September 25th, 2010 by Kristi Stephens

I really don’t like to make this blog about me… but today it seemed appropriate to give you an update.

Remember how I said that I kept forgetting I was pregnant? Baby boy apparently wants to make his final pre-birth weeks more memorable. ;) I spent five hours this morning in the maternity unit at the hospital, hooked up to monitors and watching my slight contractions show up like clockwork every five minutes. As excited as we are to see our little guy, we really don’t want to see him for another 7-10 weeks, thank you very much.

Long story short, the contractions are under control for now and I’m on bedrest for at least two weeks. This has a hidden benefit for a blogger with a laptop because because I will have more time to write. Unfortunately, that really is one of the only benefits I can think of at this point.

The only other benefit that is coming to mind is one that usually I would like to sidestep… being humbled, stopped in my tracks, and reminded that the world will continue to spin even if I am only laying on the couch. God has a way of working through these times of weakness, it seems… and apparently the Womb-Weaver is setting up a construction zone not only in my expanding belly but also in my heart.

So, friends, I just ask for your prayers… pray that little man stays put so he can continue to grow and develop as he should. Pray that the logistics of life are worked out… and I would so appreciate if you pray for me as I prepare to learn some difficult lessons from my couch. :)

August 23rd, 2010 by Kristi Stephens

When the basement drain backs up water all over my floor as I try to do laundry… I choose joy.

• I will thank God for our home, for a working washing machine, for clean running water available all throughout my house, for money to pay the plumber who removes tree roots from the line.

When the water heater decides to have issues… I choose joy.

• I will thank God for clean running water, albeit cold. I will thank God for people who love us and who will share their knowledge of water heaters!

When my son kicks over my full coffee cup and I watch my morning coffee soak into the carpet… I choose joy.

• I will thank God for chubby little legs that are strong enough to create too much noise and too many messes.

When the schedule begins to feel too full, when deadlines are forgotten, when I begin to feel weighed down under the weight of the work God has entrusted to me… I choose joy.

• I will thank God that He has given me the ability to serve Him, for the freedom to choose what is best over what is good, for grace to boast in my weaknesses.

How will you choose joy, choose thankfulness, today?

August 2nd, 2010 by Kristi Stephens

Our Scripture Dig team!

From left to right – (top) Julie, Stephanie, me; (bottom) Sandra, Kathy, Teri Lynne

Almost 1,000 miles of driving. 600 women. One amazing God!

Thank you so much to those of you who prayed and offered sweet encouragement as I went to She Speaks this weekend. My mind is full, my heart is full, my back is sore, and I’m glad to be home – but missing these precious ladies!

We had a great meeting with our ScriptureDig team – these five amazing women have become so dear to me, although until this weekend the only one I knew “in real life” was Julie. It was such a privilege to sit in a room with them and share our hearts, laugh, plan, dream, and sharpen one another. We got a lot of planning done for the next six months or so for Scripture Dig, and it also seems that God might have bigger plans in mind for this team than we had first anticipated! But that’s all I will say for now. :)

Thank you for those of you who have been praying for me as I prepared my book proposal and met with the publishing agent on Saturday morning. I received some really encouraging feedback and am excited to see what happens next. The downside of the weekend was that the take-away message for writers was most definitely, “prepare for rejection! Prepare to be rejected over and over and over!”  But, it was also encouraging to hear from other published authors and how God used those times of rejection to both strengthen their focus and commitment to Him as well as to hone and better their writing abilities. I know I have a long way to go and a lot to learn!

This morning I am exhausted – staying up too late talking with Julie, being stretched outside of my normal introvert tendencies, and all of that driving has caught up with me. But I am thoroughly enjoying all the snuggles and kisses that LB and AG are showering on me – mommy was missed. I believe the best way to spend my day will be laying on the couch reading Dr. Seuss. :)

July 30th, 2010 by Kristi Stephens

Today is my 30th birthday!  This post was written in advance because today I am on the road on my way to She Speaks. This day feels surreal. It felt like it would never come. And now it is here.

I am on my way to a conference for which God has been preparing me every step of the way. Over the past few weeks He has provided funding from unexpected places, He has opened doors for appointments and resources, He has allowed me time to write and words to type. He has given me editors and people I needed to guide me along this journey.

The project that has existed in my head, in one form or another, for the past 10 years is starting to come together. It is the reason I changed my major to Bible as a junior in college.

The thing is… I thought I would feel more ready for this day than I do. I always envisioned myself beginning this book project with at least an MDiv under my belt. I thought I would have been on staff at a church. I thought I would have some kind of credentials to prove that I knew what I was talking about.

I don’t have any of those things. I have no official letters behind my name. I’m just a wife and mom. A wife and mom who happens to teach Bible studies and started blogging to encourage my Bible study ladies and keep them up to date when they  missed a week here and there.

And it seems that God has said, “Now go!”  (Even when I have internally responded, “Please, send someone else!“)

It is significant to me that this is happening on my 30th birthday. It seems that God is fond of the big 3-0.

1. Joseph was put into leadership in Pharaoh’s court when we he was 30 years old. (Gen. 41:46)
2. Saul was 30 years old when he became the first human king of Israel. (1 Sam 13:1)
3. David was 30 years old when he received the crown he had waited so long for. (2 Sam 5:4)
4. Jesus was 30 years old when he began his ministry. (Luke 3:23)

Today as I celebrate my birthday alone in a rental car, driving along unfamiliar country with nervous butterflies and occasional self-doubt, I find myself in good company. A boy who became a slave who became an accused criminal who became second in command to Pharaoh. A man who claimed he was from the smallest tribe and the most insignificant clan and who hid among the baggage when Samuel called him to come forward as the divinely-appointed king of Israel. A shepherd boy who killed a giant and later became a fugitive before being recognized as God’s choice to lead His people. A carpenter who most looked at as simply Joseph’s son who might have a screw loose somewhere.

God has called me to do something that seems much too big for me. And when I find myself feeling insignificant because of my small resume and lack of letters behind my name I remember – Joseph, Saul, David – they didn’t have any of those letters, either. They served a God big enough to use them, and all He asked of them was obedience.

I haven’t dreaded turning 30, I’ve looked forward to it.  And now I wonder – what doors of ministry will God open in my 30th year?

We shall see. I’d like to say I’m ready, but I’m not – I just know that He’s big enough.