Mary, not Martha.

    I know I know, it's been forever. Part of my issue/excuse is that when I quit my job back in dec then I had to give my laptop back because it belonged to the company. Add that in to getting married, moving, having a down right hard transition period of getting used to living in a new place and generally having nothing to say (yes it can happen to even this chatter box) then I just haven't cared about blogging. Now that I have an iPad (happy birthday to me...kind of...more like Verizon gave it to us for free) I will trrrrry to be better about it, but no promises.

   My inspiration today has actually been brewing for a while now....

   Let's start back in oct. (or so) when the decision to quit my job was made. Zach and I decided that with his grueling and odd work schedule and my normal Mon. To Fri. Schedule, we would likely not see each other because he is mostly off in the middle of the week. Since we did not "need" my income we figured it would be best for me to be home and able to spend time with him when he is off instead of having to be wrapped up in phone calls and emails that come along with working from home. Me not have to work? Sweet! ......or so I thought. People who know me all too well were questioning how I would occupy myself which began me in a tail spin of heroic ideas. "I'll volunteer at a soup kitchen or find a way to make a difference in the world!" Let the OKC volunteer position research begin.

   Fast forward to about a week before the wedding when it all hit me like a ton of bricks in the face. "I'm moving. Hold the phone, I didn't sign up for this! I signed up for quitting my job and getting married but moving two hours away from where I currently call home and love?! nonono. I've worked for a year and a half to build this support network. Move to Tornado alley?! no thanks." Needless to say I had a major freak out and had to be convinced that selling Zach's house and making him move two hours away from his well paying job to live in a tiny apartment in Tulsa just so my life wouldn't change was not a good idea. The convincing worked. I was settled with the idea of moving.......in that moment. 

    Fast forward again through "oh so happy wedding and honeymoon" period to the day Zach left for his first rotation of shifts. I.was.a.mess. I think I cried for hours on end and pitied myself for about a week. I let myself have some grieving time before the "heroine" would get to work. A week became a few weeks (throwing Christmas and a few happy visitors in there). I did manage to get transferred from the Tulsa bible study fellowship group to the OKC one in this time period. 

   Finally, it was the end of Jan. This was when I jumped on a plane to Florida to visit one of my bestest (yes it's a word :p) friends. On that plane ride I finished the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. This began a whole new inspiration to be the heroine I just "knew" I was supposed to be. Let more research and ideas commence.

   Fast forward a third time through February where I decided I really needed to get off my butt, so, I applied for a job, did more research, emailed a local organization seeing if they needed help and had several "what am I doing with my life?!" conversations with a few people. Nothing came of any of the "plans" I made for myself. 

  Finally we get to present day. Let's just say that still nothing has happened and I've even applied for another job somewhere in there and heard nothing back. For the last few days the story of Mary and Martha has been rolling through my head. We are studying Matthew in Bible Study Fellowship right now so it comes as no surprise to me that this story is fresh in my mind....but why? For the past 36 hours the words "be Mary, not Martha" have been floating through my mind. I keep hearing it over and over. "God? Is that you?" It dawned on me, there has never been a time in my life when I haven't had school or work consuming my everyday. This time I have is a gift. Martha was too distracted by being prepared and "doing" that she totally missed it. But, Jesus blessed Mary for being the one who truly got it. Jesus was there. He was with them and he wouldn't be there for very long. Mary knew that soaking in every second that she had to sit at his feet was 100000000% worth putting the "doing" aside for. Has God called me to be a light for his kingdom and be reaching the lost? ABSOLUTELY! Are there times that he wants us to enjoy his presence without daily distraction? YES! So, for now, I will put aside my "heroine" attitude and realize that Jesus is calling me. What is he calling me to do? He is calling me to enjoy his presence because I may never have a time like this again. 

Powerful

I have been thinking a lot today about the power in Jesus' name. At the sound of his name every knee will bow. At the sound of his name satan flees. It's so simple, people. Why do we hesitate to call upon the name of The Lord when there is so much power behind it?! Instead we tend to use his name in vein and throw it around like there is no meaning. Let us recognize who God is and how much power there is in his son's name!!!

Paper Flowers

Hey guys! Here is the really simple tutorial on making the paper flowers I am making for the wedding. Hope it helps those that are wanting to learn! 

Make sure you have a perfect square. 

Fold it in to a triangle.

Fold both bottom ends up to meet the top of the triangle. 

It will look like this. 

Let the edges you just folded fall open then flatten them out like in the picture. Do both that way. 

It will look like this.

Then fold the tips in so they are even with the edge. Do both sides like that. 

Then re fold the ends closed on the fold you made earlier. (Like the left side of this picture) Do both sides like that.

Glue the ends together so it looks like this. Then glue five of these together to make a flower! 

Happy crafting!

 

Cry Out to Jesus

   Sometimes I just need to inhale as much air as I can and scream out to Jesus. The last few days have been such days. My little Piglet (one of my best friends kiddos) has been visiting me and I swear that is God's way of keeping joy in my life right now when all I want to do is throw something breakable at the wall! He is my little ray of sunshine. "Auntie, I come to see you on an airplane!" "I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born. Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing. O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs. Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen. I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help." (Psalms 22:10-24 NLT)
   Verses like these help me remember that even David who was the "man after God's own heart" had similar moments and he did just what I try to remember to do...... Cry out to Jesus!

A Chunk of My Heart Lives in Washington (Part 1)

   I have been avoiding blogging lately. It is such a sweet place to reminisce and clear my head, but, it can also be a painful place as I hash through the issues of life in writing. Sometimes it's easier to take a break and not think for a while. To say the two weeks preceding my trip to WA were awful, would be a complete understatement. So, for now, we will focus on the trip and maybe come back to the other stuff later.  
   So....the trip. It was long and short at the same time. I never understand how that happens, but it does. It was so fun watching Rebekah meet Kai for the first time. He loved her. We had 24 hours with him and Jefri right when we got to Tacoma. Jefri picked us up from the airport, then, the agenda contained A LOT. We took pictures with the easter bunny, ate chipotle (for Rebekah, who begs for it every time she is near one), went to swim lessons, drank Boba Tea, perused Pike Place Market, Uwajimaya Market for Sushi and Pho (MMMMMMMMmmmmMMMMMM!!!!), had movies and cheesecake at Jefri's condo, a good night sleep and a great morning conversation with the Geortzens and breakfast with Jefri. Whew, it was a packed but AWESOME 24 hours!
   After breakfast, Seth brought me and Rebekah our parent's Toyota Camry, which he had brought back with him when he went to visit them via bus a few days earlier. Seth went home then Rebekah and I took off. The road trip was SO FUN! We talked, laughed, took pictures, played in the snow on the passes and just plain ol' bonded. It was great! By the time we got to Endicott, it was mid afternoon and we were so happy to be there. Mom took us on a walk to see the "thriving metropolis" of Endicott (as my parents like to joking call it), which took all of 15 minutes. haha. On the walk back around to the house (it is located right next to "city hall"), my mom noticed the door to city hall was open and there were people there. We went in to check out what was going on and found out it was a food bank run by Second Harvest. SO COOL! Second Harvest is an organization that our church back home partners with once a month to do a food bank for the community. Anyways, that evening we made dinner and chilled.
   Friday morning, Rebekah, Dad and I walked to "coffee with the guys" at "Jenny's Store" (the only store in town). The guys got a total kick out of Rebekah because she could "shop talk" with the best of 'em. They are mostly farmers (or were at some point in time). This group of guys goes to coffee every morning and hangs out together until about 10am. Sometimes, Jenny serves breakfast and coffee. Other times it's just coffee. Every Friday is breakfast sandwich day. This is a big deal, mind you! After coffee, dad had a dr appointment in Colfax (closest "big" town), so mom, Rebekah and I went along to see the sites. We stopped at "Tick Clock" to get dad's meds. It is an adorable gift shop/catch all type store with a pharmacy inside. Next stop was the grocery store to get stuff for Easter breakfast at the church. We couldn't find what we needed (mini donuts) for our little Pinterest project, so we went to the gas station and found them there. At home, we hung out and mom and Rebekah gardened. After that, we made dinner then did some prep for the easter egg hunt the next day.
   To be Continued......

Surprisingly Similar Sermon

   This morning, as I was sitting in church, it was kind of obvious that God was speaking directly to me. It didn't really matter who else was in the room, because God wanted ME to hear him speaking through our pastor this morning. It was one of those deja vu moments. "Hmm..I'm pretty sure the blog I wrote last night was about this EXACT same thing." (I even texted Julie and said something to the effect of, "this is all sounding really familiar.") God is funny like that.
   The Sermon was on Progressive Sanctification. Our Pastor was preaching from Romans 6. We didn't stay there for long though.  It was a sword drill kind of morning, for sure (flipping from one Bible passage to the next to the next). The verses that hit me the most were verses I actually memorized during at Wildwood (summer camp) the summer following senior year of high school. Romans 12.

Romans 12

English Standard Version (ESV)

A Living Sacrifice 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers,^[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.^[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,^[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.^[d]

Gifts of Grace

³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For as in one body we have many members,^[e] and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,^[f] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, withcheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,^[g] serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.^[h] Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it^[i] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

   Roger that, Lord. I hear ya loud and clear. Thank you for knocking me upside the head until my pitiful little brain comprehends. 
   I have been hearing this song (see below) on Pandora a lot lately. To say I have fallen in love with the words doesn't even begin to explain it. It came on today while I was thinking about the sermon and doing some baking. The words struck me even harder than before. "My WHOLE life I place in your hands." Think about that. Do you mean it? I do. At least, I want to mean it. I know God is helping me to understand how to do that. Here I am, Lord.

Take a listen.....

Letting Go. Then what?

   Letting go....it's not easy. It's not even slightly simple. Have you ever heard God asking you OVER AND OVER AND OVER to let something go but, you (being your lovely stubborn self) reply, "God, you're kidding right? I can't let that go. It's too much a part of my life. I'm not addicted or idolizing it, I just, I just, I just....uh....like it."But, again, He patiently says OVER AND OVER AND OVER like he does in Deuteronomy, "You shall have no other gods before me." Well, crap. I guess he really means it and yes, in fact, YOU ARE IDOLIZING IT. Oops. Shoot. Dang it. ok ok ok ok, FINE!!! I'll let it go. 
   Now, what do I do with my time? What's that you say, Lord? "Have an eternal focus?" As in, learn to be more like Jesus? Ok, let's look at what Jesus spent his time doing. Ready for this (I'm not sure I am)? Here goes:
1. Teaching
2. Discipling 
3. Praying
4. Loving 
5. Stepping outside of himself to help people
6. Feeding the hungry
   These are just to name a few. Well, crap again. So if I want to be more Christ like and have an eternal focus, I need to teach, disciple and pray more often. Stop filling my time with meaningless junk. Sarah, you spent an entire year at Bible college preparing to be a missionary. Just because you didn't end up being called to a mission field in a foreign country, does NOT mean you have an excuse to hole yourself up in your apt and ignore the mission field at your finger tips. 
Ouch. 
   Matthew 28:16-20
¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Yes, Lord.