ha, ha, ha, ha...

     My sisters and I have started a Bible study!

We are studying James, and last night we focused in on James 1:2-4, which says:

 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

      We asked each other how we could apply this verse to the next day (today, as it happens). I mentioned that I have a lot of free time on Friday to do homework, but a lot of times I'm so tired from the week that I don't take advantage of the time I have to get work done. I was thinking I would apply this verse by seeing this temptation to not do work as something to test my faith. I was determined to let it produce steadfastness in me. It was exciting. Think of all the work I would get done!

     I woke up this morning and suddenly remembered: I have a Latin test due tonight! And I haven't studied for it! And I don't know the material at all! Hurrah. This is lovely.

     It's now 5:30 in the afternoon, and I'm STILL. STUDYING. Getting lots of homework done today?

     Ha, ha, ha, ha...

I thought the struggle would be not wanting to do work.. but alas, that wasn't it. The struggle is that I would have to study all day for a test and not get a whole lot of other work done.

     But God works in his own way. And I'm growing through this. Plus, he's helping me with my Latin and I'm understanding it more.

     God is so wonderful. And funny. 

:) 

Sarah 

a note from ephesians

     This morning I was reading Ephesians, and I came across something wonderful that I had never quite thought about before.

     Okay, that's not all true. I had thought about the concept before. But it showed itself in Ephesians this morning:

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,"

 Ephesians 1:11

     I'm pretty sure I've even heard this verse before - but it never, ever took on the meaning it did today. 

     You may or may not know that I tend to have rather low self-esteem. I have struggled and prayed about it, and God has helped me to see myself as I truly am in Christ. This verse has further helped me see that. 

     We have obtained an inheritance... according to his will.

He WANTS us to be his heirs. God's plans never fail or fall through. He always gets his first choice of what he wants. And his first choice in this regard is for me to be his heir and his beloved child. 

Happy Monday, everyone. :)

-Sarah

    

so many things to think about

     Hi, friends. Haven't written in awhile. It's not that I've been in a spiritual "low" or anything, it's just been daily life. Living, working, resting, movie-watching (a lot of that lately; I saw Monster's University last night and I loved it, haha), and LOTS of reading (for a summer class and preparation for next school year! Ahh!).
     And I've been learning. About life. My outlook on it, what to do with it, and just life in general. I've realized that I tend to look at life in a glass-half-empty sort of way, and I've been praying and trying to live more positively. I've been inspired to go to bed early and wake up early, which... well, it'll happen soon (I hope). ;)
     The biggest thing, though, is what to do. I'm going into my junior year of highschool, and I'm nearing that time when I have to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I've prayed and thought about it, and I think I have a pretty good plan. But it's funny; as soon as I feel comfortable in this plan of mine, God leaves eleven different ideas for "plans' in my mind. I want to do them all (some more than others), and then I'm not so sure anymore. Plans change, but it would be so much easier if they didn't. It's at this time in my life that I'm reminded to hold on to God and let him lead me wherever he chooses.
     I'm filled with a sort of wanderlust; not just for traveling (although that is certainly there), but also a longing for change. For new surroundings. High school is a blast (if a messy, confusing one), and I don't want it to go any faster than it is. But at the same time... college, and independence are calling me. Being able to drive (I have my permit! So close.) sounds reeeally good right now. I'm in that place that I think all teenagers come to at one time or another; that need for independence and decision-making. I'll be honest, it's hard to have parents telling me what to do. It's this weird mix of being grateful that I have them (because deep inside I KNOW I'm not ready for independence!), and this longing to get out there and do things on my own. I'm so glad that God has given me the ability to be content with where I am right now, without taking away my hopes and dreams for the future. God is good. :)
   
So, in a nutshell, that's what I've been learning about life. So many things to think about.

Sarah :)

a future and a hope

     Jeremiah 29:11 has been something of a "cliche" verse for me. Not in the sense that it's overrated or whatever, but it seems like I've heard it quoted so many times in so many contexts, that it's lost some of it's meaning to me. That's why I'm so excited that God has given me a new meaning to it. And that's why I'm writing this post. :)

     For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

     My former thought process when hearing this verse: It's very comforting that God knows exactly what is going to happen in my life, and I don't need to worry about it!

     It's not as if there is anything wrong with thinking that. It's the truth: God does know what is going to happen in the future (he planned it), and I really don't have to worry about anything. But that's as far as I got with this verse. The fascinating thing about the Bible is, since it is the inspired word of God, there are always new layers of meaning to it. God uncovered a new layer of this verse, and I'm just so excited about it. 

    I first realized it whilst doing math homework.

     Funny how this post was triggered by my math homework. Didn't I just write a post that started the same way?

;)

      It's hard being a sophomore in high school who happens to be doing a much more rigorous curriculum than most people my age that I interact with on a daily basis. For example, while they're watching a movie, I'm doing math or some other form of homework. Almost every single time. I use that example because that's precisely what happened to me an hour or two ago. My parents keep reminding me that all this school is necessary if I want to be accepted into Hillsdale (my dream college). I called that to mind as I was sitting on the floor doing math, just ten feet away from the happy, math-free movie-watchers. I thought of the work that was necessary if I wanted college. I thought of Jeremiah 29:11. 

     And I realized.  That future starts now. 

God has plans for me now. It's not like I'm just living my life, and one day, it will be THE future that's referenced in this verse. I'm living it.

     (It's super late at night as I'm writing this, so I know it's on the brink of incoherency. Sorry about that.)

     I suppose what I'm trying to say is that what I do now matters. It's part of God's big plan for me, and in the grand scheme of things, having to do math instead of watching a movie isn't really significant at all. Because it's part of God's huge and exciting plan for my life. It's nice to think about when I'm feeling discouraged about school and such (especially now, with four weeks of school left and finals looming ahead). I know that my hard work WILL pay off soon.

Anyway, that's my two cents on Jeremiah 29:11. I hope it was encouraging/enlightening/et cetera.
Excuse the rather flustered nature of the post. . . I'm tireeedddd. Haha. :)

Have a nice Tuesday.
-Sarah :)

 

do not worry about tomorrow

 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34

     Lately I have been looking at colleges and considering possible majors, looking at scholarships, et cetera (and yes, it's true I'm only a sophomore in high school). I often worry about my grades far too much (what if my GPA isn't high enough to get into a good college?), and about how well I'll do in PSATs and SATs and all that. 

     I have to constantly remind myself of the verse above. The truth is that God already knows what my GPA will be. He already knows whether I will go to college or not, and if so he knows what college I'm going to end up in. He knows what I'll major in, and how I will use (or maybe not use) that to get a job after college. I have all my current plans and hopes for the future laid out, but he knows which ones will be realized and which ones aren't in HIS plan. 

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

     So why worry? "Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Honestly, I don't really have the time or energy to worry about what's going to happen in three years. I'm too busy with the next three hours. So, I'll do my best at what's in front of me right now, and wait and see what God has for me later. 

-Sarah :)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

wednesday verse

I know that you can do all things,

    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Job 42:2