My Words Cannot Be Stolen

My Words Cannot Be Stolen

It has been two months since I have successfully written anything.
It felt so weird.  I tried to write.  I had ideas and thoughts I wanted to discuss with you.  I would even make myself laugh as I thought of telling you why you remind me of Elmo or a pot.  But I could not get the words out.

What was stopping me?

I wondered if I was supposed to stop writing you all together.  But, every time this thought crossed my mind I knew immediately that was not the case.

So, what was the problem?

 Busyness?
             Well- Yes - but that is a problem for most people. It was different than that.

Insecurity?
             Maybe - I sometimes struggle with the thought that I am just another person saying, “Blah, blah, blah” on the Internet.  This is why I ignored my sister’s continual prompting to write to you for so many years.

Grief?
          That is another possibility.  But it did not stop me from writing before this.

Than I realized what had happened.

                            LIES - That is it!

Believing the lies that pop in my head to keep me silent……
 The lies that keep me from speaking Truth……

I have the blessing of knowing my “call” in life - my purpose.

It is to encourage you and my other friends - to remind you of who you really are and of all the wonderful things God says about you.

  I am a cheerleader. I was born that way.

Don't judge me.  I have too much jiggle to jump anymore.

But I have just the right heart and mind to see the amazingness God has placed in you.
When things are not going well and it looks like you may be defeated, God made me to be your friend, to cheer you on and remind you of YOUR purpose and value, and His power that is in you.

I KNOW God has placed great things in you. There is a wonderful purpose for your life.  Everything you face can be used for good.  I love hearing your stories and the ways God shows himself to you.

So, my friend, please know that I think of you often and pray for you.
I am thankful for the struggles I have had the last two months. They remind me that we all need encouraged on our journeys.  It is so easy to start believing things about ourselves or our circumstances that are not true.  We can slip into discouragement before we realize what has happened.

However, I realized -----

My words cannot be stolen because The Word is in me.

I will be back in 2019 to remind you of the wonderful things God thinks of you.
(I am pretty sure the Bible does not say you are like Elmo. That was my own random thought).

Blessings to you, my friend, as we begin a new year and a new adventure.





Here is a preview.  My husband and I accidently came across Peggie Sue's BBQ in Dallas. We ended up there twice.  We were scheduled to spend a week on the Gulf Coast but ended up in Dallas, then passed through Waco and spent extra time in Cypress.  The best things happen when you can just say "Whatever".

Doesn't he look like he has horns coming out of his head in the picture above? 😎😍

Valuable

YOU

        are

              Valuable!

      More valuable than you can even comprehend.  

Do you remember the Master Card commercials that had a voice telling you each thing you could purchase along with the price? At the end it would show a touching memory or accomplishment and the voice would say, "priceless".  

                      THAT'S YOU.... But more! 

I know it's hard to grasp deep in your heart. It is hard for me to grasp, too. It is so much easier to see the value in other people.....at least those that are not annoying. 😊

 I wish I could grab onto your hands,
                  look you in the eye and
                                  tell you how priceless you really are.

I would tell you it has nothing to do with what you "do", how you look, what you have or even how much you give.

You are valuable, my friend, based on the part of you that makes you who you are - 

                          Your inmost being

You were created intricately by God for a unique and wonderful purpose.  He loves you so much. He even knows the number of hairs on your head.  

So, why is it so hard for us to really "get it"?

Can you imagine the difference it would make in our personal lives if we did?  

Can you imagine the difference it would make in our world if other people knew their own value as well as the value of others around them? 

Now that would be huge!

As I was thinking about this, I wondered what the Internet would say was the most valuable thing in the world.  I had high hopes of seeing a baby, a family or a group of friends popping up on my screen.

But, alas, I guess I knew deep inside I was about to see things I find much less valuable. I was not surprised to see a few painting, the Antilia (billion dollar, 34 story home in Mumbai, India) or a one of a kind pink diamond.

What I found most interesting was the number of things people slapped gold onto so they would be more expensive. How about a 4.5 billion dollar gold and platinum yacht or a gold covered sports car?

My favorite was the $1,000 sundae, the $25,000 frozen hot chocolate dessert and pizza for over $4,000. All of these contained gold as an ingredient and were served with exquisite tableware made of different crystal, gold or diamonds depending on the food.                           

 I'm really not sure about eating gold.  

 I consider myself a connoisseur of the hot fudge sundae.  I understand that one should definitely plan to pay a lot more for a sundae at a specialty restaurant in New York City rather than in a local ice cream shop in Ohio. But, what could possibly make it worth $1,000?

First, it is the imported ingredients.

- Tahitian vanilla is infused with Madagascar Vanilla in the ice cream, then it is drizzled with the world's most expensive chocolate and topped with chunks of rare Venezuelan chocolate as well as candied fruit from Paris.  

Second, extravagant ingredients are added.

- There are other unique items added, like a dessert caviar on top, as well as gold covered almonds and 23 karat shaved gold leaf.  

Finally, it is served in a $350 crystal goblet that is lined with 23k gold.  There is also an 18k gold spoon.

Friend, we are NOT like this sundae.  

As humans we often try to find our value in the same way this sundae does.  

We add bling, dress ourselves up and work to stand out from the crowd.  But, our value is still from our inmost being. It does not matter what we add to ourselves.

Guess what?  

              We are more like special oysters.

Long before cultured pearls came along, it was rare to see the phenomenon that is a  natural pearl.  They are found by the water, often within the sand and hidden inside an oyster.  The odds of finding one are about 1:12,000. (Spey.com). 

By looking with the human eye, we may never realize the great value of one particular oyster, especially in its natural environment.   

By looking at the surface anyone could miss this rare treasure.

But God knows where every single oyster is that contains a pearl.  

                         He also knows the real you. 

He created you in his image and knew you before you were even born.  He sent his son to pay the ultimate price for you.  He has loved you from the very beginning.  He knows you as the treasure he created you to be. 

The part of you that is deep inside - the part that makes you....you, is exactly the part that is of more value than either of us could comprehend.  

Oh, how I hope we can begin to see this treasure in each other and in ourselves. 

My prayer for you today is that this will penetrate your heart.

Never Forget the Truth.....

        You are so, so Valuable💕

Peace

I have a secret to tell you.

Don't worry. I got permission from my mom and my brother-in-law before I even considered revealing this to you since it is about my sister.

Most people thought my sister was pretty close to perfect.  We all know that no one is actually perfect.  But it is believed, especially by her husband, that she was as close as one could get.  She was beautiful, sophisticated, kind, took great care of herself and always knew the right thing to say in any situation. But she had a flaw that only those closest to her could sense. Only her husband knew the severity.

She was addicted ............

???????


To SHOES.






I don't mean a little addicted.  I also do not mean addicted to just any shoes.  She was addicted to very expensive shoes.  Her shoe collection had great value.




She would keep them in their original boxes and stack them on the higher shelves of her walk-in closet.  They were stacked all the way to the ceiling.  I cannot begin to tell you the number of times she would mail me a box full of expensive boots and shoes because she was out of room to store them.  Fortunately for me, we had the same size feet.


When we cleaned out her closet last spring, I counted 79 boxes of shoes and boots.  This did not include the ones that were not in boxes because they were in her regular shoe rotation on the floor/bottom shelf of her closet.

It was fitting to laugh with my family about her secret shoe addiction because the day she went to heaven, was the first time I understood the saying "Peace Shoes".  I had experienced peace in the middle of hard circumstances. But, I never equated it with "Peace Shoes".

If you have not heard this saying, it refers to a writing of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians.  He describes different pieces of armor the believers should "put on", so they can stand against evil.

"For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared."
Eph. 6:15 NLT

Well, that sounds very nice.

But seriously?

How do I do that?"

I have been thinking about how I could explain my experience with "Peace Shoes" for several months, even before I found out about my sister's shoe issues.

I spoke with a pretty famous pastor about it when I was in Chicago in the winter.  He is a brilliant man, has authored over 30 books, had three radio broadcasts, and was the pastor of a well known church for over 30 years.  He is a pretty big deal in the pastor-world.
 
We briefly discussed the meaning of "having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace."  Well, he discussed….. He spoke King James Version. So, I was always a few steps behind in the wisdom he was imparting to me.
     
Who uses the word "shod"?

I know we talked about the shoes Roman soldiers wore in the first century.  They had spikes on the bottom to keep the soldiers from slipping when they needed to stand firm in battle.



 I don't remember the other things we discussed until he caught me later in the afternoon.
He told me the foot gear needed to be “practical”.

Whoa - whoa - whoa

At this comment, he began to lose me.  He is a brilliant man but clearly not focused on women as his primary audience.

I was able to focus back in when he said, "Look at that young woman over there with the high heeled boots. That cannot be comfortable.  Those are not the kind of shoes you wear for battle."

Here is what he did not know:  The "young woman" was my daughter.  The "high heeled boots" were mine.  They were very cute with her dress and surprisingly comfortable.
He also did not know that I was in prayer ministry.  So, if he was talking about a spiritual “battle” that involved prayer, there is a good chance I had been wearing those exact shoes.


These are the boots.  I wore them to Moms in Prayer this morning 
and had my friend, Kim, take a picture to show you. 


Ok, I would not want to hike in them.  But I also would not use the phrase "practical shoes" to an audience of women, perhaps "comfortable" would be a better word. Practical evokes images of ugly shoes.

Peace Shoes are anything but ugly.

There have been a handful of times (maybe closer to two hands full) when my husband and I have faced situations that most would consider tragic or at least extremely difficult.  It is in those times I was keenly aware of the peace I had.  It amazes me that I can get so irritated about stupid things that don't matter in my everyday life, but when faced with extreme circumstances, I have extreme peace.

Why?

In my everyday life, my mind wanders back to the illusion of control or the thought that everyone should be polite and considerate.  In extreme circumstances my mind wanders to the only One who truly understands what I am feeling, the only One who can truly help.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.
Isaiah 26:3

That's it!! I put on my "Peace Shoes" with trust in the Truth.

I had experienced this peace. But did not realize, I had been wearing my Peace Shoes all along.

Ephesians said the shoes are the peace that comes from the Good News.

So what IS the Good News?
- The One true God of the universe absolutely loves you.
- He knows everything you have ever done, or even thought (Ouch).
- So, He sent his son, Jesus, to take the consequence of your wrong doing (death/separation from God).
- All He asks you to do is believe Him.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 NLT


And. Here is more Good News :

You can believe God, not just for your security after death, but for the details of your life right now.

Putting your trust in anything else will leave you empty in the long run.

So, when you put on your shoes today, remember, you already own a pair of “Peace Shoes”.


Never Forget the Truth,
If you believe the Good News, perfect peace belongs to you.

Walk in it.

Loved

You will not believe what I saw!

                It was an invasion!  

Last spring I traveled with my mom and daughter to a baby shower in Louisville, Ky.

No - I did not see an invasion of pregnant women or babies, though I would probably like that.
It was not too much bourbon. I hear that is a Kentucky thing.

It was HATS



Hats
              Hats
                              Hats


    Everywhere!

Ok - Not EVERYwhere.

But, I walked passed three boutiques.  Hats - in every window.  I walked into a department store. Hats - in every department. It was not just near ladies dresses.
Sportswear - Hats; Menswear - Hats; Lingerie - YES - Hats!

How could there be this many fancy people?
Actually, how could there be this many heads to wear the hats?

It was tempting to put one on my head. But, I have a fear of lice that I must have developed when I had my own children, because when I looked over at my 83 yr old mother, she was having a great time checking out her fancy self in the mirror with a variety of different hats.

(Apparently, that is her serious hat look) People seem to love hats, not just fancy Derby hats, but all kinds.  Hats identify you with your favorite team or your career. They can protect you from the elements or from falling objects.  They are extremely helpful when you are in a hurry and cannot pull off another day with dry shampoo.

One of my sons started collecting crazy hats when he was very young.  It all began with the "Pizza Hat" he received as a present from his aunt.  He had a Chicago Cubs hat with a plush cub head on top, a Donald Duck hat, two different Russian hats with the ear flaps, a Fred Flinstone Water Buffalo hat and many, many more.  In his teen years, he added a variety of baseball hats to his collection. Some hats are the teams he really likes. Others, he buys and wears to antagonize those in his circle of friends. (I still do not understand why Texas A & M is antagonizing to his dad).


All of this makes me think of the many hats we wear in life.   Though I would like to identify as the ladies with the beautiful Derby hats,



I feel more like the salesman in the children's book, "Caps for Sale".

With 17 hats on his head, this man could constantly be identified by what he did.  People would know him by his work. If anyone needed a cap, they would know where to get one.  

So many times this is how we see each other and ourselves.  Our identity gets wrapped up in our career or in the roles we play within our circles. I am a wife, a mother, a ministry leader, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a worker & etc. I never see myself as fancy Derby lady, but more like a hurried dry shampoo lady.  

But wait - Our value is not found in our "hats".  
Your value has nothing to do with what you "do".
It is solely dependent on who your are.

And you, my Friend, are a child of the Most High God.
     You, my Friend, are loved, personally by the Creator of the entire universe.

Nothing can separate you from God's love for you personally.  I promise! He says so over and over again in His Word. Whether you are at your best or your worst, He adores you.  He only asks you to believe Him, to put your trust in Christ.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"  I John 3:1a

So, whether you wear a fancy hat, a crazy hat, 17 hats or no hat at all,
                          Never Forget the Truth

- God's love for you is not dependent on what you "do" (or the hat your wear). He loves you constantly, simply because you are His child.

Prayers for tweens, teens and young adults

Tweens, Teens and Young Adults

Never Forget these Truths as you ask God to pray for the young:

1. Your prayers are powerful and effective. (from James 5:18)

2. We do not fight like the rest of the world. We use God's mighty weapons. (From II Corinthians 10:3-4)

3. God's word is alive and powerful, sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword. (From Hebrews 4:12)

Matt 6:33 

I pray that ___________ will seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and God will give ___________ all she needs.

Phil 4:8

Lord, please help __________ to keep his thoughts fixed on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable.  May __________ think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Psalm 101:3

May _________ refuse to look at anything vile or vulgar and have nothing to do with those who deal with things crookedly.

Psalm 101:4

May _________ reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.

Luke 2:52

I pray that like Jesus, __________ will grow in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all people.

2 Tim 2:22

Lord, may ___________ run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, may _________ pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. May __________ enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

Lord, You are faithful.  Please strengthen ____________ and guard ___________ from the evil one.

Colossians 3:2

God please help __________ to think about the things of heaven and not the things of earth 

(3:5) May _______ have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires or greed.

Ephesians 1:8 

God, I ask you to shower your kindness on ___________, along with all wisdom and understanding.

3 John 1:4 

Oh Father, I ask you to give me the great joy of hearing that ___________ is following the truth.

Lord, I ask you to protect __________ every day.  Draw ___________ to you so he/she will know true joy and peace. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Provision

Provision

Never Forget these Truths as you ask God to provide for your needs:

1. Your prayers are powerful and effective. (from James 5:18)

2. We do not fight like the rest of the world. We use God's mighty weapons. (From II Corinthians 10:3-4)

3. God's word is alive and powerful, sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword. (From Hebrews 4:12)

sWords for Provision

Isaiah 48:17 (NKJV) 

Lord, teach us to profit and lead us in the way we should go.

Matthew 6:33

We desire, God, to seek You and Your kingdom above all else and live in your ways. Thank you for your promise to give us everything we need.

Ecclesiastes  7:11-12

Father, we ask you for both wisdom and money for You say they both benefit us, but only wisdom can save a life.

Psalm 65:11 

Please crown our year with bountiful harvest and make even our hard pathways overflow with abundance.

Philippians 4:19

According to Your promise, God, I ask you to provide all of our needs from Your glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 9:8

Lord, I ask you to generously provide all we need, so we always have everything we need and plenty left to share with others. 

Romans 8:32

Father, I praise you that I can trust you to give us everything we need because you did not even spare your own son but  gave him up for us.

Acts 14:17

You have never left humanity without evidence of your goodness. You send rain, good crops, food and joyful hearts. Lord, please provide for the need(s) You know I have now.

Psalm 34:10

I thank you for your promise, Lord, that those who trust you will lack no good thing.

Father, God, You know my needs and the desires of my heart.  I lay them all before You and ask You to provide for me (and my family).

I ask these things in Jesus name, Amen. 

My beautiful sister had a t-shirt company called "Dress Blessed". Encouraging people to see the many blessings God has given them was definitely part of her life's call.

A few months before her passing, she gave my kids some shirts to sell to raise money to attend Young Life camp.  She also gave me different shirts to help support my ministry, Central Ohio Moms in Prayer.  Her husband recently gave me a few more.

Below are pictures of the shirts I have.  I do not have every shirt available in every size.
Her business sold t-shirts for $20 and 3/4 sleeve with V-neck shirts for $25.

I am doing a virtual garage sale with $5 off every shirt.  However, you will need to cover shipping if you cannot come by my house or meet me somewhere in Central Ohio.

If you would like to check on availability my email is  kathystauffer5@gmail.com.

Blessings to you, my Friend  - Kathy

Crew Neck $15- Sizes from Small-3X (I have one black 4X & 5X)

Foil lettering

V-Neck  $15(Small-2X)
Foil lettering only




3/4 Sleeve with V-Neck $20
(Small-2X)
Gold foil lettering                                                       Silver lettering - But that's navy not black (sorry)
 


(still 3/4 sleeve)





Size 3X only crew neck $15

Pray for the Nation

Pray for America

Proverbs 14:34

Lord, I pray for Godliness which makes a nation great. I also pray that we will not be disgraced by sin.

I Peter 2:17

May the people of America respect everyone and love the family of believers, fear God and respect the king (President and other government officials).

II. Chronicles 7:14

Oh Father, God, may those of us who are called by your name, humble ourselves and pray, seek your ways and turn away from wickedness. Hear our prays, Lord. Forgive  the sins of our nation. And heal our land.  

Proverbs 28:2

Lord, please expose and extract any moral rot within our nation, so our government can stand strong and not easily topple. Please give us wise and knowledgeable leaders who bring stability.

I Peter 3:8

God, help us to be like minded, sympathize with each other and love others as brothers and sisters.  Help us to be tender hearted and keep a humble attitude.

Psalm 33:11-12

We praise you, God. Your plans can never be shaken. They stand firm forever. May our nation always know the joy of belonging to You.

Proverbs 21:1

Lord, guide the hearts of our leaders as a stream.

Proverbs 11:14

Please give us wise leaders, so we will be safe from our adversaries and our nation will not fall.

Romans 12:16

May we live in harmony with each other, not being too proud to enjoy the company of a variety of people.  And may none of us think we know it all! 

Romans 13:1

God, help us all to submit to the governing authorities, knowing that all authority comes from you. May we remember those in positions of authority have been placed there by you.

True Freedom

Freedom

Never Forget these Truths as you ask God for true freedom.

1. Your prayers are powerful and effective. (from James 5:18)

2. We do not fight like the rest of the world. We use God's mighty weapons. (From II Corinthians 10:3-4)

3. God's word is alive and powerful, sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword. (From Hebrews 4:12)

2 Corinthians 3:17

Lord, be with ______________. You are the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Psalm 118:5

May ___________ pray to you, Lord, in her distress, for you will answer ___________ and set her free.

2 Peter 2:16-17

I praise you God because _____________ is free because she belongs to you. May she not use her freedom as an excuse to do evil. Instead, may she respect everyone, love the family of believers, fear God and respect the king.

John 8:32

I pray that ___________ will know the truth, for your truth will set ___________ free.

(John 8:36) And when the Son sets _________ free, he is free, indeed. 

Galatians 5:1

Christ has truly set us free. Please teach ____________ to stay free and not get caught up in the slavery of legalism.

Galatians 5:13 

I thank you, God, that we have been called to live in freedom. May ___________ use his freedom to serve others in love.

Psalm 119:45

May ______________ walk in freedom and devote himself to your commands.

John 10:10

Lord, may ___________ recognize the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. May _________ see that you come to give him a rich and satisfying life.

Galatians 2: 4

Lord, protect ___________ from those who would try to deceive her, take away the freedom you have given her.

Romans 8:2 

I praise you, Lord, that since _________ belongs to you, the power of your life-giving Spirit has freed ____________ from the power of sin that leads to death. 

Lord, please help __________ experience true freedom that only comes from you.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Never Forget the Truth- Christ came to set you free. 

Hope and a Sound Mind

Never Forget these Truths as you pray for hope and a sound mind:

1. Your prayers are powerful and effective. (from James 5:18)

2. We do not fight like the rest of the world. We use God's mighty weapons. (From II Corinthians 10:3-4)

3. God's word is alive and powerful, sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword. (From Hebrews 4:12)

Hope & sound mind 

I Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

Father, I thank you that you have not given __________ a spirit of fear. You have given __________ a spirit of power and of love and of sound mind. 

Psalm 34:4

Lord, may ___________ pray to you, and you answer _____________ . Free ____________ from all his fears.

Romans 8:35 

Remind ____________ today that nothing can separate ______________ from the love of Christ, not trouble or hardship, or persecution, hunger or destitution, not even danger or the threat of death. 

Proverbs 2:11

Give _________ wisdom that will save ___________ from evil people and from those whose words are twisted.

John 8:32

May __________ know the truth, and that truth will set __________ free.

Psalm 30:5b

Oh Lord, remind __________ that sorrow and weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Philippians 4:6-7

Replace __________'s worry with prayer about everything. May _________ tell you, God, what she needs and thank you for all you have done. Then your peace that exceeds _________ 's understanding will guards her heart and mind in Christ.

Psalm 34:18

Lord, help ________ to know you are close to the broken-hearted and rescue those whose spirits are crushed.

John 1:5

Make your one true Light shine in the darkness _________ is experiencing. The darkness can never extinguish your Light.

Psalm 62:5

May ________'s soul find rest in you, God. May all __________'s hope come from you.

Father God, give __________ hope and peace that can only come from you.  Expose the lies _________ is believing and replace them with Truth.  

In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

You may also want to read Romans 8:31-39 and Psalm 34.