God's Miracle of the Day

Monday, September 5, 2011

Monday and we are so thankful

The flow of blessings today as friends from church and and far and wide dropped in and blessed todays work at the ranch. The fellowship and encouraging conversations are always such a bonus as we work together in a common cause.

God has a purpose for and in all of us and as we at the ranch strive to pass on all that God has so blessed us with it explodes into changed, confident lives. I see in our world today that the focus is on what's in it for me mentality and a whole lot of excuses as to why it's all about me.

My grandfather many years ago as we were fixing a grain bin out at the farm taught me how to use a hand saw. He said the saw is built in such away that it's weight and the shape of the teeth will cut through any piece of wood easy and straight and all we have to do is push the saw back and forth, the design of the saw will do the rest. I see that it's a lot like our lives, God has designed each of us in a unique and special way to accomplish a certain purpose and if we move under the strength of the Lord we can't loose. Life can and will get boring and hohum when we try to mirror our selves after some one else other than Christ.

By the end of the day we had several new equipment operators and I can say that a womens touch on a piece of equipment can be very impressive and productive with out a whole lot of effort.

Young Jason came all the way from Prince Albert today, we haven't seen or heard from Jayson for many years as he attended camp years ago and then fell into a troubled life style, as we worked and he shared the struggles he has been through and that God has drawn him back to his first love and that he hopes we will let him be more involved in building the ranch.

I know that there is a lot better and more upscale life training facilities in our society and we don't claim to have all the answers but what harm can it do to put aside our own agenda's and put the well being of our children ahead of our selves. Sacrifice, selflessness, and looking out for the betterment of others seems to be the life Jesus exemplified. Go figure, who knows, it could work, even in our perfect lives and perfect world.

Each of us has the opportunity to be so much more if we seek all God has for us.

- A better life

- A purpose to live

- To love someone

- To dream big

- Making our lives count for something

- The courage to step out of the boat

- It's not what we leave behind, but what we do to build the Kingdom of God hear and now, with all he has blessed us with.

- To gain the confidence to be all that God has created them to be.

- The confidence to reflect the love of Christ to every one we meet.

1 Corinthians 2:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—

Our young people need this type of a place, so take this and build that ranch. Mr. Ray Nelson

The Battle River Ranch Camp is a one of a kind entry level trades and life skills opportunity facility. Offering an option to anyone that has been searching for an opportunity to find out their area of strength and work place career possibilities.

Our hope and prayer is to let as many of you know about the ranch as possible so that the hope it will bring and the lives it will change and the encouragement it will provide can start as soon as possible. The ranch will be a one of a kind facility and will offer an option to many like no other.

When God has a plan and like our friend Mike and Pastor Lyle wisely told us just keep your focus and don't let the distractions pull you away from God's purpose. Thank you once again for taking the time to view our blog. The Battle River Ranch Camp is a non profit organization that is focused on developing trades, life skills and training opportunities for men and women that are searching and find it difficult to get the opportunities needed to develop a productive life skill. Many men and women today have no idea about their future or what they could be good at and to find out their possible skill area or level. We are a faith based and mentor based training facility and our hope is with the help of anyone that has a heart for helping so many to give each person that comes to the ranch an opportunity to find the skills they were created for.

Harold and Diane Stephan left a life filled with addictions and bad choices. Their journey has taken them through different twelve step programs and life recovery through a relationship and healing process with Jesus Christ. If it were not for caring people in their lives that never gave up on them or thought they were a hopeless cause they too would still be lost.

We would love to hear from you and if you feel this is a program and facility that would help you or someone that you know, or you would like to be more involved with a ministry like this or support it financially we would we would be very appreciative, and would love to talk to you and would very much appreciate your help in what ever way you can. Even if you could help with a small one time donation or a larger one it would help so much to bring this life changing facility and place of hope to be opened by this fall.

This is a ministry for those that have a heart and desire to make a difference in the lives of others with the skills and gifts they have been blessed with and have a desire to pass on what they know to the next generation.

You are always welcome to visit and we look forward to your input. This ministry is prayer based, and we pray daily for the needs of others, if you have a need for prayer and not sure where to start give us a call and we will confidentially support and help you in this area. You may not know a lot about God but God knows everything about you and He loves you more than anyone can or ever will.

TO DONATE :

If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever PLEASE consider making a donation to:

CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC

Box 11403

Lloydminster, Ab.

T9V 3B7

or visit our web site for direct donating, thank you

As a registered charity your tax deductable receipts will be sent out at the end of the year.

Once again we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering The Battle River Ranch Camp a life skills and trades introduction opportunity, as a option to support financially, an option that is making a differance in the lives of our young men and women right here at home in Canada.

God Bless You and Your Family!!!

Harold & diane Stephan and

Board of Directors of the Battle River Ranch Camp

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 1-3O6-825-7734 OR

haroldstephan@hotmail.com

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Sunday blessing day

The excitement and anticipation of God's miracles for the ranch each and every day is such a testimony to our family and those that have chosen to be a part of the Battle River Ranch camp, but as we see all that God is doing in the lives of and hearts of everyone we feel so blessed that we can be a part of such a ministry.

Reg drives from Regina with his son Ret and works hour after hour at the ranch so his son can experience family and community building into better lives in the future. Reg gave up a well paid oil field job and being on the road constantly, to be close to home and to be able to be a part of raising their son. Reg says I may not have the money and toys that a lot of my friends have but our kids are doing very well and I thank God for that. Often money has become more important than the best for our children.

Once again with all our hearts we thank you for what is a miracle forming before our eyes, and the blessing, that we get to be a part of as we do the will of God. We all have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those we love and to build hope for the next generation with all that we have been blessed with. Some of you have said,"I don't have much to help with", but it's not how much you help with, it's the condition of our hearts that God works with, and as He sees us use what ever we have to do His work here while we can that's when the miracles happen, all for the cause of Christ? It's that fork in the road,the channel we can use, and a choice among many that God gives us every day to be kingdom builders. God bless you all Harold, Diane and the Board of directors of the Battle River Ranch Camp.

TO DONATE : and help us to impact lives for the future of our country

If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever PLEASE consider making a donation to:
CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC
Box 11403
Lloydminster, Ab.
T9V 3B7 or go to our web site at crossmanministries.com

As a registered charity your tax deductable receipts will be sent out at the end of the year.

Once again we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering The Battle River Ranch Camp a life skills and trades introduction opportunity, as a option to support financially, an option that is making a differance in the lives of our young men and women right here at home in Canada.

God Bless You and Your Family!!!
Harold & diane Stephan and
Board of Directors of the Battle River Ranch Camp
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 1-3O6-825-7734 OR
haroldstephan@hotmail.com

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Saturday -and so much accomplished PTL

We are all so poop out as the day was a great one again and we had so many out to help move ahead and fellowship on a plan that will impact lives for ever.

Helping others brings good feelings to the giver and the reciever of the good deeds. Using your special gifts to help others can be a gift to yourself as you enjoy a self esteem boost for making others’ lives better, and make the world a better place. You feel more worthy of good deeds yourself, your trust in the decency of people is reinforced, and you feel more connected to yourself and to others. In fact, research shows that those who demonstrate more altruistic social interest tend to enjoy higher levels of mental health, above and beyond the practical benefits of receiving help and other known psychospiritual, stress, and demographic factors that you would expect.

Creating a balanced lifestyle that includes service to others can help you feel less stress as well, as you feel more connected to God, more grateful for what you have, and less invested in the ‘rat race’ that causes stress for so many of us. The following articles can give you ideas and resources for how to create a life that includes more helping others.

PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION :

If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever PLEASE consider making a donation to:
CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC
Box 11403
Lloydminster, Ab.
T9V 3B7

As a registered charity your tax deductable receipts will be sent out at the end of the year.

Once again we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering The Battle River Ranch Camp a life skills and trades introduction opportunity, as a option to support financially, an option that is making a differance in the lives of our young men and women right here at home in Canada.
Every donation makes it happen no matter what the size of donation you are able to help us with. God has allowed Diane and I to meet many of you and we want to assure each of you, your donations will be used wisely to build a facility that will change lives for ever.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Friday and with hearts from which abundance flows

As the help from you all starts to pull into the ranch for the weekend we are so blessed that God cares for even those of us that aren't so important. Can you imagine being so religious and self centred that God can't use you or maybe won't use you. There is such a difference between religion and relationship, religion makes you do and say things that will impress someone human, even your self. Now a relationship often starts out slow as you test the waters and then trust starts to develop and often we become transparent and even vulnerable, wooo scary. Soon you start to want to help others and share what you have, wooo even more scary" A."

I am fortunate to be friends with some of the biggest and scariest bikers you will possibly ever see anywhere. Bikers that have no fear of any man. But bikers that have given themselves to a relationship with Jesus and have become incredible, outstanding, strong and mighty men in the kingdom of God. Men that walk, talk and live the truth and the uncompromised will of God. Men that know that Sundays is the day to spend with God at church in order to receive and carry the hope we have to a dying world. Without fuel our bikes can't go to far, with a out regular oil change our bikes can't go far, with out washing and polishing a lot of dirt can build up on our bikes and we may not even recognize our ride for long. Bottom line is regular maintenance and care from our pastor and church community can't be underestimated. So Sunday when you see that biker in font of you, take a minute and reach over and give them a hug. They may seem different but aren't we all suppose to let Christ live and shine through us just as we are. Go figure!!! What does some old plumber know any way? PS you can be different too.

As we stood in Tim Hortons this morning and were about to leave a guy came up to us and handed us a dozen donughts and said these are for you, keep up the good work out at the ranch, what you are doing is really good.

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

BEWARE OF TERRORIST GROUPS IN CHURCHES

Latest news reports are that six terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches.. They have been identified as:

Bin Sleepin

Bin Arguin

Bin Fightin

Bin Complainin

Bin Missin

Bin Gossipin

Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, has trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy..

However, there have been reports of a seventh group. A tiny cell, known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church..

Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along.

Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others.

They have

Bin Watchin

Bin Waitin

Bin Fastin

Bin trustin their Master, Jesus Christ.

NO CHURCH IS EXEMPT!

(However, you can spot them if you bin lookin and bin Goin.)

TO DONATE :

If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever PLEASE consider making a donation to:

CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC
Box 11403
Lloydminster, Ab.
T9V 3B7
or visit our web site for direct donating, thank you

As a registered charity your tax deductable receipts will be sent out at the end of the year.

Once again we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering The Battle River Ranch Camp a life skills and trades introduction opportunity, as a option to support financially, an option that is making a differance in the lives of our young men and women right here at home in Canada.

God Bless You and Your Family!!!
Harold & diane Stephan and
Board of Directors of the Battle River Ranch Camp
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 1-3O6-825-7734 OR
haroldstephan@hotmail.com or google crossmanministries to view our web site

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Thursday and moving on

The weather is great and we are still getting lots done if you have some extra time come on out and enjoy some time and fellowship with family and friends.

It's Time to Move On!

For 400 years Pharaoh had enslaved Israel. Then just when they thought they'd escaped him, he showed up again
at the Red Sea. And that's when God in quickly or easily? No, we get through it in different ways and at different rates. How did the Israelites get through the Red Sea? One step at a time! But when they got to the other side that body of water became the dividing line between their past and their future. But to get beyond your past you must forgive, and keep on forgiving until the past loses its hold over you. You must rise up and declare by faith that the power those old issues had over you is broken. Jesus promised that when His word on the issue becomes your word on it, your circumstances will begin to change (Mark 11:23-26). So make God's Word the final word! But look out, old memories will try to negotiate another deal to see if you're serious about moving on. Paul writes, 'Reckon yourselves to be dead' (Romans 6:11 NKJV). Now, death alone doesn't bring closure; you need burial. So establish a time, a place and an epitaph that reads, 'The past ends right here!' Tell Pharaoh, 'Your hosts and your ghosts can't hurt me any more', and move on!
Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea. Exodus 15:4