I love to learn. In the curriculum my school uses, we read books and briefly study the author and the time in which he or she lived. History fascinates me. Culture fascinates me. I love learning about people from the past. I love establishing a timeline in my head. I love to be aware of what brought the world to where it is today, and who helped it along.
So I have decided to embark on a little bit of personal study. Studying people/books in school is all very good until you move on to the next book. There is just not enough time in the school year to read all of the assigned books and STILL LEARN AAALLLLL THE THINGS!!!!
I don't know exactly how this will work, but I'm thinking I'll find someone who fascinates me first. Then I will spend an allotted amount of time (this is independent, on top of all my other school work) to learn about them and the world they lived in. They could be from any time period and any place. Sometimes I might choose to study someone from the present (a politician, for example). I might also study events sometimes.
I will then put together some sort of brief presentation on this person/event, and maybe somehow put it up here on this little blog. If you all are interested in seeing something like that, let me know in the comments section. :)
I'm excited to see how this will work! I have been thinking about this for awhile now and I am ready to start learning!
s
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
grace, grace, and more grace // an article
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
working hard
School started again on Monday, and my midterms are next week (I have seven!). Naturally, I'm starting to realize that working hard isn't just working your tail off 24-7. There is a method to the madness. While I'm nowhere near good at working hard or working efficiently, I'm learning, and I thought I would share a few things that have helped me.
one) Pray. Jesus already knows what you need, so if you ask him for strength and diligence, he will for sure give it to you. (John 11:22) (James 1:5 - one of my all-time favorite Scriptures)
two) Prioritize. I know from experience that when you are juggling a lot of subjects (or projects at work, or whatever it is), it's hard to prioritize. Everything needs to be done! Right now! This mindset often leads me to stress and inefficiency. For example, maybe I have a lot of math to catch up on, but there is a Chemistry test due Monday. I'm really bad at Chemistry, so I should study. Meanwhile, I get further behind in math. The important thing is to take it one step at a time. It's not possible to multitask in this area. Don't try it - it only makes things worse. Figuring out what needs the most attention the fastest can help you get perspective. Once you are done that, you can move on.
three) Determine when you're not going to work. This is important because you can't work all the time. It's not healthy, nor does it produce the best results. There needs to be time for eating, sleeping, exercising, and spending brain-time on things that you enjoy. Quality of life MUST be maintained. I have decided that around approximately 8:30-9:00 at night, I will stop working or even thinking about school. My brain doesn't function properly when it knows I'm supposed to be relaxing. I usually read a good book after this point, so I can unwind and try to stop running on school adrenaline.
four) Find your motivation. I really hate it when I'm behind on a subject, or don't understand it and thus feel constantly confused and get poor grades. I've been in this situation enough so that this is my motivation to work hard. It won't get done if I don't do it. And the feeling of an A and understanding material is pretty darn awesome. :)
Hope this helps anyone who wants so badly to work hard but struggles with it, like me. Have a nice rest of the week, and to all of my classmates who read my blog: Happy Exams, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
s
one) Pray. Jesus already knows what you need, so if you ask him for strength and diligence, he will for sure give it to you. (John 11:22) (James 1:5 - one of my all-time favorite Scriptures)
two) Prioritize. I know from experience that when you are juggling a lot of subjects (or projects at work, or whatever it is), it's hard to prioritize. Everything needs to be done! Right now! This mindset often leads me to stress and inefficiency. For example, maybe I have a lot of math to catch up on, but there is a Chemistry test due Monday. I'm really bad at Chemistry, so I should study. Meanwhile, I get further behind in math. The important thing is to take it one step at a time. It's not possible to multitask in this area. Don't try it - it only makes things worse. Figuring out what needs the most attention the fastest can help you get perspective. Once you are done that, you can move on.
three) Determine when you're not going to work. This is important because you can't work all the time. It's not healthy, nor does it produce the best results. There needs to be time for eating, sleeping, exercising, and spending brain-time on things that you enjoy. Quality of life MUST be maintained. I have decided that around approximately 8:30-9:00 at night, I will stop working or even thinking about school. My brain doesn't function properly when it knows I'm supposed to be relaxing. I usually read a good book after this point, so I can unwind and try to stop running on school adrenaline.
four) Find your motivation. I really hate it when I'm behind on a subject, or don't understand it and thus feel constantly confused and get poor grades. I've been in this situation enough so that this is my motivation to work hard. It won't get done if I don't do it. And the feeling of an A and understanding material is pretty darn awesome. :)
Hope this helps anyone who wants so badly to work hard but struggles with it, like me. Have a nice rest of the week, and to all of my classmates who read my blog: Happy Exams, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
s
Thursday, December 12, 2013
I refuse to be a victim.
For me there are three weeks between Thanksgiving break and Christmas break. Those three weeks are almost unbearable. All my friends at school would agree, I think. ;) I love school, but I have a lot this year. And breaks are definitely needed. Sometimes I allow myself to obsess over those breaks. I even remember thinking the week before Thanksgiving break this year: "Only one week until break. I don't have to try hard this week - I'm close enough to a week of no school, anyway."
Today I burned that way of thinking. I refuse to be a victim.
This is my school. My work. My responsibility. I will not go about my duties halfheartedly, hypocritically, half-awake. I won't cut corners. I have all of God's strength in my soul - I am able to meet standards and do well.
I have one more week until Christmas break. This week will not go like the last week-before-break. I will work. I will sleep. I will eat. All to the glory of God.
How thoughtless of us to do anything less than our best! Think of who we live for!
There is no condemnation in Jesus. Idon't shouldn't feel guilty when I fail, because Jesus has already won for me. In light of this, I should be inspired to love and please the one that freed me to do so.
Refuse to be a victim and draw upon the immeasurable strength that is in Jesus today.
<3
s
Today I burned that way of thinking. I refuse to be a victim.
This is my school. My work. My responsibility. I will not go about my duties halfheartedly, hypocritically, half-awake. I won't cut corners. I have all of God's strength in my soul - I am able to meet standards and do well.
I have one more week until Christmas break. This week will not go like the last week-before-break. I will work. I will sleep. I will eat. All to the glory of God.
How thoughtless of us to do anything less than our best! Think of who we live for!
There is no condemnation in Jesus. I
Refuse to be a victim and draw upon the immeasurable strength that is in Jesus today.
<3
s
Friday, October 25, 2013
on chemistry and how I learned (ahem: AM LEARNING) to enjoy life.
Because we live in a fallen, broken, corrupt world, we get our fair share of confusion and panic and misery. That's how it is.
If you know me, you know I absolutely CAN NOT STAND confusion. Being confused about something (especially school and homework deadlines) drives me up the wall. So when I wasn't spending the time I should have on Chemistry and consequently becoming confused, I slowly sank into misery. And then I failed a test and wasn't able to take another one because of internet problems.
I'm going to be completely honest with you: I'm failing Chemistry. That scares me. I was behind on homework, and one day I was sitting in a class that wasn't even Chemistry (online, in my room), and I just had a panic attack about my Chemistry homework.
It's too much. Way. Too. Much. I'll never get it done and I'll never get my grade up and I'll never understand the material and AHHHH!!!!
I put up my little "away" emoticon to let my teacher know that I had stepped away and ran downstairs to my mom, where I yelled and cried and panicked about Chemistry. She helped me calm down and told me not to think about it while I was in another class. One thing at a time, Sarah!
Soon after that episode, my mom told me that I was going to drop my Chemistry class and take it as an "independent study course" instead. Basically that means I would listen to recordings of the live class had taken before and do the work at my own pace.
I was ambivalent about this decision. I knew it would be better for me, and I was excited about that part. But at the same time...
Wow, Sarah, you can't handle the fast pace of a normal, high school Chemistry course? What kind of student are you, anyway? Look at all your friends. Look how great they're doing in school. What's wrong with you?
Then my Chemistry teacher called my home phone. You know it's not good when you're getting calls from the teacher, right? Yeeeah. Apparently, she had no idea I was planning to move to independent study (glitch in communication, I guess). She wished I would stay in her class because she liked my participation (however much I was able to give with my confused knowledge of the subject in question), but understood how much work I had (six other classes) and how independent study would be helpful (I used so many parentheses in this paragraph).
I had talked to my parents beforehand and told them I would really like to catch up and boost my grade and stay in class. I told my teacher that on the phone, and she said I could do it if I put in the time and concentration. So, we talked about ways I could catch up. And I'm back in the game, folks!
It's been so crazy this past week with all of this happening. I'm learning time management even when I thought I had it down, or I thought I should have it down, and I'm learning that I don't have to live a stressful, panicky, school-filled life. I'm trying Chemistry again, and I'm determined that it will not go down like the first two months of it did.
Speaking of not living a stress and school-filled life, I'm going to a football game tonight with my youth group. Please take opportunities to do fun things in your life, especially if you are bogged down with school or work. God wants to enjoy life and enjoy him, and I'm not going to let school get in the way of that.
Moral of the story: Hakuna Matata. God has it all worked out. :)
s
If you know me, you know I absolutely CAN NOT STAND confusion. Being confused about something (especially school and homework deadlines) drives me up the wall. So when I wasn't spending the time I should have on Chemistry and consequently becoming confused, I slowly sank into misery. And then I failed a test and wasn't able to take another one because of internet problems.
I'm going to be completely honest with you: I'm failing Chemistry. That scares me. I was behind on homework, and one day I was sitting in a class that wasn't even Chemistry (online, in my room), and I just had a panic attack about my Chemistry homework.
It's too much. Way. Too. Much. I'll never get it done and I'll never get my grade up and I'll never understand the material and AHHHH!!!!
I put up my little "away" emoticon to let my teacher know that I had stepped away and ran downstairs to my mom, where I yelled and cried and panicked about Chemistry. She helped me calm down and told me not to think about it while I was in another class. One thing at a time, Sarah!
Soon after that episode, my mom told me that I was going to drop my Chemistry class and take it as an "independent study course" instead. Basically that means I would listen to recordings of the live class had taken before and do the work at my own pace.
I was ambivalent about this decision. I knew it would be better for me, and I was excited about that part. But at the same time...
Wow, Sarah, you can't handle the fast pace of a normal, high school Chemistry course? What kind of student are you, anyway? Look at all your friends. Look how great they're doing in school. What's wrong with you?
Then my Chemistry teacher called my home phone. You know it's not good when you're getting calls from the teacher, right? Yeeeah. Apparently, she had no idea I was planning to move to independent study (glitch in communication, I guess). She wished I would stay in her class because she liked my participation (however much I was able to give with my confused knowledge of the subject in question), but understood how much work I had (six other classes) and how independent study would be helpful (I used so many parentheses in this paragraph).
I had talked to my parents beforehand and told them I would really like to catch up and boost my grade and stay in class. I told my teacher that on the phone, and she said I could do it if I put in the time and concentration. So, we talked about ways I could catch up. And I'm back in the game, folks!
It's been so crazy this past week with all of this happening. I'm learning time management even when I thought I had it down, or I thought I should have it down, and I'm learning that I don't have to live a stressful, panicky, school-filled life. I'm trying Chemistry again, and I'm determined that it will not go down like the first two months of it did.
Speaking of not living a stress and school-filled life, I'm going to a football game tonight with my youth group. Please take opportunities to do fun things in your life, especially if you are bogged down with school or work. God wants to enjoy life and enjoy him, and I'm not going to let school get in the way of that.
Moral of the story: Hakuna Matata. God has it all worked out. :)
s
Monday, October 21, 2013
just a prayer request because that's all I can write as of now.
Hi, guys.
I haven't written in a week because this week, I've felt so much and nothing at all at the same time. I had a bit of writer's block; it wasn't that I didn't know what to say, but I was at a loss for how to say it. So today, I just have a prayer request.
I went to the beach for a weekend, at which time I thought I would have wi-fi but did not. I had a few things to turn in/prepare and, since I attend school online, that's a problem. A big problem. I think God was telling me to just "be still and know that he is God," and to take a break. Which was good. But now I'm back and gosh darn it, I have so much work! I don't even know where to start. Could y'all pray that I would be able to prioritize, get it all done, and have peace about all of it?
Thanks a million.
Please tell me what you need prayer for in the comment section if you wish to publish your request in that manner... :)
<3
s
I haven't written in a week because this week, I've felt so much and nothing at all at the same time. I had a bit of writer's block; it wasn't that I didn't know what to say, but I was at a loss for how to say it. So today, I just have a prayer request.
I went to the beach for a weekend, at which time I thought I would have wi-fi but did not. I had a few things to turn in/prepare and, since I attend school online, that's a problem. A big problem. I think God was telling me to just "be still and know that he is God," and to take a break. Which was good. But now I'm back and gosh darn it, I have so much work! I don't even know where to start. Could y'all pray that I would be able to prioritize, get it all done, and have peace about all of it?
Thanks a million.
Please tell me what you need prayer for in the comment section if you wish to publish your request in that manner... :)
<3
s
Monday, October 7, 2013
.
I've come to you before with revelations that I've had from reading books for school (see here and here, for example). Haven't done it in awhile, though. Well, now I'm reading The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, and it's so profound. It does talk a lot about "Fortune" vs. Philosophy, and while I don't believe in Fortune, I do believe in an omnipotent God who deals out circumstances in my life. Here are a few quotes from the book that I was considering:
In the meantime, stop thinking of yourself as plunged in misery.
...
How many men do you think would believe themselves almost in heaven if they possessed even the smallest part of the luck you still enjoy?
...
Just a few today - I may come back with more in the future when I read more of the book. But I just wanted to share those quotes with you today; maybe they'll help you with your perspective. They sure did that for me. :)
Sarah
Friday, October 4, 2013
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:
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
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
overwhelmed
Do you ever feel like you want to just pause time? Just pause - get tons of work done, sleep, eat, etc. - then press play and "start life" again where you left off, except way ahead of everyone and completely stress-free?
Maybe that's just me.
I just feel like I have so much responsibility. SO MUCH. And I struggle with feeling like I'm never good enough... that I'm not doing enough... that I'm not mature or reliable enough...
I'm struggling.
I'm taking my third year of Latin in school this year, and I absolutely love Latin normally. But it's really hard this year. And I'm discouraged. And nervous. Add six other classes on top of that and it's completely overwhelming.
I know that I'm supposed to lean on God for all of my strength, but I'm having trouble trusting that he has enough of it. I know he does, but... gosh, it's just everything on my plate at once. I want to prove to myself that I am good enough, not really to God - I know what he thinks of me already - but to people around me. It's probably more important to me than it should be. I don't want to live with this binding me. I've realized that I'm not free from it, but it's strange because I don't necessarily want to be free from it. If I just gave up the fight and let God work through me, I wouldn't be proving anything to myself. Not that I need to prove anything to myself; I just want to.
It's all so confused and messed up. I'm sorry if it doesn't make sense. I just needed to get that out there. Please, try to understand where I'm coming from. I'm in a difficult place. It's okay to be in a difficult place - I know you all are probably in one, too. So maybe you could... pray for me. And if you ask for prayer in the comment section I will pray for you too.
- Sarah
Maybe that's just me.
I just feel like I have so much responsibility. SO MUCH. And I struggle with feeling like I'm never good enough... that I'm not doing enough... that I'm not mature or reliable enough...
I'm struggling.
I'm taking my third year of Latin in school this year, and I absolutely love Latin normally. But it's really hard this year. And I'm discouraged. And nervous. Add six other classes on top of that and it's completely overwhelming.
I know that I'm supposed to lean on God for all of my strength, but I'm having trouble trusting that he has enough of it. I know he does, but... gosh, it's just everything on my plate at once. I want to prove to myself that I am good enough, not really to God - I know what he thinks of me already - but to people around me. It's probably more important to me than it should be. I don't want to live with this binding me. I've realized that I'm not free from it, but it's strange because I don't necessarily want to be free from it. If I just gave up the fight and let God work through me, I wouldn't be proving anything to myself. Not that I need to prove anything to myself; I just want to.
It's all so confused and messed up. I'm sorry if it doesn't make sense. I just needed to get that out there. Please, try to understand where I'm coming from. I'm in a difficult place. It's okay to be in a difficult place - I know you all are probably in one, too. So maybe you could... pray for me. And if you ask for prayer in the comment section I will pray for you too.
- Sarah
Monday, July 1, 2013
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 :)
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 :)
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
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. :)
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 :)
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 :)
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
hanging securely
If you opened the door of my bedroom pretty much any weeknight, you'd hear music playing and see me sitting on my floor with my math textbook in front of me and a pencil scratching away at graph paper. Such is my life as a high school sophomore - and sometimes I wonder how I'm doing it.
A lot of nights I work really hard, sometimes really late into the night. It's those times when I'm tired, I hate math and everything to do with it, and I want more than ever to go to bed instead of finishing what I would have to wake up really early the next morning to do. But I don't. Why? I don't know! All I know is that I feel tired, but I have this strength that isn't my own pushing me on.
It's not mine. It's God's.
So THIS is what it means to rely entirely on God's strength. It gets me excited to know that God is finally showing me this after wanting and praying to feel it for so long.
It's a strange feeling. It's as if, without this supernatural strength filling me, I would just collapse, unconscious on the ground. It's hard to explain. . . I feel like the strength isn't IN me, it's PULLING me. It's pulling my hand across the paper as I write number after number. It's pulling my eyes open so I can stay alert as I work. It's pulling my brain. . . but this is a weird way of putting it. I can't explain what it feels like. All I know is that God is doing something incredible.
I guess what I could say is that it feels like I'm hanging. It's like I'm in an ocean (of homework. . . fill in the blank) and God is pulling me in with his lifeline of supernatural strength and keeping me afloat. That's what it feels like. . . but I'm also reminded that the aforesaid ocean is all in God's hands. He's holding me and keeping me hanging. It's a glorious place to be - in that place of weakness and dependence and trust.
It's good to be hanging securely.
-Sarah :)
A lot of nights I work really hard, sometimes really late into the night. It's those times when I'm tired, I hate math and everything to do with it, and I want more than ever to go to bed instead of finishing what I would have to wake up really early the next morning to do. But I don't. Why? I don't know! All I know is that I feel tired, but I have this strength that isn't my own pushing me on.
It's not mine. It's God's.
So THIS is what it means to rely entirely on God's strength. It gets me excited to know that God is finally showing me this after wanting and praying to feel it for so long.
It's a strange feeling. It's as if, without this supernatural strength filling me, I would just collapse, unconscious on the ground. It's hard to explain. . . I feel like the strength isn't IN me, it's PULLING me. It's pulling my hand across the paper as I write number after number. It's pulling my eyes open so I can stay alert as I work. It's pulling my brain. . . but this is a weird way of putting it. I can't explain what it feels like. All I know is that God is doing something incredible.
I guess what I could say is that it feels like I'm hanging. It's like I'm in an ocean (of homework. . . fill in the blank) and God is pulling me in with his lifeline of supernatural strength and keeping me afloat. That's what it feels like. . . but I'm also reminded that the aforesaid ocean is all in God's hands. He's holding me and keeping me hanging. It's a glorious place to be - in that place of weakness and dependence and trust.
It's good to be hanging securely.
-Sarah :)
Monday, October 22, 2012
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
Friday, August 31, 2012
the story of my typical school day
(Excerpt taken from the best book ever: Anne of Green Gables)
Okay, so I don't put my school book in front of my pleasure book and read in secret. But often, I'm tempted to "see how the chariot race turned out," and thus use my school hours in pleasure activities. God is giving me more self control, and I feel confident that he will help me as I enter the school year. I am excited to rise to the challenge of having enough self control to prevent me from pulling homework all-nighters (something I can certainly do without). Diligence also comes into play here; if I want to do something for fun, I know I have to work hard and get my school done first.
For those of you who are still in school, I hope you have a blessed school year with a minimum amount of late night cramming and that you learn a lot. :)
-Sarah :)
P.S. Can I just say that Anne is extremely entertaining? Even if you don't take any of the self control lesson away from this excerpt, I hope you appreciate her mention of poetical justice and the seemingly necessary mention of who lent her the book. :)
Miss Stacy caught me reading "Ben Hur" in school yesterday afternoon when I should have been studying my Canadian history. Jane Andrews lent it to me. I was reading it at dinner hour, and I had just got to the chariot-race when school went in. I was simply wild to know how it turned out––although I felt sure "Ben Hur" must win, because it wouldn't be poetical justice if he didn't––so I spread my history open on my desk-lid and then tucked "Ben Hur" between the desk and my knee. It just looked as if I were studying Canadian history, you know, while all the while I was reveling in "Ben Hur." I was so interested in it. . .
Okay, so I don't put my school book in front of my pleasure book and read in secret. But often, I'm tempted to "see how the chariot race turned out," and thus use my school hours in pleasure activities. God is giving me more self control, and I feel confident that he will help me as I enter the school year. I am excited to rise to the challenge of having enough self control to prevent me from pulling homework all-nighters (something I can certainly do without). Diligence also comes into play here; if I want to do something for fun, I know I have to work hard and get my school done first.
For those of you who are still in school, I hope you have a blessed school year with a minimum amount of late night cramming and that you learn a lot. :)
-Sarah :)
P.S. Can I just say that Anne is extremely entertaining? Even if you don't take any of the self control lesson away from this excerpt, I hope you appreciate her mention of poetical justice and the seemingly necessary mention of who lent her the book. :)
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