Relationships...is yours weak or strong?

I was once told it's the little things in life that can mean the most. It is so very true!

We live in a world of the internet, like social networking which can be wonderful! Just look at the way I'm able to communicate with the world through my blog your reading right now!

Recently I found a posting on the FaceBook page of the love of my life. Before I go on I do need to let you know how I was asked, because of something which happened in his past on FaceBook,  not to post personal things on his wall. Because I respect his feelings I have refrained from posting anything of a personal nature. 

When I found another woman had posted a thank you for stopping by it meant a lot and love you...It wasn't a big deal it just hit me wrong another woman could express how she appreciated something he had done but I was respecting his wishes not to do the same... it took me to a place in my past which made my heart sink for a moment. 

It was an ugly memory of my own which had creped in and caused doubt in my mine. Because I share and communicate with him my feelings he removed it. I thought it was a sweet and unselfish thing he had done. Like I said it wasn't a big deal, it just hit me wrong. 

I'm not a typical woman in the south who feels a guy can't have female friends or a woman can't have guy friends. When you think this way it's like your trying to have a dictatorship in the relationship. Controlling another person will only lead to resentment in the relationship.

Being I trust him at his word, even after all I have been through in my past, it felt really wonderful when he showed with his actions he cared about my feelings by letting me know who the person was and what he had done adding he didn't think it was a big deal. He didn't have to go the extra mile of explaining things to me or remove the post but he did.  It was those actions he took which showed me how much he cared about my feelings. 

It might not seem like a big thing but all the little things add up when it comes to helping someone you love get past their bad memories for events in their lives.

God shows us in his word how to put it in his hands and one of my favorite lessons in the Bible is about forgiveness! I had to forgive the ones who have wronged me to move forward and let go of my past. 

Being human sometimes little things will remind us of our own insecurities. It's up to us on how we handle those feelings to get past them.

I want to thank the love of my life for doing what he did and also add those little things are why I love you so much!

Be Blessed,

Dee Stevens

Acts 13:38 (New International Version, ©2010) 

³⁸ “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

Unselfish acts...

Open my eyes Dear God to see through your eyes. Let me see how I can make a difference in another person’s life. If only to bring a smile across their face for a moment; let your light and goodness shine through me in my actions today. Help me to continue to love unconditionally. May my words bless one person today. May your word be spread to another soul today. May one more person learn about you through something I’ve said or done.

They say it only takes one person to change the world.

Take time today to smile at a stranger.

Blessing a person doesn’t cost a thing. It can be done by a silent prayer said for a coworker or person on the street you pass in a car or in walking by them in a store or restaurant.

The unselfish acts you do will bless you in ways you may not see right away but it will happen!

Don’t forget you aren’t in this world alone. There are other people doing what they do right along with you try being courteous when you can; maybe  you can give yourself extra time in your travels… let a person or two cut in front of you.

Be Blessed,

Dee Stevens

Matthew 22:37-39-Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 

Unexpected Words…

I’ve heard many things over the years, but yesterday a few simple words brought me to tears…

Sometimes people still amaze me by what they say. Yesterday was inspiring to me by the words “you are very talented.” 

I’ve had friends tell me the same words “you are very talented” before but they never had such a powerful affect on me before.

I have worked very hard over the years and through it all I’ve always tried to keep a smile on my face even when having a bad day.

Reflecting on my life and knowing I’ve really never had anyone in it who has supported me, it’s always been me supporting someone else; I found myself in tears.

It wasn’t because I was sad. It was more so a relief knowing God has put a man in my life that really gets it. By no means did it happen over night because we have been dating now for almost 9 months. To simply put it- it was ‘amazing’ to feel the rush of emotions from hearing those words.

Sometimes our lives have twist and turns we don’t expect and with them come emotions we are never totally prepared for when they come. It was the unexpected words uttered which showed me God has been listening to my prayers of finding a deeper understanding of who I am and where my path is heading.

The rush of emotions that came over me is hard to put into words but I’ll try; it was like an instant connection to knowing how true happiness is meant to be felt. Knowing the man I love gets me along with an answered prayer was liken to being filled with the Holy Spirit. It moves through you in a flash. For someone who has never felt the Holy Spirit move you then I would say it’s like going from zero to 70 in point 2 seconds. It was an adrenaline rush and my only way of not exploding was to let the tears roll.

God answers prayers in three ways:

Yes!

No!

And not right now!

All of them may not happen immediately but when you get an answer from a prayer which has been a while in coming it tends to take your breath away! Yesterday, I found through unexpected words the answer to one of my prayers which I didn’t expect!

Never give up on your prayers and never give up on shining your light for others to see God working through you!

Be Blessed,

Dee Stevens

Ezra 9:8 (New International Version, ©2010)-⁸ “But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. 

Finding Your Way...

Finding your way…

Often times we are just going through the motions in life, not really knowing if we are doing what we want to do or just here.

Have you had days where you get up in the morning and wonder “what am I doing with me life?”

I’m sure you have and then there are days where everything just seems to overwhelm you and you just can’t put your finger on it but it just feels like it’s going to be a longer than normal day.

It’s on those days you just feel like… blah.

I have found that when I have a day like this it’s time for me to do some soul searching. I ask myself the following questions:

Do you feel blessed in your life?

Are you doing better than you where this time last year? (Spiritually)

Do you feel like you are on the path God has put you on?

If you can answer yes to at least one of the questions… life isn’t as blah as you might think! If don’t see a yes answer then maybe you should really look at where you are in your life. I’ve said it before and I’m sure I will continue to say it “God doesn’t make Mistakes!”

There is a plan for your life preset before we are born. To make sure you are traveling down the path you have to regroup sometimes. Asking God to help you find where you need to be can get you back on track and life won’t feel so humdrum.

When we are kids we want to grow up and when we do grow up we want to have it slow down. As we get older the years just seem to fly by so quickly! Funny how that works isn’t it?

Be Blessed,

Dee Stevens

Job 22:15 (New International Version, ©2010)¹⁵ Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod?

"Give Me" "Search Me" "Make Me"

Today the preacher spoke about how when we are young in age we are ‘give me’ type people. This can also be true in relationships, marriages and in life. We are all about ‘me’ and everything we do is to satisfy the ‘me’ in our lives.

He talked about how important it was for us to get past the ‘give me’ and grow up! And about how when we first fall in love we do for the other person but in reality we are doing it because it’s all about ‘me’. I didn’t get it at first but as he continued to talk about when the newness wears off and you’re ready to trade that person in because they don’t satisfy the ‘me’ in us anymore - it hit me! (No pun intended) Some of the things he was saying applied in my life. Both of my ex-husbands were all about them and what was important to them. He talked about how Job was a man who no matter what his faith in God was deeper than the materialistic things he had. (Job 1:1-22) Job had it all! A wife, kids and then there were all the animals he owned and servants too.

In the scripture it shares a conversation that God had with Satan. It was about Job’s faith in God. Satan thought if everything was taken from him he would change. Job proved Satan wrong! Job lost everything in one day! His material things and all of his kids too! 

Being a mother I can’t imagine what that would be like. But Job’s faith didn’t falter! After all of this happen to Job in verse 20 it says: “At this, Job got up tore his robe and shaved his he’s head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.” The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Wow, can you imagine going through what Job went through and then still he got on his knees and prayed!

Do you know what God did? If you continue to read the book of Job and you get to chapter 42 you’ll find that everything that Job lost he got back double! Except for his children… later in life he had seven more sons and three more daughters. The preacher explained to us that Job really didn’t lose his children for he would see them again in heaven!

He shared Psalms 139: 23-“Search me, God, and know my heart.” He went on to say that ‘Search Me’ was not just a statement. It was very important because in growing you have to search yourself! In this case this man was begging God to help him find the evil in his life and show him so he could begin to change and be better in his walk with God. (At least that is how I took it to be)

The preacher also shared with us scripture from Luke 15-18 “… Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19-I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.”

‘Make Me’ those words hit close to my heart. As the preacher put it all together in summary; he let us know that we need to grow from ‘Give me’ to ‘Search me’ and ultimately ‘Make me’ servants of God.

When the preacher gave the invitation to come and pray I we felt moved to do so. I went to the alter and got down on my knees and prayed that God’s will be done in my life. For him to continue to show me the signs he’s been showing me and his glory be given not for me but for him.

After leaving church, the love of my life said “you know you don’t have to go to the front of the church all the time… God hears you right where you are.” My first thoughts were, “I felt led by God to go up and pray and why would he say that to me?” I tried to express my thoughts and feelings about his statement but it didn’t come out that way I’m sure.

At one point I even felt offended by what he has said. I felt he was judging me and my actions. “How is it he thinks he has the right to tell me how and when to pray?” “I didn’t do anything wrong nor did I feel he had any right to comment on my actions.” “This was between me and God.”

I’m sure he meant nothing hurtful when he said it and it probably never crossed his mind again. I found myself confused and in tears from the feelings I had been left with. So I prayed. I asked God to show me why I felt like I was second guessing my going to the alter and why I almost felt angry by what was said.

It wasn’t until much later that day while swinging in the sunshine I felt peace around my heart and heard a soft voice say… “Child you did nothing wrong, I hear your prayers.”

I try everyday to grow with God. Today I let Satan make me question my actions of going to the alter to pray. Now I’m not saying the man I love is Satan or that he was possessed. It was only the words he spoke that caused me to question my own actions and be offended at the time the statement was made.

God shows us signs everyday when we are on the right path. And sometimes Satan steps in and twists words out of love to leave us confused by our own actions. It’s up to us as Christians to see and hear through our love and faith in God. We are not to question his word when we are called by him to be about his business! I didn’t question God on why I felt the way I did but did ask him to help me understand why I doubted myself and what I did.

God doesn’t make mistakes! Satan on the other hand does when he tries to mess with one of God’s lambs!

Today I learned when I took the ‘give me’ out of the picture and let God ‘search me’ through my own doubts in what was said I found out how to ‘make me’ understand the meaning in the message!

At the end of the day it is always going to be us and God. You may not feel as if every day is a perfect day in your ‘give me’ life. But once you learn how to put ‘search me’ in it -it is then and only then you will find it in you to use ‘make me’ a part of your daily life!

A big thanks to my Preacher for yet again teaching one of his fishers of men how to use what I’ve learned in church to share God’s word and love with others!

Be Blessed

Dee Stevens

I Believe!

God’s Plan…

Even though we cannot see his nail scared hands,

We know Jesus the son of God was sent for us to understand,

Love is not just a word it is a way of life to us all,

When God speaks we should hear his call,

Don’t keep silent if one turns away,

Drop down on your knees and pray,

To save a soul is an honor in his name,

We should be proud as we proclaim,

It is in his name his will be done,

Because God sent his only son,

To save our souls in this life we live,

It is our sins that he does forgive,

If one person hears of his name today,

Another will rejoice as we say,

Thank you God for saving me,

The Alfa, The Omega, The Almighty!

(Dee Stevens 2/18/2011)

I believe that everything happens for a reason so let me start by saying on Tuesday I happened upon and app for my phone which takes your pulse rate. I felt compelled to download it to my phone. I don’t know why I just didn’t question it and did it and didn’t think about it again.

It was a week ago late tonight the following events happened which opened my eyes to how God tell us to do things we don’t understand but he always has his reasons. We may not see them as a sign from God at that moment but later find out the ‘gut feeling’ we get was his way of preparing us for things to come.

*Some of the following events may not be in the exact order as they happened because I wasn’t taking notes at the time…

I got a text from the man I love “I’m sick come take care of me”. Normally I would not think anything of it but he is not the typical guy to ask for any sort of help. I text back and let him know I had a few more things to do and I would be over.

Once I got there I found him on the couch shaking wrapped up in a blanket. His hands and feet were ice cold and he told me he had thrown up a few times since 3 that afternoon.

I asked him if he wanted me to take him to the hospital and his reply was “no I don’t have insurance and I really don’t feel like sitting in the emergency room for hours”. I could totally relate to his replies because I too don’t have insurance and wouldn’t want to sit and wait for hours to find out what’s wrong but a little small voice inside told me “take his pulse with the app on your phone”. I’m not saying that I have a direct connection with God or that he spoke directly to me but when I have things like this happen to me I don’t toss them off or ignore them.

I did and it was reading 199 which to me was not a good thing. He asked me to look up online and see what some of his symptoms might be. As I was got my computer out and started searching in the back of my mind I kept hearing that same small voice saying ‘something isn’t right and he needs to go to the hospital’. I would ask him question to compare them to MD online. As I did I just keep feeling I needed to check his blood pressure.  I’m not a nurse or a doctor but have worked in a nursing home and had a medical clinic and knew that his mother had a wrist cup there at the house. I got it and took his blood pressure to find it was 200 plus over 100 plus (I didn’t write it down but knew it was way too high) He told me it must be a mistake to check the batteries so I changed them out and took it again. It was still over 200 and 100. I went back online to find that anything that high like that meant you needed medical attention as soon as possible. I kept talking to him and watching him breath and then he told me he needed something he was going to get sick. I flew to the kitchen to find something fast and got it to him just in time. He didn’t want me near him when he was getting sick but I wanted to make sure he was ok.

After this happened he felt a little better but the high readings were a nagging concern to me when I had read about having a blood pressure reading as high as his was to seek immediate medical attention. (Click here for the page I viewed)

I took the blood pressure again and it was still well over 200 and 100 plus. I wanted to make sure the cup was working so I had someone take mine. Of course mine was a little high because of the situation but I then knew I had to convince him to go to the hospital.

I took my phone in the other room and called the hospital and asked to speak to the on duty nurse and explained the situation. I was told to hang up and call 911 she added that he could stroke out or could be having a stroke.

I knew I had to remain calm and let him and the others in the house of what I was getting ready to do. After letting everyone know what I was going to do I dialed 911. While on the phone with I remained calm as I watched the love of my life pass out. Even though it was only for a few moments it still scared me. I knew the worse things I could do was panic so I calmly kept saying his name until he his eyes opened up and he spoke to me.

While waiting for the paramedics to get there, which seemed like forever, I kept it together and continue to get him ready for them along with talking to his mom and staying by his side until they got there.

He was alert and requested his mom call his son and let him know we would be heading to the hospital. His son got to the hospital first, followed by me and then we waited for him to arrive.

Again the time seemed to drag on as we waited to be able to see him. During our time waiting and at one point not knowing where he was in the emergency room I struggled with thoughts of losing him.

We were told that only one of us could go back at a time until he was put into a room. Of course I told his son he would be going back first. I thanked God for letting me be there to make the call!

As I was sitting in the waiting room I got updates from his son via text I then I got a text that read “you are probably the reason I’m alive”. Tears filled my eyes as I wrote back “No God is just not ready for you yet”. It was then I broke down and had to go outside to cry! I can look back on it now and know in my heart everything that has happen in my life God had prepared me for to deal with that situation. That moment in my life was preplanned by God.

I’ve told the man I love so many times “God has me back here in your life for a reason” and I feel in my heart God has been putting different events in my life to get me back here to North Carolina for a reason. It’s not just because of everything I have described to you but many other events too.

Like many others, my thoughts of losing the man I love with all my heart were very overwhelming. And I’m sure he would tell you I’ve told him I love him more than I usually do, but I just feel so grateful that God has let him live another day for me to tell him how much I do love him.

Over the past week I’ve gone through some really up and down emotions. From helplessness to crying and moments of pure love! This was not only an eye opening experience to the man I love with all my heart, it has had an effect on all the people in our lives! From the people in both or our immediate circles to others too!

There’s an old saying “you find out who your friends are” when times get rough… it has opened our eyes to other things too. I can only speak for myself right now, and I have to say I have been moved to really see things differently.

Being a Christian woman, I know you can’t hold it against people when they don’t come and visit you in the hospital when things like this happen. You have to not judge them for their actions. It tells us in the Bible: Luke 6:37 (New International Version, ©2010) -“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Our lives are like pieces to a puzzle, each one fits in some way to make a perfect picture! When you think about life and the events which are happening in yours, you should always try and see the bigger picture. God doesn’t make mistakes! It says in the Bible he knows every hair on your head, just like he knows when and where you should be at any given moment. It’s up to us to open our eyes and ears to see and hear what he is trying to say to you!

If you ever feel like your life just isn’t going the way you want it to go, maybe you should remember we are about his business-not ours! Once you open yourself up to the fact he is the reason we are here and try to see the bigger picture it is then and only then that life will seem to take a magical turn and everything will start falling into place.

Always put God first in your life! When you do this your life will take a turn you could never imagine! There are those who say “If there is a God why do so many bad things happen in my life?” I say to you “God has his reasons and we just have to have faith one day we will know the answers!” Until the day we do, we have to trust he sent his son Jesus to forgive us for our sins so our souls would be saved!

Please take time today to share my story with just one person who you think needs to know they aren’t alone in this life.

Life happens!

It’s up to us to see and smell the roses!

It’s our jobs as Christians to be his fishers of men!

Be Blessed!

Dee Stevens

It was not a coincidence that you viewed this today… it was part of God’s plan! 

Sometimes it get's confusing to understand...

I have found many people get confused by some of the scriptures in the Bible when it comes to "a wife's role".

The following was a post from a close friend of mine on FaceBook:

Colossians 3: 18-20 18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord...How simple life would be.......IF people would just believe...

My Response:

I say: Proverbs 12-4,18 &19- 4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.18-The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. *Think about it...or I'm sure you have heard "behind every man is a great woman";"Loose lips sink ships" and "Kill them with kindness" I say: "Be careful not to speak out of anger... it will be the first thing remembered and used against you later down the road"


After talking about the posting with my friend I found out he was just trying to point out loving your wives and added obey your parents.

Because of the word 'subjection' many consider it to mean Obey your husband like a dictator but in my opinion it's not that at all!

Whether you are married or in a partnership with another person you have committed yourself to you, should always show respect for one another!

As you see in my response the Bible also says "A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." If you are a believer, in your heart you will know God spoke often about women, good or bad lessons are throughout the Bible!

The spirit moves people in different ways... many times some of the scripture are taken literally when there is a deeper meaning which is to be learned.

Take time to read your Bible and let the spirit move you to not only read the scripture but learn the message God is trying to teach us!

Have A Blessed Day!
Dee Stevens