The Creation… Steven & Sheena Gabbard

All too often, I find myself asking, “What is the Lord’s plan for me.  What path does He want me on and how will I get there.”  I don’t know the answer to those questions as I feel His plan has not been revealed to me, but I do feel as though we are prepared in advance so that we are ready when His time is right – not ours.

During my early years of college, public speaking was something I enjoyed and looked forward to.  As time went on, it became something I feared.  I’m not sure when or how I made the change from one extreme to the other, but it happened.  Now, I’m too young and have too much in front of me to fear public speaking.  It’s something I do often and something I know I will do more and more as time goes on.  So how do I get over a fear that is holding me back and keeping me from being my all?  I face it head on and that’s exactly what I have done and what I plan to continue doing.

The other day I received a call from the National Association of Home Builders requesting me to speak at the International Builders Show in Orlando on February 14th.  At first, the fear of public speaking tried to drive my answer to a “No, I can’t do it”, but I recognized this internal attack early on and was able to accept the invitation.  I was nervous about the seminar the week leading up to it, but then something amazing happened.

The support and encouragement started with my wonderful wife, Sheena, but it didn’t end there.  After reading Exodus 4:10 that night, it was as though I was echoing the same words Moses did 3,400 years ago (give or take a few).  Moses was chosen to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and in order to do so, he must get permission from Pharaoh.  Getting permission meant speaking.  When the Lord told Moses what He wanted him to do, Moses was anything but happy.  It was as though Moses was saying, “Lord, hold up!  You’ve got the wrong guy.”

Moses response to the Lord’s request was where I found myself earlier that day.  “O Lord, I’m not very good with words.  I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me.  I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
This is the part that hit me like a sack of bricks and made me realize this opportunity was part of His plan and in order to perform His plan later, I must prepare today.

Then the Lord asked Moses,  “Who makes a person’s mouth?  Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go!  I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

WOW!

Talk about a revelation.  For a moment I had almost forgot that the will of God will never take us where the grace of God will not protect us.  From that moment forward, all of my fears were washed away.  I put all of my trust in the Lord and know I was where I needed to be and most importantly, I was protected by His grace.

-Steven Gabbard (SSGabbard.com)

Filed under: Steven's Blog on February 20th, 2008 | No Comments »

 Being like most humans…a creature of habit, I have always been comfortable in my distinct bare French Manicured fingernails.  Perfectly happy and content with the simplicity, cleanliness, and neatness of the white tip in all its glory until one day, I took a step outside the box, and went with RED. 

Red fingernails are a bit flashy, a bit foxy, and in a weird way a bit empowering.  As I dawned my newly painted red fingernails to the rest of the world I slowly began to grow quite fond of them.  I in some arbitrary line of thinking began to read deep into the brilliant rich red fingernails.  The red hue so illuminant, bright, strong, and bold….it reminded me of courage.  I then began to think about courage.  Where does my courage come from? 

This question brings a very pleasant thought to mind, my courage comes from the Lord.  The deep red color splashed across my fingernails now reminds me of the price Christ paid so I can have a relationship with him.  The crimson on my hands now demands my attention when I am nervous or unsure reminding me of Joshua 1:9.  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Being a daughter of the King I have the power and majesty of Christ at the tips of my fingers!  Fingers turning through pages of the Bible, fingers clenched in Prayer, and fingers with fingernails now drenched in my new color of choice, courageous red. 

Filed under: Sheena's Blog on February 20th, 2008 | No Comments »

I was reading a blog earlier tonight and came across one discussing youth pastors and the role (good or bad) they play in a church.  Four questions were asked and I decided to answer them here.

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1. Why would I want my child going to a young man telling him things that he should be telling his father and/or mother?

I have no reason to believe that the child will go to the youth pastor – but what if he does?  Are we saying that it is ok for adults to go to a senior pastor (the opposite of a child going to a youth pastor) but not our children going to a youth pastor?  We’ve all been kids at one time – some more recent than others.  Is it possible to believe that we can be so blind and forgetful and not remember how difficult or how uninviting our parents can be with it comes to certain issues?

2. Why do most youth ministries seem to specialize in entertainment and teaching the Word seems to be minimized?

Today’s youth are moving at a much faster pace than they did when we were growing up.  Do we think that reading alone will catch their attention and hold their focus?  Good luck.  If this was the case, VBS would not have recess or build birdhouses.  What do crafts have to do with the bible?  Nothing, it’s entertaining.  Right or wrong, the church uses entertainment the same way the world does – to catch the attention of its audience.  With that attention, the church can then spread the word.  No, it should not be in that order, but reality is just that.  Now, with that said, how hypocritical should the church be with it comes to other churches?  If we should avoid entertainment in the church, should we remove the toys in the nursery or should and have picture bibles only and live audio feeds?  This may be an extreme, but it begs the question of how much entertainment a church should offer.3. Why do we want the children/youth separated from the parents more than they already are?If (a maximum of) 3-hours a week of separation is causing a problem with the relationship between the parents and the child, then the problem stated before the family stepped out of the front door of their home.  People of different ages have different needs and understand things differently.  Recently, our church went over the book of Revelation.  Had a child been present, the only thing that would have stuck would have been the image of a seven-headed dragon.  Do we want our young children taking everything so literal without being able to comprehend the symbolism we often find in the bible?  No… You as a pastor do not have the time to discuss topics in the bible and give the entire background origin of its meaning.4. What did the youth do before youth ministries existed?

Other than drawing pretty pictures on the bulletins – I’m not sure.  I will admit, at one time, I was the child out with in the “big peoples church”.  While I’m being honest, I’ll also say that I do not remember what I was doing other than drawing on the bulletin.  As for the past, I would like to think that children were receiving the word of the Lord from their parents, but I’m not sure if they were since I wasn’t there.

Filed under: Steven's Blog on January 30th, 2008 | No Comments »

Filed under: Sheena's Blog on January 24th, 2008 | No Comments »

Let’s not underestimate the power of a ceremony and celebration such as a Wedding.  Being lucky enough to attend and be actively involved in several weddings within the last 6 months I have fallen in love over and over again with the significance, grandeur, holiness, and aesthetic beauty of the occasion! 

My brother, my best friend, and myself all 3 were married in the past 6 months.  Now another very special friend is planning a wedding for October of 2008.  My advice is be creative, this is YOUR wedding, and it is a carefully orchestrated event that promotes you and your significant other in both subjective, and objective ways.  Use special details that illustrate your own interests, likes, and dreams.  Be forward thinking with your wedding the love the two of you share and the dreams the two of you can build together for your future.  Most importantly have fun!  Don’t get overwhelmed or caught up in decisions just go with your instincts and the event will pull off better then you ever expected!  Don’t be afraid to ask for help!  If you are lucky enough to have friends and family close by don’t over look, or reject an out reached hand!  Last but not least work on the wedding together.  More then likely the female will have the proactive and leading role here, but ask for your mans opinions!  He may not come up with ground breaking ideas, time-lines, order of events, or menus, but he can help eliminate likes and dislikes which will in time help make your “to do” list shorter and shorter. If you keep him actively involved he may surprise you and think of ways to simplify problems you as a female may magnify!

That’s it for now, I am always open for wedding discussions, brainstorming, planning, and coordinating!   Best wishes to all of you newly engaged couples out there, and warm wishes to all of you newly weds! 

~Sheena~

Filed under: Sheena's Blog on January 22nd, 2008 | No Comments »

An expert by definition is, “a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field.”  I am far from an expert in any field, as I am just merely a few months short of 25 years old.  I am however able to express my opinions, experiences, and insights with the hope to encourage, motivate, or inspire who ever may come across these expositions.  With these things said I am going to start my blogging adventure with what I know best… “girl stuff.”Celebrating differences with confidence and joy is the first part to this blog.  Before I get started I would like to invite you to follow up weekly to discover what God’s word has to say.  I pray that it may bring insight,peace, and a smile to your heart!  A simple outcry of praise is what I have to offer today, ” I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  ~Psalm 139:14

Being a woman in todays society is not an easy task by any means! Self confidence is easily robbed, and difficult to recover.  There are countless notions, images, and schemes in todays society that can easily warp a young girls, and even a womans mind to the point that she may forget about herself as an one of a kind unique creation!  The following video clip is produced by Dove, it is a powerful image that conveys the forces of media, advertising, and marketing that can submerge women into the deep darkness of poor body image, and low self esteem. 

Let me make one thing very clear I am not against beauty products, I am not against fashion trends, or makeovers! I greatly enjoy all of those things! This is not a rage of femenism, it is simply a praise of individual qualities that women obtain and should observe and give thanks to the Lord for!  As a woman a great thought to remember is that, ” you are God’s specially formed workmanship, designed by a perfect Creator and loving Father.  You wear a designer label embossed with God’s own fingerprint!  You were created to do good works that God has prepared especially for you.  You are a designer original” ~Karol Ladd

I pray that you will give thanks to the Lord for his craftsmanship in you!  Give thanks to Him for special qualities and attributes you obtain.  He has made you EXACTLY as He would have you to be! 

Filed under: Sheena's Blog on January 20th, 2008 | No Comments »

Here’s one of the reason’s I support Mike Huckabee.  He is not afraid to stand up for what he believes.

Filed under: Steven's Blog on January 17th, 2008 | No Comments »

In January 2008, Osensnolf.com became SSGabbard.com.  Be sure to bookmark the new website and view the new photos on the Photos page.  Enjoy!

Filed under: Steven's Blog on January 17th, 2008 | No Comments »