So I've been thinking......


My favorite verse in the Bible (so far)

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and lean NOT on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight! Proverbs 3:5 (emphasis added by me :) )

We all go through difficult times! Whether it is minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years, we all experience them! This verse in the Bible just keeps reminding me that through everything, we need to look to Him to guide, direct and lead us!

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

So, that leaves the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" In a way, it is a good question. As children, we are born idealists, and when things go wrong, deep down we know that there is something about it that shouldn't be that way. In the book of Revelation we see an attractive picture of Heaven, in which there is no crying or pain, and it is said of the New Jerusalem, the city made by God and lowered to the New Earth, that nothing impure will ever enter it. What would Heaven be like if those who lived there had to worry, never knowing if one day something might go wrong... But to really answer the above questions, why God allows the devastation of innocent people, it is necessary to realize that there are really no "innocent" people. God originally created all things very good, but mankind chose the way of sin. The Bible says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23. What do you think is God's requirement to get into heaven? We already know that nothing imperfect will ever be there. And most people are willing to admit that "nobodies perfect." No human has ever led a perfect, sinless life except Jesus Christ. Everyone seems to know that God is love, but what is not widely talked about in this culture is that He is also a God of justice. Every child is concerned with what is fair. And, God is not about to let sin go unpunished. That is why in His great love He provided a way for His own Son to be punished in the place of us. He will not only take the lives of sinful people, (remember, He even allowed His own Son to die - the only true innocent), but he will send them to a fiery hell he himself has prepared, unless they take advantage of the salvation the Lord has provided. In Luke 13:4-5, Jesus said, "Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Si loam fell on them-- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." As for women and children, God is no respecter of persons; we all have equal footing before Him in these matters. If you still think you might be good enough to sneak into Heaven, consider this: God has a holy law. I daresay most people can't even name the Ten Commandments, let alone follow them.

The 10 Commandments in order
1. I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol
3. Do not take the name of te Lord your God in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy
5. Honor your father and mother
6. Do not murder
7. Do not commit adultury
8. Do not steal
9. Do not lie
10. Do not covet anything

We have all failed in these laws in which to abide in. We are doomed, having to pay the price for our deed. That is the exact reason that God sent His Son to take our place and pay our fine and penalty, unto death FOR US!!!!! He was beaten, scarred, wounded, lashed, mocked at, and eventually killed upon the cross. The creator becoming man so that he would be the PERFECT sacrifice for us! Spotless, blameless, fully God and man. He came, knowing our imperfections and our sins. Experiencing out hardships as a work unto God so that we may be fellow partakers in Him. I am so amazed at the grace (unmerited favor) that He had bestowed upon me and my family!

This season, once again, has brought me to a place on my knees, totally open to His direction and guidence.

I am so glad to be back in Southern California. The friends we have met are uncountable. To name a few the Gaiters, the Aquinos, the Moens, the Woodsides, the Swaims, the Kerns,the Scarces, the Limtiacos, the Barettos, the Bendshaddlers, The Robbins', the Nicodemmus', the Rjeillys, the Pasquarellos, Jenny Swenson, Moneisha, the Hansens...........and on and on the list could go. It has been such a blessing!!! I love you all!

Kids are in bed now and I am about to hit the bed too. Hopefully I'll update again soon.

Love you all!

In Christ.....
~Andrea~

This is my gingersnap life

So.....I've been thinking about starting a blog for awhile now. After my dad started one awhile back, and now a friend of mine (love you Traci), I am feeling the urge once again to document my fun filled yet crazy days as a wife and a mommy of 2 so far :).

My name is Andrea Stevens, previously Stevenson. My family likes to make the comment that I just took the On Off, hahaha, of my last name. I just like to think of it that the Lord answered my prayer that I wouldn't end up with a really crazy last name like rubber. My dad likes to remind me that when him and my step mom got married 20+ yrs ago, I found out that people got to change their last name. Apparently, I liked the last name rubber and wanted him to change his last name to that! I married a wonderful man named Kenny and now we have 2 kids, Kylie is 4 and Alexander just turned 1.

We have an absolutely crazy life! I stay at home with the kids and they keep me on my toes 100 percent of the time! Kylie loves to be a social butterfly, which scares me at times! Especially when we go out to eat and she wants to sit with the people in the booth next to us! Alexander is so content that he doesn't want to do anything but look around and smile. They are both such a joy to my heart! i can be in the worst mood and all they have to do is look at me and smile to cheer me up! My husband is wonderful! He is an amazing christian man and delights my heart!

We met working at RadioShack in Tucson and have been married for almost 7 yrs!!! We have moved a lot and have lived in California, Arizona, and Missouri. We have moved so many times since we've been married that I feel like I am married to a military man. Fortunately, we are back in southern California! The weather is great and we don't have to worry about tornadoes or ice storms or floods anymore :)

It may take me awhile to get used to the whole "blogging" thing, but hopefully I'll be able, and dedicated to keeping everyone informed on whats going on in our life!

God bless!