Seeing Me…Brave

Today I am participating in Live Free Thursday at Suzanne Eller’s blog where we talking about being brave.   I am participating in Week 2 of Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies current study, “What Happens When Women Walk In Faith by Lysa TerKeurst as well.

This week’s verse is “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Have you ever felt judged by others? I’m pretty sure we all have at on time or another. Well for s long time, I felt like all I was doing was trying to get people to see me.  I would try not to have my crutches or other assistive devices in pictures.  That way if someone who didn’t know me yet saw the picture, maybe he/she would see me as me not as just a person who happens to have physical differences.

Often we make assumptions, based on what we see first…For example, if you didn’t know me and I didn’t speak when we met, you may question whether I could speak. That would be a reasonable assumption if you only judged me only by my outward appearance. I mean I am a young woman who happens to use crutches and a wheelchair sometimes.

Until you get to know me that is…It is my hope that you begin to see beyond the devices I happen to need to be mobile. If you are brave enough to take the time to see beyond my outward appearance, you may just be surprised.  Yes I do have physical limitations, but God has blessed me with gifts too, just like he has given them to you.

I am so thankful for you all of you who see me more the way God does, you see my heart. Thank you!

Even more than that, I am so grateful for the way God sees each of us. He sees our hearts ❤

I don’t know about you, but that gives me reason to smile and challenges me to look at others through the eyes of my heart. How about it y’all we can do this, show people love today. Will you be brave enough to see beyond someone’s outward appearance?  I pray that each of us will be brave in his/her own way.

A New Addition…

This week I have the privilege of being a part of the newest Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study of The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst  Yeah I know you might be thinking here she goes again talking about her love of Proverbs 31 Ministries.  That’s right I love my sisters in  Proverbs 31 Online Bible studies community ❤  If you’d like to know more about either Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies or The Best Yes, ask me I would love to talk to you about it.

After taking some time off this summer from writing to truly engage in my summer, It’s time to get back to writing consistently.  So I thought what better time is there to take a new step in my writing, than with the start of a new study.

So what is this new addition you may ask? it is something I am going to call Worship Wednesday.  I love that music can often express things that you and I can’t, don’t you?  Why Wednesday? I don’t know about you, but by the middle of the week, I often need a little pick me up.  Hence, Worship Wednesday.  Each Wednesday, I will include at least one song in the post that has touched my life in some way, in the hopes that you will be touched by it.

I hope you each have had a wonderful Wednesday

Here is this week’s Worship Wednesday song:

I pray that you will pause for a few minutes, listen to the song, and just be.

A Place to Begin: My Life Vision

This week as part of Proverbs 31 Limitless Life Online Bible Studies we were challenged to begin crafting a life vision for ourselves. You may be wondering how does a person craft a life vision? Well in his book Limitless Life, Pastor Derwin Gray, suggests five questions to help us craft our own life vision.

The 5 Questions Are:

1. How do you want to be seen in ten years?
2. What do you want to be known for in ten years?
3. What do you want your family to be like?
4. What makes your heart sing?
5. Who in your life will tell you the truth about yourself?

 

Question 1: How do you want to be seen in ten years? Question 2: What do you want to be known for in ten years? Question 3: What do you want your family to be like? Question 4: What makes your heart sing? Question 5: Who in your life will tell you the truth about yourself? – See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2014/06/23/crafting-a-life-vision/#sthash.tEbP7a3q.dpuf

Question 1: How do you want to be seen in ten years? Question 2: What do you want to be known for in ten years? Question 3: What do you want your family to be like? Question 4: What makes your heart sing? Question 5: Who in your life will tell you the truth about yourself? – See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2014/06/23/crafting-a-life-vision/#sthash.tEbP7a3q.dpuf

To be honest, at first these 5 questions were a bit overwhelming.   Instead of letting the feeling of being overwhelmed stop me from beginning this process, I decided to answer them a little differently.  When I have been on teams/groups who were casting a vision before, we began with a concept or a name. I thought why not use my name? What do I want to be known for? What do I want people to say they see in me?

Here’s what I have come up with so far….

Shines her light for Him

Always Open

Radical Love

Authenticity

Humble Heart

So what does my pretty acrostic mean?

My Vision Statement

•  Letting God shine through what I say and do.
•  Giving all I am over to God and doing whatever He calls me to do.  That might mean new people, places, or positions whatever it is I am open.
•  Loving each person that comes into my life like I have been loved (1 John 4:19).
• Showing others not only who I truly am, but being a true reflection of the One I love and serve.
• Serving my family, friends, and community in love.

 I know you are probably thinking, that is really nice Sarah, but isn’t that going to be tough to actually live out?  Truthfully if I was on my own, it would be impossible.  Thankfully, though I am not doing it on my own and my life verse is true.

My Life Verse

The most amazing part to me is as my life changes, my life vision changes.   Let’s not bogged down in the process friends, because if I had let it overwhelm me, I wouldn’t even have a place to start.   Let’s start friends and see where God leads 🙂

Question 1: How do you want to be seen in ten years? Question 2: What do you want to be known for in ten years? Question 3: What do you want your family to be like? Question 4: What makes your heart sing? Question 5: Who in your life will tell you the truth about yourself? – See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2014/06/23/crafting-a-life-vision/#sthash.tEbP7a3q.dpuf

Bearer of Light: Kingdom Ambassador

I started to write a post over a year ago when i first saw this picture floating around on Facebook.  For some reason though, I didn’t. However, tonight as I deciding what to write about, I was drawn back to this draft. One of the writing prompts for this week’s blog  hop are the two word’s Kingdom Ambassador.  As I was “marinating” on what it means to be a Kingdom Ambassador this picture came to mind.

So what does being a Kingdom Ambassador mean to me?

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12, NLT).

• Reflect: Anyone who accepts the free gift that Jesus offers, lets Him into his/her heart, has the light of life inside, and can reflect His light.  How do you and I do that? It doesn’t have to be anything complicated.  We can reflect the light in the way we treat another person.  If you don’t think that’s important enough, let a child who knows what you believe catch you saying a “bad word” like shut up, and you will find out just how important it is.  Children watch us ya’ll, whether we always want them to or not, what we are modeling for them matters.

• Shine: When I think of the word shine, I almost instantly think of a song I learned as a little girl.  “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”  “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  You may be thinking Sarah, I don’t have the time or money to go shine my light in another country.  Friend, you don’t have to, there are plenty of people in need right here.  It may be something as simple as calling someone to brighten up his/her day.  You never know when one simple act may have a positive impact.

So my question is what is one way you and I can be a Kingdom Ambassador today?

 

Image from knowmyworth.com

Reading the Labels Wrong…Part 1

This blog was inspired by a blog post written yesterday by Nicki Koziarz on the Proverbs 31 Online Studies blog… If you would like to read Nicki’s blog post click here.

Anyway on the P31 blog yesterday, Nicki told a story about what happened when she read a label incorrectly.  Well as I was working today, I found I had a label story of my own.. So here you go…

Some of you may know that I work in a library.  If you have ever been in a library, you have probably realized that each book has a label on the spine.  That label tells anyone working there, where that book belongs.  You see, each book has a specific place where it belongs in the library.

With each book in the library having a specific spine label, you’d think it would be fairly easy to be sure that each book ends up in the right place.  Well I am here to tell you that it isn’t always that easy.  Why you may ask? I have discovered a couple of reasons:

1. Labels: Sometimes the labels are hard to read.  This happens most when the label is old and the letters and/or numbers have worn off.  It can depend on how the spine label is typed as well.  If the spine label is typed so that it wraps, you may not be able to see all of the label.
2. Placement: If you place another book on the shelf based only on the part of the label you can see, it may be put in the wrong place.  That means when someone wants to check out that book, the people working in the library may not be able to find it.  The person who shelves books the next time may place books in the wrong as well.  How is that possible? If I look at book shelf, the books look like they are shelved correctly, so I just continue shelving as if it is correct.  Later, I go back, read the shelves, then I realize several books were shelved wrong at some point.  That may not seem like a BIG DEAL, but those several books being shelved wrong, could mean having to move and reorganize an entire shelf.

So what does all this have to do with life or even God?

• Labels/Categories: How many times have you or I formed an opinion about a person based on the characteristics we can see? I don’t know about you, but all too often I put the people I know into categories/labels without even realizing it.  When you and I do that, we not only put limits on that person, but the relationship we could have with that person as well.

Recently, I had the privilege of spending the weekend with an awesome lady I have known most of my life.  It wasn’t until that weekend though, that I realized how much I didn’t know about her. I’m telling you all, I now have a new friendship/appreciation for this amazing lady!! So what if there is quite an age difference between us!! That does not make her any less fun or any less a bookwork than I am.  We laughed so much!!

I will never see her the same way again, that’s how God is too!! I know you may be thinking, ok Sarah, what does God have to with this? Well let me tell you, friend,  Just like I will see my friend the same way again now that I have spent time getting to know her on a deeper level, God does that too.  When you and I accept the free gift of salvation, that Jesus offers to everyone who will believe in Him, God no longer sees us as the broken people we are.  He sees you and I as He sees His Son, Jesus.  Pure…Faultless..All because Jesus took our place on the cross (Romans 5:8, John 1:12).

There is more to the story, so I hope to see you tomorrow… Get beyond those labels ya’ll 🙂

Goodnight

 

 

A Dwelling Place…Ephesians 2:22

This Week’s Verse Graphic by Nicki Koziarz

As I was studying this week’s memory verse two words/concepts stood out. The word dwelling seemed to jump off the page at me. Why is that? For me, dwell is more permanent. If you think about it, when you dwell on something you think it over for awhile, it isn’t a quick fix or decision.

Now if you think of that in God terms, it means He is making me into a place where His Holy Spirit can stay. How awesome is that? God wants to make my heart into a place where the Holy Spirit can live. He doesn’t just want to drop the Holy Spirit off for a visit. No when you and I accept Jesus into our hearts, the Holy Spirit enters our lives (Ephesians 1:13, NIV).

I don’t know about you, but I am so grateful to have the Holy Spirit in my life.  Why is that? I don’t know if you have realized this yet or not…Life is often hard and quite messy! Well at least it is for me, and I doubt I am alone :).    That is why I am grateful to have the Holy Spirit/Advocate to help me this messy experience called life (John 14:26, NIV).

Do you need an advocate to help you through this crazy little thing called life? I would love to talk to you about my Jesus, just ask me.

You are probably wondering what the other concept that stood out to me was…When I am reading from my Quest Study Bible, I always look to see if there is a question/info in the margin related to the verse/passage I am reading. Guess what? There was! What I read there, made me smile.   You wanna know what it said? It said, God is always working to make you and I into a reflection of Himself, so that each of us can be who He created us to be, and live a Limitless Life.  The best part though is He isn’t finished yet, and He won’t stop until He is.

^” being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6, NIV)

Doesn’t  that just make you want to smile? Or you might be thinking, Sarah why should that make me smile? Well friend, I can’t speak for you, but I can tell you why it makes me smile.

Reasons why I smile:

1. I am loved: God loves me so much, that He provides for and is working with and through me daily.  (Philippians 1:6)
2. God Never Gives Up: I will let you in on a secret, I tend to be hard-headed, some days more so than others, even on those days God still loves me the same.  Is that amazing or what? (Romans 5:8).
3. Beyond the Labels: God does not care what labels we carry, He will replace each one, and make it so that each of us can have the Limitless Life He has for us. (1 Samuel 16:7).

Remember sweet friend, He is not finished yet

Love and Prayers,

Sarah

Courageous…

This week’s word for MTC (Made to Crave) is Courageous.  When I looked up the definition of courageous, I have to say, I was a little disappointed. According to Mr. Webster, courageous means, “ having or marked by courage”. I was taught in English class not to use the same word or a form of the word as the definition, I think.

I don’t know how you define it, but for me, being courageous means more than just having courage.  So what does it mean to me?

For me, courageous can take on several different forms:

1. The Unlikely Hero:

A. David: He was still very young when he killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17:42).  When no one else would David did, and killed him (1 Samuel 17:51).

2. Even When Afraid:

A. Moses: He was afraid to go to Pharaoh and ask the he release the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 3:11). Moses asks God to send someone else (Exodus 4:13). He is concerned that people will not be able to convince anyone, so Aaron goes with Moses to speak for him (Exodus 4:16).  Yet it is Moses, that performs signs/miracles with his staff (Exodus 4:17).

3.   The Resolute:

A. Daniel: Even though, he could have gotten into trouble, Daniel refused to defile his body with rich food (Daniel 1:8).  He could have gotten others in trouble as well (Daniel 1:10)

The common thread I see in all three of  these cases, is that they were able to be courageous when each one was obedient to God.  Have you ever had that happen? You are unsure about taking a courageous step of faith? I have.

My most courageous step of faith I can think of is sharing my writing. That may not seem like a step of faith to you, but for me it was.  I was like Moses at first, and I tried to tell God that no one would want to read what I have to say.  Well I was wrong, people do read what I write.  I may not be a well known writer yet, but I am glad I was courageously obedient.  Why you may ask? If I had not been obedient, I would not be here to share life with each of you.

Is there an area of life where you need to be courageously obedient? If so, I pray that God gives you the courage to take a step of faith, toward courageous obedience.

We can get real satisfaction….Soul-filling Satisfaction

As a part of Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study this week, we were asked to asked how we respond to this promise? The promise is on the right side of the above graphic.  Here it is again, in case it is hard to read above:

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:9) – See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/current-study/#sthash.mqojycXJ.dpuf

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:9).

I find that promise extremely freeing. Think about it, anyone who is a follower of Christ, does not have to struggle to find true and lasting satisfaction.  How is that possible? Anyone who accepts Christ’s gift of living water, will never thirst again (John 4:14, NIV).  How is that possible? When Christ lives in our hearts, we are enabled through Him to find an eternal, lasting satisfaction.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John (4:13-14, NIV)

Does this mean that as someone who has asked Christ into her heart, that I live like I truly do have this freedom daily? Unfortunately no. Why not? The reason is I am a sinner, just like all of us (Romans 3:23).  As I have been sitting here, I have been thinking why am I not living in the freedom of deep soul filling satisfaction?

One thing keeps coming to my mind, where I am trying to find my satisfaction is wrong. All too often I try to find lasting satisfaction from the people in my life. Only to be let down again, when his/her own humanity/brokenness shows through. Can I get an Amen from my fellow people pleasers, come on I know there is at least one of you out there. I know it isn’t something I’m particularly proud of either, but isn’t it great to know you aren’t alone?

 

The amazing thing is we can ask God to help us let our people pleasing ways, and truly embrace the deep, soul-filling satisfaction only He can give us. So today I am going to end with a prayer.

 Dear God,

I thank you for each person that took the time to read my blog today. I thank you for the ability to write and share with others. I thank you for Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies for giving me the outlet to share with so many amazing Jesus Girls. May you bless each one. If any of us have situations that are keeping us from experiencing your soul-filling satisfaction, we ask Father that You would help us to identify it, and empower us through your strength to get rid of it.

In Jesus Name I Pray,

Amen

It’s My Party And I’ll Cry If I Want To

I don’t know about you, but there are days I want to do just what the girl in this song is doing, throw myself a pity party. I have every right to don’t I?

Look at my life:

• I was born with a disability and have struggled all my life in one way or another.
• My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer 6 years and has had go through multiple forms of treatment to be here.  After his bone marrow transplant the doctors told us this is our “new normal”.
• I have a bachelor’s degree, but I am still working in my hometown, while living at home.

It’s just not FAIR!!! My family and I are believers, who do our best to live out our faith.  Why would God allow us to struggle like this? Why would God allow me to stay in a place that could be so limiting for me?

The key I think is right there in the above block quote.  I said, “My family and I are believers, who do our best to live out our faith”.  When I am relying on my own strength to live out my faith in Christ, I fall short.  It is in these times that I often exchange God’s peace for the situational peace I talked about last week. Situational peace not only robs me of lasting peace, but of God’s perspective as well.

So what’s the difference between God’s perspective and mine?

1. Instead of an it’s just not fair attitude, counting the blessing in the midst of it allFor example:
   • I have a different out look than many people as a result of my physical differences that has allowed me to reach people in a way that is uniquely
   • Yes my dad being diagnosed with cancer has changed all of our lives, but I am extremely grateful to still have him here with us.  Yes. I am truly a daddy’s girl.  I am thankful that God is using this experience to impact the lives of others as well.
   •   Living and working in my hometown has given me the opportunity to give back to the community that has given me so much over the years.  There is the blessing of not having to pay rent while living at home, which means I have been able to save money to take care of things in the future.
2. Through God’s perspective we can find true contentment

• “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13, NIV)
  

• Paul was imprisoned and had a thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:6-8, NIV), yet he found contentment in Christ. The best part is we can too.

Since I started this post with a song, I am going to end with one as well. This is my prayer for all of us as we continue on this journey together.

Love and Prayers have a great rest of the week.

 

Give Peace a Chance

Last week I unpacked a verse.  If you haven’t read my post from last week, I encourage to go back and read it.  Not because I am all that and a bag of chips or anything, haha! Actually, it has very little to do with me at all y’all.  It’s all God!! If you haven’t read last week’s post yet, you are probably sitting there thinking,”what is she talking about?”

So let me do a quick recap:

• Last week I did some verse mapping of 1 Peter 5:7-8
• While I was studying those verses two words stood out to me
• One was anxiety and the other was prowl
• Anxiety/worry has been a part of my life for a long time
• We were not meant to be filled with anxiety worry, we were meant to be filled with something else….
• If you want to read last week’s full post click here

As a girl who is prone to anxiety, who knows she was made for more… I want to get beyond the anxiety and worry. What I truly want is peace. Can anyone guess what the word for this week yet? That’s right it is PEACE…God knew this anxiety prone Jesus girl needed to spend some time learning about peace.

I don’t know about you, but it easier for me to sometimes and not so easy at others. Why is that? Well my Quest study Bible freedom from disturbance; calm.  My life is rarely free from disturbance or calm.  Think about it when was the last time you really had freedom from all disturbance? For me, it seems to happen most when I separate myself from the disturbances in my life.  Right now for example, I am sitting alone in my room writing, listening to the birds outside my window, and I feel at peace.

When I think about the peace that God gives though I don’t think about situational peace.  What do I mean by situational peace? When everything is calm and good in my life, then I feel at peace.  No. I don’t think that is the peace that God can give you and I.  When I think about the peace that God can give each of us, I almost automatically think of the verse in the above graphic.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, NIV).

So what does God’s peace look like?

• Unshakable: Regardless of what’s going on, there is a feeling of security that God truly is who he says He is and keeps His promises.  Then we will also believe what He says about each of us as well.

How is this possible?

• Well if we look at the verse just above this one, we just might find a key.

 ^“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NIV).

• Instead of letting anxiety have control, when we begin to feel anxious, we turn to God. You might be thinking, but Sarah I can’t pray every time I feel anxious.  Prayers don’t have to be long.  When I know something may cause me anxiety, I have prayed simply,” God, please help me”.
•   What if  I can’t find the words? When I can’t find the words, I have found that music can help too.  Often while singing I will express feelings I couldn’t before.

When we turn over our anxiety to God, we are no longer held captive by it.  Instead God enables us to take those thoughts captive.  Then we can replace those thoughts, with God’s truth, and experience His peace.

So my prayer this week is that we all dig into the Word, so that we will be able to take our anxious thoughts captive.   Then we will be able to give God’s peace a chance.