Sage Sarah

This morning I was greeted with a wonderful surprise; my sage seedlings have finally emerged from their potting soil beds and decided to say "Good morning" to the world!
This might seem like a silly little thing, but I haven't planted anything in awhile and after two weeks of not seeing any signs of life, I was worried. Plus I had forgotten to water them a few days too many, or so I thought. So this morning I was delighted, until I looked at my other project, my container full of potting soil and rosemary seeds.
Nothing.
My first response was akin to Charlie Brown's in "A Charlie Brown's Christmas"
"Agh, I killed it!"
But just to make sure, I looked at the back of the packet. Sage takes 10-15 days to germinate, whereas Rosemary takes 15-25.
Oh.
I hadn't waited long enough. Dissatisfied with my actions I went the way of blame, the way of not trusting, the way of believing that there was no hope for my seeds or me. What I should of done, what I need to do in every aspect of my life is wait, trust, believe. Wait on the Lord, trust in His goodness, believe in Jesus's love and His total forgiveness of my sins. If I would only wait a little longer, tell doubt and anxiety to get, and stand true in God's word.

Do you know, sage is a symbol for wisdom and rosemary is a symbol for remembrance?

Remember God's goodness, all times and always, for that is wisdom.

Be blessed,
Sarah

No other name

Happy Birthday Dad! I am blessed to celebrate you being born today and so grateful to God for giving me the gift of knowing you!

Every time I think of you I am reminded of not only how wonderful you are to me, but of the great redeeming work that God has done in your life, and subsequently, mine. It brings tears of joy to my eyes and thanksgiving to my heart, to remember all that God has saved you from, and because you accepted Him I too am saved.
You see Dad, whether you meant to or not, your whole life has been a beacon of light to me, pointing me to the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father. Your testimony, your obedience to Father God, even your darkest places from your past, they have all shone with the redemptive love of Jesus, and called earnestly and joyfully to me,
"Come! Come to Jesus! Know Him daughter, His great love and mercy for you, and be free, be saved!"

Thank you Dad for showing me with everything in your life, even your life, that there is no other name by which we can be saved. Oh how good He is, that we should be called children of the Most High. And how kind God is, that on this Earth, I should call you, Dad.

I love you Dad.

Love your Princess Pops,
Sarah

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 
Acts 4:12

Recently I had a thought. Really, it was God bringing His wisdom into my life, like a light bulb illuminating a dark room. And here's my small revelation.

Last week I had to go somewhere I had never been, so I went onto Google Maps and found directions. I got there fine, the directions perfectly leading me where I needed to go. I didn't even use the map.
A few days later I heard someone trying to give directions, and I thought to myself, "This is so complicated, why don't they just go online and find the directions themselves? That way, it is clear and there is no error."

And then the light bulb went off. I trusted Google Maps to get me where I needed to go, even though I had never driven to this place before. I knew it existed, but I did not know the way. Yet, I trusted this online guidance system without a shadow of a doubt. I don't even know where Google Maps gets their information, and I do know that it can give bad directions sometimes! Even so, I placed all my faith in this thing, to get me where I had to be, safely and in the right time.

Oh how I wish I trusted Father God like that! What would my life look like if I placed all my faith in Jesus? Not just for my eternal salvation; that I have already gladly done. But what if I hoped in Him for all things? The little anxieties of everyday life, the constant worries and the seemingly crushing fears that barrage my heart, mind and soul. What if I trusted Him with my life, here on this Earth? To guide me, to keep me, and to bring me where I am meant to be, when I am meant to be there. What peace, to trust and put all my hope in my wonderful Savior!

May you trust in Him today with every fiber of your being, both physical and spiritual, and see His goodness leading you in every good way.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:5

Both hands

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Have any of you ever tried to roller blade with a four year old? A four year old who can't skate, at all? Last Sunday night, I had the great privilege to be helping one of my favorite four year olds skate around the the local roller rink. She had previously been clinging to the wall of the rink, while her Mom patiently shadowed her every movement. I had skates on, and her Mom did not, so I offered to hold my little friend's hands, so she could actually be out on the floor. I was surprised and delighted when she accepted; with me standing behind her, and her small hands clutching a finger from both my hands, we were off. She enjoyed it so much, and was very concentrated on moving her feet back and forth in as close a skating motion as she could. How kids even move in those clunky, plastic skates is beyond me! With the security of me holding her, she was free to practice her skating, even to try and keep up with all the much faster skaters! She trusted that she was perfectly safe from falling, safe from any fear that had kept her glued to the wall. I didn't have this conversation with her, but it was obvious by her relaxed form and big smile every time we passed by her Mom, who was watching happily by the entrance to the rink. It was great fun!

After a few turns around, my back was starting to let me know I was leaning over to skate with a cute munchkin. To save my back, and because she was doing so well, I thought that she might want to try skating side by side, with me holding just one of her hands. The answer to my suggestion was an emphatic shake of the head and the statement,

"Both hands!"

So that is how we stayed, for the rest of the time, and it was worth the back ache, totally.

But it got me thinking afterwards: how like that sweet four year old I am. I am perfectly fine, happy and excited even, to go through life's adventures, as long as I can cling to my heavenly Father's strong hands. To know I am secure and safe from ever falling, from ever failing. But as soon as I don't feel Him, don't sense His touch, as soon as something big and scary comes my way, I find myself shaking my head, calling out, "Both hands, both hands!" 

The thing is, God is always holding me, never tiring from a back ache. When I fall into fear I need to press into Him more, cling to His strong arms, and believe that no matter what, He is holding onto me, and never letting go. I cannot do it on my own; I would still be clinging to the wall or falling flat on my face in my pride. But His grace is enough for me.

Oh, and my little friend's name,

Grace

God says so

God spoke the world into existence. He didn't wave His hands, snap His fingers, or use some kinda wand or staff to create everything. He spoke and it was.

God's Word is not only powerful, it is defining. He said, "Let there be light" and there was light. He made everything; His definition of everything is the only one that matters; the only one there truly is!

That works for us too.

On the way home from work God revealed this to me. For years I believed I wasn't something that He has called me to be, given me the gift to be, defined me to be. I didn't believe for all kinds of reasons. Because I didn't have the proper training, because I wasn't as good at it as other were, because I failed, because I looked stupid. Because....because...because.

And God spoke to me today, telling me I was what He said I was, because HE said so. Not teachers, not friends, not people, not the "world". Him. His Words. They are what define me, what I should listen to.
I was sorrowed and repented for not believing The Creator of the Universe, The One who spoke me into being. The God of everything, who without Him there is nothing.

Wow.

I want to encourage you today. Whatever you are feeling, whatever has been spoken over you by people, even well-meaning people, whatever the world of man has said to you, put it all aside. Actually, kick it out the front door!
And let the life-bring, beauty-creating, majestic Words of God flow into you. Soak them up. Listen to Him and be covered by His Words that He is singing over you. Ask Him what you are, who you are, what He has given you. And let that be enough. For it is more than enough.

Please try it, and be blessed beyond measure by what Words God has for you!

"God, I am ________, because You said I am, and I believe and trust You. Your Words bring life. They create wonders I cannot even fathom. They restore me and bring me peace. Thank You Lord. I love You."

It is all about You Jesus

This is Bebo Norman's song "Nothing Without You". I do not own it, nor did I write/create it. I did sign this song for my Mom, because she has modeled a worshipful heart and life. I hope it blesses you all!

                                                                  God loves you!

And all God's children said, Ohhh Yeah!!!

About the title of my post: a very special person once told me that another way to say amen was, "ohhh yeah!", because both meant that you were wholeheartedly agreeing with what had just been said. Even though I learned this as a child, I still use and love that phrase!

This past Sunday we had a very special guest at my church. Well, he was very special to me. His name is Tom Michaels Zahradnik, and that is the name the world at large knows him by.

I call him Mr. Z. Always have, probably always will. It is a name, a term of endearment rather, that means so much more than a sign of respect, although I do hold this man in high esteem.

You see, Mr. Z, he was my Sunday school teacher.

We called it Kids Church, and he and his wonderful wife Cathleen, or Mrs. Z, taught it for most of my childhood years. They were such a wonderful team, and I continue to look back on those Sunday mornings with much joy and thankfulness. But there is one thing I remember more than anything else, something I hold onto and count as precious in my heart. I don't think I can rightly describe what it is without this verse from the book of Matthew:

             Jesus said,"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."          Matthew 19:14

Mr. and Mrs. Z took this verse to heart, and lived it as my Kids Church teachers. Throughout our worship, singing, and teaching time together, their purpose was always to bring us kids closer to Jesus. It was their joy to do so. I can remember Mr. Z encouraging us to memorize God's word, praise Him with enthusiasm, and most importantly, listen quietly and patiently for His voice. Mr. Z told us that we, even as children, could hear God, could obey God, could do mighty things for God! So many times I came to Mr. Z with an idea, a prayer, a word from God; never was I laughed at or turned away. Instead, I was encouraged to do or say what God had put on my heart! I was a child, and Mr. Z never kept me from Jesus, or from sharing the love He had given to me to share!

What a powerful and beautiful gift to give to a child. I can tell you it made a sweet imprint on my young heart, one that has stayed with me through the years. But bad experiences, disappointed dreams, and a few judgmental people later, and that imprint of child-like faith got covered up with negativity, pride, doubt and despair.

That's why it was so special to see Mr. Z on Sunday. As soon as I saw him, all those sweet memories, all that encouragement, all the truth of who I am in Jesus Christ came flooding back to me in an instant. I wanted to cry, and at that moment I didn't understand why. But I have been thinking of Mr. Z all week, all the times he encouraged me, spoke blessing into my life, delighted in me and my desire to love Jesus with everything I am. He was not the only one; I have been blessed beyond measure by loving people who I cannot thank God enough for.

Mr. Z is one of those people. He rejoiced in "letting the children" come to Jesus. And without knowing it, this man has once again helped me go to the loving arms of Jesus. Once again I know I am His beloved child, and I don't want anything to rob me of that. 

Mr. Z will forever be precious in my, and I know many other, "children's" hearts.

Thank you Mr. Z!

And everybody said, "Ohhhhh Yeahhhh!!!"