Only One

September 28th, 2012

Lately I've been working on a birthday gift for a friend of mine. Though I can't say exactly what it is yet, I can say it's gotten me to studying my Bible and pondering on God's words even more. One verse in particular has stood out to me a lot throughout the creation of this gift. 1 Timothy 4:12: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Sometimes we think that we can't accomplish great things for God simply because we think we're too young, not strong enough, or (the one I find to be most popular) we're only one person. Thing is, all of those are just one thing: excuses. No matter how one wants to look at it, that's all they are because when you have God by your side, none of that matters. Think you're too young? Not a problem. God can use you despite your age for a variety of things! Not strong enough? Well, that's no biggie. GOD is your strength. With Him, you can do ANYTHING (Philippians 4:13). You're only one person and there's no way you could possibly make a difference? ...Okay, let's stop right here and think about this for a moment.

First off, let's take a look at Luke 18:27; "And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." If God has brings you to something and says He wants to use you and your willing to be used by Him, by golly, there's NOTHING that can hold Him back from doing so. Impossibilities are nonexistent when God is in the picture.

As for you being only one person, that really doesn't even figure in. You can still make a ginormous difference. Probably one of the first times I learned this was while camping when I was little. And to this day I'm still reminded of it just about every time I go.

I'm sure plenty of you know what it's like to have a pretty long and eventful day of hiking, fishing, having fun with friends and family, picnicking, or whatever it is you've done throughout the day, and finally you are just ready to crawl into your tent and sleep. You get in your sleeping bag, get comfortable and start to doze off, the nighttime sounds lulling you into a peaceful sleep. And that's when you hear it. Yep, that obnoxious singing blood-sucker has found you.

You swipe blindly by your ear and it retreats, leaving you to fall back into a fitful sleep. Or so you think. Seconds later, it's back, humming its annoying high-pitched tune in your ear. For me, this is something that goes on throughout the night. Unless of course I'm lucky enough to catch it, but sadly that rarely ever happens. My point here though is that my occasional somewhat sleepless nights while camping usually result from ONE lone mosquito. Not two, not ten. ONE. If just ONE tiny, seemingly insignificant little mosquito can make all the difference in the world on whether or not you or I will get any sound sleep that night, don't you think it's safe to guess that you (just ONE person) can make a huge difference as well with God's help?

No matter who you are, what your age may be, how weak or strong you may be, God can and will use you if you allow Him to. Don't worry about what this world thinks you can or can't do. Let Christ's love be reflected through every aspect of your life no matter what.

Written By: Stephanie DeFoyd

Salt of the Earth

Ever since my family and I moved here from Texas, we’ve not found a church home. During our first year in Idaho, we visited several different churches, but none of the ones we visited felt quite right. I know my hunger and thirst for more of God’s Word wasn’t being satisfied at any of the churches we attended. It’s really a horrible thought, understanding what the church should be like. Instead of overflowing with the Water of Life they felt spiritually dry to me. I wasn’t getting what I was longing for.

So, for the past 5 years we’ve been in Idaho, my family and I haven’t exactly been attending any one church. On occasion we’ve visited one or two since we first moved here, but my dad really got burned out trying to find a place and we quit trying. Not that I can blame him, as I felt the same way. After coming from a wonderful church in Texas where God’s presence was evident, it was hard when we couldn’t find the same thing here.

That’s one thing that really surprised me when my family and I moved here and searched for a place of worship. I came from a church home where the main focus was Christ Jesus above all else. My pastor’s sermons came straight from the Bible and his heart. They were never some other pastor’s sermons taken from the internet, or presented on a huge screen with fancy power point slideshows, etc. They were down to earth, honest, pure messages from God. One could feel His presence and power in the place, and there was never a reason one would leave that place feeling spiritually empty, except by that person’s own choice. But all of the churches we visited (and mind you, we didn't visit EVERY church here) seemed to be lacking greatly in that area, which bothered me very much.

Another thing that really bothered me was the fact that the congregation of these churches were trying very hard to entice my family and I to come back by telling us they were very involved in activities for the youth. Now, there’s nothing wrong with having youth activities, but they shouldn't be used as a way to entice someone to come to your place of worship. The person should want to come back voluntarily because of the message being shared there, NOT because there are activities or trips for the kids’ joy and entertainment. That right there is a sign that the church’s priorities are mixed up and they have made Christ take the back seat in their want for more people to attend the services.

Christ is the head of the church, and the church is the body of Christ (Colossians 1:18). As such, the church’s focus should be on being the messengers of Christ. What should NOT be the church’s goal is how many people they can persuade to attend the services. If our focus is on Christ Jesus, HE will bring the people to the place of worship WITHOUT us enticing them. When the church’s goal is to entice more and more people to come through the promise of activities, then that’s why the people will come: for the activities and the social aspect. They won’t be attending because they hunger and thirst for God’s Word, and the church will have become nothing more than a social party with a Bible-reading ritual.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells us, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men,” (Matthew 5:13). When we turn our focus from God to how many people we can get to come to our place of worship, we are like the salt that has lost its flavor. If we don’t use tasteless salt to season things, how can we expect to be used for God’s glory if our focus is no longer set upon Him?

In the next two verses, Jesus puts before us yet another comparison: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house,” (Matthew 5:14-15). He finishes by commanding us in verse 16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” When we keep our focus on Christ and let His light in us shine for all to see, His work will be done through us and glory will be given to whom it is rightly due: Jesus Christ our Lord.

THAT is why people should want to attend our place of worship. Not because there are exciting youth activities and the like, but because they can see God reflected in His church. People need to come because of the Word being shared and the love of Christ which abounds therein. My prayer is that we ALL may be made even more aware of this and start acting as the hands and feet of Christ, so that He might be glorified and others may come to Him.


Written by: Stephanie DeFoyd

Another Wonderful Year Has Passed; Another Blessed One Begins

Birthdays. Those once a year occasions that one can’t escape or forget about when they have friends and family like mine…or if they have me as their friend or family member. Today marks my 20th and so far I’ve been reminded and wished a happy birthday by my precious friends and family more times than I can count, and it’s barely 10 in the morning!

Being one who rather enjoys birthdays (and not just my own) I find it hard to understand those who claim to dread the coming of theirs every year. Personally, I look forward to celebrating my birthday, and the birth of those around me. Life is a miracle in itself, and a blessing from God our Creator. I find it amazing to think that a little over 20 years ago, my Father started creating me inside my mom’s womb. Even before He created me, He had a beautiful plan already laid out for my life. He knew there would be times that I’d stumble or stray away from Him, and that being human I wouldn’t be anywhere near perfect, yet He still wanted to create me and loves me beyond all comprehension! That’s one beautiful and amazing love right there, and proof that I serve one awesome God.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them,” (Psalm 139:14-16). King David realized that his creation and birth were nothing short of a miracle of God, and definitely worth celebration and thanksgiving. The king’s life wasn’t by chance, and neither is ours today. It’s by miraculous design that only a mighty and powerful God is capable of.

With every breath I take, I strive to live a life that repeatedly proves that I’m not just by chance; I’m a miracle. I’m a miracle created by the one and only God of the Universe, and nobody can change that. I want to live my life (this miraculous blessing that He has given me) in a way that reflects His power and greatness.


(* Check out the song, "FINGERPRINTS OF GOD" by STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWtbq4tl1w8 *)


Written By: Stephanie DeFoyd

To Give Testimony

Earlier today I found my mind wandering back to everything that has happened in my life over the past two years. I’m just shy of turning twenty, and already so many things (both good and bad) have taken place, or have changed drastically from the way they used to be. There have also been a few things that have opened my eyes to God’s infinite love, eternal mercy, and abundant grace. One of those I thought back on today; my best friend’s car wreck. A few months ago, he fell asleep at the wheel not too far from his house. The car was completely totaled. When I saw the pictures later, I was beyond amazed. Even now chills run up my spine as I think about it. The fact that he survived with only a broken nose and a few stitches was a miracle in itself, and solid proof that my God had had His hand upon him. Through that I was made even more aware of just how numbered our days are. James 4:14 compares our life on this earth to a vapor in the air. One moment it’s there, and in the very next instant, it’s gone forever. It couldn't be a truer comparison.


‘A Vapor That Vanishes…’ is my testimony to God’s amazing grace and His unchanging nature even in the midst of new beginnings and trials. He will always be by my side no matter what, and for that I am eternally thankful! My prayer is that this blog will be a blessing to all who read it, and bring glory not to me, but to whom glory is due: Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Written By: Stephanie DeFoyd