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LETTERS FROM STEPH>
Rest and Silence
December 10, 2007
Mer-ry Christmas everyone!! Can you believe it’s that time
of year already???!! I can’t. It seems like school just
started last month. But, of course, the first quarter is
over already. Some of my kids got huge hugs and lots of
praise and a couple kids are grounded until they bring
their grades up. (They need the “Do-over” from the next
segment!)
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that this the best time of
year to emulate me! All the experts say that we need to
slow down and not try to stress so much during the holidays
by making everything perfect. Well folks, that’s me: not
perfect, usually messy, make-life-as-easy-as-possible,
artistic-not-serious and usually lazy. This newsletter is
the perfect example. Early in 2007, God prompted me to
start writing an encouraging letter to all of my friends.
But, of course, basketball and then soccer and the summer
got in the way. And so, I didn’t get the first letter off
until August! And I also said that I would have the
newsletters sent to you by the first of the month but I
don’t think a letter has gone out before the 6th of the
month (procrastination at its best).
Your family is not going to care whether each gift is
packaged perfectly because they are just going to rip off
and make a mess with the paper anyway…they’re not going to
care how much you’ve spent because it’s the thought that
counts, right? (And if they do care, then they are
definitely not in the Christmas spirit.) The kids might
care how the food is cooked because someone is always
complaining about that…but mostly your family is going to
be glad you are there in one piece. If you are focused on
the right motivation (and not what your family thinks), God
should be numero uno.
Now, sometimes I am glad to be a “Mary” and not a “Martha”.
Like this morning, I didn’t have any idea what I was going
to write for this month. I didn’t have anything at all
written. But I decided I would just start putting it
together, even if it was only those things that I didn’t
write myself (New Beginnings and Shelby’s Space. Then I
just started writing my greeting, and look what God did!!
It’s an awesome testament to His glory. And I just realized
I wrote my greeting and also “Confessions of a Normal
Person” all rolled into one!
I am praying that each one of you will be focusing on God’s
“Reason for the Season” and not on your family and friend’s
expectations. So, relax! Take it easy (with cooking,
cleaning, buying and wrapping). And rest (in God’s love and
mercy) if you get too stressed.
Also, (and here’s where my late and laziness comes in) I
have put up some things on the Shopping page on the
website. There are a few necklaces, and I plan to put up
some earrings too. And check out the gift boxes I’ve made.
Instead of putting those gift cards (another way to make
your shopping easy) in the dull envelopes they provide,
I’ve made cardstock boxes in a rainbow of colors, for only
$0.99!! I will deliver a box of choices to you (in the
Longview/Kelso area) and you can choose the ones you want.
And if you direct your friends (everyone not on my mailing
list) to the site, I will give both you and your friend one
free .99 gift box. Just email me and let me know who you
are.
Thanks so much for visiting the site and reading what God
has given to me. Love and hugs, Steph
*****
God’s Bumper Stickers:
1. God grades on the cross, not the curve.
2. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come on in for a faith
lift.
3. Don't give God instructions - just report for duty!
4. God doesn't want shares of your life - He wants
controlling interest.
5. Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
6. A family altar can alter a family.
7. We don't change the message - the message changes us.
8. This Church is 'Prayer' conditioned!
9. When God ordains, he sustains.
10. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning!
*****
New Beginnings
"You have been born again, and this new life did not come
from something that dies, but from something that cannot
die. You were born again through God's living message that
continues forever." (1 Peter 1:23)
When you were a child, you may have played a game with your
friends where you got a "do-over." Those were great,
because you got to start fresh again, and it renewed your
hope and your spirit. Well, our God is a God of "do-overs."
He loves you, and He will give you a new chance to redeem
and renew yourself. He gives new life, because He knows
it's never too late for someone to come to Him and ask for
a new heart. Even if you have a relationship with God,
maybe you need another chance to restart a certain area.
Ask God for strength and renewal, and then make your
"do-over" even better than the previous one!
God, thank You for continually giving me second chances.
With your help, I want to make the days ahead my best ones.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
*****Shelby’s Space*****
We landed in Entebbe, Uganda at 11:30 in the evening,
walking off the plane,
being welcomed by swarming bats (my kids thought that was
the best). Some
of the village residents that we were going to serve
arrived in borrowed
cars, to drive us back to where we would be staying for the
remainder of our
trip. We were welcomed with cheering and bouquets of
roses. My family
was enveloped by their warmth and knew instantly that we
were going to be
loved and accepted. Any residue of fear that my kids had
previously felt
was almost visibly disappearing. We drove in complete
darkness (due to the lack of electricity in this remote
area) to Banana Village, the compound we
would call home for the next couple of weeks. When we
arrived, we found
the most delicious selection of pineapple and bananas
waiting for us and
after having our fill, we were escorted to our room: a 12
X 12 space
without indoor plumbing containing 4 cots, open air windows
and a single 20
watt light bulb hanging from the middle of the room. The
power throughout
the entire village was not working so we managed to fumble
around our
suitcases to find what we could and then just turn in for
the night.
My husband and our 3 kids fell asleep almost instantly,
shortly after their
head hit the pillow. But, I was taken by the sounds of
Africa. I lay
there quietly, counting the different birds, insects and
even monkeys.
Then, around 3 in the morning, a tumultuous rainfall began.
The animal
noises were replaced by the downpour. The heavy rain was
almost piercing
as it fell so loudly on our metal roof but was at the same
time, soothing.
I arose from my cot to look outside, finding huge puddles
forming just from
a few minutes of rain. In the darkness, your senses are
so acute and I
began to notice the freshest, purest scent that could only
come from a
foreign, unpolluted land. The shower lasted for only about
15 minutes and
was then replaced by an almost orchestrated symphony of
birds and insects.
And, although I had yet to really see Africa, my senses had
already fallen
in love with the country.
From that moment on, I made a pledge to myself to notice
the things in
Africa that could so easily be overlooked: the sounds, the
smells, the
sights. There was so much to be appreciated when the
American clutter is
removed. In Uganda, with the absence of telecommunications
and the
interruptions it can bring, my family spent quality time
relating with the
men, women and children in the village. With the lack of
transportation,
we relaxed and enjoyed the company of those around the
outdoor kitchen,
regardless of the language barrier, because there was no
rush to get to the
next destination. The lack of modern electric tools
caused a renewed
appreciation for the daunting tasks we performed as we
repaired their homes.
And, everyday while in Uganda, a land where there is
extreme lack of the
basics: food, clean water, electricity and medicine, I
noticed something:
the people were not sad or embittered or acted even aware
of how life was
seemingly unfair. Instead, there was a joy and a
contentment of which I
became increasingly envied of. Laughter was hearty and
genuine; gratitude
was easily and often expressed; authentic joy was seen in
many, many of the
eyes of those I met. Even in my own children, ages 10,
11 and 12, there
was a renewed sense of pure pleasure and enjoyment in
everyday life.
This made me wonder about all the "things" we accumulate
here in the United
States: cars, homes, furniture, video games, cell phones,
and computers.
It all began to look like unwanted clutter that brings
unnecessary striving
for more and more. When one has so many things, like many
of us are
blessed with, what is really desired and is necessary gets
crowded out.
What we really need and want is true contentment.
Satisfaction. I've
heard one describe contentment as "wanting what you already
have". What a
thought for this season.
As we approach Christmas Day, where gifts will be
overflowing from under the
tree, I pray for that spirit of contentment to be upon us
all, wanting what
we already have. I pray for thankfulness for family (no
matter how
dysfunctional), health, dry beds to sleep upon at night.
This Christmas,
within me there will be a deeper appreciation for the
conversations with my
loved ones, the sounds of our healthy children running
about, the smells of
all the baked goodies, the sights of wonder and sparkling
beauty that this
special season brings. I want the clutter, the pollution
as it were, to be
left behind, even for a day, with hopes that what is real
can rise to the
top: relationship. With God. With my family. With dear
friends.
In the hustle and bustle of the season, I am encouraged to
find pleasure and
satisfaction in the simple things we already have,
pondering the words of
that familiar carol:
Silent Night
Holy Night
All is calm
All is bright
May your Christmas be bright as you find yourself at peace
with what you
already have.
Shelby Howard
*****
Friends, it’s a few days later now and I still haven’t
gotten this letter out. I wanted to put the pictures of the
boxes and the jewelry on the site but I can’t find the cord
that will allow me to get the pictures from the camera to
the computer. Well, if you do need gift boxes for those
gift cards or want to take a look at the necklaces that I
have made (one is pink and black, one is royal blue and
white, and two are turquoise, all made of glass beads)
email or call me, I’m in the phone book and I will deliver
them to you so you can take a look at them.
But God is in control, right? He knows the contents and who
should read it and when it will go out. I’m praying that
the those who need it will read it or pass it on.
I wish you all the happiest and most stress-free Christmas
possible. Love and hugs from Steph
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