Second Stage Ministries

by Heather Gent I looked around the room at all the furniture I was leaving behind. Pictures. Books. My daughter's crib. My own bed.  Many of my son's belongings.  Everything I owned was about to fade into nothing more than a distant memory.  Let it go I heard my Father whisper.  I struggled, not with starting over again, but with leaving behind my books, Bibles, and Christian wall art, the plaques that had Scripture written out on them.  Hanging crosses that I hung carefully throughout every home I've ever lived.  My reminders of God's presence. A white piece of wood that had the word hope written across it in gold.  A table cross that bore one of my favorite verses, Proverbs 3:5-6.  I reasoned a hundred times that the Lord wanted me to make room for these things, but each time I tried I was quickly rebuked by the Holy Spirit within me.   I didn't understand because they were my reminders of Him after all.  They were, to me, sy...

For this week’s post, I asked a friend if she wanted to lend a hand for the final post of the “Clear” series. So, below is a post written by her and I hope it helps you this week. _________________ Choose Wisely by Heather Gent It's okay I felt His Spirit say.  After what I had just done, it seemed incomprehensible that His message to me would be one of consolation. I had just done the unthinkable, after all.  In a single moment I made the very mistake I had unknowingly been planning to make all along. The waves of forbidden desire finally emerged from my mind's shadow and came crashing into the shoreline of my moral compass, or as Freud would call it, my superego.  The gratification and pleasure I derived from it all slowly faded into a black hole of guilt and shame, despair and confusion. How could I have let this happen? I silently and anxiously questioned as I fought back the tears that tried to fall. I was horrified to have come face to face with the s...

I hope these words written by Pastor Steven Furtick help you like they did me. I first heard the words below while visiting Elevation Church on New Year's Eve for their Praise Party event. The words below (in video form) were used as the countdown into 2018.  (You can also watch the video below if you prefer that instead.) ------------------------------------- The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, Even mine enemies and my foes, Came upon me they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident I've got a promise. Turning back is not an option. There's a calling on my life And I'm not about to drop it. I got this. For this I was chosen. The final word over me was spoken before I was born. I have a purpose that goes far beyond What I want, what I feel, what I see, And what they say cannot be....

In the last two posts, we looked at some storms in the New Testament and how Jesus handled both storms in different ways. This week we are going to get encouragement from a different source. I didn't write the words below, they are from Pastor Steven Furtick. I hope they encourage you when you are overwhelmed by the storms of life.  _______________________ by Steven Furtick [1] So I don't dread any challenge that lies ahead Because I remember all the victories behind. And my confidence is not in my circumstance. The Spirit of God is my supply. I'm steady under pressure and I'm ready for whatever Cause whatever comes my way today, the outcome is "I overcome". Christ is in me, I am enough. I can handle it. I can't afford to stay afraid or let me faith hesitate. My purpose is at stake and He who called me is faithful. His strength in me is greater than any pain I feel or enemy I face. The promise of God is mine for the taking. ...