The Rhythms of His Heart

Over the last months at the Factory Drop In there is a spicy little shaker that hits the counter. It adds some "fire" to the forever lovely "Little Ceasars" pizza slice or the occasional Supper Club Casserole.  This little spice bottle contains dehydrated & ground jalapeno flakes made so lovingly and shared by my YFC brother.  It is a spicy powder that has brought tears to the eyes of many youth who try and prove their "toughness" by the amount they can consume.  It goes by the name "Man Spice" around here and most days I shake my head at the thrill my friends get out of watching each other choke, cry and spew on the stuff!  This is just part of Youth Ministry...part of the crazy, "brightly intelligent ;)" things that I get to see in my day!   One particular night last week though this little bottle and a new friend who came in, taught me the heart of Jesus...taught me the heart of the Gospel in a way I will never forget!  We met...

Not too many preachers use them anymore, but the pulpit in a church building is usually the podium behind which the pastor stands that holds his Bible and sermon notes. Many days I watched dad stand behind his and talk with all his heart about the saving message of Jesus.  The place where he stood and prayed many heart felt prayers, sang songs at the top of his lungs, delivered funeral messages, performed baby dedications, etc. etc. On this Father's Day evening I sit here quiet thinking about the last 27 years of being Jerry Stearns' daughter and I am quite proud.  His "job" became my life...his church became my church, his friends, became my friends...his way of loving and leading has now become a part of the way I love and lead.   For four years I've been out from under my father's pulpit and home now!  I miss it and yet his letting me go was the hardest best thing.  I realized since being away that I had made my Daddy's calling my own.  Much ...

A few months ago I sat in a home of a beautiful family.  This family moved to Manitoba in recent years from Mexico and are adjusting to life here.  Sometimes the life I live allows me to meet people and I come away thinking that there is no doubt that it is definitely is a "God thing"that I meet them. I walked in the door and this dark haired, big eyed beautiful girl was at the door with her Momma waiting for me. She wasn't standing...she wasn't running. She was sitting on the floor on all fours. She was crawling.  This little sweet thing... she had Cerebral Palsy just like me!!  We went in and got comfortable and she brought her leg braces to her Mom to help her put them on. Yes,she ACTUALLY wanted to to wear the evil things, can you believe it?!  My eyes glanced over in the corner and saw her little red handled walker and the memories flooded back to the days when that was my constant companion too!  I sat there with memories of hard days gone by,many d...

May 3, 2012!  4 years since I  moved to a little city  named Portage La Prairie.  This morning I was reflecting and remembering the faithfulness of Jesus on that day.   Many weeks, months and now years have passed and it is STILL His goodness and trustworthiness that has made me stay! "What good can come out of Portage?  Why did you move so far away?  "What good is it?"  These are all questions that have been said to me...or have even plagued my own heart on a day.  The answer is and always will be JESUS!  I am convinced of this and on the hardest of days, when my family seems so far away, or when I am up against a wall I KNOW that this is where I am supposed to be.  The things I have learned can hardly be explained in one simple blog post, but I will keep it brief so you don't fall asleep :). I am constantly looking for pictures that clearly remind me of Jesus and how I can point people to Him. Here are 4 pictures to explain th...

This past weekend I got to go away and get a change of scenery!  We drove across the border on a 13 hour road trip!  Our destination? New Tribes Bible Institute in Waukesha, Wisconsin for their "Catch the Vision" days!  This is when perspective students can visit the campus and hear the heart of God through the mission of New Tribes! 6 people who love the Lord...who are very different and yet share the same heart for Jesus,  similar music tastes and humor ventured out! We were really living on a prayer!     26 hrs. together in a car...and we all survived and are still friends! We headed out at 2am on Thursday and made the treck!  We got to sit under Bible teaching on Friday in classes  and experience campus community!  We spent the evening after "Catch the Vision" by the waterfront in Milwaukee!  Saturday was a day spent walking around Millennium Park in Chicago and finished the day with a slice of authentic Chicago pizza! Here...

Dear Good Little Church Girl. . . You are found out!  No more pretending!  No more masks!  No more hiding behind all your "saintly"tasks!  You think that you can play the game...that everyone around you can't possibly know your hurt...your shame...your pain!  Your pride...uh it lets you put up walls, but if you only knew that it is the cause of your falls!  You are not alone and yet in your choices the consequences, you need to own! And before God as much as you hide, You are seen.  Loved.  Known! I walk into church.  I see you there and wonder what it would take for you to be done with fake!  I look into your eyes and they scream 'Help Me Out!'  But still you rush to your seat not wanting anyone to find you out! To find out that really you struggle with sin... To find out that your close walk with Jesus didn't ever really begin To find out that  instead of being proclaimed as "just a teen" you want to be heard, loved a...