Someone asked me if I watched Nik Wallenda walk the tightrope over Niagara Falls.
Me: "I don't waste my time watching TV."
Their response: "Well you missed history being made!"
Me: "Ach. I make history everyday."
(Seriously, where do I come up with this stuff?)
Everyday is a part of my life story, my history.
Everyday I choose whether it will be lived well or...not so well. I choose whether I will follow God's commands and live in His blessing or in disobedience and disgrace.
I want my history to show God and who He is. I want my life to be marked by His presence. I want to finish well.
"Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out."
-Ecclsiastes 7:8 The Message
"There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."
-Phil 1:6 The Message
"...What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God."
-Acts 20:24 The Message
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Saturday, 16 June 2012
Faith, Hope and Love
I choose to live my life by this:
Trust steadily in God
Hope unswervingly
Love extravagantly
"...Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."
-1 Corinthians 13:13b The Message
When it says love, it doesn't mean the mushy gushy feeling, but love as it is described in the rest of the chapter.
Now my thought is, "Why is love more important than the other two?"
It's more important because it isn't about rules and ritual; it about relationship; with God and with those around me.
I've seen how terrible and boring a life is when it is lived out of having to follow the rules because I don't want to get into trouble.
I have also experienced a life lived with love. There is so much freedom! I don't do things because I'm "supposed" to but because I genuinely love God & those around me.
HE is what I desire most. Everything else, all the blessings that come from being obedient to Him, is icing on the cake or potato with my steak!
Trust steadily in God
Hope unswervingly
Love extravagantly
"...Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."
-1 Corinthians 13:13b The Message
When it says love, it doesn't mean the mushy gushy feeling, but love as it is described in the rest of the chapter.
Now my thought is, "Why is love more important than the other two?"
It's more important because it isn't about rules and ritual; it about relationship; with God and with those around me.
I've seen how terrible and boring a life is when it is lived out of having to follow the rules because I don't want to get into trouble.
I have also experienced a life lived with love. There is so much freedom! I don't do things because I'm "supposed" to but because I genuinely love God & those around me.
HE is what I desire most. Everything else, all the blessings that come from being obedient to Him, is icing on the cake or potato with my steak!
Monday, 4 June 2012
06/04/05
Seven years ago today I started a journey. A path which joined my life to another and God.
It has been a journey with ups and downs, caused much joy and pain and brought sorrow and blessing.
The relationship taught me many things about myself.
I learned that I misplaced my value and worth by putting them in a human.
It taught me the importance of forgiveness - toward others and myself.
It showed me the power of my Heavenly Father, who has proven His faithfulness over and over again. Who become my Everything, my Rock, my Redeemer, my Provider. He has given me an identity in Him that cannot be shaken.
The only regret I have is it took the relationship ending to see all these things.
It has been a journey with ups and downs, caused much joy and pain and brought sorrow and blessing.
The relationship taught me many things about myself.
I learned that I misplaced my value and worth by putting them in a human.
It taught me the importance of forgiveness - toward others and myself.
It showed me the power of my Heavenly Father, who has proven His faithfulness over and over again. Who become my Everything, my Rock, my Redeemer, my Provider. He has given me an identity in Him that cannot be shaken.
The only regret I have is it took the relationship ending to see all these things.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
What not to wear!
I have developed a love of all things girly- dresses, shoes, make up, etc.
I have found there are items I should AND items that I should not wear.
And it's not just the clothes or shoes I wear, but the attitudes I carry, the way I talk to and treat people.
Do I treat people with respect & grace, or am I insensitive to others and what they are going through? Do I speak life, encouragement & hope to those around me? Do I see the positive things in the people & situations around me?
NOPE.
I get it wrong often, but I strive to get it right.
I want to be a joy to be around. I want to be clothed with kindness, love & tenderness. I want Jesus & what He has done in my life to be on display for all to see!! 'Cause He is the most amazing thing, person, relationship EVER!!
"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it."
Colossians 3:12-14 The Message
I have found there are items I should AND items that I should not wear.
And it's not just the clothes or shoes I wear, but the attitudes I carry, the way I talk to and treat people.
Do I treat people with respect & grace, or am I insensitive to others and what they are going through? Do I speak life, encouragement & hope to those around me? Do I see the positive things in the people & situations around me?
NOPE.
I get it wrong often, but I strive to get it right.
I want to be a joy to be around. I want to be clothed with kindness, love & tenderness. I want Jesus & what He has done in my life to be on display for all to see!! 'Cause He is the most amazing thing, person, relationship EVER!!
"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it."
Colossians 3:12-14 The Message
Sunday, 27 May 2012
I'm a fish
Early this week I had a conversation with Alyssa. It went like this,
Alyssa(hands squishing her cheeks): "I'm a fish!"
Sarah(a little concerned): "What does that mean?"
Alyssa:"I dunno."
I realized 2 things from things from this conversation.
1) I sound like my Dad!
2) What I say about myself and how important those things are.
"Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest."
-Proverbs 18:20 MSG
Alyssa & I have pretty silly conversations. One of the MANY reasons I love being with her.
Saturday, 28 April 2012
New Horizon
Today (Friday) I went to visit another school I am considering on attending
in the fall. It is a good school, but so is the first one I looked at. They
have a high percentage of graduates that pass the provincial exam for massage
therapy, good graduate employment rates, small class sizes, etc.
So now I'm a little distraught. I already had my heart set on the first school, now I'm not so sure. I like this one too. Grr...
I had a few errands to run since I was in the city, but nothing that couldn't wait an hour. So I was off to the waterfront. I sat on the beach enjoying the sound of the waves lapping on the shore, the sand between my toes, and sunshine warming me.
As I was looking over the lake I felt God say, "Your future is like the
horizon before you."
Limitless.
Unending.
“Stay close to Me and I will show you where to go.”
Ahh...peace again.
Lord, I don't want to go anywhere but where You are!
"I look behind me and You're there, then up ahead and You're there, too— Your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can't take it all in!"
-Psalm 139:5-6
So now I'm a little distraught. I already had my heart set on the first school, now I'm not so sure. I like this one too. Grr...
I had a few errands to run since I was in the city, but nothing that couldn't wait an hour. So I was off to the waterfront. I sat on the beach enjoying the sound of the waves lapping on the shore, the sand between my toes, and sunshine warming me.
As I was looking over the lake I felt God say, "Your future is like the
horizon before you." Limitless.
Unending.
“Stay close to Me and I will show you where to go.”
Ahh...peace again.
Lord, I don't want to go anywhere but where You are!
"I look behind me and You're there, then up ahead and You're there, too— Your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can't take it all in!"
-Psalm 139:5-6
Thursday, 19 April 2012
If You Love Me...
"If you love Me, show it by doing what I've told you."
-John 14:15 The Message
God is not petty. He is just telling me how I can show Him that I love Him.
It's like...
Whenever you get into your best friend's car and she says, "I really need to clean my car! I should clean my car." Well. I can do something about that. I love her and she is telling me a way that I can show her. So we spend some time together making her car clean and shiny.
God is doing the same thing:
"The person who knows My commandments and keeps them, that's who loves Me. And the person who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and make Myself plain to him."
-John 14:21 The Message
"If anyone loves Me, he will carefully keep My word and My Father will love him—We'll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving Me means not keeping My words."
-John 14:23-24 The Message
I show God love by doing what He tells me, knowing and keeping His commandments and carefully keeping His Word. Sounds like a lot of work! But is it work when I am doing it to show my love for someone? I detail cars for a living. It's hard work, but doing it for my friend was not work - it was fun!
When I stop doing things because I HAVE to, and realize that when I GET to do it out of my relationship(friendship) with Him, it becomes much easier to do the things He asks me! (Also He is all-knowing and has my best interest in mind...why should I argue?!?)
When I show God that I love Him, I find that He shows me it back! He makes Himself plain, and moves right into my neighbourhood! How awesome is that? I want Him to make himself "plain" or clear, simple, honest, easy & straightforward to me. No guessing or trying to figure it out.
So when I love God, by doing what He commands, He loves me back, by showing me Who He is and what He wants for my life. What a Friend I have!!
-John 14:15 The Message
God is not petty. He is just telling me how I can show Him that I love Him.
It's like...
Whenever you get into your best friend's car and she says, "I really need to clean my car! I should clean my car." Well. I can do something about that. I love her and she is telling me a way that I can show her. So we spend some time together making her car clean and shiny.
God is doing the same thing:"The person who knows My commandments and keeps them, that's who loves Me. And the person who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and make Myself plain to him."
-John 14:21 The Message
"If anyone loves Me, he will carefully keep My word and My Father will love him—We'll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving Me means not keeping My words."
-John 14:23-24 The Message
I show God love by doing what He tells me, knowing and keeping His commandments and carefully keeping His Word. Sounds like a lot of work! But is it work when I am doing it to show my love for someone? I detail cars for a living. It's hard work, but doing it for my friend was not work - it was fun!
When I stop doing things because I HAVE to, and realize that when I GET to do it out of my relationship(friendship) with Him, it becomes much easier to do the things He asks me! (Also He is all-knowing and has my best interest in mind...why should I argue?!?)
When I show God that I love Him, I find that He shows me it back! He makes Himself plain, and moves right into my neighbourhood! How awesome is that? I want Him to make himself "plain" or clear, simple, honest, easy & straightforward to me. No guessing or trying to figure it out.
So when I love God, by doing what He commands, He loves me back, by showing me Who He is and what He wants for my life. What a Friend I have!!
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