March 12, 2007

Update

Hello everyone!

It has been a while since I last updated but don’t think I have forgotten you! I have been anxious to keep you informed about “what’s new”, but every time I sit down to type something, something else always comes up. *shaking head in shame*

Thank you all for your prayers concerning the new album. I am happy to report that we are making progress (*cheering*), albeit slowly. I am hoping to spend a considerable amount of time in the studio when I return from Pennsylvania.

The last few concerts have gone well; it is always lovely to meet and connect with new people. There are only a few more concerts on the agenda for this Spring. I would have loved to have been able to do more but it is impossible to record and travel at the same time. ;o)  Scheduling for Summer/Fall is in the works so if you would like to obtain information about booking, you can contact info@stephaniestaples.com.

The next concert is a private event at Valley Forge Christian College. Please keep this in your prayers. It is scheduled for Thursday, March 25^th at 10:00AM.

In other news, I have been reading a few books by George MacDonald (one of C.S. Lewis’ favorite authors). He was a Scotsman who wrote during the late 1800’s. His writings have encouraged, challenged, and motivated me in so many ways! I have quoted him a couple of times in the journal entry below, and I’m sure I will continue to do so in coming blogs.

I must tell you what a blessing it has been to receive all of your emails, messages, letters, etc.! Your encouragement is greatly appreciated. Thank you, also, for your patience in waiting for the new release. I am very excited for it to be available. In the meantime, don’t forget that you can order Face to Face online!! (One for you, ten for your friends! ;o) )

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Peace,

Stephanie

www.StephanieStaples.com

www.MySpace.com/StephanieStaples

www.ShoutLife.com/StephanieStaples

March 12, 2007

Journal

“Understanding is the reward of obedience. Obedience is the key to every door. I am perplexed at the stupidity of the ordinary religious being. In the most practical of all matters he will talk and speculate and try to feel, but he will not set himself to do.” ~George MacDonald

When God created the universe He did not intend to be considered a “far off” deity. His creation bears witness to the fact that He is a loving and faithful Father who is speaking every moment. The problem is that, while so many of us know about Him, talk about Him and even experience Him to some extent, we fail to do even the smallest things in order to have a deeper relationship with Him.

God’s instructions on how to “get to know Him” are not complicated. He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Instead of following even the simplest part of these instructions however (“Come to Me”), many stand around waiting to understand every aspect of “life in Christ” before fully embracing God’s truth. But Jesus never said, “Try to understand and then come” He said, “Come.” It is only when we choose to “come” that we will begin to understand.

I was talking to a friend about this very subject yesterday. During our conversation a picture flashed in my mind of someone standing at the bottom of a huge mountain, completely equipped with everything needed to climb it, but refusing to move forward in hopes that “something” would come to assure them they could a) reach the top, b) be comfortable doing so, and c) like what they saw once they got there. As I learned in Costa Rica while climbing a literal mountain (for more on this read the journal entitled, “What I Learned in Costa Rica” on the website), one cannot appreciate what lies ahead until they get there. They can hear all about it and even look at pictures, but until they experience the journey and see the end result for themselves they will never understand the point of making such a long (and sometimes grueling) climb.

In the same way, while we may begin with a faint idea of what lies ahead when we choose to walk with God, we will never fully understand the beauty and rest found in Jesus until we choose to begin moving toward Him.

Even the strongest believer can find themselves at the bottom of a mountain, hearing a call to do this or that but choosing to stand still rather than take even a few steps in the right direction. It is as if we expect to be magically lifted to the top without ever making the effort to climb!

The point is, if we want to understand God we must first begin doing what we already know to be right. Until we do, we will constantly question everything we “hear” or read.

If you feel like you’re standing at the edge of a “mountain” and are frustrated that you don’t fully understand what God wants for your life, perhaps you simply need to do what God has already told you to do. Have you been hearing, “Come to Me”? Then go to Him! Have you been hearing, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me”? Then give up your fight for control and let Him lead and teach you. If you’ve been hearing “rest,” trust Him. Whether the tug in your heart has been about the importance of patience, unconditional love, and honesty or about the evils of gossip, jealousy, anger, fear, pride, sexual immorality, greed, etc., if you want to go deeper with God, just do what you already know to do and your path will become much clearer. Has He told you to move toward that mountain? Then at least begin moving your feet! He will lead you moment by moment and will provide strength, help, and encouragement as you trust Him along the way.

Faith is the only “equipment” necessary to begin the climb. Put your hope in God and start walking.

“What, then, is the way that lies before me for my own door? Help me to see it.”

“It is just the old way—that of obedience. If you have ever seen the Lord, if only from afar—if you have any vaguest suspicion that the Jew-Jesus, who professed to have come from God, was a better man, a different man, than other men—one of your first duties must be to open your ears to His words and see whether they seem to you to be true. Then, if they do, to obey them with your whole strength and might. This is the way of life, which will lead a man out of his miseries into life indeed.” ~George MacDonald

“Everyone . . . who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” ~Matthew 7:24-27