may report card [and announcement]

     It's the end of the month. My resolutions were to eat healthily, wake up earlier, and to survive exams.

Eat Healthily - 85% B
I'm giving myself a B for this because I did do it. Most of the time. But it was Mothers Day and my sister's birthday and exam week and honestly, I'm not in this "eating healthily" thing if I'm not going to also enjoy it. The goal is not to lose a ton of weight. So, while I could have eaten healthier this month, I think I did a pretty darn good job.

Waking up Early - 50% F
Didn't happen. I am not a morning person.

Survive Exams - 90% A
I made it! It was a tight squeeze at the end of exam week (six exams to take!) but I finished junior year! :)

Final Grade - 75% C

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     And now for the announcement! My sister and I are going on a trip with some people in our church to visit and help out some church friends in Kazakhstan! And we're leaving on Monday! Prayers are much appreciated. We will be gone for 10 days.

     Because of this, I am not going to do June resolutions. Because of this trip and lots of other stuff, my June is looking crazy. I don't know how much blogging I'll do this month but I'll definitely still be around. :)

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being the whole person God wants me to be, on the internet and otherwise

Hi, lovely readers.

     As you know, I am a devoted Christian and follower and lover of Jesus. You also know that I face struggles and trials at times, and also have really good days. You'd probably say you know me pretty well from just reading my blog.

     Two and a half years ago, I started Rejoice Always. I was younger and newer to this whole blogging thing, and so my dad put restrictions on me. I told him I wanted to blog my spiritual life, and he said "Okay, as long as that's all you blog about." Just so I didn't write my social security number or, you know, random stuff on here. Just to be safe.

     And this blog has been so, SO good for me. I have been able to share things with you that encourage you, whilst using it as an outlet for my writing and to open my heart. Jesus is the single most important thing to me in life, and as such, it's fitting that if I were to talk about only one thing on a blog, he would be it.

     But I have a whole, complete, rounded, full life, just like you all. I have interests, hobbies, insecurities, fears, loves, experiences, good cries, and secrets, just like you all. And as the most important thing in my life, Jesus illuminates all of them.

     So, sometime in the future, I will be leaving this little blog. I am so very sad to see it go, but I need another, bigger outlet (so no, I am not stopping blogging altogether). I hope you, my wonderful readers and friends, will follow me there. It won't be an "everything-in-my-life-but-Jesus-because-I-haven't-talked-about-that-in-two-and-a-half-years" blog. By no means will it be that. I will talk about Jesus just as much as I do here at Rejoice Always, because he is my life. Things won't really be changing, as far as blogging goes.

     But there will be more. Because I believe my life is unique and beautiful, just like everyone's lives are. I believe that God has given me a wonderful purpose in this world; a purpose only I, Sarah, can fulfill. I love writing, so I think blogging is the way to share that purpose with the world. I need to get out there because people might need to hear what I need to say. 

     I know what you're probably thinking: "But, Sarah, you are already sharing things that people might need to hear!" I know. This change is not only for my readers, but also for me. I need an outlet for my creativity and my heart and my imagination and my overflowing love for Jesus. I need to be who I am - all of who I am, on the internet, at home, at church, with my friends, at the zoo, on airplanes - everywhere. I can't show you part of me (or even the most important thing to me) without all the rest of it. I don't want to show you an idealized version of my life. Or even if it isn't idealized, it doesn't show the whole picture. I want you, my readers, to see all of me. Because I have something to say.

     Like I said, I hope you will follow me to my new internet home. I will still keep this blog up so that I don't lose the work of the last two and half years, and Rejoice Always will always be very, very close to my heart. I have made so many memories here and met some lovely people. I don't know when this move will be happening exactly - it probably won't come to fruition for quite some time. There are still so many things to think about But I wanted to let you know. About what I think of freedom, and living life for real.

I hope this all makes sense. I don't want you to think I will be doing things a lot differently than I already do... it's hard to explain. Thanks for sticking with me. :) I love you all.

-Sarah
     

I am alive and well, despite the evidence this little blog shows.

     Dearest readers, I have neglected this blog dreadfully. Wednesday after wednesday passes, and there is no verse. No posts in between, either. I still log onto blogger occasionally and looked at the page-views. . . surprisingly, the number still crawls semi-steadily upward. I don't deserve such faithful readers. Haha.
     The truth is, school happens, and blogging doesn't. It seems the two can't coexist. But God has been working mightily, even if I haven't been able to document it here. He's showing his power and strength and faithfulness again and again as I try to cut down on the proverbial mountain of homework looming before me. (As a side note, I like saying that I'm trying to make a dent in a mountain of homework. Because it's like, I do work, and then the mountain gets smaller, but it's like the mountain isn't really there, it's just metaphorical, but I can see the dent that I made, because, you know, I did some work. . . if you understood my thought process there you win a pretend all-expenses paid trip for four to Disney World.)
     So. I can't say when I will get back to blogging, but I will try my very hardest. I think it's safe to say that I'm kind of taking a break. But please! keep checking occasionally to see if I've done anything. I don't want to lose y'all :)

How has God been working in your life? Please tell me if you would. I'd love to hear y'all's stories. :)

-Sarah :)

Post scriptum: I've probably shared this verse multiple times before, but I'd like to share it again because it seems to have become my "theme verse."

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:5

what's coming

     If you haven't noticed, I have been slacking on the regular blogging of late. The reason for this is that what I want to post about is a rather daunting subject, and I'm not sure how to word a post about it. I've finally decided to stop thinking about it and start writing it. :) So hopefully that post will be up soon.
     Also, school starts soon, so I'm not sure how different my blogging schedule will be (I'm extremely excited for autumn and everything, but I think I'll miss the way I could blog so frequently this summer). I have a really busy school schedule, but I'll try and write a few posts every Saturday and schedule them or something. Anyway - I'll figure it out. :) You'll still get your Wednesday Verses.
     In other news, my mom recently bought be "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman. I've only read a very small portion of it as of now, but I enjoyed what I read. I think I'll write a post with that passage in it and what I learned from it. You can expect that one pretty soon, too. :)
     I just had an idea. This has nothing to do with the content of this post, but what if y'all comment and tell me who you most look forward to meeting in heaven (besides Jesus)? I think for me it's a tie between Corrie ten Boom, Amy Carmichael,  the Apostle Paul, and Mary (the mother of Jesus). And a host of others. Haha. :)

-Sarah :)

a fiery trial? or something else?

     Lately I have been realizing that thinking about what I'm going through as a "fiery trial" makes it seem like something bad. I write all the time on this blog about how I can praise God through it, but it's not completely hitting home to me because I have the wrong perspective. So, the fiery trial series has ended; it's time for something new. Be looking for posts titled "learning" in the future (it's extremely simple, but I think it's the mindset I need to have).
 
-Sarah :)

Wednesday Verse

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 3:1

Hi everyone.

     Sorry I haven't been posting much lately aside from these weekly verses. You see, I have some things I could post, I am just not sure how to word it. As school is ending, I have more time for blogging, so hopefully these next few months will see me more committed to posting here. 
     Meanwhile, what do you all think of these Wednesday verses? I started posting them just as a way to stay consistent in blogging, but also to encourage YOU. So – do you like them? Is there something else you would like to see here that would really encourage you? Let me know in the comments section! 

-Sarah :) 

worship songs I like

     God has been showing me his glory very clearly of late, mostly through worship music. I think I blogged about this before - something about worshiping God vocally makes his glory quite real to me. Below are links to a few (OK, well, there's a lot) songs I really enjoy listening to (the links go to Grooveshark.com). Some of them simply praise God, some cry out to God in the midst of trials. All of them are pretty awesome songs. :) Listen if you want to and enjoy!

Addison Road:
What Do I Know of Holy

Natalie Grant:
Your Great Name 
Held

Meredith Andrews:
You're Not Alone 
Draw Me Nearer 
Come Home 


Starfield:
Can I Stay Here Forever 
Everything is Beautiful
Saving One

Casting Crowns:
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)
Until the Whole World Hears

Chris Tomlin:
How Great is Our God
White Flag
Our God
No Chains On Me

Third Day:
Children of God

Mandisa:
Stronger

Plumb:
Beautiful History


Carrie Underwood:
How Great Thou Art

Nicole C. Mullen
My Redeemer Lives
 

     Also, I wanted to let you all know that for the next couple weeks I'm going to probably be a little slower with the blogging, as school is finishing up. You will still be getting verses every Wednesday, and I will try to post at least once in between some of those. :)
    
-Sarah :)

P.S. In case you missed it, here's the link to my post on Ellie's Guatemala mission's trip. Also check out her post about her trip (I linked to it in my post), and if you feel like you can give financially, I think she still needs some money for it! Thanks! 

Stay tuned

I know . . . the blog's been a little slow lately, but I bring good tidings! :) Many, many posts are coming up . . . I just have to write them and post them. :) So that's what's keeping me. Please keep coming back and checking!!! 

-Sarah :)

school schedule vs. blogging schedule :)

As you all know, school is starting, and so I will probably not be posting on here as frequently as I have been. I will try to get, at least, weekly posts in.

Thanks for reading!

-Sarah :)

ANOTHER WAY TO FOLLOW MY BLOG

You can now follow my blog by email if you don't have an account on one of the things that you normally follow by! (I hope that made sense. . .) Just scroll down to the bottom of the page and find the "follow by email" text bar. :)

Have a marvelous day! :)

MY NEW "ABOUT ME" PAGE

Please, check it out! (You can look at it by clicking on the link above, entitled "Me and my blog".)

- Sarah :)

NEW BLOG DESIGN

How does everyone like my new blog design? I like it a lot better than the first one. :D

BLOG UNDER CONSTRUCTION

I am changing the template and stuff on my blog, so if it looks all weird that's why. :)

-Sarah

COMMENTING

I just wanted to thank everyone for commenting; it has been really encouraging for me to read all of your thoughts on what I post! Thanks and please, keep it up! :)

-Sarah

P.S. I would also like to draw your attention to the "About me" page I have over here -->

I haven't added any pictures yet but I will soon!