As 2011 comes to a close and 2012 “rings in”, I want to take this opportunity to say, “Thank You” for your support!  God used YOU to help Step By Step Ministries reach into the hearts and lives of hundreds of people and touch them for the glory of God throughout this year.

Throughout 2011, God allowed us to “make a difference” in a greater way than ever before through the following:  ”Acts of Random Kindness” (where we helped people with groceries, provided meals for those who are homeless, and filled empty gas tanks for single moms); outreaches to both the Fire Department and the Police Department (where our team of volunteers provided meals of appreciation for our emergency responders); Thanksgiving Baskets outreach (where we provided Thanksgiving meals for more than 600 people by creating a team consisting of three other ministries); and Christmas outreaches to our children in Uganda and three local families (where we gave bicycles, computer games, clothes, bedding, toys, etc. to children and single moms).

 We could not have accomplished such awesome outreaches without your support!  

As we move into 2012, we have even more outreaches planned than what we accomplished in 2011. We
hope that you will continue to keep us in your prayers.  We also ask you to partner with us through financial contributions for the year.   This is “fertile ground,” and your gifts are given back to those who are in need.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever…”  ~Ephesians 3:20-21

May 2012 be a year of abundant blessings for you and your family.  May you walk in obedience, submission, and honor of  the Word of God.  

May you know His presence like you’ve never known it before.  And may you walk the path that leads to your destiny.

Hi, Friends:

We are currently collecting toys and clothing for children whose families are struggling this year.  We want to provide them with a great Christmas.  If you are able to help – either through donating toys or giving a monetary gift, please do so right away.  Items needed are:

• Bike – 11 year old and a 5 year old
• Jewelry making set – 11 year old and 9 year old
• Music stand – 11 year old
• Softball set – 9 year old
• Leap Pad – 5 year old

Thanks for all you do!

In Christ,

Brigette

Dear Friends:

We are “gearing up” for our most active outreach season and would greatly appreciate your help!  Over the next few months, we will have the following outreaches:

• Baptist Children’s Home
• Thanksgiving Baskets for needy families
• Police Officers Thanksgiving Dinner
• Operation Christmas – where we “adopt” families and provide Christmas gifts for the children
• Christmas in Uganda – where we provide Christmas gifts for our “adopted children” in Uganda
• Firemen’s Christmas Eve Dinner

Though we are very frugal with our funds, plan wisely, and “stretch” every dollar, we cannot do these outreaches without your help.  Therefore, I’m asking you to pray about giving a donation of any amount (large or small) to help us bless others through the various outreaches we have planned.

All donations are tax deductible.

If you are able to help with any amount, please send your donation through one of the following options:

Mail donations to:  SBS, PO Box 2232, Winter Haven, FL  33883

Go to  http://www.brigettewagner.com/donate

You’re gifts help us help others!  Thank you for your willingness to be a part.

Blessings,

Brigette

      ”You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.  That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.” ~ Matthew 5:9 (The Message)

Have you ever been offended?  Had your feelings hurt?  Felt wronged?  If you haven’t, don’t think you’re exempt from such situations.  Everyone experiences disappointments, hurts, betrayals, etc. at some point in life.  How we deal with those situations, however, determines whether we become “bitter” or “better”.  So, how do you react when you’ve been hurt or disappointed?  Do you “strike back”, attempting to inflict as much pain on your offender as he/she gave you?  Do you withdraw and simply allow the relationship to fade away?  Or do you “rise above” your feelings and reach out to ensure restoration to the relationship in jeopardy?

I laugh as I write this because so many times in my life when I’VE been offended, disappointed, hurt, or even betrayed, God has required ME to be the one who reaches out to those who’ve hurt me and be the peacemaker.  I must say, this doesn’t always seem “fair” or even “just”.  However, when God requires something of us, we must respond with obedience.  Recently, I was having a conversation with the Lord and – quite honestly – complaining about being the one who “always tries to fix things”.  I reminded Him that I also have feelings and that it would be really nice if “every now and then” someone came to ME to apologize or attempt to make peace where there may be misunderstanding.  I noted that I didn’t want to be disobedient but…..

As God always does with me, He quickly responded to my complaints with His Word, ”Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the Sons [daughters] of God” (Matthew 5:9).  When God said that to me, I started laughing and said, “Thanks, Lord!  I still don’t like it, but I’ll be obedient!”.

You see, we don’t always have to like God’s instructions; but we should always obey them.

My question to you today is this:  “Are you a wavemaker or a peacemaker?”

Peacemakers are willing to reach out – even when they are the ones who have been wronged or offended.  Peacemakers understand that it’s not about them and their feelings, it’s about God and His commandments.  Wavemakers refuse to reach out, refuse to apologize, justify their actions, and walk in pride.

We cannot control how others behave.  We can, however, control our own emotions and responses to the Word of God.

I Thessalonians 5:15 says, “See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.”  Romans 12:18,21 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on YOU, live peaceably with all men….Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good”. (emphasis added)

I encourage you today to walk in peace, not pride.  Remember, a spirit of peace urges you to reach out and “right” relationships; but a spirit of pride demands that you justify your own actions and refuse to walk in obedience to the Word of God.

Trust me, you’ll feel better about YOU, if you seek peace – even if it’s not reciprocated.  SHALOM!

 *Photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  ~Ephesians 5:12

Several weeks ago, I begin feeling like I was under attack from the enemy.  Now, I’m not one to give Satan credit for every “uncomfortable” or “challenging” situation which occurs in my life.  However, there are times when I believe he has “waged war” against me and must be recognized for what he is in order to fight against the attack.

From personal attacks to physical illnesses, this “attack” continued.  It seemed as though I was losing the battle as one challenge after another showed itself.  BUT GOD….

Last Friday, I received a very concerning report from the doctor.  To be honest, I immediately felt fear when told of my situation; but after the initial feeling of fear, came a strange, underlying peace as I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to “praise, praise, praise, and praise again until my victory was revealed”.  In addition to taking authority through the blood of Jesus Christ and lifting my voice in praise, I sent out emails & texts asking people to pray on my behalf.

Interestingly, we’ve also been studying the Book of Ephesians in my class on Wednesday night.  As I read Ephesians 2, verses 19-22 “jumped” off the pages at me.  It reads (emphasis added):

What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion….And He put all things under His feet….”

So let’s look at that….Ephesians 5:12 tells us that our battle is against the powers of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 2:20 tells us that Christ is seated in the heavenly places far above the powers of wickedness.  At first glance, you might think that “heavenly places” is somewhere far away that cannot be reached.  But friends, the Greek actually identifies the “heavenly places” as the “invisible realm that surrounds our present daily situation.” WOW!  Our battle is against the powers of darkness which dwell in the realm that surrounds our present daily situation.  BUT MORE THAN THAT – Our Savior is seated in THAT realm ABOVE [or with authority over] every power in that realm!

I praise God for what He’s done in my situation throughout the past 10 days.  I am walking in victory, holding onto the prayers of those who are lifting me up, standing on the Word, speaking forth complete healing, and expecting total fulfillment of the promises of God.

If you’ve been facing challenging situations in your life, DON’T GIVE UP, DON’T GIVE IN!  Instead, stand on the authority of God’s Word, remind the enemy that he’s under Christ’s feet, ask others to stand with you in prayer, and believe God for completion.  He is faithful!

“Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  ~Joshua 1:9

His mentor and friend had passed away.  The people needed a leader; but who should it be and how would anyone be able to “measure up” to the task at hand?  The people of Israel had been wondering in the desert for 4o years, and now Moses was gone.  Was it possible to ever reach the land which God had promised or would they remain in the wilderness, never knowing the fulfillment of their destiny?

Joshua had to have asked himself these questions and many more after Moses passed away.  Fear, doubt, and anxiety must have tried to present themselves as he pondered the events that had taken place.  BUT GOD….

Joshua heard the voice of the Lord when He said, “arise, go over…you and all this people, to the land which I am giving them….”(Joshua 1:2).  Can you imagine?  If that had been me, I probably would have said, “You talking to me, Lord?” – as I looked around to see who else could be a possibility.

Apparently Joshua needed some reassurance, as well.  How do we know this?  Read Joshua 1:1-9.  God said to Joshua, “I will not leave you nor forsake you” (vs. 5); “Be strong and of good courage” (vs. 6); “Only be strong and very courageous” (vs. 7); and “Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (vs. 9).

The awesome part of this story isn’t that Joshua needed reassurance – just as you and I often do.  The awesome part of the story is that he “pushed through” his fear and anxiety to accomplish that which God had called him to do.  He was willing to “make a move”!

Many times in our own lives, we allow fear, anxiety, or self-doubt to keep us from moving forward.  We’re so afraid of failure that we do nothing at all.  Failure is not bad, as long as we learn something along the way.  When we fail, we learn and make adjustments.  By doing so, we keep ourselves on the “cutting edge” of reaching our destiny.  However, if we allow fear to keep us from taking a risk to do that which God has called us to do, we become stagnant.  And a stagnant pond stinks!

Determine today to “fail forward” – as Josh McDowell says.  If you make a mistake, so what!  If you only accomplish part of the goal, so what!  If others don’t see the value in what you’ve done, so what!  As long as you are moving in the direction you feel God has called you to go, success is guaranteed!  Square your shoulders, hold your head up, and look into the horizon.  You won’t be disappointed!

So many times, I’ve heard women say, “I’ve done too much, God can never use me”.  It’s a lie the enemy uses to keep us from walking towards our destiny.  He whispers in our ears, tells us things that “make sense”, and causes us to “reason” within ourselves all the things we’ve done that are contrary to the Word of God.  When he has our attention, he overloads us with guilt, shame, and discouragement.  Once that task has been accomplished, we are no longer a threat to his kingdom because we’ve believed his words instead of God’s.

Psalm 139 says that we are “beautifully and wonderfully made”.  Jeremiah 29 says that God has plans and a purpose for our lives.  The Bible is filled with examples of both men and women who had “issues” but were used by God to do great and mighty things for His glory!

Beginning Wednesday, April 6th, at 7:00pm, we will begin studying “The Strength of a Godly Woman” by Beverly LaHaye and Janice Crouse.  I want to personally invite you to join me for the next 12 weeks as we dive into this study.  As June Hunt said, “This book demonstrates how God can take the most humble or tarnished woman and transform her into a woman of strength.”

You can be all that God has created you to be!

Life Church, Berkley Rd., Auburndale, FL

Tracy Hurst, a dear friend of mine posted this blog today.  It’s so good and so true that I decided to re-post it on my blog.  Be blessed!

Trusting in God Instead of the Praise of Man

“Many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not con-fess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” John 12:42-43

“The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.”  Proverbs 29:25, The Message

There was a time in my life when I longed for the approval of man. I wanted to be a person of great importance. I drank in the praise of man and became intoxicated with what people thought and said of me. Yet my approval addiction was never satisfied and thankfully so because it brought me to the place of brokenness and total surrender to God. I have come to the place where I no longer desire the praise of man, but only to hear my Father say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

In our society we are encouraged to glorify the accomplishments of man. Many strive to achieve titles, positions of power, wealth and to be deemed by the world as a noteworthy person. And although we are promised much favor and success as children of God, a lot of individuals believe that the praise of man alone will bring them a sense of worth. They crave to hear man say of them, “Wow, look at her and what she has accomplished.” This is true even in the Christian culture. There is often a mixture of longing to glorify God while also enjoying the seduction of the praise of man.

Let us be reminded today that the praise of man is temporal and it will never bring true satisfaction, hence why you continually see Hollywood and sports stars turning to drugs, alcohol, affairs and such. The only true satisfaction in this life is to have a relationship with God. And friend, God has already deemed you worthy! Through the Cross of Jesus, you are the righteousness of God and He loves you – the real you!

Friend, you can rest your head tonight knowing that no matter what man may think or say about you, God loves you! It is my prayer that each night you will fall asleep pondering God’s amazing love for you. Oh how He loves you! Jesus gave His life for you, what more could He give? Oh how He loves you and me!

Prayer:

“Lord, thank you for loving me. I acknowledge that there is nothing this world can offer me that will bring me true peace or satisfaction but You! I will choose this day forward to meditate on what You say about me. No matter what man may say, I am the righteousness of God, I am the head and not the tail and the blessings of the Lord will chase me and overtake me (Deuteronomy 28). Amen.”

http://www.tracyhurst.com

I remember as a child that deafening sound when the radio or television station would broadcast three loud sirene blasts, then announce “This is a test of the emergency broadcasting system”.  We would hear three more sirene blasts then a very long, very loud, continuous blast.  As a child, those few seconds of testing seemed like an eternity.

It’s much like that in our Christian walk.  So many times in our lives, we go through testing, which in reality is usually for a short period of time.  During the test, however, we often wonder if it will ever end!  We hear the continuous, deafening sound of the “sirene” blasting in our ears as we try to maintain our position in Christ and hold firm to His promises.

Now let me confess:  I do not enjoy going through tests! Testing means stretching, bending, changing, and yes, even crushing at times.  It means that our faith is tried and our dependence upon God is magnified so that we can see how truly vulnerable we are.  But it also means learning to “stay the course” and keep our eyes focused only upon God and His Word – not on our circumstances!

Think about the process by which juice is made.  In order for the juice to be it’s best, that fruit has to be squeezed, crushed, ground, and squeezed again in order to get all of the best of the fruit for the juice.  It’s no different for us!  God loves us so much and has such awesome plans for our lives that He has to “squeeze the juice” out of us in order to make us into what he created us to be. 

We cannot fulfill our destiny if we don’t rid ourselves of the “junk” in our lives, our personalities, and our habits.  He has to allow us to go through testing so that we can become “precious jewels for His glory”!

Romans 5:3-6 says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perserverance [endurance]; and perserverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us”. (NKJV)

We’ve been tested many times over the years.  With each test, we mature and grow stronger in our faith.  We’ve learned to praise God and stand on His promises.  I believe it’s important to praise God, even when you’re in the midst of your trial.  In fact, I believe that your victory is directly connected to your praise.  You see, it doesn’t take faith to believe after your miracle has been revealed!  Faith is only present when you believe before your miracle is revealed!

Maybe you’ve been in the midst of a test.  You’ve heard the sirene blasting in your ears and have wanted to give up or get angry.  Let me encourage you:  Don’t give up!  And if you’re angry, make sure your anger is properly directed.  Don’t allow the enemy to plant anger towards God.  Praise Him for your revealed miracle – even before you see it happen!

*Photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

Wednesday Nights

Auburndale Life Church

Teaching Class

581 Berkley Rd., Auburndale, FL

Inviting women to join me on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm for “Takin’ It Back: Standing on the Authority of God’s Word”. This class will take you on a journey to victorious living, reclaiming ground the enemy has stolen, and releasing the Gifts of God in your life!

Class material taken from the books, “Breaking Intimidation” by John Bevere and “Reclaiming Surrendered Ground” by Jim Logan.