Senior Pictures

Here's the facebook link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51534&id=1451534026&l=22d9a0eddc

Nland vs. Maranatha

Our youth group had a great time on the college trip last week! We had 1 guy and 5 girls, including myself, along with my yp's family and a lady from the church.

We met at the church on Thursday to pack up the truck and car, then left around 3pm for the long drive to Northland. Had fun on the way there while taking pictures and listening to music. Arriving at the college at 8:30, we went to our dorm rooms and unpacked. The girls I was with were really fun =)

Friday morning everyone met for breakfast, then we went to visit classes pretty much all day. After browsing around in the bookstore, there was a campus tour in the late afternoon, and I was finally able to look around Northland for the first time. What a friendly Christian atmosphere! Not just the teachers and staff, but all of the students as well. Our group spent the rest of the night watching Noe's soccer game and having fun in the rec room with some other friends. It was so great to see Chelsea and Hannah again!

Saturday we traveled to Maranatha, a college I would highly recommend of course.. hehe! After unpacking in our dorms again we met for dinner with Aubrey and Tiffany, then the girls headed over to the studio on campus where Tiffany took my senior pictures and other fun ones. She did an amazing job and I'll give a link pretty soon where you can look through them. The rest of the night was spent playing games and watching "Facing the Giants" at Joe and Becca's place in the guesthouse. Sunday was also just a day of rest for the group; went to church and had a good time in the dorms. The teens from the church we went to had a little activity afterwards which we were able to be a part of.

I was able to get a much clearer perspective of what college life is like for the students as I went from class to class Monday. Not all the classes were my favorite, but just getting the feel for how each one was taught was helpful. The last one I went to was Spanish - amazing! I completely enjoyed it! The professor is from Spain I believe, and the entire lecture was in Spanish. I was able to understand the majority of it, and I'm looking forward to possibly taking that class this fall.

All in all, the trip was a wonderful opportunity for some of the others who had not been to many colleges; it was also extreamly benificial to me personally as I prepare for the real thing... and it's coming up quickly! I'm excited to finally be able to study more of what I'd like to do with my life. God's going to provide everything I'll need and will be with me each step of the way. I just want all I do to be pleasing to the Lord.

Jumbled into one

This is just going to be one big jumble of updates. First, when you get a minutes click on the link below. I'd like to share my year with each of you who made it so special!

http://SarahsCorner.shutterfly.com/

From March 11th-15th, our youth group is going on a college trip to Northland International University and Maranatha Baptist Bible College. I may have some internet access while at Northland, but not much. So I'll get back to anyone who's emailed me as soon as I get back! And of course I'll post any picture I take while on the trip =)

I'd also like to share a few quick thoughts on a challenge I heard last night in youth group. One that God really used to speak to me personally. A deacon in our church told about many examples of young people who seem like really great Christians on the outside, but inside are just waiting for the day when their parents can't make them go to church anymore: waiting for a chance to rebel against God. There are so many young people who don't want to have anything to do with God. When they turn 18 or 19 they throw away everything that should be important to them for the things of this world. Then they raise a family who doesn't love the Lord. A lot of stuff is going to be hard for those who trust Him. It's not going to be a life of ease. But He greatly blesses and rewards those who keep following Him, those who willingly give their lives to serve Him.

God spoke to my heart through this challenge. There's not a minute where I don't want to please the Lord in all aspects of my life. I'm not saying I'm perfect, but from different experiences God has put me through, He's shown me that I am most satisfied in the center of His will. How could I not want to give all I have for the One Who gave me life? I guess that's why I feel such a strong desire to be a missionary. I want to share His love with those who don't know, and even to those who do know but are hardened towards God. I don't want people to see me and what I can do, but through my actions and words see Christ and what HE can do for them. True joy is found in Christ!

ACT: A Constant Thought

Alright... so I know this is not what ACT stands for when we're discussing the standardized test you take to get into a college. But think about it. You don't want to go in to take the test without having studied at least a little. More importantly, you don't want to go in thinking you can do it all by yourself. So a constant thought I have is to always remember that God is with me every step of the way. He already knows what the line is going to look like, which questions I will struggle over, and what my grade will be... thanks for those words Mrs. Miller. =) Why worry when my Heavenly Father knows all?

I would appreciate your prayers as I go in to take this test Saturday morning around 8. I'm not necessarily looking for an extreamly high score (although I wouldn't be complaining if that were the case); rather, a decent score that will reflect the amount of time I put forth studying. May the Lord be glorified in all I do tomorrow!

Man or God?

Acts 5:38-39 "... if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."

I've probably read over this verse hundreds of times, but I've never thought of what it meant until we discussed it in youth group on Wednesday night. Have you ever tried to make something happen on your own? For those of you in school/college, maybe it's taking a test or trying to get together with friends. Adults, it could possibly be job or family related. Whatever the situation might be, you know that your plans don't always work out the way you would like them to. Even if things are going exactly the way you want, there's always a strong possibility that someone may come along and ruin your perfect plan.

Now think of when you've done something but have asked the Lord for His strength and guidance first. Many times we ask God for things that aren't right (like wishing for that one person to walk into a tree...). Seriously, a lot of what we take to the Lord are not things of God. Sometimes it may not be clear whether or not it's the right thing to ask for, but most times we know if it's wrong. Just think though. If something is meant to be, if it is God's will, there's absolutely nothing man can do to change it. Nothing! "But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it." The things of man can be altered; the things of God cannot! Once again, what a wonderful truth - to be able to go to our Heavenly Father and know that we can leave all in His hands. To trust that our Savior knows best and wants the best for His children. To be comforted by the fact that He won't "mess up" - that He is perfect and has His own perfect plan.

Knowing all this, how could you want to be anywhere else than in the center of His will? It thrills me, as I hope it does you, that I can have such a personal relationship with the One Who created everything. He cares for me. He cares for you. I've chosen to follow God. Which way will you choose?

Simple verses are packed with meaning

Psalms 103:8-11

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him."

From a previous study on another verse, I found that the word fear doesn't mean to be scared of the Lord, but rather to completely submit to Him. Read the bold words now: "... so great is His mercy toward them that completely submit to Him." Knowing what this verse, as well as others with the word fear in them, really means has helped me to better understand how to have a closer relationship with God.

Just a thought... .

Bigger than ever

Happy new year to each of you! I trust it's been a good one for you so far, as it most certainly has been with mine. But before I get into all the things I'd like to for 2010, let me back up and fill you in on December 2009.

The first word that comes into my mind when I think of last month is crazy. I was literally stretched in every which way and, to be honest, I liked it. True, there were some activities I could have done without, but the Lord guided all aspects of my life. I took each decision I needed to make to Him first. You will have no idea what a load off your back it is when you do that unless you make it a habit. The Lord works in ways you can't even imagine when He's involved in your daily routine ... and sometimes not so "routine". One of the biggest ways God blessed me in was allowing a friendship with someone I met in Mexico last summer to be more than that. We are always praying about everything that's said or done and taking things slowly. At times it can be a bit fuzzy with what to do, but whenever that happens I again take it to my Heavenly Father and He shows me the way. There were other fun Christmas activities I was able to be involved in. You can look through the pictures below:

The teens at my church had a lock in on New Year's Eve. It was a great turnout with at least 20 teens showing up. Mr. Unger and his son-in-law Ben brought their snow mobiles and pulled the teens and adults around in the snow. I - of course - stood by and took pictures =) The tempurature had to have been only single digits, as we were all freezing. Still a blast though. We played lots of games inside and out, had plenty of snacks thanks to Elizabeth and Lori (and probably others I'm not aware of), and Joe gave a short challenge before midnight. There were many unsaved teens at the event who were able to hear a clear presentation of the gospel.

I know of people who make only one resolution for the upcoming year, some who make many, and even those who don't make any. I try to make at least one goal for myself each year and came up with two areas in my life in which I need to work on, the first being patience. This is something that's not come easily for me in the past few years and I'd like to change that. Second and more importantly to me is reaching out to others. A few months ago I would have told myself that I reach out plenty and that isn't an issue for me... but in reality it is. I noticed that when I try to help others, I end up only wanting that person to help me. I myself don't totally understand how that works, which is frustrating. But I want others to focus on Christ and see Him through my actions and words. Many times when I've helped someone, I want praise and for everyone to notice what I did. That's not what it's about though. The only reason why I even have the ability to be there for others is because of the Lord, so shouldn't all the credit go to Him as well? Certainly!

I'd appreciate your prayers for me this year as I try to better my life for the Lord. Each morning I am in God's word and in prayer. Quite often I have no idea what to pray about for specific friends, and yet God still puts them on my heart to pray for. It's neat how later on I find out that I was praying for someone at the exact time they needed it. Praise the Lord for His goodness, for the fact that He knows everything about everyone, and that we can call Him our Father!