So long… for now

Today is certainly a bittersweet day here on “Confession: I’m With the Big Guy”……  Today is the last day that I will be writing to you here on this blog.

Trust me, this has DEFINITELY been an extremely hard decision–especially since this blog, “Confession,” has been such a huge part of my life for the past year :).  Unfortunately, it’s time for me to admit that I don’t have the time to give my 110% effort to a full load in college, both blogs–“Confession” and “Compelled”–, work, health, social life, etc.

Even though this blog is closing down, I pray that you will still check out my other blog:

Compelled

2 Thessalonians 3:1 says,

“Finally, brothers, pray for us,

that the word of the Lord may speed ahead

and

be honored, as happened among

YOU.”

This is my prayer for all of us: that God’s word may be spread throughout the earth through US; we are Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20)!  Continue to spread Sonshine no matter where you are, and I pray that you will still read, just in a different location on the Internet ;).

Thanks for all of your love and support!  See you on “Compelled,”

Sarah :)

Going outside!

Confession: I skipped class today…

“What? You did what, Sissy?”  My mom is probably asking this question in her head and THEN wondering why in the world I would write about it.  (Hi Mom!  I love you ;) )  But here’s why…

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature, and God.  Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature.”

Anne Frank was the wise, young woman that wrote these words, and this is basically what she’s saying.  Whenever we get so consumed with our own problems/fears/worries, the best thing for us is to go to the place where we feel closet to God: nature.

While I am not suggesting that we skip work or class or a meeting whenever we feel stressed, today, I didn’t go to class in order to spend this time to remember that God is my first priority, not grades.  It’s because of Him that I am able to go to class and even make grades.  I had forgotten this.

So do whatever it takes for you to remember who it is that you are living for and from.  Don’t be irresponsible–I’m not giving you a “Get out of jail” free card like in the game monopoly–but I am encouraging you to find your strength in Christ and be empowered by that strength to do all that He has given you to do.

“In return and in rest, you shall be saved.

In quiet and in trust shall be your strength.”

Isaiah 30:15

Take time to rest in beauty of God… Take time to appreciate Him for all that He is in our lives.  See and BELIEVE that He is the reason for every occurrence/occasion in your life.

Go outside and rest in God!

Rob Bell- Rhythm

To Love or Not to Love…that is the question

(To my sweet, dear roommate, I’m sorry, but I’m going to loving pick on you and our funny time this morning ;) It was times like these that always give me reason to laugh!)

This morning, I woke up to the wonderful and new “wildlife noise”–which is usually crickets and birds–of my roommate eating white cheddar cheese rice cakes… at 5:42 this morning.

“Sssshrirlgrrehlpkershhhkl…” The plastic wrapper wrinkled and crinkled as her hungry fingers dove into the bag, antiqued by the white chedder cheese powder.

“Chomp, chomp, chomp…crunch, crunch, crunch…chomp, crunch, chomp, crunch, chomp, crunch…” And then she swallowed, and she started again.

What would Jesus have done if he was woken up by a disciples eating something as loud as white cheddar cheese rice cakes on the morning of the Sermon on the Mount?  Would he have been angry?  Would he not even phased by it?  Would he say it was okay and that he didn’t mind, but actually hold a grudge?

It sounds like a super silly question, one not even worthy of being asked of Jesus.  In essence though, my question and every other question that we ever have boils down to one, root question: “Do I really have to love…always?”

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:7&8

“If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:2

To love or not to love always?… That is the question, but the answer is always, “Yes!  Love!”

A birthday is near!

Can you believe it?  “Confession:I’m With the Big Guy” is about to be a year old!

When I think about the past year, I think of how far this blog has come and, hopefully, how far this blog will go in the future.  But this is where you come in…

Let me know what you like and what you think!  If there are any topics that you ever want to talk about or have questions or want to correct me on something, write a comment or email me :).

Anyways, now that the Mississippi humidity that usually fogs up my camera is going away, get ready to have more pictures!  I am super excited about this one too.

Thanks so much for reading these notes, but I just had to say the little “housekeeping” things before moving on into the new year.  I hope you have a great day today, and I will be back tomorrow with a more exciting post ;)

Praying your day is filled with Sonshine,

Sarah :)

Eagerly Waiting

Just the other day, I was flipping through the pages of Hebrews when I found a cool verse in chapter 9.  Here’s what it says,

“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are

eagerly waiting

for him.”

-Hebrews 9:28-

When the realization hit me that I must always be eager in waiting, I began to feel like Octavius–the tiny figurine of a Roman soldier–from Night at the Museum 2.  In one scene, Octavius sets out to save his friend.  The only problem is that he must run across the front lawn of the White House.  For a tiny, plastic toy, this is a huge undertaking, one that he definitely underestimates.

Octavius begins by running with zeal.  The camera zooms in on him running through the grass, each blade taller than the red mohawk on his Roman helmet.  The viewers see Octavius running and panting and screaming war cries, but then, the camera zooms out, showing a view of the White House and the lawn out front.  Octavius cannot even be seen.   Eventually, Octavius collapses from exhaustion.

Often times, I find myself feeling just like Octavius.  My spiritual batteries become recharged, and I’m off to sprint to the finish line.  Once I feel exhaustion setting in, I look around only to realize that the distance yet to run seems too far and that there is no way that I can remain eager for even the rest of the day.  It’s in times like these when I wonder, “How in the world am I supposed to eagerly wait?”

God has already answered this question in a couple of verses.

• Romans 15:5 calls God the “God of endurance and encouragement” and tells us to find our encouragement through Him and His word.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 says that God’s grace is sufficient for us, even in our weakness.  Verse 10 even says that His power rests upon us in times of weakness
• Galatians 2:20 reminds us that as Christians, the life that we now live in the flesh, we live by faith in Christ!

Here’s how we are to continue to wait eagerly:  to receive encouragement and endurance from, to rely on Him as our strength in our weakness, and to always live by our faith in Him.

So next time that you find yourself feeling depleted of spiritual energy, go to God.  Remember the work that He has done in your life; feel His power being perfected in  your weakness!  All the while, you’ll discover that it’s much easier to wait eagerly, after all, it’s Christ that we are waiting for…

Going the Distance

“Reluctantly crouched at the starting line,
Engines pumping and thumping in time.
The green light flashes, the flags go up.
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup.
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank,
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank.
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns.
Their prowess is potent and secretly stearn.
As they speed through the finish, the flags go down.
The fans get up and they get out of town.
The arena is empty except for one man,
Still driving and striving as fast as he can.
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up,
And long ago somebody left with the cup.
But he’s driving and striving and hugging the turns.
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns

He’s going the distance…”

Do you recognize those lyrics?  It’s the beginning of Cake’s song called “The Distance.”  It used to be one of my favorite songs because of the song’s funky style.  You need to check it out, but beware… the chorus WILL get stuck in your head.  He’s going the distance…He’s going for speed…

This morning, I was flipping through pages in my Bible, just looking around, and I noticed something.  The theme of endurance is all throughout it.  Romans 15:5 even calls God the “God of endurance and encouragement.”  Here’s part of that passage starting in verse 1:

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up…that through the endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.  May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.” Romans 15:1-2, 4-5

Sometimes we can be like the man in Cake’s song.  Someone may have already won the cup in a worldly race, but we must keep on with endurance for the reward that we have in Heaven with Jesus Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

Let’s yearn…. Let’s go the distance

Be confidently you!

Do you ever feel scared to be fully who you are?

While in college, this is definitely something that I have struggled with!  It’s hard to explain but sometimes I feel as though I’m in a shell that I’m scared to come out of.

The other day, I heard this quote that really struck a chord with me.  I wish that I could remember it word for word but it went something like this:

The more that God is present within you, the more “you” that you will become. Since He created you and your personality, you will be the most true you whenever He is fully present within you.

In other words, since God is the one that created us, the larger that His presence is within us, we can be even more confident in the person that He created us to be.

“For am I now seeking the approval

of man, or of God?

Or am I still trying to please man?

If I were still trying to please man, I

would not

be a servant of Christ.”

Galatians 1:10

We are only servants of Christ when we truly believe Him and when His love fills us.  If you are like me, come out of your shell with me and learn that God created us exactly as we are with a purpose!  Be confident in knowing that and let His love fill you as you become more focused on God and His love and His glory rather than what mere, imperfect people may or may not think of you!

Be confidently you!

Be filled with God’s love :)

Hello everyone!  I just got in from a trip to Atlanta with an organization from school.  Before I go to bed though, I just want to say that I hope that all of you are sleeping well tonight, and I will write back in the morning :)

Sleep well and God bless,

Sarah :)

“A Man Fell Into a Hole”

Do ever wonder what makes Christianity different from other religions?

We have Jesus Christ!

This video, “A Man Fell Into a Hole,” shows the best comparison/contrast of the different religions that I have ever seen, and I hope that you will watch it!  It’s short, so what do you have to lose?

Thanks again, Spencer, for showing me this video!