The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
    where morning dawns, where evening fades,
    you call forth songs of joy.  Psalm 65:8

Yesterday morning dawned dark and stormy.  I rose to greet the day with a mood to match the ominous clouds outside.  All of my insecurities arose with me that morning, rolling across my mind like the thunder outside.  You’ve failed…You’re going to fail…You won’t be successful…Don’t try…Don’t strive…You’re not good enough…Give up your dreams/ambitions/desires…Don’t reach for anything more…

And so I sat down…in the middle of my kitchen floor…on the little step-stool I use when reading my Bible in the morning.  Hugging my Bible to my chest, I poured out all of my tumultuous thoughts before God, big fat drops of doubt and fear splashing down before the One who knows a thought before it enters my mind.

 “I can’t do it,” I said.  “I’m not talented enough.  I’m not cool enough.  I’m never going to sell a book.  This women’s ministry is never going to get off the ground.  I’m just going to be underemployed my entire life, so you can have my dreams back and I’ll just go be average and never dream about anything again.”

I lowered my Bible to my lap and opened it to where I had left off in the book of Acts the day before.  Secretly, I was hoping for some divine promise to wend it’s way like a lightning bolt straight from the page to my soul– some reassurance that all was going to be fine, that my fears and insecurities were unfounded and that God was going to take care of everything and we’d have a nice 30 second soundbite worthy of K-Love’s encouraging story of the day.

The truth is, God and I have never really had that kind of relationship.  In my life, God often waits through the storm, letting the winds whirl and swirl around me–a quiet Presence standing still as the front passes by.  God is okay with me getting a little windblown and wet.  Perhaps he feels it builds faith.

After reading a bit, I stood up from the little step stool, pushing back the clouds that threatened to engulf me.  I went through my morning routine, making lunches, getting boys up and dressed, digging out a broken umbrella for car rider duty at school.  And while the storm hadn’t completely moved on, God’s presence was like my little broken umbrella.  It kept me dry enough.

 

I pressed on through my work, giving my students the best of my abilities, providing encouragement when needed, but remaining quiet and still as students worked to problem-solve unfamiliar words.  As I was was coaching my kiddos through the rough waters of reading, it occurred to me that sometimes, we need God to be silent in the midst of our own personal storms.  Because if God stilled all of our storms, then we would never grow.  We would never grow in our faith.  We would never grow in our hope.  We would never grow in our strength.  And we would never grow closer to him who gives us strength.  

By the end of that gray and stormy day, the sun was shining in a cornflower blue sky.  Huge, fluffy white clouds perched on the horizon.  And I heard, once my own storm of doubt and insecurity had passed by, God speaking into the bright clear blue.  

You know, whatever you pursue or don’t pursue is your choice.

I gave you gifts and talents.  It’s up to you to decide what you do with them.

But consider this: you and I communicate a lot through those gifts.  

Whether or not you choose to make a career of them doesn’t matter to me.  

What matters is that you do them, because it’s how we talk.

And as long as we’re talking, you’re not a failure.  

As long as we’re talking, you’re doing exactly what I designed you to do.

There are always going to be stormy days.  It’s a natural part of life.  And, if we’re willing, those storms can serve a tremendous purpose.  Those storms, which the Enemy so hopes will destroy us, will actually make us stronger.  Because even though it might feel like we’re being buffeted along by the wind, God is there all the time.  His love and his peace act as an umbrella over us, protecting us as the storm passes by.  

I don’t know what your personal storm is today.  Maybe it’s your marriage, your career, your children or your health. Maybe you struggle with insecurity and doubt like me.  Perhaps you’ve been waiting/longing/begging God to shout “Be STILL!” to the wind that howls all around you.  

But, what if God is whispering, “be still” to you?  What if he’s asking you to weather the storm? Or, an even scarier thought, to walk through it?  

I think that the sun looks more radiant after a storm.  The earth seems fresher somehow–cleansed and rejuvenated.  The grass sparkles, there are rainbows on the pavement, and there are puddles to gleefully play in.  There is promise, there is possibility, there is joy.  

And we would never find any of it if we hadn’t been through the storm.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 

 

 

 

 

Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant,  it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints,  it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth.  Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.  Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Over the past few weeks, I have been struggling with negativity.  I have been irritable, exhausted, judgmental and a complainer.  Most days, I work hard to exude kindness and positive energy, but the past few weeks, I honestly haven’t cared. This morning, as I was driving to work, I was sort of mindlessly listening to a mix CD someone had given me a couple of years ago.  A song came on that I didn’t know, and as I listened to the words, the Holy Spirit suddenly hit me like a tidal wave.  While I had been blaming outside factors for my negative mindset, God revealed to me that the problem was (and is) me.

The reality is, the world sucks.  There’s really no other way around it.  There are terrible people doing terrible things.  There’s poverty, disease, oppression, natural disaster and personal crises.  But that story is not a new one.  It’s always been like this.  And we can choose to embrace the negativity of the world and be grumpy, irritable, judgmental and rude.  We can very easily take on the mantle of the victim and live our lives moaning and groaning and accepting responsibility for nothing.

OR…..

We can embrace the grace of God given to us through Jesus Christ.  We can take on the mantle of love, showing kindness, respect, mercy, forgiveness and hope.  Instead of being victims, we can be change agents.  

My friend, Amy L. Sullivan, is a change agent.  A few years ago, she realized that she and her family were living very self-centered and selfish lives.  Although they had plenty, it didn’t seem like enough.  One Christmas, after going through the plethora of presents before them and still not being satisfied, Amy said, “Enough is enough.  We’re changing.”  And they did.  Amy and her family started reaching out into the mess that is the world and finding ways to make a difference both near and far.  Amy reached beyond the walls of her house and connected with other change agents from around the world, joining forces to help build wells, feed the hungry, send children to school, support cancer patients, provide shelter to the homeless and so much more.  

I recently asked Amy how living this life of love and connection has changed her family.  And do you know what she said?  They’ve become EMPOWERED.  Her children see a problem, and they DO SOMETHING about it.  A local horse ranch needs funds, her kids make and sell muffins to raise money for them.  There’s not complaining, no wallowing in self-pity, no grumpiness or judgement.  There’s just the active work of meeting needs and doing it all in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amy has written a book about giving, which is set to release this September.  Her book is called When More is Not Enough: How to Stop Giving Your Kids What They Want and Give Them What They Need.  Here’s the link to pre-order your copy today!  Really, go pre-order your copy today.  I promise you, it will change your entire outlook on life.  And then go to her website–she’s working on some amazing things!!

I know I write a lot about love.  Part of the reason is that I have not yet been perfected in love, and that is because I do not practice love enough in my own life.  The truth is, I want to BE a change agent, not just think about being one.  I want to actively pursue living a life of love.  I don’t want to continue to live under this cloud of negativity, but I have to DO SOMETHING about it.  So this week, I am going to be an encourager at work.  I am going to write notes (yes, actual notes on cards that are made of paper) to my co-workers to encourage them and thank them for all they do.  It’s a small step, but it helps me to move away from the negative and to focus on the positive.  I have other plans, but I will share those a little later.

For now, let’s all seek to be change agents this week.  

Blessings and Peace,

Sara 

 

A voice is crying out:
“Clear the Lord’s way in the desert!
    Make a level highway in the wilderness for our God!
 Every valley will be raised up,
    and every mountain and hill will be flattened.
    Uneven ground will become level,
    and rough terrain a valley plain.
 The Lord’s glory will appear,
    and all humanity will see it together;
    the Lord’s mouth has commanded it.”  Isaiah 40:3-5

“Shhhh…. you’re too loud!” This is a common phrase in our household.  With two boys, the noise level tends to escalate quickly.

How many times a day do you think children hear the sound, “Shhh….”?  I don’t know, but I’m guessing it’s quite a bit.  And while there is a time and place to shush our children, we parents need to be cautious about exercising that authority.  For when our children are shushed too often, they can lose their voice.

In a world that seems to be dominated by voices of materialism and hate, it is more important than ever to raise our voices above the din of commercials, cash registers, finger pointing and political rhetoric.  As writing guru Lucy Calkins writes:

“In a world that is increasingly dominated by big corporations and big money, it is easy for individuals to feel silenced…In a democracy, we must help young people grow up to know how to voice their ideas, know how to speak out for what is right and good.”   A Guide to the Common Core Writing Workshop

As Jesus People, I think we have a distinctive voice.  It is a voice that proclaims love in the midst of fear, hope in the midst of despair, patience in the midst of conflict, mercy in the midst of hurt and grace in the midst of blame.

Look at the message Isaiah gives the Israelites about their future deliverance from captivity.  Clear the Lord’s way in the desert!  Make a path through the wilderness!  Get ready for the Lord to come.  This is the same scripture John the Baptist uses as he sets out in the wilderness to preach the coming of the Messiah.  John is the voice calling out of the wilderness, “Get ready!  The Lord is coming!”  Throughout the New Testament writings the authors talk about the Apostles “proclaiming” the Good News of Jesus Christ.

 

You see, throughout Biblical history God’s chosen people have been given a voice to proclaim the love of God to the world.  And we use that voice every time we take a moment to listen to someone who is hurting.

We use that voice every time we recognize and seek to meet a human need.

We use that voice when we practice acceptance of others, recognizing in those who are different from us a fellow child of God.

We use that voice when we defy our culture of busyness and practice Sabbath, stilling ourselves before the Lord.

We use that voice when we tell our children they can’t participate in Sunday sports because we want them to learn about and worship God.

We use that voice when we draw attention to those living in the midst of poverty and oppression.

We use that voice when we actively serve others.

We use that voice when we dedicate the first 10% of our income to God’s use through the church.

We use that voice when we offer words of encouragement and hope to those who are struggling with life’s challenges.

We use that voice when we choose to love instead of blame.

We use that voice when we offer positive solutions to conflict rather than continuing the cycle of negativity and complaint.

In short, we use that voice when we actively seek to follow in Christ’s footsteps, preparing the way for his glorious return.

And in claiming our Jesus People voice, we help to show others the way to claim theirs as well.  When we show others love, we show our children how to love.  When we serve in our communities, we teach our children how to serve.  When we practice Sabbath, we model Sabbath for our children.  In that way, a legacy is created.

Can you imagine what a transformation this world would undergo if we, the Jesus People, chose to claim our voices?  When we prepare the way for the Lord, then the Lord’s glory WILL appear and ALL humanity will see it TOGETHER!

How will you proclaim God’s love today?

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

I have to be honest with you.  This past week has been a bit rough.  Between active shooter training at school, the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, the craziness in Israel, ebola in West Africa and now riots in St. Louis, I find myself asking, “This is my father’s world?”  And, moreover, why does God even want it?  Why does God continually seek after a people who repeatedly deny, reject or destroy all that he has given them?  And where do we, the “Jesus People”, find hope in the midst of so much despair?

As I turned to the book of John this morning, I found myself reflecting on these questions, and a few others.  The book of John differs greatly from the other three Gospels.  It was written much later than Matthew, Mark and Luke for a people who did not necessarily witness the amazing miracles of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  The themes of light and darkness echo throughout the Gospel of John.  The world is full of darkness, and Jesus is the light that illuminates and guides those who follow him.

Jesus, the Light of the World, spends 6 chapters of the Gospel of John instructing his disciples at the Passover feast.  (The synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke cover this teaching in less than 1).  The overarching message Jesus comes back to throughout these 6 chapters is twofold:

1. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world

2. The command to actively show the love of God to a world that does not want to accept it

The world in which Jesus came and the world in which we live are not really that different. The people of Jesus’ time lived in the midst of horrific violence and oppression.  There was racial segregation and prejudice.  There was disparity between the wealthy and the poor. Governments were corrupt, both on the local and national levels.  Systematic oppression of the poor took place.  The Jews were longing for a savior.  They were ready for God to come down and say, “ENOUGH!  I’m cleaning this mess up!!”  They wanted a revolution.  They wanted God to show up.  And show up, he did.  But not in the way they were expecting.

Jesus came.  And he didn’t lead a national revolution for independence from Rome.  He didn’t call people to arms and engage in some sort of holy war.  He didn’t protest outside the governor’s palace.  He didn’t even write long letters to the editor.  Instead, he walked throughout the community.  He gave to the poor.  He healed the sick.  He encouraged the oppressed.  He reached out across racial, social, economic and gender barriers to actively show the love of God to those who needed it the most.  And he taught.  Oh, how he taught!

Jesus walked into the Temples throughout Judea telling people of God’s great love for them.  Jesus sat in country fields, on mountaintops, and in boats proclaiming God’s love over and over again.  Yes, he confronted the religious leaders of the time, but his confrontation of their hypocrisy was a direct response to their constant baiting of him.  He knew their hearts and exposed them to the people.

And I think, as Jesus People, we are called to follow in those footsteps.

In chapter 17 of John, Jesus prays for his disciples, both those who are currently following him and the believers yet to come.  Look at the prayers Jesus offers for his disciples and the future believers:

Prayer for the Disciples:

“I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one. When I was with them, I watched over them in your name, the name you gave to me, and I kept them safe… I’m not asking that you take them out of this world but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world.  Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  I made myself holy on their behalf so that they also would be made holy in the truth.” John 17:9-19

Prayer for Future Believers:

“I’m not praying only for them but also for those who believe in me because of their word.  I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me.   I’ve given them the glory that you gave me so that they can be one just as we are one. I’m in them and you are in me so that they will be made perfectly one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you have loved them just as you loved me.” John 17:20-23

Did you notice that Jesus specifically asked God not to take the disciples from the world, but to watch over them as they went into the world?  His directive was (and is) very clear.  Carry the love of God INTO the world!  And do so in a way that reflects God’s love.  Do so in unity with fellow believers.  Our lives should be an extension of Jesus’ ministry.  We should be out in our communities, showing God’s love to others using all of the resources God gave to us.  In that way, the world will know God’s love.

I want to close today with a line from one of my favorite hymns.  If you get a chance, listen to this version by Stephen Rew and the band Decided.  It’s beautiful and fills me with hope.  In the final verse of the hymn, the author writes:

“This IS my father’s world.  The battle is not done.  Jesus who died will be satisfied when Earth and Heaven are one.”

May God grant each of us the courage to go out into his world and show his love to all those we meet.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”  

John 10:27-30

I woke up early this morning feeling anxious about the start of school.  I was going through a mental checklist of all I had wanted to accomplish this summer and trying to figure out how it was going to get done in 8 days.  I then started thinking through childcare options for my boys the few days I am back to work before they are.  This train of thought led me to the place I’ve been circling the past few weeks–back to work.  If I’m being honest, I have to say that I’m not ready.  I don’t want to go back into school mode just yet.  I don’t want to face all of the struggles that are inherent with our public education system right now.  And so, as I read my Bible this morning, the above passage caught my attention.

Go back and read it once more.

Do you see that?  God the Father is greater than all, and God and Jesus are one.  And no one, and no thing, can snatch us out of their hands.

I don’t know what’s making you anxious today.  I know that life provides a lot of opportunity for anxiety!  However, as children of God, we are carried in powerful and mighty hands!!  That’s not to say that life will be easy.  We’re not going to be skipping through sunny fields and breaking into song all of our days.  But when we’re feeling anxious, when we’re feeling afraid, when we’re feeling lonely and not brave at all, it’s important to remember who is on our side.

There is NOTHING in this world or beyond that can separate us from the love of God!

So rest assured, whatever you may be facing.  You are held.  And the one who holds you will not ever let you go.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 I’m reminding you to revive God’s gift that is in you through the laying on of my hands.   God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.   2 Timothy 1:6

A few nights ago, we had the most lovely evening visiting with lifelong friends.  Though we don’t see one another often, when we do it’s sort of like slipping into a warm robe on the first cold morning after summer–warm, secure, a perfect fit.  While our kids played together, we sat outside in the mugginess of a July evening and talked for hours.

One of the things I most admire about my friend is that she and her husband knew the kind of life they wanted to live and have spent the past 15 or so years creating that.  From the way they raise their kids to the way they eat, everything has been carefully crafted around the ideals that they hold most dear.  This shouldn’t surprise me, really.  I mean, this was the girl who always ordered a cheeseburger at any restaurant we ever ate at until she was a teenager!  When you know what you want, you go for it.

My approach to life has tended to be more buffet style–try a little of this, then a bit of that and top it with a warm roll.  It’s not that I lack the ambition to pursue my dreams, it’s more the drive.  And the lack of drive tends to stem from my own lack of self-confidence. That nagging very un-Jiminy Cricket like voice that says things like:

• You’re not smart enough.
• You’re not talented enough.
• You’re not trendy enough.
• You’re going to fail.

The conclusion I am coming to after almost 38 years, however, is this: you’ve got to stake a life claim.

As Paul so astutely told young Timothy, God did not give us a spirit of fear!!  Fear is the Enemy’s twisted gift, designed to keep us from living out the abundant life God has called us to.  Fear looks at our God-given dreams and aspirations and says, You can’t.  But God responds, Get moving.  In the great parade of life, we aren’t called to be mere spectators, waving as the floats go by.  Oh no.  We are called to participate fully in this extravaganza: to march in the band, to pull the floats, to throw the candy and yes, to clean up the horse poop.  It’s time for all of us scaredy-cats to stake a claim in living the life God has called us to live.

It doesn’t have to be big.  I bought a bag of garbanzo bean flour.  I’ve been wanting to experiment with different types of high fiber and high protein grains in order to find a way to eat healthy naturally rather than depending on meal replacement bars.  It’s a small thing, but it’s a claim that has been staked.

I have also called a photographer to make an appointment to take some professional pictures for some women’s ministry publications and outlined a devotional book.  Those are crazy claims!!

The truth is, God has placed something (or several things) on each of our hearts, endowing us with gifts and talents to bring these things to fruition.  But so often, we don’t follow through.  We don’t stake a claim.

Paul goes on in his exhortation to Timothy with the following:

So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about the Lord or of me, his prisoner. Instead, share the suffering for the good news, depending on God’s power.  God is the one who saved and called us with a holy calling. This wasn’t based on what we have done, but it was based on his own purpose and grace that he gave us in Christ Jesus before time began.  Now his grace is revealed through the appearance of our savior, Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality into clear focus through the good news. 2 Timothy 1:7-10

The powerful Spirit God has imbued us with is for the express purpose of proclaiming the Gospel.  And we proclaim that Gospel not by shouting on street corners or the roofs of parking garages, but in creating and living out lives that show God’s love, God’s grace, God’s forgiveness and God’s mercy to others.  We stake a claim.  Live a life that shares the good news of God’s grace.

• Volunteer for VBS
• Sign up for that mission trip
• Sponsor the child you’ve been seeing in your mind’s eye for several years
• Make the call about becoming a foster parent
• Start that blog you’ve been thinking about
• Write “Chapter One” on a blank sheet of paper
• Plant a garden and share the harvest
• Call that new mother and offer to come sit with the baby while she sleeps
• Make some meals for others
• Deliver some meals to others
• Join a local co-op
• Pay for a kid to go to church camp
• Create a community garden for kids
• Donate surplus items to local charities
• Downsize your house and give the proceeds to others
• Practice healthy habits
• Send some cards of encouragement
• Reach out to a single mom: bring her some meals, do her laundry, take the kids to a movie, invite her to a girl’s night out and provide childcare

The list could go on and on.  The point is: stake a claim.  Live the good news!  And do so with a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

P.S. I would love to hear how you’re staking a claim!  Leave me a comment or shoot me an email.  Let’s march in this parade together! 🙂

Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other.  Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord!  Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer.  Romans 12:10-12

I recently read a blog article entitled “10 Things Your Pastor’s Wife Wants You To Know”.  As a pastor’s wife myself, I was intrigued.  Some things were applicable, others not.  That’s typical with trying to put any role humans take on into a box.  But it got me thinking….”What would I want to tell people about being a United Methodist Pastor’s Spouse?”  Well, in the spirit of full disclosure, here you go! 🙂

1. I don’t really like organized religion.  Wait.  Don’t label me a heretic yet.  I love church.  I love our church.  I love worshiping God on Sunday mornings with a congregation of fellow believers.  And, I love being a United Methodist.

However, as with any major organization, there’s a lot of bureaucracy in the United Methodist system.  And, with any bureaucracy, you get bureaucrats.  Politics can sometimes take a front seat to Christian discipleship and service.  And sometimes, I get a little bitter with the appointment process.  Sometimes, it just seems like a big popularity contest.

2. Moving is hard.  The United Methodist church is built on the system of itinerancy.  Pastor’s move, sometimes frequently.  It’s not a bad thing–really quite the contrary.  The itinerant system can strengthen the local church, making it more about the church itself than the pastor who serves it.

That said, moving is hard.  I’m not just talking about packing, although, that’s a pain in the rear.  But the emotional toll of tearful goodbyes one day and enthusiastic hellos the next can be very overwhelming.  As an introvert, I need time.  I need time to process, to grieve, to get my bearings and to rejuvenate.  And, I also need a job.

This can an exceedingly difficult process.  The last time we moved it took me a year and a half to find a full-time position in education.  I went from being the head of on English department to being a Teacher’s Associate.  I’m not complaining.  I love my job and wouldn’t trade it.  I’m just letting you know that starting over is an exhausting process for me.

3. We live in a fishbowl.  As a pastor’s spouse, you quickly realize that your life is constantly on display.  People know you, often before you’ve even met them!! 🙂  They know where you live, they’ve seen all of your furniture moved through the door, they know where you went to college, how old your kids are, if you like to grill and how often you mow your lawn.

The danger in living in a fishbowl is falling into the trap of thinking that because you’re very visible, you need to appear “perfect”.  My children make sure that I don’t ever fall into that sort of thinking!  From crawling down church aisle meowing like cats in the middle of a service to body surfing under the pews, they’re very good at “keeping it real”.

The truth is, I’m a human, too.  I make mistakes.  I struggle with parenting, with marriage, with work….everything you struggle with, too.  I don’t have life all figured out, and neither do you.  That’s the beauty of ministry, isn’t it?  We join together, in all of our imperfection, to bring forth God’s kingdom the best we can.

4. I want to be your friend.  Early on in my marriage, I was given the advice to seek out friends outside of the local congregation.  While there can be benefit in that advice, I’ve never really practiced it.  The truth is, I’m a relational person.  I want to get to know you.  And, I want you to know me–warts and all! 🙂

So, invite me to a “Girl’s Night”.  I’ll drink a glass of wine with you.  And don’t feel the need to talk to me about faith.  While I love talking about God and my faith, I can also talk about a lot of other things, some of them very mundane.  I’ll talk to you about politics, although you may not like mine.  I’ll talk to you about kids and their crazy antics.  I’ll talk to you about how I like the shorts at Old Navy better than Target because they’re a little longer.  I’ll talk to you about the latest episode of The Voice or a plethora of shows on HGTV.  Just talk to me–it’s okay. 🙂

5. I love Christian ministry.  Really, I do.  Before I met my husband I made the decision to go to Seminary and pursue a Master’s degree in Christian Education.  I always saw myself engaged in some form of ministry.  I love serving others.  I love teaching others about the great love of God.  My life’s theme is to help others find wholeness in God.

 Sometimes, I do that through my husband’s work as a pastor.  But other times, I’m out there pursuing my own goals and dreams.  While my husband and I often work as a team, we are each our own individuals with our own different talents and abilities.  I’m not just an extension of him, nor are our children an extension of us.  And that’s a good thing.  Can you imagine how boring life would be if we all shared the same abilities?

In the end, I want you to know that I love being your pastor’s wife.  But, I love your pastor even more.  So, be kind to him.  And love him, because I know how very much he loves you.

Blessings and Peace

Sara

I will keep obeying your Law
    forever and ever.
 I have gained perfect freedom
    by following your teachings,
     and I trust them so much
    that I tell them to kings. Psalm 119:44-46

I am a food addict.  I have struggled with overeating my entire life.  I eat when I’m happy.  I eat when I’m sad.  I eat when I’m stressed.  I eat when I celebrate.  I salivate over dessert magazines the way some women salivate over the “Sexiest Man Alive” issue of People magazine.  On vacations and holidays, food can often become the main event.  The problem with being a food addict is that, with most addictions, it leaves you feeling worse about yourself than when you started.

A few years ago, I stepped onto the scale and found myself maxing out at almost 200 pounds.  I had never been so heavy in my life, not even when I was pregnant!  I couldn’t fit into any of my clothes.  I was depressed.  I hated myself.  I felt like I had fallen asleep in the middle of my own life and I wanted to wake up again.  Over the course of the next year, I began a weight loss program called Take Shape for Life.  Through the program and support from my health coach, Tina, I was able to lose 60 pounds and have kept most of it off for over a year.

But more than the weight loss, I feel like I’ve come back to myself.  I’ve found again the woman God created me to be.  I’m more energized, more focused, more positive and fully awake.  Don’t get me wrong, I still struggle with eating.  There’s no magic wand that’s ever going to be waved to take away my desire for chocolate!  But through discipline (yes, I said the “D” word!) I’ve learned to control those cravings and truly only indulge when it’s appropriate–not after every meal!!

A few months ago I had the great privilege of hearing one of my favorite authors, Anne Lamott, speak.  She confessed that she was in the midst of a big writing project that required her to forgo sugar in order to better use her energies to complete her task.  She noted that she absolutely could go back to her hotel room and eat 15 Snickers bars.  But, she said, “there is amazing freedom in the discipline.”

“Discipline” is not a word we like to use much in our society.  It has too many punitive connotations.  It sounds too much like punishment.  But discipline and punishment are not the same words at all.  In fact, they’re quite the opposite.

Punishment is a negative consequence brought about because of an action.  It is reactive.

Discipline, however, is an action taken by choice in order to reach a specific goal.  Discipline is proactive.

In healthy eating, discipline is saying “I am going to choose to pass on the potatoes because the roasted vegetables are going to make me lethargic and I want to go shopping (gardening/swimming/hiking/back to work) after lunch.”

In healthy living, discipline is training our brain to adopt patterns and habits that are productive to doing the work God has placed before us. And when we train our brains to adopt those healthy patterns, i.e. discipline ourselves, then we have more freedom to live.  We don’t get caught up in negative cycles of guilt, shame, fear, or failure.  Discipline is not about denial.  Rather, discipline is about engagement at it’s best level.  Discipline leads to focus.  It leads to purpose.  It leads to productivity.

There is freedom in the discipline because we are consciously making choices in our lives that build us up rather than tear us down.  When I discipline myself to read Scripture daily, to pray daily, to worship in church each Sunday, then I am making the choice to draw closer to God.  And that, I think, can only lead to good things.

Most all of us have areas in our life where we need to engage in some proactive discipline.  My friend and health coach, Tina, is a wonderful resource.  I encourage you to spend some time on her website, which I have linked in three places above!! 🙂  In addition to great health resources, Tina also works as a professional life coach, helping people to live more fully into their purpose and potential.

The Psalmist wrote, “I will follow your teachings forever, Lord, because I have found absolute freedom within them.”

There is freedom in the discipline….let’s work on being free.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 God said, “Let the waters swarm with living things, and let birds fly above the earth up in the dome of the sky.”  God created the great sea animals and all the tiny living things that swarm in the waters, each according to its kind, and all the winged birds, each according to its kind. God saw how good it was. Then God blessed them: “Be fertile and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

 There was evening and there was morning: the fifth day.

 God said, “Let the earth produce every kind of living thing: livestock, crawling things, and wildlife.” And that’s what happened.  God made every kind of wildlife, every kind of livestock, and every kind of creature that crawls on the ground. God saw how good it was. Genesis 1: 20-26

My boys and I went to the Kansas City Zoo yesterday.  The zoo is one of our favorite places to visit.  Not only do you get a great workout from walking the the rolling hills, you get to see some amazing animals up close and personal!  Some of our favorite animals are Nikita, the polar bear, the kangaroos who actually roam free along the tree-lined paths, the lazy lions who lay and roar occasionally to the watching crowds, and the mighty gorillas who saunter magnificently through their and hilly habitat.  Although we have been to the zoo many times, I am always awe-struck at the beauty and absolute limitlessness of God’s creative power.  These animals are a true work of wonder.

And yet, I am always a little sad on our zoo visit days as I read over and over again how close to extinction these beautiful works of God are coming.  Animals that used to roam the wild in abundance are now critically endangered.  If the current rate of human consumption, industry and waste is not checked, then animals like tigers, elephants and gorillas will be a thing of the past.  And this, I believe, is a collective sin of humanity.  We Jesus People have failed in protecting and preserving the world that God so lovingly and painstakingly created.  We have allowed corporate greed and materialism to run unchecked, the result of which is that (as always seems to be the case) the least of these are paying the price.  So, what can the average person do to make a difference?

Here are some little steps each of us can take to reverse the cycle of natural destruction that is currently taking place throughout the world.  Information comes not only from the KC Zoo, whose mission it is to promote conservation and instill in people instill a life-long respect of nature, but also the World Wildlife Fund which works to build a world in which humans live in harmony with nature.  These little steps, if taken by many people, could have a maximum impact on saving many of the world’s animals.

1. Recycle as much as possible.  Recycling not only helps to eliminate waste, but goods made from recycled materials helps to prevent further destruction of natural habitats.

2. Use less paper.  The paper industry has led to massive amounts of deforestation throughout the world.  This deforestation robs many animals of their habitat, thereby driving them to the point of extinction.

3. Avoid buying items made with palm oil.  The production of palm oil is the biggest contributing factor to the disappearance of many of the world’s ape populations.  Palm oil is used in a variety of items from shampoo and lip balm to margarine and ice cream.  Look for products that use sustainable palm oil.  They contain an RSPO trademark.

4. Buy woods approved by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).  Consider asking your local retailers to sell wood and furniture approved by the FSC.

I know that these steps aren’t always feasible or practical.  Not all of us have the budget or live in a location to buy specialty items.  But I think, at some level, all of us are able to take little steps toward change that will, over time, make a big impact on the future of our world.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

P.S. There are SO MANY problems facing our current generation beyond animal endangerment.  Did you know that there are more people enslaved today than in the entire 300+ years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade?  Our water supply is steadily decreasing.  The climate is changing.  Poverty is growing.  Preventable diseases are spreading.  In the span of a generation we have done tremendous damage to all of God’s creation–humanity included.  Something as simple as buying a pair of shoes can become a moral and ethical dilemma.  It’s overwhelming.  But the fact that it all seems too widespread and overwhelming does not mean that, as Jesus People, we should stop trying to make a difference.  For me, personally, education is an important first step.  The more I know about a problem, the better equipped I am to take little steps forward toward a sustainable solution.