Archive for August, 2008

Alive and Ready

August 29th, 2008

Alright, so yes, I’m alive. J I’ve had a couple people contact me in the last day or two wondering if I’m ok. Many have cited the fact that I haven’t written a blog in 9 days as the clue they had that things weren’t quite right. Well, if you’ve been wondering, things haven’t been quite right. My husband and I were both sick over the past week and a half which was not fun. But, we are feeling better now and my house is thoroughly cleaned and we are ready to get back to the land of the living! J

Today I felt a clear closing of a door and a clear opening of another one. Over the last 29 days since we lost our job we have been spending a little time doing odd projects and working on getting new jobs but mostly we took the beginning of the month to enjoy Bryan’s sister being here and to just recoup and relax. We went out with friends, we went sightseeing, we watched movies, we played games, and we spent a lot of time hanging out together and talking about our life and our dreams. Then the second half of the month we were both sick so we didn’t do much of anything.

But, today I felt a change. Today felt like fall. Today I felt ready for the next stage in our lives, ready for the next job, the next project, the next season. Today I cleaned my whole house because I felt like I needed to start this new season with a cleansing – of my house, my stuff and myself. That’s what I felt like today was for me, a cleansing. And now I’m tired, but ready for what’s to come.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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A Simple, but difficult Prayer

August 20th, 2008

“Lord, I am yours; I do yield myself up entirely to you, and I believe that you accept me. I leave myself with you. Work in me all the good pleasure of your will, and I will only lie still in your hands and trust you.”  - Hannah Whitall Smith

 

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

 

Photograph by Beth Stedman

 

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Admiration Mondays (a day late): Scott Nelson

August 19th, 2008

Yesterday was our anniversary so I didn’t write an Admiration Monday blog and decided to write it today instead.

Today I want to tell you about my dad, Scott Nelson.

I’ve always been a daddy’s girl. My dad was always able to understand me even when I felt like no one else could. One of the best complements I have ever had given to me was being told that I was like my dad. I always strived to be like my dad, but he has some pretty big shoes to fill.

My dad is literally brilliant. He has an analytical and very mathematical mind. He never graduated from college, but he has always been learning. He’s taught himself most of what he knows and has been very successful. When I was just a baby my dad got sick and his friend let him borrow his computer so that he would have something to do while stuck in bed. During that time he fell in love with computers and taught himself computer languages. He went on to actually write his own computer language and start a software company that he has built up from nothing to an international presence (a small international presence, but still a presence). I’m really proud of my dad for all that.

But, my dad is not just brilliant when it comes to computers and math and running a business, he’s also incredibly wise. For as long as I can remember he was a guy that other people went to for advice. He just has a way of looking at a situation and seeing it for what it really is. This was a quality in my dad that I more than admired it was one I wanted to develop as well. I vividly remember as a little girl praying to be wise like my daddy.

Something else that I have always admired and loved about my dad is his natural gift for storytelling. He has a way of pulling people into a story. He’s dynamic and passionate when he tells stories and it makes people want to listen to him. I love listening to my dad. When I was little I remember that I would rather sit and listen to my dad talk to the adults then go play with the other kids. It’s a real skill and it’s one of the things I love about my dad.

I think more than anything else though I love that my dad has taught me what it looks like to walk authentically and holistically with God. My dad taught me from a very early age that all of life was ministry and that we were all missionaries. He taught me to be open with my faith but never pushy or overly preachy. My dad taught me to value the local church (he was always very involved in the churches that we went to), but he also taught me that people are what really matters.  My dad taught me that the only thing that was really important was to love God and love people and then he modeled that for me. My dad taught me that each person is different and that God’s calling on each person is different, but that we are all called to be ministers of God’s grace in the areas that God places us. My dad has taught me that life with God is never stagnant, it is always moving and growing and God is always showing us new things and taking us to new places. I’ve been blessed to watch my dad as he walks through life with his God and I have learned so much from it.

I love you daddy!

May God continue to bless you and the work of your hands.
May He bless you with ever increasing wisdom in the years to come.
May He bless you with rest after many years of hard work.
And may He continue to use you to bring his grace and redemption more fully into this world.
May God bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you, and give you peace!

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany

 

Photograph by Beth Stedman

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3 Year Anniversary

August 18th, 2008

Today is our 3 year wedding anniversary. Three years ago today Bryan and I exchanged vows and became husband and wife! J I feel so blessed and thankful that God brought such a wonderful man into my life to be my husband! I love you Bryan Stedman!!! And I’ve loved walking through the last 3 years of married life with you! I’m looking forward to many more years to come!
Here’s a quick montage of Bryan and I in pictures:

        

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photographs by Bryan Stedman, Blake Stedman, Beth Stedman, and Tamara Stedman

 

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Seek out Hospitality?

August 17th, 2008

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” – Romans 12:13

The other day I was reading an article about hospitality and it was talking about how the original word for practice in Romans 12:13 has more of a sense of “seek out” or “look for” or “continually purposefully practice.” I thought this was interesting and it reminded me of a Shabbat Grace that I had read in the Celtic Prayer Book.

“Bless, O Lord,
this food we are about to eat;
and we pray you, O God,
that it may be good
for our body and soul;
and, if there is any poor creature
hungry or thirsty walking the road,
may God send them in to us
so that we can share the food with them,
just as Christ shares His gifts
with all of us.
Amen.”

The first time I read that I thought to myself “Wow… that is a dangerous thing to pray.” And honestly I didn’t have the courage to pray it. I remember thinking to myself, “is that really necessary? Is it really necessary to pray that God would send those who are hungry and thirsty and lonely and needy to me?” I mean I am glad to help others in whatever way I can when I come in contract with them and when I see need in the lives of those I know I am more than willing to meet it. Isn’t that enough? Or should I actually be calling need unto myself and seeking it out actively in my prayer life…? Well, according to the reading of Romans 12:13 above I am called to continually seek out hospitality – that means calling it unto myself through prayer. It also means actively seeking out ways in which I can “Share with God’s people who are in need.”

I have been challenged lately that I should offer hospitality and share with those who are in need freely when I have opportunity AND that I should also pray that God would bring more opportunities into my life for me to practice hospitality and share with those in need.  Christ sought me out and in love shared His gifts with us all, shouldn’t I then seek out others and share what God has given me with all who have need?

This is difficult for me. I like my space. I like my stuff. And honestly I feel like I don’t have much to give, especially right now. But, shouldn’t I be the person God calls me to be no matter what my situation is? I believe that I should. And I believe that God calls each of us to be hospitable and generous and people who live with open hands willing to give freely and accept freely. So, even though this is difficult and not natural I will seek to become that kind of person and pray to become that kind of person. Lord, help me.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Beth Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman

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