Posts Tagged ‘friend’

12 Dollars of Christmas: The Malouf Family

December 25th, 2008

This post is part of the 12 Dollars of Christmas series I’m doing, sharing with you about different charities and people who are making a difference for God’s kingdom and asking you to join me in praying for them and in giving $1 dollar (or more) to each of them.

I think I’ve known David and Tara Malouf for over 10 years now. There’s a lot I could say about David and Tara and their beautiful children, Mikaela and Luc. There is no other family (besides my own) that has had as much of an influence on me over the years as the Malouf’s – they even welcomed me into their home for a time when I was in college and allowed me to literally be a part of their family. If you’ll let me, I’d love to tell you a little bit about each of them and what God is doing in them and through them now:

David was my youth pastor when I was in High School, but even though I at first wrote him off as weird, goofy and a “typical youth pastor” I know now that David was never really a typical youth pastor (although he can be a bit “weird and goofy” at times, but I’ve grown to love that now) J David didn’t really fit the mold of what churches look for in a “pastor”, but I would argue that a pastor is EXACTLY was David is – he’s a pastor in the real, biblical sense of the word. David pastors people, he shepherds people, he comes along side people and mentors people. David has been a spiritual father to me and many others throughout the years and I know few people as wise and insightful as he is.

Where David has been a spiritual father to me and it has been his instruction, teaching, and guidance that I have sought when I want answers, Tara has been a spiritual mother to me and it has been her encouragement, strength and ability to speak truth into my life that I have sought out during every period of emotional turmoil over the past few years. Like David, Tara is also a born mentor and is gifted at coming along side of people and walking with them. Tara has a way of drawing people’s deep heart’s out into the open and giving healing space and love. She has a heart for people. Tara is also the first person who taught me by example what it looks like to really wrestle WITH God, not against him. She’s always been honest about her struggles and questions and it has drawn me and others around her to be honest with her as well. I love Tara and if there’s one person I would like to be more like, it’s her. If you want to know more about Tara, I wrote about her HERE a while back.

Mikaela and Luc are two of my favorite kids in the world. Mikaela and Luc are each so different and so unique, but they each love Jesus so much. And they “get Him” and what he calls them to be and do. There have even been more than a few times when one of them has said something that convicted me by their own eager wiliness to follow God and do what He wants. They may be young, but I have already seen God working in them and through them in such honest and true ways. I look forward to seeing where God takes them in the future.

There really is so much more that I could say about the Malouf family, but I’ll stop here to tell you a little bit about the work that God has called them to right now.

For the past few years the Malouf Family have been missionaries with OC International. “OC International is an agency that is dedicated to helping local churches and local Christians grow so that they in turn become those who are reaching others.” David and Tara are part of OC International’s team in the United States. I remember being so excited when I heard about what they are doing, because for as long as I have known David and Tara they have had a heart for the body of Christ in America and a desire for US churches to become healthy. David and Tara now get to be “able to challenge, coach and dream with churches about being healthy both now and in the future.” This is an incredible calling and it fits so perfectly with the unique gifts and passions that God has given this beautiful family.

I encourage you to check out their web site, HERE, and learn more about what God is doing through them and the rest of the OC International US team.for directions. All contributions are tax deductible.

And as part of my $12 dollars of Christmas series I encourage you to join me in praying for the Malouf’s over the Christmas season and I also encourage you to join me in sending $1 (or more) to the Malouf’s this Christmas to help support them and further the work God is doing through them. You can do this by credit card, automatic transfer, or by sending a check, cash or spare change. Just go to OC Internationals on-line giving page

Lord, thank you for the Malouf’s and for the ways that they have brought me to you and turned me towards you. Thank you for their honesty and how authentically they live life before you and others. I pray, Lord, for the work that you have called them to – I ask that you would bless it and them through it. I pray that you would continue to draw people to you through David and Tara. Use their passion and unique gifts to further your kingdom and bring your love and justice to those who are hurting and hurtful. Use them also to bring healing, love and peace to the body of Christ in America. In Jesus name. Amen.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph by Crissy Malouf

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)



Admiration Mondays: Laura Johnson

October 13th, 2008

I’ve known Laura Johnson since 6th grade when she was Laura Chambers. But, it wasn’t until high school that we got to be really close friends and since then our friendship has just continued to grow. Laura is one of those rare friends that I just always feel comfortable around, no matter how much time has passed since we’ve talked, no matter what has changed in our lives or what big things are going on in our lives I feel like I can always be myself around her. And that is largely due to who Laura is as a person. She is free. She is open. She is authentic. She is herself and that makes me by myself around her.

Laura is one of the best conversationalists I’ve ever met. She can talk with anyone on practically any subject and end up laughing with them within minutes and making them feel comfortable. I love that about Laura and it’s also been a trait of hers that I’ve always been a bit jealous of as well. Laura is just genuinely interested in people, and genuinely interested in any subject or topic that another person is genuinely interested in. I think Laura just finds life fascinating and that makes her able to talk with anyone on any subject with interest. I love that about Laura.

My friend Laura is also incredibly courageous. It might not be evident right at first, but I’ve seen it first hand for over a decade. Laura has more courage than most people I know. She has this courage that makes her willing to try things and do things and meet people and step out on a limb and I really admire that about her.

Laura is also brilliant. Seriously, she has the best vocabulary of anyone I know. She loves to read and learn and is constantly doing both. But, I think her brilliance shines most in interpersonal relationships. She has a way of seeing through the bull**** and courageously saying what’s really going on. She just sees things more clearly than most people and she has a way of communicating what she sees clearly and compassionately as well. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been talking with Laura and had her say something that just cut through it all and got right to the true heart of the matter. Everyone needs a friend like Laura, who can see the truth in their lives and isn’t afraid to tell it to them, and I’m so grateful that she’s my friend.

Laura Johnson is also exceptionally loyal and trustworthy. She is a friend you can count on to be there for you no matter what. I’ve gotten to be on the receiving end of that loyalty many times. Laura has stood by me at times when I felt like my world was coming undone. When God felt distant and unloving and at times unreal at all. Laura would talk with me, let me share my doubts without judging me, loyally stand by me, and gently remind me of truth. There are things that Laura knows about me that no one else knew for years (and there are still things that only she and my husband know). I always knew that I could trust Laura and I could rely on her to be there for me in the hard times and in the really good times. Laura was also one of the first people I told when I first got a crush on my husband, she was one of the few people who I gave permission to veto any guy I was ever interested in, and she was the first person I told when Bryan and I had our first kiss (my first kiss ever). Laura has seen me through a lot and I feel so blessed to have her as my friend.

Laura is also one of the few people I’ve ever met who just gets me. She understands me. I don’t often have to explain myself with Laura, she just gets it. She often will say something which is almost exactly what I’m thinking and we have definitely had times in our friendship where we finish each other’s sentences regularly. Our conversations often develop to a point where we are both talking at once and talking over each other, and finishing each other’s sentences but we both just understand and get it. I’ve always felt a little like an un-understandable outcast and like no one fully got me, but Laura is one of those few people that I don’t really feel that way around.

And on top of all that she’s just plain fun to be around. Laura likes to laugh and have fun and we definitely have done both of those things a lot over the years. Whenever I get together with Laura I know that I will laugh and enjoy life, I know that I will feel understood, I know that I will be able to share exactly who I am and receive grace and love, I know she will see me and my current life with clarity and wisdom, and I know we will have long, deep, meaningful talks about anything and everything we can think of.

Laura, may God meet you today exactly where you are.
May you feel and receive and know His peace and rest even amidst the craziness, busyness and un-expectedness of life.
May He take your hand and guide you to green pastures, to growth and freedom and newness of life.
May he surround you on all sides and protect you from all harm.
May he bless the work of your hands and the relationships in your heart.
May he bless your marriage and deepen the love that you and Aaron have for one another.
May he bless your classes and use them to shape you into a new creation.
May he bless your future and all the uncertainties that the future often holds.
May he hold you and Aaron closely in the palm of His hand and gently take you where He wants you to go.
And may it not be long before we again share a lingering talk over a good drink J

I love you, my friend. And I miss you deeply.

Rejoicing in the journey –
Bethany Stedman

Photographs by Beth Stedman

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)



“I get by with a little help from my friends”

October 1st, 2008

Ok, so the last 2 weeks have been really hard for me and I think that they have been especially hard because I’ve felt really alone in the things that I have been going through. I think that is largely my fault. I think I have in many ways, conscious and unconscious, pulled away from people lately or only let them see little glimpses of what’s been going on in my heart. I’ve tried to focus on the good stuff and paint nice pictures for people and when things got deeper I quickly changed the subject or laughed it off. Even with Bryan. I mean, Bryan and I are definitely going through a lot together right now and we are together in it and walking through it together, but in many ways we have been dealing with it in our own ways on our own and that has added to my feeling of being alone in it.

This evening though, I had the humbling experience of twice listening to other people pray for me and my husband… it was humbling and uplifting. I deeply felt the tangible support of friends holding me and my husband and the situations we find ourselves in up to God. I remember thinking at one point tonight, “Lord, there is so much that I want to lift up to you, so many concerns and worries weighing on my heart, but they feel so heavy that I don’t think I even can lift them up to you.” And just after that someone else prayed and lifted me and the concerns of my life up to God. Twice tonight I was reminded of the story of when Aaron and Caleb (was it Caleb or someone else?) held up Moses hands because he couldn’t hold them up himself. I felt a little like that tonight. I felt bolstered, supported and held up tonight. I was reminded that I am not alone. God is with me, and he has also given me wonderful friends to walk through the journey with me. Thank you, Jesus.

I feel like this picture really sums up this post well. It’s a picture of my husband, Bryan, and our friend Mathias helping our friend’s baby, Isaiah up the slide. Isaiah loves to climb up the slide, but he’s too little to do it on his own. He needs other people to help him and push him up the slide. That’s what I felt like tonight, I felt like I needed other people to help me and push me up the slide to the throne of my King, and that is exactly what I got tonight.

And to each of my friends, here in Prague and other places around the world, thank you for supporting me. Thank you for pushing me up the slide. Forgive me for the times when I pull away from you and don’t let you into my life. Forgive me for the times when I don’t give you a chance to support me. And thank you for the ways in which you continue to pursue me and love me and lift me up.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)



Fall and “Magic Beans”

September 30th, 2008

Today Bryan and I took a walk to the book store. The leaves crunched under our feet. I pulled my scarf a little tighter to keep out the slight chill. We walked arm in arm. Today really felt like fall. I love the fall. It makes me happy.

On another note, here’s a little scene from the show Friends that’s been running through my head a lot lately:

Rachel: They want to know if I’m ok, ok, let’s see. Well, the FICA guys took all my money, everyone I know is either getting married, or getting pregnant or getting promoted and I’m getting coffee and it’s not even for me! So, if that sounds like I’m ok, then you can tell them that I’m ok, ok!

Monica: …hum, Rachel, has left the building, can you call back?

…

Monica: You should feel great about yourself you’re doing this amazing independent thing

Rachel: Monica, what is so amazing? I gave up, like, everything. And for what?

Phoebe: You’re just like Jack?

Rachel: Jack from down stairs?

Phoebe: No, Jack and the bean stalk.

Monica: Ah, the other Jack.

Phoebe: Yeah right, see he gave up something, but then he got those magic beans and then he woke up and there was this, this big plant outside his window full with possibilities and stuff, and he lived in a village and you live in The Village.

Rachel: Ok, Phoebes, Phoebes, Jack, gave up a cow, I gave up an orthodontist, I know I didn’t love him…

Phoebe: See, Jack did love the cow.

Rachel: But see it was a plan, it was clear, everything was figured out and now everything’s just kind of like…

Phoebe: Floopy.

Rachel: Yeah.

Monica: Well, you’re not the only one, I mean half the time we don’t know where we’re going. You just got to figure that at some point it’s all gonna come together and it’s just gonna be un-floopy.

Phoebe: Yeah, like that’s a word.

Rachel: Ok, but, Monica, what if it doesn’t come together.

Monica: …Phoebes?

Phoebe: Well, cause you just… I don’t like this question.

Rachel: Ok, see you guys, what if we don’t get magic beans? What if all we got are beans?

…

Rachel: I’m so sorry you guys, I didn’t mean to bring you down.

Monica: No, you were right… I don’t have a plan! Phoebe, do you have a plan?

Phoebe: I don’t even have a pla?

I keep thinking of that scene lately. I think it’s one of my favorite episodes in general, but lately I have really felt like I don’t even have a “pla”. I know that I don’t have to have everything figured out, but sometimes it would be nice to have a plan. This episode ends with the girls having lots of good conversations out on the balcony and then the whole gang playing twister. When Rachel’s credit card company calls again at the end she tells the guy on the other end, “I have magic beans!” And I always thought that was so powerful in a strange way – I mean she still didn’t have a plan, none of them did, they still didn’t have life figured out or necessarily know what they were going to do with their lives, but they had each other and after talking and sharing life together they figured they didn’t need a plan, they could make it, they had “magic beans” in that they had each other. I like that.

Today I’m grateful for the beauty of fall and the joy of good friends – I don’t need a plan, just some friends to walk through the floopiness with me.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)



Admiration Mondays: Tara Malouf

September 22nd, 2008

I haven’t done an Admiration Monday post in a while and I thought it was high time to bring it back. So, today I want to tell you about my friend, Tara Malouf.

I’ve known Tara since I was in High School. Her husband was my youth pastor and she was my discipleship leader my senior year. She has been an incredible source of comfort, encouragement and truth for me over the years. Tara has always been someone in my life who I could turn to when I needed advice and help. I always know that she will really listen without putting her own paradigm on what I share, and without judging me for the doubts and questions and struggles I raise. She will honestly listen and let me express and feel what I need to express and feel, but she also won’t let me get away with lies and half-truths. She is compassionate and empathetic, a wonderfully non-judging listener, but she is also not afraid to call things what they are and speak truth where needed and I love that about Tara.

Another thing I love about Tara is her authenticity. She has never hesitated to share her thoughts and life and struggles with me. I remember even when she was my discipleship leader in high school she didn’t put on this “I have it all together” mask and just teach us, she often brought in experiences from her own life and shared with us from where she had been and where she was at that moment. And she has continued to do that more and more as I have gotten to know her more. Tara is never fake. She never puts up a façade and pretends to be something she isn’t; she is truly and unapologetically honest before God and others. I really admire that about her.

Tara also has a very real and authentic and genuine desire to follow God in everything she does. She strives to listen to God and then obey and follow where He leads her even if the way looks dark and uncertain. God has definitely taken her and her family through dark and uncertain times and I truly admire the way she whole heartedly followed Him through everything that He brought her way. Tara’s faith is real and messy, alive and whole. There is no area of her life that God isn’t involved in and that is truly admirable in an age where we so often compartmentalize our lives and relationship with God. While others talk about and strive to make their life and relationship with God holistic, Tara’s already is.

Tara is also one of the most creative individuals I know. Her creativity pours out in all areas of her live – in her photography, in her writing, in various activities she plans, in the way she treats and interacts with her kids, in the way she encourages and mentors others, and so much more. Tara oozes creativity and I love that about her. Every time I talk to her she has some new project she is working on or some new way in which she is using her creative talents for the kingdom of God.

I was blessed to be able to live with Tara and family for a while back in college and I saw so much beauty and splendor in her. But, one thing that really sticks out to me from that time is the way she interacts with her children. I’m sure she has her bad days with her kids, just like every other mom, but Tara is an amazing mom, one of the best mom’s I know. And I got to see firsthand her being a mom to her two beautiful kids day in and day out. I loved watching Tara play with her kids and I loved watching her teach them, and I loved that so often the lines between teaching and play became blurred. I have often prayed that God would make me as good a mom as Tara.

There is so much more I could say about my friend, Tara. She is truly an amazing and beautiful woman. I wish everyone could know Tara, but I know that’s not possible, so for now I count it my blessing to be able to say I know her, and I encourage you to at least check out her blog or family web site or this amazing project that she is working on so that you can know her a little too.  

Lord Jesus, Bless my friend, Tara!
Circle her, Lord,
Be beside her, on her right and her left,
Be before her, and behind her,
Be above and below her.
Surround her, Lord,
so that all who meet her would meet you.
Lord, give her the fruits of deep friendship.
Use her creativity and talents and authentic heart for the glory of your kingdom.
May she continue to dive deeply into you
and to lead others to dive deeply into you.
Lord, give her more and more the life that you promise, full life, abundant life.
Provide for all her needs, that she may in turn provide for the needs of others.
And as you call her to new land and new areas of influence give her peace and courage to follow you through each bend in the road.
Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon her,
And establish Thou the work of her hands.
Establish Thou the work of her hands.
Amen.

I love you, Tara!

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph of Tara, me, and Kathi in Prague taken by unknown stranger

Never Miss A Post – Receive free updates via RSS or Email

If you like this post please consider buying me a cup of tea (Suggested: $3 a cup)