My two tests are done for this morning, so I'm halfway there until Thanksgiving break. Yay!! I'll still be doing tons of work over the break, but any break right now is welcome! Thank you for your prayers everyone.
~Sara
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
School, school, and more school
Lately I have been...
Stressing
Worrying
Studying
Procrastinating
Stressing
(did I say that already?)
Yep, the end of this semester is drawing to a close, and I've been getting a little overwhelmed with all the assignments and exams coming up. I SO appreciate your prayers as I finish. I'm hoping I have more time for blogging when I'm done in a couple weeks.
I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving though. I love being with my family and enjoying the time we have together. I also love watching the parade and anticipating the Christmas season. What are all of you doing for Thanksgiving this year? Are you staying home or traveling? My family is staying home, but we'll be visiting my grandmother who lives nearby. If your families have any particular traditions you do every year, I'd love to hear about them.
So...it's off to studying for me! Take care everyone.
Sara
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Friends and Birthdays
Yesterday I took my little friend, Nicki, out for her birthday. She's 10 now!
Nicki loved the carousel ride in the mall.
After we went out to eat, I surprised her by taking her to Build-A-Bear workshop!
Before her panda was stuffed.
Awww, she loves her panda.
Making a wish for her new furry friend.
Somebody's happy. =)
He's all stuffed now! Nicki called him Joseph.
Next stop: the Hallmark store. Nicki loves those Webkinz animals, so we picked up a leopord one.
Looking at the pretty fountain by the coffee shop in the mall (and throwing 2 little pennies in- I wonder what she wished for?). The lights at the bottom make the water change colors.
We tried a bunch of photoshoots together...these two are my favorites.
Happy Birthday Nicki!
Looking at the pretty fountain by the coffee shop in the mall (and throwing 2 little pennies in- I wonder what she wished for?). The lights at the bottom make the water change colors.
We tried a bunch of photoshoots together...these two are my favorites.
Happy Birthday Nicki!
Friday, November 14, 2008
A Special Request
Here I am, at 12:30 AM, writing to ask a special request of all you special bloggy friends. I am very saddened because of circumstances that are too great for me to control, but I am asking for some heartfelt prayers from all of you. For privacy reasons I won't share the specifics, but I do want to share with you about my older brother. He is not saved, and is living a life for himself. It is very, very painful for my family and me to see my brother living such an ungodly life and to hear some of the things he has said.
My heart has been so burdened for him lately...please help me storm the gates of Heaven for him! Pray that I will be a witness to him and won't be afraid to speak truth. Pray that his heart will be softened. Pray that I will not show anger toward him- I struggle with this a lot. Above all, pray that his heart will be turned to Christ, and that I will be able to say the right words to him so that he can see the love of my wonderful Savior.
Thank you SO much,
Sara
My Saviour, He can move the mountains, my God is Mighty to save, He is Mighty to save. Forever, Author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.
My heart has been so burdened for him lately...please help me storm the gates of Heaven for him! Pray that I will be a witness to him and won't be afraid to speak truth. Pray that his heart will be softened. Pray that I will not show anger toward him- I struggle with this a lot. Above all, pray that his heart will be turned to Christ, and that I will be able to say the right words to him so that he can see the love of my wonderful Savior.
Thank you SO much,
Sara
My Saviour, He can move the mountains, my God is Mighty to save, He is Mighty to save. Forever, Author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Beauty from the Heart
Beauty from the Heart is a blog I have followed for the past couple of years. I am so excited to see that the authors of this blog, Hannah and Lindsey, will be starting conferences for girls next summer. If you get a chance, check out their website...http://www.beautyfromtheheart.org/.
(You can turn off my music on the side to listen to the video) =)
(You can turn off my music on the side to listen to the video) =)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Grateful for (Almost) Any Government
November 4, 2008
By: John Piper
How does the Bible instruct us to pray for “all who are in high positions”? It says,
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4).
A few observations:
1. Giving thanks “for kings” is hard when they are evil.
And, as Calvin said on this passage, “All the magistrates of that time were sworn enemies of Christ.” This shows us that anarchy is a horrible alternative to almost any ruler.
We should give thanks for rulers because “non-rule” would unleash on us utterly unbridled evil with no recourse whatever.
Again Calvin: “Unless they restrained the boldness of wicked men, the whole world would be full of robberies and murders.” The better we understand the seething evil of the human heart that is ready to break out where there is no restraint, the more thankful we will be for government.
2. The effect we pray for is “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly, and dignified in every way.”
Dignified means “serious and reverent,” not stuffy. I suspect what Paul means is not that we can’t live godly and serious lives during times of anarchy. We can. I suspect he means that peaceful and quiet lives, which are the opposite of anarchy, are often wasted in ungodly and frivolous actions.
So he is praying for a government that would give peace and quiet (not anarchy), and that Christians would not fritter away their peaceful lives with the world, but would be radically godly and serious about the lost condition of the world and how to change it.
3. Using our peace for radical godliness and serious action will lead to more effective evangelism and world missions.
This last observation is confirmed by the hoped-for outcome Paul mentions. Paul says that the reason God delights in such peaceful, Godward, serious action is that he “desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
More people will be saved if our government restrains the horrors of anarchy, and if Christians use this peace not to waste their lives on endless entertainment, but seriously give their lives to making God known.
By: John Piper
How does the Bible instruct us to pray for “all who are in high positions”? It says,
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4).
A few observations:
1. Giving thanks “for kings” is hard when they are evil.
And, as Calvin said on this passage, “All the magistrates of that time were sworn enemies of Christ.” This shows us that anarchy is a horrible alternative to almost any ruler.
We should give thanks for rulers because “non-rule” would unleash on us utterly unbridled evil with no recourse whatever.
Again Calvin: “Unless they restrained the boldness of wicked men, the whole world would be full of robberies and murders.” The better we understand the seething evil of the human heart that is ready to break out where there is no restraint, the more thankful we will be for government.
2. The effect we pray for is “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly, and dignified in every way.”
Dignified means “serious and reverent,” not stuffy. I suspect what Paul means is not that we can’t live godly and serious lives during times of anarchy. We can. I suspect he means that peaceful and quiet lives, which are the opposite of anarchy, are often wasted in ungodly and frivolous actions.
So he is praying for a government that would give peace and quiet (not anarchy), and that Christians would not fritter away their peaceful lives with the world, but would be radically godly and serious about the lost condition of the world and how to change it.
3. Using our peace for radical godliness and serious action will lead to more effective evangelism and world missions.
This last observation is confirmed by the hoped-for outcome Paul mentions. Paul says that the reason God delights in such peaceful, Godward, serious action is that he “desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
More people will be saved if our government restrains the horrors of anarchy, and if Christians use this peace not to waste their lives on endless entertainment, but seriously give their lives to making God known.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Let Your Will Be Done
Your glorious cause, O God, engages our hearts
May Jesus Christ be known wherever we are
We ask not for ourselves, but for Your renown
The cross has saved us so we pray
Your kingdom come
Let Your kingdom come
Let Your will be done
So that everyone might know Your Name
Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth
Till Your sovereign work on earth is done
Let Your kingdom come
Give us Your strength, O God, and courage to speak
Perform Your wondrous deeds through those who are weak
Lord use us as You want, whatever the test
By grace we’ll preach Your gospel
Till our dying breath
-Bob Kauflin
Link to the music (which is worth listening to!): http://www.imeem.com/people/hX0Ft9/music/0YYfEBYt/sovereign_grace_music_let_your_kingdom_come/
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. Psalm 118:6,8
May Jesus Christ be known wherever we are
We ask not for ourselves, but for Your renown
The cross has saved us so we pray
Your kingdom come
Let Your kingdom come
Let Your will be done
So that everyone might know Your Name
Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth
Till Your sovereign work on earth is done
Let Your kingdom come
Give us Your strength, O God, and courage to speak
Perform Your wondrous deeds through those who are weak
Lord use us as You want, whatever the test
By grace we’ll preach Your gospel
Till our dying breath
-Bob Kauflin
Link to the music (which is worth listening to!): http://www.imeem.com/people/hX0Ft9/music/0YYfEBYt/sovereign_grace_music_let_your_kingdom_come/
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. Psalm 118:6,8
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