Adorable?

  I was going to write another blog on The Great Romancer. I am probably going to still write it. But first I must take a rabbit trail....
  One of the guys in DLA, Paul, is from Germany. He speaks English very well but there are still some words he does not quite understand how to say the American way. The word adorable is one of them.
  According to dictionary.com adorable means 2 things.
     #1 - very attractive or delightful; charming
     #2- worthy of being adored
   As Americans we tend to use the word adorable via definition #1. If I am describing a little kid I use the word adorable...a lot. ;) Well, my friend Paul is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Seriously. One day someone told him that he was adorable and he said, "I'm not adorable. Only God is adorable." Now, this totally threw me off because, really, when have I ever called God adorable? Probably not very often. I love God, I think He is pretty wonderful, powerful, fantastic, and so many things, but adorable? Paul continued and said, "Only God is worthy to be adored." Oh, wow! Have you ever thought of God as adorable? He truly is the only one worthy to be adored.

   Think about that. Change your opinion of God today. God is adorable!

Why I Love Kansas

  I had the blessed privilege of going home this last weeked. My friend Chelsea was getting married and I got to be there to celebrate!! She looked SO beautiful!!
   I call it a blessed privilege for several reasons. #1 - My friends who I lived with at the XA house last year payed for my trip home. I told them I didn't have the money to make the trip and so they decided to raise the money for me themselves. What an act of love!! They are so wonderful. So wonderful indeed!! #2 - I got to see my friends and family. I love DLA but it was SO nice to make a trip home. God has been romancing me a lot lately (I've been more aware of it) and my drive home was truly amazing. I have never noticed KS being quite so beautiful. I probably never will again. It had something to do with the fact that I love fall. God knew that when He planned this trip for me. Ah...I love Jesus SO much! Seriously. I keep falling more in love with Him every day. Every time I think about Him. And that's the way it should be!
  Anywhooo....as I was home I kept thinking of all the reasons why I love home. So now I am sharing them with you. They are in no specific order.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT KANSAS....
   1. Walking around Washburn University with Kaci Eccles.
   2. Running around Wasburn Uniersity with Rachael Ortega.
   3. Classic Bean - Chai Tea Latte!
   4. Lifeway....Barnes and Noble....
   5. Coffee Dates at World Cup, Classic Bean, and Barnes and Noble
   6. Working at Billy Vanilly Cupcakes and all the people there
   7. Late night coffee runs to Billy Vanilly Cupcakes (I'm starting to sound like a coffee addict)
   8. XA House - Ari, Kaci, Taylor, Kelsey, Christian, Erin...late nights full of laughter!
   9. Thursday Night Live
  10. Worship Jam Sessions with Christian, Ben, Christian, and Phil
  11. Hugs from Ari
  12. The many many different laughs of Ariona Taylor
  13. German Chocolate made by Adam Stauffer....German Chocolate Frosting shots!!
  14. Fall in KS - the trees are SO SO SO beautiful!
  15. Walking in my favorite neighborhood...surrounded by trees.
  16. Friday Night Pizza/Movie nights with my sister and her kids
  17. Sunday dinner at my parents house - with the whole family!!
  18. Good News Church
  19. Hearing the many wonderful quotes from my paster - aka Gordonisms ;)
  20. The Good News Worship Band
  21. Concert on the Lot!!
  22. Spring in KS - it is just SO SO beautiful!
  23. Walking around WU....knowing the perfect amount of people yet still not knowing so many...
  24. Eating lunch in the Union - I like to people watch! ;)
  25. WU Business classes - I am a nerd - Microeconomics, Business Stats, Financial Accounting...
  26. Being 5-7 minutes away from my family.
  27. Sleepovers with my nieces/nephews
  28. Bathroom conversations with Ari...and Kaci...
  29. Riding my bike around Shawnee Lake with my dad
  30. Shunga Trail - walks/bike rides/ picnics
  31. Sand volleyball at Sonic
  32. Shawnee Lake - so beautiful!
  33. Watching the Vaughn kids
  34. Study parties in the hallway of the XA House
  35. Family dinners at the XA House - the delicious creations of Christian and Wesley
  36. Driving on Highway 40 to Lawrence....I love the country!!
  37. Lawrence - best city ever in KS
  38. Driving past places so full of memories
  39. Driving down Burlingame (between 27th & 29th) in the fall
  40. Fall in KS - I might have already said it, but I love fall. ;)
  41. The country...vast prairie lands
  42. Corn Fields
  43. Good News Church productions: Gameplan, Welcome Home, Happily Ever After...
  44. Annual GNC picnic/baptism at Lake Shawnee
  45. Thanksgiving dinner at GNC
  46. Wednesday night dinners at my parent's house with Shaun and Mikaela joining in.
  47. Topeka Shawnee County Public Library
  48. Being greeted every time I come home by my dog - Bella
  49. My Friends
  50. My Family

  To break it down....I love where I was born. I have so many memories. Good and bad. It is mostly the people make me love Topeka. I am such a people person! Don't get me wrong though, Topeka has been a beautiful place to live. Yes, sometimes you might have to search hard to see that beauty - only in the summer, ha ha! In the fall and the spring, Kansas is just Beautiful! No questions asked. Pictures don't do justice. I am greatful for the 21 years I have been granted to live in Topeka, KS. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
  It has spurred me on to having a love of traveling. I can now say I love Colorado! I am greatful for my time here as well. I'm not sure what my future holds....except I do...slightly. ;) I love when God reveals His plans piece by piece.

  I LOVE KANSAS!!

One of the MANY reasons I love XA!!

Heaven in a cup!

My favorite women...

Fall in KS :)

The Great Romancer

   I have a wonderful update on my car!! The person who hit my car was going to pay 100% for the dent in my car. I got an estimate and was all set to bring my car in to the shop when someone wiser than me shared their fantastic wisdom with me.
   Instead of getting my car fixed I can keep the money and have a dent in my car. Body work is expensive. This means I could get a lot of money back. I don't have a job this year. This means no earning money to put into a new car fund. My car still gets older each day. I'm not making money. Only God could and indeed did provide me with money to start a new car fund when I am actually not making any money. I think I'll keep my dent. ;) Everytime I look at my dent now I am reminded of how awesome God is. He blessed me through a strange circumstance. I like it. A lot.
  God continues to romance me every single day. How wonderful is He! :)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows."

James 1:17

A Love Letter

  I am currently in the process of waiting for the clock to strike 5am. Why? I am heading home for the weekend! I can't sleep however. So I've decided to share something with you. :)
  These past few weeks have been life changing. God has been speaking identity into my life. I am beginning to feel full of the strength of the Lord. I am beginning to believe God from the bottom of my heart when He tells me that He loves me. I am being vulnerable and He is rewarding me in that.

"When I called, you answered me,

you made me bold and stouthearted."

Psalm 138:3

  The WPC (World Prayer Center) where I have class every day has this wonderful opportunity for me. 24/7 prayer. There is a special room, the Furnace Prayer Room, where people gather together and pray at all times. It is So wonderful! There is always someone in the room praying. Except for in the middle of the night there is also a worship leader playing music and singing as the Holy Spirit leads them. I'm going to share a picture of the FPR with you later because as I said already, it is just so wonderful! (Thank you to my housemate Alex Tola for getting me to say the word wonderful all of the time)

      Because of the 24 hours of prayer 7 days a week every night of the week there is a main prayer meeting that many people gather together and attend. Most days of the week that main prayer meeting starts early in the evening. Wednesday and Friday nights however the main meeting is 10pm-12am. These late night prayer meetings are the favorite!

  Last night was only my second time attending a Wednesday night prayer meeting. It was Wonderful! Actually, wonderful doesn't even begin to describe it. God showed up. Right away. I truly feel that I spent some time at the seat of the Father. While there I asked Him to tell me a story. I asked my Father "What do you love?" The answer He gave me truly moved me. It is something I desire to share with you right now because, well, God loves you and He wants to know it deep down inside of you.

  I wish you could close your eyes and let me read this to you. I know this is rather impossible since you have to use your eyes to read. So I ask that as you read this be open to what God is saying to you in this. Believe it. It is truth.

I love to see you smile.

I love to see you step out in faith.

I love to see the dreams I place inside of you grow into fruition.

I love when you choose to sit at my feet.

I love when you open up your heart to me and choose to be vulnerable

-That is when strongholds are broken!

I love when you step out of your comfort zone.

I love when you choose to trust me.

I love when you pick me over others.

I love to hear you pray...I love listening to you.

I love talking to you.

I love when you choose joy.

I love when you serve from your heart.

I love when we meet in our secret place.

I love when you worship me and hold nothing back!

I love when you run to me first.

I love when you let yourself be you.

Do you understand what I am saying to you? I love you. I LOVE you. I LOVE YOU!!

The Power of Encouragement

   Hi friends! I pray you are all doing well.

   I am doing pretty great if I do say so myself. :)

   I find each and every day that God is So Very awesome! I love it!

   Every Sunday night we have what is called The Gathering. All DLA students, full-time and part-time, get together for a night of worship and teaching from one of our wonderful leaders. This last Sunday was so very great indeed. After worship we took a few minutes to go around to our friends and speak encouraging words over them. The timing on this event could not have come at a more perfect time. I am doing swell, growing in the Lord. There are however areas where I am not sure if I am really growing. I think I am but Satan comes in and tries to tell me that I am not improving. So I get discouraged. Stink! Every single person that encouraged me on Sunday night was definitely listening to God. Every single encouragement I received directly correlated to the areas I was not sure if I was really growing in but so desire to. God sent me people to tell me that I was indeed growing. Don't give up! As my pastor back home would say, "Keep on keeping on." ;)
   Jesus - your timing is impeccable!
   Last night during a prayer meeting I decided to continue on the growth topic and look back in my journal to see where God has brought me recently. I teared up as I read God's promises to me from before I came to DLA.

"The Lord is faithful to all his promises

and loving toward all he has made."

Psalm 145:13

February 2, 2011:

   Oh Stefanie, I know that just stressed you out to find our that your interview is not until the 18th of February. I am fully aware that scholarships are due on the 14th. Do you not think I knew this before I had MaryBeth call you? I know everything! I see it ALL Stef! I know what I am doing. I am calling you to simply leave it in my hands. Trust me Stef. Do NOT fill out that Leadership Scholarship. If you do, you are showing me that you don't trust me. Whose plan do you want to follow? Whose do you believe is better, mine or yours? I am the Alpha and Omega. I am Peace. I am love. I am everything you need.

 (When I was worried about what to do this school year God said "Trust me." As you all know, I am exactly where God wanted me to be!)

February 24, 2011:

  Stefanie I know life is difficult. You work more than you did before. Take it as a blessing. I am helping you get the money for Colorado. I will not just hand you all the money you need. Some of it will come more easily than others but I want to see how serious you are. Do you desire to go to this school as much as I desire for you to go? I have such GREAT things in store for you Stefanie. I am so excited for you to go! You are going to miss your family though. You must lean on me. You must let me be your one and only. I am everything you need.

  (When I was frustrated with going to work and school full-time, when I was in desperate need of encouragement, God came through. He also provided me with ALL the money I needed for school, just in time!)

 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,

but let us encourage one another -

and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 10:25

Are you in need of encouragement? Get together with fellow believers. There is SO much encouragement in gathering together and speaking life into each other's lives.

Ask God. He is the Greatest Encourager of all!

Lightning McQueen

   I have talked to several people lately who have named their cars. Definitely not something I've thought about doing. I love my car, it was a blessing from God, but it's a car. It doesn't need me to name it.  However, one time I gave a friend of mine a ride somewhere and her little boy was very excited to ride in "Lightning McQueen." My car is red...get the parallel? ;)
   The reason I bring up my car is that I have sad news to share with you. About Lightning McQueen. Last Monday we had the day off because we were helping out at the high school retreat during our actual weekend. After going on the jr. high retreat without a day off in between the retreat and the school week too many people got sick. Now, we have Monday's off after a retreat weekend!
 Anyway, I had the wonderful privilege to go out for coffee with my dear friend Hannah on my day off. I had an incredible time talking with her and sharing what God has been doing in our lives. I left Starbucks feeling quite overwhelmed by the greatness of God.

  I got to my car and there was a flyer on my windshield. I looked at it briefly but not recognizing what the ad was for I threw it in my car with the intention of throwing the paper away when I got home. Instead of just heading home like I planned on I felt God directing me to keep on driving down the highway and exit onto a different street. I'm so glad I did! As I have been praying for God to romance me, He has been doing just that. My detour took me to a new part of Colorado Springs that I had never been to. There I discovered a beautiful park with the trees looking quite fall-ish. If you know me, you know that I absolutely LOVE fall! (When my sister sent my care package to me she included leaves from around town) God had revealed to me a special place. Our place.

 Let me just say, when I got home that afternoon I was in an Extremely good mood! As I arrived home however I got out of my car and noticed something. Something sad indeed. My dear Lightning McQueen had a big dent in the side of it, and paint marks all along the dent. Someone had hit my car. How had that happened I thought? I surely would have noticed if someone hit it while I was driving. LIGHT BULB! That's what that note was on my windshield when I was at Starbucks. On the back of the ad was a note that said "Sorry I hit your car. Please call my dad at this #." They left their insurance information and their contact info. I felt so blessed in the midst of my sadness. Yes, my car is no longer dent free (besides all the hail damage). I am currently waiting to hear back from the insurance company to know if their insurance will truly pay for the damage or if they will call my car totaled. Regardless of what happens, God is so good to me! I was blessed by the sheer fact that the person who hit my car left their contact information. How many times have people had their cars hit and the person who did it simply left the scene. I am blessed by the honestly of this family. And their willingness to pay for the damages.

 I'll keep you updated on what happens with Lightning McQueen. ;)

Corem Deo

   Last weekend I had the opportunity to go on the high school retreat. I didn't go as a leader. I went as part of work crew. This means that we served all the meals to the students and cleaned up after they left the dining hall.
    Never have I ever been to such a nice campground! We went to Crooked Creek Ranch in Fraser, CO. Every trip I take takes me further and further west into the Rocky Mountains. Boy are they beautiful!! I thought Colorado Springs was the most beautiful city ever. Now I know better. ;) It's like our relationship with God. Once we grasp a new part of Him and think we understand Him more, He opens our eyes to the fact that there is SO much more we don't understand or haven't experienced yet. Never will we fully know the beauty of God. That is part of God's majesty!!

  Back to the retreat. It was So awesome being there and serving students. As you can see by the picture, this was no ordinary dining hall. The evening dinner on Saturday is always a themed dinner. This year it was superhero night!! We made the dining hall even more impressive with tablecloths, linen napkins, and fancy glass drinking cups. It was so much fun to see everyone dressed up in their costumes! Even the servers got to dress up. I was "Super Stefanie" ....copying my costume from a few years back when I was "Super Aunt." ;)

  Never have I ever been to a campground that provides towels, sheets, and pillows for every person staying there.  I went to serve and I left feeling so blessed. Each member of work crew was given a bag of candy when we got to the retreat, and our work crew cabin was stocked with lots of snack goodies for us. Again, blessed. They didn't have to do any of that for us, yet they did.
  The name of the retreat was Corem Deo. This means 'in the presence of God.' Ah...God was most definitely at Corem Deo! After I finished help cleaning up the dining hall I was able to sneak away to the evening service Saturday night and Sunday morning. On Saturday the speaker was talking about how we must be passionate for God and run full force after what He calls us to do. He used the analogy of a white rhino. They are massive, ginormous animals. They can't see very far in front of them but they can run up to 30 miles per hour. We must be like the rhinos...get a vision for what God wants us to do and run hard after that. We will be so victorious!! It is so amazing to be able to worship Jesus with young people who are passionate about God. Several hundred people together in one room singing praises to our King = beautiful!! :)

Cabins

Crooked Creek ;)

Outside the dining hall.