Saturday, September 30, 2006

So Long Sarah...

Recently, I have really been struggling with trying to figure out my purpose here in Auburn. For a while, I have just really felt like my time here had come to an end and it was time to move on to new things. New places, new people, new church, new EVERYTHING!! I really felt like I needed to go some place where noone knew me and just start anew; a fresh start. I spent several days re-evaluating my purpose and really felt like my time here had come to an end. But then, I got some wise words from a close friend and a new perspective on the issue at hand...my purpose in Auburn.

While speaking with a friend, who had spent several days in prayer about the matter on my behalf, my eyes were opened to a new perspective. Maybe I am done here. "I" being the key word. I am done, but God is not. God is not done with me and the only way for Him to work in me is for me to be no more. No more Sarah, just God. It is time for me to say goodbye to myself and allow God to use me here and I think all this "moving on" stuff was really just Satan's way of making me think that running away from a difficult situation would solve the problem. But it won't! God needs me here. I do have a purpose. My purpose is God's glory alone.

This Tuesday, I went to FAITH class with Terri Leigh and I am so glad that I got to go. Of all things, we talked about how Satan uses our own minds and thoughts to create spiritual warfare. How ture is that! The only reason Satan knows what we are thinking and is able to play his mind games on us is because we let him! We let him know our thoughts and he just twists them around and uses them to make us think crazy things!! Satan is deceptive and scheming and will do whatever he can to hurt us. We can't let him know our thoughts. We must guard our minds and hearts against the enemy.

After speaking with my friend and learning ways to not allow the enemy into my mind, I really started to think about the effect, negative, that I would have on Auburn by leaving. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not praising myself in any way, but I believe that there are people here that count on me and need me here. For instance, I know for a fact that there are 5 youth girls that know and love me and count on me each week to lead them and disciple them. What would they do if I just up and left? It would be so unfair to them for me to just selfishly leave them without a second thought or a reason. They are my purpose. And what about my 4-year-olds? Everyday, I step into the classroom and help teach 10 children about the world, about the Lord, about themselves. Watching and helping them learn each day is such a blessing to me. It brings me great joy to hear them recite Scripture and watch their faces as they learn new Bible stories and songs. What would they do if I just up and left? That wouldn't be fair to them, to their parents, or to my fellow teachers. They are my purpose.

These two things alone are part of my purpose in Auburn. My ulimate goal and reason for existance in life is to give God glory. It is glorifying to the Father when I lead my girls each week and my 4-year-olds each day. I do have a purpose and regardless of where I am, that will never change. God has called me here and I am prepared to stay here and do His work until my time here is done. Its not about me, my pride, my feelings, or my selfishness, it's all about JESUS! I pray that I will be content with where God has me and be grateful for the opportunities that He gives me each day. My city, state, surroundings, and situations will change, but my purpose never will. Make me aware of Your goodness and sovreignty. You are worthy of glory. God is so good.... :)

Friday, September 29, 2006

Presidential Luncheon...

Yesterday, I had the honor of attending a campaign luncheon for Gov. Bob Riley called "A Salute To George W Bush" in Birmingham, AL. I had a great time and will forever be grateful for the opportunity to hear our president address the politicians of Alabama. I will never forget this day! God is so good.... :)

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Enough...

Ok, so I have been learning lately that Jesus is enough for me! I don't know why it has taken me so long to figure it out, but I have now. I have found a song that helps me to more accurately describe this new discovery. It's, approriately, called Enough by Jeremy Camp. It is my prayer that this song will genuinely and precisely describe my heart until the day I die! Enjoy! God is so good.......

(Chorus)
All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
Worth living for
Still more aweesome than I know

Chorus

You are my supply
My breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You're my coming King
You're my everything
Still more awesome than I know

Chorus

More than all I am
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough

Chorus

Monday, September 11, 2006

Satisfaction....

Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:14

Lately, I have found myself really struggling with the present. Don't get me wrong, I love my life, but right now things are really hard for me. I am in new situations, and tough ones at that, and sometimes I just really loose myself thinking about being somewhere else. I find myself longing for the future, wishing for the past, and being extremely discontent with the present. Here are my explanations of those thoughts and my realization of God's sovereignty....

Some days, I just don't want to even crawl out of bed because life is pretty rough right now. I feel like I am constantly on the go (that happens when you have more than 2 jobs), I am growing further away from my friends than every thought possible, and I am always tired. Quite frankly, and extremely sinfully, life is just not fair for me this semester. I don't like it and I don't want to be a grown up yet. I don't think I ever could have imagined how hard it would be to live in Auburn and not be a student, and some days I am ready to just give up and go home. I want to wash my hands of this whole thing and quit!! Then, the enemy really begins to play games. I start thinking of how things used to be. Responsibilities just a few hours a day, hanging out with friends all night and weekend, living it up! The life of a college student doesn't get any better than here at Auburn University! I mean, beautiful campus, great atmosphere, incredible friends, and SEC football...what more could you ask for?!?! Those were the good days. And I often find myself wishing I could be back there; that this season of my life didn't exist. And then there are the days that I struggle with longing and desire for my future. Oh how my heart LONGS to be a wife. To be a mother. To serve my husband and my children and see how God will use me in the lives of those precious people. And if my heart so longs to be a wife and mother, why is it taking so long?! I want so badly for that season of my life to come and it is so hard for me to be still and just wait.

And then finally, reality wakes me up! I am here. I have been placed in this particular situation for a purpose...the glory of God! Yes, things look better and easier in the past, but that is not where God has me! And yes, I can't wait for the future, but that is not where God has me! God has me right here, RIGHT NOW, for a reason. And even though I don't understand why things are like they are or why things happen like they do, He does. And He doesn't owe me an answer. I have learned that "The grass is always greener on the other side" is false. Rather, if the grass on the other side looks greener, then you need to water your side more often! I have had to learn to live with the current hand that has been dealt. Even though I struggle and truly dislike the hand, I know whose hand it came from and I am learning to be content with the present. God is WAY bigger than my feeble mind can comprehend and I know that He is preparing me for the future and delivering me from my past and in that, I am satisfied.

Oh God, how I long to wake up each more and find myself satisfied in You and in Your word. Teach me to be content and joyful. Teach me to stop looking back and gazing forward, but rather to fix my eyes on things above. Teach me to be a good steward of this particular season that You have me in and to be grateful for Your promise to restore me each day. I know that You are sovereign and that You have Your best interest and Your glory in mind. Use my life and my heart to exalt Your name and Your kingdom! You alone are worthy! God is so good..... :)

Friday, September 01, 2006

Always...

For great is His steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures
forever. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 117:2

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.
I can’t remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can’t remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.
This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful, He’s always been faithful
He’s always been faithful to me.
- He's Always Been Faithful
Sara Groves, Conversations