A Call to Intimacy

 

 

Hey Everyone,

Often as human beings when we are struggling physically or just hot emotional messes, we will mask the pain and the truth from others with a fake smile, and an “I’m good” when asked how we are doing. This is often seen in the church as we all gather together to worship our Lord. We like to pretend that everything is fine and dandy because we hate the risk of vulnerability. We often do the same thing with our own Creator. We hide behind a mask or we simply run away from the one who loves us more than anyone could ever love us. As I was thinking on this during my quiet times this week, I reflected on the vulnerability and openness that is needed to keep an intimate and healthy marriage. In marriage you must be honest with one another in sharing struggles and past and current hurts. Just as you cannot have a healthy marriage without out comfortability and vulnerability, you cannot have intimacy with the Lord without those qualities.

John 15:9-10 (MSG), “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.” When I think of being at home, I think of being relaxed, at ease, and being comfortable to be one’s self without fear of judgement. We can and should have that with our Lord. Our God is calling us to draw near to Him and making ourselves at home in His steadfast love for us. He wants us to be real with Him. The Lord is omniscient and omnipresent. He sees the junk drawers of our lives where we stuff our darkest secrets and sins, deepest emotions, and layers of pain. We foolishly think that we can hide from God’s presence like Adam and Eve attempted to do in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:8 (ESV), “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” King David recognized that there was no way to escape God, and that God knows all. Nothing can escape His knowledge, for He already knew it before the beginning of time. Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV), “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” The Lord looked upon our unformed bodies in our mothers’ wombs, and He already know what we would do, think, and say every moment of our lives. Jeremiah 23:24 (ESV), “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.” Our God follows us everywhere, and He is never taken by surprise. He simply desires for us to come to Him and lay down our burdens. He is a caring Father who only desires the best for His children. No hot mess is too chaotic for Him to handle.

One of my favorite songs at the moment is titled Out of Hiding, and it is sung by Bethel music singer Steffany Gretzinger. The song is written from the perspective of our Abba Father talking to us, His beloved children. Here’s a section from the first verse and the chorus: “Come out of hiding. You’re safe here with Me. There’s no need to cover what I already see… (Chorus) ‘Cause I loved you before you knew it was love. And I saw it all, still I chose the cross. And you were the one that I was thinking of when I rose from the grave. Now rid of the shackles, my victory’s yours. I tore the veil for you to come close. There’s no reason to stand at a distance anymore. You’re not far from home.”

I don’t know about you, but these lyrics hit me straight in the heart. Wow, my Father God loves me so much that despite Him knowing I would be unfaithful, and that I would run from Him, He still endured the cross for me. He did it all for me, a wretched sinner.

He is calling all of us, His children, to come out of our hiding place, remove the masks from our faces, and have Selah rest in His intimate love. He wants us to come before Him with openness, and to make our homes in intimacy with Him.

Father God, I pray for myself and my readers that as we head into the weekend and a new week, we would stop hiding from your presence, and that we would remove our masks. I pray that we would come to you with our hurts and secrets out in the open for we cannot have a healthy and intimate relationship with you without that. Thank you for your unconditional love for us and for allowing us to make our home with you. I cannot comprehend your love for us, your children. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Thank you all for joining me on my blog to hear a piece of my heart. I hope you have a blessed weekend and week resting in the Lord’s love. I will see you all soon.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

When Life Gives You Mount Everests

Hi All,

Welcome back to my coffee drinking and Jesus loving corner. Today I want to share a truth that the Lord has brewing and speaking into my soul this week. Dealing with a continuous recurring health issue that keeps hitting me has got me thinking about immovable things that show up in our lives and how we respond to those things. I often like to take situations into my own hands, and if that does not work, I sometimes choose to come to a trusted friend for wisdom rather than on my knees before the throne. Do not get me wrong, building a support system of believers who will encourage you is crucial. We are called to fellowship and community. But leaving God out of the picture when dealing with an immovable object is ridiculous.

Imagine this—one person is at the foot of Mount Everest and is pushing on it an effort to remove an immovable object from his path. This person soon grows exhausted and disheartened as he throws one last shove at the mountain. Nothing budges. He will likely recognize that he needs help, but he foolishly calls upon a human friend to help him take that mountain away. Now two people are leaning against Mount Everest grunting and gritting their teeth. Instead of calling upon the Almighty God who rules the universe with full authority, that person depended on human hands to escape a God-sized problem. As silly as that image is, we do the same thing in life. We approach problems with the help of man. Nothing is impossible with God. Our Mount Everests are mere trinkets that God can remove. He has power over the chaos. However, a great number of things are impossible with man. God’s abilities far surpass our own. Psalm 118:8 (ESV), “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.” By not coming to the Lord in time of need, you are essentially declaring that you do not trust in Him, and you are independent from Him. Romans 8:13 (ESV), “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” The ways of man lead to destruction, but the ways of the Lord bring life and freedom.

When we reject help from the Lord, we are without excuse. We cannot say that we did not know the Lord cares for our problems and hears our cries. For the Bible makes it clear that the Lord will keep us and provide for our needs. Psalm 34:17 (ESV), “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

Let us take a look at an example from scripture when the Israelites faced a giant God-sized trial and attempted to treat it with the strength of their feeble hands. The Israelites chose to prove their independence from the Lord in the midst of a war they could not fight alone. 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 (ESV), “At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, ‘Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.’”

I think as human beings we often adamantly declare independence and self-sufficiency from God like we are pouty toddlers in the Terrible-Twos phase. We never fully outgrow that stage of life. We throw tantrums, storm off, and tenaciously hold to our own ways. We just want to do things on our own without the help of our heavenly Father.  Now wait, do not leave. I am a toddler too. We all are. It is the blunt and convicting truth. I cannot water it down. The Lord has had to remind me many times of my stubborn manner, and it stings, but it reminds me of my desperate need for the Lord. Like toddlers we also learn that there are consequences for our actions. For the Israelites they suffered through many wars because of their choice to rely on the King of Syria rather than the King of the universe.

So we have a choice when life gives us Mount Everests: Are we going to grit our teeth and wear ourselves down in defeat or are we going to cry out to our Abba Father and beg for Him to intervene? If only we would cling with our little fists to our Lord the way we cling to our own way of doing things.

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV), “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” My friends, I am speaking this truth to myself today, not just to you. My health issues are a paradox for me, my family, and the doctors working to treat me. I cannot solve this, and neither can the doctors. All I can do is fall on my knees in prayer, entrusting this Mount Everest to my Almighty God who makes all things possible.

I pray that we all would surrender our mountains and immovable situations to our Father rather than continuing in our stubborn two-year old way. Men fail, but the Lord never EVER fails. Revelation 7:12 (ESV), “’Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen’.”

May you have a blessed weekend, and I will talk to you again next week, my dear friends. I praise God for you.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

Intentional & Influential Living

Hi All,

I have returned from my cocoon of college flashcards back to the world of blogging. There is nothing like the feeling of finishing off a college semester, knowing that you have worked hard and reaped satisfactory grades because of that effort. I may or may not have buried myself in studying with loads of coffee as my companion for the past couple weeks leading to finals. What can I say? I take great pleasure in kicking school butt. But now I’m here and thrilled to begin a season in which I can throw more passion into my blog. God has done more than I ever could have imagined through this blog. I am simply a student with a heart for Jesus. Yet He has taken His truth through my blog posts to countries I never would have dreamed. I am blessed beyond belief.

Today I want to talk to you about something which is near and dear to my heart, a desire which the Lord has sparked within my soul. That, my friends, is what I call, “Intentional and Influential Living”.

What does it look like to live with INTENTION?

Each day is a brand new chance to follow in the path which God has laid out for you. We are called as believers to seek God’s face and follow in the path He directs us. We are each given a particular calling upon our lives, and living it out will look different for me than it does for you. We simply have to trust and focus on the Lord’s truth. He will lead us. Isaiah 30:21 (ESV), “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Throughout middle school and high school, I have been involved in church ministry. I have always been passionate about it, but until recently I did not know that was the field God was calling me to study. When God revealed to me where He was leading me, I received an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement for the future. The Lord is our shepherd, and His ways are greater than we could ever imagine. Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV), “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” As sheep, our job is simple. We simply listen to Him and follow.

Living with intention is also recognizing the influence our choices on ordinary days can impact our lives. We should speak God’s grace to others in every conversation. As people who live intentionally, we think before we speak. We use discretion in our choices and make sure our words match our actions. I am currently reading a book called “The Best Yes” by Lysa TerKeurst, and loving it, by the way. One quote which stood out to me is this, “Our decisions aren’t just isolated choices. Our decisions point our lives in the directions we’re about to head. Show me a decision and I’ll show you a direction.” Our choices reflect who our eyes are upon. If our eyes are on ourselves, it will show. If our eyes are on Christ, it will show. Like Solomon, our prayer should be for wisdom from our Father, the wisest of them all, the One who knows all things and works all things for our benefit (Romans 8:28). Here is part of Solomon’s prayer for wisdom: 1 Kings 3:9 (ESV), “’Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?’” May this be our prayer today: for discernment as we live our lives for the glory of God. Proverbs 2:3-6 (ESV), “yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding”.

What does it look like to live INFLUENTIALLY?

To live influentially is to be a leader who impacts others and promotes change. As believers we are different from the world. We stand out. To the world, we are a wacky group of people, going against the norms of society. 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV), “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Through Christ we can influence people. As nonbelievers around us notice the joy we have, and the different lifestyle we live, their curiosity may be piqued. They might wonder why we choose to live the way we do. We also can impact other believers around us. Through community with others we are to reignite the fires in each others’ souls for Christ. Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV), “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

To live intentionally and influentially is to keep your eyes firmly on the Lord, to live out your calling by following Him, to use discretion in the choices you make, and to remain set apart from the world, impacting others through your lifestyle.

Please join me in prayer for wisdom in our daily lives, as we keep our eyes on Christ, following Him. Let us live intentionally and influentially with boldness for the Lord. Let us be feisty and passionate for Jesus. Nothing in this world can dim the fire within our souls for God. We are wacky, and that is a blessing. Praise God, and embrace it!

Thank you all for reading, and I look forward to chatting with you again over coffee soon. It will be soon this time. I promise. College is over for summer. I’m back and just as passionate as ever. May your cup overflow with the Lord’s blessings.

 In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

Scripture and Lace (with Sam Crabtree)

 

Hi All,

I am excited to bring you my first feature of the new year here on my blog. Everyone please give a warm welcome to the lovely Sam Crabtree from Scripture and Lace on Etsy. Sam is an entrepreneur who uses her job and gifting as a ministry to reach out and encourage others. Let us hop on into my interview with Sam to gain insight into her life and receive inspiration from her faith and how she deals with every day struggles as a businesswoman. God has given us all callings in life, and I hope this post encourages you to take bold leaps for Christ. Also, be sure to keep scrolling because at the end of the post, Sam is giving out something you might be interested in.

 

1. What would you say is the story of your Etsy shop? How did God lead you in that direction, and how did your shop get to where it is now?

 

My Etsy Story is kind of unusual as in, I never intended to actually open an Etsy shop. EVER! I hated the idea at first, but we will get to that part, haha. I’m a creative and artsy person by nature. I LOVE to make things and design. That’s how God created me, and I’m thankful for it. Growing up, my way of making things, quickly became an outlet because I struggle with a bit of anxiety. I married the man of my dreams (Bryan) about 2 and a half years ago. We moved away from family and friends and any ministry we had previously LOVED and CHERISHED. It was heartbreaking, but the LORD had truly wonderful plans for our life and we remained hopeful. My poor husband, lovingly accepts my artistic self, but challenged me to do it for the Lord. Not knowing exactly what that would be I prayed, and prayed…..and prayed some more. Not but a few weeks later, praying in my car the LORD told me I should open an Etsy shop and sell the jewelry I make for fun. I was floored at the idea and dismissed it right away. But HE worked on me and my heart. As the weeks continued the idea became more feasible. Eventually I LOVED the idea and put plans into motion. Ever since I was obedient, the Lord has blessed it every step of the way. Now I have turned a simple shop idea into a way to reach women around the WORLD! I would never have imagined God could use me for something like that.

 

2. What would you say is the best part of your job?

 

Although I adore making jewelry, it’s the BEST. My greatest satisfaction comes from telling my customers about JESUS! Every purchase I get, I write them a “letter of Joy”. These letters are at the heart of the ministry and I always include a bible verse in the contents of my letter. I look at it like this, everyone is facing a battle or trial. If I myself received an encouraging letter from a stranger, not only would I shed tears of joy (I’m a crier), but encouraging words can provide healing. I hope that my words and gift’s for Christ changes someone life in some way.

 

3. What is the inspiration behind your Etsy shop’s name?

 

It’s simple yet complicated all rolled up into one little nugget! Haha.

Choosing a name was hard for me. I mean, I didn’t want to get buyer’s remorse with the name of my shop. Once it’s done, it’s done. After that there isn’t much you can do to change it, especially if you promote it. I also wanted to pick something meaningful, catchy and unique. I definitely over thought it! In the end after much deliberation I went with Scripture & Lace. Scripture because God’s word is evident in all of my work, and lace because I decorate a lot of my packaging with lace.

 

4. What is a Bible verse that gets you through rough times in your work and in the rest of your life?

 

I’m drawn to many different verses for different seasons of my life. I could give you a handful now and I would still have another handful that are all very meaningful in very different ways. When I started this ministry I had one important verse that really hit the nail right on the head. I was obsessively scared of failure. That’s when the Lord presented this verse to me;

 

“God is within her, she will not Fall. God will help her at the break of day”. Psalm 46:5

 

This gave me peace. It was astonishing how different I looked at this ministry after I read these words. The thought of failure left me, then was replaced with Hope and encouragement. The Lord placed this situation in my lap, he trusted me so I must trust myself. Either way that it ends up is the Lords path for ME. The Lord is my home boy, he’s got my back!

 

 

 

5. What keeps you going on with your business rather than giving up?

 

The idea of potentially missing the opportunity to tell someone about the Good News. It’s why I’m here! Of course, I love the business aspect, product design and marketing. It all been a fun and sometimes scary experience. Many time I receive messages on Etsy from customers asking for prayer, or sometimes thanking me for sharing with them. Much more often spilling their entire life situation, Hard – heart wrenching situations, so I can comfort them in a time of need. It gives me comfort that I’m doing something right. It brings me JOY!

 

 

6. If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs what would it be?

I think my best advice is in the form of a question.

What is holding you back from your dream?

Now that you have the specific word in your mind, mentally crumple it up like a piece of paper. Okay. Now throw it somewhere far away. I mean use some muscle!!! Whew. Now that it’s gone, start planning and preparing. Pull out a blank piece of paper and brainstorm. Start small, I sure did. It might not turn out the way you imagine it. But if were being honest with God It will be a million times better! At this point in my life I’ve realized that you can do anything, be anything, as long as you put God in the driver seat and you hold on for dear life. Fasten your seat belt because he will take you places you never expected. It might by bumpy, but a little bump never hurt nobody!

Thank you all for reading! I pray that God has used Sam’s story to touch your heart and cause you to pause and reflect over the Lord’s calling for you, and whether you are following it. Please be sure to go check out Sam’s lovely Etsy shop here https://www.etsy.com/shop/ScriptureAndLace. As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, Sam will be giving out something to show you readers some love. She is giving out a coupon code especially for you. If you would like a discount from orders at her shop, simply use this coupon code at checkout: findjoy16. I will see you all again soon. I hope you have a blessed week everybody. Tata for now.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah and Sam

Some Lessons I learned in 2015

Hi All,

Today I am going to be sharing with you lessons that I learned during 2015. I hope you enjoy and that these lessons give you things to ponder on as we are in the New Year. Happy 2016 everyone!

1. I learned to take a big and bold leap for Christ when after much prayer I decided to sign up for a missions trip to Ecuador. I signed up for a missions trip filled with teams of people I did not know because I knew God would take care of me.

   2. I learned that even when I have no physical strength, God will give me strength. The first day of my missions trip I got extremely sick. I felt awful, and because of my sickness, I had great anxiety. Even though my body was fragile, and I was unable to eat most foods due to stomach illness, God lifted me up and gave me great joy and strength. I was sick the entire time, but God never failed to keep me strong. Without Him, I would have been unable to do anything.

   3. I learned to branch myself out in social situations with confidence. Yes, I am going to talk about Ecuador again, but during my trip since I came in knowing nobody, I had to branch out. I am typically more on the side of being an introvert so this trip was risky for me. I threw myself into a place where a lot of the people there were already connected with others on the trip. God blessed me with amazing friendships on that trip. People showed me such love as I was struggling. We had the best time serving God together. Now, I feel much more confident in social settings. I am confident in myself because the Lord is my Rock.

   4. I learned more about time management. I started my first semester of college classes in the fall of 2015. I had to discover ways to balance my college work with my homeschooling, extracurricular activities, and social times. I began a detailed planner and made lists to help me keep on track.

   5. I learned more about the career I want to go into. I have known for a few years now that I want to be in the medical field. As of a year or so I decided I wanted to be a nurse. This past fall I have been exploring the field of midwifery. I had the opportunity to volunteer in a woman’s center and see pregnant patients at their appointments. I wrote a pretty hefty research paper for my college composition course this semester which is all about midwifery. I have learned a ton about the field which has increased my desire for this career.

   6. I learned more about being patient with myself and slowing down. Sometimes things won’t come as easily as hoped, but that is okay. I’ve poured my heart into new things like calligraphy, ballroom dancing, and sewing this past year. Learning them is a process. I have to realize that some things take a lot of work, patience, and slow steady practice, but the final product of that work will be amazing. I am used to working at marathon speed. I try to get everything done quickly but precisely. With calligraphy, you cannot be fast and precise. You have to calmly stroke up, then stroke down for each letter. When I speed up the letters become sloppier and sloppier. I have also learned this in my spiritual life. I cannot keep going through at top speed. If I do that then how am I going to spend quiet time with the Lord? He calls us to come and rest in Him. I have been reminded of how important this time of peace with Him is throughout this year.

2. I have learned that sometimes I have to say no. I can’t do everything and anything. I need to make sure that I do not overbook myself. I have so many interests and friends who want to meet, but sometimes I need to focus on myself, my time with God, and what I can handle.

Thank you all for reading this post! Be sure to check my blog next week for an exciting collaboration. I hope you have a blessed week.

 

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

The Lord’s Highly Favored One

Hello All,

Merry Christmas! Since Christmas comes on Friday, I decided to post early this week. Lately I have been reading a lot in my Bible about Mary, Jesus’ mother. I am in awe of her unfailing faith and trust that she has in the Lord through this time of chaos where her life was completely turned upside down. Mary’s song has particularly struck me as something worth deeply studying and meditating upon. These worshipful words certainly do not sound like the words of a teenage girl who just found out she was pregnant and about to be shunned. During adversity Mary responded with praise rather than with despair and anxiety. She believed that the Lord’s plans were better than her own, and that He would protect her. Mary not only accepted the news, but she embraced it as a blessing. She felt overjoyed that God had chosen to honor her, a normal teen from Nazareth. Let’s take a look at her song then, shall we?

Luke 1:46-55 (ESV), “And Mary said “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

How do you respond when God leads your life on a difficult path which you did not plan on? You probably don’t respond like Mary did. I certainly know that I don’t usually respond that way. I’m a girl who loves plans. I like having things just so. The truth is that God’s plans are far superior to mine, and I must surrender to Him. I must worship Him for the wonders He has done and will do in my life and in the world.

Mary’s song is filled with acknowledgements of God’s glorious deeds. Through this act of worship, Mary has expressed that God is Lord over her life. No matter what, He is her rock. Pray that God would help you to have a heart like Mary, a heart which glorifies Him unconditionally, one that leans upon Him. Remember that God has you in His best interest, and He will always be with you. You are never alone in the times of chaos. He will guide you and lead you if you allow Him to. It is your choice whether you meet adversity with grumbling or with the joy of the Lord. Ponder over this message and pray that God would lead you in the application of this message daily, now during Christmas and all other times.

I hope that you have a blessed time celebrating the birth of our Savior with your friends and family this week. I will see you back on my blog next week. Thank you for reading, and I hope this message touched your heart in some way.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

But… She was Distracted with Much

Hi All,

This last week in my Planted Bible study from Life Lived Beautifully, I was reading about living a life of simplicity. One day I was reading about the story of Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus. Jesus was coming over to their house for dinner. There was plenty of housework to keep Martha busy for days, and so she enlisted help from her sister Mary. However, when Jesus arrived at their house, Mary suddenly disappeared from the kitchen. Martha was working heartily all by herself. Of course, when Martha discovered that Mary was sitting in a room by Jesus’ feet with all the men, she was quite frustrated. Martha came in and asked Jesus to make her sister return to her duties as a server. What Jesus said next shocked Martha. This is what the Bible says in Luke 10:38-42 (ESV), “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

This passage got me pondering over what things I focus on over Christ. What would the Bible say about me if I was Martha? But, Sarah was distracted with much…. School, hobbies, social events, and responsibilities. I should not be sacrificing my time with the Lord for anything. God is the most important thing in my life. Not even my family should be held in higher priority than God. Only “one thing is necessary” and that is Jesus Christ. The Lord holds up our entire life. If we do not have a relationship with Him, then our life is pointless. Let this verse be your song throughout the week, Psalm 18:2 (ESV), “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Take some time today to pray and think over what things distract you from your intimacy with Christ. Run to Him and remember to hold Him who is the only necessary thing in your life above all else.

Thank you all for reading my blog. I hope you all have a delightful weekend. I will see you again next Friday. May God bless you through this message. Hasta luego!

Signed with God’s Love,

Sarah Klotzbach

 

Living A Beautiful Life (ft. Gretchen Saffles)

Hello Everyone,

I am thrilled to be able to feature Gretchen Saffles, the creator of Life Lived Beautifully, on my blog today. Life Lived Beautifully is a ministry for women of all ages. Gretchen, along with the rest of her team, work together to produce Bible studies, journals, and other products which point women to the Lord and encourage them in their faith walks. Today, I asked Gretchen to share what living a beautiful life looks like to her, and how the way we live our lives can influence others. May this post inspire you to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and daily. Without further delay, let us take a look at what Gretchen had to say in response to my interview questions.

1. What does a life that is lived beautifully look like to you?

A life lived beautifully is centered around making much of Jesus. A woman who lives her life beautifully daily takes up her cross to follow Him. She works hard with her hands for His glory, doing even the most menial, mundane task with joy. She serves others willingly, bending low to care for the needy and help those around her. She lives on purpose, and her deepest hope is in the life that Christ has already purchased for her on the cross. A life that is lived beautifully is always about Jesus, only Jesus, and in living for Him, this woman truly grasps what life is all about.

2. Could you name your favorite female character in the Bible who lived a beautiful life for God and why is she your favorite?

Growing up, I found myself reading the book of Ruth over and over again. There was something captivating about this woman of God. She left her home to go to a new place, and God met her there. He provided for her in ways beyond her imagination. Ruth’s story is a tapestry of grace. I used to read about her and lift her up to a place higher than she deserved. She is a human just like you and me. It wasn’t until years later that God opened my eyes to see the true story lying beneath. The book of Ruth is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through her life, her loss, her brokenness, her willingness, and her ultimate love story with Boaz, our Savior would eventually come. Jesus is from the lineage of Ruth and Boaz. How incredible is that? Ruth’s life is beautiful because she trusted God to provide for her every need. She was willing to bend down low, to lay down her pride, and to leave what was comfortable for the unexpected. And that is just where God met her, in the unexpected place of a field of grace. That is why Ruth is my favorite woman of the Word. I long for my life, every thread of it, to point to Jesus.

3. Why did you create Life Lived Beautifully?

Life Lived Beautifully began as a tiny seed that God planted in my heart years ago. I’ve always dreamed of doing women’s ministry. I wrote it down several times in my journals, but the vision God had placed in my heart seemed too big, too crazy to ever happen. When He called me to start Life Lived Beautifully in 2013, never would I have dreamed it would grow to reach women with the Gospel all over the world. At first I thought it might be a way for me to worship Him through creativity. Little did I know, God would take me on a wild journey to learning that He is faithful, and He sometimes calls us to do crazy things for His glory. The purpose of Life Lived Beautifully is to point women of all ages to Jesus. We are not defined by what we do, what pant size we wear, the dreams we have, or the things we accomplish—we are defined by Christ. I long for women to know this and will spend my days sharing, writing, and creating to point them to the only One Who will satisfy their hearts.

4. What are ways that other women can glorify God daily?

Nancy Leigh DeMoss once said, “The Christian life is not about all the things we do for God—it’s about being loved by Him, loving Him in return, and walking in intimate union and communion with Him.” I love this quote because I realize my tendency to want to earn God’s favor by doing all the right things and checking off a to-do list. Glorifying God begins in the secret. It begins in the quiet moments we spend alone with Him, seeking Him over this world. As we are filled up with God’s promises and grace, we then go forward and share it with the world. Another way we can glorify God daily is to worship Him through our actions, our work, and our dreams. He is worthy of our worship in all things and at all times. This is where true joy is found in the life of a believer!

5. Your most recent Bible study “Planted” is about having deeply rooted faith being watered by Christ through Bible study and Christian disciplines. How does your regular quiet time guide you in living a beautiful, fragrant, and God glorifying life?

The Life Lived Beautifully study, Planted, goes back to the basics of the life of a believer. As disciples of Christ, our lives should look different than this world. Abundance is found when we surrender and order our steps around the law of the Lord that brings life to our souls and purpose to our days! One of the most important things we could do each day is to spend time in the Word of God, resting in His presence, eating truth, and getting to know the Lord more intimately. Time with Jesus changes everything about who we are. It guides and directs our steps, redeems and restores our lives, and instills a gospel-centered purpose in our days!

6. Do you think that the way you live your life has and can have an influence on others? If so how?

Absolutely. No matter who you are, you have influence. In some way your actions are influencing those around you. Whether it be younger siblings, friends, a spouse, or a child, our decisions affect the world around us. It is important that we desire to reflect Christ in all we say and do and that our lives are living arrows pointing to the cross. The question is not “do I have influence?”, but rather “how are my decisions, dreams, words, and actions influencing those around me?” We should seek to be pointing people to Christ at all times!

7. What are your suggestions for women who are struggling with how to glorify God in their school places or work atmospheres?

Don’t look to your ability, but to your God Who can do the impossible. He is at work within you, and He will continue to work in and through you (Phil. 1:6). All you are called to do is to love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Leave the rest with Him. You will glorify Him through your love, devotion, and delight. And He will do the rest. He will write your story for His glory. He will be magnified in and through you. What you do matters to the kingdom of God. No matter how small, behind the scenes, or mundane your daily tasks may feel, they matter to God. Work wholeheartedly for HIS glory. Seek to know Him in all you do. Treasure His Word above the words of man. And delight in the presence of your Savior as you work, study, serve, and live.

 

Thank you all for reading this blog post. Please be sure to go check out Life Lived Beautifully at their website here http://lifelivedbeautifully.com/ . Also, thank you Gretchen for joining me on my blog to share your heart with my viewers. I hope that you found this post encouraging and that it has inspired you to ask God for guidance in living a beautifully fragrant life for Him. I hope you have a blessed rest of your week, and I will see you back on my blog next Friday.

Signed with God’s Love,

Sarah

Let Us Meditate

Hello All,

Today I’d like to talk about the spiritual discipline of memorizing and meditating on scripture. I’m currently using the Planted Bible Study from Life Lived Beautifully for my quiet times, and last week in that study we discussed this topic. Although people typically think of meditation being something to empty the mind in yoga, Christian meditation is the polar opposite. As Christians when reading a Bible passage we should not only be taking in the words, but we should be dwelling deeply on it and striving to apply it to our lives. One of my friends is doing this study alongside me, and we’ve set a goal to memorize one Bible verse per week; then test it out on each other. Last week we memorized Proverbs 3:3 (ESV), “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.” This verse reminds me to wear God’s love everywhere I go, that people may know of the joy that I have in Christ. Memorizing Scripture together with a friend in the faith is a fantastic way to keep one another accountable for our Scriptural studies. We also will discuss our thoughts, interpretations, and goals we have for application based on the passage we’ve read. I highly recommend memorizing scripture and studying with a partner; if you are searching for ways to deepen and strengthen your faith life. Anyway, here are some Scriptures that discuss how crucial meditation on the Word is in Christianity.

1. The Bible says to meditate on God’s Word day and night. At all times I should be dwelling upon Him. Psalm 1:2 (ESV), “But his delight is in the law of the Lord,and on his law he meditates day and night.”
2. Through meditation on scriptures, God will give us His wisdom to go with us throughout each day. Psalm 119:97-99 (ESV) “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.”
3. God’s Word is fulfilling like the richest of foods. We should be craving for more of Him because He will satisfy our souls. Psalm 63: 5-7 (ESV), “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
4. If we know the Lord’s Word we can use it to fight against temptation like Jesus did when He was tempted by Satan. Psalm 119:11 (ESV), “I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” God’s Word is mighty and as we study it, we will be strengthened. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV), “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
5. If we have treasured God’s Word and studied it, He will use it to guide us daily. Psalm 119:104-105 (MSG), “With your instruction, I understand life;that’s why I hate false propaganda. By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.”
6. We are to focus on things which are God glorifying. 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.” (My friend and I are memorizing this verse this week if you want to join us in memorizing it.)

I hope that this post has inspired you to further your walk with Christ through memorization and meditation of the Word. I will see all again next Friday, and sometime soon I will be having an exciting feature on my blog. Be sure to keep an eye out for that. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thank you for reading my blog.

Signed with God’s Love,

Sarah

Blessing God Through Your Body

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)

We are a temple of the One True King. How then can we treat our bodies as if they are trash? Although treating yourself is alright, we are instructed to handle our bodies with care. Meaning: fill your body with fruits, veggies, and other things which will strengthen you, and prepare you for a life of serving the Lord. I met with my delightful friend Hannah today to study with her and to collaborate for our blogs. You can check out, “How to Glorify God In Your Body”, on her blog https://deeplyrooteddaisy.wordpress.com

I asked Hannah her opinion on why she feels that blessing our body with nutrients is important to God. “Because you can’t have a toxic environment for the Holy Spirit who is everything pure. You need to make sure you bless your body physically, spiritually, and mentally: mentally meaning filling your mind with the Lord; spiritually meaning pouring out those words of truth into your daily life. Physically meaning treating your body with respect in your eating habits as well as working out.”

I definitely agree with Hannah. To me having healthy eating habits and staying fit is important to the Lord. Although I eat desserts and less healthy foods at times, I recognize how crucial it is to be filled with the foods which honor your body. Fruits and veggies will help increase your health and help prevent illness. The stronger your body is, the easier the difficult tasks of life will become. If your body is healthy you will automatically be more energized throughout your day.

Today I am going to be sharing with you my passion for creating joy filled smoothies. Smoothies not only taste amazingly delicious, but they also are renewing and energizing to your bones.

My first creation that I’d like to show you is my, “Green Berry Tea Delight.” This smoothie is filled with enriching ingredients which leave me craving more and more.

Ingredients:

1 banana

A handful of strawberries

A handful of blueberries

1 cup of freshly brewed green herbal tea (try out the Simply Balanced Organic Green Tea with soothing ginger)

1 cup of ice

1 cup of vanilla yogurt (try the Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt)

1 cup of milk (try Simply Balanced organic low-fat milk)

Then simply blend it all up, and you’ve got a tasty masterpiece.

The second smoothie recipe I am going to share is my “Sunshine in Shades of Green”.

Ingredients:

1 banana

2 handfuls of Organic Spinach

1 half cup of orange juice (Recommended: Florida’s Natural 100% orange juice with no pulp)

1 tablespoon of Powdered Spirulina

1 handful of strawberries

¼ cup of Vanilla yogurt

1 tablespoon of protein powder (Try vanilla flavored Protein Whey Powder)

And lastly…

½ cup of milk

My last smoothie recipe is my “Pretty Pink Tutu Smoothie”.

Ingredients:

1 cup of raspberry lemonade (try out All Natural Simply Lemonade with Raspberry)

1 handful of strawberries

1 banana

1 cup of vanilla yogurt

1 cup of ice

¼ cup milk

1 peeled kiwi

Thank you everyone for reading, and I hope you are inspired to fill your body with natural delights that will build you up and not bring you down. Treasure the body which the Lord has blessed you with. Take care of your physical health as well as your health in your relationship with God. If you want me to make more recipe posts, please let me know because I adore cooking/baking and health in general.

I will see you back on my blog next week.

Signed in God’s Love,

Sarah