Trust Me

You know those days when nothing seems to go right? When no matter how hard you try to make something work it just doesn't? Those days that seem to be jam packed with discouragement? That leave you sitting on a back staircase in the school of music talking to your mom on the phone, as tears stream down your face? Ya... today was one of "those" days for me.

I left the university tonight feeling utterly confused, disappointed and discouraged. Not about school work or midterms, but about life. About all the concerns, big and small, that filled my day. I began my walk home with thoughts still bouncing around in my head.  Suddenly I was jolted back to reality... it was as if God whispered gently into my ear, "Sara, do you trust me?"

It seems silly to think that anyone would ever STOP trusting God, yet there I was, just moments before, drowning in my own confusion and worries. I had allowed the unexpected trials, failed plans, and discouraging words of others distract me from God's truth. Thankfully God took my hand and lead me back to His promises.

As I continued my walk home, pondering the question "Do you trust me?" this verse came to mind:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5,6


No matter how many times I've written, recited, read this verse, it's beauty always takes my breath away. What great joy and peace fills my heart when I trust in the Lord. My worries seem to float away when I'm reminded to lean on Him and not on myself.

As I finished my short walk home, that's exactly what happened. My discouragement, worry, confusion and disappointment were swept away in the breeze as I refocused my eyes on Christ.

Next time you have one of "those" days, think of this verse, let it linger in the air and take a second to listen to his voice as He whispers...

"Trust me."

He Knows You and Loves You.

As I was cleaning up my room today I stumbled upon a letter I wrote three years ago... it goes like this:

"Lord,

You know my heart. You know everything about me. You know my thoughts, you know my pains. Every tear you wipe away. Every smile, you rejoice. You know every desire that burns in my heart. You know my faults and flaws. You know my gifts and talents. And you oh Lord made me exactly the way you wanted. You wouldn't have me any other way. Help me find value and meaning in your words of life. Remind me that you love me with an everlasting love and that you have an amazing plan for me. You know the hurt and pain of all the broken people in this world. Yet you long to be near us. You long to be near the broken and the hurting, the outcasts and the homeless. Lord, pour out your love on me, so that I can pour it out on the people around me. Give me compassion and understanding. Open my ears to listen, my mind to understand, my heart to love and my eyes to see."

I pray that this encourages you and reminds you that God is the complete expression of love.  He will wipe the tears from your eyes and carry you close to his heart through life's journeys. He knows you and loves you.



(I wrote the above prayer/letter while on SOAR Heartland in 2008. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in that amazing program with the incredible team I was with. Each and every person on that team has inspired and encouraged me in so many ways. If any of you are reading this.. Thank You!)

Love, Joy & Peace

Every day for the past two weeks and for the upcoming three weeks I make a lovely 40 minute early morning drive all the way from East St. Paul to Charleswood. At first this trip was brutal, because to put it plainly, I am NOT a morning person. Ironically I now look forward to this drive because it is the perfect quiet time for God and I. As I drive I pray, I talk to God, I listen, I praise Him with song and some hand drumming on my steering wheel and I celebrate another beautiful day of life.

The other day as I was driving and singing my heart out I lifted up a prayer to God asking that He would fill me with unending love, joy that radiates from my very being and peace beyond understanding. Just as I had finished my prayer I arrived at school. My day turned out to be incredibly chaotic and a little bit out of control. The students had SO much energy and I felt like I was running around all day. To be honest I completely forgot about my prayer as the chaos of life took hold of my day. By the end of the day I was exhausted and ready for the weekend.

As I started the trek back home in rush hour I found myself sitting in my car with a huge smile on my face (I probably looked ridiculous). It was a busy day, but hidden within the day were countless things that made me smile, things that brought me joy. My heart was rejoicing and there was no stopping it. I truly believe that this joy was from God alone. At first I was amazed at how quickly God had answered my prayer, but then I thought to myself, why WOULDN'T He answer that prayer. God loves to see His people filled with love, joy and peace. Take some time each morning to seek those things and you'll be surprised and how quickly a smile will creep on to your face !

One more way that God shows us His Love, Joy and Peace is through our Mothers. As it is Mothers Day I'd like to say that I am so grateful for my mom. She is a woman of faith, a mother of grace, and a best friend. She has always been there for me through good times and bad times. She has dried countless tears and encouraged much laughter. Gods love comes in many ways and I have felt His love through my mom many times in my 19 years of life. It is a beautiful day to celebrate our mothers and the amazing God who has blessed us with them.

Love you so much mom! 

Unchanging

I've been thinking about the people in my life lately.  My friends, my family, my professors, my church. People who've been in my life since I was a baby and new friends that I've just met this week. I've been thinking about people who I continue to grow closer to and people who grow more distant with each day. Sometimes I wonder how friends can so quickly lose touch? How is it that one second you can know everything about a person and the next have no idea how they are? 

Whether you've lost loved ones as a result of circumstance, or distance, or a simple growing apart, we've all lost someone. Sad to say I've lost more than I would have liked this past year. I don't really think anyone can replace those friends but I can confidently say that through the hurt I've experienced God has challenged and forced me to grow in my faith. I know that my life will continue to be filled with hurt and loss. People will come into my life, and people will leave my life. Amidst these uncertainties I can find peace and joy in Christ because He will always be there. Others may leave, but God will remain. 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows." 

James 1: 17

For all the people who have ever been a part of my life... Thank you.

You have inspired and encouraged me to grow into the person I am today.

I feel blessed to have you in my life and thank God daily for who you are.

If we ever grow apart (which I hope we don't) I pray that the Lord will bless 

you in all that you do. Thank you for changing my life. 

Individuals

Today was one of those days when I tried to get things accomplished, but every time I went to do my homework or study for my upcoming test I was distracted...

I went to tutor a course but no one showed up so I sat there and spent the next hour just talking with a friend. After an hour of laughing and ranting we went our separate ways to go tackle our homework. 5 minutes after I settled into my new location ready to do some studying I found myself talking to another friend... she left, I read one sentence of my 19th Century History notes and someone else came walking up... after talking with him for a while I started to study again, but then another friend joined me.

Instead of doing my mountain of homework this afternoon I spent it talking with people I love.

My first thought when I got home this evening, was that I wasted my day and got nothing accomplished. I couldn't be more wrong. Spending time with the people I love, talking to them, seeing how they are, is just as important as my study time.

The people we know, are in our lives for a reason.  I believe that God calls us to care for and love these individuals. Every day we are given the assignment to show them Gods love. How am I doing at that? How can I show someone Gods love if I'm studying all the time? How can I care for others when all I am thinking about are my own problems and my own to-do list.

God tells us clearly in His word to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22: 37-39)

When I ask myself at the end of the day "What did I accomplish?" I want to be able to say that I made every effort possible to show Gods love to the individuals He has so graciously placed in my life.

Miracles Happen

It is in our moments of weakness that God shows us His strength.
It is in our darkest hour that God reveals to us His light.
It is in our heartache that God comforts us with His love.
And it is in our suffering that God reminds us of the miracles in this world.

Eleven years ago my dad was diagnosed
 with cancer. The doctors told him that the chances
of him living to be 40 were only 10%.
This February my dad is turning 50.
I can honestly tell you that miracles DO happen.

As I look back I realize that it was in the most difficult times
that God showed us His strength, His love and His hope.
I truly believe it is only by the grace of God
that my dad, my hero, is still with us today.

Each day is filled with many beautiful
miracles from a God who loves us.
Remember this the next time life gets hard
and the suffering is all that you can see.

" Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving
 for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what
is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Fear

I find myself often living my life in fear.

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of losing someone I love.

Fear of failing.

Fear of not being good enough.

Fear that I won't live up to others expectations.

Fear that I will waste my time here on this earth.

Fear of hurting someone I care for.

Fear of being alone.

Yet so often in the Bible God tell us not to be afraid.

In Deuteronomy Chapter 31 God says "Be strong and courageous. Do not be AFRAID or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you... Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged."

Wow. what an incredible thing to think about.

The God of the Universe is with us.

He calls us to trust in Him. And trust that he will never leave our side.

God gives us strength when we feel weak and courage when we feel scared. 

I find myself clinging to those words... 

"I will never leave you nor forsake you..."

And it is because of this beautiful promise that I can 

work towards erasing my fears.

For I know that I am weak. 

But He is strong.

What does it mean to wear joy?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Galatians 5:22-23

I have never seen joy as real and true as the joy that the children had

in Uganda. The smallest thing would make them flash their

beautiful smiles. Rice for lunch, markers to colour with, 

a mzungu (white person) playing games with them. 

I think we have a lot to learn from these beautiful kids. 

Maybe if we slowed down for a few seconds we

 would realize just how blessed we are.  

God has given us so much to be thankful for.