From Birth to Beard

From Birth to Beard

From birth to beard

This Man now grown

Savior of mankind

Though to many unknown

His helpless cries

Became undaunted resolution

To free us of

Sin's pollution

From birth to beard
A child no longer
His life and death
Can make you stronger

He came to recover
Abundant life kidnapped
His life today's gift
ready and unwrapped

Will you accept??

-Sarah

12/25/2013

 

To Be Wanted

"In all our contacts it is probably the sense of being really 

needed and wanted which gives us the greatest satisfaction and 

creates the most lasting bond."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

If you're like me, they you may at times feel almost guilty for wanting to be noticed, loved, cherished, or considered important.  Society teaches us to be strong and independent.  You may have been taught (or learned the hard way) not to depend on others, because they will just let you down.

Do you every feel guilty for needing to be needed, and does that mean this desire isn't from God?  Not at all.

I believe God has put that desire for companionship/love in us, consider these 2 brief points...

• God made Eve for Adam so Adam wouldn't be alone. (Genesis 2:18)
• There are many scriptures in the Bible about friendship.

So it seems that God has put an innate desire in us to want to be loved, accepted, and important to others.  Still, the desire for others should never surpass our desire for being wanted and loved by God.

Well guess what?  God wants to be noticed, cherished, and important in your life too!

The other day during worship, I started thinking about this desire of ours to be wanted.  Different scenarios played out in my head of times I had felt wanted and how special it felt.  God brought to mind the many hugs and exclamations of, "Ms. Sarah!" I get in the mornings from my preschoolers.  I recalled one of my girls, who will soon be leaving us to attend Kindergarten, often telling me that I am still her favorite teacher. 

I hope you know that God wants YOU, yes you!  He longs for you to spend time with Him.  He aches for you in the same way that a single person may desire to get married.  He hungers for you more than one may hunger for their favorite meal after not eating all day.  He longs for you more than an addict needs his next fix.  His desire is for YOU. You are wanted.

God needs to be wanted, by YOU!

When you ignore that time with Him...God actually becomes jealous! (Deuteronomy 4:24)  Interesting, because jealousy is usually considered to be a negative trait, and is most of the time.  Did you know that Oprah was turned off to Christianity, because she heard a preacher say that God is jealous God?  I don't know about you, but to me that brings amazement.  God wants to spend time with little insignificant me?  Yep.  Not just the preachers, not just the missionary workers, but you and me!

So don't keep God jealous any longer of all the time you spend on facebook, TV, texting, etc....Spend some time with Him. 

Know what it's like to be wanted and fulfilled!

Stretched and Pulled

I found the following article here: http://skitguys.com/blog/post/stretched-and-pulled .  While I normally post my own musings / poetry, however mediocre they may be, This skit guys post addresses what I am going through right now.  I think we can all relate, feeling many trials and tribulations in our lives, but not knowing or understanding God's purpose in all of it.  Read below.  Good stuff.

-----

Read This: "But we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope."
- Romans 5:3-4

Think: I don't know about you, but I really enjoyed my high school Chemistry class. Bunsen burners, test tubes, and lack of direct supervision made for some good times.
I remember at Christmas one year we made taffy for fun (also to understand the chemical composition of this highly malleable substance… or something like that). Anyway, I made some watermelon-banana taffy and it wasn't all that great. The problem wasn't so much in the taste as it was in the texture. It hadn't been pulled and stretched enough, so it was very weak. To get really good taffy, it needs to be pulled and stretched a lot.
Isn't this what God is doing in us here in this life? He doesn't allow trials in our life for some sick and twisted pleasure of His. That wouldn't be consistent with a great God of love. No, God allows tribulation so that we can be stretched and pulled. What we look at as an awful situation, God looks at as an opportunity to develop our character. We see the trial, God sees the result. Like taffy, we need to be pulled in order to become mature.
Most of us say we want to grow, but when tribulations come we either run away from God or pray that He would put a quick end to the situation.  God never promises to deliver us from trials, but He does promise to deliver us through them.  We have the responsibility to persevere with hearts of faith. 
Ask: What trials are you going through right now in your life?  Is your desire to be stretched by God and grow in your faith?  Are you willing to look at these trials as opportunities to grow instead of as nuisances about which to complain?
Pray: Lord, I thank you for Your faithfulness through all of life’s circumstances.  In the trials I am facing now, I trust that You are in control and will not let me go.  Give me the strength to persevere.  Teach me what You desire that I might grow in my character and understanding.  I am wholly Yours.  Amen

Josh Matlock is lead pastor at Bethany of Montclair in CA.

My Daughter Cries

Recently, my young adults group at church did a series based on the 4 names of God in Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Out of those 4 names, "Everlasting Father" stuck out to me the most.  For me, there's something very special about God being a forever father to us.  Even though we fail Him, and turn away in one respect or another, or don't trust Him to work out the details of our lives, His word says He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

I've had the idea of a poem running around my brain for a few weeks now based on God as our Everlasting Father.  I had tried to write a few lines, but couldn't get it just right.  Well, last night, I had the privilege of hearing or rehearing many of my close friends give their testimonies.  Many of the ladies mentioned a breaking point, where they literally cried out to God. For me, this was a confirmation to work on and finish the poem.  Long story short, finished now, but I will most likely go back and edit it at a later date.  I know the style of poetry is a little different, but hopefully a reminder to you of God's continuous love for us!

(Note: If you are reading this and have never had the opportunity to know God as your savior and father, comment and I can  tell you what to do or answer any questions you may have)

My Daughter Cries

My daughter cries

Believing Satan's lies

She's Preparing her disguise

From prying eyes

Silence, her great demise

With constant fear in her eyes

Everyday, she newly dies

Well, try this on for size

My daughter cries, I weep

Her pain ever mindful, losing sleep

I as the shepherd, her as a sheep

She turns away, I play for keeps

My daughter cries as I weep

I'm righting her wrongs, I never sleep

The Shepherd never forsakes His sheep

My daughter forever, mine for keeps

The Imposter's Rage

The following poem was inspired largely by Daniel 3 -  when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown in the fiery furnace.  Verse 13 says that King Nebuchadnezzar felt "furious rage" (ESV) when he learned that they wouldn't bow down to him.  

 I started thinking about how easy it is to do things other people tell us to do, maybe because they carry some sort of power or influence over our lives; or we find it easier to just "follow the crowd".  Or maybe, the wrong way just seems to make sense.  Remember though, God's word in Isaiah (55: 8-9) say that God's ways are not our own.  Therefore,  many times we won't understand why He asks us to do or not do something.

We may follow these "imposters" of God (satan, flawed humans, our own flesh) largely out of fear of what the outcome could be otherwise.  Rest assured, God has our back if we will but follow and obey him.  Don't succumb to fear!

The Imposter's Rage

Don't let the imposter's rage

Take center stage

To obey reasons voice

As if you have but one choice

Don't let the imposter's wrath

Direct you off the right path

A path leading to destruction

Away from the King's instruction

The imposter will exclaim

"Follow me for earthly gain"

The King, voice still and small

Proclaims, "Fear not, I'm your all in all"

Waiting

My favorite quote on home decorating.  I pinned this to one of my boards on Pinterest a while back, and it really helped me gain perspective on redoing our old trailer where we live.  I started trying things I had little to no knowledge of, and not worrying {quite} so much about what I cannot yet change.

I dare say, it can be applied to spiritual life as well.  We may choose not to act in ways God has called us because we think we are not "good" enough.  You may feel you have to be prettier, more outgoing, a better singing/speaker...I understand this far too well, but since I learned to start doing more in faith - though I have a long way to go - God has been faithful and given me jobs to do for Him that I never would have done on my own.

God has called YOU to do work for His kingdom, and to walk along other Christians as you do so...for your weakness might be another one's strengths.  Don't wait until you become this perfect person.  It won't happen.  Do seek God.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Wallflower

Wallflower

Hey flower, yeah you, planted by the wall

I see you, I do, cowering so small

You're hiding, disguising, your growth and height

But sadly, that hiding, is diminishing my light

So happens, you've been trying, not to sprout

Or growing, not knowing, and full of doubt

Doesn't help, those weeds, that suffocate the ground

Lying weeds, confining weeds, growing all around  

Those weeds, don't worry, their demise will come

Remember, they'll surrender, this Gardener's not done  

 

Sturdy Sticks / Ask and Tell

Do you ever wonder if what God has spoken to you is a personal message, or if it's meant to be shared with others?  A while back some pastor friends helped me to understand that if God has spoken something to me, and I can't get it out of my head / almost have an anxiousness about it...that chances are it is meant to be shared with others.  Even if it means "going out on a limb" spiritually speaking.  Obviously, we still have to make sure it was God who spoke and check to see if it lines up with scripture.  Also, there is a time and place to share.  Keep seeking God and he will guide you.

God often speaks to me through analogies from everyday life.  God and His word also inspire me to write poetry on occasion, more now than in the past, though many of my poems are yet to be finished.  I still don't completely know when/where to share these things.  But it's time for me to "go out on a limb" here starting by actively writing on the blog.  If it blesses you or applies to your life, great!  If not, I still believe I am taking a step of faith for God to use me in this little way.

I will start now with a journal entry I wrote in May of 2009, followed by a poem I wrote in February of 2012 (also not finished yet) that I discovered both have the same theme.

Sturdy Sticks

The other day on a walk I came across a couple fat, sturdy looking sticks.  Upon picking up the first stick, I felt it promptly break in half.  The same thing happened to the second stick.  They looked strong and dependable, and were a good 3/4 of an inch thick.  I found the sticks on a day that had been raining earlier.  The sticks were affected by the environment around them.

We, like the sticks, get bombarded with our environment where it can be hard to stay strong.  Still, we usually have no trouble looking like we have it all together.  On the outside, we look strong and dependable.  While on the inside, we may be ready to break.  We all go through hard times at least once in a while.  Why not share your heart with someone trustworthy today.  Let's not pretend to be something were not; but rather become what God desires of us together.

Ask and Tell

You ask, I may tell
Hold back, I as well

But no, seems I lie
Always look together, or so I try

I'll say "I'm fine" when I'm not
Give a smile, all I got