Well here it is almost November and I'm just now getting to October. What a month it has been!!!! In many differant ways! Alot of what has happened this month has led me back to the Bible to search out passages for encouragement and strength and finding hope in Christ when things look...stinky. I know it's not a very "deep" topic but it's one that's close to my heart right now and that's what this whole blog is about, right?
Life hits hard sometimes. Or should I say Satan hits hard sometimes? And it's when he is hitting us hard that we run to God. For reassurance, for comfort, for strength to do what I'm supposed to do, and even for a little slap to go with it. Well life/Satan recently hit pretty hard again (he seems to be doing that alot lately) and I was driven to my knees and to the Word. Of course, in times of difficulty one of the first places I went was Lamentations 3. What a chapter!!! Yes life stinks, yes it looks like nothing is going right, but! We aren't overcome/consumed by it because the Lord is merciful and compassionate and faithful! He is good and therefore we can hope in Him.
Then there was Psalms 73. Anyone read that one? I don't know how many times I've related to it...and not in a good way. I too was having myself a pity party. "Lord, why does this have to happen again?!?!? Just when I think I'm 'getting on top' they've got to throw another one my way! And why is it everything seems to always go their way?! Everyone seems to be on their side! When I'm only trying to do what You've told me to!" Yeah....that's me. But! I was foolish. The way of the sinner will be judged. Their end won't be good though it might look like it. God will deal with them. And in the mean time, He's with me, holding me by my hand, guiding me, counseling me, and being my strength (that is, as soon as I get my act straight).
The following are the rest of the verses I wrote down that day. Each speaking to me of trials and how God is with me through them if I will hope in Him.
"Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side." Psalm 71:20-21
"Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:1-3
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalms 61:2
"O LORD, be gracious unto us(me); we(I) have waited for thee: be thou their(my) arm every morning, our(my) salvation also in the time of trouble." Isaiah 33:2 (parentheses added)
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalms 42:5-6,11
"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Romans 4:20-21
Then there is the one that is my current favorite verse. I use it for everything right now. When I read it I couldn't believe such a phrase was in the Bible. It was like it was meant for me right at that time. "Who against hope believed in hope..." Romans 4:18a That's what I'm trying to do. Hope against hope because nothing is impossible with God. Including hanging on when you've just had it and you think you can't hang on any more.
So I guess that's it. Yeah life stinks from time to time. Sometimes more often than not. But He is there with me guiding me and offering the strength of His awesome hand if I'll just hope in Him. Even when it seems I'm hoping against hope.
With Prayers,
Sarah
I am such a wimp! I get lied about, and I cry. I go on visitation, and I get nervous and "wimp out". I have to go without in the name of Jesus, and I complain. I suffer ANY form of persecution (always small compared to Bible times) and I want to give up. I am the modern day wimp of a Christian. Sad, but true.
A while back now I was smacked in the face with this realization. As I was reading my Bible one day, I was in Acts chapter 5, and I came across the story where Peter and John had been brought before the council, for the second time, on the accusation of preaching Jesus Christ when they had been told not to. After the long process of this and that and after being beaten, they were let go. The Bible says (v 41) "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing..." Amen!!! I was rejoicing with them! They were let go! Then I read on. "...rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." They weren't rejoicing because they had been let go! They were rejoicing because they had been taken to prison! Brought before the council (essentially the judge)! And then beaten!!!! I felt as if someone had smacked me in the face literally! It took me a second to get my breath back! What a convicting phrase! When was the last time I rejoiced because I had suffered shame (of any kind) for our Lord Jesus Christ? Then, after all of that, they went back out and continued to witness for the Lord. "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." (v 42)
To this day that is a lesson I am struggling to learn and grow in. I just recently re-read this part of scripture and was again struck with it and thought it would be a good piece to use for a "Sarah's Thoughts". I'm sure there are some of you who are better at rejoicing and suffering than I am. But even you struggle with it. And then there are you who are just like me. Struggle with it each time.
So go read this passage and gird yourself up for the battle ahead! For the Bible does say that we WILL have persecutions.
I challenge you! Rejoice!!!! And go out and witness!!!!
With Prayers,
Sarah
I recently read through the book of Hosea, a book that while showing God's great judgment also shows His amazing mercy and love. Truly one of the "love story" books of the Bible. As I finished up the book I came across a verse that really struck me. I claimed it as my own and the more I thought about it the more ways I saw that it could be applied.
"They that dwell under his shadow..." Hosea 14:7
Doesn't seem like much at first glance does it, and there is more to it(though this is the section that really spoke to me), but lets think about it for a minute. I would like to share with you a few of the differant ways I have seen it.
First it was a verse of great comfort to me. At this time in my life I am going through numerous difficult situations. Short and sweet, life is hard right now. In this verse I was comforted in that I was reminded that I am dwelling under His shadow! Oh the protection and comfort that that thought evokes! What great comfort to imagine yourself under the shelter of your Heavenly Fathers arms! I was reminded that, even when it seems that all around me are evils and hurts, if I so choose, I can be sheltered by His shadow.
Secondly it made me think about how I dwell under His shadow. The word "dwell" is an action word that implies that I have to do something to dwell there, to put myself under His shadow. So, what is the difference between when I am under it and when I am not? What do I do to put me under that shadow? We are told in many differant passages throughout the Bible that when we obey the Lord we are under His protection. (Exodus 23:22, Joshua 22:2-4, Jeremiah 7:23, Jeremiah 38:20, Hebrews 5:9 to name a few). So, if I want to be under the protection and comfort of His shadow, I need to be sure that (no matter what sin anyone else around me is doing) I am doing what the Lord wants me to do.
I don't know how well I have conveyed my thoughts here but I hope that you have gotten at least a little bit of what I've said and that you find this verse as rich as I have found it.
I challenge you to dwell under His shadow!
With Prayers,
Sarah
I'm sorry it's been so long. Time has flown and I've been so busy with church camp and youth rally's. lol! But here I am. I don't have a real long piece this time. I just wanted to share with you, especially you girls, a favorite verse of mine.
"A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse;
a spring shut up, a fountain sealed."
Now don't flip out, this verse is in Song of Solomon. I couldn't say how many times I'd read this verse before but I've recently been touched by how precious it is to save all that you can for your future husband (or wife).
My question to you, girls and guys, is this. Are you enclosed? Are you shut up? Are you sealed until the day that you become your husbands/wifes?
As a young woman of 23 who, praise the Lord, has never known a man, nor even been kissed I hold this verse very dear to my heart. It is a verse very special to me in reference to my future husband and to my Lord. As I read it, I hold in my minds eye my future husband and the look on his face when I am able to quote this verse to him as our own. I also hold in my minds eye my precious Lord and Saviour to whom my purity is even more dear than to my future husband.
"And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." II Thess 3:5 Yes, I'm waiting for my future husband but more than that I'm waiting for Christ. For His will, His man, His timing, etc. I am enclosed, shut up,and sealed, waiting for Christ.
With Prayers,
Sarah
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God…” II Corinthians 5:17-18a
Many times we are asked, “Are you different now from before you were saved?” but I have a new question to ask. “Are you different from the world?” We are a new creature! We are to be a separate and peculiar people! (II Cor 6:17; I Pt 2:9) An example of the believer and a temple of God! (I Tim 4:12; I Cor 3:16-17) A spectacle unto the world! (I Cor 4:9b) All of these things are not just “a little different” from the world but radically different! How different from the world are you?
When you see someone walking through Wal-Mart and you can tell that they are of the world, how different from them do you look? How like them do you look? Do you dress like them, talk like them, work like them, go where they go, have friends like them? If the answer to any of those is yes, then it’s time for a check up and the conclusion is one of two things.
1) You’re saved but you have allowed the world and Satan to run your life, what you wear, where you work, who your friends are, etc. etc. (“Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances…after the commandments and doctrines of men.” Col 2:20-22)
Or 2) You truly aren’t saved (“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I John 2:15)
The solutions to the above are these.
1) Repent! Turn your life back over to God and purpose in your heart (Dan 1:8a) to let Him have control over your dress, work, friends, and talk. ("Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works;" Rev 2:5a)
Or 2) Repent and be saved! Acknowledge your sin and that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sin and loves you! (“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23; “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom 10:9; “Repent ye therefore, and be converted” (saved) Acts 3:19)
One last thought for the Christian. “…The question to precede all others, which finally determines the course of our lives, is What do I really want? Was it to love what God commands…and to desire what He promises? Did I want what I wanted, or did I want what He wanted, no matter what it might cost?
Until the will and the affections are brought under the authority of Christ, we have not begun to understand, let alone to accept, His lordship.” Emphasis added (from Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot)
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Romans 6:6
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. " Romans 12:2
“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13
“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;" Ephesians 6:6
“That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." I Peter 4:2
“For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister..."Mark 3:35
I write this piece because I am saddened at how little todays Christians feel they owe Christ in their every day life. He bought us, we are His and our life ought to show it in every way. So I encourage you to search your life for more ways you can surrender to Him and His will.
Whose life is it anyway? Yours or His?
With Prayers,
Sarah
I had considered doing a newsletter of sorts for a time but just wasn’t sure what the content would be about! I finally decided to go ahead and do it though. If nothing else, I come across some pretty neat stuff in my daily Bible time. Soon after my decision though, I was reading a book and came across a little piece in it that gave me an idea for a “Sarah’s Thoughts” concerning the very verse that I use as my “theme”.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
So…Here we go!
A piece of a letter from Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot concerning waiting:
He was a very positive and joyous young man who makes you feel like you’re the only person who is important to him as you talk. I fell for him, though I had prayed that God would guard my heart with all diligence. We had a wonderful time at the student conference, and one cold but clear evening we went for a long walk all over campus and had pizza by the fire. He also went to hear you speak at one session and couldn’t stop talking about what you said, especially the part about men initiating and women responding. Needless to say, since I’ve returned home I’ve sat here waiting to
respond -- if he would initiate, by writing or calling. He hasn’t done either.
In reading this piece, my mind went in a completely different direction than the author. (Due in part to the fact that I disagree with some of her beliefs/guidelines concerning the guy/girl interaction) I was struck by a couple of mistakes that this girl made. What you might ask? ‘She prayed’ you might say…yes, she prayed. But what for? That God would guard her heart. ‘What’s wrong with that’ you might ask? Well…nothing really. Except that we are expected to take a larger, and more active, part in guarding our hearts (as single young women – and men) than just asking Him to guard it.
All through Scripture we are told to flee, avoid, and turn away from tempting situations etc. (What is more tempting than losing our heart to a member of the opposite sex? We are supposed to give that desire to God though, and wait for “the one” who will gain our heart when we marry them)
Did she do that? No, not really. They – 1) Went for a long walk (at night!) 2) Ate together (not just happened to be eating together in the same group) 3) Sat by the fire together 4) Talked, after only a short acquaintance, about the ways of guys and girls and 5) I’m sure more than that.
“Flee fornication.” I Corinthians 6:18
“Flee also youthful lusts…” II Timothy 2:22
“Abstain from fornication” I Thessalonians 4:3
“Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” I Peter 2:11
“He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul” Proverbs 16:17
“Keep thy heart…” Proverbs 4:23
“Keep…my body…into subjection” I Corinthians 9:27
“Will with the temptation also make a way to escape” I Corinthians 10:13
All of these verses are spoken in a command and are an action you perform to “guard you heart”. We have as much a part of the job of guarding our hearts as God does. He tells us what to do in all of these verses (and more) then we do them, asking for help (and He will help us “Unto him that is able to keep you from falling…” Jude 24 “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation” Revelation 3:10) – but He won’t do it all for us.
Above, it didn’t appear that this girl was acting in a way that would example guarding her heart. Did she flee, abstain from, and remove herself, of keep her heart? No, she remained, walked with, and revealed her heart to this young man.
I’m not being condemning but simply using this letter as an example of how even the little things that so many people see as harmless can lead us to opening our heart to a young man in a way we ought not to except with our husbands.
So in closing I encourage you, whether male or female, to take your part in guarding you heart. Don’t dive into each new “relationship” and then wonder why you have lost your heart.
With Prayers,
Sarah
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