She is Adorned: Gentility and Quietness

Hi Ladies,

I hope that you all are doing well! I expect that I will not have as much time to post on the blog once the college semester begins on the 9^th. I will try to not neglect you all though. This post is going to be specifically geared towards my fellow sisters in Christ. This will be another study of Biblical Femininity. It is important that as females we cultivate a gentle and quiet spirit. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV), “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” There are often misconceptions about what the apostle Peter meant. Our culture encourages girls to be themselves and to fight for what they want or “deserve”. However, Christians are told in Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV), “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” We have to lose ourselves in order to embrace freedom in Jesus. Jesus calls Christian women to a life of inner modesty. We are asked to clothe ourselves with a gentle (or meek) and quiet spirit.

The Greek word for meekness in vs. 4 means to not create disturbances. A woman who is meek is peaceful, and she does not always speak her mind. She submits unto the Lord, and she accepts the trials that come her way. Meekness is not weakness. It is instead self-control. The Bible Study Tools Dictionary defines meekness in this way, “The use of the Greek word when applied to animals makes this clear, for it means “tame” when applied to wild animals. In other words, such animals have not lost their strength but have learned to control the destructive instincts that prevent them from living in harmony with others.” This is a neat picture of how we are made for marital harmony as well as harmony in the body of Christ. We are called to not cause trouble, but to “have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, and a humble mind” when it comes to our relationships with other believers (1 Peter 3:8).

Quietness is an action in response to disturbances around us. A woman who is quiet and soft-spoken in her words realizes the power of her tongue. She is not quick to speak, and in prayerful consideration she is discerning in her daily conversations. Proverbs 12:18 (ESV), “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” She understands the harm in gossiping and will not participate in it.  A woman who possesses a quiet spirit is also slow to anger and quick to extend mercy. Like Jesus she will be mocked and scorned for being set-apart, but she will turn the other cheek. 1 Peter 2:23 (ESV), “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”

The Lord calls us to quit crying out, “Look at me”, and to instead proclaim “Look at the greatness of my glorious God”. Because God has granted us redemption and a chance to be His children, we must live like Christ daily. We must live in love by asking God for meekness and for wisdom in responding to those around us. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-5 (ESV), “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.”

My prayer is that God would cultivate quiet and meek spirits within all of us! I praise God for His grace when we fail and His wisdom to teach us. I hope that you all have a blessed week. May your coffee be strong.

In Christ’s love,

Sarah

Mental Sobriety: Over-Indulgence and the New Year

Hey Everybody,

I hope that you all had a blessed time celebrating Jesus’ birth with your families this week. I cannot believe that 2016 is drawing to a close. This year has been filled with amazing times and incredibly difficult times. I praise God for His constant love and faithfulness toward me. I look forward to what God will do in and through me in 2017 as my life shifts at high school graduation, and I head out from home, college-bound.

In my personal study time, I have been going through Elizabeth George’s study on 1 Peter called “Putting on a Gentle and Quiet Spirit”. Today I will be talking about a set of verses in 1 Peter chapter 1, but let’s take a read through before diving in. 1 Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

First of all, in order to be alert and to serve Christ at full capacity, we have to toss aside worldly hindrances that distract us and beg for our attention. When our minds are discombobulated and not centered on Christ, we cannot think rationally and make wise decisions. We are also more susceptible to Satan’s temptations. This passage can serve as a reminder to stay physically sober for those who struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction. However, I would like to discuss a mental form of sobriety. Take a moment to reflect about what is currently taking your focus off of Christ. What are you indulging in? Former missionary Elisabeth Elliot once said, “By trying to grab fulfillment everywhere, we find it nowhere.” Our culture revolves around social media and television. An excessive intake of media can take our focus off of Christ. There is much in the world for us to be distracted with, but there is only One who can fulfill us, and that is the Lord. We need to be in prayer as we manage what is healthy and what is damaging for our souls. Philippians 4:8 (ESV), “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

God’s Word is all satisfying. His promises and His ways are eternal. 1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV), “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” I know that personally I don’t always crave God’s Word as I should. I often try to fill myself with perishable earthly pleasures. This earth will be destroyed, but His ways are eternal. God’s Word is a love letter to us, children of the King. It also serves as an inscrutable guide that teaches us our identity in Christ, and how to live out that identity. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV), “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Often at New Year’s people will make resolutions to eat healthier, lose weight, and work out more. The American culture tends to believe that more is better. We often decide that we want to cut out the excess in our lives, but we don’t follow through. People will even make spiritual resolutions with good intentions such as going to church more, reading the Bible more, or loving others more. You name it. Why is it that our seemingly commendable motivations fail? Some New Year’s resolutions don’t even last for a month. The truth is that we as humans cannot muster up enough willpower to change our lives. We will return to the same struggles and habits if we do not seek help from our sovereign God.

This year my prayer is that I would be consumed with the Lord, and that I would desire His Word above my earthly desires. I want to seek God wholeheartedly and be focused on Him. I ask God that He would equip me to act out His will for my life. I do not have enough power to prevent myself from seeking after the things of this world, but I can always come before the throne and beg for His intervention. It is not easy to minimalize and focus more on Christ. However, He will guide us and continue to draw us to Himself.

Happy New Year’s everyone! I know that God has amazing plans beyond our comprehension in store for each of us this year. Thank you for reading! As always, may your coffee be strong. I’ll talk to you all soon.

In Christ’s love,

Sarah

 

Back to the Roots of Femininity: Eve and Sarai

Dear Friends,

It feels fantastic to be back on the blogging scene. Today I want to talk about a controversial topic that I am passionate about which is: Biblical femininity. I will also be addressing marital roles of genders according to Scripture. This message will apply for my fellow single ladies whose goal is to be who God intended you to be as a woman as well as those of you who are married. In a feminist culture that focuses on equality between males and females, we have lost the beauty of femininity. Ultimately marriage is a picture of Christ and the church. Even though Ephesians 5 specifies that wives and husbands must have different roles in the home and in the church, it also says that they “are equal in dignity and all else that comprises their essential humanity” (quote taken from “Loving Oneself, and Loving One’s Wife” by Ligonier Ministries). Genesis 1:27 makes it clear that both men and women are equally made in God’s image. Today I will be taking you through Genesis 1-3 (the story of Eve) and Genesis 12 (about Sarah) in light of Proverbs 31 and Ephesians 5. Let us start off our study today by studying our earthly mother’s creation. Our roots of femininity begin in the Garden of Eden.

Before the fall, gender roles were less stringent. Adam and Eve were made to work together as one body in perfect harmony. Genesis 3:18 (ESV), “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Eve was made for Adam to assist him in life as a counterpart who complements him.

As females we were made to be relational human beings. Relational people are sensitive to the needs and concerns of others. We were made for intimacy in marriage and friendships. We were made out of man’s rib to be bound as one in marriage. Genesis 2:24 (ESV), “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This bond also is an image of how we are one in Christ. Marital unity can only be present if both husband and wife are peaceful and careful not to spur one another in anger. 1 Peter 3:4 (ESV), “but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” As females we have the gift of encouraging and providing emotional support for those we encounter in daily life, not just our husbands, or future husbands, for those who are single.

A quality that females possess is that we are nurturers. God commanded Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply” in Genesis 1:28. We have the wonderful responsibility of raising children up in righteousness and truth. We get to bring life into the world. We can pray for our children and lead them in God’s perfect ways. We get to teach our children to treasure God’s Word and His love. There will be suffering in labor because of the fall, but there will be even greater joy in being a mother.

Eve did not consult her husband for advice on eating from the tree, but instead, she acted on her own, disrupting the marital harmony which she and Adam had. Because of this, God made gender roles in marriage more clear. Adam mistakenly allowed his wife to lead him astray, even though he knew the instructions which God had given him. God first addresses Adam regarding the sin which he and Eve committed. God held Adam responsible first, because of his leadership as husband. Then God turned to Eve. Genesis 3:16 (ESV), “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” This verse is often misunderstood or twisted in order to allow men to mistreat women. The Preacher’s Homiletic Commentary describes the verse in this way, “But man’s rulership is not to be lordly and offensive, but loving and graceful, thoughtful and appreciative. Under such rulership the woman is a queen, herself the sharer of a royal life.” Royalty, therefore, is a part of our femininity. Ephesians 5:23-25, “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…”  I would like to clarify that while husbands are the heads of their households, they are not in authority over other women. Men were not made to dominate women. But, husbands were made to lovingly guide their wives and their families with godly leadership. Husbands are called to sacrifice themselves for their wives like Christ did for the church.

Next I’d like to move on to the story of Abram and Sarai, which is a fantastic example of healthy submission and marital respect. It also reveals some other qualities of our femininity. As females we are courageous, and we have a God-given inner strength to endure difficult circumstances. We are made to be fearless. Genesis 12:4 (ESV), “And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan…” God called Abram to make a drastic change in lifestyle, by taking his family to a new land. Sarai had to leave her friends, family, and familiar surroundings. It took a lot of courage for Sarai to journey into an unknown future. She was much like the Proverbs 31 woman who is “clothed with strength and dignity” and who can fearlessly “laugh at the days to come” (Proverbs 31:25).

Sarai trusted her husband’s leadership and his relationship with the Lord. She had faith that her husband knew what he was doing, and that God would provide. She trusted her husband even though at times he was misguided. One such instance of this was when Abram told Sarai to pretend to be his sister, in order that Pharaoh would not kill Abram. Marriage requires a mutual trust. Not only should the wife have faith in her husband, but the wife should always show that she is an honest woman who will not lead her husband astray. None of us can be perfectly trustworthy individuals. Eve and Sarai certainly were not, but we can pray that God would help us to be genuine women who people can depend on.

There is much more to discuss about the topic of femininity, our roots as women, and gender roles, but this will be all for today. If you enjoyed this study and want more like it on the topic of femininity, please let me know. I hope that you enjoyed studying these passages as much as I have over the past few days.

May God bless you, and as always, may your coffee be strong.

In Christ’s love,

Sarah

Endurance and Victorious Living: King David’s Mighty Men

Hey Everybody,

My apologies for disappearing again. I have been quite occupied with my schooling lately. I am taking only college courses for my senior year which has kept me busy. I dual-enrolled at two different colleges this fall, and I will be dual-enrolling at three colleges in the spring. It is exciting how the Lord is preparing me for full-time ministry school. I know that what God has planned for me is far greater than I can even comprehend right now. Anyway, I am on Christmas break right now, and I hope to give my blog more attention during that time.

Recently I have enjoyed studying 2 Samuel 23, which is about King David’s mighty men. The passage states that King David had thirty mighty men, but that three of those men were higher and more honorable in status than others. The names of these three men were: Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah. What distinguishes these men as worthy individuals? I noted some commonalities between the three. They were fearless. They endured in the midst of adversity. They demonstrated great faith in the Lord and were victorious because of this. These warriors faced impossible situations, but they were able to persevere and overcome because of God’s faithfulness.

The mighty man that I want to highlight most, however, is Eleazar. One non-coincidental fun fact about Eleazar is that his name means, “the one who God helps”.   2 Samuel 23:10 (NIV), “but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.” The Philistines were powerful and frightening. It was not a simple task to defeat a Philistine army. Eleazar, however, knew that God would be with him, and that he could depend on the Lord for strength and guidance. God has proven over and over again to the Israelites that He is mightier than any army. Deuteronomy 20:3-4 (ESV), “‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” My favorite portion of this verse is when it says that Eleazar’s hand froze to his sword. Eleazar held so tightly to his weapon that the sword could not be wrenched from his hand. It was as if the sword was glued to him.

Eleazar’s grasp on the sword was not weakened by the trial, but instead it was strengthened as he continued to fight. Eleazar was not willing to give up when times were rough. Romans 5:3-4 (ESV), “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” God uses trying circumstances to grow us spiritually and to train us to persevere. I can personally attest to this. Over the years, as many of you know, I have dealt with debilitating health conditions. Without the Lord, I certainly could not have made it through each day and endured the pain. Through that I have changed. I have become more confident in my faith, and I have even felt called into ministry. I, a girl who has always been independent, was humbled by learning to surrender to God’s will.

The Biblical Illustrator Commentary said regarding this verse, “A true hero does not stop to count the enemy nor to consider a compromise, nor to hide himself through fear of ridicule or other evil weapons; but putting his strength into his sword he rushes on to victory.” As the verse notes, the victory was not Eleazar’s, but the Lord’s. With God we can endure the hardships of life. Every day we must cling to God’s Word, and the truths that we know about His character.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that God’s Word will not only convict us, but it will teach us, mold us, and prepare us to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. According to Leslie Ludy, the founder of Set Apart Girl Magazine, “The message of the Cross is much more than simply knowing and believing the truth. It also means being supernaturally equipped by God’s enabling grace to live a victorious life that would otherwise be impossible.” While we likely will not be victorious in a military sense like David’s mighty men, we can be victorious by living for Christ. God often calls us to go against the crowd and do wacky things that take us out of our comfort zone. The Christian life is not easy. We will struggle. However, God does not call us to do things and then leave us to fend for ourselves. He will fight for us, and bring about great victories.

Thank you everybody for reading, and thank you for being patient with me. I am so thankful for my readers, and for this ministry that God has allowed me to have. I will try and post as much as I can during my college break. May you have a blessed week with lots of joy and coffee.

In Christ’s love,

Sarah

Hope Despite Political Chaos

Hey Everybody,

I want to apologize for failing to keep up my weekly blogging. I knew senior year was going to be crazier than my junior year, but I did not imagine my schedule would be as tied up as it has been. I have been thinking about you all a lot. I am thankful for this blog world, and for the opportunities that God gives me to share His Word with you. But, the gist is that I am back, and I am going to try to update as frequently as I can.

Today, I would like to address a topic that is not only relevant to citizens of the United States as we are readying for election day, but also for any country that has a political leader or leaders in power. Disclaimer: this post is not going to talk about who to vote for or particular candidate benefits. However, I do want to acknowledge the anxiety that many people are likely feeling about the person who will be the US President. Both the Republican and Democrat candidates in the US have corrupt values. The reality of life is that every day we are drawing nearer to the End Times, and the world will only become more and more corrupt. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV), “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” The last days began after Jesus’ ministry, and we are currently living in them. These last days could go on for centuries or it could come within a year. No human being can predict the time of judgement.

However, despite this great darkness surrounding us, we have a hope that overpowers fear. We often cannot see purpose in the troubled times, but God is sovereign. He has supreme control over the world; no president, dictator, or army can achieve as much power as the Lord holds. Political leaders cannot do anything that surprises God, or ruins His will. Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV), “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” I personally believe that is important to be politically informed. I watch the presidential and vice-presidential debates and keep up with the latest comments candidates are making. We should not live obliviously and deny that there is darkness in our world. However, if we view the political knowledge we hear from a human perspective, we have reason to fear the future. God’s promises, however, trump all fear (pun intended). God is behind elections and behind the decisions world leaders make. He is constantly at work. So I propose that as Christians, we stand firm in our faith, rather than trusting in a political candidate to direct our futures.

Lastly, no matter what the outcome of political elections may be, the Bible tells us to be respectful and follow the authority of our political leaders. No politician will rise to power that God has not predestined to be in office. Romans 13:1-2 (ESV), “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

Exodus 14:14 (ESV), “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Let us not be hostile towards those who do not share our same viewpoints, but let us remember who is in control. We do not have to fret because each moment of our existence was willed by God at the beginning of time. Take heart, friends, and may God give you peace in the midst of political chaos.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

The Lord’s Holy Interuptions

Hey Everybody,

I’m sorry that I have not been posting consistently. The first few weeks of my senior year have been crazier than I initially thought. The first day back to school I actually ended up in the ER for suspected appendicitis. I am now dealing with some other health issues, although I still am migraine free. Anyway, now that you have a mini update on what has been going on with me, I would like to dive into the Word with you.

As you know I have been in the book of Daniel since June, and this book is juicy. I am currently drawing close to the end of the book of Daniel. This week I am in chapter 9, which let me tell you, is jam-packed with goodies. This chapter shows that Daniel is a man of the Word as well as a man of prayer. Back in chapter 6 the Bible says that “he got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God…” Daniel knows that scripture asks for a response. When we dig in depth into what the scripture is saying, we should have questions, and we should have an emotional response to it. Let us take a look at what Daniel did after studying the book of Jeremiah and the prophecies relating to Israel’s current exile: “… I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD (Yahweh) to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking Him in prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes” (Daniel 9:2-3). Daniel took his sorrow and his concerns immediately before the Lord who controls all situations. If I am being honest with you all, if I was Daniel I would probably complain to my friends and fellow Israelites about our exile first before praying.

What stuck out to me most in this chapter, however, is God’s response to Daniel’s heartfelt prayer about how he and the rest of Israel have been rebellious against God. At this point in the story, God sends His holy and glorious interruption. Daniel 9:21 (ESV) says, “While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first (this refers back to Daniel’s vision of Antiochus IV in Daniel 8), came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. The Lord did not dilly dally and have His angel take his time before appearing to Daniel. Scripture says that Gabriel was swift in arriving, and he even came while Daniel was still praying. Although interrupting is not typically proper etiquette, I would definitely say that this is a time when I would say, “please Lord, interrupt me now.” Daniel expressed that his prayer was urgent, and then God responded with the same urgency.

For those of you who feel that your prayers often go unheard, or are not of high-priority to God, let these verses be a reminder that your prayers will always be heard. Your prayers may not always be answered in the way you desire them to be answered, but He will answer. I found an article from Christianity Today which presents 5 ways that God answers prayers. Here is their list: “’1. No I love you too much, 2. Yes, but you’ll have to wait, 3. Yes, but not what you expected, 4. Yes, and here’s more, and 5. Yes, I thought you’d never ask.’” Let us therefore take comfort in the fact that our Lord is attentive to our prayers, and that His ways are more incredible than we could possibly imagine. Romans 11:33 (NAS), “oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and unfathomable his ways.” Our minds cannot wrap around God’s plans. They surpass any human ideas.

Let us pray and ask God to open our ears to His response through the Holy Spirit, our soul companion and advocate.

I hope you have a blessed week, and that your coffee may be strong.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

But there is a God…

Hey Everyone,

Do predicaments in life ever seem to be overwhelming and unsolvable? Do you ever feel like the storm swirling around you is simply too much? Well, the Bible teaches us that God is sovereign over everything, over the circumstances that seem like chaos to us as human beings. Nothing that you are dealing with is too complex or too trivial for the Lord. He cares deeply for our physical and emotional needs. God is sovereign over everything. He is sovereign over the crummy days when everything seems to be crashing down upon your shoulders. There is a recurring message throughout Scripture which says, “The Lord is sovereign”. If we do not grasp that truth, then we are missing out on experiencing God’s full power through Scripture. Before we take a look at some examples of God’s sovereignty in Scripture, I would like to lay out the definition of sovereign for you. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, someone who is sovereign is “one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere.”  Our God is the ultimate in sovereign – he exercises supreme authority over all of creation, not just within a limited sphere. He is limitless. Now let’s dig into Scripture and get our hands a little dirty.

1. Daniel: As I had mentioned in my previous post, I am currently going through the book of Daniel with a Beth Moore Bible study book. Daniel and his friends were working for the king as wise men in his palace. The king made a decree that all the wise men would be killed for not being able to make known to him his dream and to interpret it. Daniel was caught in a precarious and sticky situation which could end in his death and his friends’ deaths. He immediately ran to the Lord in prayer. He recognized the power that the Lord had over this situation. The Lord then revealed the dream to Daniel in order that he would share and interpret it to the king. When I was reading today, two verses stuck out to me. Daniel 2:27-28 (ESV), “Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.” God can do what is impossible with man. He rules over situations. He has the power to give us answers to difficult questions, discretion in dangerous situations, and wisdom to make choices.
2. Hannah: What is the deepest desire of your heart? Think of it now and remember it because later in this post we are going to discuss that more in depth. For Hannah, a Bible character in 1 Samuel, her greatest desire was to have children. Her husband, Elkanah, had another wife besides Hannah, who had given Elkanah children. The other wife would taunt Hannah for being barren. Hannah, just like Daniel, ran to the Lord in prayer. There is relief and power in handing over the longings of our hearts to our sovereign Lord. Hannah could not open her womb to have children. No human could open Hannah’s womb. There was a predicament, but there is a God who can bring life out of the barren wombs of our own lives. 1 Samuel 1:27 (ESV), “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.” Do you believe that the Lord hears your requests, sees your longings, and most of all has the power to fulfill them? Do you believe that God can satisfy that desire which you thought of at the beginning of this paragraph? Isaiah 58:11 (ESV), “And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Scripture says that the Lord can satisfy us when we are dwelling in a barren land. He refreshes our souls and tends to our needs and cravings. His answers sometimes just end up looking different then we had expected. His ways are superior to our own.
3. The Bleeding Woman: The story of the bleeding woman who had faith in Jesus’ healing power, is definitely close to my heart. Health troubles have a history of following me. As some of you who have read my blog for a while or know me personally know, in 2013 I struggled with a sickness for nine months that brought pain, weakness, and emotional messes into my everyday life. Praise God for when things seemed uglier and a surgery was scheduled, the Lord healed me. Then about a year ago I started having another health issue: migraines. They do not seem to have a pattern, and they threaten daily to steal my joy. They try to take me back to the place of brokenness I was at last time I was sick. However, this time I am leaning on the Lord and seeking Him daily. He gives me strength to fight and he satisfies my soul. I have no doubt that the Lord can heal me if it is in His will. Luke 8:46-48 (ESV), “But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.’And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.  And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace’.” The Lord is sovereign over physical illness and mental illness. He can command diseases to flee from our bodies.

As we have seen through these Scriptural examples, nothing is impossible with our Lord, the supreme authority over everything. Therefore we should be hitting the floor with our knees bringing our circumstances before Him first rather than immediately running to our fellow men to help us. Prayer is powerful, and the Lord always hears us. Let us be warriors of prayer.

Thank you all for reading! I hope you have a blessed week. As always may your coffee be strong.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

The Purpose Filled Mundane

Hi All,

I am currently writing to you from a hotel room. My family and I are on a lengthy road trip. I have to tell you that this has been such a splendid trip so far. It is always a pleasure to get away from the typical hub bub of ordinary life, especially when it involves family bonding. There are no people that I would rather pile into a van with for twenty hours. Anyway, speaking of ordinary life, I have noticed that I often get casual about life and sink into a haphazard routine. When we are caught up in a cycle of doing the same things and following to do lists, we can lose sight of life’s beauty. We forget that each moment of our lives was predestined before our birth and is filled with God’s purpose.

The “simple” moments we share with family at the dinner table, conversations with a co-worker during break, or cleaning a messy house after your rambunctious children have trashed the place are all beautiful to the Lord. The presence of the Lord does not only reside in the mountain-top highs of life when all is Pinterest-worthy. The Lord’s presence resides with you in the moments when you are sleep deprived and drinking a cup of lukewarm coffee just trying to study the Bible, but your kids are wildly running around you. He is there when you are falling apart over a failed relationship with a friend or significant other. A book which I definitely recommend on this topic is Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman, and here is a quote from there, “What gives moments meaning is not the moments themselves, but the presence of Christ with us in the midst of them.”

This week I have been going through Psalm 139, and three verses about God’s presence in all circumstances stood out to me. Psalm 139:7-10, “Where shall I go from your Spirit?  Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Isn’t it amazing how the Lord is constantly pursuing us wherever we go? We cannot escape Him.

According to scripture, how does the Lord see our lives? Jeremiah 1:5, ““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” The mixture of excitement and mundane of our lives are purpose filled and appointed before the beginning of time. As I reflected on this sweet truth, I questioned whether I was looking at life with this perspective. Am I seeing the simple moments of doing schoolwork and of routines as precious? As we go our separate ways, and I continue my trip, may we all not miss the beauty in our daily lives. May we see each day, each hour, and each minute as a purpose-filled gift from God.

“It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes. —Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest”

Thank you all for reading. I will talk to you soon.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

Grace for an Imperfect Perfectionist

Hi All,

This Wednesday, I made a mistake in my schedule, which caused me to miss a tutoring session for my ACT test. I was absolutely sure that my session was an hour later than it actually was. For those of you who know me personally, you know that I am a perfectionist. Before this event took place, I “happened” to read about expectations in the book Wild and Free by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan. Author Hayley Morgan described how living a life of fulfilling expectations which are not God’s expectations will drain and hinder you in your walk with the Lord. When I messed up my tight-ship schedule, I was crushed because I expect myself to be “top-notch” and A+ exceptional type of quality. After spending quite some time beating myself over the head because I had screwed up, I heard the Lord saying something to me, “I not only died for your transgressions, but I also died for your inadequacies and imperfections. My perfect nature and perfect grace covers your faults. In your weakness I am still me. My grace is a gift. Stop striving to be the picture of a perfect woman because there is no perfect woman. You cannot reach a point of perfection in your human nature. A life of perfectionism will only drain you, for you will fail. I do not fail. Accept my grace.” My response that day and the rest of this week has been, “God drench me in your grace. Please free me from the snares of my own perfect expectations. Speak grace into my life.”

The book Wild and Free asked me where my expectations that dictated my life originated from, and as I reflected and dug deeper into the pit of my soul, I realized that my own self-imposed expectations and mine alone were hindering me. It is funny because even simple “mistakes” I make can bother me. I remember at some point this week being frustrated with myself for accidentally using improper grammar while on the phone with someone. How stupid is that? God did not die for me to be a gal with flawless grammar at all times who is impeccable at time management and never screws up her perfectly planned schedule. I think so often as Christians we buy into the lie that if we are not perfect, we have let down the Lord in some way. We believe that our salvation and the amount of grace we receive is because of what we do, and because we have found favor with God through that. That is FALSE. He died so that He could take an imperfect girl and make her into something beautiful and without blemish in His eyes, for His glory. God’s glory shines in the midst of our inadequacies. 2 Corinthians 12: 9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” He helps us accomplish more than our hearts could have imagined we ever could do.

Do you believe that God’s grace is sufficient for you? John 1:16, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” The Lord has an abundance of grace which is available to us. The Lord has given me a desire to live boldly and freely in His love as a vivacious and passionate woman of faith. In order to live in that freedom, the Lord has been showing me burdens which I must toss away in order to embrace that freedom. Last week I talked about tossing away our fear of making the wrong choices and our fear of inadequacy, and this week I have built upon that, and God has shown me that I must also toss my perfectionism and self-expectations away. Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”. I know I have mentioned this verse a lot lately, but in order to live a life of audacity for the Lord, we must surrender our burdens.

May we live in the freedom that in our imperfections, the Lord is always and forever perfect. I praise Him for that. May you all have a blessed week, and may you all embrace your freedom in the Lord by throwing away the weights which hold you back from running in God’s love. I will see you all next week.

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” –C.S Lewis

 

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

Ditch Analysis Paralysis; Embrace Reckless Abandon in Christ

Hello All,

As I have entered a season of life where I am readying to finish high school next year, I have been asking God what He wants to do with my life and what college He wants me to attend. A few months ago I was planning on heading down the path of nursing, which is a fantastic field. I praise God for the nurses, doctors, and other medics who have invested time and energy into helping me with my health issue. They are an incredible blessing, and it is an honorable call if you have been given it. However, that is not my call. I have always known that I love ministry, and that I love the church. However, through this time of physical suffering, God has taken my love a step further, and He has caused it to burst forth into an uncontainable passion. When I visited a college on my list of possibilities, I went to check out their nursing program but ended up falling in love with their ministry department. I clearly felt God leading me in that direction. That being said, I know it will not be an easy path which is well-accepted by those around me. It is not the best paying job out there. However, none of those things matter or worry me. I am ready to take this leap and to accept it with all of its challenges.

Oftentimes God calls us to do some wacky things that go outside of the social norms for His glory, but worry overtakes us and hinders us from fulfilling His purpose for our lives. We spend an abundance of time over-analyzing and stressing over the consequences of whatever risky thing God is calling us to. We analyze it to the point that we do nothing about what the Lord is saying. We make the choice to sit back, dwell on the potential outcomes, whether the choice is wrong or right, and we act off of our fears and try to delay and avoid decision making. Fear paralyzes us and withholds our feet from moving an inch. I have referenced this book in a couple of my recent posts, but a month ago I finished reading The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst, and I have gained a lot from it. Here is a quote from her, about what she calls analysis paralysis: “There is no perfect decision—only the perfectly surrendered decision to press through our fears and know that God is working in us to bring about good through us.”

Now let us dive into scripture to find examples of people who struggled with their own version of analysis paralysis when the Lord instructed them to move in an audacious way.

1. Moses: When the Lord called Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, Moses doubted his own abilities, because he did not recognize that the Lord is strong in the midst of his inability. Exodus 3:11 (ESV), “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” He spent all of his time worrying about what he was lacking that he missed what God would do through him. Moses continued to try and wiggle out of this unwanted and complicated move once again in the next chapter. Exodus 4:1, 10-13 (ESV), “Then Moses answered, ‘But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you…’ But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’ But he said, ‘Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.’” Moses had his brother Aaron do the speaking for Moses when going before Pharaoh because of doubt that the Lord could use him. We are just like Moses sometimes, doubting that God can work through our inabilities. We doubt that He can use someone like us because we do not see ourselves through the lens of His purpose. We see ourselves through a lens of insecurity.
2. The Song of Solomon Wife: Song of Solomon 5:2-3 (ESV), “I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. ‘Open to me, my sister, my love,my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.” I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them?” To understand this verse in its full and true meaning, I used my Expositor’s Bible Commentary with the New International Version. Song of Solomon is an easy book to be misinterpreted because of its figurative language. Dennis F. Kinlaw, the author of the Song of Solomon portion of the commentary, said this scene is likely a dream sequence, and one quote that particularly stood out to me was this, “With our joys come fears. Often they surface in our dreams, arising from some sense of failure, or fear of inadequacy.” The Song of Solomon woman, although she is depicted in each chapter as a woman of lovely and sensual appearance, deep down in her heart she struggles with insecurity and anxiety. She fears that she will not be enough for her spouse, her beloved. This woman hesitates when her love is calling for her at her door. Hesitation brings consequences as we have already seen. Song of Solomon 5:6-7 (ESV), “I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.” Because of this woman’s fear, she was paralyzed in a moment of hesitancy, and she missed her love, for he had already left.

 

Paralyzing fear will hinder us in our walk with God and will hold us back from resting fully in our freedom to run recklessly and audaciously with our King, wherever He may lead us. John 8:36 (ESV), “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” We are free from our insecurity and our debilitating fear. They do not have the power to overcome us if we are living in the freedom of Christ. Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”. Let us toss off the burdensome weight of paralyzing fear and instead embrace the freedom we have to run the race God has laid out for us with reckless abandon.

 

Thank you all for reading my blog this week. May you all not be hindered by fear but run in freedom. I am going to be reading through a book called Wild and Free by Hayley Morgan and Jess Connolly this summer. This book is all about embracing the fact that we are wild and free in Jesus, and that we are always enough and never too much. I invite you to join me in reading this book. To learn more, please visit http://www.wearewildandfree.com/. I will see you all next week back on the blog. Until then, be wild. Oh and have strong coffee, just savor that heavenly flavor. I love you all. I am truly blessed to have such rad viewers. Thank you for that. God Bless!

 

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah