An Eternal Romance

Hello Everybody,

Today I am going to share with you a pure, passionate, and intimate relationship which lasts forever.

It all began in the Garden of Eden when God first created man and woman. They were made in perfect harmony with the Lord, but then they sinned against God. The peace was broken, and sin entered the world. God, in his deep love for mankind, gave Adam and Eve clothes to wear and the option for atonement in sins through animal sacrifices. Innocent blood covers the cost of sin. Animal sacrifices were only a temporary solution; God had a redemptive plan in mind. The Lord promised that He would send a Messiah to save His people from their sin.

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV), “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

He would send someone who would wash our filthy sins away, and we would become white as snow. Isaiah 1:18 (ESV), ““Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

When Jesus came down to earth, He came to share His everlasting life with us. Then once His time on earth was up, He willingly stayed on that cross, even though He could have easily gotten up and walked away. He took on all of our sins and accepted all of God the Father’s wrath in order to give us life. The Lord’s love is unconditional. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV), “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Jesus rose again three days later, and He promised to return someday to take us up to live with Him in Heaven forever. God left the Holy Spirit behind on earth to live within the hearts of all who believe in Him. God knew we needed a Helper for strength, wisdom, and encouragement.

The disciples of Jesus began to preach the Lord’s salvation story to all around them, which gave birth to the church. God loves the church with His unfailing love, and we as the church are betrothed to marry Jesus, the bridegroom, someday in heaven. Revelation 19:7 (ESV), “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;”

The Bible is the Lord’s love letter which was written for us. We await His second coming, but until then we can talk to Him every second of every day through prayer, worship, and reading His Word. Even before you were born, the Lord has treasured you and orchestrated each moment of your life with His love. His love is unconditional which means that no matter what you do, His love for you will never change or fade away. His love will always burn passionately for you, and He will always welcome you back when you stray away from home.

Here’s a passage which I find incredibly encouraging. This passage reminds me that no matter what, God’s love endures forever.

Psalm 136 (ESV)

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;

the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;

the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever;

and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;

and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;

but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;

and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;

and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;

and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;

a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;

and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;

he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Wow, what an encouraging chapter. His love for us is steadfast and will endure forever. We will live with Him for all eternity because the Lord of Hosts cares about us. Isn’t it incredible that God, who is high above all things, deeply desires a relationship with us, and He wants to live with us forever? I don’t know about you, but that blows my mind. Although Pride and Prejudice is one of the best romances of all time, our romance with Christ is far better than any earthly love story. Remember to take time and give thanks to the Lord for being compassionate towards us, and for His unfailing love. One thing Remains by Jesus Culture really summarizes this Bible chapter and is a wonderful reminder of God’s incredible love for us. The chorus says,

“Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me

On and on and on and on it goes. It overwhelms and satisfies my soul.
And I never, ever, have to be afraid. One thing remains”

Thank you all for reading, and remember, Jesus loves you, A LOT. I will see you all again next Friday.

Have a blessed week everybody.

Signed with God’s Love,

Sarah *hugs*

The Ultimate Promise Keeper

Hello Everyone,

I am trying out posting on Fridays to see if this day works better for my readers. On Wednesday, God revealed a situation to me where someone was being dishonest and was going against their word. I took the PSAT test Wednesday morning, and when you take that test, you are required to copy a promise down on paper and then sign at the bottom. The promise states that you will not disclose any information about the questions that were on the test to anyone. Wednesday night on Instagram, I came across a girl who I did not know who had also taken the PSAT but at a different location. She had posted a picture with all the topics from the Reading Comprehension test on it. She did it to be humorous, but yet she had made a promise and broken it. I’m not judging at all what this person did because guess what, we all do the same thing. Even though it may not be revealing test topics online, we still break promises every single day. We break our promises to God, our promises to others, and even promises to ourselves. We don’t always do it purposefully, but as human beings we have faults.

The comforting news is that God is not like us. He is the Ultimate Promise Keeper, and He will never go against His Word. God promised to Noah that He would never flood the entire earth again. Genesis 9: 11 ESV – “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

He promised Abraham that he would have descendants numbered like the stars. Genesis 15:5 ESV – “And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

God promised that He would allow the Israelites to return back to their homeland, the Promised Land. Genesis 50:24 (ESV) – “And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

He promised that He would send a Messiah that would save us all. Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” He promised that He would take away our sins and rise again. The Bible is filled with the Lord’s promises. Some have been fulfilled, and others have not yet been fulfilled such as Jesus’ second return. We know that God is trustworthy and will not break any of His promises because of evidence in the Holy Scriptures and also through our own lives.

If our God keeps His promises, then wouldn’t you suppose God desires us to be promise keepers as well? We are called to live our lives as trustworthy and honest individuals.

Numbers 30:2 (ESV) – “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” If you know that it is impossible for you to do what you are about to promise you will do, do not say it. It is better to speak with honesty instead of committing to something which you are unable to do. Many people say things with well-meaning intentions, and they truly desire to assist people and serve others, but the problem is they don’t have a proper perspective of what they can and can’t handle. As I’ve been growing in age, maturity, and faith, I have had to step back and understand how much I can take on my shoulders. Sometimes even though I may desperately want to meet up and hang out with someone I have to be bluntly honest and say, “I am quite busy this week. When things clear up I will get back to you.” I also have to decide how much I can handle academically; I have to choose wisely which college courses I take so that I don’t end up with a hectic and stressful schedule. God has helped me balance out my life in a way which I have time to relax, do my quiet time, have me time, and spend time with my friends in the midst of things. He has helped me have the wisdom to organize my schedule so that I don’t have too much on my plate. The main point here is that before you go making promises you must pray and ask God to show you what you can take on to your busy life and what you can’t. If God says you can handle it, then you can because God never gives you more than you can handle. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (MSG) – “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.”

When you make a promise and fail to fulfill it, it doesn’t go unnoticed by God, therefore there are consequences for it. James 5:12 (ESV), “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” “A revolutionary way to love people well is to say no.” –Jess Connolly (from Naptime Diaries and the Influence Network.) True friends will understand when you can’t commit at the moment. You have to make sure that you take care of yourself and your life. Your prior commitments that God has given you are supposed to come first. Know your own limitations.

We are called to live and be like our Lord and Savior. If that is our calling then we should be speaking truth to everyone around us and speaking truth directly to our hearts. Psalm 89:34 (ESV) – “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.” Don’t be afraid to speak honestly to others, especially with fellow Christians. Don’t act as if you’ve got it all together, and you can do everything. A lie is a lie whether you do it meaningfully like the girl who posted the PSAT topics online, or you get so incredibly busy that you forget to take care of something you promised you would do for a friend.

As I briefly mentioned in the previous paragraph, we are also supposed to be honest and speak truth to our own hearts. When you lie to yourself saying, “Oh I’m not worth it, or I’m not what people around me want me to be.” No, you are worth more than rubies. Proverbs 31:10 (NIV) – “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.” You aren’t supposed to fit the worldly picture of excellence but you were made to live your life for the Lord. Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) – “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Thank you all for reading, and I hope that this message blesses you and reminds you of how crucial it is to speak truth everywhere you go. May you have a wonderful rest of your week, and I will see you again next Friday.

Signed with God’s Love,

Sarah

The Best Confidence Booster

Hey Everyone,

People who know me can testify to the fact that I am a confident person. I strut my style and don’t give a hoot and holler about what people think of me. I mention my faith freely in all conversations. I don’t care if people find me ridiculous for being incredibly open about my faith and about who God has made me to be. Do you want to know why I’m the way I am? The reason I am confident in my Christian identity and the woman I was created to be is because I have placed my confidence in Jesus Christ. That means that the opinions of humans do not matter; only the way that God sees me is important. I am a treasure in His eyes, and guess what, so are you.

I was not always this way. I used to feel shy, insecure, and socially awkward. I would complement others in order to devalue myself. I preferred to blend in and not attract much attention. People didn’t talk to me because I was sending signals pushing them away that said, “Don’t talk to me”. Over those couple of years God has revealed to me what a beautiful daughter of the King that I am. If you’re personally feeling the way that I used to feel, here are some passages of encouragement to remind you how precious you are.

1. We are God’s prized possessions – James 1:18 (NLT), “He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” The Oxford Dictionary defines prize as “valued extremely highly”. This Bible verse is basically stating that we are worth a high price, which Christ paid and won the rights to us. We belong to the King of Kings, and we have been granted a place in God’s heavenly kingdom. Isn’t that incredible?
2. We are God’s masterpieces – Ephesians 2:10 (NLT), “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Can you imagine a diligent artist painting a vivid image on a canvas? Each stroke he makes is filled with purpose and creativity that all fits together to form a glorious work of art. That’s how God made us. We are His masterpiece filled with personality and purpose. Every bit of us was made for a reason, and we were created to give Him glory. We were made beautifully and uniquely. Through our beauty, people should see us and glorify God because of what a Master Artist He is for making us the way He did. Just as Michelangelo was famous for his art, we should also be bringing honor to our God as His masterpieces.
3. We are made new in Jesus – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT), “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” You are not your past; you are a brand new creation in Jesus Christ. Do not focus on things you used to do; if you have asked for forgiveness then they are gone forever. The Bible mentions that God forgives and forgets. This means that you don’t need to beat yourself over the head with a staff. God is a forgiving and loving God who cares deeply for His children. The encouraging message behind this is that you are not defined by who you were but by who you are now in the family of God. You are a beautiful and precious daughter of the Lord.
4. We are God’s friends – John 15:15 (MSG), “…I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.” Isn’t it a confidence booster knowing that we have a special relationship of closeness with the one who made the heavens and the earth? I know being able to confide in the Lord and Him confide in me through prayer and His Word gives me joy in my heart that I cannot keep to myself. I am so unworthy of God’s love towards me and yet I still receive it. It’s not about what I have done but what God has done for me.
5. We are citizens of heaven – Philippians 3:20 (NLT), “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” This earth below is merely our temporary home. We were created to dwell with the Lord forever. After our life here is through we shall live in God’s heavenly Kingdom. This is a reminder that there is more than our life here, and that someday we will never suffer again. We were placed on this earth for a purpose, but once that purpose has been fulfilled, all is not over. Our lives will never end, and we will be forever joyful because we have faith and have lived our lives to serve our Savior.
6. We are sweet smelling aromas in Christ – 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV), “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines aroma as “a distinctive pervasive and usually pleasant or savory smell.” We were created to be uniquely different and for our faith to be clearly present as it wafts through every room we go like a scrumptious freshly baked apple pie. This verse is more of a calling than an encouragement, and as God has worked on my heart over the years, I strive to be a fragrant aroma for Him.

 

I am confident in who I am in Christ, and I hope you are too. Losing your insecurities and gaining confidence is certainly a process. God has changed and molded me into who I am today over a period of time. I have grown and learned many of life’s tough lessons, but they have all been to shape me into the precious gem that I am in Christ today. I hope and pray that this post was an encouragement to you and has inspired you to appreciate who God has made you to be instead of criticizing yourself. I will talk to you all next Sunday.

Signed with God’s Love,

Sarah

Purpose Filled Hands

Hey all,

Today I am going to be discussing the wonders of a thing that most of us were born with, and that is our hands. We all have different types of hands. Some are larger, and some are smaller. Some are calloused, and some are smooth. Some are cold to the touch, and some can’t stop sweating. The gist is: it doesn’t matter what your hands look or feel like. God created each and every pair of hands with a unique and individual purpose. Our hands were made to be like hardworking ants that are always busy seeing how they can serve their fellow ants. We as children of the Lord are not called to sit back in our La-Z-Boy recliners and binge watch Netflix or go on Pinterest all day. Proverbs 10:4 (ESV), “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” We have to rise up and put these handyman-hands to work. Let’s take a deeper look into the Biblical purpose of our delightful hands.

1. Our hands are called to be hardworking- Psalm 90:17 (ESV) “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” This means God has laid down a calling for our hands. Whatever we do with our hands must be for the glory of our God who gave us those passions and strengths in the first place. That means that whether the work of your hands means cooking for a family, working in an office, carrying children, teaching, taking care of sick people, writing software, or anything else you are called to do, do it for God. Do everything without complaining and put your whole heart into all you do whether you like it or not. Colossians 3:17 (ESV) “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
2. Our hands were made for worship- Psalm 134:2 (ESV), “Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!” This verse can be given multiple meanings and can also tie into the first point. We are to use our hands in worship whether that means raising your hands in song, folding your hands in prayer, or once again worshipping God through doing everything with a willing servant’s heart. Another way to worship with our hands is through the playing of instruments. Psalm 150:1-6 (ESV) “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!”
3. Our hands were made to build one another up in faith – As Christians we should not let other believers struggle alone. We should pray for them and encourage them through Scripture and Biblical advice. We should be keeping each other accountable and reminding one another daily of God’s incredible love that He has for us. Exodus 17:11-13 shows this concept being lived out through Moses, Aaron, and Hur. While Joshua was leading the Israelites into battle, Moses had to lift up his hands in prayer, and then the Israelites would win. Moses was an ordinary human, and humans get tired. Aaron and Hur would hold up Moses’ hands when he could no longer hold them on his own. This is symbolic of lifting one another up through prayer. Prayer is incredibly powerful, and we were made to build each other up like Aaron and Hur did with Moses. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV) “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
4. Our hands are called to be pure – Use your hands for righteous actions as opposed to sinful worldly deeds. Do not use your hands to harm another person or to participate in activities which do not glorify God. Psalm 24:4-5 (ESV) “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” The Bible also mentions that if you have a conflict with another believer, you must go and make things right or (clean your hands in that situation) before coming to God’s altar (Matthew 5:24). Psalm 18:20 (ESV) “So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.”
5. Our hands are called to compassion– Our world is in desperate need of God’s love. Since we are the hands and feet of Jesus, we should eagerly be open to serving those around us. We are to be like Jesus who did not ignore those who were needy, suffering, and hungry for compassion. Take action and reach out to those around you. You have no clue what difference that could make in someone’s life. Proverbs 31:20 (ESV) “She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.”

 

I hope this post reminded you not to have idle hands but instead live out your hands’ calling. If you use your hands for the glory of God each day, God will see that, and you will be blessed. May you have a wonderful week, and I look forward to seeing you again next Sunday.

Posted with God’s love,

Sarah

If Christians Were Punctuation Marks

Hi All,

This blog post is an opportunity to take a look at where you heart lies with God. I decided to take punctuation and correlate them with different types of Christians. Each personality and depth of faith has a chance to grow and has its faults. Enter this post with an open mind and see what God has to reveal to you about your faith walk. You may not fall into one particular category; you may be a mixture of multiple categories. If Christians were punctuation marks which one would you be? Let’s find out.

1. The Period: This is the way it is Christian- If you are a Period type Christian you desire finality and take things quite literally. You’re not yet ready to dig deeper into the understanding of truth. The seed has been planted in your heart but has not fully sprouted yet. It may seem like when people raise their hands in worship or cry during prayer, they are over exaggerating. It doesn’t make sense to you now but don’t worry; if you pray for God to open your heart more to His truth, all will become clearer. Have a willingness to go deeper than what is on the surface and to take a step further into faith.
2. The Question Mark: The Christian yearning for truth- If you are a question mark Christian, you have plenty of questions that you desire answers for. Your heart is desperately craving truth in a way that you’ve never felt for anything else. You are trying to dig below the surface and start taking meat instead of only milk. You may not fully understand some of the things believers do or certain concepts in the Bible, but your heart is in the correct spot. If this is you, please keep up the questions and ask a Pastor, church leader, or strong Christian you can trust about it. Don’t feel as if your questions are stupid. Church leaders will more than gladly offer encouragement and answers for you. If they don’t have an immediate answer for you, they will pray over it and try and get back to you. Questioning is a wonderful thing.
3. The Comma: The sensitive Christian- If you are a comma Christian, you are extremely thoughtful and in tune to the feelings of other Christians. You may be seen as quiet, but those who know you know that you are filled with wisdom from God and opinions on every conversation even if you don’t say it. You serve other people without them even knowing it. You are modest and humbly glorify God. You are deeply rooted in your faith and are constantly spending time with the Lord through His Word and through prayer. You are a prayer warrior, and people always come to you for advice and comfort. You are the person who is extremely expressive in prayer and worship. You speak with eloquence and beauty. You prefer socializing in smaller groups with closer interaction, and you are a genuine person. You mentor many people who are older and younger than you. If this is you keep at it and continue to follow God’s path for you. You are greatly appreciated and respected by other Christians who know you. You may not have courage to always share your faith, but your heart is in the right direction. If you continue to follow God’s guidance, He will take away your fear and give you voice.
4. The Colon: The Christian who likes order- If you are the colon you more than likely are organized and you tend to spend time with God when your life is in order. When chaos comes around you flee. You prefer your own ways and haven’t fully surrendered your life to Christ. A true sign of faith is when you give up your stubborn will to God and allow Him to take over. You must learn that your way is not the best for you. God’s plans are perfect and superior to your own. You can’t fix your life. Remember that what seems purposeless to you is actually filled with God’s purpose. You’re not supposed to understand it, but you are supposed to accept it.
5. The Exclamation Mark: The passionate and expressive Christian- If you are the exclamation mark Christian then that means you are bold in your faith and are extremely open with others about what God has done for you. You may come across as too enthusiastic or overzealous to unbelievers or beginning Christians, but you don’t care because you are so in love with Jesus. You go to all the church events and absolutely enjoy the fellowship with other Christians. Without socializing in groups of likeminded individuals, you would probably be a depressed mess. You talk a lot but may not always be the best listener; however, you certainly have plenty of wisdom to offer. Fellow Christians are most likely drawn to you and delight in your company. You are one of the first people to volunteer when a need arises. You have an insanely busy life because you are always helping out someone new or discipling others. If this is you, keep up that fire for God and remember to listen to others as well as offer your opinions.

Thank you all for reading, and I hope that God used this post to take the blinders off your eyes as you look at where you are in faith. I’m definitely interested to hear where you fall or what combo of personalities you are. Please if you feel like it, comment below on this post or comment on my Facebook post. I hope you have a blessed week, and I’ll see you again next Sunday for another though provoking post.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

Be a Bold and Outspoken Woman of God: It’s Biblical

Hey All,

This post goes out to my fellow ladies. Do you ever feel underestimated or expected to behave in a certain way because you’re a “girl”? I know I sure do, and it drives me crazy. We women are full of guts, strength, independence, confidence, and determination. One of my favorite shirts in my wardrobe is a purple t-shirt which says, “I’m not strong for a girl, I’m just strong.” I walk around wearing it proudly with my head held high. I’m proud of who God created me to be: A bold young outspoken woman with a daring heart.

Many religions, countries, and people in general have attempted to debase women and see them as only sex objects and unable to take care of themselves or fight back. In particular one political figure has seriously insulted women recently (you know who that pompous man is), but that’s not the focus of this post. Women have been expected throughout history to be obedient, quiet, and mind their own business. I’m here to tell you that by being a women of boldness who speaks her mind, you are being Biblical. Most of the women in the Bible were recognized for being strong in character and for having the audacity to serve God and step out in faith.

Sarah- Had an abundance of faith in God and her husband as she left her homeland not knowing where she and Abraham were going. She gathered up all her belongings without questioning or attempting to persuade Abraham otherwise. I bet we all could learn from her obedience and courageousness in leaving all that she knows and holds dear to her heart. Sarah was basically leaving behind her hopes and dreams in order to fully follow the Lord and remain true to her husband. As well as being loyal it shows that she has an adventurous side. Embrace your inner adventurous spirit and follow God wholeheartedly like Sarah.

The Shunammite Woman- Was a woman of hospitality who realized that Elijah was a man of God and had her husband build a room for Elijah on their roof. She desired to have the Lord’s truth living inside her house, and she held Elijah in high reverence for his relationship with God. In her heart she deeply hoped to have her own son and Elijah promised that through God, she would bear a son within a year. She did give birth to a son as promised but once he had grown up, he fell ill and died in his mother’s arms. The Shunammite woman told her husband that “All is well,” then she went on her way to find Elijah. She begged him to return, and she told Elijah that she would not leave him. This woman had incredible faith in God that He could heal and restore her son to her, and God did. Therefore, she did not fear.

Esther- A Jewish woman who risked her life to save her people from the evil Haman’s plot to destroy all Jews. Esther sought God in all her choices, and she recognized the power of prayer. She fasted and asked all her fellow Jews to fast in prayer before she went in front of the King to beg for mercy on her people. God gave Esther confidence as she entered the kingly courts. When she spoke I imagine her voice was without trembling for she knew God was on her side. God used a woman and not a man in this heroic act. Esther 4:16 (NIV), “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” If it weren’t for Esther’s courageous and faithful heart, her people would have suffered by the hand of Haman. Esther is known by the Jews as one of their heroes as she brought deliverance to her people.

Ruth- A Moabite woman who was formerly married to a Jewish man, the son of Naomi. When Ruth’s husband passed away, Naomi expected Ruth to go and return to her family and people. Ruth was a woman of loyalty and she insisted upon going with Naomi and taking care of her in her old age. Ruth 1:16 (NIV), “But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Then Ruth did something even more shocking, she picked up her skirts and did the work of a man out in the fields. She worked up a sweat day by day with determination, and she held herself with strength and stubborn will. She wasn’t going to give in. She put her whole heart out in the work she did with only one goal, to serve Naomi and God. Ruth’s selfless and hardworking spirit did not go unnoticed, a man named Boaz who worked in the fields saw her and fell in love with her. Boaz and Ruth got married and lived happily ever after. I sure do have a weakness for adorable love stories.

Deborah and Jael- Deborah was a prophetess in Israel. She related to Barak what God wanted them to do in battle. Deborah went up with the military as one of the leaders. Deborah foretold that God wouldn’t deliver Sisera into Barak’s hand, He would deliver him into the hands of a woman. That woman was Jael who saw weary Sisera and invited him to enter her tent to rest. She offered him a drink and promised to keep watch for him as he lay. Sisera fell asleep without suspecting a thing. Then Jael grabbed a tent peg and pounded it into Sisera’s skull, immediately killing him. Jael courageously followed God by taking action and killing Sisera without questioning for she feared the Lord.

The Proverbs 31 Woman- This chapter of the Bible focuses on all we are to be as women. We aren’t called to be idle or weak. We were made to rise up to every challenge that life throws at us. Proverbs 31:17 (NIV), “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” God created us to fear the Lord and carry ourselves with the upmost confidence and dignity. Provers 31:30, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Mary the mother of Jesus- Mary, a woman younger than me, carries the strength of a lioness. She put all her trust upon the Lord, and she gave up everything for Him. She gave up her friends, her honor, her parents’ approval, and she was willing to give up her engagement and possibly even her life. Mary was joyful knowing that she was carrying the Messiah within her womb. Her parents did not believe her and everyone frowned judgmentally when they saw her. Joseph her betrothed was an honorable man and would not stone her, but he claimed he could not marry her for being un-loyal. God spoke to him in a dream and told him that she was telling the truth and to marry her. Mary then traveled on a treacherous journey with Joseph for the Census. She was extremely pregnant, but she did not fear. She went through the excruciating pain of giving birth at quite a young age but handled it with the strength of our Almighty God within her.

Priscilla- Was a Jewish woman who had a passionate fire in her soul for the Lord which she couldn’t contain. She along with her husband would share boldly to all around them without worrying over what people would think. There was a man named Apollos who loved God and shared that love with others, but he lacked part of the story. Priscilla and Aquila invited him over to their house and taught him the truth of Jesus Christ, to equip him in teaching others.

These fearless women inspire me each day to boldly proclaim the gospel, be unapologetic in my beliefs, and to hold myself with confidence, outspokenness, and bravery. Repeat this after me: “I (your name), am a strong woman who matters. I am confident in myself, and nobody can hold me down. I am priceless and should be treated as such and no less. My opinions matter, and I will NOT stand down. I will serve my God wholeheartedly and without fear because I know that my Lord is on my side.”

Don’t fall for the trick that women are expected to remain silent. NO, it is TIME for us to RISE above and be BOLD in the Lord our God. You truly are a treasure. No man is better than you. Women and men are both called to the same purpose: to glorify the Lord in all that you do and to share your passion for God without fear.

Take action today and stop standing back and letting men do everything. You are a valiant warrior of inner and outer strength. Now go out and be brave, share the gospel, and stop listening to the lies that you aren’t valuable.

Thank you all for reading and I hope that you have a fabulous week.

God Bless,

Sarah

Coffee Date with Paige: Edifying One Another

Hey Everyone,

Today it’s time for a unique sort of post. This is my first collaboration on this blog, and I’m super thrilled. Today I’m collaborating with the beautiful Paige Kauffman from http://hisbiblicalbeauty.blogspot.com/. I met Paige on my missions trip to Ecuador this summer. Please be sure to go visit her blog after this and also be keeping an eye out for our collaboration on her blog which will hopefully be posted sometime in the near future. Although Paige doesn’t live in the same state as me, I thought it would be awesome to take our online conversation and write as if we were actually having a coffee date. I hope you enjoy this narrative style blog post about the importance of encouraging and cheering others on.

“Hey girlie! How are you?” Paige raced towards me and squeezed me tightly in a hug. “I’m doing wonderful, really busy. Which I like as you know. What about you?” I responded as we headed into the local Starbucks. “Same here. Life’s been pretty crazy but good.” Paige said as she gave a little laugh. We both ordered venti drinks at the counter. We both had gotten free drinks from Starbucks Rewards so we figured, it’s free so why not go all out. I got a Java Chip Frappe, and Paige got a Carmel Ribbon Crunch Frappe. We went and found a secluded table upstairs so we could chat in our own world, undisturbed. “So what’s going on? You seemed like you really wanted to talk to me about something? Sarah, do you have a boyfriend or is it something more serious? Is God showing something to you?” Paige asked with her typical joyful and energetic spirit. “No, I don’t have a boyfriend…” I said with a chuckle, “But God has placed something on my heart, and I really need a girlfriend to rant to and discuss it with. I know that you are perfect for deep conversations and you have plenty of wisdom to offer. Plus I love spending time talking with you and drinking coffee.” I replied as I took a quick drink of my frappe. “So, what’s on your mind?” Paige said as she placed her elbows up on the table and leaned forward. She was ready for a serious conversation.
“Well I’ve been thinking about that Bible verse 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I see tons of girls tearing each other down through discouraging words and even behind their backs through gossiping. It is extremely distressing to me and I wish more girls would understand the importance of being an encouragement to others. I know we’ve all dealt with people trying to take us down.”

Paige grew quiet in thought for a minute then said, “As you know, my seventh and eighth grade year was a really tough time for me. I was made fun of and put down a lot in middle school because I was more into the arts than sports and other things the popular kids liked. I felt like I had no friends and was really alone, even though on the outside I appeared like the happiest girl in the world. I wasn’t happy because no one liked me when I was truly being myself, and nobody liked me when I was trying to fake it and fit in either. I went through depression and attempted suicide a few times.”

I reached across the table and squeezed Paige’s hand, “I’m really proud to know you, Hon. God has used you in mighty ways and He has made you so strong. So many times people won’t accept someone simply because they don’t fit into the norm. I’ve always been different, and I used to hide it to fit in, but this past year or so God has given me an abundance of confidence in myself. This has also carried into me branching and reaching out towards people I don’t normally talk to. I’m now open to try and develop friendships with people. I never want people to feel alone because they’re different. It’s the worst feeling.”

“Aw thanks Sarah! I completely agree. God created all of us unique, and we all have our own purposes in life. Nobody should be rejected because God made that person different.” Paige said as she leaned back into her seat and took a sip of her coffee.

“Also, like I mentioned before, something I absolutely hate is gossiping. Christian girls even fall into that trap. For example maybe a girl gets hurt by someone or is struggling with something, so they go and share it with a friend and then that friend shares it with a friend. Gossiping travels and each time the message gets changed by a person’s own interpretation and facts get lost. In the end it’s a hurtful mess for the person getting talked about. I know that one time somebody gossiped about me, and then it reached my friend’s ears who let me know that I was getting talked about. It certainly didn’t feel good when it happened. It’s sad that you have to be so careful about what you say nowadays.” I said with a deep sigh.

“The gossiping situation is all too familiar to me, especially living in a small town. It can be so easy to do or egg on because you try to justify it by saying you’re “discussing” something. It’s hardest for me not to gossip when I have a reason to be upset with the person.” Paige said thoughtfully.

“For sure, it’s truly a struggle, especially when somebody has hurt your feelings. I would definitely say that in the past I’ve been caught up in gossiping without knowing it. Many Christians with thoughtful intentions can share too much and then start talking about a person when sharing a prayer request. Now I’m cautious in making sure I never say negative words about other people. If I need to talk to someone I am careful to share only some details. For instance I might talk about the situation and what the person has done but not their name. I define gossip as when you say something that could change someone’s view on that person. Also, if people I know share gossip with me or say it while I’m around, I’ll pop in to share a positive word about the person that they’re complaining about. Needless to say people don’t usually talk to me about gossip anywhere.” I said with a chuckle.

“Sadly, there have been times when I’ve gone along with it and times where I haven’t. In those situations I typically change the subject rather than having to confront the person straight-on and upset them.” Paige added.

“For sure! So I’ve been thinking about ways this problem could be solved and tips that could be shared with other girls so they can become encouragers to cheer people along. Do you have any thoughts?” I responded with a contemplative tone.

“I think the more girls open up and understand each other, the more sensitive they’re going to be. We need to realize everyone is fighting their own battle and struggling in different ways. It can also be really easy to become hypocrites as Christian women, and we need to recognize this. It isn’t a competition about how pretty or how skinny or how athletic or how smart you are. If our God is for us, who can be against us? We’re all on the same team here, Jesus’ team, and that means we’ve already won. There’s no need to fight over petty things that will fade away in a matter of days or months or years.” Paige replied as she finished up her coffee.

“Amen sister! We all have our own difficulties in life and we were created to love others as we love ourselves. We are called to be filled with understanding towards others and we are called to cheer on people around us. Instead of causing drama like so many girls do. We should be uniting together as sisters in Christ! When somebody says how my words have impacted them, it really makes me feel mushy and happy inside. It would be quite encouraging to hear this said to me, Job 4:4, “Your words have supported those who stumbled;
you have strengthened faltering knees.” I said enthusiastically.

“It feels so good when people cheer me on. I am so grateful in particular for my mentor Staci. It feels really nice when she always texts me to check in with how my week is going. Also, I think complimenting each other (genuinely!!) means so much. If you like that girl’s shirt, tell her! You think her hair is pretty? Tell her! It makes a girl’s day when we are kind to one another, I know it makes mine.” Paige spoke with a radiant smile on her face.

“Indeed! It truly does make my day when people compliment me no matter what it’s on. I am surrounded by amazing mentors and friends who add so much joy to my life. When my friends text me to see how my life’s going or want to actually spend time with me, it makes me realize how blessed I am. I have mentors and am a mentor to some younger girls, and mentoring is an incredible thing for the one mentored and the one mentoring. I know that in general having a strong circle of women who brighten my day and inspire me to grow in my faith has helped develop me into a better person.” I said with a smile.

“I think it’s super important to invest yourself in relationships with Christian women of all ages. Find a mentor who is 10-15 years older and has wisdom but is still someone you can relate to and look up to. Keep the friends in your closest circle girls who are seeking God as actively and passionately as you are. And if you can, find a younger girl to mentor. It swells your soul with joy when you see her blossom and grow and fall in love with Jesus and is really rewarding. It also can help you better yourself because you are looked at as a role model figure in her life and you want to be the best you can be for her.” Paige beamed.

I took a peak at my phone and realized time had gotten away from me. I’d been so enveloped in our lovely conversation. I slowly got up out of my seat taking a final sip of the whipped cream nestled on the bottom of my cup. Then I gave Paige a big bear hug saying, “Thank you so much for meeting with me girlie. This was amazing, and we must get together again soon, okay?” “Sounds great dear. I’ll see you soon, and I hope you have a delightful week.” Paige grinned as she waved goodbye.

Thank you all for reading and please remember to encourage and love those who are around you. You have no idea what their battles are. Girls, unite and stop the gossiping; end the drama. Show Christ to others through the way that you treat people. Also, please once again go check out Paige’s lovely blog http://hisbiblicalbeauty.blogspot.com/.

In Christ’s Love,

Sarah

War Room: Movie Review and Reflective Thoughts

Hello All,

I am sure you have most likely heard about the most recent Kendrick Brothers film titled, “War Room.” This movie was number one in the box office Friday night, making a total of $4 million within that night. I personally went and saw War Room that night with a dear friend of mine. When I entered the theater it was insane, almost every seat was taken before the previews even began. I was incredibly impressed by how phenomenal this movie was. They not only had a powerful message but a strong sense of humor throughout the whole film. I definitely found myself crying on multiple occasions from laughter as well as emotion. Many moments left the whole audience clapping and cheering for Jesus.

The plot written by the Kendrick Brothers was rock solid in the faith as always. I believe this movie stirred up mine as well as the other viewer’s passions for Jesus inside of us. The story revolves around a couple Elizabeth and Tony Jordan, who cannot seem to quit fighting with one another. Tony makes a sizeable paycheck and is dealing with pride and lustful temptations towards other females. Hold up before you teenagers leave, thinking it cannot apply to you. Let me tell you this movie will fire you up for prayer and for the Lord. Anyways, Elizabeth, who works as a realtor, ends up having Miss Clara, a devout Christian as her latest client. Elizabeth rants to Clara about her struggles and how Tony drives her crazy. Miss Clara shares with Elizabeth that she and Tony are fighting the wrong fights. Miss Clara showed Elizabeth her closet where she says she fights her battles. She had prayers covering every inch of the wall in her closet, demonstrating Miss Clara’s fervent prayer life. Through Miss Clara, God drew Elizabeth to Himself and showed her the importance of prayer and allowing God to take over your life. He showed her how to be forgiving towards her husband and give mercy to others for she has been forgiven of so much. Miss Clara is quite enthusiastic and bold in her faith. She is certainly not afraid to speak her mind. Her character was my favorite character for sure; she was absolutely hilarious.

I will absolutely be buying this movie when it comes out on DVD, and I could watch it over and over without tiring of it. I would definitely recommend if you have any free time, make sure to go see it.

After seeing this movie here are some things I am currently pondering and reflecting on, for those of you who have seen the movie or are going to, chew on this afterwards.

1. Is my prayer life lukewarm or hot coffee? Nobody enjoys a lukewarm cup of coffee and if you do, I’m sorry: you’re a wacko. Miss Clara used this metaphor by giving Elizabeth a tepid cup of coffee when she asked her how her prayer life was. Elizabeth said she wasn’t hot, but she wasn’t cold. This movie inspired me to get deeper in my prayer and to get on fire with Jesus. Be deep and intimate. Express your thoughts: tell Him how you feel today. Example: “Dear God, I’m feeling lazy, all I want to do is read, watch chick flicks, and drink coffee.” Be thankful for all He has blessed you with. Example: “Dear God thank you for creating me to be the sexy and beautiful young lady I am.” Or perhaps with a bit more humility, your prayer could look like this: “Dear God I know that without you I would be a lost cause. You have rescued me more times than I can count and you have been with me through every step in life. Thank you for your mercy towards me and thank you for blessing me every day. I pray for (insert name here) she is struggling (illness, emotional issues, lack of faith, abuse, stress, etc. you name it.” Lift up any situation or person who desperately needs God to step in. Intercede for everyone you can think of. Prayer changes the game. I know that nothing is silly to talk to God about. I have talked to God about my phone conversations which He already knows about, my daily raging rants, the delicious food I ate, asking for wisdom on finding something for school, or the bigger issues. God wants to hear from me, and He wants to hear from you. Have a conversation with Him but remember not to spend your whole time talking but listen for His voice. Don’t worry about your life revolving around you as you pray. Push it away and spend time with Him for however long you wish. He’s got all the time in the world. Imagine if you had a boyfriend/girlfriend or a husband/wife, would you only spend time with him/her once or twice a week? I should hope you would spend time with him/her every day. A relationship can’t have intimacy without spending time together. Philippians 4:6 (NIV), “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
2. Am I extending mercy and forgiveness to others as Jesus did for me? I know that when I get hurt, I’m really hurt. It’s difficult to forgive and forget but that’s what God does every time we ask for forgiveness. He doesn’t sigh and say, “Sorry you really hurt me this time so no, I won’t forgive you.” Could you imagine if we served a God who did that? We’d be dead meat, and we’d be condemned to agony in hell for eternity. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV), “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
3. Am I fighting the right fights and am I fighting against the right enemy? Should I really be pushing for this? I need to know when to sit back and hold my steam inside me. I shouldn’t be picking an argument with a false enemy. Satan is using them as a decoy to distract me from himself. Satan is behind the true hurts of my heart and struggles in my life. Fight Satan off through prayer. John 10:10 (NIV), “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
4. Have I truly allowed God to take over and fight for me? As I posted a couple blog posts ago we are called to trust God and be still. I shouldn’t try and lift myself up and fight on my own because I will surely fail. Go check out my post “Don’t Worry; Be still” for more thoughts on this subject.

 

Thank you to all of my dedicated blog readers who swing by every Sunday to read my posts. For those who are reading my blog for the first time, welcome and thank you for taking the time to check out my page. I hope you will stick around and join my coffee drinking club for enthusiastic children of God. I hope I will see you again next Sunday. Until then, I hope that you will have a blessed week and that you will find time to go see War Room if you haven’t already.

In Christ’s love,

Sarah