approval

what a blessing good friends are. good conversations until 4 am are absolutely wonderful when they are with someone you love and didn't know how much you did until then. goodness that was good!

although, i miss bill jolly's 'gooooood mornings'

I don't know how he does it. Capturing my heart like this. No human has ever been able to get me up as easily. He really is the only one who is able to wake me like He does!

". . .He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear like one being taught."
Isaiah 50:4b

the curious case of benjamin button.

This movie was simply lovely. And I usually don't say that about movies that last about three hours long, but I really enjoyed it (and i'm not even a big fan of Brad Pitt). Timing can change everything. And encounters with others are not something that need to be forced. Things will only last if they come about timely.

blessings

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
look to Abraham, your father,
and to Sarah,who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many."
Isaiah 51:1-2

bless with it.

the patriarchs.

the journey starts tomorrow. i beg for strength that is not my own.

so maybe i do want it to rain tomorrow. .i can hear the wind.

rock.

I love when He makes my heart beat faster than usual.

reality and politics.

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” Titus 3:1-2

Obviously there is a lot wrong with our world morally and politically, but what are Christians supposed to think or do about it? Too often we don’t do anything and some times when we do act we end up giving off a harsh overtone (and often a completely distorted picture of Christianity). The one of the most difficult challenges is attempting to find a balance in how to respond to the world as a Christian. There are three things we absolutely cannot be: lazy, slanderous, or tolerant. Each of these ideals have major pitfalls and are too often the paths chosen of those who are confused about what God wants them to show the world.
Laziness is something that I know I personally suffer a lot from. Honestly, I think most teenagers do. But as some of the most influential people in so many areas of life we have to consider how terrible of a consequence being lazy is. And in this case, this is not only for about teenagers. We must fight off the temptation to ignore the problems of the world and declare that they are not our own and then, that because they have nothing to do with us directly, there is nothing we can do. There are people we come in contact with everyday that if we just showed compassion could begin to change a lot of the moral to that in itself would not be an act of laziness. Proverbs 10:4 says “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” This isn’t to say that if we stay active politically that we are going to gain anything monetarily (because the truth is, we probably won’t), but as a child of God we will further the kingdom of Heaven, and what better reward is there but that?
We don’t think a lot of political jokes. Most of them are pretty funny, I will admit, but there is a point where such jokes become clearly slanderous. If anyone, whether we agree with them or not, is put into a position of authority over us, we must submit to them. We may not agree with them, but I am sure that there are some points in which individuals would agree (no matter the lust for a difference there may be).
When the letter to Titus speaks that we are to be gentle toward everyone, an interpretation can be drawn that in that sense we are to be gentle when confronting others in our differences. This is often where the harsh overtones come in. So often I see people attempting to bring out truth, but in a way in which turns unbelievers completely away from God. With the knowledge of serving a sovereign God you have to realize that your words are not your own when speaking to others that may not believe the same as you do (not only religiously but also politically). Therefore, we cannot allow ourselves to take over and diminish those who we do not see eye to eye with. We must allow the Lord’s gentle spirit to control our tongues in such situations.

All this is said to make the point that I am no more perfect than anyone reading this. Most often when I post anything that is supposed to point out any flaw, I am most often speaking to myself. I cannot be lazy, slanderous or tolerant in my actions in any way. Too often these are sins I fall into in every aspect of my life. So despite the interest to write about the way we should view things politically I have written about sin in itself. This reminds of how real and living the Word of God is. He stays so alive through his word, and I don’t use this to my advantage often enough.

love.

my life revolves around a summer camp. seems impractical, but i love it and everyone there more than anything on this planet.

to, from and about my favorites.

i love them. i can't imagine them not together. they belong together. just let it be. let it be.
stop fighting it. stop fighting something so good.


thank you for taking me the way i am.


i want a day of coffee, rain, and the Word. 'tomorrow' starts at 8am.


"lung of love leaves me breathless"

far away.

"i will live my life
as a lobsterman's wife
on an island in the blue bay.
he will take care of me
he will smell like the sea,
and close to my heart
he'll always stay.

i will bear three girls
all with strawberry girls
Lou Ella and Nellie and Faye
while i'm combing they're hair
i will catch his warm stare
on our island in the blue bay.

far away, far away, i wanna go far away
to a new life on a new shore line
where the water is blue,
and the people are new
to another island, in another life."
ingrid michaelson.

keep it real.

i can't do everything. i can't be everything. i can only be myself and my relationship with whoever you are is hopefully a friend. one you can talk to and feel comfortable around. you don't have to share everything about you with me because i don't expect anyone is completely able of doing so with any other human being. but be real. completely real. i won't care if you're different than me. because, let's face it, who isn't? that's all i'm saying. today.

indecision

"That had always been my way, though. Making decisions was the painful part for me, the part I agonized over. But once the decision was made, I simply followed through---usually with relief that the choice was made. Sometimes the relief was tainted by despair, like my decision to come to Forks. But it was still better than wrestling with the alternatives."

facts.

I need to renew my mysteriousness, but not to become ordinary. Because I'm not. Girls, be chased.

True Life

frightening.

"its good to be scared, it means you've got something to lose." grey's anatomy

Fall

Cheraw has a certain smell during the fall. I like it a lot. It reminds me of growing up.

NEW BLOG!

Brooke and I decided that since there are so many pictures of me pretending to be someone else, it would be quite interesting to share them!

Check out The Many Faces of Stephanie Moore

Economy

its a little unnerving to learn that both Obama and McCain are both left handed. . . because Herbert Hoover was too. Considering our economy, its pretty humorous how history repeats itself. But not so humorous that most of the people I know are going to be waiting in breadlines in the next two years. 

What is humility?

"Consider it a pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3
Are the things we endure here in America really what is referred to here? The things we face such as searching for a new job in a country with a failing economy, attempting to finish our degrees despite spiteful professors, or caring for children in a world of sin are so meaningless compared to what so many have endured in the name of the Lord before us. Sure, we do not live in days of simplicity or security, but are we even supposed to do so? When have we ever been promised times of prosperity?
In Psalm 85, it is stated that the Lord "promises peace to his people." This is true enough, but how many of us have this inward peace that David speaks of here in verse 8? We are far too busy with making ourselves greater in society because so many of us assume that our ability to share God's word with others comes from the power we receive through "success" in today's society. Do we really want such success in this world of death?
We excuse ourselves and our accomplishments in the name of the Lord in attempt to bring our wasted lives to Him. He does not need us to be completed. None of us deserve anything but hell and here we are in America attempting to bring God something that our human hands have done without giving Him any glory for such action.
Our sense of humility before God has been devoured by the selfishness of the world we live in. We have allowed this to happen. We have concerned ourselves with finding security and purpose in the world before sharing God's word with others, when our security and purpose should be in Him.
If we were to find ourselves on the bottom of the world's standards, what could possibly be taken from us if God lived within us?

American Politics

"Let me just say. . I don't want a monkey or a man with a permanent stroke as president. And if you happen to disagree with me, you're wrong."


wow.


So on to a more serious note: American politics absolutely disgust me. I can hardly fathom how far down the hole of garbage that we have gotten ourselves in. And what choices we have for the 2008 election! They're only about two of the worst choices we could ever select from. What have we done?! All we can do at this point is pray.

If we did not praise, then rocks would cry out. .

The Thrica Network On Beauty

I love my friends. I especially love them when I see God's glory spilling out of their souls. To see them humble themselves before God and to earnestly know that everything they are is only because of Christ. As if that wasn't beautiful in itself. .

I have never had my heart race in awe of God until tonight. How beautiful He is!

"When I said, "My foot is slipping," your unfailing lve, LORD, supported me." Psalm 94:18.

boys like girls

so, let me just say:
I really wish people understood that just because I talk with a guy does not necessarily mean I'm obsessed or in love with him. Yes, I am excited about my future husband, but right now I'm okay with just being friends with everyone. I'm not ready for another relationship in my life right now. I have a lot of growing in the Lord before I start settling.
No one freak out if I talk to a guy. It usually means I just want to be their friend. Don't look into any of my actions if you are a boy. I attempt to treat everyone equal, the better you are as a friend the more I spend time with you. Just like any other friend.
just saying.

future.

I want children named Nathan, Nigel, Neal, Natalie, and Nora.

And a cat named Nova.

gas.

carry on.

so today I decided to come home this weekend.

and this morning i was getting ready to go and realized. . that this is the first time all year that I have not consistently been involved in the lives of children.

and I hate it. I miss working with kids.

last semester I had Ms. Thurman's class. I have children at camp all summer long.

I miss everything about them.

This just reaffirms that working with kids is what I am supposed to do with my life.

meat is disgust.

please ignore CJ's last post! 

I like to eat, eat, pork chops and potatoess
O loke to oat, oat, pork chops ond pototoes
Ee leek tee eet, eet, peerk cheeps eend peeteetees
Oo look too oot, oot, poork choops oond pootootoes

VP choice

good thing McCain just gave his chance of presidency away.

ptL!

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Colossians 1:13-14

i

appreciate the little things.

skills

So, things are really going quite well. I'm really super excited about the two honors classes I have this semester, that include English 200H and public speaking. I really am excited about the challenge that each one will present. Other than those two I have a pretty basic math class and a music class that should be quite a breeze, for a while anyway, just considering my clarinet skills. haha ;-)

Tonight I went to the BCM building just to interact and whatnot because they were having an open house; I pretty much fell in love with the atmosphere (although camp definitely has it topped, no questions asked!). But I'm meeting tons of great and new people through it and I was quite excited to have reached out of my dorm room with my two suitemates and roommate. Speaking of them, thankfully we all get along, but none of them are exactly aligned with me spiritually or willing to say that they would like to be. The Lord is working through all of this, and I attempt to shine brightly for God and his kingdom through every action. I have to be so intentional about my actions.

sperm olympics

write me a letter. seriously.

that would be amazing. just be sure to include you include your return address if you want me to write you a letter back. Here's my address.

Stephanie Moore
Campus #1151
5130 East Palmetto Street
Florence, SC 29506

my lover?

"if you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends"
-Wannabe, Spice Girls

seriously?

let me just say that if anyone wanted to be my lover the way to my heart would not be to get the hook up with my friends. what a wack lyric.

The Spice Girls have always made me laugh.

Be not afraid to dispose oneself for love. For within such a frame are riches far beyond a thousand kings. Suppressing even the thought, suppresses one's ability to allow oxygen to enter the chest. Such a sham would dilate the opportunity for loss far greater than this earth.

Sovereign.

I think people continually forget just how sovereign God is.

Everyone questions why particular, usually bad, things happen. They have a fit over it and, more often than not, it is just a matter of waiting for the good to come from it before people end the questioning of why that particular incident happened. Why does it take this long questioning process to help people understand? God didn't suddenly appear. He had his majestic hand on the situation the entire time. He knew what he was doing.

Bad things happen for God's glory.

If not, what would He save us from?

go there.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

This is Greenville right here.

smokers.

overwhelmingthoughts.

distinctive noses

not black hair

I dream of him--

I wonder if he thinks of me

because

my love for him could fill the sea. 

Beckoning my soul

I feel the invisible

strings. 

how many kings?

follow a star to a place unexpected

would you believe after all we've projected 

a child in a manger

lowly and small, the weakest of all

unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl

just a child

is this who we've waited for?

cause how many kings stepped down from their thrones?

how many lords have abandoned their homes? 

how many greats have become the least for me?

how many gods have poured out their hearts

to romance a world that has torn all apart?

how many fathers gave up their sons for me?

bringing our gifts for the newborn savior

all that we have, whether costly or meek

because we believe

gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure

and myrrh for the cross he'll suffer

do you believe

is this who we've waited for?

how many kings stepped down from their thrones?

how many lords have abandoned their homes?

how many greats have become the least, for me?

how many gods have poured out their hearts

to romance a world that has torn all apart?

how many fathers gave up their sons for me?

only one did that for me. 

Hi, I'm Stephanie, and B-T-Dubs, I don't like to eat hams or use full words.

da moose

da moose, da moose, da moose, da moose,

swimming in the water, swimming in the water, 

eating his dinner, eating his dinner,

where did he go?

HE WENT TO SLEEP. 

da moose, da moose, da moose, da moose,

swimming in the water, swimming in the water,

eating his dinner, eating his dinner, 

where did he go?

HE WENT TO SLEEP.

now this is where it gets really sad. . .

da moose, da moose, da moose, da moose,

floating in the water, floating in the water,

not eating his dinner, not eating his dinner, 

where did he go? 

HE DECOMPOSED!! 

camp.

i love camp ever so much. 

love

"I will plant her for myself in the land; 

I will show my love to the one I called

'Not my loved one.'

I will say to those called 'Not my 

people,' 'You are my people';

and they will say, 'You are my God.'"

Hosea 2:23

beach

i love the beach.

 

its one of the most relaxing places on this planet. 

i want a beach house. 

annoyed

Yes, I'm a vegetarian. 

"You've been eating meat for the past almost eighteen years! Why are you going to stop eating it now?"

It is completely practical to start being one now, despite my age of eighteen. Do you think that something you ate six years ago is still in your body? I guess you forgot it has natural tendencies to clean itself. 

It's stinkin' healthy. All of the vitamins, etc. that anyone would ever need can be found in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Meats are not essential to the human diet. I intake no grease whatsoever. Yeah, being a vegetarian is a dumb idea. It's completely impractical. 

"There are still traces of meat in your vegetables. I mean, manure is used to fertilize the plants you eat."

Oh yeah, that is right. I am made of the same material as my excrement. I mean, aren't all animals. 

More arguments later.

absorbed.

You know those days when almost every ounce of energy has been completely absorbed out of you? I feel as if I could sleep for days. Yet, I still have things that I was supposed to have turned in weeks ago for school. Yes, my three hours of classes. I completely despise waking up at six in the morning only to find myself returning to my house around 11:15. I at least wish I could sleep a bit longer. 

Today was an interesting day as far as my many conversations with boys that I haven't had a real conversation with in months go. It was actually quite a blessing.

teaching

Let me just say, that I am absolutely thrilled about teaching! Having my own classroom and students is going to be amazing and I cannot wait to be teaching. 

On my last day of teacher cadet I stayed at Cheraw Intermediate School until 4:15 (note that I usually leave around 11:15)! 

I'm so glad that God has pointed me to my passion. 

fast food nation

meat is crazy stuff.

Image

Old houses were scaffolding once
and workmen whistling.

T.E. Hulme

Terence, this is stupid stuff

Terence, this is stupid stuff:
You eat your victuals fast enough;
There can't be much amiss, 'tis clear,
To see the rate you drink your beer.
But oh, good Lord, the verse you make,
It gives a cha the belly-ache.
The cow, the old cow, she is dead;
It sleeps well, the horned head:
To hear such tunes as killed the cow.
Pretty friendship 'tis to rhyme
Your friendship to death before their time
Moping melancholy mad:
Come, pipe a tune to dance to, lad.

Why, if 'tis dancing you would be,
There's brisker pipes than poetry.
Say, for what were hop-yards meant,
Or why was Burton built on Trent?
Oh many a beer of England brews
Livelier liquor than the Muse,
And malt does more than Milton can
To justify God's ways to man.
Ale, man, ale's the stuff to drink
For fellows whom it hurts to think:
Look into the pewter pot
To see the world as the world's not.
And faith, 'tis pleasant till 'tis past:
The mischief is that 'twill not last.
Oh I have been to Ludlow fair
And left my necktie God knows where,
And carried half way home, or near,
Pints and quarts of Ludlow beer:
Then the world seemed none so bad,
And I myself a sterling lad;
And down in lovely muck I've lain,
Happy till I woke again.
Then I saw the morning sky:
Heigho, the tale was all a lie;
The world, it was the old world yet,
I was I, my things were wet,
And nothing now remained to do
But begin the game anew.

Therefore, since the world has still
Much good, but much less good that ill,
And while the sun and moon endure
Luck's a chance, but trouble's sure.
I'd face it as a wise man would,
And train for ill and not for good
'Tis true, the stuff I bring for sale
Is not so brisk a brew as ale:
Out of a stem that scored the hand
I wrung it in a weary land.
But take it: if the smack is sour,
The better for the embittered hour;
It should do good to heart and head
When your soul is in my soul's stead;
And I will friend you, if I may,
In the dark and cloudy day.

There was a king reigned in the East
There, when kings will sit to feast,
They get their fill before they think
With poisoned meat and poisoned drink.
He gathered all the springs to birth
From the many-venomed earth;
First a little, thence to more,
He sampled all her killing store;
And easy, smiling, seasoned sound,
Sate the king when healths went round.
They put arsenic in his meat
And stared aghast to watch him eat;
They poured strychnine in his cup
And shook to see him drink it up:
They shook, they stared as white's their shirt:
Them it was their poison hurt.
---I tell the tale that I heard told.
Mithridates, he died old.

A.E. Housman

Stephanie

Made by http://www.tankmiche.com/">Andrea Micheloni

hurt

"Love is like war: easy to begin, hard to end." -Proverb

"Time tells the truth." -Fortune cookie

"When life hands you a lemon, say, "Oh yeah, I like lemons. What else ya got?" -Henry Rollins

". . . I will never leave you nor forsake you. . . " -Joshua 1:5b

grace

i love it. a night with some of my favorite girls, a quick phone call from andrew, news that he will be coming home next weekend, and the thought of having to wake up around eight tomorrow morning ;-)
quite possibly one of the greatest times i'll have all month (with a touch of sarcasism surrounding the having to wake up around eight fact).

so i found my favorite sermon podcast again yesterday. that was pretty exhilarating!

phone calls

i got to talk to Kevin today. that was nice even though i wish i could have talked to him longer.

It would be pretty insane, but I think that Clara Snipes and I danced with the same company when I was about four years old. I need to talk to her about it (and everything else) though.

". . . I will never leave you nor forsake you. . ." Joshua 1:5b

uncertain

something's missing. . .

what's my problem?

not someone to help forget my problem. .

but someone to help solve my problem.

my favorite.

i love when my brother goes to spend the night at a friends house and takes the sophisticated toothpaste and leaves me with the bubble gum tasting gunk. ;-D

yuck

so i was just sitting here after the snow day and i got one of those feelings that david says he get sometimes where he just starts feeling really bad for himself and sort of depressed. it was pretty horrible. and it's pretty sad that i felt that way. . i need to go read. .

""But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds." Psalm 73:28

i have dreams and

those dreams are beautiful.

SALT (I will always call it that) Retreat

Our leadership retreat at the beach was amazing. This was probably one of my favorite times with some of my favorite Cheraw friends. Spiritual bonding thrived and we had so much fun. There are pictures on facebook if you want to see them.
I was having a quiet time one morning down near the dock and I could not even focus on anything else but God's beautiful creation. I just sat in awe of His gracious and perfect self. It was marvelous.

Lately, I've realized what a relational religion Christianity is. This revelation probably has a lot to do with the fact that I'm reading Donald Miller's Searching for God Knows What. But we talked about it during one of our session times too.

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like a sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:35-38

lots of big smiles.

the Lord makes me so excited! I love to see him work in my friends lives. And I love to see them respond to his glory in an excited way!

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

anna

i love how anna grace questions her friendship with me.

i want to fly somewhere. somewhere overseas.

.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. I know, you're thinking my brain must be killing me! Anyway, and I have just noticed how fortunate I am. It's pretty crazy that I have been blessed like I have. Praise the Lord!

;-)

amazing, i say!

Triple A

my life is silly. it makes me smile. Just like my Rock does. ;-)

Andrew, Andy, Adam, and the rest of their team are offically in Uganda. Pray for them as they serve the Lord.

pre. .

"Blessed are those you choose, and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple." Pslam 65:4

life is so humorous.

RK!

I'm loving the new Relient K singles that can be found on iTunes!

". . . and you should thank the Lord that it is Him, and it's not me!"

hmm. .

quit is such a harsh word.

hilary

as if i didn't miss Hilary enough, i miss her even more now! I just got off the phone with her and that time passed so quickly, too quickly. I really think that i am in great need of time with her. I just think that it would make me feel good inside. wow, i miss her and camp so much.

you know, you don't really think about small details like ringing the bell, unless you are at camp. But we talked about ringing the bell and it almost made me cry because I could hear it ring in my ears. I can't wait to be back!

my favorite.

this weekend=amazing.

how i love those ballets and the dinner/snack/dessert afterwards with some of my favorite loves from Sumter. I love those girls, and the few guys i know. I certainly am thankful for their hearts that serve the Lord completely. How inspiring!
It was great to actually see Andrew and his skinny (yes, you are skinny!) self, instead of only talking to him on the phone. He challenges me.
So i really need to start driving around town so i will be able to drive to Sumter by myself. Oh how i will hardly ever be home!

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be fulfilled." Matthew 5:6

professional sports are overrated

i really don't have that much to say, but i certainly desire a return to where my heart is happiest. i wish i could have made it to camp this weekend, but i suppose it's okay that i couldn't. i miss the people, the beds, the smells, everything about it.
I feel like i am hardly ever true to the people in cheraw because i don't want to ever admit to them that i desire to be somewhere different. not only physically, but spiritually. i desire a constantly uplifting relationship with others that i seem to experience very little of in my daily life. and i don't want them to be hurt, by me saying this, but rather them encourage me to build a life fulfilling in praise; worshipping the Lord with every fiber. of course, i know i have room to grow, so i am in no way condemning. i just think it could be so amazing if my love for the Lord was encouraged as much as trying to be cool and spending time with friends is.
God deserves so much more than what so many give Him. It couldn't be more unfair. How is he so self-less?

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
Psalm 19:14

the class of two thousand six.

I love my talks with Randell. I don't get to see this 2006 graduate that often, but when i do I always enjoy our conversations no matter what we end up talking about. what a cool guy.

some of those class members have disappointed me, but there are a few that i absolutly love. those that strive to be their best for the Lord are my favorites.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strenth." Mark 12:30

bees and their secret lives

"Drifting off to sleep, I thought about her. How nobody is perfect. How you just have to close your eyes and breathe out and let the puzzle of the human heart be what it is."
-The Secret Life of Bees

my tears piled on the thin line below my eyes making it practically impossible to read. but slowly they fell and i felt them in my pores, in my heart. i loved this book. yes, you could say that i want to be able to write just like Sue Monk Kidd, but that doesn't always seem to work out.

"Not just to love---but to persist in love."
-The Secret Life of Bees

excitement.

it's good to know that He wants to encourage me. and too spend time with me. that's pretty exciting!

"You hear, O LORD, the desires of the afflicted; you encourage them and listen to their cry." Psalm 10:17

bees and tears

"It was the in-between time, before day leaves and night comes, a time I've never been partial to because of the sadness that lingers in the space between going and coming."
-The Secret Life of Bees

surprisingly, this sentence reminded me of coming home from camp. the hour and a half trip back to cheraw that brings dampness to my eyes, especially after spending over a month there. the in-between time brings a terrible sadness because there is nothing to do but sit in your car and reminisce about everything that has happened since the beginning of your time at camp and how quickly it has come to an end. there is nothing to distract you from your thoughts of this wonderful place and the anticipation that exist until your returning. this sadness is hard to express to a car of busy people longing to see you while you try to handle a heart longing for this place of enchantment.

competition

we should have gotten higher at lower state. that's all i have to say. but that's okay, because we all know we're beasts. ;-)

small groups

so. . i love how enthusiastic my Wednesday night small group is about reading God's word! It makes me so happy and excited.

"For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!"

singing sheep

so it seems like every time i update i say something about missing camp or sumter. that's because i do all the time. I usually just don't say anything about it to people in person because i know it will drive them crazy. Since i can say whatever i want to on here i suppose i take advantage of that and go crazy about how much i miss both of those places. so obviously, i am really missing those wonderful people i know from there a whole lot!
I'm so ridiculously jealous of Andrew White. I cannot believe he got to spend his entire weekend with not only Andy Hack, but also Ashley Porter and Rachel Walton! I'm so ready to see those girls!

But this weekend certainly was a lot of fun! We had our first Bible Bowl competition this weekend. The dancing donkeys (david, leah, and grace) did really well for a group of all beginniners, winning four out of nine rounds. The singing sheep (shari and i) won seven out of nine. we also got most Christ-like team, which was pretty exhilarating! i spent the whole weekend with shari and after we got home from Concord david, shari, mrs. ruth, and i all watched moulin rouge. well, really they watched it, but i slept through most of it because Shari and i went to be really late and we had to get up at 5:30 in the morning to get ready to leave for our competition by 6:30!
but today was really nice. especially getting a chance to hang out with samuel, david, and shari playing star wars monopoly while watching star wars episode II. i don't know how we exactly got on the star wars kick. but it was fun getting to spend some time with the three of them.

but i do wish that i had gotten to spend some more time with anna grace since she was home this weekend.

missing

i miss sumter. . a lot.
I want to talk to Lindsay. I want to hear her EXCITEMENT.

broken

i would say that the Lord was a beast today, but that doesn't seem like a very appropriate word to describe his majesty with. But he was ASTOUNDING!

I cried at church tonight. I found myself completely broken for the world and it's love for sin. I just sat down on the floor and cried.

"Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. Do not let them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you." Exodus 23:32-33

SC vs. NC. . vs. TX.? ;-)

it was good to see all of them today; lindsay, ben, andrew, hailey, alyssa, erin, elizabeth, megan, chas, uncle carol, aunt kelsey, aunt cheryl, mamama, dadadee, mr. robert, mrs. micheal. It was grand. How i miss camp and sumter.
Then ben and johnathan started arguing about north and south carolina and how much better one is over the other.
I HATE that i have a competition tomorrow.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." Philipians 1:3-6

dancing

so basically we're beast and the band got first in AA at Irmo. I love Irmo, it's probably all of the juniors' favorite competition (it might have something to do with the fact that that is where our first competition ever was). But anyway, it was a magnificent day and it was so exhilarating to get first there.

Right before the awards ceremony there was a little girl probably younger than five dancing near the goal post. I'm guessing she was imagining herself as a girl in color guard dancing and doing flips even though her attempts ended with her landing on her head. But she still got up and continued to dance in front of all the people sitting in the stands awaiting the results.
It was beautiful. This picture of how we are called to be: completely willing to make fools of ourselves to the world's standards. Of course, this act of silliness is accepted when we are children, but as we grow into adults, our peers begin to judge and see right only as what is in magazines and on television. As children of God we are called to be like the little girl. Simply to step out and just perform and act for Him. No matter how horridly we may fall or fail, we have to get back up and keep dancing. As long as we seek to please our God we will never be abandoned. We must look toward the Lord to guide us and for a constant reminder that we are to glorify him through dancing for him in our daily lives.

"Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation." Pslam 149:3-4

wrecks and their rediculous increase in numbers. .

Taylor Fisher got in a wreck today, but it's quite a blessing that he is perfectly fine. . other than being angry with the guy that ran into him. So he'll probably be getting a new car. There seem to be an overwhelming amount of wrecks nowadays. .

Tomorrow=Irmo (my favorite competition!) yessssss!
Pray for safe travel for everyone!

firstfruits

"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good any perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." James 1:16-18

pray. .

Pray for Aunt Sara.

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD" Psalm 31:24

i love mr. robert's belly

so i checked mapquest.com today to see just how far Newberry, South Carolina is from Ambassador Camp. 3 HOURS AND 32 MINUTES! I would be completely willing to ride that far if only i didn't start at four thirty in the afternoon once i had performed at my first band competition of the year.

this weekend was pretty fabulous. I got to see a good many camp people, although it will not begin to make up for the lack of Hobo next weekend.

"Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praise" Proverbs 31:30

band today. .

our first full run through of the season=a hill i'm so glad we're over!

I'm pretty exhilarated! :-D

holes

i was reading a friend of Ashley Porter's blog the other day and it got me thinking. .

you know, since we have been youngesters in Sunday School we have been taught that we have a God shaped hole in our hearts that only he can fill. So many times we try to fill that space up with relationships or material things, but it never ever works out because He is the only thing that can fill that emptiness in our lives.
Well, how amazing is it to think that God has a Stephanie shaped hole is His heart that only I can fill? Someone can try to fill up my space, but the Lord yearns for a relationship with ME!

"My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Psalm 84:2

thrift store shopping, rawtown coffee, ear piercing, fiesta, and silliness

so today was good. even though i stayed in Cheraw all day, somehow, Anna Grace, Chloe, Shari, Saumel, Kate, David, Jed, Taylor, Rebeka, Banks, and I found things to do all day. It was pretty amazing. And assures me that I really do have fun friends in Cheraw.

passion.

i want this world filled with passion for the Lord. I want to make that my prayer. I want to see Christians grow in Him and feel completly comfortable with other believers. I want walls to break down; be open, completely.

innocence

i miss everything about camp. i really miss the innocence of it. That's one reason I think I want to work with children; their innocence.

I think I will call someone I love. .

the football game (this post has very little to do with the actual game).

i didn't want to go to the away game today. i was hoping it would get rained out or it would be to muddy to play from the rain. Well, we ended up having it. . and guess who i got to see!
ALYSSA AND ERIN!
it was fabulous. I needed to see and talk to those two and oh how marvelous it was! goodness, i wish our time together had been longer!

home.

i have a lot of things I miss.

I had a dream last night and Hilary was in it. . that's probably why I missed her and camp so much today, especially my girls. I'm ready to go home.

thanks for the chill music, andrew.

Caroline asking Andrew about his return to camp this summer: "when are you coming home?"

HURRAY!

so i was talking to a friend tonight on AIM. I met him at SummerSalt a few years ago and we've kept in touch through email, IMs, etc. Lately, I've been praying for him because I felt that he had lost that fire of the Lord that I had seen before. Our talks didn't include how God had been working in his life.

"well im gettin my life straight with god slowly but i am and everyday i get more and more over dani"

Praise the good Lord above! I was so glad to hear from Justin today! Especially news that blessed me so much! I'm so glad that he desires a relationship with the Lord!

first

I don't know about the rest of you girls, but i sure do love when guys take initiative in a friendship. those are the sort of friends that i tresure.
To the guys in my life who have done this lately, great job! ;-D thanks

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Romans 5:1-5

my two favorite cheraw boys

my throat hurts from laughing so much with andrew and kevin. oh how I am going to miss those boys! those college kids.

pictures

so i was looking at rebecca's xanga and my camera (which reminds me of her) and i thought that i should update with some random pictures that i've taken with my camera since i got for my birthday and all. .

Kate and me. She has been my third roomie at band camp. I've never had the same one. Oh how we both missed Chloe like CRAZY! Band just isn't quite the same. And the two of us acting REDICULOUS during sectionals. . . and people wonder why we don't have those runs down. actually the two of us have most of them.
My favorite twin acting goofy while wearing. . somebody's sunglasses. .? I'm not sure if they're big enough to be dana's.

Shari and Amiee. I basically love them both. Shari just moved to here from Michigan and she is super smart. The Lord has blessed me with a new Christian friend that I am so excited to get to know! Oh, and she's never eaten at Bojangles!

See that little red dot? Well, that's a gummie bear stuck about twenty feet up on a wall at Francis Marion University. They were going to see if it would stick to the ceiling, but the wall worked.

Some of the seniors rocking it out during our pizza night. Tons of laughs!

Band camp was pretty fun. . but it was different from any other year. I can't really pinpoint why, but it was. Maybe it was simply because I was a junior. .

camp for a month

well, i think i've almost grasped andrew white's obsession with ambassador camp. it's "amazing" (camp i mean, not his obsession). I miss it and everyone there like CRAZY. my goodness, I want to be back. I mean, I did live there for a month.

I MISS AC!