Stepping Stones in Life

By Maryellen Christmas

Often, Christians and as non-Christians suffer difficulties and hardships. The severity of different types of attacks may leave the person with feelings of defeat or heartbreak. Tragic situations that are long-lasting may cause someone to give up. At that time, we forget who God is and the power of His Word to sustain and deliver us. God stands waiting for us to come to Him. He is waiting to fulfill a promise: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8).

During times of depression and oppression, if you can see whatever your situation or calamity is from a different perspective, a ray of hope may be found. Try not to forget what the Word of God says, “And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It appears that not many things are accomplished in life without some rigor. Convictions may grow deeper toward following and pleasing the Lord. Depending on God increases confidence in God’s unfailing power to save and to set free. It can cause a person to develop greater confidence in himself or herself. Also, seeing what God has done in someone’s life inspires others who observe the steadfastness of your stand for the Lord, and they could become believers in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Knowing God and seeing what He will do and can do will give you a clearer vision of how much He loves you and cares for you. Whenever you are confronted with a problem, let the Word of God come alive within you, and remember that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Live life fully, and when obstacles beset your path, consider it as only one of life’s stepping-stones.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685261948

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Stepping Stones in Life

Maryellen Christmas

ISBN 978-1-68526-193-1 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68526-194-8 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Maryellen Christmas

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

God Knows His Own

Trust God for the Lives of Others

Will You Permit God to Test You?

A Wise Man Fears the Lord

The Antidote for Jealousy

Let God Be Glorified in All That You Do

Is Your God Big Enough?

Only What You Do for Christ Will Last

My Experience with COVID-19

Move Swiftly through the Tunnel

In loving memory of my dear friend Patricia Pat Cheatham (July 25, 1953–August 28, 2020).

Stepping Stones in Life is dedicated to her. Her memory will never fade from my heart. Pat knew the true meaning of the word friend, and she displayed it at all times.

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

—Proverbs 17:17

Acknowledgments

With heartfelt humility, I shall always be thankful for this assignment. When God entrusted it to my hands, He knew first that my life must be revolutionized by it. Without the sincere prayers of everyone who learned of my undertaking and felt a responsibility to pray for me as the work was in process, I would have not completed it within its allotted time. Thank you for your prayers!

My husband, Thomas, continued to have patience with me as I’ve dedicated many hours to this work.

Special thanks to my pastor, Johnna T. Davis, who constantly encouraged me as she dutifully promoted the sales of my books. I give many thanks to all my church family at Life Changing Ministries International for your love and support. Appreciation goes to my family and friends for your words of encouragement.

I am eternally grateful to my friend and sister in Christ Dorothy N. Hutcheson who volunteered her time, and she assisted me from start to finish, working tirelessly using her gifts from God.

God bless every reader. My prayer is that God will transform your life in a special way.

Introduction

Stepping Stones in Life is the sequel to Faith Building Nuggets for Ordinary People. It encourages readers to continue pursuing whatever the task is which God sets before them to accomplish.

On the path of life, there is a beginning and an end. Some interruptions are to be expected. Rarely does it occur that you will not entertain some disappointments or hardships. Trials come, attempting to cause you to give up, but remember: however unpleasant they may seem, you will never walk alone. Know that God is with you.

When disruptive attacks occur, they may appear as a major setback to you, but as you travel ahead on your journey, you will learn that some of the hindrances were necessary. Focus more on the end results—your desire to please God!

Your path is designed and paved to take only one step at a time. Whenever we hurry, wanting to finish quicker than planned, it often becomes clear that we failed to learn some lessons that were necessary. Your ability to endure difficult battles has already been provided for you. God put this ability inside of you when He chose you for the task.

When all the difficulties and obstacles come often, it advances you ahead, moving you further on your life’s path. Sometimes it helps to sink you deeper in hope. We may also see, when we endure the greatest difficulties, it is often before a deliverance. Do not despair; know that God who walks with you is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

God removes obstacles and barriers, causing us to become overcomers and conquerors. Some of my personal experiences concerning the supernatural power of God were shared only to give praise to Him and how He sustained me in times of need. Reference is not made as a sensationalist but as someone who wants to always acknowledge God’s greatness.

Stepping Stones in Life helps to build a believer’s faith, and to nonbelievers, it ignites what lies dormant inside of you—that is, to know Christ and the miraculous power of GOD. Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Stepping Stones in Life can also be used as a tool for evangelism. It is mentioned repeatedly the importance of receiving God’s Son, Jesus, into our lives in order to have the security of eternal life.

Stepping Stone 1

God Knows His Own

It is evident and it can be easily observed in the Word of God that it is God’s perfect will for all men to know Him. Each person is given the same opportunity. No one is given preference above anyone else. He (God) deals with the rich and poor, high and low alike. God is faithful to His Word because there is no division between God and His Word. The statements of Jesus are plainly without obstructions. Without hesitation, I believe, the statement Jesus made concerning God’s love and sacrifice in order that mankind gets to know Him (God) exceeds them all.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17)

Most people are familiar with those scriptures even if they have not applied them to their lives. Often when someone begins to quote the Scriptures openly, someone will chime in to help that person finish them.

Because of God’s love and care toward man and His desire for man to get to know Him, God made substantial provisions, His Word, that will never pass away. He gave Himself incarnate in His Son. God created man and provided him with the ability to know his Creator. It is seen as far back as the creation of Adam and Eve.

Nowhere in the Word of God is it recorded that Adam and Eve had any form of education, but God talked to them, and they understood what God said. It is clear that they were created by God and were fully equipped to communicate with Him.

When Adam and Eve sinned, disobeying God, it caused the fall of man; whereas, after they sinned, every person who is born has the sin nature of Adam and Eve. When they ate from the forbidden tree, they were no longer permitted to come into the presence of God after eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Fellowship with God was broken, and they were driven out of the garden.

All of God’s plans prevail, and they do not fail. Whatever He says, He is able to bring it to pass. God’s great love for man is everlasting, and it will never end. It was necessary that a price had to be paid to atone for the sins of man. It had to be a blood sacrifice in order that a covenant would be established. No longer was the sacrifice of blood of animals sufficient. Instead, the blood of God’s dear Son, Jesus, was required. Jesus’s blood was shed so that every man’s sin could be forgiven in order for man to be put into a secure relationship with God the Father. It was that process by which the redemption for all mankind took place when man believed and received what Jesus has done. Because God made that provision, every barrier was removed, and nothing can stand between man and Almighty God. For that reason, we must honor and glorify Him with our lives. God wanted to be in constant fellowship with man whom He created and loves just that much.

That was God’s plan: to have nothing stand between man and Him. But it is also important that each person takes responsibility to do his or her part when he or she believes and