The power of a song- music and memories

Our internet has been down for over a week- so this was wrote on thanksgiving :)

As I had mentioned in my tik tok I was going to start sharing my devotionals and other things that might help someone else like it helps me! 

Forgive me if i misspell anything I don’t feel good at all and trying to do this on the computer off my blog to transfer later- as our internet is still down for the second day!

The first thing is my worship music. That’s what gave me my lightbulb moment in the car when all this started- listening to a song i have heard for years and FINALLY understanding it. It hit me hard and I knew then and there GOD was sitting in my car waiting for me to call on him and surrender it all to him. 

I love music! Im sure you do too. You can’t maybe put into words how you feel but you can always find a song that does it perfectly. I love 80’s music. Especially love ballads. Im a sucker for a good love song. As well as the country from the late 80’s early 90’s. Man Moon over Georgia hits different now lol. It actually was the song I picked one day for my husband and I to dance to in the living room. See we had a argument fight whatever about both of our needs not being met. So i decided when he came home that night we were going to stop and dance in the living room together. I picked that song for several reasons: 

1. I love the group
2. It fit perfectly about our life together
3. The song is beautiful if you listen to it 

Ill share the lyrics here with you ( some of them) but its about a woman picking a man over wealth and having everything material she could ever have- but she chose him for his love and devotion even though he couldn’t give or promise her a life of luxury. 

“He owns a big estate, just south of Savannah,
and a high rise hotel in downtown Atlanta

And half the state of Georgia to his name.”

“Shed be set for life, in his colonial mansion

she’d have the world at her feet on a silver platter,

but all i had to offer her was the moon.”

“And she took the moon over Georgia 

she’d rather have a million stars in the sky

then a gold mine.

She took the moon over Georgia

when it came down to his world or mine

she took

the moon over Georgia.”

LOL i didn’t have to look the words up cause its literally embedded in my brain. I loved Mike as he was. I didn’t care he couldn’t take me out to fancy dinners, i took him coming to my house and cooking while i was still at work one day, i came home to dinner and drinks he did specifically to make me happy. I didn’t care that he couldn’t give me diamond earrings ( i don’t wear jewelry anyways really) i cared when we took a trip to Branson that next year when he got me this little silver engraved ring with our names and the date we first met. I didn’t care that he couldn’t afford the new car I needed, I was thankful he took care of the car I owned and also let me use his truck if needed. 

But the past few years I have taken for granted the things he did for me. I was so caught up in my own trauma, emotions, anger, hurt, resentment that even when he did go out of his way I made an argument out of it. It wasn’t enough or it wasn’t the right night or it wasn’t what I wanted. Even though he was trying so hard to be the man I wanted him to be, I should have realized he was the man I wanted him to be. Cause God gave him to me. 

Now, when I need time to think, or talk to GOD, i drive and just listen to worship music 90 percent of the time. It reminds me to remember to thank GOD for the little things each day and gives me time to talk to him and let him whisper to me only he knows how- not audible but in the songs that come on, in the things i see that i didn’t see before, in the little ways only he can show me.

So here’s some of my favorite music to listen to. Some i listen to at night when im trying to sleep and feel anxious or worried. Some are new, some are old. I hope you enjoy them!

Hillary Scott- You can Rest ( man this one you need tissues i listen to it at night when im going to sleep a lot)

Hillary Scott - Thy Will

Cochran and Co - Take me back ( a friend sent this one to me and man i love listening to it on my way to church)

Mercy Me- Even If ( this one will hit you in the middle of anything you are dealing with because with GOD all things are possible with just him but sometimes he will leave the mountains standing in your way to bring you to him and his purpose and to rely on him)

Casting Crowns- Nobody ( man…. this one makes me remember that God will use anyone even if they don’t feel like they are right for the job- remember that he used so many in the bible with tools they had available and the strength of GOD!) 

Praise you in this storm- This one i love to hear when things are feeling overwhelming. It reminds me that I will praise GOD even on the bad days, even when the world is stacked against me, because i have GOD on my side protecting me loving me caring for me when no one else does) 

Big Daddy Weave- Redeemed - again tissues. lol seriously this one i belt out because its powerful. if you have struggled with surrendering it all to GOD then listen to this. The most favorite of my lyrics is- “Then you look at this prisoner and say to me son stop fighting a fight that’s already been won”  and then “ But when i hear you whisper Child lift up your head, I remember oh GOD you’re not done with me yet”

Anne Wilson- My Jesus - i call GOD my way maker these days because that is what he has been to me - he’s made a way for things to happen when there was literally NO WAY

Clay Crosse- I surrender All
Midnight Cry 

Some old school music now lol but so so good 

Michael English- In Christ Alone- the lyrics to this one get me crying a lot

Leeland- way maker- again powerful!! 

Nichole Nordeman - Holy
I am
I grew up in my teens and twenties listening to her music. And both of these songs are just so beautiful and powerful 

Mandisa- Overcomer- a friend of mine sent this to me years ago when I was going through my divorce with my last husband- i listen to it all the time in the car. its uplifting 

And my all time favorite Artist and the one song that made me surrender it all that night in the car : Steven Curtis Chapman

I have been listening to his music since i was in my early teens and have for years. 

The song DIVE is the one I was listening to at 4 am in the car. Listen to the lyrics. Its upbeat and very very strong with a good message

Also by him: His Strength is Perfect
Lord of the Dance
The great adventure
I will be here 

I hope that you enjoy them as much as i do. If you have any songs you love please comment and let me know or you can email me at yourmagicalwishes@yahoo.com and send me things if you wish as well. prayer requests are always welcomed and i DO pray every day over each person you don’t have to tell me anything just unspoken. God knows your needs already. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Stephanie Jones 

Silver Linings

 Don't you ever hear about there being a silver lining in the rain clouds?

That's how walking with FAITH in God is for me. That even though its storming, he always provides the silver lining in the storm. By walking with him each day and while he is guiding you, he shows you your purpose in what seems to be the greatest hurt and pain of your life. 

Ill give you some examples of how this has been shown in my life. Some i have already talked about but they are worth repeating.

The biggest one being using my test for my testimony with others going through similar situations or even situations that bring about great pain and grief. 

I was able to use my walk with God to meet the needs of someone that is very close to both me and my husband that is also going through this to allow them to see how good GOD really is. To give them faith and encouragement to lean on our Heavenly Father during this time. Had I not been prepared for this I wouldn't have been able to let GOD be the words to me to say to them.

Today when I didn't wanna get up and go anywhere. I didn't feel good and I wasn't going to go to church. But i did. I got up and got dressed and left to head to third service. I stopped at a gas station and I have said before I was going to ask people I come into contact with if they need prayer. So i asked the lady there if there was anything she needed prayer for. Immediately met with a yes!!! I told her a bit of my testimony and told her I would pray over the things she asked of me. I went directly to the car and sat there and poured my heart out to GOD to help her in only the way he knew how. And when I was on my way back from church I decided to stop to give her my information. She had left and another cashier was there so I asked her too. Had i not been willing to get up and go and also step out in faith and hope even thought i could have been rejected or laughed at then I would have never been able to witness. 

Tonight, my parents have had issues with water leaks for a while now. I have been sleeping in the downstairs bedroom aka the junk room lol. I came home about 130 and noticed there was some what i thought was dog pee on the floor. I figured Buster had peed in there and laid down a towel. I went to lay down because i was exhausted and still wasn't feeling well about 3 thinking I would get up to go to this thanksgiving thing. I woke up at 430 and just didn't feel well so i went back to sleep. My mom came home to drop off my dad as he's also sick and I was woken up about 6 from something. I went to get up and noticed that the towel was soaking wet. I was like well that's not pee! So i started looking around and eventually told my dad they had a leak. Which was not exactly fun in of itself because he doesn't feel good and he had to get up and check. Sure enough there was a leak from behind the bathroom counter. Had i not been here and been in that downstairs bedroom they could have had a much worse case scenario before they had found it. 

This is all GOD. Not me. I take no credit for anything. I give him all the praise and glory for allowing me to be prepared and be where I need to be in this time of test. It not only has allowed me to witness but its allowed me to be where I needed to be to prevent a more costly issue. 

God is always with you. Always. He has never abandoned you or turned from you- its us that turn from him and try to do life without him. And that's a very costly mistake we are making. Each day we ignore his love and his open arms is another day we grow deeper inside ourselves with doubt, anger,fear, depression, issues within our lives, our marriages, our families. And then when it gets to a price we can't afford to pay, only then do we turn to God. Usually to cry out why have you allowed this to happen???? Why have you allowed me to suffer???? Why have YOU done this Lord??? But he hasn't done anything he's been waiting all this time trying to show us the way and we have rejected him and his ways. 

So before you continue on the path alone, why don't you sit down and start praising him for the things he is doing every day and ask him what you need to do for HIM. What you need to see, hear, profess, address for HIM. Give it all to him to be the the silver lining in your clouds. 

Stephanie Jones 

Be like Abraham

 There are many things that I see over and over in my daily walk with God. In my devotionals, in the word, on facebook etc. And they are all what I need to see when I need to see it.

Today I was reading about the faith of Abraham. Romans Chapter 4 all of it but I'm sharing a few verses here:

18- Even when there was no reason of hope, Abraham kept hoping- believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have! 19-And Abrahams faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was a s good as dead- and so was Sarah's womb. 20- Abraham never wavered in believing Gods promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21- He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22- And because of Abrahams faith , God counted him as righteous. 23- And when God counted him as righteous it wasn't just for Abrahams benefit. It was recorded 24- for our benefit, too, assuming us that God will also count us righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25- He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he raised to life to make us right with God.

Even when there is no way for HOPE when we can't see it, we continue to keep HOPE in the Lord as God will reward those who are faithful to him and will always keep his promises. 

Abraham had faith and hope even when he couldn't see it. He knew GOD had promised him and he continued to be obedient to the Lord all his days. 

Its hard to get up each day and walk in Faith- because we are flesh and we have a patience problem. We want it here and now- the Veruca Salt syndrome as some call it- where we don't think we should have to wait. Especially this day when everything comes to us so easily. But allowing God to use his timing so that he prepares you for the outcome will always be the best thing for you. God loves us and he only wants what is best for his children. It teaches us to rely on him, to lean on him, to be obedient in the wait. To learn patience and perseverance while he moves people, things, places around for the best outcome possible.

Followed up with Deuteronomy Chapter 8 all of it- The lord provided for them as he led them into the wilderness for forty years. Giving them manna and making sure their clothes didn't wear out and their feet didn't blister or swell. To prove their character and find out if they would obey his commands. He is disciplining us for our own good. So that when we are delivered from the test we will continue to grow in HIM and remain faithful to his commands. 

God always keeps his promises and the suffering won't last forever. You won't be in this season always as he will bring you out of it better and to a bigger blessing in the end~! 

Unconditional Love

 Ive been seeing things a lot - God puts things in front of my face repeatedly to show me things. 

One of them is unconditional love. 

When I met Mike I fell in love with him for who he was, not what he had. I didn't care. Material things were insignificant to me. I knew God had brought him to me and that I was taking him and his girls as he was- and I loved them unconditionally.

Its what he always would tell me that the reason he fell in love with me was that I loved him in spite of the things he didn't have- money, wasn't able to give me gifts and do much, that I accepted and loved him and his girls just as is. He told me that a lot. In fact he told me that not long before this happened. 

One night while he was half asleep he told me " Im so thankful for you in our lives. For all you have done for me and my girls" 

You see, I am a romantic. I want that Disney/Hallmark prince charming that is emotional and loving. And that is not who Mike is. He is logical. Rational. Wants to fix things but not with emotions. He's always said he would try and change. And I'm the exact opposite. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I love passionately and with reckless abandon. My love language has always been Acts of Service for those I love and care about. It was never about the money it was always about giving them the things and memories that I knew they needed, wanted, deserved. 

And while on this journey I have realized that God will not give you a spouse that meets all your needs the way YOU want them to. God will give you the perfect one so you might learn to love unconditionally. That you might have to learn that even though they don't do the dishes like you want, or they don't be that romantic movie guy 24/7, that you are to love them unconditionally like Christ loved the church and its people.  And that's one of the HARDEST things to do. Because while you are asking why aren't they like this why don't they do what i want them to do? why aren't they changing. Its because God wants  you to see the person faults and all and love them with reckless abandon in spite of the things they don't do.

Love is a verb. Its not something that you can just sit on a shelf and know it will always be there. You have to work at it daily. You have to put your own pride aside and love them the way they are even with their faults- their fears- their issues. Its work. Hard work. And that's one thing a lot of people can't do. Because when it gets hard, when it gets down to the truly tough situations, the times when you feel like you can't go on because once again they have done something you don't agree with- and I'm not talking about they have hit you again - I'm talking about when their mental health takes over and they start yelling and arguing again. When they once again get frustrated and say hateful things out of character because they are struggling to even like themselves. When they are trying and have slipped up on being kind in the way they parent- that's when you have to dig deep and love them despite all of it. And turn to GOD to help. 

No we don't do that. We throw in the towel and go file for divorce because its just too much GOD!!! This person said they would change. This person said they wouldn't be hurtful again. This person said they wouldn't take another pill. This person said they wouldn't go to the bar anymore. This person said whatever it is that is going. No. We don't give it to GOD and seek him and help. We run. We abandon it because that's when fight or flight sets in. We make rash decisions. 

Im not saying that every situation is like this. But the majority of them are. 

One thing I said to Mike was " We have tried everything but we have not tried giving it to GOD and going to biblical counseling and letting him take control of our marriage" And his reply was Maybe you are right but i just don't care enough to do it. 

And I did. 

So I hit my knees and started praying. And the more I prayed the more anger and hate and bitterness was in him. I knew then that the enemy had a hold on him and was not going to give up without a fight. I turned it over to GOD and have let him lead me every day. I have went to counseling. I have surrendered it all to HIM. And in that came a peace. And the unconditional love I had for Mike has grown every day. Even with him saying the most hateful and hurtful things to me. Doing things that are not of his character. 

My faith and hope has grown even in the destruction Satan is trying to accomplish. He knows that once GOD got ahold of me i was lost to him so he held on tighter to Mike. And he knows once GOD brings him back to his knees and to let go of it all to GOD that he will have lost another marriage and it is driving me mad. So he will do and say and yell loud! So loud you can't help but see it and hear it. But GOD is whispering to me each time. To hold on to him. He's working. He has a plan. He has already won this battle. 

And he's bringing back the unconditional love to Mike in his time. 

Dreams - my hearts truest desires

 I know things have been a little, sad, on my blog. Its because of the nature of what I am going through. 

So i thought I would share some of my hearts greatest desires- my dreams if you may- of what I want out of my marriage and with my family. You can call it the HOPE i have for my family and new marriage with GOD as the head of it and us following him in everything.

So over the past month I have been thinking about things I want to do, change, be etc. I have talked with GOD about them over and over. Expressing how excited and joyful they make me. Our FATHER loves to see us happy! He delights in us remember. He is happy when the things that he wants for us align with what we want for ourselves. And I pray over them as well to see if its something that truly I need to be doing or if its something that won't happen or needs to wait. 

One of the biggest things is having a fellowship with other women in my home. And I have prayed about it and continue to have it put on my heart. To be able to use my testimony to help them come back to GOD and give it all to him. To lean on him and know that he will never ever leave your side.

Another thing that has been coming back over and over is the way I want to be the mom to my children as a Christian mother needs to be. To instead of getting up and waking up my youngest and having her rush off to get a bus, to wake her up, help her do her hair, fix her breakfast, and then sit at the table together and go over a daily children's devotional with her. To pray over and with her each morning. To show her how to pray and how to lean on GOD each day with whatever it is she is dealing with. And then take her to school each morning and spend that time together. Showing her how to be a daughter of the king. Pouring into her each day so she might have the ability to pour into others. 

Taking the time when she comes home from school to instead of her going off to her room to alienate herself and me being too busy to take the time, is to have something we can do together when she comes home. Even if its just preparing dinner together, or baking dessert together. Whatever it is we can use the time to talk about the day, to go over whatever it is she wants to go over. And then making sure we have family time in the evening. Watching a movie. Playing a game. Doing something as a family instead of just going back to our work, tv, whatever it is. 

On the weekends carving out time to do something as a family or just her and I. Or her and her daddy. And also carving out time each week for my husband and I to have the alone time to have the intimacy we both need- I'm not talking about in the bedroom. Im talking about being in each others company and doing something we enjoy. One week doing what he loves, and another what I do. Alone time that we need to pour into each other. To not let work, kids, finances, obligations get in the way of us being together.

To pray every morning together. My husband and I. Over the day, each other, our family etc. To take the time to make it a priority to give each day to GOD. 

To be able to have a devotional time together when we can. After the kids are in bed. To instead of watching mindless tv all the time, or stressing about something we need to do, to take the 30 minutes to get in the word of GOD and communicate anything we need to. 

To give our finances over to GOD. Regardless if we don't think we have enough. He will make enough. 

That sundays are for rest. That we go to church and worship together each week. And then we come home and we rest. I know that sometimes its not possible to not do work that has to be done. But to make the priority on sunday about GOD and his goodness. About family. About how we can give back to others and serve others that are in need. 

To parent with grace. But with consequences. But if the room doesn't get cleaned that its not going to stop the world from turning. That if we lie or do something that is wrong, we will correct with the grace that GOD corrects us with. Not the yelling the being angry or mad. To be the parents and not the friend.... to show them the way to do things with the kindness our FATHER shows us each day when we make a mistake.

To say I'm sorry when its needed. Even to the children. When we make a mistake to own up to it and apologize to whoever it is that we have not been kind to. To put our pride aside and forgive even if we are in the right and then love our spouse, kids, family - whoever- with the love that GOD shows us when we ask his forgiveness. 

Stephanie Jones 

A Prayer for my Husband

 This past almost two months, I have learned how powerful prayer is. Combined with having my eyes and my heart opened, and filled with the Holy Spirit, God has made me a new creation. In HIM. 

I pray a lot. I am pretty sure any human would get tired of listening to me talk consistently - but not GOD. No. He loves it. That's what he WANTS from us- to come to prayer in everything we do. Even the little things. 

I pray for my husband every single day. When I wake up, when I go to sleep, and who knows how many times through the day. For him to be able to open his eyes to the truth, his heart to God, his ears to listen to being called back to our Heavenly Father. For him to see the how much love and peace and joy he could have if he would stop, humbly get on his knees, and allow the hurt, the pain, the failure, the fear he has be surrendered all to the Way Maker- Promise Keeper- Miracle Worker- Our most gracious FATHER! 

As I have gone through this season , I have been given small pieces of his plan for me. I have been shown Hope in the things I have asked for. And its usually in a way I never ever would have imagined! But God's ways are better and bigger than ours. Ive seen him move in my life and make ways when things seem to have no way. And i have laid down everything to HIM to control. Knowing that he has a amazing plan that is bigger than we could imagine. 

One of the things I have done is start to write down my prayers and my thoughts for my husband for when he returns to me. I have no idea when that might be. But I believe God wants our marriage to be made new in HIM. 

And today faced with something about to happen I have asked God how why what lol because of the uncertainty in this event. I had asked and prayed for it to happen, and then it came about in a way I didn't even think could happen. I was shocked and kinda got worried- but I told God i knew it was HIM making the way for something to come from a literally impossible situation. 

And then I saw this verse 

Isaiah 43:19  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

There are no Ifs with God. He will do the impossible in a no way situation to make that way as his is the way maker and miracle worker. God. Is. Always. Good. 

Stephanie Jones 

When God asks you listen

 To tell you I have been humbled and blessed tonight is an understatement!!! And also please be in prayer for this person as they navigate an extremely difficult journey! God knows the need. 

God used me to be the vessel to use my testimony and purpose to help someone that is going through a rough time. Very similar to my situation. He allowed me to bring his strength to this person when they needed it most. 

God is so good.

Let me give you a little story time!

So I have been praying for someone very close to me and a situation I didn't know really what was going on. I knew or thought i had an idea of it. But i have been praying daily for this person. And also asking him to open up lines of communication as well. I have not been a very good friend in the past. And I am trying to do what is right in Gods eyes and with a true heart with this person even though they don't know it. But it never occurred to me to pray for the other person in the situation! Why I have no clue. 

So over the past 24 hours, I have been seeing stuff from this other person. Y'all, I never see it. Ever. Probably because we don't really interact. But when I realized God was putting this in front of my face over and over I was like "Ok God, you are asking me to reach out to this person and I will listen." 

I did. I reached out. And it humbled me and made me laugh in joy and cry tears of happiness. God used me for his glory. To witness and tell this person of the goodness of the Lord. Allowed me to have the right words with raw vulnerability to let them know how good he has been to me in my pain. To pray for them and tell them to trust in the Lord with everything that he will use his plan and his time to bring what is wrote already , their story, to light. And our conversation was sooooo amazing. And its not any of my doing yall- to GOD all thanks are given. 

After wards I literally sat and just praised the Lord. I keep doing it hours later. I am rejoicing in his name for the good things he is doing in my life. I am rejoicing that this person is doing something very brave and vulnerable to better their life and the lives of those they love. To change, to be changed, to give it to God and live a better life. Im so beyond proud of them. And I let them know it. And will be day after day as I watch God move in them to honor him! 

God is good all the time. 

As i was ending my night and about to go watch some tv I asked God to show me in the bible what i needed to know about this situation etc. I opened it up and was thumbing through Isaiah and the scripture of Chapter 50 verse 4-11 caught my attention- Entitled the Lords Obedient Servant.

It gave me chills and I thanked God again for showing me the direction I needed to go. I ask him every day over everything what do you want me to do, to see- what do you want me to do today for your glory Lord?? And every day he answers me and always guides me down the right path.

God will never leave you and will send you to do his good works every day if you ask and let him. He will fill you with the Holy Spirit and you will yearn to read his story, the bible, and learn more. You will find something new every day. He will never lead you astray! 

Purpose in Pain. Testimony that will reach people that need Gods love. Im just his vessel. He is my captain! 

Stephanie Jones