May 1, 2011
I wrote this about a month after coming back from Asia. Being with our brothers and sister, seeing their dedication really impacted me.
Who are these people,
So humble and meek?
They live in the slums
They live on the streets.
These people love Jesus
You can see it in their eyes
Sense it in their spirit
Hear it in their cries.
They weep for these people
They pray and they fast.
Waiting for the day
That all know Jesus at last.
May my heart be moved
May I not be unchanged
Help me do all I can
That all might know the Way.
Lord, let me weep for these people
As I pray and I fast
Let me not rest
Till they know You at last.
May my thoughts and my ways
All I do, all I say
Bring You honor and glory
For all of my days
We will go forward
To share the Good News
We will go onward
Sharing the Truth
We will go forward
To tell about Christ
Bringing hope, living water,
And everlasting life.
Sarah 2011
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Jan 22, 2011
In prayer meetings we are always hearing about our brothers and sisters over in Asia that are laying down their lives because they refuse to deny God when persecuted. We hear this over and over and over again, and instead of becoming numb to it, it’s making me think. What are we, here in the western world, doing to take up our cross and follow Christ. Sure we aren’t public-ally humiliated and beaten for not denying Christ, but there are so many other ways that we daily choose to deny Him.
I don’t think denying Christ is simply stating that you don’t believe in Him, but I think it happens when we choose something else over Him, when we take His name in vain, when we choose sin over serving Him with our whole hearts. Denying Christ is like we are in love with two things, but we can’t serve two masters. It’s either the world, or God.
I’m not saying I’m perfect, I’m far from it, and it’s so easy to find myself being drawn to what the world has to offer, rather than falling at the feet of God. I think the only way to overcome this, is to simply say no, and put our trust in the Lord. Our brothers and sisters in Asia are doing this daily. They lay down their very lives to NOT deny Christ. Why shouldn’t we? Why not put down the video game, or turn off the music, the TV, and spend more time with God?
This doesn’t mean we can’t do all those things, and it doesn’t mean become legalistic about it. Ask God what it means for you to do this. But I think that if each of us put God first, and ourselves last, we have a much better chance of reaching the lost world for Christ, and serving Him with our whole hearts.
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Jan 17, 2011
“Oh no!” Was the cry that came from my lips when I fumbled with my phone. I finally realized that it was in my pocket and frantically tried to answer the call. Sadly, I was too late. My gloved hands had not opened the slippery phone quickly enough.
To make the matter worse it was my sister. Having her live so far away is a challenge. I can’t call her – she can only call me – which makes me feel awful every time I don’t get to my phone. But why tonight of all nights? I’ve been hoping for a call before I leave for Asia next Saturday. One more pep talk and encouragement before flying across the ocean.This leads to the question… “why?”
“Why, Lord, did I not make it fast enough? Why had I just put my gloves on? Why had I just changed the ringtone? Why, why why?” I find that I become very self-centered very quickly. It is not my intent to be always thinking of myself – but I do it so naturally.
When asking ‘why’, He basically gave me the answer “why not?” After all, He is in control. He leads and directs our lives. It is not that He wants to punish me for something by letting me miss my sister’s phone call, just that He will allow it to build character. At the moment I am learning to be joyful in everything. Giving thanks evermore. After all, that is the will of Christ Jesus for you and for me. He just wants us to trust Him. He wants our wills to bend towards His. I am learning that. It’s not always easy and it’s not always fun but the one thing I’ve always found it to be is freeing. When you let Christ be the Master of your mind, life, and soul, you will only seek to see His heart in whatever it is that you are going through. The principals of giving thanks and of surrendering our questions and wonderings to His sovereignty are things that can be used wherever and whenever. If you really rely on Him and trust that His plan is better than yours, life is one adventure after another. You no longer have to worry about what, when, how, who… just listen to the Father and do nothing but what He tells you to do.
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Nov 24, 2010
I am back in Texas, Praise the Lord! A lot has happened these past few months, and to sum it all up into one post will be tough, but I do believe it is possible. Hold on tight!
After graduating from the School of Discipleship in July 2010, I stayed in Texas for about a month and a half to help out in training someone else to take my place as Event Manager for the Central and Western regions of the USA; all the while living with a GFA staff family. Right after that, I was on a plane back to Pennsylvania, just in time for the beauty of Autumn on the East coast.
So began my journey in support raising to come back to Texas as staff at GFA. While I was there I didn’t feel like I fit there, because I knew I was called to serve at GFA, I felt like a fish out of water. I was asking God to please help me find some sort of ministry that I could fit into while away from GFA. Then, my mom started talking about a homeless ministry down in Philadelphia that some of the people from my church go to each Sunday. I had heard about this ministry before, but before I could start up with it, a lot of things happened in my life that stopped me from getting involved, and then I headed to GFA for a year. I prayed about it and felt tremendous peace about going, so I tagged along and was blessed tremendously.
Needless to say, God once again proved His faithfulness in providing me with a way to serve Him away from my home here at GFA. God sure is amazing isn’t He?!
Also, I got to help out for a little bit with the Youth Worship team for Youth Group, I love working with youth, so it was neat to see how the Youth Group I came from has grown, and to see the passion of the leaders as they live their lives as examples of godly men and women for the Youth. While I was there, I was given the opportunity to speak with the youth for about 45 minutes. I was planning on only taking up 30 mins max, but God laid so much on my heart to share with them that I just couldn’t stop talking! Which is so unlike me… therefore, I know it had to have been God speaking through me.
All throughout this entire time in PA, God continued to touch people’s hearts and they joined with me in reaching the lost in Asia through prayer and support. In faith, I was praying that God would have my support raised by the end of October so that I could drive down with Katie when she went back to Texas in November.
Slowly, the date was approaching, and I got the call saying that I could come back because I was at 95% of what I needed per month! Praise God! He answered that prayer, down to the exact day! So, one of my friends came, experienced an east coast Autumn for the first time, and we started our trek down to Texas.
It was a rather long drive, but I was so excited, I hardly noticed the long days that went into the trip. I was also sick with something that resembled Bronchitis, but the Lord gave me strength to push through each day. God is good! On our way down, about half way through our first day, my friend and I noticed that the engine light was on in my car. So, we pulled into the nearest gas station/ food place and made a few phone calls and continued on our way trusting the Lord to let us get to Texas safely. We got back and one of the guys checked out my car, and it was only a fluke! Praise God!
The day after we got back, I started my first day back in the GFA officially! Thanks for all that helped make getting me back possible! Praise God for the opportunity we have to make an eternal impact on the lost in Asia!
Wow, I’m surprised this all fit into one post! 😀
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Nov 23, 2010
I don’t have the time. These are words that I have lived by. I don’t have time to read my Bible, I don’t have time to get alone and pray, I don’t have time to read that biography. After all, I work and then I have to get home to facebook and calling my family. I have to take a nap, I have to take a shower, In have to do my laundry… The list goes on and on.
We live in a culture where we are taught that we can do what we want to do – and we live by that. Not that we want to follow the worlds example but we want to be comfortable within God’s commands. We don’t realize that God calls us to be just as radical as Jesus Christ was. Paul says to “follow me as I follow Christ”. This is a pretty huge deal. I don’t want to live like Paul! Man, that guy was shipwrecked, he was beaten, he barely escaped from so many murder plots. Oh, wait, yeah, I remember now… he was that guy that got beheaded. But… he knew Christ.
My point is that being a Christian means more than just going to church and praying when people are sick. Those are good things but they are definately not what defines us as Christians. “They were first called Christians at Antioch.” Little Christs is what the word Christian means. So, as a “little Christ” what must we do? We must follow His example. We must love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength.
That means giving up our time to spend it with Him. Not because we must but because we want to love Him more. This King of the universe who came down as a man to redeem my soul… why wouldn’t I want to know Him more?
So look at my life and what do you see? Probably someone who’s time is spent in a lot of different ways. Some of it serving Christ, some of it wasted. What do I want to become? Someone who’s life is consumed with loving my King. You spend time on the things you value. When you say “I don’t have time”, you’re really saying that it’s not on the top of your priority list.
Let’s give Him our time… Let’s give Him our love!
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