Second Stage Ministries

Life has its way of making sharp turns that can sometimes leave us in the dark. This happened to me recently. I found myself and my marriage all of a sudden in a place that I never thought it would be. When life makes these sharp turns - it leaves us with all the "what ifs". It can make us think about all that we didn't get to do or that we wanted to do. It can leave us in a little bit of a fog. But maybe for you it's something else. I came across this song by Linkin Park toward the beginning of my situation. The lyrics are below for you to read through and then I want to share what God revealed to me. ---------------------- Weep not for roads untraveled Weep not for paths left alone 'Cause beyond every bend is a long blinding end It's the worst kind of pain I've known Give up your heart left broken And let that mistake pass on 'Cause the love that you lost wasn't worth what it cost And in time you'll be glad it...

Last Thursday night, I was sitting in service and Pastor Beeson started the service with a prayer. He started with the words "I need you God" and this is what came to me over the course of that opening moment of prayer. Take a minute to read these words, reflect on these words or pray these words. ---------------- I need you God I need grace I need your love I need your patience I need your forgiveness I need you God I need your joy I need your self-control I need your kindness I need your knowledge I need you God I need your strength I need your hope I need your presence I need your power I need you God I need your peace I need your goodness I need your gentleness I need your mercy I need you God I need what I am not worthy of ___________________ Questions or comments... please email secondstagequestions@gmail.com PLEASE VISIT THE  SECOND STAGE MINISTRIES FACEBOOK PAGE  - CLICK LIKE!! PLEASE VISIT THE  SECOND STAGE MI...

I am writing this post because I keep seeing articles and such on Facebook and other social media about when the world is going to end. Also, some of these are even from people who claim to have studied the Bible and have figured out when the end will come through different passages in the Bible, particularly the book of Revelation. Let being first by saying - this is not one those posts. I am going to share in this post what I think the Bible says about the end. Ready? The words of Jesus: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows , not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” - Matthew 24:35-36, NIV So if the Bible was studied and an end was concluded - it must have been a Bible that didn't include the book of Matthew or Matthew 24. Also, the book of Revelation is a vision that John had about the things that are to come. However, these visions were a "revelation of Jesus Christ...

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....

Waiting is hard. Do you like waiting? I don't like waiting. But...... Are you in a season of waiting? What are you waiting for? Someone? Something? Answers? God? Take time to read the lyrics below to a song that rocked my soul the first time I heard it. I find myself in a season of waiting and this song spoke to me. I also feel this song speaks for itself. Go ahead give the lyrics a read. (If would rather you can listen to the song "Take Courage" Video ). ---------------------------- Slow down, take time Breath in He said He'd reveal what's to come The thoughts in His mind Always higher than mine He'll reveal all to come Take courage my heart Stay steadfast my soul He's in the waiting He's in the waiting Hold onto your hope As your triumph unfolds He's never failing He's never failing Sing praise my soul Find strength in joy Let His Words lead you on Do not forget His great fai...

This post comes from a portion of my lesson that I taught the 4th and 5th graders at my church. The lesson was on kindness and I used the story of the woman at the well found in John 4. If you are not familiar with the story here is a brief summary: The woman goes to the well to draw water. She's going at a time when she could be alone and away from people. She has been mistreated by the people of the town because of the mistakes that she has made in the past. So you can imagine her surprise when she gets to the well and finds Jesus sitting there (although she didn’t know that it was Jesus). But she gets something different from Jesus that she had not gotten in a while - kindness, compassion and love. Jesus does bring forth her mistakes, but He does it in a way that wasn't condemning. So because of this she went back into town and most of the town came to see Jesus. This let to great revival in the town. [1] But I want to draw your attention to the objection to kindness...

There are some songs that just meet you where you are. They just come on radio or on the playlist that you are playing and it's almost like the song is playing for you. I'm not just talking about Christian/worship music, but secular music as well. Over the course of this series of posts (that will continue on and off over the course of the year) I want to look at songs that have helped me in this season of my life. So, with today being Valentine's Day, I thought I would be cool to look at a portion of a song by Jesus Culture called "Fierce". Let's look at the lyrics below together and then I will share some thoughts with you: Like a tidal wave Crashing over me Rushing in to meet me here Your love is fierce Like a hurricane That I can't escape Tearing through the atmosphere Your love is fierce [1] LIKE A TIDAL WAVE I love the picture of the love of God in these four words. I just picture a gigantic wave coming in and just drownin...