is too.

When does more become too much? The more syndrome becomes a virus at Christmastime and we all get infected.

For a moment let's focus on being well, rid of the disease of more.
It starts with thankfulness for our past, the memories, good and bad, that shape who we are today.
I'm thankful for pain turning to joy,
for relationships that live deep within my heart.
I'm thankful for the orphanage that reminded me I'm the one that's poor and needy. In need of a Savior to make me well.

It's funny, when I focus on my thanks to God, the more virus goes away.
And expectations are replaced with expectancy.

The Gift Nobody Wants

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 14:30:00 +0000

I heard the joy in his voice, the news was not just good....it was great.
Something we have been worried about for years is now finally ended, and ended well. The joy we are experiencing now has come out of a great deal of worry, pain, and fear.

If I look back on my life, I can see that most of my happiest times came out of times of pain. My friend says some of her greatest memories can be traced back to the last few months of her sons life before cancer finally took him at the age of 14.

Is pain our enemy or the opportunity to experience greater happiness?

No one will ask for the gift of pain this Christmas but until we have been through extreme periods of pain, we cannot go to Christ with extreme gratefulness. We may find our greatest purposes out of our greatest pain.

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

"Thank you, Lord, for the pain."

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:17:00 +0000

Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God

"For the Word of God is LIVING, and ACTIVE. Sharper than any

double-edged sword, it PENETRATES even to dividing soul and

spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of

the heart. NOTHING in all creation is hidden from God's sight."

Heb 4:12,13

Just a thought

What in your heart are you trying to hide from God?

Another Miracle Story

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:13:00 +0000

She stood there trembling, wiping her tears as she waited to be seen in our clinic. For some reason this young girl chose to tell Dr. Camacho, our team physician, what she had kept to herself for four years. Her name is Elvira, and she lives at the Casa Hogar Alegra orphanage.

But her story begins many years before this.

As a child she experienced a brutal rape. Her attacker threw her into a jungle thicket and left her for dead. She was found some 16 hours later. At the tender age of seven she was brought to the orphanage, a place of refuge and protection. Elvira had managed to hide that one breast was growing significantly larger than the other for four years. Until the day she walked into our make-shift clinic. Finally telling someone her secret took a weight off of her shoulders she had carried far too long.

X-rays were taken and the diagnosis was made. There was a grapefruit size fibro adenoma growing in her left breast and it needed to be removed. Dr. Camacho takes Elvira to a local oncologist. After the doctor explained what procedure was needed in order to remove the mass, Dr. Camacho asked the question he feared the answer to. “How much will it cost?” He was not prepared for what he heard next,
“I will not charge any fee for my services.”
Dr. Camacho tells us later, “God was present in that room.”

Now Elvira feels hope and she can smile. God is working what we call miracles through the mission work of CERI.

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:59:00 +0000

Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God

Jesus replied, "My Father never stops working,

so why should I?"

Just a thought

God is working in the very circumstance in which you find

yourself today. Where is God moving in your life?

Work with him.

The Faces of Need

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:23:00 +0000

They call her Mama Liz.

Over 100 children who have been abused and abandoned in

Mexico call Casa Hogar Alegre (which means Happy Home)

there home. The orphanage was started 19 years ago by

Mama Liz

when God put it on her heart to take in a few children in.

A few children has grown to almost 100. These beautiful faces are not only fed and clothed, they are taught about the love of Jesus Christ and how important they are to Him.
This is a private christian orphanage depending completely on donations. Each child here needs a sponsor.

The need is very real,
they are very real.

To donate or sponsor a child go to http://casahogaralegre.org

Today, all over the nation of Mexico. school children celebrate the Revolution of 1910.

These children put on a show for us!

At the end of the day it was time to say good-bye.

Hear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Psalm 86:1-2

The Orphanage

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:55:00 +0000

We begin the day traveling up the mountain to the orphanage, Casa Hogar Elegra, hitting more pot holes than dodging them. Suddenly our fearless leader slams on the brakes and only by the grace of God we stop just a few feet from plummeting into the gaping hole that once was a street.

The road had been washed away and there was nothing separating us from looking straight down the mountain.
Taking a side road we arrive and set up.

The dental chair.

I teach the small children about brushing and make some new friends.

There are some special children I remember from last year,

like Selena.

At the end of the day, we meet for dinner. Mama Liz brings out a cake for one of our team members who is having a birthday. She tells us we are going to celebrate Mexican style.

This is what happens next.

God Gave Me Special Patients Today

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:53:00 +0000

Day 2 of the clinic at the home of Pastor Carlos and Nellie. He announces over his loud speaker that the free clinic is now open.

In walks Norma, my excitement shows and I can hardly contain myself. I remember Norma from last year and the story of a child who has seen and been through far more than her years show.
Norma doesn't smile..... ever.

I got Norma to smile.

It was 5:00 and I had seen over 30 patients. We were just about to shut down business when we discovered a man had been waiting two hours to get his teeth clean. Tired and weary, we agree to see him. A man with no legs, a false eye, and a total of 3 fingers comes in.
But that wasn't the shocking part. The biggest surprise of all was his kindness and gentle spirit.
I apologized that we made him wait so long and his graciousness for even seeing him was expressed.
I cleaned his teeth and we talked a bit. It was evident that he was filled with God's spirit so I asked him about it and what his story was.
He said he was born "like this" and for many years he would not go out in public because he could not face how people would treat him.
Then he found a church that introduced him to the love of Jesus.
Now he can face people and be happy.
I asked how I could pray for him. He said he has no job and would like to find work.

So if you would pray with me.

His name is Mauro.

Day 1 Free Clinic Serving the Need

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:16:00 +0000

Pastor Carlo and his wife Nellie open their home to serve as Iglesia Mount Sinia Baptista on Sundays, turning their home into a sanctuary. But on Monday morning we turned it into a medical/dental free clinic.

Serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord not men. Ephesians 6:7

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:26:00 +0000

There is a need.

He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well." Is that not what it means to know me?" says the LORD. Jeremiah 22:16

Stories to come...

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:06:00 +0000

Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God

...four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:3-5

Just a thought

Jesus is moved when we pray on behalf of others.
Who do you need to carry on that roof and lower down to Jesus? Today, stand in the gap for them!

His Hands

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:55:00 +0000

The children are waiting.

They know we are coming.

I am leaving this week for Chiapas, Mexico. Our small crew will be ministering to an orphanage in Tuxtla Gutierezz. Our goal is to treat their medical and dental needs, but our real goal is to show the love of Christ and let them know they were born for a purpose.

God is offering me an opportunity to do this for Him, to use the skills he has given me for His purpose. He is calling me to trust Him. He is taking me out of my comfort zone and into total reliance on Him. You can pray for me,
to be His hands while I treat patients,
to be His feet when I walk into that orphanage
and that my smile would speak more than words can say.

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:04:00 +0000

Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Just a thought

How do you view the afflictions in your life? Do you seek to escape them or see them as opportunities to release the strength of God?

Soul Comfort

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie B. Stevens) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:10:00 +0000

O God, my God, earnestly I seek you......

Coolness is coming to our parts which causes me to yearn for comfort of the warm.

The peace of pounding dough, the smell of sweet butter bread as it rises in the oven. It soothes the soul.

my soul thirst for you,

I take the quilt and wrap my body tight hugging myself until I feel the warmth.

my body longs for you,

Outside the cold comes, still dark, the world is just waking up. I reach for a cup of warm and a Book of Holy Words for the inside.

in a dry and weary land
where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

Still journaling the nourishment for which I'm thankful.

Strenth.
Determined Spirit.
Healing.
Crisp weather.
Warm homemade bread for breakfast.
Finding my secret garden.