Learning...

I love that we never stop learning.  Whether something is brand new, or part of our routine...there is always something new to be discovered.  The best part about it is the way God made us to learn from each other!  We learn in many different ways: through listening, doing, seeing, etc...we also teach in different ways...seems it was meant to be :)  One of my favorite ways to learn is through someone else.  In doing Bible studies, I always find some new insight into a scripture or viewpoint that I never considered before - which in turn leads me to research and more learning.  In teaching my preschoolers, I am AMAZED at how much more they observe and understand about the way things work than I do - and they have such a pure and un'tainted' way of explaining their "findings."  In my every day life with my family, I find that I have absolutely no proper understanding of truly selflessly sharing life with others - Thank God for Mercy!  Isn't it beautiful that God has given us each other for relationship, encouragement, and learning as we come together as brothers and sisters in Christ to form the one body of the Church?

Unfortunately, we don't always take advantage of this gift...or worse, we completely ignore it as we get caught up in the "business" of each day.  I hear "I'm just too busy," a lot...too much...and often from myself ... I have a truth for you my friends, God is NEVER too busy for us.  Imagine!  The Creator, the Ruler of the World, the One who holds all things in orbit...makes time for each one of us!  Yet we make no effort to make time for Him...  Let alone, make an effort for His Church, His Body, Our Brothers and Sisters, Our Fellow man...

Well, I'm sufficiently convicted.

So...what can we do?  Make the effort.  There is no such thing as too little, too late when you're held in the arms of God.  He makes all things right.  He makes all things good.  He allows all seasons.  We were made for community.  We were made for relationship.  We were made for worship. 

 "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith."  Romans 12:4-6

 ^"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."  Romans 8:28-30

Isn't it wonderful how God has worked all things together?  It amazes me every time and each time I am reminded...I learn something new.  I stand in awe of my Father in heaven as I seek to learn His ways!  I read my new favorite verses for the first time today:   "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:5-8  Let Him teach you something new today...ask for the wisdom you wish to receive.  I'm so excited, Lord!  What will you teach me today???

Inside out.

Man...I have GOT to get on the ball about getting this out ON Saturday...sorry for making you wait...and building your anticipation ;)

I do not have anything as wise or Yoda-like as last week...but, just as beautifully handwritten on my heart by God, to you.  Two weeks ago I wrote about choices...but I forgot one very important point...a point that HIT ME BETWEEN THE EYES this week!  Making a choice is all we need to do, yes.  HOWEVER...there are two sides to each choice.  We can choose yes, OR we can CHOOSE no....I know what you're thinking..."yeah...and?"  Example:  I have chosen to transform my health this year.  For me, that means eating right and walking to work every day...no, I mean EVERY day (no matter the weather)...At least...that's what I was telling myself.  Yet, morning after morning after morning, I find myself choosing not to...Choosing "NO."  *All the while, I am thinking I am just choosing "I need more sleep" or "I need to do this or that" or "I don't feel well, I need to get feeling better"  and so on and so on and so on...*

Saying "No" to choosing "Yes" is still choosing "No."

I can't explain why...but this was So huge for me this week!  HUGE!  And the best part?  God is there to support our struggle to choose to say "Yes" (and "No" when necessary).  Please, don't get me wrong, there are times when we need to say "No."  My small revelation was in reference to making a commitment and then finding excuses to choose no.  Am I alone here?  I'd like to think others are as "good" at making excuses as I am...  Praise God, that HE has the power to change that part of me.  So, on the road to "Transformation" there is only One God and He is the ONE source of TRUE TRANSFORMATION, from the inside out!

Far From Perfection

Hello friends!  I hope your week has gone well.  Mine was very usual...nothing out of the ordinary...bland, tepid, and apathetic(...correction: I believe that last word should read PATHETIC!)  'Saturdays With Sara' has brought me to a screeching hault at the end of this Saturday...haulted to the realization that I am nowhere near living my life for the glory of God, as Proverbs 31 calls me to.  A bitterly painful realization!  Even more painful, the realization that Proverbs 31 is an example of perfection as a woman...and I fall SO short.  As I lay reading in bed, ready to turn the lights out and call it a night, I began to think over my day...what did I do all day?  Slept until almost 11, watched several movies, played a game with the fam, did 1/2 a load of laundry...and that's about it.  Some might say, "Oh, what a wonderfully relaxing and lazy Saturday."  And they're right...LAZY.  I share this with you only because I am ashamed that it took until 12:20am Sunday for me to sit down and spend time with #1, G-O-D...the first thought I've given Him all day.  This is NOT the plan he has for ANY of our lives...

"Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world." 1 Peter 5:8-9

Coasting through life...drifting on the waves of moments as we cruise idly on the ship of sloth...awaiting that "roaring lion" to come and have his way...  NO!  God has much greater plans and dreams for our lives and all he asks is the passion and intentionality (from us) to carry out His will!  Now, I know that not all people have the same problems in the same areas...but I am CONVINCED that we ALL struggle with SLOTH and LAZE in some avenue of our lives...think about it.  Whether it's using our spare time idly with television/games/rest or filling all our time with work/friends/family/service (while all GOOD things), we can have too much of a good thing (causing us to neglect / be lazy in another area).  God worked for 6 days (one more than most of us do) and then he rested all the while in communion with His "family" - the Holy Trinity and Heavenly hosts.  He set the model for all good things in those first 7 days!

Thankfully, God does not call us to perfection!  But, He does call us to TRY.  Proverbs 31, I believe, is the perfect example given to women of God as a guideline for behavior.  Our heavenly father know's we will fall short, it's happened since the beginning, (He wouldn't change it for the world) and that's the beauty of grace!  He knows...and all he asks is for true repentence and "his mercies are new every morning!"  EVERY MORNING!!!  But wait, there's more!  God gave us the model, then he gave us the scripture, then he gave us the Crowning Glory example: Jesus Christ!

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time." Hebrews 4:15-16

"...Grace to help us..."!!!!!  I am SO thankful that the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, GOD Himself, dwells within the confines of my sinful, mortal, fallen heart!  He's here to help me.  He's here to guide me.  He's here to convict me.  And, He's here to catch me when I fall...and I will fall...as I have today.

As mournful as I can be about my short commings, I REJOICE in days like this!  WHY?  Because it's a new chance to learn...a stopping point to look back and decide to choose a better path.  A path that leads away from ME and INTO HIM!...ending the day wrapped in His arms, blanketed with love, joy, peace, mercy, and grace.  Our God truly is an AWESOME God!

Choices, Choices...

I realized something this weekend.  Nothing new or ground breaking...but something I've known...it had been in front of me all the time, I just never gave it much thought or paid much attention.  What occurred to me was this: God wants nothing more than to help you through each and every decision of each and every day, but he won't do it for you.  I know what you might be thinking..."Really, Sara?  You never realized that before?"  But that's the tricky part...I think we all know this...we've learned along the way that our choices must come from ourselves and no one (Not even God) will make our choices for us.  Unfortunately, I think this causes many people to believe 'if they can't count on God to make their choices, they can't count on God.'  Nothing could be further from the truth.

See, I've been going along thinking that if I ask for God's help, (say to drop a bad habit) His desire IS to help, but it doesn't mean anything if I don't make the right choices.  What needs to happen is for us to remember to take every though captive and before making any decision: what to wear, what to eat, how to spend our time, how to work, what to say...we MUST consult God, search His character and then rely on Him to lead us in the right direction.  He won't do it for us, but he WILL HELP us make the right choices, IF we choose first to yield to Him!