New Year's Priorities

I still cannot believe 2009 is gone and 2010 is here. Where did the year go? I know it's time I can never get back. Because of that fact, I know I need to make some changes.
There were several meaningful events for me in 2009, good and bad. With the onset of 2010, I have decided to have 2010 priorities--not resolutions. Resolutions seems so final, whereas priorities feel more flexible. Priorities change. Resolutions need to be resolved--like a permanent situation. Priorities...can change and usually do.
As we grow and become better than we were yesterday, we would hope that our values and beliefs change with us. And they should. So instead of having resolutions that make us feel like failures when they are not resolved, let's have priorities which will change as we do. Won't you join me?



Deo Volente,

Step Brown

Does God read blogs?

I was just wondering---have you and God ever had this conversation...

US: Sometimes, I feel like giving up. I feel like my best just ain't good enough. Lord, if you hear me, I'm calling You. I mean, do You see? Do You even care all about what I am going through.

That's when He says...

The Lord: One more day. Just take one more step. I'm preparing you for Myself. I'm getting you ready. When you cannot hear my voice or think I am not speaking to you, please just trust my plan. I am the Lord. I am YOUR Lord. I see you, and yes, I understand. Every trial, every burden, every problem, every situation, every issue---I see what you are going through. You are my child and I love you. I see you. And yes, I understand.

Just wanted to make sure I was not alone in this faith fight. Even Smokie Norful wrote a song about it and I listen to it when I need to be reminded: HE KNOWS...



Soli Deo Gloria,

Step Brown

It's Happening

http://blueplanetpublishing.blogspot.com/2009/11/tuesdays-author-s-brown.html


What else can I say? It's happening...




Soli Deo Gloria,
Step Brown

Spiritual Gifts

Every morning, when I wake up, I say to God, "Let's do this!" Then I begin reading one of my four devotionals. Today was no different.


It used to be three devotionals. I recently found this book, What Every Christian Should Know: Essential truths for growing your faith. Now, when I began reading, the truths started with the spiritual gifts. Every blood-washed, born-again believer has a spiritual gift thrust upon them. It is every Christian's rhyme and reason. It is also their responsibility to discover and develop the gift or gifts that the Holy Spirit has given.


I have done a few studies on the subject. I have found that my most distinct gift is EXHORTATION. Now, since I believe in God, I realize that nothing just happens. There are no coincidences or happenstance. With that in mind, it stands to reason that I would go in a store that I have never been, find a book for which I wasn't even looking, purchase it, and make it a part of my morning ritual. It just happens that the book begins with the spiritual gifts and coincidentally, I get the most concise description of exhortation. Like to hear it, here it go:

The desire and ability to stimulate people in their faith
and to encourage them to love Jesus more.

I appreciate its brevity and applaud its simplicity. I am no longer confused about my purpose.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Step Brown

God's Promises

Life ain't no cakewalk. If anyone says that it is, well, they straight up lying to you. Life is filled with ups and downs, rain and rainbows, and peaks and valleys. The good news is you never have to go through it alone. And if you do, that is your choice.
I could spend all day writing down God's promises but I want you to read about them for yourself. I think most people are so disappointed when adversity comes that they forget what that adversity means. First of all, God will never give you more than you can handle. Secondly, that "terrible ordeal" is just a sharpening tool to make you a better person when it is all over. Lastly, the end result will be something good no matter how badly packaged it came.
I realize, today, that if you aren't going up against something, you aren't getting any better, stronger, or wiser. When today is over, you can never get it back. If you are not better today than you were yesterday, you have wasted one of the most precious gifts God gives you---time. So don't pout and whine about how life ain't fair--cause it ain't. But Public Service Announcement: nothing you can do about it. Except maybe grow and ask God to make you better than the day before.
God promises you so much and most people never take advantage of things Jesus died to give them. Now that is really not fair...


Soli Deo Gloria,


Step Brown