The Rhythms of His Heart

We had just come from a staff meeting!  Nothing too out of the ordinary came up...often the same questions, not always enough answers! " How are we doing?" "What can we do to engage the Youth of Portage in our Drop In?"  We tossed around ideas, talked of making use of our school visits a time where we try and reach the masses and increase our numbers in our programs.  This is a healthy conversation...with valid questions and I left feeling challenged.  I also left feeling discouraged.  Why?  I know what I am not.  But before you think me too negative...keep reading!  The Lord has been painfully stripping me...ah but beautifully showing me my uniqueness! No longer trying to be a "keep up with everyone" leader, but a more of a "embrace your uniqueness and specific role" leader.     I am Deanna!  I am quiet, contemplative, and sensitive.  I love spending time with people (especially  in one-on-one heart sharing convers...

Rise up, Oh Soldier! You are covered Because He shed His blood and suffered. Rise up, Oh Soldier  You are covered And when shame and guilt stands in the way His voice cries out, "Not here! Not today!" Rise Up, Oh Soldier You are covered Your sin and past are not too big! Rise Up, Oh Soldier  You are covered Stand in His righteousness forever! And when the battle makes you feeble, tired, worn and in defeat... Rise up, Oh Soldier You are covered  In His strength that makes you able Rise up, Oh Soldier  You are covered In a song of victory Rise up, Oh Soldier You are covered Our Enemy cast down He reigns forever RISE UP, OH SOLDIER  YOU ARE COVERED! ***Written after time spent in Ephesians 6:10-18 with a focus on the breastplate of righteousness

In my office now sits a blue, sparkly prom gown.  It has been “decorating” my office since our  summer garage sale.  It sits there waiting for a girl to put it on...to embrace it as her own.  She soon I hope will trade her worn out, tattered sweaters and Lulu lemons for this Princess gown.   When I think about this dress it hits me on a deeper level. I see faces of girls at the Drop In,  faces I pass in school hallways and faces that come to small groups.  God the Father, our King created them for royalty and all they have to do is turn their sin, torn garments in for the royal robes of His righteousness.  They will then be the Princesses that He created them to be.  My role at YFC has me standing by calling and waiting for them to embrace the clothes of the King’s royalty that each girl was created for. One of these 'yet to be Princesses' walked a dark road this summer.  I got a message one Monday night saying that she wa...

My King has been calling me out of hiding...the quiet, shy me still feels the same and yet she is learning the powerful thing that it is to share the story of what He has being doing in my heart!  In this unraveling He calls me deeper and to things that are bigger than me!     I was asked to go back to Nova Scotia to speak at a Ladies Retreat on Thanksgiving Weekend!  I was blessed to retrace the journey of the 13 yr. old me and visit with ladies and a dear friend and a mentor.  I am grateful that my YFC Portage family released me to do this and that they celebrate the ways that God has been gifting me and using me!  I am undone and so honored that HE would choose me...and bless me with the precious sisters in the Body!  20+ ladies gathered at a beautiful camp on a lake...and I am thankful for each of them.  Jesus even smiled on us by giving us nice weather to do some of our sessions outside "at the foot of t...

I woke up dreading the day mostly because I thought I knew what was coming! I sat in the quiet and asked the Lord to change my heart! I  rushed out the door trying to see the bright side of being at work a hour earlier! (Can you tell I'm not a morning person?!) It was 8am and we as a staff were required to take a First Aide Course.  I had been through this before...the instructor goes through the manual and then we do our practicing of CPR on an fake adult, child and baby! Yep, its pretty awkward for anybody and though I see its value, as a person with a limited, cerebral palsy-worn body it just is REALLY awkward and hard! I  dreaded it because in previous courses the instructors seemed really insensitive in helping me follow through with trying my CPR...and maybe my own pride of not wanting to be different or singled out didn't help either!  I walked in with all of these memories and feelings of not be understood! BUT this time that prayer of that  attitud...

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 ...