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In her book, “Elephants and Angels”, Marcia Miles Ramsey writes:

“Elephants and Angels” describes the emotional spectrum of our time together.    It symbolizes the mix of earth and Heaven we experienced during Dana’s seven and a half years; times when all was well and our spirits soared with laughter; times when death came near, pressing us into the depths of grief.  It represents the mystery of Dana; the things I knew; the things I missed.  As you read her story, I pray you will feel God’s love even though the way was dark, frightening and often isolated.  To those who are living where we onced lived, I wish I could tell you this book will answer your heart’s cry, “Why God?”, but it will not.  The road you are on is not an easy road.  It has not been; it will not be.  What I can promise is, “Jesus walks beside you to brighten the journey…to lighten every load that you bear.“

Experience this family’s journey through the difficulties, blessings, heartaches, and triumphs of having been trusted with a child who was born with “challenges”.

Your life will never be the same again!

To order this book or connect with other parents of children who’ve been born with special challenges, visit:  http://www.marciaramsey.com.

Blessings,

Brigette

Click the link to make a donation to Step by Step Ministries http://www.brigettewagner.com, “Mission and Ministry Tab”.  All donations are tax deductible.

     “REACHING OUT TO THOSE IN NEED…”

“Step by Step Ministries” is raising funds to help the homeless and less fortunate in our area.  We will be having a HUGE GARAGE SALE on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH. 

If you live in our area and have items that you would like to donate, please call us at 863-294-1130.  If you would like to donate monitarily, please mail your payment to Step by Step Ministries, PO Box 2322, Winter Haven, FL  33883-2322.

All donations are tax deductible.

*Photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

    What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when asked this question:  “What is it that you REALLY desire?”  Fame?  Fortune?  Material possessions?  Ministry opportunities?  Relationships?   

It’s ok to want better things or a better situation.  However, our heart’s should long for God and His presence above all other things.  He loves us more than we can even begin to comprehend.  When we accept His love and long for His presence, He is always faithful to never let us down.

Have you ever been so thirsty that all you could think of was getting a huge cup of ice-cold water.  Nothing else would satify your thirst…..not soda, not tea, not sport drinks…..only water.  That’s how God wants us to be for Him – so thirsty for His presence that nothing and no one else can satify.

“As the Deer panteth for the water so my soul longeth after thee.  You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee.

I want You more than gold or silver, only You can satisfy.  You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye.

You’re my friend and You are my brother, even though You are a King.  I love You more than any other, so much more than anything.

YOU ALONE ARE MY STRENGTH MY SHIELD; TO YOU ALONE MAY MY SPIRIT YIELD.  YOU ALONE ARE MY HEART’S DESIRE AND I LONG TO WORSHIP THEE.”

Worship Song Written by Martin Nystrom

I want to encourage you today….If your “thirst” is for anything other than God and His Will for your life, ask Him to forgive you.  Then, begin turning your focus on HIS Will, HIS desires, and HIS voice.  In doing so, you will experience His presence like never before!

~Photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

   “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”   ~Eph. 2:10

A few weeks ago, I felt impressed to read again “The Prayer of Jabez”.  I’ve read this book several times over the past few years, but decided to go ahead and read it again.  After reading about 1/3 of the book,  felt impressed to start over and re-read all that I had read to that point.  I don’t think I’ve ever done that before, but I believed God was trying to get my attention for something, so I obeyed.

To my absolute amazement, I realized that I had totally missed several key elements of the book!  I couldn’t believe I had read this book so many times and yet missed so much.  But the “nuggets” I’ve discovered have “set me on fire”.  I want to share some of those with you over the next few weeks.

In Chapter One of “The Prayer of Jabez”, Bruce Wilkinson tells about a dinner he had with his family.  Everyone was seated around the table, enjoying their meal.  His son, however, seamed exceptionally quiet.  Suddenly, David (his son), said “Dad, I want to ask you a question.  Will you bless me?”

Bruce Wilkinson assured his son that he continually blesses him, but his son wanted more.  Mr. Wilkinson writes:

 “”David, you know I do bless you, ” I said.  “No, Dad.  I want you to really bless me.”  Then he stood up, walked to the armchair where I was seated, and knelt in front of me.  Then he waited, head bowed, without even looking up”…..I felt a tremendous desire to bestow on him every possible good thing!”"

Do you get that?  Here was the son desiring more than anything his father’s blessing.  Oh my goodness, if we can just grasp that concept.  If we can simply learn to humbly kneal at our Father’s feet with a true desire for HIS WILL in our lives, HIS FAVOR to guide our steps, and HIS MERCY to carry us through, our lives will be forever changed!

God’s favor is the most important favor you’ll ever receive.  The acceptance and complete satisfaction that comes with His favor cannot be compared to that of anyone else in our lives – not our friends, not our spouses, not our children, nor any other source or relationship we have.

Friend, be encouraged today…..Your self-worth doesn’t come from another person;  your destiny isn’t determined by your relationship with certain people; and your level of blessing isn’t based upon what someone else thinks or says about you.  Your Heavenly Father is your source of blessing, acceptance, victory, and abundance!  Look to Him to be your supplier!

  “A woman’s family is held together by her wisdom, but it can be destroyed by her foolishness.” ~Proverbs 14:1 (Contemporary English Version)

I was at the public library yesterday when I heard several loud “slaps” followed by a child’s uncontrollable wailing.  I waited a few moments to see if it would stop, but it continued.  So, I went into the restroom to see what was happening.  When I entered the restroom, a mother and daughter were standing in one of the small cubicles together.  The child’s pants were down around her feet, while the mother stood over her degrading her because she had wet her pants.

I “busied myself” – so as not to be SO obvious – while I “monitored” the situation.  The mother kept on and on towering over the little girl and telling her how horrible she was for wetting her pants at 7 years old, insinuating that the child had intentionally messed up her clothes.  I tried to “lighten” the situation by making a remark that “accidents happen”, but the mother’s eyes were fixed upon this child.  She simply continued glaring down at this little girl, while continuing her ugly remarks.

As a mother of two girls (now 13 and 10), I’ve made many mistakes and am certain that I’ll make more in the future.  But as I watched this situation take place yesterday and saw the look in that little girl’s eyes, I was reminded of a time when God spoke very clearly to me about allowing my children the privilege of making mistakes.

You see, you and I make mistakes everyday.  When we do, we want God’s grace to cover those mistakes and hope that the people around us will also extend grace to us when we fall short. 

In that same manner, we MUST extend grace to our children when they make mistakes.  We MUST let them know that making mistakes is simply part of life and that they don’t have to be “crippled” by those mistakes.

As mothers, it is our responsibility to turn our houses into homes.  We are the ones who “set the atmosphere” in our homes. 

So let me ask you a few questions:

• Do you allow your children “room for error”?
• What is your response when your child makes a mistake or a wrong choice?
• Do you encourage your children to reach THEIR destiny in Christ?
• Do you speak positive or negative words over your children?
• Do you respond to your children’s mistakes the way you want others to respond to yours?

Let me encourage you today….You CAN be the kind of mother who helps your child reach his/her destiny in Christ.  You CAN be the one they trust to call when a party goes the wrong direction or friends engage in things they shouldn’t.  You CAN be the one they talk to when difficult situations arise.  But it won’t happen if you don’t set that atmosphere.

Maybe you need to step back and look at things a little differently.  If you do, then do it.  You’ll be glad you did.  And in so doing, you’ll build a home where your heart of love shines brightly into the lives of those you love most!

*photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

   “…Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”  ~John 20:29

Resurrection Sunday is a day where we, as Christians, take time to remember the cruel death that Christ died on our behalf and the awesomeness of His resurrection.  It’s usually a day filled with family gatherings, pictures, and our “Sunday best”.

As I thought about this day and reflected on it’s significance, I thought about the many people who only take time to acknowledge the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus on this day every year.  I was also overwhelmingly aware that this year, Good Friday was scarcely observed and the impact of Easter seemed somewhat diminished in the “general public”.  A sign of the times……

Friends, I believe more than ever before that we are living in the last days.  As I watch Bible prophecy being fulfilled, I am convinced that I will be alive to see Jesus come back for His people.

We must not forget the awesomeness of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  We must not forget that over 2000 years ago, our faces were clear in His mind as he chose to hang on an old, rugged cross and give his life in place of ours.  We must not forget that it is only because of Him that we have the promise of eternal life.

I want to encourage you today….The Word says that we are to be “in the world not of the world”.  Let us not allow ourselves to get so busy and “caught up” with our duties and responsibilities that we forget our Lord.  Take time every day – not just at Easter or Christmas – to spend time with God.  He deserves our worship!

   “Take heed that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.”  ~ Mark 13:5-7

We are living in a time where the spirit of deception is running rampant!  People take the Word of God and twist it to validate their own agendas and desires, and justify their blatant sin. 

I believe that we are seeing God begin to expose things like never before.  The “religous spirit” that says, “I can say and do anything I desire and hide behind the Word of God is rooted in pride and rebellion.  My friends, I believe that this is an abomination to God. 

I believe His return is near; and He’s not coming back for a filthy bride whose bridal gown is riddled with holes.  “Hidden sin” is never hidden from God!  He sees it all, knows it all, and will judge it all. 

It is time that God’s people deal with their issues.  There is no shame in having areas in our lives in which we need help.  However, there IS shame in denying or justifying our sin and refusing to get help.

Gossip, slander, murderous words, anger, abuse, addiction, physical sin, sexual sin…..no matter the issue, God’s Word says that “Greater is He Who is in Me than He who is in the world”.  We don’t have to live our lives in bondage to the enemy!  We can live victoriously!

I strongly encourage you today….If you’re struggling with “hidden sin”, get help!  Whether through self-help books from the Christian bookstore, Christian counseling, or pastoral counseling, you can be an overcomer!

  “This Book….you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then, you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”  Joshua 1:8

Every year when the new year rolls in, people make a list of “New Year’s Resolutions”.  Some pledge to lose weight, stop smoking, re-prioritize, set new boundaries, or try new things.  Like many of you, I made a pledge to seek God more, listen for His direction more closely, and strive to do His Will more fervently.

When I was a child, I used to sing a little song that said, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

In seeking for clarity in God’s direction for 2009, I was led to the Book of Joshua.  There are so many lessons that we can learn from this Book.  As I read the beginning verses of this Book, one verse leaped off of the pages at me – vs.8.  Some key words in this verse are “meditate”, “observe”, and “then”.

I’ve always thought “meditate” meant to think about.  But that word in the context of this text actually means “an active recitation, a respeaking of God’s Word”.  Did you get that?  Actively respeaking God’s Word over your life.  Study the Word, learn the Word, then actively speak the Word over your circumstances.

Another word that caught my attention in this verse is the word “observe”.  To observe God’s Word is literally to obey His Word.  So we study the Word, learn the Word, actively speak the Word, and obey the Word.  In doing so, Scripture says we will “make your way prosperous and…have good success”.

I encourage you to begin meditating and re-speaking God’s Word over yourself, your family, and your circumstances. 

Be still long enough to hear His voice, then you’ll be able to know His plan, and obey His Call.  In doing so, your light can break through the darkness and bring forth healing, restoration, hope, encouragement, and strength to those whose path you are blessed to cross.

2009 is the year to really get focused on God and His desire for your life!  One light dispells the darkness!  Are you willing to “let your little light shine in 2009?”

*photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

   “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him and bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His mercy is everylasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”  ~Psalm 100:4-5

Do You Have A Heart Condition?

 Do you ever talk when you should be listening?  Or speak when you should be silent?  Most of us do – sometimes only on occasion, others….well, you get the picture.

Mathew 12:34-37 says this

“…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks….for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

Did you catch that?  By OUR words we will be justified, and by OUR words we will be condemned!  Now let that sink in for a moment.  If what is in our hearts eventually comes out of our mouths – and what comes out of our mouths determines justification or condemnation – doesn’t it make sense that we should continuously check the condition of our hearts?

In her devotional book, “Jesus Calling”, Sarah Young writes, “A thankful attitude opens windows of heaven.  Spiritual blessings fall freely onto you through those openings into eternity.  Moreover, as you look up with a grateful heart, you get glimpses of Glory through those windows….Thankfulness is not some sort of magic formula; it is the language of Love, which enables you to communicate intimately with Me [God]. A thankful mind-set does not entail a denial of reality with its plethora of problems.  Instead, it rejoices in Me, your Savior, in the midst of trials and tribulations….”

Thankfulness brings peace.  Peace brings joy.  Joy brings victory!

If you’ve been feeling defeated lately, check to see if you have a heart condition.  When you’re done with that, check your words and see if they line up with the Word of God or if they’re in direct conflict with His Word.  Then, decide to “walk in” an attitude of thankfulness and praise.  Maybe you don’t feel like you have much to be thankful for right now.  Don’t be deceived!  Let me help you get started with your list of “heavenly thank you’s”….

• You’re breathing!
• You’re unique!
• You’re loved (even if you don’t think you are……you are!)
• You can see (If not, you wouldn’t be reading this right now!)
• You can read

• You can move your fingers, hands, and arms

• You’re not alone! (God is always with you, even when you don’t “feel” His presence!)

Friend, let me encourage you today….Begin to speak forth praise and thankfulness to your Heavenly Father for all that He does in your life – things you know about…and things you’ll never know!  It will change your life!

Dear Friends:

I’m excited to announce that my teaching on “Got Kids, Now What?” is now available for a donation of $30.00.  This six-CD series covers topics which include the power of our words, setting boundaries, fun activities for creating memories, and much more.

To order, go to http://www.brigettewagner.com and click on the CD listed under “Products”.

Blessings,

Brigette