Posts

35

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 35. Another year. Another 365 days to offer thanks for what has been given.  Was it what I expected? Of course not. Were there moments of doubt and fear? Absolutely. Did I trudge through it all, pressing towards the mark (Phil 3:14)? Yes, though often with little strength.  Now as I begin a new year with a new age, what will I do? Well for one, I will "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14 I want to make it my aim (and this is a constant readjusting!) to do the will of God - no matter my circumstances. It is very easy to let the mind slip into thoughts of fear and anxiety, especially when it seems like things never change. But, 2 Corinthians 10:5 says to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Every thought. While that is hard, I make that my aim. When those fears of anxiety threaten to overwhelm me (and this is very easy to do), I must bring them under the obedience of Christ. I must remember

Prepare the Soil

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Yesterday my sisters and I worked outside the whole morning. We are in the process of doing a lot of yard work that consists of trimming trees, clearing brush, burning said brush...the works. The weather was beautiful and just right for the tasks that we three sisters set for ourselves.  I have made it my little project to clear a small-ish area for my long awaited flower garden. And as I set about cutting small trees, clearing palm bushes, raking up leaves, loading the wheelbarrow, dumping the wheelbarrow (and repeating that process many times over!), I realized just how easy my thoughts turned to wanting to give up and walk away from what I was doing.  Of course it was hard work. My back hurt, my hands were red and sore from using the trimming/cutting tools, my body warm from the constant walking and bending down - all of these natural things that occur from being a human living in a sinful world. But as I continued to work, and begin digging up the soil to prepare it for the next st

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Hymn for December

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Lord, how has December already come upon us? How is it that I blinked and 2023 is practically over? I actually went and switched the song that was recommended to sing for this month. The song that was suggested wasn't bad or anything, I just prefer older hymns. So, what I am choosing to learn the whole of December is a timeless song, O Come, O Come Emmanuel. O come, O come Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel, shall come to you, O Israel. O come, O come Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily; to show us the path of knowledge show and teach us in its ways to go. O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai's height in ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem, unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save, and them them victory o'er the grace. O come, O Key of David, come and o

Count Your Blessings - Hymn for November

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It never ceases to amaze me how God works in our lives.  As I begin a new month, a new hymn is in the works to learn and saturate my soul.  I will be honest though, when I saw the title of this hymn, I wasn't very excited about it. My prideful heart said, "I don't need to count my blessings."  Lord, forgive me for this prideful remark. Forgive me where I assume that I do not need to be reminded of what Thou hast done for me.  At the end of October, I had a prayer that I was trying to figure out how to formulate and pray to God. As I read through the blog post that contained the hymn I was to learn for this month, I was humbled reading through the lyrics because they were just what my soul needed. When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hast done. Refrain : Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings,

Every Knee

Hello all!  How are you? What have you been up to these past few weeks? I feel like a lot has changed since I last posted. There seems to be a lot going on in our world right now. A lot of unrest and violence.  For the past few weeks my heart has been extremely heavy and hurting for those who are suffering at the hands of wicked people. May we all be lifting up the wounded and weary, praying for revival and for the lost to come to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior.  As I was driving home this morning, a song, All Creatures of Our God and King was playing and while I normally try and sing along, I just listened this time. As I was listening the thought came to my mind that, one day, every single knee shall bow to God.  Romans 14:11 says, For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  With so much going on in the world, I take comfort in this truth. Every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess to God.  And all ye men

There Is a Balm in Gilead - Hymn for October

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 It's fall, ya'll! I pray all is well with each of you today.  The hymn that I aim to learn for this month is one that I am not very familiar with but nonetheless, a beautiful song. [Refrain] There is a balm in Gilead, To make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead To heal the sin-sick soul.  Sometimes I feel discouraged And think my work's in vain, But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again. [Refrain] Don't ever be discouraged, For Jesus is your friend; And if you lack for knowledge, He'll ne'er refuse to lend. [Refrain] If you cannot preach like Peter, If you cannot pray like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus and say, "He died for all!" [Refrain] If you are interested in learning more about this beautiful song, click  here  to read up on it.  Blessings to you this fine day, Sarah

God is my strength

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I am continually reminded of my desperate need for God. Each time I try to fix or figure something out, I am reminded that I don't have the ability to fix nor do I possess all the knowledge.  As the year comes to an end and another one prepares to begin, my anxiety takes form and thoughts tend to wander. Last night I was lying in bed and talking with the Lord. I was talking with Him about some fears I have, when Psalm 73:26 came to my mind. It says, My flesh and heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.  Again, I repeated the verse. O the power of God's Word! O how magnificent it is to recite Scripture and be immediately comforted. It will always amaze me what the Living Word can do to a soul.  For me, this verse in the 73rd chapter of the book of David's Psalms, it is the cry of my heart and God's response to my cry. God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. He is enough. How many times will I have to remind myself of