tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821064102258181432024-02-18T23:44:30.277-08:00Faithfully WaitingSara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-60383257091976545402017-08-18T04:23:00.000-07:002017-08-18T04:23:52.340-07:00Reflections on the Hard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I praise the Lord for laughter's music filling hearts with joy. The joy that finds its birth from the deep places in my heart; which like seeds planted deep in dark, earthy soil, also grow up into lovely blooming blossoms of vibrant flowers. Yes, the joy that springs from the hard things of life: sad goodbyes, lonely heart aches, weariness of body and soul, difficulties with people, interruptions, changes in the plans, sickness, challenges that loom so tall, hopes lost, and a zillion other hard things that God uses to show me His love and show me how much I need His love.<br />
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Why so much "hard"? Because the hard drives me to the Lord, and that is the best place to be; so God is loving me in giving me the hard things for it is His way of drawing me into His warm embrace!<br />
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The hard things of life turn my eyes to Heaven. The lonely, heavy silences open my ears to the echoing praises in Glory reminding me that I am not yet Home. I feel Heaven's longing in me as I sit in the sad quietness and feel my soul's cry for more---for life without goodbyes, life where things only get better and brighter, and for that wondrous moment when I shall see Jesus face to face! Until that day, the hard can be the wind to blow me to Christ's sweet side...if in thanksgiving I turn my sails to be carried along by its current and into God's love be plunged!<br />
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The hard teaches me obedience as I surrender to God's plan in thanksgiving. His ways do not make sense the way I would like or unfold, neatly cookie cutter lives as I have in my own plans for myself. Yet what I see is that God's ways cut away at all the pretty, wrapping paper of "godliness" that I wrap my heart with and penetrates deep to show me my sin and expose the idols of my heart that I do not even realize are there. This is God's wisdom and kindness in my life to discipline me as a father disciplines a child, and the hard is the beautiful tool of discipline in His hands uncovering my sin so that I can repent and turn from my sin and draw ever closer to my Heavenly Father.<br />
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The hard things in my life are gifts of mercy and grace from God in that they always ensure to keep me in a place of seeing my need of Him. As my heart feels overwhelmed by the hard, I am squeezed, pushed, pressured, and prodded until the only place I have to look is up. When God gives me the hard things of life, he is giving me a precious opportunity to learn to depend upon Him. As I find my own soul grappling with hard things, I am given the choice of praising God for giving me the gift of feeling my desperate need of Him...and in the soil of thanksgiving joy blooms victorious.<br />
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-31021117423632897482017-08-17T16:27:00.004-07:002017-08-17T16:27:51.281-07:00The Deepness of Our Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><b>John 15:13</b></i></div>
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<i><b>" There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."</b></i><span class="p"></span></div>
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<span class="p">These are Christ's own words to His disciples before He Himself demonstrated the greatest act of love in all of history by dying, not for His friends, but for His enemies. The verse before this, Jesus gives his disciples a command: love one another. This following verse (13) explains how deep their love must be. Their love must mirror Christ's own. But how do we mirror His love? Usually when I stop to ask myself this question, I automatically begin to examine my love for others. I want to discover how deep it truly is...how much do I mirror Christ...is my love strong, vibrant, and sacrificial? The problem is that when I start doing this, I take my eyes off of Christ's love and I fix my eyes on my own love---my own works. So what do we do? We don't worry about how deep our love is...we don't concern ourselves with how we look...we don't examine our progress. These may seem rather strange and quite contradictory. Yet imagine what would happen if an athlete looked back during a race to see how far he had come and to see how far back his competitors were...he would lose his place in the race because he did not keep his gaze fixed on the goal before him. The secret to cultivating deep love is not in seeing that we have it, but in gazing upon Christ's deep love. If we forget about possessing love and instead abide in Christ's love we will begin living out love in our daily lives. I know that I so often fall into the trap of obsessing over whether I am living out Christ's love and wondering if I am showing love like Christ that I often times miss out on the opportunities that God sends my way to actually love others. So I am left with this thought: Fix all of my thoughts, thanksgivings, daily moments on the love of Christ for sinners---be swallowed up in Christ's love and do not worry about how I can love others. Instead as I am consumed with Christ's love, He will pour His love through me.</span></div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-59356889746870277992017-01-23T20:01:00.003-08:002017-01-23T20:01:55.090-08:00Gifts of Grace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Written in dust on the shelves in my home</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>In the piles of laundry that ensure I'm never alone</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Stacked up high in the sink every day</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Is the message of mercy ever displayed</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>~</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>For once thinking sadly, "I'll need grace for this day."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>While surveying the toys scattered from play</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>And feeling the weight of the sink staked up high</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>And the mountains of laundry reaching the sky</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Once the clutter loitering around</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Seemed a barrier to the peace not found</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Deep in my soul from striving and cleaning</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>For inevitably my flurry left me retreating</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>And once longing for grace just to make it through</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>I realized a truth ever so true</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>That God's grace is not seen in getting me by</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>But in the gifts of today piled up high</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>In the dishes, the laundry, the dust on the shelves</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>In the faces of my children longing to be held</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>In the bathroom needing cleaning again</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>In the pickup of crayons, markers, and pens</b></span></div>
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<b style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;">In the play dough caked in the carpeted floor</b></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>With dinner needing prepping along with much more</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>~</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>If anything I realize I'm blessed beyond measure</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>To have so much of God's grace is truly a treasure</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>For in His daily gifts of grace</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>I see His love through eyes of faith</b></span></div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-1672303393366437822014-09-15T14:35:00.003-07:002014-09-15T14:35:56.634-07:00# 1 The Secret Place {Come Away with Me, My Beloved}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="text Exod-33-18" id="en-NLT-2492">Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”</span> <span class="text Exod-33-19" id="en-NLT-2493"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh<sup>,</sup> before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.</span> <span class="text Exod-33-20" id="en-NLT-2494">But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.”</span> <span class="text Exod-33-21" id="en-NLT-2495"> </span><br />
<span class="text Exod-33-21" id="en-NLT-2495">The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock.</span> <span class="text Exod-33-22" id="en-NLT-2496">As my glorious presence passes by, <i><b>I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.</b></i></span> <span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NLT-2497">Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen" (Emphasis added)</span><br />
<span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NLT-2497">-Exodus 33:18-23 NLT</span><br />
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I have read these verses many times before, but I have never thought that much on verse 22 before today. Before the Lord showed Moses His glory, He first hid him in "the crevice of the rock" and He also covered him with His hand. I wonder why God hid Moses away before showing him His glory? I don't have the answer, but as I think on this it makes me wonder if God still reveals Himself this way? I don't mean so much in the physical sense as I mean in the method of how He meets us in our lives. Does God still call us away---"hide us in the rock"---before He shows us His glory; before He shows us His goodness and grace? </div>
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I wonder this because I feel like my heart is hidden, and it is not something I naturally like. When I am hidden, I cannot be noticed by others; my spiritual life is not out in the open to be praised or admired; my devotion to the Lord is put to the test as I live before an audience of one; and my desire to feel good about my spiritual life cannot be gratified by the common rituals that make me feel spiritual. The longing to be hidden in the secret place---in the presence of God---can be overshadowed by the realization that the gratification of "self" cannot come with me. This is not easy...for in my heart I wish to have both, but this would be to serve both God and my flesh,which is impossible. And so the war rages on inside of me.</div>
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Yet it seems to me that even as I struggle with these sinful desires, the Lord calls me to come away with Him. It is as if He has heard my secret longing to see His glory, and He has called me to come away...to come away from the noise, the approval of others, the appearance of godliness, the guilt of living out (or not) rituals of faith...to come away with Him, to be hidden, to see His glory, to know Him more deeply, to meet Him alone. </div>
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This kind of call does not include the option of a play-by-play face book update on my status or the ability for others to know or understand what is happening in my life. It is a call to the secret place---to be hid in the rock and covered by His hand.</div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-13998824173207333902014-09-15T06:41:00.000-07:002014-09-15T06:41:30.195-07:00Come Away With Me ~ Hide Yourself In Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The longing heart gasps for approval...this anxious heart of mine seems restless and discontented. Like exhausted wheels spinning, spinning, spinning in the mud; my heart seems to spin in place without much progress. As I seek ways to satisfy my longings with the appearance of what I long for, truly my heart can only be satisfied with Him. The Almighty One cannot be bought with rituals, traditions, and outward acts. I find this out more each new day. I know deep down, I really want Him. Yet the weight and pressure and sin inside me clamors at me and urges me to just put on the appearance of godliness. This way I will feel good...like I am being the Christian I should be. I don't have time to really delve deep into the authentic life of following after the Lord, so if I can just put on the appearance of following Him then at least I won't be weighed down by this guilt that I feel now.<br />
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And so here I am, longing to put on the appearance of godliness as I have always done before, but suddenly I am in a place where I no longer am able to do it. It scares me. I feel like I will slip away. As if my grip on faith and living holy to the Lord will weaken, and my life will spin out of control. These fears increase as I think of being a mama now. My longings for the appearance of godliness increase as I think of raising her. It somehow makes me feel like a better mama if I am doing the things that will make me look Christ like. Not that any of these things are wrong, but I know my heart and it is not truly entering in rightly, but out of a desire to be approved by others.<br />
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So as I sit quite lost and confused, a still small voices calls to me. Whispering to me to come away...come away from the clamoring voices inside my head, to come away from my desire to please others and be approved by them, to come away from the appearance of godliness, and hide myself in the Almighty One. Psalm 91 talks of this...He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the Shadow of the Almighty. I need a changed and renewed heart; one that only the Lord can give. One that He fashions in hiding.<br />
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So I am left with the questions...will I only seek the Lord if it is in front of others so as to feel like I am being a good Christian? Will I only read the Word when it is with my family so as to feel like I am fulfilling my duty as a parent? Will I only pray if it is with my husband so as to feel like we have a strong marriage? Or will I come away with the Lord and hide myself in Him? Yes I long to know the Lord, but only through His grace can I come away and be hidden in Him so as to overcome my intense struggle to be approved by others in my Spiritual walk with the Lord.</div>
Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-29762270516043748942014-09-07T12:08:00.002-07:002014-09-07T12:11:47.204-07:00Growing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I watch my baby girl grow each new day, I am struck by how fast life flies by and I just want to make things slow down for a moment. Because I know in my heart that if I close my eyes, my little girl will be all grown up. Oh, yes I want her to grow...I want to celebrate all the milestones, but I don't want to miss a moment of it. I want to savor each day, and pour my heart into her life.<br />
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As I see this heart in me, it makes me realize that my Father in heaven also savors each moment. He is not in a rush for me to "grow up", not that he does not want me to grow in my faith, but he is patient and enjoys seeing and taking me through each new stage in life. He has beautiful and unique lessons for each new day...and he is not anxious to hurry through them or skip them. </div>
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I have heard pastors and speakers talk about increasing your spiritual growth in such a way as to skip ahead 5, 10, 15 years spiritually speaking. Yet I think the Lord enjoys taking us through the process...he likes to see us progress from stage to stage as we grow in him and in faith. </div>
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So with this in mind I am able to rest in where the Lord has placed me, resting in his power to progress my faith day by day. </div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-85002327450148297032014-08-10T15:16:00.001-07:002014-08-10T15:16:08.542-07:00The Unfailing Provider<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This past year, the Lord has demonstrated again and again that He is the unfailing Provider. No matter how big or how small our needs have been, the Lord has wonderfully met them all in His perfect timing and way. I am challenged and encouraged to trust Him more deeply and more readily instead of lingering in my useless worries. The Lord is near to His children, though we may not feel His presence or sense His nearness, He is near just the same. He blesses us with what we need when we need it.</div>
Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-85159400646196311382013-10-17T04:41:00.003-07:002013-10-17T04:41:57.083-07:00Faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am reminded this morning of the many, many times in Scripture that God has called His people to wait upon Him. The many times God has promised to do extraordinary things, but does not reveal the timeframe for His promises to unfold. My mind thinks of the story of Noah...God told Him that He was going to destroy the earth, and warned Noah to build an ark to save his family. Noah obeyed God even though it must have cost him his reputation and popularity, yet in the end it saved his life. Abraham waited excruciatingly long years for God to fulfill His promise of giving him a son through his wife Sarah. He made mistakes along the way, but through it all God persevered his faith and Abraham learned obedience through waiting. And in the end God gave Abraham a son through Sarah and his name was Isaac, and he brought his parents laughter. Skipping ahead....Mary must have felt like any other girl in her town, but when God gave her a mission and a promise that through her the Messiah would come, she obediently submitted to God's plan even though it would make her look like an adulteress. She trusted God that He knew what was best for her and she also knew that He was her "Best". <br />
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So many other stories of God's promises and people's faith or lack of faith. The amazing thing is that faith is not something we can muster up on our own...it too is a gift from God just as the promise He gives us are. So how do we get this gift of faith from God? Ask the Lord. He will give freely to those who ask Him. <br />
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Faith will cost you, though so beware. It will cost you everything this world holds dear, because when you live by faith you do not live by the standards and expectations of those who live in this world. You instead are living for the Lord and you are confident that your citizenship is in heaven where Jesus is. This will not go over well with others and they will not understand, but how else can we live when we know the truth? How can we not endure a little misunderstanding from the people around us in order to live close to the heart of God seeing life through His eyes. keep this perspective in your sights and live by faith today. How? Obey God. When God says TRUST ME....trust Him. When God says SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN....do it. When God says DON'T BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION....pray and don't worry. Always easier said then done. But this is my own challenge today to rest in God's hands and trust Him with my entire life.<br />
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-3760735968964827392013-09-30T07:38:00.001-07:002013-09-30T07:40:12.976-07:00For My Sisters Series #1 {Venturing Out Into The Depths}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dear Bethany, Rachael & Esther,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">If so many miles did not separate us from each other,
I would share these thoughts with you over a hot cup of lemon tea. Perhaps
someday we can all enjoy a tea party with each other once again, but in the
mean time I have decided to jot down some of my thoughts for you to read. I
hope you can glean from them and be both challenged and encouraged by them. So
my precious, little Sisters, here are some thoughts I want to share with you
before you venture out into the world---before you leave the warmth and safety
of home---and before you set out on your own journey to be a light in the
darkness (not saying that you are not already shining lights for Jesus right
now, because you certainly are). I have already begun my journey of venturing
out into the depths, and I still have a long ways ahead of me, but these are
some things that I have learned that I wish to pass on to the three of you. So
much sooner then we think and our journey on this earth will be over and we
will have made it <i>HOME</i>, but until then let us be completely spent and
worn out for God as we journey heavenward.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I am now half-way through my second patrol on the
USCGC Midgett. We are enjoying the blue waters of the south, Pacific Ocean
along the coast of South and Central America. Soon we will be mooring up in
Golfito, Costa Rica for a port call. Last week we enjoyed a few days in Panama.
I went out with some friends to the “Multi-central”, which ended up being very
much like one of our malls back in the States. We enjoyed dinner and some wifi
at a Hard Rock Café. I was talking to a couple of my fellow Coasties, both of
whom are also Christians, and one of them told me something that made me smile.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Sara-Grace, ya know people say that when they put you
here on the Midgett, it was like putting a flower in a toilet bowl.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">At this the other Coastie nodded and laughed , “And
she doesn’t wilt!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I smiled and replied, “It’s not because of me; it is
because of Christ.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Before Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for
our sin, He prayed for His Followers: “Holy Father…My prayer is not that You
take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John
17:15). We live in this world, but we are not of it; our citizenship is in
heaven (Philippians 3:20). Right now you are still at home---safe and shielded
from the darkness of this world---but someday the Lord may lead you down a path
far away from home. He may burden your heart to become a teacher, and so you
may leave home to go off to college so that you can help children learn about
Jesus; you may want to share your faith by caring for wounded Soldiers, so you
may join the Army and become a combat medic; or maybe God might call you to
tell the little boys and girls who live in a country far away about Jesus’
great love, and you may leave all your friends and animals and toys behind to
follow Him. Whatever it may be, the day will come and you will be like a
beautiful flower being plucked from the flower bed, and tossed into a toilet
bowl. You may wonder, “How am I going to survive in such an ugly, dirty place
without wilting and becoming just as ugly and dirty?” You will even have to
face the questions that other people will ask you, “Doesn’t God want you to
stay in the garden where it is safe and you won’t risk wilting in the first
place?” So knowing that you will be bombarded with these questions, fears, and
uncertainties one day soon, and while you are still growing and blossoming into
the young women God wants you to be, here are some of my reflections on
treasuring purity, all the while living in a world that despises it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I can guarantee you that as you get older you will
meet lots of Christian girls, but whether they love Christ or not is an
entirely different question. Some girls will have little concern about purity,
others will spend all their energy pursuing it, some will resent it, and others
will wish they possessed it. My prayer for you girls is not that you pursue
purity with relentless abandon nor that you push it into some dark corner of
your life so as to forget it’s existence, but that you would treasure purity
because being pure makes much of Jesus. I believe that it is quite meaningless
to be pure for the sake of being pure just as it is also meaningless just to go
to church because that is what people do on Sundays. Our goal in life is not
purity, but to glorify God in everything we do and we accomplish this by being
pure. So just like when we all used to pile into the suburban to go on
vacation, we were set on a goal---whether it was Mommom and Poppy’s house,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gulf Shores, or the Hall’s---we accomplished
our goal by driving down the road. The road we were on was not our goal, but it
was the means by which we got to our goal. In the same way, purity is not our
mission in life, making much of Christ is and one way we do this by being pure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I do not want you to get the wrong idea, and think
that I do not consider purity to be important because I think it is very
important and of great value. However, I fear that sometimes we so fill our
minds up with thoughts on “being pure” that we have no room left for Christ and
so defeat our purpose. It is true that when our minds are empty that sin and
impurity can come in and take over our thoughts and keep us from honoring
Christ, but the other extreme is just as bad. If Christ is not the center of
every thought then our hearts will be compromised with impurity. So let us not
be girls who do or do not pursue purity, but let us be girls who pursue Christ.
Let our minds be so filled with His love that no impure thought would have room
to grow in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">God’s plan for our lives hardly ever turns out to be
ideal, but why would they turn out that way in the first place since our
thoughts are not His thoughts nor are our ways His ways? When I decided to join
the Coast Guard, I knew that I would face challenges and difficulties in my
life that I had never encountered before. However I knew that God was the one
leading me forth down this path. I remember back when I was praying and
deciding whether or not I should join the Coast Guard, a verse that encouraged
me to press hard after Christ no matter what, was Psalm 23:4: “Even though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, <i>I will fear no evil, for You
are with me</i>; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The joy of my heart is Jesus Christ, and the blazing
passion of my soul is to share Him with those around me so that they can also
know His love which is better than life (Psalm 63:3). Daily I am surrounded by
men and women who are desperately pursing their pleasure in earthly things
apart from Jesus. They long to be loved and treasured so they do all they can
to attain what they want, but they look for it in all the wrong places. They
may gratify their flesh in the process, but their souls will never be satisfied
until they come to Christ and find their all in Him. They may appear happy and
content, but their souls are broken and they do not know true joy. Never let
your heart be deceived into thinking that you are missing out in life because
you are living for Jesus and are seeking to please Him by the way you live and
act. Jesus is the only One who can fill the void in our hearts. He is the
greatest joy we can ever know, the dearest friend we can ever have, the most
costly treasure we can ever possess, the only Savior we can trust and depend
upon with our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">So being anchored and secure in our great Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, run the race God has for you with endurance, and shine His
beauty and glory to the world. Do not put your hand to the plow and look back;
you cannot press heavenward while gazing at the things of this world. Know that
God has a plan for your life, and also know that His plans are not easy and
quick. He is faithful to finish the work that He started in us to make us like
Jesus, and He is not in a rush but will patiently bring it about in His perfect
timing. He will take us through peaceful meadows as well as through dark
valleys. It is true that it would be easier and more comfortable to stay in the
flower bed where it is safe and you are nurtured and admired by all who pass
by, but you would not be able to shine God’s glory into the darkness or spread
the message of salvation to the lost. We must be plucked---we must die to self
and all its hope and desires and dreams---in order to go into this dark world
to shine God’s glory; and it hurts and it is not easy, but through it all
Christ is always at our side. So do not stay where things are comfortable,
easy, and safe: go into the battle. God will fight for you, but know this that
before you can see God fight for you, you must go into the battle. Press on in
His strength and you will see His glory. Remember that you must feel the heat
of the battle before you will see the hand of God at work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Take the adventure that God has for you, and do not
allow fear to control you and keep you from making known the glory of God.
Following hard after Christ is not easy, but we must remember that when all is
said and done He is the only One who matters. So do not be afraid of being a
flower in a toilet bowl---do not fear the world and do not fear any
evil---because God is with You and He is the One who will keep you from
wilting. Surrender your life to Him that He may do and work in you as He
pleases and He will use you to be a light of His glory to the world around you.
He will take you to the homeless of downtown Seattle; to the struggling
Guardians out patrolling the sea, to the unreached people groups of Cameroon,
Africa; to the elementary schools in Edgewood, New Mexico; to the war zones of
Iraq and Afghanistan; to the weary Soldiers on and home from the front lines;
and who knows where else, all in order to shine His glory to those who do not
know Him and to share His love with those who hate Him. So, my dear, little
Sisters, take the adventure God has for you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sara-Grace Waite</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Coast Guard Cutter Midgett</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">August 2010</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-5879323067422349692013-07-13T04:04:00.002-07:002013-07-13T04:04:52.018-07:00One Day...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">One day my Prince will come…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I do not know the day, hour, minute, or second that my Fidele will come; and now, after fifteen months apart, the thought of him coming seems more like a lovely dream than a reality. How I desperately long for that moment when I will be waiting in the airport for him to arrive. I can just imagine running into his arms and riding off into the sunset together!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But here in the real world, things do not happen quite like we dream, which is why I am still waiting for my Prince after fifteen months. I know that the Lord’s plan is best, but sometimes living out this “best plan” is quite difficult. It sure does not seem “best” when I don’t like it all that much! I suppose that is where trust comes in…I don’t understand how the Lord’s plan could be “best” when it involves all this waiting, but I know my Lord and He loves me. The Lord has never brought anything into my life before that has not been for my good and His glory. His faithfulness has carried me through many dark nights; His love has surrounded me through many lonely valleys; and He has always been true to His promises. So now in this moment when I feel like doubting His goodness---His plan---I realize that I just can’t because then I would have to go back and erase pretty much all of my life! (Yup, all of it!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Even this waiting is a blessing, because it attests to the very fact that God has been so kind in bringing us together. So now as I continue to wait I am learning the secret to enjoying every moment that I am going to spend with Fidele, once he arrives by God’s grace. The secret is this: enjoying each moment that I have right now. Instead of wishing the moments away, I am learning to live each moment that God has given me right where I am. This is not easy for me, but when I do this, things become so much sweeter. Each day is a gift from God, and I want to honor Him in each day by thoroughly enjoying the gift He has given me. So I may not be with my Prince today, but I am with my Lord…and His friendship is so dear to me. So in this moment I will treasure my Lord’s friendship and press on…I will enjoy working and being with my coworkers…I will enjoy waiting even though it is hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And one day, My Prince will come.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-40401825535210285252013-06-15T05:00:00.000-07:002013-06-16T04:18:35.486-07:00The Saturday Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>Read Isaiah 1</strong></div>
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<strong><em>"Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Defend the cause of the orphans. Fight for the rights of the</em></strong> <strong><em>widows."</em></strong></div>
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<em>Two years have passed since I wrote the two previous posts in this series. I still feel the sting of conviction, and see the inconsistencies in my life, even as I read the words that flowed from my heart then. In some ways, I would just like to shove this topic off into some dark corner of my life to deal with later, but I long to live fully for the Lord and so I press on though I am sure to uncover things that will hurt. I set my heart on seeking the Lord, and I have turned to His Word for wisdom as I read through the book of Isaiah.</em></div>
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They seemed to be doing all the right things. They offered God sacrifices, burnt offerings, incense offerings, worship, prayer, gifts, and they held devout meetings. They celebrated the Sabbath and the other festivals and special days of fasting. What more could God have wanted from them? They were following His laws and checking off their lists and fulfilling all of the rituals. However, a problem remained. A problem so big that nothing that they did for God even mattered in His sight. Perhaps the people of Judah were experts at keeping the law and putting on an appearance of devotion, but they were fake. Deep down, their hearts were divided, and in the end they tried to fill their lives up with a little bit of everything. They served the LORD, but they also bowed down to idols. They brought their sin offerings to the temple, but they also worshipped created things. They sought to impress others with their devotion, but deep down they had no problem overlooking the cause of the widow and the orphan. They were set on their own dishonest gain.</div>
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You see the people of Judah somehow forgot that the LORD of Heaven's Armies was not supposed to be one small part of their life---HE WAS TO BE THEIR LIFE. They forgot that they were not just supposed to offer sacrifices and keep the Sabbath, but they had a whole new identity as God's set apart people. They forgot the words Moses had spoken years before:</div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;">"Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today" (Deuteronomy 6:4-6). </span></div>
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You see the people of Judah had a heart issue; they did not love God with their whole heart. Instead, their hearts were devoted to idols, wealth, self, dishonest gain, bribes, and self-righteousness. They kept the LORD of Heaven's Armies and added Him to their list of things "to do", along with all the other gods that the nations around them worshipped. They recreated God, you might say, into something fashioned in their own image, something they could handle and manage.</div>
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How sad it is to see how God's chosen people turned their backs on the One who set them apart as His own precious people. Yet as I pour over their story, my heart becomes more and more aware and convicted that theirs is not so much more different than my own. You see it is so easy to think that an idol is just some statue made from wood, stone, gold, or silver, when really the material and the appearance of the idol has nothing to do with it at all. We can make anything an idol, even the good things in our lives. So when I use the term "Destroy Our Idols" I do not mean to get rid of all the "good things" in our lives that may be taking God's place. No, instead we must uncover the heart issue, and do whatever it takes to keep the Lord as our number one priority.<br />
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The problem is that we do the same thing that the people of Judah did all those many years ago. We want God to be apart of our life, but we don't want Him to be our life. We have crafted a Christianity where we can pick and choose what things to add to the "God part". We give the Lord Sunday (and sometimes Wednesday too), and maybe we even carve out a small chunk of time each day to spend with Him, but then the rest is ours. We separate God from everything else in our lives and we think we can contain Him in the box we have crafted. <br />
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I suppose on the surface the idols of our day would perhaps be thought of as all the things that take up our time: face book, television, video games, other time consuming hobbies, our physical appearance, excessive exercise, etc. Or maybe all of the things that consume our money: cars, houses, food, clothes, decorating, etc. Or perhaps it is the ones we hold dear: children, husband, wife, parents, friends, etc. However what is the heart issue? Why do we spend exuberant amounts of time and money in these pursuits all the while neglecting our relationship with God? Should we just throw all of these things out the window so that we can be fully devoted to God? <br />
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Well, the answer is "NO" because in the end if our hearts are not right then it won't really matter what things we have, we still won't love God. <br />
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I think we must first realize what our identity is. If we have committed our lives to the Lord then Jesus is our identity---HE IS OUR LIFE! So that means that everything we do must flow back to Him in praise. We can no longer categorize our lives because Jesus is our life. <br />
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So here the challenge I have given myself, and I will also give to all who read this post too. <br />
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Keep God in every part of your life because He is your life. Look at the things you do through His eyes and that will help you see what has become "idols" in your heart. Pray, pray, pray! And search God's Word. Don't just live with an appearance of godliness---BE REAL! <br />
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Here are some questions that I am asking myself today:<br />
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How am I living my life? Who or what is my biggest priority? Am I doing all of the "right things" but forgetting to love the Lord with all of my heart, mind and strength? Am I living a life that shows God's love to widows and orphans? Am I caring for them as Christ would care for them or am I so caught up with my busy life and my busy schedule? <br />
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<em>Lord, today I want to say "yes" to whatever you have planned for me this day. I want you to be my number one priority. I don't just want to give you this time of "devotions" in the morning, but I want to give you this entire day. I do not want to treasure the blessings you give me more than I treasure you. So please help me to honor you with my life and set you apart as number one. When I am on face book help me to encourage others and point them back to you, when I am cleaning my house help me to fill up my empty thoughts with songs of praise to you and Bible verses, when I need time to relax and rest please help me to choose a good book or movie that would point my thoughts and heart back to you and motivate me to live for you more and more, help me to seek out ways to encourage others and care for them, help me to love the "one" person you send in my life. You are my life, Lord, so I come to you seeking Your help to live each moment with You, for You, in You, and through You.</em><br />
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-84285558677448208392013-06-08T04:00:00.000-07:002013-06-08T16:53:53.703-07:00The Saturday Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: medium;">God has greatly challenged me the past several months to examine my life to see what idols I have set up in my heart. I do not often think of myself as a person who serves idols (that is something that people in the Old Testament did, not me!), but by God’s grace He has showed me how entrapped I am by the idols in my life. My heart is grieved and filled with such anguish as I stop and see how I actually live and act and invest my time and thoughts; I am no different than the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness, continually wandering away from the one who had rescued them from slavery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">To begin, I want to first challenge you to dig into God’s Word. <em>Dust cannot lie.</em> How terrible it is when we who call ourselves followers of Christ can write Jesus’ name in the dust that collects on our Bibles. Jesus engraved our names in the palms of His hands by the shedding of His precious blood. He suffered and endured God’s wrath for our sin. He has given us such amazing grace, and in return for His kindness we offer Him a pile of dust that we have allowed to collect on His Word. Instead of investing ourselves knowing God and spending our lives glorifying His awesome name, we serve our idols. We do not want to serve the Jesus of the Bible (of course we would never say those words!). If we actually read our Bibles I think we would come face to face with the fact that the Jesus in the Bible is too dangerous, uncomfortable, unsafe, radical, challenging, and serious for our “Christianized American Dream”. Sure we want to follow Christ---we want to go to heaven---but we do not want to actually take up our instruments of death and follow Him down a narrow, unpopular, and lonely road. We do not want to die to self and give up the things we enjoy on this earth. We would rather linger in the rays of the sun than tremble in joyful awe before the throne of God; we would rather go to college, get married, find a good job, make a good salary, and enjoy our dreams than live radically for the one whose love for us was so radical that He endured our hell so we can be with Him (don't misunderstand me though, all these things are not bad, but when we live for them instead of Jesus that's when it is bad)...and we would rather live for this world than run hard for eternity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus must be our treasure and nothing else in this life. Christ demands complete obedience, 100% commitment, and total dedication. There is no such thing as half-hearted Christians; those who consider themselves as such are not Christians at all. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">So we must know Jesus and treasure Him with all of our hearts, and to do this we must look into God’s Word and see Him for who He really is---the Almighty Son of God, who is the Creator and sustainer of all things; who made Himself nothing and humbled Himself to the point of death; who drank the Father’s wrath and made atonement for sin; who was raised from the dead on the third day and is exalted at the right hand of God; and who is standing always to make intercession for His own. However, most of us do not look into God’s Word to see who Jesus is, but instead we pear into our mirrors and fashion a Jesus who looks like us, talks like us, thinks like us, and lives like us. So we make Jesus into something He is not but something we can handle and wrap our minds around. Instead of remembering that we were made in God’s image, we want to serve a god who is made in our own image. This is idolatry! Dear Brothers and Sisters if you examine this “Jesus” we have made, we are not worshipping the Lord God, but we are really worshipping ourselves. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">O Lovers of Christ, may your hearts be broken as mine is, and may you be filled with great sorrow over your sin. Let us repent and turn back to the Living God, and let us serve Him with all of our hearts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">Let us destroy our idols! Open up God's Word today and fill your moments with the Truth.</span></div>
Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-12456607834427272392013-06-03T18:26:00.001-07:002013-06-06T03:18:15.091-07:00Bed Time Thoughts ~<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>...Because The Hellos Are Just So Wonderful!</strong></span></div>
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I remember that night. All of us kids stuffed into one big hotel bed! There were other beds...but we all wanted to be together, for as long as we could. We knew that the morning would bring the hard reality of how bad saying goodbye would hurt.</div>
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Now as I sit here tonight, a little more than two years later, I remember all the goodbyes. And I wonder, "why do they have to hurt so much?" </div>
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I think about the times that I returned to my boat in Seattle, WA after having such sweet times with my family. I remember how my heart ached, and how loneliness seemed to swallow me up...and I wonder, "why did that pain have to be so great?"</div>
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I look at all the lovely moments and it seems that they are always followed by painful ones and I wonder, "why?"</div>
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I still feel my heart breaking as I stood at the airport in Cameroon about to leave my Fiancé behind. I remember hugging him and then making my way through security, and then looking back for that one last wave and I just wonder, "why does it have to be this way?"</div>
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And as if God owes me something, my heart turns critical and cold. </div>
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As I wait for Fidele to come, the awful thought lingers in my mind..."What if we have to wait longer? What if Fidele's visa is delayed again?" And accusations fill my mind, "God we've waited so long already, why would you make us wait longer?!" </div>
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Self-pity gnaws at my heart..."God, this isn't the way engaged people are supposed to spend their entire engagement---APART! Why aren't you bringing us together because we know You can?"</div>
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Envy attacks inner being..."Look at those couples God! You have brought them together...why are you delaying so long for Fidele and I? We should have been married last month!"</div>
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Perhaps this is a bit of a sidetrack from where I started as I began with "goodbyes", but I think the two go together quite nicely. You see, these are all my human emotions welling up inside my heart. This is my flesh revolting against God's perfect plan unfolding. This is my weak human eyes squinting to make sense of the big picture God has for my life.</div>
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The Holy Spirit soothes and comforts. He whispers the Word in my heart and brings verses to my mind that I have read or memorized in days past. And He reminds me "why the goodbyes hurt so bad...".</div>
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You see the good byes hurt so bad because the hellos are just so wonderful! God is so kind in raining down torrents of blessings upon my life...He gives me time to go see my family and make memories with them. He makes those moments as I walk through the airport eagerly searching for some familiar faces so absolutely amazing! Then as we all embrace and laugh together and tell stories and just enjoy being together...God orchestrates everything to line up so that all this joy can explode like fireworks.</div>
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So when the goodbyes come...is the pain God's fault? Is He being cruel? Is He punishing me for something I have done?</div>
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Absolutely not! No...it is just the fact that God sends blessings but those blessings are for certain times...and they come to an end. </div>
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So what do we do? Rejoice. Give thanks. Turn the pain that is eating away at our hearts, into a joyous song to the Lord! Instead of becoming bitter that God's special blessing (whatever that may be) came to an end, we must stand in awe at God's faithfulness and kindness to bestow the blessing upon us in the first place! </div>
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This is what I am learning.</div>
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You see my life is a picture of something quite amazing. I mentioned earlier that in my self-pity, I cry out to God wondering, "Why? Couples aren't supposed to spend their entire engagement apart!. But maybe I am looking at it the wrong way...you see I shouldn't have even met Fidele in the first place because we were living in different countries, cotenants, speaking different languages, and about 8,000 miles apart(!!!!), let alone fall in love with him and make it through a year (and counting) engagement apart. You see there was no way I was going figure out a way to get time off and be able to jump through all of the hoops in order to go to Cameroon to visit Fidele, let alone get the 30 days off that I requested and have the most wonderful time meeting my Fidele for the first time in person! You see there was no way that I was going to be able to get all of Fidele's visa paperwork to him from the States without it getting lost in the mail and probably sinking to the bottom of the ocean, let alone find out that my dad's friend was going back to Cameroon at just the right time that we needed to send the paperwork!! You see all these things were not "supposed" to happen from my human perspective, but God had other plans. </div>
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God blessed me in so many ways. And as I sit here tonight in my cozy apartment, I am blown away by His faithfulness and kindness to me! You see God doesn't have to give us blessings...He has already given us JESUS!!...and yet He does. And He loves to do it too! </div>
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So maybe the reason that we have to go through so much pain sometimes in this life, is more because God's blessings are just so wonderful and it is so hard to see them come to an end.</div>
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But we can be sure of this...God is already planning on what His next blessing will be, so we better keep our eyes open!</div>
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So if you are in my shoes and just hate how hard the goodbyes are, or just are having a hard time like me waiting and wondering "when?" and "why" take heart! And focus on two things:</div>
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1.)Recount the lovely and amazing blessings God has bestowed upon you in the past...and give thanks to Him for each one!</div>
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2.)Look forward to the blessings He will bestow in the future! </div>
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And don't be so easily convinced that the hardship or struggle you may be going through right now is not a wonderful blessing from God ~ Flowers only grow after the rain!</div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-84181486560914391262013-06-01T09:53:00.000-07:002013-06-08T16:54:20.221-07:00The Saturday Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<em>I would like to start a new blog series that is actually an old idea of mine from my last blog. I had started to work on this series (Destroying Our Idols) but only managed to write a couple posts. However I am going to give it another shot! I love writing and sharing the things God is doing in my life (via writing), so please join me on Saturdays to delve deeper into this topic.</em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #c27ba0; color: black;"><strong>“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”</strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #c27ba0; color: black;"><strong>Hebrews 4:12-13</strong></span></span></em></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">I know life can be very busy at times, but I would beg you to stop for a few moments and take a trip with me today. Trust me, where we are going is not easy, and what we must do when we get there and all along the way is even harder; but be assured, that if you do not take time to come with me now, your soul shall be in very grave danger. So let us go and search the depths of our hearts and souls, and let us cast down our idols and turn wholeheartedly to serving the Living God.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps you have never seen Bible churches in the United States filled with idols, or Christian homes adorned by false gods, but I have; and what grieves me most is that I am among them. We are people who do not treasure Jesus. We want to make Him fit our needs and our lifestyles so we distort the Truth and exchange it for a lie. We like serving a God of love, we enjoy going to a church with comfortable chairs, good music, and inspirational messages. We need our weekly pep talk, so we come and joke around and fulfill our spiritual duty; but we are not serving Jesus; we are worshipping ourselves. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">Awake, O Church, and see that we have erected idols in our hearts: idols of comfort, security, ambition, family, retirement, money, greatness, fame, and so much more. The Word of God means so very little to us and we can see this proven true in the time we invest in it. O God, break our hearts! We have sinned and traded you for the gifts you bestow, for the glory that is your due, and for the trappings of this world. And dare we think that we serve the Living God when we neither put Him first in our lives nor seek Him above all things. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">I speak from experience, we gather on Sundays bringing some of our idols with us. There are plenty of other idols of course waiting for us once we arrive at church. We check our face book and email before the service starts, check the clock and figure out how much longer until lunch, eat some snacks and drink a cup of coffee, complain about the weather, talk about sports, and then find our seats before the service starts. Like a movie theater we pick the best place to sit, sink into our comfortable chairs, we pop our knuckles while the announcements are being made, we sing, we pray, we listen or at least try to as we catch ourselves daydreaming about life and the new week ahead of us. We say goodbye, not really remembering what the message was about, but ready to get on with life and get back to what really matters. And that would be a typical morning church service for many people in the United States, including myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">But I am left empty and haunted by questions: where are the tears, the sorrow for sin, the soul felt worship, the desperate cries for help and strength, the joy in singing to the Living God, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our midst---where is God? Have we not come to worship Him on His glorious throne? But I do not see Him here; I do not feel His power and presence. However, I do see a throne and seated on the throne is a mirror, and I see myself bowing down before that mirror, investing time and energy appeasing it. I also see upon the throne my laptop with my facebook account open along with my email account and google searches…a reminder of my time spent. I see comfort and security, I see ambition and pride, I see fame and self-recognition, and I see dreams and lusts all piled high upon the throne and still do I wonder where my Lord has gone?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">I have not come to church to worship the Living God, but to be entertained; I have not come to humbly bow before the Almighty Creator, but to satisfy my own “felt needs”; I have not come to exalt God, but to glorify myself. How can you tell me that we do not bow down to idols in this country when they are all around us; and every whisper from the world and countless “so called Christians” is to come along with them in their idolatry? Mirrors, facebook, email, food, weather, sports, goals, dreams, etc. are not bad; but neither is wood, gold, bronze, clay, and stones. However when we put them in God’s place and treasure them above our Almighty Savior then we have set them up as idols that we bow down to. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">O Lovers of Christ, repent with me, and let us turn from our wicked ways! Let us return to the Savior of our souls, casting down our idols, which are worthless. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">O hear this battle cry, all you Soldiers of the Lord! Turn off your TVs, turn off the radio, put your computers away, turn off your cellphones, and open the Word of God. We wonder why God’s Word is not powerful in our lives (as it sits collecting dust on the shelf!), we wonder why we feel so empty (as we fill our lives with empty pursuits!), and we wonder why the God of the Bible seems so different then the God we serve (as we do not even know the God of the Bible!). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">If everything was stripped away, would Christ be enough? If all you had to look forward to on Sundays was to study the Bible, would you come? Jesus demands everything from us…if we are to be true followers of Christ we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him. This means dying to self-daily, and putting to death all our fleshly longings and desires. We must give up everything to follow after Jesus. His Word is our life! If this kind of discipleship is not your idea of Christianity then you are not a follower of Christ, and you are going to Hell where you will bear God’s wrath for your sin. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">The battle is fierce, but by God’s grace I will fight, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, I beg Him to enable me to cast down the idols I serve and instead cling to the Living God who alone reigns supreme. I have no power in myself, I have no ability to serve God, I am nothing, I am a sinner saved by grace and I stand clothed in Christ’s righteousness. He is my beauty, my all, my treasure, and my joy. Battle, O Faithful Ones, for the faith that has been entrusted to you! Battle with all your might in the power of God!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">You will find strength and help in the Word of the Living God, but you must read it and invest your life in knowing Jesus. The Word of God is living and sharper than a two edged sword. Do not come to it as any other book, but as the very Words of God given to us because that is exactly what it is. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">Thrust down the idols that are set up in your heart and life and come to God’s Word and be transformed as you renew your minds. Bow in prayer to the Living God and cry out to Him to work in your life and to empower you by the Holy Spirit to live for His glory alone. Persevere in these disciplines and do not give up, but wait upon the Lord and hope in Him. He sees our hearts, and our motives are laid bare before Him. Let us repent, and live wholeheartedly for Jesus.</span><br />
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-74752499389250703502013-06-01T04:52:00.000-07:002013-06-08T16:54:46.264-07:00Grace Like Gloves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Fresh morning. Dew drops glistening in sunshine rays. Earthy dirt smell. Bugs busily going about their day.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I stepped outside and sized up the small flower bed. My friend needed some help with the weeding, and she wanted to clear a spot for some new flowers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love flowers! I never used to like planting them though because of the bugs and spiders and worms that you always come across when working in the soil. But my friend needed me, and so I mustered up some courage deep within myself...which wasn't much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I tentatively started pulling out weeds and carefully gathered up crunchy leaves and set them to the side. I was on the look out though for any creepy crawlies! I turned up the dry dirt and mixed it up with the rich soil underneath the surface...that is when I had my first scare. As I was turning up a nice spot of earth, a wiggly worm turned up too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I held in my gasp and sort of pushed that worm off to the side, but now I knew I wasn't alone in this garden; who knew what other creatures were watching me? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I kept working steadily. I began pulling up the grass from the sides of the garden, which were lined with cool, gray bricks. Bad idea. As I pulled and uprooted that grass an enormous spider jumped out and nearly gobbled me up! I was taken a back that time. I felt shaken up and was not sure if I would be able to continue on at this point. (I am glad my friend was inside and not witnessing my terror!) I took some deep breaths. Now I was afraid. So I kind of just patted and shoved the dirt around with my little shovel, but did not really want to go any deeper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have good news though. This is when the reinforcements came! Not really, but my friend did come out of her house with a pair of gloves! She had been looking all over for them and finally found them. She didn't want me to get dirt under my finger nails...wheww! She had no idea what I was facing! Dirt under my finger nails! What about giant spiders and monstrous wiggly worms?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I eagerly and very appreciatively accepted the gloves. I am truly amazed at how much easier it is to enter enemy territory with a nice pair of gloves empowering you. You see these same trembling hands that had nearly given up their task just moments ago were now working with such power and strength. You would not have even believed that they were the same hands! Somehow though those gloves enabled me to finish my task and to do it so thorough...I pulled up weeds, turned up the soil, planted the flowers, sent worms and spiders running! Those gloves are something else!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I say all this because as I was marveling at what a difference a simple pair of gloves can make to a timid gardener in training, I also learned a new lesson for my heart. You see I was reminded me of a verse in James which I will copy down for you to read:</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">"But <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30344K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup>He gives a greater grace. Therefore <i>it</i> says, “<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30344L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble</span>.” ~ James 4:6</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have always read this verse, but never really understood it completely. But now I have a new perspective. You see as we live our lives for the Lord we are faced with so many things. God has given us a task...much like the task I had in front of me of preparing the little garden for planting. While we go about this God given task in life we also face a variety of things like trials, hardships, temptation, conflict, and so much more. Fear and anxiety could hold us captives forever! And being the independent and self-sufficient people that we are (at least that is how I am a lot!), it is so easy to just try and do it on our own. But when we run to God and seek His help...when we humble ourselves and realize we cannot do this task that God has given us...something quite amazing happens!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God joyfully hands us a pair of gloves. Not really! Actually God gives us something called grace, which is a whole lot like a pair of gloves. Because you see God does not give us new "hands" that are powerful and fearless, He does not give us a new task that is easy and without challenges, and God does not take away the "spiders" and "worms" that send us running. No God gives us His grace, which is like a pair of gloves. His grace covers us and enfolds us in God's power to complete the task He has given us in His power. Those same trembling hands go about the work God has assigned but His grace is what enables those weak hands to do what seemed impossible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That grace like gloves truly transforms our hearts and enables us to accomplish God's work, but first we must run to God and ask Him for help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So may this little lesson I have been learning about grace and gloves and gardening also be an encouragement to you. Don't try to face the spiders of this life without God's gloves of grace!</span></div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-61598375203575067852013-05-23T01:56:00.000-07:002013-06-08T16:59:16.929-07:004 Years At A Glance - #3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In these early morning hours before my work day begins, I go back through all the days, weeks, months, and years that I have spent in the Coast Guard, and I relive all the moments that God has blessed me with. Every new week, my co-workers smile and shake their heads at me when I announce my new count down to my out date...right now I am down to 57! But what I don't tell them is this, where as I am so excited to be getting out of the Coast Guard and counting down helps me to make it through each new week, I am also doing it to remind myself that this is all I have left...I only have 57 more days to make an impact here! And really only half of those days will be at work. So really I only have 29 more days to shine Christ here in front of every one of these people who surround me day in and day out. <br />
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And I am left wondering...have I? Have I really even made a difference? Have I pointed to Christ; and maybe in the process, has anyone seen Jesus in me? <br />
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Doubts never linger far. Feelings of failure and the accusations that bombard me at times cause me to wonder if perhaps, just perhaps all of this was a waste. <em>Oh Lord, I didn't want to waste any of the moments you gave me!</em> But when I look back and see so little accomplished, these doubts and questions immediately grow bigger and bigger. I had such grand ideas when I joined the Coast Guard. I was going to be a life saver...do exciting things...go on great adventures...live out the stories that I would tell my kids and grandkids someday. And in the end I didn't even overcome my fear of driving a boat or carrying a gun...Oh I sure did try and face them, but I think I came out on the losing side :) Sometimes I wonder, <em>"Why in the world, Sara, did you go BM?! What exactly were you thinking?!"</em> Because I sure am no BM!* (although we have all come to the conclusion that I am the <u>B</u>est <u>M</u>om here!).<br />
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But perhaps the reason God brought me to the Coast Guard was not so much for what I would accomplish, but more for what He would accomplish in and through me. And I think I received my answer today of why...<br />
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<em>"Why the Coast Guard? Why BM? Why me?"</em><br />
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One guy here who arrived around the same time I did (and who will be leaving tomorrow) told me that my life over the past two years was a picture to him of Christ, and that seeing Jesus in me has helped him in his walk with the Lord. <br />
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Oh, how that makes every day here so worth it! Every moment that I have wondered why I was in Eastport, Maine instead of in Africa with my family and my fiancé, Fidele; every moment when I wondered, "Why BM?"; every discouraged moment as I have faced my failure here in what I have "not accomplished"...those words make all of these moments so worth it! And I would do it all over again just to hear those words.<br />
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Because it is not me who has made a difference here. It is not me who has accomplished great things. I am not strong nor am I courageous. I am not eloquent or good at talking. IT IS ALL JESUS! Because I am so weak and so full of faults. I am a sinner saved by God's grace. And yet Jesus delights in using me to point to His greatness! Jesus uses me to show people just how kind and wonderful He is! I haven't done anything great here...I have simply said "Yes" to God (and some days my "yes" wasn't very loud or cheerful!). I have simply tried to live out the love Jesus has so wonderfully lavished on me.<br />
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You see Jesus is the one who has made a difference here. Jesus has accomplished great things. Jesus is strong and so very courageous. Jesus' Word is shaper than a two edged sword and He knows exactly what to say every time. Jesus loves being kind! Jesus loves to "Wow" us with who He is and lavish His love on us! And in His kindness, He has taken a very weak and trembling girl, who was homeschooled, who struggles with failure, and who feels pretty much overwhelmed most of the time...and He has used her to be a picture of Jesus to this guy at work. Who else would think up such a crazy way to do this but Jesus!<br />
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And so with new resolve and renewed joy, I meet this new day at work(of which I only have 29 more)...and I dare to do things that a weak girl like me should never have the courage or power to do, but because of Jesus I can do all things (Phil. 4:13)! As I go to watch, it is as if I am entering the throne room of heaven to talk to my Daddy...as I go to do boat checks and clean the boats, it is as if the concrete sidewalks have turned into the dusty roads of Jerusalem, Bethany, Jericho, etc as I seek to live out the same love Jesus showed to people as He walked upon the earth; as I go to make dinner, it is as if the whole galley** has turned into a celebration of praise to the Lord...<br />
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And so each and every day my goal is to give my fellow Coasties <strong>HEAVEN!</strong> Because I may be the only Heaven that most of these people ever know---and that breaks my heart. <br />
And it is my joy to give those who also love Jesus Heaven---so that they may know that all of this "Jesus stuff" is really real and so worth it!<br />
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These are just some of my thoughts today. I thank God for His special surprise for me this morning...His special message to me through that guy here. And through tears and renewed joy I say "Yes" to the Lord again. And I marvel at how beautiful Jesus is, because I got to see a glimpse of Him this morning...in that guy.<br />
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*A BM is a Boatswain Mate, their job is to take care of the boats, complete any maintenance and cleaning projects, become qualified as a boat driver in order to go out on rescue calls, qualify as a boarding officer which is like being a cop on the water, they are the "in charge" kind of people, and are usually pretty tough and rough around the edges...all of which I am not really except for the cleaning part!<br />
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-39876846117385520322013-05-22T03:36:00.002-07:002013-05-22T03:36:53.152-07:00Reviewing Words of Life!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">How do I live this today, right now in this hour...in this moment? As so many people all around me seek the things of this world, how do I instead live as a citizen of heaven? It is hard to put into words what this may look like, but I do know what I will do today...I will say "Yes" to the Lord. Whatever He may have for me today, whatever people He sends my way to love and show kindness to, and whatever He may bring I will rejoice in Him and in His love for me. I am His very special child! And that is why I must love those around me and show them by my actions that they too are made in God's image and desperately need Him to save them.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the midst of this broken world and the discouragement of my own sin, I will rejoice! Not in me...but in the Lord! I suppose I could ask why should I rejoice in the Lord, but I think the bigger quest is...WHY NOT?! The Lord has saved me, taken my sins away from me, given me new life and abundant life, He has washed me in the blood of the Lamb, and I am a child of God! I have every reason to rejoice today and so I will no matter what my circumstance may be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Christ has showed me such love, such kindness, and in His suffering and brokenness He brought me near to the Father's heart. And so this same attitude that Christ demonstrated must be my own as well. At work I want people to see Jesus in me...and I want to show them the Father's heart of love and compassion...His righteousness and holiness, which requires Him to punish sin, and His grace and mercy in sending Jesus to take our place if we believe.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I continue to wait for Fidele's visa to come in, I set my heart on prayer and thanksgiving. O those awful worries and anxieties flood my soul, but the Father whispers His love in my heart and says be still. And I find that if a heart cannot be both worried and thankful...I cannot live in a state of anxiety and thanksgiving at the same time. So I put on thanksgiving and fill up the moments with thanks to the Lord. This is not an option for me either, but is a command from the Lord. So I work at this and look to Him for strength to continually fill up my heart with thanksgiving and prayer instead of the constant worries that bombard me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so as each day comes and I live out my life more and more and little by little my thoughts are being transformed by Scripture. And I seek to think on these things above so that my heart may rest in the peace of God and be protected by it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Always remembering that I can do everything through Jesus! I do not try and live this life alone anymore. I am a child of God, and He is with me. He wants me to fix all that I am on Him and trust Him. He wants me to live for Him and rejoice in Him and live life in Him. And all of this He wants me to do in His strength!</span></div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-6204894339777697812013-05-21T18:14:00.002-07:002013-05-21T18:14:47.136-07:00Blessings from Above<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">A hot cup of loveliness!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Words of life transforming me</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">YAY! Skype time with my Love!!</span></div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-26102981382594790092013-05-21T05:01:00.000-07:002013-06-08T17:00:10.930-07:004 Years At A Glance ~ #2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The day before I embarked upon my four-year mission trip around the United States, I wrote down some thoughts that I would like to share now as I look back. It is crazy how slow time moves while pressing through situations and how fast is has passed once you are on the other side! I was gearing up at this point for eight weeks of boot camp. Excitement pulsed through me as I wondered how hard it would really be...would I be up for the challenge? Would I make it through? Would these be the longest eight weeks of my life? And then what about after those eight weeks? What then? But this is the perspective God gave me in the midst of my fears and excitement.<br />
<b><br /></b><b><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">ONLY EIGHT WEEKS...to make an impact </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">for the Lord </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">on my fellow Coast Guard recruits and Company Commanders, to shine the light of the Gospel in a dark place, to have the attitude of Christ Jesus as I give my best in all I do, and to be a witness of the transforming beauty and power of the cross.</span></span></b><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">Tomorrow I embark upon an eight-week adventure, which marks the beginning of my service in the Coast Guard. Boot camp will be hard and challenging, but it is only eight-weeks.</span>..<span style="font-size: 130%;">eight weeks and it will all be over. I will be a Coastie, heading to a new duty station where I'll meet new challenges (hard, fun, exciting, difficult, etc.) that will stretch me. In such a short time (even though it may seem like an eternity at the moment), boot camp will be behind me...it's only eight weeks.<br /><br />But a good friend challenged me to look at it in a different light---to look at it through Christ's eyes. I only get eight weeks to make an impact on the people that I'll come in contact with; only eight-weeks to be a witness of my precious Lord and Savior; and only eight-weeks to make much of Him through my actions and attitudes at Cape May, New Jersey. I am an ambassador of Christ, and He is the one who has placed me in Coast Guard boot camp for such a time as this. I thank and praise Him that I get eight weeks to serve and glorify Him in Cape May, New Jersey. An exciting, challenging adventure is just about to begin in my life---God is with me and He will strengthen me to shine for Him.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thank You, Lord, that I get eight-weeks of boot camp---eight-weeks to point others to the Living God.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-size: small;">WOW! All of that is behind me now.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Not only the eight weeks but almost the whole four years! I look back and wonder</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: small;">...did I point to Jesus? Did I do my best? </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Doubts creep in</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: small;">...you could have done better, Sara. You could have shined the Gospel brighter and better. You could have loved deeper and pointed to Jesus more effectively. You grew weary and tired. You were grumpy and not very personable sometimes---a lot of the time! You were impatient and fearful and doubting.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yet in the midst of these doubts the Spirit whispers...<i>did you love one person, show kindness to just one person, shine Jesus to one of the men and woman on your boat, live the Gospel out for one fellow Coastie to see? Did you say "Yes" to my leading day by day? Did you take my hand and stand back up when you fell down? Did you remember my love when the days were hard and difficult? Did you see me use you for the Father's glory?! Did you see how I whispered my love through you as you sanded and painted those walls with a smile? Do you remember how I used you to make everyone shake their heads in wonder as you worked hard washing dishes and kindly serving others as a mess cook? Do you remember how those guys on your boat would ask you how you could smile and show such kindness when you worked from sun up to sun down? Do you remember how you would nervously but so courageously tell them that it was because of Jesus? Did you hear me cheering inside your heart as you gave glory to God?! Did you hear the angels singing as your smile pointed people to how great Jesus is? Do you remember how people told you that the boat would change you? How you would eventually lose your smile and lose your joy? But do you remember how my strength rose up inside you giving you power to smile when everyone else complained? </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Do you remember those nights you felt so alone as you cried in your bunk? Did you know I was there too with you collecting your tears? Do you remember that time when your friends laughed in amazement as they told you that you were like a "flower in a toilet bowl"? Did you know that I was the one who kept you from wilting? Do you remember those days that you would gather up some of your friends from the boat and take them all to church with you? Do you remember how it seemed so useless because then they would go off and get drunk the next day anyway? But I bet you didn't see how pleased I was? Did you know that I was so happy to see you living like Jesus by hanging out with sinners and loving them even as they were so unlovable? Do you remember how I told you that you were doing a good job and not to lose heart? Do you remember that guard as you drive on base who gave you my message to keep going...that you were doing a beautiful thing? </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You see, every day that you said "Yes" to me, Sara, I used you to touch that one person I placed into your life. And every one person that you loved and showed kindness to and smiled at was touched by my heart. I didn't want you to try and change your boat, I just wanted you to say "Yes" to me and then I would change your boat through your one act of kindness to one person because that shows just how much I value life...it shows just how precious one life is in my sight. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-size: small;">And so as I look back, I find that the battle of faith is not in doing better or ridding my heart of its doubts, but it is in believing what the Spirit whispers into my heart...<i>say "Yes" to me today, and I will amaze you with the great plans that I have for you! </i></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div>
Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-90679448371571065102013-05-19T03:13:00.000-07:002013-06-08T17:11:57.149-07:004 Years At A Glance~ #1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>With orders in hand, I realize that I am fastly approaching the day that I will be getting out of the Coast Guard. In these next several days and weeks, I want to write a blog series highlighting the amazing things God has done right before my eyes these past four years. When I joined the Coast Guard, I looked at it as a four-year, all expences paid mission trip around the United States...and though time and discouragement can cloud that vision, as I look back I realize that these past four years have been exactly that. God has called us to be "World Changers" to step up and "Do Hard Things" but we must not forget that it is when we touch one life with Christ's love that we are actually impacting the world...it is by one act, one word, and one attitude of saying "Yes" to God that will do the most for spreading God's fame. Why is this so? I think it is because God is doing this work and not us...God is changing the world and not us. So we need to focus on the little part of the world God has given us and demonstrate by our actions that God truly does care for each person. </em></span></span><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Now I would like to share a post that actually was my first blog post (for my first blog heldbygrace2day.blogspot.com), which I wrote as I awaited the day I would be heading off to Coast Guard Boot camp. </span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><em><span style="font-size: large;"> ________________</span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>June 30, 2009</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The days until I head off to Coast Guard boot camp are going fast---only forty-nine to go! Soon my looming adventure shall begin; one that will definitely change my life forever and set my direction for the next four years. I am excited to take this giant step and go out on my own, beginning this new chapter in my life and at the same time I am scared and nervous. Adventures are like that though, filled with mystery and unknown factors. God definitely designed life to be that way so that we put our trust in Him. He gives us what we need when we need it, directing us step by step. God has placed an adventure in front of me---an opportunity to make much of Him and shine the light of His Gospel in a dark place---that will stretch and challenge me in ways I cannot even imagine right now. I do not want to cower back in fear, but step forth in faith as I trust God to lead me, protect me, teach me, challenge me, and ultimately make me more like Christ.<br /><br />Psalm 23 is a continual encouragement to my heart as I look forward to the days ahead. Knowing that God is the shepherd of my soul causes me to rejoice. He holds me secure in His loving arms as I go down this path, which He has set me upon. The assurance that He is with me and will never leave me gives me courage and strength to continue down this road. I know that I am going to have amazing experiences in the Coast Guard, but I also know that life will never be the same as I know it now. I will be out on my own, paying bills, finding a church, making my own decisions, and taking on a slew of other responsibilities I have not had to handle before. Moving away from home is not easy---I am glad God gave me a little taste of what it is like last year when I was away at college for about four months---and I know I will struggle with homesickness and loneliness, but I also know it is time for me to take this step and leave my fears and concerns in the Lord's hands. An adventure is just not an adventure if it is not hard and difficult, pushing and pressing us to God.<br /><br />I think it is good to remind ourselves that God never intended life to be easy and comfortable for His children. No, He has called us to be lights in the darkness and going into the darkness is not an easy thing to do. I am excited that I am going to be surrounded by unbelievers, having the opportunity to share my faith by living it out in front of them; and yet, I am also scared too death. I know I will face persecution of varies kinds, be confronted with temptation, see the ugliness of sin in myself and others; yet God pushes me on and reminds me to trust in Him. I could try to protect myself from being tainted by the world, but what would the point be? I was already as tainted by sin as a person can be and Christ cleansed me by His own blood---not so that I can now hide from what I once was, but so that I can confront it with the power of the Gospel. The battle of faith is fierce, raging constantly with intensity that I think none of us is truly aware of, and I cannot passively sit back watching others proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and not join in the greatest cause that we can spend our lives being a part of. Living to make much of Christ, requires that we make much of the Gospel, and we cannot make much of the Gospel if we are not proclaiming it first to ourselves and then to the world around us.<br /><br />God gives everyone different adventures, but I am truly thankful and excited about the one He has placed in front of me. What great hurdles, challenges, and difficulties lay ahead; but on the other hand, who would trade the opportunity to live amongst lost sinners, sharing the message of the cross, all the while being paid and receiving training for future service? To put it simply, I have forty-nine more days to prepare for an amazing, four-year mission trip around the United States---all expenses paid! How amazing is that!<br /><br />So now as I go about preparing to be sent off as God's witness in forty-nine short days, I would ask and beg for your prayers. I am completely weak and incapable of reflecting the beauty of Christ in the Gospel apart from the grace of God and the prayers of His children. Pray with all diligence on my behalf especially in these areas:<br /><br />< That I would be depending and trusting in the Lord and not my own strength<br />< That I would reflect God's beauty to the unbelievers I will have contact with<br />< That I would have boldness and wisdom in proclaiming the Gospel<br />< That I would be rejoicing in the Lord daily no matter what my circumstances may be < That I would not give in to fear, but remain rooted in my faith<br /><br />Facing adventures is not easy, but they are truly amazing experiences when we realize that we are held by grace. Nothing can touch us apart from God's sovereign will, and His plan cannot be thwarted. Here I stand, confident that the Lord is the one who leads me forth---the shepherd of my soul and the sustainer of my faith---I will not be afraid because He is with me.</span></span> </div>
Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-78980474323290785302013-04-26T11:44:00.001-07:002013-04-26T11:44:37.485-07:00To Be Like Christ....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is a beautiful song that my little sister, Bethany Joy Waite, wrote while she was over in Cameroon, Africa. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">E</span>njoy!!!</span><br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">I prayed to You Father to make me like Christ for I wanted to look like You</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">But right then I didn't know what I was asking for</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">For to be like Christ is to be broken</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">To be like Jesus is to be crushed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">To be like God's Son is to be made a servant</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">To be like the Savior is to lay everything down</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;"> ~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">So, like a good carpenter You took my heart in Your hands</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">And started to cut, sand and carve the rough wood of my soul</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Not sparing me pain so to make me beautiful</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Your love looked deeper than my feelings</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">You cut and carved me deeply every small detail</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">You slowly cut away things that were so close to my heart</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">In all my pain I cried out to You</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">"Why do You cut me Lord?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">I don't understand what You are doing </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">I can't see why this is good</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">So why do You cause all of my pain?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Why do You bring such grief to my heart?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Help me to trust You God, Your hand that's hurting me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">For I don't understand how this plan is perfect for me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;"> ~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">My Master, the Potter who was my Father, yes my friend</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Looked at me in loving eyes as He held me in His hands</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">"My dear child there's a cross before a crown</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Before building up you must be torn down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">I love you too much to stop doing what I know is best</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Take courage for I make no mistakes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Trust Me for I know what I'm doing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Now remember the One you want to look like</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">For Christ was broken</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus was crushed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">God's Son was made a servant</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">Your Savior laid everything down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">To be like Christ is to carry a cross</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">To be like Jesus is to die to self</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">To be like God's Son is to go through the fire</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">To be like the Savior you will wear scars</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;">To be made like Christ</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Bell MT"; font-size: 13.0pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bell MT"; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-32217028932970653062013-04-09T06:08:00.001-07:002013-04-09T06:08:18.830-07:00These Rainy Days of the Soul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;">The rain <span style="font-size: small;">falls outside. I hear the constant pattering against my windo<span style="font-size: small;">ws<span style="font-size: small;">, and I pe<span style="font-size: small;">er out<span style="font-size: small;"> at a world of grey dreariness. How can one day be so beautiful and sunny and then the next turn into something so gloomy? <span style="font-size: small;">But <span style="font-size: small;">as I sit here, I try and think deeper and wonder harder. W<span style="font-size: small;">hy? Why does God send these rainy days? I love the bright, flower days of <span style="font-size: small;">S</span>pring as the world blooms into a picture of true beauty and life. Bees buzz and butterflies dance as flowers share their fragrance<span style="font-size: small;">. The sun shines and warms the earth as little <span style="font-size: small;">tiny bugs busily go about <span style="font-size: small;">doing bug things<span style="font-size: small;">. Birds sing and fly together happily as dogs and cats roam about enjoying themselves.<span style="font-size: small;"> But on these rainy days, I <span style="font-size: small;">do not hear the sweet sound of birds singing<span style="font-size: small;">; I do not even hear the c<span style="font-size: small;">alls</span> of the gulls down by the pier. All is sil<span style="font-size: small;">ent and still except for the rain that pounds the earth. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I suppose and think and wonder. Without these lifeless, dreary, rainy days I know that Spring would not come bec<span style="font-size: small;">ause <span style="font-size: small;">the flowers need this life-giving moistur<span style="font-size: small;">e in order </span>to bloom. <span style="font-size: small;">T</span>hey <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">need<span style="font-size: small;"> this</span></span> rain so that they can grow and find nurishment for th<span style="font-size: small;">eir roots.</span> All this rain is preparing the soil to <span style="font-size: small;">produce life and so<span style="font-size: small;">on I will see the results, but not right now.<span style="font-size: small;"> Ind<span style="font-size: small;">eed this is a lovely picture of our spiritual life as well. For even as <span style="font-size: small;">time brings each new season so also we go through spiri<span style="font-size: small;">t<span style="font-size: small;">ual seasons of the soul. I love the Spring and Summers of my soul when I feel life and vi<span style="font-size: small;">ta<span style="font-size: small;">lity flowing through me, and Christ seems so real and alive inside my heart. I don't understand<span style="font-size: small;"> why winter must come. I feel so dead and lifeless to sp<span style="font-size: small;">iritual things. The rainy<span style="font-size: small;">-soul days are hard to bear, but they are actually the very days that God uses <span style="font-size: small;">to <span style="font-size: small;">bring about the sunny spring days of our soul. Without spiritual rain, we would have not spiritual flowers growing and sharing their sweet <span style="font-size: small;">fragrance</span> in our lives and others. We could not be a blessing to the world around <span style="font-size: small;">us if we d<span style="font-size: small;">id not have these hard days of the soul. And that is quite a thought to think.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><i>"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" (1 Corinthians 4:16-17)</i></b><br />
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Oh, let these words of truth just transform your thoughts! They speak life into my soul, especially on these rainy days. Sometimes I struggle wondering why I go through these times of spiritual deadness it seems. Have I wandered from the Lord? Have I done something wrong for me to feel so spiritually lifeless? Where is the fruit I long to see? Where are the wild roses of joy that I love to smell along the path when I walk down by the water? Where are the buttercups, daises, daffodils, and tulips of faith, hope, and love that I long to see blooming in my heart? Why must this rain persists and these clouds hang over my soul?<br />
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These days are hard to press through. But God whispers His love in my heart and tells me to press on; don't quit! The spring days are coming, but first these rainy days must come to prepare the soil of our hearts to produce life. God's love has not changed and you have not done something wrong. These rainy days are days of blessing indeed because they "produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!"<br />
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<i><b>"So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever" (2 Corinthians 4:18).</b></i><br />
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So I do not sit here watching the the dreariness outside or focusing my strength on listening to the raindrops pattering on my house<i><b>. </b></i>I do not sit outside, and let myself get soaked and miserable. No! I stay in the Shelter of God's love and hide myself in who He is for "The name of the Lord is a strong fortress, the godly run to Him and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10). I content myself with who God is and what He has done for me, and I do not worry about the life I do not see blooming in my soul. I focus these soul-eyes on the Life Giver and find joy that in His good time, once the soil of my heart is prepared He will cause the flowers to bloom and I will see the sun shining and I will hear the birds singing. God works in seasons and the season of preparation is just as important to Him as the season of seeing the results of His preparation.<br />
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As I remain in my Shelter---the Shelter of God's love and compassion for me---I busy myself doing so many things. Just as I busy myself today cleaning, washing the dishes, finishing some crafts I started, reading, writing notes of encouragement; so my soul also busies itself with "indoor" pursuits. Clinging to a verse of Scripture, feeling the pain of hoping in the Lord (kind of like the pain of doing those awful flutter kicks when I am exercising), waiting and learning to add a little joy more and more each new day, going through and cleaning my heart before the Lord (and never try to do any heart cleaning without the help of the Holy Spirit because it is quite impossible if we try it without Him), forgiving others and putting aside all bitterness, confessing sin and putting on the joyous garments of thanksgiving, and dreaming and planning for those warm, spring-soul days that are right around the corner. What comforts me most on these rainy days is knowing that seasons come and go and Spring will certainly come just as God causes the sun to rise. Spring cannot stay away forever and in God's perfect time He will bring the spring that you long for and your soul will indeed blossom. But do not try and escape these rainy days of preparation because you need them. I need them. God has chosen them to bring about a beautiful work of life in our hearts. So let us embrace them as gifts from our Good Giver, and let us absolutely not fix our eyes on them and stay at the window staring. No, let us get dressed with the clothes of thanksgiving and be about the work of the Lord for their is plenty of "indoor"work for us to do. And the nice thing is that we can send lovely encouragement to others just from the inside our Shelter. And encouraging others is perhaps the most encouraging thing that we can ever do for oursleves.<br />
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So hold fast to these verses from 2 Corinthians and remember that Spring is coming! These little thoughts help me and I hope they help you too...these little pictures of God's amazing work. And remember that God truly is faithful to complete in us the good work which He has started (Philippians 1:6). </div>
Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-91465690961708112722013-04-07T15:34:00.001-07:002013-06-08T17:06:29.802-07:00#5 Open-Hearted Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The clouds are gathering outside as I sit by my bedroom window at work. The wind has picked up and the water out in the bay has turned to a dark-grey color as it churns back and forth. I know the sun is shining, but I cannot see it as before. The cool air keeps me inside where it is warm and where I can escape from the biting wind. This kind of weather is beautiful in its own sort of way, but I do not think that I would actually label it as beautiful in my mind. These kind of grey, windy days display power and fierce strength; they make me think of the storms that I go through in my heart. God is the maker of these days, and His power far exceeds them. God is also the one who gives these kind of days for His own reasons that I do not know. </div>
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As I have shared the heart-lessons God has taught me over the past several months, I have written down my thoughts on <i>OPENNESS</i>. Looking at the world and our lives with open-eyed wonder frees our lips to join in with all of creation in GIVING THANKS to the Lord who has given us the gift of life. As we pour our lives into this thanksgiving our eyes are open even wider to the great love God has for us, and we find courage to live in open-handed trust. The Lord is the Giver of all good things and all His gifts are good. Sometimes we do not understand why He gives us the gifts He does or why He takes away the gifts He's given or why He makes us wait for His gifts, but we can be sure that as we live out each day with our hands open He will surely fill our lives with rich blessings---and He Himself is the greatest blessing of all! One more thing I would like to share right now as the winds howl outside and the storm gathers is about living with an open heart. You know it is quite inspiring to write all this down and I am also inspired to read what I have written, but when it comes to going back at this thing we call living, I find it rather difficult and painful. I love sharing these lessons God has taught me but living them is another story. But this next thing that I will share is what enables me to press on and push through the struggles and push through the pain. Of course I can only live each new day by God's grace, as His strength and power enable me to stand firm through the storms of life, but this next thing adds an amazing sweetness to life's hardships. </div>
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As we live in openness we learn forgetfulness of self, but even as I live in open-eyed wonder and open-handed trust, my flesh loves to rise its ugly head and remind me of my pain and my hurt. It does not like to see selflessness grow inside of me and it will do all to turn my eyes back to myself so that I live with closed eyes and closed hands. But praise the Lord that He has given us a powerful weapon that we can wield when the temptation to live selfishly arises in our hearts! This weapon finds it life in open-hearted love. For when our eyes are open to see God's love then our hands will also open to receive it, and as God's love transforms us from the inside out than our hearts will burst open with His love which we can lavish on others. The best medicine that I could ever give myself when I am sad and discouraged is to help someone else. The most encouraging thing I can do when I am struggling to wait on the Lord is to turn my eyes off of me and serve someone else. Trust me, I am not very good at following my own advice, but little by little God is working in my heart and teaching me to not just share the lessons He teaching me but also to practice them.</div>
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Life is not fun at all when we are focused on ourselves. And it can be especially difficult for us deep thinkers and analytical types because we are so set on wanting to be like Jesus! The wanting to be like Jesus is not the problem, but the preoccupation with ourselves and our performance is because we forget that God has placed us in this world to LIVE and enjoy His gift of LIFE. We cannot forget that in God's sight we are like Jesus and in fact when He sees us, He sees Him. But what about all my sin? What about all the areas I have messed up today?</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT ABOUT THE CROSS<span style="font-size: x-large;">!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let us not forget the cross! Jesus has already washed our sins away and now He wants us to cling to that truth <span style="font-size: small;">and to love one another as He has loved us. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was reciting Philippians 2 to myself today and I was struck by some of the words that Paul used to describe Jesus when He came to earth..."He made Himself <span style="font-size: small;">NOTHING...<span style="font-size: small;">taking the very nature of a SERVANT...<span style="font-size: small;">he became OBEDIENT to death even death on a cross...". <span style="font-size: small;">Now we are to follow i<span style="font-size: small;">n Jesus' steps. <span style="font-size: small;">We are to<span style="font-size: small;"> make oursel<span style="font-size: small;">ves nothing, taking <span style="font-size: small;">on the role of a servant, and becoming obedient to whatever the Lord may ask of us. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Right now I am<span style="font-size: small;"> finishing up my time in the Coast Guard with only 50 more work<span style="font-size: small;"> days left! God has called me to live here in Eastport where I feel very much alone. My family has been so far away from me (though I am very happy that my parents and younger siblings will be moving to Vermont here very soon<span style="font-size: small;">...just in time for me to move!) a<span style="font-size: small;">long w<span style="font-size: small;">ith my fiance whom I desperately long to be with. God has not given me a difficult cup to drink, but it has been a long one that ha<span style="font-size: small;">s required endurance and perseverance. <span style="font-size: small;">My heart feels worn out and ready to give up. Yet in the midst of my weariness <span style="font-size: small;">a<span style="font-size: small;">s I learn to wait with joy God has not left me for a moment.<span style="font-size: small;"> Out of my pain, God is teaching me the beauty and joy of living for others. God is showing me how to know Him more fully and to experience His joy more deeply. I could not have learned all these wondrous lessons without suffering, and now <span style="font-size: small;">as I look back I see all of this---the waiting, the loneliness, the soul struggles<span style="font-size: small;">---as beautiful gifts from my God. I would never have thought to ask God for gifts like these, but in His kindness He has given them to me. Perhaps I am happy when these kind of gifts come to <span style="font-size: small;">an end<span style="font-size: small;">, but I am left changed forever by the impact they have had on my life and I am left gazing with wide-eyed wonder at my awesome God who is faithful to work in my heart. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Day by day I am learning the joy of being a servant<span style="font-size: small;"> for it goes hand in hand with living <span style="font-size: small;">in openness before the Lord. All these lovely lessons build on each other and yet need each other<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> f</span>or without one I think the rest would fall away. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So in open-hearted love, I seek to share and pour out on others all o<span style="font-size: small;">f the love God has poured out on me. I cannot keep God's love to myself for it is something that must be shared. It is a beauty that only gets more beautiful the more people i<span style="font-size: small;">t is shared with and a joy that only becomes more wonderful as it is <span style="font-size: small;">poured out more and more. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you long to know joy? Do you long to know Christ more deeply? Do you long <span style="font-size: small;">to live t<span style="font-size: small;">he open life that I have been talking of? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then do this...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Step outside and witness the power and c<span style="font-size: small;">reativity of God in Creation,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Open His word and be amazed at the Lo<span style="font-size: small;">ve and kindness of God in <span style="font-size: small;">Jesus,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Step out in faith with open eyes, hands, and hea<span style="font-size: small;">rt and Give Thanks to Go<span style="font-size: small;">d for all things,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">And find someone to bless<span style="font-size: small;">. Do not keep God's gift to yourself<span style="font-size: small;">, but share His love with others.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In this is joy and you will find it in abundance, when you will make it your aim to bless and encourage the people God has placed in your life. Start by praying for the<span style="font-size: small;">m. Then perhaps enco<span style="font-size: small;">urag<span style="font-size: small;">ing them with your words or a note<span style="font-size: small;">. Perhaps you live <span style="font-size: small;">with your family and you can work out God's love by serving those around you. <span style="font-size: small;">Remember sometimes a smile will bless someone more than your words ever could. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I do not live with people right now, but at work I do. So I was looking for ways to serve my co-workers today because I was feeling sad and struggling to press on. I did the dishes and <span style="font-size: small;">cleaned up after lunch...and d<span style="font-size: small;">o you know what? IT FELT GREAT! It <span style="font-size: small;">took my eyes of of myself and made me think of how blessed I am to know the <span style="font-size: small;">love of the Almighty, Living God who has made me His own pre<span style="font-size: small;">cio<span style="font-size: small;">us child.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-69640298715100848112013-04-07T10:32:00.001-07:002013-06-08T17:07:15.546-07:00#4 Open-Handed Trust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Brisk, cool air meets me as I swiftly make my way out to the Station's front gate to lock up for the night. I stop. My gaze turns toward the heavens. Small teeny-tiny dots of light shine down amidst the veil of darkness that cloaks the world around me. These rulers of the night faithfully carry out their God given purpose without faltering. As I gaze up with wide open-eyed wonder, a new miracle begins to take place in my life. This grace inspired and enabling open-eyed wonder---which has blossomed in my soul with the joy of thanksgiving to the Lord---has also given me courage and power to live in open-handed trust. For how can I not trust the one who loves me and is the Giver of all good gifts---and all His gifts are good? In 1 John 4:18, John notes that perfect love drives out fear. <br />
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Sin robs us of the joy of enjoying God's gifts and when we live in fear we live with closed eyes to God's beauty and His love. Oh, but step out in faith with open eyes, and as the day dawns God will amaze us with His love! This love, which has no equal, cannot be measured or fully understood for it is far more lovely than I can ever express, and it has no end!<br />
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You see all of God's gifts are given for a purpose and a time to point us back to the Giver, and as we abide in God's love with open eyes, we will learn to trust and live with open hands, which will be ready to receive from God the blessings He gives and also willing and ready for Him to take as He sees fit.<br />
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Sometimes He gives gifts we do not really want, sometimes He takes gifts we do not want Him to take, and sometimes He leaves our hands empty as we wait for the gifts we long for Him to give. But as we know His love, we walk in trust that He is wise and knows what is best.<br />
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Oh, how I have enjoyed His gifts! Wonderful sun bathed mornings! Surprise trips to see my family! Glorious moments with my fiance in Cameroon! Fun times of just plain old laughing, which does my heart good. These are all lovely gifts that I long to receive from God, but it is so hard when they come to an end. But by the very nature that these are gifts means that I should rejoice when they are given and when they end---and in the thanksgiving my eyes will look back to the Giver and the gift will have accomplished its purpose.<br />
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When I live with closed hands---fists clenched tightly---I may think that I am saving myself from the pain of losing what God may take away or be spared the hurt of watching God's gifts come to an end or not have to go through the difficulty of waiting for God to fill my empty hands, but really I am only keeping myself from the joy of knowing God fully and enjoying His love.<br />
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I have never really experienced the pain of God taking. I awoke this morning with new strength and vigor to face my new day, but I wondered what it would be like to struggle with physical suffering and to face health problems. I have not endured that kind of taking from God nor have those who are closest to me had to endure that kind of pain yet. I have not experienced the shock of losing a loved one suddenly. But I know those who have. The pain I feel for them surely cannot compare the pain that they feel. But what I have seen in their lives astounds me. I see the joy of an open-handed trust shining in their lives. The sorrow they pour out to God and the tears they shed do not go unnoticed. They are carried up on God's grace to soar above their sorrow. And I pray that I will have such an attitude when the Lord sees fit to take so that He can fill these open hands of mine with Himself.<br />
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Yet even though I have not faced this pain---living in thanksgiving with open eyes gives me courage to also live with open hands because I trust God. I know His love, and He is love. He is the greatest of all gifts---the gift He will never take away---the gift all others point to.<br />
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Right now I feel that I can best share my heart on what it is like to be waiting for the gifts I long for God to give. I am learning to wait with open hands day by day as Fidele and I wait for His visa paperwork to be approved. So many emotions build up in my heart. At times I live with closed fists because God is not giving me what I want. I want too have my Love near me. It is hard because for the past year of our engagement we have spent only one of those months together in person. I am impatient and tired of waiting, but God whispers to me, "Wait, My Child." Right now the visa service center has listed the K-1 visa (the one Fidele and I are waiting for) as a 5 month wait---Fidele and I have been waiting for almost 10 months!!! "How long, O Lord!" My soul cries. I do not want to wait any longer. But the Lord is teaching me and showing me that He knows best. When I live in openness and in thanksgiving, seeing my Fidele as a gift from God as he truly is---then how can I demand that God give me Fidele right now? God does not give us our demands, but He does give good gifts.<br />
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And something beautiful happens when my perspective is transformed by this truth. Instead of complaining about bad phone reception or poor Internet connections, instead of thinking about what I do not have, and instead of focusing on me and how bad I feel I am awakened to a million blessings that God has given me that I had not seen before because my eyes were closed! I receive a million blessings I did not have before because my hands were closed!!! This past week has been hard because Fidele does not have any Internet connection nor do we know when He will be able to get any. We have also had problems with his phone because for some reason my phone suddenly is no longer able to call his. So I feel like we have truly been in the dark. But yesterday I had a whole 82 seconds to talk to my Fidele! What a blessing and gift from God! If I was living with closed hands, I would not be rejoicing right now in those 82 seconds rather I would be complaining because we didn't get to talk longer, but when I live with open-handed trust my world explodes with joy from an 82 second phone call from my Love! How the world is transformed by God's grace. And that is only one example.<br />
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Open eyes see God's beauty and free our lips to sing His praise in thanksgiving. This thanksgiving opens our eyes wider to see God's love and kindness, and God's love teaches us to trust Him so that we can live with open hands ready for the Lord to give and take in His perfect time. This kind of open-handed trust takes courage, but I think it is the only way for us to live and experience God's love to the fullest.<br />
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So my challenge for this day is to live with open hands, trusting in the Lord. I may not know what a day may bring, but I do know the one who holds my life in His hands and He loves me with an undying love!<br />
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Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182106410225818143.post-72883334399419520412013-04-06T12:27:00.003-07:002013-06-08T17:08:06.412-07:00#3 Open-Eyed Wonder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A new day dawning. Renewed life and strength bursting forth with purpose. The gift of each new breath to sustain for a time. Sights seen day after day, seen fresh and new with open eyes. The sound of gulls exuberant and filled with life, along with the far off toll of a buoy twirling in the wind and current. A mind racing to count and capture daily blessings so uncommonly common; so unique in their constancy day after day.<br />
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This is my new day! My gift of life from God! I meet this gift with <b>open eyes</b> and I am left amazed. Open-eyed wonder washes over me as the sun bathes me with its golden beams, as the wind's gusts send chills down my spine, and as the fresh scent of a new day fills my lungs. Sights and sounds met with open eyes and ears. And in openness thanksgiving is born! Thanksgiving explodes! Thanksgiving opens the eyes wider to see more wonder---to see the beauty of God.<br />
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In grace these two meet---open-eyed wonder and thanksgiving---as God gives and also enables us to receive. This grace opens our eyes to a new world of blessing and our response in turn should flow from grace into thanksgiving! This thanksgiving in turn opens our eyes even wider and paves the way for a life filled with true joy in our life Giver.<br />
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The humdrum days depend on this thanksgiving, or else complacency sets in and the wonder fades. Complaining will replace it unless we guard this gift that God has given---this gift of thanksgiving that enables us to enjoy all of His other gifts.<br />
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But what opens the eyes to see God's blessings? What causes our lips to flow with thanksgiving? How do we soar above this world's perspective of life---especially everyday life that seems so boring and routine? When I am at work, I struggle with this because it is so easy to be squeezed into the world's mold and look at life from its perspective. As those around me complain, gossip, argue, and set their hearts on earthly things, I notice my own heart joining in and then I also notice my eyes begin to close to the blessings of the Lord.</div>
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Oh, but praise God that He has not left us helpless! No, we have the key to the open-eyed wonder that frees our lips to rejoice in such beautiful thanksgiving to the Lord, which also opens our eyes wider to see God's hand at work all around us and in us. The secret is not so much a secret for it is the Word of God. I absolutely love thinking on God's Word! I find that memory work is the best way for me to be able to fix my eyes on God's Word. God's Word enters my heart and renews. It works life in me and I am able to see life. As God's Word enters me, I cannot help but see His beauty everywhere. These boring every day days explode with a new vitality because I see Jesus.</div>
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Oh the joy of open-eyed wonder days! God's blessings are all around. The power of the wind taring at our flags outside the station, attests to God's power for He is the one who orders the wind. The white caps curling and crashing out in the bay are just a little picture of God's might in Creation.<br />
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This is my challenge and joy today---to live with open-eyed wonder---to witness God's wonder and join in with the wonder by THANKSGIVING!</div>
Sara-Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123857286947497878noreply@blogger.com1