You are...

My name is Stephanie Josiah and I was thought of before the creation of the world... God chuckled at the thought of who I'd be... The ups and downs... The sick humor and mood swings... He thought of me before the first cells divided in my mother's womb... Guarded me from infection, cradled me in warmth and held me in place... He thought of me before I opened my first birthday present... He planned... how many birthdays I'd have and all the life lessons I would learn... He sent me my husband... Created him to catch my eye and shaped his heart to attract my curiosity... Designed our children... Gave us an angel to share precious time with... Created him to be one of our greatest teachers...
He sings over and giggles with our family. He knew us before we knew ourselves... Every moment - ever present... He delights in our existence and wants to be in relationship with us.

We are blessed to know him as Planner, Creator, Protector, Healer, Gifter, Father, and Friend.

We are blessed! Of all the people we could have been... He enjoyed the idea of us being exactly who we are!

Are you feeling loved, protected, planned for, thought of, and blessed?

Because you are :0)

 

<3  Stephanie Josiah 9/15/2013

Confessing Culture in Church

Creating a confessing culture in the church instead of a masquerade:

Okay, starting with me...
I cuss like a sailor sometimes because it makes me laugh, helps me vent, or emphasizes a point (something I hide during church hours, around kids, the elderly, or most humans)

I admit I have a bit of an anger managment issue. The thought of slapping people soothes me on tough days (I suppose that isn't... really loving my neighbor completely heh?)

I say I hate lying and that I honor honesty above all other traits, but I can lie better than the best of them. (only when necessary... Uh huh... Still a sin)

I haven't "arrived", found "enlightenment", or "achieved spiritual grandeur"... Oh that's right, because such a thing is impossible for me because even when I'm not planning to sin - I do.

I'm afraid of large groups of people when I am the only female, black person, tall person, shapely person, light skinned person, or unfiltered person...

I hate certain people (oopsy)...

I prefer to NOT witness to scary men on the street (eek)...

I enjoy pulling pranks... I used to crank call the offices at my old church (aheh)

And I threw my husband to a dancing cougar just this past weekend and was rebuked by a classroom of older couples at our strong bonds retreat and I'm STILL happy I did it!!! (For the memories and blackmail pics)

I sinned at least once today... I said some choice words when I saw a puppet that costs $42.00 and encouraged a fellow shopper into being disgruntled about the prices...

I'll probably sin tomorrow too. I'm not scared about it either... Since that seems to be in my nature...

But, despite all of this... God made me because He wanted me here. I live and breathe and it delights Him. My every mistake is transparent to Him and He loves me anyway and He wants me to tell you that no matter how unlovable you think you are... No matter how horrible you think you've been... He loves you, He wants a friendship with you... Jesus was called "friend of sinners" by pharisees (as an insult) LOL well then I want to be a sinner, NOT a pharisee! I'm happy to know Jesus would rather be caught sitting at lunch with my family (burping and saying nasty stuff about darts and poop and butts)... Than sit next to some holy holies in a church building (faking perfection) Let's make the Church human again!

Let's stop faking it... We all have issues. But the one that hurts us most is not believing that we STILL were worth dying for (even with all the junk)!!!

Stephanie Josiah 9/12/2013

9/11 FaceBook Status

Never forgotten are the
families of the fallen on 9/11
Never forgotten are the first
responders who swapped fates

Men and women in uniforms,
Business suits, and jumpers...
Risking all to help someone inside
Or outside of wickedly warped metal
...
Blinded in dust clouds and smoke
Scratching around reaching
Searching for stranger, friend, or foe
In human chaos

These survivors, these heroes, and the ones taken from us...
All swirling around in the confusion with one thing in mind

Their kids, their wives or husbands...
Their families, estranged or not...
The last words they should have said... And the struggle to make it back if only just to say

I love you.
The fear and anger that must've been
Competing for their mind's focus
But they conquered giant towers...

Greatest fears and prejudices
To put others before self
And we honor their memory
We honor their efforts

Because the hardest daily decision most of us have to make
Is "red or blue tile?" or
"should I forgive this person?"

"One pump of vanilla today or hazelnut?"
I hear their voices ringing clearly
"we only do this thing called life here ONCE... Don't waste the gift, don't hate your enemy, don't fear what could happen... LIVE WELL! LOVE WELL! And bless someone everyday"

Hours before 9/11...
Their daily decisions were no harder than most of ours.

What hero, what greatness is sitting deep inside of us -
That could use a little
Basic training?


(c) Stephanie Josiah 9/11/2013