tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315264822024-03-05T03:06:41.191-06:00Sweet Surrender."Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
— Corrie ten BoomSarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-46358363567770385262013-07-15T05:48:00.000-05:002013-07-15T05:48:04.434-05:00Testify.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This post has been on my heart for ages... it's about time to publish it.<div>
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In the last year, I have seen miracle after miracle take place in my life and the lives of people around me.</div>
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While it might seem like I live this extravagant life in a prime holiday spot, it actually comes with a number of challenges. My faith and circumstances have never been challenged so much as it has here.</div>
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In July 2012, my College fees for first semester were paid, then my overseas student health coverage, and then my renewed student visa for the year.</div>
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Come December, Simon and I were blessed with plane tickets to visit his family in Switzerland during the holidays when we were expecting nothing else but to stay in Sydney and work. What an incredible surprise that was!</div>
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Upon the new year, I felt somewhat helpless with just enough savings to get by for a jobless month, I stumbled into a couple new jobs just in time for the new semester. By God's grace, my college fees for the second semester were paid. </div>
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There was a point where I was laid off because my workplace was overstaffed. Within the same week, a friend (who knew nothing of what just happened) texted me out of nowhere to ask if I would like some extra hours at her workplace.</div>
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During our mid-semester break, Simon and I managed to visit my family in Hawaii. Such an unexpected trip, but so were the miracles surrounding it that allowed us to go! </div>
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<u>I live paycheck to paycheck!</u> The year I have just completed doesn't make <i>any sense!</i> Somehow God has carried me week after week, through seasons of employment and unemployment. </div>
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Now here I am, at the end of a full year... completing my Diploma in Ministry and looking forward to another year of ministry training and personal growth.</div>
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I would love to apply myself more, feel like I worked harder for the things I have attained in the last year... but GOD is GREATER... His love is so abundant! He knows what I need far better than I ever have. </div>
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God is using every possible opportunity to remind me that HE is my Provider and He will use the most random of generous people and the very last of last minute circumstances to prove that He is my Provider.</div>
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As I look forward to another year of ministry training, the tests and training have already begun. The week of College enrollment is here and I am seemingly penniless to start the semester.</div>
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I have quivered at the sight of my week full of work opportunity become twisted, tangled and have now crumbled to pieces. But my loving Lord has gently whispered, </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text Deut-8-17" id="en-NIV-5155" style="background-color: white;">"You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i></span><span class="text Deut-8-18" id="en-NIV-5156" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But remember the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth..."</i> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Deut. 8:17-18, NIV)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. The blameless spend their days under the Lord's care, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither in days of famine they will enjoy plenty."</i></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"> (Psalm 37:16-19, NIV) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember, Remember, Remember... the Lord is good. His mercies endure forever.</span></div>
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Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-6380213635930044142012-08-14T08:40:00.000-05:002012-08-14T08:49:41.437-05:00Red.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today, I found out some of the most thrilling news: my dear friend, Sarah, photographed Taylor Swift's new album images!</div>
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
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I can hardly write for lack of words! Seeing these images brought me back to our teen years when Sarah was first launching her new business and she had just taken me on to be her Studio Manager. I remember working out of her bedroom at first and then eventually upgrading to the small laundry room upstairs in her parents' home. </div>
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What an ideal set up: working with the one girl on this planet that makes me laugh so hard that our conversations are more like a few random words being spat out between deep, hearty laughter. Yet, we have always worked so well together. She had the creativity and vision, I managed the details. </div>
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A dream job.</div>
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Seeing the newly released images brought me back to one of my first tasks for Sarah: to file the EIN number of what was then called Sarah Anne Photography.</div>
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<img height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/557465_10151042137990369_720251335_n.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="400" /></div>
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Who knew that this would be part of her success story? We have always been dreamers, Sarah and I, but to see growth, development, and expansion take place is such a wonder of its own.</div>
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My favorite kind of people are the people I get to dream with; but we fight to never be satisfied with dreaming only. They push, pull, mold and shape what they have in their hands until it eventually becomes a tangible form of the vision they sought after all the time.</div>
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I cannot stop thinking about how proud I am of Sarah.</div>
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She started with a dream board in her teenage bedroom.</div>
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She spoke life over her circumstances and worked diligently with every opportunity brought to her, however small.</div>
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She puts herself into her work and uses her business as an outlet to simply love people, laugh with them, and empower them.</div>
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What a privilege to call her friend! Though we are an ocean away, she sharpens me without having to say a word.</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/486611_10151041696915369_1483767798_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/486611_10151041696915369_1483767798_n.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="400" /></a>Well done, dear friend! Your diligence has brought you before kings. I love you so much and am believing for exceedingly, abundantly and immeasurably more to continue pouring out over your life. <i>This is just the beginning!!</i></div>
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Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-7339090053197792302012-07-31T04:36:00.001-05:002012-07-31T04:36:52.024-05:00Twelve Midnight.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It would be an understatement to say that some progress has taken place since my <a href="http://sarahchellappa.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/11th-hour.html">last post</a>. Nearly two weeks have gone by like months. They have been so full of stress, anxiety, excitement and disbelief.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have since been enrolled into Hillsong College, received acceptance to acknowledge prior learning and skip all of first year. What a privilege to join my favorite community of second year students! What a challenge it will be to jump right into leading teams of other students. Also, I have generously been blessed with financial support for the first payment of this semester's tuition. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It would require writing a book to talk about all these little battles that have been fought through every step. The most important thing is:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">God is SO good!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He is unwaveringly faithful.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">HE IS WORTHY OF PRAISE!!!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As I have experienced these last couple weeks, Matthew 7 has developed a whole new depth like I have never seen before:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-7-7"><span class="woj">“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.</span></span><span class="text Matt-7-8" id="en-NIV-23325"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;<b> </b>and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-7-8" id="en-NIV-23325"><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">(Matthew 7:7-8)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The thing about faith is, we have to have enough of it to actually <i>knock. </i>It is so easy to pray and pray and pray; hope and hope and hope, but never move from our position in front of the door to actually lift our fist and make contact with the surface of that door. Until we have the courage to knock, seek, or ask, nothing will be opened, found, or received.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To my relief, I had the support of people around me to be encouraged enough to knock until the clock struck twelve. When a new hour finally came, God came through to say, "My mercies are new every morning."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There is provision for every minute and every hour. There are battles to be fought, but every battle for believers should be won. We can walk in confidence with our heads held high because we know we walk in victory through the blood and resurrection of Christ Jesus.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Faith will never grow until it is exercised. If no one is around you to encourage you, let me do it: step out. Don't hold back. There is more for you on the other side. God is faithful to respond to your desire to please Him. Walk in His will. What else is there to live for, really?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">With every hour passing, a day ends and a new one begins. His mercies are new every single morning; in every chapter of our lives.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">PRAISE THE LORD, there are more victories to come!</span></div>
</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-25738381739655706722012-07-14T06:35:00.000-05:002012-07-14T06:35:08.282-05:00The 11th Hour.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I thought it had come and gone by now – that very last moment of holding onto any ounce of hope left inside.<br />
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Honestly, looking back has made me realize that, in the past, I have typically done everything possible to avoid the tension of this hour... It is far less painful to choose the options where the doors swing open wide and I just step on through.<br />
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This time it feels like I am waging war against something, even against my own self at times.<br />
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But I cannot ignore it any longer. The future is too valuable. The cost of this vision too high to let go of.<br />
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I am doing everything I know to do – the paper work, e-mails, applications, order forms, planning, research and praying (more like begging at this point) in faith that God will come through for me.<br />
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If I have any faith at all, I constantly wonder if it even measures up to a whole mustard seed. Hopefully it does not fall short at half a mustard seed or three quarters.<br />
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"<i>I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!</i>" is the scripture echoing across my brain. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Mark 9:24 NIV)</span><br />
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Here it is: I have been going back and forth, up and down since January to figure out whether or not to attend vocational ministry school. Truth be told, it has been more like a battle between courage and fear... and simply working into a solid vision.<br />
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Some of you reading this may be thinking, "Oh boy, there she goes again... always so indecisive about ministry school." My only response to that would be: yes, it is annoying that I have been 'heehawing' around it for a few years, but I once read a very wise statement which said "<b>The right thing at the wrong time is still the wrong thing.</b>" I can truly say, I do not regret any previous step that has brought me here.<br />
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"<i>God has made everything beautiful in its time.</i>" <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Ecclesiastes 3:11)</span></div>
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My season here is only just beginning.<br />
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I am settling into this call and clinging to it with all my might.<br />
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Life has never fit in such a tailored way like it does right here, right now.<br />
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Through this church, I get to come alongside women and remind them of their worth. I get the honor of telling them how valuable they are and how capable they are of accomplishing their dreams. Few things are more rewarding than watching each woman break out from shells of insecurity or shed her baggage from difficult circumstances. I love seeing things shift in my life as a result as well. This is only the start of strongholds I want to see broken down around the world for the rest of my life.<br />
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This is where faith steps in...<br />
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Man, I hate money.<br />
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The one and only thing I regret about this year down under is the student loan that came with the package.<br />
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I realize this is super personal and I am a bit uncomfortable about sharing it so publicly, but my hope is to praise even more publicly when all is said and done.<br />
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Logically, I should not even bother updating my application or ordering transcripts to be sent to Hillsong College. Enrollment is one week away and at this present moment, I still have this student loan to be paid back and no job to pay the $5,000/yr tuition fee.<br />
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But I am doing it anyway. Why? Because God is bigger than my student loan and any need I will ever have. He is not dictated by the economy or the fact that I have yet to gain employment.<br />
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Though I have been shaken, brought to tears and down to my knees in so much discomfort and resistance to this call, I am finishing the process anyway. I feel like a fool every step of the way.<br />
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Do I know for a fact that God will miraculously come through for me with a massive breakthrough of tens and thousands of dollars all in one week's time so I can go to College debt-free and financed like I believe He wants me to?<br />
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All I know is that He is faithful. His name is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Provider. He is steadfast, full of grace and mercy. Abounding in love. He says He is a good Father who knows how to give His children good things.<br />
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I call Him Lord.<br />
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In light of that, I am braced to honor, love and serve Him no matter what the outcome.<br />
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Though honestly, my greatest cry is, "LORD, for your name's sake, set me free from this! Let me step into College and into all you have put on my heart to accomplish. I know I am entirely at fault for choosing such an unwise resource and I don't deserve relief through your provision... But Father, the one You love is in debt; and I have no other way out from under this without your great mercy."<br />
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For your name's sake, Lord Jesus, be glorified in me.<br />
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Until the clock strikes twelve...</div>
</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-18350009101742943592012-05-24T07:56:00.000-05:002012-05-24T08:01:19.723-05:00Church Life... Why?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">For all the Christians out there who serve day in and day out within their church homes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"></span><br />
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Why do you do it?</div>
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Anyone who has invited me to serve somewhere over the last couple years can attest to the fact that I have an initial hesitation in response to the invitation and often times say "no."</div>
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This is a new development in recent times and I am finally "putting thoughts to paper" under the assumption that I'm not the only one out there who carries this instinctive yield in her heart of hearts.</div>
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In testimonies and sermons we often hear someone on the platform proclaiming freedom from the idols and vices they once hid behind- drugs, alcohol, lust, media, and other surface issues that cut off circulation to the depths of their conscience. </div>
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Another example would be those who hid because of the pain of heartbreak and abuse inflicted upon them by someone significant in their life.</div>
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But what about us... The ones who hide their pain & struggle behind Christian ministry? </div>
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I have never run to drugs. I've never abused alcohol. My dependence or unhealthy outlets such as comfort food or the negligence of have never been so extreme that I can say I have ever lost control, hit rock bottom and required medical attention.</div>
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What was my vice? What has been my outlet? What has also let me down and hurt me more than anything else in life?</div>
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Christian ministry.</div>
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There is nothing in my life that I've had a harder time saying 'no' to. In high school I was in church just as much or more than I was a full time student and a part-time athlete. As I was given more church leadership, I experienced more judgement and pain from the people I called friends to the point where I didn't know how to commit to friends for the longest time out of an instinct to protect myself. With every passing year came a new set of friends to try and grow with.</div>
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While growth and leadership blossomed, so did legalism, self-righteousness, pride, and captivity. I had to be perfect. If I wasn't perfect I wouldn't be a good example to the children I ministered to and their parents. If I wasn't perfect, my peers would have even more of me to pick apart. </div>
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Church life taught me how to be a good diplomat; how to be politically correct. At least I had the favor of my leaders. I could lead, I could teach, I could sing from a platform and no one could touch me. </div>
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Eventually a breaking point came. All the striving has been exhausted and the last several years of moving away from my original grounds has created opportunity to examine how I truly want to live.</div>
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<b><i>This isn't a question of whether or not to stay in the church.</i></b> For many I think that does become an issue. If that's you, let me encourage you to let down your guard. Yes, people in the church hurt sometimes. Other times leadership is poor or something didn't come through for you. Let me remind you that the fear of the Lord is the only fear worth retaining no matter how much it hurts. Jesus said these two things go hand-in-hand: if we love him, then we feed his sheep and tend his lambs. Don't let the imperfections of human beings trip you up from running the race to win. Indeed, we are all human.</div>
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Which is why it makes me crazy when I start to step deeper into church life again. There is this expectation among the involved church-goers to be a part of everything.</div>
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"Did you go to Saturday night service? Did you go to Sunday morning? What about Sunday night?"</div>
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"You missed out on God's message to you tonight! Should've come to service..."</div>
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(As if God can't speak to you anywhere else or in any other way. HE is God!)</div>
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"So you attend women's ministry... But are you serving in it?" </div>
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"You should join my team! (Even though I already know you're involved in other things.)"</div>
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It seems a bit intensified these days because my church has a leadership college integrated into it and therefore attracts people who live and breathe church life.</div>
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I've probably poked at and may have offended some people by now so let me continue on with clarifications.</div>
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While I carry scars from church life, few things have taught me more. I gain so much from showing up for services each weekend. The church has always been my outlet for exercising my God given gifts and talent and I absolutely love being a leader in those things. There is nowhere else I have flourished more than inside church walls. I <i>love</i> being a part of church life!</div>
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<b>But what is it worth if I'm doing it for the sake of living up to people's expectations or even simply their suggestions?</b> How meaningful is it to pour hours of effort and service if it is out of obligation?</div>
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Though I am attempting to embrace a lifelong pursuit of full-time ministry, I know what it is to be a full time student and to have commitments that require a high priority alongside, but outside of church life. Why are those things so hard for involved church-goers to respect?</div>
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Before I ever started considering full-time ministry, I wanted to be in the marketplace and really thought that's how God would use me in this world. Perhaps they will blend. But I can't tell you how many times I have felt labeled as less of a missionary for having a marketplace mentality, even to this day.</div>
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I'm just going to say it straight: that is NOT how it is supposed to be. When is Christ's body going to see the legitimacy in the people who can only make it to church once or twice a week? Why do we feel like it is so hard to relate as a ministry school student to someone who is going into a marketplace profession? Suddenly the mentality has shifted to this idea of reaching out to university students without actually sitting in classrooms alongside them.</div>
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God uses and places his people in all parts if the world- the missionary to the third world, the mega church pastor, the Fortune 500 company's CEO or associate, the student in university, vocational training or leadership college.</div>
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We have got to stop letting the details hinder us from looking at the common, core mission. No matter what our place is, we are called to GO INTO the world to MAKE disciples. While serving in church is a good thing and should be part of our Christian walk, we aren't meant to hide from the rest of life's requirements and priorities.</div>
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I'm not interested in letting my work life, studies, or home life suffer because I've made church life my only priority. </div>
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Loving and serving Jesus is my life's <i>entire</i> priority and that can be exercised by cleaning my apartment, getting my degree, putting in the hours to the best of my ability at work, or faithfully serving in church every week. Even pastors have to pay their bills and taxes like everyone else.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Colossians 3:23 says, "WHATEVER you do, do it with all your heart, as though working for the Lord, not for men." (caps. added)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit." -Philippians 2:-4</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"For it is by grace that you have been saved, not by works, so no man can boast." -Eph 2:8-9</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." -1 Samuel 16:7b</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." -Romans 12:6-8</span></div>
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We could be an established pastor, the most faithful servant, the most committed leader... But if our relationship with the Lord is not established one-on-one before all else, what is it worth in the end? What source do we have to pour into people? I don't want to continue living my life in a way that the time I spend in the quiet place is significantly less proportionate to the time I spend pouring out.</div>
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<b>I'm not going to exhaust myself signing up for things because other people expect me to or excite me into making an emotional decision. Every area of life has its significance and God watches how I steward them all. I refuse to neglect one because I prefer the other. I certainly don't want to remain in a legalistic lifestyle of believing that what I do and how often I serve in church is the defining factor of my relationship with God.</b></div>
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Father,</div>
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Open our eyes to the truth of our hearts. How can we be more faithful to you today? Help us to see and respect our brothers and sisters and encourage them in the diversity of positions you have placed us in to fight this battle and expand your kingdom. Teach us to recognize the significance in the menial daily responsibilities that are also of worth to you. Make us more like you and more faithful to you each and every day.</div>
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In Jesus' name,</div>
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Amen</div>
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(Thanks to Sheila Walsh... her testimony was the push I needed to write this.)</div>
</span></div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-31485297646942413842012-05-04T20:37:00.000-05:002012-05-04T20:38:19.514-05:00Recalling All Christians.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This post is dedicated to the community of believers I have been surrounded by my entire life: those who grew up in the church, live in a Christian nation, carry the affiliation of "Christian," live in Christian community and continue that journey to this day.<br />
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There was a point in John Wesley's life when he thought he should stop preaching because he was only beginning to understand the true nature of Christianity. Thankfully, a Moravian told him, "<b><i>preach faith until you have it, then because you have it you will preach it.</i></b>"<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(http://www.enterhisrest.org/history/bio_john_wesley.pdf)</span><br />
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What is about to be written has been bombarding my mind lately and I need to start preaching about it until it becomes real in my own life.<br />
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What am I <i>doing</i> with Christianity?<br />
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I am writing this post because I find myself constantly playing this game of tug-o-war where the life in my comfort zone and familiarity is on one side while the vision of something entirely new and uncomfortable pulls on the other. Lately, the tension from both sides is building and pulling stronger and stronger, back and forth.<br />
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Honestly, it is so painful to even write this post right now. I know it holds me accountable.<br />
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"<i>I will go, I will go, I will go, Lord, <b>send me</b>..."</i></div>
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<i>"<b>I surrender all</b>..."</i></div>
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<i>"I <b>throw my life</b> upon all that You are 'cause I know You gave it all for me..."</i></div>
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<i>"There is <b>nothing else that's of worth to me</b>... You are all that I want. You're all I need."</i></div>
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<i>"Wonderful Saviour, <b>my heart belongs to Thee</b>..."</i></div>
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<i>"I wanna sit at Your feet, <b>drink from the cup</b> in Your hand..."</i></div>
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<i>"Praise to the King of kings, You are <b>my everything</b> and I will adore You..."</i></div>
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<i>"All of You is more than <b>enough</b> for all of me, for every thirst and every need..."</i></div>
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<i>"I <b>trust </b>in You..."</i></div>
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<i>"May the vision of You be<b> the death of me</b>..."</i></div>
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<i>"<b>Yeah, I want everyone to know</b>, everyone to know, <b>I wanna tell the world</b> about Your love."</i></div>
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I don't know how long it's been since you committed your life to Christ, but I've been singing songs like these for over 20 years.</div>
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Now that I'm six weeks away from achieving my Master's Degree, I'm beginning to feel like I've ticked off every box of major life expectations that are within my control (Ph.D.'s are optional and marriage requires a committed man... jobs partially depend on the employer). I've done everything my parents have asked of or encouraged me to do.</div>
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Cool. So... what now?</div>
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It's exhilarating and overwhelming to attempt to answer that question. The easiest answer would be, "Look for a job."</div>
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But I keep singing these songs, and reading these words from my Saviour & people like me who followed Him ages ago: </div>
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<i><b>"GO and make disciples of all nations..."</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Matt. 28:19)</span></i></div>
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<i><b>"Here am I. Send me!"</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Isaiah 6:8)</span></i></div>
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<i><b>"...before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Jer. 1:5)</span></i></div>
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<i><b>"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news... who proclaim salvation," </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Is. 52:7)</span></i></div>
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<i><b>"but we preach Christ crucified..." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(1 Cor. 1:23)</span></i></div>
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<i><b>"And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> (Rom. 10:14)</span></i></div>
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<i><b>"live a life worthy of the calling you have received."</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> (Eph. 4:1)</span></i></div>
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I am constantly proclaiming these statements through song or claiming these commands as a part of my lifestyle and the TRUTH of my <i>entire existence</i>... what am I supposed to do now?</div>
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What are WE supposed to do with Christianity?</div>
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God doesn't make this a mystery. I constantly overcomplicate my life when, really, life's purpose is so simple: Accept the salvation of Christ's death and resurrection. Then, go; tell nations about what Jesus did. </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">WHY IS THAT SO SCARY?!?!!?!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I AM CONSTANTLY FREAKING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></b></div>
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It seems frightening because all I've known (and gratefully receive) is an abundance of comfort in the blessings and inheritance that has already built my life up to this point. I don't want to keep going to all these countries I've never seen before! I don't want to keep missing my family like I do or keep missing out on the changes and events happening in my friends lives! I want to go home! I want to settle down! I want to get married and have a pay check in the mail and savings account building because of a job that I enjoy! When do I get to feel comfortable again?!</div>
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But my life isn't about me.</div>
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It's about the Kingdom that I call home.</div>
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It's about actually living out what I claim to believe.</div>
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It's about taking the seat that was set apart for me;</div>
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to rule and reign as a princess of the Most High God.</div>
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For some, that means being salt and light in your hometown, in an office, in your family and among your friends. While I still in my humanness hope that those scenarios can be a part of my journey again, even for a little while, I know I wasn't made to stay in one place or go back forever. I just know it. </div>
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For some, this calling sounds like, </div>
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Go, make disciples in your office.</div>
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Make disciples of your family.</div>
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Tell your campus about the love of Jesus.</div>
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Go make disciples of your community.</div>
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Tell your country about what Jesus did, no matter how "Christian" the culture is.</div>
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What matters most is that we can answer this question–</div>
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<i>What am I <u>doing</u> with Christianity?</i></div>
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–in a way that satisfies the calling God has placed on our lives– as individuals and as members of one body.</div>
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</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-77969984102884811052012-04-21T20:07:00.002-05:002012-04-21T20:07:44.531-05:00Water.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Earlier this week, a preacher challenged everyone in the room to use our own words to exalt God with praise. I stopped short, lost for words. At first I was troubled by the thought that I was unable to just let the exaltations flow, but once the session came to a close I managed some time alone to think, write and enjoy the view of where I live right now.<br />
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Sitting on a cliff's edge, I sat soaking in the sunset against my back. Before me, the soothing sound of waves crashed, the salty ocean air blew against my face, and the sight of surfers in the big blue ocean sent cheerful greetings from below.<br />
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With little editing, this is what I wrote:<br />
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"Father God,</div>
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Water is much like You. In small amounts, You are easy to handle, refreshing to take in, and harmless to play around with.</div>
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But when I finally stand in– wade deeper into– Your great, massive presence I quickly lose control. I get lost in the enormity of waves cycling through the sea. The sound of crashing waves is like a warning to anyone who comes near; an alarm to signal the power and intensity each one contains.</div>
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Oh God, just like I sit at this cliff's edge staring at the rocks below– so it is with my life. I'm at the edge. I can either walk away with my little thermos of water or take another step forward and leap off the cliff to be carried away by all that You are.</div>
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Oh I so long to be carried away by Your overwhelmingly powerful presence and will; to be in a state where I have lost control, but allow myself to be swept up and carried by Your presence all over me.</div>
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Jesus, I don't want to settle for my convenient cup of You whenever I get thirsty. Let me know You like I know the ocean.</div>
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In Jesus' Name,</div>
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Amen."</div>
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</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-29176530250627888622012-03-15T07:42:00.000-05:002012-03-15T07:42:28.573-05:00Arithmetic.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The more I learn about Christianity, the more I revisit the thought that God keeps his mathematics simple.<br />
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We are supposed to have childlike faith, so shouldn't we view God and his promises simply?<br />
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God has the following characteristics (among many, many, <i>many</i> amazing traits!):<br />
–<b>He is able.</b><br />
–<b>He never fails.</b><br />
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He also says, "<b>apart from me you can do nothing</b>." <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(John 15:5)</span><br />
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So the conclusion I am reaching is that it all adds up to this:<br />
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God is able to do things SO GREAT I cannot even imagine them or come to think of them with my teeny tiny human brain.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> (Ephesians 3:20)</span><br />
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God is able, he can never and will never fail, and I abide in him.<br />
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Therefore, I am able and I can never fail because of who he is.</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-20495789346453544842012-01-25T00:13:00.000-06:002012-01-25T00:13:12.039-06:00Treasure Hunt.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">15th Official Blog Post in AU. 25 January 2012</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This past weekend was filled with the sound of wedding bells! Perhaps you are the bearer of this good news or maybe you are on the receiving–and squealing with excitement– end like me. Regardless, I think we can all tell that it is that time of year again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Despite the fact that my current circumstances do not quite suggest that the “m-word” is in sight, I am just so excited! I’m excited just to be a woman!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yeah, that sounds weird.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let me explain why...</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is not for the reasons you think– I am not thinking about the awesome dress, the decorations, the attention, or the venue... Here is what has been on my mind:</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“<b><i>The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.</i></b>”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-Proverbs 18:22 (NLT)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Basically, I think that is just the coolest thing <i>ever</i>! If you know me at all, you know I like to look at the parallel versions and Greek or Hebrew translations just to see if I understand the meaning correctly.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJa0nHoQwTrMiCezX263Xg2SKV6TzpQhf0LvPO-2kON7XDIMKkj2_vO4vSnHaqOenhyphenhyphenWgwoWQVQvA0_5IEEq4sMB0p1JuNeyvgpmPhJ7POfJELNQWxAKZSfsoVnoYG2ytbGxpZ/s1600/Prov1822.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJa0nHoQwTrMiCezX263Xg2SKV6TzpQhf0LvPO-2kON7XDIMKkj2_vO4vSnHaqOenhyphenhyphenWgwoWQVQvA0_5IEEq4sMB0p1JuNeyvgpmPhJ7POfJELNQWxAKZSfsoVnoYG2ytbGxpZ/s400/Prov1822.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good news: this verse says what it means and means what it says! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In God’s eyes, not only do I get the pleasure and the benefits of a partnership– I get to be the <i>catalyst</i> for favor to come from Yahweh and into a man’s life! Plus, we will be one anyway so favor that comes to him means favor is coming to me, too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ladies, doesn’t that make you feel so valuable? Ha! By taking up a partnership, a man would be so blessed in ways he does not even realize yet! What could a godly man want more than favor from the Lord?!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I promise I am not trying to sound as vain as a peacock. I just think we should boast in what the Lord has given each of us just a little (or a lot) more and maybe try to rummage through the overgrowth of fears and past experiences which seem to hide away the treasures that exist inside relationships.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Women: be encouraged. You are a treasure and a blessing. Bring him good, not harm, all the days of your life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Men: find a “keeper,” in God’s perfect season for you. She’ll be more worthwhile than you know. If you already found one, ask God to let you see all the ways He has favored you because of your marriage.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Heavenly Father,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">May we walk in Your way. Give us eyes to see relationships the way You see them. I pray that this generation of marriages be set apart and rebuild any brokenness of marriages before us. May we take wisdom from those that have lived in partnership according to Your Word. Let Your Holy Spirit lead us all– married and singles alike– to be a light unto this world; a city on a hill. Teach us to be holy; set apart for this world to see that You are truly the difference in our lives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Jesus’ Name,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amen.</span></span></div>
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</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-35842720573856301202012-01-15T18:11:00.003-06:002012-01-15T18:16:39.473-06:00Looking Back.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">14th Official Blog Post in AU. 6 January 2012</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I moved into a new apartment! Let’s just say the amount of stuff I have is <i>ridiculous</i>. Amidst, the crazed and tired atmosphere, something strange happened and it has been burned in my memory ever since.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I left a piece of toast in the panini/sandwich maker.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">God only knows how long it’s been in there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First of all, I realize that that is absolutely disgusting. I am trying my best not to be embarrassed about sharing such a gross fact with all of cyberspace.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All day the image of this formerly toasted, stale bread kept coming around...</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That piece of toast is such proof of how distracted I have been this past season–</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">S p a c e y, </span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>overly adaptable</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">, <i>unusually withdrawn socially</i>, </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">non-committal</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">...</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">not quite myself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But there is a changing of seasons and I am in transition. I like it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Change always seems to help prevent complacency.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here’s to the new year:</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A year of awakening.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A year of fruitfulness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A year of productivity and diligence.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This year I will live genuinely according to who He has made me to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And discover the things I never knew I was capable of.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This year, I will not hold back from God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He desires to make my life flourish.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He makes me influential.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I will be all that He dreams for me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I will create, build, and distribute what He has anointed my hands to do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This year, I refuse to accept self-destructive habits, thoughts, or attitudes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I refuse to be so distracted that I leave toast in the sandwich maker.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I will be successful because He makes me capable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Father,</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Teach us to be more focused, faithful, and free to live out the confidence You are calling us to walk in this year. Keep us from wasting this precious time. You have a plan for us in each day. You take the things we dream of and make them grand. I want to live in every moment of developing those dreams to the scale that You are capable of. I know this development only comes in faithfulness to today; in attention to the little things. “Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let it be. All that You have spoken, let it be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Jesus’ Name,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amen.</span></span><br />
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</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-8322866138293314792011-12-28T21:30:00.000-06:002011-12-31T01:08:15.655-06:00Heart Cry.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">13th Official Blog Post in AU. 29 December 2011</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Heavenly Father,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I so desire to be the kind of woman that is set apart from this world. The more I strive to be an incredible woman, the more I see my shortcomings. I can do no good thing apart from You, Lord. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What will it take to be beautiful; to radiate beauty in my attitude and everyday life? I need a change of heart, God. Destroy my self-seeking state of being. Take my pride and tear it to shreds. All I need is You.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I don’t know how to satisfy these longings apart from Your presence, Father. I don’t know how to grow and feel free to be my true self without believing You when You said, “this is who I’ve created you to be.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have to be confident in the way you have designed me instead of looking to the right and left and suddenly thinking I should look and act more like this girl or that I will only be attractive if I live up to men’s supposed expectations. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All that You are and all You have done should be enough for me to want to worship you with my lifestyle. My body is a temple– let me worship You by treating it with the best of foods, drinks, and activities. My gifts and talents are given to me for a purpose– let me steward them well instead of suppressing them in fear. My relationships were given to me so that I might proclaim Your Truth into the world– may I proclaim Your glory with grace, boldness and overflowing joy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You love me with an everlasting love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tell me who I am again, God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tell me of all You have purposed for me to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fill my heart and mind with visions of the house I am to build.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Keep me from foolishly tearing it down with my own hands.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Teach me to dream again and be free again...</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I want to love You with an everlasting love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Messiah, my Love, Great God, Holy One; The Most Faithful of All.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I just want to be the best of what You’ve made me to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Jesus’ Precious Name,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amen</span></span></div>
</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-12414641362831831082011-12-23T11:19:00.000-06:002011-12-23T11:19:14.562-06:00Seed.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">12th Official Blog Post in AU. 22 December 2011<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We’ve been hearing a lot about them lately haven’t we?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Despite the fact that Australia’s atmosphere hardly carries the allure of Christmas spirit, I have been inspired by <a href="http://twitter.com/jim_laffoon">Pastor Jim Laffoon</a>’s recent Twitter series and have gone back to scriptures about the birth of Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have to admit that I haven’t even made it past Matthew 1 and Luke 1.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Though that may imply disinterest, I honestly cannot make it past those two particular chapters because of how much of an eye-opening affect it’s had on my life!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I definitely want to encourage you to read them for yourselves and determine how it speaks specifically to your life as well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Both of these chapters generally show us how Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth and Zacharias lived in faith and obedient action in response to what God had spoken into their lives. For the first time in these stories, I have begun noticing the fact that by believing what God had spoken to them, their choices defied their logic as well as the cultural expectations of the people around them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What a sobering thought: there will be times–probably more than we expect– when we are faced with the need to discern who our loyalty belongs to. Do you know what God is leading you into? Will you walk in it or are you too concerned about the expectations of society, your culture, or the people around you? Though we are called to honor our parents, we are not worthy of God if we love them more than we love Him. If we are too afraid to take that one step into agreement as Zacharias did, we may never have our voice restored. Scripture shows how human we can be– Zacharias asked the angel, “how will I know this for certain?” His doubts resulted in consequence (Luke 1:18, 20) Though Joseph was well-intentioned when he thought to send Mary away during her seemingly questionable pregnancy, it was actually in favor of God’s plan that he stay by her side. Even in the times we receive direct words from the Lord, it is so easy to take it and start dissecting it with logic, isn’t it? We rationalize it through, but have to reel our thoughts back into place if we want to remain obedient and in faith.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Luke chapter 1 is just LOADED with so much miraculous, faith-filled content!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Zacharias petitioned for and was granted a son from a previously barren wife.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">She who was called barren is now in her sixth month.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For nothing will be impossible with God.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>And Mary said, “Behold, the </i><b><i>bondslave of the Lord</i></b><i>...”</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font: 12.0px Times; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">God, grace us with the diligence to cling to these promises! Nothing is impossible with You! We are blessed in our persistence of petitions and unwavering faith when we receive a word from You. First and foremost, may we live as bondservants</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">– enslaved to righteousness by choice because we know that the reward and benefits of serving our Master far exceeds any life we could create for ourselves outside of Your Kingdom. I’d rather be a doorkeeper for You, than live according to my own desires. Nothing is too hard for You. According to our faith, let it be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Jesus’ Mighty Name,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amen... (So be it.)</span></span></div>
</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-91079588172288236652011-12-01T23:01:00.000-06:002011-12-01T23:01:22.501-06:00Love is Reasonable.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">11th Official Blog Post in AU. 1 December 2011</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I read <a href="http://marchrielo.blogspot.com/2011/11/on-serious-note.html" target="_blank">this blog post</a> of my dear friend Mckenzie just after writing <a href="http://sarahchellappa.blogspot.com/2011/11/isolation.html">Isolation.</a> and it really confirmed some thoughts from earlier that day. I just love witnessing the marriage she and David have. What seems to set them apart, aside from their obvious love for the Lord Jesus, is their attitude.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Any girl can write a blog about her life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Any girl can talk about marriage.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But Mckenzie’s outlook on her life and marriage is what makes all the difference!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So many people in my general age group seem to get choked up with fear at the thought of marriage, loving someone fully, and allowing someone else to love them without feeling indebted or under conditions. Understandably so considering the divorce rate and dysfunctions of today’s modern family. At the same time, I think our relationships would be much healthier if we would stop allowing fear to rule over us and the decisions we make within our relationships!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We either:</span></span></div>
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<li style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i>Run away from relationships because they include challenges. Nobody wants struggles when we constantly hear Hollywood preach that everything should happen easily and flawlessly; life is lived happily ever after... Roll credits. That’s a wrap.</span></span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i>Run away because we are too comfortable with ourselves and fear the unpredictability of a relationship. Can you trust this person with your heart? How can you be sure? Do you really want to invest the time and energy this relationship would require? Especially when you have had your heart broken before. It is so easy to revert back to what experience has led us to believe. It can seem even easier to live for ourselves only.</span></span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As <a href="http://sarahchellappa.blogspot.com/2011/11/isolation.html" target="_blank">my last post </a>encouraged: we need each other!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Also, <i>life is done better together</i>. Why? Partnership and community were <i>God’s</i> ideas!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Be <i>reasonable </i>about picking your partner. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">S/he may not be a super model or celebrity, s/he may not have perfectly airbrushed features, but can s/he do life with you on days you feel like less than a champion? Is s/he the kind of person who will love you when you are not squeaky clean? Will this person empower you to walk victoriously into all the the desires you know God has purposed for your life and see you through to its entirety? Do they carry the same conviction of commitment that you hold? Most divorces are a result of poor communication– how do you two communicate?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know that last paragraph sounds so noble, structured and optimistic, but you come to know those things about people in the seemingly mundane details of every day life. While marriage will be an adventure, it may not be the kind of epic you envision it to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the midst of what seems like a situation that counters the American Dream, Mckenzie says, </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I <b>love</b> <i>loving</i> David. It blesses my heart, it gives me so much joy. It makes life so beautiful in the midst of the trials and tribulations that come our way... They have given <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>us new eyes for one another, and I couldn’t be more thankful. I know this is going to be a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>time we’re going to look back on and remember as such a blessing. Though my heart definitely aches for the time we’re out of this valley!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Through and through, her post gives me so much joy. Though they could easily turn on each other out of fear and stress, they cling to God’s promises and, as a result, are tightly bound to one another and filled with the joy of the Lord for strength.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wow! Finishing up the passage in Ecclesiastes fits like a puzzle piece– how appropriate (and entirely unplanned):</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But how can one keep warm alone?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Though one may be overpowered,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">two can defend themselves.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Ecc. 4:11-12)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Make God that center strand and He will give you the strength to maintain a simply joyful attitude in the midst of struggles. In His love, you are able to love another with more depth and longevity than you think you are capable of.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here’s to a <i>reasonable</i> kind of love. In a world of hype, instant gratification, an “all about me” attitude and short attention spans– may we love unconditionally and faithfully to no end like He first loved us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">NOTE: For the record to any speculation out there (aka my friends or family), NO I am not ready to get married; this attitude is based on season not on emotions or fear. I am a content single–<i>thankyouverymuch</i>– who would be equally content with a “one-step-at-a-time” level of progress. This is NOT an advertisement! <i>Only</i> a clarification. :)</span></span></div>
</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-6104061290334453772011-11-30T04:12:00.001-06:002011-11-30T04:21:07.816-06:00Isolation.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">10th official blogpost in AU. 30 November 2011</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">How do you make the word, ‘isolation’ sound less... cold? The first alternative word I can think of is ‘alone.’ Do you like to be alone? How do you respond to being isolated from others or things?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I should be an expert on this subject by now– the last eighteen months of my life have consisted of the most alone time I think I have ever had. At first I nearly lost my mind. Now, I find I can appreciate solitude a bit more since this city is full of at least a couple million people hustling and bustling through every single second. I am easily content to do things or simply be by myself for probably much too long compared to the average person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">But is it <i>good</i> to be isolated?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">The fastest yet insufficient answer would be no, it is not good. However, I think being alone <i>can</i> be good and is necessary at times.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Jesus would go away from his disciples to be alone with God. The Bible speaks of seeking God and practicing certain things like fasting without publicizing it to your community. What God sees is what matters and God sees every action, motive and thought. It is good to find contentment in being alone when you know you need it to fellowship with God. To give all you extroverts some assurance, being “alone” </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">with</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> God is not actually being alone anyway! He is with you!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">On the other hand, there is the part where God says, “<i>it is </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><i>not</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i> good for man to be alone</i>.” In this context, scripture is pointing to relationship.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">So what are the things you do by yourself? Why do you do them alone?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">If you are choosing not to spend time with and invest in people out of fear, insecurity, or past pain incurred through other relationships, it is time to take that before the Lord and also find someone like a pastor or a godly mentor type of leader who you can talk with. There is something in your heart that has distanced you from letting someone or many others into your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>It is not good for man to be alone</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">The place most impenetrable to people is where the constant battle for your life is waged– your mind. It is imperative that, as Christ followers, we are constantly releasing thoughts into prayers and discussions to ensure that no temptation floats around inside our minds long enough to grow into sin. Have you ever noticed those times you can be upset about something and then once you say it out loud you realize how small and insignificant it is? All that time it was rolling around in your mind made the issue seemed massive! Surrounding yourself with people you can trust and who maintain a godly perspective can make all the difference. You can help them, they can help you and everyone has a lower risk of falling into sin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I find the Body of Christ is often plagued with fear of sharing with each other. It is scary, I know! You have to be vulnerable! You have to lay out your innermost being and hope that human beings around you will give back God’s love and grace in return. Though that does not always happen between people (unfortunately), do not give up. Ask God for the people you need to be surrounded by and determine for yourself to rise above the behavior of those who have hurt you. Forgive them. Keeping our mouths shut and cutting off fellowship with others would only satisfy the enemy’s desire to cut off circulation in the Body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Last, but never least, God said, “<i>it is not good for man to be alone</i>,” just before he took a rib from Adam and created Eve, his helper. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">A partnership... why is it better to have a partner? Having to work so closely in relationship with someone else can seem like an addition to your life that would complicate matters further. I cannot think of a better way of describing it outside of Ecclesiastes:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Two are better than one,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>because they have a good return for their </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>work:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>if one falls down,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>his friend can help him up.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">(Ecc. 4:9-10)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">God has given each of us unique strengths and talents. We also each have weaknesses. Once we recognize that we can contribute and share strengths and gifts to each others’ callings and purposes, the workload eases up. It is no longer your burden to bear. The load is lighter because others are running with you and sharing your load. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Let them share it.</span></div>
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</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-32688182699620120562011-11-01T18:16:00.003-05:002011-11-01T18:16:56.167-05:00Abstemious Perspective.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">9th Official Blog Post in AU. 2 November 2011</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">We are so good at singing and praying such extreme prayers– I am <i>desperate</i> for you, God. I give you <i>everything– my whole life</i>. I need you more than the AIR I <i>BREATHE!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I do realize how significant these prayers are; my intent is not to mock them. But if you are anything like me, it is easy to sing these songs and overlook the average, yet specific prayers that address our everyday lives. Try it with me:</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Jesus,</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than chocolate,</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">more than caffeine,</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">more than comfort food.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Father, I need You more than the stuff in my closet.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than my iPhone.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than internet.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Lord...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than my friends. You are Lord.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than my brother and sister.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">God, I need You more than my parents.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">You are LORD.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than coffee dates and nights out on the town.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than the comfort of my warm, cozy bed.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Father, I need You more than Facebook.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need to speak to You more than Twitter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than Skype.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Holy Spirit, I need your voice more than YouTube, podcasts, movies, and great musicians.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Sovereign King...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than a boyfriend.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than a fiancé and a diamond ring.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need <i>You</i>, God, more than I need a husband– even if he will be the most incredible partner I can have on earth.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">You are LORD.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than this degree.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than a career.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need You more than money, God.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I need you more than I want a family.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Dearest Jesus, I want to be moved by You more than I am persuaded to make my life unfold according to social norms. My schedule should be shaped around spending time with You and going where <u>You</u> lead instead of letting everything else define the meaning of productivity and accomplishment.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><b>Whom do I worship, oh Lord? Who defines my life?</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">How dare I call you <i>Lord– </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><i>Master</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>–</i> if my life does not reflect such submission before You.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">“Do not be quick with your mouth, </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>do not be hasty in your heart </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>to utter anything before God.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">God is in heaven</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and you are on earth,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>so let your words be few.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>-Ecclesiastes 5:2</span></span></div>
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</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-21165984886513207822011-10-17T01:51:00.000-05:002011-10-17T18:08:03.411-05:00Mistaking Seasons.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8th Official Blog Post in AU. 17 October 2011.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Moments ago, I was sitting outside. It is a slightly cloudy, spring day here in the southern hemisphere and I had planted myself on a low brick wall near a small fountain. Moments of warm sun came through as the clouds passed by overhead. Brief gusts of wind combed its cold fingers through my hair.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">At one moment, I looked down to kick something away from my feet. There at my heels were a small bunch of dried up leaves.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Fall! </i>I moaned in my thoughts, <i>It is supposed to be </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><i>fall</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i> right now, <u>not</u> spring time... look, there are even dried leaves on the ground. Where are the pumpkin spice lattes? What about all the leaves changing color and dying...?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>Sarah, </i>I felt the Holy Spirit say, <i>you have repositioned your life before Me. Why are you expecting old patterns to remain the same? You have misunderstood: I have not called you to come and die or be be buried away. Indeed, your season is spring! Flourish, my dear. I have called you here to expand and bloom.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">In the confusion of a new season, sometimes it would be nice to burrow deep into soft, warm, darkness underground. However, it is not fall, but spring. The rain keeps falling, sun is shining, and the wind is blowing. The surrounding elements are coaxing me to strengthen my roots, push out from the dirt, expand these leaves and finally bloom.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven...He has made everything appropriate in its time... I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has <i>so</i> worked that men should fear Him.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">–Ecclesiastes 3:1,11,14 (NASB)</span></span><br />
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</div>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-47487743715113521112011-10-06T20:26:00.000-05:002011-10-06T20:28:59.793-05:00Confessions of an International Student.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7th Official Blog Post in AU. 6 October 2011</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">At the start of the semester I recall hearing someone talk about how international students tend to have a lot of emotional ups and downs during their time at university. Honestly, I did not really believe them. Call me naïve, proud, stubborn, or all of the above, but I have been determined to be as strong and steady as possible... or, at the very least, maintain the appearance of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">It is amazing how many challenges arise once a person has determined to be strong.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Blogosphere, it is about time I come clean and confess that I am not as strong as I try to be. Truth be told, I am that student who goes through the ups and downs when (hopefully</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;">)</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> nobody is looking. My loved ones have never felt so far away as they have in the last few days; especially now that I am face-to-face with the final stretch of the semester. The few friends here that I have felt some sense of camaraderie with will be going back to the familiarity of their homelands while I remain here, try to stay focused, and figure out what in the world God wants me to do with this life I have been given- at least in regard to my near future.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">“What do I do here in the waiting?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">What do I do with my unsatisfied heart?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">(Laura Hackett)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I feel really vulnerable to be posting on this subject, but if you have kept up with my blogs at all, you know my aim is not to be popular, but quite transparent. I just need a space to write with the hope that you can relate and/or be inspired by these posts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Sigh... loneliness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">What do you do with loneliness? How do you cope?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I feel caught in this corner because, even though I long for my community at home or for a more established one here, I have this deep conviction that I cannot go back to where I came from and I cannot stay here. My only good option is to keep moving forward and press on to the end of this degree so I can experience whatever this mysterious future is that I will be living in this time next year. That does not mean I have no interest in the people here, I definitely want and need to grow deeper with some people around me at present. It is simply getting past the subconscious understanding that your presence amongst each other is temporary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">“The past is so tangible, I know it by heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Familiar things are never easy to discard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I was dying for some freedom but now I hesitate to go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I am caught between the promise and the things I know... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">the future feels so hard and I want to go back,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">but the places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I’ve learned...”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">(Sara Groves)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Through it all, there is only one presence that remains constant from before I was born to the end of my life and onward. All I know to do in my loneliness is cry out to God because He has always been my Constant Sustainer and the One to satisfy every area of lack in each season. In the end, I come out of these struggles with thanksgiving because nothing else creates opportunity to exercise living by faith quite like painful circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I have never felt so clueless and disconnected before. So many days pass by where I feel like I am in over my head; like I am inadequate and have no sense of belonging in this place. Sometimes it feels like I have only brought a part of myself to this city while the rest of my spirit and personality remains at home with my friends and family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Yet God is with me and He has gone ahead of me so there is no reason to fear or worry as I set my gaze on Him. He is the Author and Perfecter of my faith- He knows exactly how to write my days for the sake of deepening my trust in His great character. If this is how I have to learn to trust Him more, then let it be. I am determined to see crisis as opportunity leading to the best things. My life is in the hands of the God who loves me even more than I could ever even love myself, so I will let Him have His way in me. Trying to control it all is too exhausting anyway! Let it be, dear Lord, let it be... Your plan is not to harm me, but to give me a hope and a future. You make all things work out for the good of those who love you and are called according to Your purpose. I am more than a conqueror through You, the One who loves me; this I know full well. You did not even spare Your own Son, but instead gave Him up for my sake and the sake of all people so how will you not also, along with Christ, graciously give us all things? Nothing can separate us from Your deep, abundant, everlasting love. I am in the most capable hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I started writing this post feeling empty; now I am filled again. Thank You, Lord...</span></div>
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Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-53587978512236795862011-09-17T23:14:00.002-05:002011-09-17T23:46:08.503-05:00Hephzibah.*<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
6th Official Blog Post in AU. 17 September 2011<br />
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I wrote this letter to a girl I met last night. We met on the train because she had too much to drink and really needed some water. I just happened to be the person in the train car with a bottle of water to spare. As transit concluded, I realized how much I wish I could have said or done, but I hope the little I had done and said was enough for God to use in their lives...<br />
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My dear girl,<br />
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I wish I could have embraced you and told you, “there is more to life than this, I promise.” I want you to know just how beautiful you really are- you don’t need the sexy dress, the sparkly shoes, or braided hair to achieve it. You are precious as you are- a diamond shining through the dirt of what people think you should be.<br />
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Sweety, please don’t waste your life listening to your friends when they say, “suck it up; drink some more.” That life will only leave you empty; it will void out your sense of meaning or purpose. Please, please hold tight tonight. Be smart; smarter than the voices around you and often times even wiser than your own voice of compromise. You are not alone in this. Step out and be different- don't be afraid.<br />
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I wish I thought quickly enough to say, “Jesus loves you,” or invite you and your friend to church with me tomorrow. My greatest hope is that you and your friend don’t look at me like I am just a good person. As flattering as it was for your friend to say that people should be more like me, the truth is that people really shouldn’t be more like me, but more like Jesus- the one I weakly aspire to imitate. I am praying you see past me and see Him instead.<br />
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Honey, you are so dearly loved... so very, dearly loved. Please, I pray you spend the rest of your life getting to know True Love. My heart longs for you to live a full, satisfying life of hope and promise with the God who keeps all His promises and fills you to overflowing.<br />
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I love you because Christ first loved us...<br />
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Sarah<br />
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*Hephzibah means "My delight is in her." (I believe this name is a reflection of what the Lord wants to call this girl who remains nameless to me.)</div>
Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-21667077425796742132011-08-30T04:14:00.003-05:002011-08-30T05:26:06.363-05:00Aren't YOU Lovely?!5th Official Blog Post in AU. 30 August 2011
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<br />"Embracing Hope."
<br />That is the title of the blog I have been trying to write for over a week now, but I just can't connect all of my thoughts well enough to communicate that subject in its entirety just yet. However, within the last few days, I have felt inclined to bring up another subject for all you lovely ladies out there (and any men who are curious to listen in on girl talk!)...
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<br />Ladies,
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<br />Do you <i>know</i> you are beautiful?
<br />I mean, do you really truly know that and <i><b>believe</b></i> it?
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<br />What makes you feel beautiful?
<br />Is it your outfit? Maybe your hairstyle? Did you have time to exercise or put on make-up this morning? Do you feel beautiful because your significant other or best friend told you so?
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<br />I just want you to know that <i>none of those things</i> are what make you beautiful.
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<br />You were made uniquely; with a capacity to love so deeply and more faithfully than what you probably allow yourself to practice at present. You have so much talent inside of you just waiting to be made manifest on the earth. Your ability to nurture and serve people around you really does go a long way. Don't get discouraged if you don't see the results of being generous. You are more influential than you know. You don't have to be a CEO, supermodel, or the perfect mom to achieve greatness. Your beauty flourishes as you grow more and more comfortable with your true, honest-to-goodness, self.
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<br />Take a second while you're getting ready in front of the mirror to look yourself straight in the eyes and say, <b>"You are stronger than you think. You are more beautiful than you realize."</b>
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<br />I know the whole talking in the mirror thing seems really tacky. I am kind of embarassed to admit that I have done this a few times recently. However, I'm <i>willing</i> to admit it because I am honestly shocked at the impact it has on my thought life every single time!
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<br />You are stronger than you think.
<br />You are more beautiful than you realize.
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<br /><CENTER><b><i>“Like a lily among the thorns,
<br />So is my darling among the maidens.”</b></i>
<br />~Song of Solomon 2:2
<br />(That's what God says about YOU!)</CENTER>
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<br />I can't resist closing with a couple pick-me-up songs...
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<br /><iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G9YOX4XTkUw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-38390048452242349402011-08-15T05:29:00.002-05:002011-08-15T06:53:45.199-05:00Nationalism.Fourth Official Blog Post in AU. 15 August 2011
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<br />I must warn you that in this present moment I feel like writing about this subject may be a bit premature. Perhaps this will be the preliminary post before I publish a more thoroughly thought through version in the coming week or so. My creative inclination to write is bubbling over today which is why I have decided to proceed on the subject matter anyways. Here goes...
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<br />Every day I study and discuss nation states and the issues each one contains: war, genocide, human rights abuse, child soldiers, the concept of government approved torture, poverty, hunger, AIDS, malaria, water conditions, land ownership, colonialism, racism, religious divide; the list seems endless.
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<br />We also analyse how to resolve these problems. What are human rights? How do we solve the issue of poverty? How do we understand the psychology of human beings and their use of aggression versus choosing a more peaceful approach? Is war the best method to deal with conflicts between nations? Are the institutions we have set up to preserve human rights and peace even effective? What needs to change so that the world can finally change for the better?
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<br />All of these issues and questions can be so... ridiculous at times. Today I was involved in a discussion about global currency and a global community. The professor quixotically stated that these reforms would be the resolution to the lack of equality in the world. My classmates and I were far too practical for such a suggestion. We then asked her whether that would mean the end of national borders, etc. As the conversation continued, I began to add up how much the concept of nationalism has to do with our problems.
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<br /><b><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nationalism">na·tion·al·ism</a></b> /ˈnæʃənlˌɪzəm, ˈnæʃnəˌlɪz-/ Show Spelled[nash-uh-nl-iz-uhm, nash-nuh-liz-]
<br />noun
<br />1. national spirit or aspirations.
<br />2. devotion and loyalty to one's own nation; patriotism.
<br />3. excessive patriotism; chauvinism.
<br />4. the desire for national advancement or independence.
<br />5. the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one's own nation, viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or the common interests of all nations.
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<br />Now I am not saying I am in support of a global community, global currency or anything like that. While I will not be surprised if it happens eventually, I don't see it as a realistic possibility until all nations come to a near balance economically as separate societies first. (I just had to get that out of the way...)
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<br />My uneasiness with nationalism has gradually surfaced more and more as I've grown up. As mentioned several times over the course of this blog's existence, being of mixed cultural heritage has always made it difficult to have a sense of loyalty to solely one place/nation/cultural group. Now that I am living abroad in an incredibly diverse city, I come face to face with the influence of nationalism around every corner.
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<br />Introductory conversations here tend to begin by asking, "What's your background?" In other words, what is your ethnic background and nationality? I cannot help but notice how often I have been placed under certain assumptions because of the fact that I am Indian, Filipino, and American. Suddenly, I am expected to know all of this Asian history I was never taught and live up to all the stereotypes of being American.
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<br />What makes me feel most disconcerted is when people bring up negative aspects of the United States, mostly in relation to its political actions. The struggle begins somewhere inside because I wonder if I am supposed to defend the U.S. since it is where I was born and raised. I don't know how to feel about the fact that I have no inclination to defend it. What am I supposed to say? Do I say they are wrong when I know they are not? I cannot pretend like I have this deep inset conviction that the United States is the greatest nation on earth. Please, do not mistake me for being anti-American or some sort of extremist. I simply don't feel that way about any nation on earth nor do I believe I ever will (perhaps the quote in my blog heading relates to this).
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<br />What I am trying to say is that, I think that has always been our problem. We pick teams and make assumptions based on the flag we bear instead of knowing each other as individuals. I don't want to be looked at and identified as a certain kind of person because of deep rooted life circumstances I had absolutely no role in determining! I did not <i>choose</i> to be Indian and Filipino nor did I <i>choose</i> to be born in the United States of America! All of these aspects are things I am extremely grateful for, but they are not a part of me because I have chosen them. I think being mixed and being raised in a family that embraces people from every nation has opened my mind to simply embrace people with all types of cultural backgrounds because they are people and that fact comes before the place they come from.
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<br />Ultimately, I want to be known for the good character I am constantly seeking to establish in the strength of Jesus Christ. I want to be known for love and faithfulness; for patience and service toward others. I want to be known for walking in wisdom and being a good steward of what life has placed in my care. That is the same way I see and seek to know others by.Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-78693162942018420122011-08-02T00:12:00.003-05:002011-08-02T00:32:43.969-05:00Cold, Hard Heart.3rd [“Official”] Blog Post in AU. August 2, 2011<br /><br />This is sort of meant to be a counterbalance to my last post (“<a href="http://sarahchellappa.blogspot.com/2011/07/wellspring-of-life.html">The Wellspring of Life</a>”).<br /><br />Before diving into this post’s content, please prepare yourself to do some deep down heart analysis. Get your journal, get a Bible, and get alone.<br /><br /><u>Ask yourself the following</u>:<br />Do you keep yourself and keep people at a distance?<br />Do you keep up a good front but struggle to be real?<br />Are you able to show your emotions?<br />Do you feel like you always have to keep it together?<br />Are you known to be “the strong one”?<br />Do you find it difficult to ask for help?<br />Do you resist change?<br />Do you find it easy to minister to others yet struggle to be ministered to?<br />Do you tend to wish other people could keep it all together like you can?<br />Do you look down on others who express emotions because it seems immature or weak?<br />Do you have difficulty receiving love or intimacy?<br /><br />Many times, these things can be subconscious. They are symptoms of having a ‘heart of stone.’<br /><br /><i>“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”</i><br />-Ezekiel 36:26 (NASB)<br /><br />Over the course of this past week I have been listening to the ‘Heart of Stone’ sermon from <a href="http://emanate.me/">Emanate</a> pastors, Alyn and AJ Jones. As the week led into the weekend I kept praying about, obviously my own heart condition, but also whether to blog about this particular subject. Various conversations and another relevant sermon confirmed and complemented my rumination.<br /><br />I think it is safe to say we all have areas in our lives where we don’t want to let people or emotions in. In Alyn and AJ’s podcast, AJ gave examples from her own life. I especially related to her when she would use the term <b>“bracing for impact.”</b> There were times when God would bless her with something amazing - a new car only $300 above cost because the car dealer was a Christian and knew her full-time ministry salary couldn’t afford the average sales cost. However, she would not get excited. She would tell herself, <b>“Don’t get excited. If you don’t get excited, you won’t be let down if it falls through.”</b> That is even how she handled her engagement to Alyn! Since she had previously been married and her first husband walked out on her, she began managing her heart in such a way that she wouldn’t allow the excitement and joy to overcome her for fear that Alyn might leave her too. For non-married folks, I think that can be the same in dating relationships or in the period of considering whether to date someone. One has to figure out whether they trust the other person, but also if they can get past fear or other anxieties that now exist as a result of experiencing the failure of previous relationships and the mess of all its complexities when that relationship fell apart. In that time of waiting and wondering, it can almost be an instinctive response to brace for impact because of being unsure whether that person mutually cares for you or how s/he would respond to your affection. We put our faith in disappointment rather that Christ.<br /><br /><i><b>“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”</i></b><br />-Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)<br /><br />When we brace for impact we rob ourselves of the joy in those circumstances! We don’t live freely in giving God glory for His provision, we don’t bask in the glory of experiencing something good that we have waited on and has now come to fruition. Bracing for impact robs us from living in the good things about what is right now. We have begun looking too far ahead or comparing to what was rather than appreciating what is present.<br /><br />In the same way, I find that most Christians live sheepishly in their areas of gifting. I fight through it daily! We think we are being so humble by denying it when someone points out our GOD GIVEN strengths!<br /><br /><i>“But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” [Jer. 9:24] For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”</i><br />-2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (NIV)<br /><br />There is a difference between improper pride and recognizing what the Lord has given you. When we live with false humility, we suppress our God given gifts from bearing fruit that should be springing forth to glorify the Lord in the expansion of His kingdom and/or the strengthening of His people.<br /><br /><i>“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; <b>I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”</i></b><br />-John 10:10<br /><br />God didn’t design us with such vast individual qualities and capabilities so that we could blend in with everybody else or just get by in a mediocre workplace or livelihood. We were meant to bring Him glory and part of bringing Him glory is living in the fullness of all He has for us. We have to recognize God’s authentic character and all we were made for; that He backs us up with power and strength when we live in fellowship and obedience with Him. <br /><br />In the same way we can keep people at arm’s length, we tend to keep the Lord at a distance. In my own experience I have found that the way I handle human relationships and circumstances tend to be a direct reflection of the way I am in relationship with God. When I push away from either parties, it is usually to guard myself from being vulnerable in whatever shape or form vulnerability takes in that context. I don’t like to ask for or accept help/generosity very often (heart of stone symptom!) because it can be difficult to believe that people just want to help or give without any strings attached or expectation of being paid back in some form or another. I don’t want to be seen as greedy or needy or inconsiderate of the other person’s time, energy, or resources. When I don’t allow God to be my help, it is often because I don’t trust him to deliver (even though He will never, ever betray His character) and usually feel incredibly unworthy of His abundant grace and unconditional love.<br /><br /><b><i>How many lies have been surfaced here?!</b></i> How many pretenses do we live in about ourselves, each other and about God? It is so healthy to take time out of our schedules for the sake of understanding why we are the way we are instead of just accepting our tendencies as natural.<br /><br />Look back on your life and ask God to reveal any situation that may have been the catalyst for building walls up around your heart. It could even be something that happened in early childhood or even infancy. You might be surprised at some of the random circumstances that can be brought to light: things you may never even think about can surface as being the root cause. Forgive whoever played a role in hurting or disappointing you. Let go of what happened; it has passed.<br /><br />Ultimately, when that is said and done, we must break down the walls and press in to what is ahead for us. Allowing God to replace a heart of stone with a heart of flesh is risky. You have to be willing to stay vulnerable and risk being hurt or disappointed again. However, I find the uncertainty is worth it. Why? Besides the fact that it will make you a healthier individual internally and relationally, living without walls allows the Lord to work in your life beyond the limitations that were once set inside a stony heart. Living with a heart of flesh allows God to be Himself- to do exceedingly and abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine.Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-88704411933611428532011-07-30T00:09:00.002-05:002011-07-30T00:27:37.912-05:00A Joy Rant.Dear world,<br /><br />I just want you to know how happy I am today! It's actually amusing to notice how happy I have been literally every single day. Even though each day has not necessarily been easy or free from stress I have been bubbling over with joy. I remember over a week ago there was one day in particular that began with tears and ended as one of the best days I've had here.<br /><br />It is hard to explain this happiness. I think the best description is the biblical term, "the joy of the Lord." It is this deeply rooted internal satisfaction that is just straight up awesome. I'm so gracious for all this joy as I'm still so new to this place. I can't even get over it! Ha! Oh if only I could articulate all of this well enough for you to feel it too.<br /><br />I'm about to start studying on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Yet, I'm squirming in my seat, tickled by joy.<br /><br />Random: I'm currently listening to Mae's <i>The Everglow</i> album. So good. Old, but doesn't get old too quick.<br /><br />Okay. Done with this silly little rant. Time to focus. Augh, the part of my brain that is used to school feels so rusty & it hasn't even been that long. Goooottttta focus....Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-13660374155044430722011-07-28T00:35:00.000-05:002011-07-28T00:36:28.503-05:00The Wellspring of Life.2nd blog post from AU. July 25, 2011<br /><br />Guarding Our Hearts.<br /><br />Why is it important to guard our hearts? With all the new relationships I am building and all the old relationships I try to maintain, I cannot help but think about how much people have to do with my life and its purpose. Relationships matter more to me than a lot of things, but with all of these relationships come a lot of complexities. New or old, I find that every relationship requires a level of discernment, sensitivity and wisdom. Vulnerability is one of the scariest but most refreshing necessities to relationships. We are essentially carrying the hearts of others. We allow others to carry our hearts. <br /><br /> I am by no means a professional at handling relationships. Much of why I am writing this, as with other posts, is for the sake of processing how to think about various things.<br /><br />Tonight I asked myself the question, “Why is it so important to guard my heart?” Scripture obviously states that we should guard our hearts for it is the wellspring of life. But what does that mean to me? What does that look like for unique individuals that we each are? Where is the balance between guarding our hearts and letting people in? How do people even go through the process of falling in love and getting married? Although falling in love is a seemingly common practice or concept, I find myself constantly marveling at it. Is it simply by choosing to press through fears? How much of it is faith and how much is confident understanding and trust? When do we know it’s okay to give people more of our hearts? When is it wisest to hold back and not let them in?<br /><br />Last Sunday, the guest pastor told us the story of meeting his wife and the journey to their marriage. She, a Chinese Malaysian with an American accent, and he, a pure-blooded Englishman. A combination of cultures I have never heard of in my life! And yet they work. After she had finished her studies or work in the UK, she went off to live in Africa for an entire year without him. He actually flew to her to propose! That just blows my mind. The love, commitment, and trust extended between the two of them. They trusted and loved each other so much that the distance and difference of cultural influences was something they simply learned to work through.<br /><br />I am just so in awe of that story. Probably because I find it encouraging for someone like me who is multi-cultured by default. I’m never really sure whether people feel they can relate or if relating in that respect is even relevant. I think purpose, and being able to partner in that purpose, trumps cultural identity. So in the end, relationships require a lot of prayer and an equal amount of discernment. Once it is established there are three C’s: Christ, Communication and Commitment. I find that relevant to any type of close-knit relationship, not solely marriages.<br /><br />The heart is the wellspring of life. It is not just something to be given away nor should it be kept to ourselves. It is the storehouse for our deepest desires, ambitions, and vision. The heart carries the depths of our uniqueness; therein lies our purpose. Perhaps that is why it is so precious to guard. We can easily lose sight of all our heart carries when we hurriedly give it away...Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-19446645192649185032011-07-23T01:42:00.003-05:002011-07-23T01:48:42.607-05:00I Think I'll Move to Australia.First blog post from Australia.<br /><br />Where do I begin? So much has taken place over the last month, let alone the last two and a half weeks! Have I really been here for eighteen days already? As the Australians exclaim, “crikey!” It feels like I have been down under for forever and for no time at all simultaneously. I am stalling for thoughts as I ramble in type.<br /><br />Sensory overload: I have had it frequently since my arrival. There is so much about Sydney to take in. First, it was adjusting to people driving on the left side of the road. Then it was the crisp, cool, wintery air after leaving America’s summer temperatures. Next I found myself dealing with waves of culture shock and nostalgia as the sound of American pop music would play in shops around the city. <br /><br />However, of all there is to take in, the mass amounts of culture groups filling the streets is undoubtedly the greatest cause for sensory overload. All this time I have felt like I am so cultured. Now, I am seeing how much there is still to know about the world and the people residing in every corner of it. In my short time here, I have met people from across the nations: Italy, Japan, Colombia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Denmark, China, Sudan, Spain, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic and it continues on. Of the 50,000 student population at this university, 11,000 of us are international students and 130 countries are represented within that portion. How incredible. I wish I could sit down with every international student and hear their story; where they come from, what their home is like, why they came, what they want to do with their lives. People I would have otherwise never crossed paths with are now gradually leaving footprints in my life story and I in theirs.<br /><br />In some ways I feel a little more capable of relating to the people who find their way onto this continent. Many of them have their own unique ethnic or cultural mixtures that are unique to their own lives. I connect in the general area of being the child of immigrant parents. In other ways, I feel entirely incapable of relating or that I am sometimes too ignorant and clueless so I am not sure how to be culturally sensitive. To my knowledge, I haven’t insulted anyone by crossing any cultural boundaries yet. Hopefully I can keep it that way!<br /><br />Overall, it has been one very large learning experience as well as a lot of re-learning. Learning how to communicate. Re-learning how phone companies and internet work. Re-learning how to be a tenant. Learning a foreign education system. Maybe eventually I will learn how to drive on the other side of the road!<br /><br />Through it all, God has been faithful. He has been beyond faithful: omnipresent. I depend on Him more than I can on anything or anybody else. That is the way it should always be. Perhaps that is why- through the mass amounts of rain, stress, confusion, and homesickness- a smile has covered my face each and every day. The joy of the Lord is my constant source of strength. My ever present Help in time of need. My Best Friend and Savior. The Hope I hold on to every morning. The Prince of Peace who gives me rest each night. He will be exalted among the nations.Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31526482.post-31933069657556745362011-06-11T17:20:00.002-05:002011-06-11T18:42:33.838-05:00What's Wrong With Extraordinary.Blue lights rippled through the dark concrete space. Somewhere there was noise. Though utterly surrounded by hundreds of people, I felt solitary in my thoughts.<br /><br /><i>"Don't ever settle for an ordinary life- never ever, ever. Always reach for the extraordinary."</i><br />That was my notion. This inclination is not remarkable to my daily philosophy, but on that particular day my thought process followed the movement of all the activity around me.<br /><br />I took in the sight before me: the lifeline of two of my friends. A gathering together of their families and closest friends all on one night to celebrate the love this couple has for each other. A wedding.<br /><br />This wedding in particular displayed the affection between a local-to-her-core bride and her kind-hearted high school sweetheart. She was born here, raised here, went to college here, got married here, and has now settled down in the exact same place.<br /><br />A lovely story and a happy life. Lots of people live this way contentedly. If I have to put it plainly, it is not quite my style. I naturally categorize this story line in the "ordinary" section of my brain.<br /><br />As I observed this jovial occasion, I thought back on the years of our friendship. The quality of our relationship began disintegrating once I graduated high school halfway through senior year and then moved out of state for college. "Anywhere but here," was my mindset when choosing where to study. Most of my classmates would go to one of the many state universities or local colleges. I was determined to be different.<br /><br />Why do I always have to be different?<br />What is so wrong with ordinary that I couldn't stand it for one more minute?<br /><br />I saw old friends from our high school days and noticed how they stayed close and grew through life's transitions together, for better or for worse. This bride in particular has always had a distinct loyalty toward her friends and family.<br /><br />Though I know I have grown in many ways as a result of "being different," there are other ways in which I lack maturity due to my search for the extraordinary. Unlike my newly wed friends, loyalty and commitment are not exactly my strong suit. I constantly trade in friendship for adventure and consistency for insecurity. Life is in part about going into the world while the other part is about living in communion with one another. It is not about being untouchable, distant or calloused.<br /><br />Sigh. Exposing weakness is much easier when I don't have your eyes to look into.<br /><br />Now, at last, I understand the past year. God pressed pause on my independent ambitions to remind me that there really are people who care and want to stay in touch with me. Friendships I had once written off are reignited. The false pretenses I had been living under had to be removed before new chapters could be written into our lives.<br /><br />Living life with the same people for long periods of time is a pretty ordinary thing to do... but it is the extraordinary kind of ordinary.Sarah Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08868783514206993295noreply@blogger.com0