Thursday, December 30, 2010

Our God is Greater


Life gets hard sometimes. This past week I have felt like I am back in college writing reports on a deadline. Early morning and lots of coffee have been my companion.

Yesterday morning I rose at 4:30 AM with a typhoon wave of anxiety. I refused to begin my day an anxious, unsettled mess. Reaching for Linda Dillow's Calm My Anxious Heart, I found myself reading about being content in our life circumstances.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

I find it so easy to compare my circumstances with other Christian women. It's funny how you can think you're done battling a struggle and it just creeps up on you and ***BAM*** you're knocked over, again.

I love this Chris Tomlin song, "Our God is Greater." God is able to take me back to a place of contentment and joy. Yesterday, God did exactly that, after an hour of reading my book, the Bible and prayer ... God calmed my heart and gave me joy. God is so good to me.

I pray that despite the circumstances that surround you, that God fills you with contentment and joy this coming year.

Blessings, Love and Happy New Year.

Sarah

Chris Tomlin's "Our God is Greater"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SAtWjBDFeM

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Living in Minneapolis



My first few months living in Minneapolis have been an adventure. My husband and I love living in our little corner of S. Mpls. We have our favorite pizzeria (that is conveniently located on our same block), walk around my favorite Lake Harriet and generally quite enjoy our side-by-side bungalow.




This is my first experience living on an alley. I give my daily update at work in the AM as to how difficult getting out of my semi-plowed alley was, if I got stuck, and how many at people at the bus stop (located at the top of the alley) watched me struggle out in my front-wheel drive car. I don't really care to live on an alley, ever again.




Tom and I took on shoveling duties traded for lower rent. We've figured out that we're probably earning below minimum wage at the rate the snow is falling. I don't think we'll take on shoveling duties next place. I have such fond memories of shoveling with my dad and siblings growing up. We often couldn't wait until the snow stopped and would shovel at night in the snow. It was so much fun! I assumed my husband would find it equally fun. He does not, but indulges me just the same. He must really love me.



photos from weheartit.com


Monday, October 25, 2010

A begining.

I find myself now a Mrs. 2 1/2 weeks freshly married, freshly moved. I have decided that it is the perfect time to start something else new ... a blog. My mother and father always told me that I should have been a story teller, or at least write down my stories and publish a book. Perhaps, my vivid imagination has allowed me to verbalize my experiences, rainbow style. We'll see what the world thinks.

I must say I was feeling quite torn about my blogging platform. My friends are on blogger, but those in my profession use Wordpress. I have a feeling that by the end of the year I will have both a blogger and Wordpress blog. I love my work, but there is something nice about escaping into a different world where I can be "me" in a different dimension. Only a few friends outside of my family know of my true ability to be totally and completely silly, goofy and childish.

I like parks with a playground. I do not find it agreeable that so many people think adults should stop playing. I love playing. Thankfully I found a man who loves to play like a child with me. "Thanks Tom!"

Tom and I love to read together, too. While on our honeymoon in Duluth, Tom and I read through Daniel and Esther. What an example of Godly strength. I pray that God makes me a woman of focused strength for His glory. In the book of Esther it does not talk about her great mothering, delicious cooking, amazing organizing and nesting skills. It talks about a beautiful woman whose beauty and Godly character elevated her to the level of Queen. It talks about a beautiful woman who put her life on the line to save an entire nation of people.

Esther 4:15-16, 5:1-2
'Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish."'

"Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace ... And so it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand..."

God has gifted every woman and man uniquely. God has gifted me uniquely. Am I using those gifts fully to His glory? Am I being a woman of focused strength, not wasting my time longing after foolishness?

Dear God,
Humble me daily. Love me fully. Guide my feet and keep me walking in the right direction. Show me how to be the wife you know I can be. Help me. Reveal yourself to me. Blow my mind with all the goodness you have for me. Keep me on my knees.

I love you above everyone and everything else. You are the Great Maker, Healer, Teacher, Lover, Creator. I want more of you.

Love,

Sarah